RandomCha

The Caine Mutiny [1954]

1. "Go and have a good cry, Willie. I know that I will."
2. Whether or not they’re actually onscreen, whenever the steel balls come out we hear them clicking.
3. Lee Marvin plays a character named Meatball.

Been eating out a lot in the past few weeks. Maybe it’s springtime: I want to get out of the house more. Trying new places too. Last night A. and I went to Deleece on Clark. Awfully good! A very juicy steak sandwich on buttery, toasted bread with pesto mayo. How could you not like that? My mashed potatoes were a little cold but still delicious. Reasonable beer prices. The place was nearly empty, nice and quiet. We talked about Hyde Park vs. Lakeview, and foods we didn’t like, and the habits of our significant others. It’s so soothing to be in a public place that’s calm. I’ve put my finger on it and I really understand Buñuel more than ever now. It’s an atmosphere where the mind is free to wander and dream.

After dinner it was time to meet up with the crew for Happy Hour at the L & L. Love that place. They had a $3 Kentucky Tavern Bourbon special, which I abundantly partook of, and a solid jukebox. Played Frank, Nancy, Dino, Neil, Jim, Dusty, James, and a few others. There were perhaps a dozen of us there, talking too loudly and making obnoxious comments about Dan Aykroyd’s new crystal skull vodka. Eventually the tamale guy came in, selling 6 for $5. I was still stuffed from dinner but he was doing a brisk business. Time flew by. Somewhat randomly there were several guys in our group who currently work or used to work at SOM and snarky talk freely flowed. "I’ve survived four rounds of layoffs. Can’t quit now!" Eventually someone piped up and said we should throw everyone into a ring and have a "snark to the death."

I felt completely at ease in a way that would have been just a fantasy ten or fifteen years ago, when I always felt awkward and tongue-tied. It wasn’t just the bourbon. It’s getting older, having seen more of life. Doesn’t spook you so much. You begin to see youself as a character with a sizeable backstory. Context.

Came home about 10:30, bobbing and weaving moderately. Andy said, "I can tell you’ve been at a bar because you’re talking too loud." We watched some Me-TV and suddenly it was 11:30. Vitamins, Walproxin, large glass of water. I dreamt about layoffs and Nine to Five and I remember the line, "Because you promoted him instead of yourself, they won’t fire you. It proves you had altruistic motives."

Office Space [1999]

1. Michael puts several packets of sugar in his coffee but never seems to actually drink it.
2. "You know, the Nazis had pieces of flair that they made the Jews wear. "
3. He looks down. All that remains of the cake are a few sad crusts of frosting.

Dinner at Jack’s on Halsted last night. I was the first to arrive so I sat at the bar and had a drink. It’s a nice place to go for a drink. I ought to remember that for future reference. Fairly quiet, nice windows looking out onto the intersection, which is a prime one for people watching. Not the best Manhattan I’ve ever had, but at least it wasn’t overly sweet. And it was $5.

I had roast chicken and it was fantastic. Last weekend I went to Bin 36 for the first time and also had roast chicken, and last night’s was much better. I could’ve eaten a whole plate of the garlic mashed potatoes that came on the side.

When I got home I was in a serious food coma. Before I knew it I was watching a documentary on WTTW about the long-time rivalry between Helena Rubinstein and Elizabeth Arden. They were the first female businesswomen to really insist that every woman could be beautiful, and that it was something they could do for themselves. A revolutionary idea, coming out of the 19th century. They were also great patrons and popularizers of modern art. Rubenstein had Man Ray paintings in her salon, and she gave Dali a leg up. They don’t teach you about this stuff in art school.

Valentino: The Last Emperor [2008]

1. Giammetti used to frequent that particular cafe because he was broke, and his father had an account there.
2. In the 70’s they grew the business the old fashioned way, by selling clothes. In the 80’s, it was merchandising. In the 90’s, by investing in smaller firms. Now it’s all about money.
3. The dress looked better without the two strips.

"I’m tired of all this noise. I just want to play cool."
–Lester Young

It’s a drab day. Bit of a comedown from yesterday. The weather was gorgeous but I wore the wrong kind of shoes, so I didn’t walk all the way home from work as I’d planned. I’m not sure why my brain feels so glaciated. It hasn’t been a demanding day.