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August
2003 Archive
Wednesday, August 27, 2003Genuine NerdI saw American Splendor yesterday. I had been eagerly awaiting its release. Not so much because of it being comic-book-ish (which is a peripheral interest) but because it stars Paul Giamatti*. I enjoyed the movie and it induced two snort laughs. I can't remember the first, but the second was during the Revenge of the Nerds conversation between Harvey and Toby. Fan-fuckin-tastic scene. I dug the style of the film. I liked it because I like documentaries. I like peoples' stories. Simple enough. And I don't think it's a coincidence that I've started cleaning my apartment today, after months of neglect. *In 1996, the lure of Kevin Spacey brought me to NYC to see him in the Iceman Commeth on Broadway. I left be a new fan of Paul Giamatti and Michael Emerson. So, I seek out movies Giamatti-ed. posted on 8/27/2003 01:36:26 PM
Monday, August 25, 2003Good Gravy, Miss Audrey!Mentor and friend, Audrey Niffenegger just called. We had been emailing a little about me building a site for her. She's one of those wonderful and ubertalented folks who should have a site. We see each other rarely, but every six months or so I google her name to see what's up. Never enough online. No site of her own. Her work is just so strong and singular in vision that she should have a site for folks to find her. I offhandedly asked about her book. I met her when I had a semester long printmaking internship with her in 1994. I helped her print a tiny fraction of her amazing book "The Three Incestuous Sisters." But most recently she was writing a novel. Last I saw her (a year ago?), she was dotting the i's and crossing the t's and looking for a publisher. It's done. It's called The Time Traveler's Wife. It's published. Amazon sales rank #107! Audio version even. It's in some stores, but officially released in September. It's been optioned. Apparently, Brad Pitt and Jennifer Aniston are slated to be the husband and wife. !!!!! I am exceedingly happy for her. Audrey was a super mentor (She introduced me to my favorite book, Mr. Wilson's Cabinet of Wonder and to This American Life, among other fabulous things) and she should get truckloads of respect and recognition for her work. [much rejoicing] posted on 8/25/2003 01:33:08 PM
Wednesday, August 20, 2003(It's still 82 degrees... Grrrrr....)posted on 8/20/2003 10:43:55 PM Synopsis
Monday, August 18, 2003BeautyThere's something just so pleasing about seeing a bald, black man driving a new, black Beetle. posted on 8/18/2003 04:07:46 PM Look
See
Saturday, August 16, 2003BibliophiliaI've had a life long love affair with libraries. Much more libraries than the books themselves. I love that that's where you go to learn stuff, to find stuff out. I love that it's a bunch of different resources under one roof. I love the cataloging systems. I am a library zealot. Even more so today. My local branch had another book sale. I think they only have them one or twice a year. I'm missed the last few. It's a true book sale - 25c paperbacks and 50c hardcovers. Tables full, piled with boxes more underneath. After breakfast, Anne F. and I went to peruse. The sale is in this room that's maybe 300 square feet. It was filled with people. I got a big stack o' non-fiction books for $7.25. A tiny French reader, whose reader had lovingly cut tiny little letter tabs for the glossary in the back for quicker reference. German reader and German grammar (If someone gave me an extra hour a day, I'd spend the time learning languages). Some rockin' Life Nature and Science Library volumes - The Mind, The Sea, Water, Energy, etc. A illustrated sailing handbook. And more. Basically, if it has snazzy information design in it - I am all over it. I puttered around today with the intent of going back during the afternoon lull. I puttered, I napped. Today it was the hot temperature that just makes me want to sleep. I woke up feeling all slothlike. I made it back to the library. Got two more armfuls of books. Then... They started passing out plastic bags... A whole bag of books for a dollar! Heaven. Cheap Date It's been said before and I'm sure it'll be said again - I am a cheap date. Last night, Dan, Gwen, Josh and I were walking after a big BBQ meal at Merle's in Evanston and a trip to the Art Store. At the former I had pulled beef - very tasty. At the latter I gleefully bought one of those new silver Sharpies. I literally gasped at the tv when I first saw a commercial for them a couple weeks ago. Walking down the street, I blurted out, "I got a silver Sharpie!" Gwen said, "Geez, you're a cheap date. Just some pulled meat and a Sharpie make you happy." posted on 8/16/2003 09:35:48 PM
Friday, August 15, 2003Field Trip!My current client is sick, the only to-do today to finish the online gallery of wedding photos. Then, I get a call from Dan saying, "Hey, you want to go to the Art Institute with Josh and I?" Sure! Off to the musuem. Now, that's a benefit of working for yourself - impromptu adventures. posted on 8/15/2003 10:27:13 AM
Monday, August 11, 2003I'm home safe and sound - but I definitely broke my thighs dancing at the reception. I'm walking wierd and stairs hurt. I think I need an afternoon of rest, grocery ordering, and list making. Gotta get my head back in the game.posted on 8/11/2003 01:12:29 PM
