happychemist

"The virtues, she once explained to me, are like bonnets: the very ones that look best on other people may not happen to suit one's own particular style; and, she added, with a slight deflection of metaphor, that none of the ready-made virtues ever had fitted her: they all pinched somewhere, and she'd given up trying to wear them."
-Edith Wharton, "The Rembrandt"

First of all, let me tell you how ardently I admire and adore the new music director of the Los Angeles Philharmonic, Gustavo Dudamel. This should be a more bitter pill to swallow, as I really really really loved Esa-Pekka Salonen with his gorgeous floppy hair and interesting pieces, and cursed his wanting to devote more time to his career as composer. I have not yet watched Dudamel in action, but KUSC is clearly in love with him, because whenever I get in the car and turn on the radio, they are talking about him, broadcasting a concert, etc. And let me tell you the music I have heard has made my heart dance. (Granted, we know I'm a hussy, heart-dancing at the least provocation!) And it's a pity, but I won't actually be watching Dudamel in live action before I leave Los Angeles! I may have to change my plans.

He's also made wild curly hair strangely sexy to me.

I miss Dr. J, clearly.

Yesterday was splendiferous spring meeting of the Jane Austen Society of North America - Southwest Chapter. This meeting was at the faculty center on the campus of UCLA. I'd never been down to Westwood, and to UCLA, and now that I've been there? Man, I'm sad I missed out on all the opportunities to be in such a beautiful, fun corner of the Los Angeles metropolitan area! I love and hate that Los Angeles is pulling out these Eleventh-Hour triumphs. It makes my heart sink to know I have to leave it.

The meeting itself was great. I think I have a magnet for newbies. Maybe it's my young countenance. ;) anyhow, I made more new friends and had an excellent time while Ed Copeland, emeritus of Pomona College, gave us an entertaining and enlightening lecture on Silver Fork novels. They had a wonderfully hilarious panel recounting the early days of JASNA-SW, and a very interesting discussion on the Sadleir Collection in the UCLA Research Library. After the lecture, we had the opportunity to walk over to the Research Library and get to look at the much-coveted Sadleir collection. Oh WOW. the GORGEOUS.

Otherwise, I continue to distract myself write my thesis. I rewatched Howl's Moving Castle today. Mmmm. Even better this time around. Finished Kurlansky, and started on Dickens's Bleak House for May book club meeting.

And...um...hello, DODGERS. WELCOME BACK!!!!!!!!!!!!! The season snuck up on me this year. And I have to say that my life was the better for it. :) I'm so glad that the Boys are Back in Town :)

Man oh man. Spring is awesome.

ETA: Lest you truly worry, please don't. Thesis writing is coming along as its own pace. Regardless, I will hate life for the next two weeks and come out the better for it. This is truly a case where knowing that I can write, and how long it takes for me to write, is clearly working against me.

I don't usually go into WHY I enjoy the books I do, but when I set out to write this entry, I found myself brimming over with ideas.

( Two books that have made me think about writing )

( Something that I've noticed )

Well, that's it. I feel compelled to end on a familiar note, so I say, "...but you don't have to take my word for it." ;)

( Joshua Tree was fun. )

( Stuff I've read lately that makes me happy )

Looking forward to Thursday: we got tickets to the Astros v. Dodgers, and get this: it's a day game on a weekday! This may be common for other ballparks, but it is extremely rare here in LA. I'm revved! Baseball this season thus far has given me much joy. I wonder why I don't post on it more often. *shrugs*