Today I bought Vendela Vida's book Let the Northern Lights Erase Your Name. It is next on my reading list, and I am very excited.
I also bought Raising Victor Vargas for $5.99. A great deal. I haven't watched it again yet, but I forgot how great that movie is. I love the naturalistic acting and the beautiful cinematography by Tim Orr. It really makes me wonder: why hasn't Peter Sollett, the writer/director, directed anything since?
Friday, June 29, 2007
Thursday, June 28, 2007
Two unrelated things
1. I just finished a trio of books (in order from most recently read): A Man Without A Country by Kurt Vonnegut, History of Love by Nicole Krauss, and Name All the Animals by Alison Smith. One of the good things about traveling is that it makes for great reading time. They were all quite different from each other. It was nice to have such a shift in tone, writing style, and content after each read. Like cleansing the palette. I enjoyed them all very much, and would recommend them all...though there are very few books that I have read that I didn't enjoy.
A Man Without A Country is a very fast read. It's just some of Kurt's thoughts in no particular order, for no particular rhyme or reason, but it doesn't come off as high-minded or pretentious. Those are two adjectives that are about as far from Vonnegut as I could imagine. It's insightful, funny, warm, and unsentimental. Then again, I would probably enjoy reading Vonnegut's grocery list.
I really really liked History of Love. Yeah, it did remind me of Jonathan Safran Foer's work (her husband), but does it really matter as long as it's good? Krauss understands her characters, and their full lives off and on the page. If you asked her what Alma had for breakfast yesterday and how she prepared it, she could probably give an answer fully consistent with her character right off the bat. A lot of contemporary, young writers (Foer, Krauss, Zadie Smith, most of all Dave Eggers, et al) have come under fire and some sort of backlash against their postmodern leanings and inventive, witty, sometimes experimental prose and while these writers are vastly different and I'm not meaning to lump them all together or make any sort of statement, but I guess I would want to say "Hey, at least they're trying. They're trying to express and to communicate, and to play and experiment with the form...often as a means of getting at a deeper emotional meaning or to evoke a feeling." It's true that sometimes it works, and sometimes it doesn't, but why so many haters? In this case, I think her style works for the novel. The writing, to me, doesn't attract attention away from the content...I mean in a way it becomes the content, and man, her style is impressive. I mean she really knows how to write. It's poetic and descriptive, but also taut and honest. The asides don't feel like asides, they feel like a secret that you're being let in on, a secret that gives you greater insight into what feels like a living, breathing human being. And the structure is intricate and complex, but totally makes sense (especially upon a partial re-read). I liked how it alternates narrators, who have distinctly different voices and thus writing styles. It had to have taken a lot of work to write this.
Name All the Animals is a memoir. The author lost her brother in a car accident when she was 15 and he was 18, and it is about her and her family coping with that fact and how she formed her own identity in the wake of his death, a kind of coming of age story as well. It is a sad novel, but quite unsentimental, which I really liked. Smith seems to be able to have an outsider's insightful perspective on herself and her family, which is a difficult skill. It's less about feelings, than it is about our actions and behavior in the face of something so devastating, and ultimately, our lack of control. She chooses to recount detailed, specific episodes rather than give a snapshot of their lives post-trauma, which is much more interesting and effective.
2. I meant to write this awhile back, after I saw Ocean's 13. One thing I noticed (besides the fact that Brad Pitt is almost always seen chewing or eating throughout the series of films), was that the featured choice of air travel amongst those highfalutin capers was none other than Southwest. I was proud to see the Southwest orange and ochre displayed proudly. Even a gang of high-rolling, swift-minded, movie-star quality thieves can't resist those deals. They don't need assigned seats either.
A Man Without A Country is a very fast read. It's just some of Kurt's thoughts in no particular order, for no particular rhyme or reason, but it doesn't come off as high-minded or pretentious. Those are two adjectives that are about as far from Vonnegut as I could imagine. It's insightful, funny, warm, and unsentimental. Then again, I would probably enjoy reading Vonnegut's grocery list.
