Questionable Content & Drivel

2011-08-07T19:41:00.000-04:00

~Heard Heidi Cullen on Fresh Air With Terry Gross and while (as the transcript shows) she almost came across a tad bit excitable and "Clueless" (actual block quote: "You know, it means we've got these high overnight temperatures. And, you know, it's, you know, public health officials in cities especially get really worried when they see these, what we call high dew points, these high moisture levels because, you know, for older folks and for, you know, young children, just, it makes it really hard for your body to sweat and to cool off.") her book still sounded very interesting. So I snagged a copy and am a few chapters in and thus far it's an easy read (but doesn't feel dumbed down--or so I tell myself ;) and is giving a good mix of explaining what climate change means, its history and politics, plus brief bios of important figures and their inventions/research in the advance of the scientific study and record-making that has made it all too clear that global warming is happening whether or not we believe in it. It's a good book. Check it out/borrow it/buy it=read it!

2011-08-07T18:57:00.001-04:00

~I'm going to Bulgaria and Poland in two weeks to visit friends and attend a wedding. Looking forward to the opportunities for change that must arise from this journey. Am contemplating trading in all my old Nikon 35mm and Mamiya 7II gear for a D300s and simplifying my camera collection at the same time as bringing my photo gear firmly into the 21st century. Seems a worthwhile thing to look into. I think my budget will be pretty stretched and I probably won't be able to get the D300s quite yet (since I'd need a modern lens to accompany it and the budget is DEFINITELY not there for that), but it's time to get a DSLR because I do still enjoy photography but shooting with point-and-shoots frustrates and angers me (and the cost of film/processing prevents me from making images with the nice sturdy old film-based paperweights I spent so much money on years ago). All that aside, I'm VERY excited to be going on another journey through Europe! Going to see my friends! So many of my friends moved away in the past few years following their own dreams that I didn't even notice my own dreams withering as I fought off depressions and just focused on my navel. Happy to report there's little of interest down there--at least not visible to the naked eye. I will visit another blood-brother in Korea before too long, and of course will visit my sister in New Zealand before she's done with school! Meanwhile, life in DC goes on and I continue installing and handling art in an awesome commercial gallery on a weekly basis and on a less frequent schedule do the same stuff at the Smithsonian's donut-shaped modern art museum. Interviewed for a full-time entry-level job, but had LOTS of time to think between applying and interviewing and decided that it didn't make sense for me for many reasons and as a result I didn't give my best interview. I like my jobs, none of them--including my p/t arborist work--is going to be what I do forever, so I'm taking the experiences and contacts from them and synthesizing what I need from each of them to make my own route that will ultimately cause my success to happen, perhaps even DESPITE my best efforts to prevent it ;) I'm aware of the adage, "It's the journey, not the destination," so I'm trying to eject my head from my ass (where I've stowed it again) and be present in each moment and really be open to life offering everything I want and need at that moment. Just a brief update on what's up. :)

2011-08-07T18:30:00.001-04:00

~Man oh man, it's been a while since I've posted on this old blog! A highlight of the summer: my younger sister visited home for a few weeks from New Zealand where she's now halfway through vet school. It was the first time we'd seen her (outside of Skype) in 3+ years and it was a blast having her around. Drove her home from Dulles upon her late-night arrival (the first of several late-night drives down Rte. 29 to spend time at home while she was there) and it revived a long-forgotten summertime pleasure: listening to pop-country on the radio! These are all good pop-country summertime records in my estimation. Let me give them all a whooohooo. Whooohoooo. ;)

2011-01-30T15:22:00.000-05:00

~December rolled on....

