I've been not-very-busy lately with nothing but busy work at work, so when not working I have been feeling a bit incoherent and therefore unable to write.
Nevertheless, it was a good week in spite of the newly realized inability to sleep continuously for more than one hour at a time. This being said, the phenomenon was not an issue last night and I am feeling well rested and ready for the weekend.
Here are some things from the week that I meant to blog about but never did.
I saw Lonesome Jim at the IFC. I don't know what is going on with Liv Tyler's face but it is not good. I liked the movie, though, and felt all sorts of MA pride for Casey Affleck, who looks startingly like Ben these days, who is the shame of MA. I liked the movie. There will, of course, be comparisons to Garden State, which I didn't like. Lonesome Jim was understated and not at all overwrought, which is why it was charming. It also addressed the issue of having somewhere to go home to and not necessarily feeling good about that, even though it (unconditional love) is good.
I ran into someone I know after seeing Lonesome Jim, which made me happy. I think running into people in a city this large is a sign of belonging.
I met D for Subway after seeing Lonesome Jim. He was late because he does not check text messages. I said "It might be a good idea to check your text messages, especially when you are supposed to be meeting someone." Bitchy, I am.
We then ran to the Pioneer (literally, ran, since he does not check text messages) and watched Puzzlehead, which was not awesome but still good. The format was a bit challenging and required that you ignore reality and not want explanations. The filmmaker was candid and interesting. It was an instance of the Q & A actually making you like a movie more.
D and I went on a double date (double date! woooo!) with D's friends M and A to see a preview of Brick, which I was very very very excited about. My friend E got us free passes. The movie is good, and will no doubt spawn imitations. I still have a sick crush on Joseph Gordon-Levitt, who was the little kid in Third Rock From The Sun and who is a great actor and really cute.
Even though I liked the movie, I spent a great deal of the viewing fighting to stay awake, as I haven't been sleeping well. It was also freezing in the theater.
We went for drinks at a place that has a zillion beers (irrelevant) and martinis listed by color. The Incredible Hulk was listed under blue, so of course I had to order it to see if it was a mistake. When I ordered it the waitress was like "What?" "I'll have the incredible hulk." "Wait - what?" "The incredible hulk?" "What?" "It's a martini..." She had to look at the menu. It arrived, bizarrely, as a blue drink, and was completely and utterly disgusting.
Went to bed irritable after a moral argument about stealing jelly beans.
Thought about memoire as a genre (thanks, AA, for making my brain and heart explode!) after receiving some disturbing news about a famous memoire that I happened to have read prior to knowing this news. I have been turned off to memoire in the past few years. I was once a fan of David Sedaris, but I started to feel bad for his family. Is it acceptable to use real people as characters to tell your own life story more effectively? I worried about this when Brother was drawing his memoire of sorts, but his work is stretched truth. He makes no claims about veracity. It's loosely based on real people, but the events themselves aren't real. This being said, when he was writing it, I often worried about how I'd be portrayed. What is my function in the telling of another person's story?
Then I think about the blog, and the blog as memoire. I feel like a blog is different, in that it's not-for-profit. The writer isn't selling his family. The writer uses a blog for a different purpose. It's more journal than cohesive tale involving others.
I suppose, though, that it should still be handled delicately.
And with blogs, nobody is making bold claims of honesty, right? It's voyeuristic to read blogs, but there's really no way to know if an anonymous writer is writing the truth. And does it really matter?
Are people's lives affected negatively?
Delicate.
D said "I think one of my shirts is missing!" "Really? Which one?" "I don't know!" "Then how do you know its missing?" "Because I have exactly the same amount of hangers as I have shirts, and there is an extra hanger in my closet!" "Really?" "Yes! Can you look at my shirts to see if you can tell which one is missing?" "Sure, but I won't be able to tell." I was certain I wouldn't be able to tell because, as you all know, D has a very particular wardrobe and all of his shirts look similar. I would only have known if the shirt I gave to him was missing. I was quite impressed with myself when looked in his closet and immediately knew which one was missing.
I don't know if that's impressive or sad.
