Random Thoughts

[Jack of All Parades]

Enjoy his line re Marquez "Castro's Concubine"- does this mean that we can expect a sanctioned 12 round Heavyweight bout for the undisputed Championship of Latin America literature? If so I will buy the pay per view showing.

Remember from years ago enjoying The Green House in English translation.

[invisible Pole]

Remember him running for Peruvian presidency and seeing him on Spanish Tv, but never read anything other than journalism. What do you recommend?

I like the García Márquez story at the end here:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-11493191

Aunt Julia and the Scriptwriteris the name I know best:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mario_Vargas_Llosa

I think I liked Captain Pantoja and the Special Service best, though it's probably not rated as highly as for example Conversation in the Cathedral.
(Polish title by the way - Pantaleon i wizytantki - seems closer to the original one Pantaleon Y Las Visitadoras.
Aunt Julia and the Scriptwriter is a good read, as is his latest one The Bad Girl.
My fondness for Llosa has its roots in the eighties, when Latin American literature (Marquez, Fuentes, Cortazar, Llosa) enjoyed a cult following in Poland.
I have to revisit at least some of these books which I adored so much when I was a teenager.

[bambooneedle]

<------found one. In honor of #1 son's coming nuptials on 10-10-10. He was such a fun baby.

Congratulations to you both!

[verbal gymnastics]

Absolutely MDM.

I hope you all had a great day.

Tell us how it went.

And how long did you manage to last before crying?

[mood swung]

Thanks, peeps. it was perfect and beautiful and one of these days it will all sink in. I am a little bereft thinking my baby boy belongs to someone else now.

[verbal gymnastics]

He'll always belong to you MDM. Nothing will ever change that.

[Who Shot Sam?]

Thanks, peeps. it was perfect and beautiful and one of these days it will all sink in. I am a little bereft thinking my baby boy belongs to someone else now.

Congrats! Very happy for you. Can't imagine one of my children getting hitched, but the day is coming I'm sure.

[verbal gymnastics]

I spent Saturday and Sunday at parties for 3 year olds and had tremendous fun on bouncy castles and chasing Mini VG around a play area. Who thought being 47 could be such fun!

[verbal gymnastics]

Why hasn't anyone posted on here for a while

[mood swung]

waiting for you, Godot.

[verbal gymnastics]

Did you mean to say "God"?

[mood swung]

If you can cure the Jukebox of Cheese in my head, I'll call you anything you want! Yesterday, it was "Macarena", and all I know of it is 'heeeeeyyyyyy, Macarenea!', so that got old very quickly and this morning I find myself sing FOR HE'S A JOLLY GOOD FELLOW in the shower. I think I might have a concussion.

[bambooneedle]

This shouldn't get stuck in your head - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R36CixkIaIc

[mood swung]

You are EVIL, 'boo! EVIL!

[bambooneedle]

You are EVIL, 'boo! EVIL!

"<like Tony Montana> I an' jus' a bur' in de eskiiieeee..."

[Jack of All Parades]

Watching tonight's episode of Jeopardy and the final question was 'what character was introduced in a 1960 novel and then died 30 years later on a basketball court of a heart attackin 1999'- not a single one of the three contestants could answer penning weak ?s. The vicissitudes of time are strange only 3 years removed from his death- does no one read John Updike or remember his most memorable character- Harry 'Rabbit' Angstrom?

[verbal gymnastics]

The UK has been hit by some tremendous snowstorms.

Our garden is under nearly 2 ft. Mini VG was nearly completely engulfed!

I'm going to attempt to dig the cars out tomorrow and clear the driveway. And wonder where to put the snow that I shovel!

[mood swung]

VG, we had a blizzard way back when Steven was about 15 months old. I put him in a snowsuit and stuck him in the snow, which came up to his armpits. He cried. It was hilarious.

No snow phobia developed!

I seriously cannot wait to get a good snow to see what my dog is going to do.

[verbal gymnastics]

More snow on the way so maybe Mini VG2 will get the same treatment MDM!

[verbal gymnastics]

Mini VG has been singing a made up song all day. Said song has one lyric which is "I love you daddy".

How can something like that fail to make you smile?

[Jack of All Parades]

I know you will cherish that-hope you recorded it.

[verbal gymnastics]

Thanks Christopher. I tried to record her to start with but she clammed up when I tried to record it on my phone. Mrs VG said not to force the issue and just enjoy it. Which I did over and over.

[Jack of All Parades]

Your wife is quite right- keep playing that tape loop in your head over and over of her singing. Of the many memories of my three daughters perhaps the most vivid are on that eternal tape loop that plays within my skull outside of perhaps a few vivid photos. Enjoy!

[verbal gymnastics]

Memories like that must be even more special to you given your health scare earlier in the year Christopher.

[Jack of All Parades]

VG very much so. Though I wish I had even more photos-I have never been able to reconcile our ultimate disappearance from this 'mortal coil' and constantly struggle with the notion that our essence just evaporates-some photographic evidence we were here is somehow consoling. That is why a day like today when I am in Boston helping my two oldest daughters pack up for the holidays and finish their final exams is so special- I get to spend some time with them which has become such a rare and special commodity as they have aged and moved out of our home. Tomorrow we hit the road together for home and some quality time with mom as a family before they head for Japan to continue their studies and their lives.