Tag: Richard Russo

Cloister Commentary, Day 18: Escape to Reality

If you’ve not read Richard Russo, I strongly recommend you do. Known best, perhaps, for the novels Empire Falls (which I’m currently reading) and Nobody’s Fool, he is expert at chronicling small town life in our modern world and–especially–capturing the subtleties of human interaction. Very, very funny, observant, and wise, his work is an excellent opportunity for the reader to, for change, escape back INTO face-to-face community.

You will not surprised that we are trying our best to support book and music stores remotely. We received a package yesterday from Lafayette’s fantastic, big-hearted Lagniappe Records, which specializes in items from the deep well of Louisiana sounds. Check ’em out on IG–you may find yourself helpless to order.

Wasn’t that a classic “Better Call Saul” episode? (This link includes spoilers.)

Our dog Louis is currently plagued by something around his butt area that I don’t want to look at closely (even if I could–it’s obscured by fur), so he wears a small donut collar during the day, then a bigger Elizabethan collar at night (because he’s figured out a way to get around the donut when we’re asleep). It seems too minor to bother our vet about, but he’s damn restless, so I’m sleeping out in the living room with him, where his “nook” causes him to calm down. The things we do for love…

Streaming for Shut-Ins:

Speaking of Louisiana music? A full album of it for you (full of rhythm and hijinks, that is).

Cloister Commentary, Day 14: Dr. Benway, Meet Dr. Praeger

Made our second successful foray to the grocery store. Again, I stayed in the car, so I only heard about it. Nicole found some pretty amazing veggie burgers made from mushrooms and risotto. They were created in a lab by a Dr. Praeger.

DrPraegers-VeggieBurgers-MushroomRisotto

FaceTimed with my parents and told them the “welding mask” joke, Ed Hamell. As expected, it was followed by three beats of stunned silence. Next time: the penguin joke.

Listened to two vintage recordings by the late Ellis Marsalis, who did not leave behind many. Another musician snatched by the Coronavirus.

Cleaned out a filing cabinet and found a pristine copy of the Columbia Tribune from the day Pierced Arrows made the front page.

While reading Richard Russo’s EMPIRE FALLS, I realized, considering the world through the eyes of the 42-year-old protagonist and identifying with him, that I was thinking I was his age. I’m 58. Had to make some adjustments, needless to say.

Acknowledged that Kleenex needs to be close at hand if we’re going to keep watching the national news at 5:30. But I have to say Lester Holt, with his intense gaze, meaningful pauses, and respect and concern for all, keeps me coming back.

Conjured this analogy: OZARK is to BREAKING BAD as John Popper is to Paul Butterfield.

Streaming for Shut-Ins: