Look what I made!
Look what I made!
Those damn kids.
Viewed on an overpass, flanked by American flags: “We Love Our Hoes”
Steak for dinner. Long conversation on the patio as the sun sets. Willie Nelson on the stereo.
Received an eloquent, researched and formatted response from Reader Josh re: corporations and the free market. You can see it on Josh’s site, I believe. I have some notes, but I have yet to research and format my own eloquent response.
So much going on. Numerous parallel discussions with many people about nature, modern society, television ownership, lights, popular culture, high and low art, anti-intellectualism, consumerism, capitalism, child-rearing, travel and literature. Not coming to any new conclusions, or at least not any I can elucidate upon just yet. But it feels good to think about things, things other than “Who’s going to be eliminated on American Idol tonight?”
So I came home from work last night and was confronted by an astonishing piece of art resting in my living room. Turns out Iain taught himself how to paint lifelike landscapes in oil while I was at work. Pretty damn impressive. It’s strange, because I was always “the artist.” Guess now I’ll have to get serious on his ass.
All right. Must either investigate some Web designs or go read more of my no-TV book. Good night.
Can you do me good?
Can you do me good?
Reading “Four Arguments for the Elimination of Television,” by Jerry Mander, c. 1977. I want to quote from it, but i’d just quote the whole damn thing, so go out and get it. Even Barnes and Noble carries it [but you didn’t hear that from me].
Read in the park in front of the courthouse today, got my oil changed — wanted to do it my own self, but have nowhere to do it. Damn housing complex.
Thought deep thoughts about Big Business. Shared an exchange with a reader named Josh, who put forth some pro-corporation ideas. Some good points, I’ll admit. But i’m not swayed, at least not yet. Anyone else with thoughts on the matter, please chime in. Or visit Josh. I may yet post our discussion points, but I don’t have my rebuttal to his claims [i didn’t save the e-mail].
So there, something to look forward to.
Cowboys.
I can sing all them songs about Texas.
Listening to Merle Haggard and painting — today is landscapes. Iain’s in on this, too.
I’ll take this over COPS reruns any day.
Stuff.
reading
adbusters
bust
bitch
clamour
tom robbins
listening
magnetic fields
beta band
uncle tupelo
flaming lips
johnny cash
pondering
consumerism
sex
web design
real estate
rolling cigarettes
Papa was a rodeo …
Papa was a rodeo; Mama was a rock’n’roll band.
Phew. Some notes:
I killed my TV. After visiting fish’n’carla in Indiana, have decided to make some lifestyle changes.
1. Shall no longer consume any television, with the exception of the Simpsons, and only if I mute the commercials. Difficult b/c have developed dependency on “Friends.” Just had dream involving Ross Geller as result.
2. Shall no longer shop retail, esp. for clothes, esp. for clothes at the Gap. From now on, it’s recycled, thrift, and homemade. Very difficult to change, as am a label-whore and clotheshorse. But looking forward to challenge.
3. Shall read intelligent magazines, not Cosmo and InStyle. Shall also try to increase consumption of books other than british fluff romances.
4. Shall lead an “authentically MB” lifestyle. No longer slave to dyeing hair, applying mascara, feeling bad that i don’t look like someone else [specifically, JLH and Audrey Hepburn]. Haven’t decided on the leg-shaving thing, but it’s been several weeks. I may seek Iain’s input … because authentic MB still wants to be tigress to hubby. Shall cease “Be Like Kim” plan and implement “Be Like MB” plan.
5. Shall cut down on consumption of processed, boxed, bagged, and otherwise convenient foods and start cooking, dammit. Or helping Iain cook.
6. Shall resume hobbies i enjoy, i.e. sewing, painting, sketching.
7. Shall try very very hard to talk more, make some friends — “Authentic MB” enjoys having friends, so shall try to please her by getting some.
8. Shall take pride in the fact that I support my local community by working for a community newspaper.
9. Shall no longer shop Corporate Monster Retail chains, i.e. Walgreens, CVS, etc. Shall find local butcher, baker, and candlestick maker in order to support local, family-owned and small businesses.
10. Shall attack new web magazine project with a vengeance. Not very hard, since am “geeked out” about entire endeavor. Shall struggle to maintain faith that it will succeed.
