After 5.5 months I've finally updated my website. YAY! I added a section for school work (although I haven't added any work from this semester).
Happy Fall/Winter everyone.
xoxo
http://www.laceyshaw.com
Friday, November 13, 2009
Thursday, August 20, 2009
What you do now matters. What you don't do matters too.
I'm enjoying my break from school. Although it's been just as busy as school was. I'm working. I'm at Sephora corporate helping on the website. And I've been hanging out with some people from school. Joined a gym. Took a dance class. Took a boxing class. Joined a burrito club. (Yes. Really. A burrito club). Saw Julie & Julia. Went to the smallest pub there ever was. Went to the diviest dive bar there ever was. Dyed my hair black. Repierced my ear. Went to Glen Park. It's not as far away as I thought it was. Had a fresh pretzel from a German bakery. Didn't take any photos though.
Now class is starting in a couple of weeks and I'm trying to get myself organized. I'd really like to read a couple of books for classes to get a head start. And I'd like to buy a large format printer. Maybe do a few warmup ads to get back in the mindset. I have, what I think, is a good idea for a beer campaign.
Unfortunately (or maybe fortunately) for the first month of fall term I'll also be working. Hopefully things at school won't be too crazy the first month because I've already been told I'll be working long hours.
Looking forward to vacation first though. Tahoe, LA, San Diego. Should be fun.
Now class is starting in a couple of weeks and I'm trying to get myself organized. I'd really like to read a couple of books for classes to get a head start. And I'd like to buy a large format printer. Maybe do a few warmup ads to get back in the mindset. I have, what I think, is a good idea for a beer campaign.
Unfortunately (or maybe fortunately) for the first month of fall term I'll also be working. Hopefully things at school won't be too crazy the first month because I've already been told I'll be working long hours.
Looking forward to vacation first though. Tahoe, LA, San Diego. Should be fun.
Thursday, August 6, 2009
Why is it no one ever sent me yet One perfect limousine, do you suppose? Ah no, it's always just my luck to get One perfect rose.
So in addition to an advertising class I also took a creative writing class. It was a lot of fun. I wrote a lot. I don't want to clog up my blog though, so here is just a sample. For this exercise we had to write a story from one point of view and then write the same story from a different point of view.
VERSION 1:
It was a Tuesday. Or perhaps it was a Wednesday. You were just back from tennis, so it must have been a Tuesday. I was sitting on the porch swing, readingThe Great Gatsby and having a mint julep. You kissed me on my forehead, called me your beautiful little fool and ran inside for a shower. You didn't know then. You didn't know then because I hadn't told you yet. I hadn't told you yet because I hadn't found the proper words.
When you were done with your shower you joined me outside on the swing. You talked about your day. You told me about the case you were working on for the firm. You told me how you'd won two out of your three tennis matches. I was rather proud of you. I told you how the garden was coming. I told you about the letter that had come from our old neighbors inquiring about when would be a good time to visit. I told you about the new noise the car was making. We swung. We sipped our drinks. We held hands.
It started to rain. You suggested we go inside. I pleaded with you to stay on the porch for just a while longer.
We sat through dinner barely saying a word. I'd made lamb with baby potatoes and greens. We had watermelon for dessert. Then you retired to your office to phone California about something or other to do with the new case.
I went upstairs and got ready for bed. I could hear you downstairs for hours pacing. Back and forth. Every so often you would raise your voice. The call to California must not have been going well.
I laid up reading and waiting for you. I was at the part of the book when Gatsby and Daisy start having their affair. Before things got really complicated.
A little past midnight you came upstairs. You changed into your nightshirt and brushed your teeth. You laid out a suit for work. You packed your briefcase.
You got into bed. I was facing the other way, pretending to already be asleep. You turned out your bedside lamp, kissed my cheek and said "goodnight dear." I whispered "my mother died today" and fell asleep.
VERSION 2:
Jonathan and Cynthia Little led separate lives. Jonathan was a partner at a major law firm. He was an extremely competitive person who spent his days battling in the courtroom and his evening battling on the tennis court. He was punctual, clean cut and always did what was expected of him. When Jonathan got home to his dear wife he was often tired and the last thing he wanted to do was converse. Cynthia was a self-proclaimed artist. She stayed at home working on her paintings, although she did more work in the garden than anything else. She rebelled against life's mandates and tended to be over-sensitive.
