I know, I know....I'm lame. I haven't posted in over two months and I have no excuses, really. (though blaming Pam seems as good a reason as any.) Just been experiencing a bit of blogstipation (as my friend Raquel calls it). Several times I've sat down to post something and haven't felt the flow, as it were. I'm been in need of some cyber fiber, apparently. Anyway, to those people who written asking if I'm okay, the answer is yes. Thanks for noticing.
Here's what I've been up to in the last couple of months.
What I've been listening to ...
Anthony and the Johnsons. Very interesting, very melodramatic and often touching. The first time I heard Today I am a Boy, I thought it was a joke. Anthony's trill falsetto and lyrics about wanting to be a woman were just a bit over the top. When throughout the day, I caught myself humming the tune over and over, I decided to give it a second listen and my opinion changed. The CD Bird Guhl is packed with great music, from the very touching opening song - Hope there's Someone to the bluesy What Can I do?, Bird Guhl provides a nice listening experience. The song Fell in Love with a Dead Boy off of the EP is also worth checking out and is one of my favorite recent listens.
Aqualung. Ok, they sound an awful lot like any number of Coldplay imitators, but I enjoy it anyway. Call me a follower. The opener Strange & Beautiful is a, well, beautiful and strange song about a stalker. (not too many beautiful songs about stalkers, I'd venture) Other notable songs include Falling out of Love, and Left Behind.
In case it seems that I've only been listening to completely maudlin music, I've also been listening to:
Punjab MC. Bangra, bangra, bangra! Irresistible rhythms.
Elvis Costello. When I was a young man, Elvis was one of my favorites. I actually saw him in concert four times. I probably haven't listened to anything by him in ten years, but then while listening to Pandora radio, one of his songs came on - In the Darkest Place - and I've become a fan all over again. I'd never listened to his collaboration with Burt Bacharach and quite like it, though what I've really been listening to is some of his older stuff - My Aim is True, This Years Model, Get Happy and Imperial Bedroom. What an amazing musician - the music, the lyrics, the delivery. Why I stayed away for so long I don't know.
Still listening to ... Sufjan Stevens, The White Stripes, and Andrew Bird.
What I've been Reading...
Family Matters by Rohinton Mistry. This is by the author of one of my all time favorite books - A Fine Balance. It has many of the same themes, though it's not nearly as depressing. The title says it all, it's about a family and their matters. Specifically, it's about taking care of 'daddy' when he gets too old to do it himself. I didn't enjoy it near as much as A Fine Balance, but it's worth reading, especially if you are fond of Indian literature.
Widow for a Year by John Irving. I had to go back and make sure that I still respected Irving after reading Until I Find You, which I really thought was awful, and what a fantastic story. I think that it should be required reading for any creative writing class. It's really about the writing process and the conflict between autobiography and fiction.
The Clash of Civilizations by Samuel P. Huntington
Blood and Oil by Michael Klare
The Clash of Fundamentalisms by Tariq Ali
I grouped these together as they all concern the current international situation, especially the 'war on terrorism' and Iraq. Put together they could be called The Clash of Paradigms.
Huntington's theory is that civilizational differences are at the root of recent wars and the creation of hot spots. It's an important book and since I've read it, I've seen it referred to in several editorials and news stories. Although what he writes makes sense, I don't actually like his definition of civilization and feel he is confusing civilization and religion.
Both B & O and Fundamentalisms were written in response to the Clash. Klare's main idea is that recent wars and troublesome areas are actually over oil and not civilization. It's well researched and there are some interesting ideas presented, but a bit of a dry read. I'm in the middle of Clash of Fundamentalisms now and I'd highly recommend it to anyone that is interested in a different approach to the history of Islam. Ali's writing style is quite clever and makes the history lesson come alive.
What I haven't been Reading...
Saturday by Ian McEwan. One of my favorite authors, but this book...yawn. I've started it three times, but still haven't made it past the shower scene. I guess I prefer a bit of philosophy with my story instead of a little (very little) story with my philosophy.
What I've been doing...
Not a hell of a lot, actually. I'm working overtime for the entire semester. It's exhausting and boring as I'm teaching the same subject (that I've taught for the last two years) three times a day. By the end of the day, I feel like a robot - a tired and cranky robot.
I did ride a camel, though. A once in a lifetime experience and I mean that sincerely. Ohhh, the pain. I am definitely not a limber guy and that was definite not comfortable at all. I went with my friend when she came to visit and she loved it. A warning to any other visitors - if you come to visit and want to ride a camel, I'm happy to drive you to the camel farm, but after that you're on your own.
I discovered gaming. A friend gave me a copy of Sid Meyer's Civilization - an evil and very addictive game about world domination. Give it to someone you never want to see again.
What I've really been enjoying...
The weather. It's been fantastic here for the last couple of months. It's almost like real weather. There have been cool nights, hot days, rain and (hold your breath) even a thunderstorm. I was at home that day and I have a pretty good view of Jebal Hafet (Jebal mountain). The lightening show was on top of the mountain. Fantastic!
Where I've been ...
Well, I wrote about Singapore and Thailand, but I never got around to writing about Malaysia (which I loved, btw). Hopefully I can post something this week about my trip as well as some pictures. I'm trying to get some kind of photo editing program as mine has bit the dust.
Last weekend I drove down to Muscat for a couple of nights. I didn't take the camera (what a liberating feeling) and had a reasonably good time. I wasn't really sure that I was going until I was in the car on the way. And didn't really have any expectations. Sometimes it's just nice to get out of where you are, if for no other reason than just to be away.
Where I'm going ...
I've got ten weeks holiday this summer and haven't quite decided where I'm going, yet. I know that I'll be going to study Spanish, but haven't decided between Panama or Ecuador. Originally I wanted to go to Chile, but I think it'll be too cold for me there. Apparently it hovers around the zero mark at night during July and August - a bit low for my tastes. I, then, decided on Panama and even bought a tour book. But, at the moment I leaning towards Ecuador. I have to make up my mind soon, so I'll keep you posted.
I'm open to any suggestions on Spanish schools or locations.
New Blog - My friend Charlotte has just started up a blog. So far, it looks pretty interesting. She was a student of mine in Thailand and we became friends and then co-workers on a big and ugly project there. Now, she's teaching in South Korea. Check it out.
