After this entry, I'm done with blogging. I've realized that I write for my own analysis, not for other's viewing. I'll continue to "journal" but no more "blog." Blogging has been such a fad for me 0 i picked it up excitedly after Ted's suggestion and now I'm droppin' it like it's hot. Besides, the whole bar tending/ MCG/ catering employment has me tremendously busy.
It just doesn't make sense, nobody cares anyways (which is for the better). But, just in case anyone was, I wish you the best!
Monday, June 23, 2008
Sunday, June 15, 2008
Saturday, June 14, 2008
June 14th
The other night when I was really sick, Lis came over to amuse me. So we ended up making invitations to her grad party for awhile, then she started feeling bad for me after plain white rice killed my belly. Look at her face below. Ah!
I took this photograph a couple days ago. I love that my parents are still happy and a team. Ideally, I want to eventually have a working marriage like they do.
June 12th
Lil poem
From the same roots,
I know we'll each explore uninhibited,
The world that isn't ready for us.
Together, making food and frames,
We realize we're not that different after all,
United we're stronger and find comfort.
Goodnight!
Wednesday, June 11, 2008
June 11th
(1:48) http://youtube.com/watch?v=amwVyRH2B8A(1:04pm)On the bright side, this damn virus has given me much-needed evaluation time. For the most part, when people get sick, they turn to religion for spiritual relief. Although I feel lame by becoming so interested now that I'm bathroom ridden most of the day, I think it's time for me to explore religion further, especially once I'm better.
I've been searching Sister Wendy's American Collection, and came across an Iranian Mihrab, a "prayer niche" built out of tiles and inscribed with three different kinds of intricate calligraphy. The calligraphy dictates the duties of a devout Muslim: to profess the faith; to be true to the ritual hours of prayer; to give alms; to keep the fast of Ramadan; to go on pilgrimage to Mecca. At the very heart of the mihrab it reads "for the devout, the Mosque is home." Aesthetically, the tiles also have further meaning since the light that plays on it throughout the day changes; this symbolizes what it is to be human--subject to change, while God is not.
It's rarely too late to change, and I'm still young. If I work at collecting more knowledge and good intention, life will be what it should.
(10:30am)I've never posted so early, but it's been such a miserable tumultuous night I don't have anything more fulfilling to occupy my time with. Until 5am i suffered frequent bathroom trips and severe abdominal pain. I checked my appendix and it doesn't hurt more than any other part of my stomach, I'm ruling that out. It's either a virus or bacteria, both of which I'm going to have to deal with for another 3 days until I can go back to the doctor (her orders). I checked the scale 5 minutes ago due to a hunch, and I've lost 7 damn pounds within the past 3 days. Hopefully this will just naturally go away asap, I want to function like a normal human being - go on a run in the morning eat some toast with honey and butter, drink coffee, then make some mugs and bowls, then hang out with some friends.
Tuesday, June 10, 2008
June 10
Hereby follows one of those long, drawn-out rants that end up being therapeutic but not fun to read back later on down the line.
Today was one of those shitty Pittsburgh days I used to have back in the day... the kind of days you forget about when reminiscing about that walk in the park and that trip to the show.
It started around 12am. I drove into Bellevue so that I could take the bus to Manchester to save money on gas and parking since I had interview #2 at Clean Water Action. I still couldn't (and can't) eat much because of the horrible stomach thing, so I was about to buy a bottle of water at the Dollar General before the bus came. Just before I got in line this woman with a ton of stuff stepped in front of me. While the woman and the cashier were discussing a dress the woman was buying, I saw my bus out front. I left the bottle on the counter with an apologetic, "I'm sorry, it's my bus" and dashed out.
"Creepy Guy #1"
After I'm sitting comfortably in the very back of the bus, right in the center where I always sit, this white trash boy named Dan or John or something sits beside me. I glance over and he's hiding something beside his left hand, I couldn't tell if he was texting or doing something shady. Then he proceeds to start awkward conversation, listing all of his good qualities, "I have some classy ancestry, they won't anything to do with my immediate family though, I still have upper crust leanings though, when I drink tea my pinky goes up." Following that charming comment he told me that he was off probation from a felony, but he still couldn't travel very much because of it. I asked him why, hell it could be interesting, why not ask? So he told me his mother died and he needed money for the funeral so he robbed some friends. I felt a sympathetic, but not sympathetic enough to give him my real number.
