Monkish Musings

A good friend loaned me Les Misérables by Victor Hugo. The book is roughly the size of a lung - a big lung. I started today, I don't know when I'll finish. The beginning chapters describe a monastery in France. It seems nice. It seems like a place I would like to go. It is tempting to run away from my problems and the burdens that bother me, but I know that I can't. That would be a great loss. Much of my character has been formed by the problems and burdens I've faced. All the crummy people I've known and circumstances I've been in have contributed greatly to my life, and have taught me valuable lessons.
I watched Kalifornia today. It is a good movie, with nice scenery. It is about two couples driving across the country. I find the contrast of the couples most interesting. I suppose the plot of the movie has something to do with one of the men being a serial killer, but I just enjoy the character developement and the scenery. The movie brought back memories of a short and awkward time in my life, a time when I learned some valuable life lessons - the sort of life lessons that make you a good friend and counselor, and contribute to your acquisition of wisdom.