In Memoriam

Fio is baffled by the magnitude of the outcry at the death of Robin Williams.  He was a good actor and a great entertainer, but Fiorella does not feel a personal loss.  It's sad that he committed suicide, but every suicide is sad.  Every death is sad.  We'd all prefer our friends and families to live for at least as long as we do.

But Robin Williams was not a member of our families.  Maybe Mork was, or Mrs. Doubtfire, but not the man behind the mask.  He chose to leave the stage, and we'll never quite know why.

Refreshed

Sorry to make you wait
But Fiorella slept late
So now she's feeling grrrrrreat!

Up, Fio, up and away!
You've got a world to save today!

Guten Morgen. Preevyet!

The languages are leaking out of Fiorella night and day--bits and pieces of tongues she has studied through the years, but mainly das Deutsch und/ee rooskee yazeek.  And the wonderful thing is that, when she uses simple phrases, other words and phrases pop into her head.

Verstehen sie?  Pahnimahyitzee lee vwee? 

A bientot!

Selling the Book

Fiorella has been busily engaged in recruiting people to pass along bookmarks advertising her and her books, the one coming out in September and the one coming out next year.  She hit up her cousins in Ohio, Tennesse, and Georgia first, then branched out to friends and people who had expressed an interest in her literary career.  Everyone she has approached has graciously asked for bookmarks, which means Fio is arranging to get more printed.

Would you like some?

Better and Better

Fiorella is still experiencing the thrills of 3D when she takes Sonia around the driveway.  The trees seem to advance upon her as walks toward them, as if it's a mutual meeting.  And she sees their roundness and marvels at the roughness of their bark.  On a more practical level, she can also see through the cedar thicket at the west end of the driveway to check for deer.

OMG, what would a deer vaulting across the path look like?

Cyclops Sees!

Fiorella has made a wonderful discovery--3D!  Yes, if she wears glasses with yellow lenses, she can see depth again--at least while she's out walking the dog.

Fiorella lost her depth vision many years ago when an infection attacked her maculas, destroying the central vision in her left eye.  It took a while to get used to being a Cyclops, but Fiorella soon learned not to look at steps when she was going down them, and to judge distance by shadows and perspective.  She still ends up driving over curbs every now and then and sometimes pours milk onto the table rather than into a cup, but, all in all, she does okay.  In fact, she thought she had  forgotten what it was like to see depth.

Until she put on the glasses with the yellow lenses.  Are you ready for another walk, Sonia?

Walking Sonia

The walk started out well.  Fiorella escorted Sonia Dog up the south driveway, requesting that she "sit" at various times as cars went by.  They walked the road and down the north driveway without incident, then began to retrace their steps by going up the south drive again. Fiorella basked in the morning sunshine and the obedience of her sweet dog.

Until, heading down the north driveway again, Sonia caught sight of a deer dumb enough to leap through the cedar thicket.  Doggie, of course, tore after her, her red leash flying behind her.  After cris-crossing the thicket a couple of times, Sonia returned to the driveway, but instead of coming to Mommy, she galloped to the front porch and waited to be let in.

Needless to say, Sonia did NOT get a treat.