Then I got off of the bus pretty far away from the Guild (I should have taken 17B instead of 16B), so I had to walk through the ghetto for a half an hour. While walking, I saw a man with buttons all over his shirt, one of which read "I <3 life." I noticed a mad gleam in his eye, and walked a bit faster, wondering if I should go against instinct and take his picture while he called "you look really good!"
After a boring hour of watching him call people, we ended up doing the same. At first I had false confidence - I am too amiable on the phone, but nobody ever cared at Telefund... I only got through to five people. Two of them hung up, the other one was on the other line with someone, and the other two just said "sorry, I'm not interested." Other than that I got a lot of answering machines and no answers. For the first time all night I started to feel nervous, he said that if we didn't make any money we wouldn't be hired.
Sure enough, he disposed of Jacquelle outside, then came back to tell me with brevity that "you're not aggressive enough Juliet, you need to give them a reason not to go back to sleep, so we just can't hire you." I know it wasn't a big deal, but it ended up being a crushing blow, and I started getting that foreboding 4th grade feeling of teardrops... Yes I know it's lame, but I ended up crying in front of this poor bald Turkish man who was just doing his job. Simultaneously, my stomach started making really horrible growling noises since I hadn't eaten since 1 because of my stomach virus thing (it all comes out if I eat and I didn't want to fuck up chances of an $11 and hour job that was already a futile chance of acceptance little known to me). So I ended up waiting for an elevator for 5 minutes, all the while trying to suffocate those dreadfully awkward tears.
Finally back on the street, I decided to give my dear friend Brittany a call. She lives right on Market Square, so I just walked over, and we had a good time catching up a bit. She's in an odd love triangle right now, which could prove interesting since she's grouped with both boys next year in a film project. My whole crying at the clean water agency thing was laughable with her, we have so many memories escaping from reality at the A or through Buffy or Sex in the City. Reality just doesn't seem so real when I'm with her. As I was leaving, her and her gay roommate Marcus also left to run to the McDonald's. She helped me out a bit as to how to get to the bus stop as she walked away.
I only knew vaguely from googlemaps where 6th street met 5th street, and could find the right signs. So I tracked down the next stop, Smithfield and 6th, but couldn't see the 500 on the bus stop sign. So I asked a man in a pink shirt if he knew whether the 500 stopped there and he told me that it stopped in front of a steak house, and that if I kept going straight on 6th then curved to the left, I'd see it. So I went on my way.
I thought I found the bus stop at the corner of 6th and 5th, but it was fraudulent relief. I'd already missed 2 buses and my mom called worried asking if she could pick me up. I flatly refused since I had a perfectly good transfer and a working pair of legs, but I started to reconsider when a man asked me if I had any change for the bus, then started a very odd conversation after I told him I wasn't employed. He asked with a disgusting expression "can you dance?" Then said, "naw, you couldn't do that, it would change you." From that point, the 500 passed the stop and I cried, "shit!"
So I started walking to the next stop a street up while that guy asked someone else for "change for the bus" and found that the next stop actually had the 500 on the sign. Another woman waiting with artsy reading glasses said she just missed it too, i mentioned I'd been one block off, then realized she didn't care the least bit. I looked to my right and saw that guy asking me for money walking over...bastard. So I called my mom and asked her if the offer still stood, she said yes of course.
Thereby follows more attempts to be cold and unfeeling, but failing miserably. He tried to touch me while talking about how Aries and Scorpios are compatible, and I jumped back with flash backs. While waiting, I ended up squatting down a yard away from the man which was fine. He told me he has four kids and doesn't have any diseases - you know just in case one thing leads to another.
A middle-aged street urchin hobbled over in a drunken stagger and seemed to know the guy next to me. He gave the crazy man a menthol cigarette and asked him if he was drunk, on zanex, meth, or just not mentally sound. The man said he wasn't mentally sound. The swaying man almost stepped on my foot, so I decided to get up. He told the man "don't get to close to my shortie, she's innocent." Following that he continued to ask me to sneak out with him. Any questions he asked me lead me to give him a fake persona... sure I live in Bellevue, sure I have a boyfriend, sure I have 3 brothers. Finally, my mom called, and I jetted, giving the desperate man nothing but another big fat no, which he's probably used to by now.
