Blogging Productivity

Many fans have asked what inspires my productivity. For some reason, I've encountered surprise on the part of humans about my prodigious output on such a wide variety of topics: a dog's life, the Roushanzamirs & their family and friends, literature of numerous genres, global artifacts, scholarly research, and so forth.

While I can not provide an unfailing recipe to be followed step-by-step, this photo supplies some clues.

Acquire a new, light-weight computer & a very fast internet connection: for resources.

Surround yourself with many books, papers, posters, and other media [music, television, films]: for inspiration.

Dress according to mood, certainly casual if you like, but full evening dress if such strikes your fancy.

Relfect on your life's experiences, the successes, the failures, the pleasures & pains, the beautiful and the ugly: the sum of phenomena influencing who you are today.

And finally: sip a martini. I recommend Svedka Vodka [no vermouth] shaken til icy cold, garnished with a twist of lime and served in an extravagant martini glass.

Offer Thanks

Something happens to me on Thanksgiving Day. It is perhaps [well, doubtless] the only day of the year on which I feel humble. [Adequately reflected in the shot of me here.] I defer to the love that surrounds me every day & for that, offer thanks to Mama et Papa.

Indeed November is a month for loving remembrance in our family.

For example, my Aunt & Uncle Lester celebrate their wedding anniversary.

My brother, Allan, his birthday. Of course, also Mama's birthday-- see entry of November 21, 2006. [the roses above were Papa's gift to her; the sparkling beads entwined with them, from Lynne, her friend.]

November is the month that Grandpere et Grandmere Lester travel to Chicago to celebrate Grandpere's profession [at the annual RSNA conference] and to mingle with many of their long-time friends.

Thanksgiving is a holiday that falls on different dates each year; that pleases me. It mirrors life, variable and fleeting, and reminds us that thanks should be offered wholeheartedly and frequently.

If you wish to offer your own thanks, please click "comments" below.

Happy Thanksgiving, Fans.

from Mercury Murphy Roushanzamir

Cher Mama

Wishing You A Happy Birthday Today.

Mercury's Prediction: Many More Returns of the Felicitous Day.

I Love You Dearly.

Je t'aime, Mama!

from your darling Mercury

The Fall, Beauty and Joy

My planned Rest from the world of blogging was negatived by Mama. She insisted I display her photo shot shortly after my visit to Fabulous Kelly [see entry July 18, 2006]. Mama et Papa claim I'm a creature of beauty and a joy, if not forever, for as long as possible.

This may have nothing to do with my day at the Doggie Shapes Salon, but it occurred shortly thereafter. In the interests of the whole truth and nothing but the truth I must admit My Bad. Here's what happened.

Once a day, almost every day, Mama says, "Now I will check the mail. You stay. And I'll check the mail." [She often repeats herself as if I'm not bright enough to catch it the first time.]

On that particular wonderful fall day, leaves whirling, sunshine streaming, Mama opened the door to check for the mail [our post box being attached to the stoop]. Just at that moment one of my kind, a big dog with coat similar in shade to mine, walked proudly by.

I dashed out to greet her [as any proper dog would], happily running back & forth, up and down, crossing the street with great abandon. My ears flew back, my head, held high, the sheer beauty of the day and joy of the moment overtaking me.

Mama screamed. Cars stopped. The big dog's Mama cried out, "Get her a treat."

Only when Mama fled in tears towards the house did I realize that I'd overstepped my boundaries. Kindly and forsaking my perfect Fall Moment, I scampered [yes, scampered] to our front door where Mama, on the point of collapse, was standing, head bowed.

She learned a lesson that day. And I learned a little bit about her.

Apparently, when she was just about my age, she crossed a Very Busy Street, lured by the promise of television watching [her family lived in the Poor House, thus unable to provide TV for their needy children] and petit fours. As she tells it, all was well until her Mama [my Grandmama] found her glued to the TV & with cake in her mouth.

With alacrity and a certain vindictiveness [due perhaps to Grandmama's missing out on the petit fours], my Mama was snatched up, promptly returned to her home and spanked soundly.

Luckily for me, spanking is now Out.

November, Mercury and the Roushanzamir Family

November is an especially dangerous month in the Roushanzamir family. Whilst, never does my Mama prefer even numbers to odd, nor major keys to minor, the dawn of November exaggerates her preferences. Of course November is her Favorite Month. See the picture to your right for Mama's November Look.

I trace the special relevance of November to the undoubted fact that Mama's birthday is November 21st. [That's 3 x 7 -- both odd numbers, both historically lucky numbers across cultures, she tells me]

Mama disdains Halloween [as do I] disapproving by its colonization [see, entry October 31, 2006] but she loves her birthday. And the keys to satisfying her birthday pleasures are as follows. No surprises desired. She expects to be feted, borne magnificent gifts by many admirers, to be served champaigne and caviar. Later in the evening, perhaps thin cucumber and gently smoked salmon sandwiches with appropriate garnishes. And later still, perhaps Benedictine or creme de methne depending, she informs me, on the weather.

Believe me this is no joke. So in the Roushanzamir household Papa and I tred gently in November, doing our very best to gratify Mama's whims, not only on November 21st, but on every day leading up to that Day of Days and every November day thereafter.

[Note: Papa and I love the Thanksgiving Day holiday, viewed as a respite since whenever that august holiday falls, Mama, who also approves of that holiday, does the cooking.]