2010-12-11T21:12:00.005-05:00

~Early December> John Alexander lectured at the Corcoran on the 9th (the Good Doctor Tripplaar + the Inimitable Madame Cheung hooked me up with gifts from their Off the Walls table)> dead fox curbside during a fun visit to the Mall with Alissa + Miss Harper :D

2010-12-11T20:49:00.002-05:00

~The very tail-end of NOvember sunlight presages one's descent into winter dark / one's mental + physical growth into new human capacities + one's pursuit of new interests across the board + one really looks forward to finishing shaking off the old skin of habits

2010-12-11T20:33:00.001-05:00

~End of NOvember Chelsea/Manhattan daytrip

2010-11-25T20:09:00.003-05:00

~NOvember: This year my parents both turned 70, so we had an amazing celebratory dinner at Basic Necessities, then Gomi + I hit the VMFA to see the new wing + the enthralling Sally Mann not-retrospective retrospective

2010-11-25T20:00:00.001-05:00

~NOvember

2010-11-25T19:54:00.001-05:00

~NOvember

2010-11-25T19:43:00.001-05:00

~NOvember: JFM + I hit the gardens at Dumbarton Oaks to see Patrick Dougherty's sculpture--very cool. He had an installation in Providence when she was in school, + I believe Lyt's neighbor Jeanne Drevas has worked with him before, so I felt how connected the world is when I was experiencing the work.
The apple pictured is a deliciously crisp Arkansas Black grown by Lyt (it also relates to gardens methinks ;).

2010-11-25T19:38:00.002-05:00

~October into NOvember: JFM in the NGA elevator; Calder; Shira walking through my photo of Julie Wolfe's debut Hemphill exhibit; not-yet-laden bookshelves with pix of dear friends (+ a Mary Early work on paper); an autumnal evening sky portends of dark winter days to come.

2010-11-25T19:34:00.001-05:00

~October: JFM at Hemphill for the last day of Renee Stout's outstanding exhibit; Beltway construction; Old Rag from near Lyt's home; Rappahannock pruning; my dad checking out Renee's work at Hemphill.

2010-11-25T19:30:00.002-05:00

~September/California outtakes: Venice Beach; JFM with orange backdrop; Villa garden view; JFM hugging a sculpture copy installed for visitors to touch.

2010-10-08T22:39:00.002-04:00

~September: Was a month of change--change is always good + also emotional. Was treated to a trip to Los Angeles, Santa Monica to be precise. It was a miserable trip to be sure, but at least it left no doubt as to the demise of that part of that relationship.
Sure was pretty out there though--The Getty deserves another trip (the Villa wasn't as interesting to me), + when I get back there I'll definitely hit the Norton-Simon + LACMA, + would love to sometime get to hit La Jolla to visit Louis Kahn's Salk Institute.

2010-10-08T22:35:00.001-04:00

~September: A cousin's wedding in Albemarle functioned as a Bain reunion, bringing distant family from far away + long ago into one place--a fun day.

2010-10-08T22:32:00.000-04:00

~September

2010-10-08T22:23:00.000-04:00

~August

2010-10-08T22:18:00.000-04:00

~August

2010-10-08T22:15:00.000-04:00

~August

2010-10-08T22:09:00.001-04:00

~August

2010-10-08T22:01:00.001-04:00

~August

2010-10-08T21:56:00.000-04:00

~Carya illinoinensis

2010-10-08T21:47:00.000-04:00

~July

2010-10-08T21:38:00.000-04:00

~July

2010-10-08T21:36:00.000-04:00

~DMB at Nationals Park 07/23/10

2010-10-08T21:16:00.000-04:00

~DMB at Nationals Park

2010-08-15T01:46:00.000-04:00

~July

2010-08-15T01:42:00.000-04:00

~July

2010-08-15T01:39:00.000-04:00

~July

2010-08-15T01:35:00.000-04:00

~June+July

2010-08-15T01:30:00.000-04:00

~June

2010-08-15T01:26:00.000-04:00

~June

2010-08-15T01:23:00.000-04:00

~June

2010-08-15T01:19:00.000-04:00

~June

2010-08-15T01:11:00.002-04:00

~May+June / Congrats to Ben / White House photo opp. courtesy of Mike ;)

2010-08-15T01:07:00.000-04:00

~May

2010-08-15T01:02:00.000-04:00

~May

2010-08-15T00:59:00.000-04:00

~May

2010-08-15T00:54:00.001-04:00

-May

2010-08-15T00:51:00.000-04:00

~May

2010-08-15T00:43:00.000-04:00

~May

2010-08-15T00:38:00.000-04:00

~May

2010-08-15T00:32:00.000-04:00

~May

2010-08-15T00:26:00.000-04:00

~May

2010-08-15T00:18:00.000-04:00

~Variety = Health

2010-08-15T00:13:00.000-04:00

~Spring had me all over the place: DC, MD, VA, MA.

