More on Greenville and idleness
Posted Wednesday, May 30, 2007 @ 01:19 PM
Some days are better than others in Greenville. I like to think of myself as pretty adventurous and independent, but after a week or so passes with your most social interaction taking place behind an espresso machine, things can go downhill pretty rapidly. Sometimes on my days off I watch three or four movies and listen to four or five episodes of "This American Life," alternating the two and breaking for snacks every few hours. With each cycle through the house from computer to television to refrigerator, the pattern becomes more dull and the time passes more fluidly. Sometimes, when Netflix is good to me, I don't even get out of bed; I prop myself up with pillows and watch DVDs on my laptop, then open iTunes for TAL, Firefox for email. I haven't read much yet, but I hope to plow through the box of books I brought home before I leave for China.
Some movies I've seen or revisited recently, which I highly recommend: Babel, Out of Africa, Sophie's Choice, Ladies in Lavender, The Good Shepard. The first four are old and recent all-time favorites. Babel really blew me away. I'm a sucker for subtitles, and I don't think I've ever seen a film with a deaf character so developed and engaging.
Even with great movies, so much idleness leaves me deflated and grumpy. Despite a beautiful park downtown and a few locations I've researched to photograph, it's hard to motivate myself to leave the house when there's no one to call to come with me. I look forward to vacations when I can bring people back with me to show them around; there are so many great places in Greenville that I find hard to enjoy by myself.
I've been fortunate thusfar to find a local event to attend each weekend. Last Saturday my parents and I drove an hour to Asheville, NC, to see the Biltmore Estate, which was grander that I'd imagined. Though it was modeled after a French chateau, I must confess that, having visited Chambord, Chenonceau, Loches, Clos Luce, and a handful of others, I found the Biltmore more accessible and engaging. Touring a fully furnished home constructed at the turn of the century by a railroad baron, it's easier to imagine what it might be like to live there. Everything is only slightly removed from modern day—the earliest form of washing machines and dryers, a primitive refrigerator, indoor plumbing and toilets which were brand new and luxurious at the time, a swimming pool in the basement with underwater lighting, the nation's first bowling alley. To picture myself as the daughter of a rich American man, a bride of the 1920s, comes more easily than imagining life as Catherine de Medici, second to her husband's mistress in the 1500s. Unfortunately photography inside the Biltmore is forbidden, and since (for once) I couldn't snap away and pretend to be a stupid American, oblivious to cries of "Arrête!", all I have are some photos of the outside. If you ever get the chance to go and tour the inside, I highly recommend it.
Later the same weekend, we ventured downtown on Sunday for Greenville's Greek food festival. Rarely, if ever, have I passed up an opportunity to devour the delicacy of a dozen Loukoumades—honey-drenched Greek donuts. This weekend the three of us woke before dawn to see hot air balloons at Simpsonville's annual Freedom Weekend Aloft. Though I snapped some great photos, I regret that the experience will ultimately cost me more than $200, as it exponentially increased my desire to ride a hot air balloon myself, which I hope to achieve later this summer somewhere over the Smokies. Looks like I won't be saving much from my summer job, just pouring my paychecks directly into travel—something that I suspect may become a life-time trend.
If you have a favorite Starbucks drink, know of any good movies, favorite TAL episodes, or cool places within reasonable driving distance, I'd love to hear about them. Currently these are my greatest allies in passing the time.
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Check out the movie "Children of a Lesser God" for a deaf character is developed very well. Great movie.
30 May 2007, 9:18 PM.
Hey Glynnis!
That balloon photograph is REALLY good!
And if you're still bored: Eternal Sunshine of The Spotless Mind is just so awesome it's sick.
So are The Shining and Mulholland Drive. I can watch these 24/7!
02 Jun 2007, 3:30 AM.
I wasn't expecting so much from Babel, but like you I was blown away, overwhelmed. Just recalling the final scene in the movie brings me to tears.
04 Jun 2007, 4:23 PM.