I aim to misbehave

Tomorrow is, as many of you know, New Years Eve.

New Years has several very specific connotations for me. Its late now, and I want to sleep, but there will be stories, explanations, and records.

Righto. Have a good night, all. Expect a longer post in two days.

Home for the Holidays

I'm in Columbus, spending time with Dad/Stepmother/Sister/Stepbrothers. Its a lot of fun, and these days I generally only see my brothers once a year or so. Went to a hockey game, went to the mall (so out of my element--though I did find two pairs of dress pants and a pin-stripe shirt that makes me look like a banker), and hung around and read a bunch. Watched a little bit of Rome, which is exciting and disappointing all at the same time. I dunno--I feel like because I have a better grasp on some of the smaller individuals (Pompey, Cato, etc), I come away from episodes upset at artistic license which wouldn't trouble the hoi poloi. I guess its a fine show, and I might watch an episode or two more...but nothing like some of the other excellent pieces of televised cinema I've partaken of recently (West Wing, BSG, Firefly...just so you know where my allegiances lie).

Pompous decelerations aside, things are well. Good progress has been made on what has a tentative working title of "War Stories," good food, nice time with family I haven't seen for a while. I go back to Pittsburgh for a few days, which will also be nice--flying in the night of the 24th (3 am?) was the first time I'd been back to the city since I moved to Chicago. I'd like a bit of time to take it in, relax, see friends, etc.

I think overall, its nice to have this bit of time to spend in Columbus and Pittsburgh, away from the bustles of Chicago and Gambier (very different bustles...but regardless).

I'm really in doubt as to whether that's an ok word to pluralize when you're talking about multiple instances of civic commotion, rather than a pillow for a feminie posterior.

Its like I'm trying to make up for not understanding the social rules of grammar by using big words. Yeah? Yeah.

Hope everyone is having a lovely stretch of holidays! Best to all of your families.

Take care,

Jeff

Relaxing day

Ate breakfast in bed, worked out, read, ate lunch, went book shopping, got the beginning of the new work down "on paper," made dinner, watched a bit of West Wing, recorded a bit of music, decided to delete the music and start over tommorow, then went out.

This is how life is supposed to be, right?

Light in the Darkness

Officially finished with GreenPeace today. I'm sad to leave the Team, and really enjoyed my time there, but it had become time to move on. So the quota-missing came right at the right point. Nice time at the office meeting this morning, saying bye to everyone, etc.

On the plus side: I suddenly had a day completely empty! It was slightly amazing. I spent a bit of time at B&N, then went home, had a hot lunch (mm...trader joe's pad thai noodles...) and then went off into the world. On a whim, I decided to go see I Am Legend...and was pleased. Not ridiculously so, but pleased nonetheless. The "vampires" were pretty lame, especially when compared to those in "30 days of Night", but much of the rest of the movie made up for it. Especially the dog, and the mannequins (the two of which did some of the best acting in the movie--Will Smith was great, don't get me wrong...but this dog was KEY).

A friendly warning, however: don't go in expecting the book (which is very different, and maybe a better story, but probably would have made a fairly lackluster movie). Has anyone else out there both seen and read the thing? I'd love to chat about what folks thought.
Cool previews for both the second Batman and "Prince Caspian"--even though I was fairly un-enthused about the first Narnia movie, I was swayed by the preview. Hopefully I won't be totally disappointed.

Also--though I do sometimes enjoy seeing movies alone, this was a very, very bad choice. A movie about the last man on earth...viewed sitting by oneself...puts you in a weird headspace.

However--we should be fine. Went to Trader Joe's, got my last batch of groceries before I leave, and then work at the Bailiwick---after saturday and sunday, I'll be done there too. Weird.

We Are Kenyon (and that's my bench)

Can I just point out for a moment, that in the "We are Kenyon" video, President Nugent is interviewed while sitting on my bench.

If you havn't seen it, go to the homepage, then click on the "We are Kenyon" link in the bottom right-hand corner, then click on the video archives.


PS: Can'twaittobeback.

Menace to Society

The quote I'm stuck on right now comes from the KMFDM song "Brute".

For those of you unfamiliar, KMFDM is an early German Industrial band, famous for songs such as "Juke-Joint Jezbel", "A Drug Against War", and more.

Yes, I do use it as psych-up music when I'm canvasing.

Anyway.

The lyric in question is from "Brute". It goes:

"Cut these eyes- and I will see
Kiss these lying lips for me
Stroke this skin- and I will kneel
Brutalize me: I will Heal."

It's mostly the first and last lines, but it always gets to me. I feel like I occasionally have a tendency to want to wallow in negative feelings--sadness, anger, etc. Periods of either emotion are of course fine, but every once in a while, you try to hold on to them--know what I mean? There's something about the assuredness of that statement: "Brutalize me- I will heal". It's like a dare, or something.

I'm too tired right now to segue that into a review of "The Golden Compass", so that will have to happen tomorrow.

G'night all.

On the Fly

In the middle of dishes, this will be a short note. Again.

Had a long and complex dream last night about storms in Chicago, involving a funnel cloud.

In it, I told a joke I (thought) I had been telling for a long time. It involved a clever pun, and something about the news networks knowing more about communication lines than the governemnt. At the end of the dream, I could not remember the punchline of the joke...but it was in the form of a clever pun. Or possibly something about reversing the word order.

What I cannot remember for the life of me is whether this is a joke I actually know, and have told people out in the real world, or if it was one of those things you "remember" in dreams, but then realize once you wake up it was never part of your life out here. So what I need to know is--have I ever told any of you a pretty mediocre joke about communications, natural disasters, and CNN vs. the Government?

Also. I've been doing dishes and cleaning the house while listening to the soundtrack from "Myst". I HIGHLY recomend this. Everything is much more significant, dreamlike, and poignant. The dim light from outside and the snow help also.

Tying it all together, I remember that I tried a few times leaving the soundtrack on as I fell asleep. Let it show in the record that I had some pretty messed up sleep cycles for a while during the experiment. A few nights ago, Christmas lights were left on in my room, and a somewhat simmilar effect was achieved. I find that leaving lights on when I sleep always creates entertaining events, even if it does interfere with useful rest.

Good lord, were those wonderful games. I may need to give Myst III another go. I know the first two run on macs, I bet the third one does also.

Hmmmm....we may have just found a significant source of amusement for long bus rides.

Brief Words

Stayed up late, woke up...medium late.

Currently loving: fake sausage, tinwhistle, deal-brokering, Montey are I, and days off.

Bailiwick tonight, for the first time in a while.

Flogging Molly comes to Chicago in February. Better bet that's happening.

Played MarioKart 64, GoldenEye, and Trivial Pursuit while drinking Pale Irishmen with old and new friends last night. It was approximately eight different eras of nostalgia all at once.

Anyone else feeling the "intellectually stimulating work" itch?

New Instruments

Much to the dismay of my neighbors, Tinwhistle is rapidly being added to the number of instruments I play.

I've already got Amazing Grace, Scotland the Brave (I think), The Auld Triangle, and (mostly) Dirty Old Town. Oh, and Three Blind Mice.


Slow songs with easy progressions in the key of D.

Still, its something.

My face hurts a bit.

Also, just learned that every 4 hours, Jimmy Johns sells all of their extra bread for 50 cents a loaf. I mean, it's completely empty french bread...but still. You can't argue with bread for $.50.

Also, I will review "Golden Compass" in this august journal soon. That's a subtle way of saying "Damn the critics (us), I'm seeing it anyway." If arrested, tortured, and pumped for information, I'll say that this was my only reason.

Oh, but it isn't.

Cheers,

J

...in the air.

Snow in Chicago.

We have Christmas lights up.

Erin just exclaimed "Bah, Humbug!", but it was towards the art museum, rather than any animosity towards the Christmas cheer.

Also, I wore reindeer antlers with bells and lights while canvasing today. Good times.

EDIT:

Guy with lights, too much time, and a Trans-siberian CD.

TSO is truly Suburb Rock, especially the Christmas music. But you know what, it's fun.
And "Beethoven's Last Night" is a different story alltogether.

Enjoy.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SMhCDvzr3nY

Rain, Gaul, Raisins, and Spellling

It's raining outside.

It's been raining since yesterday.

(Except yesterday was snow and freezing rain.)

Chicago is beautiful in the winter.

Freezing rain is never beautiful wherever you are.

It's Sunday. Time for Laundry, working out (inside today), maybe a bit of breadmaking, and sushi for dinner.

A bright point: I have Raisin Bran! I'm sad to report that Trader Joe's Raisin Bran is not quite as good as Kelloggs. I may have to shell out the extra dollar for the on-brand type next time.

Still, though. I heart me some raisin bran.

An embarassing point: I sent President Nugent an email with about six spelling errors right in a row. Including gems like "sylabus" and "arrangments". Not pretty.

Oh! One more bright point! I went to B&N yesterday, picked up not only a copy of "Of Mice and Men", but found a copy of "The Gallic Wars"! I've been searching for an english translation for about the last eight years.

The translation is...interesting. Not bad, but--suprising. Maybe I'll do a full-scale book review once I've gotten through a bit more.

Disney

Alright, Messr.

We'll do this thing.

Though I really don't know enough about disney to be good at this.

So if you readers out there in wonderland have better suggestions: do it.

Hero/Villian/Sidekick:

Hero: Bernard from The Rescuers/Rescuers down Under
Villian: Monstro from Pinochio
Sidekick: Bagheera from The Jungle Book




Runners up: Beast for Hero, Professor Emelius Immediately Browne for Hero (Bedknobs and Broomsticks), The Cobras from Riki-Tiki-Tavi for Villian, Li Shan from Mulan for Sidekick.

