His Hair was Perfect...

I feel it all around / I feel it in my bones
My life is on the line / when Im away from home
When I step out the door / the jungle is alive
I do not trust my ears / I dont believe my eyes
I will not fall in love / I cannot risk the bet
Cause hearts are fragile toys / so easy to forget

Its just another day / theres murder in the air
It drags me when I walk / I smell it everywhere
Its just another day / where people cling to light
To drive away the fear / that comes with every night

Its just another . . . . . . . its just another day
Its just another . . . . . . . its just another day . . .

Its just another day--when people wake from dreams
With voices in their ears--that will not go away

I had a dream last night / the world was set on fire
And everywhere I ran / there wasnt any water
The temperature increased / the sky was crimson red
The clouds turned into smoke / and everyone was dead
(but) theres a smile on my face . . . for everyone
Theres a golden coin . . . that reflects the sun
Theres a lonely place . . . thats always cold
Theres a place in the stars . . . for when you get old

Theres razors in my bed / that come out late at night
They always disappear / before the morning light
Im dreaming again / of life underground
It doesnt ever move / it doesnt make a sound
And just when I think--that things are in their place
The heavens are secure--the whole thing explodes in my face

more...

Idiot Son

Father, you know that I don't mean disrespect
But the house is winning
I don't want to be there when they collect
(Father) the gratis-riding days couldn't last
Smoking courtesy cigarettes and rolling up the tinted glass

You're smart enough to make the numbers appear
The way the shouts around the table want to hear
But when it's over and the life we know is done
What will you say to your idiot son?
What will you say to your idiot son?

I dreamed that I was being chased over ground
I was climbing over backyard fences on my way out of town
(I dreamed) but every place I came to was new
And my legs gave out as I cried out
"I don't think we can still get through."

And I saw real estate that I would not call land
And not a council seat would fail to understand
But on the day there's really nowhere left to run
What will you say to your idiot son?
What will you say to your idiot son?

Back to the same ol'grind, now that the Big 25 Rotten Songs are over, regardless of Zelmo's intermittent disappointment.  Although Beege tha Cookie Queen gave me a suggestion that may see the light of day, hideous though it may be.....

So, a Halloweenie zombie-stylee random musical spew.  13 cuz it seems appropriate, right?

33,000 items, 136 gigs of music, 89 days for days....

1.  Deee-pression, Loud Family.  In the 80s, Scott Miller led the criminally ignored band Game Theory through a number of power-pop Gems.  In the 90s, he changed the band's name to the Loud Family, and continued creating dense, catchy and lyrically complex music, to a tragically  deafening lack of success.  In the 00s, he has spent his time working as a programmer and raising a family, to our loss.  This was from one of the last albums the Loud Family made, Days for Days.  A masterpiece, and we saw them play for twenty five people at the Cactus Club.  Aimee Mann once covered one of his songs, Inverness, and complained that it contains 'like a zillion chords'.  The albums are available on iTunes and eMusic and at the LF web site, linked over on the side.

2.  Dance dance dance to the radio, M.O.T.O.  This guy used to incessantly spam the Mekons yahoo group, somewhere along the line I snagged a couple of his songs out of curiosity.  Pretty good, actually.  MOTO stands for Masters of The Obvious.

3.  Abernant 1984/85, The Mekons.  Old school one chord agitprop psycho country stomp from the Mekes.  Always makes for a good Friday.  Ever hear punk fiddle?  

4.  On the Bus Mall, The Decemberists.

5.  Sing Me Back Home, Edith Frost.  Another single from The Executioner's Last Songs.  Songs about " murder, mob law, and cruel, cruel punishment, with the intent of consigning them to the realm of myth, memory and history" Truly worthwhile set of comp records, search 'em out if you like alt/country at all.  Or even just helping them combat the death penalty.

6.  Feeling Better, Sugar.  Bob Mould is a noisy, noisy boy.  Sugar is well named, it's like Husker Du with a big pile of sugar on top.  Hard, fast, and distinctly hooky.  And that voice.  I've seen him solo with a twelve string and with a band.  Good, good, good both ways.

7.  Hop Frog, Lou Reed.  Lou is more inconsistent than the Mekes, and that's going pretty far.  I like this disc, the Raven, but I think Lou's been called a genius too many times and now he thinks he can poop a watery stream like this and call it a day.  Put in a little work, guy.  Call you a hop frog.  Sheesh.

8.  Stood in The Rain, The Four O'Clock Balloon.  Off a Yellow Pills comp I got somewhere.  Pretty power pop, which always goes down well.

9.  The Lady Lies, Genesis.  Pretty much the last myth-based Genesis song, from the late seventies.  Good music though.  Pretty lame lyrics.  Let Steve Hackett handle the fairy-tales, guys.

10.  All My Little Words, The Magnetic Fields.  Music For An Insufferable Music Snob.  Pretty love songs that don't make you sick.

11.  Go Speed Racer Go, Sponge.  Yes, that is the theme song to the cartoon.  "He's busy revving up the powerful Mach Five!"  Saturday Morning's Greatest Hits, done by alt-rock bands.  We all grew up on this crap.  Incidentally, the same album has the Violent Femmes doing Eep Opp Ork Ah-ah.

12.  Walking In L.A., Missing Persons.  80s hair.  The guitarist for this band was in Frank Zappa's band for a while, I think.

