Do I even need to say this?
Seriously, 2016, what gives?
I chose the image above, the December 1916 cover of the long-gone radical magazine The Masses, because I was thinking about that year and how it wasn't that joyful, either. World War I and the Polio epidemic were the tip of the iceberg. I usually gain some perspective from history, but this year has found me wondering how much progress we've really made since then. Looking at the Wikipedia 1916 event calendar is enough to make one think. That alone is depressing enough even before we consider the In Memoriam section of every coming award show. It's also been a difficult year for too many of my close friends and family members who've been dealing with serious illnesses.
If I were into tattoos I'd be getting a Hamsa hand on my shoulder right about now.
You know what? Let's start this over. If you're still here reading, that is.
Book
Right now I'm wading in true escapist stuff, a YA science fiction novel, The Thousandth Floor by Katharine McGee. The writing is Twilightish, but the core idea and plot are quite enjoyable. Just before the holidays I considered rereading Connie Willis' Doomsday Book, but opted instead for her christmas story All Seated on the Ground, which was a good choice, all things considered. But the best book I've read this month was The Sense of an Ending by Julian Barnes. I started it when it first came out but got distracted by something shiny. I'm glad I came back to this very English novel.
Music
TV
Finally watched the most recent season of Transparent in one night. Right now the Husband and I are back to comfort-watching. Star Trek: Enterprise is more enjoyable than I remembered. Back in the day we quit it before the first season was over, but other than the fact that too many scenes seem to have been created with teenaged boys in mind it is not half bad.
Link
Jane Austen's Emma was published 200 years ago this month. It's still as fantastic as ever.
Perfume
A good friend gave me a decant of Tralala from Penhaligon's which had been discontinued before I could get over my discomfort with the choice of literary and cinematic reference. I'm pretty sure nothing in Last Exit to Brooklyn has smelled even remotely close to this fantastic rich and vintage-inspired floriental.
Makeup
Heavy mascara and dark berry lips. If not now then when?
Frequently Worn Outfit/Item
Dark or black jeans, luxurious sweaters, hats, black boots. Also, a mix of modern and vintage bracelets in corresponding colors worn together.
Food
Matzoh balls in a vegetarian broth.
Bane
Restaurants that serve mediocre food for exorbitant prices. I'd rather have a bagel at my local diner.
Joy
Feeding the squirrels and birds outside, then watching them feast under the watchful gaze of the cats.
Anticipation
A quiet and happy new year's eve.
Wishlist
Peace on Earth, in every possible way.
Random Thought
I hope Freddie Mercury is enjoying the great company he has now.
How are you? What's on your list of loves and banes? Any wishes and recommendations?
Images:
The Masses cover by Frank Walts, december 1916
Charles E. Burchfield (1893-1967), December Storm, 1959.
First of all- I just want to thank you for getting me through this year. Finding your blog in my email has been a source of nothing short of joy and has given some normalcy to my life. I am reading the quirky compendium called Women in Clothes by Sheila Heti, Heidi Julavits and Leanne Shapton + 639 others. It is a book you can read off and on, all interviews, fun autobiographical details from women (some famous) and their thoughts on clothing...I am reading Out (crime fiction) by Natsuo Kirino lots of lovely details on modern Japanese culture. It's all about Nars for me and the duo chrome eyeshadow Desdemona making my green eyes pop! Brushed out in a halo spinoff from the Biba days and tightlined w/Makeupforever eye liner pencils. Really enjoyed Luke Cage for the fantastic music and the Harlem vibe. And wearing tons of Fruitchouly Flash by Tauerville and on other days IncenseFlash by Tauerville.. Favorite food right now is Old Amsterdam Geitenkaas (sharp aged goat cheese from Old Amsterdam) and Thassos sun dried greek olives. Also wishing for Peace on Earth somehow -someway we gotta make it happen!
ReplyDeleteNot a great year but that is life I guess.Binge watched "The Suspicious Housekeeper" a South Korean series - its not "fantastic" but I could not stop watching it! LOL I have a new found love of the quality of Estee Lauder products! My joy at the moment is my roses but its going to be 98f so the poor things will bake :( Perfume- just bought a bottle of Clarins Eau Ressourcante for this summer heat ... omg Gaia the humidity right now (9 in the morning) is shocking .... I guess my bane is this humidity and not being able to sleep ! LOL
ReplyDelete"Heavy mascara and dark berry lips. If not now then when?" -- Thank you for the wry smile in these dark times. Wishing you the best in 2017.
ReplyDeleteWhat a nightmare of a year...I'm just going to have some more soup (I got sick for the holidays) and I'm going to wear my mascara and berry lips around the house. So there 2016. Let's hope for a much better 2017 for all of us.
ReplyDeleteBook: Just a lot of random business related reading. My brain is on overload! I need to pick out some good books for pleasure reading.
ReplyDeleteMusic: We spent some time up in the mountains at our friends' home. Snow outside, hot mulled wine inside, and lots of John Denver and James Taylor.
TV: I really haven't had time for TV just lately.
Perfume: Scheherazade by Jean Despry
Makeup: Cool, soft and smoky eyes (Nars) with barely there luminous cheeks (Marc Jacobs) and deep berry or plum lips (YSL or Tom Ford).
Frequently Worn: My cozy parka and Uggs for those walks in the woods with my friends.
Food: Hearty vegetable stews, corn bread cooked in a cast iron skillet, chestnuts roasted over an open fire, popcorn!
Bane: Nope!
Joy: Having my sons home for the solstice and then spending time with my dear friends.
Anticipation: That things will be much better in 2017 for everyone.
Wishlist: I usually joke about world peace, but in this case it is truly my wish.
Random Thought: As bad as 2016 was on so many levels, I have been blessed with loving friends, family, and pets; good health; joy in things great and small; and boundless optimism for the future. Happy New Year everyone!
Book
ReplyDeleteAugustus by John Williams
1973 National Book Award winner – an epistolary novel about the rise of Caesar Augustus. Chillingly relevant to contemporary times.
Music
New Regina Spektor
TV
It’s more like what I’m NOT watching. After 18 months of Chris M, Chris H, Rachel, and Lawrence, I’m detoxing w/ the Criterion Collection on Filmstruck.
Link
Get past the fact that this is Tucker Carlson’s website and push through the text to the Jonathan Pie videos for a bitch slap double header dose of reality. Savage. Brilliant. And sad. But onwards.
http://dailycaller.com/2016/11/14/british-comedian-destroys-clueless-american
s-over-election-result/
Perfume
Just got back from Tucson where I discovered LA Curie perfumes – specifically Incendo and Faunus – smoke and earth – a jolt of raw territory and a whiff of the 19th-century. If you could bottle McCabe and Mrs. Miller, it would be both of these scents.
Makeup
No makeup but a daily dose of Ancient Resins in honor of LC
Frequently Worn Item/Outfit
Wet Seal’s Blue Asphalt slit-knee skinny jeans (undiscovered, inexpensive, and amazing) and a vintage Hang Ten t-shirt
Food
Honeycrisp apple slices spread with Justin’s almond butter. And Milk Duds.
Bane
I’ll say it. DONALD MF TRUMP!!!
Joy
A very recent escape to Tucson and Saguaro National Forest for a much-needed salubrious dose of desert sunset
Anticipation
Bernie’s marching orders. And at least two years of active resistance
Wishlist
A real winter. And more rain.
Random Thought
Evil is shrewd.
I'm still reading here. And I so appreciate what you have to say.
ReplyDelete2016 was the worst year I can remember, and I'm 60, so I've seen plenty of bad years in my time. Hoping for better.....