Indolent holidays ought to be ideal for thinking deep thoughts but apparently not in Palm Springs. Perhaps it is the fault of the libations. Urs Truly gets distracted easily; it is difficult to conjure up deep philosophical ponders while surrounded by gentleman is various stages of dress.
I may have just brought the wrong books. “Plato’s Republic” may be postponed for another time and place. It is a good and thoughtful read but not here. It is sort of like wearing a three piece business suit when all around are speedos.
The second tome on my person is on the history of poison, both in its chemical and botanical forms and how throughout history mankind used them for malevolent and blameless intentions. No one seems to want to talk to me. I fear someone wanting to make idle conversation with me sees the cover and deduces I’m up to no good, plotting something devilish.
Yesterday we formed a party to go to the local bookstore. I need another ‘to read’ book like a hole in the head but I like to support local bookstores. I bought a novel by Ethan Mordden, the title of which escapes me. This is more apropos for Palm Springs reading. It is light; it’s queer; it has a recognizable name – all just right to lure unsuspecting fellow lodgers into conversation and so on.
As I write this I realize my hymn to transcendent thinking as devolved into how to pick up guys using books. Oh the embarrassment. I think Plato covers this sort of degeneracy in a later chapter but I haven’t gotten that far.
22 comments
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February 21, 2017 at 10:01 AM
anne marie in philly
I’d rawther watch the menz and drink excellent libations (no rubbish).
February 22, 2017 at 6:32 AM
Urspo
There is no lack thereof, even without the book
February 21, 2017 at 11:14 AM
Old Lurker
Alas, the days of picking up gentlemen via reading material is coming to an end. Every book looks the same on an e-reader.
The good news is that nobody suspects you are peeking over the top of your books at the gentlemen in various stages of undress, even when you forget to turn the page.
February 22, 2017 at 6:33 AM
Urspo
I suppose there is a common upspoken agreement everyone is looking at everyone else but no one says so or does it obviously.
February 21, 2017 at 1:22 PM
Paul Brownsey
Plato’s Republic has a nice professional point for you: morally bad people are mentally ill, since the parts of their ‘soul’ are unbalanced and reason is overthrown. When I used to tutor students on Republic I used to tell them that that was the core idea of the work…
February 21, 2017 at 1:23 PM
Paul Brownsey
PS: But knowing that may not exactly ensure a jolly holiday with Urspo…
February 22, 2017 at 6:34 AM
Urspo
Hearing from you is always a pleasure for me and make the holiday more jolly. My Kindle has your book in it.
February 21, 2017 at 4:01 PM
Stephen
If you were really trying to pick up a guy, you would have no trouble. Not even if you held the book of poisonous ideas upside down, my friend.
February 22, 2017 at 6:35 AM
Urspo
I like to cut away the indirect speech acts and merely ask someone a polite direct offer; the polite response to such is a simple yes, please or no, thank you.
February 22, 2017 at 1:35 PM
Old Lurker
You ought to solicit offers from Spo-fans, then. I am sure you would get a good response rate. Someone might be displeased, however.
February 21, 2017 at 4:25 PM
Todd Gunther
What you really need is a very thin book which is not too heavy to hold and not so high that it gets in the way of your eyes admiring the “scenery” around you. I suggest a book so thin that it doesn’t even exist. Something with a title like “Common Sense in the Health Insurance Industry.”
February 22, 2017 at 6:36 AM
Urspo
I have enough science-fiction to read already.
February 21, 2017 at 4:53 PM
wickedhamster
Actually, how to pick up guys is about the first half of Plato’s Symposium.
February 22, 2017 at 6:36 AM
Urspo
I must have a bad translation.
February 21, 2017 at 11:09 PM
Steven
Well just start reading Play Guy or Inches, that should get somebody’s attention.
February 22, 2017 at 3:34 AM
itsmyhusbandandme
You beat me to it.
JP
February 22, 2017 at 6:37 AM
Urspo
I am not family with such. I know these are not Dickens, so perhaps Henry James?
February 22, 2017 at 6:01 AM
David
Next year, lay there reading Spo-Reflections the book, that might work.
February 22, 2017 at 6:37 AM
Urspo
Editing my entries in anticipation of publishing has made my enthusiasm for reading my own work down to nil.
February 22, 2017 at 7:44 AM
Mitchell Block
I think you might find it in Ballllllllllllzac.
February 22, 2017 at 5:58 PM
anne marie in philly
“Excuse me fer livin’ but I never read it.”
SHOW TUNE! 🙂
March 30, 2017 at 8:53 AM
Ron
My suggestion the next time you’re in a environment like Palm Springs to read a David Sedaris book. Strangers will be intrigued to know what book you’re reading that causes you to laugh out loud in such a boisterous fashion. I’m just finishing my last David Sedaris book now and dreading going through withdrawal. Heavy reading (Plato? Really?) would scare off just about anyone approaching your Speedo clad body reclining in that lawn chair by the pool.