Wednesday, February 15, 2006

Noble and Blessed Ogre Day and Special Guest Wednesday

To all my friends in the spiritually rich and enlightened Cumudgeon Community, I bid thee an Ogre Day filled with quiet serenity and scaring children. Here to celebrate with me is our brilliant guest, Solace Cai. Solace was asked to define the word Fantasy. Here is her response:

Fantasy: Webster's dictionary defines fantasy as: "a play or story that is full
of imagination and is not real." But, who defines what is real? To one
man what is real is fantasy, to another the opposite. The real
difference between what is real and what is fantasy, is Time. In one
Era, what was real becomes only something of myth - legend a few
centuries later. The Holy Grail for example, who's to say it didn't
exist long ago, only to be destroyed in fire or flood? It is also
possible for Time to turm fantasy into reality. Space Travel. In the
time of the Greeks, they dreamed of men with wings who could soar into
the sky. Millenniums later, Orville and Wilbur Wright made man's dream
to fly come true, and a century or two later? Men were flying to the
moon, a feat that was just Fantasy in the time of the Greeks.

However, I think the best definition of fantasy resides in this anonymous quote:
"To the sober fantasy resides in a world that cannot be reached, to
the insane it is a world that cannot be left."

About Solace Cai: Solace belongs to that new species, the brilliant teenager, that I once believed only a Dddragon could beget. Her blog designs have been breathtaking since I first encountered her as far back as I go as a blogger. She writes four blogs, each of which showcase an aspect of her talent. Lonely House showcases her fiction writing, poetry and a diary of her life in which we discover a thoughtful and creative young woman, a devotee of Christian rock who gets out at night and a dedicated daughter. Much of her writing is so elegant and disciplined, it can be hard to credit her with her share of youth. Click on this post for a good example. With her friend who uses the name Aliandra Darkeyes, Solace also writes Twilight Requiem. If you had wondered whether even creative young women can act their age, I recommend this post from that blog. Her third, and more recent blog, Boarded-up Library gives background on characters she creates for her fiction. Her fourth blog Abandoned Art Gallery, displays her impressive work with photoshop, adding text to images. This site is fairly new but I enjoy her wit and the look of the posters she creates. Solace will begin college this fall at the University of North Carolina-Greensboro and we all should wish her (and the school) well with that.

By the way, this is the first Wednesday Guest post I didn't write in time to have it reviewed by the guest so if I got parts of her biography wrong this text may change soon.

About Ogre Day: Ogre Day is an ancient custom whose obscurest origins have been traced as far back as Friday-ish. Established by curmudgeonly proclamation as a rememberance that even in the midst of blooming romance, roses and chocolate some folks would just as soon cuss as coo, Ogre Day is a holiday for the ennobled surly. Bother.
Historians document that it was established on February 15th with the suggestion that this would allow the chic and romanticy to celebrate Valentine's Day in blissful obsession. Gullibility being a trait of the romantic even unto a good explanation for strange hair on the jacket and lipstick under the arm, the proposal was accepted without notice that Valentine's Day would henceforth be known as Ogre Day Eve. Hmph.

How to be a future guest on this site: Just send an email to dpascover at mac dot com. On a future Wednesday, after posting that week's guest, I'll send you an email with a word to define. You'll be expected to return your definition along with a graphic representing either your definition or yourself by the following Saturday. The only rules are no profanity and no novels, please. And whatever I make up at the last minute.

17 comments:

Sar said...

Solace - that's not only a great definition, it's great food for thought. Nicely done!

For my comment on today's word, I'm sure the obvious would be for me to write:

Fantasy: Jack Bauer

But, I also have a story today. Some years back in NJ, I listened to a rock station that featured morning theme blocks. Individual listeners could submit 3 songs while the balance of listeners would try to guess the theme. The block I submitted (and they actually played even though it was painfully obvious) was this:

1. Flesh For Fantasy - Billy Idol
2. Life Is Just a Fantasty - Aldo Nova
3. Sometimes a Fantasy - Billy Joel

As for Ogre Day? I'm all about enjoying quiet serentity but not scaring children, Doug. So I wish you a half-happy Ogre Day.