Then my dad lectured me on how night life in downtown is full of gang bangs and prostitutes, and of how he got into a fight on a bus, and what a fool I was for even talking with anyone. I am a fool. I'm curious and want to understand things most people bypass for greater dreams. By the time I got home I felt deflated and finally ate some babaganoush and humus with sun-chips, which is still churning in my stomach ( and it's 2:18). Thank God for Kyle though, he helped me get some thoughts out on the phone and laugh a little. Lately, I've been feeling like such a useless leech with no wonderful talent or even minimum income.
Sleep time, let the subconscious mind do the rest of the thinking while my stomach churns, churns, churns.
Today was one of those shitty Pittsburgh days I used to have back in the day... the kind of days you forget about when reminiscing about that walk in the park and that trip to the show.
It started around 12am. I drove into Bellevue so that I could take the bus to Manchester to save money on gas and parking since I had interview #2 at Clean Water Action. I still couldn't (and can't) eat much because of the horrible stomach thing, so I was about to buy a bottle of water at the Dollar General before the bus came. Just before I got in line this woman with a ton of stuff stepped in front of me. While the woman and the cashier were discussing a dress the woman was buying, I saw my bus out front. I left the bottle on the counter with an apologetic, "I'm sorry, it's my bus" and dashed out.
"Creepy Guy #1"After I'm sitting comfortably in the very back of the bus, right in the center where I always sit, this white trash boy named Dan or John or something sits beside me. I glance over and he's hiding something beside his left hand, I couldn't tell if he was texting or doing something shady. Then he proceeds to start awkward conversation, listing all of his good qualities, "I have some classy ancestry, they won't anything to do with my immediate family though, I still have upper crust leanings though, when I drink tea my pinky goes up." Following that charming comment he told me that he was off probation from a felony, but he still couldn't travel very much because of it. I asked him why, hell it could be interesting, why not ask? So he told me his mother died and he needed money for the funeral so he robbed some friends. I felt a sympathetic, but not sympathetic enough to give him my real number.
Then I got off of the bus pretty far away from the Guild (I should have taken 17B instead of 16B), so I had to walk through the ghetto for a half an hour. While walking, I saw a man with buttons all over his shirt, one of which read "I <3 life." I noticed a mad gleam in his eye, and walked a bit faster, wondering if I should go against instinct and take his picture while he called "you look really good!"
After a boring hour of watching him call people, we ended up doing the same. At first I had false confidence - I am too amiable on the phone, but nobody ever cared at Telefund... I only got through to five people. Two of them hung up, the other one was on the other line with someone, and the other two just said "sorry, I'm not interested." Other than that I got a lot of answering machines and no answers. For the first time all night I started to feel nervous, he said that if we didn't make any money we wouldn't be hired.
Sure enough, he disposed of Jacquelle outside, then came back to tell me with brevity that "you're not aggressive enough Juliet, you need to give them a reason not to go back to sleep, so we just can't hire you." I know it wasn't a big deal, but it ended up being a crushing blow, and I started getting that foreboding 4th grade feeling of teardrops... Yes I know it's lame, but I ended up crying in front of this poor bald Turkish man who was just doing his job. Simultaneously, my stomach started making really horrible growling noises since I hadn't eaten since 1 because of my stomach virus thing (it all comes out if I eat and I didn't want to fuck up chances of an $11 and hour job that was already a futile chance of acceptance little known to me). So I ended up waiting for an elevator for 5 minutes, all the while trying to suffocate those dreadfully awkward tears.
Finally back on the street, I decided to give my dear friend Brittany a call. She lives right on Market Square, so I just walked over, and we had a good time catching up a bit. She's in an odd love triangle right now, which could prove interesting since she's grouped with both boys next year in a film project. My whole crying at the clean water agency thing was laughable with her, we have so many memories escaping from reality at the A or through Buffy or Sex in the City. Reality just doesn't seem so real when I'm with her. As I was leaving, her and her gay roommate Marcus also left to run to the McDonald's. She helped me out a bit as to how to get to the bus stop as she walked away.
