Well... I've started the self portraiture photo project. You'll see it to the left of
this text. Click on a picture-- it'll become full size. One a day. For a long, long time.
By the time I've done it for a few months-- I'll probably have thought up some reason why
its artistically valid.
I broke down today and bought CDs. Its been so long. I bought Radiohead's Amnesiac in
its limited-edition book binding. Very wonderful packaging. INitial thoughts on the music?
I enjoy it very much. Its darker than even Kid A. And yet... it has a more OK Computer
Sound, I think. The first track is very strong... like Kid A. I had to have this album as
I'm thinking about writing an extended comparison between Radiohead and David Bowie circa
Low, Heroes, and Lodger.
I also picked up Ani DiFranco's Revelling/Reckoning. Haven't listened to it yet. We'll
see. Its two albums in one, which is an interesting idea.
I went into Exclusive Co. for their super low prices... and I asked about the Radiohear
limited edition.... and the guy ther scoffed at me and said they were out. As if he had
had it UP TO HERE with Radiohead fans. And I just wanted to say-- look-- I'm no Radiohead
fan. I'm just intrigued enought to buy their albums. And furthermore-- you only work in a
record store-- you can drop the attitude. Jesus christ. I ended up going to Discount
Records-- which actually had better prices than Exclusive, if you'd believe that...
Christopher is in Milwaukee meeting his future co-worker. So I'm all alone for another
5 hours or so.... I don't really mind. I have music to keep me busy.
More later.
posted at 5:20 PM
Katie made me a CD. And its good. Who would've thought? Its all love, Katie... its all
love....
I'm a very blocked person. I have a lot of ideas, though very few of them actually come
to fruition. Its amazing that this web journal actually exists and is maintained. Its so
easy just to sit down here at home and type.... or even in the lab...
So lets think of some projects that I want to do that haven't taken off yet....
The William/Eric web page. This is going ot happen... as soon as I actually write some
of the ideas I'm playing with. I'm thinking of doing a Radiohead/Bowie comparison. I'm
also thinking of writing on the 4th of July festivities and the killer bees. And eggs. I'd
like to write about eggs.
My photo project. The idea is that I photograph myself every day for an extended period
of time. Our appearances change so drastically from year to year... especially when we're
young. I'd like to make some sort of record of that... day to day. The change wouldn't be
detectable for quite some time. But then at some point you could look at the first
picture... and then the last... and see a difference... and then see everything in
between. The only thing that's stopping me from doing this is finding a good way to
publish it and keep it up to date.
My prints. I want to make more prints. But that requires more money-- and there simply
isn't any money to spare for me these days. Not when runny eggs at Country Kitchen end up
costing me $9.
There's more. I have ideas for art pieces in my head sometimes... and they never are
fully born. I have ideas for songs. For poems. For essays. For paintings. For things to
wear. And none of it ever happens.
Now there's this list. and I figure if I can do one thing on this list... that's an
improvement.
posted at 12:59 AM
Thought of the day....
I live in the central area of Madison.... though I'm a bit south of the central area
proper.... so if it is raining on my apartment-- would that make it South Central Rain?
posted at 12:50 AM
Racine can be so dull. But then again... it can be nice. I ran into Becky S at Barnes
and Noble and we talked for a while and found out that she's no longer "feelin'
35" (or 36 or 37) and that she's going to see Bon Jovi play and is crossing her
fingers for "Ugly." And so that was nice. I'm on my way downtown to check out
the new bookstore that's there and perhaps an antique shop or two-- who knows?
Thought of the day: Radiohead is nothing. David Bowie did it all 30 years ago. I
realized that blasting Bowie in my mother's car on the way to a chain bookstore.
posted at 2:50 PM
Because blogger won't accept long entries... I'll split this up. so if anyone is
reading from bottom to top-- they'll be a little screwed up as I plan on posting the last
paragraph first, and so on-- so that it reads well from top to bottom. there.
July 4th. I did nothing. My mother (and the Twin Disc staff) won the grand prize in the
Racine 4th of July parade for their float. That's 2 years in a row. However- I was
sleeping through it all. I rode the bus to Mitchell Field in Milwaukee and arrived at
about 7:30. ON the bus I got to read most of the postminimalist section of Irving
Sandler's Art of the Postmodern Era. this man is genius. His introduction alone was quite
brillinat. Now he's discussing particular artists within each postmodern movement-- and
I'm intrigued-- even if I do find postmodernism a bit unnerving. I may write some more on
this book later. I feel that writing on it might help me to remember it better.
