Merry Christmas

Never Touch a Restroom Door Barehanded

This is my suggestion to you. Use a paper towel or something to open it. Then, of course, throw the paper down on a secretaries desk. Maybe it's different for women, but uptight guys in suits will lock themselves in for 15minutes, pop out, run their corrupted fingers through their thinning hair, and stride out without even considering a feint rinse. I pretty much avoid shaking hands with anyone anymore. Ok, that's only somewhat true, always been a little unsure shaking, though. Now I ask if they are clean before I reach out. Men usually don't want to shake after a question like that. Works well only if successful dancing away from flying, funky fists focused on my face.
Regardless, make an effort to wash your hands before eating... there are a lot of fancy people out there that are just plain disgusting. I'm pretty sure you won't get the flu if you wash your hands with consistancy.
Please don't think I'm a hygiene nut, very far from it... perhaps too far in some areas, my toenails are 8ft long and my teeth are green. But your hands can be filthy little mothers that cause illness if you don't keep up with them. Also, just generally be aware of the ugly habits used by otherwise tightassed people in public.
I wrote this only because I care about all of you... or I was willied out one too many times.

Painting by friend that i'm glad to own... what do you think?
*I don't own the friend, simply the painting. Purchasing a person is a poor investment from all the angles that I am privy to.
*But I do like the picture. It reminds me of that moment when I first lay eyes on my mom's house in Ohio after being away for a long, trying stretch. That moment is full of calm and relief but hardly based on true reality (that don't matter none though). Everything is perfect in that moment; I've been there, around, ate this and that, talked to them and they, been pissed, giddy, scared or high, and now I'm finally back. Back to everything that is safe & peaceful. Those 30seconds are among the best a person can live

Slab City

Someone brought this article in today's NY Times to my attention:
Parked in Desert, Waiting Out the Winter of Life
A few years ago, over the course of 1 year, I slowly drove around the country in a mini Toyota Chinook motorhome. The most unique time I had was during my 2months spent at this decommissioned WWII era military training ground in Southern California, Slab City. All that remains of the base are concrete foundations of structures that once stood and a grid of craggely ol' asphalt roads that partition otherwise uniform stretches of desert land. Vegetation is sparce, the only trees were a few randomly placed creosote and ironwood that created the rare and highly sought after swathes of shade. The onsite water is the Coachella canal and a very hot spring... neither are for drinking. Swim and fish in the canal, soak in the hot spring.
There are 2 distinct groups that live in Slab City:
1. Snowbirds: Old, middleclass, grey hairs who've cashed in equity and bought a nice (sometimes giant) motorhome. These folks travel south in the winter, and north in spring and summer. Can be found in Slab City between November/March
2. The Fringe: Roughnecks, homeless, migrants, outlaws, shellshocked, maltempered, granite livered drunks, and or a whole host of other (un?)desirable traits. Just plain, all out, shut-the-fuck-up libertarians to the nth degree. Many of The Fringe live in Slab City year round, meaning they survive the summers. True or not, they say the summer highs are 120+degF and lows 100. If they clash during the winter, they help each other survive in the summer; each summer, they say, there are casualties (the massive amount of alcohol consumed no doubt contributes)
As with most articles on Slab City, the emphasis seems to be on Snowbirds and Christians "missionary" sorts. During my stay, I found The Fringe infinitely more interesting, full of life, and yearning for expirience. I didn't drink while there; my buddy, a 50+yr/old cowboy, oil driller, baby maker/leaver, story teller, and sporadic gormet camp chef drank a fifth of whiskey and half a 12pack of warm, cheap beer everday. He drank all that untill, that is, when his disability check ran out days before the end of the month... then he'd go into detox shock. He rarely bought food. He was famous for saying, "I can get food and clothes for free, my check only buys liquor and tobacco." (or something to that effect) His name was Kenny. Hard to say why we got along so well but we bonded... kinda like I needed a father and he a son, but our roles seamlessly reversed constantly. Damn, it's making me sad, the guy's probably dead by now. He told me sugar made him into the alcoholic he became. When he was a kid, he'd come home from school and eat a big spoonful of sugar... then it became 2... as I remember it, he eventually downed very large quanitities and if he didn't his body would freak out, he was addicted. In his teens it moved to alcohol. He claimed that there was some scientific evidence that perports physiological similarity between and alcohol addiction. He was in bad shape when I knew him, but I tell you there was wisdom and compassion buried deep benieth all the haze, shit, junk, and disappointment he lived through. He rolled his own cigarettes from the cheapest tobacco I imagine can be out there. $10 for a 1/2 gallon of tobacco in a ziplock bag. He had a mustache that went down his chin, wore black drugstore sunglasses, and combed his hair straight back with water and grease that'd escaped from his scalp. One time I went to take a photo of him and his girlfriend. They said wait, dropped there pants and mooned me, pulling their butt cheeks apart with corresponding hands. Laughing like he did, he asked me if I could see their 'assholes', I said yeah. Months later I developed the film, and I'll be damned, there are 2 assholes dimmly clear in one-a'm. The dude was out there, and could he piss people off like no one I'd never met before; even I wanted to run him down once or twice, but it was only a matter of time till we and others were playing horseshoes waiting to get in that next game of chess. I'll tell you with all honesty, he was a friend of mine.