I only knew vaguely from googlemaps where 6th street met 5th street, and could find the right signs. So I tracked down the next stop, Smithfield and 6th, but couldn't see the 500 on the bus stop sign. So I asked a man in a pink shirt if he knew whether the 500 stopped there and he told me that it stopped in front of a steak house, and that if I kept going straight on 6th then curved to the left, I'd see it. So I went on my way.
I thought I found the bus stop at the corner of 6th and 5th, but it was fraudulent relief. I'd already missed 2 buses and my mom called worried asking if she could pick me up. I flatly refused since I had a perfectly good transfer and a working pair of legs, but I started to reconsider when a man asked me if I had any change for the bus, then started a very odd conversation after I told him I wasn't employed. He asked with a disgusting expression "can you dance?" Then said, "naw, you couldn't do that, it would change you." From that point, the 500 passed the stop and I cried, "shit!"
So I started walking to the next stop a street up while that guy asked someone else for "change for the bus" and found that the next stop actually had the 500 on the sign. Another woman waiting with artsy reading glasses said she just missed it too, i mentioned I'd been one block off, then realized she didn't care the least bit. I looked to my right and saw that guy asking me for money walking over...bastard. So I called my mom and asked her if the offer still stood, she said yes of course.
Thereby follows more attempts to be cold and unfeeling, but failing miserably. He tried to touch me while talking about how Aries and Scorpios are compatible, and I jumped back with flash backs. While waiting, I ended up squatting down a yard away from the man which was fine. He told me he has four kids and doesn't have any diseases - you know just in case one thing leads to another.
A middle-aged street urchin hobbled over in a drunken stagger and seemed to know the guy next to me. He gave the crazy man a menthol cigarette and asked him if he was drunk, on zanex, meth, or just not mentally sound. The man said he wasn't mentally sound. The swaying man almost stepped on my foot, so I decided to get up. He told the man "don't get to close to my shortie, she's innocent." Following that he continued to ask me to sneak out with him. Any questions he asked me lead me to give him a fake persona... sure I live in Bellevue, sure I have a boyfriend, sure I have 3 brothers. Finally, my mom called, and I jetted, giving the desperate man nothing but another big fat no, which he's probably used to by now.
Then my dad lectured me on how night life in downtown is full of gang bangs and prostitutes, and of how he got into a fight on a bus, and what a fool I was for even talking with anyone. I am a fool. I'm curious and want to understand things most people bypass for greater dreams. By the time I got home I felt deflated and finally ate some babaganoush and humus with sun-chips, which is still churning in my stomach ( and it's 2:18). Thank God for Kyle though, he helped me get some thoughts out on the phone and laugh a little. Lately, I've been feeling like such a useless leech with no wonderful talent or even minimum income.
Sleep time, let the subconscious mind do the rest of the thinking while my stomach churns, churns, churns.
Sunday, June 8, 2008
June 8th
Ouch. My joints hurt, my head is a brick, and I've had the ria all day. I just went to Jonah's Call with my dear sweet mother and started contemplating death and the frailty of humanity. How after of vulnerable, easily swayed bodies deteriorate there is something that can keep us alive. Some call it a soul given by a divine being. I believe that there is a Father looking out for us, but that there is a chasm between the supernatural and the world we live in today. The barrier is our humanity. With this life I want to be someone loyal and honest and hard working. Right now, I feel week, but reality is impermanent.
Saturday, June 7, 2008
June 7th
Today was wonderful, it started out slow and lethargic... woke up at 10:30 with a foggy brain and an urge for a surge of coffee. After two cups, I went over to Sewickely for one last job search at the Sewickely Cafe. I was surprised to see Julia and Matty from Avonworth. Matty came over and asked about Laura who I presume has been distancing the lovestruck fool. Then I met my mom at the yarn shop where she was picking out turquoise and red yarn for a blanket she's going to crochet for me. She just finished one for Linda, he best friend, and it is beautiful - all the time and effort collectively makes the blanket radiate love.
This excursion was followed by a quick drop by the library, then some lunch with the family.
