My six week intro to Raymond Carver began this morning

There are 73 Zoom attendees for John Achorn's 6 week summer session SMC Emeritus class.  And there are 13 of us (5 men) who attended this morning.

John, an 'oldtimer' at home with his Emeritus class attendees, is an actor who still acts through his reading of the works he covers in class. There is a difference between seeing him on a Zoom class and being in his live classes! True, I don't enjoy the comments of attendees (both live and Zoom) who relish the opportunities of hearing themselves say something, no matter how inane or innocuous what they say.  Such is life...........

Over the next four weeks, we're going to read and discuss Carver's book, Short Cuts.  Robert Altman, the film maker did a movie combining his selection and adaptation for film of a bunch of Raymond Carver short stories.....I've already read three of the ten (plus a poem).  After those four weeks, we'll end the summer session watching the Altman film.

Tomorrow, Wednesday, I start another Achorn taught 6 week summer session class:  The History of Comedy.  I am intrigued to study 'funny' more - especially after my rewarding stand-up gig experience at the Imrov in West Hollywood.  I am ready to 'remember' what I scripted and memorized.....to eliminate that which did not work, rehearse more the stuff that needs timing work, and prep myself for all the rest while adding material that I hope to try out at some open mic evenings in the not to distant future.  

And, once again, I take Margaret Ross's fix it class from Portland, Oregon.  Can I repair anything myself?  Nope!  But I should know more than I do..........

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

The Senate tax bill - as detailed a summary as you will find!

Image
I cant read this either.......and I can't figure out how to delete this....but here is the unreadable summary..... sizing: inherit; font-size-adjust: inherit; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: text-size-adjust: 100%; vertical-align: baseline;">Foreign-derived intangible income and global intangible low-taxed income deductions Permanently expand deductions $14 bil. Reporting threshold for payments Increase thresholds for reporting payments to independent contractors and other payees $13 bil. Employer payments of student loans Make the exclusion from gross income permanent and index for inflation $11 bil. Charitable contribution deduction Permanently allow deduction up to $1,000 ($2,000 for married couples) for those who do not itemize, but require a minimum contribution based on income level $11 bil. Farmland sales Allow capital gains taxes to be paid in installments $7.3 bil. New markets tax credit Permanently extend credit to increase investment in...
Read more

Watching Freddie

 I started early today and while I anticipated a light day, it was 'more involved' than I anticipated.  John Achorn acted his way through chapters 19-22 of Huck Finn.  We discussed the LA Times sponsored Festival of Books at which Percival Everett, author of James, spoke.  For Summer session (8 weeks), we are going to read Raymond Carver short stories.  We were also asked for our input regarding choice of authors for the Fall semester. I got home just as Freddie's class began.  The legions of women watercolor painters who simply adore Freddie Manseau makes his Zoom class quite entertaining.  Freddie is a true character - the extent to which he plays up on this to keep his classes large is open to conjecture but regardless, I am enjoying painting! I was just about to pay for lunch at the St John's Cafeteria when Katherine called - I met her at Sawtelle after lunch.  I also discovered along the way that the # 17 bus travels both ways along Sawtelle,...
Read more

Deja vu - Spring Street

Image
 Once upon a time I spent a whole lot of time downtown - DTLA.   The was before there was even a section of the city known as DTLA.  In the early 60s, as a student in L.A., I had a part time job for an office equipment leasing company that was located on Spring Street, then, the primary business street of Los Angeles.   I took the E Line to 7th Street and then walked past Grand (and Botega Louie) Avenue to Spring Street.  I passed Clifton's Cafeteria - with that picture showing up on my phone but not the computer - and the jewelry district, getting to what was formerly the legal and financial business centre of LA.  Those buildings are now lofts and some of them look quite interesting for a home conveniently located if one works in that area.  I also passed The Last Book Store - not there when I was there but definitely a place worthy of going back to - best used book store I've seen - in the US!!! Phillipe's has a better french dip than Cole...
Read more