incandescens | before adding to bath, sniff

At work today, supervisor passed on that I'd had an approving comment from the Cardiothoracic directorate re my work. She apologised that there was nothing in writing, but wanted me to know. And I was glad to know.

Coders had their version of a Christmas do today (believe me, the scheduling's getting tight) with pizzas for lunch, and Secret Santa present. My one seemed to go down reasonably well, inasmuch as I could surreptitiously observe the not-very-demonstrative-anyhow recipient from the other side of the room. I got what I presume to be bath oil. I say presume, because it's a large flask of light green translucent liquid with a plastic cherry-flower-branch floating in it. The label must have had the price tag on it, as it's been removed, and the top is wax-sealed, so I can't sniff it without opening it. Oh well. I hope I can determine what it is before pouring it into my bath.

On looking at LotR and Harry Potter doujinshi; so, hm. The Japanese take these from our culture. We take stuff like The Last Samurai from their culture. Oddly pleasant to see that we both tend to understand each other's cultural tropes and mores equally well -- or rather, equally badly.

---

(from The Dancers of Huai-Nan, a fragment)

Subtly from slender hips they swing,
Swaying, slanting delicately up and down.
And like the crimson lotus flower
Glows their beauty, shedding flames afar.
They lift languid glances,
Peep distrustfully, till of a sudden
Ablaze with liquid light
Their soft eyes kindle. So dance to dance
Endlessly they weave, break off and dance again.
Now flutter their skirts like a great bird in flight,
Now toss their long white sleeves like whirling snow.
So the hours go by, till at last
The powder has blown from their cheeks, the black from their brows.
Flustered now are the fair faces, pins of pearl
Torn away, tangled the black tresses.
With combs they catch and gather in
The straying locks, put on the gossamer gown
That trailing winds about them, and in unison
Of body, song and dress, obedient
Each shadows each, as they glide softly to and fro.

-- Chang Heng, translated by Arthur Waley