cannot read the kindle outdoors

Bah! Just cannot read the kindle outdoors. And it was so cloudy. I wanted to take advantage of the cool, breezy morning, so wonderfully spring-like, instead of reading in my small, confined bedroom.

with Coco

"Roughhousing a little more with Coco..."

Yeah, I remember how she seemed to like it when Willy would flip her around and toss her around a bit. I am so glad that she is still electing to stay at the house with me rather than leave and do whatever it is that Ash and Sammy are doing during the days now.

returning the rental car

"It looks like they are returning the rental car."

So, maybe Vic leaves tomorrow. A tad shy of a full two weeks.

"Good news?"

I definitely would like to get back to my routine, but I am surprised to feel some ambivalence. In some ways, life is smoother for me when Pop is so preoccupied and happily busy, and I am sure it keeps him young. Young and easygoing. I have been fortunate that it is not a terrible burden when Vic visits, and I am content to play it where it lays.

a girl with a gun to her head

"A picture of a girl with a gun to her head. A masked man. Taking a risk to share that on the Saturday night post, aren't you?"

I am a little nervous about it. But I think we have crossed any meaningful line some weeks ago, since I started this 'hard porn' category, as well as with being freer about posting some of those younger-looking girls. Interestingly, no one has defriended me.

"You're just going to keep pushing until someone does?"

Or until LJ suspends me. I don't know. I don't believe I am clearly breaking any rules, and I want to do what feels good, even a little artful, even though I know that I am playing way beyond the safety zone of the vast majority of LJers.

"You're a martyr for art?"

That's putting it a bit dramatically. But I don't want to be a scaredy cat, holding back when I don't really have to.

A virus?

I keep getting re-directed when I ctl-shift for a new page.

"A virus?"

I'm doing a full-system scan now, though I am doubtful that Norton will pick up what it might have already let pass.

"How bad is it? Is the laptop seriously crippled?"

It's only a one-time re-direct, so that I only have to close that tab and then repeat my command. If things don't degenerate from here, it is only an annoyance. A very annoying annoyance. But I am still good to go on here. No need to cry for help either, though I probably should, if this doesn't go away soon.

Rise of the Planet of the Apes

"The Rise of the Planet of the Apes", finally! I've been waiting for this movie. Has it only been a year since it came out? The trailers looked great. I hope it is better than the remake of "The Planet of the Apes".

PBAustinAU

How disappointing. I had recieved a private message through my LJ account. From someone using a Twitter account, a Twitter account with no tweets. This person, going by the moniker PBAustinAU, said he came across me through my participation at PolitiCartoons. Which may be true, but I suspected that it was my Saturday night post that put him in action.

I just got his follow-up message: "Just could use an ear. Bullied cause of a medical condition."

WTF? I cannot take it seriously. This must be another spammer innovation.

Marilynne Robinson

I'm going to have to put Marilynne Robinson on the top of my book list. Recently, we came across a gorgeous passage from "Housekeeping". And, today, we read a shimmering review at The New Yorker. Strikingly, we also learn that she has only written three novels in thirty years of writing, which makes it easier to believe that she really does make a craft out of every sentence she pens.

For the record, Jack and I saw the novel-based movie "Housekeeping", going back to the eighties. In truth, the girlish, feminist themes would be a turn-off, but it was also about being cut off from the herd and the terrible loneliness. I recall liking the feel of the thought and dialogue.

And the Christian sensibility of Ms. Robinson is hardly a turn-off.

"Housekeeping" may be my next book after I finish Robert Caro's latest LBJ history. As I am still in the early chapters, and it is slow-going (not because of the book, but because I have other pressng assignments), it could be late in the summer by the time we are ready for another book, which also means there will be a lot of opportunity for other books and writers to steal my attentin away.

final season of "Chuck"

I ordered the final season of "Chuck". Another de facto advance on my allowance, but seeing how the bill came in last week, there is no worry about being caught short. So, I should start finishing off my romance with "Chuck" this Wednesday. It should go by fast, too, since it's only a half-season. I just hope the quality goes back up after a largely disappointing fourth season.

I naturally read some of the reviews. I cannot believe Morgan Grimes really is going to be the Intersect! I guess the point is for Chuck to learn to be groovy without the Intersect.