Is there such a thing as a "warm snap"?, and other tidbits

[mollyringle]

1) Wow. It is a balmy 62 degrees outside right now; quite lovely and mild. We seriously have evenings in July around here that aren't as warm as this. (Usually the 4th.) And keep in mind that five days ago it was so damn cold that the ground was frozen solid and sparkling; the air stabbed the lungs with every breath, and my fingers were going numb and stiff inside my gloves; and that was while I was walking uphill, so I should have had the warmth of circulation on my side.

2) Speaking of seasons, some of you recently filled out a fanfic meme, and didn't seem to understand what the phrase "May/December" means. Luckily I'm here to tell you that it refers to a very youthful person (that's the May contingent - in the spring of their youth, y'understand) in a relationship with a very old person (December). Harold and Maude, to name the least-squicky example I can think of.

3) On movies: saw De-Lovely the other night. It was one of those rare occasions where I didn't care much about the story or characters (at least, not the way they were presented), but kept watching because the music was so pleasant. Cole Porter did have that going for him. For sheer entertainment value, Napoleon Dynamite (which we watched over the weekend) was a much more fun rental. Consistently funny in a low-key kind of way.

4) On books: recently finished C.S. Lewis's Out of the Silent Planet, the first in his sci-fi trilogy, and enjoyed it. Will get to the second and third sometime. As in all his works, his religion shines through, but in a beautifully mythological fashion, not in a dull proselytizing fashion. In the meantime, however, I've started the big heavy Jonathan Strange and Mr. Norrell, and am delighted to learn that its popularity is well-deserved. So clever! So eloquent! kalquessa, thank you for helping prod this one to the top of my to-be-read list. Don't tell me any spoilers! I'm only about 100 pages in so far (but reading fast).

Hurrah.

Comments

[kalquessa.livejournal.com]

Happy to prod others into reading gigantic-but-good books any time.

I love the first two C.S. Lewis space books. That Hiddeous Strength is...difficult. It is a lot darker than the other two, which both have dark elements but manage to be more uplifting despite them. Perelandra is definitely my favorite of the three, or at least it was last time I read any of the books (two or three years ago, I think...)

[mollyringle.livejournal.com]

Cool - I'll be sure to get to Perelandra, then. That Hideous Strength is certainly the longest of the three. I got the Cosmic Trilogy in one volume, and was surprised when I had a look at the division of pages between the three books. T.H.S. takes up over half of the whole thing, I think.

Strange and Norrell may be huge, but it's not difficult reading at all--skips along quite easily and delightfully. (I'm at the part where Strange has just tried his first spell, the one he bought from Vinculus.) I'm contemplating buying a copy for basically everyone next Xmas. :)

[kalquessa.livejournal.com]

Strange and Norrell may be huge, but it's not difficult reading at all--skips along quite easily and delightfully.

For some reason, no one believes me when I tell them this. I think this is because the hardback copy of the book could easily double as a step-stool.

Re: 1)

[scratchedcornea.livejournal.com]

*growls at your*

yesterday it was -35c with the windchill. (about -20 without)

It was warm today, we had a snowstorm...

[prettybird.livejournal.com]

Harold and Maude, to name the least-squicky example I can think of.

My old roommate would disagree with that statement rather loudly. I apparently traumatized him by showing him that movie. *sigh*

[mollyringle.livejournal.com]

Heh. I was initially traumatized a little by Harold's death fascination, but then I realized how brilliantly comedic the whole thing was, and enjoyed the rest. Though in real life I guess the situation would squick me a bit.

It's downright hot by PNW standardse

[jaynefury.livejournal.com]

I am in a t-shirt in my library when last week I had two sweaters and a blanket covering me up as my teeth chattered! I have no clue what's going on here in Puget Sound but it's supposed to continue through the week.

Do we complain? Hay-ell no!

A quick read and one filled with Washington history is called Bold Spirit (http://www.boldspiritacrossamerica.com/) which was the author's doctoral thesis. It's an amazing piece. Not a giant by literary standards but a nice break from brain shaking.

Re: It's downright hot by PNW standardse

[mollyringle.livejournal.com]

Huh--that sounds like a cool story, indeed.

And yes, I'll take the mild weather anytime. I'm a wimp, I guess. :)

[impetuousnote.livejournal.com]

Haha...ok I'm not even going to tell y'all what the tempeature was here because I know I'd win the prize. However, I did manage to see some amazing Aurora through breaks in the ice fog.

You know...I never knew what anyone meant when they said May-December romance. Thanks for enlightening me!

[mollyringle.livejournal.com]

I do envy you the aurora! But not the frigid coldness. I'm too wimpy for a climate like that, I'm pretty sure.