Journal 2005
December 31, 2005
New Year's Eve has a record of being rather crummy for me the last few years. I failed to make plans ahead of time, and it's too late to get a ride to hang with friends, so this will be a quiet one. Maybe lonely, but stress-free, at least.
December 28, 2005
The cubicle walls have been closing in, so I've been shaving some hours off the work day. Also, still waiting for the replacement bracket for my bike light, so, sigh, I can't ride home in the dark.
December 26, 2005
"Do you like traaaaainnnns?!" Goodnight to character actor Vincent Schiavelli. He was Frederickson in "One Flew Over a Cuckoo's Nest" and the ghost who taught Patrick Swayze how to shove in Ghost, among many others.
December 25, 2005
Besides cheesey brussell sprouts, garlicky mashed potatoes and tart lemon pie, Wendy and I made sugar cookies modeled after the characters of Making Fiends.
December 23, 2005
If I have to get hit by a car, today's accident was about as mild as I could wish for. Every time I approach a stop sign on my bike, I debate about whether to exercise my rights as a car and occupy the lane, or whether to be courteous and hug the curb (which often results in the car beside me cutting me off with a turn). So this morning I elected to place self and bike square in the middle of the lane, as we had both rounded a slow curve before the stop sign. When I inched out to check traffic from the right, she kept driving, and apparently forgot to look in front of her…and/or to the right…to the oncoming traffic and the fact that I had stopped. In the end, my right thigh was deeply bruised and my rear wheel was bent like a potato chip, though slightly rideable, and she met me at the bike shop to pay for the damage. And even apologized.
December 21, 2005
What's with the cold weather, eh? At least the shortest day of the year is nearly over.
December 9, 2005
We'll miss Robert Sheckley, satirical science fiction writer.
November 15, 2005
They always come in droves. Suddenly many potential clients approaching me for graphic design work. And all at once. Need more writing time, but I'm also trying to keep the house—you know, with money. Are there any cities in the US where the income is increasingly disproportionate to the housing costs? So my graphic portfolio will get some updating, but I look at graphic design and I pull my best Udo Kier accent and breathe, "You bore me."
November 12, 2005
Finally, after five months on the hold list, I've got Firefly DVDs from the library. Had seen two episodes while it was briefly on the air, and later the pilot. Have seen the Serenity movie twice already. The dialogue just makes me drool. I am thus far successful at resisting urges to go completely fanboy and wear a brown coat at all times.
November 8, 2005
Since 1999 I ran the SETI@Home screensaver on my computer. The project has gone through a few versions, and I rejoined a few times even after losing nearly three years of credit to a lost password. This year, the team at Berkeley has written a general open-source software (BOINC) that allows other science projects to create their own shared computer processes. So now I'm mildly obsessing over number crunching for many different projects: protein structure prediction, climate prediction, distant neutron star search, binary number system searches, as well as those elusive SETIs. It's high time to upgrade my system software to take advantage of new optimized client apps. Current stats for the progress of my computer are here.
November 5, 2005
Remember, remember, the fifth of November. Today is Guy Fawkes Day. Save the King and all that—but most importantly, question your leaders. Read Alan Moore's important graphic novel V for Vendetta. Next spring comes a movie.
October 22, 2005
They could smell my drool coming. They locked the front door to the Science Fiction Museum as I mounted the last stair. Curses. So I fetched Grendel out of the minivan and instructed him to bowel movement on the lawn of the Seattle Space Needle. Of course, then I scooped it up. But if they try locking me out again, I might get angry enough to forget a plastic bag. Otherwise, the highpoints were the Hoh Rain Forest, and not seeing another car for two hours along Hwy 101 on the Washington coast.
October 18, 2005
First half of vacation is past. Had to bring Wendy back to town. Since the rental car place was out of compacts, we toured the Oregon coast in bigger style. And I must testify that "Running With the Devil" sounds and feels better in a minivan. The high points of the trip were the Rogue Brewery, spontaneous roadside stops for smoked oysters, the sea otters at the aquarium, the cats who obviously favored our superior hotel room, and the Wallace & Gromit movie upon returning to town. The Pelican Brewery was lacking, though the beach and view were awesome.
October 15, 2005
Happy birthday to Grendel! At age 2, he's started asking for the keys to the car. I blame society and the materialistic culture of today's youth, since he feels compelled to continue asking—and we don't even have a car.
October 14, 2005
First vacation in 1.5 years! Didn't plan too well ahead, and so the trip to Vancouver BC will have to wait until next time. This time I think there will be some ocean, some forests, maybe some lava beds or craters or hot springs. There will be a rental car. And books, and doggie, and beer, and sleep.
October 4, 2005
Hmm, am pondering the idea of another tattoo. Last time it took me 10 years to get around to it.
October 3, 2005
Neil Gaiman was in town last night, read an excerpt from his new novel Anasai Boys. I was underwhelmed by the quality of questions people asked. So many "Oh when is the Sandman movie coming out?!" fanboy demands. But then, I didn't ask anything.
October 1, 2005
Best. Month. Ever. Let's get this party started right. Time to pick up some old Ray Bradbury stories again.
September 29, 2005
Robert Creeley (1926–2005)... Thanks for this one and many others...
"I Know a Man"
As I sd to my
friend, because I am
always talking,—John, I
sd, which was not his
name, the darkness sur-
rounds us, what
can we do against
it, or else, shall we &
why not, buy a goddamn big car,
drive, he sd, for
christ's sake, look
out where yr going.
September 23, 2005
Attended Salman Rushdie's reading tonight. Am anxious to read his new book now. I remember my utter surprise at how visual and imaginative his language was when I picked up The Satanic Verses about 10 years ago, and even more amazed at Haroun and the Sea of Stories. During his questions he said he's felt quite safe for a number of years after the fatwa on his head. and now he could tell us a few things about how to tell if you're being followed.
September 22, 2005
Zzzzzleepy.
September 20, 2005
Goodnight, Mr. Wiesenthal.
September 19, 2005
When you stop keeping tabs on a band that you listend to in high school, and still listen to on occasion fifteen years later, you might assume they broke up long ago. Or maybe you weren’t paying attention. And not only might they still be together and releasing albums and touring, but they might show up in your town (for the first time in twelve years). Smallest, nicest, kindest, most considerate mosh pit I’ve ever been in — which still managed to make me feel over 30. At least some of us weren’t standing around. New Model Army’s songs wake me up again.
September 15, 2005
Dreams of performing exploratory surgery on… myself. In my dream you can use a wine key to spread the ribcage, and make a shrill noise if you lean in and blow on them.
September 10, 2005
After more than a year of unintentional hiatus, the Three-lobed Burning Eye is back.
September 7, 2005
Over a beer, one of my friends suggested today, that maybe, just maybe a national disaster could refocus the current administration from their fanatical obsession with terrorism to the problems of poverty at home. Someone else suggested that maybe we could even hope that the current administration would consider the power of nature… maybe eventually think global warming trends. Then I suggested that that guy was plain silly and should just chug his beer. Everybody looked at me and said, Drink up.
August 31, 2005
What the hell is happening in New Orleans?! Donate here
August 28, 2005
I grew up in tornado country, and remember going to the basement of the house a few times a year when the radio said it was getting bad outside. But being in a topographical depression, Lincoln, NE never saw many funnel clouds touch down… I can’t even imagine what’s headed for the coast of Louisiana and Mississippi right now.
August 7, 2005
The movie The Cell was derivative crap (Dreamscape, Silence of the Lambs) and an outright thief of real artwork (Witkin, Giger). Though I haven’t seen it yet, I know that Mirrormask will kick its ass. And while the Wachowski bros pulled a George Lucas on me with their Matrix sequels, I’m slightly excited for V for Vendetta. It seems a more faithful adaptation of Alan Moore’s comics than previous attempts (League of Extraordinary Gentlemen, From Hell). Allow me to geek out for a moment longer, as I’m also excited for the movie of the great and unjustly cancelled TV show Firefly when Serenity comes out next month.
