Bedside history lessons

A week being back on antidepressants has brought about some lows and some mediums. I’ve generally felt very unwell, so have kept myself indoors. Today was the first time I’ve left the flat since last Wednesday, if only to take my rubbish down to the wheelie bins. It’s something. The side effects can make you physically unstable so, combining that with my poor eyesight, I thought it best to quarantine myself for a bit. My mood has also been pushed down considerably, but I expect that to be pulled back up eventually. It’s just how the tablets work, I’m afraid. I’m hoping that I’m over the worst, but I shall keep an open mind.

I’ve tried my best to keep away from booze while the side effects take hold, although I did have a mini-session on Monday. I felt slightly stranger than usual after a few beers, so I’m glad I kept it to a minimum. Well, a minimum for me. Since I’m feeling a little more clear-headed today, and because it’s Friday, I might have a session this evening. I’m still not feeling confident enough to go out, although I usually don’t at the weekends anyway. Maybe I’ll venture out after my doctor’s appointment on Wednesday. I still need to find myself a new regular drinking establishment after deciding that my usual place has been getting a bit racist. I have a couple of ideas.

Last night I finished the Great Causes audio lecture on Turning Points in Medieval History, which I’ve been listening to in bed off-and-on for a few months now. I was actually really sad when it was all over. I highly recommend it. The lecturer, Dorsey Armstrong, is very passionate, and has helped me generate a great deal of passion and interest in the subject matter. I will not only listen to this one again, but seek out further lectures by her. I’ve learnt more in these past few months than I ever did at school, I must say.

I’ve started watching the 1927 silent biopic about Napoleon. It’s about six hours long, so I’ve been waiting until I’ve been in the right mood. Since starting it, I’ve decided to treat it like a television miniseries that has multiple episodes, so I take a break for a day or so once I finish each act. It’s a very innovative film, for its time, therefore wonderful from a film appreciation perspective; however, it tends to lavish affection on its subject matter to a fault, treating Napoleon with almost Christ-like reverence. It’s alternately amusing and tiresome. I’ll let you know how I feel if I ever get to the end. Silent films are quite difficult for a visually impaired person to experience, so I sometimes get a little frustrated with how little information I am able to pick up. That’s not the film’s fault, of course, but it does mean that it’s taking me longer than necessary to get through it. Oh well.

Speaking of biopics, I also watched the 2002 film Frida the other day. Basically, I thought it was a good primer for somebody, like me, who knows next to nothing about artist Frida Kahlo but, overall, I thought it was a bad movie. It’s wonderfully shot, to the point where I actually want to track down more films by director Julie Taymor, but the script is embarrassingly banal. They clearly had a series of events that they wanted to put in the movie, but had no idea what to have the characters say to each other. There are moments of unintentional comedy. I actually wished this had been a silent film too. Also, while I enjoy Salma Hayek in most things she’s in, she is dreadfully miscast in this. She certainly looks the part, but you can image there were probably a dozen actresses, much more skilled, who would have been better and probably killed to be in the role. It feels like a wasted opportunity. But, again, I don’t blame Hayek for this, as she's naturally very charismatic and seems like a lovely person. It’s really the fault of whoever chose to cast her. Saying all that, due to the poor screenplay all the actors struggle, even the gorgeous Geoffrey Rush. So, yeah, I think I would recommend it, as it does have a lot of visual flare, but just try to close you ears whenever somebody starts to speak.

Golly, it’s been quite an educational week!

My neighbour downstairs has started listening to loud music a lot during the week again. I don’t mind when it’s at the weekend, as we all like a party, but when they’re doing it every day then it starts to get a bit much. I wonder whether she’s scored some new drugs or something. It’s not made my quarantining myself any easier, I must say. I’ll lodge an official complaint with the council next week. Or later on this afternoon.

Yes, she’s just started again.

Sigh.

Anyway, I don’t think I have much else to report, so I shall let you go for now.

Do stay in touch.

Toodles!