Went to the gym today.
My gym has the most random things playing on the televisions sometimes.
Today all televisions were tuned to MTV - I couldn't help but catch this out of the corner of my eye while doin' my cardio thang on the treadmill.
Now, we all know that MTV stopped showing actual music videos some time ago, but I, for one, had no idea what kind of programming had taken the place of music videos...until today during my run.
MTV was airing a show with a title like "Real Life: My Summer Romance," or some such thing, in which they were following two very young couples the summer before one half of the couple was due to leave for college. I could only catch the occasional subtitle, but I felt sure that I am way older than the intended MTV demographic. I found my mind doing the equivalent of eye rolls as I (loosely) followed the story of Stephanie(?) and Danny(?).
Stephanie and Danny live in Florida, and Danny will be attending college in Gainesville, FL in the Fall, five hours away from their hometown!!!
Danny wants Stephanie to move to Gainesville with him, but Stephanie isn't sure what to do!!!
She wants him to go off and have the full "college experience," whatever that means...
I'll tell you what it means, sister. It means Danny's gonna go off to college and realize he hasn't grown up yet, and neither have you...and you're both gonna move on with your lives, and realize that all the drama you are putting on this youthful, immature relationship is very, very silly.
Wow. I just turned into a mean old codger, or something. Sorry about that. But the show was annoying. I promise.
Tuesday, December 30, 2008
Tuesday, December 23, 2008
New Skill
So I'm learning how to play bridge.
My boss hosts a weekly bridge gathering at her apartment near Washington Square Park. She and her friends have been meeting there for a year and a half. They have three regular players, but they are always struggling to secure a steady fourth player...this is problematic, as bridge requires exactly four players to play a game.
Anyway, my boss has been encouraging me to come and check it out for some time, partly because she has some sort of idea that I might be good at bridge. She knows that my brother is a world class bridge player - guess she's hoping it runs in the genes!
I had no idea at all how to play bridge before going to check it out for the first time last week. I've now gone to bridge night twice - the first time just to observe and ask questions, and the second time to sit in and play (and, of course, ask more questions).
I was amazed at how quickly time passed while I played. At one point I looked up to check the clock and noticed that three hours had passed almost imperceptibly. Who knew bridge could be so much fun?
I think perhaps I will stick with this bridge thing, continue to attend bridge night at my boss's apartment when I can. It's a tremendously complicated game - there's so much to learn, and it feels good to stretch my brain in a completely new direction. Plus, there's the added bonus of the possibility that maybe, just maybe, I can hope to understand my brother a tiny bit more.
My boss hosts a weekly bridge gathering at her apartment near Washington Square Park. She and her friends have been meeting there for a year and a half. They have three regular players, but they are always struggling to secure a steady fourth player...this is problematic, as bridge requires exactly four players to play a game.
Anyway, my boss has been encouraging me to come and check it out for some time, partly because she has some sort of idea that I might be good at bridge. She knows that my brother is a world class bridge player - guess she's hoping it runs in the genes!
I had no idea at all how to play bridge before going to check it out for the first time last week. I've now gone to bridge night twice - the first time just to observe and ask questions, and the second time to sit in and play (and, of course, ask more questions).
I was amazed at how quickly time passed while I played. At one point I looked up to check the clock and noticed that three hours had passed almost imperceptibly. Who knew bridge could be so much fun?
I think perhaps I will stick with this bridge thing, continue to attend bridge night at my boss's apartment when I can. It's a tremendously complicated game - there's so much to learn, and it feels good to stretch my brain in a completely new direction. Plus, there's the added bonus of the possibility that maybe, just maybe, I can hope to understand my brother a tiny bit more.
Monday, December 22, 2008
Gonna try, gonna try...
...gonna try to write a little something here everyday. Again. (While giving myself exceptions for vacations and such).
Let's see what happens.
Let's see what happens.
Monday, December 1, 2008
Saturn return
Alright. I'm not a new agey kinda gal, and I don't believe in astrology, but I swear there's something to this Saturn return thing.
My 30th birthday, which occurred earlier this year, was indeed a significant time for me, and I made sure to commemorate it properly, by surrounding myself with friends, preparing and performing a new full-length show, and getting my first tattoo.
I was looking forward to 30 as an age when I'd be done with all the bullshit, as a time when I'd focus on what I really wanted to do with my time.
Astrologers say that Saturn return occurs anywhere from age 27-30, or perhaps as specifically as every 29.5 years. This is how long it takes Saturn to complete its orbit around the sun - therefore, Saturn will theoretically occupy the same place in space on the day you turn 29.5 as it did on the day you were born.
According the Astropalmistry(!) website, "Saturn is the planet of contraction, limitation and time. It rules form, structure, focus, discipline, responsibility, steadfastness, security or insecurity, modesty, harvest, bitterness, depression, success or lack of it, and rigidity."
Therefore, a person's Saturn return is said to coincide with a deep questioning of one's path in life.
I think back to when I turned 29.5...hm, if I'm going to be precise about it, that would be November 2, 2007. What was going on in my life then? I had certainly recently made some changes for the better. I had left a bad relationship and moved into my own apartment. I was also about to make some more changes that indicated progress...I was about to start performing regularly at open mics, and I was finishing up a memoir project I had started that Fall in an essay writing workshop. I was also busy revisiting and re-evaluating parts of my past.
And now...I find myself caught in confusion and sometimes depression and sometimes fear, but mostly hope and excitement for the future. It feels like big changes are coming, but only if I make them so. I hope I have the necessary strength and courage to move forward. I think I do.
My 30th birthday, which occurred earlier this year, was indeed a significant time for me, and I made sure to commemorate it properly, by surrounding myself with friends, preparing and performing a new full-length show, and getting my first tattoo.
I was looking forward to 30 as an age when I'd be done with all the bullshit, as a time when I'd focus on what I really wanted to do with my time.
Astrologers say that Saturn return occurs anywhere from age 27-30, or perhaps as specifically as every 29.5 years. This is how long it takes Saturn to complete its orbit around the sun - therefore, Saturn will theoretically occupy the same place in space on the day you turn 29.5 as it did on the day you were born.
According the Astropalmistry(!) website, "Saturn is the planet of contraction, limitation and time. It rules form, structure, focus, discipline, responsibility, steadfastness, security or insecurity, modesty, harvest, bitterness, depression, success or lack of it, and rigidity."
Therefore, a person's Saturn return is said to coincide with a deep questioning of one's path in life.
I think back to when I turned 29.5...hm, if I'm going to be precise about it, that would be November 2, 2007. What was going on in my life then? I had certainly recently made some changes for the better. I had left a bad relationship and moved into my own apartment. I was also about to make some more changes that indicated progress...I was about to start performing regularly at open mics, and I was finishing up a memoir project I had started that Fall in an essay writing workshop. I was also busy revisiting and re-evaluating parts of my past.
And now...I find myself caught in confusion and sometimes depression and sometimes fear, but mostly hope and excitement for the future. It feels like big changes are coming, but only if I make them so. I hope I have the necessary strength and courage to move forward. I think I do.
Friday, November 14, 2008
New President
I have been a slacker on this blog for the past week.
I am thrilled about the results of our Presidential election, and I've been celebrating. I spent the night of the election in Union Square...it was an awesome spontaneous public party...crowds kept convening, people started body surfing. The feeling in the air was joyous.
But I've been a slacker on this here blog. All of my post-election discussion energy has been spent in the Comments sections of MooreThoughts, the Nashville Republican blog run by my sister and brother-in-law. Reading their blog posts has provided a stark contrast to sense of hope and happiness I've experienced in New York all week, and it's been interesting, if frustrating, interacting with them online.
I'll get back to writing on my own blog again soon, very soon...
I am thrilled about the results of our Presidential election, and I've been celebrating. I spent the night of the election in Union Square...it was an awesome spontaneous public party...crowds kept convening, people started body surfing. The feeling in the air was joyous.
But I've been a slacker on this here blog. All of my post-election discussion energy has been spent in the Comments sections of MooreThoughts, the Nashville Republican blog run by my sister and brother-in-law. Reading their blog posts has provided a stark contrast to sense of hope and happiness I've experienced in New York all week, and it's been interesting, if frustrating, interacting with them online.
I'll get back to writing on my own blog again soon, very soon...
Tuesday, November 4, 2008
I voted!
It took an hour and a half, but I did it!
I had a new polling place place this year, as I just moved to my current neighborhood a little over a year ago.
I always enjoy seeing the inside of unfamiliar schools, so I was pumped!
No, really. I'm serious.
Anyway...when I got to PS 6 at 43 Snyder Avenue, the line of voters was spilling out of the school and wrapping around two sides of the building. At 11:45am!
It was so exciting to be surrounded by so many other voters...I've never experienced an election where people CARE so much. Refreshing.
