The Vulgar Eclectic
Vulgar: of the usual, typical, or ordinary kind
definitions courtesy of Merriam-Webster
Eclectic: composed of elements drawn from various sources
recent blog posts
- Sailing Alone Around the World by Joshua Slocum
A while ago, I finished reading Sailing Alone Around the World by Joshua Slocum (1900). This engaging memoir was written shortly after Slocum returned from his more than three year journey over the briny seaways of the globe.
Beginning in 1893, he worked for over a year rebuilding a sloop he named the Spray in Massachusetts. In the spring of 1895, he set off on what would become the first solo circumnavigation of the globe. He faced long periods of isolation, extreme weather and storms, dangerous passage through the Strait of Magellan, pursuit by pirates, attacks by natives in Tierra del Fuego, and the challenges of navigation and maintaining and repairing nautical equipment.
His voyage eventually covered around 46,000 miles. His longest stretch of isolation aboard his ship at sea was 72 days; in addition to the many months at sea, he relates numerous stops in many ports and at a multitude of islands. His adventures and the people he encounters are described in a lively and vivid manner, making the book a memorable and highly enjoyable read. Slocum’s love of nature, people, and the freedom of travel and exploration makes one want to follow in his footsteps.
“I had already found that it was not good to be alone, and so I made companionship with what there was around me, sometimes with the universe and sometimes with my own insignificant self; but my books were always my friends, let fail all else. Nothing could be easier or more restful than my voyage in the trade-winds.”
Joshua Slocum aboard the Spray, a 37 foot sloop - Another beetle
I found this little guy on the floor. Part of one of its front legs is missing. After scooping him up, I put him in the terrarium we have. I figured he might do better in there where there is good coverage and food. I’ve been noticing him (or another beetle) in the mornings eating in the terrarium and then retiring under a honey locust seed pod.
It is some sort of Eleodes beetle (commonly called darkling beetles). I thought at first it might be Eleodes obscura, but it seems to be missing the anterior tooth projection on the front femurs that help distinguish that variety.
- Katydid
I discovered this critter while moving some scrap pieces of siding a few mornings ago. It was on the underside of the board, seeking refuge from the overnight freeze. I believe it is a broad-winged katydid (Microcentrum rhombifolium). It’s beautiful and delicate-appearing green, leaf-like wings are a great example of an insect using mimesis.
- The Misanthrope by Moliere
From April 2022:
I just finished reading The Misanthrope (1666), a play by Moliere, translated by John Wood and David Coward. It was an engaging and fast-paced read centered on the character of Alceste, who, presumptuously dismissive of every form of duplicity and hypocrisy, is determined to speak truthfully regardless of social circumstances. Even though he disparages all of society, he finds himself smitten by Célimène, a beautiful young woman who encourages many suitors with her charm.
Through the interactions of the characters, many of which express rather extreme examples of a range of individual virtue and personal philosophies, Moliere appears to comment on the relationship between human nature and society.
I was reminded of a line from King Lear: “Know thou this: that men are as the time is.” This was spoken by the villain, Edmund, as an excuse for his grasping and unscrupulous actions. One can read King Lear as an argument for the timelessness of virtue and human nature. Moliere, with a softer tone, seems to agree. The characters of Éliante and Philinte seem to be the closest thing to a model of reasonable response to the pressures of society and the realities of human nature.
“Men ought to be different from what they are.”
Theatrical frontispiece for Moliere’s Le Misantrope; the design is attributed to French artist and illustrator Pierre Brissart and was engraved by Jean Sauvé for the 1682 posthumously published eight-volume collection of Molière’s complete works (Les Œuvres de Monsieur de Molière) - Triangulate Cobweb Spider
I’ve had the same dresser since junior high. It’s a beautiful, old, unfinished wood dresser. In a few spots, if you look closely, you can tell that it was once painted a light green. I think my parents might have stripped it when they picked it up somewhere, but I’m not sure.
I had moved it out to the living room while I was getting some work done in my bedroom. Our space is pretty tiny (it’s a converted single-stall garage with a small added on room), and I really wanted to get the dresser back in the bedroom. There’s still a bit of work left, but I figured it was close enough and started removing the drawers so I could slide the empty dresser into the bedroom.
While doing that, I thought it would be a good time to condition the wood. It was looking faded and a bit dry. So I used a beeswax-based conditioner, working it into the surfaces of the dresser. It really looks nice!
In the process, I decided to make a few repairs on the drawers, as well. One drawer had quite a bit of damage to the bottom and sides. Several years ago, I repaired it as well as I could with the tools on hand, which, I learned upon examining the drawer today, must have included a hot glue gun. I figured I could do a better job with wood glue and clamps, plus I wanted to fix another drawer that had some significant cracks in the sides.
After starting on the first of the repairs, I picked up the second drawer, flipped it over, and discovered this spider and her seven egg sacs! She moved around a bit, but didn’t want to leave her eggs. So, I took a few pictures and then carefully got her and the egg sacs into a glass and took them all out to the shed, where I hope they have a good life with lots of food.
I have seen this species of spider many times. I remember cleaning up the old, incredibly dusty, dirt floor garage of a rental house I once lived at. I found lots of these spiders, some that were surprisingly large. I always thought their bodies looked strikingly similar to black widows, which I’ve also seen numerous times. After sending a picture of this one to my family, my sister identified it as a triangulate cobweb spider (Steatoda triangulosa), and it turns out to be in the same family as black widows (Theridiidae). So it seems the physical similarities are likely not just a coincidence. The cobweb spider is not known to be harmful to humans.