13.  Dogs Are Talking, The Angels.  Aussie band used to be called Angel City, but had to change their name for America.  They got sidelined as a pseudo- AC/DC, but are really more an alt-rock band.  Never got the big break, but their old album Dark Room was a fine piece of work.  Check out the fine mullet in that video.  Call it mulletse.

That's it; go and sin no more.  And NO worshipping golden livestock, 'kay?  You can tell I didn't skip anything because of that Lou Reed hairball in there.  

EDIT:  Tomorrow, pictures of kittehs, because I AM AWARE OF ALL INTERNET TRADITIONS!

Anyway, it's my birthday on Monday, but what I want the most can only happen on Tuesday. Go make it happen, OK?

Capital (It Fails Us Now)

Sweet living fuck.

Christians.

Praying to a cast golden bull.

This is FAIL on a scale that threatens the integrity of the universe.

Anybody who needs this explained to them, please leave now.

Misunderstanding

Since I don't have Snag's talent for satirical lyrics or a Presidency like Pinko, again I steal a meme from YesJennifer, Cookie Queen and Snacktator Couterier.

Can't resist the memes.

My one uncle:  Is a stone cold racist. Once referred to the neighborhood I live in as 'Jewtown'.   West Virginia, you know.  But regardless, early one morning while he was visiting, us kids  were sleeping in the breezeway and he woke us up by dancing out to get his SECOND beer of the day.

Never in my life:   Have I been one of the Kewl Kidz.

When I was five: I went to Sauk Trail grade school.  it was flat.

High school was: where I was between 14 and 18.  Not much more.

I will never forget: Funny story.  A long time ago, I got a job, after college.  after a brilliantly rough couple of week with a legendarily horrible boss, I settled into a role as designer for a midsize firm; make or break.  One of the first buildings I designed there, a nothing little Interstate rest stop/ truckstop in IL.  Nothing in the way of architecture, the sitework cost more than the building.  BUT; after it was built, I took the road trip down to see it.  It was the first time I ever had the chance to actually WALK THROUGH something that had existed, for me, only on paper.  Magic, of a sort.

I still get that feeling on the rare chances I get to build something.

PS.  That building served as a location for a mid-level movie release.  Can you imagine the tickle from seeing my building in a movie?  still not as cool as the feeling I talked about above.

Once I met: Matthew Sweet.  we talked about illness.

There's this girl I know: Who almost knocked me dead.

Once at a bar: I had a good time.

By noon, I'm usually: Looking for an excuse to start drinking.

Last night: My back was too effed up to do a workout.  which is a shame, because Caturday I have my final (hopefully) midterm.  Not incidentally, Young Pilgrim is also testing for 2nd that day (no jinxing)

If I only had: a brain.  No wait; If I only had a rich Patrone.  Umm, maybe if I only had a smidgen of musical talent.  A motorcycle.  a life.  A dog who was less orange, or maybe just farted less.  I'm a simple man.

Next time I go to church:  Both the Church and I  will remain the same; willing to uneasily tolerate each other's existence as long as we do not have to regularly interact.

What worries me most: O let's maybe not get into it.

What I miss most about the 1980's: Youth.  exuberance.  a future.

If I were a Shakespeare character, I'd be: The Fool

A better name for me would be: Nigel. Nigel the fool.  It's got a ring.

I have a hard time understanding: Greed.  I mean, I want to make money.  But it's not my driving force.  I would like to have money like Murdoch;  but once you have that much, what's the point?  power?  I see more power in the ability to improve the built environment, and from that point, I think I could make the case I've already exceeded people like Murdoch, Cheney, GWB...

If I ever go back to school:  Back in architectural school and grad school, many of my fellow students often expressed the desire to work 'in the real world'.  I never understood it.  In the realm of codes, gravity, budgets, and lawsuits?  In archy school, you could design any damn thing and only worry about exploration and getting it done by presentation time.   If I ever go back to school, I will never, ever leave again.

You know I like you if:  I give you music.

Take my advice, never: buy or build a house for the person you sell it to.  Unless you're a developer.  in which case, call me?

My ideal breakfast is:   Scrambled eggs and english muffins.  I'm a simple man.

Why won't people: Give me tons of money to provide them with house that enrich their lives?

The world could do without: Cars.  Seriously.

My favorite blonds are: My son.  And my wife, when she's in a blond mood.

If I do anything well, it's: Funny story.  I never planned to be an architect.  I started college as an engineer.  when that didn't seem to be panning out, I touched base with a room mate's prof, who said  "hey, don't worry about there being no jobs (thank you Reagan), architecture is a great profession."  I started drawing buildings and unearthed an obsession that will only end when I do. It even overwhelmed the noisy thing.    If I do anything well, it's what I do when I get the opportunity to do it.  If I can't do it anymore... well, it turns out I don't feel much like doing anything.  Maybe that's not such a funny story.

And by the way:  I love all you people who come by to comment here.  I love all of you.

Oh Birthday Girl

You know who you are!

I Talk To Myself

Songs that made me rotten, 21 - 25

Finally, the end of this interminable series.  I can't believe how tough this was; incredible props to BG and MenD for making it all the way through the 100 post challenge.  After trying this, there's NO FACKIN WAY I'm trying that.  I did enjoy it though.  But I'm moving on, moving on.  More important things to do, people to ban, strangers to insult....