August 3, 2005
One thousand riot police versus some techno kids. Or, as Prime Minister Jiri Paroubek would call them “obsessed people with anarchist proclivities and international links,” who “provoke massive violent demonstrations, fuelled by alcohol and drugs, against the peaceful society” . photos | vids
July 31, 2005
Two sisters, a brother, a nephew and I went camping at Timothy Lake. Despite slimy underwater weeds preying on my unresolved childhood fear of murky waters, I swam across said lake. I seem destined to forget a pillow when camping.
July 25, 2005
After two unsuccessful years of registering but not attending, I caught Edward Tufte’s touring lecture today. I was surprised at how much good design sense I’ve learned via the day job and other reading over the last ten years — though he brought many intellectual justifications to his “Grand Principles of Design.” It was confirmed for me once again that content is king and PowerPoint is the absolute fucking Devil. Among other things, I learned that Minard intended his “Napoleon’s March” diagram* as an anti-war poster. And how amazing was it to see some original editions of Galileo’s books?
*Once upon at time, I had a boss who read about 2 paragraphs of a Tufte book and extolled the famous Minard diagram, and subsequently ordered me to create every one of his report charts look as deep and interesting. No matter how many times I explained that his data contained a single set of figures and could not be illustrated with six variables, he ordered me back to my cubicle to try again. I think Kafka worked for the same boss.
July 21, 2005
Some fine Creole dining at Acadia with W——— for our we’ve-been-dating-2-months-iversary. .
July 19, 2005
Some weeping. For patterns oroboros, that should not hurt me, but… do. For lost time. For memories.
July 17, 2005
W——— and I made gumbo yesterday. Combined three recipes, including one called the Ultimate Time-consuming Gumbo. So it took 7 hours. It’s so satisfying to make a good roux.
July 14, 2005
Many scotches available at Kell’s. And I mean many. Checking these off my tasting list… Laphroaig 15yr, Glenmorangie Portwood 12yr, Cnappogue Castle 93
July 13, 2005
Of all the couples dance lessons to start with, tango is the most… intimidating.
July 5, 2005
For the first time in a year, I had what could be called a vacation. In the sense that I actually took a few days off and left the city. Also managed to camp, raft, rock climb and be merry with friends (and six dogs). Jager and Glenlivet make for some truly surreal dreams, though the real cause could have been the town nearest our campsite. A few days was the right amount of time, since I was missing W———, and Grendel’s fuzzy face. (…only the latter face being fuzzy)
June 24, 2005
“Politeness, n. The most acceptable form of hypocrisy.” Happy birthday Ambrose Bierce, born this day in 1842, and for all we know, still wandering in Mexico... perhaps as a vampire, as one movie suggests.
June 21, 2005
I need to travel. Just visit somewhere... else. When I see any photo of a city or scape in Europe or Asia, it feels a fictional place. I think every citizen should be required to travel abroad for 2 weeks each year (government funded, of course).
watching: Oldboy
June 19, 2005
That the movie Batman Begins even got made is quite a feat, virtually slipping under the radar of “franchise” micromanaging studio execs at WB. The same types of business people who have been sterilizing Superman Returns for countless years now. The final product is not quite Frank Miller’s gritty yummy vision of the Dark Knight, but it certainly tributes him (after nearly 20 years). I don’t expect much from big studio films in the first place, but it was entertaining, with a bit of teen fan geek value.
Ate the worst thai food in my life, which gave W——— a tummy ache. And later I proceeded to lose half a pizza off the oven rack. (Sidenote: Grendel becomes rather concerned or left out when I toss pizza dough.)
June 18, 2005
Neal Stephenson comments on Star Wars, Episode III and its consideration for audience.
