Beauty

A few years back in Tempe, Arizona artists were commissioned by local officials to create temporary works of art at different bus stops in the city. One artist in particular, Joel Sherman, took excerpts from Thomas Meyer's translation of the Tao Te Ching and stenciled them in mud onto a couple city transit shelters. The results were wonderful. The text deals with many principles, including temporality, force, flexibility and resistance- issues that are relevant to the nation at large and specifically to the people of Tempe. See it here.

In saying this I wonder why more cities don't try to create beauty in the mundane. We are vibrant, eclectic individuals- why shouldn't our surroundings reflect this?

"Cities have the capability of providing something for everybody, only because, and only when, they are created by everybody."
-Jane Jacobs

Another One Bites The Dust

Since I was three years old it has been our family tradition to chop down a tree the day after Thanksgiving. Whether or not we actually put up the Christmas tree that year is a different story. Yes, there have been years when that sad little tree just stayed in the back yard waiting to be bedazzled with lights and ornaments. I think the fact that we typically leave the Christmas tree up till mid March makes up for it, if only slightly.

So for the past fifteen years we've been making the trek out to Suffolk to a family tree farm called Ehrenzeller's, a cabin straight out of Little House on the Prairie sitting on a couple acres of land filled with trees. Despite the long sighs, moans, and groans from the girls in the family we always seem to have a good time with each other and there are countless memories I have stored away from this particular family tradition of ours.

We roll up to Ehrenzeller's but there was no trailer where the tree boys dole out handsaws, no sign out front advertising the trees, it was empty. After calling 411 we found out that they had gone out of business. Sadly, we made the drive back to Norfolk treeless. Sad that it was an end of an era for our tree chopping expeditions. But equally, if not more so, sad that there was another independent business that had to close. Come on people, support local businesses! It really makes a lot of difference when you do and, honestly, you feel a lot better about your consumerism when you support local.

I guess the new family tradition is a midnight run to Ehrenzeller's (where there are still trees, just no business) with our own personal handsaw and tweed to tie it to the car. Leaving the traditional fee of $27.50 check in their mailbox of course.

Studio Center

Seriously guys, my Dad is the cutest.

N & G

"He would have liked to say no, to run back and go to bed. He felt tired and weak; his head had ached all afternoon. But he felt slightly embarrassed in front of Adolf. And who could tell: perhaps there would be something new, something beautiful outside the cloister, something that might make one forget headaches and listlessness and all kinds of pain. It was an excursion into the world- although secret and forbidden, nothing to feel proud of. Still, perhaps it would bring release, be an experience. He stood undecided while Adolf continued to talk; suddenly he laughed and said yes."

..as if I need more reasons to get out of Norfolk.

Eye of a Needle

Yesterday the family went out for a lunch that was supposed to be more awkward than stepping out of some dude's car with your stockings off just to have the abstinence talk with your folks.

In all honesty, it wasn't that bad.

My dad invited Some Dude to lunch. Amanda and I met Some Dude during last week's coffee hour at church. Last week Some Dude had thought it totally appropriate to hit on Amanda upon meeting and then ask her out after five minutes of bland conversation.

Anyways, so Cogans with the family and Some Dude. Undoubtedly he probably assumed we were the atypical gun-slinging, marry your daughters off, Bush bumper sticker, Bible thumping Baptists. Which is probably why he is seemed so shocked when I said that I personally thought Obamacare (as he called it) was a good idea. In fact, if we could be more like the Frenchies I think the good ol' US of A would be a better functioning country as a whole.

To which he rebutted,

"You'll see! When you get a job you're not gonna want half your paycheck going to the man!"

I don't know why it's this one issue that irks me so much. Maybe it's because everyone is so greedy with their money. Maybe it's because they can't seem to see outside their little cardboard box of a life that maybe (just maybe) this plan would work. I mean why should I expect someone who goes to church to believe that worldly possessions aren't important. I mean the whole rich man, camel, eye of a needle thing? Yea right! Who reads that anyways?? Let's focus on living our lives as we would and then get a "holier than thou" attitude just because we can sit still in nice clothes for one hour a week.

I say all that because some guy came into work last night with a tumor the size of a baseball on his neck. Homeless and hungry. Weak because his body is slowly killing itself. This guy didn't come in to ask for money or free popcorn but just because he needed someone to vent to. I offered up Ghent United Ministries and the Union Mission but apparently if you don't get your shit together within a certain time then you're out on the street again. Awesome system.

This guy, who calls himself Ol Big Pops, can't get adequate health care. Why? It's expensive and he can't pay for it. He can't pay for it because he doesn't have a job. He can't get a job because he's too weak from the cancer. Vicious cycle. Of course it doesn't have to be like that. We could follow the example of other revolutionary countries and offer free healthcare. Or we could just hold onto our money and watch as the sick get sicker, all the while saying "Well, what do you expect me to do about it?"

Porphyrophobia

"And I know I'm not that great
And there are things about you that I hate
And I know that I'm annoying too
But mostly when I think of you
I feel like I am someone who is irritating, people-hating
Just another drunken lover even if I'm not
Your hair is multicoloured and your eyes are all bloodshot
And I wish that I was special just like you
But I'm not, but I'm not."

Check That Box!

Organ donation- why doesn't everyone do it? It's simple, (relatively) pain free and guess what? You can't take your old body into the next life. Besides, why would you want to? It failed you pretty miserably if you're DEAD!

Tonight I watched a documentary on PBS following Rogue Wave's drummer Patrick Spurgeon. He was born with just one kidney which started to fail him during his junior year of high school. He received a kidney transplant during this time but, unfortunately, this kidney fails him and at the age of 41 his dreams of touring with Rogue Wave are starting to fade fast as the very real possibility of staying put and living on dialysis becomes more and more likely. Luckily, a match is made in the ta da! nick of time and Patrick Spurgeon is able to continue his life as usual.

The irony? The kidney donor died the day he got his driver's license- he checked yes where it asks the seemingly simple question, Organ Donor? If he hadn't where would Patrick Spurgeon be? To all that say no, hold on to that body that isn't doing you any good, what happens to all those people who could make good use of your otherwise useless body?

Interested? Maybe you could be in some kick-ass drummer's body!

You can donate your eyes, too.

Santacon

This December Maddie and I are traveling up to NYC. The main purpose of the trip is for her to see her boo and for me to make Julian Dorio my boo. It's pretty simple actually.

Lucky for us Santarchy will be held in NYC during our visit. The mission: Santa Claus, modified. Loads of New Yorkers will be dressing up like Santa Claus and romping about the city. Delightful! One can dress up as:

"a Santasaurus, Candy-cane, a Reindeer, a Chanukah Chicken, a goddamn latke, Stewardess Santa, Knight Rider Santa, Crusty Peace Punk Santa, the occasional Legless Reindeer, Chanukah Squirrel, Emo-Elf, or the Santichrist."

Let the imagination take over and let Santa Claus pervade. I think the take Brandon, Madeline, and I will have on Santa Claus is his polygamist side. Santa Claus and his two Missus.

Let the fun begin.

Dummy

Milla Jovovich and Adrien Brody are so amazingly awkward in this movie. I love it.

Good Hair

Currently playing over at MacArthur. I must see this.

I'd Rather Date a Spider or Rat

Kudos to Blair and Madeline.