7 Quick Takes

—1 —

Sorry about that. An earlier version of this accidentally got published while I was still sleeping. Those of you who have been feeling as if you were living Groundhog Day for the past few weeks – well, that probably didn’t help. Sorry!

— 2 —

Finally finished The Way We Live Now – both the book and the BBC adaptation. Meh on both. Like a commentor on a previous post,I am mystified why some call this Trollope’s best. It’s bloated and repetitive (per its origins as a serialized work, I assume). The adaptation starts out somewhat promising, but is, in the end, disastrous. I’ll write more about that later today.

— 3 —

So now, casting about for something to read with the libraries closed and really not wanting to read something on a screen, I’m left with an historical monograph about some 18th century nuns journeying to Peru I’d ordered a while back and a post-World War II British crime novel I picked up right before the lockdown. And the Odyssey. Reading that along with the homeschooling high schooler.

— 4 —

Speaking of the homeschooling high schooler, I suppose part of the reason I’m not down with the Lockdown Drama and endless stream of Randos From the Internet giving me permission to Feel the Feels and reassuring me that everything’s okay is that…life is not super different now for me than it was a few weeks ago.

I “work” (hahahaha) from home. I’m somewhat of an introvert. I don’t shop. In fact I hate shopping. I was already homeschooling. There’s usually just two of us here anyway, and the third who’s been here had only been gone a few months, so having him back just seems…normal.

Sure, we are not eating out and there’s no usual late spring-rabid-travel-planning happening. And some shorter trips that would have happened (to help Son #2 move to a new home earlier this week) didn’t happen.

And yes, I’m constantly annoyed at human stupidity, lemming-instincts, Extreme Virtue Signaling, media-spun narratives, misinformation and media-generated panics..

But….

…that’s actually kind of normal for me, too.

So.

I hasten to say that my point is not about the impact of this on many who are truly suffering. No,  the “Lockdown drama” to which I refer is that generated by those who 1) haven’t lost income and 2) are healthy and 3) aren’t in dangerous situations in their home, but insist, nonetheless, despite their relative comfort and security, on reveling, all day, every day, in The Drama.

— 5 –

 

So, as long as you’re here, take a look at some family members’ stuff:

Son #2 is a writer of fiction and film analysis. Here’s his website (he posts movie thoughts every weekday)  and here’s a link to one of his novels. 

Son #1 is a video editor with this small company in NYC. 

— 6 —

Son-in-law is a musician and music repair-guy. If you have needs for any in Louisville, check him out! Here’s a couple ofhis video tutorials and here’s apage with the services they provide.

I’m amused because in the Thunder Road tutorial, I can look at the bookshelf behind him and say, “Huh. So that’s where those books went.”

(The women in the extended family are engaged in private-sector or client-oriented jobs.)

— 7 —

 

Today’s Gospel is Jesus’ appearance to his apostles from the end of John. Here’s the page from the Loyola Kids Book of Bible Stories. 

 

A reminder: I do have a few of these and some other titles in stock, here in my own bookstore. If you’d like a copy, please visit this page. 

 

For more Quick Takes, visit This Ain’t the Lyceum!