Snapshots

— I’ve been re-reading The Complete Essays of Mark Twain. He is so hilarious, there are times I have to put the book down and guffaw to myself. It’s amazing, how much his personality comes through his language. Not all essayists have that. But he still seems super alive.

— I’ve been sick (again), which has thrown my sleep out of whack, which is bad bad news. I am trying to course-correct, but it’s hard what with the cold meds. It’s also been a busy couple of weeks, with Ebert stuff really heating up (I will have four pieces over there by the end of this week alone: 1. On Ms. 45 and 2. My Favorite Roger: Kwik Stop, plus two more reviews to come). But I am working hard to slow down at night, reading quietly, etc. I’ve made some progress. I wish I had a more resilient brain, but whatever, I don’t. Nobody does. We need to rest and re-charge our brains. I’m a toddler at heart, and don’t want to do that, and want to do whatever the hell I want to do. But I am being compliant and doing my best to get the sleep I need to keep stable.

— I’m still listening to Eminem’s latest like a rabid dog. It gets better and better. My initial thoughts here.

— I have so much catching up to do in re: films before the year is out. Playing catch up now. Seeing five movies in between now and Sunday. But that’s just a drop in the bucket. I have seen so much this year, but not enough, people, not enough.

— I got a message from Michael last night (who has clearly been on my mind this week), saying that he was at a script reading in Los Angeles and ran into an old mutual friend, Matt Tauber, the guy who directed our production of Killer Joe, where Michael and I met so long ago. Weird coincidences like that, dovetail timings, I love them. You know what I also love? Continuity. The sense that there is an unbroken chain with certain people, a chain connecting me to a past which is vital and affirming. Sometimes you need to cut ties, it’s the only way to move on. And obviously it is not good to live in the past. But with some people, it’s good to know that that chain of continuity persists. It’s comforting. I don’t have that with many ex-es, but Michael has always meant that for me. And to see that Michael and Matt were hanging out last night … on the very week that I referenced that production of Killer Joe over at Ebert … AND that Michael would understand how weird and cool the timing was and want to let me know … it was just very pleasing in its symmetry and continuity.

— And this last is not a snapshot, it’s a momentous event. My sister Jean just had her third baby yesterday. Sat by the phone all day getting updates from Mum, until finally … the picture came through of my new and precious little niece. I love her so much already. I can’t wait to meet her. Everyone is fine.