What do we say?


UPDATE: Riki-tiki-tavi. Totally not a disney movie. However, it was narrated by Orson Wells. So, you indignant m-fs, I'm keeping it. You're lucky I didn't pull out Bartok the bat for Sidekick...but I knew how that would sting. So I didn't.

Hearts and kisses.

Sleep now?

Very quick thoughts before I go to sleep:

I've never actually been cold before. I mean, I was chilly, once or twice, and sometime in late 2004 I may have been nippy. Cold, though? Like, actually in the bones, where it doesn't go away? New. I was convinced I had been "very cold" in the past---but I think the Chicago winter winds put a whole new meaning to the words. Or rather, 6 hours outside in the winds does.

It's only November.

Uh oh.

Also: dried tortelini is fast becoming an obsession, tofu is still just as good as it was when Dan first showed me how to scramble it, and I'm very sad to have missed the Battlestar tv/movie that just came out. Will have to track that down somewhere.

I kind of want to work at a Ren Faire this summer? Did I just say that out loud? But seriously, why not? I'm a good enough actor-combatant/choreographer, and musician to boot. Plus, I'll be needing a job right around that time.

Hmmmmm......

Hyde Park tommorow. Hooray!

Visitors

Katy and Sean are here!
Always nice to have visitors. A nice night out yesterday (hooray for Mac's), eggs and turkey this morning (much to the protestations of my stomach), and now, who knows?

Still working on getting the house cleaned post-thanksgiving, but fortunately, I have today and tomorrow. Maybe I'll do some work post-Bailiwick tonight? Or maybe I'll just get to sleep early, and get up early tomorrow.

Also, more music on monday! Hooray! Totally the icing on the "life-cake", to coin a new...well, nevermind. Kind of sounds like something you'd eat in a Zelda game or somesuch.

Frankly, I need to just end this post. So--I think I'll use that little trick that Anthony uses, and I've admired for so long (or since he started his blog), where he writes a long sentence and then ends it with his name as the signature, though it's usually more elegant than this, but that's ok, because that's Wiry's style, and this is

The Project


(That almost worked. We'll try again later.)

Aftermath

Alright, Thanksgiving over and done for. Kept my promise to Mother: that I wouldn't sit in the apartment, alone, eating a turkey sandwich. Kept promise to friends: you (probably) won't get salmonella. Kept promise to self: would have fun.

Actually, I'm not positive noone got salmonella. However, since I havn't gotten any angry phone calls/visits from paramedics, I figure we're in the clear.

Now, I need to somehow muster the drive to get up and clean the house, do dishes, and get some laundry done, along with showering, before K. Cosse and Sean come. I did run already today, and catch up with a bit of "corespondance", so it hasn't been totally slothful.

Oh wait, yes it has.

Hope everyone had a great thanksgiving!

Warm up, lil' bird!

So I'm a little doubtful on this whole "defrost in the sink" thing.

Like...the turkey is really going to thaw? Sitting there in the sink?

It's just a lot of turkey...and it's cold in my apartment.

Lesson #1 learned during first solo Thanksgiving----buy turkey several days in advance, thaw in fridge.

Holy shit we're so grown up.

============

EDIT: 4:31 PM
Turkey is in the oven, has been cooking for a while. Hooray! The neck was still totally frozen, but the meat seemed thawed. I decided not to "stuff" the turkey---put a few onions/carrots/celery in to improve taste, but not stuffing. Mostly because the stuffing wasn't quite ready at the point when the turkey was, and because there was still a bit of frozen-ness in the middle of the turkey, so I wanted to be able to cook it longer if I needed to.

People will be here soon, all is going well. This feels a little bit like the old all-nighter posts during school. Which I almost accidentaly pulled last night, by the way. Turkey rolls + Eva. Both of which I finished, both of which were absolutely delicious though a little ugly, each in their own ways.

Turkey, Torture, and Tepid Water

Jeezy-creezy, Evangelion throws you for a loop. Nearing the end, and it's just getting crazier. I get along with very few Anime--but this might be one of them. I blame most of my fear on an early exposure to "Lain: Serial Experiment" in much too large quantities...but anyway.

Also, I'm cooking thanksgiving dinner! Starting tonight, getting up early and lounging around the house all day, while cooking turkey/etc.

There will be interludes of music, possibly movies (if I can figure out a place to rent them), dancing, and maybe even laundry.

Life is going very well otherwise. Lots of rain today, first time canvasing in really incliment weather(other than the cold), which was...interesting. On the plus side, we got coffee.

Also, I have the first of the two holy seasonal beverages: a big jug of apple cider sitting in the fridge. Will have to restrain myself and open it tommorow. Can't wait for Eggnog season afterwards (probably starting in December).


Cheers all!
Happy Thanksgiving!

Creatures of Culture

Continuing in my expolrations of the Chicago cultural scene, I attended what I can only term a "salon" last night. Not a place where my hair would be put into new, exotic stylings (though I do need a haircut), nor a dusty, western alehouse (I guess that's a saloon, but it always confused me), no, this was the full out French Enlightenment style gathering of artists to read works, then drink wine and talk about said pieces of writing.

I got an email from a friend a few days ago, letting me know about it--she's in London, and as such wouldn't be there, but thought it would be a fun thing. So I put on a sport coat, hopped on the Damen bus, and went up to this woman's house way up north. It was a mix of writers, actors, and miscelaneous arts-types, mostly 30's and 40's. Once the host figured out who I was, and why I was there, she introduced me all around, was very, very kind, and generally helped me get to know people. Heard some really good writing, met some very nice people, and had a grand old time. It didn't occur to me the ballsy-ness of the whole thing until my host looked at me and said: "So, you came up here, alone, not knowing anyone?" I guess I had figured no-one would know anyone, rather than it being a lot of these woman's friends hanging out in her living room. Also, I wasn't expecting to be the only youngster. I'm ok with it though.

The saga of the night was not over, however. By the time the night was over, I realized the Damen bus, which had served me so well in getting me up there, had stopped running. So! I walked to Ashland, thinking I would simply take that bus straight down to Div/Mil/Ash. Unfortunatly, as we were at the _far_ end of the Damen line, it turned out the Ashland bus didn't run anywhere near there. So, I simply started walking on Ashland towards the city, figuring I would either eventually reach home or find a bus. After about two miles, I hit a bus stop, waited for a bit, and got on the good old #9. In that time, I had the chance to call and catch up with Mr. Proctor, which hadn't happened in a long, long time. So, time well spent---plus, I got some good exercise.

Well, I should go get ready to head off to work.
Hope all is well!
Best,

-J

Exhausted

For one of the first times here in Chicago, I'm waking up exhausted, just wanting to go back to sleep. DIdn't rest quite enough during the weekend. I guess that's what the week is for, right?

Things that make this morning awesome: I recieved a package from Paul Woodruff, containing copies of his new translations of Sophocles, with signatures and "best wishes" written on the inside. That feels kinda cool. Also, Paul is basically the coolest/kindest guy I've met.

Also, I'm going to a new works/poetry reading tonight, I think at somebodies house. I don't know anyone connected to it, but I'm going to wear a sweater and a scarf and experience new art. So: if I come back to you all sipping lattes, wearing a berret, and "jiving and grooving" to the guy with the upright bass...this was the beginning. Feel free to just beat the hell out of me to return me to my senses. At least I shaved off my goatee already.

Get with it, cats,

J

Action

Once every two or three days on the street, I get called a "terrorist", or am told GreenPeace is "too violent," or something of the sort.
I understand on a certain level what people mean: I mean, we are extreme, in some situations. A lot gets blamed on us, or misrepresented as us, or in many cases, people here that "an enviromentalist" did something, so they blame GreenPeace. Never mind that we have "peace" in our name, or that we are -completely- nonviolent, or that our action missions are ussualy "witnessing" for the enviroment.

But man, sometimes, I just want to go..."We're violent? Buddy, we're the milk-water enviromentalist...have you seen ELF? Or Sea Sheperd?"

So let's share these: two more great Youtube clips. The first is the GreenPeace video---done to the New Radicals song "You get what you give". And then...well, then there's Sea Sheperd.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JniWdP0MO7s

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gqDOOX_5J0Y

Because I guess if "You get what you give" is perfect for GreenPeace, "We're never gonna survive unless we get a little bit crazy" is dead on for Sea Sheperd. I mean, our folks climb boats and chain themselves to harpoons...they buy old icebreaking ships and run them into illegal whaling vessals. Goddamn.


Finally---I guess you can probably tell, I'm feeling pretty good about my job right now. I mean, I watch that video, and think...hell, I work for them. How cool is that?

Have a good night, all.

-J

#1 thing on the internet, ever.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MKw2gWn7wyE&NR=1

Seriously.

Yelling at Crosswalks

New funniest thing I've noticed about the Chicago streets?

The Crossing Guards.

You see, in Chicago, they have crossing guards for the buisness people down in the loop(downtown area of Chicago). They direct traffic, tell people when to cross, etc. So these aren't after-school, little kid safety people---these are for adults.

Man. They are nuts.

I really do think they recruit them from the most vociferous of the homeless people---that's ussually who I think it is when they first show up. I'm getting ready to dodge or change corners from the ranting guy, then I realized they've got a badge and a city uniform on.

It's crazy. They just scream random things at people.

Anyway, that's my thought for the day.

God's in his Heaven/All's Right with the World

May or may not have been watching a bit of Evangelion recently. It's kinda fun.

