Aven
@avensarah.bsky.social
Roman poetry & culture | Endless Knot Podcast & YT http://alliterative.net | 🇨🇦Fed govt, former prof | She/her | circumsiliens modo huc modo illuc, pipio
Pinned
Aven
@avensarah.bsky.social
· Nov 11
What rude jibes about Caesar tell us about sex in ancient Rome | Psyche Ideas
‘Every woman’s man and every man’s woman’ was a slur Julius Caesar’s political opponents levied. What did it mean?
psyche.co
Just to give new folks something to help get to know me, and since I haven’t posted it here, this is an article I wrote back in 2020 about Roman sexuality, for an online magazine. psyche.co/ideas/what-j...
Tea, a fire, and a cat. A lovely lazy fall afternoon.
November 16, 2025 at 9:24 PM
Tea, a fire, and a cat. A lovely lazy fall afternoon.
I won’t post pictures of other people, but here was my 50s-inspired look #CocktailParty
November 16, 2025 at 4:45 PM
I won’t post pictures of other people, but here was my 50s-inspired look #CocktailParty
We did make it past 1am, though! And, working backwards on my camera roll, here’s the house all set up at the beginning of the night. #CocktailParty
November 16, 2025 at 4:36 PM
We did make it past 1am, though! And, working backwards on my camera roll, here’s the house all set up at the beginning of the night. #CocktailParty
This morning, the aftermath of our annual cocktail party. Much fun was had, even if we’re much more moderate now than we were in our twenties!
November 16, 2025 at 4:26 PM
This morning, the aftermath of our annual cocktail party. Much fun was had, even if we’re much more moderate now than we were in our twenties!
Flowers for the cocktail party are done and waiting for tomorrow. I have no particular talent for flower arranging but I do enjoy taking pretty things and putting them together 😁
November 15, 2025 at 4:30 AM
Flowers for the cocktail party are done and waiting for tomorrow. I have no particular talent for flower arranging but I do enjoy taking pretty things and putting them together 😁
I’m listening to the boys on the Wholesome Podcast talking about the Martini as I’m setting up for our fancy martini-themed cocktail party tomorrow night. Couldn’t be more perfect! (Become a supporter on Patreon and you can hear the delightfulness for yourself!) @greatesttrek.com
November 14, 2025 at 10:28 PM
I’m listening to the boys on the Wholesome Podcast talking about the Martini as I’m setting up for our fancy martini-themed cocktail party tomorrow night. Couldn’t be more perfect! (Become a supporter on Patreon and you can hear the delightfulness for yourself!) @greatesttrek.com
@wombat37.bsky.social for your entertainment.
November 11, 2025 at 4:14 PM
@wombat37.bsky.social for your entertainment.
I’ve seen my share of CFL and NFL games played in the snow, but it feels cruel to ask *this* kind of footballers to play a whole game in these conditions!
November 9, 2025 at 11:23 PM
I’ve seen my share of CFL and NFL games played in the snow, but it feels cruel to ask *this* kind of footballers to play a whole game in these conditions!
Reposted by Aven
Canadians!
Later this month I will be traveling to Montreal and Quebec City for a week or so. What are some must-see, must-do, and must-eat things there?
Bonus points if it's pregnancy friendly for Em!
Later this month I will be traveling to Montreal and Quebec City for a week or so. What are some must-see, must-do, and must-eat things there?
Bonus points if it's pregnancy friendly for Em!
November 9, 2025 at 9:30 PM
Canadians!
Later this month I will be traveling to Montreal and Quebec City for a week or so. What are some must-see, must-do, and must-eat things there?
Bonus points if it's pregnancy friendly for Em!
Later this month I will be traveling to Montreal and Quebec City for a week or so. What are some must-see, must-do, and must-eat things there?
Bonus points if it's pregnancy friendly for Em!
Reposted by Aven
Democracy had a good week. That is good reason to hope. That is good reason to oppose—with renewed purpose—the forces behind my choice for the 2025 Word of the Year:
FASCISM.
Dive into my lexical—and etymological—treatment of this challenging word on my blog:
mashedradish.com/2025/11/04/f...
