Is Max Alive?

Hiatus

2010-11-09T11:25:00.001-05:00

Friends,

This blog has been with us a very, very long time. However, I have not done the best job of keeping it up-to-date and answering the question that it poses: Is Max Alive?

As you are all probably aware, I have created several other internet indulgences that have, over time, usurped this blog's position. I'm on Facebook and LinkedIn; I Tweet constantly; I created a web-presence focused on my writing and artistic work, as well as professional; and most recently I have launched a Tumblr blog that chronicles the adventures of my cousins and I in New York.

I am not shutting down this blog. Firstly, because it's a nice repository of writing going back nearly six years now. Secondly, because I might want it again some day. In fact, during my Assault on America's Senses, it was the only blog I could easily post to. It may prove useful again in the future.

So, I thank you for reading here and I hope you'll keep reading my elsewhere.

-Max

Blogging from the Air

2010-06-30T18:01:00.000-04:00

So, this is it. I spent a fantastic few days with Garg-alum and former Mason Proper member Matt Thompson and now I am in the air. Thanks to the miracle of WiFi technology, I can write this while our plane shakes over the Rockies.

Many of you are probably wondering why I haven't been updating from the road more, though I imagine that most of you assume it's because I am too busy/lazy. Well, that's only half right. As previously stated, the iPhone app that I've been using to update this blog while on the road has ceased to function. That, combined with a full to the brim schedule of exploring Seattle and hiking around mountains, has prevented me from keeping you as up to date as I would like.

And now, cruising over clouds, I am not even sure what to say about the trip. For all intents and purposes it's over. But it doesn't really feel like it's over because there's so much left undone back in Virginia. Plus, I am flying back, so it feels just like an everyday vacation. The days of camaraderie and the nights of fear in the Utah desert seem distant, like the memories aren't even mine.

Maybe by tomorrow I'll be better sorted to put this all together. I've said farewell to the road, and now I need to write the epitaph for the Assault on America's Senses.

The Final Push

2010-06-25T20:15:00.000-04:00

Today, I board a bus in San Francisco and ride (first south to Sacramento but then) North to Portalnd, Oregon. I'll say one night in a motel downtown and meet up with Cousin Sarah while she's attending some kind of conference.

On the 27th I'll take what is probably the shortest bus trip of my Assault and pay an extended visit on Matt Thompson (formerly of Mason Proper, formerly of Gargoyle, formerly of Some French Dairy Farm in France) in Seattle. I'm really looking forward to this, since I'd previously only spent a few hours in Seattle.

On the 30th (or so) I'll check my trusty duffel and ride a jet all the way back to DCA. That'll be it. That ends the Assault. Tonight is the final push up the west coast.

See you all soon.

The Lawns of Longmont

2010-06-25T20:11:00.000-04:00

So, I already wrote this post while standing in the Denver Greyhound terminal, but Blogpress -- the iPhone app I have been using to blog while on this trip -- decided that it no longer wanted to play nice and did not actually publish the post. Then, for the sake of consistency, it deleted the draft of my post. Nearly an hour of thumb twiddling on my phone down the toilet.

This is very disappointing. Not just for the loss of a blog post, but because it means that my ability to update y'all gentle readers from the road is greatly inhibited. However, I have my trusty disposable laptop with me, so hopefully I can continue to keep you all in the know.

---

Thanks to everyone who wrote so encouragingly about me taking the plane from Omaha to Denver and "cheating" on my trip. Not only did it warm my heart to know that people are reading my blog, but it was great to have some positive reinforcement for my decisions.

And it turned out to be a great decision. Not only did I arrive in 1/20th the time it would have taken me to bus out to Denver, my ticket was apparently a "classic" ticket on Frontier airlines. As such, it entitled me to a free checked bag, a premium beverage (bourbon and soda water, thanks), and a snack (oh man, you guys have cheese curds?). I had no idea that I was entitled to such perks when I ordered the ticket and was feeling extremely pleased with myself as I floated in to the Denver International Airport.

Now, the Denver airport is famous for two things: losing your luggage, and horrible omens. First and foremost among the bad omens is that the airport is home to the worst bar in America: the "Q Bar," which is a Quiznos with an attached bar that charged me $9 for a Blue Moon (bottle) the last time I was there.

Second are the amazingly creepy murals that can be found inside. One of them, as I recall, depicts the Grim Reaper drawing the souls out of people.

Third is the Nightmare Pony, which I guess is supposed to symbolize the power and majesty of the Denver Broncos (football team, not horses). Why the artist chose to communicate this concept with a giant rearing blue horse with terrifying patterns across its body and illuminated red eyes is completely beyond me.

Fourth is a recent addition: a huge statue of Annubis, the Egyptian god of Death. So uplifting!

Despite all these bad omens my flight arrived on time, I met Kris (best pal, Boulder resident, artist), and was on my way to Longmont. On my way out, I was pleased to see two new members of the airport freakshow: gargoyles leaping out of suitcases that the explanatory placcard ominously says are "about the size of a ten-year-old boy."

Sunday was a lazy day for Kris and I, since it was pretty late by the time I got in. The next morning, I had planned to get started working on Kris' backyard. This wasn't a condition of my visit, but rather something I volunteered to do. As many of you know, I used to work as a groundskeeper and every year my hands get itchy for plants and soil. Kris inherited a rather unkempt lawn from the previous owners who had employed some downright odd gardening practices; the oddest of which was laying newspaper underneath mulch.

Unfortunately, after I had finished reacquainting myself with Kris' excellent vinyl record collection, I wound up getting distracted and not starting on the lawn. Most of the late afternoon was spent with Kris, going to different stores and searching for the legendary Mexicoke. That is, Coca-Cola from Mexico where it is still made with cane sugar. Years ago, Kris told me that after one drink of this stuff, I would understand why people used to be obsessed with Coca-Cola.

After four stores and nearly two hours of searching, we threw in the towel on the Mexicoke. Once again eluded by the fizzy beverage, I renewed my vow to track it down and taste its delicious, caramel colored contents.

That evening, Kris took me to Il Pastaio where I was once again treated to some of the best pasta I've ever had. Il Pastaio has an interesting format for ordering. You're presented with a menu that lists sauces and prices. When you order, you tell the waiter which pasta you'd like and with what sauce. You are billed not based on what kind of noodles you order, but the sauce.

The house specialty is, without a doubt, the ravioli. Unlike most other restuarants which might have, at most, three varieties of stuffed square noodles, Il Pastaio offers a veritable cornicopia of choices for the discerning diner. That night, Kris had the squash and I assure you that it did not disappoint.

The next morning, I gathered the gardening equipment I'd found the day before and began my assault on the yard. There's not much to say about that, and I am running out of time at this coffee shop, but I did a pretty good job and thuroughly enjoyed my time working on it.

To celebrate the taming of the yard, Kris and I went out to Toy Story 3 in the dying Twin Peaks mall (I looked for Laura Palmer, but she never showed). As you can imagine, the movie was excellent, and I declared it to be the best of the series.

There's much more to tell, and I am not being fair to the amazing time I had in Colordado, but I am running out of time. Kris: forgive me!

I must be going now, gentle readers. Portland awaits, and my bus leaves soon.

Onward!

Cheating

2010-06-20T00:03:00.000-04:00

Right now, I am snug and cozy on the couch of Jenny -- a friend from College and GargAlum. She has been the most gracious of hosts, and I am grateful for it after the long slog it took to get here. I'm in Nebraska, a state I have visiting twice before. Both of those times, I was headed to where I am going tomorrow: Colorado.

However, tomorrow I will be boarding a plane to get there.

For me, it feels like cheating. Part of the reason I took this trip was to do it on the cheap and to stick to buses to see America pass by me. But I just got off of a 20+ hour ride this afternoon, and would be staring down the barrel of at least another 10 hours (more likely 16-20) to get to foot of the Rocky mountains. Right now, I just can't do that.

It would be one thing if it were my last big trek, but it isn't by a long shot. The trip from Colorado to San Francisco is over 30 hours, the train takes just about as long, and the flight is more than I am willing to throw down. Also, it's a cheap flight and a very short trip.

So I am cheating.

I feel bad about doing so. I feel like it's not in the spirit of this adventure, and that I'm not living up to my promise I made to myself when I stepped out of Virginia: do this and have fun, but be smart about it. And when I said that, I was thinking primarily of personal safety and bank accounts.

But getting to Colorado does put me in a good and flexible position for the final leg of my trip. Also, it means a nice respite before the longest ride of the trip. And right now, I think I need that. I've loved my trip but the long, dark, quiet nights in the buses aren't just hard on my back. I need to see more friends, take it easy, and lighten my heart before I get back on the Greyhound.

I'm looking at a no-transfers straight shot from Denver to San Francisco, and I am looking forward to being ready to make that trip.

New Jersey: Sinus Attack

2010-06-18T11:52:00.001-04:00

There was something wrong with my throat when I woke up in New York on my last day in the Big Apple. I laughed it off over brunch, and only started to get worried while on my New Jersey bound train. If I was sick, it would throw everything off. Not just the trip but far more if it was serious. I had no insurance, it expired the night of my last day at SAIC. An illness could easily ruin a lot, not to mention my bank account.

But my red-headed aunt Mary was at the station when my train pulled in to Denville and everything was well with the world. That first evening I was treated to a lavish meal, courtesey of both Mary and uncle Rick. There have been many times on these long bus routes where I have thought of the steak I ate that night.

The next morning it was clear to me that I had a Sinus Situation on my hands. I didn't feel great at all, and I kep going back and forth between whether I was sick or just allergic to something. It was a maddening feeling, not knowing if I could or should continue my trip. It was particularly infuriating because my bus to Atlanta -- my next stop -- would not only pass through DC, but would stop there for over an hour. I could easily grab a cab back to m apartment in Virginia and rest up.

I discussed such things with Mary over what I can only describe as a "very cool breakfast." There was fresh fruit, eggs, and meat all eaten while a cool morning breeze blew off the lake. We ate on the porch, overlooking the lake. All the while Neil Young played on the stereo, my aunt humming along from time to time.

Because of my iffy health and the threat of thunderstorms, we decided to make it an easy day. Rick ha already left for work and Mary had business in town. I sat and read until the storm started.

It was swift and beautiful that storm. It blew in over the empty lake pushing a strong, cool wind through the entire house. And then the rain started, devilishly hard at first but eventually evening out into a steady patter. It felt like the whole woods and lake were collectively relieved as the rain cooled the ground and cleared the air.

I stood in the doorway of the porch, and felt I was cured of many things at once.

That night, Rick, Mary, and I had massive burritos, and we took a truncated tour of town. Of note was the house of a local provacatuer who had several run ins with local police and his neighbors over the lawn decorations that he puts up.

Lawn decorations is only one way to describe it. A giant fiberglass tiger crawling over an awning, a collection of animal statues, and a boat wedged magnificently in a tree pushed the limits of my ubderstanding of lawn art.

Needless to say, I was in love. Not only with this man's bombastic taste but also his audacity. When the police cracked down on him, the homeowner bought and restored a vintage cop car, painted "Thought Police" on the roof and frequntly parked it outside the local police station.

Is this immature and even a little reprhensible? Absolutlely. But I really like this guy. The world has far too many boring homes and predictable yards to require police intervention. Perhaps his passion could be better spent fighting greater ills, like homelessness, but I'm glad this man has taken a stand like this. It's not right to fault a man for following through on his passions and convictions. In addition to more interesting yards, I dare say we could use more people willing to be passionate about anything.

The afternoon of my last day, Mary drove me in to Newark. We grabbed a bite at the spectacular Hobby's Deli which had walls covered in letters from the corridors of power, giving thanks for pastrami on rye. A chief justice and An American diplomat spring to mind. Several large salami hung on the back wall, waiting to be sent to Iraq ad Afghanistan; a special treat for Soldiers abroad.

I boarded a bus and 20 some hours later was in Atlanta.

Location:U.S. 90,Lafayette,United States

It's Not Really Texas

2010-06-17T14:49:00.002-04:00

That's what I was told when Ben picked me up from the bus station. In his own words, it's a hilly, verdent, liberal oasis in the midst of a multi-faceted Texas desert. While I can't speak to that per say, I cab say that I gel much better pulling in to Austin than I did other towns in Texas.

(Truth be told, I was intrigued by Houston, and would like to come back. Plans are already brewing in my mind for a future trip through the mid-northern and southwestern states.)

I've done a pretty bad job of keeping this blog up to date on my trip, but that's been a function of how much fun I am having! I've got back-fill posts started for New Jersey, Atlanta, and I must write about New Orleans, but I can't get bogged down and leave everyone hanging.

New Jersey was great, Atlanta was a blast, and I miss New Orleans already. Also: I took a shortcut through Alabama with my uncle Gary, so I have that to talk about as well. And to think, it's only been a week!

The southern extension of my trip has ended and now I turn Northward again. This is my last night in Austin, and I'll next be in Omaha, NE.

The most important things you need to know at thus: I am staying with Ben, an old friend from Highschool. Austin is a fun town, and we're going to make the best of it. And lat night, we had tacos from a fortuitously named cart:

Ben has been a vibrant pick-me-up from the post vacation depression that was starting to set in after NOLA. The trip is starting to wear on me a bit, but just when it seems bleakest (see: on busses) America offers me something to keep going. Whether it's great tacos or a church with a URL in it's name, it keeps me going.

Now: to shower.

Location:Northcross Dr,Austin,United States

New York, Yew Nork (part 2 of 2)

2010-06-08T13:09:00.003-04:00

I woke up on Al Pacino's couch ridiculously early, already damp with sweat. I was sleeping on the third floor, and in full sun, so continuing to snooze was not an option. I knew that Hyatt was going to be sleeping for quite a while, so I left him a note and made my way back to Manhattan.

Luckily, the film crew outside of Lindsey's apartment hadn't started for the day. I would find out later that the crew was there to film an adaptation of the play "For Colored Girls That Have Considered Suicide," a play I know nothing about, but did remember from NPR.

Showered and refreshed, I headed back downtown to Time Square. From the directions I'd read off a sign on the subway, the King Tut exhibit was somewhere in that general area. It was not hard to find, thankfully. Time Square isna critical mass of tourists and bizzarre New York entertainment, and I prefer to view it from a distance.

The exhibit was surprising not only for its completeness, but also the scope of how informative it was. While Tut was not present, the exhibit goes to great pains to help the viewer understand the social, political, and religious context of Tut's rule.

For instance, I had no idea that Tut was the son of Aknahten, the enigmatic pharoah who overthrew the traditional gods and instituted his own brand of monotheism to Egypt. Tut succeeded Aknahten, and set about undoing most of the social and political turmoil created by his father. All of this was rather deftly handle by te exhibit, in addition to supplying plenty of shiny and interesting things to look upon.

After I'd had all the Tut I could handle, I retired to Bryant Park. I stumbled upon it while trying to find my way elsewhere, but found the peaceful allure of the trees too much to resist. As a result, I spent some time there.

The city provide park goers with equipment for games like bocci and ping-pong. I was stunned by how many games I ended up watching. It was shockingly engrossing!

Once Lindsey was off work, we strolled the stately grounds of Central Park. I arrived a little before she, and used the location-based game Gowalla to find some of the park's attractions that I had missed during previous visits. Little thing like the Cherry Hill Fountain:

And big things like the Bethesda Fountain Square, where I found a man playing cello:

After an excellent Thai meal, Lindsey, her boyfriend Noam, and I went out to Brooklyn to meet up with some of her friends. It was a curious evening, made curioser by the Armenian gentlemen we shared a table with. I think I'll go into greater detail on the other blog (wmeddy.com), but needless to say: the subject of the Michigan Militia was addressed.

We closed off the evening with a night-cap of rum from the Dominican Republic that tasted eerily like Nyquil. We used these coasters:

My last hours in New York were spent pleasantly with Lindsey and another of her friends over a late lunch. Befor I left, Lindsey was kind enough to show me one of the advantages of living in NYC.

And then I was off to New Jersey! I'm sorry that this is so glib, but I am running Late an have just completed a 22-hour bus trip from Jersey to Atlanta. More to follow, of course.

Onward!

Location:Savage Rd,Denville,United States

Yew Nork, New York (1of 2)

2010-06-06T14:10:00.001-04:00

No, no; I'm not dead. But I seem to be laid up with some nasty allergies. I'm keeping my fingers crossed that it's not an illness, since that would be disasterous at this stage. The Everett's are taking excellent care of me, though, and perhaps a slow few days would be good for me all around.

But I am nagged with fear that I might get derailed not even a week into my trip. Anyway, let's talk about New York.

The trip to the Big Apple started innocently enough with a tasty sandwich and cousin Laura dropping me off at the Boston bus station. I boarded on time and was expecting to be moving ahead of schedule. But it was not to be. Within two hours of leaving Boston, the bus started to feel warmer. Each breath increased the claustraphobia, and the terrifying illusion that there wasn't enough air in the bus.

At our first rest stop, the bus driver confirmed that the AC was working at half capacity. But w plaowed ahead. 90min outside of Manhattan we stopped again. The driver informed us that we might have to wait for another bus to transfer to. Several strong-looking and strong-willed guys that looked of college age became extremely perturbed at this. Sleevelessly they walked through the bus and lead a revolt/opinion poll supporting a platform of "pushing on through."

At the time I felt good about pressing onward, but looking back on it, I wonder how much of it was me, and how much was the charismatic youthes that spoke on behalf of the passengers.

Popular opinion won out, and we had a dreadful, grueling 2hr trip to the Port Authority bus station.
Arrived and revived by the cooler air of the station, I shouldered my bag and went downtown to meet Lindsey, my oldest friend.

Despite my disheveled appearance, she insisted I come up to her office, hugged me, refreshed my spirit, and introduced me to her boss. He was a handsome, clean, bald man that resembled an Egyptian male model I saw in a German soap opera years ago.

I showered and changed at Lindsey's apartment on 152nd street, and then headed out to meet Hyatt. Frequent readers will recognize him as one of my former roomates in college. While I didn't get any pictures of the H-Man himself, this was painted on the wall of the Brooklyn bar where we met.

We had a few drinks and talked about The Old Days. We talke about how we got to where we are now, and if "here" is where we want to be tomorrow. We made fun of Nico.

