weekly check-in

This a recurring weekly online meetup to discuss what we've read, what we're reading, and what we want to do.

The motivation behind this is two-fold:

1. I've put James Joyce's Ulysses on the schedule for October, about 20 weeks out. It has 18 chapters, and I promised readers that we would have a weekly meetup to review our progress.
2. We keep reading books about self-improvement, and yet this 'self' continues to struggle to improve. Maybe this is a chance to join with other strugglers to move forward.

Here's a link to the Ulysses resources that I find useful.

Episode 5, "Lotus Eaters"

• While making his way to Westland Row post office Bloom is tormented by the knowledge that Molly will welcome Boylan into their bed later that day.
• At the post office he surreptitiously collects a love letter from one 'Martha Clifford' addressed to his pseudonym, 'Henry Flower'. He meets an acquaintance, and while they chat, Bloom attempts to ogle a woman wearing stockings, but is prevented by a passing tram. Next, he reads the letter from Martha Clifford and tears up the envelope in an alley. He wanders into a Catholic church during a service and muses on theology. The priest has the letters I.H.S. or I.N.R.I. on his back; Molly had told Bloom that they mean I have sinned or I have suffered, and Iron nails ran in.
• He buys a bar of lemon soap from a chemist. He then meets another acquaintance, Bantam Lyons, who mistakenly takes him to be offering a racing tip for the horse Throwaway. Finally, Bloom heads towards the baths.