A Classic Bore

 We all have those books we've been meaning to read, some of which are considered classics. As an English major, I've had to read a lot of them. Some I enjoy, like Shakespeare's plays, Charlotte Bronte's Jane Eyre, Robert Louis Stevenson's Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde. 

Then, there are those that are painful to read, like anything by D.H. Lawrence, most of the works by Hemingway, and what I'm currently reading, Emma by Jane Austen. 

Honestly, I don't see the appeal of this drawn out, verbose, repetitive novel. It took a whole chapter to describe a character's 'character.' Jane, you could have done it in a paragraph. WHY is this a 'classic?' Because it was written a long time ago? Because other novels by Jane have been a success? All I know is that it's pedantic, tedious, and a real torture to read. And it's an obvious example why high school students hate reading these books. I'm in the middle of chapter 5 and the last page- 391- is looking like it's a universe away and I may never get there. Clearly it was a favorite among the British but not so much among Americans. No one I know seems to have read it. 

Will I finish it? Doubtful. But I'll keep it on my nightstand and delve into it when insomnia hits. Clearly I should be out cold after a chapter or two.

Char

Super Let Down

 Let's just say at least the game made me happy.

My fave player won. (7th SB win, 5th SB MVP) History.

As for creativity in the Super Bowl commercials- most were like the Kansas City Chiefs- a surprising big WTH? If the commercials weren't boring or pedantic, they were maudlin. Have we lost our humor? Yes, thank healthcare workers but we've been doing that since March of last year. After everything we've been through, we NEED humor and levity (especially if you were a Chiefs fan). Out of all the commercials, these were my top 5, but even they were okay, really not worth remembering past today.

#1 - The Tracy Morgan spot with Rocket Mortgage and the 'I'm pretty sure...' scenarios, like 'these are parachutes' and a family jumps out of plane with kiddie backpacks. He tells the family not to worry, and of course the worst happens. I found my first smile here.

#2 - The 'Stand In' aspect of State Farms Insurance where Paul Rudd is supposed to be Patrick Mahomes' double or stand in for a commercial. And the chunky cheesehead guy to stand in for Aaron Rodgers? Even funnier.

#3 - The Tide commercial with Jason Alexander's face on a sweatshirt that changes with the situation: a scrunched up face when the shirt is sat on, or stares back in horror when stuffed in a sweaty gym bag, or scowls when food is splattered on it had it's funny moments. 

#4 - The Samuel Adams beer commercial where a guy "From Boston" let's a familiar looking team of Clydesdales rampage through the city. 

#5 - and it didn't air during the SB (pre- SB) but I thought was The Funniest was the Tom Brady and Gronkowski T Mobile ad which features Gronk telling Brady to retire and enjoy retirement but it gets lost in translation because of dropped coverage, and Brady only hears bits about coming down to Florida and winning another SB championship. It's even funnier because he won another SB. 

We all know we're in this reality together, and there are lots of heroes, and we need social justice, but the ad agencies smothered us with 'message' commercials. I felt like we were constantly being lectured. We wait all year to see these commercials and it was such a big let down. I could have been in the kitchen, heaping my plate with food. Next year I hope that the pandemic has been shut down and we can get back to so many things that we enjoy, and that our humor, love of fun, and happiness return.

Back to revising, writing, subbing, and agent searching.... 

Char