The Kiss and other poems

Now available on Amazon and Barnes & Noble!

A hundred ways to say “I love you”—without using those exact words.

The epic poem ‘The Kiss’, recounts, humorously, the myth of the creation of that destiny of every smitten heart, the Kiss: a Homeric soap-opera of the ancient Greek and Roman gods and goddesses conniving to leave their mark on its personality while vying for control of that ephemeral bundle of sweetness, irresistibility and earth-trembling passion in hopes of winning the battle over its inevitable release to the world of men. It is a tale which leaves no doubt that every day is a day incomplete until a Kiss, or two, finds you.

An excerpt:

As soon as Cupid had the Kiss,
he wished to give it back.
His wings were dragging on the ground
as he whimpered on Pan’s lap:
“Every nymph to whom I give one
just wants more and more and more.
Now the line runs ’round the block.
I can’t use my front door!”

Pan, doubting his ears, coughed and Momused
Delphically: “That’s quite a chore!”

Along with ‘The Kiss,” you will find in this book a collection of the author’s best-loved poems, prose, sonnets, and sayings.

About the Author:

Born in Philadelphia to a family of farmers and tinkerers, Roy Hildestad pursued a career in engineering and math, spending his free time skiing, sailing, diving, canoeing, and generally taking up any sport having to do with water in any of its forms. Secretly, nurturing a life-long fascination with literature, poetry and ancient history, he memorized tens of thousands lines of the great poetry of all ages and, on occasion, wrote short poems as gifts or records of ideas. After raising three wonderful sons and retiring, that fascination, now without the supervision of the alarm clock and deadline, usurped the rule of Good Sense and began to get completely out of hand. The Kiss was the result.

NO BELL FOR THE KING

The KING of the Mice thought that Belling the Cat was a bad idea: “No. The Cat is completely harmless. His victims are recovering!” he said.
But the hero MICE at the Center for Cat Control were willing to risk everything to BELL the MARAUDER.


In truth, the MOUSE KING was terrified of even TALKING about the ‘CAT’.


Instead, the MOUSE KING hid.


The CAT broke into the barn and began devouring mice morning, noon, and night, for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, for brunch, teatime, and just-before-bed snacks.


The KING, still hiding, declared ‘VICTORY!’: “In Truth,” he lied, “the CAT is NOT that dangerous! He is only fast enough to catch the Old and the Sick! When they are gone, the CAT will leave! “Then, you will all be safe again! And I will not have to deal with all the Criticism and Ridicule I get from the Old Wise Mice for how I did not ‘Bell the Cat’.”


The young MICE cried out: “The CAT is catching lots of us AS WELL!!! We may ALL be eaten before he leaves!!!”


But the KING smirked: “That is GREAT NEWS! (for me!) The CAT is going to rid me of YOU and YOUR COMPLAINING, too!
This is working out splendidly! I think I deserve a NO-BELL PRIZE!”


The KING was very pleased with this new idea of being awarded A PRIZE for doing nothing. HE closed his eyes and began to strut around pretending he was wearing the GREAT GOLD NO-BELL MEDALLION.


Suddenly (no one could have seen it coming), the CAT jumped out, grabbed him, and swallowed him whole!


The astonished MICE scrambled for shelter and then peered back out at the CAT.
The CAT looked sick.
He had a tummy-ache.
He had muscle-ache.
He coughed like he had swallowed a dusty, dirty rag.
Beads of sweat burst out at the base of each of his whiskers.
He made a face contorted with puzzlement, pain, and fear-filled prognostication.
Then, he became violently ill.
He gasped for breath.
Finally, with a great heave of his gut, he threw up the KING and ran from the Barn never to be seen again.


The MICE gathered around the KING but found his robes and hair had been stripped off in the stomach of the CAT.

There before them was the very real, very dead, but quite unmistakable corpse of …
a SNAKE.


–The End–

By Roy Hildestad

COVID-19 INFO from JOHN HOPKINS UNIV.

The following is from Irene Ken physician, whose daughter is an Asst. Prof in infectious diseases at Johns Hopkins University, quite informative.