The day Cynthia's mother died began like any other summer day. But at 3:48pm Cynthia's father called to inform her that, although her surgery last week had been successful, she had passed away due to unforeseeable complications.
Cynthia spent the next three hours and twelve minutes reading the same line in The Great Gatsby over and over - "So we drove on toward death in the cooling twilight."
Jonathan arrived home like clockwork at 7pm. As he pulled up in his sensible sedan he could see his wife sitting on the porch swing, flustered and drinking. Not wanting to deal with whatever was upsetting Cynthia, he rushed past her, using the need of a shower for an excuse, taking only enough time to say "beautiful little fool," before going inside.
He made that shower take as long as possible. Cleaning and recleaning every square inch of flesh. After that Jonathan partook in all forms of male grooming to avoid Cynthia. Jonathan loved his wife dearly, he just didn't always like her very much.
Knowing he could stall no longer, Jonathan fixed himself an extra large scotch before joining Cynthia on the porch. He talked about his day. He told her about the case he was working on for the firm. He told her how he'd won two out of his three tennis matches. Jonathan tried to dominate the conversation for as long as possible but eventually his exhaustion got the best of him. Luckily for him Cynthia wasn't ready to talk about her mother's death. She told him how the garden was coming. She told him about the letter that had come from their old neighbors inquiring about when would be a good time to visit. She told him about the new noise the car was making. When there was nothing left to say they sat in silence, letting the creak of the old porch swing do the talking.
When it started to rain Jonathan wanted to go inside. Cynthia begged for just a few more moments on the swing. Not wanting to argue he submitted.
After a uneventful dinner, Jonathan went to his office to finish up some work while Cynthia went upstairs to read. Cynthia tried to make out Jonathan's phone call but the floor muffled his voice. She could only make out a word here and there, mostly when he was yelling. Jonathan didn't really need to make the phone call that night, but he figured if he stayed downstairs long enough Cynthia would fall asleep.
Shortly after midnight Jonathan went upstairs and got ready for bed. He said "goodnight dear" to Cynthia. She whispered back "my mother died today." Cynthia fell asleep. Jonathan did not.
VERSION 1:
It was a Tuesday. Or perhaps it was a Wednesday. You were just back from tennis, so it must have been a Tuesday. I was sitting on the porch swing, readingThe Great Gatsby and having a mint julep. You kissed me on my forehead, called me your beautiful little fool and ran inside for a shower. You didn't know then. You didn't know then because I hadn't told you yet. I hadn't told you yet because I hadn't found the proper words.
When you were done with your shower you joined me outside on the swing. You talked about your day. You told me about the case you were working on for the firm. You told me how you'd won two out of your three tennis matches. I was rather proud of you. I told you how the garden was coming. I told you about the letter that had come from our old neighbors inquiring about when would be a good time to visit. I told you about the new noise the car was making. We swung. We sipped our drinks. We held hands.
It started to rain. You suggested we go inside. I pleaded with you to stay on the porch for just a while longer.
We sat through dinner barely saying a word. I'd made lamb with baby potatoes and greens. We had watermelon for dessert. Then you retired to your office to phone California about something or other to do with the new case.
I went upstairs and got ready for bed. I could hear you downstairs for hours pacing. Back and forth. Every so often you would raise your voice. The call to California must not have been going well.
I laid up reading and waiting for you. I was at the part of the book when Gatsby and Daisy start having their affair. Before things got really complicated.
A little past midnight you came upstairs. You changed into your nightshirt and brushed your teeth. You laid out a suit for work. You packed your briefcase.
You got into bed. I was facing the other way, pretending to already be asleep. You turned out your bedside lamp, kissed my cheek and said "goodnight dear." I whispered "my mother died today" and fell asleep.
VERSION 2:
Jonathan and Cynthia Little led separate lives. Jonathan was a partner at a major law firm. He was an extremely competitive person who spent his days battling in the courtroom and his evening battling on the tennis court. He was punctual, clean cut and always did what was expected of him. When Jonathan got home to his dear wife he was often tired and the last thing he wanted to do was converse. Cynthia was a self-proclaimed artist. She stayed at home working on her paintings, although she did more work in the garden than anything else. She rebelled against life's mandates and tended to be over-sensitive.
The day Cynthia's mother died began like any other summer day. But at 3:48pm Cynthia's father called to inform her that, although her surgery last week had been successful, she had passed away due to unforeseeable complications.