• 21 Shadow of a Doubt, Sonic Youth
This showed up as the opening track from a comp tape I copied, created by a guy I shared a studio with in college. I had not really heard much of SY before that. This song starts with a nearly subsonic drone, and Kim Gordon pretty much speaking lyrics of alienation, eventually building to a screaming, instrumental assault. As with so many other songs on this list, it was unlike anything I had heard.

It wasn’t really punk, but it didn’t fit into any other genres either. A couple of years later, they had a near-hit with “Teeange Riot” from the epochal album Daydream Nation, but the single/video version of that song omits the chiming, chanting extended intro that precedes the atonal guitar riff.

Oddly and amazingly, the band has remained intact and active in all the years since. Their recent stuff has dwelled more extensively on a subdued droning psuedo-psychedlic sound that doesn’t challenge the listener, maybe, as much as before; this may have something to do with a burglary of their instruments, many of which had been modified to play on certain songs, and their loss made it difficult to play some of their older songs.

I saw them open for Neil Young and Crazy Horse to a largely hostile crowd of yuppies at the local barn, but it was fine show nonetheless and they hit the stage name-checking local noise-meisters Die Kreuzen. (The show also featured Social Distortion. It was a noisy night). Recently, they played the Pabst Theater, a much more intimate venue, and the trippy psychedelic sound ruled the night. But while it was a slow start, the constant building tension they created eventually subsumed any reservations I had. The less aggressive posturing was maybe less immediate, but more penetrating; maybe more reflective, more indicative of the distance the band, and a large number of us fans, have traversed in the intervening years.

In the end, Sonic Youth has always made the noise that they wanted. Radio airplay has never been an end, commerciality and sales are only relevant in their relation to being able to continue doing what they want. Perhaps this is what has enabled them to endure, and with every release, I still hear the impulses that I heard on that tape. Middle age mutters and groans, where youth used to scream.

PS. I still have that tape. Kent had skillz; thanks, brother.

• 22 Radio Free europe, REM
All through this series, I’ve been talking about the sounds that restructured my brain. In 1982, this was never more true than when the first REM disc dropped. I recall that I bought it based on word of mouth from a music review.

From this Brave New Century, it’s hard to imagine, I suppose, a time when there was nothing - NOTHING! that sounded like this. REM blazed the trail for College Radio; I played this album incessantly, for everyone who crossed my path.

I can’t even begin to relate how much this album and song changed the things I thought about music.

REM were the anti-radio band. The guitars were too sharp, the lyrics were diametrically opposed to love songs (when they were not completely indistinguishable) and the band hated nearly eveerything to do with the music business apart from actually making music.

This song charges from a brief clattering intro into one of stipe’s rarely discernible lyrics about the miserable state of radio at the time. Although REM eventually conguered the music industry, the state of radio is even worse today.

After this, I’ve followed the band through it’s career, even managing to see them at two peaks: in a small theater on the tour (Camper Van Beethoven opening !) and at a shed on the Green tour. I even like the new stuff. I still hear the shimmers and mumbling from that improbable band in 1982 and it still echoes through the hollow spaces in my head.

• 23 I Hate To Wake Up Sober In Nebraska, Free Hot Lunch
Long Story.  Feel free to get a drink.  In fact, make me one too.  

It was a hot, humid Saturday. I had a friend visiting and we did some drinking the night before. We got up at the crack of noon, and Since it was so hot, we started the afternoon by playing Non-Euclidean Croquet and drinking large boat drinks with much ice. After finishing the booze, we wandered off toward the bar area of town, stopping briefly at a music store to abuse the instruments until we got kicked out.

We wound up at the Hoist House in midafternoon; the A/C slotted in over the door struggled gamely to keep up. We ordered a pitcher of Augsburger Dark, but the heat made it hard to drink it with much enthusiasm. Not to say we didn’t soldier on, of course.

The day changed when someone walked by with a couple of gin and tonics. Glistening and seductive, filled with ice, smelling faintly of lemon; I nearly passed out from thirst. We passed the time in a happy fog of gin and ice. One memory I have is of my roomate introducing us to his new preppy girlfriend complete with Izod shirt. Fueled by an afternoon of alcohol, I graciously shook her hand, leaned over and ripped the stupid alligator off of her shirt with my teeth. She took it with humor; it wasn’t the first time this sort of thing had happened with Dave’s friends.

A band started setting up, but we barely noticed. In the early evening, a band member came over and tried to hit us up for the cover, and the only thing that kept us from leaving was the bartender’s intercession; we had spent all afternoon blowing our money on drinks, and he talked them into letting us stay for free.

Fortunate? It was the beginning of a most improbable relationship. FHL, from Madison, played a mutant mix of jazzy,  folky, kinda country tunes with a dose of Buffett, and nothing could be further from the kind of things I liked to listen to. But the band were (are) ace musicians, talented songwriters and gifted singers with a tremendous sense of humor , and a staggering collection of hawaiian sportswear. Which the fans have adopted with a twisted enthusiasm, and more than once the band has mentioned that from the stage the audience looks like a technicolor yawn.

I have no recollection of what they played. I know that we laughed uproariously all night; I vaguely recall my friend coming back from the bar with a tray full of tequila shots, which we shared with the band. Coming to the next day, I found I had purchased their full line of merchandise.

