What I learned over the weekend.

I had a great Thanksgiving weekend. I very much hope you had the same.

So what did I learn? Well, for one thing: people are crazy. Also, that Mr. CR has the correct attitude toward shopping and problem avoidance: As we watched the news story about the Wal-Mart worker getting trampled, they showed a woman with a tiny little baby in her arms pushing against a store door in a mob of people. Mr. CR opined, "You know, maybe pregnant women and people with tiny babies should stay away from that kind of scene." Should but won't, dear.

Also: When he's not busy being annoying, Colin Farrell can really act. We watched the movie In Bruges last night and really enjoyed it, although "enjoy" is the wrong word for what was, in the end, a really sad movie. But interesting. Very interesting. If you don't mind hit men protagonists and a final ten minutes with quite a bit of violence, you may want to consider this movie.

I picked up the novel Frida's Bed by Slavenka Drakulic over the weekend and thoroughly enjoyed it. It's a novelization of the life of artist Frida Kahlo, about whom I knew nothing. (Well, that's not true; I always thought of her as the "Mustache Lady," which I certainly didn't mean unkindly, as I have my own mustache issues.) But evidently Kahlo suffered from almost constant pain, stemming from her experience with polio as a child, and then from a horrific bus accident when she was eighteen (resulting in numerous surgeries on her leg, foot, and back, just to name a few). Wow. The poor thing. She also married Diego Rivera, the famous Mexican muralist (and he had an affair with her younger sister); and had infidelities of her own (even, notably, with Leon Trotsky). How she managed to do all that, paint, and suffer from constant pain, I can't figure out. I've got to get a biography of her. Does anyone have any suggestions?

Looking for the Book Menage? It starts next Monday, December 8!

Comments

[Jeane]

I was horrified to read about that Wal Mart accident. I'm of the same mind: avoidance. I hate shopping crowds. Of any kind.

There was a film made of Frida Kahlo's life a few years back. I think it's called "Frida." You should see it.

[Katharine]

I really liked "In Bruges", that handsome Colin can really act. It was a sad story, but worth watching nonetheless.
Can you believe that Wal-Mart has actually caused a death?! Another reason to not shop there. I agree, people are crazy.

[Citizen Reader]

Jeane,
Yes: it's all about avoidance. I can't believe a 34-year-old man is now dead so some people could get early bargains. Ridiculous.

And thank you for the reminder about the movie "Frida." With Salma Hayek, correct? I'll have to look into it.

Katharine,
I really liked "In Bruges" too but I'll admit I wish it had ended differently--it made me too sad! This movie and "Tigerland" are the only two Colin Farrell movies worth seeing, I think, no matter how cute he is. (And he is really cute, I'll grant you.)

[Sarah]

Oh yes. The "Wal-Mart" section of the population. You know, the ones who are scorned by the elite but are "good peoples". Words fail me.

[Citizen Reader]

Sarah,
I was so glad not to go to relatives' homes for Thanksgiving this year and hear them map out their Black Friday Wal-Mart strategies; ("you head for the TVs and I'll get the Wii..."), that was too depressing for words. Of course they're all "good peoples" too but this insatiable desire to buy more for less is a disease, I sincerely believe.

I'm guessing Wal-Mart won't cough up any disability or life insurance to the dead 34-year-old's family, either. Words fail me, too.

[Care]

I rec the Hayden Herrera bio: http://www.harpercollins.com/books/9780060085896/Frida/index.aspx. I read it before seeing the movie. AMAZING.

and I loved In Bruges! It's one of my favorite little cities.

[Bus Accidents]

accidents are uninvitable but yet they occurs. one should be careful to get least damages..