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Tuesday, November 17th, 2009
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I wrote something about seeing Steve Martin a few weeks ago. It's a few pages long so peek under here for it.
( Steve Martin )
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Saturday, October 10th, 2009
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"Lennon was by nature, and later on principle, distrustful of objective art (i.e. anything that didn't directly concern himself). Unable to appreciate the pleasure his imagination brought to others, he fashioned things like this with fluent ease only to reject them for having entailed none of the pain by which he measured creative authenticity . A spontaneous creation of its author's playful hedonism, BEING FOR THE BENEFIT OF MR. KITE! was repudiated by the puritan in him." --Revolution in the Head
There are things in here written somewhere between the lines that, to me, bespeak the difference between "UP" and "Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs".
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I have terribly conflicting thoughts. I know what's real. I think it will come out, at least in part, in something. I think some of these ideas about being more than one person will be illustrated in my L piece. It might never see light, but that won't really matter. Will it? Is the measure of success really mass appreciation (because that isn't happening). Does failure to garner mass appreciation result in the claim that art and ideas are not for the masses? Because, my friend, one might also suck. Plus let's not forget lack of effort. Is it all rationalizing? Does the term even mean anything? Or, is compromise necessary to make things palatable? Certainly this is true, otherwise, like Inland Empire, it's rendered virtually meaningless. Inscrutable to the last.
but I digress. this was about me. You can't shroud it in vagueries. In a year even the originator will look at it, puzzled. What's the line?
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Monday, September 21st, 2009
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I picked up the bluray of Unforgiven for 9 bucks. Good deal, great movie. Watched it tonight. Remarkable picture. Remarkable moving picture.
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Sunday, September 13th, 2009
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Last night I was lying in bed, just a-sleepin, when I was awoken by a loud noise. I came out of sleep with a start, alert to a problem. I realized quickly that it was Leslie that had come in the door, but something was wrong. She never comes in so loudly. I'm not sure exactly what I did. I got out of bed and reached for clothes, thinking, "Why am I reaching for clothes if there's someone in here?" I was calmed by somehow knowing it was Leslie. She must have spoken.
She came in the bedroom and told me it was ok, but that she had pulled up, parked the car, and walked to the stairs. When she go there she could hear someone in the area. Remember, this is 3:30 am. She started going up the stairs and this person started running at her. She said she barely got into the apartment before they got to her. That's why her entry was so loud.
I asked her if I could do anything and she said she was calling the police. While she was on the phone to 911 I thought about going out the front door but thought better of it. Instead I stepped out onto the back balcony. I saw a guy walking down the street who resembled the description she was giving the operator. Then Leslie saw him out the window. He was walking toward a car that was right below our balcony. I made no effort to hide myself and just stood there looking at him. There was something about this that just didn't add up. The guy was walking to the car like there was nothing odd going on. It couldn't be the guy who chased Leslie up the stairs. EIther it wasn't him, or he was completely insane and had no thought of getting caught. That's when we noticed what he was carrying.
He had, in his right arm, a stack of newspapers that he was delivering. I walked back inside and went to the front door and opened it. Sure enough our neighbor's morning papers were sitting at their doorsteps. This guy wasn't a lunatic, he was bounding up the stairs to deliver newspapers.
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This was a reply to Vince, but I put it here:
My system isn't good enough to make major definitive judgements. I hear more things than I did before. Some things are clearer. I haven't done an A/B comparison with the 87 issues, and probably never will. I did once directly compare the UK Pepper mono vinyl to the 87 CD. Clearly the vinyl was better, even Leslie could hear the sonic difference plain as day.
I seem to remember people saying that, for the mono, they did nothing to clean up the tape noise, or at least very little. Haven't listened to Help! yet. I won't argue with you that it's a little cloudy. Yet, I will say that I do hear differences. Some things are easier to hear. I've always despised the stereo mixes with the hard pans so the mono is welcome. There are the historic reasons too. Nevertheless I have the stereo box on the way. At home the hard pans aren't as hard to take (with headphones they drive me crazy) and I've read very good things about the clarity. No one claims the mono has substantial increased clarity, but I've noticed some in places. Rain sounds miles better. The vocal harmonies are more distinctive on Nowhere Man and the like. I rocked out to Please Please Me. Probably too loud for our apt. The vocal on Twist and Shout was great. There is a falsetto scream, Paul doubtlessly, that come through clearer than I've ever heard it before.
An ipod isn't the place to study these discs, but I put Revolver on there for a jog today. Thank goodness I can delete the stereo version. Stereo Taxman is terrible with headphones.
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Leslie's sister got married in Ithaca last week, which is why we went there. My wedding gift was pretty much to help out with all the wedding set-up. I was told very early on that I would be taking pictures since they hired no photographer. I had a suspicion that this was really just kind of a way to give me something to do and make me feel included. This was totally unnecessary. I would have had no problem just sitting there. I do admit that I appreciated the gesture. Also, who knows. Maybe they really did want me to take pictures. Somehow though, I find this a little superfluous since there were a dozen people there with digital SLRs. My camera, nice as it is, is no digital SLR. It's a Canon G10.
For the actual ceremony I arrived with about 2 minutes to set up a tripod and videocamera. I barely made it and the video has a few bouncy parts because of it. I would have loved to have had a few more minutes. With all those people taking pictures with $1000 cameras I just shot video. And really, there's no time to do both.
So get this.
( So get this: )
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Wednesday, September 9th, 2009
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I finished Foucault's Pendulum on the plane back from Ithaca. I guess the ipod touch hasn't totally ruined me for reading on planes. When I read the last page I closed the book and turned to Leslie saying, "I finished Foucault's Pendulum and now I'm going to watch South Park." By the way, Jayna, I should have mentioned on Facebook that South Park makes me laugh consistently. I laugh at the gags just as much as the connection they usually make to a bigger social issue. Like people sitting around talking about religion with pieces of shit coming out of their mouths. Or head lice worrying about their impact on their environment. Those guys are genuises. And they do it over and over.
Stop reading if you ever want to read Foucault's Pendulum.
The book means that there are connections everywhere that we make. Everything is connected to everything and it is up to each of us to make those connections. It is also up to each of us to decide what those connections mean. The gigantic overarching mystery of the book is that the secret to life is the secret to life. There is no answer, at least no knowable answer, but our seeking the answer is the drive that sustains us.
Eco has a way of expressing various thoughts and philosophies that I like, both his way and the actual thoughts and philosophies, that is. Foucault's Pendulum wasn't nearly as entertaining as The Name of the Rose, but it was rich in other ways. The Name of the Rose whas rich in other ways as well. There is a book that combines entertainment and thought. Foucault's Pendulum is chock full of thought, but it lacks a little bit of entertainment. When writing a book about the secret of life, should one really jape? Interestingly, that very question is addressed.
I read the Da Vinci Code and marveled at it. It was great plane reading. Chapters 2 pages long, easy, a style that begs you to turn the page. I submit that if circumstances are perfect I'll read the next Dan Brown book. That means it has to have decent reviews, from reputable sources, mind you. It has to be a present that I recieve in the airport on my way somewhere. I have to have forgotten to to bring anything else to read. And I have to be too tired to read anything consequential. Or maybe I'll do it on a whim. I've put myself at the mercy of pop culture lit twice with the execrable Hannibal and the wildly amusing Da Vinci Code. I could do it again.
For now I have a slew of new Beatles books to read. Among other things. Sooner or later my subscription to Rolling Stone magazine should kick in. I haven't had a magazine subscription since Psychology Today when I was a teenager. And before that, Ranger Rick.
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Monday, August 24th, 2009
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Leslie and I drove up to the North Cascades. We did a day hike to Hidden Lake on Saturday.
There is a lookout above all this perched on top of a hill. Pretty impressive views from up there. See the structure on top.
