The Great Divide...

...Protestant Republics v. Catholic Monarchies.
Professor Ellis took off his neck frills and exchanged his crown for a tricorne hat  for the second half of the class. His sceptre is on the table but he had to use his orb and staff for a pointer because he left the laser one at home. Then he had to put the orb and staff down because he nearly caught someone in the front row upside the head with it. He gets worked up...in a good way.

Sonoma State University has spring break this week but our class still met. It was odd to have the campus (and the parking lots) to ourselves. The coffee shop within the Wine Spectator building where this class is meeting was closed (just as we were getting used to having such a nice feature) because the students who run it were on break. We did, however, find our way to the library building which has a full service cafe called Charlie Browns. We contemplated framed copies of Charles Schultz' Peanuts cartoons decorating the walls as we drank our coffee.

It was an interesting juxtaposition of Peanuts cartoons, royal monarchs and puritans today. It's hard to get too far from Charles Schultz in this town...he is revered.

After a pretty decent day yesterday, spring has eluded us once again today. Despite the fact that It has been raining all day, OilMan, Dana and Peter who is home for his spring break, went to the garden store. Having gotten wet both to and from the cafe and then again going back to the car, I elected to stay home and dry out...

We'll be venturing out into the rain again to go to the Japanese restaurant for dinner with Dana, Jim and Peter. Will gets home tomorrow.