tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-40097682026-03-29T09:38:43.591-07:00Basil The Wandering Foolhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10849371448908295707noreply@blogger.comBlogger367125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4009768.post-44943944486644763802023-03-18T14:43:00.004-07:002023-03-18T14:43:50.984-07:00

 I am starting to wonder whatever happened to the Orthodox Church I love.I hear sermons filled with admonitions to keep the fast as strictly as possible.  To watch out for those who are trying to destroy the Church from outside, through the influence of secularism in the world.I have always felt that was hogwash. Secularism is no threat to the Church. Neither is humanism, or paganism,

Basil The Wandering Foolhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10849371448908295707noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4009768.post-5285119308980013062021-10-23T11:22:00.000-07:002021-10-23T11:22:43.297-07:00

They say some of us develop more slowly. For instance you've probably heard that girls develop much more rapidly than boys. Well, I was definitely one of those boys who developed more slowly. I don't think it was for any lack of mental intelligence so much as a lack of emotional intelligence and being raised in cultural isolation. Let's be honest: most of us are raised in relative cultural

Basil The Wandering Foolhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10849371448908295707noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4009768.post-60765423905620771672021-09-25T10:37:00.003-07:002021-09-28T14:56:44.237-07:00

 The Journey is not about the destination. It is not about any of the destinations. It is about The Journey. It is about savoring all you learn and experience along the way. A destination is just another micro-journey. One where you will continue to wander and grow and learn.The "Bucket List" isn't about showing the world your accomplishments, as if to say "Look what I did before I died." No

Basil The Wandering Foolhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10849371448908295707noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4009768.post-32700022280855813442021-09-24T15:51:00.002-07:002021-09-24T15:51:28.768-07:00

Here is a short piece of fiction I wrote about one of the characters in one of my novels. It was written nearly 10 months ago but never published. I just re-read it and it seems publishable to me, so here you go. It is short. It ends abruptly. It may someday be part of a larger work. Enjoy!"Try Before you Die" by Basil Sprig Smitty had an insatiable appetite for life. He loved every sort of

Basil The Wandering Foolhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10849371448908295707noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4009768.post-64810167889117804322019-09-15T08:59:00.003-07:002019-09-15T10:47:32.506-07:00

Friday the 13th at a Cabin in The Woods by Basil Sprig I planned my vacation down the coast not-quite-camping. I didn’t want to haul around camping gear and sleep in tents, so I rented yurts all down the Oregon Coast. But when I got to Northern California I could find no available yurts. Not wanting to pay for hotel rates on the coast, and not wanting to stay in a dive, I thought hard

Basil The Wandering Foolhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10849371448908295707noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4009768.post-62397244727333080232019-05-10T13:45:00.000-07:002019-05-10T13:45:35.146-07:00

Arrrr! It seems I have narrowly averted catching scurvy! Yes, you heard me right. Scurvy! Just like a pirate! Let me tell you about it. When I first started the Keto diet I learned that one of the negative side-affects of being in ketosis is very bad breath. Because of this I started brushing my teeth a lot more.  At first maybe 4 times a day instead of the usual 2.  I started

Basil The Wandering Foolhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10849371448908295707noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4009768.post-82681971297629575312018-01-27T13:37:00.005-08:002018-01-27T13:37:54.573-08:00

This article is reprinted from Morning Oregonian,  Portland, September 26, 1910, page 13 WOMAN TRAVERSES CASCADES' CRESTMrs. W. E. Herring, of Portland, with Husband Is First to Make Journey.COUPLE SLEEPS IN OPENGovernment Engineer Completes Journey--Valuable Water Power Found in Mountains May Be Harnessed.     MEDFORD, Or., Sept. 25.--(Special.)--Mr. and Mrs. W.