Hyatt has always been an artist. When we were in school, he studed film and was heavily involved in theatre. A lot of his work explores issues of race and identity, but to say that does him a disservice and makes me sound like a pretentious film critic.

The bar was an excellent locale for discussion between two old friends. It had a dark-wood interior, with little octagonal tiles across the floor. The bar itself was topped in blue tile squares and rectangles. In the candle light (yes, candle light), the moving shadows and echoing tile reminded me of the Belle Isle aquarium; a strange, anachronism in the Detroit river.

Our talking went all over the place, but I noticed that despite the continued tenuous existence that he maintained all through college and afterward, Hyatt seemed more self assured than ever. He spoke with great sincerity, even on the lightest of subjects. "I've had some of the best times, and some of the worst -- the lowest lows -- since moving to New York," he told me.

A highlight of the evening was receiving a free round from the bartender becuase he overheard us talking about Tom Waits.

Meandering back to the film commune where Hyatt lives, we stopped for Emergency Falafel. We ate it lazily in the back yard of the collective, where a stage was framed between the huge neighboring buildings that towered over us. We talked about the future.

Hyatt showe me around the home he shared with other artists who work together making films. I could feel the excitement that you get from imaginitive people through the walls. One tennent had nailed pages from a French poem to his door. Hyatt's small room boasted a fragmentary Lichtenstein.

It was late, so I slept in the common room on a couch allegedly used by Al Pacino in a made for TV movie. I woke early, and made my way back to Manhattan in the haze of someone who has slept, but rested too little.

Up next: Lindsey, Armenians in Brooklyn, and a journey to the Garden State.

Location:Savage Rd,Denville,United States

Blurry Photos

2010-06-05T23:54:00.001-04:00

Folks, I've really been struggling with a way to post quality material to this blog while I am traveling. I am in no way throwing in the towel on this, but you should be aware that I am posting nearly everything that appears on this blog -- text, photos -- from my iPhone. I've been using an app called "BlogPress," which I've used in the past with some success.

I did not, however, realize exactly how it handled photos. Today, I realized that while it is uploading the images to my Picasa account, it is creating low-res thumbnails with a separate service and hosting them elsewhere.

So from now on, the pictures on the blog are going to be smaller. They will look better, but will probably look weirdly small since they're only 200x200 pixels. They can all be clicked on, however, and your browser will be whisked away to the Picasa website where much nicer looking versions of the images abide.

I'm pretty bummed out about the whole thing, but it's the best solution I have so far. Hopefully, while on the road, I can work out a better way to get things to you, my gentle readers.

That said, I am currently in the basement of my aunt and uncle in New Jersey. More on this to follow, probably posted from my iPhone!

The End Of Boston

2010-06-03T20:46:00.003-04:00

Most of my first, and only, full day was the kind of event that would only be interesting for me. I wandered the city, I browsed bookshops, I sat by the harbor and wondered if the smell was from the restuarant on the jellyfish.

Later, I me back up with Laura and she toured me through Harvard, where I learned many disturbing things about the stories institution. Namely, that undergrads are organized and housed in large groups that they stay with for the duration of their studies. That thought terrified me. It also didn't do much to squelch the rumors of Harvard being a place to go for the connections you make.

But I digress. Dear cousin Laura is the product of their divinity school, so clearly it is a capable institution. Also, some of their architecture is stunning.

On the way over to a coffee shop, Laura asked me if I wanted to stop by the Lampoon. As in, The Harvard Lampoon. Despite having only read a handful of issues from at least 20 years ago, I knew a thing or two about the Lampoon. They were famous, they were successful, they were at least partly responsible for some of my favorite movies, they had their own building, they were secure, I was jealous.

In the end I ds opt to stop by, and I'm glad I did because sitting on the stoop of the iconic Lampoon offices was a dude in Wayfarer sunglasses, listening to Wings and drinking Coors Light. I wasn't sure what to do, and my first instinct was to simply take a picture and leave.

But I had come too far, and this trip is not about timidity. It's not about getting from point A to point B, it's about assaulting America's senses. So I assaulted in the only way I know how: through cheerful banter.

I asked him if he worked for the Lampoon. He said he did. I told him that I was formally of the Gargoyle Humor Magazine at U of M and, and this is true, that some time ago my friend Zack Beauvais (also of Gargoyle, class of 2010) emailed the Lampoon and challenge them to a wrestling match. The Wings listener seemed confused.

Once he had regained his composure and the grip on his Coors, he said that he'd never heard of such a challenge, but that he was relatively young. It may have been before his time. Well, I wanted to see this through and asked if I could give him some contact info to try and make the match a reality. He agreed.

I whippe out my pen and a notecard and started scribbling down names, emails, and other pertenant info. To cover the awkward silence, he asked: "What did you say the name of Dartmouth's humor magazine is?"

I didn't miss a beat, but in my mind I halted and realized that they didn't care about the Gargoyle, or any other humor rag. Maybe the East coast ones, but the Midwest was probably an alien landscape to him, and Michigan: something from Robocop.

"Dartmouth's humor mag is the Jack' O Lantern, but I went to te University of Michigan and worked on the Gargoyle," I said.

We chatted a bit more and he seemed as awkward and confused as any undergrad in the presence of an alum does. When we parted, he took the card and I left him sitting bemused on the steps of that famous building.

Later that night, before Laura took me to see band I'd never heard called The National, she and I chatted over fish and chips at her favorite local pub. The mood was quiet, the wood paneling was dark, and the beer was quite delicious. We talked about her work and the church, and how life on your own can be utterly befuddling. It seemed apt.

I'm currently in New York, trying to get my plan for the evening worked out. I'm staying with Lindsey B., my oldest friend, but I'm also trying to see my buddy Hyatt from the College Years. This town is intense, but I keep coming back.

Location:W 152nd St,New York,United States

The Perfect Drink

2010-06-02T00:36:00.004-04:00

I've got some thoughts on the state of the American bus transit system, but I'll be tossing that up on wmeddy.com. For the purposes of this blog, I think it's best to say that I had a pretty good time on the busses. I was comfortable, for the most part, and just sat back to watch the beauty of urban decay whizz past.

I started my morning by going to bed at 2:30am, and then waking up at 5am. I arrived at the DC Greyhound station at 6:40am and after some wrangling, eventually got on a bus. It was a fairly uneventful trip, the only truly unerving part of it was the time spent in the NYC PA Bus Satation.

Behold, the horror of the New York Port Authority bus terminal. Your bus pulls in and you are discharged into a dark labyrinth, left to fend or yourself.

New York terrifies my feeble, Midwestern mind, but I still kind of love it.

I arrived in Boston without much fuss and met up with my dear cousin Laura and took me straight to a restuarant to satiate my hunger pangs. By this point, I had not eaten in nearly 24 hrs.

The place where we stoppe had big picnic tables and a relaxed plastic-cup attitude. In keeping with my personal theme of being Aggressively Awesome, I ordered the salmon hotdogs:

The jury's still out on these, guys.

Afterward, Laura took me to a bar called Drink, which is something of a mixologist's dream. The place is dark with a very spare, clean decor of unadorned wood. The kind of place with low ceilings and bare lightbulbs that look more like vaccuum tubes. Behind the bar is all sorts of specialized drink mixing equipment, and the very best ingredients.

The warmth of the bar is offset by the almost clinical level of precision applied to drink mixing. The bitters are kept in dropper bottles, live herbs dot the counter, and the sinks looked suspiciously like those in a highschool chemistry lab.

Talking with Sam, our amazing bartender, he confirmed that this is a sort of cocktail laboratory, where you can not only experiment but also accurately make an excellent cocktail everytime. Bartenders are encouraged to take their time mixing drinks, and to strive for something truly experiential.

Interestingly, Drink has no menu. Obviously, you can order something off the top of your head, but the preferred method is to tell your bartender how your feeling, or your likes and dislikes. Like a mystic aura reader, the bartender will appraise you and assign you a drink.

"Ok," I said. "I'm taking a month long bus trip across America. I've quit my job and my future is uncertain. I have no health insurance."

"And he loves gin," added Laura.

Sam pondered and eventually crafted this:

"The Fortress Of Solitude."

Sam explained that te bar staff was wondering what kind of drink Superman had. They chose to shirk the obvious blue and red tie-in, and instead drew inspiration from the Man of Steel's private chmaber located in the Anarctic. I asked if I could photograph it, and Sam even volunteered to provide illumination.

The drink itself was an refreshing mint-chocolate number, based on Plymouth gin. It was eminantly drinkable without losing any of the gin's complex flavor. A real winner.

Obviously, I'm having a great time here with Laura. Boston is a fascinating town, and I'm eager to she my heavy pack and get the city under my feet tomorrow.

But man! For the first day, the bar has been set high!

Location:Washington St,Boston,United States

The Assault on America's Senses

2010-05-27T08:15:00.003-04:00

I am about to do something very unusual, and I would like you to read about it here.

Graduation Day

2010-05-20T19:50:00.001-04:00

This past weekend, Claire graduated from the George Washington University. She's leaving the school with a Master's in museum studies, and lots of experience working at the Smithsonian. She'll be spending some time back in Illinois before she sets out again for the University of Arizona, where she'll work on a Ph.D.

Things have been a little off around here for a while, as you can imagine. Nothing has really gone as planned. And though I've got good friends here, it's very hard for me not to be sad nor feel lonely right now.

Awesome Falls 3: The Keith Tape

2010-03-21T14:15:00.004-04:00

Keith posted this video last night. His stated purpose "to capture the sight and sound of water" is a good guide to watching the video. Take a look at how the water moves through the gorge. It's not random; it's creating patterns and shapes that flow and morph as the space changes.

Awesome Falls 2: More Pictures

2010-03-20T17:51:00.000-04:00

So it seems that the BlogPress iPhone app does not handle posts filled up with pictures very well at all. Good to know.

This is a pothole, a rock feature created by swirling water. The water leaves the stone with a woodgrain pattern and is fairly smooth.

Part of the old canal.

Where the canal met the river.

Where we met up with the river. This was easily the most beautiful and violent stretch of the Potomac I have ever seen.

Location:Dewitt Ave,Alexandria,United States

Awesome Falls

2010-03-20T17:18:00.000-04:00

Right now, Keith is driving his Volvo and playing music at outrageous volumes. All the windows are down. This is a truly unique way to experience music. It's visceral and sensual in that I can actually feel the sounds.

We're on our way back from Great Falls, VA which (believe it or not) contains some very literal great falls. I was completely ignorant of their existence until Cathy visited me a few weeks ago and went out that way herself. Like the good copycat I am, I gladly agreed when Keith suggested we go out there ourselves.

Once we got near the entrance of the park, I was surprised to see cars backed up all the way on to the street. We stayed in that line for nearly an hour, or however long the last half of "Come On Pilgrim" and all of "Demon Days" run for.

It's the first gorgeous day in Virginia: high 70s, clear sky, lots of sun. It was one of the rare times in any weather that I ventured outside without a hat or layers of shirts.

It took us a few minutes to get our bearings, but in no time at all we were beholding the falls in all their greatness.

As soon as we were finished taking in the "best view" of the falls, we chose a trail and started scrabbling across the rocky cliffs like a pair of billygoat tourists.

Location:Virginia 7,Falls Church,United States

Fallingwater

2010-03-07T09:03:00.003-05:00

Actually, this should be called "Mostly Cumberland, MD with some Fallingwater" because as wonderful as a well designed house is, it has nothing on the madness that is small town America. I love it.

Fallingwater is probably the most iconic house in existence, after the White House. Most people don't know the name, but one look at this picture that I have stolen from the internet and you will know exactly what I am talking about:

The house was designed by the renowned American architect Frank Lloyd Wright, and depending on whom you ask it is either his "most well known" project or his "most perfect" project. Regardless, visiting it is an experience that was thuroughly enjoyable.

Prior to this, the only other Wright home I visited was the Robie House in Chicago. Claire, her father, and I toured the building last summer and I was very impresed with it. However, because of how the neighborhood had changed in the intervening years I was not really getting the full Wright experience. I've often been told that with a Wright house the landscape is an extension of the living space, but it was not until I set foot in Fallingwater that I understood this.

Every window in the house provides a spectacular panorama of the valley in which the house sits. Every porch and veranda seems to float right into the view. You don't feel like you are in a house, but somehow floating amongst the trees and the river. This experience is, obviously, carefully engineered by Wright, who moves you and your eye around the house like he were directing a film. It's an uncanny experience to be in a place that so determines your experience of it. It really is like Wright is there, telling us how to feel and what to look at.

Though what you see around the house is important, what is more impressive is what is hidden. Open stairways are carefully angled to hide other rooms as you pass over them. Each bedroom at the house has it's own cantilevered terrace over the falls, but the orientation of the house blocks any view of the path to the house, or the guest house up the hill. I've never experienced this kind of careful and considered design, where the house itself is not only a work of art, but serves as the channel through which something beautiful is experienced -- in this case, the wild Pennsylvania countryside.

During our tour, the guide pointed out some supporting pillars that had little flanges on the side. From the bottom of the path, the pillars look like stunted plants, with stubby branches. But from the top of the path looking down, the angle of the pillars is such that all the flanges disappear. I think this was a subtle thesis for the entire house: that in this space, certain things will be presented to you, and others intentionally hidden.

Here's some crappy pictures that I took. Hopefully I'll have some better ones soon.

This is a very difficult photo to unpack. Just let it sink in.

I should mention that this whole trip was the brain child of my pal Keith. Our journey was a strange one, driving 3 hours into the backwoods of Pennsylvania. This trip also took us along Route 68, AKA the National Highway. This is really quite the road: plunging through mountain passes, and winding around the rounded Appalachian peaks. Being a highway, it meant that we found ourselves far more entertained than we would have been on a toll road. Seeing things like the site where Noah's ark is being rebuilt; signs that welcome you to Maryland, and ask that you "drive gently;" houses covered with icicles; a road sign that simply says "BEGIN" in large, block letters; and of course, Cumberland, Maryland.

We stopped in Cumberland on our way back from Fallingwater looking for something to eat and, of course, adventure. From the road, it looked like a strange, rambling, complicated old-style city in a valley -- like Cincinatti, but smaller. Churches, bridges, and houses jutted around at strange angles that I found truly intriguing. However, once dismounted, we found it to be eerily empty. While it was clear that much work had been put into cleaning up buildings and developing a downtown, the only people we saw were inside restaurants. The following pictures I think go a long way toward fleshing out the experience of Cumberland.

I like to call this one "Trashy."

Cumberland, MD is the kind of place where you can buy a Confederate flag rug and a Robert E. Lee Knifegun in the same store.

(In there defense, we did see some hipper, cooler stores around. But this is funnier.)

There were five of these tableaus, each more politically incorrect than the next. This one is the winner by virtue of the pink leopard.

The mid-1950's Boy Scout handbook was mostly a grimoire for calling upon the ghosts of dead Indians.

Keith R. meets a mysterious long-necked figure in Cumberland, MD.

Truth be told, we had a great time exploring this part of America. It was weird, it was kind of crappy, but I liked it a lot. It's a small town that hasn't given up, and is trying very hard to reinvent itself. There's some really neat things to see in the town, especially if you are like me and love old buildings, winding streets, and numerous beautiful churches.

I should say that we had a PHENOMENAL and REASONABLY PRICED meal at an Italian place downtown. Everyone was very nice and curious about us, which was sweet. The drivers were another story, though. Indeed, navigating the sprawling roads and blind corners of the city was a bit of a challenge even when you are not being tailgated. It did, however, provide a major insight into the nature of the city: Cumberland Maryland is the kind of place where you accidentally drive to West Virginia.

Enough said, I think.

The "Soul Elements"

2010-03-07T00:49:00.001-05:00

I've done a pretty bad job of chronicling my life with the ol' iPhone. After my trip through Ann Arbor and being stranded over Xmas, I sort of assumed that this would be the new way. But like so many things I try to do on the internet, it never quite works out so simply.

Recently, I took a trip back to Michigan, where I saw A Prairie Home Companion at the Fox Theatre in Detroit. It was a lovely trip, giving me the chance to explore Detroit a bit, catch up with old friends, and have a lovely meal with my family.

Seeing Detroit was particularly important to me. I've been reading a lot about the city lately, and I have to admit that I am keen to move back there at some point. But I digress.

My trip began with me being nearly killed a number of times. For whatever reason, I have had the worst luck with traveling as of late. There's always some horrible delay, plane malfunction, or piece of picket fence in the road that forces me to drive in to a ditch. Of particular note this time around was a 7-hour snowstorm that I drove through. The storm dominated my life from Breezewood, PA to the Michigan border, and more than once made me ask myself: "Maybe I shouldn't be doing this." On the occasions when I was the only one on the road, could not slow down for fear of getting stuck, nor deviate from the tracks left by an unknown car, it changed to "I really, really should not be doing this -- it is going to kill me."

After that minor inconvenience, it was high-fives all around in Ann Arbor with my Garg buddies. On Saturday, Cathy and Zack (Garg buddies graduating this year) accompanied me to see Garrison Keillor be his normal funny-ish self. It was a very good show, particularly the Detroit musical acts they brought in to perform. The whole thing is available online, and I highly encourage you to take a look at it, if only for the higher-quality photos.

Of particular note was Sir Mack Rice, who wrote Mustang Sally. Despite being slowed by age, he had an amazing stage presence and put on the kind of show that I imagine was a staple of Motown in its heyday. Not only arrived in a suit bedecked with a rhinestone collar, but also had a little friend whose function was to provide the "soul elements" of songs. He would respond at the end of lines and on the offbeats, occasionally throwing in a "well well" and a "good god!" every now and again. He MADE those songs. And what's more, it was obvious that he was doing what he loved.

The highpoint of the show was being lead by Keillor in a rousing rendition of the Faygo song, which has far more verses than are necessary.

Here's some more pictures of the Fox, because it is beautiful. So much so that its beauty cannot at all be captured by my crappy cameraphone.

The ceiling.

The right wall, complete with columns and organist.

