Matty Matte Modge Podge

  Happy Aloha Friday! 16 June, irreverently dubbed Bloomsday , a nod to James Joyce’s novel “ Ulysses ” set on this date in 1904, and 2 Feb, illustriously known as Candlemas in Europe (later Americanized, Dutch County Pennsylvania style, to Groundhogs day) have significant meaning in the life of James Joyce. “Ulysses” heralded as, possibly, the single most important Modernist work ever, is a modern take on Homer’s “The Odyssey” set in (then) modern day Ireland. Joyce is a divisive author and to wrap your head around his works is, oftentimes, like chewing through shoe leather with no teeth. Cut to 1993, the release of the (at the time) somewhat critically acclaimed Groundhog Day which recounts the seemingly infinite time-loop of Bill Murray’s character, weatherman Phil Connors, over a single day, which happens to be 2 Feb, until Phil finally gets his act together and becomes a better person (quite subjective if you ask me). If you haven’t seen it, well you are the minority. It is