I really really liked History of Love. Yeah, it did remind me of Jonathan Safran Foer's work (her husband), but does it really matter as long as it's good? Krauss understands her characters, and their full lives off and on the page. If you asked her what Alma had for breakfast yesterday and how she prepared it, she could probably give an answer fully consistent with her character right off the bat. A lot of contemporary, young writers (Foer, Krauss, Zadie Smith, most of all Dave Eggers, et al) have come under fire and some sort of backlash against their postmodern leanings and inventive, witty, sometimes experimental prose and while these writers are vastly different and I'm not meaning to lump them all together or make any sort of statement, but I guess I would want to say "Hey, at least they're trying. They're trying to express and to communicate, and to play and experiment with the form...often as a means of getting at a deeper emotional meaning or to evoke a feeling." It's true that sometimes it works, and sometimes it doesn't, but why so many haters? In this case, I think her style works for the novel. The writing, to me, doesn't attract attention away from the content...I mean in a way it becomes the content, and man, her style is impressive. I mean she really knows how to write. It's poetic and descriptive, but also taut and honest. The asides don't feel like asides, they feel like a secret that you're being let in on, a secret that gives you greater insight into what feels like a living, breathing human being. And the structure is intricate and complex, but totally makes sense (especially upon a partial re-read). I liked how it alternates narrators, who have distinctly different voices and thus writing styles. It had to have taken a lot of work to write this.
Name All the Animals is a memoir. The author lost her brother in a car accident when she was 15 and he was 18, and it is about her and her family coping with that fact and how she formed her own identity in the wake of his death, a kind of coming of age story as well. It is a sad novel, but quite unsentimental, which I really liked. Smith seems to be able to have an outsider's insightful perspective on herself and her family, which is a difficult skill. It's less about feelings, than it is about our actions and behavior in the face of something so devastating, and ultimately, our lack of control. She chooses to recount detailed, specific episodes rather than give a snapshot of their lives post-trauma, which is much more interesting and effective.
2. I meant to write this awhile back, after I saw Ocean's 13. One thing I noticed (besides the fact that Brad Pitt is almost always seen chewing or eating throughout the series of films), was that the featured choice of air travel amongst those highfalutin capers was none other than Southwest. I was proud to see the Southwest orange and ochre displayed proudly. Even a gang of high-rolling, swift-minded, movie-star quality thieves can't resist those deals. They don't need assigned seats either.
Tuesday, June 26, 2007
It has been awhile.
So I'm going to ease back into this writing/blog thing with a wonderful quote from Kurt Vonnegut, one of my favorite authors, from his book A Man Without A Country. I was re-reading it on the plane ride back from L.A. to Omaha (or to be more precise, Phoenix to Omaha) and found it to be inspiring:
It is exciting to think that we always carry the power of imagination and creation with us. At any given moment you have the opportunity to create something, with your mind or your hands or both, and bring something wholly new and original into the world.
To extend what Vonnegut said, much more simply and eloquently than I will here, you can create to have fun, to express yourself, to make others happy, to give as a gift, to share your thoughts and feelings, to discover something about yourself, to pass the time, to experiment, to make a mess, to distract, to play, or to grow your soul. You don't need a reason either, but you may find one of these along the way.
Art is created every day by people around the world, many of them not even knowing it. Doodling while on the phone, taking the time to create an outfit, preparing a sandwich the exact way you want it, making a homemade card or cd, signing our name on a receipt, dancing to music in the car, practicing a new basketball move, these are a few of endless examples of everyday art occurring at a constant pace. We are all creators of art, and together we make up a world where a second doesn't go by where a performance or piece of art isn't created. It's pretty wonderful and uplifting when you think of life in that way.