FASCISM.
Dive into my lexical—and etymological—treatment of this challenging word on my blog:
mashedradish.com/2025/11/04/f...
The 2025 Etymology of the Year
“Fascism” is a challenging word for a challenging moment, and its origins may bear lessons for us.
mashedradish.com
November 8, 2025 at 3:52 PM
Democracy had a good week. That is good reason to hope. That is good reason to oppose—with renewed purpose—the forces behind my choice for the 2025 Word of the Year:
FASCISM.
Dive into my lexical—and etymological—treatment of this challenging word on my blog:
mashedradish.com/2025/11/04/f...
FASCISM.
Dive into my lexical—and etymological—treatment of this challenging word on my blog:
mashedradish.com/2025/11/04/f...
@thoafood.bsky.social Listening to ep 157, and I was thrown a bit by your comment that big holiday meals are the only remnant of older style dining. How is that different from normal family meals, other than scale? We put all the pots on the table, and pass plates to be served/serve ourselves.
November 8, 2025 at 3:39 PM
@thoafood.bsky.social Listening to ep 157, and I was thrown a bit by your comment that big holiday meals are the only remnant of older style dining. How is that different from normal family meals, other than scale? We put all the pots on the table, and pass plates to be served/serve ourselves.
Reposted by Aven
Bit of self-promotion: I have published a commentary on a selection of Martial's epigrams, so if you are a Latin teacher/instructor...or a fan of having Latin grammar and rhetorical devices analyzed...feel free to check it out.
a.co/d/e1FBrHH
a.co/d/e1FBrHH
Where A Poet Might Rome: The Eternal City of Martial's Epigrams: Smith, Christopher: 9798269037523: Amazon.com: Books
Where A Poet Might Rome: The Eternal City of Martial's Epigrams [Smith, Christopher] on Amazon.com. *FREE* shipping on qualifying offers. Where A Poet Might Rome: The Eternal City of Martial's Epigram...
a.co
October 13, 2025 at 12:36 AM
Bit of self-promotion: I have published a commentary on a selection of Martial's epigrams, so if you are a Latin teacher/instructor...or a fan of having Latin grammar and rhetorical devices analyzed...feel free to check it out.
a.co/d/e1FBrHH
a.co/d/e1FBrHH
Reposted by Aven
Coming up next week, "Bards and Big-Men in the Aegean: Ethnographic Answers to Homeric Questions" with Emily Varto (Dalhousie Uni) November 12 at 11:00 (CRX C307, Learning Crossroads building, uOttawa) All welcome!
#Homer #AncientGreece #Ethnography #Classics #AncientHistory #AncientBluesky
#Homer #AncientGreece #Ethnography #Classics #AncientHistory #AncientBluesky
November 6, 2025 at 12:02 PM
Coming up next week, "Bards and Big-Men in the Aegean: Ethnographic Answers to Homeric Questions" with Emily Varto (Dalhousie Uni) November 12 at 11:00 (CRX C307, Learning Crossroads building, uOttawa) All welcome!
#Homer #AncientGreece #Ethnography #Classics #AncientHistory #AncientBluesky
#Homer #AncientGreece #Ethnography #Classics #AncientHistory #AncientBluesky
Reposted by Aven
Save Greek and Latin at the University of Ottawa: please sign and share!
www.change.org/p/save-greek...
www.change.org/p/save-greek...
Sign the Petition
Save Greek and Latin at the University of Ottawa!
www.change.org
November 3, 2025 at 12:36 PM
Save Greek and Latin at the University of Ottawa: please sign and share!
www.change.org/p/save-greek...
www.change.org/p/save-greek...
