#88

For some reason I’m really digging this book of complied Nick Hornby columns from The Believer. I guess it’s kinda weird to be reading a guy’s reviews on books that I mostly haven’t read – but interesting none the less.

In honor of Bracketology season, he compared literature to a Cultural Fantasy Boxing League.

Hornby says:
"Go on, try it. “The Magic Flute” vs. Middlemarch? Middlemarch in six. “The Last Supper” vs. Crime and Punishment? Fyodor on points. See? I mean, I don’t know how scientific this is, but it feels like the novels are walking it. You might get the occasional exception – “Blonde on Blonde” might mash up The Old Curiosity Shop, say, and I wouldn’t give much for Pale Fire’s chances against Citizen Kane. And every now and again you’d get a shock, because that happens in sport, so Back to the Future III might land a lucky punch on Rabbit, Run; but I’m still backing literature twenty-nine times out of thirty. "

But, one month later he changes his tune….
"So, there we are. Books: pretty good, but not as good as other stuff, like goals, or bootlegs. "


So, there we are. Book are infact pretty rad but lots of things beat them.

Like, gratutious Jordan Farmar sizzle reels

And Replacements' cover songs.

#83

I spent the better part of my morning losing my mind over the McSweeney's sale.  Seriously.  Got 11 books for $56 (and that's including shipping!).  For those who care, I picked up McSweeneys Quarterly Concern issues 13 through 18 and 23, two collections of columns by Nick Hornby, 'Maps and Legends' by the same guy who wrote The Adventures of Kavalier and Clay and a book that is CLEARLY a must-have called "All Known Metal Bands".

Taylor Swift wins the award for worst admat ever... but I will be logged in at 10am sharp EST tomorrow morning buying a pair of pre-sale tickets to this.  Show's not until August 27th but that just gives me plenty of time to get fuckin' stoked!

SXSW is just around the corner!  I'm pretty excited about the discontinuation of Sparks.  I don't think my heart/liver/other internal organs could handle another Sparks open bar music industry douche bag event.   If you'll be in Austin, come visit me at The Souls/D4/DH show.  The bands promise to slay.... and you'll help fight breast cancer too!

Aaaaaand Fringe, where the hell have you been?  I miss Walter Bishop and the Lance Reddick face.  Please return to my Tuesday nights to be enjoyed later via DVR....ASAP!

#79

I need to read more. I’m currently part way through 3 books but making no progress.
-Victoria Finlay's "Colour"

-Ovid’s “Metamorphoses”
-Howard Zinn’s “A People’s History Of The United States Of America”

Do need/want to get around to the following sooner than later….
-Ann Patchett's "Bel Canto"

-McSweeney’s #30 reader
-re-read “Nine Stories” for the 4291876539872195th time (on a related note: my future daughter – or, more realistically, future puppy - will be named Esme)

I have spent a bit of time this weekend reading all 3 T Swift cover stories that are currently on the newsstand. No joke. Rolling Stone > Self > Teen Vogue.

On the computer this afternoon, I also unearthed a folder of poetry from a workshop that I HAD to take in college. Oof. I was/am so incredibly lame. Seriously on a scale of 1-10 of lameness, many of these are 13/14/15 level status. I think my ‘travel’ poems are much more sucessful my ‘love’ poems. Here’s an example of each for you, my faithful blog readers.  Now you can share the burden of my embarrassment. 

“ORD” (11/13/05)

no one has suitcases anymore
just nylon and canvas on wheels
rolling behind their burberry lined coats
and pocohontas boots
backpacks with gel padded straps
bobbing along
attached to the pint-sized

no one has suitcases anymore
except her
here

shabby converse shoes
black horn rimmed glasses
a shy arrogance
a confident innocence
a smirk of ennui
a small suitcase of…
it harks back to days past
when flight attendants were stewardesses
with their towering teased hair-dos
and bona fide smiles

the fighting irish family
all dark blue and gold
dad diligently helping son with fractions
from a text book labeled in fair condition
fair condition like at LGA
in an estimated one hour and thirty-four minutes
fifty-six degrees in mid-november

a man on stand by is
standing by the suitcase girl
wearing his too short suit pants
revealing his mismatched socks
one argyle navy, one argyle black
his hereditary colorblindness
is much like the male pattern baldness
perched upon the head of another man
waiting for his first class boarding call
with only his mother’s father to thank

