[attempting2bloom-blog]

Morning

As I was making Molly’s breakfast this morning, I began to wonder what exactly I might look like to the cat. As I was thinking about what to get from the butcher for my own breakfast, I decided to go upstairs and ask Molly if she would like anything while I was out, she declined.

I check the slip of paper in my hat, and for my lucky potato. I must not forget to grab my keys upstairs before I go... 

It is very warm today, it will feel especially so when I wear my black attire for Dignam’s funeral. As I began my first walk outside, I greeted Larry O’Rourke and wondered how pub owners like him even make any money at all with how many pubs there are in Dublin. Passing a school, I stopped to listen to the students receipt their alphabet and Irish place names... perhaps mine would be Slieve Bloom. 

I arrived at Dlugacz’s butcher shop only to discover there was just one kidney left! Oh, I hoped the woman in front of me wouldn’t take it! I picked up some wrapping newspaper to glance at the ads, until it was my turn and I pointed to the kidney still left. I was trying to hurry so that I might catch up to the woman and could try to watch her hips move as she walked home... Unfortunately I was not fast enough to do so.

Upon my arrival back home I found two letters and a card in the hall. The one for Molly has to be from Boylan, I know it. I walked up to the bedroom and handed Molly the letter and a card from Milly. Molly put the letter under her pillow so as not to read it in front of me, and instead focused her attentions on Milly’s card. I went back downstairs to prepare my breakfast and read my letter from Milly. 

When I finally brought Molly her breakfast in bed, I decided to ask about her letter, and she told me simply that Boylan was to bring over the concert program this afternoon for her to practice. Molly asked me to bring her a book and then to help explain to her a word from it that she did not understand; metempsychosis. I was eventually brought down to explaining the definition in the plainest of terms. After spotting the Nymph painted over our bed, I used them as an example of turning themselves into another form like reincarnation.

Molly smelled my kidney burning so I had to rush down the stairs to save it. While enjoying my breakfast, I read over Milly’s letter a second time. She thanked me for her birthday present, and apparently has a boyfriend now. Suddenly through remembering her childhood, I was reminded of Rudy and his unexpected death just days after Molly gave birth. I felt a sudden urge that I wanted to visit Milly. 

After breakfast I made my way to the outhouse to take care of business and check the newspaper for Dignam’s funeral time before I finished. 

[attempting2bloom-blog]

Secret letter

On my way to the post office before Dignam’s service at 11am, I stopped to read packet labels in the window of the Belfast and Oriental Tea Company and then I took out the postal card for my pseudonym, Henry Flower. I walked into the post office and picked up a typed letter addressed to Henry.” But as I was leaving, before I could read it, I am forced to make small talk with McCoy about Dignam’s death. I almost caught a glimpse of a woman’s leg stepping into her cab, but ah! a tram was blocking my view! McCoy began to discuss Molly’s upcoming concert tour because his wife is a (pretty terrible) aspiring singer. I made every effort I could to not mention Boylan or discuss him in any great detail. Before he left, I promised McCoy that I would make sure his name is written down in the funeral register. 

Finally I was alone and could open up my letter! She wants to meet in person, but I never planned to bring things to that point. She called me naughty, oh my. What perfume does Molly wear? I wonder why she wants to know that... I pack the letter up and put it back in my pocket, and then I tear up Martha’s envelope under a railway arch. 

I stepped in through the back door of a nearby church. Sometimes these things only seem like they’re good for meeting women. As I’m watching the priest wash out the wine chalice I start to wonder why the church doesn’t use something like Guinness or another beverage? 

I decided to make my way to the chemist’s to pick up Molly’s lotion. I can’t help but think of her beautiful skin... Do I have time to take a bath today with new lemon soap?

Leaving the shop I ran into Dantam Lyons who asked to see my newspaper so he can check on a horse race. I really don’t understand the whole gambling thing it kind of disgusts me...

[oventuroso-deactivated20171113]

[attempting2bloom-blog]

The real question is: who cares?! And why is Lyons acting so weird after I gave him my newspaper to check the race?

[attempting2bloom-blog]

The funeral

I was able to catch a ride in a carriage with Martin Cunningham, Jack Power, and Simon Dedalus on their way to Dignam’s funeral. I noticed Stephen on the street and pointed him out to Simon, but his only reply to this was asking if Mulligan was with him. His tone seemed disapproving, but I thought perhaps he meant it in a way of taking care of his son, probably how I would have been with Rudy...

