SOLAR OBSERVATIONS FOR DECEMBER 1999

6:00pm: The state of CT needs more credentials to process my teaching license.

Now my $50 is 'awaiting evaluation.'

11:11pm: I cut my hair before the first day of school.

11:18pm: New neighborhood, old neighborhood

8:35pm: A theme.

11:27pm: I'm moving to West Hartford next month.

I've got too much junk to move.

10:50pm:

6:27pm: two cameras, two continents, two pink bikes

7:56pm: Boring photos

7:56pm: Tuesday
Today

7:19pm: the grammer lesson

9:22am: Greyhounds of the Deep II: What's Going On Over There?

10:16pm:

5:03pm:

11:10am: Today is Otho's birthday.
He was emperor for 95 days in AD 69, a rough year for the Roman Empire. He seized power by assassinating the elderly Galba (who had deposed Nero) after Galba adopted someone else. When that happened, Vitellius, who was commander in Germany, decided to march on Rome to make himself emperor. Otho and Vitellius fought a few battles and Otho's troops lost a big one. Otho decided to give up rather than fight on:

10 My father Suetonius Laetus took part in that war, as a tribune of the equestrian order in the Thirteenth legion. He used often to declare afterwards that Otho, even when he was a private citizen, so loathed civil strife, that at the mere mention of the fate of Brutus and Cassius at a banquet he shuddered; that he would not have engaged with Galba, if he had not felt confident that the affair could be settled peacefully; further, that he was led to hold his life cheap at that time by the example of a common soldier. This man on bringing news of the defeat of the army was believed by no one, but was charged by the soldiers now with falsehood and now with cowardice, and accused of running away; whereupon he fell on his sword at the emperor's feet. My father used to say that at this sight Otho cried out that he would no longer endanger the lives of such brave men, who had deserved so well.

Having therefore advised his brother, his nephew, and his friends one by one to look out each for his own safety as best they could, he embraced and kissed them all and sent them off. Then going to a retired place he wrote two notes, one of consolation to his sister, and one to Nero's widow Messalina, whom he had intended to marry, commending to her his corpse and his memory. Then he burned all his letters, to prevent them from bringing danger or harm to anyone at the hands of the victor. He also distributed what money he had with him among his servants.

11 When he had thus made his preparations and was now resolved upon death, learning from a disturbance which meantime arose that those who were beginning to depart and leave the camp were being seized and detained as deserters, he said "Let us add this one more night to our life" (these were his very words), and he forbade the offering of violence to anyone. Leaving the door of his bedroom open until a late hour, he gave the privilege of speaking with him to all who wished to come in. After that, quenching his thirst with a draught of cold water, he caught up two daggers, and having tried the point of both of them, put one under his pillow. Then closing the doors, he slept very soundly. When he at last woke up at about daylight, he stabbed himself with a single stroke under the left breast; and now concealing the wound, and now showing it to those who rushed in at his first groan, he breathed his last and was hastily buried (for such were his orders) in the thirty-eighth year of his age and on the ninety-fifth day of his reign.

12 Neither Otho's person nor his bearing suggested such great courage. He is said to have been of moderate height, splay-footed and bandy-legged, but almost feminine in his care of his person. He had the hair of his body plucked out, and because of the thinness of his locks wore a wig so carefully fashioned and fitted to his head, that no one suspected it. Moreover, they say that he used to shave every day and smear his face with moist bread, beginning the practice with the appearance of the first down, so as never to have a beard; also that he used to celebrate the rites of Isis publicly in the linen garment prescribed by the cult. 2 I am inclined to think that it was because of these habits that a death so little in harmony with his life excited the greater marvel. Many of the soldiers who were present kissed his hands and feet as he lay dead, weeping bitterly and calling him the bravest of men and an incomparable emperor, and then at once slew themselves beside his bier. Many of those who were absent too, on receiving the news attacked and killed one another from sheer grief. In short the greater part of those who had hated him most bitterly while he lived lauded him to the skies when he was dead; and it was even commonly declared that he had put an end to Galba, not so much for the sake of ruling, as of restoring the republic and liberty.

(Loeb Classical Library translation of Seutonius' Life of Otho)

6:43pm:

11:12pm: When I die
bury me with a jar of kimchi just in case there is an afterlife.

9:43pm: Tables for layout.

8:21pm:

8:25pm: Today's haul

7:08pm: Best bumper sticker today
Grace Episcopal Church Welcomes You

The Anglican Communion, Not So Much

12:56am:

12:05am: Which would you make a print of for my mom?
1.
2.

8:21pm:

1:38pm: GUESS WHO'S BACK

8:15pm: It was kind of humid today.