Funny thing about the music. When I’ve played it for people, they usually look at me sideways, wondering what I am hearing.  While pleasant and likable, their studio recordings never quite capture the essence and it seems that to really get Free Hot lunch, you have to see them perform. Which we have, o my yes.

There’s no way to count the number of times we’ve seen them play. In many different cities. We went to Hawaii to see them reform after 15 years. We saw them in Florida on a two night gig. We saw them at the legendary Club De Wash in Madison on New Year’s Eve. Summerfest, time after time at Summerfest, sometimes playing twice a day. They recently released a DVD of a Barrymore Theater performance, and we can be seen numerous times in the front row, dancing and singing. And drinking.

I learned how to drink tequila with this band. I’ve seen the band stop playing in mid song because someone brought tequila to the stage. I’ve also seen the band stop playing when someone left to go to the bathroom, waiting patiently for them to come back. They also once forced me to leave the bar before they started playing, run back to the apartment, and bring back the forgotten toy chainsaw, an indispensable part of Trees In Love. We toilet papered the Kenwood Inn, and left uncounted numbers of shot glasses in the light cove and threw Oreos at the band.

EDIT:  Before:

Somewhat After:

We all got a lot older. But when a song like Reiba’s Cantina or Mambo Man come up on the iPod, some of the years drop away, and I feel, for a couple of minutes, like I’m twenty something again, and all the load drops from my mind.... Wa-Ha, friends, wa-ha indeed.

• 24 Violent Femmes, Violent Femmes
This is the only full album on this list. And why not? Is there a song on this album that isn’t essential? These tunes were tempered by playing to hostile punk crowds who had little patience for the acoustic instruments and whined vocals, and every song was reduced to an ungainly, sharp-edged purity. Not a bass line out of place, every choppy guitar lick essential. It took a chance encounter with James Honeyman of the Pretenders to bring the band to the attention os the record label Slash, and even Rolling Stone took notice.

Under the Obama administration, a copy will be issued to every teenager upon entering adolescence.


• 25 Heartbreaker, Led Zeppelin
Our family christmas tradition was kind of two part. On Christmas eve, we would exchange gifts; this was when you would get socks and pants and other plebeian gifts. Then, after us kids were in bed, the ‘rents would unload the toys and fun gifts, as if Santa had come. Naturally, there was no way we could sleep or even wait until daybreak to see what we got, so we would barely fall asleep, then sneak quietly downstairs to grab the most likely stuff, and creep back upstairs (carefully missing the squeaky step). Invariably, my Dad would wake up, and yell up the stairs to go back to bed until it was really morning.

So this one year, I received an AM/FM transistor radio. Avocado colored. With little round speaker holes Completely 70’s.. And at 4 AM, this happened to be one of the things I grabbed as we creeped back up to our bedrooms to get an early start on the Day. Unpacked, plugged in batteries (did they come in the package? Don’t even remember. Unimportant details, my friends). And tuned in to some Madison rock station...

That monster riff came squeaking out of the tinny speakers, and Robert Plant screeching about something or other and the drums even at low volume distorting the little tiny speaker to some extent and it wnet on longer than any song I’d ever heard and I’ve never fully recovered and I don’t think I want to.

The sound, THAT SOUND, drilled directly into my synapses from my tiny ear-holes, kicking my brain-stem like you’d kick a rented flatulent orange dog.

It’s a song that everyone has heard, of course, countless times. It's maybe not that great a song, it's probably not even that great a Zeppelin song.  But that winter morning, it realigned something fundamental in that little Rotten head and every time I hear, I remember that undefinable excitement of feeling that here is something with power.

And then my Dad yelled up the stairs, telling us to shut the hell up and go back to bed. which we did.  I took the earphone. 

As soon as I could, I got a job delivering papers so I could buy a stereo.

more...

Always the last to know...

*****NOT SAFE FOR WORK OR SMALL CHILDREN!

First there was this:



Then came this:



And then this (The best):



I don't know, but I would like Matt Damon, though not Jewish, to play slap and tickle on my tuckus. Apparently, he likes Jewish va jay jays.

Childlike Faith in Childhood's End

Stumbled across .. umm, something... at the Politico today.  just go read it.

Every once in a while lately it strikes me while watching Countdown or the Daily Show, that this is really happening.  Against every conceivable obstacle, an African American is standing within reach of the Presidency.

Of the United States of America.

I envy my hairdresser's son, who turned eighteen this year and will be able to cast his very first vote for Obama.  That's....  I get choked up.  Like the elderly woman in the story, tears start rolling when I really think about it, and I'm just a white guy.  I can't imagine how it feels for an African American.

It's an unlikely story, and all props go to the insane wing of the Republican Party who have pushed themselves so very far over the cliff to allow for this to happen.  I said last night "The troubling thing for me is that without an abysmal, hopeless candidate hated by the right wing nutjobs, an appalling choice for VP, complete destruction of the economy and a laughably inept campaign strategy, Obama would be losing."  But once the barrier has been breached, the incoherent fears can be exposed like fear of the monster under the bed in the daylight.  of course, some will never let go of their fear; hatred and xenophobia comfort them and make them feel superior, and it's sometimes all they have; reason is a stranger.