We hiked back down and got in the truck to drive to Sahale Arm. We got to the parking lot at dark and slept in the bed of the truck. Somewhat oddly, we set the tent up in the bed of the truck so we would have some kind of a shelter. This may have been totally unnecessary but it helped keep us warm anyway. On Sunday morning we had some huckleberries that we picked off the mountain the day before and began our hike up to Sahale Arm.
( SAHALE ARM )( SAHALE ARM )( SAHALE ARM )
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Thursday, August 20th, 2009
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I was cleaning up a room the other day and putting a dressing on the site that we used for the procedure. The patient was a little talkative, probably still a little loopy from fentanyl and versed. He told me, in a very calm way, that he was hoping to hang on for three more years. He said that if he could do that then he would be able to see to it that his 18 year old son, who has Down's Syndrome, gets put into a good home. That was his reason for staying alive, he told me. I said that was the best reason there was.
When he left the room I took some trash out and almost came to tears out in the hallway where no one could see me.
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Sunday, August 16th, 2009
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On the last visit to Austin I spent a few hours keeping Vince awake and jamming. I wanted to walk away with something so I pressed him to record. It was just a riff with a sort of 12 bar blues structure that I played a number of times while vince played drums. Hell, I made it up in 5 minutes. See, he had a guitar with a whammy bar. I don't have one of those, so, being as how it was in my hands, I utilized it. The riff was an excuse to use the whammy to begin every verse, more or less. What's one whammy effect, more or less?
Vince asked what sounds I wanted to add and named a few. Generally stuff he had laying around. He mentioned chanting at one point and that's what I went for. It was just la la la la la, pretty common in pop music. We laid down a few of those and they became the chorus. What's one la la la la la, more or less?
It got late and Vince was yawning so it became time to leave. He generously mixed it down a little and, I think, re-recorded his la la la la las. Then he sent me the file. I spent a few sessions tinkering with it. The thing still had no real lyrics. We rambled around with lyrics dabbling with various highway numbers and colors but, ultimately, that proved to not energize me. The only line from that night I kept was, "She said, 'Drop dead.'" But what's one lyric, more or less?
I suppose I'm done with it now. It's up on myspace and sounds a bit tinny and garagey. Well, as garagey as something with a fair number of overdubs can be. There aren't that many. What's one overdub, more or less? The song should play immediately on myspace.
Person of Consequence
I have a dentist appointment coming up in two weeks. What's one dentist, more or less?
Lyrics: The commotion was indescribable Finding that the Spaniard now stood silent and reserved We’ll drink to the health of the absent That was how it was, they argued me dumb Dealing with the miracle of the third egg She said, “Drop dead,” Singing. LA LA LA LA LA Yuh wan me t take a tree n beat yuh til yuh talk? Looks like a bullet hole to me Aw ma, it’s just a catalog That bird is in the scum and dying she is safely married crying Feathers are all wet and dirty, studied by girls of thirteen She said, “Drop dead,” Singing. LA LA L A LA LA The meaning of this uproar A flesh and blood captive angel It’s a wonder she didn’t go mad She said, “Drop dead,” Singing. LA LA LA LA LA Listen honey you’re just a virgin If you’re so smart why ain’t you rich? Screw your eyes shut let out a scream To hell with the handkerchief Among other things dirges will ring In my ears forever She said, “Drop dead,” Singing. LA LA LA L A LA The deserted Person of Consequence made a gesture with her hand A familiar voice at his elbow startled him “You know sweet damn-all! I ask you once more do they wear wings? Are they singing?” LA LA LA LA LA
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Saturday, August 15th, 2009
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sometimes this is just the dumbest fucking type of crap i've ever participated in. other times, not. either way it's dilute.
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Tuesday, August 4th, 2009
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There's some pretty good Thai food in Fremont for a decent price. We've been there several times now. $8.50 for Pad Thai. Don't know the name of the place. It's a blue building. Not that anyone who reads this will ever go there. I just have nothing to say.
morsel.
