Stories from Italy
Over the last week I have been traveling around Italy, from Rome to Milan and up a bit into Switzerland's Lake Lugano. My god how easy it is to get around and how helpful and well dressed everyone seems to be. Of course, this close to the Assumption of Mary, most everyone was taking a vacation. Rome and Milan especially were full of empty shops and closed shutters as everyone ran from the heat of the city.
And it was hot. I grew up in South Mississippi, so the humidity and shock was nothing new. We met my mother in Lugano. She's in her 70s and still lives just north of the Louisiana state line, so she was in jeans barely breaking a sweat as my body had grown used to Seattle weather and was dripping with sweat.
The number one thing you may have noticed on my Bluesky and Patreon is an appreciation for the sunrise. Or at least finding a small moment of beauty in the morning and taking in the weather for the day. Probably some David Lynch in there for inspiration, but I found myself up before dawn and finding places to put my pen to paper each morning. I share those snapshots of beauty, from a lakeside to the Spanish Steps, both for online clicks and reminders of my morning. Today I had to wake up and get walking, find some coffee and a quiet place to go through my thoughts. I hope you do the same.
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Join the Friends of the Banned Library!
Ever find yourself in an empty Roman street wondering if that shadow over there will erupt in a flurry of violence? The heat dripping into your eyes from your pores, a sickly sweet sour smell of your own body, the only hint of life around? Will the ancient stones unleash secrets to you? Maybe not on any of those, but you can do it while going through our entire back catalog as a Friend of the Banned Library for $1 a month. Patreon.com/bannedlibrary
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Children's Corner - What's happening in the children's department this week!
Story Time will be a little erratic this week as we plan on the fly! We're shooting for a few readings a day, but maybe just be prepared to read to your own children this week.
Teen Banned Cake Team Tour - Join us and the members of the Teen Banned Cake Team as they sell slices of various culinary confections to raise money to fight boredom and probably drugs. Wednesday, August 19 at 5pm.
Construction Watching - Heads up all you truck lovers and jack hammer heads. The library has partnered with Breaking Up Construction to let building-minded kids watch a plan come together while the library gets a new bookdrop and outside toilet installed. All week long, starting at 6am until the contract is finished.
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Reference Nook - New services and books for all your information needs!
The Bone Church and Crypt - Located in Rome, the Bone Church is a museum and church from the Capuchin monks, a section of the Franciscan order. The audio tour takes about an hour walking through exhibits including various important monks and their achievements and belongings and ending with the crypts decorated with the bones of the order. The highlight there for me was an hourglass with wings created from various arm/leg/hand/pelvis bones to symbolize that time is fleeting. Nailed that art project, buddies.
The Last Supper - Da Vinci's masterpiece located with Dominican monks in Milan is a breathtaking tour through the mural and the Santa Maria delle Grazi church. Hermetically sealed, one door opens at a time, our guide Sara(h?) lead us through the creation and social implications of such and immersive work (it was made in the monks dining hall, the reason Jesus's feet are missing is the monks cut a hole to more easily reach the kitchen). Also, rich people tried to keep both the glory and the mural, placing themselves with religion no matter who was on top socially or politically. Made me sad that some things never really change.
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Circulation Station - What we've been reading/watching
White Rose by Glen Cook - It's taken me three years, but I finally finished The Black Company books set in the north area. The end of this trilogy works much like the rest, with a boots on the ground military view of life in a fantasy war. Will the evil Dominator arise or will his former wife The Lady seize control of the world? A read that was hard to pick up but kept my attention once I slid into the groove of the droll pattern. Damn funny at times.
Plane films! I watched a bunch of movies on the plane to and from Rome, so here's the highlights:
Adventures of Pricilla, Queen of the Desert (1994) - honest classic, see it now
Devil Wears Prada 2 (2026) - More of the same, which if you are in the mood for bougie drama is great. The Last Supper scene now makes me mad after being in that room. That's just gross capitalistic nonsense.
Is This Thing On (2025) - Nice little drama that lets Will Arnett be vulnerable.
Eve's Bayou (1997) - Sigh, a southern gothic classic that in my memory was a lot more graphic but in the end simply poignant.
Raya and the Last Dragon (2021) - Gorgeous animation and wonderful voice acting. I found the message a little muddled. Are humans all crap until backed against a wall, then we're okay with found family? Eh, I think too much. Hug your friends.
Speed Racer (2008) - Kinda love this candy-colored motion sickness bomb with its over the top caricatures and noir-chasing vibes.
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Tech Serv's Stewpot - Could be a recipe or a random rant from a crazy person shoved in the back of the library and left alone too long!
I'm busy, so take some bread and put some cheese in it. Turn on the cast iron to not so hot, then put that bread in it with some butter. Wait, then flip it. Eat it up with some Mama Sara's tomato soup and cry about your problems to someone else.