Sunday, August 10, 2003Wedded BlissI'm sure a few folks have been eagerly anticipating an update on how the wedding week has been going. I've been caught in the current of the week and haven't had the blogging concentration. Rest assured, I'll be putting together a wedding gallery and I'll share stories there. The week has been fantastic. Everything has went splendidly. A few very small adjustments over the week, but nothing that could be called a problem. Sunday I made my 7am flight. Mom, Aunt Kathy and (a tired, slow) me hosted a wedding shower. A ladies tea. Monday Mom dyed my hair a dark brown that made me feel more presentable and makes my eyes greener (hooray). That night, Burgundy, Mike and I zoomed through favor-making. Tuesday I had open for whatever, but looking at the the week behind and the week ahead, I just sat on my ass and relaxed, eating non pariel mints leftover from the shower. Wednesday We dropped all the paraphanalia at the reception site, Wednesday night we picked up Burgundy's dress. Thursday I went with Burgundy and mom while they got manicures and pedicures. I don't derive pleasure from having my cuticles pushed back, so I opted out. I had never seen acrylic nails being done, and I was mesmerized watching Kim give Burgundy nails. Friday Bright and early, Burgundy picked up her flowers. I was amazed how little she paid for a shitload of roses by going to the farmers market. Only frustration this week was handling the thorny roses, dethorning them for the bouquets. Burgundy and I made the bouquets that midday and that afternoon was the rehearsal and that night the groom's dinner. Great BBQ at David and Kathleen's house (Mike's parents). Saturday Mom arrived at 9am to do Burgundy and my hair. Sally (matron of honor), Shannon (bridesmaid), Stacy (friends and wife of the best man), mom and I (bridesmaid) had lunch and came back and did our final gussying up. Then, my lil sis Burgundy Agerbeck became Mrs. Mike Johnson. Gorgeous, hot day. Ceremony in the Minneapolis Sculpture Garden. We were sweating, but only because of the weather. I scored a victory by only getting the slightest sunburn on my right shoulder. Picture-taking was hot, but fun - I really liked Julia Auerbach (I'm sure her name has been a mispelling of my name), the photographer. I look forward to seeing the results. The reception was much fun. Fantastic food and fantastic dancing. I danced so long and hard (completely sober, really) that I can barely walk today! It was supercool to visit my family and see everyone enjoy themselves so much. And I was just so darned charmed watching Burgundy and Mike dancing together, so in love. The first day in what I'm certain will be a long, solid, tickle-filled marriage. This morning was the gift opening and I showed Burgundy and Mike their quilt top. It's a strange gift compared to all of the wedding registry gifts in Marshall Field's wrapping paper. But I think it'll give them a lot of pleasure to them when they're cuddled up on the couch with it as a finished quilt. Tomorrow morning, I go back home! I know it'll feel odd to be on the flipside on this huge milestone after all the work we put into it and all the anticipation. I got to make neat stuff, I got to help out a lot which I love to do, and the event itself was fantastic, but the best part of this all has been getting closer to my sister and getting to know her as the strong, rockin' adult that she is. I am so proud of her and I so happy for her and Mike. posted on 8/10/2003 08:13:48 PM
Saturday, August 02, 2003All the action's been happening in the Art/Work blog these days - check it out.26 Hours In a mere 26 hours, I'll be leaving the house for Midway airport and the Great Sister Wedding Adventure will begin. I suppose the epic prologue has been the two year engagement. Many phone calls from Burgundy bouncing ideas off me, me happily dispensing advice (usually encouraging simplicity), invitation design and production, wedding quilt making, family politics, bridesmaid dress trips, The Great Wedding Show Hunt, guest book making, teasing Burgundy with the threat of my bachelorette gift, wedding shower invites, travel plans. Between a turnaround in client work and the homestretch of wedding prep, I am officially in college sleep deprivation mode. I survive on Twizzlers and Coke. Yet again. In the next 1560 minutes, I've get some sleep, gotta pack and make the apartment science experiment proof. I dreamed of leaving with a clean apartment. Ha ha ha. Always the first thing to be compromised. So, the dishes will be washed, the fridge cleaned out and the trash taken out in preparation for the 9 days in Minnesota. I will return to my clutter. Much more the norm than the exception. Oh, yeah, and I'm playing accordion tomorrow in Grant Park. The Golden Horse Ranch Square Dance Band is playing SummerDance tomorrow. It's a great opportunity, the SummerDance program is well run and the garden is lovely. It doesn't look like weather will be on our side. Thanks to my friend Anne Ford, publicity is - check us out in this week's Reader calendar section.* I'll be running on fumes by then. But I'll kick into extroversion mode. I'll play. I'll immediately go home and go to bed. I will wake up at 3:30 am to leave by 4:00 am. Onward to the Loon State. *This is my first time I've been in the newspaper since 1991 after my return from my Earthwatch award studying arctic ground squirrels in Alaska. I was in the Fridley Focus, the photo was big and unflattering and the headline - get this - Dances with Squirrels. posted on 8/2/2003 02:25:17 AM
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