Movie-Q and Pancho

Please Give Me Movie Recommendations!!!!

Movies:
1. Hero 2004: $9
I really enjoyed this film. The fight scenes were all very beautiful as were the visuals throughout. The Director, Zhang Yimou, uses a storytelling device very similar to that used by the great Japanese director, Akira Kurosawa, in his movie Rashomon(1950). A triangle effect: The professed, The deduced, and "The Truth" (here I thought I was sooo smart about recognizing Rashomon in this movie and there, on the front page of it's IMDB is the same thing... such is life). Highly recommend Zhang Yimou, Hero, Kurosawa, Rashomon (hell, anything by Kurosawa, you won't be disappointed but rather stunned)
2. Citizen Ruth 1996: $7.50
The same writers/director of this are getting much acclaim for their newest film, Sideways. While I don't believe Sideways merits all it's getting, I don't think this one has recieved it's due. Truthfully, I don't know what people have said about it. It makes you wince more than once; since watching it, I've become suspicious of everyone's motives for everything. I liked it.
3. The Elephant Man 1980: $9
This is just a great movie. This isn't Quasimodo(sp?), she gave him more than water... how 'bout a kiss? Most likely you've already seen it, as I had. My only shoulder turning question is, how was he not psycologically crippled from all the abuse he'd recieved in his life? I know he retreated into his head, but...
4. Talk To Her 2002: $8
Visually, the colors explode and many of the shots could be photographs. Storywise, it is creative, unusual, and unpredictable (not everything, it let's you figure some stuff out). Language and acting, Spanish sure can be seductive, can't it? French, too... Italian, Eastern Bloc, even English... ok, ok, ok... the characters were all truely characters. There is a 'whoa facter' here as well. Give this one a chance, a good one.
5. The Incredibles 2004: $6
ok, I'm gonna have a hard time with this one as I participated in a really dumbass screwup. Ok, so I'm gonna go see the Sunday matinee of this animated movie everyone and their little inbred cousins has been raving about. Pixar does put out good movies, well crafted stories and characters... done with absolute cutting edge CGI graphics. 3:15 is the show. So I do all the damn dishes, scrub the stubborn mold on the walls of the closet, eat, fiddle, tidy, listen to music... basically wilying awat time in a figity manner. I walk downtown, late, as usual, and go into the wrong theater and then run out and snake through streets, into another building that, for all I know, only has 3 seperate escalators up to the 3rd floor theater. Those 3 escalators, as everytime I've ever seen them, are clumped full of stationary, lumpy people. For the love of Christ, when riding an escalator MOVE YOUR FEET UP THE STEPS EVEN THOUGH THE STEPS ARE MOVING (if you don't want to walk up the escalator, at least let other pass, please!). ok ok ok. Long story, I saw the end first. It was fine, but I wish I hadn'ta messed up the situation like I did. Oh well.
6. The Manchurian Candidate (1962): $8.50
I was told the new version of this movie was halfway decent, wasn't particularly moved to see it, checked the library, and put this, the original, on hold. This is a cool movie. I want to say a little something about it, but don't want to give anything away. It a classice for good reason, just like Citizen Kane
7. The Last Samurai 2003: $3
This movie is a waste of time outside of wondering how the true story actually was. Watch any movie from the previously mentioned Akira Kurosawa instead

TV Shows on video:
1. Curb Your Enthusiasm, 2nd season
Holy crap is this funny. I liked Sienfeld the TV show a lot, but this may be funnier. Larry David co-created with Jerry S the Sienfeld show... Larry David is most closely the real life inspiration behind the character George. This is similar humor to Sienfeld only more painful to the viewer. It can just plain ache at times. I know, that doesn't sound pleasant, but it truely is a joy. The 1st season is waiting for me at the library as we speak... hot damn!
2. The Office, 1st & 2nd seasons (haven’t seen the Christmas special)
Holy crap this is funny. You have to watch the 1st season first, follows chronologically, not every second but generally. Please watch this show, it is British and is beat your head against a wall over and over funny. The only show that could be funnier is Curb Your Enthusiasm.
3. Twin Peaks, episodes 1-8 & continuing
Think I was too young to give the slightest damn about the mania that surrounded this program when it was on the air. On a whim I got the 1st 5episodes from the library, and wham!, I'm definitely entertained. Entertained enough then proceed to get episodes 6-9 but am currently taking a break. Telivision screeen burnout. I guess computer, too, but that doesn't count.
*Does it seem like I Everything I see? Not so.

