"The world is grown so bad that wrens make prey where eagles dare not perch"

I couldn't sit still for so long, so I took another call to work a show in the evenings. This time, an excellent production of Richard III. I am enjoying it.
I love Shakespeare's histories although they are not produced as frequently as the comedies or as well known as the tragedies. The Henry cycle, laying out the whole War of the Roses, is one of my favorite moments in literary and European history.
With this production, there has been the usual press describing the incredible relevancy of this story of a unstopped power grab, given today's state of affairs. And while Richard's determination to just make everyone go his way by manipulation and then by force does have some resonance with current politics, I think the press has it a little wrong. They always write this about Shakespears. The reason Shakespeare is still produced at all is because his work is ALWAYS relevant to the current state in some way. The comedies will ring true as long as people fall in love and make fools of themselves; the tragedies as long as folks fall to ambition and avarice. And the histories until our memory grows long enough to stop making the same mistakes.
In the mean time, it is the playwrite's and actors' gifts to make us see and understand the action of the time and hopefully reflect on our own. Given how dark and brutal and lawless the time was for these characters, kings, clergy and nobility, how vicious daily life must have been for the general population. When Marguerite d'Anjou curses Elizabeth to live long enough to bury her children, I am thrummed.

Warm and well fed
I love this time of year for eating. The vegetable are finally coming in, the cherries have arrived (with a still-to-come season each for raspberries, apricots, peaches, blueberries, raspberries again and strawberries throughout--although the little wild ones are only available in early July, and only from the one guy at the farmer's market). The good wild salmon has finally come down in price. Which means I am cooking again. The combination of not having six different things all pulling my attention and not having to work as much has left me time to get acquainted with that new stove. So I give you (for el Jefe and Justin):

Copper river salmon grilled over whole sprigs of thyme (no need to plank or sauce with fish this good), garlic and mushroom risotto and fresh peas.



And birthday cake (chocolate with cherry filling, merengue icing):



It was really good.
And if you come to visit me, I will feed you like this, too.

My day
Today I slept in until 8am. Got up. Had a donut (raspberry jelly filled powdered sugar, of course), drank tea and read the paper. Chatted with my mom for an hour. Watched a movie. Decided at 2pm to get dressed. Mowed the lawn (side note: don't wait until it is knee high) and chatted with my father-in-law until She came home. Chatted with her about her day while she got ready to leave with her grampa. Waved good-by. Returned to mowing for another hour. Washed all the grass clippings away and made pretty. Walked up to the Ave to return movies and get some dinner. And now I am resting before going to fetch Rtg and see a show.
And what, you might ask, is the reason for all this delicious sloth? I have only one job now and today, no one needs me to do anything.
Dreamy.

Quote of the day
From the theater last night:

Prismatic, like athsmatic. You know...Don't stick lights up her nose or she can't breathe...