I decided to go out and be social around 5 and went to my friend Alex's graduation party. I was a little nervous since I haven't seen many people from Avonworth since I graduated... In face, I actually try to avoid some. However, it was fine and I'm glad I stopped by. Funny Alex was already tipsy when I got there. As I left, he tried to give me a hug from a pick-up truck and almost fell over.
Alex putting his shirt on after being pushed into the water by his older brother Chris.
Immediately after the graduation party I ran back to my house and grabbed Lisa's graduation present (a cute little bear and a card). With so many mistakes and blunders yesterday I missed her graduation by a hair (I got there when the lights in the field were on, but not many people were still there).
I met Lisa in the Hyatt lobby in Cranberry where she came up behind me, surprising me with her ADORABLE little brother Hunter. The first thing I said was, "whoa! so you have a baby now?" Then went up to meet the other side of her family. For the past few years I've only been around her mom, Heather, and Lucas (and occasionally the grandparents on her mom's side), but I've never met her Cuban half. Her father is tall and wore a golf shirt that said "Life is Good" and her step mom Jill is lean and pretty with long blond hair with a hint of a tomboyish nature. Her abuela (grandmother) was friendly and rotund and kissed me on the cheek the moment I met her.
We all played with Hunter and were entrance by the funny things he continued to do. At one point Lucas was laying on the ground and Hunter body slammed him once, then got onto his back as if he was riding a bull. He bounced up and down while Lucas made funny "AH" noises to the receptive uproar from the adults.
Then Lisa drove us to Chili's in this rented SUV. They insisted that I sit shotgun and I felt honored to be upfront. At Chili's Lisa and i shared margarita chicken and lemon zest shrimp with steamed veggies and mashed potatoes. Once we received our meal with an extra plate for me, Lisa's abuela made a fuss about me. She said (in Spanish, so I got a translation from Lisa's dad) that I was making a hungry face and that it wasn't enough food for me. I tried my best to communicate I was fine and had eaten a late lunch, and after a bit of time she accepted it. Poor baby Hunter got ornery and tired throughout the dinner and ended up crying sporadically and ate part of a cardboard coaster.
Back at the Hyatt, Doug met us with his mom's new Volkswagen. He wanted to show Lisa and probably show it off to Lisa's dad (points). I don't blame him though, it is a sweet car. It's hard roof worked like a transformer and folded back in an intricate way to reveal a convertible. This model is the only car to have a moon roof in a hard roof. He drove Lisa, Luke and I around the block to demonstrate the smooth ride. I love the new car smell. Ever since Margie, a real estate agent, drove my family around in her new car when I was 9, I've been a sucker for that smell.
Once we were back in the room, Hunter continued to bumble around with a rickety posture, ready to fall at the slightest imbalance. He's comparable to an old man with his drunken walking and his baby teeth just coming in. Doug and Lisa looked like naturals holding Hunter affectionately. Hunter kept running with a large sofa pillow, then he'd plop it down and fall on top of it in a tired resignation. No more than 3 seconds and he was back on his little feet again, dancing about erratically.
Watching Jill care for her baby was very sweet. She was continually on her feet running after her energetic offspring. I reached the conclusion, that that kind of work is some of the most meaningful work. Caring for another human being as a mother is the most selfless and endearing thing. I definitely want to adopt or have my own children, but not until my mid-30s. Now is the time for independence from relationships and an exploration of the world. Not to mention I need to develop more skills so as to be successful or at least useful later on.
I felt so comfortable sitting with her family that I lost track of time. By the time I looked at my phone to catch the time, it was already 11:30. I made my round of goodbyes and can't wait to go up with Lisa to visit them in the Key West mid-July.
In the car I had an animated chat with Kyle, and now I think I'm going to read and sleeeeep.
This excursion was followed by a quick drop by the library, then some lunch with the family.
I decided to go out and be social around 5 and went to my friend Alex's graduation party. I was a little nervous since I haven't seen many people from Avonworth since I graduated... In face, I actually try to avoid some. However, it was fine and I'm glad I stopped by. Funny Alex was already tipsy when I got there. As I left, he tried to give me a hug from a pick-up truck and almost fell over.
