Lockdown Update Day 233

[elisi]

One of the presents I got for my birthday was Born to be Mild, a delightful and quietly humorous book. Reading it is like being cocooned in Middle England, where the worst thing to happen is accidentally being rude or someone queue jumping. (I'm not being disparaging, the author has been battling depression and is trying to take tiny steps forward.) It's comforting and lovely, like a warm cup of tea, the perfect sort of comfort reading.

However I can't concentrate on it for any length of time. So, I have also been reading Too Much and Never Enough, the book by Mary Trump about her uncle (which I borrowed from my b-i-l's wife). Depressing, but recommended.

I then pulled down Obama's memoir Dreams from my Father from the shelf, and am now re-reading.

The difference is just... startling.

All three books are wholeheartedly recommended - one for escapism, the other two for a painful, beautiful look into the two Americas.

And hey, this made me smile:

The mail-in ballots pic.twitter.com/dKnULySeR5

— k a r y. (@itsKARY_) November 4, 2020

~

Anyway, My Friendly Neighbourhood Lurker reminded me this essay the other day. For all those of you struggling with how so many people still voted for Trump, I think this has some of the best answers:

The First White President
The foundation of Donald Trump’s presidency is the negation of Barack Obama’s legacy.
by Ta-Nehisi Coates (October 2017)



And in honour of Bonfire night/the current political shit show in the UK:

Just remember: We TRIED to blow up Parliament and you lot stopped us.

This is all on you.

Warm regards,

The Catholics.

— John Bull (@garius) October 31, 2020

ETA: So, we had a bonfire and tea (as in evening meal, not a cuppa) in the garden (balanced on our knees of course) and fireworks (small, but fun) and toffee apples, and now we're going to curl up on the sofa with tea and parkin. This has been a NICE evening. Also face masks are very useful when standing next to a smoky bonfire. :)

Comments

[miss-ljv.livejournal.com]

That cheer tweet is AMAZING

[elisi]

ISN'T IT JUST??? :D

[gillo]

I'm glad you had fireworks. Though I rather feel Guy Fawkes had a point. I actually wrote a fic set today!

I heard fireworks all around us, but I was in a Zoom reading of a Fletcher tragedy of 1618. So I can live your fireworks vicariously. And eat virtual parkin. Because PARKIN!!!!

[elisi]

I'm glad you had fireworks. Though I rather feel Guy Fawkes had a point.
Well we're Catholic, so yeah. ;)

I actually wrote a fic set today!
Yay for writing! (I saw the post, but my head is mush.)

I heard fireworks all around us, but I was in a Zoom reading of a Fletcher tragedy of 1618. So I can live your fireworks vicariously. And eat virtual parkin. Because PARKIN!!!!
I shall send them all across shortly. ;)

[gillo]

You're Catholic so you approve of planned mass murder? (Mass murder?) :D

I completely get head=mush - mine too.

Happy to receive non-virtual parkin.

[elisi]

You're Catholic so you approve of planned mass murder? (Mass murder?) :D
*groan*

I completely get head=mush - mine too.
I keep having a feeling I've forgotten something [work related]. It's not helpful.

Happy to receive non-virtual parkin.
You're welcome. :)

[sea_thoughts]

Sounds like a lovely Bonfire Night celebration.

[elisi]

It was very lovely. Usually we're with family (whoever has the biggest pile of Stuff to Burn hosts the event), but since that wasn't an option we just did our own thing. :)