Gotta keep updated!

Today I read a post about what makes for successful blogging, courtesy of one of my former classmates, via one of my former professors. I found out that I have been doing okay, except for one tiny thing - lack of regular updates! Which isn't much of a surprise to any of you who still check here to see if I am writing anything. So tonight, as I sit here with yet another bout of illness (yes, this is the 3rd round in less than a month) I will make sure I am duly dilligent and update the blog. Now...as for what to say! When all else fails, I suppose I'll talk movies and books.

On Monday, Mandy and I went to see The Good Shepherd. I found it really fascinating and the 2.5 hours went by really quickly. Of course, the era in which it took place is during much of my favourite period of American history (1930s-60s) and it involved the dream career that I will never have - spying! Definitely not a movie that will leave you feeling overly inspired at its end, but it will leave you with some things to think about. I still want to watch The Queen, as well as The Good German.

If nothing else, this run of vacation time and illness has allowed me to catch up on some movie watching which I greatly appreciate. I watched Me You And Everyone We Know this morning from the comfort of my fabulous bed but found the movie really terrible. I was constantly yelling "what the hell is this?!" at the screen. If anyone has seen it and cares to share their opinion, please do. I love quirky movies (hello, Rushmore) but this one just left me grouchy and weirded out.

On the book front, right now I'm reading a few. First is Gilead by Marilynne Robinson. It's a Pulitzer Prize winner about a minister who is nearing death and is writing down his memories, wisdom, and stories for his young son. It is beautifully written and I'm finding I have to take it in through small sittings because it contains so much to ponder - death, love, purpose on earth, etc.

Also on my shelf is a repeat read, A History of Mistresses by Elizabeth Abbott who is a prof at UofT. It easily became one of my favourites in the summertime, and it was a source of great delight as well as sadness to me. She introduces a pretty impressive bunch of women and men in this book to tell the story of well, the history of mistresses. She looks at the roles of the mistresses in the lives of these men, and how oftentimes they would exert power within the tiny confines of that particular relationship but then be left with nothing at the end of it all. Abbott has also written A History of Celibacy which I would also like to read.

Oh! And in my stereo currently is a lovely album by Serena Ryder. Becca - I think you will like her.

This will suffice as an update for now. Night!
SS