I am part owner of two couches in Brooklyn. Eric's welcome-home gift was a Cheez-It surprise (this delicacy was devised by my sisters and I during a game of "restaurant" in the kitchen when I was 7 or 8. Here's the secret recipe: take two Oreos, put them in a bowl. Cover with Cheez-Its). I had yet to move into my old room. Nobody put any art up while I was gone. The day after my arrival I recovered a bag of superfluous possessions I lugged around throughout the summer. Extra clothes, tight jeans, a turquoise hoodie. My laptop also lay dormant in the very same gray leather luggage. I was excited to see my own computer again. Excited ... own ... again ...
Suddenly, after I had turned the thing on, checked my e-mail and read a few blog posts, I was struck in the back of my brain with a dreadful feeling that was all too recognizable. A feeling I instantly regretted I provoked. It was an inkling of lethargy combined with uselessness and sadness. Boredom. I hadn't felt like this for months! The Internet was free to use and I could do anything my heart desired with my own computer. No imposition. Nothing to do. And I find it only slightly coincidental that I was watching Groundhog Day (on Groundhog Day) and thinking about Alan Watts.
ARE WE ALL DREAMING?! Anyway, I'll keep the clichéd exposition of the unimportance (ill-importance) of possessions to a minimum. We all know that stuff does not equal satisfaction. End of exposition. I am now settled down back in Brooklyn trying to decide what to dump all my energy into. How many disciplines can I perform simultaneously? Music, movies, screen-printing, volunteering?
Smoking has stopped though I'm always bumming in social situations. I've painted my room greens and yellows. It looks like a forest at dawn with prayer flags and pine boughs. Zipcar has hired me back though I'm still on-call (I only worked one day last week... not looking forward to the gap in income). There have been two snow storms yet it was 60° today. Here's my housemate Jessica outside our house during the second storm:
I worked briefly on friend Laura's independent for-real-with-a-budget short called "Hunting". This crew is huge:
Eric moved out of our apartment, this is us taking a Chinese food break while moving his and Sarah's things:
I attended my nephew Lucas's first birthday in Massachusetts (pictures please! link in the comments), saw the family and some friends, and returned to Brooklyn with a cargo van filled with all my belongings. I suddenly regret not backpacking longer... though strangely, I had the opposite emotion during much of my trip. I anticipated coming home. I can't wait to leave again!
It's interesting that the phrase "culture shock" can embody so feelings.
The movie I am in that was shot with a few friends over the summer (Most of My Memoirs Are Plagiarized (title image sorta)) will be premiering in New York on the 20th! Here's a trailer:
And here's a list of albums I've acquired since reacquiring my computer (after listening to Pitchfork's Top 100 Tracks of 2009:
Joanna Newsom (came out in 2010, not on pforks 09 list but will be on 10's)
Album is not available streaming anywhere on the Internet but trust me it's epic and incredible.
Here's one track.
Good Intentions Paving Company
And here she is last Friday on Fallon:
Sleigh Bells
While I was away this band formed, exploded and is already playing shows out of my price range.
Sleigh Bells - "Ring Ring" (MP3)
Sleigh Bells - "Crown On The Ground" (MP3)
Sleigh Bells - "Beach Girls" (MP3)
Sleigh Bells - "Infinity Guitars" (MP3)
[EDIT: Lala.com was bought and destroyed by Apple Inc. you now only get a list:]
Lightning Bolt - Earthy Delights
The Flaming Lips - Embryonic
Raekwon - Only Built for Cuban Linx II
The Big Pink - A Brief History of Love
Fuck Buttons - Tarot Sport
Atlas Sound - Logos
Yeasayer - Odd Blood
Hot Chip - One Life Stand
Röyksopp - Junior
Animal Collective - Fall Be Kind
Lady Gaga - Fame Monster
The Knife - Tomorrow, In A Year
Passion Pit - Manners
Crayon Angel: A Tribute To The Music Of Judee Sill
Jesus was a cross maker is especially good (though the original is s[t]ill better)
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