It's important to note that before the show, I paid a visit to the Centaur bar. This establishment was chosen because it had a large fiberglass centaur giving a double peace sign outside the building. Later, I would discover that it's signature drink (The Centaur Martini -- a mixture of whiskey and gin) was the worst drink on the planet. Good to know!

After a lovely Sunday brunch with my parents and siblings I headed back East. Cathy came and visited me for a few days, and I did my best to keep her entertained despite working 8 hours a day. She did fine on her own, and seems to have had a great time visiting some really cool places in the NCR. You can read about her adventures here. Mostly, we ate food, saw some movies, and I pitched a terrible restaurant chain concept while eating quail fajitas with her and Keith.

This adventure ended last Wednesday, when Cathy trucked back to Michigan leaving me with the memories of good friends, good times, and this drawing:

Snowpocalypse

2010-02-11T11:39:00.001-05:00

Hi! I haven't left my apartment for seven days! This snow is ridiculous. This is what I looked the other day when I dug my car out with my bare hands and walked two miles for groceries.

And this is how I look now. According to a friend, "you LOOK like a man who's been trapped in his house for a week."

Truer words were never spoken.

It's OK

2010-02-05T11:49:00.001-05:00

It's been very quiet here, but don't panic. There's a lot going on right now, and the dust will settle soon enough and maybe I can make some sense of it then.

But don't worry, I am actually doing all right.

My Christmas Miracle

2009-12-26T09:08:00.002-05:00

From MarsEdit Images

As demonstrated in a previous post, I've had some troubles traveling this year. This is what happened:

After the previously blogged events, I stayed on the floor of DCA until 2am. At which time I was told that tomorrow I'd fly to Boston and get a connecting flight to Detroit. That was fine; I just wanted to get off the floor. They also offered me a hotel, but I'd have to take a cab. Since that was the case, I opted to just go home.

The cab got me home at 2:20am, and I was in bed asleep ten minutes later.

At 5am, the alarm went off and I was in DCA by 5:48am. I was slap happy and loopy. Words were hard to find, and my balance was somewhere between "humpty dumpty" and "drunken sailor."

Of course, I knew it wouldn't be easy. The ticket agent took one look at the piece of paper I had received the night before and started shaking his head. "Oh, no," he said. He went on to explain the myriad of reasons why it wouldn't work.

30minutes, 3 people, and one call to Jasmie on the help line did not raise my spirits. I still smiled and continued my exhausted politeness, but I had no idea what to do. I couldn't drive on two hours of sleep; there'd be no way I could make it by Christmas.

That's when my Christmas miracle happened. Somehow, I was booked on a direct flight from DCA to DTW. I don't know how, I fear some poor soul was bumped or otherwise inconvenienced to make it happen. But there was a ticket in my hand!

And so I arrived, well in time for Christmas. Despite everything, I did make it here. Topping that, was the fact that despite the incredible wackiness with my trip the entire staff of U.S. Airways worked to take care of and compensate me.

At this moment I'm in a car headed for Indiana, and grateful to be with my family (at last).

Location:Elizabeth St,Rochester,United States

Xmas Phase One Bragshot

2009-12-25T13:44:00.001-05:00

Of note: Illustrated Paradise Lost, A Drifting Life, BPRD, Crumb's genesis, steel fingerpicks, wacom Bamboo, NPR quiz cards, flying time delorean, and Star Trek DVD in a nifty spaceship.

Phase 2: includes a Roku box, and and an angry mob.

Location:Barclay Ct,Troy,United States

Waiting for my Christmas miracle

2009-12-23T01:49:00.001-05:00

I'm not going to complain too much. My flight was delayed 4 hours and then I was told the flight was oversold and that I would not be allowed to board the flight.

The staff of US Airways has been very helpful, but I am cold and lonely on the floor of DCA. I've been waiting for two hours just to get rebooked. But I am getting rebooked, and a pile of cash, and apparently a hotel for the night. That's why I shouldn't complain: it's been a crummy day, but that's all.

I wish I was at home.

Location:DCA

Arrival is the End

2009-12-21T08:25:00.001-05:00

As you can surmise, I made it easily to Virginia. On reflection Ot probably went faster yesterday than any othe time I can recall. Without anyone on the roads I wizzed through four states until I finally got back to the NCR.

Speaking as a person from Michigan, this storm was pretty bad. The snow drifts are big enough to lose your kid in, and the gridwork of streets that make up my neighborhood haven't seen a lot of love from the snow plows.

This is like my winter dreams from childhood. We always would get a lot of snow, but this is a special thing that drives a city into its collective bunny slippers.

The roads are ice. Thick ice, going down near two inches in some areas.

Though it was predicted, everyone still seems surprised at the state of things. Even these chairs seem kind of dumbfounded.

The whole experience has been good for my local image as a rustbelter, experienced in the ways of economic decline, losing sports teams, and bad weather. I think that's difference between midwesterners and the east coast folk. Michigan folk never seemed to have any secret tricks for surviving snow storms, they just accepted whatever blew in. Snow always comes, as surely as trouble always comes. No sense in getting upset and running off to stock up on eggs when the weather man is grave; we'll get through this as we have so many other times.

Location:E Duncan Ave,Alexandria,United States

Off I Go

2009-12-20T10:19:00.001-05:00

Claire and dog are Illinois bound, and the sun is getting higher. Sadly, I'm headed towards it.

I'm headed to DC. There's work to do and I've already cancled more flights than I care to in a month. Also, I have only the clothes on my back. As I told Claire's father, "right now it's 'what you see is what you get.'"

The worst thing for me is that I don't have my iPod. A few CDs won't see me through. Fortunately, Claire loaned me a BBC radio play of the Hobbit, so I can geek out and drive at the same time.

I'm only a little bitter that I won't hear the thrilling conclusion of the story I was listening to on the way out here.

I will, however, be taking it nice and slow on the way back. This will be a new experience for me, since I am always rushing. I'm looking forward to it, a bit. A little time to rest my mind in preperation for my Further Holiday Travels.

And of course if this doesn't work I'll just pop in to Mike O'Brien's homestead and try to talk my way into a warm bed for the night. Either that or I'll move in with Keith. They won't mind, right?

Location:Georgetown Blvd,Ann Arbor,United States

Secret Mission

2009-12-19T17:05:00.000-05:00

And so, with little fuss, we arrived in Ann Arbor. The first night was a harrowing drive, today's was utterly mild. Besides a struggle to find my sock this mornig (it was in the boxers I was wearing) we faced no adventure.

The Ann Arbor Holiday Inn has really grown on me, but it does make me a little sad to do these whirlwind trips through here. I'll be leaving tomorrow morning, without having paid my respects to the Gargoyle, eaten at my favorite haunts, written loving grafitti outside the offices of Prof. E.S. Rabkin, or Prof. Rubadeau, or sought out the ellusive Absofacto or #MattThompson.

Claire will be heading off to the mysterious Barker family compound tomorrow, and I'll trudge back the way I came. I sincerely hope things settle down for us. Between th Holidays, work, school, and dog it seems like there isn't a moment to stop and think.

What's foremost on my mind is getting back into the NCR. As I understad, it is still snowing there. I am quite worried that I won't able to get back!

But the Vibe has been excellent on its first winter trip. However, for the sake of drama, I will pose this question: CAN I MAKE IT BACK ALIVE?!

...stay tuned!

Location:Plymouth Rd,Ann Arbor,United States

Snowstorm

2009-12-19T10:59:00.000-05:00

The NCR is all in a tizzy about a massive snowstorm that hit the area last night. With that looming over us, Claire, dog, and I made a break for Pennsylvania in an effort to get to Ann Arbor.

We spent last night at a Red Roof just at the end of the PA turnpike. We missed the bulk of the storm, thankfully. Only two inches or so this morning, but it's still falling.

The weather has made Tenzing ecstatic. He's much more active in the cold, due in no small part to his massive fuzziness. And his favorite toy is the snow.

We're about to leave again. With the mountains behind us, as well as most of the storm, we should make good time.

Location:Pennsylvania Turnpike,Cranberry,United States

Life after Nanowrimo

2009-12-16T21:49:00.001-05:00

Now that Nanowrimo is past behind, I need to turn my mind to a new project or else run the risk of completely losing my marbles.

Last year about this time I recorded two hours of conversation and music with my dad about music in this family. Eddy's need not have it pointed out, but others may not be aware that music is, uh, kind of important around here.

That and freakishly strong coffee.

Anyway, there was a massive technical cuss-up and I thought much of that recording was lost. Instead, I found that my computer had created some 500 5-second audio clips. I've just finished putting these snippets back together, and I'm turning my attention to cutting them apart again into something that the average person would enjoy listening to.

I don't know when or if this project will be done, but that's what I am going to be taking on in my spare time. If you're interested, feel free to suggest a title. My working name for the project is "Psycho Evangelistic Cha-Cha: Music in my family."
---

My other blog is also alive and well. Take a look! I'll be posting more on this little audio project here and there as well. wmeddy.com

I Am Just a Tool for the Octopuses

2009-12-15T21:51:00.001-05:00

Oh my goodness the little octopus.

You can read more on the Wired science blog. And see adorable little octopus eyes peeking out of a coconut (oh my goodness).

I've always loved octopuses, and this is just one more reason: tool use.

Come to think of it, I really like animals that have the higher levels of intelligence that give them personality: octopuses, crows, dogs, etc. But the humble and clever octopus will always have a special place in my heart.

UPDATE:

EVEN STILL YET MORE OCTOPUS ACTION

I Am A Winner

2009-11-29T23:11:00.001-05:00

I had a great time with my family over Thanksgiving.
I had a pretty terrible drive back to Virginia, but Claire and Dog helped a lot.

But right now I am more concerned with the fact that I am a winner.

I just finished National Novel Writing Month. I am actually mid-sentence in the novel, but wanted to claim my win before anything could happen.

I am stunned I am so happy. It has been a great experience, and I hope that all of you, even if you know you won't finish and don't even like writing, will at least give it a try next year. It has been a phenomenal experience for me, if only because I have finally finished a project.

---

Actually, it's not finished. But I did reach a major goal, so who cares? I am a winner.

So Many Words

2009-11-22T19:51:00.001-05:00

I need to write So Many Words tonight, because I am so far behind with NaNoWriMo.

But it will happen, I have to make it happen.

In the meantime, please enjoy this delightful music video that was brought to my attention by Cathy. It features Tom Waits and Kool Keith, brought together as part of the N.A.S.A. music project (no relation to NASA, mind you).

Enjoy the eye candy while I start typing.

National Novel Writing Month

2009-11-16T00:36:00.001-05:00

It's really not a very good excuse as to where I have been since October, but I am taking part in National Novel Writing Month.

National Novel Writing Month, or NaNoWriMo to its friends, is like a marathon. Participants labor away in whatever way they see fit to produce a minimum 50,000 word novel by the end of November. Like a marathon, pacing is key, and most participants try to produce 1,600 words per day.

Unfortunately, like most things I take up, I have a tendency to fall behind. But right now, I am ahead of schedule by a few hundred words. The weekend was good for something, I guess!

I'm breaking my work-induced silence (which I have been regretting, as you know from previous posts where I regret not posting) is that I have reached a major milestone: I am halfway.

25,000 words. I cannot believe I have come this far. I'm excited, but truth be told terrified at the prospect of the next 25,000. For the moment, I will revel in my accomplishment.

You can follow my progress here, as well as learn a little bit more about what I am working on. I'm keeping it pretty close to the chest for now, since the emphasis of NaNoWriMo is quantity, not quality. In an event like this, there isn't time for editing or second guessing. I have to plow ahead with whatever is on the page.

In the end, I think this kind of approach to writing is good for me. In other projects, I can barely get past the first few pages because I make the mistake of starting at the beginning, and trying to make it right the first time.

The pace of NaNoWriMo takes care of the second problem, and a neat program I am using called Scrivener is taking care of the first. It's like a magical three-ring binder that lives in your computer and lets you jump around with your writing and hold all your research in one place.

Confession: part of why I am trying to finish this book so I can get 50% off Scrivener. It's just great. I don't think I would have made it this far without it.

---

Regarding the novel: again, I don't want to say too much since it's very silly, but I know that you, gentle readers, are surely chomping at the bit to find out what's going on.

My novel is set in the very early 1400's, a time period I know very little about. A monk arrives in the city of Hamelin as part of an effort to produce an ornate and definitive history of the city. Along the way he discovers that this very town is the setting of the Pied Piper legend, and begins to ask the townsfolk about the strange event in the name of historical accuracy.

This unleashes a torrent of disparate stories, strange tales, and bizarre events that will (of course!) lead to the town's undoing.

Really, the whole thing is just a framing device to introduce different variations on the Pied Piper story. So far, each more disturbing than the next.

For me, this whole process was kicked off by hours browsing Wikipedia. I learned from the Pied Piper article that this story is much weirder than I originally thought, and has some basis for truth.
---

For updates on my NaNoWriMo novel, keep watching the blog and keep an eye on Twitter as well. You can also stop by my NaNoWriMo user page, if you like.

And thanks for stickin' with this ol' blog as well. I'm grateful for each and every one of you!

Claire Makes A Prehistoric Tool

2009-10-01T21:26:00.001-04:00

When I picked up Claire from the train station on Tuesday (in a red Pontiac Grand Prix, while my vibe is being repaired) Claire set a large rock down in the back seat.
"Drive carefully," she said. "I just flaked that thing, and it could decapitate us if we were in a crash."

Thus, I entered the crazy world of stone tool making. As part of her classes at GW, she's engaging in a little experimental archaeology and is learning more about how early human ancestors made tools.

Some fun facts: a freshly flaked stone -- that is, a stone hit with a harder stone that removes a "flake" of material -- is sharper than a scalpel edge. In fact, obsidian tools are the sharpest tools available.

When I came home today, Claire was out on the shared balcony with the dog. After setting down some groceries and getting out of my work clothes I walked out to meet her.
"Are you barefoot? Go put on some shoes and bring the broom." The ground was covered with razor-sharp shards, the fruits of her labors.

What follows is a recording I made while she worked. Unfortunately, the iPhone didn't capture the bright, ringing sound the rocks made when struck. Having worked on this achulean handaxe for several hours, Claire tells me that the sound is key to knowing were to strike the stone.

From Alive and Kicking

Listen!

We're here (in Chicago)!

2009-08-28T14:09:00.001-04:00

Our plane came back a little early and now we're just going to relax in the airport until our ride arrives.

It was a fabulous trip, and once I can get WiFi and access to my laptop I'll share the end of it with you.

The plan now is to drive to DC with Claire and Tenzing over two days. We're all exhausted and aren't too interested in the torturous 14 hour drive to the East Coast.

Leaving

2009-08-27T23:33:00.001-04:00

We've got a cab coming at 7am.
I haven't slept well. To be honest, I haven't slept much at all.

I've still got one day of pictures and a short story to tell, so I'll throw that up once we touch down in Chicago.
---

And Happy Birthday, Jamie!

The King of Snails

2009-08-27T06:35:00.001-04:00

As predicted, most of yesterday was spent indoors. It's important to remember that the central function of a vacation is to be enjoyable. Yesterday, we took great enjoyment napping all day.

After the rain let up, we started to move around a bit more but didn't accomplish much. We're fine with this. Our sloth meant that we only got one meal, but we hadn't exerted ourselves to the point where we required more calories.

And the hotel lamb was delicious.

After dinner, we strolled the path along the tram line. It was there that we met the King of Snails, his Queen, and the Slug Duke.

Like other legendary creatures -- Nessie, Big Foot, Thomas Pynchon -- all the photos we took during our court meeting with these royal gastropods were blurry at best. It was, however, an experience we'll carry in our hearts forever.
---

From Sweden

Today begins slowly as did yesterday. Our goal is to return to Djurgården and see the Botanical Gardens, the Vasa Museum, and the Biological Museum. The last of these I hope will provide some fodder for the Crappy Taxidermy blog.

Tonight's dinner will mark the end of our Swedish adventure, and we'll be flying out at 10am arriving in Chicago at Noon. After that, we drive back to DC over two days to preserve what little energy our transatlantic flight will have left us, and return to Virginia on Sunday afternoon.
---

Going To Foreign Zoos

2009-08-26T14:48:00.001-04:00

Short story: Claire and I napped and then went to Djurgården where we enjoyed the sites of the Skansen open air museum, and spent most of our time exploring the zoo.
---

Sleep has been an important feature of this trip, as I imagine it is for most trans-atlantic travelers. Today, I slept five hours later than I had the previous day (meaning that I woke up at an obscenely late 10:30am). Yesterday, I wound up taking a four hour nap.

This nap was vital to the events that followed since it gave both me and Claire the energy necessary to tour the expansive Skansen open-air museum on the idyllic island of Djurgården.

I would compare Djurgården to Belle Isle in Detroit, except much much nicer. The island boasts a series of museums and other attractions -- many of which are left over from a 19th century World's Fair that was held on the island.

Foremost among the attractions is Skansen, which I had assumed to be a massive sculpture garden of some sort. However, Greenfield Village at the Henry Ford Museum is a far more accurate parallel. Skansen has several old-timey attractions, and examples of old Scandinavian architecture dotting the landscape.

Skansen is also noted for having the only zoo in Stockholm. Though it is modest, it is also quite charming. We first visited the aquarium which was also where the designers decided to house several primate exhibits -- most impressively a room full of ring-tailed lemurs.

From there we drifted around the park seeing bears, lynx, european bison, wild boars, wolves, and "elk moose." Particularly impressive were some old farm steads set up with fences made of birch branches and secured with strips of bark. We ended at the top of a hill with a beautiful view of the city.

After a quick tram ride and walk, we ended our day with dinner in Gamla Stan.
---

It was a great time, but one that thoroughly exhausted us. Fortunately, today was a rainy day and we spent it sleeping and mooching around the island of Lidinö.

I took some time to add more photos and captions to the ones in the album, so enjoy the ones below and take a look back through the ones from earlier in the week as well.

We've only got one more day, but I'm certain we'll make the best of it.
---

From Sweden

Best Laid Plans

2009-08-25T01:48:00.001-04:00

Short story: We arrived at the boat landing very early and discovered that our tour did not exist. We then napped al fresco, and spent the rest of the day mastering the Stockholm transit system and bumming around the older parts of this beautiful city.
---

I got some pretty good pictures today. Here's the highlights:

From Sweden

When it was clear that our boat to Uppsala did not exist -- or if it did, it wasn't leaving from where we were -- we decided that the best course of action was for a break. Claire, her father, and I deposited ourselves on Ridderholmen island looking out at the beautiful city hall.

