Thinkunthinkun

At work they are remodeling so I am displaced for a few days. At home they are remodeling, so I am displaced for a few days.

Some thoughts of late are on:

Brandon De Wilde

The International Submarine Band

Diners, Bowling Alleys and Trailer Parks

Small towns

Cable or no cable?

Roses or no roses?

When to plan that girls night out-Maybe pancakes at Hoovers then brunch on Sunday at Mimi's?

How is it that in my two sets of grandparents, both grandfathers,very strong men, like uber strong men, types not of this day and age but then even stronger grandmothers, are people just not made that way anymore? I got to meet two great-grandmothers in my lifetime, yep, tres strong. Are we all really softies these days? According to the book: Hello, I'm Special: How Individuality Became the New Conformity by Niedzviecki we are. I didn't think it was a terribly enlightening book, preaching to the choir, but still, more people should read it.

I used to think of Italy all the time and then thoughts turned to France but after a few years, thoughts are again with Italy. I nearly forgot all the Italian I knew, out of practice, been thinking of things I used to know.

Watched Come Blow Your Horn(1963) the other day. Great Sinatra film for the clothing and sets and of course Sinatra singing Come Blow Your Horn. Lots of his favorite color in that film too...orange

There you go, not much going on. Enjoying the summer, care free and thinking.

Too much of a good thing

Rain, rain go away
You are causing plant decay!
Root rot and mushrooms all over. I wanted to enjoy my Maid of Orleans Jasmine this summer but it's all yellow and no flowers. Before the Great Downpour of 07 , back in May, it was doing so well. The Cinnamon Basil is even suffering, it needs the sun.

MOLDS, molds everywhere! UGH!

I'm constantly being chased by a hungry, aggressive, cloud of giant mosquitos.

Umbrellas...keep your head dry but that's about it.

I wonder how my nematodes are doing with all this rain. Are they multiplying and that's why I have no ants or did they drown or did they all get tidalwaved into the street where they died when the sun peaked out for a few hours?

I own a lot of shoes that do poorly in the rain.

Summer Minutiae

The summer has been soooooooooo mild it's nutz! We don't even get into the 90's much. YAY! Time for a beach excursion, so long as it doesn't rain. Too much rain?

Speaking of....A friend of mine was at Okaloosa Island, somewhere near Florida's Emerald Coast. Her photos of miles of desserted beach and blue water and dolphins made me want to get us on the next jet to the Emerald Coast. Definitely a futre destination, sooner than later!

Been enjoying friends, music, movies and reading. Remodeling project will begin soon, will post photos.

Summer Interests Du Jour:
Heirloom roses

Fried green tomatoes at Billy's

Bookmaking: Made my first lil hardcovered book with hand sewn spine, trescool! Tons of ideas.

La Mer

Pachuco Boogie-Don Tosti

OUT:
Those about.com websites. I always end up clicking on one for lack of eyeing the url fast enough. They carry no information and lead you to other pages with no real info.

U.S. District Judge John D. Bates-What an asshole. What a criminal. How much did they pay this guy? What an indecent human being.

Website Closed for the Summer

I decided to close shop for the rest of the Summer. When I come home I just want to go to the movies, enjoy my cookbooks. I would rather take a weekend off and go to the beach with my husband than work.

I wasn't enjoying things 100%. While at the beach I felt guilty for neglecting OTM, while working on OTM I found myself anxiously trying to finish what I was doing so that we could hang out and enjoy the day together. I became unhappy with the quality of my work in my latest projects because I was trying to rush them so that I could make Broken English or an opening at the Art Palace.

I also have grown tired of my website and thought it could use some changes. Those who have placed orders, they will all be filled but no longer taking new orders.

OTM will be back in the Fall! Many changes to come.

Looking at Ranch Houses

It was disappointing. Many have had remodels and updates that look really cheap and just ruin the aesthetic. Others just didn't seem like they were quality to begin with. Looking for a ranch that has been left untouched.

One thing I noticed was our 1940's all original kitchen is so much more spacious than what we have seen in any home so far. A lot of homes lack charming detail. Perhaps it was there once but removed. Hardwood floors, not as easy to come by once you start looking at homes built after 1960 so we'll have to make a few compromises.

I love this house to much, it's hardwood floors, detailed molding,the kitchen, the yards, it's home. So we just put feelers out this past weekend but not going anywhere for awhile.

I keep hearing references to articles in the Statesman about Austin housing prices going down. I have noticed that there are more homes under $250K than there were last summer. Many higher priced homes remain on the market a lot longer. Eventually it will get here...that thing that goes pop!

Weekend Minutiae

Listening to Roxy Music this morning before I head off to work and creating this entry. I woke up too early. So this past weekend was somewhat eventful.

We finally made it to the AMOA where I got to see Robert Frank's US 90, en route to Del Rio, Texas It was pretty awesome being able to finally see it. It was like meeting someone you have long admired.

Later we stopped by to see Gabe Kaplan at Book People. I haven't been to one of those book signings since Harvey Pekar. I stood in a fast moving line waiting to get my book signed and formulated a few questions. I was last. However when the time finally came I stood sort of speechless. It was Mr Kotter. I faintly asked if it would be okay to have a photo taken and said thank you then managed to utter, "Big fan", as I walked away. This reaction was completely unexpected.

His book:Kotter's Back: E-Mails from a Faded Celebrity to a Bewildered World is tres funny. Sort of Jerky Boys meets Punk'd meets Borat but done Kaplan style via e-mails. Reading in between the lines it really says a lot about American culture today in regards to celebrity, reality shows,e-mail and the internet. The story I enjoyed most was Wilma.

Dropped by to see Mr Gage. Finished the weekend with White Heat at the Paramount with the infamous Bonnie. We couldn't wait to hear, "Made it, Ma! Top of the world!"

Mon Jul 2 2007

BOULDER, Colo. - Admirers of author Jack Kerouac celebrated the 50th anniversary of "On the Road" with a marathon reading of the novel. Fans and some close friends of the late author took turns reading his most famous novel aloud at Naropa University in Boulder on Saturday.

About 150 people listened to the cover-to-cover reading, which took 12 hours and kicked off the university's inaugural Kerouac Festival.

One of the most popular books ever written by an American, "On the Road" tells the story of Kerouac and a friend he calls Dean Moriarity as they travel the country, including a visit to Denver that the city celebrates with a tour that traces his steps.

The stream-of-consciousness novel helped generate the Beat Generation.