The Book Report

 

This afternoon Catherine and I were chatting about common interests and, of course, the subject of books came up.  Now, I know I have previously stated I’m not exactly the biggest reader these days, but I was actually quite the voracious bibliophile in my youth.

That being said, my favorite book EVAR is Currer Bell Charlotte Bronte’s Jane Eyre, so when I came across a book entitled The Eyre Affair by Jasper Fforde several years ago I was intrigued.  I bought it on a whim and have read them in their entirety every summer, always waiting for the next installment!

    

It’s a bit of a challenge to sum up the series in a couple of sentences, but I’ll do my best.  Set in an alternate England in the 1980’s, Thursday Next works for a literary policing agency (black market Shakespeare and Byron are hot commodities) and discovers that she has the ability to travel into the book world.  In The Eyre Affair, the villainous Acheron Hades has also figured out a way to do just the same and has absconded into Bronte’s Jane Eyre, holding the characters from the original manuscript ransom—for if you change something in the original, all subsequent editions of the book are changed.  In this alternate reality, Bronte’s work ended with Jane leaving the Rochester estate and never coming back (boring!!!), but, through her dealings with Acheron in the book it becomes the ending we know today. She goes on to join the policing agency within the book world under the tutelage of Miss Havisham of Great Expectations fame and in the course of the series are introduced to the “real” versions of the literary characters of lore.  All that to say… I’m not promoting it to be high literary art but it’s super clever and gives me some semblance being well versed in the classics without ever, you know, actually having to read them (Oh that Heathcliff, he’s such an ass!)

These works, along with Doctor Who and Catherine Tate, are often my go-to conversation starters whenever I meet someone from across the pond.  Case and point, I knew that Hester and I were going to get along famously when she too was a fan of the Ffordse’s!

At any rate, the newest addition to the series, One of Our Thursdays is Missing, came out yesterday and though I haven’t had a chance to get to a bookstore yet… it’ll happen sooner rather than later.

Come to think of it, this sounds awwwwwfully similar to my favorite game, “Um… Hey guys, where’s Hester?”  Why do you Brits keep on disappearing!!!!

Artist: Clark Gesner/ Album: You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown

10,000 Times

 

For this, my 175th post, I thought I would celebrate a blog milestone: this week I some.how passed 10,000 page views.  This is both an over (and oddly enough) understatement as A.) a modicum of those are my own visits BUT B.) the numbers only go back to June for some reason, so data is missing from March, April and May.

There’s a lot more statistics I’ll share at a later date about exactly how I might have gotten that many, but today I figured I’d provide a chance for some of you to catch up on the previous 174 posts with my “Top Ten” selection—now with updates on some older ones!

 

May 4th, 2010: President Obama speaks at my graduation

Another National Anthem

     

 

June 20th, 2010: Introduction to Blue Lake Fine Arts Camp

Into the Woods

     

 

August 29th, 2010: Moving from Ann Arbor to Houston

If You’re Gonna Play in Texas (You Gotta Have a Fiddle in the Band)

  

 

October 14th, 2010: The Houston Museum of Fine Arts

Sophisticated Lady

   

 

November 20th, 2010: A collection of stairs (yup, that’s it…)

On the Steps of the Palace

  

December 5th, 2010: The John Cleary Gallery Christmas show

A Snowglobe Christmas

  

December 19th, 2010: Ultimate party crashing

The Party’s Crashing Us

   

 

January 16th, 2011: Hester’s goodbye party at Girl Talk

Shut the Club Down

   

 

February 3rd, 2011: Dead Man Walking at HGO plus after party

Woman on the Tier

  

 

February 10th, 2011: Amelie/Yann Tiersen at Fitzgerald’s

The Ballad of Booth

   

Obviously this is only a brief smattering of these last eleven months… so feel free to do a little back catalogue viewing whenever the boredom ensues.  You know, like how you felt about a third of a way into reading this post.  I love comments and/or suggestions and while you’re at it, go ahead and subscribe—I’m still at a paltry (and unlucky) thirteen.

Anyway, here’s to approximately 10,000 more!!!!

Artist: Blu Cantrell/ Album: So Blu

Shut the Club Down

 

If you’ve read my blog in the last month then you are most likely aware of some shenanigans I’ve gotten into with a certain trio of twenty-somethings.  Unfortunately, one third of that trio had to part ways with Houston and, as a depressing byproduct, with me!  If you’re aware of our previous outings (and innings) then you know there was no way we weren’t going out without a fight. Or as I like to remember it: a night of Girl Talk, glow sticks, giant balloons, grief and goodbyes.

Brad got us all tickets to go see Girl Talk, a D.J. who is currently on a nationwide tour.  He was originally supposed to play at the House of Blues but they sold out so quickly they had to change to the Verizon Wireless Theater (where I saw Vampire Weekend with Liz) in order to accommodate a larger crowd.  I happened to arrive a little late during the interval between the opening act an the main stage performance, increasingly encouraged by a stream of “He’s almost on!!!” and “Hurry while you can still find us, we’re ten feet from the stage dead center” and “ look for Hester, she’s waving her glow sticks for you!!” texts from Brad.  Needless to say this feat was much easier said than done in a room full of glow-laden products (sticks, bands, necklaces, etc). 

“Umm… no seriously guys, WHERE’S HESTER?!?!?”

 

Just about the time I managed to find her neon raised hand I could see she was also yelling something to the nearby throngs in a manner I can only describe as regal (she is British after all).  Then, as if straight out of a Charleton Heston film, the crowd parted in order that I could pass through. … Seriously.  As I was too stunned to think to take a picture, I have created an artists rendering  of the event:

LET HIM PASS!

 

The concert (is that what it’s called when you go see a D.J.?) began soon after and I can say it definitely wasn’t like a night at the symphony.

 

Giving a shout out to the violin section???

 

First of all, they have much more festive decorations.  Giant rubber balls anyone?

 

But come on… that’s amateur stuff.  I’ll see that and raise you a giant inflatable tube filled with confetti.

 

And if you’re gonna have confetti in a tube, why not just have it everywhere!!

 

Aw hell, let’s just throw in a toilet paper blower and call it a night.

 

 

But what good’s a party if you don’t have some interesting guests to keep you entertained.  Let’s take a look at some of our favorite personalities throughout the evening.

Early on in the evening this girl got in a fight with another girl and ended it by throwing her drink everywhere.  She stood in this one spot and cried for about 20 minutes, all the while people were just dancing all around her.  WHAT WAS HAPPENING?!?!

 

Meanwhile, on the opposite side of the emotional spectrum, these two couldn’t stop making out right in front of us.  Side note: did you know that one theory on how the design of the heart shape ( <3 ) came about is that it mimics the shape of two heads kissing?  I submit this as exhibit A.

 

DO YOU HAVE A CARD?!  CAN I USE YOUR PICTURES FOR MY BLOOOG!?!

 

And finally, my favorite personality of the whole evening:

I WILL MISS YOU!!!!!!!

 

A fantastic evening for a fantastic farewell for a fantastic friend.  FANTASTIC!!!

 

 

Artist: Girl Talk/ Album: Feed the Animals