Alex putting his shirt on after being pushed into the water by his older brother Chris.Immediately after the graduation party I ran back to my house and grabbed Lisa's graduation present (a cute little bear and a card). With so many mistakes and blunders yesterday I missed her graduation by a hair (I got there when the lights in the field were on, but not many people were still there).
I met Lisa in the Hyatt lobby in Cranberry where she came up behind me, surprising me with her ADORABLE little brother Hunter. The first thing I said was, "whoa! so you have a baby now?" Then went up to meet the other side of her family. For the past few years I've only been around her mom, Heather, and Lucas (and occasionally the grandparents on her mom's side), but I've never met her Cuban half. Her father is tall and wore a golf shirt that said "Life is Good" and her step mom Jill is lean and pretty with long blond hair with a hint of a tomboyish nature. Her abuela (grandmother) was friendly and rotund and kissed me on the cheek the moment I met her.
We all played with Hunter and were entrance by the funny things he continued to do. At one point Lucas was laying on the ground and Hunter body slammed him once, then got onto his back as if he was riding a bull. He bounced up and down while Lucas made funny "AH" noises to the receptive uproar from the adults.
Then Lisa drove us to Chili's in this rented SUV. They insisted that I sit shotgun and I felt honored to be upfront. At Chili's Lisa and i shared margarita chicken and lemon zest shrimp with steamed veggies and mashed potatoes. Once we received our meal with an extra plate for me, Lisa's abuela made a fuss about me. She said (in Spanish, so I got a translation from Lisa's dad) that I was making a hungry face and that it wasn't enough food for me. I tried my best to communicate I was fine and had eaten a late lunch, and after a bit of time she accepted it. Poor baby Hunter got ornery and tired throughout the dinner and ended up crying sporadically and ate part of a cardboard coaster.
Back at the Hyatt, Doug met us with his mom's new Volkswagen. He wanted to show Lisa and probably show it off to Lisa's dad (points). I don't blame him though, it is a sweet car. It's hard roof worked like a transformer and folded back in an intricate way to reveal a convertible. This model is the only car to have a moon roof in a hard roof. He drove Lisa, Luke and I around the block to demonstrate the smooth ride. I love the new car smell. Ever since Margie, a real estate agent, drove my family around in her new car when I was 9, I've been a sucker for that smell.
Once we were back in the room, Hunter continued to bumble around with a rickety posture, ready to fall at the slightest imbalance. He's comparable to an old man with his drunken walking and his baby teeth just coming in. Doug and Lisa looked like naturals holding Hunter affectionately. Hunter kept running with a large sofa pillow, then he'd plop it down and fall on top of it in a tired resignation. No more than 3 seconds and he was back on his little feet again, dancing about erratically.
Watching Jill care for her baby was very sweet. She was continually on her feet running after her energetic offspring. I reached the conclusion, that that kind of work is some of the most meaningful work. Caring for another human being as a mother is the most selfless and endearing thing. I definitely want to adopt or have my own children, but not until my mid-30s. Now is the time for independence from relationships and an exploration of the world. Not to mention I need to develop more skills so as to be successful or at least useful later on.
I felt so comfortable sitting with her family that I lost track of time. By the time I looked at my phone to catch the time, it was already 11:30. I made my round of goodbyes and can't wait to go up with Lisa to visit them in the Key West mid-July.
In the car I had an animated chat with Kyle, and now I think I'm going to read and sleeeeep.
Friday, June 6, 2008
June 6th
Oh what a day today was! Chalk-full of fun and stressful scenarios. I should never give my credit card # away on the phone... I won't talk about that whole issue though, today was a day with a bit more insightful situations. First I went into Shadyside for the Crepe Place interview. The balding man David, who interviewed me, was nice and told me that I could work Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. I think that means I got it!
Then I drove into Oakland where I had plans to give away some old black and white darkroom prints. My friend Dan said he'd be 20 minutes, so I intended on running to Kiva Han for a quick fix of coffee. While balancing my camera, purse and box of photos, I haphazardly hit the lock button and closed the door. Then panicked as I ruffled through my purse. Running to the other side and peering in, I saw my keys still propped in the ignition. Argh!