Worked all day yesterday, so there isn't much new news from then.
Settling in to a nice morning routine of something athletic, a bit of yoga (thank you Bacchae folk---its so nice to be in that habit again. Feels good!)--some lunch, soon a trip to Trader Joe's to get my food supply for the week, then some breadmaking and...who knows? I may try to hit a coffeeshop to get me to do some work on the play---too many things to distract me around the house, I think.

Other big news? I have a new job, starting in January. I'll be going back part time to Kenyon for the semester, working as an assistant instructor to President Nugent for the "Classical Theater" course. So I'll basically be commuting to Gambier every other week--8 days in Ohio, 6 in Illinois, rinse and repeat. I couldn't be more excited: I'll get to start learning about teaching, be able to take in the beautiful country air while still spending a lot of time in the city, and on top of all that, both have time to see Dad more, time to visit friends who are living elsewhere in Ohio, and a fair amount of time in seclusion to get working on the new project. I don't think I could have taken the job if I had to move completely back to Gambier---not ready to leave Chicago yet, I just started getting my bearings here! However, since I'll still stay here, I think I'll be able to manage it.

Basically, this is going to start testing whether I can deal with the roving life of a freelance director. Kind of goes along with that earlier post about the freedom of this part of life: its neat to be able to just...you know, take this kind of opportunity.

Lets see how it goes!

<3,
Jeff

We all want to hold in the everlasting gaze...

Whew--long weekend. Not even close to over yet (hooray for monday off!)

Work saturday night went a lot later than I expected, but was fine---I've gotten pretty efficient at getting up and out of the box office, which is nice. Last night we had a wonderful little gathering: just a bunch of people relaxing around the house, talking, carousing, and generally having a good time. Plus, its really nice to wake up the morning after a party, look around, and not see a total war zone (RE: B2. Remember those disasters? Worth it though---best parties I ever went to/threw). Finally got to see Cori, and sat in the kitchen late at night singing with Eliza and Hannah.

I think I always want my kitchen to be somewhere people get together and sing. That just feels right. Not to attatch some kind of over-dramatic quality to it (we were litteraly just sitting at the table, trading snatches of song back and forth), but it got back to something I want to have in my life---communal enjoyment of music, sharing through stories/songs/etc.

Friday was the other side of the celebratory genre---first office party. Which involved, eventually, Mag mile and the serenading of buisness men and women by caterwauling folks late at night. We then went and "helped" some guys shoot a skateboard video. I think we were, in the final tally, fairly unhelpful. I kind of want to see the movie, though.

Also continued my streak of having tourists take pictures of/with me while I'm out canvassing.

Two different total strangers commented on liking my hair in the last two days---one guy said it "had crazy flow"---and he was apparently a downtown real estate guy. Another girl on the bus made kissy lips at me and said it was "sexy". It's getting longer, but not too long--I'm going to have to stop myself from becoming a total degenerate hippy---it happens a bit more every day.

Well, that's the news from this side of the world.

Getting the Worm (bird metaphor, not tequila)

I do love this "sleeping-enough-that-I-can-get-up-early-without-suffering" thing. Gives me time to reflect, read, stretch, cook, or whatever it is I need to do. Tommorow, I'll probably be able to get a bit of laundry done before work. Today, I'm going to settle for cooking some tortelini for lunch and writing in the old blog.

One thing I absolutely cannot wait for is the smoking ban in bars. My whole room smells like smoke now, mostly due to a coat I was wearing in a bar. Totally gross. Need to do some major airing out and finish my laundry...then, we'll have to find a new strategy for going to smoky bars. Choosing very washable coats, or something. Eww.

Took a suprising run last night. By which I mean, I was suprised that I took it. I was hanging out doing laundry, and threw on an old sweatshirt over my tshirt to go throw stuff in the dryer, and when I got outside, said...hmm, it's a nice brisk night--and I look kinda like Rocky--I should go for a run. So I did. It was all very impromptu, but I'm happy to say, Wicker Park is a nice place to run at night.

Also, our laundry room/basement is just about the creepiest place in the world. Aside from the KC Dance studio at night. Or the Caples elevator at any time.

Can you tell I've been reading the Alumni Mag article about "Haunted Kenyon?"

Good Day

Closed Bud's Cafe today. OO-RAH!
Short week at GreenPeace---we get Monday off (full pay), which makes the world go round, frankly. We start working earlier, so we're out earlier, which is also always good. GP party friday night, housewarming party saturday, all in all, it should be good.

Tonight is laundry, workin' out, and maybe a bit of writing. Lets see how that goes!

EDIT: Also, "Jet City Woman" by Queensryche is one of the better songs this side of "stairway". Just sayin. Nate, are you a Queensryche fan? I feel like you should be. Bob, definitely.

Prince songs, and what they do to a night

Ran into my boss, some coworkers, etc, leaving the train station. This turned into 4+ hours of burgers and beer at a local bar. I do enjoy my job sometimes.

What else did I want to write about? I'm not really sure. I think I may try to make a more concentrated effort to get hooked up with the Lookingglass theatre starting in January---could be a lot of fun.

Theatrical stuff, by the way, is going well. I think once I get through the Mahabhrata once, I'll send out some feelers for a bit more source material---maybe "All Quiet on the Western Front"? I havn't read that for a while, and remember really loving it---but I might need to find some more "poetic-al" works, just because it fits a bit better with my other materials.

Also, I think I want to look through the Bavadha Ghita, just because I feel like my work with the Mahabharata has affected me in so many little ways---would be interested to see how it goes.

I'll remember the other stuff soon, I'm sure. Maybe tommorow morning or something.

Ugh--staff meeting at 9:30. Gotta be up early. Then last day of Bud's Cafe, and a bit of relaxing---must do some laundry.

G'night all!

Things I think are nifty:

http://www.mangiaretheatre.com/


Like, really.

Maybe sometime soon?

Blessings on our meal

Was told to burn in hell today. Was suprisingly unfazed.

Also, I became the first person possibly in the world to grill tempeh and sausage together. It feels good to have exotic meats again, and also to get some tempeh---I looooooove that stuff. Stir fry will be made, and enjoyed.

Putting some music on my computer---re-discovering the joy that was early HS metal--- Black Sabbath, Fear Factory, Iced Earth, Queensryche, and more. Good times. Later treats such as Rush, The Scarlet Pimpernel, and more will also appear.

The thing that has been getting to me about canvasing? It's the people who lie to me. I really don't mind if you say "No", or "I'm not interested", or even "I'm in a hurry"---but saying "I'm a member" or "I already filled that out/did that already" just bugs me. I mean---you clearly havn't, because that's not what we're out here doing. We really can tell when someone is a member--so telling us you are when you aren't doesn't help.

Whew, that bit of kvetching aside. I still have my love for humanity intact--a guy _literally_ grabbed me by the arm today, dragged me with him accross the street, held on, and thanked me for being out there---so it's not all bad. Plus, there are new jobs on the horizon, so I can deal with this for a while more.

Bud's Cafe (the senior citizen show) closes on wednesday. Which will mean I won't have to work saturdays for a while...hooray!

Do you know what it's like?

A nice weekend. Saturday was work, a quiet dinner, a couple of beers in a relaxed bar, and then the NeverEnding Story---which was suprisingly moderate, compared to how I viewed it as a child. Not bad---but just---difficult? That was sort of nice as well---just makes you wonder what was going on when the folks were making it. Sunday was brunch at Earwax with Hannah (+ 2 Indie Cred!), bread making, dishwashing, a viewing of "Zanna, Don't" and a shopping trip to TJ's. I got Tempeh!

Very excited about that. Also, I got confirmation that the Indian Buffet that I've been wanting to go to is actually good food. Very, very excited about that.

Daylight savings time means I've got forever until I need to be in at work, so I can really just relax this morning. Lunch is made, breakfast is had, working out is completed. I think I may just end this post prematurely (or maybe right on time---I don't have much else to write down right now), get my shower, and go explore the neighborhood for an hour or so.

That sounds kind of nice. Here we go!

Take care all. See you soon---

Places that are cold

Fun Haloween!

I saw, in order of apperance:

A) A guy in a batman shirt who looked like a slightly hispanic Christian Bale (yes, I will now claim that I canvassed Bruce Wayne);
B) My first street fight (complete with a whole lot of cops)
C) The move "30 Days of Night"

They were Amusing, Slightly frightening, and Suprisngly entertaining in the order listed.

Bruce Wayne was a nice guy. The fight was kinda scary, but the police were all over the place in..well, in not too long. It was just two guys, but it got pretty intense---just fists, no guns/knives/etc, which was what I got a little scared of when it started.
Josh Hartnet was fine, but really got shown up by the bad-mf russian lead vampire, who was huge, and somewhat frightening. Also, the guy in the bar through most of his apperances makes the movie worth seeing, mostly because of the contrasts of his wanna-be insane posturing/trying to scare the other folks, followed by his interactions with said Russian vampire.

At least I think he was Russian. My theory is that they all came across from asia back when there was an ice-bridge (you know, the good old days), which explains the weird language and obviously mixed Euro-asiatic ethnicities. Some pretty intense fight choreography, some wholly unessecary gore, and some neat cinemtography. Also, the conception of vampires was pulled off: not Bella Lugosi, or Anne Rice, but more a big pack of wolves out hunting. Except they were smart. I wonder if they creators watched Jurrasic Park a few times before shooting the movie. Unfortunatly (or fortunatly?) while it was "Boo!" scary, there was no lasting fear---but that might be just because I'm not in Alaska, and thus not really in danger of being stuck in a small snowed-in Alaskan town in the winter with Vampires.