Cynthia spent the next three hours and twelve minutes reading the same line in The Great Gatsby over and over - "So we drove on toward death in the cooling twilight."
Jonathan arrived home like clockwork at 7pm. As he pulled up in his sensible sedan he could see his wife sitting on the porch swing, flustered and drinking. Not wanting to deal with whatever was upsetting Cynthia, he rushed past her, using the need of a shower for an excuse, taking only enough time to say "beautiful little fool," before going inside.
He made that shower take as long as possible. Cleaning and recleaning every square inch of flesh. After that Jonathan partook in all forms of male grooming to avoid Cynthia. Jonathan loved his wife dearly, he just didn't always like her very much.
Knowing he could stall no longer, Jonathan fixed himself an extra large scotch before joining Cynthia on the porch. He talked about his day. He told her about the case he was working on for the firm. He told her how he'd won two out of his three tennis matches. Jonathan tried to dominate the conversation for as long as possible but eventually his exhaustion got the best of him. Luckily for him Cynthia wasn't ready to talk about her mother's death. She told him how the garden was coming. She told him about the letter that had come from their old neighbors inquiring about when would be a good time to visit. She told him about the new noise the car was making. When there was nothing left to say they sat in silence, letting the creak of the old porch swing do the talking.
When it started to rain Jonathan wanted to go inside. Cynthia begged for just a few more moments on the swing. Not wanting to argue he submitted.
After a uneventful dinner, Jonathan went to his office to finish up some work while Cynthia went upstairs to read. Cynthia tried to make out Jonathan's phone call but the floor muffled his voice. She could only make out a word here and there, mostly when he was yelling. Jonathan didn't really need to make the phone call that night, but he figured if he stayed downstairs long enough Cynthia would fall asleep.
Shortly after midnight Jonathan went upstairs and got ready for bed. He said "goodnight dear" to Cynthia. She whispered back "my mother died today." Cynthia fell asleep. Jonathan did not.
The pursuit of excellence is less profitable than the pursuit of bigness, but it can be more satisfying.
I am done with my first term of grad school. Man that was a lot of work. But I loved it and am extremely happy with my decision to go back to school. Here are the ads I came up with for my final project. The brands are Tesla (they make an electric car), Tabasco, LG (for a washer they make that gets out 95% of allergens using steam), and for Vietnam tourism.
Friday, June 19, 2009
But wait, there's more!
Week one done. I'm freaking tired. But, just for the heck of it -
The week in review:
Ran errands. Many many errands. Was so tired after running errands had chips and dip for dinner. Worked on Tanya's stuff. Finished Tanya's stuff. Worked on Guys and Lies. Worked on Guys and Lies some more. Went for a drink in Lafayette park. Had first Creative Writing class. Had first Ad class. Babysat for Tanya. Worked on Writing homework. Worked on Ad homework. Prepared for 2 interviews. Went on 2 interviews. Finished Ad homework. Had second Ad class. Walked many many miles. Read most of Hey Whipple, Squeeze this. Had lots of Mexican food.
Last week I went on a 3 hour tour of the city as part of orientation for school. I'd seen everything before, but the tour guides gave some interesting facts, none of which I remember now. Then today I was in the Transamerica building for the first time. I was on the 42nd floor. On man. Amazing views of the city. I still love this place.
The week in review:
Ran errands. Many many errands. Was so tired after running errands had chips and dip for dinner. Worked on Tanya's stuff. Finished Tanya's stuff. Worked on Guys and Lies. Worked on Guys and Lies some more. Went for a drink in Lafayette park. Had first Creative Writing class. Had first Ad class. Babysat for Tanya. Worked on Writing homework. Worked on Ad homework. Prepared for 2 interviews. Went on 2 interviews. Finished Ad homework. Had second Ad class. Walked many many miles. Read most of Hey Whipple, Squeeze this. Had lots of Mexican food.
Last week I went on a 3 hour tour of the city as part of orientation for school. I'd seen everything before, but the tour guides gave some interesting facts, none of which I remember now. Then today I was in the Transamerica building for the first time. I was on the 42nd floor. On man. Amazing views of the city. I still love this place.
Sunday, June 7, 2009
We are like butterflies who flutter for a day and think it's forever.
