Yew Nork

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

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

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

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

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!

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

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

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

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?

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!

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

From Virginia Apartment: Awesome

From Virginia Apartment: Awesome

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

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

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

From MarsEdit Images

From MarsEdit Images

From MarsEdit Images

From MarsEdit Images

From MarsEdit Images

10 Seemed Like A Good Place to Stop

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

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

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

From Tenzing

From Tenzing

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)

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

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

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.