Anyway, more very soon.

Drip-Drip-Drip goes the water....

Dreamed about directing last night. Then I couldn't get back to sleep, which I guess is why it's 7:45, I've already read a play, had breakfast, made lunch, and read yesterday's RedEye. Weird play, as well---it was in the Hill, but it was a massively huge version of the theatre, with an enormous set- which, if I'm remembering correctly, had an expanding and contracting model of the Colosseum. Also, there were 12 ft versions of the 'droids with the beaks from the newest Star Wars movies doing synchronized dances. We were doing a first run through, though for some reason there was a full audience, and I had never seen the second act---so it was all a suprise to me. People were being very critical of it, though I kept trying to remind them that this was the first time the actors had put the show on its feet, and that they were very talented, etc.

I get my first real paycheck from GreenPeace today, will be interesting---I get to see how well I've been budgeting, see if I need to cut back. I feel like I've been living above my means, though maybe that's just because I'm still at the point of needing to buy somewhat expensive things (couches, bookcases) for the apartment. I think I need to keep a little better track of what I'm spending and what I'm making. We'll look at the first couple of weeks in November, see how that goes.

Weighing in on "The Golden Compass"---I havn't done enough research, seen all the trailers---although I do remember getting a little tingly when seeing the first preview in theatres. What I'm most disappointed by so far (visually) are the panzerbjorn. From their brief appearances, they just don't seem...impressive enough. I mean, there's such a visceral quality to their description---these clanking, heaving, utterly massive, completely terrifying and bestial creatures. I imagine this brutal grinding sound when they walk, and a presence that should overwhelm to say the least. I feel like they ended up looking a little skinny in the preview---although we'll have to see.

Friends, the preview that enthuses me a whole lot less right now? "Beowulf". You figure with Gaiman, and a couple of decent actors, it would be cooler...but something about it rings false. More so though, the pictures of Grendel that they showed were completely un-inspiring. Slavering, bulky, pustulant--these are words I think should describe the greatest of all "creature-monsters". This conception looks downright spindly. Also, does most of the preview need to be Angelina Jolie looking sexy? It may just be that I've never really found her that attractive (I know, I know--I'm soulless, I have no taste, whatever), but was that really what Beowulf was about? I mean, is the next project an uber-racy "Watership Down" where she plays an over-pouty Fiver?

(Also staring Daniel Craig as Bigwig, Jude Law as El-hama...whoever the Rabbit Messiah was...wait, I actually think Jude Law would be amazing in Watership Down. Maybe even Mr. Craig as well. Ryan, call their people, see if we can set something up.)

Hope everyone is well. More philosophical rantings later.

OH! HAPPY HALLOWEEN! I almost forgot.

Woooooooooo......

Steak

I'm adding steak to the list of things my uncle Dale has taught me about. They are, in order, M&M's (when I was very small---my first introduction to candy), Good Wine (when before I thought I didn't like wine because it was ussually either inexpensive or came out of a box) and now...Steak.

Mmmmmm...I won't need to eat for a week.

Here's a resolution you may not have seen coming from me (or maybe you have...I may be utterly transparent). I need to take more risks. In life, love, leisure, what have you. Dale made the very good point: what do I have to lose? Not a whole lot, my friends. So, lets see how this goes. I know there is a large divide between deciding to take more risks and actually taking them...but, its a first step, right?

I'm reading an early 70's (I think) adaptation of the Mahabharata...and I'm kinda stunned. It's kind of really, really good. I'm not quite ready to put it up against the Iliad yet...but still. Its pretty damn good.

Hey Griffin...

...you were right. Nanci Griffith explains everything about life. I've been sitting here with "Other Voices, Other Rooms" playing (plus the extra songs from Lil) and I can't rip myself away to get my shower. Which I should do, so I can start the day.

Heart to you all.

-J

Day off!

Hooray! I got up without an alarm, made a leisurely breakfast, put stuff in the breadmaker--a nice, relaxing morning!

Now, off to TJ's for a few tasty treats, a hunt for a bookcase, and whatever else I feel like doing. Feels niiiiiiiice.

Maybe make some falafel for tonight? Anyone want falafel?

Read the Kenyon Alumni mag last night---full of old ghost stories, was a little creepy. We were so haunted we didn't know what to do with ourselves.

First big paycheck from GreenPeace comes on wednesday. I need to get my act together and open a local bank account---I'm not running out of money yet, but the fee is getting a little old, and I'll need to start paying rent, etc, soon with paycheck money. The good news is I'm making what I can only describe as an easy-living wage---so that's pretty dandy.

What else? I dreamt about KCDC, and about having to hide under a k-mart knock off invisibility cloak to hide from something...until Noam talked me down and I realized it was a big paranoid delusion and I didn't actually have to. Then he picked me up in a sweet ride and we drove off somewhere. So. Noam, if I ever go totally bonkers again, I'm counting on you to talk me out of it.

Burn this Place down

...right where it stands/and I'll wash my hands/of all consequence.
Does anyone remember that song? I think it was on an "Edge of the X" compilation or something. Then again, remembering that there might not be as many people from Pittsburgh reading this (or are there? I don't really know), it's probably unlikely.

Moving on. Early morning post to make up for getting up a bit to early. I absolutly adore not having to be at work until 11:30 right now---I sleep more than enough again, and it feels wonderful.

Speaking of which, had one of the most emotionaly ravaging dreams I've ever had last night---not frightening per say, but just...intense. An old man who was so excited to tell me so many things that he couldn't remember anything he had to say. A girl who was just hanging around to use people. Love, lies, and really tasty brownies. Woke up at 5 am, totally confused and a little disturbed. It was one of those hyper-real dreams, where I accomplished some things through the course of the night, then realized none of it was actually real.

You know, though---I think bits of life make more sense after a dream like that---its hard not to take a few lessons away, right?

It's alright, though---went back to a fairly dreamless sleep, and now, I'm my usual chipper self. Feeling good about life, the universe, and everything.

New day and all that.

Time to go to work!

Give up your extra love

"Zanna, Don't!" was thoroughly enjoyable. Anthony, you should come see it here, with me, in the next week or so. Just sayin'. Or, you know, see it when it comes to your area next. Anyway---the cast was solid, the energy was great, the sentiments alternatly warmed, broke, and then renewed my heart. Worth checking out.

I'm also really kind of getting to like this whole "being an adult" thing. Everything is a little more meaningful (not that school/college/youth was not meaningful---things are really just more in my control--so my choices are more purely mine, and thus have more personal meaning). I can see various paths in life openning up, meeting new people, exploring new options.

Truly, the wide world is a wonderful place to behold.


Full of Love (more of for oikos than eros--or even kleos),

J

I'll be waving my hand...

Man, I had forgotten how good the Our Lady Peace album "Clumsy" was.

Seriously. It was the most emo thing ever, long before Emo existed. Plus it had a great mix of totally rocking guitars, and crazy landscapes of sound.

A lot of great non-hit songs too.

But none of them are happy.

I think that's ok, some times.

"And Sara thinks she's died here once before
She's crazy
A pop-up book of flowers from grade 4
Are driving her insane
And no one knows why
She's sad tonight
No one can help her find

She's crying, crying, oh she couldn't afford the view
Crying, crying, oh these automatic flowers won't do"

That, my friends, is grade A teenager angst. Fall-Out Boy, eat your heart out. They were here first.

Plus, they're Canadian!

I'm looking forward to telling stories to my children

Thanks to a certain cohort of mine, I may or may not have just stumbled on something that suprised even me:
Alice in Wonderland FanFiction.

It wasn't the creepy, "slash"-y, nerd-rotic stuff that creeps around like a dangerous beast across the web, just a person who was clearly very enthused about a particular set of characters. It just...would never have occured to me.

Alright, then. So lets talk about fanfiction for a while. We'll start it off here: I have never written any of it. Well, unless you count my picture-book version of The Hobbit and Lord of the Rings which I did with construction paper, crayon, and twine when I was around 6. With co-writing and production credits going to my dear father, I can safely say it's my finest published work so far.
That being said, I've always been a little wary of it. I mean, there are a lot of weird stereotypes, creepy guys in basements, etc. For the good lord's sake--the genre arguably started with fantasies about Kirk and Spock (someone correct me if I'm wrong here). A lot of it deviates into often brazenly sexual pieces--which I guess is rather unsurprising, as it is on the internet. Most of the writing ranges from amateur to horrible, and the bits of writing that are good I would imagine tend to be conflated with the bad, and are thus probably hard to find.

Hold on, though. Lets step back for a second. In some ways, isn't this just a return to the collective storytelling of the good old days? By good old days, I'm not talking about my ancestors on their way to Zion/Utah---I mean the real good old days, when the Skald were singing up north, or the generations of storytellers who led up to Homer, or even just the six guys sitting around a little fire, munching on a bit of dinosaur. You know. Waaaaay back. 6011 years ago...when the earth began.

Right guys?

