The Weekend Part 1 - Friday into Saturday

My travels of yesterday need their own separate post, even if some news that follows came in on yesterday.

I decided to make a road trip. So, Saturday I was off to Enterprise to rent a hire. Once again, I had a run in with the dunce from my last visit. I had forgotten the utility bills that they want before they rent me a car. I had forgotten it and said this to the clerk. He said no problem. Then he asked for it. I repeated I did not have it. He asked if it was on my phone. I said no. He asked again and I told him no. He said he misunderstood me and acted if he could not understand why my bills were not on my phone. None of this would have been an issue if it were not for the buses only running on the hour on Saturdays. If he had confirmed I had a problem, then I might have caught the bus. No, I missed the bus, so I told them I would be back in two hours. I walked over and got a hamburger from Five Guys, Not a bad sandwich, but I am getting annoyed at $2.00 for a Coke. While waiting for the bus, my priest drove by and gave me a ride back to my place. Who says there are no miracles? I got the car, but it was too late to leave for Indianapolis. Forgetting that envelope caused me no end of trouble for Sunday.

 Instead, I went to Vespers. The pain had me almost bowled over. Then I decided to see a movie. I am tired of being miserable at home. I struggled through In The Gray. Not a problem with the film; which was the usual stylish Guy Ritchie romp. No, the problem was my insides and the pain. I think this is the only of Ritchies' movies I have seen in the theater. That was one reason to go see it. Watching it, I recalled comparisons with Tarantino. They made no sense to me before and they make less now. Both directors are in love with movies and know their history. Both directors invest their antiheroes with the talent for talking. But Tartantino preens where Ritchie barrels through. Tarantino has taken to rewriting history via the power of cinema whereas Ritchie does seem interested in history. Ritchie's characters seem more interested in doing a job well; Tarantino's seem more interested in being seen doing their jobs. It just struck me that the closest Tarantino comes to Ritchie is Jackie Brown. Could it be that Ritchie came closest to Tarantino with his Sherlock Holmes movies rather than Lock, Stock, and Two Smoking Barrels? Or the Man From U.N.C.L.E.? That movie came to mind while watching In The Gray. That one disappointed me, and watching the new movie, it disappointed me even more. There was a stylishness that seemed empty in the earlier film. Worse, less fun. In The Gray may not have a sensible plot, but it is an adventure and not Wuthering Heights. I am left wondering what a second Man From U.N.C.L.E. movie would have been like. Or what would a Ritchie directed Bond film would be like (just as what would a Tarantino Star Trek movie have been like). I recall Howard Hawks mentioned in one  review. That seems to be the real connection between Ritchie and Tarantino.

CC made another call. That was Friday, on my way to the group. Once more into strangeness and paranoia - hers, not mine. Calling me without saying what is going on because she doesn't want to say it on the phone. Too complicated going on with her that is the same old thing. I roll my eyes and keep on keeping on. Only her boyfriend calls me Saturday and for some reason thinks she is at my place. Nope. That sure what is going on there. Not sure if I care. Another oddity on the side of the road.

I was up for church, feeling a bit better. Only after Liturgy did everything go nuts.

Two rejections were received yesterday:

Thank you for the opportunity to read "The Unintended Consequences of Art." Unfortunately, your story isn't quite what we're looking for right now.

In the past, we've provided detailed feedback on our rejections, but I'm afraid that due to time considerations, we're no longer able to offer that service. I appreciate your interest in Clarkesworld Magazine and hope that you'll keep us in mind in the future.

Take care,

Neil Clarke
Publisher/Editor
Clarkesworld Magazine
www.clarkesworldmagazine.com

They also rejected an earlier version.

Somewhat of a blast from the past since this was for "Coming Home" and was submitted on 10/28/25:

Thank you so much for sharing your work with us! Our editorial team has had a chance to read through your submission, and while we don't feel that it's quite what we're looking for, we appreciate your support and interest all the same. Have a great week, and good luck out there!

Best,
Dave and James  

 

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