RandomCha

Last night Andy & I finally got around to going to see “Solaris.” It’s playing at this new gigaplex just off the Loop called River East–21 screens. Not sure if its existence is really necessary, but it’s fairly well organized. I only had two complaints about the theatre: they don’t have coffee at the concession stand and the EXIT signs in the theatre are too bright. And, well, the $9.50 tickets. O yes, this is America.

I really enjoyed the film. It really works on its own terms and stays true to itself. It has its own pacing and development. There are many quasi-Kubrick moments which in lesser hands would seem like a rip off (a la Brian De Palma), but the way Soderbergh does things feels … authentic, like he’s drawing from the same sources of mystery and elgance that Kubrick did. It’s a daring film. It’s different from the Tarkovsky version, doesn’t try to do things the same way. George Clooney was entirely believable, perfectly cast. The visual effects were superb. Still, this is a quiet movie. Not much dialogue. So it’s rewarding in quiet ways. I’m very glad we saw it on the big screen. And glad that Soderbergh didn’t disappoint me.

On Tuesday I ran across a used copy of “Portrait of Thelonius” by Bud Powell at Record Exchange and, on a whim, bought it. I got home and listened to it. Great stuff, really well recorded. Especially “Monk’s Mood.” It was only after listening to it that I realized, looking at the liner notes, that the album was recorded in Paris on December 17th, 1961, exactly 41 years to the day that I was listening to it.

Will I ever time to go see “Solaris”? Rhetorical question. My F$#@! CDs from half.com AND djangos.com have not arrived yet! I hate waiting for the mail! To top it off, earthlink’s email system is screwed up today & I haven’t been able to access any email all day long. Grr.

On the other hand, I made a nice Bud Powell CD for a penpal of mine in New Jersey. I was able to fit 20 tracks of prime stuff on there. I hope he likes it.

“Moll Flanders” is great. Lurid, yet believable. I bet that’s what it was like to be a woman in England at the time. Find a man, or face doom.

Andy & I watched “Meet Me In St. Louis” last night. I’d never seen it before. I know this is possibly the most stereotypical thing I could be saying right now but: damn, Judy is GOOD. Great fun, though at times it did feel a bit long. Maybe it’s just my attention span that’s shot these days.

I not working that many hours, and yet the time races by. Why is that?

Let me clarify what I meant by “yuppies,” since many readers of this journal are indeed “young urban professionals.” The kind of young urban professional I was referring to embodies many of the following traits: they own a vehicle which is not more than 10 years old, and if they are living with another yuppie then each one owns a vehicle; public transportation is a distasteful if not wholly foreign concept to them, as is carpooling; they think of themselves as ‘cultured,’ yet rarely go to see live music, or theatre, or art exhibitions, or non-mainstream cinema, and furthermore do not support the arts with any sort of monetary donations; they buy 12-packs of bottled water instead of just buying a water-filtering pitcher; they usually have a pet dog, which they take with them everywhere in the neighborhood, usually tying the dog’s leash to a pole on the sidewalk while they do their shopping or dining, leaving the poor animal in the elements for perhaps hours at a time; their idea of alternative music is the Dave Matthews Band; their concept of the Golden Age of American Music are the years 1980-1989; their idea of jazz is Kenny G; on occasion they will order out $40 worth of Thai food, and when the delivery guy arrives, they will tip him about $2; they have never had a real martini, opting instead for ‘dirty martinis,’ apple-tinis,’ or some such other fake martini cocktails; they have no idea who their neighbors are, let alone know their names; they frequently talk on their cell phones while a person in a customer service position attempts to assist them; they use the word ‘skinny’ instead of ‘skim’ when ordering a latte, which by the way they will only drink with vanilla and/or caramel; they’re either political apathetic because they can’t be bothered to vote on Election Day, or negligibly Republican because they pereive that Republican politicians will leave them alone.

In conclusion, you should be assured that although I do in fact personally know people who fit that description, I don’t have any friends like that. So, dear reader, although you might be a ‘young urban professional,’ you are not who I was commenting about in my previous entry.

O dear, I’ve made an appearance on the web at http://www.intelligentsiacoffee.com/rs_employee.html

Leaving at 3 o’clock for work, hope to work until 9. I haven’t been getting in as many hours as I’d like. Because they haven’t been giving me enough work to do! I have to push for more cases when I report in today. If that means visiting addresses in Humboldt Park, so be it. Maybe there’ll be less rude yuppies in over-fortified condos to deal with over there. Two things have been reclarified with me: (1) in general, the more resources and economic advantages people have, the less likely they’ll do anything useful with them & (2) in general people who own condos are less concerned about other people who live in their own neighborhoods and more concerned about themselves. I’ve gotten twice as many outright refusals from rich white people as I’ve gotten from working families. And the ironic thing is, who do you think has more free time? A childless couple with an SUV or a family with three kids that takes the CTA everywhere?