No, but seriously. Check it out. What is this but the process of acquiring/adopting/appropriating a set of characters created by someone else and telling your own story with them? Isn't that the idea behined Anasazi? Or Coyote? Or Ajax and Achilles? All of Greek Drama is based around that idea. How are the large collective of nerds sitting around the collective lights of their computer screens that much different from the old days when ten or twenty of us would get together at night around a fire and listen to someone tell stories about people whom he or she had heard stories about? Its a shame we don't do it that way anymore---and maybe the lack of face to face interaction is a real loss---but I think, at its core, the idea is still great. The collective craftingshapingmoldingrecreating of a character is a beautiful thing. Maybe we're too hung up on copywright---sure, if you created a peice of art, it should be yours if you want it to be...but maybe, every once in a while, it would be okay to give something you created to the rough hands of the masses, and see what they do with it. Isn't that how we've gotten a lot of our really great characters? Arthur, Robin Hood, Jack? It's not the "great works" that make us remember them---its the mass of stories (I was going to use the modifier "untold" to emphasize how many stories there were...but I guess that's the whole point-they were told).

So- maybe we need to learn something from the fan-fiction people. We may not like the stories they tell, may not agree with their use of copywrited material, may be uncomfortable with their racy-ness and such...but maybe something our culture needs is a few collective stories, or just a forum where we could tell them. I guess right now, the internet is the best place for that to happen.

Alright. Time to stop talking, get to bed. Take care all, hope we're all doing well!


A final side note: does anyone know the song "Living Next Door to Alice"? It's a 70's(maybe?) era song, jangly guitars, yadda yadda...anyway, I've found a copy of the song---but has anyone ever heard the amazing techno remix? I heard it once, when I was at my friend Tommy's place at least 4-5 years back....and it's actually still stuck in my head. Each day I get a little closer to finding an .mp3 of the song. If someone knows what I'm talking about, I'd be greatly appreciative of any information.

Re-vivification

A fine day today: I am now stretched out on a handsome, soft, and altogether comfy green couch that Erin and I found at Brown Elephant, a thrift store near where I was canvasing on saturday. Got it over here today, inbetween bouts of laundry, making bread, shopping, and doing tech stuff for the Bailiwick.

Had my first day off from both of my jobs in two weeks---was wonderful to just be home and relax! I ended up going in to the B-wick a bit to help with some tech stuff, but I consider that more play than work, so it was fine. Got some good reading done, relaxed, slept in, and did a bit of grocery shopping. Very chill. Three more weeks of Bud's cafe, and then I can basically have Saturday's also---especially when I re-work my schedule for the box office.

Dire warnings, urgent news, sanctimonious rantings? I don't think I have any for today. The Container Store was not quite the bonanza of discounts that I hoped it would be, and as such, I still require a bookshelf. Trying to figure out when I'll have a chance to seek one out---I do believe my best shot will be next sunday, or possibly on wednesday, depending. A few more things on the walls, a few more boxes gotten rid of, and it'll really look like we live here!

All according to plan, my friends.

Before I head out into the day

A quick thought:

I very much enjoy the creativity and breadth of mode used by our various circle of Blogs to label/denote/identify each other on our sidebars. From Griffin's $7 archaic terms, to Ryan's AliceinWonderland characters, to the slightly demented society of Gentlemen/Ladies of Esteem that seems to be accumulating on Anthony's blog, and finally, as the one who started it all---the simple yet highly effective name/location given by Nate---which I think really puts a positive spin on the recent scattering of our little posse. They all keep us feeling linked, yet allow us to flex those little creative muscles we all love so much.

Anyway--that's just about it. A nice night spent out with Dan, a new cool dive bar found, and the relativly pleasent realization today that I am done with training for GreenPeace, and as such not only get a raise, but also have to go in a few hours later to work, all add up to a good beginning to a saturday. Work all day today, hopefuly see Dan for a bit tonight again, then I have my first day off in a while tommorow. I'm pretty excited about that prospect---going to sleep in, do some laundry, finish putting together the apartment, and hopefuly spend some time kicking back in a park or something.

Well---just a short reflection- somewhat self indulgent, but then again, its my blog, and that's pretty much what its there for. Hope everyone out in internet-land is doing well!

Mysteries of Wicker Park

There are approx. 30 hipsters standing around in the alley between my apartment and the next one.

I'm very curious.

Now mounting an expedition to discover what's going on.

Secret art show?

Connor Oberst's hiding place?

Just a totally rad alley?

We'll see.

========

UPDATE:

It was a secret art show! Apparently, the third floor of the building next to us has been turned into an Art Space! Someone clearly lives there, but most of the apartment has been gutted into a large room, a nice wooden floor has been laid, and a small gallery has been opened!

How cool is this neighborhood?

Relaxing at home

...is a nice way to start a friday night. Hooray for not working every hour of the day!

A Mackeson's triple stout, some tofu in my belly (cooked with a really good mango/lime salsa bought at a farmer's market...I am turning in to such a degenerate hippie), the pleasent prospect of a short bout of laundry followed by a night on the town with Erin/Dan/possibly others. All very good.

Tidbit from yesterday: ran into two different Kenyon people within an hour or so---Rubin from 2 Drink Min., and Andy Braddock. Hooray for the Kenyon Magnet that is Chicago!

From today: who wants to see "30 days of Night" with me?

Now: in response to Anthony's fine work: another top 10 list. Ten significant songs. In no particular order.
(Subnote- Applause to Messr. Merril for a thought-provoking list that made me miss BNL. I, however, have never been closeted about my enjoyment of the Barenaked Ladies.

Without further ado: significant Jeff songs:

1: "Broad Majestic Shannon": The Pogues

There's something too perfect about this song. It represents life in under six minutes. If you like irish music at all, or ballad-ish songs, or life in general, I recomend you listen to this.

2: "Where I want to be", from the musical "Chess"

I feel like this is a product of ambition? Or maybe one of the downsides of always being hungry. Not like hungry for food, but you know...hungry.

3: "What do I have to do?" by Stabbing Westwards

This is every time I've been in love. Trite? Maybe. Oh well.

4: "Gone, Gonna Rise Again": John Mcutcheon.

I wouldn't mind having a descendant of mine sing this at my funeral. Its not as creepy as it sounds, certainly not about zombies.

5: "Stray Bullet": KMFDM

For the more intense times in life. One of the ultimate pump-up songs, but not filled with huge guitars, thundering drums, or anything else out of the Highlander soundtrack. It's pure Cowboy/Diva/Anti-Christ/Techno Swagger. Check it out.

6: "Keasby Nights": Catch 22

If just for the line "When they come for me/I'll be sitting at my desk/With a gun in my hand/Wearing a bullet-proof vest/Singing 'My my my how the time does fly/ When you know you're gonna die by the end of the night'"

7: "Smash" by The Offspring

Perhaps an unusual choice from the album of the same name- but there's something nice about the sentiment.

8: "Pittsburgh's going to the Superbowl": Various artists

Dave, what is this song actually called? This belongs here for obvious reasons.

9: "Motorcycle Drive-By" by Third Eye Blind

If you've never heard this song, go listen to it now.
"I've never been so alone/And I've never been so alive"
It's those times out in the woods at night. Or when you leave the party to sit in the grass and watch the stars, or just to listen.

10: "What About Everything" by Carbon Leaf

Let's book end this list with another song that encompases life. Really. I really do think this song sums up at least one significant aspect of my life.

"I think about time for fun/I think about time for play/Then I think about being done/With no Resume/With no-one left to blame/What about fortune and fame?/What about your love to retain?/What about the ring?/What about...what about everything?"

Although I think its actually a balance that I've struck. Because my resume is full of things that were fun. So...take that, establishment! We can be happy and career-oriented all at the same time!

Honorable mention goes to "Summer of '69" (because of B2), "The Sea" by Carbon Leaf, "Boys of Summer" by the Ataris (summer love in a song), and "Leaving of Liverpool" by Gaelic Storm.

Supernatural Occurrence of the Day

Today, while I was canvassing, I picked up my bag to walk and talk with a guy who was in a rush. I neglected to remember my waterbottle.

When I returned to the corner, the waterbottle was gone. Understandably dismayed (it was a Kenyon Nalgene), I crossed the street... and there it was. Sitting on the other side of the street, under a traffic-light post. It had apparently migrated over while I was gone (the wind was very intense, it might have blown into the street, where some concerned citizen picked it up and sat it on the side).

Or it might have gotten up and moved under its own free will.

There's magic everywhere.

Further updates as they come---I'll keep a record of all other inanimate objects that seem to slowly migrate away from me.

Also: Dan is here! Hooray!

Water Flowing Under

I'm home early! Which means I get a good night's sleep tonight!
Which hopefuly means another good day tommorow!

Work was great today (especially GreenPeace). Got my first paycheck (which was fairly large for being only for two days). Was energetic, fresh, and alert all through work despite the fact that I had no caffine. Had fun--got to canvas with one of the even newer trainees, who was a very cool guy.

What else did I want to rush home and write about?

Ah! Dan is here! I get to see "Zanna, Don't!" tommorow, and I get to have a relativly unstressful day at work (as I signed up enough people today to make up for today and tommorow's quota). I got to do some small-scale lighting design today, even if it didn't get used, which was fun. So---I'm in a good mood. Also, I get to come home tommorow after GreenPeace for the first time in a long time. Maybe I'll even have a chance to do some laundry and put up a few more pictures, as well as actually cooking a meal.

Speaking of which, I vastly overestimated how much money I would need to spend on food. Lord bless Trader Joe's, hmmmm?

Alright. Time to catch some shuteye. Anthony---three things:

a) Thank you for playing my song game.
b) Next time I have time to post, we'll go a little more up your alley. I'm thinking it'll be "Top 10 Songs that are distinctly (or ideally) You". Fun times?
c) At long last, I decided to change your identification on the sidebar. You were the only one who I used a piecie of their actual journal name to title, which felt lame. So I changed it. Hope this is enjoyed!

Also, Ryan, welcome to the sidebar. Very excited to see that you have a blog.