I finished my application to grad school. I was accepted. I applied for classes. I start 6/15. I worked on Tanya's website. I saw Drag Me to Hell. I volunteered for the AIDs Lifecycle. I saw Star Trek. I went to lunch in Hayes Valley. I went to dinner in the Loin. Polk street exploded. I was without power for 12 hours. I went to an art show. I walked around Japan Town. I made tostadas. I colored with Brendan. I finally got my bike back. I went to Book Passage and did not buy any books. I went to the cemetery. I hiked in the redwoods. I took lots of pictures. I finally went to Maria Marias. It was alright. I drank lots of decaf coffee. I started watching Heroes. I got a cold. I job hunted. I went on a pub crawl. I contemplated life. I went to karaoke. I did not sing.
Hopefully next week I will :: bike, read, get prepared for school, finish Tanya's projects, finish Chris' projects, perfect vegan-wheat-free cupcakes and get a job.
Here's a photo of what the afterlife looks like. Crowded.
Hopefully next week I will :: bike, read, get prepared for school, finish Tanya's projects, finish Chris' projects, perfect vegan-wheat-free cupcakes and get a job.
Here's a photo of what the afterlife looks like. Crowded.
Friday, May 29, 2009
Vice, Virtue. It's best not to be too moral. You cheat yourself out of too much life.
I submitted my application and portfolio for grad school today. /stressful week.
Monday, May 25, 2009
Life to you is a dashing and bold adventure.
I have completely redone my website. I tried to go for a simpler, more professional feel so that I can use it in lieu of the crappy digital portfolio I was using. www.laceyshaw.com for those interested.
In other "news" - things I've done recently: lots and lots of bike riding, some yoga, kayaking, walking the Bay to Breakers, camping, star gazing, contemplating life the universe and everything, taking many photos, meeting some new people, making excellent asparagus soup, very little real work (jay kay Tanya), some interviews, speaking with an admissions officer about going to grad school, starting the application process for grad school, looking through my new advertising book and drinking copious amounts of coffee.
Added bonus - here's a photo from my camping trip. This is a lighthouse in Point Arena, CA.
In other "news" - things I've done recently: lots and lots of bike riding, some yoga, kayaking, walking the Bay to Breakers, camping, star gazing, contemplating life the universe and everything, taking many photos, meeting some new people, making excellent asparagus soup, very little real work (jay kay Tanya), some interviews, speaking with an admissions officer about going to grad school, starting the application process for grad school, looking through my new advertising book and drinking copious amounts of coffee.
Added bonus - here's a photo from my camping trip. This is a lighthouse in Point Arena, CA.
Wednesday, May 6, 2009
Better to live a day as a lion than 100 years as a sheep.
The past couple of weeks have been rather busy for me. It's been a nice, needed, change. Among other things, I've been exploring the area beyond the city. It's crazy, I know. Recently I've been to (in chronological order): Mill Valley (for the 9,000th time), Walnut Creek, Redwood City, Oakland, Fremont (what the hell is up with Fremont?), San Jose and Berkeley. It's nice to get out of the city. I have been feeling the travel bug for a while now, but I can't really justify spending money on travel while I'm unemployed/underemployed. So this will have to do. And while I do enjoy the adventuring, every place I go reaffirms my decision to live in SF proper. No offense to the other bays and down south, but man I love San Francisco. Okay, maybe a little offense.
So, while I was off wondering I met a friend at the Tech Museum in San Jose. And while we were wondering around I felt like I'd been there before. It all felt too familiar. Then we get to this one exhibit that is talking about the body, and oh yeah, I'd totally been there before. I think my dad took me when I was a kid. I remember really liking the museum when I was younger, but now it is sort of lame. There were a couple of cool exhibits - like the hidden sensors around the museum that you could link up to musical instruments so if someone touched x it would play 2. And there was a game where you raced wheelchairs on the moon. All in all though the museum is in sad shape and clearly geared for a younger, more curious, with a larger capacity to be amazed, crowd. I want that back. Whatever it is about youth that allows us to be so easily amused. I want that.
Here is the only picture I took at the museum. I know. I swear though, I only took one photo.
Aside from adventuring and meeting new people I have been interviewing like mad. I am very much over the nonsecurity of freelance work, so I want something more permanent. Wish me luck, or whatever it is you do, because I could use some help.
