bassline

One Way Ride

Hey there, lj, it's been a little while. I've taken a little time away, but I thought I'd bring you up to speed on what's been going on lately.

The holidays went pretty well. My saving grace were the gatherings/parties with friends and E, of course. Another bright spot was getting to meet diepunyhuman in person. She was in the area from Los Angeles and met up with her friend, J, from Florida. I met up with them at my friend, Tet's house for a New Year's party that went well into the night and was an absolute blast.

I spent New Year's Day watching Twilight Zone and Looney Tunes marathons. Unlike last year, I didn't have to spend the whole day in bed nursing one of the worst hangovers I'd ever had :D

I finished up my '365 self portrait project' and pretty much didn't take a photo for almost a week afterwards. I really needed to take something of a break. I couldn't bring myself to shoot anything at all for several days. This past weekend was the first time I really felt like picking up the camera since the project ended. I've been thinking of other possible photo challenges for this year and have a few ideas, but I'm just going to just keep taking pictures until something hits.

In the studio, I'm just chugging along with new works. I've not done many paintings, but I've been doing a lot of works on paper in preparation for the Philly Airport show in March. They've been feeding some new ideas for paintings which I'm hoping to get going this week.

......
( today )

Window Gazing

I was taking a short break from painting on Wednesday when I thought it would be a good time to take some new self-portraits. I took about 5 or so and this is my favorite of the bunch. I didn't have my tripod with me, so I improvised and propped the camera up against the window sill at my feet, set the timer, and just stared out at the gathering rain clouds.

( art + life )

A Smile and a Phone

Last week, E and I had the pleasure of a visit from picture_kept and stemware. The four of us hung out on Friday, first at my studio and later we did a mini gallery-crawl that included galleries on three corners of 3rd and Arch.

The main reason we were out was for the opening reception of a group show at Gallery Joe which features work by picture_kept's friend, madge_pastiche (that's one of her works on the right side of the gallery shot in the Gallery Joe link).

( we're all biodegradable )

Friends of mine had been talking about having a 'game night' for a while and this past Saturday, we finally got around to actually doing it. We gathered at Jen's place in Fishtown since she has a good sized house for a large group of people. I had to work that night so by the time E and I arrived, the games were already in progress. A few more guests arrived and soon there were enough to use both the living room (Scattegories, Scrabble and Pictionary) and kitchen (Taboo).

I had something to eat before diving into a game of Scattegories on it's second round while E watched. I thought that's what she'd do all night based on her pronouncements beforehand about not being a "game person". I was very wrong and apparently, so was she. By the time the next new game of Scattegories got going, she was right in the thick of it with the rest of us.

In addition to our first game night, it was also the first group debut of my friend, Inja's new baby, Jordan. Jordan seemed very comfortable around us and was pretty quiet the whole time. Us so-called grown-ups were busy yelling and gnashing our teeth over trying to figure out just what that stick figure was supposed to be or whether that three letter word was really a word...

*lots of pics under the cut:click for larger sizes*
( Four games, two rooms )

Happy New Year!!

Ah, the new year is here and it's off to a rainy start in Philly. I was going to take E to the Mummers Parade, but it was scrapped because of the crappy weather. Rain date is next weekend. Not a worry, though, since the real fun was had last night by the bunch of us at a big house in West Philly...



More shots right here: Juicy Crew New Year

First breakfast of 2007: scrambled eggs with cheddar and parmesan (with a touch of garlic granules on mine), buttered toast, pineapple juice, and tea.

Yum!!

E and I brought in 2007 with the (un)usual suspects at a house party in West Philly where a certain red shoe was the mascot of the year. There was the bottle-poacher who was flagged by E near the end of the night. He went in and out a couple of times and E noticed that he'd been putting bottles of left-over booze down the back of his pants and taking them to his car. He was summarily dismissed by one of the hosts...

Pics soon...

(click on photos for larger sizes. more here


This past Saturday night, my friends and I had an 'end of summer' party. It was a much-needed release for me since I've not been as socially active over the past few months as usual. Anyway, it was a great night of carousing, eating, and drinking . I don't know what time it was when I decided to leave, but three of us were going to catch a cab when my phone rang. It was *E*.

I guess you couldn't call it 'drunk calling', since she called me...

We were still in party-mode when I was speaking to her and the thought hit me to pass the phone off to my other two close friends so she could 'meet' them. I've been anxious for *E* to meet my friends, so every time we're on the phone and someone else is around, I'm always subjecting her to the disembodied voices of my friends she's never met, but have seen photos of. While this was going on, my friend, Bagel, got a call from his new girlfriend who is soon to move to Philly from another state. She also made the phone rounds, lol.


