elanya

Always up and down, liable to make you scream!

I woke up and the internet was down still. It was up for a bit this afternoon, then down, then up, then down.... and now it is up! We shall see how long this lasts, eh?

I really hope these annoying connection issues get *finally* resolved. As in, that they stop happening, not that service can be resumed for one to two hour bouts. I suppose the term I am looking for here is that service will become *reliable*. That would be nice.

I have about fifty pages left to read in this account of The Spanish Armada. This book was co-written by an archaeologist and a historian, so it has a little bit more to offer than a standard historical account... Only a little though. Most of the archaeological contributions are about gun technology or inventories of shot recovered from various Armada wrecks. They did a lot of research on the Spanish more than the English end of things, so it gives a bit of a different view than most Anglo-centric events. There are passages from the journals and letters of the high command, including King Phillip II. The king is a respectable but also baffling historical character. He was incredibly religious and a master of micro-managing. A true bureaucrat, who seems really subdued when compared with other member of the Spanish nobility. He was quite the opposite of the ostentatiously flamboyant fob, always dressing simply in black. Granted, black was an arguably difficult colour to wardrobe yourself in, especially if you bought a new suit of clothes (exactly the *same* clothes!) each month. Which suddenly makes me think of video game characters who never change their clothes. Sorry. Anyway, the accounts are sometimes quite moving, especially the ones by survivors of the various wrecks describing their attempts to get back to Spain in one piece. Many who made it to shore made it no further, especially on the Irish coasts, where fear of invasion meant the death of most Spaniards who had the misfortune to land there.

I could probably finish this book tonight. I have maybe foury pages to go. I'm not sure if I *will*, though. I could work on something else scholastic, but I feel like directing my energies elsewhere. I could bake something for tomorrow's barbeque tonight. Adam is hosting a barbeque in the late afternoon/evening out at his house. I have steak marinading, and am planning on bringing brownies and bread. I'm feeling creative though, which is probably at least partly inspired by the story bit that C sent me earlier today. I want to make something. I just don't know what. I could write for fun (which I haven't done in far too long), or I could set up some sewing things. Hmmm... Any other suggestions?