I never said one should expect quality from me
March 6, 2008 | Filed under: The object of my obsession
“The time to enjoy a European trip is about three weeks after unpacking.” ~George Ade
While writing about The Other Boleyn Girl* I got a little giddy. This might be because I was writing at 3:30 AM and slightly delusional, possibly hallucinating even but I will chalk it up to getting to write anything half pertaining to European history. That shit makes me do a little shimmy and get all bouncy in my bed because the Tudors! Oh the Tudors. Not that I was writing great prose based on actual historical accuracy but I still felt invigorated. I mentioned in the comments that I have never been a House of Tudor fanatic but I have spent days absorbing the plights of the Habsburgs and Bourbons. There is some (though completely odd) sense of joy that I get whenever Martin Luther or John Calvin comes up in a conversation. Which would be practically every single day because everyone I know discusses the Protestant Reformation daily. Of course.
I am such a nerd and it is something that I would have shunned from once upon a time but now I wholeheartedly embrace it. Sometimes in conversation it’s fun to bust out random facts about Huguenots. Which can be a slightly refreshing change from all that discussion of the great merits of Gewürztraminer or the kick ass sample sale that Kate Spade is having. Mostly I just want to prove that vodka hasn’t completely robbed me of all functional brain matter. So yay!
Anyway, I was writing and had this light bulb go off in my rather dim brain. One that said, hey dumbshit (it speaks!) you have never written about France. Which is funny because whenever anyone mentions Paris I get this look of sheer confusion on my face as if that entire walk up the Eiffel Tower never happened. I don’t know why or how I keep forgetting but to bring things full circle here because it’s 6 AM and I have a flight in four hours and my ass needs to make its way to a gym post hast; I will say that I find it difficult to make casual conversation about Europe because I end up getting wistful and booking flights for destinations across the Atlantic. I love Europe. If I could procreate with a continent I would probably have 14 babies with that place it is just that spectacular. It’s the history that gets to me (I’m getting wistful as we speak. Oh, now a heavy sigh…) and that toe tingling, heart soaring sensation that made its way through me when walking through El Escorial (twice. Once for class the other time for the sweet, sweet joy of it) and Versailles.
If I could put my finger on the exact feeling or cause I would because I am always mesmerized by the things that I have ended up interested in because my parents seriously are all WTF when I happily announce that I’d like to move to Belgium (long story) some day. And speaking of random shit I’m interested in, like online content and community building, I am leaving for Austin in a few hours and my plan is to have a good buzz the entire time to make up for those three weeks that I had nary a sip of alcohol. So don’t expect too much from. Then again after this post, I doubt anyone will. Be good.
*Yes. I write there. Yay! Every Wednesday at 9AM. I have an excel spreadsheet full of movies that I would like to see. Planned out from now until July. If there is anything that any of you all are DYING to see but won’t feel justified to spend ten (god damn) dollars on until you know it’s worth it, then let me know and I will probably go see it for you. But then I might stalk you if I end up losing two solid hours of my meaningful life to watch some crap ass movie about stock car racing. You’ve been warned.
Diane Mandy says:
I enjoyed reading this very much. I actually live in Germany now (3 months and counting) and I’ve started to forget all the reasons I thought living in Europe would be exciting. These days I get giddy when friends come and bring my Tostitos with a hint of line or a hunk of New York cheddar. Thanks for reminding me there are other reasons to get happy.
slynnro says:
Just don’t get so intoxicated that you forget to call and wake me up from my narcoleptic coma.
She Likes Purple says:
I love your movie reviews over there.
I actually became a History major in school after seeing Elizabeth and then I soaked up as much as I could find out about her and her mother. It’s why, when I watched The Other Boleyn Girl this past weekend, I felt a connection to crazy Anne and kept thinking, “Well, I see where your daughter got her spunk from.” And, sure, it was ridiculously dramatized, but I’m with you, I get giddy about English History.
Enjoy Austin! I hope it’s warmer down there than here. It’s supposed to snow (again!) today/tomorrow. Really, it’s a horrible way to welcome you to Texas and I’m slightly embarrassed by us! The margaritas (or wine or straight vodka/tequila) should warm you.
Angella says:
I have never been to Europe, and long to go. One day I WILL go, and I know it will be more than I ever dreamed it would be.
I get out to see about two movies a year, and THEY BETTER BE GOOD ONES. I am glad I have YOU as a resource so I don’t waste money on lame movies.
Have a great time this weekend! I’m off to Vancouver and am hoping to have a bloggity meet-up too, so I’m pretty giddy
The Over-Thinker says:
HB, you had me at Gewürztraminer.
And can I just say that never before in my life have I wanted to be a white-puffy-shirt until I saw Jonathan Rhys-Meyers as Henry VIII.
Angela says:
I have been a fervent Tudor/Stuart fan ever since I did my first multi-page book report on a biography of Katherine of Aragon. I took every class on that time frame as I possibly could in college and I read all of the historical fiction and nonfiction as I can. The Other Boleyn Girl is one of my favorite books, and I’m excited to see the movie, but kind of bummed that they “Hollywoodized” it. Oh well, I shouldn’t be too shocked I suppose.
Have a great time in Austin!
Dagny says:
You mentioned John Calvin. *sigh* My family is Presbyterian. I could go on for days about Calvin. I always thought that was quite normal…
Have fun in Austin and have a cocktail or two for me.
Mocha says:
I don’t know what you said other than Tudors, Gewürztraminer, and Kate Spade. Three classics. Oh, Calvin, too, but only in his namesake alongside Hobbes.
Lori says:
I’m with you when it comes to getting giddy about European history. I have a slew of books (mostly non-fiction, but also some fiction) on the Tudors and English history right next to my collection of forensic science textbooks. Yeah, I know. One of the best things about the Internet is finding out that you’re not so weird after all.
Lara says:
Hmm. What does it say about me that I read this post and couldn’t get past your talking about the plight of the Bourbons because I was thinking about how lovely bourbon is and how I could handle a glass of Maker’s Mark and ginger ale with a twist RIGHT NOW?