Indeterminacy said...

Doug: Where do you find all these brilliant, wonderful bloggers? I am stunned. And synchronicity (or is it anti-synchronicity this time) strikes again. My story today was about "reality."

Jamie Dawn said...

Hello to Solace! I enjoyed your definition and write up very much. I will take time later to visit your blogs. I look forward to it. I wish you much success as you begin college this fall. I'm sure your professors will be wishing more of their students were as bright, delightful, & intelligent as you. Greensboro is a nice city. I've been there on several ocassions, but I've never been on the campus. I also like the fact that it is near the birthplace of Krispy Kreme. Also, I've noticed that nearly everyone I've met in NC is a HUGE basketball fan - I'm not talking about the size of the fan, but the size of their obssession with the game & their teams.

Fantasy: Wishing, hoping & dreaming so much about something that you can actually see it in detail.
Example - I've enjoyed sitting on the porch of my southern home which is paid for in full, wearing size 8 jeans & humming a tune that won me a Grammy which is sitting in my lap.

mireille said...

Welcome Solace! And Doug, I have done the best I can with Ogre Day. I hope I've caught the spirit. xoxo

Doug The Una said...

Thanks, Sar, but curmudgeon's don't trifle with happiness. A half-transcendent Ogre Day is more appropriate. And I wish you the same.

Indie, I've actually "known" Solace for about as long as I've been blogging. She's an intermittent but faithful blog friend.

Oh, great, Jamie Dawn. Another ear-worm.

Mireille, you've acquitted yourself with style and grace as ever. A magnificent Ogre Day to you, Madame.

Minka said...

Wow, the comments today are close to essays in size.
I am gonna make it short...very well done Solace Cai. I like your name, discussion and quote! Nic eto make your aquaintance!

Fantasy,n. Similar to religion, if not the same. The continued hope of humankind that there must be something better, more magical and powerful than the present.

Jay Noel said...

Happy Ogre Day to you!

dddragon said...

hmmm ... I'm living my fantasy, having gotten my chocolate covered marshmallows and I'm ALL alone with them ...

Great write up, and at a glance, very interesting blogs. I'll have to go look more thoroughly.

Tom & Icy said...

we are impressed and overwhelmed!

Anonymous said...

Smooches to the smartest ogre of them all (that's you, Doug).
Have a fabulous day.
Great guest spot.

Cooper said...

Great definition solace. Nice to meet you.

Fantasy: some day my prince will come.

Janet said...

I'd like to say I'd define a word, but I'm afraid what word I'd get.

mireille said...

Did we do the Snarl Across America yet? I was hoping not to miss that. ♥ xoxo

Omnipotent Poobah said...

Hi Solace.

Excellent definition. I have to agree. It's darned hard to leave fantasyland here. That world out there scares me.

Doug The Una said...

Thanks, Monika. But does fantasy have candles?

Hey, thanks Phoenix. Have a glorious one.

Wow, Dddragon. Tip of my cap to Nod.

Breathe, Icy. Woof.

Thanks, Logo. I'm the cutest, too.

Alice, just call number 11 already.

Hurray, Janet. I'll add you to my list. Even ogres can be nice.

Well snarled, Mireille. Well snarled.

Well, Actonbell, we certainly don't go around saying geewillickers. I'll tell you that.

Miz BoheMia said...

Hi Solace! Great write-up and forgive me for being late to the party! Bohemians tend to be late when their DSL connection is shot! By next week, once up and running again, I shall delve into your worlds!

Doug, have been reading you but lost in cyberspace, computer problems and internet connections!

Fantasy... sleep, DSL, being first and on top of things always...

*sigh* a Bohemian can only dream!

Hobbes said...

I gess I realy dont have much to say, since this toppic doesent have anything to do with me!!!!!!!!
Exept: IN YOU'RE DREAMS, MR. DOG!!!!!!!