I feel very good about this. It’s so much better than the “let’s exercise and look hot” mode of self-improvement AND the “let’s be like someone else” mode. Rock.
In other news:
Washington, D.C. is a rat’s-nest, untravelable by car. Street names change, roads end unexpectedly, cop cars block the streets you need to traverse. It’s ridiculous. I hate it. I have spent seven entire hours in the last two days wandering that damn place.
SARS and Smandy: My wonderful wuz Mandy came to town … well, she came to D.C., and I went to get her. We had a terrific two days of wombie bonding. I love that girl. I was convinced I had SARS, and she convinced me otherwise. So good of her. We went to woman-church, and watched “Kicking and Screaming” [she particularly enjoyed it, as a recent English Major/graduate]. We went downtown to the Inner Harbor, and to Towson, where we were overwhelmed by “Towson Best Restaurant” [Chinese/Japanese cuisine] and the best art-supply store either one of us has ever had the pleasure of patronizing. Purchased many smart magazines, and she very graciously tolerated my smoking and swearing. All in all, a very successful visit. Miss her already.
OK. Longest post in a while, so I’ll leave you all to ruminate. Much love.
i am still alive …
i am still alive … may not be able to post again for a while … but am thinking constantly of everyone … much too busy to live …
Save me from those evil robots.
Save me from those evil robots!
Sitting in Fish and Carla’s bedroom in downtown Lafayette, Ind., checking my e-mail [i can’t seem to get by long without doing that]. we are making homemade kahlua and guacamole in preparation for carla’s 24th birthday bash this evening. it promises to be a good time.
Last night we got drunk and played poker. i lost about $3, iain won about $15, i think, so we’re doing OK. Saw the town, met some people, hit the coffeeshop and later the bar. Good times.
Tomorrow we’re off to Northwest Ohio to see my folks and have Easter ham dinner, paint some eggs, play trivial pursuit.
OK. I think darin needs help baking the cake, so i’m out.
Take a load off, Annie.
Take a load off, Annie.
There was a little girl at work today. She was playing with a giant inflatable Donald Duck. She invited me to purchase one, offered me an invoice to sign, and accepted my “check,” payment of one dollar. Later she delivered a taped-up cardboard box to my workstation. She accepted a refreshment — a Butter Snap pretzel — and hid out under my desk. Perhaps her boss was looking for her.
I later slammed my finger in the door which leads to the newsroom. We unlock it upon exit and relock it upon return. It’s a pain, and possibly a fire hazard.
We received a package in the mail today from Fish. In a garbage-bag box were enclosed two books [“What Are People For?” and “Skinny Legs and All”], a burned Johnny Cash three-disc set, a mixed disc containing the Flaming Lips, the Beta Band and another singer, and a jar of chili sauce.
However, we did not receive a package from our wedding photographer. They are approximately two months tardy in delivering our portraits.
But such things do not matter when the lights are low, The Band is singing, and you’re reading Tom Robbins. [Or alphabetizing your CD collection.]
Indeed.
Indeed.
Made the mistake of watching James Cameron’s Strange Days. What the hell was he thinking? It was like three movies in one: a black-white race riot commentary, a look ahead at the “incredible” future [it was made in ‘95, looking at 2000], and a sci-fi murder-mystery techno-hijinks action flick. OK, like seven movies in one. Get some focus, man. Come on.
But at least Angela Bassett kicked a bit of ass and made up for it.
So, that one goes back to the communal pile, as does Permanent Midnight. I just couldn’t get it up for a rich white guy who fucks up his life with heroin. Even though it had Ben Stiller and the bitchin’ Janeane Garafalo. I dunno. Everyone seemed to put in their best, or close to their best, but — like Leaving Las Vegas — I think it lost something in the translation.
Almost worked my way through my movie pile. When these are done, and spring break is over, I’ll move on to another method of wasting my time, I’m sure. Like trying to find some damn stretch-knit fabric that isn’t seafoam green or horizontally striped. I’m looking for some with which to make my Infinite Dress. Remember the Infinite Dress? They had a late-night infomercial on it. The pattern I have is from 1976 or ‘77. I’m thinking I can sew it up and then wear it to Jared’s wedding in August.
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