Pretty much everyone was in good spirits. It actually felt a little bit like waiting in line for a popular ride at an amusement park. The folks who had finished voting came out of the school with a smile and a bounce in their step, and they assured those of us still waiting in line, "It's worth it!"
Once inside the school, we were led directly to the gym, which was a somewhat organized madhouse. The lines for each district were long and nearly intertwining, and it took a minute to navigate through and find my proper spot...but I did! And I voted! And it did feel especially awesome this year.
I had a new polling place place this year, as I just moved to my current neighborhood a little over a year ago.
I always enjoy seeing the inside of unfamiliar schools, so I was pumped!
No, really. I'm serious.
Anyway...when I got to PS 6 at 43 Snyder Avenue, the line of voters was spilling out of the school and wrapping around two sides of the building. At 11:45am!
It was so exciting to be surrounded by so many other voters...I've never experienced an election where people CARE so much. Refreshing.
Pretty much everyone was in good spirits. It actually felt a little bit like waiting in line for a popular ride at an amusement park. The folks who had finished voting came out of the school with a smile and a bounce in their step, and they assured those of us still waiting in line, "It's worth it!"
Once inside the school, we were led directly to the gym, which was a somewhat organized madhouse. The lines for each district were long and nearly intertwining, and it took a minute to navigate through and find my proper spot...but I did! And I voted! And it did feel especially awesome this year.
Sunday, November 2, 2008
2 more days...
I went to Lansdale, PA (a working class suburb of Philadelphia) this past Wednesday and Thursday to volunteer with the Obama/Biden campaign.
I'd like to post some of the pictures I took on my camera phone at the campaign headquarters...but, I haven't figured out how to get those pictures from my phone to my computer yet. So, for now, a description in words only:
I arrived in Lansdale a bit after 10am on Wednesday, and right away I was put to work, with several other volunteers, calling known Obama supporters in the area. The goal was to recruit more volunteers for this weekend's big Get Out The Vote push.
Apparently, the fantastic, hardworking staff in Lansdale had managed to register many new voters over the course of the campaign, but many of these new voters were still unclear about the voting process (not sure where to vote, what to bring, and, in some cases, even which day to vote). The campaign was organizing an impressive schedule of canvassing for Saturday, Sunday, Monday, and Tuesday to make sure that new voters had all the necessary information. Many people had also signed up to drive people to polls all day on Tuesday.
After I called 108 people, it was time to do a little canvassing. I went, armed with Obama literature and local endorsements, to designated addresses where the residents' candidate preferences were still unknown. The weather was cold and a bit rainy, the sun was setting, and the canvassing was, frankly, exhausting. But I was extremely happy when I came upon folks who were planning on voting for Obama...many of their neighbors had McCain/Palin signs in their yards, and I think it was a relief to these folks to be made aware that there was a local team of volunteers working for the Obama campaign.
The next day was more focused on physical labor tasks. We were getting together packets for the volunteers who would be doing the Get Out The Vote canvassing, which meant organizing door hangers with voting information/locations printed on them and sorting out walking routes on zoned maps of the town.
I gotta say, I was pleased to discover just how extremely well organized the Obama campaign is. We were working out of a former truck showroom, and there was no central heat or even land phone lines, but the staff was dedicated and friendly and diverse, and the information they had been able to compile about Lansdale residents and put to effective use in the campaign was awesome.
The race is Pennsylvania is tighter than some polls indicate, and McCain absolutely needs the state to win the election. I am so very glad I was able to give some time to the impressive effort in Lansdale.
I am cautiously optimistic, and I'm also nervous as hell.
I'd like to post some of the pictures I took on my camera phone at the campaign headquarters...but, I haven't figured out how to get those pictures from my phone to my computer yet. So, for now, a description in words only:
I arrived in Lansdale a bit after 10am on Wednesday, and right away I was put to work, with several other volunteers, calling known Obama supporters in the area. The goal was to recruit more volunteers for this weekend's big Get Out The Vote push.
Apparently, the fantastic, hardworking staff in Lansdale had managed to register many new voters over the course of the campaign, but many of these new voters were still unclear about the voting process (not sure where to vote, what to bring, and, in some cases, even which day to vote). The campaign was organizing an impressive schedule of canvassing for Saturday, Sunday, Monday, and Tuesday to make sure that new voters had all the necessary information. Many people had also signed up to drive people to polls all day on Tuesday.
After I called 108 people, it was time to do a little canvassing. I went, armed with Obama literature and local endorsements, to designated addresses where the residents' candidate preferences were still unknown. The weather was cold and a bit rainy, the sun was setting, and the canvassing was, frankly, exhausting. But I was extremely happy when I came upon folks who were planning on voting for Obama...many of their neighbors had McCain/Palin signs in their yards, and I think it was a relief to these folks to be made aware that there was a local team of volunteers working for the Obama campaign.
The next day was more focused on physical labor tasks. We were getting together packets for the volunteers who would be doing the Get Out The Vote canvassing, which meant organizing door hangers with voting information/locations printed on them and sorting out walking routes on zoned maps of the town.
I gotta say, I was pleased to discover just how extremely well organized the Obama campaign is. We were working out of a former truck showroom, and there was no central heat or even land phone lines, but the staff was dedicated and friendly and diverse, and the information they had been able to compile about Lansdale residents and put to effective use in the campaign was awesome.
The race is Pennsylvania is tighter than some polls indicate, and McCain absolutely needs the state to win the election. I am so very glad I was able to give some time to the impressive effort in Lansdale.
I am cautiously optimistic, and I'm also nervous as hell.
Tuesday, October 28, 2008
Goin' to PA...
I'm heading to Pennsylvania early tomorrow morning to volunteer with the Obama campaign for two days.
I have voted in every Presidential election since I've been old enough to vote (my first vote was for Clinton in 1996 - remember Rock the Vote? Ah, memories)...but this election is the first one that has me motivated to get involved in the campaign process. I want Obama to win too much to just show up and vote on election day. This year, I feel the need to do more. The last thing I want is for McCain to win and to find myself saying, "Is there anything else I could have done to prevent this?"
So I'm pretty glad I'm able to get to PA tomorrow...looking forward to it!
On a side note...my lovely, lovely new cable was having problems all week (oh no!)...my first box didn't work correctly, and then my replacement box was on the fritz all week... I am now on my third cable box, and I think this one's the charm...no trouble yet! So great! I am watching the Rachel Maddow show on MSNBC as I write this. I have never seen the Rachel Maddow show before...and, hey, I know that MSNBC is completely in the tank for Obama and definitely biased (which can be a bit annoying - I like my news a bit more balanced...um, not FoxNews, no), but...this is totally entertaining. I am loving having all this political coverage right before the election. Yay!
I have voted in every Presidential election since I've been old enough to vote (my first vote was for Clinton in 1996 - remember Rock the Vote? Ah, memories)...but this election is the first one that has me motivated to get involved in the campaign process. I want Obama to win too much to just show up and vote on election day. This year, I feel the need to do more. The last thing I want is for McCain to win and to find myself saying, "Is there anything else I could have done to prevent this?"
So I'm pretty glad I'm able to get to PA tomorrow...looking forward to it!
On a side note...my lovely, lovely new cable was having problems all week (oh no!)...my first box didn't work correctly, and then my replacement box was on the fritz all week... I am now on my third cable box, and I think this one's the charm...no trouble yet! So great! I am watching the Rachel Maddow show on MSNBC as I write this. I have never seen the Rachel Maddow show before...and, hey, I know that MSNBC is completely in the tank for Obama and definitely biased (which can be a bit annoying - I like my news a bit more balanced...um, not FoxNews, no), but...this is totally entertaining. I am loving having all this political coverage right before the election. Yay!
Wednesday, October 22, 2008
Cable!
Oh man oh man...for the first time in my life, I have cable.
The CableVision technician came to my apartment yesterday. He arrived over an hour later than my scheduled 3-hour installation block, and he had to return an hour after he finished when I discovered that the first cable box he'd given me was defective...but I forgive all of this, for I now have cable.
It's almost overkill y'all...I mean, I now have, I think, over a hundred channels. And they all come through clearly!!!
Two days ago, I had to hold my broken rabbit ears antenna in my hand at a certain angle in the hopes that I'd get lucky and be able to recognize facial features on the programs of couple network channels.
Wow.
And I don't even have premium cable. I don't have any of that "pause live TV!" or "save your programs and watch 'em later!" hooey, either. I think if I had all of that, I might just explode.
Yes, I know that eventually the thrill will probably fade, and that I will become aware of just how much nothing can be found on 100+ channels.
But tonight? Tonight, I am celebrating. And vegging out. A lot.
The CableVision technician came to my apartment yesterday. He arrived over an hour later than my scheduled 3-hour installation block, and he had to return an hour after he finished when I discovered that the first cable box he'd given me was defective...but I forgive all of this, for I now have cable.
It's almost overkill y'all...I mean, I now have, I think, over a hundred channels. And they all come through clearly!!!
