Randi 
YES, FOLKS, I am very-geekily-excited to have discovered that Mikhail Lermontov — the Russian Romantic poet who wrote A Hero of Our Time — composed a free translation of J. W. von Goethe‘s famous short poem “Wandrers Nachtlied II” (aka “Über allen Gipfeln…”)! (Anyone who has taken formal German classes should recognize that!) Goethe’s poem has left … Read more…
Ignore, for a minute, the tremendous irony of the title. Some time ago, a friend of mine who is a Benedictine monk (and priest) shared with me a remark made by his novice master: “Every now and then, try to have an unpublished thought.” That small remark has stuck with me in the back of … Read more…
Three years ago, I was lucky enough to visit the the most famous art museum in St. Petersburg, Russia — the Hermitage — housed in what was formerly the Winter Palace. It was just as much a monument to beauty as you might expect, except for one thing. Something that rather tarnished the experience overall, … Read more…
Folks, I fell off the wagon. I’m sure you’re not surprised to hear it. Even when I made that 4-book diet resolution, I was already cheating on it. BUT IT’S ‘KAY because the books I’m reading this month are even better than last month’s! My spiritual reading pick hasn’t changed (I’ll be reading The Imitation … Read more…
You’ve met Catirna Elkela, you’ve met Axel Pavlekel … and now it’s time to meet the link that holds them together: a rebellious whirlwind of a princess known to the public as Kityanka Elkela. (But between you and me, that’s not her real name.) She’s not mentioned in the story blurb. However, she’s the reason … Read more…