Now we have no idea where the shirt could be. It's a mystery that I am obsessed with solving.
I was taking a short nap at D's yesterday when I heard the sound of summer - Mr. Softee!!! I nearly broke through his apartment's wall to get myself my first taste of the year.
I have been enjoying this weather. It's perfect right now. Were it like this year round I'd be the happiest girl in the world.
We went to the opera last night and left during intermission. We are terribly unrefined and uncivilized. It was, I'm sorry, just boring. We were both falling asleep and craving cookies.
We found a new supermarket on our way home! A real, actual supermarket! I am thrilled. I meant only to buy milk for the cookies but left with over $50 worth of reasonably-priced food. I bought raspberries, which is a thrill since Gristedes does not reliably have them.
Another thing apartment listings should indicate is proximity to actual real supermarket and likelihood of being able to successfully fulfill your grocery list at one place.
My super's brother is still alive, which is good since we haven't seen him in months. We were worried. He was coming out of the building last night as we returned with bags upon bags of groceries.
I don't have much planned this weekend other than hanging out with NR and bowling and sleeping too much. Rumor has it there will be rain tomorrow. If there is not, I may go to some photo galleries in Chelsea. If there is, I will be reading a book and/or watching a movie. And then buying a birthday cake at my new favorite supermarket. The weekend is long overdue. We all felt like it was Friday on Wednesday and so the last two days have been torture.
Until Monday...
Friday, March 31, 2006
How To Survive A Robot Uprising
That's the name of a book that I really want to read, but since I am poor, I have to wait for it to become available on Paperback Swap, which it never will.
I went to see this film called Puzzlehead at The Pioneer this week. I actually saw many movies this week (more on that later). Puzzlehead has been nearly a decade in the making by a former Columbia film student. It deals with a post-apocalyptic world (Brooklyn) in which robot-making, for a reason left, has been banned. A rogue scientist decides, in spite of this, to create an android in his likeness. The scientist originally starts teaching the robot, but ultimately decides to use the robot as a slave for chores around the house, etc. As you might predict, the robot evolves conscienceness and feelings and even memories, and, well, it's not a good scene.
The movie was good. The filmmaker (who was at the screening) made some interesting choices that were difficult to get used to at first, but that really contributed to the overall vibe of the movie.
Instead of going to the Whitney Biennial tonight, I am going to go home and work on a song about Puzzlehead as a companion piece to My Mundane Life In Song's early hit It Is Cool When Tons of Robots Climb on Things.
And for your re-listening pleasure, here it is!
Name: It Is Cool When Tons of Robots Climb On Things
Genre: Robot-inspired electronic waltz
Date: 7.16.04 (the Somerville era!)
Description:
Briefly, I went to see I, Robot and really liked it even though I didn't want to. But I'm a sucker for robots! And I love this song. Love it love it love it. I almost played it at the open mic because I love it that much.
Lyrics:
Will Smith is flexing his robotic arm
Will Smith is gratuitously showering
And placing products such as Converse
But I liked the movie anyway
Cuz robots rule
And it is cool
When tons of robots climb on things
And take over
The people who made them
What's with the robot detsroying that guy's house
And why the kid? Oh - Viki did it
And is Will Smith really flexing his robotic arm again?
Robots rule
And it is cool
When robots fight and robots feel
Despite bad one liners
And bad acting and a bad screenplay
"I, Robot" was fun anyway
I'll take a robot story anyway
But only if they revolt against people
I went to see this film called Puzzlehead at The Pioneer this week. I actually saw many movies this week (more on that later). Puzzlehead has been nearly a decade in the making by a former Columbia film student. It deals with a post-apocalyptic world (Brooklyn) in which robot-making, for a reason left, has been banned. A rogue scientist decides, in spite of this, to create an android in his likeness. The scientist originally starts teaching the robot, but ultimately decides to use the robot as a slave for chores around the house, etc. As you might predict, the robot evolves conscienceness and feelings and even memories, and, well, it's not a good scene.
The movie was good. The filmmaker (who was at the screening) made some interesting choices that were difficult to get used to at first, but that really contributed to the overall vibe of the movie.
