Master, bless.

My most precious ones,

this afternoon, as I was eating dinner and watching a bit of television, to my surprise I saw that Tom Felton was being interviewed on Much Music in Toronto. He is such a charming, personable young man. He was also being mobbed by a large crowd of young women, which amused me quite a lot.

I have created a photo book featuring thirty of the most beautiful photographs that my friend Diane and I took last sunday; it is entitled Let my prayer arise. Each photo is enlarged so that it fills the entire page (8.5X11). I have ordered copies and can hardly wait to see the result of my efforts... At some point in the coming weeks, I shall organize a draw for the members of robed_embrace, the object of which will be a copy of said photo book. It is not on my website yet, but you can look at a preview here.

After I have published The flawed master, I shall publish the fifth volume of my livejournal ramblings; I have finally decided upon a title, No lasting city. Then I shall write the one thing needful and A Princely Calling: Severus Snape and monastic self-surrender...

In august 2010, after Infinitus, I shall take a two month vacation, I think. No, I shall definitely take a vacation. Recuperation will be a necessity after so much work.

But it is good. I live to love you.

Your devoted
Logospilgrim, the quiet professor

Master, bless.

My most precious ones,

I spent the afternoon watching the Michael Jackson memorial... It was so moving. I basically cried from beginning to end.

As his golden casket was brought before the stage and I heard the song that arose from the choir, my breath caught in my throat. Beholding the pain of his loved ones, I was heartbroken for them, yet at the sight of the casket and the red roses that embellished it, I felt joy for him... I thought, Look, it is his beautiful day... His Heavenly Wedding Day. He is like a bride adorned for the Bridegroom. Sickness and sorrow are no more; a human being is at peace.

On the large monitor above the stage, there was an image of gothic church windows, red and yellow, and the choir was singing "Soon and very soon, we are going to see the King." Oh, those perfect words... My soul shuddered with unbridled, indescribable delight.

I have never had much of a taste for Gospel, but that may change. The hymn is going through my mind again and again. It is so... like milk and honey. More precious than gold.

Death, where is thy sting?

Just now, I could not resist the urge to kiss the Sacred Heart of Jesus rosary that I keep in a box in front of my computer. The clear crystal bead rosary is adorned with red and gold... The box itself is golden and lined with red velvet.

Ah, someday... I too, by God's grace, shall fully see the King of Kings and Lord of Lords. He is my peace, my joy, my eternal life.

But I also see Him in your faces, my dearest ones. This makes earthly life almost like paradise, so I am consoled.

The eye is the lamp of the body. To know this is to know God and happiness.

Your devoted
Logospilgrim, the quiet professor

Master, bless.

My most precious ones,

thank you from the bottom of my heart for your kind words about the photographs Diane and I took on sunday, and for indulging my lunacy playfulness as well. I had so wanted to give the Potions Master a memorial (however successfully I managed to do so)! I could not quite help myself.

I am thinking of a line from "The Addams Family" that has always profoundly amused me: Gomez and Morticia are reminiscing, going back to the day when they met, and Morticia says softly, "It was my first funeral."

The first galleries featured portraits that were taken in front of an extremely old mausoleum. It is tucked away, almost out of sight, around a bend in the road. One must be a wanderer to come across it; I encountered it many years ago. I still love to go there... I sit and pray, read holy books, contemplate. It is a special place that I thus shared with you. A cherished, tranquil place.



Good night, most beloved.

Your devoted
Logospilgrim, the quiet professor

Master, bless.

My dearest ones,

here is the seventh gallery.

Please read the humorous introduction before you proceed further! These photographs may be a little intense.

They involve [highlight to view spoiler]: Me, looking like I am dead. Or at least, according to Diane and her family, I do! If this is something you find too distressing, do not click on the link... I am just cosplaying.



( More here. )

Well, goodness, there we are. I am thoroughly exhausted. I hope that you enjoyed these latest photos; Diane and I plan to do another shoot in the fall (she is getting an even more advanced camera).

Now I am going to have a snack, watch an amusing DVD, relax. Tomorrow, I shall get back to work on The flawed master.

Your devoted
Logospilgrim, the quiet professor

Master, bless.

My dearest ones,

here is the sixth gallery.

Pure cosplay is about to begin, but an introduction is necessary!

As I mentioned a few days before the photo shoot, there has been something I have yearned to do ever since Deathly Hallows, and I daresay even long prior to said book's release, feeling quite certain in my heart that the Potions Master would give all he had to give.



It was a very sunny day yesterday.

( More photos here, and additional humorous rambling. )

The last gallery in a moment, most beloved.

Your devoted
Logospilgrim, the quiet professor

Master, bless.

My dearest ones,

here is the fifth gallery.




( More here. )

Two more galleries left.

Your devoted
Logospilgrim, the quiet professor

Master, bless.

My dearest ones,

here is the fourth gallery.





( More here. )

Your devoted
Logospilgrim, the quiet professor

Master, bless.

My dearest ones,

here is the third gallery.





( More here. )

Your devoted
Logospilgrim, the quiet professor

Master, bless.

My dearest ones,

here is the second gallery.





( More here. )

Your devoted
Logospilgrim, the quiet professor

Master, bless.

My most precious ones,

I have spent the entire day organizing photo galleries for you... I hope that you will enjoy them. I am delighted by what Diane and I created.

I sifted through the 200 I selected yesterday, and further narrowed them down to 47. I then put together seven galleries and uploaded the photos. The original files are quite large, though I resized them after the lengthy uploading process.

As you will see, Diane and I took a great amount of pleasure showcasing my dearest belluthien's immense skill and artistry (re: robes).

The pictures are quite symbolic. They are a metaphor for the spiritual struggles I endured this past year, but they also reflect the invincible sense of peace that has overcome every trial, and remains mine.

Many of the photos display subtle variations in angle; some are darker, some much paler. I like such effects.

The fourth gallery includes some of my personal favorites.

The sixth and seventh galleries feature outrageous cosplay.

On to the first gallery.



( More here. )

Your devoted
Logospilgrim, the quiet professor