When I got home to Racine, I ate some food outside. It was good. We set off fireworks--
which were all basically showers of multicolored sparks. The highlight of the evening was
"The Killer Bees." This particular firwork shot off sparks-- but also had 4-6
"killer bees" on the tube. as the thing continued to emit sparks-- each one of
these "bees" would emit a siren-like noise for a few seconds. I plan to
photograph the firework package itself. Too kitschy to pass up, I'd say.
As for the rest of that night-- not much happened. I took some benadryl for my
allergies (but mostly for the drowsiness) and went to bed at 11:00.
posted at 1:01 PM
Yesterday, July 5th, I went to Summerfest. Those of you that will see me soon will
notice that I'm badly sunburned after spending all day in the sun. It will pass. We saw Pat McCurdy play first. Traffic was
pretty bad and though we had left at noon-- we didn't get to the fest until 1:45 or so. On
our walk from the Grand Avenue down Michigan Street and to the summerfest grounds I saw
the most wonderful baroque-style building. I dont' suppose it coudl have actually been
build in the 18th century or earlier. It had the most wonderful stone work and a great
blue roof/upper floor. I was impressed, Milwaukee. I think it was somewhere around Jackson
Street. I can't be sure anymore.
So we saw Pat McCurdy. I must admit that I've always liked him. Perhaps some of you
wouls snicker at me-- but the man is very funny. After that we saw Those Darn Accordions. I admit
that its my third time seeing them live. They're at Summerfest every year and so whenever
i'm there- I make sure to stop by. I even got my picture taken with Suzanne-- the
accordion woman with the 1950s pointy glasses. I was thrilled. After that we went to go
see Lewis Black. I liek Lewis Black. I'd heard his CD (taped in Madison, WI an
*Laughlines.* gotta love their commercials). I'd seen him on the Daily Show many times.
But this time-- he wasn't that funny. I'm sorry, folks. You have to have more substance to
your act than just complaining about covernment and using the word "fuck." With
Lewis Black-- its hit or miss. Either its very funny or its just not funny at all. When i
saw him yesterday-- it wasn't very funny at all. Not his best performance. That's my
verdict.
posted at 1:00 PM
After that we wandered around a bit and ended up going home. I should mention that I
went there with my brother Jeremy and his friend "Kayla" or "Kala" or
"Cay-lah" or "ka-ka" or "koo-loo" or however its spelled.
Another new-age name that is completely unnecessary. She was very nice, however. I was
glad to have been invited by those two. We had a good time.
Got back. Rented Mario Party 3 but had to save our game right away because I was dead
tired at 11:00 pm.... and badly sunburned. ah well.
This morning I made a date to go out to breakfast with Sue Hipp at 10:00 on Sunday.
Then I went out to lunch with Brooke. I miss having Brooke around-- she's wonderful. I
wish we'd had more time-- but the youths of Racine need to learn how to play tennis!
So here I am. Alone. In Racine. There will be more entries before I return to Madison
on Sunday, I'm sure.
I almost forgot. Christopher got a job in Pewaukee! We're both very excited. Its really
quite wonderful. He'll be visiting this coming week and I'll be going to Suluth next
weekend for a lesbian wedding and a reception in a gay bar. Whoever said lesbians weren't
classy?
posted at 1:00 PM
Its break time again. Noon. I'm in the memorial computer lab and I decided to update my
blog. Aren't you lucky?
I nearly lost the lab copy card by leaving it in the copier for 45 seconds. When I
returned-- someone had already returned it to Mills library. Thank god-- lst thing I need
on my back is an angry Marta. When I go back to work-- I'l be fixing a mutilated book by
gluing in 50 photocopied pages of a second copy. Isn't there a time when we just give up
and throw it away?
Christopher is here until tomorrow morning. Its so nice to be able to wake up next to
him. Only 4 more hours of work! Then I can go home! back to the grind...
posted at 12:06 PM
I just finished a bowl of miso soup. Dee-lite-ful. Groove is in the heart.
William and I talked about Tori and popular music. Same old, same old again. Its nice
to talk about Tori with someone that doesn't worship the ground she walks on.
Christopher will be here tomorrow evening. And late this week I'm heading to Racine...
might be going to Summerfest with Jeremy (my brother).
Things are well. I should be in bed os I can get up early enough to shave before work.
posted at 12:52 AM