D

This selection is largely influenced by the fact that I was watching The History of Britain last night, and they showed a gorgeous gold torc, and I was reminded of another torc that happens to be worn by a doomed young man.

is for Dying Gaul

( De Bellum Gallico )

I *loathe* feeling stupid

Which means I should probably stop doing stupid things, yes? But no, instead of dropping off the rent check yesterday like I was supposed to, I forgot (I was making meatloaf, which shouldn't have been all that distracting but apparently it was) and ended up running into the rent office today after work in a panic, hoping that they'd take my check. Of course, they didn't let me somehow be exempt from the policy - no personal checks accepted after the fifth of the month. So I have to buy a money order, plus the almost-fifty-dollars late fee. Can you use your debit card to buy a money order? Because you're limited to the amount you can pull from an ATM per day, and I need over a thousand, so I'm confused. I *think* you can, but I don't want to count on that and then get surprised.

Reading a very interesting book on Sundowner Towns, written by the same guy who did the Lies Across America/Lies my History Teacher Told Me books. His rep is good enough for me to know the book would be informative and entertaining, although I do know that he can overreach things in order to make a point. He was the guest speaker at the first AAM conference I attended, and mentioned Wheatland, President James Buchanan's home, claiming that Buchanan was *known* to be gay, and that the historic house was doing their best to eradicate any mention of that fact and that the docent he spoke to denied the possibility. I spoke with a slightly distressed person from Wheatland later, who said that they had an exhibit discussing the possibility that Buchanan was gay, and that it can be difficult to get a docent to stay on script (GOD, do we know this at our institution - we have troubles enough getting them to stop leading visitors to period rooms to tell them the way it *used* to look back in 1958). Buchanan might have been gay, but it's hardly proven - and will never be proven, one way or another - but some of these nuances didn't make it into the book. It's a shame, because I have to take much of the books with a hefty spoonful of salt. They're still worth reading, and I'm already fascinated by some of what he has to say in Sundown Towns.

Am feeling generally lodgy and blah and ick, and generally not inclined to do much of anything. Maybe getting to bed might help?

Edited to add: The Post Office website helpfully notes that I can buy the money order with my debit card. Halelujah!