The Bad Seed

December 27, 2007

**Wrote two pages at the coffee shop today. Starting to feel like the coffee shop might not be the best place for me to write. Maybe to revise or edit, but not when I really need my brain and my concentration. I’ll try the library at UCSD again next week after our mini-vay-cay. 

We’re going to Cincinnati to spend time with Ted’s mom and brother and sister-in-law for New Year’s– and leaving tomorrow day, so tonight it’s all about laundry, packing, and mentally, physically and emotionally preparing… the kitties, that is!

No, his family is wonderful, it’s our babies that I worry about.

<–Not Jack and Betsy

Mostly Hermia, who is 17 and hates (but really secretly loves) the other two cats, Jack and Betsy.

As long as we cover the bed in plastic everything should be fine.

Speaking of bad seeds… LOOK what I just got from Ebay! Just arrived today!

This classic Dell Paperback from the late 1950s.

isn’t it stunning? (click to see it larger). I love the drawing (actually, it does sort of look like Hermia…). The book was 25 cents in its day.

Here’s the back cover. If you haven’t seen the black and white film starring little Patty McCormick you need to get it on Netflix. It’s a campy, melodramatic, and disturbing masterpiece.

And speaking of masterpieces, i’m currently reading Flaubert’s Madame Bovary (yes, finally), which is so intricate and detailed and rich (meaning: it’s going to take me awhile to get through it!). I do love that Flaubert can accomplish so much emotion and nuance in one sentence.
but… i’m going to have to put it aside for the weekend while I read Junot Diaz’ The Brief, Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao. Read the NYTimes Review here. And Junot Diaz’ website here. Ted and I joined a reading group and it’s our first book. I’ve heard nothing but praise about it. I’m hoping to get it all read on our trip this weekend (most of the reading i’ll probably do on the plane rides).

I’ll try to post before New Year’s (especially because i’d like to do the meme that I promised to Tonya), but if I don’t get a chance please have a happy, safe, festive New Year’s Eve!