Two days ago, I had to hold my broken rabbit ears antenna in my hand at a certain angle in the hopes that I'd get lucky and be able to recognize facial features on the programs of couple network channels.
Wow.
And I don't even have premium cable. I don't have any of that "pause live TV!" or "save your programs and watch 'em later!" hooey, either. I think if I had all of that, I might just explode.
Yes, I know that eventually the thrill will probably fade, and that I will become aware of just how much nothing can be found on 100+ channels.
But tonight? Tonight, I am celebrating. And vegging out. A lot.
Sunday, October 19, 2008
Wow.
Have y'all seen this photo? It was taken as the candidates were taking their seats at the last Presidential debate:
Thursday, October 16, 2008
John McCain will adopt your babies...
Oh, my goodness. Last night's Presidential Debate.
I will have to find the quotes from the transcript later, but can I just say now that I found two of McCain's comments last night to be highly amusing (because of how confusing they were):
1) In the Roe v Wade portion of the debate, McCain made a comment that an unwanted pregnancy is a difficult thing for a woman to deal with, but that he would make sure all of the children of unwanted pregnancies were taken care of. Don't you worry...John and Cindy are going to adopt all your unwanted babies.
2) In the education portion of the debate, McCain said that he would get rid of bad teachers, and that he would get those bad teachers other jobs. Huh? Is he worried about offending the bad teacher vote? I assume he plans on hiring the bad teachers to be nannies for all the babies he's going to be adopting.
I will have to find the quotes from the transcript later, but can I just say now that I found two of McCain's comments last night to be highly amusing (because of how confusing they were):
1) In the Roe v Wade portion of the debate, McCain made a comment that an unwanted pregnancy is a difficult thing for a woman to deal with, but that he would make sure all of the children of unwanted pregnancies were taken care of. Don't you worry...John and Cindy are going to adopt all your unwanted babies.
2) In the education portion of the debate, McCain said that he would get rid of bad teachers, and that he would get those bad teachers other jobs. Huh? Is he worried about offending the bad teacher vote? I assume he plans on hiring the bad teachers to be nannies for all the babies he's going to be adopting.
Tuesday, October 14, 2008
Late Bloomers
I've been in a bit of a creative funk lately. Creative block, maybe? Creative hiatus? Creative laziness?
In any case, I haven't been making things like I've wanted to (this includes music, writing, art, etc), and I've been worried that I'm spinning my wheels yet again, succumbing to the mild depression that has reared its head in my life ever since high school.
Today I got a nice creative kick in the butt by having tea with one of my ex-professors-turned-friends. Just getting out of the house and talking to someone who has taught me about art and who still believes in my ability to do something significant was pretty inspiring.
So I went right out and purchased myself a mic stand, which I've been meaning to do for months, went home and recorded rough demos of two songs I wrote in August. It's amazing how much easier my life feels all of a sudden with a cheap $40 boom microphone stand.
Sometimes, you just gotta spend a few bucks and do something simple to get the ball rolling.
I now feel like I am prepared to record new ideas anytime they come to me, which is very liberating.
And just to seal my improved outlook this evening...I received the latest issue of New Yorker magazine in my mailbox today, and in the issue was an article called "Late Bloomers (Why do we equate genius with precocity?)," which I just finished reading.
Malcolm Gladwell, the article's author, presents a theory on creative people that was developed by David Galenson, an economist at the University of Chicago. Galenson had come to the conclusion, through his research, that creative people can be divided into two types:
1) prodigies, who produce their best work early in their career and tend to be "conceptual"
2) late bloomers, who are "experimental" and produce their best work only after years and maybe decades of work
Anyhoo... it was liberating to read this article, and somehow made me feel a bit less like I've been flailing around for the past ten years, somehow wasting my time.
I have a lot of work to do, creatively, but I feel hopeful, which is an important step towards moving forward.
I highly recommend the article.
In any case, I haven't been making things like I've wanted to (this includes music, writing, art, etc), and I've been worried that I'm spinning my wheels yet again, succumbing to the mild depression that has reared its head in my life ever since high school.
Today I got a nice creative kick in the butt by having tea with one of my ex-professors-turned-friends. Just getting out of the house and talking to someone who has taught me about art and who still believes in my ability to do something significant was pretty inspiring.
So I went right out and purchased myself a mic stand, which I've been meaning to do for months, went home and recorded rough demos of two songs I wrote in August. It's amazing how much easier my life feels all of a sudden with a cheap $40 boom microphone stand.
Sometimes, you just gotta spend a few bucks and do something simple to get the ball rolling.
I now feel like I am prepared to record new ideas anytime they come to me, which is very liberating.
And just to seal my improved outlook this evening...I received the latest issue of New Yorker magazine in my mailbox today, and in the issue was an article called "Late Bloomers (Why do we equate genius with precocity?)," which I just finished reading.
Malcolm Gladwell, the article's author, presents a theory on creative people that was developed by David Galenson, an economist at the University of Chicago. Galenson had come to the conclusion, through his research, that creative people can be divided into two types:
1) prodigies, who produce their best work early in their career and tend to be "conceptual"
2) late bloomers, who are "experimental" and produce their best work only after years and maybe decades of work
Anyhoo... it was liberating to read this article, and somehow made me feel a bit less like I've been flailing around for the past ten years, somehow wasting my time.
I have a lot of work to do, creatively, but I feel hopeful, which is an important step towards moving forward.
I highly recommend the article.
Monday, October 13, 2008
I have a new life motto...
...and it is:
"If you don't have to work tomorrow, then fuck with your neurons."
(My previous life motto, for those keeping track, was "Get the fuck over yourself." It seems I have a penchant for including the word "fuck" in my life mottos. Sorry, Mom.)
Anyhoo...
I realize my new life motto could be interpreted in any number of ways, depending on one's preferred method of fucking with one's neurons. In my case, this evening, I preferred an entirely wholesome, nerdy, intellectual approach to my motto.
I got it into my head, during a brief phone call with my dear buddy Beth, that it would be a good idea to whip out some of the art criticism I haven't glanced at since grad school, to give it another go. My brain is a bit out of practice, art-criticism-apprehension-wise, and I thought it might be illuminating to revisit some stuff I haven't thought about in years, to see if my accumulated experience since grad school has provided me with new and/or improved methods of understanding (others') ideas.
I was a bit scared to open up the cobwebs of my art brain, but then I thought, "Hey, fuck it. I have the day off tomorrow...and I can choose to stay up late trying to understand cryptic art critical text all I wanna. Yeah!"
Party. Fucking with my neurons.
Hence, my new life motto.
And I *did* go through some old photocopied handouts from grad school for my possible reading pleasure, and I settled on "Grids" by Rosalind Krauss, from her collection of essays The Originality of the Avant-Garde and Other Modernist Myths.
Yep.
It was a tiny bit of a struggle to get through the entire text, but I tried not to let small moments of incomprehension stop me from plowing through til the end. I was helped along by a glass of red wine. Fuck those neurons.
"If you don't have to work tomorrow, then fuck with your neurons."
(My previous life motto, for those keeping track, was "Get the fuck over yourself." It seems I have a penchant for including the word "fuck" in my life mottos. Sorry, Mom.)
Anyhoo...
I realize my new life motto could be interpreted in any number of ways, depending on one's preferred method of fucking with one's neurons. In my case, this evening, I preferred an entirely wholesome, nerdy, intellectual approach to my motto.
I got it into my head, during a brief phone call with my dear buddy Beth, that it would be a good idea to whip out some of the art criticism I haven't glanced at since grad school, to give it another go. My brain is a bit out of practice, art-criticism-apprehension-wise, and I thought it might be illuminating to revisit some stuff I haven't thought about in years, to see if my accumulated experience since grad school has provided me with new and/or improved methods of understanding (others') ideas.
I was a bit scared to open up the cobwebs of my art brain, but then I thought, "Hey, fuck it. I have the day off tomorrow...and I can choose to stay up late trying to understand cryptic art critical text all I wanna. Yeah!"
Party. Fucking with my neurons.
Hence, my new life motto.
And I *did* go through some old photocopied handouts from grad school for my possible reading pleasure, and I settled on "Grids" by Rosalind Krauss, from her collection of essays The Originality of the Avant-Garde and Other Modernist Myths.
Yep.
It was a tiny bit of a struggle to get through the entire text, but I tried not to let small moments of incomprehension stop me from plowing through til the end. I was helped along by a glass of red wine. Fuck those neurons.
Wednesday, October 1, 2008
Long overdue response: Brooklyn style
A couple of months ago, I sent out a challenge to my readers: I asked anyone to give me a topic, and I promised I would write a post about that topic.
I have already addressed the three topics provided by my verbose sister, but I have neglected (until now) to respond to the one topic proposed by Sarah B., an old friend of mine from back in the day (elementary school, that is).
