Tuesday, May 19, 2026

I Wasn't Going To, And Then I Did






A batch of AI enhancements that were in origin either sketchy, primitive, or otherwise problematic. Thelva Prynne's House was sketchy; it was the AI that put it on an upthrust of land. Robut and Notebook Dragon are both from very primitive drawings in the middle school era Old Green Mill Notebook; you can probably guess Robut's inspiration. The New Year Beetle was a last drawing of 2011. The Elfland Map has a pretty good effort at labelling; but 'Rafine' for 'Ravine', 'Magswood' for 'Hagswood', and 'Sonsrest' for 'Sunsrest.'

Guest Post by My Brother John


I posted this poem before, but John has prepared this page with the original photo that inspired it all those years ago. "A good post bears repeating."

 

2021 Diary: Recovery



2021 Diary

 

5/15/2021: A quiet day. Exactly 3 things happened all day: I finally made a bowel movement [none since the operation] at 3 PM; It rained for about 2 hours afterward; and Kameron called me at about 9 PM to say good night and see how I was. “Touch of Evil” on TCM. Keeping BS down under 400. Meals: malt-o-meal, chicken with broccoli, grapes.

 

5/16/2021: Read the service for today and prayed the prayer of those who cannot take communion. The rest of the day spent drifting and trying to keep things together. Bored and a little anxious. In the evening I took my last metformin. When I did take my insulin needle out it was bent and dripping; probably hit the muscle and not the fattest part of my stomach. After dozing all day it’s past 1 AM and I’m wide awake.

 

5/17/2021: Went in too early for my appointment with my surgeon but got the paperwork to fill out. John came back later, and we went again. Things look good.

 

5/18/2021: So went to my appointment with Dr Sangha (about my diabetes) about 12:30 and filled out almost exactly the same forms. Then had to wait as he was called away to a procedure. When he came back, the result was to double my insulin and a check-up in 2 weeks. Also refilled my medicine. Came home and it was rainy much of the afternoon. Made sausage and cabbage fry. Tis now almost 1 AM and I think it’s settled down.

 

5/19/2021: The unusual coldness in the weather continued, but by the afternoon the sun finally came out. New schedule: blood sugar check at 6, then insulin at 8 (morning and evenings). Results were in the lower 200’s. No appointments but waiting on the pharmacy. Dozed, minor cleaning, prayers. Some DQ8 in the evening; simple enough to engage the mind w/o requiring concentration. The worst thing about hospital and recuperation is BOREDOM.

 

5/20/2021: Up at 5 AM. Took a shower, dressed. BS at 6 AM was 202. Cartoons. Prayers and Bible. Insulin at 8 AM. Made a small load of shirts and shorts. Called Dr. Sangha’s office and got them moving on prescriptions. At 6 PM, BS was 262. Andy came out about 6:45 PM and took me to the pharmacy; only some of my medicine ready. Home and washed dishes at 7:30 PM.

 

5/21/2021: What a long and uncomfortable day! Delivery from HEB. Frying potatoes was a painful process, but after Susan came home things seem to have finally settled down. I was finally able to sleep after I had washed up. It was divine, and I thank God. 

 

Notes

I was going through a great deal of intestinal distress after my gall bladder operation; I have edited most of it out. My blood sugar has been running a little high again, 160 -170; to remember that it was over 400 once upon a time is strangely encouraging. Still trying to wrangle it lower.

 

 

F Troop











Friar John bids his companion to Fear Not as they walk down among demons; two views of the Ogre Ferrus; a skeleton asks a girl to Find My Head (the AI refused to animate a headless skeleton); Fir Castle; a boy starts to Fly Away from a witch; a Flying Ship from a Russian fairy tale; Flyting is from another very old drawing of mine; a Forest Stream; the stone structure in the foreground was originally the Fountain.

Monday, May 18, 2026

The Celebrity on My Father's Side of the Family


Eee!











The Easter Bunny, from an old school textbook; two views of the disturbing Eekus in toy form; Eighty-Three carries its own date on the calendar and tapestry on the table (at least you can read it on the runes on the original); Emelius Brown in his study is visited by three children from the future (which the AI multiplied to four); a wizard has an Emergence from a cave; an Enchanter reads his book; Eostre is the supposed goddess of Easter (on no firm evidence); Errki confronts the devil's cat; and a couple spend an Evening In.


Update: And here is Error being fought by St. George. I'm not entirely happy with this elaboration. Here is the original Pauline Baynes picture:


Morgs on the March