“The Experiment” (10/1/05)

Here I am
amidst
the crowded cafeteriaauditoriumgymnasium

Tri-fold cardboard
displays are scattered atop the lunch tables with their adjoined
benches, lining the perimeter of the room

My blood once raged in anticipation,
as unpredictable as the vinegar and baking soda lava
threatening to erupt from the papier-mâchéd mountain

The electricity between us
could have held balloons to our untamed hair or woolen sweaters

The coat hanger solar system,
a reminder of the moon you once promised me.

Marigolds grown to a soundtrack of Mozart and Bach are vibrant
Those grown to ‘our song’ shrivel, wither, wilt

I stand beside my project,
Carefully decomposing:
The corsage from the winter formal
A teddy bear
Notes passed behind the teacher’s back
Your favorite sweatshirt that was always two sizes too big
Prepared to explain my predictions, procedure, and conclusive data.

I am deserving of first place recognition.
You award me with only a ribbon of participation.

Seriously.

SO BAD!
I’m going to go on record as saying the only reason I managed to eek out a decent grade in this class is because I actually did all the work but mostly because my professor took pity on me for my seriously shitty poetry. Thank you for that Prof. K. Brown. (I’m also sorry for any emails you inadvertently received that were intended for me between 2002-2006.)

#56

Everyone should listen to more Owen music!

"Fever" is definitely one of my favorites!

This one comes complete with an Unbearable Lightness of Being reference.  

Yay books!


I might like this one even more than "Fever". 

....and this wouldn't be complete without a music video for good measure.

#47

Finally finished reading the Big Damn Rat Book this evening...

I want to leave everyone with one more passage from the book.  So the author, Robert Sullivan, was discussing Irish and German immigrants and problems that NYC officials faced having to keep those groups under control, particularly between Henry Bergh and Kit Burns.  This is all totally happening circa Gangs of New York-era.

"Thankfully, he [Bergh] did eventually stop rat fights and the like, though such events persisted for some time - people naturally want to gather in crowds and eat and drink and cheer and sometimes get into brawl. [Duh, ever watched a Yankees vs. Red Sox game?]  Some historians argue that the end of rat fights did not come until the next inexpensive crowd-pleasing sporting event was finally embraced by the growing number of inner-city residents in New York and all over America: baseball."

Baseball FTW!!

[Also, in crowd-pleasing sporting event related news, Ravens FTW!!]

Now onto Chasing Cool: Standing Out In Today's Cluttered Marketplace.  

Marketing books FTW!!

After that, I may finally crack into my Teach Yourself: Beginner's Dutch book and cds.

Hacking and gagging and spitting sounds FTW!!

#31

QUICK RECAP: 

Such a great day!

MORE DETAILS:  

This happened... 

in my apartment for about 10 minutes before Perry and I headed out to brunch with Dustin and Ali.  My postulate* was correct though, for those who care.  I didn't blog pre-game, didn't root too hard and the Ravens actually freakin' won!  And not only did they win, but they scored a defensive touchdown on a gift from Chad Pennington - my fantasy team thanks them.

After brunch we walked around for a bit... it's starting to get colder and so fun, outside days are soon going to be few and far between.  We picked out furniture at ABC Carpet that we currently (and maybe never) cannot afford and then spent the better part of an hour perusing the shelves at Barnes and Noble in search of this collection of Eggers short stories.  I've now learned that it's out of print or only available in the UK or whatever.  So, I settled on this book:

For those who aren't aware, I have more run-ins with rats in NYC than anyone I've ever met... not limited to having them scamper across my bare flip-flopped feet (Attorney Street, between Houston and Stanton), sharing the subway platform with them at the West 4th Street station stop (Downtown A/C/E side), and walking in the middle of the street in the summer when I see them nibbling on garbage (pretty much anywhere in the East Village/Lower East Side).  I have luckily - fingers crossed & knock on wood - never lived in a rat/mouse infested apartment building, although I did rather enjoy that Ratatouille movie.  I seriously hope this book sheds some light on those little critters and hopefully helps calm my crippling phobia.

