Last year Marvel Comics released Jane Austen’s Pride & Prejudice in comic book format. This year, they’ve moved on to Austen’s Sense & Sensibility.
They’re using the same writer for the adaptation, but a different artist. I’m so behind in blogging, issues 1 and 2 have already been released and issue 3 will hit the stands next week. I have to admit, this artist sure had me laughing out loud at half-brother (I almost typed half-wit) John’s befuddlement as Fanny talks him out of giving assistance to his step-mother and half-sisters. Here’s the cover art for the first issue, which is probably still in the shops if you want to get copies. That’s John and Fanny in the lower right corner of the cover.
Speaking of Fanny, over the weekend a friend and I re-watched the excellent movie, The Young Victoria. Actress Harriet Walter gives a wonderful, subtle performance as Victoria’s aunt, Queen Adelaide. It’s too bad it wasn’t a bigger part. Walter gave another wonderful performance in Emma Thompson’s adaptation of Sense & Sensibility. Who can forget her delightful performance in the scene mentioned above…talking John out of helping his family. “People always live forever when there is an annuity to be paid to them.” And later when she says “I’m the soul of discretion.” Only to be squealing, “Viper in my bosom” seconds later. Ah, such a great laugh.
Who wants to have a Jane Austen book club? I’m thinking it might be fun on Facebook. Never enough Austen!
I’ve been swamped by work the past few weeks and the blog ran dry. In this wretched economy we’re struggling with, it’s good to be busy with work, but being swamped is not the greatest. Why couldn’t it have been a little more spread out? Oh well, the swamp has receded, hopefully follow-up work will rise at a more livable pace. I spent today catching up on my bills, bank statements, invoices, etc. Lots more paperwork to sort through the next few days. Sigh. Paperwork, it never ends.
My utility room was also swamped again, too. With water, not work.
As tends to happen in the warmer weather, the doorbell rings more frequently. And more often than wanted it is a solicitor…any ring from a solicitor is more than is wanted. Reggie used to howl and charge the door when the bell rang. This made solicitors only too happy to leave as quickly as they could, but that is no longer a joy to behold. (Not to be mean, but it was interesting that this little dog could put them off so quickly.)
I was at the local hardware store and took a look at their signage. They only had two signs that said, “No Solicitation.” One was a big, white plastic sign with small black lettering…terrible design. The other was smaller, some sort of pressed, thin metal, but it was radiating red with vibrating gold letters…I suspect the next county could see this sign if I put it on my door. I want something that can be read up close, but not look like a blight on my door.
There was one sign that had possibility. It said: “Please Use Other Door.” Since I don’t have another door, I thought that might annoy the solicitors as much as they annoy me. Unfortunately, I don’t think it will stop them from ringing the bell and it might confuse others.
I think many dogs and their owners would love to have this. I know my brother’s old Border Collie would have been in doggie heaven if he’d had this (and it threw further). My brother would have had to buy the machine in bulk because Scottie would have worn them out!
Oddly enough, I think Reggie is probably one of the few dogs that might not have liked it. Oh he would have learned how to use it and, like Jerry, he’d know exactly which sound meant the machine was about to throw the ball, but he’d get bored with it.
To Reggie, the fun about playing ball was the people interaction. Whether he was playing Goalless Soccer, Half-Fetch, or Tag, it was the people that mattered. Goalless Soccer was something Reggie would play with anyone that would run around the yard kicking, passing, and stealing the ball. He was faster than most people, so he was good at sneaking between feet and stealing the ball. Then you had to catch him. Half-Fetch involved having a person kick or throw the ball, Reggie would joyfully fetch it, but he’d return with it only to taunt the person. Both games often lead to Tag. Reggie would run around with or without ball, pleased out of his mind that people were reaching out trying to touch him. He’d dart in and tag you with his nose and scamper away again. He loved all three games, but all required people. On the other hand, Scottie, my brother’s Border Collie, also loved people, but when it came to balls and fetch, people were only a means for throwing the ball for him to chase and catch mid-air…I’m sorry Scottie never had this machine.
The website DeepDiscount.com (formerly DeepDiscountDVD.com, if I remember correctly) is in the middle of their twice annual big sale. They are advertising 25% off already reduced prices. I’ve only looked at a few items, but the prices look good. For example, with the additional 25% off, Foyle’s War Set 6 is $25.49 as opposed to Amazon.com’s $32.99. If this latest season of Foyle’s War had been better, I might make a purchase, but my jury is still out. Some of the earlier seasons of Foyle’s War, which were typically excellent, are also on sale.
I don’t know if I’ll buy anything, the economy is awful no matter what the politicians are saying, but I wanted you to know.
There seems to be many codes you can use to get this additional 25% off. The webpage says to add the code 25MORE to the coupon field.
NOTE: Illinois residents usually have to pay taxes on items from DeepDiscount.com because it is an Illinois business.
Every spring my neighborhood is inundated with ducks. They waddle around the yards. Take naps. Quack…oh boy do they quack. They almost always travel in twos…Mr. and Mrs. Duck. Occasionally an interloper starts a fight…quack, quack, quack. Every year without fail they come. Eventually the chicks show up too…no comment.
Below is a picture I took of Mr. and Mrs. Duck some 10-15 years ago. I know it’s that old because 1) I had to scan the film picture and 2) I painted my house that long ago and the pale, mustard yellow in the shutter is now soft blue.
But this year things are different. The quacking, waddling, the traveling as a couple, the interloper and of course the quacking, quacking, quacking are all here…but something is different:
I don’t know what’s up…but the ducks are taking to the roofs this year! It’s a bit freaky.
Taken through a window screen because they flew off if they saw me and I had to get close with my sad zoom. The fella on the right is a Golden Finch, but I’m not sure about the other. I suspect it’s also a finch, but I don’t know for sure. My mother calls the one on the left a Katie Bird after my red-headed niece. Perhaps a Redpoll?
Copyright: NHL.
Foyle’s War is on PBS in the US tonight (double check your local listings)! Don’t forget to watch! 