Contrary to the popular wisdom, most racism in this country has not disappeared, it's just put on respectable clothes or is being hidden in the attic like a crazy aunt.  I wonder, sometimes, how my parents would have voted.  They were Fine, upstanding and hardworking folks, working class Democrats who would put Joe the Plumber to shame, but were also products of their generation like Obama's grandmother (best wishes to her and her grandson, hoping the visit in Hawaii provides the solace they wish), and prone to bigotry.  But they weren't stupid, and I believe watching Obama's skill and empathy would have been more than enough....

My son has grown up in largely interracial and bi lingual schools, and lived in a city all his life.  He's always had friends of all races.   I like to think that the future holds continued marginalization of that idiotic racism; that America can continue in a halting and difficult process of recovering from her past. I believe, most of the time, that increasing tolerance by kids will be the increasing norm.  But then, I'm inherently an optimist; I always say that architects have to be, in order to create lasting buildings (on the other hand, somebody also designs Wal-Marts; maybe those are the nihilist architects).

For a couple of years now, I have worked with African American clients, and still feel, deep down, some of those fears of 'Other' wired into my lizard brain by a suburban upbringing; but every day, those bumps have been eroding like an asphalt speed bump.  It's entirely possible they may be smoothed away by the time I leave...

And I know that if we are fortunate enough to watch Obama win on the 4th, I will likely be weeping along with that woman.  That American woman.

more...

Because I want to be Mrs. Billy Pilgrim

Keeping up with the kids (a day late, a dollar short, and researched and studied out at PENN):

What is your favorite thing to wear? It depends on who is looking at what I am wearing. My Lucky jeans, Anne Taylor Jacket and Anne Klein zebra shoes. I always get game with the outfit.

Last meal you had at a restaurant: Five Guys. Sweet, sweet, sweet burger delights.

Name one thing that scares you: Losing my Mother. I need her now more than ever.

Who was the last person in your bed? The hot Investment Banker. And AG is not saying a word. Not. One. Word. Chuckles response: AG!!!!!!!!! La. La.

What were you doing at 7:00am? Sleeping. Please, bitches. I do not need to be upright before 10 AM. Especially since I got me a promotion and now I am Queen of Medical Affairs.

Last person you hugged? The hot Investment Banker. It was a loooong week.

Does anyone you know want to date you? Yes. Many. Where do I start? Including this hottie named Avi, who is waaaaay toooo young for me, but becoming a doctor at PENN.

When was your last encounter with the police? Three years ago when I was pulled over. Though, I recently hugged a cop... Not. Telling. Evah.

Have you ever driven without a license? Sure. Whenever I go running with ACB (at least three times a week), I don’t bring my purse.

What time of the day is it? Just about Lunch. We are having a fancy work lunch since JW is in town. Yummy Thai.

Who/What made you angry today? Nobody. My life is fantastic. I have nothing to be angry about, at least publically.

Do you want anyone? It would be easier for me to share who I don’t want.

Do you like birds? Sure. I love giving the bird at least daily.

Do you download music? Hello?!! I have a Facebook account, know how to blog, have an Apple iPhone, and know what h9 means. Do the damn math.

Anyone want some Barry Manilow?!!

Do you care if your socks are dirty? Gross. I wear clean socks everyday. Except when I have on my flip flops. Then no socks, but very super clean feet.

Opinion of Chinese symbol tattoos? Lame. There was a West Point cadet, who my Bubie loved, who went to school with AG sibling. Dumb ass got one. Bubie’s response, “How long have you been stupid? Do you want to come home in a body bag?” Four years later he wrote Bubie a sweet note and committed suicide a week later. Very sad. We miss you, Yoshi!

What are you doing tonight? Going to a Halloween party. Anyone want to guess what my costume is? I get to wear a wig and I am sooo wearing if for the cute boy afterwards.

Do you like to cuddle? Yes, with hot Jewish boys who are adorable, interesting, not Momma’s boys, and loving.

Do you love anyone? I sure do. Love is a wonderful thing.

Whose bed did you sleep in last night? Last night, was my house. I sleep better there during the weeks except Wednesday nights.

Have you ever bungee jumped? No, but I have jumped from a plane.

Have you ever gone whitewater rafting? I did this summer and it was soooo much fun.

Has anyone ten years older than you ever hit on you? I am the Queen of Daddies. Daddies love AG. Loooooooooooooooove AG.

How many pets do you have? Other than boy toys and the Rabbit Pearl, none!

Have you met a real redneck? My cousin’s husband at my Bubie’s funeral. Dear Gawd.

How is the weather right now? A brisk autumn day in sunny Philadelphia.

What are you listening to right now? My colleague lay client smackdown.

What was the last movie you watched? Sex and the City. Once a New York girl, always a NY girl.

Do you wear contacts? Two that make my eyes sparkle.

Where was the last place you went besides your house? Dupont Children’s for a Junior League meeting.

What are you wearing? Gap thong undies and a see thru bra from Victoria’s Secret.

What's one thing you've learned this year? Alaska is next to Russia. They share airspace.

I learned that I do not have a brain tumor. Thank Gawd. I am still losing my hair though. Damn protocol from DUMC. They promised me I won't lose it all.

What do you usually order from Starbucks? An apple fritter (if nobody is looking) and a tall Tazo chai latte skinny. Then I use my coffee-house name of “Aimee” when they ask for my name. It has to be spelled oh so right and my clients all love the Aimee story when they experience it for the first time.

Ever had someone sing to you? I’ve had many a boyfriend sing to me. My favorite though was Bubie.

