Gosh, I haven't posted here in nearly forever! Eep. It's hard to keep up the multi-blog lifestyle, I suppose. Anyway, new year, new post.
I'm reading for fun a bit more, I hope, in this slightly less chaotically busy term. First on my list and just about finished is this light little bit of non-fiction -- "The Taste of Conquest". I'm of two minds as to recommending it because, on the one hand, light, witty and interesting comments about food. On the other hand, it is so light, it is almost insubstantial. There's no real depth the the coverage of Venice (which is as much about modern Carnevale traditions as it is about the history of the spice trade) and the same pattern continues with each city Krondl discusses.
It's entertaining but not really at all educational. Now, of course, I may be biased as an academic but I've enjoyed some other popular non-fiction a bit more. This just seemed a bit too fractured and fragmented, however, to really accomplish the goals.
But the other week I actually found one album at our mall music store that I wanted: Dreamcatcher by Secret Garden. Very much in the folksy, romantic tradition of Clannad and the like. In other words, just my taste in music, hooray! It's not my favourite album by this group, but I do enjoy pretty much all the tracks.
Still, if it weren't for eMusic I would be in much worse shape. I can't say enough good things about their service. For a folk music fan it's a great selection. And getting all my music DRM free is more than worthwhile. In the last months I've downloaded Paul McCartney's latest, an live album by Bruce Cockburn, another by Planxty, some Shadow radio plays from the 30s and so on. All over the map and all fun, though!
I know I'm weird in that I don't use iTunes (nor do I want to do so -- it's such a pain to have your music "managed" for you by one particular kind of software and I don't own an iPod so I'd have to rip and reupload all the music to use my Sansa MP3 player, ugh!). I like being able to take my music collection to any computer and listen to it on my terms. And so it goes with the latest albums and downloads.
I've been a fan of Helen Mirren since I first saw her in Shakespearean television productions in the 1970s or 80s (and, of course, I enjoyed her in "Excalibur"). And I'm a fond monarchist as any historian who works so much with the institution and families can be.
What I liked best about the movie was how plausible a characterisation of Queen Elizabeth they posited. Here is a woman for whom service is a mantra and stoicism is the greatest virtue, confronted with a society that wants public, ostentatious displays of torment and self-blame. The crisis of the death of Diana works out as a very illuminating insight into not just the queen, but also her new PM. Michael Sheen's Tony Blair was a surprising effective counterpoint to the monarch searching for a way to deal with her family and her situation.
This is one movie that will repay the rewatching!
Crystallyn, an old friend of mine, posted one of the most insightful essays on health, well-being, self-esteem and weight. She's also got a great link to a video rant, there, off of You Tube. Go! Read:
Fat Is Not a Four-Letter Word
What a great recording! Lots of duets with some really interesting partners. And my absolute favourite version, ever, of "Knockin' On Heaven's Door". I think I've listened to it a dozen times since downloading it between my PC and my MP3 player.
When we were dating, Mike took me out to a Warren Zevon concert in Toronto. It was a low-key performance with his usual range of music from the ridiculous to the sublime. It's one of my favourite memories of our courting and having these new(er) songs brings it all back.
Show us the best picture you took in 2006.
Submitted by Captured Moments.
Don't worry, Ozzie. That cat's not half as cute as you!
I'm enjoying eMusic so very much as I reassemble my Steeleye Span music collection. All those worn-out cassette tapes, full of scratches and pops? Replaced by ever-handy mp3s of so many old favourites. *glee*
The eMusic model's quite nice -- I can do whatever I want with the mp3s, copying them over to as many CDs or computers as needed. And they have so many of the obscure groups I know and love! I still have several more Span albums to reacquire this way before I move on to Fairport Convention, Silly Sisters and other old folkies, though I did also take a brief detour from my monthly download plans to snag a lovely live version of "Superman's Song".
What is your favorite scent?
Submitted by Erinen.
Oh, good question! Pumpkin pie would be high up on the list, closely followed by a bunch of related spice scents (cinnamon, cloves and ginger). Though I do have a candle from Yankee Candle that's cinnamon and vanilla which I just love to sniff.
Do you play any musical instruments?
Yes, I play the piano and the clarinet.
Both are evil.
EVIL.
I used to want to be a musician. In an orchestra. Why? I think it was my mom, she obsessed over orchestras therefore so did I. She's a bad influence. LOL.
I was in marching band. God they're weird in there. Hehe. Lots of fun but lots of work and I'd never ever do it again. I did it up at college because of scholarships. Yay! But even that wasn't worth me doing it. Oh well. Hehe.
Played in band for school since 4th grade. Til 9th grade. Then from 10th-12th grade I was free. Until college.
Then two years up at college, minus a semester of band was my extent of band-age.
Now I am free.
FREE!
~Claudia~
You've been through the desert on a horse with no name. Except your horse does have a name. What is it?
Submitted by edubya.vox.com.
His name was Sergeant Pepper (no, it wasn't my idea -- I was his third owner). I just called him Pepper. He was a leggy, slightly crazy blood bay thoroughbred with two white stockings, a star and a stripe. I last saw him in the spring of 1980.
