Wednesday, April 29, 2009

Thursday, April 16, 2009

Books 10-12

I just realized that I shorted myself a book...

Book 10 should have been number 8. The title is Cradle to Cradle and it's a sort of "pop" environmentalism/consumerism book that I read for class. I consider it "pop" as opposed to academic because it is meant for the general reader, which is, in this case, a good thing. The book itself is waterproof and made from a synthetic material (no trees!) that can be recycled as a plastic. The content of the book pushes for a sort of harmony between industry and the environment that could lead to eco-friendly consumers' paradise. And while I don't necessarily condone such a result, I do agree with many of their assertions. For example, they urge manufacturers to consider not only what goes into a product but how the used product is disposed/recycled/returned to the earth. Seems easy enough, right?

Books 11 and 12 were Maurice Merleau-Ponty's The World of Perception and Saul Bellow's first novel, Dangling Man. The former is a transcript of a series of M-P's lectures that were broadcast on French radio in 1948. He's a phenomenologist and argues for a return to understanding the world through our senses rather than depending on science to describe the essence of things. Bellow's book relates to M-P in that it is written as a journal of a man who is out of work and waiting to be drafted into the army during WWII (hence the use of the word "dangling"). The protagonist, Joseph, is very much aware of the world around him and is constantly searching out the meaning of his existence, much like Roquentin in Sartre's Nausea.

I previously wrote that these sorts of tales don't sit well when one is in my current state of "waiting," but I take it back after reading Bellow. As always, he connects to a world that I know and don't know; a time and place (early mid-century Chicago) that I miss even having never experienced it. The feelings of his 28 year-old narrator are familiar and the depth of his (protagonist/author) knowledge make me envious.

At this pace I may get back on track by the end of the month. As always, we'll see.

Thursday, April 9, 2009

Wild Man!

So, when my son asks how he responded to changing out of his hospital clothes and into civilian attire, I'm going to show him this photo.



As you probably know if you're reading my site, this is Saul William; he was born on Monday, 4/6/09, at 8:46 PM, and tipped the scale at almost 9 lbs. He trimmed down to 8 lbs, 11 oz by day two but is currently eating about every hour and a half, in an attempt to pack the pounds on. We'll get him in the gym next week to pack on some lean muscle.

So far his likes include mama and sleeping; he doesn't care to be swaddled -- he responds via kicking and punching -- nor does he like to be changed. His first night, he seemed enamored with the strip of light coming from the hospital bathroom and I feel like he's always looking at he pictures on the wall; of course this means that he is fascinated with light and color and will therefore be a painter. Similarly, his hand movements evoke images of Leonard Bernstein, so maybe conducting will be the avenue he pursues?



Regardless of his career path, I'm going to do all I can to make sure he's caring and open-minded, critical and well-rounded, friendly, loving, well-mannered, gentle, strong, honest, fun-loving, interested, passionate, idealistic, and that he likes good music. On that note, his first CD is lullaby versions of Radiohead.

Friday, April 3, 2009

No baby yet

He's due today but I doubt he'll be on time...

More as developments develop.

I finished book nine: Sartre's Nausea. I don't recommend reading this when you're bored and don't have much to do. Questions about existence and boredom and life don't sit so well when you're just, um, waiting.

On that (waiting) note, I do have a job of sorts, that starts in October. Along with my admission to PhD in the Built Environment program, I will be working as a TA for the architectural history sequence that three-year architecture grad students take. Currently, I have no substantial knowledge on the subject but do have ample time to learn it. Wish me luck.

In preparation for my new life as a student, I have many books to read. Visit my new Amazon wish list here.

18 more people from my previous office were laid off yesterday. I believe that brings the 2009 total to 41, which is about a third of the 2008 workforce. It has been almost three months since I was laid off but for some reason I still care.