I watched Edith Wharton's The House of Mirth last night. Good movie, based on a good book -- Wharton does brilliant dialogue -- but lord, not a cheerful story. Interestingly, I think when it was written, it was meant to be a tragedy of character, but it's just as much a tragedy of circumstance -- the characters are doomed by their cultural situation at least as much as by their own flaws; this story just couldn't happen in this way today. Which is a good thing.
In other news, feeling better today, which means I get to play catch-up on the book. I'm at about 66,000 words, aiming for 90 - 100K. If I'm still aiming for a first draft by Christmas, that's fifteen days at about 2K a day. Do-able in theory, but in practice, what are the odds that I'll actually not miss a day? So I think I really ought to be aiming for 3K a day from this point forward. We'll see what happens.
The plan for today is to start with writing, then around 12:30 - 1-ish, meet with Purvi to finish the CAAP grant application, due today (this is to get Kriti $1000 from the City of Chicago, most of which we would spend on 501(c)3 incorporation). In the afternoon, a few small errands here, followed by a bunch of errands downtown, from dropping off the grant to a last bit of Xmas shopping (almost done!) to dealing with Kevin's very late car registration to trying to track down the last translated poem I need to get permission to reprint for BiM. The library has a copy of the book in question, and I need some info out of it. Then this evening, if I have done my writing like a good girl, I'll be allowed to go attend an art reception at the Kavi Gupta gallery; they've kindly offered to host our opening reception for Kriti there, and this would be a great opportunity to check out the space. And look at art, of course.
Somewhere today I also need to cook some curry and finish cleaning the bathroom. There'll be time. I must have faith. :-)
Good lord, what a spread! Man, I wish I was in Chicago so that Janet and I could attend. (We most likely would have been there all day.) Hope you have a fun partay!
Aragorn: Gentlemen, we do not stop til nightfall.
Pippin: What about breakfast?
Aragorn: You already had it.
Pippin: We had one yes, but what about Second Breakfast?
Merry: I don’t think he knows about Second Breakfast, Pip.
Pippin: What about elevenses, luncheon, afternoon tea, dinner, supper? He knows about them, doesn’t he?
Merry: I wouldn’t count on it.
Mary Anne, you’re the only person I know who would take on hosting a 14 hour party! Sounds like a cool party; wish I could come!
Well, I do plan to spend about 10.5 hrs of that with my butt planted in a chair, watching the hobbitses. 🙂
I’m planning a similar event for the solstice here in Portland (fyi, I work at Reed). Alas, I don’t know anyone else who’ll be free/willing to join me for my second annual Trilogy Tuesday extravaganza, so I’ll be enjoying my seven hobbit meals and 10.5 hours solo. However, you have inspired me to consider a more elaborate menu than various combinations of toast, tea, and chocolate, which are the staples of my diet.
Heather, I wish you could come join us; it’d be great to have you at ours! 🙂 But I’ll note that if I were doing it for myself, I’d go for scones and clotted cream and jam and tea; scones will keep, so it doesn’t matter if you eat them all or not. 🙂