Cloister Commentary, Day 363: Reggae, Chocolate, and Ice Cream

Continued on the to-do tip. House-cleaned, book-hauled, organized–then checked to make sure no one had put greenies in my allergy meds. Check. I plan to kick back tomorrow just to make sure this isn’t a, uh, concern.

You’re tired of hearing it–this is the last time: Pasta La Fata is indeed, in excited pedestrian words we once overheard, “the thing around Columbia.” Last night, we tried their greens and ricotta lasagna and it rocked. We’ve ordered once a week for most of the calendar year and haven’t been disappointed. I suspect we’ll be loyal even when the pan-damn-ic is over. Or if, ever. Sorry for the steal, Hardin.

Movie Night: still reggae-fixated, we watched The Harder They Come for about the 3rd or 4th time. Never gets old! And it makes you want to do donuts all over a golf course in a convertible! We also watched one of the extras from the Babylon BluRay we (we!) just bought, a terrific 45-minute documentary examine the work of my favorite dub poet and musical politician, Linton Kwesi Johnson. I bought some chocolate and ice cream for the occasion (plus our anniversary’s round the corner), but Nicole brought some home, too.

Streaming for Strivers:

Programmed an afternoon block-party of Miss Grae yesterday and more boomin’ from my system this morning. Definitely one of the top 5 female rappers ever, though it isn’t proclaimed enough.

Cloister Commentary, Day 357: Forming the Yin-Yangs

As rain, clouds, and cold descended, we attempted to weather it sans heater. Or rather, I did, as Nicole was relatively warm at work. Thermal underwear and an extra pair of socks got me to her quitting time; the cats either formed yin-yangs or crawled under comforters. The chill did keep me alert enough to finish Hari Kunzru’s Red Pill, or as I now like to think of it, Dread Pill. Not sure whether I’d recommend it other than if you enjoy being aggressively sobered (and I ain’t talkin’ ’bout hooch).

Activities: after our terrific experience with the film Babylon, Nicole requested a reggae playlist on her Spotify account (particularly peopled with the women of reggae), and I obliged, unsurprisingly ending up listening to reggae myself all day. I was reminded once again that NOT EVERYTHING IS STREAMING.

After a Shakespeare’s pizza and salad, we had another delightful Zoom with Frank and Rebecca Wimer-Pisano. We like to gab about movies; under discussion last night were Nomadland, Moonlight, and the new Billie Holiday biopic. Rebecca’s new name for KFC nearly brought us tears of laughter.

Full justice for Breonna Taylor!

Streaming for Strivers:

Nyabinghi-powered goodness from an early Rasta too-soon-departed.

Cloister Commentary, Day 48: Seclusion from Seclusion

Maybe it’s just teaching, but I’m a month away from starting a new virtual gig, and I’m already nervous. I’ve no reason to be–I’ve done this work for awhile–but I always am, until I’m in it. When my students complain to me of nervousness, I always tell them two things: one, that’s a sign you give a damn, and two, you’re gonna blink and you’ll be on the other side of the event, looking back on it. I should take my own advice.

The air was filled with repugnant news, but four things here in the house were redemptive. Nicole surprised me by restarting a ritual we used to practice: quietly leaving notes of encouragement for each other to find. I threw myself into the three outstanding books currently on my stack, and was deeply rewarded (two are by amazing Mexican writers, Fernanda Melchor and Élmer Mendoza). We had grilled cheese sandwiches (talk about simple pleasures!). And, for a change, we retreated into my basement “office” in the evening to read, hang out with the cats, and listen to music (Moondog, Miles, Carmen McRae) in a nicely secluded environment. Don’t ask me why more seclusion was nice; it just was.

Streaming for Shut-Ins:

For some reason I can’t quite put my finger on, Ahmaud Arbery’s murder brings this, top to bottom the greatest reggae album I’ve ever heard, to mind. If you haven’t heard it, you should.