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Saturday, August 1st, 2009
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Youtube has some new sophisticated system that can recognize songs that are copyrighted. I think it only applies to music associated with certain publishers. At any rate I can't post this there because it recognizes the music. So far it's ok at some other sites.
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Thursday, July 30th, 2009
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I had to bury a kitten. I don't remember who I was with but I was digging in the earth with a trowel. We were burying it on a hill in the yard cattycorner to my parents house on Matagorda and Deerfield. The guy who used to live there worked for the phone company. I dug down and came to a layer of white stones. Below that was a layer of dark stones that were very smooth. It seemed a little strange that the stones were in these practically perfect layers. I think I hit a little clay at this point but it wasn't very thick. Then a strange thing happened. A noise seemed to come from inside the earth. It sounded like grunting. I fiddled with the earth a little with the trowel and the sound came again. It crossed my mind to hang up burying this kitten, at least here, but, come now, let's not be ridiculous. So I plunged the trowel straight down into the earth and stabbed around. I was sort of laughing about it, but a little nervous. Then, unmistakabley, there issued a noise from the ground. There was something down there and it was coming out. I looked at the person with me and we just ran. We ran straight to my parents house at 1810 Matagorda and got down on the floor. I peeked up to look out the kitchen window. There, standing on the edge of the yard looking away from us, was a living statue from Notre Dame. The Chimera stood there, waiting. If I had to use one word to describe it, that word would be intense. He stood there absolutely focused.
Several things were terrifying about this. I had no idea what this meant. I had no idea what it wanted. I had no idea if it was angry. I knew hardly anything. But I did know one thing. I knew that this was something that had never happened anywhere before. No one, anywhere, would have any idea what to do or what to expect. This situation was a complete unknown. The most frightening thing, however, was that my mother and nephew were in a pick-up truck in the driveway of the house where the creature had awakened. I don't know exactly when they came on the scene, but there were there. They must not have had any time to run, or they thougth it safer just to get in that truck. But now they were stuck. I could see them both in the front seat, facing each other. Mom was facing forward and Zack was practically sitting in her lap facing her. They were crying and, from what it looked like, saying the things people say when they know they are uttering their last words. It was horrifying to see. Still, the Chimera just stood there, intense. Was he waiting???? If so, for what?
The feeling I had was so awful I had to disregard it. It was my fault this happened. Whatever came of this was my fault. But was it, really? Could I really blame myself for this? No one, ever, could have predicted this. Blaming myself was punishment that I didn't really deserve. Yet, it was still all my fault.
I'll never know what my next action would have been. I woke up at this point. I can only hope I would have tried to save my family, even if it meant death for me.
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Thursday, July 23rd, 2009
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While my Dad and Nephew were here we were riding around in my truck out in the mountains. The satellite radio worked out there, with a few exceptions, and we were listening to Little Steven's Underground Garage. I'm glad Vince talked about that station . It made me give it a good listen and I like it. I've heard some cool stuff on there.
While we were riding around a song came on in which the chorus had some words and then "nya nya nya nya nya nya nya nya nya nya nya". It was a quiet moment and I said the name of the band was "Care Bears", which is all that was visible on the truncated display. Zack said, "And part of the chorus is, "nya nya nya nya nya".
Later on the same song played again. We decided we liked it. It is a punk rocky tune with female vocals. It's a vibrant, energetic song. When I got home I looked the song up and discovered that the full name of the band was "Care Bears on Fire". Then, to my horror, I discovered the band was a three piece made up of two 13 year olds and a 15 year old, all girls. Suddenly, the "nya nya nya" chorus wasn't a jokey, I-don't-give-a-fuck-what-the-world-thinks-of-me, punk-rock attitude so much anymore. Now it was a 13 year old who might be playing hide-and-seek.
A few days went by and I softened on the young ladies. In fact, I went out and actually paid for the CD, the whole thing. I just hope to heaven that Disney doesn't pick them up and try to make them stars. I like them as they are, kids who like to rock like kids. Say what you want people, I don't give a fuck what the world thinks of me.
