Cloudy Wednesday

     It's times like these that I wish the sky would make up its mind about what it wants to do. Personally, I would love some rain; provided it's a long, nourishing rain. Anyway, tomorrow I'm finally done with this long, lean summer. The lacuna has been crossed and I am going back to work. No kids until mid-September but that means I have plenty of time to get my head into the game and as many books added to the system and processed as possible. The pandemic cut me back a fair bit but now (provided our numbers go back down and people follow the guidelines) I am back on the chain gang and gladly awaiting my shackles. Being fettered keeps me in fine fettle.

    I finished reading 'The battle for Spain' by Antony Beevor. The Spanish Civil War inspired Picasso to create his terrible (in that it instills dismay - not because it was poorly done) 'Guernica'. I finished reading Graham Greene's 'Monsignor Quixote' before that, and many places mentioned in the former book came up in the latter. **** out of ***** for the latter, by the way. The nationalists (backed by il Duce and the Nazis) vs. the republicans (backed by the Supreme Soviet) fighting for control. Either way, the Spaniards lost. It was not that the nationalists won (spoiler!) but that the republicans lost. Generalissimo Franco reigned for years after that war.

     SMH but the republicans kept screwing up! Anyway, 'The battle for Spain' explodes with detail and is well-written. Pros and cons to each side but the nationalists had fewer cons than pros. If the battle had gone on any longer, perhaps the republicans would have won because the war ended just before WWII began. The Axis, which was backing Franco and his amigos, would have lost in the end to the Allies. Of course, once WWII started, Hitler came calling for Spanish forces and Franco helped him as much as he could. History is written by the winners, it is said. However, Beevor noted that most of his research came from the losing side. The adage does not always prove true.

    Okay, Sims.

 

 

 

 

 

 

BYE.

Countdown until Stuff!

       I return to a precarious existence on August 27. Back to work. I've bought a bunch of masks and I already have a plastic shield installed at work to protect me from the kids and the kids from me. The pandemic is very much real but as long as the kids are able to come to the library I will be there to receive them. Of course, if/when things change I might get laid off again. I hope not, of course, but we shall see.

      I attended an impromptu bluegrass concert a couple of evenings ago. It's not my cup of Earl Grey but I enjoyed the performance all the same. A couple of my neighbours are in a bluegrass band and the rest of the band was over on their patio to play. Enjoyable evening. Besides that, I am sending my semi-immortal orc Mez into battle against the Imperials in Skyrim (she's semi-immortal because I like God Mode), and I'm always having fun with the Reardon clan in TS3. 

      I'm using the Story Progression mod and it's kind of annoying when sims I'm not playing get married. The whole neighbourhood's exploded into hyphens. There's probably a way to change that. Once I really get annoyed I guess I'll get off my prodigious rear and look into it. Anyway, that's what's going on with me. I am also reading a book about the Spanish Civil War. Nothing much else for me.

BYE.

Party Time!

      Let's break out the booze and have a ball! Thank you, Peggy Lee! I'd long wondered who sang that incredibly depressing song. Anyway, there's supposed to be a little party for some of the local crew in my condo. Just move a couple of cars and Robert est ton oncle! There's supposed to be wine (Hey, Peggy Lee!) and some ginger ale (Yay me!). Just chatting and social distancing, folks! I just need to move my car. In future, I am never going to buy a used car ever again. This might be a sensor issue or it might be a squirrel issue. Damn rodents!

      Anyway, I am currently spending time with the Silmarils and 'The Silmarillion'. Hail to the master, baby! Also, I'm getting some writing done. One of these days, I am going to post one of my projects on my hidden, untitled blog. That was the plan for it back when I created it. One day. Today is the 12th and I start back to work on the 31st. Man, but I cannot wait. That's all for me.

BYE.