Here is what Sarah B. wrote to me:
"Here's a topic - Brooklyn style. Is there one? Thoughts? Are beards ironic? "
ANSWER:
This is a tricky subject, Sarah B. It is difficult for me to feel justified in any attempt to define "Brooklyn style," as Brooklyn is such a massive NYC borough, with widely varying modes of dress and grooming. Also, I've only lived here for nine years. I suppose nine years is a decent amount of time to get a read on a place, but I am well aware that there are tons of folks who've lived here longer than myself.
And... having lived here through most of my 20s, I can't really say how fashion/style differs here from other locations. I have developed my own style, and my friends have developed their own styles, while living inside an NYC bubble, for the most part.
I am most familiar with the 20s-30s demographic, specifically college-educated kids who moved to Brooklyn after graduation and have now lived here for 5-15 years. I am describing most of my friends here:
-On the whole, we dress stylishly but with comfort in mind. Lots of jeans. Lots of second-hand clothes from hip second-hand stores, lots of mixing and matching carefully chosen items from less expensive stores like Uniqlo and H&M. Most of us are artists, so there's not a lot of disposable income for sartorial indulgences, but we can be creative with what we've got. I've seen my friends grow into their own styles over the years without even realizing it. Personally, I splurge on nice jeans (I live in jeans), but top off most of my outfits with $7 shirts from Old Navy.
-Brooklyn is definitely more casual than Manhattan. There seems to be less of a need to impress here. Folks wanna look good, but they do it mostly, I think, for themselves. Trends and brand names are less important than personal taste.
I think style has a lot to do with how you present yourself with body language, etc. You have to have some level of confidence to stick it out in NYC for any length of time, and I think that translates into personal style. You can get away with a lot, clothing-choices-wise, if you believe you look good and present yourself that way.
As far as beards go...I will say that an inordinate number of the males in my life were found sporting beards this past winter - a couple of them even retained the facial hair into the spring and summer.
I don't think the beard choice was an ironic one for most of them. And if it were, I'd be likely to make fun of them for it. I do think, however, that the sudden beard-sprouting was possibly influenced by the likes of music groups such as Band of Horses (I'm not kidding - I really believe this).
If you start venturing into certain Brookyn neighborhoods where the ratio of hipsters to everone else is high (think: Williamsburg), then it's quite likely that you'll run into some irony (or plain stupidity) in grooming choices. I tend to avoid those neighborhoods.
Final thought:
I think the beard is a totally justified winter option in Brooklyn. We don't live out in the country or anything here, but we do spend a helluva lotta time walking around outside - more so, I am sure, than in many other parts of the country - and a little face protection couldn't hurt in that daily cold walk from the apartment to the subway to the job to the subway to the drinks with friends to the subway to the apartment, etc.
Was this a more straight-ahead approach to your question than you were expecting, Sarah B.? I suppose I am in a very non-ironic frame of mind these days, and that's a good thing. Eh, I've never been a big fan of irony.
-
I have already addressed the three topics provided by my verbose sister, but I have neglected (until now) to respond to the one topic proposed by Sarah B., an old friend of mine from back in the day (elementary school, that is).
Here is what Sarah B. wrote to me:
"Here's a topic - Brooklyn style. Is there one? Thoughts? Are beards ironic? "
ANSWER:
This is a tricky subject, Sarah B. It is difficult for me to feel justified in any attempt to define "Brooklyn style," as Brooklyn is such a massive NYC borough, with widely varying modes of dress and grooming. Also, I've only lived here for nine years. I suppose nine years is a decent amount of time to get a read on a place, but I am well aware that there are tons of folks who've lived here longer than myself.
And... having lived here through most of my 20s, I can't really say how fashion/style differs here from other locations. I have developed my own style, and my friends have developed their own styles, while living inside an NYC bubble, for the most part.
I am most familiar with the 20s-30s demographic, specifically college-educated kids who moved to Brooklyn after graduation and have now lived here for 5-15 years. I am describing most of my friends here:
-On the whole, we dress stylishly but with comfort in mind. Lots of jeans. Lots of second-hand clothes from hip second-hand stores, lots of mixing and matching carefully chosen items from less expensive stores like Uniqlo and H&M. Most of us are artists, so there's not a lot of disposable income for sartorial indulgences, but we can be creative with what we've got. I've seen my friends grow into their own styles over the years without even realizing it. Personally, I splurge on nice jeans (I live in jeans), but top off most of my outfits with $7 shirts from Old Navy.
-Brooklyn is definitely more casual than Manhattan. There seems to be less of a need to impress here. Folks wanna look good, but they do it mostly, I think, for themselves. Trends and brand names are less important than personal taste.
I think style has a lot to do with how you present yourself with body language, etc. You have to have some level of confidence to stick it out in NYC for any length of time, and I think that translates into personal style. You can get away with a lot, clothing-choices-wise, if you believe you look good and present yourself that way.
As far as beards go...I will say that an inordinate number of the males in my life were found sporting beards this past winter - a couple of them even retained the facial hair into the spring and summer.
I don't think the beard choice was an ironic one for most of them. And if it were, I'd be likely to make fun of them for it. I do think, however, that the sudden beard-sprouting was possibly influenced by the likes of music groups such as Band of Horses (I'm not kidding - I really believe this).
If you start venturing into certain Brookyn neighborhoods where the ratio of hipsters to everone else is high (think: Williamsburg), then it's quite likely that you'll run into some irony (or plain stupidity) in grooming choices. I tend to avoid those neighborhoods.
Final thought:
I think the beard is a totally justified winter option in Brooklyn. We don't live out in the country or anything here, but we do spend a helluva lotta time walking around outside - more so, I am sure, than in many other parts of the country - and a little face protection couldn't hurt in that daily cold walk from the apartment to the subway to the job to the subway to the drinks with friends to the subway to the apartment, etc.
Was this a more straight-ahead approach to your question than you were expecting, Sarah B.? I suppose I am in a very non-ironic frame of mind these days, and that's a good thing. Eh, I've never been a big fan of irony.
-
Friday, September 12, 2008
One day late
I have had computer trouble at home, and so I have not been keeping up with posts as I'd like...
But I do want to write a little post acknowledging the passing of another September 11, even if the post is a day late.
(By the way, my sister wrote a very thoughtful 9/11 piece on her own blog. Please note - the Catherine she refers to in her posts is not myself but my 2 1/2 year-old niece).
So, last year, I think partly because I was in the middle of some life changes, September 11 hit me a little harder than usual. In 2001, I watched the towers burn and fall from my rooftop in Park Slope, Brooklyn. In 2007, I found myself thinking about the changes in my life over those past six years, and I had an urge to call the people I loved, just to say "I love you." I was thankful that I had a few people on that list.
This year, the date September 11 did not affect my day or my feelings too much, though I did start my day by listening to some memorial coverage on WNYC.
At the end of the day, though, I did have a moment of reflection. Last evening the weather was beautiful, just the hint of a cool Fall night, so I snuck up onto my roof to enjoy the air. I had totally forgotten about the Twin Towers of Light, which I could clearly see from my rooftop, shooting out the bottom of the Manhattan island. Those light towers might just be my favorite public art of all time. They're beautiful and simple and perfect, and I was glad to have that moment to stand on my roof alone, to take a pause to remember.
But I do want to write a little post acknowledging the passing of another September 11, even if the post is a day late.
(By the way, my sister wrote a very thoughtful 9/11 piece on her own blog. Please note - the Catherine she refers to in her posts is not myself but my 2 1/2 year-old niece).
So, last year, I think partly because I was in the middle of some life changes, September 11 hit me a little harder than usual. In 2001, I watched the towers burn and fall from my rooftop in Park Slope, Brooklyn. In 2007, I found myself thinking about the changes in my life over those past six years, and I had an urge to call the people I loved, just to say "I love you." I was thankful that I had a few people on that list.
This year, the date September 11 did not affect my day or my feelings too much, though I did start my day by listening to some memorial coverage on WNYC.
At the end of the day, though, I did have a moment of reflection. Last evening the weather was beautiful, just the hint of a cool Fall night, so I snuck up onto my roof to enjoy the air. I had totally forgotten about the Twin Towers of Light, which I could clearly see from my rooftop, shooting out the bottom of the Manhattan island. Those light towers might just be my favorite public art of all time. They're beautiful and simple and perfect, and I was glad to have that moment to stand on my roof alone, to take a pause to remember.
Thursday, September 11, 2008
Also, on an unrelated note...
Giuliani's speech at the RNC the other week was AWFUL.
Awful and childish and mean. And the laughter in the audience was just gross.
I am so glad he is no longer my mayor.
Awful and childish and mean. And the laughter in the audience was just gross.
I am so glad he is no longer my mayor.
whine.
I'm a big journal keeper. Been writing in journals since I was seven or so, and I still have all of 'em.
All except one, that is.
Two nights ago, I stupidly left my journal behind at a bar I go to a lot. Been writing in this puppy since December, and it was nearly full. Tried calling the bar, tried calling friends I saw there that night, even went to the bar myself to look around with a flashlight...
