nah pop, no style

Alright, people. Let’s get down to it. Last week I started a draft of a post in which I discussed how freaking long it had been since I last updated this thing. Since then, it’s only been longer. Why so quiet? I dunno. Haven’t felt like posting. DO I OWE YOU AN EXPLANATION? DO YOU THINK I –

Sorry, I’ll chill. Not much new on this front. Got a guitar, playing it a lot. Working a bunch. City Guide came out last week, for what it’s worth — pick up a paper today if you haven’t gotten one, since tomorrow the new issue will be out and City Guide won’t be in it. Next week (not this) I have a big feature on Burndowns (in anticipation of their August 9 release at Gooski’s with Brain Handle and Weird Paul) and the following week, a big feature on Nicole Reynolds. I haven’t had a main music feature in a while, so it’ll be nice. It’s fun to work in a slightly longer form.

There are things I haven’t done yet this summer (play tennis). I will try to catch up with those things. It’s nearly August. Of course, rain notwithstanding, fall is a good time for tennis — not as hot — so it’ll be okay if I play tennis in the fall instead of summer.

Otherwise, kickin’ back, chooglin’, apparently taking a blogging vacation of sorts. It’s all good. What have YOU been up to?

Don’t read too much into this one, kids. Here’s hoping Mary comes back to Jeff so she can do it many more ways.

Also, on an unrelated note, I had a dream the other night that I killed a spider that was having babies and that was carrying two mini pierogies and one spool of thread. (Ironic, I suppose, that a spider would feel it necessary to carry a spool of thread . . .)

Almost time to embark upon the long weekend, which I do not really have mapped out. Don’t worry, I’ll make something happen. One thing that will definitely occur will be my attending the Torley Manor party on Saturday. Also I think Sunday I will make my parents some food.

If you haven’t yet, devote a good 15 or 20 minutes to watching Fred Durst, who now looks like he’s about 70, on Tom Green.  It’s an interesting interview, and yields such gems as:

“This is KORN, with a ‘K!’ And a backwards ‘R!’”

and

“I don’t recommend that anyone drink anything though. Except, like, Yoo-Hoos, and Sun– Sunny Delight, Sunny D . . . and, like, milk and stuff.”

Not to mention the part where he shows off his tattoo, then completely forgets and shows it off again thirty seconds later.

Last night I watched MOST of America’s Got Talent. And while I’m a fan, I have to admit to you that it’s starting to wear on me already this season. Three episodes, three of the exact same narrative arc — four or five abysmal acts, an angry crowd, THE JUDGES ARE FRUSTRATED, then comes some great, inspirational act to save the day in (insert name of city here). We’re not THAT stupid, guys. I don’t know if it’s just the way the show is edited, or the way the contestants are arranged during the actual auditions, or a combination, but it’s really contrived.

There have been a few enjoyable acts, and a minimum of hilarity from the Hoff, but on the whole, I’m not that sold on it this year, and I might not keep investing my Tuesday nights in it. My time is precious, people.

Also the part where Hasselhoff hit his buzzer while that guy had a sword halfway down his esophagus last night was terrifying. Holy hell. Get it together, Hoff.

A few things I’ve acquired and/or enjoyed lately, for your perusal:

Carole King: Tapesetry

We all know like all of the songs on this album, but I’d never owned it. Picked it up at Half Price Books along with . . .

Genesis - Invisible Touch

I didn’t realize exactly how many hits were on this one too — the entire A-side and half of the B-side are made up of radio hits. I’m a fool for “Tonight Tonight Tonight.” Whatever.

Also picked up these books, either at Half Price Books or the Al Hoff/Pat Clark yard sale-a-thon:

New Recipes from Moosewood Restaurant

I’d been meaning to pick up a Moosewood cookbook for some time. I think this rounds out my collection; I shouldn’t really get any more cookbooks, at least for a while. I should actually make more of the recipes in the ones I have. This, along with the Farm cookbook, should yield well, though.

The Control of Nature

You probably already know how I like John McPhee. This is about major engineering projects undertaken with the intention of controlling some natural phenomenon. Y’know, like building that Walmart in Kilbuck. Only bigger.

Reuben

One of John Edgar Wideman’s lesser-known works. I still haven’t gotten to Fanon yet, but I own this one now, so I’ll probably get to it first.

Also, while I’ve got your eyes, my new project is sending people mail on little cards in little envelopes. Short letters, poems, maybe product reviews, collage, WHO KNOWS? If you want to get something at some point, send your mailing address along to me. Also you’ll be expected to reciprocate in some form at some point. Fun!

In order to clear my conscience and hopefully lift the curse that is currently upon me, I present to you a list of things I’ve messed up and/or things that have gone wrong for me in the past week or two:

• First there was my big chef’s knife that disappeared on me. How that could possibly happen I just don’t know. How do you lose a huge, sharp knife?
• Then there was a piece of mail that was important, that I needed to send out, that I lost. I probably threw it away. I lost my American Journalists stamps around this time as well.
• Last week I got bleach on a favored pair of pants. The way in which I did this is, I think, too embarrassing to explain in the online. Suffice it to say it involved bleach I had used several days prior.
• As I was getting bleach on my pants, I was also grabbing a handful of poison ivy (fortunately, I’m apparently not sensitive to it).
• Two nights ago, I left my car window partly open. It rained all day yesterday. This is on top of the fact that I have another hole in my frame that lets water in near the wheel well. Not that that one’s my fault.
• Last night I meant to take laundry to the folks’ house while I was visiting, so that I could have clean clothes, and I left it sitting in my apartment instead.
• There are probably other things, but those are the main ones.

Also lately, strangely, I’ve had lots of dreaming, and some deja vu experiences, and at least one dream that I took as being somewhat prescient. Perhaps if my next-level, extrasensory mind is working overtime, my regular mind is prone to messing more stuff up?