Hatin’ christians.
12 May 2006 | Life | No Comments
Why? We’re opinionated, but harmless. And, not to mention, we actually think.
James Jean
12 May 2006 | Art | No Comments
I came across James Jean’s work yesterday while I was wasting time. Dark, yet not grotesque or obscene, and sad, and beautiful. I particularly like this piece.
First words.
1 May 2006 | Life | No Comments
I woke around nine this morning. As usual, I had some very odd dreams, so I laid around in the bed a bit and thought about them, tried to keep them fresh in my memory. I feel I’ll have to start writing them down when I can – they would be excellent creative fodder for my fiction. Anywho. Got up, showered, dressed, cleaned somewhat (I still have a great deal of organizing/un-messing of this apartment to attend to), did some necessary browsing of certain music websites (disquiet.com is my new love), and then headed off to work. Walked to the train. Took the red line down to North & Clybourn. Stopped at Starbucks before heading in to work.
“Hello. I’ll have an iced venti soy latte.” Sad to say, those were the first words I spoke all day.
When I was a child I remember a superstitious sort of thing my brother encouraged us to do. I don’t recall why, or even if I particularly cared about it. On the first day of some month (April, May, March for all I know – maybe it was even every month?) it was supposed to be good luck to say “rabbit” first thing in the morning when you woke up, before speaking any other word. I had all morning to say rabbit, but instead I asked for an iced soy latte.
For most of the workday, I had the word “focus!” scrawled on my left forearm. I tried to think of an easy way to repeatedly remind myself to not get distracted, to stay focussed on the task at hand, to be more observant of things. I don’t develop habits very easily, so it is somewhat out of the question to just remind myself to stay focussed constantly, or try to train myself to think of the word repeatedly throughout the day. So I wrote it on my arm, figuring I’d just see it and it would help. Which is sort of silly, as I need to focus more when not at work – it’s my personal goals and creativity that need me to devote clear attention to them without letting my mind wander off to other things. At work I tend to keep to the job quite easily, at home I find other things to draw me away from work I should be doing – music, the internet, random articles in newspapers or even outdated magazines I have lying around.
So I’m thinking the first tattoo I’ll get will be of a very utilitarian sort. I’m going to get “focus!” tattooed on the side of my left arm.
Narrative, Interrogative
18 April 2006 | Life | No Comments
This is a first draft of a short experimental piece I am working on. Feedback is appreciated.
3rd bed.
5 April 2006 | Life | No Comments
Yesterday marked the arrival of my package in the mail, my package wrapping tightly within its confines 3rd Bed issues 1 through 10, Stories in the Worst Way by Gary Lutz, The False Sun Recordings by James Wagner, and (strangely) another copy of Motorman by David Ohle. This occasion (the books’ arrival) was celebrated by a thorough experiencing of ecstasy by this young man Anthony. He has read a great deal of Stories in the Worst Way already, and its beauty, though itself of words, is beyond words. A great experience also was voraciously reading through the thin volume that is 3rd Bed #1. Outstanding, though I am glad to see the issues have since nearly tripled in thickness and, somehow beyond my comprehension, the quality raised by a power of infinity. It had quite a significant quality to begin with (Charles Baudelaire being among those included in its pages).
Today marked the arrival of another package – Morrissey’s new album, Ringleader of the Tormentors. I am not worthy of describing its greatness with mere words.
Moleskine.
2 April 2006 | Life | No Comments
I was working the customer service desk today (closing shift), when I noticed a notebook in the trash. Not just any notebook, but a Moleskine to be precise. CJ (who was working customer service desk midshift) had decided to clean out the Lost & Found box and threw it out, as it had been there quite a few months.
“Dude, why are you throwing that out?”
“Cause it’s been in there like forever.”
Anthony flips through it, sees only the first three pages are written on.
“I’ll take it, then, if you’re gonna toss it.”
“Take it, take it home then.”
I put it in my apron and leave it there the rest of the day.
As I was waiting at the North & Clybourn Red Line stop, I give it a look through, see what’s in it. Just some random notes of this and that. “Co-op meeting.” “Clean out juicer and use it.” Random quotes of what looks like are conversations overheard.
Anyone who has ever used a moleskine would know of the little pocket in the back that proves very, very useful. I have a look into that and find a scrap piece of paper with an address and lotto numbers, and $10.
Woohoo. Ant is $10 richer, and has a moleskine. CJ, you really should watch what it is you’re throwing away so hastily.
Outsider art.
31 March 2006 | Art | No Comments
Is it crazy to want to read a 15,000 page manuscript?
Or a 25,000 page manuscript?
I just read about these, and I really, really, really want to read them, front to back, in their entirety. With the speed of my reading, let’s see… about 1000 pages a month, so a little over three years for both combined.
Getting hold of a readable copy, though, is the very big problem.
Iraq.
30 March 2006 | Politics | No Comments
Map of casualties of the war in Iraq.
Lame.
29 March 2006 | Life | No Comments
I am sick. I don’t feel “sick” sick, it’s just a sore throat, but it’s terribly sore. I didn’t go to Trace Tuesday night because I wasn’t feeling quite up to it. I stopped talking for the last hour of work today because it hurt so much. And my glands are a little swollen. Lame. Something has been going around at work, but with everyone else it’s been a vicious cold – sneezing, coughing, snotty noses and all that. Me? Haven’t coughed one damn time at yet my throat hurts. Coworkers have suggested strep throat.
Lamer than lame. Jolly lame. Dog lame. Inexcusable. (Shout out to the Almost Live fans out there.)
So I got another issue of Wire with another CD. No, they don’t really come out that fast – when I subscribed I asked for an issue that was already out, since I didn’t think I’d find it in stores. So that’s why they’ve arrived so close to each other.
It sucks that likely I won’t be able to use my voice much tomorrow, as Thursday afternoon is when I have my vocal class. I will go, though, to at least get the handouts the teacher is likely to give, and because I want to talk to the cute girl in class that’s into improv.
I’m trying to grow the mustache back in after several years (3 or more) without it, but it’s not working right yet. It looks very very lame. There’s a patch of paler hairs on one side, so it looks like I shaved it crooked, even though I didn’t. Bleh.
Oh, and I got a call from Godaddy.com the other day. Apparently I’ve been on the old hosting plan for quite some time. I panicked for a moment wondering what they’ve changed that I’ll have to switch to. Nothing, the guy on the phone says, except – $3 cheaper a month, and 50 gigabytes of storage space.
Fuckin’ a.
Will wonders never cease?
22 March 2006 | Life | No Comments
I was at The Chicago Diner this evening, and a man walked in with a very long (maybe 4 inches on each side), thin, waxed handlebar mustache and a very thin braided rat tail. Skinny young kid (early 20’s) with glasses. I am going to assume he’s a renny or some sort of D&D dork, otherwise my worldview will just shatter.
I arrived home to see that my first copy of The Wire arrived today (yesterday it was just the CD’s I received). Excellent. I know now how I will be wasting my evening.