Monday, October 7, 2024

Bartleby and 'Vertigo'


I thought you might like to see how Manny Two is settling in among the other plants in our dining room. Manny is second from the left, on the blue plant stand. He looks much better than when I found him! Five of the large plants in that picture -- and all of the orchids on the windowsill -- are foundlings.

See how badly our front garden needs trimming? That big bush is engulfing the window. I e-mailed the management company yesterday to ask where that stands. I filed the maintenance request in August and I've heard nothing.

Last week, when I was complaining about spreadsheets at work, blog pal Elizabeth left a funny comment: "You could write your own version of Bartleby, I think!" I thought, "My God, I AM Bartleby!" Bartleby the Scrivener is a character from a short story by Herman Melville, about a recalcitrant legal clerk who gradually stops doing any work at all, telling his boss at every request, "I would prefer not to." Eventually he will only stand at a window, looking out on a blank brick wall. He won't go home -- if he has a home -- even when the boss, who feels oddly responsible for Bartleby, reluctantly fires him. Eventually the boss has to move offices because Bartleby won't leave.

Nowadays this would be interpreted as an obvious case of incapacitating depression, but back then Bartleby was considered merely eccentric. I don't have the depression but I have at work recently been sorely tempted to answer some of my boss's requests with "I would prefer not to"! For the record, though, I usually do what's asked, even when it involves spreadsheets, and I am doing my utmost to be positive and agreeable. So I guess I'm not quite Bartleby yet.

Anyway, I bring all this up because Elizabeth's comment prompted me to re-read Melville's story yesterday, and it was darned amusing.


Here's another thing I did yesterday -- I rented Hitchcock's "Vertigo," from 1958. I had it in my head that I hadn't seen it in a long time, but no sooner had I clicked the rental button than I realized I'd watched it earlier this year. Argh! Not wanting to waste my $3.99, I watched it again, and was once again struck by Hitchcock's amazing eye (along with cinematographer Robert Burks) for composing beautiful shots.


Look at those dramatic shadows!


Again, terrific framing, and I loved the way Kim Novak's scarf blows in the wind as she walks along the bay (before eventually jumping in).


I mean, seriously. Does the use of light and color get any better than this?

I thought of what Barbra Streisand said about movies in her autobiography -- that they are time capsules. While we all age -- Kim Novak is now 91 -- and San Francisco is dramatically different from the city depicted in the film, we can time travel back to 1958 while watching it.

As much as I enjoyed it, I now have to remember that I have seen "Vertigo" and I don't need to rent it again! At least not for a while.

While all this was going on, Mr. Russia spent FOUR HOURS power-washing the terrace over our heads. It's only about 10-by-20 feet, but he wasn't just washing the surface. No, he was lifting all the pavers and washing BENEATH them, and informed us he had found cracks and will have to do waterproofing. (Although actually, it's our ceiling, so why does he care?) I told him to tell the landlords. It's always something with that guy.

46 comments:

  1. I am so glad that you got some enjoyment from my comment! I think I told you that Melville's short stories are pretty extraordinary -- particularly "Benito Cereno." I'd love to hear what you think of it! That photo at the top is so beautiful, Steve. Your place looks peaceful and so beautifully green.

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    1. "Benito Cereno" is in the same book I checked out to read "Bartleby." Maybe I'll go back to it sometime soon!

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  2. Your plants are taking over!!

    I suppose it is good that Mr Russia found the cracks... especially if he is in the habit of power washing....

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  3. Mr. and Mrs. Russia... argh! Your apartment has so much character and bless you for rescuing those plants.

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    1. Re. the Russians, I asked Dave, "Am I being unreasonable or overly sensitive"? He assured me I am not. They really ARE obnoxious!

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  4. Four hours power washing? That's ridiculous! Although he may have cleaned their terrace, the pummelling may have damaged it too and all that water cascading down on your property! "Power washing" could be a semi-political term for when big players wipe away the voices of the underdogs.

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    1. Exactly! It seems like too much of a good thing to me!

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  5. I don't think I could handle Mr Powerwash. I'd be worried about water coming through the ceiling. It might yet seep down.
    Your plant area is so filled with light, it almost compensates for the maniacs upstairs.

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    1. So far it's still dry but believe me, I was keeping an eye on things!

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  6. I have never heard of Bartleby the Scrivener but the description of that story and your library office reminds me of the movie "Office Space." Do you own a red stapler?

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    1. Ha! I loved "Office Space." Haven't seen it in years! It's one of my brother's favorite movies.

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  7. Two things: I am in awe of your green thumb as I am a plant killer ... thank the goddess for Carlos.

    I agree about watching old movies and traveling back in time, especially to San Francisco where I spent sooooo much time as a younger me.

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    1. It's very cool to see a film that captures old sights and sounds like that. "Edward Scissorhands" and "Cocoon" were filmed in Florida, in areas I'm familiar with, and it's fun to watch them now.

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  8. Oh if only I had the courage of Bartleby! Not really, because even when I do feel stressed or depressed I find some solace in completing my work tasks (it's the home ones that suffer).

