Well now, the pad's looking good, Mr Carpenter. I can imagine you relaxing there smoking imaginary Gauloises and listening to music, imaginary or otherwise.
Liked your Ikea post -- I've only been to Ikea once, but once was enough.
I put on "Idle Moments" by Grant Green a few days back and instantly felt I was in a film -- a French film, stylish, black and white, but inevitably with a hint of Hulot.
Did Silliman's post on Battlestar Galactica persuade you to give it a try? I'm sorely tempted, I must admit. Some intelligent sci-fi would be fun. But do I need to devote my evenings to yet another marathon stint of boxset TV?
Just got hold of Stephen Burt's Close Calls with Nonsense -- he has an enviable knowledge of the modern poetry scene. His excellent piece on Ashbery from the TLS last year is in it. Highly recommended.
The new HQ is nothing short of superb & the kind of space one dreams of & suddenly you're in it - which is a bit disconcerting.
I'd imagine you're the kind of Walrus who would understand why it's so mind-bogglingly extraordinary to have your most valued volumes arranged together rather than in boxes or odd nooks all over the place. This - in itself - is a kind of 'composition'.
However ... I'm also painfully aware of how impossible it is to justify so many books & magazines & other stuff. Fundamentally, one asks the question WHEN will I read THIS and THIS and THIS? So, this morning, out went several years worth of LRBs. What's next?
Any advice on what to jettison would be gratefully received. The nasty twist is that there's the stuff I value & the stuff I have a sneaking feeling I ought to have 'professionally' (i.e. as a paid-up member of the High School Teaching Fraternity). And if I chuck the latter, will I suddenly regret it?
That's before we start in on some 15 years of The Wire back issues.
"Am I A Library?" is the nagging question.
I gather from some of Ron's posts that he has books all over the place. I suspect that now I have this little bit of Utopia any spill-over will not be well received ...
And, yes, I realise what a luxury it is to even be in such a position. (There's that Berrigan lecture in which he boasts of stealing books from stores since he simply didn't have the cash).
*
re. Battlestar ... I dutifully watched an episode some months ago & it left me pretty cold. (A bit like The Wire, I'm embarrassed to say). I'm not very good on these 'cult' series - except ten years afterwards when everyone else has forgotten about them. I did get into the 'Hitchhiker's Guide', though, when it was just a radio programme. Now & again I get it right.)
I want to follow up your French director - the name escapes me - I can look it up. I'd really love to 'get the bug' on someone's work.
re. Ikea ... hmmm ... the tip seems to be get in at opening time, grab a coffee, hare round, stack up on shelving units & then head for the till.
As for house shopping in generaI, I suppose it's a bit like garages - most blokes can carry it off but I know they smell a fraud as I walk in. I don't know the lingo, the under the bonnet stuff. I'm apologetic from the word go. And absurdly grateful for any assistance. Mrs Waffle - by contrast - is tough as nails & won't take 'no' as an answer. Hardened salesmen quail at her approach.
'Everybody Digs Bill Evans' on the rusty old CD player. Spiffy.
P.S. M. Hulot ... now there's a series of films I love - & my mother maintains that my father (younger version) was him to a 'T'. I'm struck by Tati's sheer elegance & that off-kilter angle of walk. Pure rhythm. & the music! (you know, I think I admire him even more than Chaplin).
I once wrote a poem 'Hulot with an 'H' ' trying to conflate him with Tony H-h-hancock'. Will post it when I find it in digital file space.
3 comments:
Well now, the pad's looking good, Mr Carpenter. I can imagine you relaxing there smoking imaginary Gauloises and listening to music, imaginary or otherwise.
Liked your Ikea post -- I've only been to Ikea once, but once was enough.
I put on "Idle Moments" by Grant Green a few days back and instantly felt I was in a film -- a French film, stylish, black and white, but inevitably with a hint of Hulot.
Did Silliman's post on Battlestar Galactica persuade you to give it a try? I'm sorely tempted, I must admit. Some intelligent sci-fi would be fun. But do I need to devote my evenings to yet another marathon stint of boxset TV?
Just got hold of Stephen Burt's Close Calls with Nonsense -- he has an enviable knowledge of the modern poetry scene. His excellent piece on Ashbery from the TLS last year is in it. Highly recommended.
Take care,
W
Ah ... where am I?
The new HQ is nothing short of superb & the kind of space one dreams of & suddenly you're in it - which is a bit disconcerting.
I'd imagine you're the kind of Walrus who would understand why it's so mind-bogglingly extraordinary to have your most valued volumes arranged together rather than in boxes or odd nooks all over the place. This - in itself - is a kind of 'composition'.
However ... I'm also painfully aware of how impossible it is to justify so many books & magazines & other stuff. Fundamentally, one asks the question WHEN will I read THIS and THIS and THIS? So, this morning, out went several years worth of LRBs. What's next?
Any advice on what to jettison would be gratefully received. The nasty twist is that there's the stuff I value & the stuff I have a sneaking feeling I ought to have 'professionally' (i.e. as a paid-up member of the High School Teaching Fraternity). And if I chuck the latter, will I suddenly regret it?
That's before we start in on some 15 years of The Wire back issues.
"Am I A Library?" is the nagging question.
I gather from some of Ron's posts that he has books all over the place. I suspect that now I have this little bit of Utopia any spill-over will not be well received ...
And, yes, I realise what a luxury it is to even be in such a position. (There's that Berrigan lecture in which he boasts of stealing books from stores since he simply didn't have the cash).
*
re. Battlestar ... I dutifully watched an episode some months ago & it left me pretty cold. (A bit like The Wire, I'm embarrassed to say). I'm not very good on these 'cult' series - except ten years afterwards when everyone else has forgotten about them. I did get into the 'Hitchhiker's Guide', though, when it was just a radio programme. Now & again I get it right.)
I want to follow up your French director - the name escapes me - I can look it up. I'd really love to 'get the bug' on someone's work.
re. Ikea ... hmmm ... the tip seems to be get in at opening time, grab a coffee, hare round, stack up on shelving units & then head for the till.
As for house shopping in generaI, I suppose it's a bit like garages - most blokes can carry it off but I know they smell a fraud as I walk in. I don't know the lingo, the under the bonnet stuff. I'm apologetic from the word go. And absurdly grateful for any assistance. Mrs Waffle - by contrast - is tough as nails & won't take 'no' as an answer. Hardened salesmen quail at her approach.
'Everybody Digs Bill Evans' on the rusty old CD player. Spiffy.
Off to the UK soon.
Cheers
The C.
P.S. M. Hulot ... now there's a series of films I love - & my mother maintains that my father (younger version) was him to a 'T'. I'm struck by Tati's sheer elegance & that off-kilter angle of walk. Pure rhythm. & the music! (you know, I think I admire him even more than Chaplin).
I once wrote a poem 'Hulot with an 'H' ' trying to conflate him with Tony H-h-hancock'. Will post it when I find it in digital file space.
The C.
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