I am so proud myself- - I'm writing again. I am sending my first novel (not historical lit) in for publication, and my play is going on (a rather humble) stage. Things look bright.

I have managed to isolate myself here in Rome. Old friends leave. You never really get to know someone over the internet; it's no substitute for life. Luckily, I no longer need one. That's why I've been around so little lately. I wish there was some place like this for us in reality: for this kind of setting offers so much. Anonominity. People of like interests. Solitude or socialization according to your mood. A place of your own.

My ruminations are strange at this late hour. Good night, Romans.

Gaia

By resigning from the ADI, I have found myself in that giddy state of being of having no current group. I am uncertain of where in Rome to turn next. Ah well. I'll figure it out.

Caez is OUT of Egypt! "Boudicca" will be glad to hear that.

Well, I do not feel inclined to write further for now. Vale,

Gaia

My most challenging bit of work, which is to say, my play about Catilina, has been whipped into a semi-complete condition! The sense of achievement, as usual, fills me with excitement. To produce the blasted thing is another story, but for now I am pleased just to have succeeded. It's funny, it's caustic, it's bitter sweet. Catilina is a real revolutionary hero, with a rogueish twist. Perfect.
The problem is, the thing is so CURRENT. It's, in essence, a protest play. It makes a statement about the war on terror and the upcoming elections. In a few months, will it be moot? Will it no longer have the appeal it does now? Can I get it on it's feet in time?

I have not been making great progress on "Caesar" lately. He's STILL in bloody Egypt, but at least the war is over.

Been nice knowing you-- but-- Penelope has saved the day! To her am I eternally indebted. Not that I wasn't already. Thank you, my dearest friend!
Oh-- and countrymen beware! Queen Boudicca is here! She is gonna kick some major Roman behind. Welcome, Boudicca! I am glad to have converted you, my friend!

I have tracked down one of the elder Junias. Turns out she was married to Lepidus. I am starting to have quite a scene planned out for that foreboding dinner at Lepidus' March 14, when Caesar said that the best kind of death would come suddenly and unexpectedly... I wonder what everyone else's opinion will be... can't wait to hear from Cassius and Mark Antony espicially.
On that subject... I love "The Lord of the Rings." : ) But Viggo Mortensen is irritating as hell (and I have the idea, don't know where I got it, that hell might be QUITE irritating).
Which brings me to- - OOH! OHH! OHH! THE JULIUS CAESAR CASTING GAME!
Here's my current list:
Caesar: Patrick Stewart
Brutus: Toby McGuire
Calpurnia: Cate Blanchett
Junia: Catherine Zeta-Jones
Cicero: Ian McKellen

This has some really big, really obvious holes. Who'd be Mark Antony? Cassius? Portia? Servilia? CLEOPATRA? Pompey? CASCA? Any ideas, Romans? Just for the record I imagine Cassius as being a very intelligent, complex, passionate and slightly insane man with a talent for manipulation, Portia as noble, frail and suicidal, Pompey as piggish and arrogant, and Casca as sly and gossipy. Just-- NO ONE say Russel Crowe for anyone, okay? VETO. Absolutely not.
Oh-- just for a final random parting shot-- Patrocles has the same translation as Cleopatra.

I've decided to name my Avatar "Chloe," after the Chloe about whom Martial said: "I can do without your face... and your neck and your hands and your limbs, and to save myself the trouble of mentioning the points in detail, I could do without you altogether."

I upload this beautiful avatar-- and it turns out all FUZZY! NOW I can't manage to upload anything else and it won't go away. I can't leave the house, I can't respond to any of my messages for shame. Oh well. Please excuse me, my fellow Romans- - this is a bad hair, face, dress, general outline, color and absolutely EVERYTHING else day! I will get back to you after a little bout of throughly UN Roman plastic surgery. . .

I love George Benard Shaw's "Caesar and Cleopatra." The movie with Claude Reins and Viviane Leigh was so great! Reins was... adorable. Just adorable! And for all the historical inaccuracies, it was a clever script, quite amusing. The movie of "Julius Caesar" with James Mason and John Gielgud annoyed me. Gielgud's Cassius was too damn NICE! And more than that, too... pleasant... and... and... DISPASSIONATE! I mean, when an actor can't seem to find the sheer ardor in lines like THIS:
"Nor stony tower, nor walls of beaten brass,
Nor airless dungeon, nor strong links of iron,
Can be retentive to the strength of spirit,
But life, being weary of these earthly bonds,
Never lacks the power to dismiss itself!
If I know this, know all the world besides,
That part of tyranny that I do bear
I can shake off at pleasure."

WELL... maybe it's just that my friend "Cassia" played Cassius so brilliantly that all other interpretations pale... damn, I'm jealous. What an actress! I say, WHAT AN ACTRESS!
I have a love-hate relationship with that play, anyway. I have obvious problems with Shakespeare's interpretations of Caesar, Brutus and Mark Antony; namely that Caesar wasn't stupid or cruel, that Brutus was an avaricious swine, and that Mark Antony-- lets face it-- Mark Antony was always surrounded by girls and booze!
My friend "Boudica" (after the subject of the novel she's writing) pictures a scenario like this: Mark Antony introduces Caesar to a girl. Caesar takes Antony aside and asks:
"So this is what? Your fourth?"
But let's face it: If I'd never acted in that play as Caesar, would I be here in Rome today? No. Would I be attempting to write an epic historical novel? No. Would I have come to know Julius Caesar, Caius Cassius, Marcus Brutus, Antony, Cleopatra, Portia, Calpurnia, Cicero, Junia and the rest as intimately as best friends or bitter enemies? No!
So thank you, Shakespeare. Your interpretation made me so sick I just HAD to do to save poor Caesar's dignitas. And your words have taught me how to really love the English language.
And while playing Caesar, I realized that I was strong.