    I wonder if Mr. Russia would like to come & power wash our house? I was noticing last week that the back definitely needs a bath!

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    1. Don't ask him, because he'll overdo it and you won't have any paint left!

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  9. What a lovely dining room you have, Steve, with those terrific windows and those thriving plants.
    I don't think I have ever watched Hitchcock's "Vertigo" as I avoided Hitchcock movies. I do not like scary thrillers at all. Too stressful to watch!

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    1. Some are more suspense than scary. I think "Psycho" is the only really bloody one.

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  10. I believe I'd like my tombstone to say, "She preferred not to."
    Not that I'm going to have a tombstone but if I did...
    Your dining room is your own work of art. It really is lovely. Funny how much you and I love our foundling and seedling plants.
    I haven't watched much Hitchcock in my life. Perhaps I should now with an eye to the cinematography.
    Mr. Russia needs to find a new hobby.

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    1. That would be a good epitaph, for sure! I do enjoy our dining room. I wish we spent more time in it!

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  11. I love that view through your dining room.
    Those scenes from the movie are brilliant. I see what you mean about the use of color. They really pop.

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    1. And I didn't enhance the color at all -- those are shots of the TV screen straight off my phone.

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  12. I would love to see the inside of the Russians' flat. I mean it ought to be something with the constant work. You have so many big houseplants. Turner Classic Movies is often on at our house, not that we are watching it particularly. It's one of the things Marc puts on just for the noise. Me, I'm perfectly fine with a quiet house. here's what I've noticed from those old films, the enormous size increase in women's boobs since implants were invented.

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    1. Every time I've seen it it's been a debris field from all the renovation. I think the finished areas are very white and spare.

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  13. I knew the name, but didn't 't know Bartleby's story. I should read it!

    My favorite Hitchcock is Rear Window. I just read an article over the weekend about how Hitchcock had the entire set constructed for the film. It looks like such a convincingly real location! Maybe I need to watch it again soon. (I'm more likely to read Bartleby the Scrivener)

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    1. Oh, I LOVE "Rear Window." Possibly the best Hitchcock movie, in my opinion.

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  14. Those plants look great. As I've said before, you certainly do have a green thumb. Mr. and Mrs. Russia are certainly something else!

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  15. The stills are stunning!Genius!
    Your plants are happy, Your pup is happy. You just spread your Florida sunshine around where ever you go, it seems. Mr. Russia could use some of your sunshine attitude.

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    1. He embodies a more chilly Siberian effect. Ha!

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  16. I've never seen any of his movies but these stills are amazing. Perhaps I should watch one.
    And Mr. Russia? WTF

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    1. If you've never seen any of them, watch "Rear Window." I think that's the best.

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  17. Power washing beneath the pavers??. Next, he'll take the bricks apart or the window frames? I still think it's all a ruse, maybe the secret service was installing some transmitting device and the poer washing noise was meant to distract.
    You need to investigate, don't just give us these tidbits.

    There is or was a blog out there somewhere on the fashion styles in Hollywood movies from various periods and I vaguely remember an entire post on Kim Novak and her coats and scarves. Years ago.

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    1. Apparently she didn't love those outfits -- she thought they were too dull. That's what I read online, anyway. (So it must be true!)

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  18. We have many good movies and stories to look back on.

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  19. Maybe he should quit blasting the area with water under pressure. He's probably making problems that weren't there before.

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    1. Right?! He is obsessed with power washing and I couldn't believe the degree of effort he was putting into it.

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  20. After The Birds, I've stayed away from Hitchcock. I still get nervous when I see a bunch of birds sitting on a telephone line. Power washing beneath the pavers--never heard of that! You are definitely the Plant Whisperer.

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    1. "The Birds" is a great movie too! It never made me wary of birds, though, weirdly.

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  21. Power washing beneath the pavers!!!! Now that is something new. (But four hours? Ay yi yi!)

    The thing about spreadsheets and documentation and libraries. I'm in a book club and one of the members was the former head of the library, and interestingly enough, now that she is retired, the library is a whole different place. While I do not want to pin it on one person, I can tell you that you cannot even go in there to ask a simple question any more without filling out documentation. I looked up a book that I needed. It was out. I was trying to find whether it was worth reserving or not. If it was due back before the meeting, I'd reserve it...if not, I wouldn't. They would not tell me anything until I filled out the request, in writing, and then they informed me that the book wouldn't be back until after the meeting. I mean, I understand the need for documentation, but it also makes the library much less user friendly.

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    1. Oh, yeah, that's ridiculous. I'm sure it's borne of the same necessity -- to keep track of customer activity and requests -- but why should YOU have to fill out a document? Seems the librarian could just tick a box somewhere to show he/she had talked to you.

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  22. I had no idea Kim Novak was still alive. I had a major crush on her many years ago.

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  23. Those are amazing shots and I shall keep them in mind when I take my camera out and about. I have never seen Vertigo. Nor suffered depression.

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    1. Yeah, I think the careful framing of the shots is what I like most. He really had a good eye for composition.

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