So, while I was off wondering I met a friend at the Tech Museum in San Jose. And while we were wondering around I felt like I'd been there before. It all felt too familiar. Then we get to this one exhibit that is talking about the body, and oh yeah, I'd totally been there before. I think my dad took me when I was a kid. I remember really liking the museum when I was younger, but now it is sort of lame. There were a couple of cool exhibits - like the hidden sensors around the museum that you could link up to musical instruments so if someone touched x it would play 2. And there was a game where you raced wheelchairs on the moon. All in all though the museum is in sad shape and clearly geared for a younger, more curious, with a larger capacity to be amazed, crowd. I want that back. Whatever it is about youth that allows us to be so easily amused. I want that.
Here is the only picture I took at the museum. I know. I swear though, I only took one photo.
Aside from adventuring and meeting new people I have been interviewing like mad. I am very much over the nonsecurity of freelance work, so I want something more permanent. Wish me luck, or whatever it is you do, because I could use some help.
Thursday, April 23, 2009
One of the many things that Jefferson warned Lewis and Clark about was mastodons.
Last Sunday I went to the Sutro ruins. I never had heard of such a thing until my friend told me about them over lunch last week. So I went. It was sort of underwhelming, but I suppose San Francisco isn't really old enough to have interesting ruins.
Tuesday I met a friend at the Palace of Fine Arts for a glass of wine. It was a nice. Looking on at the Palace and hearing of my friend's recent visit to Seattle got me thinking. The Space Needle was built for the 1962 Seattle World's Fair, and the Palace was built for the 1915 Panama-Pacific Exposition. Although the Space Needle was built in a time with better construction technology, frankly, it's pretty lame while the Palace continues to amaze me.
Tuesday I met a friend at the Palace of Fine Arts for a glass of wine. It was a nice. Looking on at the Palace and hearing of my friend's recent visit to Seattle got me thinking. The Space Needle was built for the 1962 Seattle World's Fair, and the Palace was built for the 1915 Panama-Pacific Exposition. Although the Space Needle was built in a time with better construction technology, frankly, it's pretty lame while the Palace continues to amaze me.
Saturday, April 18, 2009
Talent is luck. The important thing in life is courage.
Book Club:
I've reread The Informers in preparation for the movie being released this summer. It's my second favorite of his books. I don't know why I'm so transfixed by LA life in the 80's, but I am. With The Rum Diary finally being made, a new Bret Easton Ellis movie and John Krasinski's Brief Interviews with Hideous Men this is shaping up to be a pretty good year for adaptation. I've also read Y: The Last Man vol 1 and Fables vol 3 & 4. Fables vol 3, Storybook Love, wasn't as good as the other volumns, but other than that, Vertigo does consistently good stories. Now I'm rereading Rules of Attraction, my favorite of his books, and reading Lucifer vol 1.
I've reread The Informers in preparation for the movie being released this summer. It's my second favorite of his books. I don't know why I'm so transfixed by LA life in the 80's, but I am. With The Rum Diary finally being made, a new Bret Easton Ellis movie and John Krasinski's Brief Interviews with Hideous Men this is shaping up to be a pretty good year for adaptation. I've also read Y: The Last Man vol 1 and Fables vol 3 & 4. Fables vol 3, Storybook Love, wasn't as good as the other volumns, but other than that, Vertigo does consistently good stories. Now I'm rereading Rules of Attraction, my favorite of his books, and reading Lucifer vol 1.
What is the most important element of photojournalism: Light? Moment? Composition? You are wrong. - It's magic.
Here are some pictures of San Francisco as seen from my friend's apartment.
Friday, April 17, 2009
I don't know what I am. I know that I am not a category. I am not a thing — a noun. I seem to be a verb.
Three Sundays:
3/29 - It's certainly, officially spring. First spring bike ride. First spring backyard party. I was going to go on a ride with Tanya, but family called so I went alone. It was a beautiful day. I rode from Tanya's house in Mill Valley to Mike's Bikes. It's a very short ride, 7 miles, but it was my first in a long time. After that people came over for a backyard party. I made tabouli and chocolate chips cookies. Fresh, simple for the start of spring.
4/5 - It's been wonderful weather, but for some reason I'm nesting. I spent all day cooking. Cooking and watching An Affair to Remember.