From Sweden

This is Claire asleep in my lap.

From Sweden

After resting, we went over to the Riddarholmskyrkan, final resting place of many great Swedish kings. Unfortunately, photography was forbidden. Inside the floor is covered with worn down smooth marble panels with the name of the monarch that rests below. Off to to the sides and below were great gilded coffins, holding whole generations of families. At the altar, two sarcophagi with carved images of kings reclined upward -- staring at the massive silver chandelier.

Use your imagination.

Next we sought out Grace's Tea Shop, but found a beggar fox-woman along the way.

From Sweden

Does anyone know what fairytale she belongs in?

Lunch at Grace's was excellent. It was a set meal of Jasmine tea, mushroom soup, steamed dumplings, and a fruit and yogurt salad. While a pretty traditional Chinese restaurant in Stockholm is an unusual find, stranger still was the price: 300KR total for the three of us. That's unbelievably cheap for a warming meal on a cool morning.

Our next task was to find the Central Station, and then to conquer the Stockholm rail system. Which we did. Bending the system to our will, we went out to the Historiska Museet to see the famous Gold Room.

Inside were shelf after shelf of Viking and medieval gold hoards. It was a very impressive collection, sadly not photographable. My favorites were easily a nicely preserved helmet with a horse-head mohawk that lead down to a tiny startled-looking head that rested below the nose of the wearer. There were also some belt buckles depicting battles with horrible monsters, which I adored. One of them seemed to show a man fighting a man/bear or man/wolf -- which I think to be a reference to berserkers. This might be the same one.

(linked from Wikipedia)

I wish I could have taken them all. Including the incredibly ornate crucipix with a "piece of the true cross" in it. I know it's fake, obviously, but I had never seen one of these famous relics before.

Then we did a little shopping in the trendy district, where I found all of 1997's websites.

From Sweden

With the rail system now under our thumb and obeying our every command we headed back to the old town island -- Gamla Stan -- and took in a meal of Swedish meatballs and reindeer. We followed this with ice cream, and some final wanderings around the old city.

From Sweden

Spot the 7-11!

From Sweden

HEY GUYS.

From Sweden

After using the Swedish metro rail system (which is from the future) we hopped the tram back to our island -- Lidingö. This was definitely a heavy rattling relic from days gone by, whose every noise just emphasizes the weight of the train. It was utterly charming.

And then, off to bed. Here's Chuck (father of Claire) and Claire outside the nicer end of our hotel.

From Sweden

---

Today, Claire and I will meander down to Djurgården, and spend the day in its idyllic splendor. We're taking it easy today.

We're Here

2009-08-24T01:56:00.001-04:00

Terms like "yesterday" and "tomorrow" and "today" have little meaning after a trans-atlantic flight and a 7-hour time difference.
---

Broadcasting to you from Stockholm, Max Eddy is back on the internet. Unlike our trip to Iceland, Claire and I have excellent wireless internet in the hotel and I'll try my best to keep you all up to date as to our adventures.

This will primarily be done in pictures.
---

Our adventures on Sunday were focused on the Carl Milles sculpture garden (conveniently located directly next to our hotel), and our dinner in downtown Stockholm.

Carl Milles will be familiar to anyone at the University of Michigan. Milles moved to Michigan where he made over 70 statues, one of which being the fountain of Triton between the Michigan League and the Hill Auditorium through which students process at the beginning and end of their academic careers.

You know, this one.

Stockholm is a beautiful city, and its a great time to be here. THe days are bright, the weather is on the cooler side of fair -- which is perfect for me. Despite being jetlagged to hell and technically having been operating for something close to a continuous 48 hours, we thoroughly enjoyed ourselves.

Of particular note was the Prinsen restaurant. I don't know what I ordered but I got it in lieu of meatballs since they were out. It was small potato chunks with sauteed onions and delicious chunks of beef. The beef was tender, juicy, seasoned as if for a god. The potatoes were quite good on their own, but eaten with a fresh raw egg yolk poured over them. The effect is a really rich eating experience.

Keep in mind that I am not a fan of softboiled eggs, or even runny scrambled eggs, and I still thought this was delicious.

Also of note was the Underdog beer. It looks like a pilsner, but is in reality a Lager of some kind. When you take a sip, the initial flavor is very strong, similar to that of Guinness. The twist is that there's no finish to it; after that first burst of mouth-filling hop-flavor the beer finishes with a refreshing mild crispness.

Ba will be pleased to know that I sampled several varieties of pickled herring at the beginning of the meal, and loved them all.

Here's the image of the day for Sunday.

From Sweden

Click the photo for the entire album, or just click here.

Obviously there isn't much explanation right now. The idea is that I'll post a few pictures when able and backfill with information as I go.
---

It's currently 8am on Monday in Stockholm. The plan for today is to take the boat to Uppsala, stopping for a few hours in Sigtuna. We'll take the train back this evening.

Volvo Meatballs

2009-08-21T00:37:00.001-04:00

Sorry to say it's still not quite time to talk about Tacoma. Funny how these things happen.
---

But who cares?! I'm leaving for Sweden tomorrow! Claire and I will reprise our roles as Sojourners to Scandinavia as we did two years ago in Iceland.

This will be my first time in mainland Europe, and as excited as I am (AND I AM), it does make me long for the lonely mountains and sky to sea horizons of Iceland.

But no matter. It's off to Chicago and then to Stockholm -- which I am told is the Venice of Scandinavia. The city is an archipelago, navigated by ferries and small boats. We'll spend most of our time exploring the city and its many islands, aside from a brief trip over to Uppsala. You know, just to be in Uppsala.
---

I won't be able to do much iPhoning (noooo!), and my WiFi is a mystery. I'll try my best to keep in touch, and am committed to sending postcards while I am there.
---

For fun, take a look at some of the distances involved with the trip. This will be the furthest I have ever been from home.

View Sweden Trip! in a larger map
---

I'm leavin' tomorrow after a half day at work. So long, for now!

This is how I look on my 23rd Birthday

2009-08-06T17:56:00.001-04:00

How did you look?

HELLO, BIRTHDAY

2009-08-05T23:35:00.001-04:00

Well, I came back from Tacoma safe and sound -- despite the best efforts of Washington state's unseasonably warm 104º weather.

But that's not important right now.

All that matters is that it is my birthday. And that is sweet.
---

(it's also Claire's birthday, but this is my blog so direct all praise towards me. Thanks!)

TACOMA

2009-07-29T02:16:00.001-04:00

Just in case you missed it, I am in Tacoma, WA for the rest of the week. I'm here for work, not pleasure, and the weather has been accommodating of this goal by setting record highs for the area.

Today it was 101º. I'm told "normal" is around 60º, maybe 70º.

I'll be running around Fort Lewis for the next two days, and will have periodic internet access. I'll try to post some pictures up, probably of the gorgeous Mt. Rainier, but I can't make any promises on this.
---

In other news, I have Google voice.

It's awesome, but I haven't set it up yet on account of having not picked out a new number. What do you think? Should I stick with a (248), or should I do something radical like (363)WMEDDY1?

Your thoughts matter to me!

Yew Nork

2009-07-25T17:36:00.001-04:00

New York.
What can I say?

(NY Trip July 11 - 14)

The People

(Apologies for the crazy image sizes, but Flickr doesn't play nice with Blogger.)

I lived with Justin for two years in college. He's a great guy; unflappably relaxed, quick to laugh, and brilliant behind the editing console. He's one of the first people I've met who just pours out creativity, and is relentless in his pursuit of artistry. Justin was kind enough to let me and Kris spend several days in his lovely East Village apartment.

Kris is my longtime pal, currently residing in Boulder, CO where she does magical things with hard drives. Kris was the art director at the Gargoyle for three tumultuous years, and her artistic accomplishments speak for themselves. Despite working with me while I was editor we've remained friends -- a rarity at the Gargoyle.

Jennifer is the only person I know that sent in an unsolicited application to the Gargoyle. Talented with words, the Gargoyle was not enough to contain her and she's worked at all kinds of places (including the hardly reputible Michigan Daily). She met Justin during a hectic evening we all barely recall, and is now living with him in beautiful Yew Nork, NY.

From left to right: Kris, Me, Jennifer, Justin

Hyatt(hyatthyatthyatt) is another former roomate. Like Justin, he majored in film but spent a good deal of time focused on stagecraft. Currently living in Brooklyn, Hyatt is involved in some kind of theatre company. Unfortunately, the play he's working on opened after we left. Fortunately, he worked on a faux-blaxploitation movie that you can enjoy.

Cathy is the current editor of the Gargoyle and a skilled artist besides. Another film major (how does this happen to me?), she used my apartment on Madison street as a set for a student film. I'm not in it, on account of nearly dying from the flu. She's spending the summer in Yew Nork working as an intern for Conde Naste, the publishers of several magazines -- including the Yew Norker. I'm not in the least bit jealous.

Justin's Friends were many and varied; they were all so welcoming, if confused by us and our strange ways.
---

The Places

If pressed I'd have to say that we spent 70% of our time in Justin's apartment. Watching movies, laughing our heads off, and wondering what to do next it was the perfect staging ground for our adventure(s). Not having a TV, Justin has made do with his laptop hooked up to a massive HD computer monitor. The affect of which, coupled with his seemingly inexhaustible supply of hi-res films, was quite impressive.

I slept on an air bed. Not an air mattress, an air bed. It was about three feet thick with a slow leak that meant I entered stranger and stranger positions throughout the night. Given that, it is odd that I not only slept well, but enjoyed the challenge.

Justin's apartment has three gold records and one platinum record on the walls. How cool is that?

I can talk at great length about the restuarants. We experienced phenomenal pizza, delictable Italian food, and uniquely Ukranian quisine throughout our travels. Chicago is the food capital of the US, of course, but NY gave us some phenomenal options. And the bars weren't too bad either.

After much recommendation from my parents, and friends, we made sure to hit up Essa bagel. While I have had several NY-style bagels, this was a unique experience. With a variety of fillings and toppings, complimented by a laid back experience and a truly massive bagel it should not be missed.

We also made a meal out of soup-filled dumplings. There's not much more to say about this except that it was awesome.

There were several encounters and experiences in a Halloween shop, followed by an overwhelming trip to Forbidden Planet -- the famed NY comic shop. I was excited to see the place, having heard so much about it on the Internet but left a little disappointed. We couldn't figure out the organization of the place, and the only staffer I spoke too was brisk to the point of rudeness. The place has serious potential, but could use a little refinement. However, I don't regret a moment (or a cent) of the time spent there.

We did amble around Battery Park, discovered secret statues of dogs in Central Park, and paid our respects to the flashing light gods of Time Square. We attempted a museum trip but were deflected by strange scheduling, instead paying a visit to a few galleries where we saw Seuss and Dali on the same street. Quite a time.

---

The Things

A series of strange and wonderful movies Justin provided

Barack Pharoh-bama

Large, Ukranian meatballs

A clutch of art pens

Mattresses designed to give the sleeper a nautical adventure on a cushion of air

Small notebooks, filled with giggling sketches

Postcards

Old cameras valued for their peculiarities, rather then their photo prowess

A straw hat that's been everywhere

The sweat stain I left on the plastic bench in the 4 train

The homeless man that explained the Amtrak system to me

A gawdy gilded newsletter professing the wrath of God and the terrors of satan, complete with bedazzled cross clipart and a photo of the Elvis/Cash hybrid preacher

The quiet voice of a man as he passes quickly buy, quietly broadcasting his trade in fake IDs amidst the pulsations of Canal street.

A pizza joint that has a Major Award

The shirt that your friend also bought, that you don't wear on the same day

Finding yourself acting like you did 4 years ago

The future machine

A book about Sartre that you take off your friend's shelf, read, and makes you realize that you don't really like Sartre all that much

All these pictures come from the Flickr pool we put together. It's named for the Tom Wait's song, and will hopefully grow to include a complete if bizarre pictoral account of our trip.

Toothpaste

2009-07-20T23:46:00.001-04:00

There's a lot to talk about, but the most important thing right now is that it's late and I am about to brush my teeth without gagging for the first time in five days.

Ten days ago, I left for New York and had a blast. More on this later. Five days ago, I came back and discovered that the only toothpaste left in the house was cinnamon Crest. While I have nothing against cinnamon, Crest, or toothpaste, when they were combined together they formed an unbeatable opponent.

But I had no choice; I'd exhausted my supply of Tom's of Maine in the Big Apple and had yet to purchase a replacement.

Truly, I suffered.

It's not that this toothpaste is bad, it's that it's like having someone shove dirty fingers in your mouth. Whole fist-fulls, until you can't take anymore. It's like rinsing our mouth out with cheap whiskey, and you have a delicate stomach. It burns, but not enough to overwhelm the nausea inducing flavor that tickles your glottal, and dares your gag reflex to fight back.

But today I made it to the store. Tonight, Toms of Maine will once again cleanse me, and I can put away these foul memories forever.

Wilco Wednesday

2009-07-09T23:32:00.001-04:00

I went out and saw the Wilco documentary I am Trying to Break Your Heart with Mike and his friend Fiona last night. It was one of those outdoor movies-projected-on-a-big-inflatable-screen things.

I had seen the film before, but it was a nice reason to get out and see some more of DC. I'd never been in the NE before, and while it's certainly not as ritzy and polished as most of the NW is it was alright.

Unfortunately, Wilco (the band) was actually playing not far from my house the same night. Double-unfortunately, Sonic Youth was playing back to back shows in DC. Because of my ignorance, I had tickets to see neither act.

Looking around the crowd at the movie, we figured that these were all the people that couldn't get tickets to the Wilco show. Though some of them also probably fell into the category of considering themselves too old to go to concerts. I also heard rumblings of the relative benefits of Wilco v. Uncle Tupelo, but that's an argument for another day.

For the record, it's a good movie. I'd like to say that you don't have to care about Wilco to like it, but there's so much concert footage that you have already dig them to care. It does, however, chronicle an interesting time in the history of what would become a surprisingly significant and successful album.

But oh well, it was a nice night: the weather was great, the movie is still good, and sometimes it's just nice to sit on the grass and not have any responsibilities for a while.
---

I'll be heading out for a quick stint in NY starting this weekend. On the docket is to box a male model, confess my undying love for former roommate Justin, see a play by other former roommate Hyatt, and lick the New Yorker offices. Long-time pal Kris will probably draw on my face with a permanent marker while I stare blankly at the Carnegie Deli, and mid-term pal Cathy will be cooler than me by interning for Conde Nast.

All this and more, in the future.

The Big Recap

2009-07-09T23:05:00.001-04:00

A solid month with no posts. This is simply unacceptable.

I have no other excuse for my recent internet laziness other than The Wire, a fantastic cop drama that ran 5 seasons on HBO some time ago. I had heard about the show back in 2007/08, but decided to ignore it since the entire staff of the Michigan Daily was in love with it. It's not a judgement against any one particular person on the staff, it's just that I've read their Arts column and sincerely doubt their taste.

The point is that the show is great, and I've been consuming the DVDs for the past few weeks. The show is as addictive as the illegal substances it portrays.
---

There are three items of particular importance that I will now address.

1. Claire Has Been Gone For Some Time -- Claire is still in Chicago, working diligently for the Oriental Institute at the University of Chicago. As part of her Masters program with George Washington University, she has to do so many hours of interning. Being a native of the North Shore, she chose to spend this summer working on restoring an Assyrian Frieze.

Her job involves a lot of washing, a lot of digital paper-pushing, and arranging photos of the puzzle piece fragments of the frieze over a 19th century French line drawing of the original. It's painstaking, but she really enjoys working in a museum.

Unfortunately, I don't think I'll be able to get any behind the scenes pictures from her, but I did visit the main exhibit a few weeks ago. However, I did snap a few quick shots of the pieces already on display. This one is my favorite:

From Chicago Oriental Institute

Follow the link for a few more.

More info on the institute and it's collections can be found here, and Claire's project is here.

In other news, she just submitted her first academic article for publication. Here's hoping it gets accepted!
---

This is starting to sound like a Christmas letter; I'm sorry for that.
---

2. I Bought A New Car -- Times being what they are, I decided to single handily save not only the domestic automotive industry but my father's job and the global economy to boot. I am your hero. To quote the great Strongbad, "dudes, form a line to my left for high-fives; ladies, form a line to my right for makeouts."

The car in question is a candy-apple red 2009 Pontiac Vibe. I've been attracted to the Vibe since my father purchased one back in 2004. It's small, but eminently comfortable, and with enough interior space to haul stuff around. It's also a joint venture with Toyota, so it's famous for good build quality and fuel economy.

The purchase went down two weeks ago while I was in Chicago. I traveled down to the city's notorious South Side, where after months of trawling the internet I determined the best model available would be. We nearly drove right past the dealership, since they only had a store front on a mostly vacant and depressed street.

Roseland Pontiac was the name of the place. According to them, it's the oldest GM dealership in the world, with a near century-long history. It's certainly unlike any dealership I've ever seen. It's like walking into a small store in a historic neighborhood, except someone went and parked three brand new cars in the middle of the building.

Unfortunately, I haven't had the chance to take any pictures of the new ride. Plus, it's pretty dirty at the moment. Another crappy iPhone photo will have to do for now.

There's been extensive discussion on naming the vehicle. Bucephalus, my truck, got his name after at least a year so I am in no hurry. Claire is particularly fond of Nessie, but I think Ogopogo would be a better cryptid name. I'm also partial to Elwood, since like that particular Blues Brother, my car hails from the South Side. What do you think?

3. My Family Visited -- and it was awesome! After spending some time in Philly and in New York, everyone rolled in to town for a lovely long 4th of July weekend. We played music, ate great food, saw some awesome fireworks, and enjoyed each other's company.

From Patriotic Familial Visit

(As always, hit the link for more photos)

It's so phenomenal to see everyone; especially my siblings.

