A Forgotten Art: The Slide Show

The hum. The click. The slide that sticks. The sound of a slide that has become lodged in the projector - and all of the sudden it would appear that someone has crawled into the projector and started to shuffle a of deck cards. That sound. Oh! The frustration! But ah! The entertainment.

Given the amount of grief these things produce with their "sticking" and cumbersome trays and wheels of slides...the projectors that have survived - be it - they've been tucked away in garages, or closets versus the ones that met a much more violent fate...think the copier in 'Office Space'...it is no small wonder that you can find these things for FREE.

So yesterday afternoon...a friend and I enjoyed some gems on celluloid thanks to her free Anscomatic slide projector! Fun was had by all....the thing didn't stick once....however, the record player just stopped working all of the sudden.

Say it with me now everyone....iPod.

-a

Rediscovering the Joy of Pie

I'm still not smoking the cigarettes...but I am craving pie. Pumpkin pie. Nutmeg. Cinnamon, Cloves....oh wait, perhaps I am simply craving autumn.

It's Just Queer that.....

some memories...even if they are sublime...still hurt the heart when recalled

The Life of a Quitter

I've tried it before. I've had success for a few years at a time. I've picked it up again. I've got shitty lungs from something else entirely different - but remained undeterred in my vice. Packs would become stale....then packs would disappear...a day at a time. For the past 4 years...10-20 a day. "You smoke? Really? You don't seem like a smoker..." Yeah, nobody really says that anymore....as addiction takes hold - you treat the cravings with less discretion and pretty soon you are no longer a "closet smoker", or a "social smoker"...you're just a smoker.

It is expensive, it stinks and it is a fine way to pass the time when I've got stuff on the brain...hell, I really enjoy smoking. There. I wish I could do it "once in a while"....but that's bullshit. I don't have nicorette patches, I don't have gum, or a candy jar...and friends probably won't believe me when I say I'm through...but I'm going to give it another shot. Besides, it would be nice to have a couple of things to celebrate when Grandma and I ruin our shirts with mustard from those pastrami sandwiches....

Godspeed,
-a

Goofy Foot Friday

Still diggin' the Isaac Hayes over here...Scalder has me thinking about road trippin' and this picture just makes me giggle....on that note...Happy Friday to you and yours.

-'cita

Learning Curve

Today I tried the (not sure how "new" it is now but...) Kanya Garden (Redding, CA) for lunch. I found it most yummilicious.

Just this week I heard Isaac Hayes' ' Walk On By' for the very first time (I KNOW?!?!). Um, sultry. Where've I been?? Good God...maybe I'll get sick of it by the end of the week and "rediscover" it a few more years down the road.

I've come to the conclusion that moving is not just moving to me...oh no, moving is sport.

Stress does some weird shit to your body.

and uh, that's it

for now...
-a

A Long Road to Pastrami

I've yammered on about guilty pleasures....now let's talk about simple pleasures. In this case...the art of the perfect pastrami sandwich. Now I'm not talking about anything exotic when it comes to the sandwich...exactly. I'm talking about simply being able to have one.
In September 2006, at the age of 78 my Grandma Lee was diagnosed with throat cancer. My mom broke this news to me as I was on a road trip up the Oregon coast...sitting in the parking lot of the Best Western in Coos Bay about to check into my room. As soon as I got back to Redding I visited my Grandma in her hospital room - she looked bewildered at all the comings and goings of the nursing staff...and when we had a moment alone she said to me "you know what I really want?" A pause,...I thought perhaps to be a gazillion miles away from this room, a cup of coffee, a blanket? No. My grandmother said that what she really wanted was a "big pastrami sandwich with lots of mustard, and a coke" that's it. The glitch - she wouldn't be able to have one for a VERY long time - not with the chemo, not with the radiation, not with the feeding tube and general lack of love for food for several months to come. That is all behind her now. That pastrami sandwich is sounding pretty good once again and this week we're going to find the biggest, sloppiest, mustardiest pastrami sandwich...and we're going to share that coke.(pictures to follow) It's been a long road to this pastrami sandwich...but we got there.

Cheers!!!!!!!!!!!
-A

Guilty Pleasures

First off....I found it totally ironic that Bay Area air was a welcome relief from our North State air. Cool breezes that didn't feel like I was standing over a pretzel steamer. Air that I could just take in...without chewing. Ah....the Bay, if only I could make a living there as a civil servant.

I digress.

Kathy Griffin. Went to see this D Lister at the Concord Pavillion with friends for a birthday celebration. Now, I don't watch much tv...especially reality shows. However, I've gone to see several comics with one friend in particular and each time - I walk away with a sore side and a hoarse throat (laughter people....LAUGHTER). Kathy Griffin was no exception to this end of show disposition...she was terrific on stage!

Ms. G is a 'hold nothin' back' roaster - the Kardashians, The Hills, Miley Cyress, Paula Abdul, Tom Cruise (what is the appeal...I just don't get it), Oprah, Bruce Jenner...they're all getting jabs from Kathy Griffin. This funny lady just scored one more fan. Thanks Gee!

-A

Kick Ash

Woke up in horrible, irritable mood...sweat drenched pillow, hair in ringlets at the nape of my neck, V left me a half eaten mouse next to the couch. Mmmmmm....opened my sun roof on way to work and ash parchment stuck to my hair and flew about the interior. The good thing is that I snap out of these moods with the quickness...and music always helps out. So here's my morning soundtrack...

Cheers,
-A

Gravitate to Me The The
Shiela Morphine
Pilgrim Eric Clapton
Loose Fit Happy Mondays
Dancing the Manta Ray Pixies
Skateaway (Roller Girl) Dire Straits
Feeling Good Nina Simone
Dig for Fire Pixies

London Calling

Love this! Mr. J.K. from PA took this and was sweet enough to share it with me! Enjoy!

Like Grandma Used to Make?

Came across this during a.m. homeless outreach....not going to comment much here other than to point out the irony of the 'Holy Bible' (hard to read the title in this picture) and the quilt.

mimesis

the weather has been leaving me feeling like i have been asleep for hours and am just waking up in the late afternoon from a nap...disoriented, dehydrated, displaced.

there has been wind reminiscent of autumn mornings and overcast skies caused by smoke and ash, orange moons that look like harvest moons but aren't, air that smells like a campfire instead of a woodstove. fires are a part of summertime up here....this year it all just feels off.

I can see for miles and miles.....

She said: ...so she just moved in....hopefully things won't get weird.
He said: ...and things always get weird.

yes, it seems to trend toward that.