I spent another boring day in the apartment. My surgically repaired guts think that was a good decision and I’m letting them have their way. My arthritic back is still not satisfied. I should get up and use the heating pad. There’s just one flaw in that plan, it means getting up. It didn’t! The pad was out of reach but not the cord. Now to see if it helps. I should have taken acetaminophen when I woke up. And that concludes the cranky old portion of today’s blog.
I’ve been watching Agent Carter on Hulu. This is part of the Marvel Cinematic Universe. She was Steve Rogers’ girlfriend during WWII and later became a founder of SHIELD. This series takes place in the time between. The series failed, there are less than 20 episodes and that’s a shame. It’s a period piece, taking place in 1946-47. The show highlights not only the fashion styles but the storytelling styles of the time. That proves very effective in conveying one of the shows main themes, sexism. Peggy Carter is very much a woman operating in a man’s world. She’s the only woman in her unit at the SSR, a spy agency. Though the most capable one there she’s viewed as the one to get the coffee and take the minutes of meetings. The brass is loath to send her on missions out of fear that she can’t do the job and fear for her safety. As it’s taking place in the forties the characters can be far more blatant in the sexism than they could today which makes it easier to make the point. Sexism like racism has learned to camouflage itself. Open bigotry is making a come back but it’s still subtle compared to what it was. It just shocks us more. Everything is graded on a curve. The show manages to handle this serious theme and not be at all heavy-handed. It has the feel of old comics. We also get to see Peggy literally kick the asses of some of the sexists. I think I’m in love. Too bad Steve Rogers beat me to her.
I have not told you about the Nashional Batnoses, my fantasy baseball team. This is always a subject of debate in the Wise Madness editorial meetings. While I’m pretty sure the rest of the world has no interest in my team they are extremely important to me. I check on how they are doing multiple times every day. I don’t just look at the standings, I study them. Sometimes I just look at them for pleasure. The team and its players make me happy.
Right now the Batnoses are in third place. That’s how my teams usually go, not winning but in the money. I don’t spend nearly enough time preparing before the season starts but get obsessive once it does. Our biggest need is a power hitter. The team’s worst categories are home runs and RBIs. Miguel Sano’s return from injury might be enough to turn us around if he delivers on his promise. I don’t want to count on that. To show how much I’ve added, 9 of the 19 home runs we’ve hit in the last two weeks are by players who were not on the opening day roster. That includes Sano.
Today’s going to test my physical limitations. First I have therapy in Harrison then I head down to Williamsburg to see the Young Novelists and Emily Mure at Pete’s Candy Store. I love both acts and I love Pete’s. This might be my first time there with other friends in the audience; I’m expecting Dan & Anna, Fred, and Kathryn. You should come too. It’s an early night, the show starts at 7 and will be over by 9.
Wise Madness 