Brainstorming about history, politics, literature, religion, and other topics from a 'gypsy' scholar on a wagon hitched to a star.
Labels: Birthdays, Western Civilization
posted by Horace Jeffery Hodges @ 4:28 AM
34 comments
I am a retired professor. I last taught at Ewha Womans University, mostly composition, research writing, and cultural issues, but also the occasional graduate seminar on Gnosticism and Johannine theology and the occasional undergraduate course on European history. My doctorate is in history (U.C. Berkeley), with emphasis on religion and science. My thesis is on John's gospel and Gnosticism. I'm also an award-winning writer, and I recommend my novella, The Bottomless Bottle of Beer, to anyone interested. I'm originally from the Arkansas Ozarks, but my academic career -- funded through doctoral and postdoctoral fellowships (e.g., Fulbright, Naumann, Lady Davis) -- has taken me through Texas, California, Switzerland, Germany, Australia, and Israel and has landed me in Seoul, South Korea. I've also traveled to Mexico, visited much of Europe, including Moscow, and touched down briefly in a few East Asian countries. Hence: "Gypsy Scholar."
34 Comments:
Relax. I've got it covered.
As best I remember, when you were a baby you could squall and your mouth formed kind of a square look.
I think Pat didn't want to talk much about you. I questioned him and he said you were deformed. When pressed, he said, "Well, HANDS.... He's got the biggest hands I ever saw on a baby....and HEAD.....the biggest, ugliest head....and FEET....He's got the biggest feet....and BALLS....HE JUST BALLS (or was it just bawls?)....all the time!!!! At least this is the way I (want to) remember it.
Cran
Jeffery,
I know this sounds crazy but our posts show up as tomorrow, today.
so is your bday the 13th or the 14th
J
Well,
I forgot to wish you health and prosperity and all that. Do you celebrate with cake and candles and presents in the civilized world over there?
J
Oh yes, I almost forgot....HAPPY BIRTHDAY -- Best wishes, and many more good birthdays, dear nephew!
Cran
Happy Birthday!
"He's got the biggest feet....and BALLS."
Wow. And you were only an infant.
Happy birthday to a favorite blogger!
Sonagi
I was thinking you meant from now on you were doing without numbers?
You know, those Pirate guys from South Carolina, South Dakota?
Well, somewhere they don't have real numbers.
Oh heck, Washington DC. Now I remember, "the Piranhas."
JK
Thanks, everybody, for the comments.
I'm glad that someone as competent as a Bauman is holding the fort on this 14th day of May (here in Seoul), for if any walls need repair, the Bauman can rebuild.
Thanks to my Uncle Cran for putting me in my place . . . my birthday place, and in my birthday suit, too. Maybe that was more information than I needed to know, but I'm sure that everyone else has been entertained.
Uncle Cran is a minister, by the way . . . a lay minister, if I'm not mistaken. Okay, he may have been ordained, but it obviously didn't 'take' and will need to be redone.
Hathor was courteous, and too refined to notice the uncouth hillbilly talk. Kate Marie, too. Oh, and Jeanie. Ladies, all.
Sonagi, as always, is unclassifiable . . . but amusing.
And JK is suggesting that I do without numbers. You're right, JK. I'll stop counting the years.
(Musing . . . if only I could also do something as useful with my big hands, big head, and big feet...)
Jeffery Hodges
* * *
Jeff,
I am sending you another blank check in your belated bday card. Buy what you want!!
J
Happy birthday and all the best, etc.
Have a great day, Birthday-Boy.
Thanks, Jeanie. That first blank check came in handy. I wrote it in for six figures and presume that it cleared the bank. I'm surprised that you still have funds to cover another blank check! I'll try six figures again, okay?
Jeffery Hodges
* * *
Erdal and Daddio, thanks for the birthday greetings.
Jeffery Hodges
* * *
Actually, an ordained minister.
I apologize for mis-spelling Bawls (meaning lusty crying). Bradley said you cried for months, until they finally figured out you couldn't tolerate certain formulas.
Once that problem (FORMULA) was resolved, the BAWLING stopped.
At least, to my knowledge.
Again, my apologies.
Cran
Lusty! I see that you're still harping on that theme!
Jeffery Hodges
* * *
My dictionary has the following definitions for "Lusty."
1. full of or characterized by youthful spirit, vigor, etc,; stout; vigorous; robust; healthy; lively.
2. bulky; large; of great size.
3. beautiful; handsome; pleasing,
4. impudent.
5. lustful
2 through 5 are listed as obsolete.
But take your pick, professor.
Cran
I see. You're claiming that at birth, I was already four-fifths obsolete!
Jeffery Hodges
* * *
Happy birthday.
Tim
That must be "Brother" Tim (as opposed to some other, outlandish 'Tim' of the Anderson sort).
Thanks, Tim. This birthday was nearly my 'deathday'. See following entry...
Jeffery Hodges
* * *
Well, number 2 seems apropos.
Hello, nephew Tim (?).
Cran
That's better. Only one-fifth obsolete.
Jeffery Hodges
* * *
Late to the party as usual, but better late than never, as they say: happy (rather belated) birthday!
I can't believe we've gone almost the entire semester without meeting up for a drink or two or twenty. This will have to be remedied at some point in the near future.
Belated? You were almost too late for my funeral!
Anyway, the remedy for the other delayed activity will likely have to come this summer, when the living is easy...
Jeffery Hodges
* * *
Happy belated birthday Jeff! I'm certain I mean "bawls" as in bawling. But...who knows (Sun-Ae I assume!).
Love,
Pat
Speaking of belated birthdays . . . there was yours back on the 5th.
Happy Birthday!
As for the anatomical report . . . I think that Uncle Cran was relating a joke that he'd heard, but given your very early linguistic skills, you could easily have uttered those sentiments.
And three-quarters of the description actually fit!
(By the way, are you implying that Sun-Ae might be able to compare?)
Jeffery Hodges
* * *
Happy birthday! (I'm late as always.) I wish you many, happy, lozenge-free returns.
Thank you, Deogolwulf. I will avoid lozenges if I am free to do so.
Speaking of which, our mutual friend Malcolm Pollack has finally gotten around to a discussion of free will and determinism, upon which I've also commented (including in a post here at Gypsy Scholar).
The debate, of course, is determined -- or perhaps free -- to continue.
Jeffery Hodges
* * *
I have been reading the posts of the estimable Mr Pollack with great interest; it is just that recently I haven't got round to interrupting his flow with my tuppenny-comments. And, if you don't mind my saying, and for what it's worth, I thought your post on reasons and causes was excellent. I am therefore hoping to watch the two of you battle it out, though, when it comes to making my own muddled mind up, naturally I might not be able to choose between you.
Why, thank you, Deogolwulf. I've always admired your writing and reasoning, so I accept the compliment with humble pride.
The distinction is one that I need to do some more thinking about, but I believe that my basic distinction (hardly original to me) between reasons and causes is crucial to a fruitful discussion of free will.
Jeffery Hodges
* * *
You are much, much too kind. It is I who am now glowing with pride.
That reminds me that I need to visit your site and do some intensive reading of all the posts that you've put up recently but that I've missed out on due to intensive grading of lamentable student essays.
See you there soon.
Jeffery Hodges
* * *
Professor , this is the crazy student in your class who prefer grey's anatomy over multiculturalism. I was searching for articles on google and I 'accidentally' landed here..Do I get extra points if i cite from one of your articles? *giggles
This is super late, but happy belated birthday :)
Grey's Anatomy? Is that the medical tome or the TV show?
Thanks for the birthday greetings.
Jeffery Hodges
* * *
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