"The arts are not a way to make a living. They are a very human way of making life more bearable. Practicing an art, no matter how well or badly, is a way to make your soul grow, for heaven's sake. Sing in the shower. Dance to the radio. Tell stories. Write a poem to a friend, even a lousy poem. Do it as well as you possibly can. You will get an enormous reward. You will have created something."
It is exciting to think that we always carry the power of imagination and creation with us. At any given moment you have the opportunity to create something, with your mind or your hands or both, and bring something wholly new and original into the world.
To extend what Vonnegut said, much more simply and eloquently than I will here, you can create to have fun, to express yourself, to make others happy, to give as a gift, to share your thoughts and feelings, to discover something about yourself, to pass the time, to experiment, to make a mess, to distract, to play, or to grow your soul. You don't need a reason either, but you may find one of these along the way.
Art is created every day by people around the world, many of them not even knowing it. Doodling while on the phone, taking the time to create an outfit, preparing a sandwich the exact way you want it, making a homemade card or cd, signing our name on a receipt, dancing to music in the car, practicing a new basketball move, these are a few of endless examples of everyday art occurring at a constant pace. We are all creators of art, and together we make up a world where a second doesn't go by where a performance or piece of art isn't created. It's pretty wonderful and uplifting when you think of life in that way.
Tuesday, June 19, 2007
Cursive video
I had the good fortune on Sunday night to work on the new Cursive video for their song "Bad Sects" off Happy Hollow. The director is fellow Omahan Nik Fackler who is both really nice and talented. He's done a bunch of other cool videos for bands like Tilly and the Wall, The Faint, Azure Ray, and more...some of his work can be viewed at his website.
I don't want to give away any details/plot, but you can create your own story based on the photos I've provided here. It's more imaginative and interactive that way.
It was a fun way to spend an evening. Met some nice, down to earth Omahans who are into film (and music). Many said that they would be interested in working on any projects that I was doing in the area, which was very cool. It's also fun and interesting to see how other sets/crews/directors work. Though it may be much smaller than L.A.'s, it's nice to see that there's a little film community out here.
Monday, June 18, 2007
College World Series
Kyle, Oleg, Erin, Sean and I went to a College World Series game on Friday evening. North Carolina vs. Mississippi State. North Carolina won 8-5. It was very hot. Sticky hot. The smell of hot dogs and sunblock wafting through the air, signaling both baseball and summertime. It was a good time.
The famed Rosenblatt Stadium, home of the College World Series.
Kyle and Oleg waiting in the long, long general admission line to get in.
Action on the field. A fly ball being caught, in case you couldn't tell from the tiny figures.
Erin and I wait in eager anticipation of the fly ball being caught. We could also be found cheering for our favorite player, Benji. I wasn't cheering for any team in particular, just for the sport of baseball. I cheered for singles, doubles, triples, strikeouts, batters who were hit by pitches but walked it off, homeruns, fly ball catches, steals, everything. It didn't matter what team you were on, as long as you were doing something active and exciting, I was cheering for you.
Besides cheering, this is what I do best at a baseball game. This followed a hot dog and an ice cold coke. Man, do I love sporting events.
Sean was hungry too, but was too lazy to wait in the concession lines.
Beautiful.
The famed Rosenblatt Stadium, home of the College World Series.
Kyle and Oleg waiting in the long, long general admission line to get in.
Action on the field. A fly ball being caught, in case you couldn't tell from the tiny figures.
Erin and I wait in eager anticipation of the fly ball being caught. We could also be found cheering for our favorite player, Benji. I wasn't cheering for any team in particular, just for the sport of baseball. I cheered for singles, doubles, triples, strikeouts, batters who were hit by pitches but walked it off, homeruns, fly ball catches, steals, everything. It didn't matter what team you were on, as long as you were doing something active and exciting, I was cheering for you.
Besides cheering, this is what I do best at a baseball game. This followed a hot dog and an ice cold coke. Man, do I love sporting events.
