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.