November 4, 2005
It's been a bad day for the Mitchell Boys
My, it’s been a hilarious day for domestic assaults. This morning Eastenders Thug Ross Kemp was assaulted by his wife who is editor of The Sun (see link below). And then Steven McFadden who plays Kemp’s equally thuggish brother Phil was smacked around by his ex-girlfriend. We’ll be following this story closely here at Pickle Me This.
Update: So is Zoe Williams.
November 3, 2005
Read More
It is strange how well the Koreans and Japanese in Toronto manage to get along on Bloor Street. I mention this because Stuart explored Korea Town the other day, and his precious spoil was a box of Japanese curry. Not quite CoCoIchiban, but we sat down to such a delightful meal tonight and it was pretty close. Oishi. It managed to pull me out of a two day funk. The legacy of my despair will be a busy next few days as I make up for time spent staring at the wall and bemoaning my meagre existence. I’ve been naughty.
Timothy Garton Ash on Europe. I’ve been thinking a lot about Europe lately. I just started reading Snow by Orhan Pamuk, which is wonderful. Also a current assignment requires I read multiple issues of Atlantic Monthly from 1938 seeking articles about European politics at that time, and how little things ever change is painfully obvious.
The Guardian revisits Fear of Flying. Apparently, internet users read more! And Nancy Drew is 70.
Now I am going to be provocative. It’s National Novel Writing Month, which is ridiculous. You can’t write a decent novel in a month, and if you could you would have written one anyway. A quote I came across a few months ago: “Write less. Read More”. I’m all for (Inter)National Novel Reading Month, which would make us smarter and the world a better place. NaNoWriMo just makes the world weightier with crappy writing and people more self-absorbed. Further in provocation, I don’t think I am going to buy a poppy this year. I haven’t thought this through entirely, and whatever conclusion I come to, I won’t be completely comfortable with it. It just seems a bit hypocritical, but I have to admit I’ve only thought this since I read “Three Guineas”. We’ll see. Perhaps I’m too impressionable.
Have I mention I’ve been Drabbling? “The Peppered Moth”. It was good, but still not of her Golden Age. Anyhow, I’m finished it now.
Back to marking.
October 30, 2005
The crowds roar
There is something poignant about someone else’s radio sounds flowing through the open window alongside the breeze and the sunshine, late on a gorgeous autumn afternoon.
I think it’s a soccer game in Portuguese.
October 30, 2005
Halloween
Our Jack-O-Lantern, expertly carved by Stu. I think it deserves showing off.
October 30, 2005
Woe
Dar Williams, who is my favourite musician in the whole galaxy, is coming to Toronto at the beginning of December but I can’t afford to go.
October 29, 2005
Press This
An exciting day at the Toronto Small Press Bookfair today, where I got to sit beside the wonderful Ms Puddle Press. Pickle Me This Press was also visited by lots of friends, and sold quite a few books, not only to people I know! A highlight was the appearence of my friend Jonathan’s family. I met Jon in Japan, he now lives in Belgium and his parents still live in America, but his sister lives in TO and his parents were up for the weekend, and they all came out to see my book, because Jon’s wife Eri did the Japanese text in it. They were really nice, and it was nice to meet them. Thank you to everyone who supported us today.
On Creative Writing programs and getting rid of books.
Why aren’t you doing your homework Kerry? Partly because there is an uneaten pizza in my kitchen!
October 27, 2005
The life
Today I read so much Virginia Woolf; The London Scene essays in the morning and then an abridged “Three Guineas” in a 1938 Atlantic Monthly all afternoon. When beloved husband came home, we went to buy a pumpkin, he cooked dinner and then we sewed books while watching imported Eastenders. This is the life for me!
