Bad Banana Boy or Blessi's Reading Habits

How Blessi peels a banana.

 

At the end of a summer yard sale, there were a lot of Science Fiction and Fantasy books left over. Jim kindly let me "check out" a bunch of these books for reading and eventual return. I have been having a great time re-reading some of my favorite authors from 20 years ago-- discovering that I may have "outgrown" that particular author no matter how charming the talking otter originally seemed to me.  However, I took one of Jim's books to the stable and ended up writing the following email.

Topic:  Cost of Exile's Gate Book

Dear Jim,

Today, Blessi had a vet appointment and needed to be lightly put under anesthesia.  At the end of the appointment, there was a bit of a mess to clean up in the wash stall. So I turned Blessi out into the arena to sleep off his horsey drunkenness. 

Well never assume that Blessi is too sleepy to get into mischief. I had forgotten to close the door to stable owner's private tack area. Crash. Over went the waste basket in this area so I had to clean up the spilled stuff, back Blessi out of the tack room, and lock the door.

So what else could Blessi get into I thought as I went back to cleaning--he was not walking very steady so how far could he go? I go back to cleaning up but I decided to check on Blessi after 5 minutes.

Blessi was over by the mounting block nosing at something on the ground. It was your book Exile's Gate and a banana. Or should I say the remains of an exceeding ripe banana smeared over your book--and both items were sprinkled over with gravel. Yuck!!!

I don't like exceedingly ripe bananas but Blessi does so I had brought the banana over to give to Blessi as a treat when I took Blessi back to his home pasture. And I meant to read your book as I waited for Blessi to wake up. And how did Blessi get most of the banana out of the peel without opposable thumbs?

So Jim, I will either purchase Exile's Gate from you at whatever price you indicate or I will buy you a new copy of the book. I am sorry that Blessi has such messy eating habits when he is reading.

 

Regards, Pamela

 

I was still puzzled as to how Blessi managed to 'peel' a banana.  So I took a banana to the stables and video taped the process.  Blessi sure had fun.  Note:  This will be the last time Blessi gets an unpeeled banana (I hope) since there is a possibility that he may mistakenly swallow part of the peel. 

 

 

Blessi and the Knightly Challenge

Photo by Dawn Gilbert

Blessi and I attended a SCA event inspired by the medieval French tract Traictié de la forme et devis d'un tournoy written by René of Anjou around 1460 on how to stage a tournament.  My back was a bit sore (sleeping on a cot in the horse trailer will do that) so we didn't actually compete that day.  However we did participate in the introductions to the fair and noble judges.  We were accompanied by our own musician also.  The herald is carrying my personal banner and introduced us to the judges.   And as you can see by the pictures below, Blessi even begged a carrot from the judge.

Photo by Dawn Gilbert

Personally I am rather pleased with the name that I devised.  Jófríðr hin víðfara Mánadóttir --which in old Norse roughly translates as "Beautiful or beloved, far travelling horse, daughter of the moon." 

My garb was suppose to be more Byzantine  than Norse with the cover story that my father had taken service in the Varangian Guard, the personal bodyguards of the Byzantine emperor.

 

Below is the challenge that the herald read as we entered the lists. 

Photo by Dawn Gilbert

Greetings unto our august judges and other most brave and honorable lords and ladies here at the powerful Madrone Barony.  I, Veigar frá Búðardal--- son of Jarl frá Búðardal son of Kolfinnur frá Kjarnholtum I, son of Hrafn frá Holtsmúla son of Snæfaxi frá Páfastöðum son of Blesi frá Stóru-Gröf ytri----known as Blessi the Brave Steed--have journeyed from Iceland, the Land of the Vikings, to partner with my lady Jófríðr  Far Traveler Mánadóttir on this day of pageantry and panoply. 

I have persuaded Jófríðr to essay the more daring equestrian pursuits of pig sticking, birjas, ring tilt, and quintain.  We shall dazzle not by our speed or force of arms but by our good fellowship and mirth.  We hope to provide much amusement for the ladies fair and other worthy spectators at this the eleventh Emprise of the Black Lion.

Know us by our proposed arms azure an argent horse en tőlt charged on the shoulder with a gules seeblatt and sinister chief argent increscent in base a bar wavy argent.

Let us not forget that the very word Chivalry comes from the French word “cheval” so let us pay proper respect to the noble steeds here.  I, Blessi the Brave and my lady Jódrid, am confident that we can make a showing to you that is worthy of your noble attention.  We look forward to uniting in Chivalry with our brethren from far off lands.  We ride for chivalry and adventure.  Charge on!"

I do have to admit that the Herald begged off from reading Blessi's entire lineage since Old Norse was not her skill set.

Cartoon Blessi

      Blessi's best friend Hannah took the following pictures of Blessi. He is a happy horse--and he makes a great cartoon. Perhaps Blessi should have his own comic book?