So I called Triple A and crouched in the sliver of shade cast by my car. All the while I reminisced on the days of delivering pizza. I locked my keys in the car twice on duty and broke in myself with the help of strangers. Back then I was driving a super shitty car though, so there wasn't a lot of hesitation. I wouldn't do that to my pretty little Bebe (named Bebe because I saw a baby deer and a mini tire on the day I purchased my Mazda).
This is Jean my rescuer. I said "hi! how are you?" And he responded with "horrible, just horrible."
I think I raised my eyebrows and asked, "why is that?"
He shrugged in response and muttered, "it just is."
As he was inflating a balloonish contraption in my door, he told me that he was from Florida. Then retracted that statement and said that he lived there for eight years. I snapped tons of pictures of him, and I think it made him feel important in some way.
Then I decided to lay in the Church of the Ascension's lawn until Dan called.
Here is the product of my chillaxing session:
Then Dan called saying he was at the apartment. I slowly got up and was walking towards Melwood when - lo and behold - I see Seany from church! He had just done a bag piping gig at CMU and was stopping by Ascension before heading home. He recently made a 9 minute short with "romance and humor and strong conceptual base."
After this brief encounter I continued to hoof my way to the Lily pad where my friend's live. By the time I arrived I felt like a puddle of sweat.
I enjoyed talking with Dan, Rob, and Chris. Rob and I went to church together back in high school and Chris is going to be a pilot. I let Dan leaf through my hefty box of photos. They've been forgotten this past year, and I felt odd looking at them again. Photographing with a 35mm all four years of high school was the best thing that could have happened to me. Getting into photo probably saved me from at least a couple bad experiences... I had some shitty, drugged-up friends in high school. It was almost relieving to see images from the Erie zoo, urban landscapes in Pittsburgh and New York, and tons of old friends from the Guild, Governor's School, Filmmakers, and elsewhere.
With my phone dying quickly, I rang Lily, whom I had dinner plans with, and we made plans to eat at Ali Baba's at 7:20. With excellent timing, I saw Lily and her boyfriend from Clark, Will sauntering down Craig Street holding hands merrily right as I was about to walk into the restaurant.
From that point, we ordered humus to share and talked about various subjects including, but not limited to vegetarian philosophy, the definition of a "townie" (it's a New England thing) and Lily's disapproval/ borderline loathing of fat people. The tabooli was very good, and by the end of the meal I was feeling refreshed and ready to go home. What can I say, they're mutual happiness rubbed off on me.
Then I drove into Oakland where I had plans to give away some old black and white darkroom prints. My friend Dan said he'd be 20 minutes, so I intended on running to Kiva Han for a quick fix of coffee. While balancing my camera, purse and box of photos, I haphazardly hit the lock button and closed the door. Then panicked as I ruffled through my purse. Running to the other side and peering in, I saw my keys still propped in the ignition. Argh!
So I called Triple A and crouched in the sliver of shade cast by my car. All the while I reminisced on the days of delivering pizza. I locked my keys in the car twice on duty and broke in myself with the help of strangers. Back then I was driving a super shitty car though, so there wasn't a lot of hesitation. I wouldn't do that to my pretty little Bebe (named Bebe because I saw a baby deer and a mini tire on the day I purchased my Mazda).
This is Jean my rescuer. I said "hi! how are you?" And he responded with "horrible, just horrible."I think I raised my eyebrows and asked, "why is that?"
He shrugged in response and muttered, "it just is."
As he was inflating a balloonish contraption in my door, he told me that he was from Florida. Then retracted that statement and said that he lived there for eight years. I snapped tons of pictures of him, and I think it made him feel important in some way.
Then I decided to lay in the Church of the Ascension's lawn until Dan called.
Here is the product of my chillaxing session:
Then Dan called saying he was at the apartment. I slowly got up and was walking towards Melwood when - lo and behold - I see Seany from church! He had just done a bag piping gig at CMU and was stopping by Ascension before heading home. He recently made a 9 minute short with "romance and humor and strong conceptual base."
After this brief encounter I continued to hoof my way to the Lily pad where my friend's live. By the time I arrived I felt like a puddle of sweat.