Have you ever fired a gun: Does my sibling’s snap gun count?

Are you missing someone? Other than my grandparents, no. I have all the right people in my life.

Favorite TV show? Weeds, Ugly Betty, and Samantha Who. STFU. Shut. It. Now. I watch Internet TV and I am a PhD student, still working full time, I am training to run the NYC marathon next year, and I am in love. What do you expect?

What do you have an obsession with? All things Jewish, except certain peeps. I am also obsessed with foreign travel and apples. I am sooo into apples, apple picking, kinds of apples, etc. right now.

Has anyone ever said you looked like a celeb? Vonnie said I looked like Mary Cherry. I have also been told Meg Ryan. No ways! Sandra Berhardt. No ways! And the daughter on Once and Again. Sorta.

Who would you like to see right now? Realistically: my sorority sisters from Hawaii. I miss them so much and they are all having babies right now. Unrealistic: Bubie, Zaidie, Grandma, and Grandpa. I miss them all sooo much.

Ever had a near death experience? Yes. Today when someone almost hit me in the parking lot. I also thought I was going to die when I was mugged in 1995 and the mugger made us turn and run. I was literally prepared to be shot in the back.

Are you afraid of falling in love? No. I’ve made that mistake before. I know how to love being in love with the right person now.

Have you ever been caught doing something you weren't supposed to? No. I usually get caught after the fact.

Has anyone you were really close to passed away recently? You all know that.

What's something that really bugs you? People who are Republicans, foreigners working in the US (who take jobs Americans want and CAN fill), bubble gum, know-it-alls, and Barbara Loe Fisher. I really really dislike that ignorant woman.

Taco Bell or Burger King? AG hearts a big meaty Whopper. Have at that comment, Chuckie-love.

Next time you will kiss someone? I am hoping tonight!

Favorite baseball team? The New York Yankees and anyone who serves up the Red Sux. Hello, Devil Rays!!!

Ever call a 1-900 phone number? No. AG has cute perky ones. Why pay for the cow when the milk is free to this blonde, blue eyed girl who is tall and losing weight!

Nipple or Nose rings? Nipple rings. La. La.

What's the longest time you've gone without sleep? The night before the wedding. Hence, the drunken drama that transpired.

Last time you went bowling? On a date. We had a good time. I told him the next day I wasn’t interested. I feel bad.

Where is the weirdest place you have slept? Underneath a table in an RV…

Who did you last speak with on the phone? I spoke to my admin a few moments ago.

What does your last received text message say? “Cannot wait to break in my new bed with you. Loving Philly. Call me!”

Somebody got his drink on at a bat mitzvah and decided to drunk text his cute blonde…

What's the closest orange object to you? A clinical protocol that my colleague informed me I had to get in construction worker orange!

Happiness Is the Road

Glue Birl made me do it:

Snag says it best...

"An orange, leaky ass dog. You're a lucky man"

Too Much Time On My Hands

Jennifer did a long boring meme over at YesPlace, and since I'm unoccupied and antsy, I thought I would steal.  After all, she told us to, and Cookie Queens are used to being OBEYED.

What is your favorite thing to wear?  Good lord.  What?  I guess I've got this Full Frito T-Shirt that's pretty cool...

Last meal you had at a restaurant:  Barbecue chicken/ribs at edgar's Calypso.  Tasty indeed, and lubricated with a couple of rocky margaritas...

Name one thing that scares you:  Getting between AG and an available Jewish doctor. Oh, and Heights.  Which is funny, because this week I am doing a proposal to perform a facade inspection of a six story building.  The things we do for money....

Who was the last person in your bed?  Toby.  The cat.

What were you doing at 7:00am?  Sleeping, for FSM's sake.  What, you got the idea that I'm some kind of sick 'morning person'?

Last person you hugged?  Sweet wife.

Does anyone you know want to date you? You gotta be kiddin me.

When was your last encounter with the police? when Dude broke into my office.

Have you ever driven without a license? O my yes.  In high school, I was in the habit of driving to school when my Dad caught a ride to work.  Until he caught me, of course.

What time of the day is it?  Just about Lunch.

Who/What made you angry today? Nothing yet.  Still a lot of day to go.

Do you want anyone? O my yes.

Do you like birds?  I like birds.

Do you download music? jennifer and BG both made innocent noises about this, and I don't understand.  It's been well over a year, I think, since I've bought music in a bricks and mortar store.  I don't download ILLEGALLY, though; with the exceptions of super mega stars like U2 and Metallica, most bands need the cash; even more than I do.  Buying discs at the shows is the best way to put that cash in their pockets, and downloading isn't bad for a second choice, especially if they have a web site with direct buy.

In fact, for two albums now, I've even pre-ordered discs from Marillion in order to finance the recording of the music.  I expect the newest, Happiness Is The Road, any day now.

Support live music.

Do you care if your socks are dirty? Yep.  I'll wear dirty underwear before I put on dirty socks, which is probably more than you wanted to know.

Opinion of Chinese symbol tattoos? I like em.  I fully support a person's right to mutilate and disfigure their own flesh in new and entertaining ways.

What are you doing tonight? Doing a high school visit with Young Pilgrim.  We are investigating several high schools in the MPS system, and he's got to apply to 3.  

Do you like to cuddle? well of course.

Do you love anyone?  O my yes.

Whose bed did you sleep in last night? One doesn't snore and tell.