Books:
1. The Mind of Wallstreet, by Leon Levy
You just havta love the stock market! ok, maybe not, but I do. I believe that my opportunities to make or lose money in the stock market are fundamentally based in psycological factors, mine and the markets. This book shows that there is more complexity than that. There are some interesting people that have been affiliated with stock markets. I found Leon Levy to be quite a character and very incitefull. It also amazes me that people can write so much about markets and make so much sense
2. Chronicles, Vol 1, by Bob Dylan
Like him or not, READ THIS BOOK. A+ pleasant surprise.

The United States of Whatever

Here's my new friend. Until last Thursday, the idea of me wearing a leather jacket made me chuckle; upon buying it, I've taken to it quite well. For those of you like me with no leather expirience, leather requires some degree of maintaince. I bought a leather cleaner/ conditioner from Wilson Leather in the mall (broke my mall boycott to tend to my 6lb jacket). Wasn't fully impressed with it's results and was contemplating what the next step would be when an attorney brought in some fancy leather lotion for me yesterday. So being the diligent employee that I am, I proceeded to use at least an hour on the clock to apply, as per instructions, 3 light coats. The texture, flexibility, and color have all improved markedly. Never would have believed it 6months ago, but damn, I look good in a black leather jacket. Even still, I think it is a bit humurous, riding a scooter with leather... safer, but certainly funny. Haven't fully gotten over the shock of the quality and condition of this jacket, coming from the thrift store and all.

Both keys and cigarettes fit into this arm pocket very nicely.

Schott Brothers, an American Classic since 1913
[Intermediate, that describes me pretty well]

Back Off, I'm Even

ok, I'll have been trading in the stock market for 1.5years exactly at the end of this year. My first trade was in a shitty little company, RAY, on July 1st 2003, think I made about 35bucks on it or something... it went downhill from there(not quite but close). By the end on the year, only 6months, I was down almost 48%. Can you believe that? insane. Well, today the market closed with me in the black for the first time since my first month trading. Touched even on Friday, but closed below. Translates to about a 105% gain so far this year (have a tiny cushion right now). As everyone knows, nothing counts unless it is cash. Take it for what it's worth, nearly nothing.
Two Things:
1. I'm not bragging, just surprisingly happy... should I get drunk?
2. Please don't misconstrue this information as confirmation of my great trading skill; I am merely a rogue trader in-training, stress in-training. Hell, I can't spell... or even think in moderately complete sentences.

60 Minutes & Dylan

Bob Dylan will be giving his first telivizzed interview [in 19yrs] this Sunday on 60 Minutes. He will be interviewed by Ed Bradley. Apparently they arm-wrestle at some point, no word on who won... part of the suspense, I suspect.
Sunday 7pm CBS 60 Minutes
Watch it, should be unusual

*heard about it on BBC... a news show interviews an entertainer and it hits inyernational press, weird
**Oh, I finally read his book, Chronicles, Vol 1. I was prepared to be disappointed but was enthralled. READ IT READ IT READ IT. In case you hadn't heard, the guy has a way with words. Now I'm not any kind a art critic, but someone please tell me what American artist in the past century is on the level with Bob Dylan?

I'm The Wild One

ok, so I've been half looking for a black leather jacket for months now. Only half looking 'cause the idea of me wearing leather kinda makes me laugh a bit. Am I man man enough? Am I even cool enough? Absolutely moot questions at this point as I bought one last night. Now I don't know what kind of people you are, but I am a thrift store kid, through and throow. Weekly, I walk to my favorite thrift store that I've ever shopped. On 11th Ave, between Pike & Pine in Capital Hill... if you're in Seattle check it out, 3 stories of greatness. Well I have my own sorta routine when shopping there, looking at the leather jackets has been part of it for a while. Earlier this week I decided that I probably couldn't pull off such outer wear. That's when, of course, I'm at my most vulnerable, once I've made my decision and acting to the contrary. So I'm at the thrift store last night, my sense was it was gonna be another one of those empty handed shuffles out the door, worried an employee suspected me of lifting a $3 item. I made it to the leathers rack and the situation changed abruptly, and not on account of the familiar rotting, mildew smell that accompanies every thrift store leather supply. There, on the end of the rack, under a shining beacon hung a Schott Brothers Type MA-1 black leather jacket. It had "L" written on the tag, I usually take "M" but it looked about right. $35?!?!? This is a thrift store for crissake. I picked it up, it was heavy. Heavy duty leather, softened with use but not worn. I put it on, shit, it fits... arms maybe a tiny bit long, maybe, but damn.
Soon I will post pictures.
* oh, i forgot to say, the reason i wanted a leather jacket in the first place was 'cause i have and ride a scooter, 150cc. as my relatives frequently remind me, i don't have much "meat" on my bones. so if i laid the bike out without a hearty jacket my my skin would quickly shread away, my thin but efficient muscles quickly would follow, and then all i'd have would be bare bones. plus it's gettin' cold, oh so cold... the leather jacket is now the closest thing of mine to a proper winter coat.