Sean was hungry too, but was too lazy to wait in the concession lines.
Beautiful.
Sunday, June 17, 2007
Woman Sets Space Flight Record
From the A.P.:
U.S. astronaut Sunita "Suni" Williams set a record for the longest single spaceflight by any woman. Williams, who has lived at the space station since December, surpassed the record of 188 days set by astronaut Shannon Lucid at the Mir space station in 1996.
"It's just that I'm in the right place at the right time," Williams, 41, said when Mission Control in Houston congratulated her on the record. "Even when the station has little problems, it's just a beautiful, wonderful place to live."
She's been there since December. Crazy.
Atlantis is cleared to come home some time next week.
Also...
"In February, Williams set another record for the most time spent spacewalking by a woman, kicking off a year of achievements by women in space.
In October, U.S. astronaut Peggy Whitson will become the first woman to command the space station. Later that month, Air Force Col. Pam Melroy will become only the second woman to command a space shuttle mission; Eileen Collins was the first, in 1999.
If Whitson and Melroy's time at the space station overlap, it could be the first time there are two female commanders in space at the same time. "The first time we have two female commanders in orbit — that will be neat," Whitson said.
Almost three decades after the first women joined the astronaut corps in 1978, only 17 of the 94 current active astronauts are women.
Lucid says part of the problem may be the pipeline that delivers pilots to the astronaut corps — the U.S. military. Women didn't start entering the military service academies until the late 1970s.
"I think it's really great that all of this happening, but obviously, you wonder, why did it take so many years?" asked Lucid, who is in astronaut office management. "At some point, you would like the field to be such that it doesn't make any difference whether you're male or female."
On the ground, Mission Control had its first female flight director in 1985. All three space station flight directors working the current Atlantis mission, and the lead shuttle flight director, are women. Women make up about a third of NASA's 33 flight directors, who are responsible for running the spaceflight missions.
"So many times, the room is filled with female flight controllers," Lucid said. "I just think it's just a wonderful thing that people are getting the chance to do what they're capable of doing."
U.S. astronaut Sunita "Suni" Williams set a record for the longest single spaceflight by any woman. Williams, who has lived at the space station since December, surpassed the record of 188 days set by astronaut Shannon Lucid at the Mir space station in 1996.
"It's just that I'm in the right place at the right time," Williams, 41, said when Mission Control in Houston congratulated her on the record. "Even when the station has little problems, it's just a beautiful, wonderful place to live."
She's been there since December. Crazy.
Atlantis is cleared to come home some time next week.
Also...
"In February, Williams set another record for the most time spent spacewalking by a woman, kicking off a year of achievements by women in space.
In October, U.S. astronaut Peggy Whitson will become the first woman to command the space station. Later that month, Air Force Col. Pam Melroy will become only the second woman to command a space shuttle mission; Eileen Collins was the first, in 1999.
If Whitson and Melroy's time at the space station overlap, it could be the first time there are two female commanders in space at the same time. "The first time we have two female commanders in orbit — that will be neat," Whitson said.
Almost three decades after the first women joined the astronaut corps in 1978, only 17 of the 94 current active astronauts are women.
Lucid says part of the problem may be the pipeline that delivers pilots to the astronaut corps — the U.S. military. Women didn't start entering the military service academies until the late 1970s.
"I think it's really great that all of this happening, but obviously, you wonder, why did it take so many years?" asked Lucid, who is in astronaut office management. "At some point, you would like the field to be such that it doesn't make any difference whether you're male or female."
On the ground, Mission Control had its first female flight director in 1985. All three space station flight directors working the current Atlantis mission, and the lead shuttle flight director, are women. Women make up about a third of NASA's 33 flight directors, who are responsible for running the spaceflight missions.
"So many times, the room is filled with female flight controllers," Lucid said. "I just think it's just a wonderful thing that people are getting the chance to do what they're capable of doing."
