full moon?

2019 0912 8:14:37 pm last evening: moon 98.8 waxing gibbous. May be, what? past full and waning by that same time tonight? IDK. There were years when I'd have known for sure, as moon phase and brightness could affect stargazing plans for my telescope.

Reading, birthday week initially somewhat committed to reading, finished Trevor Noah, one of two books, last night; now reading further into Robb White's book; have two books ordered, "The Road Beyond Ruin" and "Educated: A Memoir" which, Track Package, should be in my post office box as I write.

Recommended by my longtime close Navy friend, "Born A Crime" did not disappoint and might be on the book club list of anyone interested in truth. Trevor Noah is filled with wisdom born of life. His stories are well told, tense, frightening, funny, in a life that defines existential terror. Each chapter is complete, an essay, and before each chapter Noah has an observation that may somehow edge the reader into the picture ahead. This one below helped me understand Trevor Noah as, more than anything else, a pragmatic philosopher: 

"I don't regret anything I've ever done in life, any choice that I've made. But I'm consumed with regret for the things I didn't do, the choices I didn't make, the things I didn't say. We spend so much time being afraid of failure, afraid of rejection. But regret is the thing we should fear most. Failure is an answer. Rejection is an answer. Regret is an eternal question you will never have an answer to. "What if ..." "If only ..." "I wonder what would have ..." You will never, never know, and it will haunt you for the rest of your days." (Trevor Noah, "Born A Crime", Spiegel and Grau NY 2019 p. 143)

This evening I'll give the book to Kristen, though Trevor's language is rough, almost as rough as my last book read, "The Casual Vacancy", which I ordered the tv miniseries DVD and've not watched yet but will. I reckon Kristen can take the language, Papa's baby, but she's 26, Richard's classmate and age. 

Other things, personal and not, seem, indeed are, rather in abeyance while thinking and emotions get sorted out or, more likely, are left to settle on their own. After birthday and all that glitters, I may buy a red snapper to bake. As a kindness, do not send greetings tomorrow, please. 

Tropical storm moving into position as Ray, family & friends leave after work this evening for Miami, to board ship for a long planned and much anticipated weeklong cruise. "Fair winds and following seas" is our best wish from sailing ship days, from which some think Old Fr Tom dates his Navy years.

Pubic universities ranking for 2020, like it. UMich #3 and UFla #7 tie. https://www.usnews.com/best-colleges/rankings/national-universities/top-public

Friday the 13th, full moon?

RSF&PTL anyhow

T