June 29th, 2015 → 5:07 am
“If you repay me not on such a day
In such a place, such sum or sums as are
Expressed in the condition, let the forfeit
Be nominated for an equal pound
Of your fair flesh, to be cut off and taken
In what part of your body pleaseth me.” – Merchant of Venice
There’s been increasing talk lately of Greece leaving the Euro. And some of it seems to be saying that a Grexit wouldn’t be that bad. In my opinion, it would be awful for Greece if they left, truly catastrophic. Akin to the pound of flesh Skylock tried to bargain for in Merchant of Venice. Other countries wouldn’t suffer nearly so bad, but Greece would be left near to dying. Don’t do it Greece!
Filed under: Blog & Economics/Money
June 16th, 2015 → 5:19 am
“A gallant child…makes old hearts fresh.” – The Winter’s Tale
We’re in the middle of family visiting season – relatives are either coming to see us in St. Louis, or we’re off visiting them. And it is remarkable how a child’s laughter can reform a room. When my son does one of his pure joy belly laughs, even cranky aunts and uncles uncross their legs and crack a smile. I wish we could bottle up his laughter and keep it forever…
Filed under: Blog & Self/My Life
June 9th, 2015 → 5:57 am
“Life, being weary of these worldly bars,
Never lacks power to dismiss itself.” – Julius Caesar
What a travesty of justice this poor man – boy – went through. I am so sad he chose to end his life, but I hope he has at last found peace.
May 28th, 2015 → 6:16 am
“[S]he’s loved of the distracted multitude,
Who like not in their judgment, but their eyes.” – Hamlet
Need I say more?
May 23rd, 2015 → 5:08 am
“Caps, hands, and tongues applaud it to the clouds.” – Hamlet
It is graduation season right now; the university I am at just had their graduation ceremony a few days ago. This quote from Hamlet literally means that caps are thrown in the air in celebration. How apt to a graduation ceremony! Congratulations to all the students out there who have worked so hard and earned their degree at last.
May 16th, 2015 → 5:37 am
“I did love you once.” – Hamlet
As I mentioned in an earlier post, I’m reading Hamlet right now with a discussion group. I came across the above line yesterday, which Hamlet says to Ophelia not long after his “to be or not to be” speech; he says it almost as an after-thought after some other rambling thoughts. When I read it, my heart just sank. Isn’t that one of the saddest things a man can say to a woman? Especially if you still have feelings for him? It just broke my heart. Poor Ophelia… Poor Hamlet…
Filed under: Blog & Literature/Theatre/Art & Other
May 12th, 2015 → 5:54 am
“And finding
By this encompassment and drift of question
That they do know my son…” – Hamlet
Encompassment, apparently, means roundabout talking. I love it. I should use this word to describe how too many people I know talk! Ha ha!
Filed under: Blog & Literature/Theatre/Art
May 5th, 2015 → 5:56 am
“Art thou there, truepenny?” – Hamlet
In January I started a feature of this blog called “ShakeDic,” where I highlight interesting vocabulary words from Shakespeare’s works. It started because I led a discussion group in January for the play Othello, and in rereading the play for the first time in years, so many interesting words struck me! Alas, a glutton for punishment, the same reading group has asked me to lead a discussion of Hamlet starting this month. The first ShakeDic word from Hamlet, therefore, is truepenny, meaning, an honest and trustworthy old fellow. I sure wish there were more truepennys around these days.
Filed under: Blog & Literature/Theatre/Art
April 27th, 2015 → 5:07 am
I meant to post something yesterday, on National Poem in Your Pocket Day, but I failed to get around to it. So a day late, but still worth reading, here is a Shakespeare sonnet on love, dedicated to my ever-suffering husband:
“Some glory in their birth, some in their skill,
Some in their wealth, some in their body’s force.
Some in their garments, though newfangled ill,
Some in their hawks and hounds, some in their horse;
And every humor hath his adjunct pleasure,
Wherein it finds a joy above the rest.
But these particulars are not my measure;
All these I better in one general best.
Thy love is better than high birth to me,
Richer than wealth, prouder than garments’ cost,
Of more delight than hawks or horses be;
And having thee, of all men’s pride I boast.
Wretched in this alone, that thou mayst take
All this away, and me most wretched make.” – Sonnet 91
Filed under: Blog & Literature/Theatre/Art
April 24th, 2015 → 5:35 am
“With mirth and laughter let old wrinkles come.” – The Merchant of Venice
So many birthdays and anniversaries this week! First, Shakespeare’s birthday is sometime around now (we aren’t sure of his exact birth day, but we know it’s on or near April 23). Second, Earth Day was April 22. Third, my anniversary with my husband was April 20 (steak and lobster dinner, here we come!). Fourth, my mother’s wedding anniversary with her third husband was April 22 (not my most favorite anniversary, to be honest, but still, something to note). Happy celebrating this week!