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RE: St. Jerry's Virtual Scriptorium
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Archived from the "old WJ": St. Jerry's Virtual Scriptorium
5:07 PM EDT 8/7/08
This is an archived thread. Please use the new "St. Jerry's Virtual Scriptorium ... a new beginning" discussion for posts and comments. -thanks!

St. Jerome is the patron saint of writers, journalists, and librarians. After a long career of

preaching under the protection of Pope Damasus (and after scandalous rumors involving St. Paula) he fled to the east, where he and St. Paula founded separate (but presumed equal) monasteries and he wrote the Vulgate (the official Catholic Bible until replaced by the New Vulgate in 1979). He's recorded as having died in 420 but this, he tells me, was strictly to throw people off to the fact that he and Paula had stumbled onto the benefits of good diet and regular exercise.

St. Jerry's Virtual Scriptorium and Coffee House sits on a side street in a nondescript part of town. I'm pledged not to say where, unfortunately, but--thanks to the wonders

of Internet Technology--you can be there.

Nowadays, Jerry affects a B-movie British accent, a neatly clipped beard, and has a predilection for good scotch. I expect he may be by, now and then, but he and Paula were planning another vacation (southern France, I think, but I'm not sure for how long) and he left me the keys.

The lighting's none too good, there are bookcases everywhere (like in a good, old fashioned, used bookstore) with books, and more books, old books and new books, stacked, scattered and strewn hither and yon. And there is a PC, or two, on a back table.

The chairs are old, upholstered and overstuffed in oxblood leather with dull brass nail head trim. Most of the other furniture is even older, stuff Paula picked up in their travels, so please do be careful. The Coffee House bar is an old oak library circulation desk. You'll usually find me behind it, fussing with the espresso machine.

The food's passably good, the coffee usually even better. You need only ask. (The residuals on the Vulgate were, ah, considerable.)

The fireplace is always lit.

What's the deal you ask?

Oh, sorry, I hadn't mentioned that part yet. Jerry thinks good conversation's fun and asks that we bring up quotes, or ideas, and discuss them at our leisure. Quotes won't buy you a cup of coffee (just ask for that), but they're likely to start off an interesting conversation.

And, I almost forgot, there's that time machine back behind the coatroom--you never know who might be coming by with a comment or two. All I know is that Jerry and Paula have friends everywhere, and everywhen.

You might know some of them, too.
RE: St. Jerry's Virtual Scriptorium
3:02 PM EDT 6/20/04 as a reply to Bob Watson.
So ... who's for a virtual drink? Coffee? Tea?

Something a mite -- make that two mites -- stronger?
RE: incarnation
3:02 PM EDT 6/20/04 as a reply to Bob Watson.
Round and round we go and one day maybe we will get it just right. Even so, it is worth the effort to keep on trying. I would be a fool not to ask you to set me up with a double shot of Bushmills!

"What labor it cost me, what difficulties I went through, how often I despaired and abandoned it and began again to learn, both I, who felt the burden, and they who lived with me, can bear witness. I thank our Lord that I now gather such sweet fruit from the bitter sowing of those studies."

St. Jerome, 411 AD

born Eusebius Hieronymous Sophronius 342 AD

(no wonder he prefers to be called Jerry!)
RE: RE: incarnation
3:02 PM EDT 6/20/04 as a reply to Bob Watson.
Oh, 'tis true. Roundabout and up and down, eh 'dog?

Double Bushmill's, for sure. Ice or straight?

Jerry's *always* been a bit embarrassed by that name, or so he says. It's sometimes hard to tell what sensibility he's brought with him, what with the centuries flying by the way they have. I do suspect, though, that he forgave his mother for it!
RE: frigerate me
3:02 PM EDT 6/20/04 as a reply to Bob Watson.
Ice would be great - I will just drink it fast!
RE: RE: frigerate me
3:02 PM EDT 6/20/04 as a reply to Bob Watson.
But of course ... though considering the New England weather, I might think you've had enough of that. ;-)

So how's life treating you?

<wiping counter>
RE: fresh my soul
3:02 PM EDT 6/20/04 as a reply to Bob Watson.
ahhhh, funny you should ask and funny you should mention New England weather. We are jetting off tomorrow morning at 8 am to spend Christmas week on the islands of St Thomas and St John USVI!

Today I was riding my snowmobile, tomorrow I will be snorkeling with tropical fish!
RE: RE: fresh my soul
3:02 PM EDT 6/20/04 as a reply to Bob Watson.
Well then, I suspect the rum would be a good choice. ;-)

Have a good trip and see you when you get back -- though it may be that I'll be in Florida then.

Anyone else?