Saturday, June 16, 2007
Fireworks! (And The Faint!)
Fireworks was the theme of the night on Thursday. I drove downtown to Sokol, taking the 13th Street exit, which happens to be the same exit that the thousands of college baseball fans around the world take to go to Rosenblatt Stadium, the site of the College World Series. It was a pre-opening celebration, and I was there just in time for the traffic and the fireworks. I sat in my car watching the red brake lights blink and the red, white, and blue fireworks explode. There were some purple and green too, I think, but baseball is America's pastime, so the red, white and blue seemed to be the colors of choice.
I arrived in Sokol just in time to see a big, burly Sokol worker frantically screaming, "Call the cops! Call the cops right now! Get that guy off stage!" This was a bit alarming. I imagined a guy with a gun jumping onstage and being psychotic. What I didn't picture was the half of the duo Services totally naked onstage. He was promptly escorted off stage and arrested. The other half of the duo proceeded to fake hang himself with his tie, making a face not unlike Harold in the opening of Harold and Maude. Quite the fireworks to open the night!
The energetic, dance-tastic members of The Faint kept the night's fireworks alive with their driving bass, pulsing beats, and super fine dance moves. They played a lot of their classics, such as "Worked Up So Sexual", "Glass Danse", "Take Me to the Hospital", "Agenda Suicide", "Paranoiattack", and "Posed to Death" (love this song). They also played about 4 new songs. One was slower, one was about "ever growing centipedes", another was introduced as "The Geeks Were Right."
They came out and said, "It's great to be home," getting a huge cheer from the hometown crowd who had already gotten into the dancing mood from the beats coming out of the Sokol speakers before The Faint even came on.
It was great to see the classic moves of the band: Jacob's 360s and full backbend touch the floor moves. Todd's gospel revival movements, air drum playing along with the beat, and smiles. Clark's hard hitting, sweaty long hair thrashing on the drums. DaPose's side to side hip move/slide, often accompanied by a snap...pretty flamboyant looking for someone who looks they could've been in Slayer. And Joel's more subtle arms up, occasional rocking out, otherwise bobbing to the beat. It's oddly comforting to see a band you haven't seen in awhile displaying their signature styles and moves...it's the same for Sleater-Kinney, Le Tigre, the White Stripes, etc. It brought a smile to my face and made me feel kind of like everything was right in the world. Who knew that rock/dance music could provide security and stability as well as the feeling of freedom and endless possibility?
Todd made a point about how his friend was arrested for "being in the most natural state of himself he could be in." He then conducted an informal poll of if people really minded nudity. The majority seemed not to mind nudity, but I have to say, the vote was quite close. This was probably a little closer to Todd's heart considering he was also arrested for indecent exposure when he mooned the crowd while on tour with No Doubt. Maybe a group will be started: Rock crusaders for Nudity. They already have a few members in Omaha.
Sokol was also super hot. I was in the balcony and danced about 90% less than usual, and was still sweating. The majority of the attendees were completely soaked, including the 50 year old couple that I walked out behind. Their button downs and khaki shorts were soaked through and sticking to their skin. I hope they thought it was worth it. They stayed the whole time, which says something.
Thursday, June 14, 2007
Feliz Cumpleanos a Erica
Happy Birthday Erica, I hope you had/have a wonderful day!
That second one is of me celebrating with you from afar.
P.S. I had to write that note backwards. That's how special you are. I will write notes backwards for you.
That second one is of me celebrating with you from afar.
P.S. I had to write that note backwards. That's how special you are. I will write notes backwards for you.
Wednesday, June 13, 2007
Me and Albee
Let me give you a little backstory here. Two of my short films were selected for the Great Plains Theatre Conference, held here in Omaha, Nebraska.
In case you were wondering "what are films doing in a theatre conference?" let me assure you that they have a film section. Among the special guests attending this conference were Edward Albee, Patricia Neal (of Breakfast at Tiffany's fame), and Rachel Jacobson, founder of Film Streams.
