Randy | October 5, 2024
“All this to bring us here tonight where no man is of a piece, unless that’s all you’ve left of him.” ~ Dark Sentiments Season 15 — Day 2: Authority With your blood clearly still up from last night’s Sword Dance, I would be remiss in abandoning the saga of Donald McBane whose early experiments […]
Randy | October 4, 2024
Tonight’s Dark Sentiment grew out of two inspirations. This oft quoted witticism: “Never give a sword to a man who can’t dance.” ~ Celtic Proverb And the other, the life of Scottish soldier, prize fighter, Swordmaster, brothel keeper, notorious duellist, and all around self-made sonofabitch, Donald McBane (1664 – 12 April 1732), author of The […]
Randy | October 1, 2024
Welcome back to our fireside, goode and weary Pilgrim, and this 15th Season of Dark Sentiments. Here, by the grim and unflinching Watchstone, we can take our ease, speak freely, and match observations with the utterances of those who would proclaim laws to have it otherwise. We don’t cater to weakness here, nor do we […]
Randy | September 28, 2024
In these waning hours of September, the last few lengthening nights before the onset of that most blessed month of October, launch of the 15th Season of Dark Sentiments is breathing down our necks. Eleven year old #1 Son Viktor is a young Man of many skills, and no small amount of self-propelled motivation to […]
Randy | July 25, 2024
This poem sprang spontaneously from the offering of a very tasty clutch of nuts proferred to my hand this morning by Mrs. LFM with the words, “I went shopping hungry.” The advice that follows is something we’ve all heard, even as some of us know better than to take it too far, if at all, […]
Randy | June 23, 2024
For those of you who don’t recognize the Latin phrase in today’s title, I will point you to my explanatory article A Bit About In Ferro Veritas which was published here more than a decade ago as part of a series that you can peruse by clicking here. Let that stand as an introduction to […]
Randy | April 28, 2024
This year’s iteration of my natal day, being the annual observance of delight for those who wish me well, and disappointment for those who don’t, fell as always, coincident with St. George’s Day. The tableau above consists of representative physical manifestations of the former. Clockwise from top left: The latest from my Esteemed Friend Stephen […]
Randy | February 4, 2024
As I write, we are in the midst of a predicted three day fall of light, drifting snow creating conditions ideal for living exclusively off the avails of Hearth and Home. Never one to regard an equine endowment in the dentition, the exquisite Mrs. LFM (a sweet diversion in her own right) looked out upon […]
Randy | January 14, 2024
For your delectation today I’m taking you on a walk in the woods while running off at the mouth on an assortment of related topics from preparedness to garniture, how not to die of the shits, wardrobe, and do please try to be a part of the solution instead of the problem?
Randy | December 21, 2023
As I write to you this evening Goode Reader, it is to the clamorous accompaniment of the Wild Hunt shredding the very tops of the Hemlocks. Most appropriately timed, for 23:27 Atlantic Time this Midwinter Night marks the moment of our embarkation on yet another pilgrimage upon the steep and slippery slope leading up to […]