I enjoyed talking with Dan, Rob, and Chris. Rob and I went to church together back in high school and Chris is going to be a pilot. I let Dan leaf through my hefty box of photos. They've been forgotten this past year, and I felt odd looking at them again. Photographing with a 35mm all four years of high school was the best thing that could have happened to me. Getting into photo probably saved me from at least a couple bad experiences... I had some shitty, drugged-up friends in high school. It was almost relieving to see images from the Erie zoo, urban landscapes in Pittsburgh and New York, and tons of old friends from the Guild, Governor's School, Filmmakers, and elsewhere.
With my phone dying quickly, I rang Lily, whom I had dinner plans with, and we made plans to eat at Ali Baba's at 7:20. With excellent timing, I saw Lily and her boyfriend from Clark, Will sauntering down Craig Street holding hands merrily right as I was about to walk into the restaurant.
From that point, we ordered humus to share and talked about various subjects including, but not limited to vegetarian philosophy, the definition of a "townie" (it's a New England thing) and Lily's disapproval/ borderline loathing of fat people. The tabooli was very good, and by the end of the meal I was feeling refreshed and ready to go home. What can I say, they're mutual happiness rubbed off on me.
Thursday, June 5, 2008
June 5th
"View from the reclining chair"
"Ghost Teeth"
"Jenny"Started off the day with a dental apt. at Dick's. This is Jenny, the dental hygienist for today. She works regularly at two locations, then on the Friday of every week she travels with an agency. Hence, she drove two hours from Latrobe to come to Dick's. She got lost and was a bit late and oh so apologetic. She talked about how she wished she'd gone to school to become a veterinarian and how much she loves giving dental talks at elementary school. I really enjoy going to get my teeth checked up partially because I enjoy listening to people talk about their life. Since I'm lying on my back with my mouth gaping open with a chisel picking away plaque, the hygienist has little other option. Just scrape and talk, rinse and talk.
"I'm a fuzz-ball!"
Anthony and Squig
Another wonderful service I'm lucky to receive is the fine attention of Anthony, the best hair stylist in the world. I love the smooth feel of my hair after he makes it pretty, the smell of the hair products, and the open, clean design of his studio.
He and my mother met in their early 20s, and I've been seeing him regularly since my adolescence. I see him as a "bad uncle" as he always adds a profane flare to conversation. He always encourages me to be independent and make something of my self before any extensive commitments - "don't get hitched!"
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After this eventful morning, I read some of the "Tales of Eva Luna" by Isabelle Allende, and then went to the Guild where Clara and I cleaned all of the enlargers with zeal. We had fun talking about Recife Brasil, where she's from (which consequently I visited last summer). Hopefully, we'll be able to celebrate the festival of Saint John with some corn stuff. Then I burned cds for a youth program while Clara printed labels on the cds. I think we're going to make an excellent TA team for the summer studio.
After MCG came another search for jobs... I went to the Sewickley Speakeasies and Anthony's. There's a good chance I could become a bartender at Anthony's...
Wednesday, June 4, 2008
June 4th
Today was my free day, so I spent it in the Ceramic's studio attempting to create something symmetrical or at least useful. I ended up having a long conversation with this inquisitive girl who made a lovely mess of clay with a pathetic little clay guy walking a dog. The girl, Casey, kept mentioning her angry father, who thought going to the Guild for ceramics was a waste of time. On the contrary, I believe going to the Guild was the best thing that came out of my high school career. I told her to "keep truckin'.'"
This is Sam's dread lock; she's a fellow intern at the Manchester Craftsman's Guild. Last week we de-framed an art show together. During a lull in work I learned that she goes to Duquesne for art history, just bought an old car, and works at Curves.
This is Lily relaxing in her Grandma's house in South Side. I went over after work and we ate cheese and potato pierogies together (with sauteed onions and garlic. yum!). While we were cooking, my phone rang with a call from the Crepe place in Shadyside. Overwhelmed with relief at making progress on a job, I mentioned I might get tips. Then, remembering that the place only has a tip jar, which is really just a joke jar. Thereby, our anthem of the night started with "see you later boy" (long story about a skater boy), went to the "jar of jokes" and ended at the "nun house" (since Lily lives two doors down from some nunny-noos). Needless to say, Lily always brightens my day up.
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