My journal is gone.
I am sad.
But I will move on.
I do wish ill things to the loser who picked it up, however.
All except one, that is.
Two nights ago, I stupidly left my journal behind at a bar I go to a lot. Been writing in this puppy since December, and it was nearly full. Tried calling the bar, tried calling friends I saw there that night, even went to the bar myself to look around with a flashlight...
My journal is gone.
I am sad.
But I will move on.
I do wish ill things to the loser who picked it up, however.
Thursday, August 28, 2008
The DNC...
I just checked out my sister's blog, as I often do, and I realized just how behind I am in posting on this here blog o' mine. My sister Sarah often has moments of slagging behind in her own blog (which she shares with her husband, Nathan - Sarah's writing is in the column on the right)...but both my sister and brother-in-law have been posting like crazy since this Democratic National Convention began. And they are not Obama supporters! (Heck, they're not even Democrats...though my sister USED to be, but that's another story, I suppose...care to elaborate, Sarah?).
Anyhoo...thought I'd just drop a line here as I sit at home watching the DNC on PBS, waiting for Obama's speech in an hour or so.
I'm excited to hear the speech, though I fear it will be a lot of preaching to the choir (sorry, Sarah and Nathan, I guess that plays right into your view of Obama as a man with a messianic complex). But if it IS preaching to the choir, well, that's not so bad if it at least manages to get the choir fired up to work for the campaign.
OK, back to the pundits for me for now, but before I go, a wee little story:
As I walked from the subway station to my apartment building after work today, I passed a man hawking some goods on the corner. He had his palm stretched out, with about five buttons resting on that palm. "Obama, Obama!" He was selling Obama buttons.
Yes, I live in a very Obama-supportive neighborhood. And, yes, I am an Obama supporter.
Anyhoo...thought I'd just drop a line here as I sit at home watching the DNC on PBS, waiting for Obama's speech in an hour or so.
I'm excited to hear the speech, though I fear it will be a lot of preaching to the choir (sorry, Sarah and Nathan, I guess that plays right into your view of Obama as a man with a messianic complex). But if it IS preaching to the choir, well, that's not so bad if it at least manages to get the choir fired up to work for the campaign.
OK, back to the pundits for me for now, but before I go, a wee little story:
As I walked from the subway station to my apartment building after work today, I passed a man hawking some goods on the corner. He had his palm stretched out, with about five buttons resting on that palm. "Obama, Obama!" He was selling Obama buttons.
Yes, I live in a very Obama-supportive neighborhood. And, yes, I am an Obama supporter.
Tuesday, July 29, 2008
The ol' ticker
I love having health insurance, especially in a country such as ours where it's treated like a luxury - lucky me!
Today I had my yearly physical check up. I was sitting there on the exam table, in my fashionable, blue hospital gown thingy, when my doc's assistant came in to take my blood pressure, weight, blood samples, etc...
Only...this time she wheeled in a crazy machine on a cart.
"That's new," I said.
She replied, "Cardiogram. It's recommended once you're 30."
Great. This just reminded me of the blurb I read somewhere once upon a time that said a human heart starts its decline at 30 years of age.
I am officially in a new age bracket. I want another birthday party, dammit.
Today I had my yearly physical check up. I was sitting there on the exam table, in my fashionable, blue hospital gown thingy, when my doc's assistant came in to take my blood pressure, weight, blood samples, etc...
Only...this time she wheeled in a crazy machine on a cart.
"That's new," I said.
She replied, "Cardiogram. It's recommended once you're 30."
Great. This just reminded me of the blurb I read somewhere once upon a time that said a human heart starts its decline at 30 years of age.
I am officially in a new age bracket. I want another birthday party, dammit.
Sunday, July 27, 2008
My sister's third question...
Slowly but surely, I am working through them all. Here's her third inquiry:
3. What gives you the most pride in being a graduate of James H. Harrison Elementary in Laurel, MD? I know ... it will be difficult to pick just one.
My response:
Ah, Laurel, MD. My sweet hometown. Well, my hometown, anyway.
Some Laurel trivia:
-Laurel, MD is a strange, sprawling town that spans three counties. West Laurel (larger yards, some newer developments, higher income bracket) was (and still is, I believe) very different from my own South Laurel (townhouses, large apartment complexes, and some neighborhoods of modest houses).
-During my childhood, the population of Laurel (according to the sign that welcomed drivers to the town limits) was 16,000. This number seems way too low to be descriptive of the current population, however.
-My section of Laurel was in Prince George's County (PGC!), neighbor to Washington, DC, and birthplace of go-go music. Yeah, that's right!
So...James H. Harrison Elementary School is a small to medium-sized educational institution. We lived close enough to school to be able to walk, but far enough away for that walk to be some decent exercise.
But...hm, points of pride? Hard to say, Sarah. I do have some memories of Harrison that stand out more than others. I remember trudging to the school on snow days to sled down the awesome hills behind the school. I remember there was still a forest of trees behind those hills, and not a clear view of the Marlo Furniture superstore like there is now (thanks to "new development," i.e., destroying all the trees of my childhood to make way for giant parking lots and box buildings).
I remember Mr. Kowzun, the gym teacher, throwing me up in the air on my birthday...but instead of catching me, like he did all the other birthday boys and girls, he dropped me, leading me to land hard on my knee. I didn't have to participate in gym that day. And Mr. Kowzun made sure that I knew it was my own fault for being dropped (apparently I was "not holding my arms in such a way that would make it easy for me to be caught")...yeah, we had only the finest teachers at Harrison.
I remember Gary Love teaching me how to do the Running Man and the Cabbage Patch at our 6th grade classroom holiday party...hm, that was pretty awesome, I guess. OK, I pick that as my most proud Harrison moment: tapping into my inner groove - I haven't let go of my dancer self since.
3. What gives you the most pride in being a graduate of James H. Harrison Elementary in Laurel, MD? I know ... it will be difficult to pick just one.
My response:
Ah, Laurel, MD. My sweet hometown. Well, my hometown, anyway.
Some Laurel trivia:
-Laurel, MD is a strange, sprawling town that spans three counties. West Laurel (larger yards, some newer developments, higher income bracket) was (and still is, I believe) very different from my own South Laurel (townhouses, large apartment complexes, and some neighborhoods of modest houses).
-During my childhood, the population of Laurel (according to the sign that welcomed drivers to the town limits) was 16,000. This number seems way too low to be descriptive of the current population, however.
-My section of Laurel was in Prince George's County (PGC!), neighbor to Washington, DC, and birthplace of go-go music. Yeah, that's right!
So...James H. Harrison Elementary School is a small to medium-sized educational institution. We lived close enough to school to be able to walk, but far enough away for that walk to be some decent exercise.
But...hm, points of pride? Hard to say, Sarah. I do have some memories of Harrison that stand out more than others. I remember trudging to the school on snow days to sled down the awesome hills behind the school. I remember there was still a forest of trees behind those hills, and not a clear view of the Marlo Furniture superstore like there is now (thanks to "new development," i.e., destroying all the trees of my childhood to make way for giant parking lots and box buildings).
I remember Mr. Kowzun, the gym teacher, throwing me up in the air on my birthday...but instead of catching me, like he did all the other birthday boys and girls, he dropped me, leading me to land hard on my knee. I didn't have to participate in gym that day. And Mr. Kowzun made sure that I knew it was my own fault for being dropped (apparently I was "not holding my arms in such a way that would make it easy for me to be caught")...yeah, we had only the finest teachers at Harrison.
I remember Gary Love teaching me how to do the Running Man and the Cabbage Patch at our 6th grade classroom holiday party...hm, that was pretty awesome, I guess. OK, I pick that as my most proud Harrison moment: tapping into my inner groove - I haven't let go of my dancer self since.
Thursday, July 3, 2008
Regarding my sister's second query...
Dana Gioia, chairman for the National Endowment for the Arts, was on my local NPR station, WNYC, today. I thought the interview by Brian Lehrer was pretty interesting. You can find the interview halfway down this page and listen to it online.
Thursday, June 26, 2008
On a side note...
I've had a few celebrity sightings in the retail store I manage, but yesterday's sighting was the funnest to date (yes, sometimes "funnest" is a real word).
Yesterday, I sold a pair of reading glasses to Steven Tyler of Aerosmith fame (or Liv Tyler's father fame, depending on your point of view).
He looked like a total rockstar. I think rockstars aren't allowed to leave their homes unless they have on the tight pants/vintage-y tight button down shirt uniform. I base this theory solely on my single Steven Tyler interaction and my sales interaction with Ric Ocasek years ago (he bought some colored pencils from me at an art supplies store. I definitely remember some purple velvet in the ensemble).
The only thing that could have made yesterday's experience more awesome would have been if Stevey had broken into song. It almost happened...he started improvising a tune under his breath to the world music pumping through the store's speakers. So close!
