I decided to spend this summer doing some kind of structured pursuit. So far, I've been working on a secret project for my sister and her betrothed, and have started a book group. I'm very close to finishing The Brothers Karamazov and I could go on about it for days. I had no idea that reading a Russian classic was going to be so enjoyable. Next, I plan to read A Room With a View. I bought a lot of records last week and have begun my education in classical music. Up to this point, my musical study has been limited to learning Poupee de Son on my ukulele. I don't know what Gainsbourg would think of my version, but I'm pretty sure my cat loves it. The classical records have so far been good...I've been practicing ballet to, appropriately enough, The Nutcracker, but I was in for an unpleasant surprise when Sir Edward Elgar's military marches started blasting through the stereo. There is nothing graceful about Pomp and Circumstance, and a girl needs all the help she can get.

In the film front, I've been thinking a lot about Brakhage's Wonder Ring as I approach my trip to New York...and I've been working on learning the dance sequence from Bande a Parte. Why is Anna Karina so foxy all over the place? Also, I like that she uses hand signals on her bicycle. It makes me feel less nerdy despite the fact that she does not wear a helmet.