Thursday, June 26, 2025

directions

 








Dear At the Crossroads,

Today, I offer you direction: 

listen to this;  (also here, at 11:25).

watch this;  (where?  Hopefully someplace that is easy for you to get to).

read this.  (ditto).

Yes, all are essential, but if you must take only one, let it be the song of the day.  If you cannot read the book, take instead this wisdom from it:

"To reckon by achievements was to make a concession to the prevailing system of the world; it was a departure from the austere, disinterested, exacting standards that Lady Slane and her kindred recognised."





Monday, June 23, 2025

it's a sky blue sky

 


Threadbare/Fadenschein, Helena Hafemann.




Dear Y'All,

Did you know there was such a thing as a Horrible Mean Bad Woman?*  (I found it on the internet, of course; just like Woolworth's, it has everything!)  It's like a Feminist Killjoy but even more transgressive.  It's right up my alley.

My feeling right now is this:  ah, I see you have something there; a little crusted piece of societal expectation?  Why, I'd be delighted to smash it for you!  It's no trouble at all.  

Here is a song we can whistle while we smash; won't you join me?





*I found it on the internet, of course; just like Woolworth's, it has everything; you should try it!



Friday, June 20, 2025

Mr. Fox

 








Dear Reader,

I know you have heard enough from me on the topic of What to Read; especially right now, at the onset of whatever it is that 'Summer Reading" season is.  (Lot of is, in that sentence....)  And for me, it just happened to fall here, this great book.  It happened to fall because I was at my online used book place and the Robot Overlords that run it suggested this book- now, let me clear: they suggest books to me every time I go there.  Mr. Fox is the very first time I have taken their advice:  why?  Two things: the author was not an Old White Man, and the cover was just exactly what I want in a cover.  In other words, I judged this book by its cover and I found it very good!

The cover is a treat, and I send along an image of it, so you can appreciate it, even if you end up with a different edition.  Look at the pale celadon!  The paper-doll type figures!  What could be nicer than that?  But, but, I don't want you to read it because of its cover, and I want you to read it because it is so good, so imaginative, so multivalent.  And no, I don't want to tell you anything about it, because, isn't that why we open a book?  To find a surprise?

However, I am willing to go out on a limb: anyone with a summer reading quota would be delighted with this book:  Give it to all your friends & lovers, your book club pals & your sisters and your cousins and your aunts.

As for me, well, I am going to make a start on the books I hadn't read that are mentioned in Mr. Fox, in my usual non-robotic meta method for finding new titles:

Transformations

From the Beast to the Blonde

The Woman in White

Tess of the d'Ubervilles

Thérèse Raquin

Madame Bovary

In addition to that weighty and academic list, I think I will add Bluebeard's Egg, and White is for Witching, but don't expect a review too soon; I expect to take my sweet time reading all of that.





Tuesday, June 17, 2025

More June

 




June Carter playing Johnny's wife.



Dear June,

I have more to say to you, on this ennui, and I have a song that is not very jittery:  Here is June Carter, playing guitar and her song, Ring of Fire (also autoharp, if you watch the whole clip).






Friday, June 13, 2025

Tuesday, June 10, 2025

More (June Jitters)

 




Barbara Billingsley playing June.




Dear Junes,

It's not always so jittery, June, but this one is.  There is nothing to do; nothing to be done about it.  I read books about being old, older than me, old and waiting.  You practice and practice; trying to wait with patience, with dignity, but it's all just jitteryboredomdoom.

Here is your song for this jittery, jejune day.  




Sunday, June 8, 2025

The Museum of Accidental Images

 







Dear Chance,

I don't know about you, but I love these blurry images I get as a bonus with every package that is delivered by my good pals in the brown and gold, the UPS people.  This one, well this one is so good that it inspires me to open a museum to accidental images.  Now, no; it cannot be ALL accidental images, it has to be curated; only the best accidental images will do for the museum!




Wednesday, June 4, 2025

June Tune Soon (Jitters)

 








Dear June,

Your song is this song, Please Be Still.  It will take some effort- please apply yourself.