I am working (read… procrastinating) on an ‘about’. Be patient.
I have robbed the beginnings of my about on another blog, it’s applicable here too.
Argentum Vulgaris is, of course, a pseudonym, but it is and has been what I am know as across the internet, I see no reason to change that. Besides, I do tend to play rough sometimes. I have said that I am not here to be nice and so I don’t pull any punches whether they are aimed at governments or companies, or indeed, people. A degree of anonymity is necessary for self preservation.
Argentum Vulgaris is Latin, it literally means ‘common silver’ and is used to refer to small change. Small change is not important, neither am I.
The real me, well I am old; sixty last birthday (2011). In Portuguese I am a velho caduco, a grouchy old man; every neighbourhood has one. My avatar represents me, far more flattering than my real self.
I have, by virtue of my age, seen and done a lot in my lifetime; more than most. I didn’t complete secondary school (Americans would call me a high school drop-out). I failed in English, I failed in maths, I excelled in sciences and the things I wanted to do. Of course, I realise the folly of that pig-headedness now, but as a teenager I was pretty much normal.
At the age of forty I decided New Zealand was too small. I don’t mean in size rather, I refer to attitudes and I decided to travel, Europe was my destination; I never got there. A ten day stopover in Brazil and I never left. I have since traveled over much of the South American continent and learned far more about life than I ever dreamed possible.
I have in recent years, with the advent of the internet, become more than politically aware. In the same way as I have become more aware of the fact that our tenure on this planet is increasingly fragile; and that is what brings me to this point.
Update
I have found amongst my dead drives, and managed to recover, a photo to add here. The owl was given to me as a birthday present from my then 12 year old stepson. He chose the owl because I am not only a teacher, but I am worldly. It is for this reason, I am proud of that photo, although the owl has long gone.
Owl of Athena: In Greek mythology, a Little Owl (Athene noctua) traditionally represents or accompanies Athena, the virgin goddess of wisdom, or Minerva, her syncretic incarnation in Roman mythology. Because of such association, the bird- often referred to as the “owl of Athena” or the “owl of Minerva”- has been used as a symbol of knowledge, wisdom, perspicacity and erudition throughout the Western world.
Is your avatar a scene from Lord of the Rings, I loved that trilogy 🙂
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>makagutu, yes, it is Gandalf. Chosen for a reason in that I was once likened to him, beard included, as knowing much about the world. Only this morning I was looking for a particular photo to add to my abouts. Thanks for the visit and taking the time to comment, appreciated.
AV
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Nice reading about you.
Thanks visit my blog Ajaytao2010@wordpress.com. Browse through the category sections, I feel you may find something of your interest.
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>ajaytao, thanks here too.
AV
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Did you know that “velho” in Finnish means a “wizard”? Interresting coincidence.
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>rautakyy, I like that… Thanks for stopping by and the comment.
AV
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Thank you for taking the time to read my poem. I am enjoying your take on the world and will look forward to seeing your posts in my feed.
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>Ronald, I’m not really a poety-type person, some take my fancy, as did that one. Thanks for stopping by.
AV
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Thank you so much for liking quite a number of posts and for displaying them here. I’m truly touched and I do appreciate. Kind regards!
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I am a chef, and I like some of your recipes. I linked your blog on my Fizz blog
AV
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I think the world needs more grouchy people in general – everyones accustomed to nice people.
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>lion, thank you, I will continue…
Thanks for stopping by and taking the time to comment, appreciated. (Hmmm, am I being too nice?) 🙂
AV
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I thought you were Sean Connery there for a minute.
Am I being stupid but are all the blogs on your blogroll yours? If so you have as many or more than i do. That can’t be possible.
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>rough yes, that observation has been made before, I’m not sure who should be the more flattered, him or me…
Yes, they are. I am a serious blogger and I also like to have fun. I used to have more, before the bastard google lost/closed my account more than 2 years ago. That’s why I am on WP. I never re-started some blogs.
Thanks for stopping by, welcome to my world.
AV
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Ha! I’ve been called Selena Scott before now although no idea why.
I think Connery would be most pleased.
Tell me about it. Give me your mobile ‘phone number. You are not who you say you are. This is not your blog.
Um no, yes I am it is but piss off google/blogger.
So therefore I too revisited WP (that was terrible the first time I opened a blog with them, blogger was well ahead years ago), and here I am with lots of pals who come and go or whatever.
I tried to import all my blogs to WP. All the comments on the dog ones wouldn’t come across, bit of a nuisance as he was more popular than the rest of mine put together.
The Land Rover one would Just Not Import. I tried half a dozen times and ended up having to import it manually. But it also got a load of google hits which may have had something to do with that one.
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So, your a grouchy old so and so. Well i am sure you will continue telling it how it is and people will continue to enjoy :-). Thanks for visiting my regularly neglected blog.
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>Rosamond, the neighbourhood kids thinks so, because I always say no; sometimes if they accept ‘no’ gracefully I relent and say yes. That one of the bear stealing bins was shown on TV here in Brazil.
Welcome to the blog, and taking time to comment, appreciated.
AV
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“The real me is not nearly as flattering as the avatar” … here here! 😉
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>Conrad, thanks for the vote of confidence 🙂
Meant to add that I have included you in my booze blogger list on Fizz.
AV
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We have our Gravatars in common. 😉
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I noticed… <— friendly banter between a Kiwi and an Ozzie 🙂
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Cute owl 😉
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>NOK, thank you, he’s cuter than me, and was never really grouchy.
Thanks for stopping by, appreciated.
AV
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Speaking of small change, I’m a Belieber. How’s that for insignificance? I don’t have a choice. He grew up in the next little town over from me and that’s just scary. 😀
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>Tony, that’s something I wouldn’t tell everybody. Appreciate your time making a comment.
AV
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Thanks for stopping by my blog. =-)
What I’ve perused so far of yours had me laughing and enlightened at the same time… Enough to hit the follow button. Hope to enjoy more of your posts in the future! Take care!!
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>MWPG, and I thank you. Can’t remember how I got to you blog, but I read the posts until I like the one about the growing list. I am backspacing like crazy here; blame that on the wine I had with lunch. I try to be informative and entertaining here, I get more serious on my other blogs, and funner on others (I have 9). Look forward to you company, and I have since followed you, I’m loyal like that… bad habit.
AV
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Thanks for all the likes hope you will follow me!
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>icook, yes, and on Twitter, I don’t do the others.
AV
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Thank you for finding me! I love the owl. It shows wisdom. I wish I had some haha. Hope to see you again!
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>Adrian, thanks for the visit and comment, appreciated. Yes, I’ll visit again, you can be sure.
AV
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If being worldly and thoughtful and challenging the status quo is curmudgeonly, then I am all for it! I aspire to it myself, even though I am generally slow to be outspoken about the things I believe, however passionately. I guess I’m a crotchety old lady in my heart. 😉
Cheers,
Kathryn
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>Kathryn, grumpy and crotchety go hand in hand. I am outspoken on issues that I have mulled over during the years, I seem to see life differently from most people and fail to understand why they can’t see the bald facts. It seems to me that most people are on cruise mode throughout their lives, instead of taking control and actually living.
Thanks for the visit and comment, appreciated.
AV
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There is often something magical about reaching 40 years. It can be a time of amazing discovery and exploration.
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>leamuse, yes, there is something magical about the age of forty.
Thanks for the visit and comment, appreciated.
AV
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