From Patriotic Familial Visit

Of particular interest was the DC fireworks display. After a solid day of hemming and hawing about whether to sit out on the mall with half a million (actual count) people or try to catch a glimpse from elsewhere, we bit the bullet and hit the mall. Despite the crowds, belligerent club girls, poor bathroom facilities, and the knowledge that we would have to run to a Metro stop to beat the crowds, I have to say it was an amazing sight.

Unlike most firework shows I've seen, where one or two explosions go off at a time until the grand finale, the DC fireworks is all finale all the time. Also, we saw the whole thing with the beautifully illuminated Capitol at our backs and the Washington Monument standing resolutely between us and the fireworks. It was, no pun intended, a blast.

From Patriotic Familial Visit

I was so sorry to see my family drive off into the distance, particularly because they took Bucephalus with them. But I know this isn't the last time I'll see them, or him, and should probably just swallow my drama and buck up.
---

There, I think that just about covers it. Now, on to new business...

Pony Party: Our Trip to Chincoteague

2009-06-07T01:27:00.001-04:00

This is the post where I tell you about the trip Claire and I took out to Chincoteague island, home of the famous wild assateague ponies. It's pretty darn long, so I'll link you to the pictures up here, and anyone who isn't really interested in the details of our jaunt can just cut to the pretty pictures. No harm, no foul.

Chincoteague: A Pony Adventure

Onward!
---

We chose Chincoteague as a destination since it was close to us, sea-side, and away from DC. As most of our trips do, this one began with depositing the dog at the Dog Boarding Place where he spent the long weekend chasing other dogs and doing the things that we don't let him do.

Once divested of canine, we set out. It was a relatively short drive, crossing many bridges and taking us out over the Chesapeake Bay and on to the Delaware Peninsula. Along the way, we zipped past several remarkable sights: the beautiful and disconcertingly long Bay Bridge; a Tattoo parlor called "Gypsy Vintage," which was housed in what used to be a bank and clearly had people living in it; and NASA's Wallops Flight Center.

We stayed at the surprisingly spacious Channel Bass Inn, of which we can say nothing but good things. The breakfast was delicious, the owners were helpful (if a bit talkative), the room was far more plush than I am used to, and we were stuffed silly on Sunday tea. If any of you happen to find yourself in need of lodging on a far-flung Virginia island, I have the place for you.

From Chincoteague: A Pony Adventure

Our days were spent meandering around the little down town, exploring the local eateries (of which there are many), but mostly we tooled around the neighboring assateague Island nature reserve, home of the famous ponies.

While packed with nature trails, the area is also packed with mosquitos. After a short visit to the top of the picturesque but also small, cramped, and hot assateague light house, we opted to stick to driving tours and visiting the beach.

From Chincoteague: A Pony Adventure

While not my first time at the Atlantic, it was my first time on an Atlantic beach. When I stood at the shore, it seemed to me like there was little difference between this big hole full of water, and the big holes full of water where I grew up. Lake Michigan and Superior both boast empty horizons and seemingly endless tracts of water. But when I stood in the surf, looking out at nothing but rolling waves, I could see the difference. I could feel the difference when the cold, roiling waves sloshed up around my feet; that water was powerful, and violent, though it seemed tame by the shore. Even standing in the surf, still on land, the ocean feels deeper and far more vast.

From Chincoteague: A Pony Adventure

That being said, we had a triumphantly lovely stroll on the beach, followed by a snooze in the sun in the back of Bucephalus.

From Chincoteague: A Pony Adventure

assateague has many trails, none of which we pursued. We decided that we were here to relax, and that even the stress of getting buggy and sweaty was more than we were willing to take. However, the largest nature trail circles assateague's interior lake and is accessible by car in the evening. On our last day, we decided to take Bucephalus out along the trail, and commune with nature from the comfort of a pick up truck.

From Chincoteague: A Pony Adventure

Though the ponies are the main attraction of the island, I had tempered my expectations. We'd already missed the annual drive, were most of the ponies are driven across the salt marshes and herded up on Chincoteague. We reserved our excitement for the numerous fishing birds and endless picturesque views that the island had to offer.

From Chincoteague: A Pony Adventure

After spending a full fifteen minutes trying to capture the beauty of a heron of some sort, I turned back toward the road and noticed that three ponies had been in front of us for some time.

From Chincoteague: A Pony Adventure

We were ecstatic. This was more than we could have asked for. The ponies paid very little attention to our squeals of delight (mostly Claire, I grumbled with joyous masculinity), and passed by the truck intent on whatever it is that wild ponies concern themselves with. After a flurry of photo taking and our vocal approval, we drove off for a final look at the beach before calling it a night.

From Chincoteague: A Pony Adventure

Despite all the natural beauty, aloof ponies, quaint towni-ness that our trip had to offer, I think my favorite memories of the whole excursion were the time we spent sitting in our room, munching on sandwiches and sipping the chincy miniature wine bottles we smuggled in. I don't know if it was against the rules or not, but it was a fun and relaxing little side-note to our trip.

From Chincoteague: A Pony Adventure

---

That was all so terribly long. For all of you that made it to the bottom: congratulations. While I hit all the points that stuck out in my mind, I am sure that I missed something important. In which case, Claire will remind me and I will tell you all about it in future updates.

Mini Roadtrip!

2009-05-22T23:21:00.001-04:00

Hot on the heels of our minivacation to Chincoteague island is our miniature roadtrip!

The journey begins in Virginia on Saturday morning, from which we will travel (with dog, via rental car) to Chicago. From there, we go around noble Lake Michigan to Frankenmuth where a wedding will be attended (by us, not the dog) on Sunday.
Then we turn south, and spend the evening in the bosom of my family (Troy, MI). Early monday afternoon, we return to Chicago where I will take a flight directly back to Washington.

A circuitous route, to be sure, but one that accomplishes many goals:

1. A WEDDING will be attended
2. CLAIRE will be returned to CHICAGO, where she will spend two months (with DOG) conserving an ASSYRIAN FRIEZE for the University of Chicago Oriental Institute (awesome)
3. My family will be VISITED

---

Pictures and reflections on Chincoteague and this road trip to be posted after my return!
---

I am going to miss her; and the dog.
---

Fabled Aunt and beloved blog-reader Barbara commented on the previous pony-related post:

I too wanted to go to Chincoteague to commune with the ponies. Settled for (long story) sister island, Assateague, home of massive herds of mosquitos, which are driven up and down the beach each night by Park Service sprayers.

A clarification: the Chincoteague ponies actually live on Assateague island, and are herded across to Chincoteague only once a year. Perhaps Barb was closer to her goal than she realized?

A spoiler for the upcoming post: WE SAW PONIES (3)!

Miniature Vacation

2009-05-15T09:46:00.001-04:00

Claire and I are hitting the road for a long weekend at Chincoteague; a small island off the coast of Virginia. Famed for it's wild ponies and general awesomeness, Chincoteague will provide us with several days worth of diversion and enjoyment.

More upon our return!

(Map)

The Other Website

2009-05-05T23:55:00.001-04:00

In January of 2008 I registered the domain www.wmeddy.com

I didn't really have much of a goal in mind, but decided that I should have some space that I could play around on. I built the beginnings of a website by hand, using the HTML4 that I had learned in 8th grade and some bits stolen from around the internet.

There are some people that can teach themselves anything; I am not one of those people.

The site languished for while partly because I didn't have the technical skill to expand it, but mostly because it had to purpose. That changed when graduation came closer and the prospect of being yet another unemployed English Major loomed ahead of me. In a feverish few hours spent on the futon bed on the floor, I threw together a website that had the express purpose of advertising myself.

With the goal of employment now well accomplished, the site once again lacked purpose. I tried a number of Content Management Systems (most notably: wordpress), but nothing really took.

That changed when nearly all of my friends installed the MovableType content management system and made completely awesome websites almost overnight. Not to be left behind, I joined in and The Front of the End was born.

I am telling you this not because Is Max Alive is ending; it has a purpose and people seem to like it. I am bringing you all up to speed because I have some projects going on over there that I'll be linking to from time to time. I hope you enjoy them, and enjoy wmeddy.com
---

Speaking of, please enjoy Passable Adventures, my short story in comic-strip form. Updates on Tuesday.

Passable Adventures #1
Passable Adventures #2
---

Tomorrow I will be on the National Mall manning a display booth featuring a variety of Army stuff. More on this as it develops.

I Did Something Good Today

2009-05-03T22:03:00.001-04:00

The rain has finally come back to Virginia. April had been a month of near constant dryness, of pollen so thick that it left a disgusting yellow patina on all the cars, and of nearly 100º F temperatures.

But this weekend, the skies opened and washed the dust and dry away.

Along with some baby birds from their nests.
---

Claire and I were walking to Mancini's, our Misplaced Breakfast location of choice, when I noticed two baby birds on the street. They were new borns, about the size of a chicken's egg. They had no feathers, and their eyes were closed. We were having a collective moment of, 'awww, how tragic' when one of them gasped.

We couldn't just leave it there. Not with it wiggling around like that.
"This is stupid," I said. "I know we can't take care of this thing."
"We're human," Claire said.
"Do you know what it says in the dictionary under 'Human?'"
"Stupid?"
"Exactly."

We quickly spirited the little creature out of the cold rain and into a warm towel. Claire started to feed it some warm milk and honey from a straw, but quickly stopped after I read online that milk isn't good for birdies. The warm fluid seemed to revive him a bit, though. We wrapped him up in towels, and put him in a drawer with a warm water bottle.

Following the advice of the Internet I sought out the bird's nest, which I found 9 feet above where he had fallen in a small tree. Having no ladder of my own, I had the awkward task of wandering around and knocking on people's doors until I found someone willing to lend me one. I eventually found the right door, which I knew was the right door when I noticed that the gentleman owned a tree trimming business.

Within short order, we returned the bird -- whom Claire named Sydney as soon as she knew he could be safely returned to his nest -- and finally met some neighbors. All around, a winning day.
---

Beyond all this avian excitement, Claire is working hard to finish her papers. This semester has been, as I've said, very tough on her. We're both looking forward to having it behind us.

I continue to just work; still at the Fort, still workin' for the Army. The big news for me is that I'll be doing one of the events that our team is famous for, showing off Army gear and delivering The Message.

Apparently it's an outdoor event, open to the public. My co-worker brought up the subject of my participation by asking, "have you ever been protested?" Without missing a beat I said, "Yes. Yes I have." GARGOYLE HUMOR MAGAZINE: the perfect preparation for a job in defense contracting!

Can He Be Nostalgic About His Shoes?

2009-04-06T22:54:00.001-04:00

Sometimes you have to listen to Nashville Skyline. This is one of those times.
---

Today, I bought new sandals. Those who know me, will tell you that I love my sandals. They are keens, and for a while were the most expensive piece of clothing that I owned. I did not love them immediately. In fact it took some cajoling on the part of Claire and the staff at Ann Arbor's Bivouac to get me to part with my money. Even on the walk home, I wasn't sure it had been money well spent.

Over the next few days, this feeling only intensified. The right foot in particular was a constant reminder of my apparent "mistake." That is to say, the large, painful blister on the back of my ankle was constant reminder of etc., etc.

But there came a breaking point (or "breaking-in point" if you will) when I declared them to the be the greatest sandals -- nay -- the greatest things to happen to my feet. Never had I such arch support, such a firm feeling of security and freedom, from shoes.

My love for these sandals was unfettered. Who cared that they were about a size too large? I certainly didn't. I wore them all through the summer, and well into the fall. They taught me the true meaning of "Jacket and Sandal Weather," which is now my favorite kind of weather. I even wore them to Iceland, a land not known for its sandal wearing.

But all that love came at a cost. Too soon, the treads had worn off, and the soles began to thin out. When one of the draw strings broke while I navigated a Best Buy, I knew it was time to start thinking of getting a new pair.

Today was that day, and I took pause in the god-awful Pentagon City mall to take stock of how far I have come in these shoes. I have no way of knowing how many miles I've covered in them; it seems fitting that years are the only way to measure my relationship to these shoes.

The largest divot goes all the way through the rubber to the cork footbed; gently curving, showing the wear of time, and not a freak crack in the sole. It's the first time I've worn through a pair of shoes, and I am proud that it was these.

I didn't mourn them, because a new adventure was about to begin. I walked straight up to the sales clerk, and held out my foot. "Hello. I'd like another pair of these."
---

Workspace!

2009-03-26T08:19:00.001-04:00

I haven't had a desk since I lived on Lawrence street in Ann Arbor -- that was about three years ago. My last apartment in Ann Arbor didn't come furnished with an area devoted to work, so I used the kitchen table. This was a perfect solution, since it meant I was near food, and had two lovely windows to look out of. All I could see was a parking lot and some tree trunks, but it was better than nothing.

Since moving to Virginia I've been a nomad. Sometimes, I work from an easy chair, sometimes from our small dining table, and sometimes from the toilet. Each of these locations has it's pros and cons, but the real problem was that I had no space devoted to work. I often had to pack up all my materials on whatever I was doing, and clear out long before I was finished.

That's all changed now.

The local consignment store had this very nice antique solid wood desk at a very affordable price.

From Virginia Apartment: Awesome

I was told by the woman who sold it to me that the former owners had the table in their family for years, and that it was once used as an altar in an outdoor wedding.

I am eminently pleased with my new acquisition, and I have now removed one more excuse to not get any work done.

The Last 25 Things Meme

2009-03-24T18:25:00.001-04:00

I am the last person on the face of the earth to do this, but who cares. Primary posting will be on FaceBook, but reprinted here for your general amusement.

1. I did not own any real nice clothes until I got this job with SAIC. The weekend before my first day I got tricked out, and probably taken for a ride, by the people at The Men’s Warehouse.

2. I still get kind of freaked out by the idea of ghosts and creepy monsters like the Mothman. I was a total sucker for the paranormal stuff when I was a kid, but now I have a childhood’s worth of creepy memories that make me jumpy at night.

3. I went for nearly a year without tying my shoes. I have gone for more than year without washing my sheets. I have never washed my car since I purchased it in 2002.

4. I think the serial comma is completely essential, and that the semi-colon has a bad rap.

5. I often worry that I don’t have enough personality problems to be a great artist, and will therefore be a mediocre writer for my entire life.

6. I did not listen or watch any news for most of the Bush administration. On the few occasions when I did, I would get incredibly angry and frustrated. As a result, I did not own a TV for two years of college.

7. I owe a tremendous debt of gratitude to everyone who has or will serve on the Gargoyle. This debt will be repayed in the form of one (1) beer that I will buy anyone current or former member of Garg staff.

8. I am writing this on a pirated copy of Microsoft Office that I lifted from the Gargoyle five years ago. Someday, someone will notice that when I work from home, what I turn in has track-changes that are attributed to "Gargoyle Humor Magazine."

9. Here is a brief list of words I cannot spell: thurough, resuarant, garuntee, admitadly

10. I am very self-conscious about my writing, and over work projects to the point where I forget about them. For instance, I drafted this at least two times before starting over with this list.

11. My metric for success is NPR: if I get interviewed for All Things Considered, I am doing pretty well; but if I get interviewed on Fresh Air, I know I will have made it.

12. I don't believe anything is above ridicule.

13. I really have no interest in meeting famous people. I don't really have anything of substance to say to them, and I am sure they'd just be annoyed.

14. I feel so lucky to have my family. I know people who's families are hornets nests of infighting, or are just too much for them to bear. I love my family, and I a grateful for them (and especially for all the Lyons', who have been wonderful to me).

15. I own and listen to seasonal music.

16. I am continually frustrated by how humanity’s imagination greatly outpaces our abilities. We can dream starships, and theorize about how to build and propel them, but we can’t find the cash or the will.

17. I lack the drive required to be a visual artist, or musician, though I so desperately want to be both.

18. Though I enjoy video games, I am often disappointed by them. I think they come up short on their promises.

19. I love breakfast foods, especially the stuff that’s really bad for you. Strata, biscuits and gravy, and sweet loraine are among my favorites.

20. During my freshman year of college I read Ralph Waldo Emerson's “Self Reliance.” It was the first time I read something that spoke to me and made me feel like I'd discovered a piece of my soul in someone's book. It seemed like those 15 odd pages contained more about myself than I knew. It was as if those words had taken all the conflicting ideas and ideals that I had struggled to communicate and understand and laid them out plainly and beautifully.

21. My childhood room was yellow. The doors were old wood, and had big rusty knobs with comicly large keyholes that you could look through, like in the movies.

22. I want to tell stories.

23. I don’t understand why necessities like pants and housing are so damn expensive. If everyone needs it, it should be cheap and freely available. There’s something very wrong with a world where cheese doodles and cell phones are more readily available than affordable housing and pants.

24. In preschool, I was jealous of my friend Drew because all the girls wanted to kiss him.

25. I don’t know if I’ll ever feel like I have things sorted out, but I hope I can at least look like I do, and do so stylishly.

Phil + Susie

2009-03-23T20:19:00.001-04:00

Sittin' in a tree
gonna get m-a-r-r-i-e-d

To commemorate this momentous occasion, here are some pictures of the two of them together in a variety of settings.

From MarsEdit Images

10 Seemed Like A Good Place to Stop

2009-03-22T12:09:00.001-04:00

I struggle with this blog sometimes, especially when I have fallen weeks behind in updating it. 'Oh, no,' I think to myself. 'Yet another recap post that will cover weeks. Is this all I ever put on here?'

Fortunately for me, Stephen Fry seems to have the same problems with his blog. However, his blog is infinitely better than mine and he has much more interesting things to say (although I do wish he'd say a little less about how great Oscar Wilde is).
---

So, here's the inevitable wrap up:

1. On the 7th, Claire and I took advantage of the nice weather and checked out the National Arboretum. It's a beautiful, sprawling park that, unlike most gardens, is car accessible. In fact, driving is something of a necessity given it's size. I know several of you are planning on visiting the area soon, so be sure to set aside time to visit this place. Don't let the fact that it's surrounded by a terrible neighborhood stop you!

Here's some pictures; please enjoy them!

National Arboretum

2. New assignment at Ft. Belvoir continues to take me places I never imagined I'd be. On the 11th I was attending a hearing on Soldier weight where the Army's Vice Chief of Staff and the Assistant Commandant of the US Marine Corps testified before the sub committee on defense spending. My journalist friends can roll their eyes at me, but it was still fun.

