How to train your brain
Two glasses of wine would be all it needed for Oscar to say a word. New York was picked to host the final of the world chess championship. My housemate was a huge fan of chess, who believed that the life-or-death stakes influenced Samuel Beckett. It impressed our instructor (after we were told to pen an essay on his works), while I was left wondering if this was the author's addiction. Logan guessed what I was thinking, as he quipped that we still have all the time for "Ulysses". I nearly burst out laughing, as I recalled a recent study linking reading and mortality. Bookworms have a higher chance of living longer.
Unless I was a serious book lover, I wonder if this would be good news at all. Sitting for long hours could be harmful to my well-being. And I don't think I would read James Joyce's masterpiece again. I did write a paper on it during my first year, and it was an experience that I don't want to do it again. I tried my college best to compose my thoughts, uncertain that I comprehend the themes of the novel. It didn't surprise me that my instructor wasn't too impressed with my views and (writing) style. There won't be any atonement of sort.
Edward invited us to a send-off dinner, where we would see him one more time. He wanted to see the world, and it was about to happen soon. After losing count of the number of deadlines he procrastinated (for a day or two), he deserved to take a break. I was dead tired, but I was fine with Google search. Maybe I would have a change of heart (and try backpacking on my own).
The best books for the Olympics
Theo thought this would be the best time to play one more game. He seemed inspired by the Rio Games, so he wanted us to help him to identify some literary accompaniments to some sports.
Edward recalled "Murder on the Links", as the title would pertain to golf. This was Hercule Poirot's second appearance in an Agatha Christie novel, but I don't think this would make me interested in her works. I was thinking about the solar sails, which Arthur C. Clarke imagined long before other authors have thought of sailing. Besides, this won't be a high-profile event. If not for the likes of Clarke, then I don't think the public would pay (little) attention to it. We were surprised by Oscar's mention of Oddjob. He was Goldfinger's (Korean) manservant, a seemingly expert in taekwondo. We didn't know that he read Ian Fleming's novel, and he followed it up with Forrest Gump. It couldn't be the cross-country run. It turned out that this was a short-lived game.
I had enough for the day, as I must meet by brother later. Besides, this won't be the last time I would see my housemate. (We bet that he would come back earlier than he planned.) And I would look forward to his (upcoming) photos on Facebook. More birds would die from collisions with windows in the garden, he said matter of factly. Oscar had an incredulous look until he mentioned the growing number of high-rise buildings. I don't see one in the neighborhood, but he had a point. There were skyscrapers in the distance. And then I was reminded about my morning run. I skipped it last weekend, and I must not repeat it. I found out last fall that running would help me think better. I should have thought it before, but it was better late.