Yesterday, I sold a pair of reading glasses to Steven Tyler of Aerosmith fame (or Liv Tyler's father fame, depending on your point of view).
He looked like a total rockstar. I think rockstars aren't allowed to leave their homes unless they have on the tight pants/vintage-y tight button down shirt uniform. I base this theory solely on my single Steven Tyler interaction and my sales interaction with Ric Ocasek years ago (he bought some colored pencils from me at an art supplies store. I definitely remember some purple velvet in the ensemble).
The only thing that could have made yesterday's experience more awesome would have been if Stevey had broken into song. It almost happened...he started improvising a tune under his breath to the world music pumping through the store's speakers. So close!
Tuesday, June 24, 2008
Response to my sister's first query
OK, so I put out a challenge to my multitude of readers (and myself) a couple weeks ago. I promised that I would write a post on any topic that was proposed through a reader comment to my June 8, 2008 post.
Sooo....I actually received some comments, and now I've got some writing to do. Two Sarahs, one of whom is my sister, provided me with writing fodder. Sister Sarah went a bit overboard and gave me THREE topics to write about (thank you, dear sister). I am now going to attempt to respond to her first request. Here is her question:
1. Are you concerned that Barack Obama will destroy any motivation to work and succeed through his oppressive tax plan and desired expansion of entitlement programs? Why or why not?
A note: my sister and I are indeed the best of friends, but we have very different political beliefs. Luckily, we both enjoy a good spar once in a while...
Allow me to pick apart your question, dearest sister, as you chose some loaded vocabulary words (destroy, oppressive). I can guess where you stand on Barack Obama's fiscal plan.
What part of Obama'a tax plan are you referring to? I hardly find it oppressive to reverse the tax cuts that Bush gave to the wealthiest Americans.
And the expansion of entitlement programs? Are you referring to his desire to increase access to jobs and transportation in low-income urban centers? His desire to provide incentives to minority- and women-owned businesses, as well as small start-ups?
My answer to your question: NO. I don't think that approaching our nation as a humanistic and compassionate community "destroys" people's desire to "work and succeed."
Yes, I think that people should enjoy the rewards of their hard labor, and I believe in personal responsibility for the course of one's life. But I also think that Americans are born into all different kinds of circumstances, and that offering some government assistance to people in depressed circumstances can create a sense of hope that could be the needed impetus to pull oneself out of said depressed circumstances.
I could elaborate further, but I have three more pending topics to write about. I am not, however, against revisiting this topic in the future...
Sooo....I actually received some comments, and now I've got some writing to do. Two Sarahs, one of whom is my sister, provided me with writing fodder. Sister Sarah went a bit overboard and gave me THREE topics to write about (thank you, dear sister). I am now going to attempt to respond to her first request. Here is her question:
1. Are you concerned that Barack Obama will destroy any motivation to work and succeed through his oppressive tax plan and desired expansion of entitlement programs? Why or why not?
A note: my sister and I are indeed the best of friends, but we have very different political beliefs. Luckily, we both enjoy a good spar once in a while...
Allow me to pick apart your question, dearest sister, as you chose some loaded vocabulary words (destroy, oppressive). I can guess where you stand on Barack Obama's fiscal plan.
What part of Obama'a tax plan are you referring to? I hardly find it oppressive to reverse the tax cuts that Bush gave to the wealthiest Americans.
And the expansion of entitlement programs? Are you referring to his desire to increase access to jobs and transportation in low-income urban centers? His desire to provide incentives to minority- and women-owned businesses, as well as small start-ups?
My answer to your question: NO. I don't think that approaching our nation as a humanistic and compassionate community "destroys" people's desire to "work and succeed."
Yes, I think that people should enjoy the rewards of their hard labor, and I believe in personal responsibility for the course of one's life. But I also think that Americans are born into all different kinds of circumstances, and that offering some government assistance to people in depressed circumstances can create a sense of hope that could be the needed impetus to pull oneself out of said depressed circumstances.
I could elaborate further, but I have three more pending topics to write about. I am not, however, against revisiting this topic in the future...
Sunday, June 8, 2008
This one's for my sis'...
So I haven't posted in a while. It's been about a month and a half since my last entry here. Sure, I felt like a slacker for dropping the writing ball, but I didn't think my grand readership of 2-3 people (by my estimate) would mind terribly the lack of fresh material.
Well, apparently one reader does mind: my sister, Sarah.
I recently went to Maryland for a long weekend - I stayed at my parents' house with my sister, brother-in-law, and niece, who were visiting from Nashville. During said visit, I learned that Sarah regularly checks my blog for new material, usually two times a week, and she was growing tired of seeing the same post at the top time and time again. I was flattered that she was so devoted, and upset that I was letting down my singular steadfast reader.
So...I promise to write more. There are things to write about, and I just ain't been doing it.
That being said, I present:
A CHALLENGE (to my, um, many readers, sister included)
The CHALLENGE is this (well, it's a challenge to myself, too): I promise to write a blog post on any subject matter that is presented to me through a comment to this post.
Frankly, I don't think I'm setting myself up for much work here, because I fear that my readers have all but disappeared. But, hey, if you prove me wrong, I promise to write away. I hope you do.
Well, apparently one reader does mind: my sister, Sarah.
I recently went to Maryland for a long weekend - I stayed at my parents' house with my sister, brother-in-law, and niece, who were visiting from Nashville. During said visit, I learned that Sarah regularly checks my blog for new material, usually two times a week, and she was growing tired of seeing the same post at the top time and time again. I was flattered that she was so devoted, and upset that I was letting down my singular steadfast reader.
So...I promise to write more. There are things to write about, and I just ain't been doing it.
That being said, I present:
A CHALLENGE (to my, um, many readers, sister included)
The CHALLENGE is this (well, it's a challenge to myself, too): I promise to write a blog post on any subject matter that is presented to me through a comment to this post.
Frankly, I don't think I'm setting myself up for much work here, because I fear that my readers have all but disappeared. But, hey, if you prove me wrong, I promise to write away. I hope you do.
Monday, April 21, 2008
Live Through This
My friend Sabrina Chapadjiev has been working her butt off for at least the past year getting this amazing book together, and it's finally done. I went to one of the reading release parties here in New York a few days ago, and the presentations by contributors Cristy C. Road, Nicole Blackman, Fly, Silas Howard, and Bonfire Madigan Shive were just amazing. Do yourself a favor and check this out:
Live Through This: On Creativity and Self-Destruction.
Here is a quote from the back of the book jacket (which, by the way, includes endorsements by Janeane Garofalo, Lydia Lunch, and Sara Quin of Tegan and Sara, among others):
"...(Live Through This) is a collection of original stories, essays, artwork and photography. It explores the use of art to survive abuse, incest, madness and depression, and the often deep-seated impulse toward self-destruction including cutting, eating disorders and addiction..."
Full list of contributors: Nan Goldin, Patricia Smith, bell hooks, Eileen Myles, Inga M. Muscio, Diane DiMassa, Fly, Cristy C. Road, Annie Sprinkle, Elizabeth Stephens, Nicole Blackman, Stephanie Howell, Daphne Gottlieb, Carolyn Gage, Carol Queen, Anonymous, Kate Bornstein, Silas Howard, Toni Blackman, and Bonfire Madigan Shive.
I am so proud of my friend and so thankful she has put this amazing book out into the world.
Live Through This: On Creativity and Self-Destruction.
Here is a quote from the back of the book jacket (which, by the way, includes endorsements by Janeane Garofalo, Lydia Lunch, and Sara Quin of Tegan and Sara, among others):
"...(Live Through This) is a collection of original stories, essays, artwork and photography. It explores the use of art to survive abuse, incest, madness and depression, and the often deep-seated impulse toward self-destruction including cutting, eating disorders and addiction..."
Full list of contributors: Nan Goldin, Patricia Smith, bell hooks, Eileen Myles, Inga M. Muscio, Diane DiMassa, Fly, Cristy C. Road, Annie Sprinkle, Elizabeth Stephens, Nicole Blackman, Stephanie Howell, Daphne Gottlieb, Carolyn Gage, Carol Queen, Anonymous, Kate Bornstein, Silas Howard, Toni Blackman, and Bonfire Madigan Shive.
I am so proud of my friend and so thankful she has put this amazing book out into the world.
Monday, April 14, 2008
My weakness for bad game shows
I am going to admit something. I love the television show Deal or No Deal. There, I've said it.
Why do I love this crappy show hosted by a bald ex-comic and populated by life-sized Barbies in matching mini dresses? I am not sure.
I will say that my fascination with the show has waned a tiny bit as I've slowly let myself accept the fact that the contestants/contests may very well be rigged. (Aren't a disturbing number of "reality," or reality-type shows scripted? So what is real about it? The writing?).
I think I just love numbers, and odds, and chance. And maybe I get a little thrill out of watching someone stupidly throw away a good offer, when their chances of doing better are obviously next to zero.