2010-08-15T00:10:00.000-04:00

~More Bonsai at the Arboretum in April

2010-08-15T00:05:00.000-04:00

~April at the Arboretum

2010-08-14T23:59:00.001-04:00

~April Continued

2010-04-19T21:53:00.000-04:00

~April continues to be predominantly sunny.

2010-04-19T21:48:00.000-04:00

~Because I love sunny 16.

2010-04-19T21:42:00.000-04:00

~Madison's Montpelier, Gomi, EMB, me, and other presidents.

2010-04-19T21:37:00.000-04:00

~April, inside light.

2010-04-19T21:33:00.001-04:00

~My camera got the Sheetz.

2010-04-19T21:28:00.000-04:00

~April in Central VA.

2010-04-19T21:23:00.000-04:00

~April --> all over the place!

2010-04-19T21:18:00.000-04:00

~April rolls on.

2010-04-19T21:13:00.000-04:00

~On into April.

2010-04-19T21:07:00.000-04:00

~Last bit of March.

2010-04-19T20:52:00.000-04:00

~March pix continued.

2010-03-24T22:32:00.000-04:00

~More March randoms.

2010-03-24T22:29:00.000-04:00

~More Boston.

2010-03-24T22:26:00.000-04:00

~Boston trip.

2010-03-24T22:21:00.002-04:00

~Almost empty Airlie lot on my birthday, sidewalk, Cassie, Wisconsin Ave.

2010-03-24T22:18:00.000-04:00

~More March, near BVL home, Rte. 29, Beltway construction.

2010-03-24T22:12:00.002-04:00

~March randoms: I-66, Polyface Blue Moon Diner food, CVL Imports, 2nd St, skeleton.

2010-03-24T22:07:00.000-04:00

~Up a tree at Oak Grove.

2010-03-24T22:03:00.000-04:00

~Snow, trees, driving, T-Dawg in a box, PHL.

2010-03-24T22:00:00.000-04:00

~February randoms.

2010-03-24T21:57:00.000-04:00

~More PHL pix.

2010-03-24T21:52:00.001-04:00

~PHL pix.

2010-02-16T09:25:00.002-05:00

~Last week:

2010-02-06T20:58:00.002-05:00

~First post in MANY moons! New camera! New laptop! :) Big Snow! Hiked 10 miles through DC with Ben, a good 6-hour trek.

2009-06-01T19:32:00.001-04:00

~About ready to give the fuck up. BeeeeeeRoke. Friends and former friends moving far away. Artless. Bored. Angry. Unhappy. Drunk.

2009-05-24T20:23:00.002-04:00

~FLASH~ Is about to check into memory motel.

2009-05-02T12:20:00.000-04:00

2009-05-02T12:18:00.000-04:00

2009-05-01T08:44:00.002-04:00

Kathleen Ewing to close shop after 33 years. J. Dawson managed to write a fairly nice article of appreciation (amazing!).

2009-02-24T09:12:00.002-05:00

~Laptop died for real a month ago. Probably won't be replaced for many moons. Could get a new mobile computing device instead, but that too is in the future (the Future? In The Year 2000?).
~The Barnett-Aden Collection is up at HEMPHILL until March 7th--I highly recommend seeing it (ask for a catalog while you're there). I hung works by artists including Romare Bearden, Elizabeth Catlett, Aaron Douglas, Jacob Lawrence, Norman Lewis, Henry Tanner, and Alma Thomas, works by many of them can also be seen on the walls of the National Gallery.
~So I'm proud, & slothful. But I haven't climbed as many trees as my sloth-like nature would prefer. Did climb about 10 trees one day a few weeks ago--that was an enjoyable workout on a warm sunny day.
~Spent a lot of $$$ getting ancient film processed last week. It's good to see fresh negatives. Time-traveled to May 2005: Barcelona, Bilbao, Nice....
~Weather permitting, I'll spend my 31st birthday on the Devil's Backbone in Highland County with a bunch of old friends from the Blue Moon Crew.
~Watched a few movies recently, read a few books, finished a Booklist (#39, running from 5/23/06-2/23/09--it took forever!!!)... so 26x39=1014 books finished & listed since I began my Booklist obsession in November of 1990.
~Yet to train for the April 4 C'ville 10Miler. Guess it'll be painful fun.
~The Euclid Angels Book Club is now reading The Omnivore's Dilemma, by Michael Pollan. I have to pick up a copy today.