4/12 - Easter. Tanya and I rode to Mike's Bikes and back. Another beautiful day, complete with egg hunting and a large feast of a dinner. I made a lemon thing for dessert. It started as lemon custard in a meringue shell, but I decided that was too much meringue, so I went with a standard pie crust, lemon custard and a meringue ring around the top. I think it turned out pretty well.
3/29 - It's certainly, officially spring. First spring bike ride. First spring backyard party. I was going to go on a ride with Tanya, but family called so I went alone. It was a beautiful day. I rode from Tanya's house in Mill Valley to Mike's Bikes. It's a very short ride, 7 miles, but it was my first in a long time. After that people came over for a backyard party. I made tabouli and chocolate chips cookies. Fresh, simple for the start of spring.
4/5 - It's been wonderful weather, but for some reason I'm nesting. I spent all day cooking. Cooking and watching An Affair to Remember.
4/12 - Easter. Tanya and I rode to Mike's Bikes and back. Another beautiful day, complete with egg hunting and a large feast of a dinner. I made a lemon thing for dessert. It started as lemon custard in a meringue shell, but I decided that was too much meringue, so I went with a standard pie crust, lemon custard and a meringue ring around the top. I think it turned out pretty well.
Thursday, March 19, 2009
All books reveal perfection, by what they are or what they are not.
Update to book club:
I finished Fool. It was really good. I started it a few weeks ago but I couldn't get into it. This time though I couldn't put it down. It is a retelling of King Lear from the perspective of Lear's jester. It's Christopher Moore, so it's extremely funny. I completely enjoyed it. I prefer when he is writing about vampires, grim reapers or shape shifters, but it was a nice change of pace. Plus, although is was a retelling of King Lear the language isn't entirely Elizabethan English. It was more a mixture of Elizabethan, modern and a little made up. Highly entertaining. Worth the read.
I finished Fool. It was really good. I started it a few weeks ago but I couldn't get into it. This time though I couldn't put it down. It is a retelling of King Lear from the perspective of Lear's jester. It's Christopher Moore, so it's extremely funny. I completely enjoyed it. I prefer when he is writing about vampires, grim reapers or shape shifters, but it was a nice change of pace. Plus, although is was a retelling of King Lear the language isn't entirely Elizabethan English. It was more a mixture of Elizabethan, modern and a little made up. Highly entertaining. Worth the read.
Saturday, March 14, 2009
It is only with the heart that one can see rightly; what is essential is invisible to the eye.
Okay. Book club time. So I just finished Fables vol 1, thank you Chris, Fables vol 2 and Preacher vol 1.
Fables is amazing. It is a fantasy world set up where all creatures from fairy tales have been banished from their world so they are left to live in ours. The ones who can pass as humans live in NYC and the ones who can't live on a farm in upstate NY. The first book was a murder mystery and the second was about civil war between the farm and the city dwellers. Most of the characters I recognize, like Snow White, Prince Charming and the three pigs. Some I am not familiar with though, like Bluebeard and Rose Red.
Preacher though. Preacher is something else. It has god, angels, demons, vampires, serial killers, cops, a preacher, John Wayne. Its got it all. It is a little funny. Very action filled. And something else. The premise is that god is alive but he quit his job to roam the earth. The preacher has found this out and he is going to find god and make him return to the job. It really is something else.
A few weeks ago I read Plum Spooky. It is not in the Stephanie Plum series, it is one of the "between the numbers" books. It was good. Normally the Stephanie Plum books are at least grounded in the human world, even if the events that transpire seem rather unlikely. This however had vampires, werewolves and the Easter Bunny. It was a fun departure.
And that brings us to what I really want to discuss. The sad state of literature this year. Last year was a very exciting year. It brought us:
Fables is amazing. It is a fantasy world set up where all creatures from fairy tales have been banished from their world so they are left to live in ours. The ones who can pass as humans live in NYC and the ones who can't live on a farm in upstate NY. The first book was a murder mystery and the second was about civil war between the farm and the city dwellers. Most of the characters I recognize, like Snow White, Prince Charming and the three pigs. Some I am not familiar with though, like Bluebeard and Rose Red.
Preacher though. Preacher is something else. It has god, angels, demons, vampires, serial killers, cops, a preacher, John Wayne. Its got it all. It is a little funny. Very action filled. And something else. The premise is that god is alive but he quit his job to roam the earth. The preacher has found this out and he is going to find god and make him return to the job. It really is something else.