I do have a least favorite part of the show, however. I really dislike it when Howie gets into the details of the contestants' personal lives, 'cause that's when the show seems most scripted. And, frankly, I don't really care about the personal lives of the contestants, real or not.
I'm a Deal or No Deal bitch.
Why do I love this crappy show hosted by a bald ex-comic and populated by life-sized Barbies in matching mini dresses? I am not sure.
I will say that my fascination with the show has waned a tiny bit as I've slowly let myself accept the fact that the contestants/contests may very well be rigged. (Aren't a disturbing number of "reality," or reality-type shows scripted? So what is real about it? The writing?).
I think I just love numbers, and odds, and chance. And maybe I get a little thrill out of watching someone stupidly throw away a good offer, when their chances of doing better are obviously next to zero.
I do have a least favorite part of the show, however. I really dislike it when Howie gets into the details of the contestants' personal lives, 'cause that's when the show seems most scripted. And, frankly, I don't really care about the personal lives of the contestants, real or not.
I'm a Deal or No Deal bitch.
Monday, March 24, 2008
art + fashion
It had been quite some time since I'd splurged on a copy of the Sunday New York Times. As the price of the paper has steadily risen ($4.00 for Sunday alone!), I've become a regular online reader.
But there ain't nothing like a leisurely day off with the Sunday paper spread before me, so I decided to splurge yesterday and buy myself a copy. Also, the magazine section was taking the art world as its focus this week, and this intrigued me.
Ah, the "art world." It's like people who are involved with art live on a different planet...hmmm...
So there was one photo spread in the magazine called Hang Time with which I have some beef. It features nine young art handlers (in their 20s and 30s, I think) who install work in New York galleries and museums, including the New Museum, Matthew Marks Gallery, and John Connelly Presents. All of these real-life "models" are dressed in work clothes - if work clothes mean things like $2,245 Prada jumpsuits. Ummm...
Some of these art handlers are artists themselves, not too far out of art school, working as art handlers to pay the bills (some of which surely include hefty art school student loans, I am guessing). Can they afford these clothes? Do they work in these clothes? Even lounge around in these clothes? Doubtful, I'd say.
I know that a big dose of fashion's appeal is its fantasy aspect - the promise of a better life through better clothes - but I think that this particular fashion spread is perpetuating some myths about what it's really like for many folks in the "art world." I am sure plenty of folks in the land of art can afford these clothes, but it sure ain't the guys doing all the grunt work.
(Update: found a nice little interview on the New York Times online that expanded the story nicely).
But there ain't nothing like a leisurely day off with the Sunday paper spread before me, so I decided to splurge yesterday and buy myself a copy. Also, the magazine section was taking the art world as its focus this week, and this intrigued me.
Ah, the "art world." It's like people who are involved with art live on a different planet...hmmm...
So there was one photo spread in the magazine called Hang Time with which I have some beef. It features nine young art handlers (in their 20s and 30s, I think) who install work in New York galleries and museums, including the New Museum, Matthew Marks Gallery, and John Connelly Presents. All of these real-life "models" are dressed in work clothes - if work clothes mean things like $2,245 Prada jumpsuits. Ummm...
Some of these art handlers are artists themselves, not too far out of art school, working as art handlers to pay the bills (some of which surely include hefty art school student loans, I am guessing). Can they afford these clothes? Do they work in these clothes? Even lounge around in these clothes? Doubtful, I'd say.
I know that a big dose of fashion's appeal is its fantasy aspect - the promise of a better life through better clothes - but I think that this particular fashion spread is perpetuating some myths about what it's really like for many folks in the "art world." I am sure plenty of folks in the land of art can afford these clothes, but it sure ain't the guys doing all the grunt work.
(Update: found a nice little interview on the New York Times online that expanded the story nicely).
Tuesday, March 4, 2008
art?
I rarely enjoy discussing art much anymore. I rarely go to see art much anymore. My art viewing excursions have waxed and waned since I went to art school...mostly they've waned. Yes, I blame art school.
Perhaps I just didn't have the temperament for it, perhaps somewhere inside myself I hate art just a little bit, but, in any case, so much discussion of art and meaning for two straight years in intimate settings with a limited number of people left me running and screaming when the whole thing was over.
Today, however, I broke my art avoidance habit and went to see some work in the galleries of Chelsea. I generally dislike Chelsea (so far away from the train, so much bad, overpriced art), but sometimes I stumble upon a show there that leaves me with food for thought and makes the trip worthwhile. Plus, I found out that one of my favorite professors from school, Nayland Blake, had a solo show up that would be closing on March 8, 2008. So I made my way to the western edge of Manhattan...
Nayland's show made me miss my regular studio visits with him. He was one person at my school with whom I never tired of discussing art. This is probably because Nayland believes that other sources of inspiration (music, writing, etc) are just as if not more important to the creation of new work than other visual art is. He was also suspicious, I remember, of the usefulness of a formal art education. I respected that, even though I was going into massive debt receiving my own formal art education.
I only visited galleries on West 24th Street today - there's so much jammed into that one block between 10th and 11th Avenues that continuing on to other streets ends up overloading me with too much visual data.
I'm glad I went to Chelsea today. More often, recently, I find myself having the urge to start drawing again (I've all but given up making artwork in favor of writing and music in the last couple years). Perhaps, with baby steps like the one I made today in visiting a few galleries, art and I can become friends again.
Perhaps I just didn't have the temperament for it, perhaps somewhere inside myself I hate art just a little bit, but, in any case, so much discussion of art and meaning for two straight years in intimate settings with a limited number of people left me running and screaming when the whole thing was over.
Today, however, I broke my art avoidance habit and went to see some work in the galleries of Chelsea. I generally dislike Chelsea (so far away from the train, so much bad, overpriced art), but sometimes I stumble upon a show there that leaves me with food for thought and makes the trip worthwhile. Plus, I found out that one of my favorite professors from school, Nayland Blake, had a solo show up that would be closing on March 8, 2008. So I made my way to the western edge of Manhattan...
Nayland's show made me miss my regular studio visits with him. He was one person at my school with whom I never tired of discussing art. This is probably because Nayland believes that other sources of inspiration (music, writing, etc) are just as if not more important to the creation of new work than other visual art is. He was also suspicious, I remember, of the usefulness of a formal art education. I respected that, even though I was going into massive debt receiving my own formal art education.
I only visited galleries on West 24th Street today - there's so much jammed into that one block between 10th and 11th Avenues that continuing on to other streets ends up overloading me with too much visual data.
I'm glad I went to Chelsea today. More often, recently, I find myself having the urge to start drawing again (I've all but given up making artwork in favor of writing and music in the last couple years). Perhaps, with baby steps like the one I made today in visiting a few galleries, art and I can become friends again.
Monday, March 3, 2008
The most wonderful time of the year
I finally buckled down and filled out my tax forms tonight. It wasn't too bad...I found the various cross-referenced forms to be a bit annoying, but I was still able to handle it myself without professional help. Had a W-2 and a couple 1099s to deal with this year, as well as my pretty little student loan interest deduction...
So I finished up the federal forms a little while ago. To set a productive scene for myself, I popped the LL Cool J All World CD into my laptop (classics!), and took out my contacts (somehow, being bent over tax forms in the middle of the night looks better to me with glasses resting on the bridge of my nose).
I held my breath as I reached the end of my 1040...I was at the line that reads TOTAL TAX, and I was looking for Box 2 ("Federal income tax withheld") on my solitary 2007 W-2...please, I thought, please let that amount in Box 2 be larger than my TOTAL TAX owed for 2007...
A smile crept upon my face:
I was completely thrilled to find out that, despite a couple worrisome components of my income, I am still due to receive a little refund from the Feds this year. Thank the lordy...I'm getting that form in ASAP now...it always takes Uncle Sam so much more time to issue checks than to cash them, in my experience...
Emboldened, I decided to try to wipe out my New York State tax forms tonight as well. What could possibly follow Cool James in my CD rotation? I chose Fugees The Score CD...it doesn't really compare, but it does have nice college nostalgia associated with certain tracks for me...
I am now *this* close to finishing up the NY forms, but the application displaying the form instructions on my laptop keeps unexpectedly quitting (ack!). I am tired, and I gotta work tomorrow, so New York's gonna wait for now. I'll finish tomorrow. Hell, it's not even April yet, so I'm way ahead of my past years' schedule.
So I finished up the federal forms a little while ago. To set a productive scene for myself, I popped the LL Cool J All World CD into my laptop (classics!), and took out my contacts (somehow, being bent over tax forms in the middle of the night looks better to me with glasses resting on the bridge of my nose).
I held my breath as I reached the end of my 1040...I was at the line that reads TOTAL TAX, and I was looking for Box 2 ("Federal income tax withheld") on my solitary 2007 W-2...please, I thought, please let that amount in Box 2 be larger than my TOTAL TAX owed for 2007...