Instead of going to the Whitney Biennial tonight, I am going to go home and work on a song about Puzzlehead as a companion piece to My Mundane Life In Song's early hit It Is Cool When Tons of Robots Climb on Things.
And for your re-listening pleasure, here it is!
Name: It Is Cool When Tons of Robots Climb On Things
Genre: Robot-inspired electronic waltz
Date: 7.16.04 (the Somerville era!)
Description:
Briefly, I went to see I, Robot and really liked it even though I didn't want to. But I'm a sucker for robots! And I love this song. Love it love it love it. I almost played it at the open mic because I love it that much.
Lyrics:
Will Smith is flexing his robotic arm
Will Smith is gratuitously showering
And placing products such as Converse
But I liked the movie anyway
Cuz robots rule
And it is cool
When tons of robots climb on things
And take over
The people who made them
What's with the robot detsroying that guy's house
And why the kid? Oh - Viki did it
And is Will Smith really flexing his robotic arm again?
Robots rule
And it is cool
When robots fight and robots feel
Despite bad one liners
And bad acting and a bad screenplay
"I, Robot" was fun anyway
I'll take a robot story anyway
But only if they revolt against people
Thursday, March 30, 2006
Apartment Listings Part II
I also love it when there's an apartment listing that seems reasonable, and especially reasonable because there is an accompanying picture! And then you click on it... and you read it... and you're excited to see the photos... and then it's a picture of... the realtor.
Ridiculous.
Ridiculous.
Wednesday, March 29, 2006
Apartment Listings
I didn't sleep well again last night. I hate the sounds of the city. I hate the cabs and the screaming and the hip hop and the arguments. I still haven't gotten used to it.
I decided to look at apartment listings today, just for kicks. Park Slope, Astoria, anywhere where there isn't a gas station and where there is some sense of neighborhood.
Rental rates in and around the city have apparently increased drastically since I got my apartment a year ago. I can't believe how much studios are! And I don't even want a studio! I (we?) need at least a 1 br, with a closet or two, please.
I am surprised by the lack of photos accompanying postings.
I am also surprised that when there is a photo accompanying a posting, it is most likely a picture of the outside of the building in which your 120 square foot apartment will be found. As if people in NYC care what the outside of their building looks like! I'm not sure that I even know what the outside of my current building looks like.
What would be better would be photos of your potential neighbors, so you could know if you'd be surrounded by lunacy or not.
Or, better yet, photos of the actual apartment without the aid of a wide angle lens! And if that's too difficult, perhaps there could be actual words describing WHAT THE APARTMENT IS LIKE. Perhaps a mention of square footage? Closets? Floors? Location? Exposed brick please please please?
This apartment will not disappoint visiting parents!
This apartment has enough space for you to store more than five pairs of shoes!
This apartment has enough counter space to cut one vegetable at a time!
You can have two of your closest friends over in this apartment!
You will be able to steal wireless internet in one corner of this unit!
You will be able to shave your legs without having to be a contortionist!
I want to move, but I'm not looking forward to another round of showers in the kitchen and frantically trying to sell everything I own so as to be able to fit a bed and multiple dressers and a piano and gear and someday his bikes and his cycling accessories and his paintings and when I think of these things I think that NJ sounds really attractive.
I decided to look at apartment listings today, just for kicks. Park Slope, Astoria, anywhere where there isn't a gas station and where there is some sense of neighborhood.
Rental rates in and around the city have apparently increased drastically since I got my apartment a year ago. I can't believe how much studios are! And I don't even want a studio! I (we?) need at least a 1 br, with a closet or two, please.
I am surprised by the lack of photos accompanying postings.
I am also surprised that when there is a photo accompanying a posting, it is most likely a picture of the outside of the building in which your 120 square foot apartment will be found. As if people in NYC care what the outside of their building looks like! I'm not sure that I even know what the outside of my current building looks like.
What would be better would be photos of your potential neighbors, so you could know if you'd be surrounded by lunacy or not.
Or, better yet, photos of the actual apartment without the aid of a wide angle lens! And if that's too difficult, perhaps there could be actual words describing WHAT THE APARTMENT IS LIKE. Perhaps a mention of square footage? Closets? Floors? Location? Exposed brick please please please?