A few weeks ago I read Plum Spooky. It is not in the Stephanie Plum series, it is one of the "between the numbers" books. It was good. Normally the Stephanie Plum books are at least grounded in the human world, even if the events that transpire seem rather unlikely. This however had vampires, werewolves and the Easter Bunny. It was a fun departure.
And that brings us to what I really want to discuss. The sad state of literature this year. Last year was a very exciting year. It brought us:
- When You Are Engulfed in Flames by David Sedaris
- The Wordy Shipmates by Sarah Vowell
- Downtown Owl by Chuck Klosterman
- A Wolf at the Table: A Memoir of My Father by Augusten Burroughs
- Snuff by Chuck Palahniuk
- Fearless Fourteen by Janet Evanovich
- My Mistress's Sparrow Is Dead by Jeffrey Eugenides
- The Political Mind by George Lakoff
- Breaking Dawn by Stephenie Meyer
- The Enchantress of Florence by Salman Rushdie
- From Dead to Worse by Charlaine Harris
- Brida By Paulo Coelho, Summer Morning
- Summer Night by Ray Bradbury
- And Kurt Vonnegut was even able to publish something from the grave: Armageddon in Retrospect.
- Plum Spooky by Janet Evanovich
- Finger Lickin' Fifteen by Janet Evanovich
- The Eternal Smile: Three Stories by Gene Luen Yang
- Fables Vol. 12: The Dark Ages by Bill Willingham
- Pygmy by Chuck Palahniuk
- B Is for Beer by Tom Robbins
- Fool: A Novel by Christopher Moore - which I'm currently reading
- Dead and Gone by Charlaine Harris
- We'll Always Have Paris: Stories by Ray Bradbury
Thursday, March 12, 2009
So I have to ask, do you want to paint dreams?
I don't really have anything to say. Time passes. Nothing much remarkable happens. I do, however, have something to share. Polaroids of unicorns. And that's pretty magical, isn't it. 
Sunday, March 1, 2009
27 - old enough to know better
Well. In 40 short minutes it will be my birthday. I will be 27. And I still have no idea what I want to be when I grow up. I guess I should probably figure that out soon.
Friday, February 20, 2009
Life is nothing but the occasional burst of laughter rising above the inerminable wail of grief.
Okay. That was a lot of pictures. But it has been raining a lot recently so I don't know when I will get another chance to take any.
In exciting news. Sunday is Modest Mouse. It will be my first Bay Area show. I'm pretty excited. Even though I've been told Modest Mouse is not good live. There are a lot of crazy good shows coming up: The Mountain Goats, French Kicks, AC Newman and Les Savy Fav. All in like the next two weeks.
In exciting news. Sunday is Modest Mouse. It will be my first Bay Area show. I'm pretty excited. Even though I've been told Modest Mouse is not good live. There are a lot of crazy good shows coming up: The Mountain Goats, French Kicks, AC Newman and Les Savy Fav. All in like the next two weeks.
Life is a horrible little giggle in the midst of a forced death march towards hell.
So today there was an end to the rain. To celebrate I went on a walk. I walked from my apartment near Union Square into the Financial District to meet Tanya for lunch. Then I walked to the Ferry Building and along the Embarcadaro. I came back up Howard and back through Union Square home. Here are some pictures to illustrate why I enjoy SF.
When buildings and art become one:
Big buildings in general. I find them to be soothing. Like a big stack of books. Okay, maybe not that soothing, but still pretty good.
The Pepsi campaign. I don't like Pepsi. But this campaign works for me.
Dirty Indian food.
The Embarcadaro. It's my favorite place to walk.
Britex. Four fabulous floors of fabric.
I mean, come on.
Many flower vendors. I was at Geary and Stockton and 3 of the corners had flower vendors.
Random sculptures. Everywhere.
Street cars.
And, of course, cable cars.
When buildings and art become one:
Big buildings in general. I find them to be soothing. Like a big stack of books. Okay, maybe not that soothing, but still pretty good.
The Pepsi campaign. I don't like Pepsi. But this campaign works for me.
Dirty Indian food.
The Embarcadaro. It's my favorite place to walk.
Britex. Four fabulous floors of fabric.
I mean, come on.
Many flower vendors. I was at Geary and Stockton and 3 of the corners had flower vendors.
Random sculptures. Everywhere.
Street cars.
And, of course, cable cars.
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