0910

September 10, 2022 

In bed by 11, up at 7, 3 pss, and 3 glasses of red. Stayed up late watching news coverage of the late filings in the Mar-a-Lago case and trying to avoid the coverage on QEII and KCIII.  No particular surprises in the legal filings, although it appears that the Trump team did not take the position that all of the documents in his possession had been declassified which suggests that that bogus defense has been abandoned, probably because the lawyers refused to assert it without any evidentiary support for it other than Trump's own word. (Wow, quite a run-on sentence: almost 60 words).  Nonetheless, it's still not entirely clear that Trump's team has dropped the defense.

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    I'm hoping to start my next adventure in painting today with a fresh canvas, hopefully, an 18X24.  Van Dongen, Woman in a Black Hat, 1908.

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    I keep wondering how Jim is doing in his new surroundings, how he and Katherine and Jordan will interact.  Katherine sent a photo of Jim and Jordan at a marina which caused some confusion in Jim about where he was (Port Washington?)

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    More 'executive function' issues this morning. Got into the shower wearing my wristwatch.  Got out of the shower having forgotten to shave.  Troubling evidence accruing.

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    Watched "The Problem with Jon Stewart" last night on AppleTV+, the episode on racism.  Very well done.  Opinion columnist Andrew Sullivan was one of the guests, poo-pooing the notion of 'white supremacy' in the U.S., and of racism generally.  Smart guy, dumb as a rock about racism in America.

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    I confess to feeling petty and peevish about all the coverage of "the royals" and their functionaries in Windsor and London.  Men in silly costumes that were appropriate centuries ago, wearing silly hats of bearskins or feathers, all not-so-subtly redolent of empire and power.  It reminds me of course of the Catholic Church with its chasubles and surplices, copes and miters, men in peculiar costumes like Ralph Kramden and Ed Norton in their Royal Order of Racoons hats or Amos, Andy, and Kingfish and their Mystic Knights of the Sea.  The regalia and paraphernalia have a purpose of course, actually a number of purposes (including providing photo-ops for tourists), but at root, they are a male thing, symbols of authority, the right to command obedience, deference, and honor, a 'my thing is bigger than your thing' thing.  Sort of reminds me of secret societies, like the Bushes and Skull and Bones at Yale.   And, OMG, Prince William and Prince Harry TOGETHER working the rope line - how wonderful!!!  And, what will be the role of Camilla as Queen-consort??? Bah.  Humbug!😠

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    2 inches of rain are expected from tonight and over the next two days.  Makes me nervous about the basement.

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    Next painting adventure: a modest beginning.   (lone smile)