20th of November, 2023 - Twentieth Gathering via Zoom

“A life without festivity is a long road without an inn.”

—Democritus

Since my retirement from market work many years ago, I try not to be bound to the calendar. But Viv and I are planning to do our (just-the-two-of-us) “Thanksgiving” on Eikas – Monday. We plan a late afternoon/early evening dinner of Cornish game hens, cornbread stuffing with gravy, green peas and cranberry sauce. If I have not fallen into a post-feast stupor, I plan to attend (via Zoom) a festive Eikas gathering (my first such).

You had me at cornbread stuffing!

I have been mildly unwell the last two days. Spending time on here has been a helpful distraction. But I doubt that tomorrow is going to be a feast-and-festivity day – so I probably won’t be there for my 1st Zoom Eikas. Be well and happy all!

I've made plans to join the 20th gathering tomorrow if all goes as planned.

I maintain that Thanksgiving is one of the (if not the) most Epicurean of modern holidays with the emphasis Epicurus puts on gratitude.

I am thankful for all of you on the forum and the opportunity the forum provides for deepening and strengthening my Epicurean practice.

I've been going through the "Memorial Calendar" this afternoon to add hyperlinks to whatever biographical info we have on each name.

I didn't realize that there is *nothing* out there on Velleius -- apparently the Velleius mentioned in wikipedia lived much later than anyone CIcero could have referenced.

We actually seem to know more about Demetrius Lacon (about whom I know little) -- at least he has a wikipedia entry.

So this segment of our program will be short tonight unless anyone has any additional background on either. I take it Brian has some info on Demetrius Lacon so that will help -- if anyone has any inside date on Velleius please bring that too!

Great meeting tonight and thanks to everyone who was able to attend!

Quote from Kalosyni

Method of loci was brought up by Don.

Thanks for the notes!!

One quick clarification on that one I copied. I brought up the "memory palace" and other ancient memory aids, Joshua brought up Giordano Bruno's work in this area, and I believe ...I can't remember who brought up the title. David? It was a group effort.

Here's my office door I mentioned at the 20th:

Thank you all for the emoji expressions of condolence. I’m mostly better today and the game hens have to be cooked (as I had started to thaw them), so we’re doing our feast tonight (same menu). Then we’re going to watch a movie in our easy chairs.

Below is the Epicurean grace prayer I came up with sometime back (with my lame attempt at Latin: “Grant us pleasure and health in simplicity and grace. Thank you”).

I’ll think of you guys when we sit down to table.

Unaffrighted by gods or fates,

a happy soul travail abates.

Easy fare makes bountiful fest,

and gratitude a Garden blest.

~ ~ ~

Dona nobis voluptati et saluti

in simplicitate et gratia. Gratia.

Quote from Kalosyni

Is there a "mark all as read" function on the "unread threads" list? (I didn't see one).

On my Android tablet, using the forum recommended default theme, there's a blue bar at the top of the page. There's a black checkmark on the right side of the bar. Tapping this checkmark sent me to the general forum list page, and when I returned to the unread threads page, the list was empty.

Same for me on my Pixel Android phone