This apartment will not disappoint visiting parents!
This apartment has enough space for you to store more than five pairs of shoes!
This apartment has enough counter space to cut one vegetable at a time!
You can have two of your closest friends over in this apartment!
You will be able to steal wireless internet in one corner of this unit!
You will be able to shave your legs without having to be a contortionist!
I want to move, but I'm not looking forward to another round of showers in the kitchen and frantically trying to sell everything I own so as to be able to fit a bed and multiple dressers and a piano and gear and someday his bikes and his cycling accessories and his paintings and when I think of these things I think that NJ sounds really attractive.
Tuesday, March 28, 2006
On Hold
Oh my god. I have been on hold for 23 minutes waiting to see if the accursed fondue set has shipped. I want to know if it's on it's way. I want to be excited if it is. It's not like there's anything I can do if it hasn't been shipped, but I just need to know.
I know, I know, all of your agents are busy serving other customers! I KNOW!
Now that I have decided to stay in New York City, I am trying to figure out ways to guarantee my sanity. Basically, I want to stop being a New Yorker.
This place changes a person. I'm more uptight, stressed, frantic, unnerved, and suspicious than I was in Boston. I'm more judgmental. I'm more jaded, if that is even possible!
I need these things to go away in order for me to be a sane, productive, happy person.
Some things that I will do to be sane:
1. Blog while on hold.
2. Be better about keeping up with phone calls. I spent two hours on the phone with Mother last night and then another house on the phone with M. It was delightful to talk to both of them. Mother and I had profound discussions about parents and parenting style and The Depression and philosophy and happiness and not judging other people even though you just want them to be happy. M and I laughed about wedding insanity.
3. Avoid things that stress me out. For example, attempt to commute at non-peak times when possible. Avoid areas with high tourist concentration. Avoid restaurants in which snotty people eat.
4. Stop reading listings so as not to feel like I have to do everything.
5. Stop feeling guilty about not reading things like The New Yorker, The Onion, and other publications with information that I feel like I have to know just because other people do. Admit that I do not care about these things and that life is not necessarily better when there is more information in it. Realize that people will not think less of me if I am not on top of every type of media. Realize that these people are wasting their time reading things that do not actually enrich the quality of life. Realize there are other ways to be smart that don't involve being a master of trivia.
6. Stop comparing myself to other people. Live life like I used to. Do not feel pressured to be into art, music, fashion, politics, policies, etc. just because others are.
7. Play more piano. Practice. Record more songs. Make time for this.
8. Sign up for photography class (es).
9. Buy exercise videos. Abominable, yes, but cheaper than gym. Realize that flatter stomach will not lead to higher quality of life BUT will allow consumption of more cookie and ice cream products.
10. Move out of the city, preferably to area that permits regular sleep and does not carry with it the constant threat of fire/explosion.
11. Read more fiction. Do not feel guilty about reading fiction.
12. Watch more movies at home.
13. Avoid shopping when possible.
(Oh my god. It's been another 15 minutes on hold!)
(Oh my god again! Just as I wrote that, the woman got on the phone and said "The item you ordered has been discontinued!" Oh my god! When were they going to tell me this? I ordered it two weeks ago! Were they going to call? Or were they just waiting for me to call them? Bastards! This is my New York self rearing its ugly head. This is only a problem because I live in NYC, where I do not know where to even purchase a fondue pot, and even if I did, there would not be time to buy one and even if there was it would not be affordable! NO! No no no no no. NO!!!)
14. Avoid talking to customer service people when possible.
15. Do not have overambitious plans regarding birthday presents.
16. Do not have aspirations to actually be adequate girlfriend to superhuman boyfriend.
17. Do not shop. Ever.
18. Do not go to doctor's appointments. Ever. This will only result in evil treatment by others, wasting of insane amounts of time, and gigantic medical bills that your insurance will not cover.