3. I have spent more time with a General than you have.

4. On the 12th I was at the Pentagon, which is kind of a frightening experience. It has very tight security, is frantic on the inside, and is the kind of place where the security detail has assault rifles. In a word: stressful. Add to that being late for the first of two meetings, and it made for an interesting day.

5. In a lot of ways I am still finding my feet at the fort. My first two weeks were especially difficult since I had two deadlines on top of getting used to the place, and figuring out how everything worked. Thankfully, everyone is patient and supportive.

6. Did you notice that 2009 has had two Friday the 13ths? I did. I think it's unusual.

On the most recent Friday the 13th, Keith, Claire, and I went to see Watchmen. When Auntie Barb sent me the trade paperback of the series for Christmas some years ago, my mind was blown. I had no idea that something so sprawling and wildly creative could be done with comics. As Crime and Punishment and Catch-22 changed my conception of literature, Watchmen changed how I viewed comics. Obviously, the movie could never live up to that, and in the end it's not that great. It's pretty, and has some fun moments, but I think Snyder was trying way to hard to get Alan Moore to like him by making a 100% faithful reproduction of the book, and the movie suffered for it.

I did, however, get to hang out with a cardboard cutout of Nicholas Cage that I found in the garbage behind the theatre.

From MarsEdit Images

7. My brother recently had a birthday. He's 14 by my count. My sister has a birthday coming up in May -- she'll be 12. They continue to amaze me.

8. My NCAA picks for this year are at 70%, and given that I usually have the worst picks in my family, I am more than pleased. I would have done much better if Arizona hadn't decided to win and shove Utah off the map.

Despite screwing up the whole Utah thing, I am proud of calling the exact measure of UM's basketball prowess: one game. Hail to this victor.

9. I've been having some trouble sleeping lately, which is unlike me. I am usually asleep within five minutes of getting into bed, and I will stay completely asleep until morning. On the rare occasions I do wake up in the night, I am back to sleep within moments. Lately, I've been waking up at odd times, been unable to get back to sleep after waking, and had some trouble getting to sleep at all. This is a new development I do not approve of.

10. I want to try and post every day next week, starting Monday.

These Feelings Are Natural

2009-03-03T20:05:00.001-05:00

Day01 at Ft. Belvoir summation: Oh crap crap crap! The woman I am replacing is far more experienced/talented/competant than me. Oh my god what am I doing here? I am going to screw up and everyone is going to hate me oh god. Maybe I should drive my car into a tree and use some disability time to get off the hook. No no no, if I start driving funny the Army guys will think I am a spy and shoot me a thousand times!

Day02 at Ft. Belvoir summation: Ok, I think I can handle this.

The big change between the two? Well, today I got a much more concrete feeling for what needs to be done in the coming weeks. Most of it just nerves; changes in my routine always throw me off like that. It's also kind of nerve wracking for someone like me to work at an army base. I get freaked out when a cop goes by me on a bicycle, so you can imagine what working at a place with Area-51 signs around does to me.
---

I don't think I'll be as good a job as the woman I am (temporarily) replacing. But I will learn a hell of a lot about how to be a better writer. She's got years of newspaper and Army experience. She knows how to write for these people, and can make writing a task in a way that I am still learning how to do. She, and others I have worked with at SAIC, are able to build an article like they're building a table.

The closest analog I can think of is writing college essays. You take a stack of information, and you make something cohesive out of it. Now, it's true that I could (and probably still can) churn out college essays like a machine, but this is like a whole other level.

The other skill that I have not fully developed is a journalist's scheduling. These pro-writers track story ideas in terms of what will be available when and from whom, and various aspects of the approval process, in addition to deadlines. I am truly amazed at the information handoff going between the two of us. This is the kind of skill-reinforcing activity that really need.
---

So, to my family and my employers: I am OK, and I think I am going to do well.

What I Want You To Take Away From This Is That I Have Not Been Fired

2009-03-02T09:57:00.001-05:00

It's been a rough month, here on DeWitt, and I apologize for the lack of updating.
Claire's schooling has become increasingly time consuming. We both knew this would be a rough semester, but it only recently reached an apex of difficulty. To ease the situation, I've been picking up some of Claire's duties -- mainly, giving the dog a morning walk. The upside of all of this is that Claire will finish her MA in two years, as opposed to the two years +1 summer term recommended by the school.
The downside is that we've been extremely busy. The past few weeks have felt very "rat race:" I get up in the morning, I walk the dog, I go to work, I come home after dark, do dinner, and then have about an hour before I go to bed. I can't say I've been in the best of moods, so it's probably for the best that I was staying off the Blog Horse. That is, unless you want to read a bunch of "OH, WOE IS ME"-isms.
---

As you may have gleaned from Twitter, I have moved out of the McLean offices of SAIC. From today until June, I'll be operating out of a cubicle at Ft. Belvoir. So:

I have not been sacked.
I have not been promoted.
I have not joined the Army.

Although that guy I met in the elevator while I was leaving McLean with my office in a box probably does think I got fired. Oh well!
Hopefully, Belvoir will be a shorter commute. But with all the security and driving through the base, I am not sure.
---

This morning was meant to be Day 01 at Belvoir, but that's in question now. I scoffed at last night's Winter Storm warning -- they issue those things for a few flurries. However, the 4" of snow and more coming down gave me pause this morning. In Michigan this would be annoying, but mostly a non-issue; once I got the truck to the main roads, everything would be fine. But here in the good ol' NCR, the situation is more complicated.
There are no plows here, only salt trucks. So, main roads aren't so much "clear" as "incredibly slushy." There's a two-hour delay at the base, which I am utilizing to blog. I am going to take it nice and easy on the way in. I like my job, but I am not willing to die for it. Or crash my car for it.
---

I took the dog down to check and see how bad Route 1 was, and also grabbed my camera. Please enjoy these pictures of a snowy Virginia, and a puppy.

From MarsEdit Images

From Tenzing

---

I met a man while walking the dog today. I mentioned that Tenzing was an Icelandic dog, and from Chicago, so he was used to snow. The man said, "that's why I figured the President didn't shut down the government today!"

Along with all the other activities, the Obama administration ushers in a new era of shutting up and dealing with the weather.

Happy Valentine's Day (Baby)

2009-02-13T23:26:00.001-05:00

Hello, young lovers.

In case you missed it, I made history this evening when I live-tweeted my romantic dinner for two with Claire. You can relive the magic below.

At restaurant; in finery. http://twitpic.com/1h4dc
---
elecray7k Appetizers: BLT mac'n cheese gnocchi, duck spring rolls. http://twitpic.com/1h4ek
---
Salmon with spaetzel and artichoke purée; beef tenderloin on mashed potatoes over steamed spinach w/fried onions http://twitpic.com/1h4wn
---
Champagne sorbet, and champagne with rosepetal sorbet. http://twitpic.com/1h5ec
---

Our escpades did generate some response. This from pal-Kris:

krishva @elecray7k Oh heavens that sounds delicious.

And this from pal-Justin:

ExploderFace @elecray7k Amazing live-tweeting of a romantic dinner out on the town! It's almost like I'm there with you guys!

---

The restaurant in question is called Evening Star, and it is easily the best place in town. Possibly one of the best places in the NCR. The food is certainly gourmet quality, but comes at reasonable prices and healthy helpings. You certainly don't feel ripped off when you eat here.

Here's the menu for tonight's meal.

"BLT" Mac & Cheese
Spinach Gnocchi, Tomato Concasse, Apple Wood Smoked Bacon, Caramelized Onions, Triple Truffle Cream

Duck Spring Rolls
House Cured & Braised Duck, Caramel Garlic Basil Sauce

Pan Seared Salmon Filet
Crispy Spaetzle, Artichoke Puree, Fennel Choke Salad

Grilled Beef Tenderloin
Roasted Garlic and Buttermilk Mashed Potatoes, Sauteed Spinach, Rosemary and Parmesan Onion Crisps, Bordelaise Sauce

Evening Star is very close to where we live in Del Ray, and is actually where Keith and I went to dinner before we even knew I was going to move here. Fate, I tell you!

The beef tenderloin is truly fantastic, and probably the best steak to ever cross these lips (the giant piece of meat once prepared for me by Jan Wagner excluded). Usually, the salmon is served on a ever-changing market setup, but tonight's was excellent -- if static.

Oddly enough, a place this classy only has one beer on tap: Pabst Blue Ribbon. I wonder if Frank, from Blue Velvet, is one of the investors?

I would be remiss if I didn't mention that Evening Star has a deal with the wine shop next door, which provides a truly prodigious selection of wine. I stick to the beers, though.
---

Claire got me this for V-Day. It's awesome!

From MarsEdit Images

There was a first edition of this book in my house growing up, but it has been long out of print until recently. Fabulous!
---

I'm not really big on this holiday, but I do wanna say that my family and friends are so dear to me. Love to you all, and happy Valentine's Day.

A Look Back

2009-02-12T19:53:00.001-05:00

It was June 5, 2004.
A dinner, or perhaps a brunch, was held in Rochester Hills, Michigan. In the home of Jim and Sherri Lyons, their family gathered. In attendance were Jim and Sherri's two daughters, Jamie Lyons-Eddy and Julie Gillikin, and their families.

I was there.

Politics was the discussion of choice after a delicious dinner (or brunch) had been cleared away. George W. Bush was the incumbent in the election; Kerry had already been picked out as the Democratic candidate; and Barack Obama had already burst onto the scene with his stirring speech at the party convention.

Two predictions were made that night, which I think are worth considering at this juncture.

Jim Lyons said, "Kerry will go down in flames."

Jamie Lyons-Eddy said, "Obama will be President in 2012."

Was Jim right? Did Obama defy destiny? Please, discuss!

Move Along

2009-02-11T21:43:00.001-05:00

I had a great long weekend. You see, last week I put in 80hrs by Thursday so I took Friday off. I felt totally recharged, which was excellent since I went north to Michigan to see my brother and sister perform in their middle school play.

Y'all missed out, that's all I can say. These kids put on a hell of a show; I left very impressed. Made me wish I had the nerve to do such things.

Grandma and Uncle Mike also made surprise appearances, and we all learned the true meaning of Facebook!

Thankfully, I also had enough time to just hang around and I enjoy myself. And interview dad. I'm hoping I can cut it together to be something worthwhile, but there's some technical difficulties. Best laid plans and all that.

If you're keeping score at home, this week has been pretty rotten for me. I've had some foul ups at home that kept me from getting the work done that I wanted to. Nothing earth shattering, but when work doesn't go as you plan it's just frustrating. Thankfully, I think the Weapon System Handbook will be off my plate pretty soon. It's been interesting, but I'd like to get some closure.

Anyway, not too much going. Nothing interesting, at least. Here's some stuff that's far more entertaining.

---
I cannot embed the video, but The Mysterious Stranger is absolutely fantastic. You must watch it -- this is not optional.

---
Behold, the History of the Internet! You've always wondered, haven't you?

---
I remember seeing part of an episode of Twin Peaks when I was child, and being terrified by it. But after hearing so much about it, how offbeat, weird, and influential it was, I simply had to see it. In my Sophomore year of college, Justin and I watched most (if not all) of the series, and were completely blown away.

I remember saying, "Why can't TV be like this all the time!?"

Anyway, it's all available for free now. So you have no excuse but to watch it. That and The Prisoner. You gotta watch 'em both!

---
Best name you'll read today? Probably Adolph Blaine Charles David Earl Frederick Gerald Hubert Irvin John Kenneth Lloyd Martin Nero Oliver Paul Quincy Randolph Sherman Thomas Uncas Victor William Xerxes Yancy Zeus Wolfeschlegelsteinhausenberdorft Sr. He's a leap year baby!

---
I you like terrifying snow globes, then have I got something for you!

Someone should buy me one of these for my office. Or maybe buy me all of them.

---
Oh, hey. I forgot, but last night I got caught up on all my emails yesterday. That seems stupid but for me it's a big deal.

Ok, move along now.

Habits

2009-02-05T23:38:00.001-05:00

I don't think I have an addictive personality, but I do make habits quickly.

For instance, I remember the first time I bit off one of my nails and held it in my mouth. It didn't taste like anything particularly interesting, but I do so love to chew on things.

Thus: a decade+ long habit was born. One which lead to many other mouth-based self-destructive habits: cuticle biting, compulsive zit popping (not with mouth), biting-off-the-skin-inside-your-mouth, etc.

I've finally managed to quit all of those. Now I'm working on knuckle popping (down to only popping thumbs and index fingers: progress!).
---

It wasn't long ago that I realized I could also form good habits with as much ease as I had created bad ones.

New Years eve 2007: I was alone in my apartment, listening to the Beatles and feeling sorry for myself. Around me, the raucous calls of Frat boys rang through the night. After my ludicrous pronouncements at midnight I decided that I wanted to eat better, and I would do it by only drinking one pop per month.

And I am proud to say I have stuck to this pledge (with rare exception) for over a year now. It might be the first time I have a made a personal choice and stuck with it. As a result, the few pops that I do drink are nice treats that I can let myself indulge in.

Just a few months ago, I added flossing to my list of "good habits." I've been trying to floss regularly for years, mostly at the behest of my dentist. Their warnings about gingivitis were constant:

2001: You might get gingivitis unless you start flossing!
2002: You're going to get gingivitis.
2003: You've got bleedin' gums, kid. But your teeth are great!

Anyway, I've stuck with that one, too. And my teeth are even more fantastic, now that my gums are healthy and firm.
---

This past week, I've been fed up feeling like a rat in the proverbial wheel. So, I am making more habits.
First, 30min of banjo everyday. I had really let the ball drop on practicing, but just after a few days I'm already feeling like I have improved. Who knows how my garbled version of "Wild Horses" will sound by next month?

Second: 1 hour of reading per night. I've fallen behind on the New Yorkers around here, so I may as well put them to good use. It's also given me a chance to make some headway in my Collected Works of Ralph Waldo Emerson, which I've been meaning to do for years. Who knows? Maybe this is the year that I finish Gravity's Rainbow?

The next step: make writing a habit. And blogging. And cleaning. And laundry.

Well, it's a start.
---

Even I thought that was boring. Here's a cool video to make up for it.

Cornstarch is AWESOME.

The Blog Horse Won't Move

2009-02-03T21:30:00.001-05:00

I planned to blog today. Set aside time and everything.
But I just don't have anything to say. I am very blank this evening.

Maybe something will come to me!

He's the Question Mark Suit guy

2009-01-31T15:16:00.001-05:00

Barb writes:

OK. I'll bite. Who's Matthew Lesko?

Who indeed?

---

Famed more for his dress and ridiculous advertisements, DC native Matthew Lesko has made his mark on American culture by staring into a camera and repeatedly shouting "FREE MONEY!"

Any avid watcher of late-night basic cable, or mid-day Sci-Fi channel has seen his shtick. The suit, the shoes, the screaming; all to push his book, or website, or whatever he's got these days.
---

There's more than a few people online angrily "outing" Lesko as a fraud, which I think is in poor taste. Of course the man is a fraud! He makes his living jumping around on TV in a question-mark suit with multi-colored socks screaming that you can get free money from the government, for goodness sake. Out him if you must but I really don't feel like he deserves the vitriolic fervor that is laid upon him. He's just a guy trying to make living like everyone else -- he just does it with books of fake information and a Riddler motif.
---

So that's Matthew Lesko. If I ever see him around DC (and I am told he wears the question-mark suit all the time) I will be sure to get an autograph.

Blog Horse

2009-01-30T23:41:00.001-05:00

Fell off the blog horse this week. Work got very hectic, and the weather took a famous turn around these parts. Between the ice, the editing, and everything else I just couldn't keep up.

My reflections on the inauguration are forthcoming. I started working on it last week and realized it could be even better than I anticipated. Look forward to it!

In the meantime, here are some things I think you should know about.
---

George Herriman has finally been immortalized and digitized. Take a look at this fascinating digital shrine to him and his seminal creation: Krazy Kat.

For those unaware, Krazy Kat is a delightfully surreal comic strip from the 30's/40's based around a simple premise: Ignatz the mouse throws bricks at Krazy Kat, which Krazy takes as signs of affection, and Offica Pup tries to intervene on Krazy's behalf to win her heart.

With this simple, Sisyphusian triangle at its core Herriman was able to experiment wildly with the setting and the dialogue eventually creating a bizarre desert world with it's own inflected language for the residents. Like Pogo, Lil' Abner, and the writings of Mark Twain, the language and setting become almost as important (if not more so) than the stories themselves.

---

From out of nowhere comes SPACE GIRL! In the proud tradition of newspaper adventure comics (see: Flash Gordon, Prince Valiant) Travis Charest (who I know I have seen the art of, but can't remember where) gives us a beautiful side project that is sure to please. Though it has older, prouder roots, I cannot help being reminded of the occasional Calvin and Hobbes feature SPACE MAN SPIFF! In fact, I am almost certain that Waterson did a panel identical to Space Girl! #3.

It's a hoot.

---
Noted friend and artist Kris Jacque has a moving reflection on the end of VHS casettes. The only thing I can add is:

Remember duplicating bootleg anime tapes to exchange with friends? Remember taping every episode of the Simpsons between 1991 and 1998? I do.
---
Gorgeous photos of the most destructive devices made by humanity. Beautiful and terrifying. A must-see.

---
And to cleanse your pallet: a car covered in singing fish. It even has a conductor.

The Inauguration Pt. 1

2009-01-20T22:59:00.001-05:00

Part one? Is he making promises he can't keep again?

I hope not! I'm just incredibly tired from my adventures today, and I want to put up something worth reading -- not just something off the cuff.

To tide you over, here are some vital links.

More than one person told us that more than anything, the sight they wanted to see at the inauguration was George Bush flying away via helicopter. I can't say it didn't make me happy to see him get outta town, but I was non-plused by some of the booing in the crowd during the swearing in.

Out in the field, we had only hearsay and rumors to work off of. For instance, I learned via text message and rumor that two people had been killed when they fell onto the tracks of the metro around the China Town stop. I was relieved to learn that while one woman did fall on to the tracks, she was not struck and did not die. A pretty harrowing tale.