My next book to read will be “Moll Flanders.” I found it for free as part of http://www.bookcrossing.com at Atomix Coffee at Damen & Chicago. I really like that place. It’s fun to stop in between interviews and grab some joe. Casual and not too loud.

Sending out some xmas goodies this afternoon.

It’s done! Hooray! Just before 9 o’clock this morning, I wrote the word “END” and the novel was finished. It clocks in at 50,027 words. You can read the whole thing at http://www.geocities.com/randomc75/bluetext.doc and if you’re lucky enough to work at some huge corporation, you can probably print out the whole thing for free & then read it just like a real book. Speaking of which, I’m thinking about proofing it and doing some initial light editing and then printing up some copies for anoyone who’s interested. More about that later.

I will have more free time now! I hope. It hasn’t sunk in yet.

Been watching a lot of James Bond on TV this weekend; TNN is showing ’em all. Tons of commercials.

Word count: 38,500. Almost there. I veer between pride nd frustration. There have been days where I’ve just plain wanted to spend my time doing other things rather than write.

Started “The Master and Margarita” this week and it’s a wonderful book, just as good as everyone says. He must have known it would be banned. It’s just audacious. Good fun.

Last night Ryan drove us over to the new Trader Joe’s and we stocked up on lots of goodies, then we went back here and made enchiladas, drank beer and watched “Thank God It’s Friday.” It was on WE (the women’s channel). O boy. It was terrible, but completely enjoyable on a pure trash level. Jeff Goldblum as a suave womanizer was a howl. The writing and directing was umm about 75% inept I’d say. Lotsa fun. Ryan is really something when he gets going. He gets a little hyper. He’s fun though. It’s nice to meet someone who really seems exited to hang out and spend time with you.

Tomorrow Andy & I have the day off, at the same time! “Bowling For Columbine” at Pipers Alley and margaritas/dinner at Las Pinatas. Tasty.

I’m in a CD buying mood. But I work today. Very shortly.

I just passed the 30,000 word mark writing the novel this morning. I’m tired of it. This last stretch is tough. I’m still writing some good bits, I think, but it’s exhausting. No pain, no gain …

Exercising is going fine. My motivation is slagging a bit but then I remember how much it’s costing me. Heheh. It’s all cool. I have my ‘personal fitness assessment’ on Tursday. Comes with membership. Determines my fitness levels, energy, etc. I know the trainer who I’ll be working with on it. At least, I know who he is. I’m seen him around the gym before, and at Specialty Video too. Kind of seems stuck up. Cute, though. He wore an A & F cap to the gym one morning. I guess I know which team HE plays for …

Watched “The Bride Wore Black” last night. A bit stiff but still fun, it had its moments. My arms are tired. I think I want a nap before I go out interviewing tonight. Supposed to go over to Steven’s afterwards and hang out, watch “3 Women.” He still hasn’t seen it.

Yesterday I began my workout routine, about 30 minutes on the treadmill and 5 different weight exercises. Felt good. Then in the afternoon the soreness began. I know I didn’t ‘overwork’ myself yesterday; it just merely shows how much regular exercise is needed, i.e. how out of shape I am. My sleep last night was sweet indeed.

The novel is progressing. It’s getting a little weirder than it was before because I have to constantly prod myself to create things to write. It’s still fun. I have a vague idea of where the story’s going by that’s it.

Rented “Code Unknown” with Juliette Binoche the other evening. It was rock solid, moment-to-moment. I really enjoyed it. I wish there more American films that dealt with race relations so matter-of-factly; not in an overtly ‘provocative’ manner, just in a way like ‘this is how humans are.’ The structure and technique of the film were arresting.

“Super-Cannes” is proceeding in typical Ballard fashion: kinky, cold as ice, disturbing, dryly humorous, bizarre. After I finish that it’s on to the Bunuel interview book that Steven loaned me.

Steven met a young lady last weekend and they’re really infatuated with each other. It’s marvelous to hear about it all, day-to-day. He seems really happy. Life is firing on all cylinders for him. It’s just really cool. The blush of first attraction.

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