Basil The Wandering Foolhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10849371448908295707noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4009768.post-32263801196690261612016-11-01T09:11:00.000-07:002016-11-01T09:11:24.556-07:00

I would like to explain for the common people of the United States why it would make sense for someone to use a private email server setup on a laptop.  Much has been made by the Republican Party of HR Clinton’s choice to do so, with people calling her a traitor for doing so.  I have always found these accusations to be absurd.  Why?  Because there are valid and legitimate

Basil The Wandering Foolhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10849371448908295707noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4009768.post-63547158174163966502016-03-23T08:12:00.006-07:002016-03-23T08:12:56.162-07:00

To Bern or Not to Bern, That is the question! I've compiled a list of reasons people don't want to vote for Bernie Sanders so that I can provide some information systematically, rather than the random way conversations develop, often as gut reactions to informational posts, on Facebook and other social media. A few caveats:  If I think there is plenty of evidence that your "reason to not

Basil The Wandering Foolhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10849371448908295707noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4009768.post-21245868293002392852015-11-15T12:43:00.001-08:002015-11-15T12:43:24.621-08:00

Ok, people.  Stop trying to make our sudden French Patriotism about racism.   There are viable reasons why this terrorist attack in Paris has stirred so many hearts in the US, and it isn't about race or class or favoritism in skin color. War is horrific.  Terrorism is horrific.  Killing is horrific.  But there's are reasons we are so stirred by these horrific events

Basil The Wandering Foolhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10849371448908295707noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4009768.post-42505180042415443902015-06-28T11:25:00.000-07:002015-06-28T11:30:43.790-07:00

In all my years as a Christian I have never been "a hater."  This is because I believe God is love. It is not possible to know God without having love, without experiencing love, without believing that love is the most important thing in life. Most Christians know the Bible says this. They believe it to some degree or another, although some believe  erroneously that if you love

Basil The Wandering Foolhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10849371448908295707noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4009768.post-33415548408960341782011-03-25T10:21:00.000-07:002011-03-25T10:21:56.636-07:00

Lessons Learned This Past Year Today is a special day for me, not only because it is a Holy Feast Day in the Orthodox Church, but more importantly it is my one-year anniversary. It was one year ago today that I made a decision and was relieved of my “ordination” as a Reader in the Orthodox Church. There were those in my life who felt gloomy about my decision. I did not. I felt not only

Basil The Wandering Foolhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10849371448908295707noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4009768.post-55520485642768768472011-01-24T12:31:00.000-08:002011-01-24T12:31:43.690-08:00

Dead Girl Walking (First a little blurby... I've been writing a lot of poetry in a form of musical lyrics. If you or someone you know would like to make this into a song, please contact me. This particular piece was inspired jointly by a character in my next book, and by a certain photo I found on deviant art. I will try to find a link to the photo and post it. Here it is...) Dead Girl

Basil The Wandering Foolhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10849371448908295707noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4009768.post-57029974249091732532011-01-22T00:28:00.000-08:002011-01-22T00:28:20.306-08:00

This is the last time I'll abandon you And this is The last time I'll forget you I wish I could Look to the stars Let hope burn in your eyes And we'll love and we'll hate and we'll die All to no avail, all to no avail * * * * Don't talk, don't say a thing Cause your eyes they tell me more than your words Don't go, don't leave me now Cause they say the best

Basil The Wandering Foolhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10849371448908295707noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4009768.post-67189655315188725392010-12-03T12:02:00.000-08:002010-12-03T12:02:14.023-08:00

Apparently I am an expert on John Merrick. An expert? How so? you ask. Well, my blog gets dozens of hits per day to this page right here: http://flyintheholyoil.blogspot.com/2003_06_08_archive.html John Merrick was known as "The Elephant Man" because he had a rare skin disease. Well, now I am here to tell you the WHOLE STORY. Here's a little poem by Isaac Watts that was a favorite of John

Basil The Wandering Foolhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10849371448908295707noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4009768.post-39294591232280929642010-11-04T22:48:00.000-07:002010-11-04T22:48:40.494-07:00

There is nothing so lonely As knowing That I cannot love you You think you have a nightmare But you do not know Can never know The storm There is nothing so lovely As knowing That I love you

Basil The Wandering Foolhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10849371448908295707noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4009768.post-20038671140020789202010-11-04T22:45:00.000-07:002010-11-04T22:45:31.690-07:00