Now, I'm watching the baseball game and tying a few on with Perry.  Thanks in advance for continuing to read her blog.  She has google analytics and shit and I want to feel popular!

Question #1: 

If we heat up hard cider, will it burn off all the alcohol content?

Question #2: 

What's with the Boston coach (er, manager...whatever) and his rampant gum chewing??  I hope he has stock in Bubblicious.

*pos-chuh-lit; -noun; Mathematics, Logic.  a proposition that requires no proof, being self-evident, or that is for a specific purpose assumed true, and that is used in the proof of other propositions; axiom.

#23

My favorite Kerouac haiku:

Quietly pouring coffee

  in the afternoon,

How pleasant!

Maybe it doesn't fit the standard 5-7-5 meter... but in less than 12 hours it will be me standing in a Tim Horton's (hopefully the 'homebase' location) enjoying an afternoon cup of coffee in the great country of Canada.  

Kerouac for the win, eh?

#16

Today in failing...

-missed the East Village beer crawl

-did not go to The Souls roller derby half-time show in Asbury Park

-Priceline would not accept my bids on flights to Hawaii

-American Apparel would not let me exchange a pair of tights

-currently watching Bad Boys II for a second time today

Seriously thinking about going to bed even though its barely midnight.   I used to be fun.

Currently reading this book of short stories by Sedaris, not actually written by him but chosen by him. Maybe its because my reading is mostly limited to the subway to/from work but short stories are great - Nine Stories/Salinger, Headless/Weissman, A Stranger In This World/Canty...  So good.  I won't lie, I kind of want to read A People's History Of The United States but I'm fairly certain I will get bored with it before I even make it to the Christopher Columbus part.

More football in t-minus 13 hours!

#13

I'm the worst blogger ever...  I guess I have been a little too involved in the Twilight book series (finished #4 last night... and am in love with Edward Cullen) and too many show in the past month.  

Here's a little breakdown of the last month:

7/22 - Shinedown at Highline

7/26 - Warped Tour in Long Island

7/27 - MGMT at McCarren Pool

7/30 - The Fullblast reunion show

8/6 - The Graduate at Gramercy

8/8 - The Graduate in CT

8/11 - Darkest Hour at Irving

8/12 - Gaslight Anthem instore at Generation Records

8/13 - Rancid at Irving

8/14 - Rancid at Irving

8/16 - Paramore in Philadelphia

8/17 - Gaslight Anthem at Knitting Factory

8/19 - Staind in NJ

8/21 - Carolina Liar at Bowery

8/26 - Nada Surf at Bowery

8/28 - Paramore in Central Park

8/29 - Sonic Youth at McCarren Pool

I'm sure I'm forgetting some stuff.... Hopefully September is a little quieter!  Whew.

In the time its taken me to type this, the Blue Jays have gone from being down by 2 to tied to down by 1 to down by 2.  UGH.  Boo Yankees!  Let's go Jays!  Summon your inner-fucking-Joe Carters already!

My fantasy (or fancy, depending on who's asking) football team is having our draft on Wednesday.  So stoked!  Anyone got any pointers?

I also have a twitter now... because I clearly don't have enough interwebz.  You can and should 'follow me'.  I'm: katietothemax.

Cool? Cool.

#12

I should begin with noting that the new Staind album is called "The Illusion Of Progress".

So, I'm sitting on the subway reading my book this morning (Dave Eggers' "You Shall Know Our Velocity!") and minding my own business when I read this passage....

"I was exhausted. You should sleep. Wake up early. That's not the way. It's the same. It means less that way. We sleep when we fall. We only sleep when we can't move anymore. That's juvenile. But it means everything. It's the illusion of progress. Staying awake isn't progress. The illusion is enough."

Excuse me what? It's the illusion of progress??! Nooooooooooo! I doubt Aaron Lewis put down the bong for long enough to pick up a book. Let alone one by Eggers. Argh.

Sometimes work ruins life.