Trousered Ape
An exercise in presumption.
Saturday, October 18, 2025
The Edgar Allan Poe Speakeasy
By the way — somehow I managed to overlook mentioning this — over the summer, I quite accidentally came upon a notice for a group called the Edgar Allan Poe Speakeasy. In August, my older daughter and I (both Poe fans) went to the Edgar Allan Poe Speakeasy: an event at which four of the works of Edgar Allan Poe were performed. To quote from their website:
The pieces presented were The Pit and the Pendulum, The Cask of Amontillado, Annabel Lee, and The Fall of the House of Usher. The performances — each a one-man (or -woman) show, were superb. Somewhat abridged and adapted, of course, but not a false note among them.
The “speakeasy” part was that with each episode, a specially-designed cocktail was served (click to embiggen):
There were also non-alcoholic versions; both of us being essentially nondrinkers, we preferred those, except for the Montresor’s Revenge. All were quite palatable.
The Speakeasy is a touring performance. On their website is a schedule of places and times. If you like Poe, or are just interested, I heartily recommend going.
The Edgar Allan Poe Speakeasy is a chilling experience dedicated to the stories of Edgar Allan Poe. The event takes place inside a dark speakeasy. Four of his most famous stories will be retold and reimagined by our Poe historians.
The pieces presented were The Pit and the Pendulum, The Cask of Amontillado, Annabel Lee, and The Fall of the House of Usher. The performances — each a one-man (or -woman) show, were superb. Somewhat abridged and adapted, of course, but not a false note among them.
The “speakeasy” part was that with each episode, a specially-designed cocktail was served (click to embiggen):
There were also non-alcoholic versions; both of us being essentially nondrinkers, we preferred those, except for the Montresor’s Revenge. All were quite palatable.
The Speakeasy is a touring performance. On their website is a schedule of places and times. If you like Poe, or are just interested, I heartily recommend going.
Wednesday, October 01, 2025
State of the Ape XLI
Still going — thank you for your prayers.
Where does a month go?
Health news: Had blood work done on the 5th and we’re entering a new phase, as my PSA more than doubled, from 6.01 to 12.62:
(click to embiggen)
We met with my oncologist on the 9th. I’ll probably have to start chemotherapy soon, but no final decision yet. I went for a PET scan on the 25th (as near as I could tell from the results couched in medical jargon, things aren’t too bad yet), and we’ll see the oncologist again on October 20.
Writing: I took a week off, then started on revising the draft of Edwina 3. I’ve made pretty good progress (I estimate 35 – 40 percent done so far).
Still more clerihews:
Said Napoleon Bonaparte
When his army was blown apart,
“So much for that horde —
Oh, well, back to the drawing board.”
King Charles the Tenth
Used to drink crème de menthe
Mixed with eau de cologne —
No wonder he was overthrown.
Said philosopher Socrates
To physician Hippocrated,
“Why, when we speak,
Does it sound just like Greek?”
And, just because it's funny:
Still going — thank you for your prayers.
Where does a month go?
Health news: Had blood work done on the 5th and we’re entering a new phase, as my PSA more than doubled, from 6.01 to 12.62:
We met with my oncologist on the 9th. I’ll probably have to start chemotherapy soon, but no final decision yet. I went for a PET scan on the 25th (as near as I could tell from the results couched in medical jargon, things aren’t too bad yet), and we’ll see the oncologist again on October 20.
Writing: I took a week off, then started on revising the draft of Edwina 3. I’ve made pretty good progress (I estimate 35 – 40 percent done so far).
Still more clerihews:
Said Napoleon Bonaparte
When his army was blown apart,
“So much for that horde —
Oh, well, back to the drawing board.”
King Charles the Tenth
Used to drink crème de menthe
Mixed with eau de cologne —
No wonder he was overthrown.
Said philosopher Socrates
To physician Hippocrated,
“Why, when we speak,
Does it sound just like Greek?”
And, just because it's funny:
