unemployed, i went downtown
for a thirty-two dollar haircut
stopped into nordstrom to use the men's room
my former boss was there, browsing, waiting for a table at the cafe
he looked right through me then waved at a shirt-folding clerk
Tuesday, September 21, 2010
Wednesday, October 14, 2009
dream
had a dream about my ex-boss: his gray hair was grown out to a fashionable length and dyed mostly black; he had big muscles. he was making everyone fill out a scantron form that would determine who would be in the next round of layoffs; during the assessment i left the room to get some water and there he was sleeping peacefully in a huge bed...
Monday, June 15, 2009
All the action is elsewhere...
I've been pouring my blogging energy into the People's Parking Lot these days so sorry I haven't been updating this dead zone. Real quick though, I'm almost done with David Foster Wallace's first novel, The Broom of the System. I believe this is book 245 for the year but who's counting, right?
I'm also neck deep in Bachelard's The Poetics of Space and Barzun's From Dawn to Decadence, the latter of which everyone with an interest in cultural history should read. It's a 900 or so page tome but it's worth it, at least from my vantage point (about 200 pages in).
But, seriously, the real action is on the People's Parking Lot
I'm also neck deep in Bachelard's The Poetics of Space and Barzun's From Dawn to Decadence, the latter of which everyone with an interest in cultural history should read. It's a 900 or so page tome but it's worth it, at least from my vantage point (about 200 pages in).
But, seriously, the real action is on the People's Parking Lot
Wednesday, May 27, 2009
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.
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.
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.
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.
Sunday, March 15, 2009
Neglect
Man, I've let this blog go to shit...
But now that my class is over maybe I can resurrect it. My term paper is here for all of those interested in mass production and sense of place.
On to books: I've managed to finish three others in the last few weeks.
Le Corbusier, The Decorative Art of Today
Christian Norberg-Schulz, Towards a Phenomenology of Architecture
Leo Marx, The Machine in the Garden
That brings me to eight for the year. Right now I'm reading Murakami's Underground and The Organization Man. It's doubtful that I'll be taking a class during the spring quarter so I'll finish these two and probably get in to some baby books. I've got some other big plans though, like Gore Vidal and David Foster Wallace (did you read that article about him in the last New Yorker? You should.)
Watchin' movies too. Just saw "Down by Law" and "To Die For."
Listening to the new Animal Collective.
Volunteered at the Seattle Rep the other night and have two tickets to see Harold Pinter's "Betrayal." My volunteering at Seattle Arts and Lectures has been going alright too. I may go see Scott Simon Wednesday night, gratis.
But now that my class is over maybe I can resurrect it. My term paper is here for all of those interested in mass production and sense of place.
On to books: I've managed to finish three others in the last few weeks.
Le Corbusier, The Decorative Art of Today
Christian Norberg-Schulz, Towards a Phenomenology of Architecture
Leo Marx, The Machine in the Garden
That brings me to eight for the year. Right now I'm reading Murakami's Underground and The Organization Man. It's doubtful that I'll be taking a class during the spring quarter so I'll finish these two and probably get in to some baby books. I've got some other big plans though, like Gore Vidal and David Foster Wallace (did you read that article about him in the last New Yorker? You should.)
Watchin' movies too. Just saw "Down by Law" and "To Die For."
Listening to the new Animal Collective.
Volunteered at the Seattle Rep the other night and have two tickets to see Harold Pinter's "Betrayal." My volunteering at Seattle Arts and Lectures has been going alright too. I may go see Scott Simon Wednesday night, gratis.
Wednesday, February 18, 2009
49-50/365
Calder's Flamingo in Chicago (with the Sears Tower in the background). I took this in November, 2007 and was reminded by my post of his work a few days ago.
Also from Chicago on that same trip, my attempt to reproduce Wilco's Yankee Hotel Foxtrot album cover, with a photo of Marina City.
Also from Chicago on that same trip, my attempt to reproduce Wilco's Yankee Hotel Foxtrot album cover, with a photo of Marina City.
45-48/365
For our two-year anniversary, we picked up a cake from Morfey's, the same bakery that made our wedding cake. We went with the Champagne Champagne option, that is, champagne cake with champagne frosting. It was delicious. And if you need an economic incentive, get this: if you buy a wedding cake from them, you get a significant discount on cakes that you buy later.
A pair of tulips from Risa's baby shower.
Risa at the beginning of week 33, in front of bookshelves #1 and #2 (#3, #4 and #5 are hidden from view).
Olympic Sculpture Park. For all you Rocky fans, I believe Calder's Eagle statue in the background used to stand atop the Philadelphia Art Museum steps before it came west.
A pair of tulips from Risa's baby shower.
Risa at the beginning of week 33, in front of bookshelves #1 and #2 (#3, #4 and #5 are hidden from view).
Olympic Sculpture Park. For all you Rocky fans, I believe Calder's Eagle statue in the background used to stand atop the Philadelphia Art Museum steps before it came west.
Tuesday, February 17, 2009
Losing My Edge
I've never really listened to LCD Soundsystem but I heard this song today and thought it was pretty cool.
Losing My Edge
Yeah, I'm losing my edge.
I'm losing my edge.
The kids are coming up from behind.
I'm losing my edge.
I'm losing my edge to the kids from France and from London.
But I was there.
I was there in 1968.
I was there at the first Can show in Cologne.
I'm losing my edge.
I'm losing my edge to the kids whose footsteps I hear when they get on the decks.
I'm losing my edge to the Internet seekers who can tell me every member of every good group from 1962 to 1978.
I'm losing my edge.
To all the kids in Tokyo and Berlin.
I'm losing my edge to the art-school Brooklynites in little jackets and borrowed nostalgia for the unremembered eighties.
But I'm losing my edge.
I'm losing my edge, but I was there.
I was there.
But I was there.
I'm losing my edge.
I'm losing my edge.
I can hear the footsteps every night on the decks.
But I was there.
I was there in 1974 at the first Suicide practices in a loft in New York City.
I was working on the organ sounds with much patience.
I was there when Captain Beefheart started up his first band.
I told him, "Don't do it that way. You'll never make a dime."
I was there.
I was the first guy playing Daft Punk to the rock kids.
I played it at CBGB's.
Everybody thought I was crazy.
We all know.
I was there.
I was there.
I've never been wrong.
I used to work in the record store.
I had everything before anyone.
I was there in the Paradise Garage DJ booth with Larry Levan.
I was there in Jamaica during the great sound clashes.
I woke up naked on the beach in Ibiza in 1988.
But I'm losing my edge to better-looking people with better ideas and more talent.
And they're actually really, really nice.
I'm losing my edge.
I heard you have a compilation of every good song ever done by anybody. Every great song by the Beach Boys. All the underground hits. All the Modern Lovers tracks. I heard you have a vinyl of every Niagra record on German import. I heard that you have a white label of every seminal Detroit techno hit - 1985, '86, '87. I heard that you have a CD compilation of every good '60s cut and another box set from the '70s.
I hear you're buying a synthesizer and an arpeggiator and are throwing your computer out the window because you want to make something real. You want to make a Yaz record.
I hear that you and your band have sold your guitars and bought turntables.
I hear that you and your band have sold your turntables and bought guitars.
I hear everybody that you know is more relevant than everybody that I know.
But have you seen my records? This Heat, Pere Ubu, Outsiders, Nation of Ulysses, Mars, The Trojans, The Black Dice, Todd Terry, the Germs, Section 25, Althea and Donna, Sexual Harrassment, a-ha, Pere Ubu, Dorothy Ashby, PIL, the Fania All-Stars, the Bar-Kays, the Human League, the Normal, Lou Reed, Scott Walker, Monks, Niagra,
Joy Division, Lower 48, the Association, Sun Ra,
Scientists, Royal Trux, 10cc,
Eric B. and Rakim, Index, Basic Channel, Soulsonic Force ("just hit me"!), Juan Atkins, David Axelrod, Electric Prunes, Gil! Scott! Heron!, the Slits, Faust, Mantronix, Pharaoh Sanders and the Fire Engines, the Swans, the Soft Cell, the Sonics, the Sonics, the Sonics, the Sonics.
You don't know what you really want. (x15)
Losing My Edge
Yeah, I'm losing my edge.
I'm losing my edge.
The kids are coming up from behind.
I'm losing my edge.
I'm losing my edge to the kids from France and from London.
But I was there.
I was there in 1968.
I was there at the first Can show in Cologne.
I'm losing my edge.
I'm losing my edge to the kids whose footsteps I hear when they get on the decks.
I'm losing my edge to the Internet seekers who can tell me every member of every good group from 1962 to 1978.
I'm losing my edge.
To all the kids in Tokyo and Berlin.
I'm losing my edge to the art-school Brooklynites in little jackets and borrowed nostalgia for the unremembered eighties.
But I'm losing my edge.
I'm losing my edge, but I was there.
I was there.
But I was there.
I'm losing my edge.
I'm losing my edge.
I can hear the footsteps every night on the decks.
But I was there.
I was there in 1974 at the first Suicide practices in a loft in New York City.
I was working on the organ sounds with much patience.
I was there when Captain Beefheart started up his first band.
I told him, "Don't do it that way. You'll never make a dime."
I was there.
I was the first guy playing Daft Punk to the rock kids.
I played it at CBGB's.
Everybody thought I was crazy.
We all know.
I was there.
I was there.
I've never been wrong.
I used to work in the record store.
I had everything before anyone.
I was there in the Paradise Garage DJ booth with Larry Levan.
I was there in Jamaica during the great sound clashes.
I woke up naked on the beach in Ibiza in 1988.
But I'm losing my edge to better-looking people with better ideas and more talent.
And they're actually really, really nice.
I'm losing my edge.
I heard you have a compilation of every good song ever done by anybody. Every great song by the Beach Boys. All the underground hits. All the Modern Lovers tracks. I heard you have a vinyl of every Niagra record on German import. I heard that you have a white label of every seminal Detroit techno hit - 1985, '86, '87. I heard that you have a CD compilation of every good '60s cut and another box set from the '70s.
I hear you're buying a synthesizer and an arpeggiator and are throwing your computer out the window because you want to make something real. You want to make a Yaz record.
I hear that you and your band have sold your guitars and bought turntables.
I hear that you and your band have sold your turntables and bought guitars.
I hear everybody that you know is more relevant than everybody that I know.
But have you seen my records? This Heat, Pere Ubu, Outsiders, Nation of Ulysses, Mars, The Trojans, The Black Dice, Todd Terry, the Germs, Section 25, Althea and Donna, Sexual Harrassment, a-ha, Pere Ubu, Dorothy Ashby, PIL, the Fania All-Stars, the Bar-Kays, the Human League, the Normal, Lou Reed, Scott Walker, Monks, Niagra,
Joy Division, Lower 48, the Association, Sun Ra,
Scientists, Royal Trux, 10cc,
Eric B. and Rakim, Index, Basic Channel, Soulsonic Force ("just hit me"!), Juan Atkins, David Axelrod, Electric Prunes, Gil! Scott! Heron!, the Slits, Faust, Mantronix, Pharaoh Sanders and the Fire Engines, the Swans, the Soft Cell, the Sonics, the Sonics, the Sonics, the Sonics.
You don't know what you really want. (x15)
Friday, February 13, 2009
39-44/365
I thought a little red would be appropriate for both my color search and the upcoming "holiday."
Saturday, February 7, 2009
Friday, February 6, 2009
Wednesday, February 4, 2009
35/365
I really wanted to post these side by side but the blog template is not really conducive to such a layout. I always snicker at the Ferrari and Maserati dealership at 12th and Madison but, upon biking past it tonight, I thought of the Hopper painting below (he has a show at SAM that runs until March 1, 2009).
I believe it's worth thinking about the difference between the 2009 photo and the 1942 painting, keeping in mind for whom/what we build cities. Do we build for people or cars?
Though Seattle kowtows to drivers 99% of the time, some headway is being made for those moving about the city by their own power. For example, I used one of the new bike corrals this morning in front of Cafe Presse. Where before only one car could park, there is now room for eight or nine bikes.
I believe it's worth thinking about the difference between the 2009 photo and the 1942 painting, keeping in mind for whom/what we build cities. Do we build for people or cars?
Though Seattle kowtows to drivers 99% of the time, some headway is being made for those moving about the city by their own power. For example, I used one of the new bike corrals this morning in front of Cafe Presse. Where before only one car could park, there is now room for eight or nine bikes.
Tuesday, February 3, 2009
Monday, February 2, 2009
Slipping
I know, I'm slipping with the photos. I've received scores of emails from infuriated readers. I apologize: this weekend was spent learning about babies and then today I was penning my latest masterpiece, soon to be posted here. I'll attempt to catch up with a beautiful trifecta tomorrow.
As for other developments, there are a few.
1. I am still unemployed but am occupying myself with my classwork, puppy-sitting once a week and looking for volunteer gigs. I have already ushered at On the Boards once and have another assignment there later this month, as well as two at the Seattle Rep in the coming months. I also applied to be an office assistant at Seattle Arts and Lectures. We'll see how that goes.
2. I have recently submitted five applications to PhD programs around the country. The schools, listed in descending order of what I consider to be my odds of admission, are:
-- University of Washington (70-30)
-- University of Wisconsin (50-50)
-- University of Illinois (50-50)
-- Temple (50-50)
-- Columbia (10-90)
3. Economic stimulus? How about forgiving student loans. Click here to sign the petition.
As for other developments, there are a few.
1. I am still unemployed but am occupying myself with my classwork, puppy-sitting once a week and looking for volunteer gigs. I have already ushered at On the Boards once and have another assignment there later this month, as well as two at the Seattle Rep in the coming months. I also applied to be an office assistant at Seattle Arts and Lectures. We'll see how that goes.
2. I have recently submitted five applications to PhD programs around the country. The schools, listed in descending order of what I consider to be my odds of admission, are:
-- University of Washington (70-30)
-- University of Wisconsin (50-50)
-- University of Illinois (50-50)
-- Temple (50-50)
-- Columbia (10-90)
3. Economic stimulus? How about forgiving student loans. Click here to sign the petition.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)