Reposted by Aven
What does mediocre have to do with #mountains? Pop over to Wordfoolery's blog to find out, with thanks to the #Romans - wordfoolery.wordpress.com/2025/11/03/t... #etymology
The Mountainous Word History of Mediocre
Hello, Haggard Hawks (otherwise known as language author, Paul Anthony Jones) mentioned mediocre’s roots on twitter ages ago and I’m only getting to checking it out now. A mediocre effo…
wordfoolery.wordpress.com
November 3, 2025 at 11:37 AM
What does mediocre have to do with #mountains? Pop over to Wordfoolery's blog to find out, with thanks to the #Romans - wordfoolery.wordpress.com/2025/11/03/t... #etymology
So, the “pro” is lots of hits and runners early. But the “con”’is not managing to get a single one of them home—giving very worrying game 3 vibes.
#Bluejays
#Bluejays
November 2, 2025 at 12:49 AM
So, the “pro” is lots of hits and runners early. But the “con”’is not managing to get a single one of them home—giving very worrying game 3 vibes.
#Bluejays
#Bluejays
A kid just came to the door dressed as KD. Blue box and logo, and giant felt bright orange noodles stuck all over them and on their hat. Perfection! #Canadiana #Halloween
October 31, 2025 at 10:14 PM
A kid just came to the door dressed as KD. Blue box and logo, and giant felt bright orange noodles stuck all over them and on their hat. Perfection! #Canadiana #Halloween
I don’t know if you can see it, but I’m wearing dual-purpose earrings today. Bats! 🦇 ⚾️
Go Jays Go! Happy Halloween!
Go Jays Go! Happy Halloween!
October 31, 2025 at 9:21 PM
I don’t know if you can see it, but I’m wearing dual-purpose earrings today. Bats! 🦇 ⚾️
Go Jays Go! Happy Halloween!
Go Jays Go! Happy Halloween!
Happy Halloween! Please enjoy this year’s pumpkin, I’m quite proud of how I carried out E2’s instructions to “do a pig from Angry Birds”. 😁
October 31, 2025 at 12:32 PM
Happy Halloween! Please enjoy this year’s pumpkin, I’m quite proud of how I carried out E2’s instructions to “do a pig from Angry Birds”. 😁
What a comeback. Love it! And only (only!) 3 hours! 🤣
Guaranteed to finish the series at home in Toronto, whatever the outcome. Fantastic!
And now time for bed. 😴
#Bluejays
Guaranteed to finish the series at home in Toronto, whatever the outcome. Fantastic!
And now time for bed. 😴
#Bluejays
October 29, 2025 at 3:08 AM
What a comeback. Love it! And only (only!) 3 hours! 🤣
Guaranteed to finish the series at home in Toronto, whatever the outcome. Fantastic!
And now time for bed. 😴
#Bluejays
Guaranteed to finish the series at home in Toronto, whatever the outcome. Fantastic!
And now time for bed. 😴
#Bluejays
The Sportsnet app video feed stopped working in the middle of the top of that all important 7th inning, thank goodness I was listening to the radio coverage on the mlb app!
It still hasn’t come back, and a friend’s is also out. Very frustrating!
#Bluejays #Sportsnet
It still hasn’t come back, and a friend’s is also out. Very frustrating!
#Bluejays #Sportsnet
October 29, 2025 at 2:29 AM
The Sportsnet app video feed stopped working in the middle of the top of that all important 7th inning, thank goodness I was listening to the radio coverage on the mlb app!
It still hasn’t come back, and a friend’s is also out. Very frustrating!
#Bluejays #Sportsnet
It still hasn’t come back, and a friend’s is also out. Very frustrating!
#Bluejays #Sportsnet
Reposted by Aven
The petition is LIVE! uOttawa suspended Greek & Roman Studies without consultation ending advanced ancient languages teaching and Ontario's only ancient languages programme in French. Please sign, share widely and follow for updates. buff.ly/hjj4J7u #SOSClassicsUO #SaveHigherEd #ONfr #Ottawa
Sign the Petition
Save Greek and Latin at the University of Ottawa!
buff.ly
October 28, 2025 at 4:00 PM
The petition is LIVE! uOttawa suspended Greek & Roman Studies without consultation ending advanced ancient languages teaching and Ontario's only ancient languages programme in French. Please sign, share widely and follow for updates. buff.ly/hjj4J7u #SOSClassicsUO #SaveHigherEd #ONfr #Ottawa