2009-01-22T12:41:00.000-05:00

2009-01-22T12:39:00.000-05:00

2009-01-22T12:26:00.000-05:00

2009-01-18T14:23:00.002-05:00

~A freaking cold Saturday was spent indoors making envelopes and a couple of small pamphlets. We hit Medaterra for drinks with JFM's friends from out of town, before wandering to Black Cat for a birthday/Corcoran kids night out. Whoo. Gotta set up an airbed for my out of town visitors from NYC before heading--late--to the Lincoln for a gander at the crowd. Then there's prepping for the party to be held in a handful of hours. Sheesh.

2009-01-14T14:17:00.002-05:00

~Well. Inauguration is right around the corner. As is the next flurry of bills. Only got one thing on my mind. BILLS! Big ones. The Benjamins. BinHameen. Gonna have to see about pushing back my rent due date with my landlord, & hope that other sources, as yet unknown to me, enter my financial intake channels with a flow that overwhelms my enormous debt-building capacity.
~I've got Nikon lenses for sale (make an offer): 105 f4 Micro manual focus; 80-200 f2.8D AF ED; 35-70 f2.8D AF; 18.35 f3.5-4.5 AF EDIF

2009-01-10T12:05:00.002-05:00

~Harry's + Friday night openings (great shots hunh?!) + NE DC gas station

2009-01-07T10:30:00.002-05:00

~Still life with Leffe.
~Tim DeVoe installing his sculpture at Carroll Square Gallery. The opening reception for Structural Vision is January 9th from 6-8PM at 975 F St NW.

2009-01-06T08:08:00.002-05:00

~My friend Joe left a voicemail yesterday to tell me the New Years Day fire in NE that killed 6 people was at his uncle's home. Joe's 10 year old son is among the dead. The following is from a press release that may be found here:

At the request of Ward 5 Councilmember Harry "Tommy" Thomas, Jr., the Ward 5 Business Council has established the Tawana Gantt Fund at Cardinal Bank to assist with funeral arrangements for Tawana Gantt and the five other family members who perished with her in the January 1, 2009 Jackson Street, NE house fire: Ms. Gantt's daughter, Kaniya, age four; Oscar Wilson III, age 11; Joseph Wilson, age 10; Keith Nelson, age 23; and Charles Smith, age 72.

Ms. Gantt, 22, was a dedicated employee in the office of Councilmember Thomas where she worked on constituent service and Ward 5 Business Council issues.

Check may be made payable to the Tawana Gantt Fund and sent to:

Tawana Gantt Fund
c/o Ward 5 Business Council
PO Box 90918
Washington, DC 20090

2009-01-05T09:18:00.003-05:00

~Contact show deinstall
~Sunrise strokes the skyline

2009-01-05T09:11:00.001-05:00

~A grassy knoll bisected
~A shadow of itself
~Sunflare + shadow
~Girl + shadow
~White House + viewing stand

2009-01-02T12:41:00.004-05:00

~I've now got less than my next months rent in "savings." Gotta call the IRS to arrange a payment schedule for my unpaid 2007 taxes. Got a voicemail telling me my car insurance is no more since they noticed the address on my check doesn't match the location where it's insured... so I've got to insure it before it moves again... which means I can't get to treework to make a quick chunk to pay for insuring it. Haha. I think everything has finally lined up to make my desire to leave the country for an extended stay a reality! Use the last 40% of my available credit line to get a ticket to Spain & disappear into their crowds of unemployed. Finally. Checklist: credit cards, passport, cameras, calendar, toiletries, guidebook w/map, book & eyepatch for planeride, Spanish phrase book, big middle finger to bullshit, hmmm--that's it right? The American Dream--work that costs money.