Have you ever bungee jumped?  Nope.  I've experienced more pit-of-the-stomach fear in running a business than anybody really needs, and after that, even jumping out of perfectly good airplanes seems tame.

Have you ever gone whitewater rafting? Nope.

Has anyone ten years older than you ever hit on you? Ya gotta be effin kiddin me.

How many pets do you have? Just two right now; Toby the Rescued Cat, And Lucifer The Dog whose Ass Leaks Hell. And the tank o fish.

Have you met a real redneck? Just like BG, I married into redneckery.  In fact, I've gotten into political/racial arguments that nearly came to blows at a wedding reception.

How is the weather right now? sunny.  cool.  Autumnal.

What are you listening to right now? eels.  See above link.

What was the last movie you watched? Stardust.  Surprisingly fun.  DeNiro had a good part, but yanno what?  Maybe he shouldn't do camp.  Actually, later that night somebody was showing Time After Time on cable, and I sat through it yet again, as I am nearly unable to resist.

Do you wear contacts? O my yes.

Where was the last place you went besides your house? Does the office count?  I'm there now. Otherwise, it was taekwondo teaching/workout

What are you wearing? Commando.   Again, probably more than you want to know.

What's one thing you've learned this year? Just one?  I learned Washington DC is fully in thrall to the mighty Bollard Industry.

What do you usually order from Starbucks? 'S funny.  I've designed no less than three cafes, but don't drink coffee so I rarely go to Starbuck's.  If I do, I guess I either get hot chocolate or tea.

Ever had someone sing to you? Nope.  Still time though.

Have you ever fired a gun: Paint gun.  Air gun.  Not a killin gun though.

Are you missing someone? O my yes.

Favorite TV show? Normally I might say Mythbusters or Dirty Jobs, but in the Silly Season, I gotta go with Countdown.  Maybe Maddow.   O I guess it's probably the Daily Show.  After all, I'm not a Real American.

What do you have an obsession with? Music.  Buildings.  

Has anyone ever said you looked like a celeb?  Other than the weird Michael McDonald thing, one Halloween, someone once thought I was dressed as Penn  Jillette.   I wasn't wearing a costume.

Who would you like to see right now?  Several clients with long overdue checks and abject apologies.

Ever had a near death experience? Nope 

Are you afraid of falling in love?  Nope.  Never have been.

Have you ever been caught doing something you weren't supposed to? O my yes.

Has anyone you were really close to passed away recently? Not recently.  Probably due.

What's something that really bugs you? speelling errorrs.  And people who pronounce 'masonary'.  And 'nucular' of course.  It's been a very hard eight years.

Taco Bell or Burger King?  If at gunpoint, Taco Bell.

Next time you will kiss someone? Tonight, tonight, tonight.

Favorite baseball team? Nobody.  I even resisted the Brewers in the post -season.  I've been negative on the Brewers ever since Selig and Thompson extorted 400 million from the area to build that dysfuntional clamshell, when nobody was willing to expend as 1/3 as much effort or money on necessary school maintenance the year previously.  Then, of course, Selig bankrupted the team, cashed out, and left town in order to try and destroy baseball entirely.  Sweet Jebus I despise Bud Selig.

Ever call a 1-900 phone number? oddly enough, no.

Nipple or Nose rings? Neither.  Probably because it was enough to get my ears pierced a facking quarter of a century ago.

What's the longest time you've gone without sleep? even in arch school, when people were notorious for working without sleep for days, I always tried to get a couple of hours just to keep the psychotic episodes at bay.  But during crunch times, I'd probably say 48 hours.

Last time you went bowling? Can't remember.  It was definitely Landmark Lanes though.

Where is the weirdest place you have slept? Can't remember.  Might have been Landmark Lanes.  

Who did you last speak with on the phone? One of my old employees.  In fact, the first employee.

What does your last received text message say? Text messages?  Who needs text messages?  The voices in my head keep me occupied quite nicely, thank you.

What's the closest orange object to you?  Orange?  Good lord, this is an ARCHITECT'S office, orange is RIGHT OUT. Last night, though, when I read this meme, it was Lucifer the Dog whose Ass leaks Hell.

The Hope And The Anchor

Chickens? Rotten?

Don't count anything....

Time Is Running Out

In recent days, I've been contacting design firms for potential placement.  Not surprisingly, not a hell of a lot of interest.

But as I contemplate the idea of going someplace else to work, I think back, a bit, to the places I've worked.  

It occurs to me that since graduating and entering the real world, I've been fortunate to work in good places.  The first firm I worked for was in a walk up rehab of a former cigar factory; a loft space.  After that, another converted factory space.  And when I started my own, it was in another loft converted from industrial space, although for the first time it had a modern elevator.  which was a good thing, the office was on the fifth floor (we eventually added some space below, with a connecting spiral stair)

A little over four years ago, I moved into the heart of downtown, in a client's building; now a third floor walkup.   The building was built about 1858, making it one of the oldest extant buildings in Milwaukee, on one of the first commercial streets.  It was built as a home for Lipps Department store, and rented offices on the second, with for-lease assembly halls on the third.  These were intended mainly for fraternal organizations, and had seating tiers around the outside, with a higher one for the Grand Poobah.

I've never had to work in a fluroescent lit office, with carpet, work cubes, and acoustic tile.  Always high ceilings, abundant light, and unique environs.  