* The virus is not a living organism, but a protein molecule (RNA) covered by a protective layer of lipid (fat), which, when absorbed by the cells of the ocular, nasal or buccal mucosa, changes their genetic code. (mutation) and converts them into aggressor and multiplier cells.

* Since the virus is not a living organism but a protein molecule, it is not killed, but decays on its own. The disintegration time depends on the temperature, humidity and type of material where it lies.

* The virus is very fragile; the only thing that protects it is a thin outer layer of fat. That is why any soap or detergent is the best remedy, because the foam CUTS the FAT (that is why you have to rub so much: for 20 seconds or more, to make a lot of foam). By dissolving the fat layer, the protein molecule disperses and breaks down on its own.

HEAT melts fat; this is why it is so good to use water above 25 degrees Celsius for washing hands, clothes and everything. In addition, hot water makes more foam and that makes it even more useful. BTW, 25 C is 77 F.

Alcohol or any mixture with alcohol over 65% DISSOLVES ANY FAT, especially the external lipid layer of the virus.

* Any mix with 1 part bleach and 5 parts water directly dissolves the protein, breaks it down from the inside.

* Oxygenated water helps long after soap, alcohol and chlorine, because peroxide dissolves the virus protein, but you have to use it pure and it hurts your skin.  Gargling with hydrogen peroxide may (help whiten teeth) or reduce the number of bacteria in the mouth. However, it is vital to use a concentration no stronger than 3 percent and to use it in moderation to avoid irritation.

* NO BACTERICIDE OR ANTIBIOTIC SERVES. The virus is not a living organism like bacteria; antibodies cannot kill what is not alive.

List of Length of Time it takes for the virus to dissolve:

* NEVER shake used or unused clothing, sheets or cloth, that may have the virus on it. While it is glued to a porous surface, it is very inert and disintegrates only

-after 3 hours  on fabric and porous surfaces

*4 hours  for copper and wood

*24 hours  on cardboard, (1 day)

* 42 hours on metal (~2 days)

*72 hours on plastic. (3 days)

*If you shake it or use a feather duster, the virus molecules float in the air for up to 3 hours, and can lodge in your nose.

* The virus molecules remain very stable in external cold, or artificial air such as air conditioners in houses and cars, so avoid using air conditioner in house with the virus in it,

*The virus also needs moisture to stay stable and especially darkness. Therefore, dehumidified, dry, warm and bright environments will degrade it faster.

* UV LIGHT on any object that may contain it breaks down the virus protein. For example, to disinfect and reuse a mask is perfect. Be careful, it also breaks down collagen (which is protein) in the skin. (Do not look at UV light as it can harm your eyes)

* The virus CANNOT go through healthy skin.

* Vinegar is NOT useful because it does not break down the protective layer of fat.

* NO SPIRITS, NOR VODKA, serve. The strongest vodka is 40% alcohol, and you need 65%. (Everclear, a 190 proof liquor does work)

* LISTERINE IF IT SERVES! It is 65% alcohol.

* The more confined the space, the more concentration of the virus there can be. The more open or naturally ventilated your house is, the less concentration the virus will be.

* You have to wash your hands before and after touching mucosa, food, locks, knobs, switches, remote control, cell phone, watches, computers, desks, TV, etc. And when using the bathroom.

* You have to HUMIDIFY HANDS with a moisturizer from washing them so much, because the molecules can hide in the micro cracks. The thicker the moisturizer, the better.

* Also keep your NAILS SHORT so that the virus does not hide there.

-JOHNS HOPKINS HOSPITAL

How to Convert 2D Drawing to 3D Model (.stl)

Here’s a link to a superb video that shows how to create a 3D Model (.stl file) from a 2D drawing.

The process takes 5 minutes or less once you’re familiar with the tools.

He uses just 2 pieces of software, both free:

– Inkscape:   https://inkscape.org/en/   (a vector graphics editor)

– Blender:  https://www.blender.org/download/   (3D model creator)

(BTW, only download these programs from the official .org sites)

These programs are standards in the modelling world: widely used and best in class.