June 16, 2005
For a brief moment, I was possessed by the idea to construct a flowchart of the irrational thought patterns being thrown at me lately. The paradox seemed humorous at first, but the metaphor and process was just too close to The Day Job. Hot flashes ensued. Then a slight tic in the corner of the mouth. And scraping along the arm with the pointy end of a compass. (What the?! Who uses a compass anymore?!?!)
June 14, 2005
Spending time with a food snob makes for tasty times. W——— is showing me some good cuisine. Perhaps she’ll succeed in teaching me about good wine. Additionally, it’s not horrible that we like each other’s company. Nor is it apocalyptic that she’s easy on the eyes.
June 11, 2005
Fell out of a tree today. Grendel was nagging me about trying to prune the backyard apple tree with a handsaw twenty feet above the ground. Being the only human present, I thought I knew better. Well, it worked fine for the trees in the front yard a few weeks ago... but they weren’t wet at the time, I suppose.
June 9, 2005
Taking some time off from sorrow. Enjoying someone’s company.
May 29, 2005
Dating sure is funny. Sometimes it’s even... fun.
May 21, 2005
Dreams. Of. Terrible. Teeth.
May 13, 2005
The weather was amazing today, and added so much to spring league ultimate. I have missed — maybe forgotten? — the energizing feelings of adrenaline, when I made a few handblocks. Even though I didn’t come up with the disc on a layout catch, the impact with the ground, the ripe smell of grass stain, getting up and ready to go again, yes.
May 12, 2005
While Constantine is a thin, dazzling movie requiring my Keanu filter — and pales in comparison to the writing in the original comic series — it did, as my friend says, geek me out, if only a smidgen. Just watching simple scenes of unexplained mysticism and ritual, misunderstood though they may be. If nothing else, the flick succeeded in raising some nostalgia for me. For those naive and innocent days back in junior high, of hunger and occasional near-belief, conducting my own form of occult research by reading the paperback of the Necronomicon and Satanic Bible from the mall bookstore, and the Malleus Maleficarum from the library. Oh, I was walking with demons then. How good it was to be safe in life and pretend such things.
May 9, 2005
It has been raining for too long. Clouds, I command you to stop! Kids these days, no respect for authority.
May 7, 2005
Lately, I catch glimpses of who I am.
May 4, 2005
Finally, a positive story in the media about my doggie’s breed. http://www.omaha.com/index.php?u_pg=708&u_sid=1384219
April 27, 2005
Oh my, oh golly, oh eeek... my all-time buddy, former-bandmate, former-co-editor Matt has begun an historical record of our days in a band. Enter Charlotte’s Webb. Yes, that’s with two T’s, you see, not to be confused with the children’s lit classic. Witness Andrew with hair, and a nigh-VH1 webtrospective of thrash metal in NW Ohio, circa early 1990s.
April 25, 2005
I raised my head at 3am to listen. The furnace had ceased, the wind was at rest, and the cats outside had resolved their differences. Then something moved in the house. It creaked the floorboards and advanced in a paused, conscious manner down the hall. First I thought, she has come back, because she’s forgotten something, or she has something else to say, or maybe she wants to hurt me. The I curled up fetal, convinced that someone else had entered the house, come to rummage and loot and fire blindly into my bedroom should they hear a gasp. Then I knew who it was. And I threw off the covers and rose all at once, moving into the hallway, glaring into the dark. I stared it down with tight eyes, and shook my head very slowly. It took a step toward me, snarling, before it saw what I knew. Then it retreated back, back, back into the black. I said, that’s right, beastie, this is mine. Mine again.
And I stood there for an hour to make sure.
When I returned to bed, the dog looked at me and said with his face, What’d I miss?
April 20, 2005
Caught a preview screening last night, and I must recommend the movie Kung Fu Hustle to everyone. Not only will you be supporting US distribution of the talented and worthy writer/director/star Stephen Chow (who brought us Shaolin Soccer), but you’ll have a simply grand time. Funny and dazzling and heartfelt.