Touch this one off:

In no particular order, my personal ten albums. Not best of all time, but perhaps...most significant for me? Album as a whole, rather than due to particular songs (we'll do that one later). There are possibly others that are more important---but these are the ones I can think of now.

Would love to hear yours as well.


1: Nanci Griffith: "Other Voices, Other Rooms"
2: Dave Mathews Band: "Live at Red Rocks"
3: The Offspring: "Smash"
4: The Tossers: "Communication and Conviction- The Last Ten Years"
5: The Chieftans: "Long Black Veil"
6: The Treefrogs: "Demo" (later known as Nickeltown)
7: Mrs. Children: "Break My Back"
8: Fear Factory: "Obsolete"
9: Libana: "A Circle is Cast"
10: Depeche Mode: "Black Celebration"

Honorable Mention: Bush: "Sixteen Stone" and "Razorblade Suitcase", STP: "Tiny Music: Songs from the Vatican Gift Shop", Beck: "Odelay", The Wallflowers: "Bringing down the Horse", Gaelic Storm: "Self Titled", Era: "The Mass", and Dave Mathews Band: "Crash"

Fine and Dandy

So a few new tidbits about life:

I'm stage managing for Steven Fales' "Confessions of a Mormon Boy" at the Bailiwick this week. Its a touring show, been all over the country--so basically, I'll be calling the show and looking after the tech elements. He's an amazingly interesting/cool guy- we had a few shared moments over the Tabernacle choir, Mormon smiles, and other such stuff. I'm looking forward to the coming week. If you're in Chicago---come see the show!

It's also cool because it marks the first time I've been offered additional work in Chicago. I love being in a position where I can just say--what the hell, sure, I'll do this. Great to be able to seize opportunities.

Which brings me to the next point---the glory of, for the first time in my life, not having a deadline or time limit. I'm realizing that I can do things at my own pace for right now---work, live, practice, grow. I'm working a lot these days, and was getting stressed about it---until I realized that it wasn't like I had a short amount of time before I had to leave, or any other kind of commitment that I was missing by doing what I'm doing. Then I realized that I acctually really had fun at both of my jobs, and that I was doing important things (in different ways) at both of them: saving the world for one, and learning more about theatre/actually getting to work on shows at the other...plus, I'm earning money at both. So...why the pressure? Realizing that was very helpful---really let me relax about a lot of things that are going on right now.

Also! We made bread (in our breadmaker---which is why I'm not saying "baked bread") for the first time last night...and it was fairly good! I had the most hippy-ish of sandwhiches made with it (tofu w/ barbeque sauce and lots of spinnach on homemade wheat bread), and it tasted fine. Hooray!

Well folks, that's life as we know it right now. Hope everyone is doing well out there. Send word as it comes.

Up past my bedtime, waiting for bread to rise

This is one view of my room. Hopefully, as work settles down a bit, I'll be able to put the last things together, clean my room, and then take some more pictures.

Until then, to all of you out in internet-land, you have a good night.

Moderately Good Intentions

A few ruminations before I pass out:

-Canvasers can tell when you're not going to sign something for them. We can usually tell before we even approach you. Its almost frightening how quickly I'm seeing the patterns. I clearly have a very long way to go--- but even now, just a few days in, I can tell pretty well. Suprisingly enough, the easiest answer to hear is the insincere "I don't have time"---it lets us know that we shouldn't even try. That being said---as much as I know I annoy a few people every day, I think I leave about as many people laughing as they walk away---with me, rather than at me. The "at me's" are a little harder to deal with, though less so than the disgusted people. Or the really weird ones (see next).

-A man today muttered for a long chunk of time about shooting me, then asked me why trees where being killed. When I said "Paper", he said "Recycling. Next. Why're trees being killed?" So I said "Kleenex." And he said "Recycling. We already did this, man. Why you playing around with me? Why they killing trees?" So I said "I'm not sure what you're looking for." This prompted him to wonder why I was playing around, then said that he would "knock me out, except I'm the wrong color." Then he said, "Buildings man. Buildings are why they're killing trees." I started canvasing away from him after that.

-As the title of the post reflects, I'm feeling goodwill towards my fellow man, but in a...not selective, but perhaps flexible manner. This has nothing to do with work, and more to do with life. I'm going to be a good person, but maybe force a couple of issues as well. I'm not trying to be obtuse, I'm actually just really struggling with this concept at 3 am. We'll see.

-Saw "White Rabbit", had some interesting elements, pushed me to start going through "All Day Permanent Red" again---I'm starting to pick out passages, writing will hopefully begin soon. Once again, I'm enthraled by Logues' language, control, and ingenuity.

-I want to watch the "Battlestar" miniseries with someone. It's a chunk of film that is fun to share.

-I think life is getting fun again. That's exciting.

The Pogues had it right

You know the statement "Sometimes you're the bug, sometimes you're the windshield"? It strikes me as a somewhat lacking expression---we need to find a better metaphor that captures those times when you're the bug, and you see the windshield coming towards you, notice it, wonder about it, finally identify it, and then get splattered anyway.

That rumination aside, things are going well! I made staff at GreenPeace (where I work now, by the way), so as long as I can maintain a fairly reasonable quota per week, I should be in the clear as far as rent and food are concerned. I think I need to re-work my schedule a bit so that I can have at least one day off per week (right now I work every day, between Bud's Cafe, GreenPeace, and the box office---different hours, but still- it's nice to have one day free a week). I figure that will be easier come the end of October.

Saw a good play tonight---"Thyestes", by Senneca, directed by JoAnne Akalitis, adapted by Caryl Churchill. Intense, a lot of really cool ideas, some very intense interpretation/staging, yet a production that I think stayed close not only to the play itself but also to the intentions. Saw it with Hannah, a friend from high school who I have not seen for far too long, and hopefully will get to see more of in the coming time.

Other than that---I don't work tomorrow until 11:30, so I'm curling up with Battlestar and a glass of wine. A nice end to a week, in many ways.

Obligatory Lyrics post

"She said, 'It looks like love, and it sounds like love,
and it seems like love, and it feels like love;
and it walks like love, and it talks like love,
and it runs like love, and it skips like love;
and it hurts like love, disappoints like love,
disappears like love, reappears like love.
And it shouts like love and it sings like love
So guess what, my friend, she said?
I think you got love."

I may or may not have finally seen a bit more of "Zanna, Don't" tonight. Still havn't seen all/most/barely some of it, but I'm shooting for one or two wednesdays from now---I think I've got off work. Anyway, that little bit of lyric has been running through my head ever since--at least what I've seen of the musical is fairly catchy. Although I kept waiting for this bit of the lyrics to be a take-off of the old "I can't believe it's not butter" comercials....

Life lessons (slowly learned)

New reminder for self today: these are the good years. Enjoy them. I spend too much time worrying, stressing myself out needlessly. I need to chill out a bit about screwing up at my evening job especially: if I'm terrified I'm going to screw up constantly, I'll never have any fun.

That being said, I need to be careful about the ways I might screw up. For instance, I will no longer leave hammers in awkward places. However, allowing things to roll off my back more will be useful. We'll try it out on wednesday. I wonder if part of it is a lack of sleep? I just got up from a nap, and I feel absolutly wonderful---ready to start the day again, fresh, excited about life. All in all a nice feeling.


Second. Reminder for (the euphamistic) tommorow: these are also the good years. I don't think there are bad years. Just...these years especially, I don't want to waste.

Trader Joe's tommorow! I can start eating complex foods again! Not just peanut butter sandwiches and noodles with olives and oregano!

Smooth

I may or may not have spent this morning washing windows with a famous rock star. While hearing advice and stories about his life.

When people ask me why I work nights and weekends in a box office for min. wage...that's what I'll tell them. Well, that and I love the theatre.

Still need to see "Zanna, Don't!", "White Rabbit", and a host of other shows. I think I may get a chance to see "Thyestes" (Senneca, adapted by Caryl Churchill, directed by JoAnne Akalitias) this week...despite somewhat pricey tickets. Well, such is life, yes? It's supposed to be amazing.

Also! I finally landed a day job---GreenPeace, as a canvaser. I need to pass the first week requirements, but as long as that goes well, I should be much more financialy comfortable. Which is exciting.

Trader Joe's tommorow. Near to being done unpacking. Life is pretty good.

Post #14

Just because there can't be 13...if I learned nothing from Mr. Thorin (atyourservice), it's that.

Best,

Jeff Gardner
(Soon to move into his own little dwelling, hopefully not to be chased out by certain dragons)

The "Plain Yogurt" of posts

[EDITOR'S NOTE: There have been more exciting posts than this, in the history of blogging. I'm doing this one because if I get out of the habit too badly, I lose steam. I promise there won't be too many more of these 'Filler' episodes--I'll start putting up art, or pictures, or something if I don't have anything I _have_ to write about]

I'm back in Chicago!

It was a little odd, how it felt getting off the place. There's something interesting, and a little cool, about not having someone there to meet you when you come to a city. A little bit of "this is my city".

We move into the Apartment tomorrow! Hooray!

I guess it's official enough that I can give out the address:

1048 N Marshfield Ave. Apt. #1R
Chicago IL 60622

It's half of the first floor of a four story building. Not a complex---more a big, older building. About a block and a half south of Division in the Wicker Park area.

