Chapter 57.8: Monday Monday

I strive to remain upbeat. After a beautiful weekend that ended with a drop in temperatures and predictions of snow, I enter the week with much to do and a sense of foreboding. Tonight, I'll attend an event created by my alma mater -- bringing "media professionals" like myself together with students. I'm looking forward to it, but I don't really know what to expect. And the things that I didn't get to finish this weekend remain stacked on my agenda like books beside my bed, waiting to be read. It's Monday, and many miles to go before I sleep.

Chapter 57.5: A Good Weekend

It's not even noon yet, and already I feel like I've had a fantastic weekend. There's much I still need to do. Eat breakfast, go to the supermarket, jog, help my brother move some stuff in his house. But rare weekends like this, where I actually have two days that I can use, become precious.

This morning, before we got out of bed, I read another thirty pages or so of Lisey's Story by Stephen King. This is the book that actually appears to have had an editor touch it, and it's an improvement over many of his recent novels. My wife is struggling through Cell, which she says takes 110 pages to describe what could easily have been accomplished in less than half that amount. I've not read it, but when a devoted reader like my wife starts skimming her favorite author, you can be sure there's problems with the story. As for Lisey, the novel took about seventy pages to get to the real threat, but he took that time to cast out a few other story lines related to the characters. I respect King's love of the craft, even though he irritates me with his that/which problems.

So, dear reader, you see that for me a good weekend needn't be all sun and shine and lunar eclipse. Sometimes it can be simply a warm bed, a cup or two of coffee, and a book to read. At least until the baseball season starts.

Purim Date Correction

Purim Begins at Sundown On March 3rd, this Saturday.

I previously reported that Purim began at Sundown on March 4th, but March 4th is Purim day and Purim actually begins at sundown on March 3rd. This updated information is courtesy of the Purim Guide. Purim is the festival that commemorates the breathtaking victory over the murderous designs of Haman. It is observed on the fourteenth day of the Hebrew month of Adar. A fun way to celebrate Purim is at The Jewish Museum’s Masked Purim Ball Celebrating Art and Fashion at New York's Waldorf Astoria Hotel.

Have a great Purim celebration 2007!