A few months ago, my son said he thought my current place was more 'professional' than the previous.  Although that hasn't seemed to do  me a hell of a lot of good, it was an interesting thing to hear.

Might be over for a while; but in the interim, here are a couple of photos of the big ol' empty office as it stands now:

The Alphonse Mambo

Sometimes, an image can capture the entire zeitgeist of the campaign....

I hope to see this picture in every newspaper and magazine.  It is a pixelated horsehead in McCain's campaign bed.

EDIT:  Also:

We Shall All Be Healed

Last night:

Kaki King:




The Mountain Goats:



Here's what happened last time we saw the Goats.

This Year, indeed.

I'm Bad, I'm Nationwide

Krugman Wins.

Dow jumps 400 points.

Coincidence?

A Texas Sunday

When I was a kid in high school I went to see ZZTop in Madison, on their Deguello tour.  Loved the show, totally no frills and in your face snorting Texas barf 'n' boogie.  In fact, one young lady was so loaded she barfed in front of my feet before ZZTop took the stage.

So Last night, Ror and I caught 'em at the Riverside. $40, 20th row seats, couldn't beat it.

They were.... pretty much the same.  Although the crowd was mostly older, and I saw much less puking.

They took advantage of the 'In Your Face' aspect of playing a 2500-seat theater, and played a bunch of old stuff - Just Got Paid, Going Down To Mexico, Sure Got Cold After The Rain Fell, even a cover of the Hendrix version of Hey Joe.  In addition, of course, to the standard ZZTop fare such as  Tush, LaGrange, Jesus Just Left Chicago, Heard It on The X, Cheap Sunglasses... 

The stage was stripped to minimals, really only adorned by two illuminated 'truck exhaust' mike stands. 

For me, the bleakest part of the show was that for what they were doing, they made much better use of the Vari-Lites than the muddled and overwrought Genesis show from last year.

No-nonsense and straightforward, they did what they did, no apologies and none necessary.

Mr. Soul

"We're concerned about the short-term economic news, but long-term I'm optimistic.  And so, I hope investors, you know.... secondly, I hope investors hold investments for periods of time - I've always found the best investments are those that you salt away based on economics."

--GWB, january 4, 2001.

Boy, doesn't THAT explain a lot.

Let's keep in mind, folks, that Mister-destroyed-everything-he-ever-fuckin-touched received 51% of the vote.

Not only is there little hope for America, we stand a pretty good chance of destroying worldwide civilization while we're at it.  It's not solely the fault of this administration, but boy they certainly moved the ball the farthest toward that result...

Shade and Honey

The new version of iTunes has nifty little gadget.  It's called the Genius (hi Chuckles!!) and when you turn it on, it sends your music library info to Apple.  I know, I know, I am the first one to resist sending my info to corporate behemoths, but this, like other Apple stuff works for me.

Once they have this stuff, you can select a song, and they will generate a playlist of related or complementary songs from your library (they will also suggest other music for you to buy but right now I do NOT need suggestions for spending more of my limited fundage).  It's very kewl and a great way to explore a library, especially when you have nearly 3000 albums and 135 gigs of music like I do.

So, and this one kind of goes out to Zelmo, here's the first ten of one  of today's playlists (I won't inflict the one based on Dream Theater) based on Cloud Cult's Living On The Outside Of Your Skin:

1. Living On The Outside Of Your Skin, Cloud Cult.  Obviously cuz you gotta start someplace.
2. Like Castanets, Bishop Allen.  Got this from Atrios
3. Small Talk, The Ponys
4. Another Radio Song, Okkervil River.  Killed the Song Of the Day thread on this band over at 3 Bulls, regardless of UC's inability to get into this band this is a tremendous, building anthemic song.
5. Hyperballad, The Twilight Singers
6. Shake The Sheets, Ted Leo and the Pharmacists.  Stupid band name Ted. 
7. Concrete Seconds, Pinback.
8. Fairy Tale, Cloud Cult
9. The Jessica Numbers, The New Pornographers
10. Sideshow by The Seashore, Luna.  Saw these guys on their first tour.
11. For Real, okkervil River.

That's it, no time for comments or expositions, see you over the weekend, hey?

HI AG!!

1. 
   

Bela Lugosi's Dead

Presented with little comment, an electoral projection distribution chart from fivethirtyeight.com:

This shows the data representing an Obama win in OVER 85% OF THE SIMULATIONS.

Now, I am the first to admit that if anyone can punt this, it's the Democrats.  Long tradition, etc.  I also have little interest, right now, in a discussion on Obama's right-centrist positions.  As mikey used to point out at Sadly, No, these are the choices we HAVE, regardless of what we as individuals want.  stepping back from a precipice may need to involve small steps at first.

But it seems that once America started paying a little attention to the insanity that is represented on the other side, as well as realizing that economic disaster looms for everyone that includes YOU Joe Sixpack, the balance is shifting.  Just a bit.

I find a glimmer of hope in that.  Not a mind-altering blinding pollyannish hope;  just the beginnings of a belief that America, as a concept and a country, might survive Bush/Cheney.

But the VP debate is tonight, and if AG can be distracted from her pursuit of Doctor Hotties and alcohol, we might even be live cob logging the debacle.  Stay tuned.

Waiting For The End Of The World

One for almostinfamous and Dennis: 

via Glue Birl