The desolate places dry without thirst water without fire the empty places consuming all all but desire The desolate places search the world and you shall find none so desolate as my soul Live ineffably gives birth moment consumes moment until all that is left are The desolate places No love but no rejection No peace but no pain No rest but no fear The dry languid consequence of soul

Basil The Wandering Foolhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10849371448908295707noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4009768.post-76615642216420050132010-09-22T23:48:00.000-07:002010-09-22T23:48:14.858-07:00

This is a beautiful song. My daughter has been trying to get me interested in it, and tonight was the first time I actually sat down and listened to it. Great stuff! Yellow, by Coldplay Look at the stars Look how they shine for you And everything you do Yeah, they were all yellow I came along I wrote a song for you And all the things you do And it was called "Yellow" So then I took my turn

Basil The Wandering Foolhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10849371448908295707noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4009768.post-57195861447812924772010-09-21T12:02:00.000-07:002010-09-21T12:02:15.096-07:00

I wasn't meaning to become so philosophical when I posted this little blurb: I'll just tell you now 'cause I dont think you know The things you tried to kill I found a way to grow I'll just tell you now You may have made your mark But I'm still here today Knowing who you are I'll just tell you now I wasn't meaning to become philosophical, but someone unfortunately asked me "who is killing"?

Basil The Wandering Foolhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10849371448908295707noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4009768.post-43905828505668193272010-09-12T00:45:00.000-07:002010-09-12T00:45:25.735-07:00

somehow I am free I could not have guessed I could not have predicted this I am enchanted with beauty everywhere the sights and sounds of beauty intensity light and color shape and outline darkness and light intensity of form and perception I am in love with beauty and nothing else matters but somehow like never before and never expected I am free I still love you every one but I am not

Basil The Wandering Foolhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10849371448908295707noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4009768.post-47391135428797315612010-09-03T23:55:00.000-07:002010-09-03T23:55:19.883-07:00

... well, now that I have your attention. Yeah, really. And no, it doesn't have anything to do with "all the inner turmoil" I've experienced this year. Yeah, well, I know this doesn't sound "all that pious" of me. Enjoying the scandal? Might as well find out why. Keep reading. Tonight I landed upon this article here which has the interesting title More Teens Becoming 'Fake' Christians.

Basil The Wandering Foolhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10849371448908295707noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4009768.post-65146520653108058092010-09-03T23:15:00.001-07:002010-09-03T23:15:31.312-07:00

That's crazy. I just spent an hour modifying my Fly In The Holy Oil page ONLY because I wanted to have titles to my posts!!!! Gah! Now I can't remember what I wanted to post any more. forgetting

Basil The Wandering Foolhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10849371448908295707noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4009768.post-79451675582048033592010-08-28T23:55:00.000-07:002010-08-28T23:57:17.583-07:00

The Wandering Love CycleThe moon glistens on a silhouette and tears well up in my eyesThere is so much to taste hereto touch to holdto devourNight upon star-filled nightTo love too much?Or to feel too little?To understand the consequencesof each subtle glanceof each gentle fragranceof each tender embraceMy heart is so fullit cannot contain another breathMy burden so lightthat it gives me wingsand

Basil The Wandering Foolhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10849371448908295707noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4009768.post-30491606319691696782010-08-15T23:52:00.000-07:002010-08-15T23:53:21.520-07:00

Falling AsleepIt is a dark night of soullaced with the movementof soft shadows, wind,moonlight streaming through tears,where branches scrape the hollows.It is a deep night of souldank with the smell ofwhite and blackthe shimmer of resonantvoices against the dream.It is the sleep of sorrowsdrawing me near the depthsthe steep draught, hopelessimpersonating death, infinite in finality.It is a bright

Basil The Wandering Foolhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10849371448908295707noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4009768.post-11123122628339788402010-08-09T13:35:00.000-07:002010-08-09T13:37:28.606-07:00

Map Of The ProblematiqueI think this is one of my favorite Muse songs.Map Of The ProblematiqueFearAnd panic in the air I want to be free From desolation and despair And I feel Like everything I saw Is being swept away When I refuse to let you go I can't get it right Get it right Since I met you Loneliness be over When will this loneliness be over? LifeWill flash before my eyes So scattered and

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