History of our surnames

have you ever thought about your surname? Well, I did, a lot actually. Via internet I met someone who had send me a copy of a private study of my maiden name, Korsak. And tonight, simply by coincidence I have found this:

Available to order from the States (Amazon) for aprox. £20!!! Can you imagine? Just when I am working on my own on the history of our family trying to put all the bits and pieces together.

Well, ladies and gentlemen, once I've got this, there is nothing to stop me from writing an damn interesting study of our 'tribe' (we come from Asian turks, apparently). And from publishing it on-line, for free:) hehe...

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I am...

'I am neither, I am both. I took my path, I took my cards, I tore at them, unflinching, and moved onward, and upward. I decide to make decisions that are already predetermined. How can I have this. My path had been set out, I had no choice but to follow it, but there was always hope, there was always a belief, a speck of doubt about it all, that made me...me. I am torn." His mind's eye had calmed, he was beginning to come to terms with the unknown, his past as it had been before the crash, his being, his absolute self belief in himself, and how he was a product of his own decisions which he was free to make as he chose. And after the crash, his coping mechanism that gave the whole thing purpose and clarity, there was a reason behind his pain, he was on a path and he would strive along, that path to kill everyRiRithing he hated, it had been decided for him and it freed him from the responsibility for the murders'

What do you think? To see my responses, click on the links in the text or posts below. To read more about this novel, check Richard Galbraith's blog.

I am very interested to see the progress of his writing on the blog, but also read the comments of other fans.

In some points I do not agree with Richard (I am a post-modernist), but generally speaking I agree that one can be so self-defined that everything can be justified - it's human nature. Luckily some of us have strength to choose stronger, more difficult paths and educated enough to see through lies.

I think the truth is in between - in the harmony between the pre-defined and the chosen. At least that is how it works for me.

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It's good, it's all good...

It's so good to spend most of the day away from my laptop! We forget the old ways, really. I had to be forced to spend most of my morning in the toilet, and rest of it in bed or just hanging around the flat to realize that there is a pile of traditional letters to be written on my new, very well equipped desk, and there are two unanswered ones since more than a month! Truth, writing a letter on paper with ink (don't think I am a traditional freak, I use normal Parker pen) takes time and - sounds silly - but does require more exercise from your hand. I personally put all my soul into th letters I write - I never know what to start with, but once I do (and the received letters help) I cannot stop.
My aunt told me once that my letter are like having a conversation with her, and that is exactly what I am aiming for! Someone else said I made him feel special with my words.
Because of those people, and those very few who still write to me, I will continue, and I might write les son my blogs, but well, something for something.

Although others, who make money of writing, have different opinions:
'In a blog, everything is really mine. In print, I have to assign copyright to the journal. It's theirs. In a blog, I write, I post and *click!*, it’s up. In print, it typically takes months to make it through the peer reviewers and, if I’m lucky enough to get accepted, additional months before it’s published and mailed bulk rate. It’s not very satisfying to the writer and the topic can quickly turn obsolete.'

'I have to say that producing a book - I have four under my belt if you count my dissertation - is a draining, soul-sapping catharsis. Part of the strain is working for a long time and not knowing if any of it will be worth it. Blogging is almost the polar opposite: almost everything you write is read and used by someone. [..]A blog never stops. The deadline is always with you. Yes, even on a Sunday evening.'

'Though I rarely write letters these days, Mr H has heard me say that I would like to reclaim that form of communication.'  (check the blogging awards she received!:))

and something I completely agree with:
'letters sent through the mail, whether hand-written or typewritten, reflect a thoughtful process of action that e-mails - by their absolute ease of creation - do not represent.'

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