The ancient snow

A tale of three men: Titus Pullo, Paulo Nutini and the Monopoly loving Brit.

I have, of late, become absolutely enamored with HBO's Rome. It is decadent, a bit sinful, and fantastic tour of 10 years study of Latin and Roman culture gone to waste (Should one of my Latin instructors ever come across this blog, I can still conjugate verbs and do elementary translations, I swear!). Ciarian Hines has been on the many loves of my life since he appeared in Ivanhoe, Persuasion and Jane Eyre during my formative years. He's a beautiful, gruff, pompous man and as Ceasar he commands and controls much of the series.
But, whilst Ceasar is off screwing Cleopatra or having epileptic fits (take your pick depending on the episode/hour) the audience is treated to the ins and outs of friendship between two Roman soldiers: Lucius Vorenus and Titus Pullo. Lucius is a stand up guy who struggles to be honorable, admirable and true. Titus Pullo is a hard headed son of a slave who prefers women and wine to political posturing and rhetoric.
And he is absolutely gorgeous - in the same way that the football player in my college Ancient Novel class who couldn't pronounce a bit of Latin to save his soul was absolutely gorgeous. There's just something about them. Men, I mean.
There must be something absolutely basic that attracts us (or,perhaps, just me) to men who can't hold conversations but can easily rescue us from attack. Vorenus is constantly tortured by the decisions he must make, and I have to say I get bored with his inner struggle and self-rightousness. On the other hand, Pullo expresses his every feeling in the moment and is just as quickly killing someone who's offended his honor as sitting down to another drink.
Absolutely gorgeous.

This past weekend it was suggested to me by numerous of my favorite radio DJs that I head over to my favorite radio website and enter to win tickets to see Paulo Nutini in concert. I thought little of it until Monday when I was indeed on the website and clicked on the entry box. I figured, "I'm probably too late. The Guster concert in this series was insane."
Lo and behold, I have been given two tickets to see the Scottish Nutini tomorrow afternoon. Who would have thought? I bought his album and I have to say that it is very good. Right up there with the Mindy Smith and The Shins albums I am also recommending to everyone I know this week. The Nutini album has an Amos Lee, Joe Crocker feel to it (take what you will from that description).

**Best radio station ever? Boston's The River, hands down!**

And the Monopoly playing Brit? Well, occasionally I like to go onto craigslist.com and poke around for a laugh. This week I came across the only personal ad that I've ever given thought to replying to. It was a from a man who claimed to be from Brittain and interested in playing Monopoly, Risk or Charades. His ad was legitly funny and I took more than a second look at it.
But who knows if 1) he's actual a "he" 2) he's actually Brittish or 3) he's not insane.

At least there's Titus.