Windy...

After work I walked to the library and back to my place. It was windy. Sunny, warm, otherwise pleasant, but so windy that I had clutch the masonry on the Bank Street bridge when I went across. I was going to cut across Lansdowne Park, but a cop stopped me and said it wasn't safe: that large pieces of plywood had been blown off the buildings and were blowing around the parking lot. So I stuck to Bank Street.

Then I remembered there was a tornado warning.

It was a bit of a relief to get home, safe and sound.

Dothraki...

maaseru now gets HBO, which means we can watch A Game of Thrones. So while she was showing me today what shows she gets, we chanced upon a fascinating behind-the-scenes feature on the Dothraki language.

They needed a language for the Dothraki to speak, so they went to the Language Creation Society and had one made to order.

I never even knew there was such a Society. I should have known; I love invented languages. So cool. All I remember of Dothraki from the books are the words Khal and Khalessi. There are samples and discussions of it online here.

And then after going so far as to invent the language, they made the poor actors and actresses actually speak the thing. I am impressed. Actors work hard for their pay. It reminds me of Klingon: a tough manly language with lots of gutterals, for a manly warrior race. Just about every translated excerpt they showed, was a threat.

I love the care and artistry they've put into the details in this show. It's following the lead of Peter Jackson with Lord of the Rings and, as with Tolkien, it's paying off.

Less surprisingly, there's a forum on Dothraki on the Westeros website.

Alter Ego...

I signed up for French classes today. The teacher interviewed me to determine my level; it turns out to be Intermediate A23, which I'll be doing on Mondays and Wednesdays between 5:30 and 7:30. I'd be doing the afternoon intensive, if they were running it; but the only intensive is in the mornings.

I was very excited. Wanted to read and study my textbooks as soon as I got home. Instead, I fell asleep. Huh. Better not do that every day. I guess being buffeted around by all that wind was tiring.

Happy Birthday, Martha...

Had a lovely meal with friends at Fat Tuesday's in the market, celebrating Martha's birthday. I'm not sure exactly which birthday - she didn't say and I didn't ask - I suspect she's a year or two older than I am, but I'm not sure.

Anyway, I good time was had by all. I had calamari and Caesar salad, and Martha and I each had our palms read by the resident palm reader, Joslyn. It was a wonderful reading, really was.

Last time I had my palm read, it was by walkingowl, who has now been dead almost a year. I still miss her. But her absence no longer feels raw and painful.

Time to go to bed...

Because I'm planning to get up early to see the Royal Wedding tomorrow.

Looking forward to it, too.