I'm doing pretty well, a little tired. Saw Dan Yurovsky two days ago, Middy last night. It was absolutely amazing to see both of them--very nice to share an evening hearing my grandmother's stories about moving to a new city for the first time (for her, it was NYC---she walked into the New York times offices, because "she had to be in the newsroom for election night." The Gardner family has a little bit of that spirit in it, neh? She reminds me of Karen in some very interesting ways.) Seeing Dan was really great, as was meeting his friends (most of whom I thought were pretty neat individuals) and playing a few too many rounds of "Apples to Apples" after hitting a Mexican place with slightly aggressive margaritas.

Mostly though, I'm a little tired. A few days with very little sleep will really take it out of me. I've got a show coming up this Friday--surprisingly unstressed about it. If you're in Chicago and are at all interested in seeing it, get at me....

Places that are Home

So I'm in Columbus now, flying back to Chicago early tomorrow morning. Spent last night at Kenyon, the night before that here.

I don't really even know how to describe what that was all like.

It was wonderful seeing so many people. I hadn't realized how much I missed knowing so many people, having them near... it's something uniquely Kenyon, I think. Or, if nothing else, uniquely Kenyon in my life so far.

It was wonderful to see the Professors, to talk with them, with Kris, with Chris, with Turgeon and Taz and Daniel and Hugh and Hannehman and Serfass and...you get the idea. Even met the locally famous Molly Rice, who was just about as cool as described.

Walked down to the Kokosing, that was important and good. The river is still as beautiful at 3 am as it always was/will be.

Most shaking experience? Walking up the stairs to C300. Staying there was almost as hard as I expected it. I walked into the Tafts area...and suddenly had the overwhelming sensation that Lily was right there down the Hill. Passed the second floor apt, and thought---let's check in on Nelie. Put my hand on the knob to go into C300, and really, truly expected Dave, Bob, and Joe to be there on the other side. Maybe Nate if he happened to be South. I think when they weren't, that informed the big difference on campus. Even though there were so many wonderful people--a huge chunk of the important Kenyon people weren't. That was hard. I got out of there pretty quickly, walked all the way north. Passed the VI, thought I saw Pat in there, and laughed at myself---man, I'm really just going crazy with this. Little did I know, Pat was actually there...we just happened to come visit on the same day. So, once I went back and checked it out, and realized that it actually was him, things calmed down a bit---clearly, though most people were gone, it didn't mean they had disappeared---just need to work a little harder, or be a little luckier to see them.

So I'm waxing poetic and nostalgic at the same time. So it's an angst-ridden post. Guilty as charged. Being in Columbus is always wonderful. Going back to Kenyon was wonderful. These things just need dealing with from time to time, you know?

So that was rough. Going back to Chicago is going to be rough. I'm not built for solitary life. I need people, friends, acquaintances, contacts around me. I know it takes time, and that it will be hard in the new city. Mother's mantra is that it takes a full year to start knowing a city, and to know people in it. I'm trying to remember that. Frankly, I've got great hopes--just need to keep looking, keep exploring, figure out what this whole section of life is all really about.

Little bit of lag

Sorry folks---been a little while since I posted. For those who are keeping track, a few updates on life:

-Got a very part-time job in the box office of the Bailiwick Rep. Theatre in Chicago. It's down on Belmont, near Racine. Cool place, 3 stages---often a whole bunch of shows running at the same time. I'm playing catch-up a little bit, trying to get it all under control--lots to learn, not a whole lot of time to learn it. I'm hoping as time goes on, everything will get smoother. Although I guess I've only actually worked 3 or so nights/days there. It's income, though, which is always good.

-We got the apartment: down on North Marshfield, right below Division. Its near a very hip part of town--I'm a fan, although its going to be a little while before I feel like I fit in totally. The age is generally 25-30, lots of tattoos---its kinda like I'm living in the Horn Gallery on steroids, for those of you who know what I'm talking about. Move in on October 1st! Its right off the Blue line. I'm very much looking forward to it.

-I'm going to visit Dad and Kathi for a few days, and to visit Kenyon for one. People still in Gambier---I'll be there this coming Wednesday, getting in late afternoon/early evening. If you don't see me that night, look for me in the morning on my bench. I'm really looking forward to spending some time with Dad, it will be a nice de-stresser before I jump back into life here full time. I figure that this is the opportunity to take: I'm not paying for an apartment yet, and I'm not working full time---don't know when I'll have a good chance like this again (or be able to afford it).

So! That's life as we know it right now. I'm a little worried about going to see school again--which is strange, because I haven't been at all yet. I'm not sure if it will be good for me or not---I'm hoping it is. I'm looking forward to life settling down a bit here---and I'm also realizing that part of that has to come from me: I need to just kick back a little bit, get in the flow, and not try to take too many things on at once. I may have overdone it a little here in the beginning: lets see what happens when I just deal with what's on my plate now, and then go from there.

The Dark is....

http://www.apple.com/trailers/independent/theseekerthedarkisrising/medium.html

Ah HA HA HA HA HA!

No, but seriously folks, where's the real preview?

Alright. So I've only re-read the first of the books recently. Fair. But am I totally wrong that this doesn't appear to have much of anything to do with them? I mean, I remember the rider. I guess the guy with a beard might be Uncle Merry...but...yeah.

Well, I guess I better get thee to a library, read the others, see if I'm totally off base.

I mean, it could be a fun movie anyway. Right now, I'm putting it somewhere between "trick someone" and "Rent" (on a scale of "Opening Night" - "See in theatres" - "Matinee" - "Rent" - "Trick someone else into renting" - "Watch if it's there" - and "Stab Eyes Out")

Quick Update---

Because I need sleep.

Landed a stage managing gig today. Seven days in Chicago, and I'm working. That feels about right. Now a rent-paying job needs to come through(this one pays, but not enough to survive on).
The gig will be interesting--clearly a really nice group of people, but they've got a bit of a disorganized rehearsal process right now. Which, I guess, is why they wanted a stage manager. Should be fine though. Short hours, not a whole lot of rehersals--and they're all in the mornings (as are the shows). A fine first step.

I also met David Zalk(!), but didn't realize it was him. Hopefully I'll find a better excuse to talk to him later. A little intimidating, but I guess that's why I'm here, right? Right.

Also--went to a great Irish session tonight, at a local pub. Very chill people, was really great to play bodhran and sing in a supportive, fun setting. Some fairly good musicians too. Learned a couple of cool songs--- "There Were Roses" being one of my new favorites, at least in this guy's version.

Alright. That's life on the home front. I'm going to grab some zzzz's--another big day tomorrow.

Music, theatre, and a whole bunch of walking

Interesting El ride home.

(No, Julia, not as "interesting" as yours...I can't compete, sorry. Interesting nonetheless)

I was reading a book on producing/managing a theatre company, and a guy who had been on the train for a while asked me if I was in the theatre. Wasn't quite sure how to react, but we talked for a while. Turns out he's in the industry in Chicago, currently an admin at one of the theatres around here, and had a lot of very interesting advice on getting started/keeping a theatre alive in the city (his training was in NFP company management). Nice guy, have his phone number. Check.

Is there anything the El can't do? I mean, really?

Otherwise, a big day for walking around, exploring the city, and eating filling food near a German festival. We also found the Old town school of Folk music, which is just about the coolest place ever, as far as I can tell. Once I get a job, hopefully I'll have the chance to take some lessons---harmonizing? Maybe a mandolin class or two? Huge building, middleaged guy hanging around the foyer with a guitar, directing people where to go, a big music store...if I disappear sometime soon, check there first.

Very quick plea for help----is there a common synonym for "Socially active" (as in, a piece of art raising awareness of poverty in the midwest is "socially active") that comes off the top of people's heads that I can't think of? Send them to me, if you can---I'm running into a brick wall here. Politically active is close, but distinct enough that it doesn't really work. Help me out if you can, folks.

Hope all is well out in the world.

-J

In which the going gets tough, and Jeff gets his act together.

...But seriously, forks.
Alright, I stole that one from "the Far Side". Who remembers the Far Side? I think between "Calvin and Hobbes" and "the Far Side", we can explain a lot of the dysfunction that exists in my life as a young, somewhat awkward, well-read person. Not that I'm excluding anyone from this blog who happens to be old, with-it, and illiterate.

I'm just not convinced I know anyone who is actually "with-it". Maybe Dan. Well, maybe both Dans, but in very different ways? Everyone who knows the people I'm talking about, nod your head sagely. Everyone else...just keep moving. I promise, it's always darkest before the dawn. We're almost out. [EDITOR'S NOTE: I'm wrong here. It just gets worse. If you don't have any interest in children's lit, plagiarism, or the occult, run while you still can.]

Speaking of Darkest, I just found a copy of the first book in "The Dark is Rising" sequence (n.b.- the author very specifically calls it a sequence, rather than a series. I'm wondering if this is a era-word use thing, or if she's actually got a deeper agenda there). Anyway---kind of like a more sinister Narnia series, or a less fantastical His Dark Materials. I guess that would be the closest parallel.

On that track--did anyone ever read a book called...I believe "The Eye of the Scorpion"? Or something similar? All I could find through Google was an old "Doctor Who" episode of the same name. It was the second in a series (never did find the first one) about...hold on. Found something on wikipedia...I'm actually not going to say what the book was about right now--don't want to accidentally imply something bad about the author, so I'm not going to identify it.

This is a little strange. I found an exact outline for the book, same plot...but this says it was published in 2007. I'm pretty sure that I read a book while in middle school, borrowed from a little library in Edgewood, where I would go for violin recitals. I don't even know if the library is there anymore---I have no idea if the book would be there. I also can't remember what the book was called. Well folks, I think it's got to be one of four things:

1: I'm psychic. I've got literature-related powers which allow me to look into the future and read books not yet published. Ergo, things probably do go bump in the night. A little scary. I may have to choose between using my powers for good or for evil.