As of right now, just under one million people used the Metro today. That's amazing; especially because Metro has said that the system can only move one million when running at full capacity for an entire day. Personally, I think we're going to pass that figure before the day is out.

Possibly the most amazing thing that happened today: Obama receives the nuclear launch codes.

How crowded was it on The Mall today? CNN has an interactive satellite photo, but you can take it from this eyewitness that it doesn't look right. I think this picture was taken well before the crowds started to come in.

The big question is: Was Matthew Lesko at the inauguration? From the "Manifest Destiny" blog.

MOST EXCITINGLY: I'm pretty sure I saw Matthew Lesko walking down my street as I returned home. I mean, okay, it could have been someone else. But whoever it was, he was wearing a leather jacket emblazoned with question marks, pants with question marks on the back pocket, a question mark hat, and ludicrous shoes (which seem likely to have also involved punctuation symbols of one sort or another).

Inauguration and Packages (non-stimilus)

2009-01-17T18:34:00.001-05:00

For those unawares, I'm going to the inauguration on Tuesday. Claire's dad is coming in and staying with us for a few days, so we figured we'd give it a shot and try to get down to The Mall.

It will be cold, it will be crowded. But I'm probably never going to have another chance to see a presidential inaugural, let alone one I care about.

Pictures to follow. Tweeting will likely be limited on the day of, due to the huge bandwidth draw of so many people.
---

The USPS lost some serious business today, since they closed at 1pm on Saturday. Who does anything before one on Satuday? Nobody, that's who. I'll bet you $50 that the post office didn't even bother opening today, since no one would show up anyway. Jerks.

As a result, the UPS store down the street got a lot of business out of me today.

IF YOU LIVE IN THE FOLLOWING CITIES, YOU'RE RECEIVING A PACKAGE FROM ME

LONGMONT
CORVALIS
ANN ARBOR

---

Have you ever wondered what Archaeologists think of tv and movies vaguely related to archaeology? WELL, NOW YOU CAN FIND OUT! (Hint: They tend not to like them.)

If I ever need this, I can just show the movie Troy to Claire again. Hilarity ensues.
---

The Greek Orthodox Church has a wiki. That's kinda cool, actually.

Patrick McGoohan

2009-01-17T11:50:00.001-05:00

Wired has an excellent obituary on the late great actor/writer/director Patrick McGoohan, who was apparently born an American and adopted the UK.

While many probably know him from Ice Station Zebra, I believe McGoohan made his mark with the incredible 1967 television series The Prisoner. In this 17-episode series, a nameless former spy (called #6 by his captors) is kidnapped and taken to a mysterious place called The Village where he is to spend the rest of his life. Isolated from the world and controlled by omnipotent yet unseen forces, the Village is a place of terrifying mindless existence which #6 struggles against.

He also fights against a large, white weather balloon named Rover. This show is amazing.

As I've blogged before, it's also being remade with Ian McKellan as the nefarious #2. A nifty by-product of this remake effort is that all 17 episodes are available for viewing online.

You should watch them now.
---

I first saw The Prisoner at my uncle Gary's apartment in Detroit. Mom was very excited by it, and I'd like to say that I was instantly enraptured by the series but it lacked spaceships so I played on the computer instead.

Up until pretty recently, the presence of spaceships was my benchmark for quality.

However, I have grown to love the series as a touchstone for how powerful television can be. It is remarkable that 31 years after it's original run, these few episodes are still celebrated. I can think of few things that have accomplished so much.

So watch it.
---

It also has the most amazing intro.

Barb and Gary on NPR

2009-01-15T23:11:00.001-05:00

Barb and Gary Ratner, my dear aunt and uncle, appeared in a recent story on NPR about the wide-spread effects of the economic collapse.

Listen to it here.

Maybe I am just being protective of my family, but I am a little miffed about the rather unsympathetic tone of the comments. Personally, I don't think it matters how much money you have; anytime the situation is such that you need to eat the money you've set aside, rich or poor, it's unfortunate.
---

Regardless of what the Internet thinks, my aunt and uncle (and their dog) are smart, loving people in a tough spot. Both of them have had a tremendous influence on my life -- instilling a love of Douglas Adams, river freighters, the Prisoner, Pogo, and the Detroit Tigers among other things. They're good folks, and I sincerely hope they have a change of fortunes.
---

Need a painting? Call my aunt!
---

Also, Patrick McGoohan, creator and star of The Prisoner, died the other day. Ricardo Montalbán, too.

Bowling for Mason Proper

2009-01-13T23:35:00.001-05:00

Some of the Gargkids (read: the new staff) took out 3/5 of popular band Mason Proper bowling in order to produce an article and a very neat video.

For those unaware, Matt Thompson (the tall one in circular glasses) is a Garg Alum himself. And I don't know if it's clear from this artistically edited movie, but the entire band is a bunch of really nice guys. They even let me and Keith hangout backstange with them when we saw their show in November -- gave us free beer with them and everything!

Mason Proper at the Black Cat

Oh, and buy their album. Buy it for real, or download from iTunes.
And subscribe to the Gargoyle.

This Post To Be Chiseled Into Solid Rock For A Nominal Fee

2009-01-12T23:11:00.001-05:00

This is an interactive display based around a 1000 year old rune stone currently on display in Denmark. Without words, the stone tells the story inscribed on the stone, and then has some cool interactive stuff to boot.
There are not words for how cool this is. WATCH IT. READ ABOUT IT.

---

Get the DMZ trade paperbacks for only $43. It's a good deal, but this series got pretty dull for me by trade #2. It's been called the "best comic of the Bush era," but I hope that's not true. DMZ strikes me as far to self-concious -- so much so, it is occasionally preachy. I think of Pogo, another incredibly pointed comic that took on world politics, and it's truly remarkable how effortless it felt and how forced Wood's work is. But if you like his stuff, you could do worse.
---

This lineup for the Inaugural Concert sounds pretty good, but I am pretty disappointed that Wilco isn't on it. Especially after they did all those concerts for Obama, and shilled for the new Prez on Colbert (1 and 2).
---

The Weather Under (the mason-dixon line)

2009-01-10T14:35:00.001-05:00

You can see the music I am listening to, and see what I have been listening to. It's not very surprising if you've met me.
---

I got Spore for Christmas (Thanks, Grandma!), and I adore it. However, Claire has really taken to the game and has used my account to create all sorts of bizarre wonders. Take a gander. The Moa Kuus are mine, everything else is hers.
---

Winter in Virginia is an odd experience. Around late October and through November, it was genuinely cold -- and getting colder! I fully expected to get a little bit of snow come December.

Instead, it just got very, very wet. It sometimes rains for days on end. The temperature also fluctuates greatly. Before Christmas (and I mean, a few days before Christmas) it was 70ºF outside.

In reality: Virginia Winter == Michigan Late Fall/Late Spring.

We've only had one or two frosts here, and they weren't very severe at all. Everything still smells wet and alive. I think the flowers have only died back out of habit or a feeling of obligation.

I'm told that it will get worse come Inauguration time, but honestly I can't imagine it could be bad at all.

---
It's 39º out right now. It's 28º back in Troy, Mi. In Reykjavik Iceland, it's 34º. Has the whole world gone mad?

Oww

2009-01-10T13:59:00.001-05:00

This morning I awoke rather happily (despite having a dog on my face). I went to bed before midnight and woke around 9am, so the term "well-rested" applied. However, my dreams of a energetic and productive day were quickly dashed as I attempted to move my head.

After several minutes of painful probing, I confirmed that my neck was not just stiff. During the night, I somehow managed to pull a muscle in my neck. I can turn my head all the way to the right, but not much past 45º to the left. Touching my chin to my chest isn't a problem, but looking up is a bit of a trick.

As you can imagine, getting Tenzing "OH BOY THE WORLD IS EXCITING" Dog to the park was a bit of a trick.

Unfortunately, I've had to scrap my plans to go downtown today. Claire and I had planned to see an exhibit on the art of Pompeii, but that'll have to wait until later. Prayerfully I will quickly be healed. The last time this happened it was because of excessive hole-digging and wheel barrowing. It took three weeks to be right again.
---

Yesterday, I realized that my work computer has two monitor ports. On a whim, I plugged in the old monitor that's been hanging around my office for over a month. To my surprise the computer was able to handle two monitors! Within a lunch break, I had everything set up and was dual-monitoring my way to victory.

For those who've never experienced the joy of two monitors, the second screen acts as an extension of your desktop. Usually, I'd put my media player, or mail client on the second monitor while focusing on the main screen. It's especially hand when you're doing research: you can leave your source on the second screen and type on the main screen.

Anyway, it makes me happy to have this set up. Totally made my Friday.
---

Django is playing in the apartment right now.

Everything in Pictures

2008-12-30T19:24:00.001-05:00

It's the little things: in this time between Holidays there are very few people commuting to work. Thus, I am driving and making my normal 3 hour round-trip in about 1.75hrs.
---

I've been ogling infographics lately. Academically, I am interested in them because they compress complex information into simple and often beautiful packages. I revel in the appealing mixture of science and art to create these almost poetic creations. It also appeals to my belief that through careful choice and construction, the most complex things can be transferred with the most simplicity (see: haiku).

They're also pretty.
---

The New York times has some truly fantastic infographics:
Movie box office performance
Spread of nuclear weapons
Consumer spending
A year in Iraq
Human disease

Especially notable is how frightening information can be displayed so beautifully.
---

Furthermore: The New York Times data illustration lab. Using a the NYTimes library of Datasets, you can construct not only neat looking but interactive flash representations.

Sadly, the tools are limited to the (scant) data sets provided by the Times. Also, the amount of customization for each representation is greatly limited. It's still fun, though. Worth at least a few short moments of your time.
---

This isn't really an infographic, but it is still very neat. The New York times breaks down the new NASA launch architecture one element at a time. Brought to you in tastefully mute-tone flash.
---

Unrelated: Now you too can join me in the land of iPhone bliss!
Keep in mind that these are 3g phones, not like my little 2g that slides quietly passed the nastier AT&T restrictions. Still, a good deal.
---

All Cleaned Up

2008-12-29T00:15:00.001-05:00

Shaved, showered, and ready to face tomorrow. After defeating airports, plane delays, and many other sundry antagonists I have arrived home and prepared myself for work tomorrow.

I had a great time over my little vacation. It was a joy to see everyone again, and my only regret is that I couldn't spend as much time as I would have liked in any one place.

Christmas behind, New Years ahead.

Trapped In The Airpot (Updated)

2008-12-28T20:15:00.001-05:00

I am trapped in the Indianapolis airport. Normally, I wouldn't mind since delays are just part of flying these days. This particular airport even has free wireless, which is very nice -- luxurious, even. However, I don't have a seat assignment yet. This makes me incredibly nervous.

Worst case scenario is that I sleep in the airport and miss a day of work. I'd rather not, but what can you do?
---

Yesterday, I saw The Spirit. As all the reviews will tell you, it is not a "good movie." At least not in the same sense that Casablanca is a "good movie." However, it is a very fun movie to watch. It is, simply put, the comedy event of the century. Not because it is so bad (although that might be part of it), but because you will never see a movie that goes as over-the-top as this one does. It makes Buckaroo Banzai look like A Room With A View. Tank Girl becomes a predictable, but enjoyable, romantic comedy when compared with The Spirit.

A lot of what makes the movie great is how surprising it is, so I don't want to go to into detail. But I will say that if you want a movie that is straightforward in intent, DO NOT see this movie. If you, like me, enjoy the absurd and don't mind laughing while wondering "ARE THEY SERIOUS?!" then this movie is for you.

I pulled a line from an article on The Spirit taken from a comic book blog. Personally, I don't think it's worth comparing the two. Miller's movie captures the (no pun intended) spirit of Eisner's creation with its use of comic book style violence and emotions (read: ridiculous, over-the-top). All the characters stand, move, and speak like they came right off the page. This is problematic for two reasons. First, because all this hokeyness is a little jarring when compared to Miller's trademark style of film. Second, because if you don't realize that it's supposed to be silly, then it won't be any fun at all.

Anyway, this line sums up the major problem with the movie: Miller never seems to decide how cartoony the movie is supposed to be.

If it was clear from the get-go that this was going to be like Dick Tracy, then I think the critics would have been a little kinder.
---

UPDATE: I have a seat, but the plane is still delayed. Progress!

Good Morning

2008-12-23T11:05:00.001-05:00

It's time for the official song of the auto bailout.

Don't forget!
New phone number!

SAME AREA CODE AS BEFORE

SAME FIRST THREE DIGITS

THEN

9157

ATTN: iPhone

2008-12-22T23:57:00.003-05:00

Original title was going to be iPHONE or IPHONE, but the problem with apple's lowercase-i-based nomenclature is that it is impossible to put in all caps.

The point is, friends, that I have an iPhone.

Because I changed carriers, I had to get a new number. Thankfully it's easy to remember.

SAME AREA CODE AS BEFORE

SAME FIRST THREE DIGITS

THEN

9517

I look forward to your calls!

End of the Marathon

2008-12-22T10:26:00.001-05:00

On the thirteenth of December, I began a magical journey.

It was that day that I began my non-stop all-out work-every-day effort on the Weapon's System Handbook. Well, part of that is a lie. Admittedly, my primary motivator when I hauled myself out of bed everyday was to earn enough extra hours in one pay period to take a big swatch of time off around Christmas. Because I travel home (from VA to MI) for the Holidays, I had to decide early on how many days I would take off. Meaning that I had to come up with twenty-four additional hours this week, or pay exorbitant cancelation fees from the airlines.

My original plan had me working nine hours a day for eight days. The obvious problem here is that I wouldn't get home until very late every day. The less obvious but more pressing problem was that I tend to either run out of work or run out of energy before nine hours. In the end, I came up about two days short and had to burn through my comp. leave time.

Yesterday, the big decision was whether or not to go into work and make up the -.15hr I now have. I decided against it.
---

That's not very interesting, but do you know what is interesting?
CHRISTMAS.

As mentioned earlier, my plans are to trek up to Michigan followed by the annual Indiana Pilgrimage. However, Christmas has found a home at 1801 DeWitt. About two weeks ago, Claire and I bought a very small Christmas Tree while coming back from the Cathedral. It's about 3.5-4ft tall, and is one of the famous Frasier Fir trees.

Most people may not remember this, but in the mid- to late-90's a survey was released which placed the then-unkown Frasier Fir as KING OF CHRISTMAS TREES. And I can see why. The needles are fat, blunt, and resiliant. Its perfection of shape and structure is such that it sometimes looks more like a fake tree. As far as needle-retention goes it is peerless. I clipped several branches and used them to fashion a festive spray for the front door. These branches have had no water for over two weeks and despite being very dry are still supple and have all their needles.

I was also able to score some LED Christmas lights for the first time ever -- they are awesome, and also ECOLOGICALLY FRIENDLY. Or they at least lead you to believe that they are, and that's all that is really important anyway.

But it's what's under the tree that counts, and this year that has included some excellent woolen winter gear and delightful Christmas ornaments from Claire (in addition to a delicious meal) but also gifts for the faithful hound Tenzing.

From Tenzing

Click to see the exciting battle between Tenzing and a tasty bone wrapped in paper towel. I figure that everyone deserves to unwrap something.

From Virginia Apartment: Awesome

Happy Holidays to you and yours!

It's Still the Seventh

2008-12-08T21:43:00.001-05:00

I break the story of the century.
Happy Birthday, Dad.

---
Sorry, ABC. But I am not interested in seeing a Fables TV show at all. I am tired of having my heart broken.

(And you had better ALL be reading Fables. C'mon, people!)

---
The development of the touch-tone phone keypad. Neat!

---
Awesome archaeological dig in the Sahara. The Big Picture is the best photoblog.

It's Six AM

2008-12-05T06:19:00.001-05:00

Do you know where your children are?

---
Yes, actually. I do want this guy's job.

---
A few weeks ago I caught up with Garg-alum and all around cool guy Matt Thompson at a performance of his band Mason Proper. Keith (Garg-alum and all around cool guy) snapped a few commemorative frames.

Incidentally, Mason Proper has a new album out and it is great. Highly recommend it.

(Fun fact: the last two pictures are BACK STAGE with Mason Proper! Lead Guitarist Brian explains to me that they were told to pick one beer, and the club provided 40-some bottles of it. They choose Red Stripe.)

---
Further plug: buy the new Mason Proper album via InSound or iTunes.

---
Floating cranes are cool. Floating cranes picking up submarines is even cooler. Scroll about halfway down.

The Sellout Trifecta Is The Leading Cause of Minivans in America

2008-11-25T20:46:00.002-05:00

As you may have gathered from reading my Twitters, I have been going to the gym. Not only that, I enjoy going to the gym. How did this happen? I like to say it's the sellout trifecta:

1. Girlfriend (with dog)
2. REAL job (with health insurance)
3. Gym Membership (just added!)

I might as well buy a minivan, and start worrying about whether or not the neighbor's fence line is on my property.
---

But the truth is I've always enjoyed strenuous physical activity. I worked outside digging holes for various organizations for many summers partly because it just feels good to be active.

But in the end this is all Claire's fault; she's the one that started me going. I think I might be addicted.
---

Is it time for a link-dump? Oh yes!
---

As you read yesterday, the International Space Station turned 10 on Nov. 20, 2008. And today, the most recent addition to the ISS, new machine that converts urine into water, is fully operational. I know that gets me excited about the thrill and romance of space travel!

Joking aside, it's a vital technology for any long-term missions, such as moon settlements or travels to mars.

So, the next time you're supping at the ISS, just remember to forgo the water and stick with the wine. You'd also do well to avoid the meatloaf; you really don't wanna know where that comes from. (Rimshot)
---

Today on his blog, my pal Keith linked to this video about the dangers of the Military Industrial Complex. Funnily enough, both he and I are part of it.
---

An absolutely dead-on presentation about the issues facing the music industry. The presenter rightly points out that worrying about CD sales is idiotic; when consumers and artists are no longer satisfied with the way music is sold, the industry needs to respond to the demand.

Many thanks to long-time pal and former roommate Justin for the heads up on that one. Justin, I had a dream about you last night. In all the dreams I have about you, we end up being pursued by the police.