2008-12-30T11:26:00.003-05:00

~Ate at Haydee's with the good Professor Combs last night before he dropped me at Union Station where I chatted with a self-professed "bullshitter" who, upon hearing my sad story (after asking for a dollar), cleverly turned the tables & offered me one hundred dollars. I refused his kindness (?) & asked him to piss off so I could read my brand new book: Big Boy Rules by Steve Fainaru. He conceded. So I won (because life's a competition). As he left he asked, "Why you so anti-social?" which reminded me of Mr. Corcoran. I replied, "I was born that way," to which he said, "No, you're just hiding from people." Then he sat down, assumed a yoga position & breathed deeply, perhaps circularly, as he became one with the great spirit. It was enthralling, if not enlightening. We then walked into the sunset together, holding hands, laughing & becoming the best of friends.
~This morning has been simply beautiful. It's inspired memories of Italy--via physical jolts to my skin thanks to the temperature, sunlight, & breeze, as well as the fabulous visuals of nearly empty streets as DC remains a ghost town due to the holidays.
~Thinking about more school, this time for something useful--architecture or green design. I dream about building things. Have for years. But I may just run across the ocean to España or Italia... coz I need a fix & that place gave me a good one when I was running around on my own.
~So, my two jobs have hit slowdown situations where I barely made enough to survive in the last month (& worrying about it has been waaay too stressful to endure much more). Meaning my "savings" are essentially no more, meaning I may have to pack my boxes & move in a month if I don't make big bucks in January. It's pretty exciting, because it means I have no reason not to do whatever the hell I really want to do. It's also kind of good timing, because it's time for an occupation change, time to get out of the non-productive, non-creative rut in which I've made my home for the last few years. CHANGE! WHOOOOOO! Now, who's gonna give me $100,000 to get me started on my change? [waiting....]

2008-12-29T17:23:00.003-05:00

~Shadow By Design
~Incomplete condo
~My RAZR has nowhere near the talent to record this glorious still life
~2 of the (ultimately) 7 cop cars in my alley last night
~Abandoned Gainesville gas station

2008-12-28T14:10:00.004-05:00

~Doors with stories
~Hit Lex Vegas for a midday Saturday stroll. I highly recommend the chicken fiesta panini at A Joyful Spirit café.

2008-12-28T13:59:00.003-05:00

~Went home for Christmas:
.Tree with antlers
..Flip's Rockbridge cabin
...Vid-cap from the unreleased Planet of the Priests
....Shiloh, me pops, me brutha
.....Greene tower

2008-12-24T11:47:00.002-05:00

~I want a 40-hours a week job. If you know of an opening in the District shoot me an email. Happy Holidays. WHOOOOOOOOOO!
~18th & S St NW

2008-12-22T11:10:00.003-05:00

~My parents had their 40th wedding anniversary over the weekend. JFM & I took a scenic route through Rappahannock & Madison down to home on Saturday before we all (minus our much-missed Kiwi sister Margaret) went to a fantastic dinner at Basic Necessities in Nellysford.
~Couple pix of JFM playing Twister at Prica's Friday night party.
~Effing cold today! I woke up late & it was still only 17!

2008-12-13T19:51:00.002-05:00

~Registered for these two April Saturday runs: The Charlottesville Ten Miler on the 4th & The 31st Annual Fodderstack 10k Classic on the 18th. Guess I better start running again!

2008-12-08T20:21:00.002-05:00

~My 400th blog post is to confirm/affirm the accuracy of its current title.

2008-12-01T09:17:00.003-05:00

~Pittsburgh is a great city. I'm infatuated with river cities.
~Mike is within striking distance of DC, so stock up on your defensive supplies, as The Mike is capable of reaching you at any time--anywhere. Be prepared.
~A fun trip: lots of travel in the Mikemobile at high rates of speed; cheap beer; graffiti artists; roaming traintracks looking for old tags; Pittburgh's South Side; I shot multiple rolls of 120/220 in my Mam7ii for the first time in a couple of years; Mike's farm is cool; we had two delicious Thanksgiving dinners with his friendly & hospitable extended family & their friends; Beehive Coffee Shop; The Mattress Factory; the Liberty Tubes....