September 11th, 2016 → 5:14 am
“I have more flesh than another man
and therefore more frailty.” – Henry IV, Part I
Continuing with the Hollow Crown series, I watched Henry IV, Part I last night. This quote made me wonder, if being large means you are more frail (or, as Falstaff meant it, more fallible), does being small mean you are more resilient (or, more honest)? I have read scientific studies that claim that small people live longer – one potential explanation of which is that there are less cells to go haywire, less of a chance something will turn cancerous. I rather doubt that being small makes you more resilient or more honest, frankly, but it is nice to hear some praise for smallness (even if it is from Falstaff), which is so rare in our current culture with its worshipfulness of all things big and tall.
Filed under: Blog & Literature/Theatre/Art & Self/My Life
September 7th, 2016 → 5:24 am
“I was not made a horse;
And yet I bear a burthen like an ass.” – Richard II
When Ben Whishaw uttered these words as Richard II he was in a sorry state, half naked and starving in a dungeon. It wasn’t at all a funny moment, yet I guffawed out loud watching it. I feel that way all the f***ing time. 😉
Filed under: Blog
September 4th, 2016 → 6:09 am
“See, see, King Richard doth himself appear.
As doth the blushing discontented sun.” – Richard II
I am blown away. I finally got the chance to watch the first in The Hollow Crown series – Richard II. Ben Whishaw plays Richard II and I have never seen such a good performance in my life before. I was riveted. Actually riveted to the screen. I refused to stop watching even to go to the bathroom. I just want to watch it again now. Ben Whishaw, you are my new favorite actor ❤️❤️❤️
Filed under: Blog & Literature/Theatre/Art
August 16th, 2016 → 5:21 am
“Study is like the heaven’s glorious sun.” – Love’s Labor’s Lost
If only my students thought that! Here’s to the beginning of a new school year. For my son, this week. For me, next week. Back to the books!
August 8th, 2016 → 7:03 am
“Like Arion on the dolphin’s back.
I saw him hold acquaintance with the waves.” – Twelfth Night
As summer nears its end, we’re trying to get in as much pool time as we can. Yesterday, my son abandoned his Spiderman swim vest, and of his own volition swam and jumped in the pool unaided. It was lovely. A mother’s dream (and nightmare), watching her son grow up before her eyes.
Filed under: Blog & Self/My Life
August 4th, 2016 → 5:27 am
“The game is up.”
I recently learned that this phrase, “the game is up,” originally meant ‘the game is afoot,’ or, the ‘game is about to begin.’ In other words, it originally meant exactly the opposite of what it means today. That cracks me up for some reason.
As for Rio, in today’s parlance, let the games begin!
July 26th, 2016 → 5:23 am
“Good wine is a good familiar creature,
if it be well used: exclaim no more against it.” – Othello
Going into the second week of convention politics, where is my glass of wine??
Filed under: Blog & Politics/Politicians
July 17th, 2016 → 9:45 am
“Over thy wounds now do I prophesy…
A curse shall light upon the limbs of men;
Domestic fury and fierce civil strife
Shall cumber all the parts of [Turkey];
Blood and destruction shall be so in use,
And dreadful objects so familiar,
That mothers shall but smile when they behold
Their infants quartered with the hands of war,
All pity choked with custom of fell deeds;
And [Erdogan’s] spirit, ranging for revenge,
With Ate by his side come hot from hell,
Shall in these confines with a monarch’s voice
Cry havoc and let slip the dogs of war.” – Julius Caesar
Hopefully recent events in Turkey won’t turn into all out civil war, but I do fear Erdogan, and his spirit for hot revenge.
Filed under: Blog & Politics/Politicians & Stupid/Evil People
July 8th, 2016 → 6:17 am
“This world’s a city full of straying streets,
And death’s the market-place where each one meets.” – Two Noble Kinsmen
A friend of mine wrote on Facebook yesterday: What is happening in this world? Mass shootings, police shootings, tales of hate and violence nearly every day now. And it seems like it’s in a particularly bad phase. What to do??
Filed under: Blog & Stupid/Evil People
July 4th, 2016 → 11:08 am
“When we are born we cry that we are come
To this great stage of fools.” – King Lear
And every day, it seems to get crazier. But I love it nonetheless. Happy Birthday USA – what better place to spend it, then the Grand Canyon?