Happy Decade, Space Station!

2008-11-24T23:20:00.003-05:00

I was disappointed when I didn't hear anything about the International Space Station's 10-year anniversary this past thursday. Thankfully, everyone's favorite photoblog The Big Picture came through in a big way. Take a look.

WikiCommons also has some great ISS images, so check that out if you have the time.
---

And for all you playing at home, this beats the record set by the Russian space station Mir, which was deorbited just a few days before its tenth anniversary.

Bachelor Chow

2008-11-21T23:59:00.001-05:00

The perfect meal for any occasion!*

"Delicious" Recipe

Pour Vegetable Chip Crumbs over lukewarm microwaved Tostito's Queso dip.
Eat with the slightly less destroyed chip remnants from another bag.
Remember that you have a beer left in the fridge.
Remember that beer has calories; and therefore qualifies as food.
Realize that the beer is, by comparison, the gourmet part of the meal

---

My super power is, without a doubt, the ability to not feel hunger. For some, when their bellies begin to empty they feel an immediate drive to rectify the situation.

If it weren't for the regularity of meals, I would blast right through the day without even stopping for a scone. This was particularly true in college. I have memories of my Freshman year, spent under a loft bed in West Quad. During finals/midterm time, I would often go a whole day without eating, simply because I was distracted by a paper I was working on.

Sophomore year continued this habit. At one point, I recall eating nothing but bread, water, and Nutella for about a week. The problem was that although I could cook, and had the facilities to do so, I frequently found myself struck with an intense lethargia. More than once, Kris would drive herself across town and drag me downstairs to NYPD and force me to eat something.

"Oh no, I'm not hungry at all." I'd say. "But, my! Is that ziti pasta mixed with chicken and sauce, wrapped in an 8" long baked roll? My goodness! OM NOM NOM NOM NOM NOM NOM."

The regularity of work and living with Claire -- who does feel hunger -- has changed all that. But every now and again I fall into my old habits. I know this has happened when I look up at the clock and realize I've spent hours watching Sean Connery clips on YouTube, instead of making dinner.
---

*Read: when Claire has driven back to Illinois for the Holidays with the dog, in a rental car, and this is all you can muster.

Time to Blog

2008-11-19T23:36:00.001-05:00

You know you've neglected your blog when you receive emails from family members asking not "how are you? when are you coming home?" but, "when is your blog going to update?"

It's true; I've been unfair and unkind to you, my gentle readers. But I assure you that my silence has not been out of dislike for you, or out of a hatred for the medium of Blog. No, my reticence has one source: work.

On the job, much like at school, I didn't really feel like there was anything worth writing about. However, I have had a change of perspective that I hope will be made plain in the coming days.
---

Careful readers will recall that I am currently employed at SAIC Integrated Communications. Recently, I had the pleasure of decorating my office. I'd share pictures, but the security policy forbids me from taking any. So, if you'll just have to trust me when I tell you that I have a large, golden shrine to the Zarathustra in my office.

Beyond that, I've put up a fantastic print of Bob Dylan by iconic 60's artist Peter Max.

It really ties the room together.

Also up is a color cartoon by Ben Katchor, whom I did not see when I didn't go to SPX a few weeks back. It tells the story of a man who, like me, has a small non-descript office. Unlike me, he has a mysterious pipe running through his office -- the undisclosed function of this eventually frustrates him to rash action.

Another thing I can't show you is the lovely picture of feet taken by Cathy Fisher, current Gargoyle editor. It's a lovely black and white photograph showing several feet perched around the rim of a plaster bucket containing many legos. It was taken in the Gargoyle office, and was actually, I think, not staged. I liked to believe that it represents teamwork. I might write "TEAMWORK" below it in striking, bold letters.

Lastly, I put up a small painting done by my long-time pal Kris Jacque. It was a Christmas gift from a while back. Being very colorful, I think it goes well with the Peter Max print.

Puppies make an office a better place.

That's all for now. Soon, I hope to have some family photos, pictures of Claire, and a wall-sized rasterbation of Iceland up on my wall.
---

Many of you have asked what Integrated Communications does. I sincerely doubt I have done an adequate job of explaining it. So, take some time and watch this video. It was written, directed, shot, edited and produced by IC on behalf of the US Marine Corps. It's a training film for the Casualty Assistance Call Officers. I have to say, it's very impressive.

FILM.

Awesome Autumn

2008-10-31T21:27:00.001-04:00

APPLES
---
Two weeks ago, Claire, her friend Kayla, and I, all went apple picking somewhere in Virginia. We had a blast, but we also had 28lbs of apples. One pie, several hours, and a bunch of jars later we know have oodles of Apple Butter and Apple Sauce. It's delicious.

From Awesome Autumn

It would be in your best interest to be nice to me. You might get some!

While picking apples, I tasted a sample of locally produced apple wine. Folks, let me tell you, this stuff is fantastic. It's from the Chateau O'Brien, and I highly recommend it.

PUMPKINS
---
This year we had three pumpkins, but only two were carved. The third has been relegated to the role of General Halloween Decoration, since it decided to go rotten a day after purchase and not be a "team player."

Regardless, the other two turned out fantastic.

From Awesome Autumn

Auntie Ba has also been rather creative with the gords this year. Take a look. (1, 2)

APPLE
---
When I was lookin' for a steady job, I promised myself that as soon as I got one -- regardless what kind of job -- I would do a few things. The first was to start playing the video game Okami. I haven't done this yet. The second is best said in pictures:

From Awesome Autumn

Folks, that's a brand new MacBook Pro you're lookin' at right thar. Atomsk has been a faithful retainer these past five years, but has started to fray around the edges. He'll be kept in reserve for the moment, supporting this beautiful unamed machine until it's time for him to be recycled.

ANN ARBOR
---
Last week I traveled all the way back to Ann Arbor to attend the 99th Gargoyle Reunion. I had a great time. So great, in fact, that I managed to not take any pictures.

I spent most of my long weekend in the company of my best bud Kris, and the current GargStaff. They're a great bunch, and have already done great things -- as demonstrated in their website.

Dad and Julia also paid me a quick visit while I was in the area. It was so great to see them again.

I take it back, I do have one picture.

From MarsEdit Images

It's much more frightening in person.
Happy Halloween.

The First Pay-Day Of The Rest Of Your Life

2008-10-17T21:38:00.001-04:00

As you all know, I started my new job as a technical writer/editor at SAIC two weeks ago. Since then, there has been radio silence.

Until today. Today is pay-day. The end of my first two-week cycle.

I am so relieved.
---

I haven't done a whole lot at my job, but what I have done I am proud of. The first two days were nothing but orientation(ing) and online web training. The experience was not what I would call "enjoyable," but for a steady paycheck I will gratefully do whatever is asked of me.

Wednesday I attended the AUSA conference, a trade show for US Army contractors. I thoroughly enjoyed myself. It was just mind boggling to walk around a room filled with tanks, and people trying to sell you tanks.

For the next several days I caught up on info related to the job. Basically, I read the US Army Weapon System Handbook. It's a pretty good read, except for the vital information about the Secondary Redundant Paper Clip Logistics Network (SRPCLN). That made for some pretty dry reading.

Since then I've had a few projects to work on. Right now I have one internal article and a journal article on my plate. It feels good to have something to sink you teeth into.
---

I'm pretty sure this doesn't make for good reading -- it is work after all.
---

The only things I don't like about my job aren't really related to the job itself. Actually, the only thing I don't like about it is having to drive an hour there and an hour back everyday.
---

SAIC Integrated Communications, I think this is the beginning of a beautiful friendship.

The Eve

2008-10-05T21:52:00.001-04:00

Ever wonder what I'll do if this SAIC job falls through? Flickr has the answer.

---
New job starts tomorrow! All the paperwork is (allegedly) complete. I am unbelievably nervous! Oh, lord!

---
Dan Aykroyd is making the coolest vodka. That is, if it exists.

The Blessed Puppy

2008-10-04T20:31:00.001-04:00

October 4th is the feast day of St. Francis, the founder of the Franciscan Order. He's been a favorite of mine, if only for taking off all of his clothes just to make a point.

However, St. Francis is known for much more than being an idealistic streaker. He's famous for his empathy towards animals, especially one episode in which he preached to a flock of birds. I've always heard the story as an example of Francis' characteristic kindness toward all the creatures of the Earth. But, in The Name of the Rose, by Umberto Eco, it is suggested that preaching to birds was also a satire. An expression of his frustration with his message not being received by those he preached to: no one was listening, so he may as well preach to birds.

According to Wikipedia, he said thus:

My sister birds, you owe much to God, and you must always and in everyplace give praise to Him; for He has given you freedom to wing through the sky and He has clothed you…you neither sow nor reap, and God feeds you and gives you rivers and fountains for your thirst, and mountains and valleys for shelter, and tall trees for your nests. And although you neither know how to spin or weave, God dresses you and your children, for the Creator loves you greatly and He blesses you abundantly. Therefore… always seek to praise God.

To celebrate his Feast Day, many churches hold a special service for animals -- specifically, pets. However, it is occasionally expanded. The first Earth Day celebrations at the Cathedral to St. John The Divine involved a procession of many of the animals from the New York Zoo -- including elephants, I am told.

The highlight of the service is the blessing of the animals. It was for this, that we sojourned down to the beautiful Washington National Cathedral to get Tenzing, the puppy, blessed.

Blessing of the Animals

---

I am still completely excited for my new job!
---

Tomorrow, I hope to attend the Small Press Expo. Ben Katchor, author of Julius Knipil: Real Estate Photographer, Bryan Lee O'Mally, author of Scott Pilgrim, and Tom Tomoorrow are to be in attendance. Awesome!

I Got A Job!

2008-10-03T13:14:00.003-04:00

Folks, the impossible has happened. I actually got the offer some time ago, but I haven't wanted to talk about it because it seems too good to be true. Much like when I was accepted to the University of Michigan. I spent the first year of college positive that I would get a call from some Dean somewhere informing me that my selection was due to a clerical error.

However, the job situation has progressed to the point where I don't think it can really fall through right now. Unless I get fired, or something.
---

Starting on Monday, I will be a Technical Writer/Editor at SAIC. I'm stoked.
---

In order to prepare me for my new employment, Claire took me to the Men's Warehouse. Pictures of my new chic moneysink will be made available, if the interest is there.
---

I don't know if I am getting this across well enough, but I AM EXCITED!

An Update On The Brink Of Stunning News

2008-09-24T14:11:00.001-04:00

I had a great, great time in Philly with E.J.. We hung around, I hurt myself bowling, and I took the liberty of introducing her to the art of Robert Crumb -- via an exhibit of his work at UPenn.

---
I wonder what's happening to those Pogo books that I donated to the UM library. Here's a collection of covers.

Swear that you'll vote this year, and get a free MP3 of Wilco and Fleet Foxes (whom, I gathered from his Twitters, John Hodgman enjoys) covering Bob Dylan (who should be on Twitter, but as yet is not). Do it here!

Very nice short by Bryan Lee O'mally, author of Scott Pilgrim.
Watch your step, she keeps goats.

---
Big news in the next few days. Keep on the edge of your seat. If you do not have a seat, find one and sit in it until I make an announcement.

New Functionality, and How To Read This Blog Better

2008-09-17T12:46:00.001-04:00

I have been operating under a false assumption: because I use an RSS Feed Reader for all my blog reading, I assumed everyone else does, too. Therefore, I was relatively unfazed by letting weeks slide between posts. You see, if you're all on Feed Readers, then I really don't need to worry about losing readers to my own inactivity.

I then realized that some of you might not know what an RSS Feed or Feed Reader is, what follows is a primer on those subjects. New stuff after the block-quote text, so skip down a ways if you like.

An RSS Feed Reader allows me to view all of these frequently updated websites from one place. It's like a newspaper, with all the latest from the sites you read. Sometimes, this is a client program -- like Mail, Outlook, or Thunder Bird -- that lives on your desktop. In this case, you fire up the application, and can view all the updates on the websites that you subscribe to. Many of you may be using a browser with built-in RSS support. FireFox and Safari can allow you to subscribe to and read feeds without leaving the comfort of your own browser.

I prefer to use Google's Reader, which is a web-based Feed Reader. I do this mostly because I don't want excess applications on my computer, and also because I can access my feeds from everywhere.

Of course, all of this only works if the websites you visit have an RSS Feed. Many sites will advertise their RSS Capability with this handy little icon:

Most blogs have an RSS feed built right in, as well as many news sites. Don't fret about whether or not the site has a Feed, just try subscribing and if it doesn't work -- oh well! Hope they get their act together and take advantage of this great system.

Subscribing can be different from reader to reader. Some of the older ones require that you enter in the URL (http://www.examplesite.com), but most of the time you can just click the aforementioned icon, and your default reader will launch and subscribe automatically. Google Reader has a link that you can put in your browser's toolbar which will do the same thing.

So, if you have an RSS reader, just punch this site into it.
If you want to use Google Reader (which I highly recommend), or your own reader, use the handy MaxFeed pull-down box just below the TwitterBox.

---
There are two more additions to the side bar. First was the "Follower" box. If you have a Google account (doesn't everyone), you can become a follower and advertise your slavish devotion to the world! It also automatically adds this blog's RSS feed to Google Reader.

The other is the new link to "Max's Shared Items" in the link list. One of the great things about Google Reader, is the ability for me to share things I find interesting with other people in the form of a handy (RSS-readable) website. Click it, see what I am reading and then add it to your own feed.

Here's that link again.

---
Yes, the internet a completely self-centered enterprise. But because I am sharing my stuff is an invitation for you to do the same. And I hope you will (and I sincerely mean that to almost all of you).

Cover the Earth

2008-09-16T19:25:00.001-04:00

When I was a child, I spotted the Sherwin Williams logo through the window of a home furnishings store. I saw it all the time, whenever I was driven up Woodward -- up by the Shrine of the Little Flower.

Immediately, I was convinced that it was the logo for an organization devoted to evil, world domination, and global genocide. Not unlike James Bond's SPECTRE or Maxwell Smart's KAOS.

I believed this because, to me, the logo appeared to depict the earth being drowned in blood. Later, I revised my opinion. I decided that the logo showed Sherman Williams covering the world in some kind of poisonous chemical.

Despite the wisdom that comes with age, I still find the idea of a world awash in Sherwin Williams brand red paint with the statement "COVER THE EARTH" no less insidious.

Blow Up Your Tee Vee

2008-09-15T22:19:00.002-04:00

---
I intend to build me a home, and eat a lot of peaches. If I still have time after all that, I'll learn to find Jesus on my own.

---
At least one Interview this week, and plans to be in Philly for the weekend.

Oktapodi and Tiny Turtle

2008-09-13T22:56:00.002-04:00

---

And that's really all there is to say.

In Which This Becomes A Photoblog, and I Wax Narcissistic About My Crappy Haircut

2008-09-10T15:57:00.001-04:00

Everyone that knows me will tell you that beneath this cool, calm, plaid, rugged exterior is a very vain little man.
I like to look good, but more than that: I like to look good while appearing to not care, and seem to have no control over my appearance.
---
With tomorrow's interview, and another on Monday, I decided that I really needed a haircut. It was getting pretty mullety back there, so I printed out a picture of my first big haircut (the same used as my Blogger Profile) and went over to Mak's Place.

I will never go there again.

Initially, I chose it because of my good experiences with the Aveda School. While very clean, professional, and well run, I have come away exceedingly unimpressed. The woman who did my hair didn't listen to what I said (conversation or otherwise), and as I result I have "4-Years At A Marketing Firm Hair."
---
Part of the problem is that she really didn't say what she was going to do, or ask what I thought of the progress. Our conversation about the hair consisted of her looking at the picture, and saying "So you want it short, but not too short?"

"Exactly," I said. "I like to keep it shaggy."

That is not what happened on my head.

I guess I am spoiled from the Aveda school, where they constantly ask you about the progress and always show you how it's coming along. I've surely been spoiled by the Aveda School prices, because I was not expecting this haircut to run me $45. Adding insult to injury, the haircut lady was "shocked that I have such thick hair" and cut it so short that I actually need some hair-product crap to keep it from turning into "Light Bulb Hair" or "Straddling A Van De Graaff Generator Hair."
---

From Hair

Why Isn't There A Song Called, "Tropical Depression?"

2008-09-08T14:53:00.002-04:00

That storm was lame. I have sat through much more intense and frightening storms in Michigan. Sure, none of them lasted for over six hours, but still...!

---

We gave Tenzing a bath yesterday. He was not upset, but clearly was only tolerating the situation. New pictures now on Picasa.

---

Big news of the day is that I have an interview for an internship with the NFPRHA on Thursday. I am very excited. I want this job.

---

Preposterous Song Lyrics #1: Ride My Llama, by Neil Young.

I met a man from mars
He picked up all my gui-tars
And played me a traveling song

This is ridiculous on many levels, but most importantly the song flagrantly ignores several facts about Neil Young's guitars. In 1979, when the song was released on the album "Rust Never Sleeps," Neil Young owned well over 10,000 guitars. Furthermore, it is well known that most of Neil Young's guitars are so massive that only Neil Young himself is strong enough to string and play them.

---

Someone should make a band called "Inverted Smokestacks."

Here Comes The Story of the Hurricane

2008-09-06T10:54:00.001-04:00

Hanna hit us around 7am. I don't care if it's a Tropical Storm, I am going to call it a Hurricane. Sounds more impressive.

As referenced in my twitters, I had to take Tenzing out to pee this morning in the rain. Unfortunately, the little blighter stayed true to form and needed to sniff around for about ten minutes before he could poop. Have you ever stood out in the rain, commanding your dog to poop in an authoritative voice?

The Weather Channel says we're in for 6" of rain -- possibly more. Cool.

Today's Playlist

1. Hurricane -- Dylan

2. Rock You Like A Hurricane -- Scorpions (Note: appropriate, since we are going to be rocked like a hurricane, and not actually by a hurricane.)

3. Hurricane Eye -- Paul Simon

4. Any Credence song, since they are all about rain

5. Down in the Flood -- Dylan/The Band

6. The Hurricane Song -- The Kids from C.A.P.E.R.