2 January 2006

Where was I?

Christmas in Knoxville and a continuation of the over-indulgence of the season (which included probably the best turkey dinner ever).

A lazy 3-day week of work prior to New Years during which I managed to descimate my server. All is well now, and I'm better for it.

New Years party at friends' until 4 or so, when Lisa--apparently getting sober while I enjoyed an extended contest of who can create the more disgusting shot with the liquors available--decided to drive us home. Clear sailin'. I do remember that the host had an immediately recognizable edition of Asimov's Foundation Trilogy. The very paperbacks that I had back in high school and had since, lamentably, sold (see the covers on this page by searching for "Foundation"). Hey, maybe they were my copies!

Lazy, worthless Sunday after New Years that included The Producers (meh, a little dated) and a double feature of Sinbad: Sinbad the Sailor (1947) and The 7th Voyage of Sinbad (1958). The earlier one, with Douglas Fairbanks, Jr., was corny and incredibly over-acted, but held up well as a story. The later, with the famous Ray Harryhausen "claymation" and Bernard Herrmann soundtrack, wasn't nearly as strong. It seemed like a vehicle for special effects, and although the Herrmann soundtrack had its moments, I didn't like it nearly as much as the lush, syrupy Roy Webb from the 1947 flick. The first violin solos, referencing Rimsky-Korsakov's Scheherazade, were cliched but fit the mood.

I got interested enough to read up on The Book of One Thousand and One Nights and order (among other books) a newer translation:

1 "The Histories (Everyman's Library (Cloth))"
Herodotus; Hardcover; $16.32

1 "The Oresteia : Agamemnon, Choephoroe, Eumenides (Everyman's Library 
(Cloth))"
Aeschylus; Hardcover; $14.96

Shipping estimate for these items: January 10, 2006 - January 11, 2006

Delivery estimate: January 12, 2006 - January 17, 2006
1 "The Arabian Nights II : Sindbad and Other Popular Stories (Everyman's 
Library (Cloth))"
Arabian Nights. English. Selections; Hardcover; $16.32

Shipping estimate for these items: January 9, 2006

Delivery estimate: January 11, 2006 - January 13, 2006
1 "The Arabian Nights (Everyman's Library (Cloth))"
Husain Haddawy; Hardcover; $16.32
[ posted by sstrader on 2 January 2006 at 8:58:14 PM in Where was I? | tagged new years ]