A smile crept upon my face:
I was completely thrilled to find out that, despite a couple worrisome components of my income, I am still due to receive a little refund from the Feds this year. Thank the lordy...I'm getting that form in ASAP now...it always takes Uncle Sam so much more time to issue checks than to cash them, in my experience...
Emboldened, I decided to try to wipe out my New York State tax forms tonight as well. What could possibly follow Cool James in my CD rotation? I chose Fugees The Score CD...it doesn't really compare, but it does have nice college nostalgia associated with certain tracks for me...
I am now *this* close to finishing up the NY forms, but the application displaying the form instructions on my laptop keeps unexpectedly quitting (ack!). I am tired, and I gotta work tomorrow, so New York's gonna wait for now. I'll finish tomorrow. Hell, it's not even April yet, so I'm way ahead of my past years' schedule.
Saturday, March 1, 2008
February didn't exist this year
Yeah, so it's a leap year, and even with that extra day in February, I somehow didn't manage to write one new blog post the entire month.
It seemed like a pretty full month, though. It seemed there was plenty to write about...yet, I didn't. And now I can hardly remember what all happened all month long. I'll blame that memory lapse on a long week instead of on the inevitable fact that I am getting older.
I'm having a few folks over tomorrow for a bit of a housewarming. I've been in this apartment for about 4 1/2 months...what can I say, it takes me a while to settle in. I do like to make a space nice and livable before I subject outsiders to it.
This February blur is bothering me. I suppose, at least, that if I were going to let a whole month slip by that it's just as well that it's the shortest month of the year. The shortest month, with one extra day.
Maybe I should write more often.
It seemed like a pretty full month, though. It seemed there was plenty to write about...yet, I didn't. And now I can hardly remember what all happened all month long. I'll blame that memory lapse on a long week instead of on the inevitable fact that I am getting older.
I'm having a few folks over tomorrow for a bit of a housewarming. I've been in this apartment for about 4 1/2 months...what can I say, it takes me a while to settle in. I do like to make a space nice and livable before I subject outsiders to it.
This February blur is bothering me. I suppose, at least, that if I were going to let a whole month slip by that it's just as well that it's the shortest month of the year. The shortest month, with one extra day.
Maybe I should write more often.
Thursday, January 17, 2008
Happiness!
I do believe I have a new love...and that love is the Yamaha CP33 stage piano.
I finally made the plunge and purchased my new love yesterday afternoon, after waiting several agonizing days for my local Yamaha retailer to replenish its CP33 stock. And tonight, well, tonight I set the bad boy up and played it for the first time.
I can't wipe the grin off my face. Uncontrollable smiles are my favorite kind.
My new love has graded hammer action (it feels like a real grand piano), a sweet sustain pedal, and (most importantly of all) the most realisitc piano voices I have ever heard on a digital piano.
My new love is probably the best roommate I've ever had (please, note to humans I've lived with: if you heard this baby, you would not take offense to that statement whatsoever). I hope we have a long and fruitful relationship together.
I finally made the plunge and purchased my new love yesterday afternoon, after waiting several agonizing days for my local Yamaha retailer to replenish its CP33 stock. And tonight, well, tonight I set the bad boy up and played it for the first time.
I can't wipe the grin off my face. Uncontrollable smiles are my favorite kind.
My new love has graded hammer action (it feels like a real grand piano), a sweet sustain pedal, and (most importantly of all) the most realisitc piano voices I have ever heard on a digital piano.
My new love is probably the best roommate I've ever had (please, note to humans I've lived with: if you heard this baby, you would not take offense to that statement whatsoever). I hope we have a long and fruitful relationship together.
Tuesday, January 15, 2008
The Gift
I am happily in the middle of reading several books right now. In one book in particular, I am making extremely slow progress. This is because I come across a thought every few pages that gets me contemplating my approach to my own creative pursuits. The book I am referring to is the 25th anniversary edition of The Gift by Lewis Hyde.
I knew nothing about this book or its cult following when I bought it. I was simply shopping for a gift certificate Christmas present in my local independent bookstore in December when, as usual, I found myself drawn to the table of new paperbacks. It is very difficult for me to resist the urge to buy a book in a good bookstore. For this reason, Strand bookstore in New York is a dangerously tempting place for me to enter.
I think it's too early in my reading of The Gift to give a thorough review of it, so for now I will say that I am intermittently enjoying it greatly and will provide a link to some other folks' thoughts on the book:
Re-Gifting by Dwight Garner in the New York Times Online
Why did I pick up this book and buy it, with no prior knowledge of its existence? I couldn't resist the praise on its cover, including Margaret Atwood's assessment that The Gift is "The best book I know of for talented but unacknowledged creators. A masterpiece."
(p.s.: My apologies for the lack of proper italics in this post - I am having difficulties with my Safari browser.)
I knew nothing about this book or its cult following when I bought it. I was simply shopping for a gift certificate Christmas present in my local independent bookstore in December when, as usual, I found myself drawn to the table of new paperbacks. It is very difficult for me to resist the urge to buy a book in a good bookstore. For this reason, Strand bookstore in New York is a dangerously tempting place for me to enter.
I think it's too early in my reading of The Gift to give a thorough review of it, so for now I will say that I am intermittently enjoying it greatly and will provide a link to some other folks' thoughts on the book:
Re-Gifting by Dwight Garner in the New York Times Online
Why did I pick up this book and buy it, with no prior knowledge of its existence? I couldn't resist the praise on its cover, including Margaret Atwood's assessment that The Gift is "The best book I know of for talented but unacknowledged creators. A masterpiece."
(p.s.: My apologies for the lack of proper italics in this post - I am having difficulties with my Safari browser.)
Wednesday, January 2, 2008
I messed up...
...I really, really did. *Somehow* I got it into my head that to be able to vote in an election in New York State, one had to register (or update one's registration) at least 25 days (only 25 days!) before the election. Why oh why did I think that the New York bureaucracy could adjust its records in such a short amount of time?
I've been a registered voter since 1996, when I used my vote in Maryland to help elect Bill Clinton into his second term. At the time I was a registered Democrat. A few years later, after I had been a New York resident for a couple years and had grown skeptical of all established political parties, I switched my party affiliation to None. I was Independent and proud of it.
Proud, yes, but also stupid. New York is such an overwhelmingly Democratic-with-a-capital-D state and city that almost all elections are basically determined at the primary level, when the Democratic candidate is chosen. Since one must be affiliated with a party to vote in New York primary elections, I was essentially giving up a big part of my ability to determine our elected leaders.
For this reason, I've considered changing my party affiliation back to Democratic many times over the past several years, but it took this current Presidential election for me to finally say, "it's time." This Democratic race is intense!
I thought I'd take the opportunity to adjust my party affiliation at the same time I registered my new address change (I moved this past Fall). So...I just recently got my updated registration into the Board of Elections this week, thinking I had made it in time...only to learn that October 12, 2007 was the deadline for changing party affiliation for our February 5, 2008 primary election. HOW did I miss this piece of information???
Why oh why can I not live in South Dakota or even West Virginia, where primary elections are being held on June 3, 2008 and May 13, 2008, respectively? Then I might still have time to make the necessary changes...but then I'd also live in South Dakota or West Virginia, so...
I am just supremely disappointed in myself right now. I'm also jealous of the Iowa caucusers, who are able to register and/or change party affiliation right up to the day of the caucus. Argh.
At least I can still vote in the general election this November.
I've been a registered voter since 1996, when I used my vote in Maryland to help elect Bill Clinton into his second term. At the time I was a registered Democrat. A few years later, after I had been a New York resident for a couple years and had grown skeptical of all established political parties, I switched my party affiliation to None. I was Independent and proud of it.
Proud, yes, but also stupid. New York is such an overwhelmingly Democratic-with-a-capital-D state and city that almost all elections are basically determined at the primary level, when the Democratic candidate is chosen. Since one must be affiliated with a party to vote in New York primary elections, I was essentially giving up a big part of my ability to determine our elected leaders.
For this reason, I've considered changing my party affiliation back to Democratic many times over the past several years, but it took this current Presidential election for me to finally say, "it's time." This Democratic race is intense!
I thought I'd take the opportunity to adjust my party affiliation at the same time I registered my new address change (I moved this past Fall). So...I just recently got my updated registration into the Board of Elections this week, thinking I had made it in time...only to learn that October 12, 2007 was the deadline for changing party affiliation for our February 5, 2008 primary election. HOW did I miss this piece of information???
Why oh why can I not live in South Dakota or even West Virginia, where primary elections are being held on June 3, 2008 and May 13, 2008, respectively? Then I might still have time to make the necessary changes...but then I'd also live in South Dakota or West Virginia, so...
I am just supremely disappointed in myself right now. I'm also jealous of the Iowa caucusers, who are able to register and/or change party affiliation right up to the day of the caucus. Argh.
At least I can still vote in the general election this November.
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