If you thought I was getting lazy about writing, and thus were including more photos, you were right. This post is no exception. It's not all laziness though. Visuals can tell a story just as well as, if not better, than words. See how well film school has taught me?
Here is Mr. Albee himself. Proving that even Pulitzer Prize winning authors are just like us, this was taken right after he walked out of the men's restroom. My first instinct was to take it as he was walking out, the stiff armed bathroom man on the sign in the background, but then thought better. I'm glad that my respectful and polite instincts won out over my paparazzi instincts...I think.
I know what you're thinking. No, it's not just some aging man in light jeans and faded leather and suede. Yes, it has Husker red accents. But it really is him. I swear. You're just going to have to trust me on this.
I am seriously trustworthy and, as many of my L.A. friends can attest, pretty skilled at spotting and identifying celebrities. I have the credentials. I'll provide references. I have witnesses.
But who needs all of that? I don't need to prove anything to you. I'm asking you to trust me. It's him. No more discussion.
Jamie and Erin, being the wonderful, supportive sisters that they are, came with me for the entire day. Here they are right before they were going to show my films. The excitement and tension was getting to them.
That evening, there was a gala for the conference, where they would hand out awards. It was a real classy affair. Catered, free bar, pianist, tuxedos, the whole nine yards.
As you can see, we chose to dress down for the occasion. Here is Erin on the red carpet.
Me in training for the Oscars.
Oh, and ice sculptures. How classy are ice sculptures? Erin and a penguin, who are very in vogue in films these days.
These Nebraskans are really on top of it.
Mr. Albee's place at our table.
This night has inspired me to write a play: "Waiting for Albee."
Erin and I sat at the furthest table from the stage in a corner. This was not only to further signal us as the weirdos who were way younger than anyone else there and underdressed or to elicit stares saying, "Are you even supposed to be here?", but mostly to provide ease for a quick and early escape from the affair (plus we had a lacrosse championship to go to...see below).
So they started announcing the film winners first, and right as they started to announce the short film winners a large gust of wind blew in the tent, knocking down a large plant nearly on top of Erin, who was startled and started to laugh. I also found it funny that a large plant fell nearly on us, but then could not hear who they were saying, so I started to tell Erin I couldn't hear and she continued to laugh as others at our table and around us shot annoyed and confused looks in our direction.
Erin quieted down enough for me to hear my name called for second place. I got up, again prompting confused looks from our neighbors. "Take that, I belong here! And I'm a winner!" I wanted to cry. Instead I smiled and made my long way to the stage.
This is Erin's reaction to my second place finish. She thought I deserved better. She's got my back.
This was taken today. I tried to re-create my moment of glory with my little sculpted prize. How cute is it?
Great Plains, here we come! Next year we are gunning for greatness, a family dynasty of Midwestern awards. The grand prize in film and playwriting. We will take it all!
In case you were wondering "what are films doing in a theatre conference?" let me assure you that they have a film section. Among the special guests attending this conference were Edward Albee, Patricia Neal (of Breakfast at Tiffany's fame), and Rachel Jacobson, founder of Film Streams.
If you thought I was getting lazy about writing, and thus were including more photos, you were right. This post is no exception. It's not all laziness though. Visuals can tell a story just as well as, if not better, than words. See how well film school has taught me?
Here is Mr. Albee himself. Proving that even Pulitzer Prize winning authors are just like us, this was taken right after he walked out of the men's restroom. My first instinct was to take it as he was walking out, the stiff armed bathroom man on the sign in the background, but then thought better. I'm glad that my respectful and polite instincts won out over my paparazzi instincts...I think.
I know what you're thinking. No, it's not just some aging man in light jeans and faded leather and suede. Yes, it has Husker red accents. But it really is him. I swear. You're just going to have to trust me on this.