Cunningham asked Simon if he had read Dan Dawson’s speech in this morning’s paper, but as I maneuvered to recover it from its resting place Simon insisted it would be inappropriate to read at this moment. I scanned the obituaries and checked to make sure Martha’s letter was still with me. 

Boylan is visiting today, this is it. This is the afternoon...

Of course we would pass by him on the street right now... and everyone else just saluted him from the carriage. What do they all see in him is what I am still asking myself at this point. And why did Power refer to Molly as Madame? 

I tried to tell a humorous story about Dodd’s son almost drowning as we passed Dodd himself on the street, but Cunnigham interrupted me. The first time of many today I’m already sure. 

We began to reminisce about Dignam, and I offered my condolences in suggesting that he died in the best possible way because his death was quick and painless. Somehow this ended with Power deciding that the worst death is by suicide, and Simon agreed with him. Cunningham suddenly attempted an argument for a more considerate outlook on suicide, and his sympathy moved me... I am sure I appreciate it more than he knows.

Upon our arrival to the service, I inquired of Tom Kernan if Dignam was insured, only to receive a reply from Ned Lambert that Cunningham is going to take up a collection for the Dignam children. After noticing one of Dignam’s sons, I entered the church behind everyone else. The ceremony was very peculiar to me; I spent a lot of time thinking about how repetitive of a job it must be to be a priest. 

When the ceremony ended, the coffin was carried outside and we began our procession. Along the way we walked by May Dedalus’ grave and Simon began to cry. I couldn’t help but be reminded of the realities of life and death.

I had this thought at the graveyard that it would be more efficient to bury the bodies vertically. And maybe there could even be a way in which people could donate their bodies to better fertilize gardens.  

When Haynes asked me for my full name, I made sure to remember to give McCoy’s as well just like I had previously promised. I spent the reminder of my time walking the graveyard wondering why people spend so much money on graves when it could be put towards charity, and also questioning why tombstones don’t explain who the person was. 

[osasora]

[attempting2bloom-blog]

Walking through this graveyard, I can’t help but think of the plot close by waiting for me but already housing my mother and my son

[attempting2bloom-blog]

Newspaper business

After getting a copy of my Keyes advertisement I made my way to the telegraph offices to see Nanetti. He was speaking to Haynes about his report of Dignam’s funeral... Haynes who owed me three shillings which I tried to nonchalantly remind him of, only to come up short in both senses. After explaining my new design for the Keyes ad, Nanetti asked me to get a copy of the design and secure three months advertisement with the company. 

As I was walking towards the staff offices observing the men typeset backwards I couldn’t help but think of my father reading Hebrew from right to left. I finally stopped and entered into the Evening Telegraph Office, where Professor MacHugh and Simon Dedalus were listening to Ned Lambert who was mocking a speech by Dan Dawson in this morning’s newspaper. J.J. O’Molloy walked in, accidentally hitting me with the doorknob as he did so. He used to be such a promising lawyer and now he has nothing but money troubles. 

I have to admit I can agree with the criticism of mocking Dawson’s speech, but even I remember the impact such a speech can make when received in person. Upon Crawford’s arrival, I used his telephone in order to get in contact with Keyes, but with the discovery of missing him at his office I decided I would have to leave to settle the ad myself. 

[attempting2bloom-blog]

Some additional key designs for the Keyes advertisement...

[attempting2bloom-blog]

Taking a stroll

As I was walking past the candy store, I was handed a flyer for a visiting American Evangelist and mistakenly read my own name on it at first, as it said Blood of the Lamb. 

As I continued walking, I saw Dilly Dedalus and my thoughts immediately turned to pity for both her and her brother after losing their mother. I noticed how thin Dilly had gotten and it made me think of how awful it is that the Catholic church forces its parents to produce more mouths than they can feed. 

When I crossed over the O’Connell bridge, I tossed the flyer over before making my next stop to buy some cakes to feed the seagulls. There was some advertisement in the harbor on a row boat and it made me wonder about the effective placement of advertisements... like maybe having a doctor’s flyer about sexually transmitted diseases in a bathroom. 

And I wonder if Boylan has a sexually transmitted disease?

