dissertation progress

Five full pages on Equus this morning, and I haven't even really started to dig into my argument.

I notice myself displaying a lot less reluctance and general procrastination when I get to write about primary texts. Which means I'm really only delaying the inevitable rather than working through it. But it still feels great to sit down and bash some literary analysis out.

Also, Equus is an excellent play, although extremely disturbing. I'm not sure I'd have the nerve to see it in performance (although I also know that if I had the chance, I'd probably go), but I highly recommend reading it. But, let me repeat: EXTREMELY DISTURBING.

bookkeeping

new short story: 379 words

other accomplishments: (1.) Two stories sent out. (2.) Two books picked up from the library: Hamlet in Purgatory by Stephen Greenblatt, and the facsimile of the 1613 edition of The Revenge of Bussy D'Ambois, which is the only copy the library has of the damn thing. It's all right. It's not in black letter. I will not be reduced to chewing my own leg off in an effort to escape. (3.) Picked up two more of the blue notebooks I keep my brain in, and batteries for the Walkman that provides writing music when I need it (currently the soundtracks to The Fellowship of the Ring and The Two Towers, turn and turn about).

Number of people who cut Truepenny off without signalling and at such close quarters that an accident was a distinct possibility: 5

Number of those people who acknowledged Truepenny's existence in any fashion: 1 (and that was the car full of teenage boys--something's wrong here).

Number of those people at whom photon torpedoes were launched: 0, but only because I don't have 'em.

Truepenny's reward to self for running arduous and slightly soul-destroying errands: Bright magenta platypus, $10 in the bookstore. (Yes, it was a beanie baby, but I have liberated it. I cut off the tag! *maniacal, anarchic laugh*)

Verdict: Could be worse.