"In his domestic administration my father had this system . . . to keep a journal and insert in it all occurrences of any note . . . A record very pleasant to look at when time begins to efface the memory of events, and very well suited to get us out of perplexity: When was such and such a thing begun? When completed? What retinues came? How long did they stay? Our trips, our absences; marriages; deaths; the receipt of happy or unhappy news . . . An ancient custom, which I think it would be good to revive, each man in each man's home. And I think I am a fool to have neglected it." (Montaigne, Book I, Essay 35 (publ. 1580))

Monday, August 20, 2007

Pop culture (me = in the know)


I was picking up photos for Patricia at Walgreen's. After standing in line for awhile, some friendly slacker type took the receipt; it had the name "O'Donnell" on it. He says something like, "dude, (yes, he actually used the word "dude") with that name everybody must be asking you about (the movie) Billy Madison, do you know about that family in the movie?"

After repeatedly hearing the phrase "O'Doyle rules" from my sons for all these years, I was able to correct this amiable fellow.
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