A group of men wearing advertising sandwich boards for Wisdom Hely’s pass by and I couldn’t help but think of my idea for the same employers that didn’t make the cut. I tried to recall where Molly and I were living at that time...

I ran into Josie Breen who informed me of her husband receiving a supposedly cryptic postcard earlier this morning.I inquired about Mina Purefoy, because she is a common friend and it had been brought to my attention that she had been in labor at the hospital for three days. 

Eventually I walked by the Irish Times office and began to think of the newspaper ad I ran that brought Martha to me. 

Sometimes I feel that the cycles of life are pointless, especially after thinking more about Dignam dying and Mrs. Purefoy giving birth. A memory comes to mind of walking under the moon with Molly and Boylan, and now I can’t help but wonder if they were touching at all that night. 

As I walked by Bob Doran who was clearly on a drinking binge I had to think again about how heavily men view alcohol as a necessity for most kinds of social interactions. I became very hungry and decided to head into the Burton restaurant, but was soon turned around and back out the door after catching a long, good look at all the men feasting there completely void of manners. 

Instead I decided on Davy Byrne’s and was greeted by Nosey Flynn as I came inside. Flynn asked about Molly and her upcoming tour, but all I could think about was his fast-approaching visit to my house to see her later today. 

As Flynn tunes in and out, after I am content and finished being critical of his words, I can’t help but notice two flies together in the nearby windowsill. Suddenly I am reminded of my time with Molly on the hill on Howth; lying on top of her in the grass eating seedcake out of her mouth, and finally making love to her. 

So much has changed since that day. 

I began to question beauty and its definition... perhaps true beauty is only equal to untouchable goddesses like the statues found in the National Museum... I wonder if the statues have anything underneath their robes? I will have to sneak a peak later today, I believe, just to see.

After leaving the restaurant I began to make my way to the library in order to look up the Keyes ad, but I stopped to help a blind man cross the street... wondering if blindness has any type of reserve affect on the other senses. 

But then I saw Boylan across the street and had to quickly duck and hide...

[7-ac]

[attempting2bloom-blog]

Growing anxiety

As I was purchasing notepaper to use to write Martha back, I noticed Boylan’s car on Essex Bridge and decided to follow it. I ended up at the Ormond Hotel, and soon enough was being invited inside by Richie Goulding to have dinner. I decided to go, but mostly because I wanted to watch Boylan. 

As the waiter asked for our drink orders, I could hear the jingle of Boylan’s car driving away, knowing all the while it’s exact destination. 

I recognized Ben Dollard singing “Love and War” from the dining room, and it reminded me of the night Dollard borrowed evening wear from Molly’s shop. Next up, Stephen could be heard singing and I immediately concluded that he is wasting his incredible vocal talent through drinking. But the song he was singing was so familiar... from Martha! This was very odd to me as I remembered I was just about to write back to Martha Clifford. I began to do so, using a newspaper to cover my work, explaining that I was answering an advertisement. Although my response was flirtatious and I enclosed a halfcrown, I have already begun to feel myself growing bored of the correspondence.  

Has Boylan arrived yet?

I decided to leave and make my way to the post office before meeting with Cunnigham. 

[kiiwyyo]

[attempting2bloom-blog]

Well, it was fun while it lasted...

[attempting2bloom-blog]

The search for Cunningham

I walked into Barney Kiernan’s Pub to meet with Martin Cunnigham so that I could arrange a visit with Mrs. Dignam. Hynes offered to buy me a drink, but I declined. The topic of discussion turned to hangings, and I was just about to make a point out of it to, when this man interrupted me with such narrow-minded nationalistic sentiments. 

Then we started to talk about Nannetti and his run for mayor until somehow the conversation focus changed to Boylan, and eventually to his upcoming concert tour with Molly. I preferred staying distant from those particular topics. And I carried on in ignoring the no-named citizen who persisted in looking straight at me whenever they made their remarks.  

Upon being questioned about my nationality by both Nolan who had just entered, and the citizen, I claimed Irish by birth and Jewish allegiance before exiting to resume my search for Cunningham. 

However, I ended up right back at the same pub, as he had arrived shortly after my departure. But soon after my return, Cunningham and I left together to avoid those in the room who were starting to become hostile... especially the citizen, who began to mock my Jewishness. I responded with the only thing I was capable off: saying back a list of famous Jews, including Jesus himself.