<fiddling with espresso machine>

You gotta tamp the coffee *just right* for this thing to work ...
RE: RE: RE: fresh my soul
3:02 PM EDT 6/20/04 as a reply to Bob Watson.
Just noting that I'm away until Jan. 5. Open bar!
RE: scriptorium vs. library
3:02 PM EDT 6/20/04 as a reply to Bob Watson.
ah, my first time learning about a scriptorium. i'll have my usual grey goose martini, up, with a twist. (funny we're all getting virtually sloshed in a room meant for a monastery ...)

btw: what's the difference between a scriptorium and a library?

librarybob and maddog, we miss you around here but hope you're having a wonderful holiday.

for when you get back: is the space for talking about any quote/document/theme? or just jerry's?
RE: turn of the dog
3:02 PM EDT 6/20/04 as a reply to Bob Watson.
I'm baaaaacccck! Phew - what a long couple of plane rides but the trip was awesome! I have a lot of pix to share. Maybe I should start a Boring Slideshow of My Vacation topic, heheh!

I will be happy to tend bar here until the return of librarybob.

Chrystie, I do not think this topic is meant only for discussing Jerry's exploits. I believe any good quote that inspires a bit of discussion is well worth the cost of a virtual drink.
RE: ally smooth
3:02 PM EDT 6/20/04 as a reply to Bob Watson.
<img src="http://plaidworks.com/~maddog/pix/greygoosemartini.jpg" alt="We serve only the virtual best!" title="We serve only the virtual best!"><img src="http://www.electricminds.org/~maddog/pix/gargoyle.gif" alt="At your service!" title="At your service">

Here ya go, Chrystie...
RE: call
3:02 PM EDT 6/20/04 as a reply to Bob Watson.
Anyone else with a need for a drink and/or a discussion? What's your pleasure?

As Jerry once said:

Where thy treasure is, there thy heart is also
RE: RE: scriptorium vs. library
3:02 PM EDT 6/20/04 as a reply to Bob Watson.
We can discuss whatever folks want ... Jerry's not likely to be around anyway, what with his schedule and all.

I think it's "scriptorium" (where books are written, if memory serves) because it scans better than "library" in the title. Truth to tell, this is the fourth incarnation of St. Jerry's Virtual Scriptorium ... the coffeehouse and bar of choice for discriminating librarians. ;-)
RE: turn of the sunburned bartender
3:02 PM EDT 6/20/04 as a reply to Bob Watson.
Hi Bob - welcome back! How was your trip to Florida?
RE: RE: cognizing distinction
3:02 PM EDT 6/20/04 as a reply to Bob Watson.
An espresso then? Maybe a latte -- I recall some years ago how my sister *had* to get me to a drive-in coffee place as soon as I landed at Sea-Tac.

Next thing I knew, the darn things were everywhere. ;-)

Or maybe just a bit of kahlua in whathaveyou.

Nice quote ... why do you think it's so appropos right now? I know you're busy behind the scenes.
RE: RE: RE: cognizing distinction
3:02 PM EDT 6/20/04 as a reply to Bob Watson.
First, maddog had his storm pictures - discussed with Pam in another topic.

Then, you said it is cold in the midwest.

As for Seattle - we had our first snow storm since 1996 - these last two days have been our first Snow Days in years!

Everyone is out to the coffee shops (close to home). It's wonderful!

Perhaps it was all a little too ambiguous. I'm just all over the board these days. emoticon

Besides the weather, WJ is still in the "learning how to sail" phase, that's for sure! But we seem to be getting on ok, considering.

In May it will be one year. Wow!
RE: RE: RE: RE: cognizing distinction
3:02 PM EDT 6/20/04 as a reply to Bob Watson.
Can't leave you all drinking alone during all the great winter weather - I'll just have a coffee with Bailey's, please (the best of both worlds, don't you think?)

My favorite quote, posted here in our library: "Libraries will get you throught times of no money better than money will get you through times of no libraries."

And, time flies - May will be here before you know it! Any big anniversary celebration plans?

Beat this: we had a few chilly days well below 0 (high of -22 Monday). Thankfully we are above 0 today (high of 15 - felt great!).

Off to Sundance Film Festival next week - have never been, so am really looking forward to the trip.
RE: RE: turn of the sunburned bartender
3:02 PM EDT 6/20/04 as a reply to Bob Watson.
Thanks for minding the bar, 'dog.

Florida, Orlando really, was wonderful. The weather was unusually good for the week we were there -- highs in the upper 70s or low 80s.

As I've told others, my wife is a "Disney addict" and we wind up going there pretty often. We're Disney Vacation Club members and stayed at Old Key West.

There's a longish story packed into that -- let's just say that DVC is, by far, the cheapest way for Disney addicts to get their fix. Not that I don't like Walt Disney World, especially Epcot, myself.

One amusing incident -- on New Year's Eve we were at the very top of the Spaceship Earth ride (inside that giant geodesic globe) when the ride broke down. We had to walk down past all of the animatronic figures, so I've now got a couple photos of my kids posing among the Rennaisance scholars. :-)

Kinda cool, really.

How are things in the northeast? Damned cold here in the midwest lately.

Coffee anyone? Brewed fresh!
RE: cognizing distinction
3:02 PM EDT 6/20/04 as a reply to Bob Watson.
ha! i must admit, i'm not very discriminating when it comes to bars. i like them all!

coffee? now, that is another matter!

here's a quote - it's in the WJ newsletter this month. curiously fits into our conversation today...

I am not afraid of storms, for I am learning how to sail my ship. -LMA
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