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contours provocations
journal - 2003-0323 - 1800 Iraq; Mai Mai; Normal Boys Again; Couples Initially I had written in this spot some comments on the War in Iraq. But I've decided to keep them separate but linked. Visit War in Iraq. Note to self: "Thou shall not order mai mai in any restaurant." Which of course is what I did last night. I've seen mai mai in all kinds of configurations. But it has to be the most tasteless of fish. Last night it was seared and came with some kind of tiny white pasta that looked like grits. Some leaves of something that at first I thought were dandelions. And about a half-dozen mandarin orange slices as garnish. Let me rephrase the bit about being tasteless. It had a slightly spicy taste that gave me a headache. And which I can not seem to get rid of. Next time, I'll settle for a tuna sandwich. While darting around on the web yesterday, I discovered that K.M. Soehnelin, the author of "The World of Normal Boys," has a web site at The World of Normal Boys. Alas that it does not appear to have been updated recently. I also did a Google search for any references to the book. And I came up with a number of sites that list it has a favorite book. I'm thinking of contacting them and setting up a central list of links. As I was scoping out the sites, I came across one that has a list of couples. Among the names were those of Robin and Scott from "Normal Boys." I don't remember the others, and I don't remember the site. Although I know I bookmarked it. But I really like that idea of a list of couples. A few come to mind. Tracy Bacon and Sammy Clay from Michael Chabon's "The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier and Clay." Clay is a comic book artist in the 40s, and Bacon is an actor who provides the voice of one Clay's characters on radio. There is a delicious scene in which Clay is working as a plane spotter at 1 am on the 81st floor of the Empire State Building. And suddenly he hears the elevator, and out pops Bacon who asks, "Is this Men's Sportswear? Do you have anything in a gabardine?" And hence starts a partnership. Another set are Nathan Reed and Hoyt Stubblefield from Joseph Hansen's "Living Upstairs" and Nathan and Steve Schaffer from Hansen's "The Cutbank Path." I first came across Nathan in Hansen's "Jack of Hearts." And I've been in love with him ever since. Two from the movies would be Michael and his lover from "Billy Elliot." Although they only have a few minutes of screen time, and the lover says nary a word. Then I'd add the two bank robbers, Angel and El Nene, from "Burnt Money." Jamie and Ste from "My Beautiful Things." PAX!
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