I am seriously trustworthy and, as many of my L.A. friends can attest, pretty skilled at spotting and identifying celebrities. I have the credentials. I'll provide references. I have witnesses.
But who needs all of that? I don't need to prove anything to you. I'm asking you to trust me. It's him. No more discussion.
Jamie and Erin, being the wonderful, supportive sisters that they are, came with me for the entire day. Here they are right before they were going to show my films. The excitement and tension was getting to them.
That evening, there was a gala for the conference, where they would hand out awards. It was a real classy affair. Catered, free bar, pianist, tuxedos, the whole nine yards.
As you can see, we chose to dress down for the occasion. Here is Erin on the red carpet.
Me in training for the Oscars.
Oh, and ice sculptures. How classy are ice sculptures? Erin and a penguin, who are very in vogue in films these days.
These Nebraskans are really on top of it.
Mr. Albee's place at our table.
This night has inspired me to write a play: "Waiting for Albee."
Erin and I sat at the furthest table from the stage in a corner. This was not only to further signal us as the weirdos who were way younger than anyone else there and underdressed or to elicit stares saying, "Are you even supposed to be here?", but mostly to provide ease for a quick and early escape from the affair (plus we had a lacrosse championship to go to...see below).
So they started announcing the film winners first, and right as they started to announce the short film winners a large gust of wind blew in the tent, knocking down a large plant nearly on top of Erin, who was startled and started to laugh. I also found it funny that a large plant fell nearly on us, but then could not hear who they were saying, so I started to tell Erin I couldn't hear and she continued to laugh as others at our table and around us shot annoyed and confused looks in our direction.
Erin quieted down enough for me to hear my name called for second place. I got up, again prompting confused looks from our neighbors. "Take that, I belong here! And I'm a winner!" I wanted to cry. Instead I smiled and made my long way to the stage.
This is Erin's reaction to my second place finish. She thought I deserved better. She's got my back.
This was taken today. I tried to re-create my moment of glory with my little sculpted prize. How cute is it?
Great Plains, here we come! Next year we are gunning for greatness, a family dynasty of Midwestern awards. The grand prize in film and playwriting. We will take it all!
Tuesday, June 12, 2007
Stone Astrologers
Photos taken in the Sculpture Garden in Omaha (located in the Passageway). We are posing by our respective Astrological signs.
The two photos below are not their appropriate signs. We just wanted to see them make those faces.
Monday, June 11, 2007
Today's Activity: Car Wash!
Warning: PG-13 image below, may be unsuitable for children...or people of any age, for that matter.
Sunday, June 10, 2007
Friday Night Lights
Alternate Post Title: LAX: Not only an airport
We are very excited, the woman behind us is not. We were cheering for the same team, so one of us was wrong. My bet's on us.
You should be able to infer the story from the photos, but to give you more details, this is what I did last Friday and Saturday night (photos taken on Saturday). This is a lacrosse game. This is the Midwest. This is Millard West High School beating Creighton Prep High School for the Championship 7-6. This is my life. It was quite an exciting game, actually. Erin and I attended to cheer on the Wildcats, and to support and cheer on Sean, Erin's lacrosse-playing boyfriend (notice Erin's jersey attire). Congrats Wildcats! Go Lacrosse!
We are very excited, the woman behind us is not. We were cheering for the same team, so one of us was wrong. My bet's on us.
You should be able to infer the story from the photos, but to give you more details, this is what I did last Friday and Saturday night (photos taken on Saturday). This is a lacrosse game. This is the Midwest. This is Millard West High School beating Creighton Prep High School for the Championship 7-6. This is my life. It was quite an exciting game, actually. Erin and I attended to cheer on the Wildcats, and to support and cheer on Sean, Erin's lacrosse-playing boyfriend (notice Erin's jersey attire). Congrats Wildcats! Go Lacrosse!
Saturday, June 9, 2007
Are they conflict free, Chan?