April 18, 2005
eht truoc srepap tnera neve dengis tey dna ydaelra sehs gnikcuf enoemos sele.
April 5, 2005
I’ve never felt it appropriate to share much anything about my personal life in this essentially public journal. This guideline has brought me occasional comments of appreciation and disappointment. I’ve attempted to keep this journal as a record of creative life, as much as possible, something more fun than a news page about professional writer happenings.
Fun has not been the primary goings-on around here lately, and I’ve been thinking alot about how to write or not write about it — which has meant not writing about it. Friends and family are extremely supportive during this time, and assuring me it’s perfectly alright to grieve and slow everything down and not do alot. I don’t give myself such leeway, but I haven’t been cranking out the stories, either. I’ve been telling myself this all feels just too real — there’s no wonder, no story idea — just me feeling the real-ness. The shock, the disbelief, the sadness, the betrayal, the confusion, the loss, the fear, the loneliness, the relief — these things will continue. But it’s time to admit real-ness, look it in the eye, and shake off some of the paralysis, by saying
I’m getting unmarried.
April 2, 2005
...where have I been, exactly? Eh?
February 26, 2005
Pizza and beer are one kind of cheer.
February 23, 2005
The pain insane stays mainly in my brain.
February 22, 2005
I held an Atlas of Pacific Salmon in my hands today. Binding glue still warm, endpapers still damp and flimsy, no dust jacket yet. While my memories of the lost blood and sanity are as fresh as the ink, I felt an iota of pride... mostly relief. I may not get credit as a cartographer, but designing the book, and the opportunity to design the maps was an adventure. I pretended I was Robert Duvall or Gary Oldman, training for a role as a graphic designer.
February 21, 2005
Someday I’ll write about this. Maybe.
February 2-20, 2005
Back into the dark we ago-go...
January 17, 2005
Ice storm. The whole city is a skating rink. Grendel drag-skated me down to the library, which closed before we arrived. Then last night I ran-skated to the MAX lightrail, met Angie for dinner and beer, and discovered the theater had closed early as well (after promising earlier that they were open). Today Grendel and I shuffled and slid a few miles on a long walk to the video store — our own kind of Iditarod.
January 14, 2005
RIP dgk goldberg, a great talent of horror fiction, whose quality of work deserved much more recognition, (perhaps now it begins...?) her writing colleagues and fans, we will always remember her inspiring stories, her wit and her charm. Read some of her short stories online: Kensignton Gardens, Martyr’s Music and Party at the End of Time.
January 10, 2005
Story ideas that I will not be giving any further thought than the particularly uninspiring first moment they interrupted my otherwise occupied mind:
night of the living dead graphic designers
the great salmon uprising
death by a thousand hangnails
GW’s ugly little dogs are really in charge (and we find out they are contemporary manifestations of Set and Anubis, bent on reclaimng some mortal minions...)
three lengthy and meaningless team meetings per day is the final “workplan” for tthe Illuminati’s End of All Things Program, and one team of overworked young IT/occult professionals vows to fight against countless odds when they glimpse the accidental easter egg in PowerPoint — the face of Cthulhu looming on the projected conference room screen
my story
January 8, 2005
Ah. Here we are again. In this place, this dark.
January 4, 2005
RIP Will Eisner, giant of comics. Thanks for all the ink and stories.
January 3, 2005
RIP Frank Kelly Freas, science fiction and fantasy artist for over 40 years.
reading... Persepolis 2: The Story of a Return (Marjane Satrapi), Abarat: Days of Magic, Nights of War (Clive Barker) ...watching... Throne of Blood, Snatch, Anaconda
January 2, 2005
Help tsunami victims — donate to international aid organizations
January 1, 2005
Trent Reznor says the new NIN album is finished. A good finish to ’04. Now we greet the next year With Teeth.
And, my “Man of the Year” winner is eveyone who didn’t vote for TIME’s man of the year.