19. Do not interact with people unless it is absolutely necessary.
20. Hang out with like-minded people so as not to feel inferior, stupid, ugly, poorly dressed, non-creative etc. Oh how I miss my Boston friends who were normal, reasonable, nice, wonderful, dependable, sweet, devoted, rational, deep, real people who possess the ability to discuss their feelings and fears and lives instead of hiding behind Pitchfork's latest review.
Ummmmmm.
Right.
I started this entry off in such a good mood and the blue, minimalist, tiny, perfect fondue set has ruined everything. I devoted 10 hours of my life to searching for this thing and it all turned out to be a lie. They never even had it to begin with! I am so disappointed.
Everything in this city is a project. Everything you do here requires 10x more effort than it does in normal places. You can't just go to one place to buy your groceries. No. You have to go to three different places to get 3/4 of your list, and you just give up on the rest of it. There are no gnocchi in this damn city, and I can't even make them myself because I don't have counter space.
OK. I'm done.
I am going to look for fondue sets in the city.
Until tomorrow...
I know, I know, all of your agents are busy serving other customers! I KNOW!
Now that I have decided to stay in New York City, I am trying to figure out ways to guarantee my sanity. Basically, I want to stop being a New Yorker.
This place changes a person. I'm more uptight, stressed, frantic, unnerved, and suspicious than I was in Boston. I'm more judgmental. I'm more jaded, if that is even possible!
I need these things to go away in order for me to be a sane, productive, happy person.
Some things that I will do to be sane:
1. Blog while on hold.
2. Be better about keeping up with phone calls. I spent two hours on the phone with Mother last night and then another house on the phone with M. It was delightful to talk to both of them. Mother and I had profound discussions about parents and parenting style and The Depression and philosophy and happiness and not judging other people even though you just want them to be happy. M and I laughed about wedding insanity.
3. Avoid things that stress me out. For example, attempt to commute at non-peak times when possible. Avoid areas with high tourist concentration. Avoid restaurants in which snotty people eat.
4. Stop reading listings so as not to feel like I have to do everything.
5. Stop feeling guilty about not reading things like The New Yorker, The Onion, and other publications with information that I feel like I have to know just because other people do. Admit that I do not care about these things and that life is not necessarily better when there is more information in it. Realize that people will not think less of me if I am not on top of every type of media. Realize that these people are wasting their time reading things that do not actually enrich the quality of life. Realize there are other ways to be smart that don't involve being a master of trivia.
6. Stop comparing myself to other people. Live life like I used to. Do not feel pressured to be into art, music, fashion, politics, policies, etc. just because others are.
7. Play more piano. Practice. Record more songs. Make time for this.
8. Sign up for photography class (es).
9. Buy exercise videos. Abominable, yes, but cheaper than gym. Realize that flatter stomach will not lead to higher quality of life BUT will allow consumption of more cookie and ice cream products.
10. Move out of the city, preferably to area that permits regular sleep and does not carry with it the constant threat of fire/explosion.
11. Read more fiction. Do not feel guilty about reading fiction.
12. Watch more movies at home.
13. Avoid shopping when possible.
(Oh my god. It's been another 15 minutes on hold!)
(Oh my god again! Just as I wrote that, the woman got on the phone and said "The item you ordered has been discontinued!" Oh my god! When were they going to tell me this? I ordered it two weeks ago! Were they going to call? Or were they just waiting for me to call them? Bastards! This is my New York self rearing its ugly head. This is only a problem because I live in NYC, where I do not know where to even purchase a fondue pot, and even if I did, there would not be time to buy one and even if there was it would not be affordable! NO! No no no no no. NO!!!)
14. Avoid talking to customer service people when possible.
15. Do not have overambitious plans regarding birthday presents.
16. Do not have aspirations to actually be adequate girlfriend to superhuman boyfriend.
17. Do not shop. Ever.
18. Do not go to doctor's appointments. Ever. This will only result in evil treatment by others, wasting of insane amounts of time, and gigantic medical bills that your insurance will not cover.
19. Do not interact with people unless it is absolutely necessary.
20. Hang out with like-minded people so as not to feel inferior, stupid, ugly, poorly dressed, non-creative etc. Oh how I miss my Boston friends who were normal, reasonable, nice, wonderful, dependable, sweet, devoted, rational, deep, real people who possess the ability to discuss their feelings and fears and lives instead of hiding behind Pitchfork's latest review.
