Two: I survived a heart attack in 2002. Half don't survive. Half of the survivors don't make it through the next year. God has further plans for me. I enjoyed volunteering at the Smithsonian Institution, in the exhibit, "In the Beginning--Bibles Before the Year 1000" (http://www.asia.si.edu/exhibitions/online/ITB/html/introduction.htm). The Freer/Sackler is one of the best museums in town. I have also been able to help in the Annual Smithsonian Folklife Festival on the National Mall several times. That's always amazing (and hot).

Yes! Sure! Had a fire at dinner the other night--I love to make fun stuff for Anna. I had a pomelo (buoi or Chinese grapefruit), which I cut in half and sectioned, loosening the fruit to make room to fill it with dark rum. When she came to the table for dinner, I refilled it with a bit of 151 proof rum and lit it on fire! As it burnt down, it lightly caramelized the top, making it even more delicious. I like it out back on the deck, listening to the trees as they sing. So nice to have the woods. The first fig tree, that produced an abundance of figs died, and its replacement is just beginning to produce! Grilled figs, figs with honey and mint, grilled brie with figs, figs with meat, figs with fish, figs with corn, fig salad, figs with ice cream.... I just add stuff here at random. Someone told me that my name is not in my profile anywhere, so I'll add it here; it's Bruce Szmajda, so those who care about such things may find it if they read this far. Serge made a real nice Ratatouille Nicoise, when he stayed here, and I've been practicing.... Griddle cakes, made using some cream cheese icing that had failed to set, so I added flour and baking powder. Oh yes. Mmmmm, rosemary! So nice to have herbs growing. The fresh Copper River salmon was like candy to me; I couldn't stop eating it. Great with beets from the farmer's market done three-ways. Lots of salads, now, but I have made a Southern Maryland Stuffed Ham that was a hit--and a lot of work. Just now I'm grilling tuna with a cardamom rub. This moment is different... from any before it this moment is different it is now. --Mike Heron I enjoy cooking--I had been enjoying fried leeks--and always whatever good wine that we can afford. I had been stuck on peppers when my garden was producing abundantly (try peppers and peaches; or with mangoes). Later, winter squash! Now we're using "Sun Basket," but have used "Blue Apron" or "Green Chef" for 2-3 meals a week. Their recipes have been pretty good. Errr--I sliced my thumb with a mandolin...so on occasion we call for a Ledo's pizza! I only cook for people I love--good ingredients put together with some care produce great results. I ought to have added that to my philosophy--or my opinion of couchsurfing. Anna and I have been getting pretty good at English Country Dancing. Lots of fun! And this Ben Franklin quote was cut-off when this app changed: "Experience keeps a dear school; but fools will learn in no other and scarce in that." "for it is true, we may give advice, but we cannot give conduct, as Poor Richard says: however, remember this, they that won’t be counseled, can’t be helped, as Poor Richard says: and farther, that if you will not hear reason, she’ll surely rap your knuckles.” You can find that online in "The Way to Wealth" and read the whole Ben Franklin bagatelle--one of the most widely read pieces in the world, ever.

Peace, hopefully.

I toured some sites in Scotland and England while studying a copy of the Codex Junius 11, a medieval Anglo-Saxon paraphrase of Scripture, written sometime between the 7th and 10th Centuries A.D (http://omacl.org/Junius/), along with Milton's Paradise Lost--which seems to have come out from Junius--as research and exercise for my own writing.