2: The library was a kind of occultic sanctuary, outside of time and space. Probably storing knowledge man might not be ready for. Ergo, things definitely go bump in the night. Scarier. Particularly because I spent a lot of my childhood reading things from that library. In his deep house in Ryleh....

3: This guy plagiarized. Intentionally or not, a very obscure children's book that only he and I have read. Things go bump in the night, and they are us. Unfortunately, probably the scariest.

4: The book was re-released. Lordy, I hope this is what it is.

Occult jokes aside, this is a bit of a pickle...I don't know. I supposed I keep looking for this book, and maybe read the recently released one? See if it all seems the same? I've looked everywhere the book is listed, and....

Ahah! Fascinating! I found the old book--I somehow managed to remember the title. "Night of the Scorpion," by Anthony Horowitz. Who is, in fact, the man writing "Evil Star", the book I thought sounded a little too familiar. He is re-writing his own books to be published again, and finishing the series! He has not plagiarized anything. He is a clean, wholesome, and altogether brilliant man, both for this marketing/etc scheme, and for the books he wrote. Kudos. [EDITOR'S NOTE: Plagiarize is a needlessly difficult word to spell, and is apparently too close to "pasteurize" and Plantagenet to be guessed at.]

Life is clear. Thank you for coming on that journey with me, folks.

Well, I really didn't get my act together, did I? When I started out, this post was going to be about me looking for jobs, being grownup, and generally improving my life. Instead, it was a detective story about children's literature. Oh well. Much more interesting, I think.

BTW- Nate, if you're reading this (and I don't actually know if you are), you should read "Night of the Scorpion." Elder gods imprisoned under the Nazca Lines = Crazy delicious. Seriously, this book captivated me enough that I still think about it all the time today. Was probably a big part of why I was so into Cthulu. I'm going to try to find copies, read them again...but yeah.

Hope everyone is well. Nazca lines rock my socks.

In Chicago!

Here I am! Everything is in storage, I'm staying up in Evanston for a while, until I find a job. There's still no word on the apartment: keep your fingers crossed, people.

On other fronts, I've fallen in love with Dan's Scrambled Tofu, have managed to find copies of both "War Stories" and "All Day Permanent Red" and read both, and found the coolest little vegitarian/vegan friendly cafe ever (the Earwax Cafe---I swear, I went in and gained +45 hip points. How many of you thought I said hit points? I know I was thinking it. Sigh.)

Does anyone remember the "Lone Wolf" books? they were like "Choose your own Adventure" for people to geeky to actually be alive. If you haven't guessed, I thought they were wonderful. Anyway, I just found one, and it gave me the insane urge to try to find the complete 20+ book set, and try to do them all the way through.

Which means what? Means I really need a job, or something to give some structure to my life. I think it will come, though.

Finished "Jonathan Strange and Mr. Norrell"---I was actually pretty surprised by how much I liked it, and how quickly the end went. I thought it was a good time, and filled the niche that reading history books for school has left open. I'd recommend it as good summer reading---easy to read, long, yet still vaguely academic feeling.

I think we're going to leave it at that for now. Time to grab a quick lunch, then go make copies of a few keys, maybe get a haircut, and see if anyone in Evanston is hiring. It's a trek...but hey, a job is a job. It's a nice suburb out here, and relatively accessible through the trains.

See you all soon!

Apartment?

We might have an apartment? I might be celebrating?

It's a nice 2 BR place down in Wicker Park, just south of Division. Hooray!

Now, to submit the application, and somehow convince the people to give it to us...despite the fact that I've got no credit history, current employment (other than self-employed for $0 a month) and no "Current Landlord Reference".

Lets see how this goes. Pictures soon?

Public Transportation

I think one of the things that excites me most about Chicago is the El. I've always loved Public Transporation----but up until now, I've only used busses. Now, while a good Bus system is still wonderful, I've finally figured out why everyone loves trains/subways/Elevated Rails. You just get on...and they take you where you want to be. Its very easy to find---you can zone out in the middle, because the stops are not only clearly labled on the walls, but there is also a map in the car saying exactly what you will pass at what point. Busses, to a fundamental degree, will always need a little bit of attention---because you have to know in advance when your stop is coming up. With a train, you just get off. That sounded wrong.

That being said, I'm looking forward to a possibly long commute in the morning and evenings---it will be a chunk of time I can take, guilt free, to have to myself---to read, to write, to work on whatever new project I'm working on, or to just zone out of the window or chat with other passangers.

Plus, it just might help do a bit to save our poor, dear enviroment.

Lets hear it for Public Transportation.

Lasting Fame in Theatre

A realization:

People's fame in theatre may be able to be predicted to some degree based on their job. Here's my theory.

Actor's tend to be famous in the short term--their names will be better know than their contemporaries in other fields for their lifetimes, and maybe...between a half century and a century afterwards?

Directors and Designers occupy a kind of middle territory: they are remembered for a few hundred years maybe---basically, they remain influential (if they've done something really revolutionary) as long as people can respond to them, go against what they say. Then, someone will unearth them, copy what they did or have the same idea, and people will start responding to that artist, and the cycle starts over.

Playwrights are famous in the long term---Sophocles, Shakespeare, Synge, yadda yadda. Now, I know the first two also theoreticaly also directed their own work---but we don't remember them for their influence on directors, we remember them for their plays. Case in point---Sophocles introduced some very important inovations in scenery, etc, etc---and was very important to Euripides for that innovation...but did Stanislavski base his directing off of Sophocles' work? I'm pretty sure he didn't.


Ok folks! Disagree with me! Help me refine this idea.

Review and Update

Let's start this off right: our first new movie review.

What better to start it off with than...The Punisher.

First off. Not Marvel's worst movie. Better than Fantastic Four. Fine. I said it.

Remarks: the hero gets shot. Often. It keeps happening! Walks down the street. Gets shot. Gets in a fight. Gets shot. Orders a drink in a bar. Gets shot. I feel like there must have been a point in the movie when someone missed him, so he shot himself, just to keep up apperances. it was refreshing to see a hero who didn't have a magical shield or something, or a group of bad guys who actually knew which end of the gun they were using...but at a certain point, I thought...man, I'd just want to hang out for a bit after that fight. Take a break. Also, features one of the most entertaining fight scenes I've seen in a long time, between Frank Castle and a character known only as..."The Russian." Deep character. I'm not sure, but I have the sinking suspicion that he was played by a pro wrestler. Just sayin'. Also, the fight happens to "Elephant's Yeah!"

There's character progression---at one point, he grows a beard! I think he also might switch whiskeys at one point...but I could be remembering wrong.

Indicative line for the movie?

WISE MAN: Vamnos Dios, Castle. Go with God.
CASTLE: God's gonna sit this one out.

END SCENE

Here's my question---he makes a tricked out car. He has a big apartment, with lots of...if not fancy, at least servicable bits of equipment. Where is the money coming from? All his assets would be closed when he died. Does he work? All of his neighbors work. Where does he get the money?

Also---best torture scene ever. With a blowtorch, a popsicle, and a piece of steak. Also including perhaps the funniest lines of the movie:

(CASTLE has a man hanging from the celing, about to tourture him)

SCARED MAN: I've got friends, you know!
CASTLE: Let's talk about your friends.
SCARED MAN: Hey! Make your own friends!
-----------

Ok, maybe its not as funny in print. I thought it was clever.

Travolta is mildly amusing---slightly long hair. Is there a correlation between the number of people Travolta kills in a movie and the length of his hair? I've been trying to track it. Help me out anyone? Does he have long hair in Face/Off? I guess "Hairspray" kinda kills that theory...oh well.
How great is it, though, that clearly his character's last thoughts are...."oh man, had I known that man was a homosexual, I NEVER would have killed him! Shit." How's that for reversals of expectations?

Wouldn't you think that Glass (the closeted consigliere/CPA/head enforecer for Travolta) would have nothing to hide? I mean, if I were a crime boss whose biggest obsession was keeping strange men away from my wife, my first move would be to hire a man who wasn't interested. It just makes good sense.

I think the movie hits a high point, however, when a hitman described only as being "from Memphis" walks into a diner where the hero is eating breakfast, opens a very suspicious guitar case...then plays him a country song. He then packs up the guitar, tells him that he wrote the song for him, that he'll sing it at his funeral...and then leaves. It was key. Because we know, everyone from Memphis plays guitar, Especialy the hitmen. Here's a link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XfxXcBJ0LP0

All in all, an amusing movie. Again, dumb, but without the pain of certain other movies with involved a certain number of heroes who may or may not have been...well...you know the rest.
===============

What about normal life?

I've got...what, a week left in Pittsburgh? If all goes well, I'll be in Chicago come September. I love Pittsburgh dearly, and will be coming back sometime soon, even to live, I'm sure. However---I'm ready. I'm idling here. It's hard---lack of structure in life right now, etc. Looking forward to various works (both theatrical and rent-paying) for the structure and the occupation, looking forward to having a place of my own, to meeting new people and seeing friends.

So I'm excited. Looking up U-haul rental rates (which are HIGH) and finishing up with packing. More to follow soon.

Returning to blogging

I've missed having a Blog, and now that I'm moving again---well, figure its maybe time I started it up again! I've found it hard to maintain a blog on this site---so we'll see how it does. Here's hoping.

Stay tuned for ramblings, rants, movie reviews (Jeff-style), and more. So basicaly, the basic useless blog. Maybe I'll find a better use for it soon.