Check em out: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0kLZ3G2qt8s
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Tomorrow morning I leave for a 206 mile ride to Portland. It's a two day ride that stops in Centralia for the night. Luckily, and amazingly, I have a room in Centralia. It's a small town. The ride is capped at 10,000 people and it is sold out. Over 7,000 of them are staying in Centralia. Many stay in tents. The rest do the ride in one day. Loonies.
I'm also sleeping in Portland, but being a big town it wasn't as hard to get a room. Better not lose my reservations.
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I've decided to become a legatarian and eat only the legs of animals.
I asked people yesterday if they have ever drank water by squeezing out a dirty sponge.
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Went into work for about 4 hours today, which isn't too bad. Today is a holiday workwise. Since the 4th is on a Saturday they gave us Friday off. But somebody has to cover the call so I'm on Fri, Sat, and Sun. I just thought of today as a regular workday which makes taking call seem like a regular weekend. Sure I was on call today, but normally I would be there for 10 hours and I only had to be there for 4. Makes it seem not so bad. Plus I got paid extra for it. That's the spin we need.
I watched "Changeling" tonight and had some Ben and Jerry's Magic Brownie ice cream. They were both about the same. Good, but nothing terribly special. I won't get the ice cream flavor again and I don't have much to say about the picture. I thought the courtroom drama stuff was largely unnecessary. I didn't care about the retribution of the cops. Eastwood does great things with characters and their emotions. The courtroom stuff edged that out to make room for extraneous material. Jolie was pretty damn good in it. The movie could have been much better. The picture deserves a better discourse than I'm giving it here, but I'm tired, and, well, if you want to read between the lines, then what I'm saying is: It deserves a better commentary but not enough to make me stay up and write it. Get it?
I bought the stuff to make a cherry pie. I got lazy though and bought a crust. I've always made my crusts. This being the first time I've bought one I didn't know they came in pairs. Can I mutilate one of them in a controlled fashion and use it for a lattice work?
Tomorrow, provided I'm not at work, we watch Spiderman on bluray.
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The trip to the beach was awesome. The trip to Austin was great, but too short. We didn't have time to meet with many people. Erica and Thomas had a fantastic BBQ that got a number of people together. The house was full of kids. Yowza, the Waterloo crew is getting older.
Jamming with Vince was cool. We mostly ran through a number of Beatles songs. I like the book he had. Tell me what it is. I might want to pick it up. He's pretty good on the drums and he stays more practiced on the guitar than I do. I should jam more regularly but it gets boring alone. We did record something. It was a simple riff that we just ran through a bunch of times. We laid down the vocals of what is basically the chorus. When he finishes putting the touches on the sound he's supposed to send it to me so I can put a vocal on it. Too bad we couldn't do it that night but it got late quick. I should have just sang anything. I'm not caught up on lyrics having to make sense but, when they are nonsense, I at least like for them to pretend to make sense. John Lennon and Gibby Haynes were good at that.
I got some video of my Grandmother playing the piano and singing. I'm really happy about that. My Dad was there. He knows his mother gets lonely, though he visits her often, several times a week at least. But she's 94 and virtually blind due to macular degeneration. I was next to her when she played. I sang some with her and tried to play some ukulele with her when I could but I had trouble following the changes. She's a piano genuis. Can't see a thing but doesn't need to. She can play any old song if you give her a key. Just start singing it and she will find the notes, no matter what key you start in. Dad told me that she had a look on her face of pure happiness when she was playing and singing with me. That makes me smile. I was right next to her and saw it too. She looked right into my eyes, which she might have been able to see at that close range, and sang "Barnacle Bill".
I have some pictures to arrange and some video footage to splice this weekend. I'm on call all weekend. Hopefully that means I won't have to take Thanksgiving or Xmas. We are hoping to come back to Austin for one of those holidays.
My Dad and Zack are visiting up here in July (the week after STP).
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