I Say LUSTRUM - You Say CONSPIRATA

Why does S&S think Conspirata is a better title for Robert Harris's Lustrum, the second installment in the author's tales of Tiro, Cicero's secretary? (The first title was Imperium - 2006.)

Since Lustrum's publication in the UK I've been looking out for the publication in this country of Lustrum for several months -- and here it turns out I was looking for a book that doesn't exist in the U.S. Most frustrating.

In any case, this is a rotten day. Up before 6 because the mouse exterminator was supposed to be here at 8:30 AM. -- who, of course, didn't arrive until 10. We got something like 4 hours of sleep.

The mouse population in this building has gotten out of control. We're used to trapping a mouse or two a year, but this is something else. There are 20 restaurants and other food purveyors on this block alone, with another one opening on every block surrounding us seemingly every month. Every store that goes out of business gets turned into a food purveyer. Even big block clothing stores like Dolce Gabana have a tea - coffee -- veddy expensive pastry and sandwich shop on our side at street level. Is it possible this situation has something to do with our mouse problem? And that there are many young single males living in our building who don't know how to wash dishes without a dish washer (if, even then?), or how to clean up after themselves -- pizza boxes, etc. -- I'm judging by their garbage, you see.

No Ground Hog shadow yesterday. Instead yet another in the endless installment of freezing days, plus the added bonus last night of snow. Blech. Rotten day, and we have to go to a reception of an artist friend at 5 this evening, hosted by our State Assembly person. Don't tell anybody but while I like this artist as a friend very much, the artist's work, not so much.

The radio talk people are telling me again that our school system is bad for boys and gives girls unfair advantage, because girls mature their verbal skills sooner, so we need separate classrooms and schools for boys.  We know how that will turn out.  This is how it will turn out -- women will get shut out again from higher education and the professions.

Long ago I noticed that when women get access to education and professions from which they'd been barred with only few exceptional exceptions throughout history, those skills and professions rapidly become devalued. I noticed this first in the medical profession.  Now it is happening with law.  There are more women graduating from law school than men.  Now (law school, always the lit grad student's fallback) law firms are cutting back on hiring, reducing payment, etc.

Additionally, I have read and heard many times that the real cause of the medical and education crises in this country are BECAUSE women chose to be M.D.s instead of nurses, and college professors instead of primary school teachers.  If they stayed in their god-ordained places as subservient servitors of the professional males, none of this would have happened.

Did I mention it is cold, dank and dingy?

Bah.

He Hit The Moment

The Pasta is Perfect.

Just sharin'.

How to $pend a Winter $aturday in Manhattan

To the bank to get quarters for laundry and some cash.

Raffetos:  home made pasta, pesto, smoked mozzarella, imported parmesano and olive oil.

Gourmet Garage:  breads, NY Extra-Sharp Cheddar, bananas, zuchini, portobellos, avocados, arugala and tomatoes.

Soho Wines:  red wine, white wine.

Augies:  3 lbs coffee, ground.

Morton Williams supermarket: red leaf lettuce, chicory, mustard greens, okra, green cabbage, parsely, 5 lbs. potatoes, two kinds of beans, non-sodium bouillon, soy milk, cow milk, honey, peanut butter, beef, chicken sausage with basil and sundried tomatoes.

Chinatown:  4 kinds of tea, wontons, shrimp, chicken, pork and vegetables.

None of these places is located next to each other.  This is all on foot and carried by hand.  So you see why it took almost 4 hours -- and I walk FAST.  I walked particularly fast today since the temperature when I went out first was 12, got to up to 16, and then fell back down to 12 before I got back from Chinatown.

I don't think I need to work out today.

Now it's time for Phil Schaap and Traditions in Swing, tonight a celebration of the birthday of Roy Eldridge, who, would be 90 years old today, to open a bottle of the wine, and start the prep for the pasta and salad dinner to come. Just hangin' here with mi papi on a chill night at the end of January, 2010.

This shows our age since no one under 40 listens to the radio.  It's mindboggling to understand that for the class, we are going to have to instruct our students in what radio was.