[glitterfee]

[attempting2bloom-blog]

Irish by birth

[attempting2bloom-blog]

A beach view

I decided to spend some time looking out at the beach across from me. There were two girls playing with and attending to three children, while a third girl was setting a little bit away from them. The toddlers were playing with a ball, which was eventually kicked over to me on accident. I threw it back, only to have it stop under the third girl’s skirt. Mesmerized, I could not take my eyes off her as she revealed her ankles and hair to me, so it seemed. One of the other two girls approached me asking for the time, when I noticed that my watch had stopped...

After she walked away I put my hands back at my pocket and began to stare at the other once more. Her actions had aroused me to the point of needing release, and I could no longer contain myself as she leaned back to watch a roman candle and simultaneously reveal more of her legs just to me...

But then, when she stood up to leave, I noticed her lame foot which shocked me greatly, but I was filled with pity for her as well and relieved I was unaware of this fact just a few moments prior. But, perhaps there could be an appeal to such abnormalities... 

I remembered that my watch had stopped and so I checked it again to see it had done so at 4:30, somehow it felt like this could be the exact time Boylan and Molly... I didn’t have time to think about that. I rearranged my now-stained shirt, wondering if the woman across the way knew what I was up to, probably so as it seems women notice everything. But what if it was her? What if she was actually Martha?

I could still smell her cheap perfume in the air as I began to walk on. It wasn’t as nice as Molly’s... so complex a scent she wears. I wondered what a man would smell like and in deciding to take a whiff of the inside of my waistcoat I was reminded that I forgot to pick up Molly’s lotion. I gazed at Howth lighthouse and remembered the day I spent with her there, but soon I remembered how Boylan was probably with her now and I decided to avoid going home for a while longer. 

I grabbed a stick to write a message in the sand for the girl across the way in case she comes back tomorrow, but all I could manage was “I AM A” before I ran out of room. So I decided to erase the letters and throw the stick, and then I resolved to take a quick nap.  

[alexandra-almeida]

[attempting2bloom-blog]

My visit to the hospital

I decided I would visit Mrs. Purefoy to check on her. Nurse Callan lead me inside the building and we spoke of Mrs. Purefoy’s difficult labor which had lasted for three, long days. Suddenly Dixon, a medical student who had once treated me for a bee sting, appeared in the hallway and invited me to join him in the noisy room he had just exited. I entered the room to find Lenehan, Crotthers, Stephen, Punch Costello, Lynch, and Madden surrounding a table of sardines and beer. Dixon poured me a beer, but I secretly poured it into someone else’s cup.  

A discussion on medical cases ensued, specifically those special circumstances in which a doctor must pick between saving the mother or the child. While the other men could only respond with jokes about sex and contraception, Stephen tried to approach the question in a more religious aspect. I myself began to think of both Mrs. Purefoy, and of Molly and her labor with Rudy. I don’t understand why Stephen is wasting his time with men like this. But he continued to drink and keep up his level of banter, moving on to the topic of Mary’s pregnancy with Jesus. Costello rudely interrupted with some ridiculous song about a pregnant woman, causing Nurse Quiqley to come tell us to quiet down. 

The men began to tease Stephen. A loud bang of thunder came from the outside frightening him greatly. I took it upon myself to calm him down with a more scientific explanation of the noise.

Buck arrived, only to add more distasteful humor to the mix. Nurse Callan called for Dixon’s help as Mrs. Purefoy had finally given birth to a son. The men went on talking about various aspects relating to birth, all of which I felt were done so with extremely immature attitudes. 

Surely I was not this bad at their age? How can they pick on Stephen so heartlessly? The talk turned to infant mortality and I lost my train of thought...

Stephen was discussing mothers and babies so aggressively, that I began to recall the glimpse I had gotten of his relationship with his own mother and it made more sense... Suddenly Stephen suggested the group migrate to Burke’s Pub, but I ended up remaining behind briefly to ask Nurse Callan if she would send a kind word from myself to Mrs. Purefoy. 

At the pub, Stephen had already bought the first round of absinthe. Eventually the barman kicked us out and I noticed Lynch being convinced by Stephen to join him on a trip to the brothel district. 

[foodiebliss]

[attempting2bloom-blog]

I am already certain that this was not a good idea...