Ummmmmm.
Right.
I started this entry off in such a good mood and the blue, minimalist, tiny, perfect fondue set has ruined everything. I devoted 10 hours of my life to searching for this thing and it all turned out to be a lie. They never even had it to begin with! I am so disappointed.
Everything in this city is a project. Everything you do here requires 10x more effort than it does in normal places. You can't just go to one place to buy your groceries. No. You have to go to three different places to get 3/4 of your list, and you just give up on the rest of it. There are no gnocchi in this damn city, and I can't even make them myself because I don't have counter space.
OK. I'm done.
I am going to look for fondue sets in the city.
Until tomorrow...
Monday, March 27, 2006
20 Wonderful (Unexpected) Things From the Weekend
1. "How to Hypnotize a Girl Into Sleeping With You" video in Found Footage Festival
2. Possible new friend post-Found who likes pickles!
3. Wonderously funny chemsitry of strangers post-Found and resultant feelings of comfort and belonging and finally, finally, finally thinking that everything WILL turn out just rosey
4. Another newish friend saying she's relieved and glad that I have decided to stay in NYC
5. Easy shopping and cheap half-sweater-y item for wedding
6. Spontaneous snack date (churros! flan! milk cake!) with LL
7. D calling just to say "hi"
8. Wheeling around little wine cart in fancy wine store and resultant feeling of being a giant (and then nostalgia for Boston Children's Museum induced by prancing around wine store - remember the fake child-sized grocery store? you'd blissfully run around and pretend to buy groceries? or, in this case, run around pretending to know anything about wine with your miniature cart?)
9. D wearing a sweater
10. D's fabulous cousin and her fabulous cousin and her cousin's fabulous husband (more new people!) taking us out for dinner
11. Olive oil flavored gelato
12. Making up rules, later determined to be completely incorrect, to shovel board (and more new people!)
13. Norah Jones playing guitar incognito
14. Getting home early but staying up late
15. Having enough time to make my hair look good, two days in a row!
16. Tarentella!
17. Moustaches!!
18. Meeting another scientist (and another new friend with whom we are having diner soon!) from NYC! C'est impossible!
19. Dessert spread involving 15 different flavors of cake (one with canolis ON THE CAKE), cheese, fruit, jello, pastries, cookies, chocolate fondue, ice cream sundae bar, make your own sno cones, cotton candy and popcorn
20. Getting a ride home
2. Possible new friend post-Found who likes pickles!
3. Wonderously funny chemsitry of strangers post-Found and resultant feelings of comfort and belonging and finally, finally, finally thinking that everything WILL turn out just rosey
4. Another newish friend saying she's relieved and glad that I have decided to stay in NYC
5. Easy shopping and cheap half-sweater-y item for wedding
6. Spontaneous snack date (churros! flan! milk cake!) with LL
7. D calling just to say "hi"
8. Wheeling around little wine cart in fancy wine store and resultant feeling of being a giant (and then nostalgia for Boston Children's Museum induced by prancing around wine store - remember the fake child-sized grocery store? you'd blissfully run around and pretend to buy groceries? or, in this case, run around pretending to know anything about wine with your miniature cart?)
9. D wearing a sweater
10. D's fabulous cousin and her fabulous cousin and her cousin's fabulous husband (more new people!) taking us out for dinner
11. Olive oil flavored gelato
12. Making up rules, later determined to be completely incorrect, to shovel board (and more new people!)
13. Norah Jones playing guitar incognito
14. Getting home early but staying up late
15. Having enough time to make my hair look good, two days in a row!
16. Tarentella!
17. Moustaches!!
18. Meeting another scientist (and another new friend with whom we are having diner soon!) from NYC! C'est impossible!
19. Dessert spread involving 15 different flavors of cake (one with canolis ON THE CAKE), cheese, fruit, jello, pastries, cookies, chocolate fondue, ice cream sundae bar, make your own sno cones, cotton candy and popcorn
20. Getting a ride home
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