Has anyone else heard Cat Power singing on a commercial for Journey Diamonds? I just came in the room with a TV on to hear her distinctive voice and see a woman spitting up a diamond in bed. I have made it sound much more exciting than it is.
Addendum: I just saw it again, and she doesn't regurgitate the diamond, she finds a diamond necklace around her neck and looks at it (her husband put it on her as she was sleeping...apparently, the touch of a diamond is enough to wake a woman up...looking alert, refreshed, healthy and with a soft glow).
Addendum: I just saw it again, and she doesn't regurgitate the diamond, she finds a diamond necklace around her neck and looks at it (her husband put it on her as she was sleeping...apparently, the touch of a diamond is enough to wake a woman up...looking alert, refreshed, healthy and with a soft glow).
Slowdown Opening
Last night I attended the first public opening of Slowdown (Bright Eyes played a somewhat secret, more private show on Thursday night) and here are some photos:
See how excited Sean and Erin are to check it out?
The view upon entering.
This last photo is of the band Art in Manila. They were really great. The band members consist of Orenda Fink (formerly of Azure Ray; guitar, vocals), Adrianne Verhoeven (formerly of The Anniversary; keys, vocals), Dan McCarthy (McCarthy Trenching, Mayday, Bright Eyes), also on keys, Steve Bartolomei (Mal Madrigal) on guitar, Ryan Fox (The Good Life) on bass, and Corey Broman (Dance Me Pregnant) on drums. You can listen to them here. Their album, "Set the Woods on Fire," recorded by Joel Petersen of The Faint, will be released by Saddle Creek on August 7th.
There were six bands on the bill: Capgun Coup, Flowers Forever, Now, Archimedes!, Art in Manila, Domestica and Little Brazil for $2. Wish I could've seen more. Tonight there are five: Mal Madrigal, The Terminals, Ladyfinger, Bear Country, and Neva Dinova. Wish I could go, but I am babysitting.
I give a hearty congratulations to Saddle Creek and its owners, Jason Kulbel and Robb Nansel. The place was really nice. Spacious, clean, good sound, nice design, lots of seating, nice lighting, a photo booth, videogames, pool, a jukebox, framed band posters on the wall, and some artwork. The opening drew an eclectic crowd, which was nice to see. It's great that so many people came out to support it. There was also a very nice, laidback vibe (besides the people who came barreling past us, bombarding the photo booth that we were about to enter). Two thumbs up.
See how excited Sean and Erin are to check it out?
The view upon entering.
This last photo is of the band Art in Manila. They were really great. The band members consist of Orenda Fink (formerly of Azure Ray; guitar, vocals), Adrianne Verhoeven (formerly of The Anniversary; keys, vocals), Dan McCarthy (McCarthy Trenching, Mayday, Bright Eyes), also on keys, Steve Bartolomei (Mal Madrigal) on guitar, Ryan Fox (The Good Life) on bass, and Corey Broman (Dance Me Pregnant) on drums. You can listen to them here. Their album, "Set the Woods on Fire," recorded by Joel Petersen of The Faint, will be released by Saddle Creek on August 7th.
There were six bands on the bill: Capgun Coup, Flowers Forever, Now, Archimedes!, Art in Manila, Domestica and Little Brazil for $2. Wish I could've seen more. Tonight there are five: Mal Madrigal, The Terminals, Ladyfinger, Bear Country, and Neva Dinova. Wish I could go, but I am babysitting.
I give a hearty congratulations to Saddle Creek and its owners, Jason Kulbel and Robb Nansel. The place was really nice. Spacious, clean, good sound, nice design, lots of seating, nice lighting, a photo booth, videogames, pool, a jukebox, framed band posters on the wall, and some artwork. The opening drew an eclectic crowd, which was nice to see. It's great that so many people came out to support it. There was also a very nice, laidback vibe (besides the people who came barreling past us, bombarding the photo booth that we were about to enter). Two thumbs up.
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