I've been told by a few people and have heard second-hand from others that I'm smiling a lot more these days. They aren't far off the mark. Smiles do come much more easily to me whenever I think of *E* and the possibilities that lay ahead. I've noticed the difference, too. It's a good thing, when on what feels like the worst day ever, you find a reason to smile. For me, that's *E*

Last weekend, a friend's mom opened her basement for a good, old-fashioned house party. This time, there was no raiding the parent's stash, no worrying about whether mom and dad were going to come home early from the weekend trip, and the only reason there were wallflowers was because of the amount of bodies in a small space. Of course, I had to capture some of the evidence...

The vibe was funky, people sweaty, and everything was good

*E* is coming here for three months starting in December. She's going to be able to stay that long because she's quitting the job she has there, which she hates. We'ver both excited about the visit, even as it raises all sorts of issues for both of us. In a way, this will be a test for both of us. I mean, if we can live together in my postcard-sized apartment for three months and still like each other, then the sky's the limit, lol.
( things are about to change )

Went bowling the other night for the first time in years, and guess what? I suck!! LOL! Actually, it just started off pretty bad-gutter balls for the first few frames. When the second game came around, My friends finally started to volunteer tips on how I could improve my technique after, of course, having full-on laughing fits at my expense. It was all in good fun, but I'm a little competitive, so naturally I'm going to be up there almost every week attempting to improve.





Some in Philly see bowling as the newest 'hipster' trend to have all of these bowling lanes opening up (this is the third new bowling alley in the past two years to open) but I think it's great. There have been almost no bowling alleys operating in the city, save for a couple of older places wheezing along in the northeast and one in South Philly, which I'm not even sure is open anymore.

I don't know why, but I've always liked bowling. It's just a fun thing to do. I think I also like it because it's a singular game; it doesn't depend on you being part of a team, unless you want to be. I realize now that I've always been attracted to activities/sports that don't depend on you being part of a team: cycling, weight training, bowling... In other parts of my life, it's been the same way. My being a painter is the best example. That and excelling on those dreaded gym tests throughout my shool life as a kid. Most kids hated those tests; I welcomed them with glee because I didn't have to worry about dealing with being on a team and be accountable for the team's success or failure. Plus, I was terrible at team sports as a kid. I couldn't dribble a basketball and run successfully at the same time. Baseball?? Forget about it. I was lucky if I came within a mile of hitting the ball. I could run fast as hell and make a mean sound with the bat as it whizzed through the air but that means nothing if you can't hit the ball, right? On that same note, I also enjoy watching sports that are about the individual beating the clock or one-on-one sports, like tennis.

( can a brother get a ride? )

Seriously, what happened?

( more visual stimuli )

Hey, I'm around, just busy and not keeping up with updating here much lately. Not that there hasn't been anything going on, there has. I just haven't gotten around to writing about it.

However, I've been taking photos here and there and thought I'd share a few as a way to catch up a little...
( catching up-visual style )

So, we're having a gray, rainy Christmas day but that's ok. Last night, I was in a church for the first time in eons. A friend of mine invited me over to her parent's place for dinner and Midnight Mass was a part of the deal. I didn't have to go to the Mass, but the time spent traveling out to where her parents are and the fact that they fed me made it worth checking out, at least. I'm not particularly religious in the sense of keeping any rituals or anything, but I'm not against it, either. What's bothersome is how religion is used by some, but that's an old story and I really don't feel like going into my feelings about that aspect.

The service was ok. It's an Episcapalian (sp?) congregation and the service was pretty reserved compared to the services at the church of my childhood, a mostly black, Baptist congregation. I guess the best way I could describe the service is 'dry'. There was a lot of standing, sitting, singing, praying, sitting, listening, more singing, etc... I amused myself with checking out the architecture of the church which was really nice. The building was a copy of their sister church in Wales, according to my friend. I felt a little odd being back in a church after so many years. It was interesting witnessing the rituals involved in the service, but overall, I was pretty unmoved. I sang along with a couple of the hymns but that was the extent of my participation.

The sermon struck a chord, though. It revolved around the idea of giving of oneself as being the best gift one could give. There was an anecdote about a mother who was happy to receive a big-screen television from her son for Christmas, but said she'd give it back in a second for a visit from her son, whom she'd not seen in two years. That story resonated with me because it's a reminder to keep one's friends and family close in mind and heart and that often, as little as a few minutes of talking or time spent with someone can make much more of a difference than anything material can. Its things like this that I can more readily relate to about religion, rather than the extreme, dogmatic practices and philosophies of some people who purport to be religious follow.

......

Hey, it's picture time again! Here are some recent and random shots of the yours truly and the ( 'unusual suspects' )

bon yoyage dinner for tet

This is from tonight (Saturday, 12.17.05). A bunch of us gathered for a bon voyage party for my best friend/brother, Tet. He's heading to Kenya for a week and-a-half to visit with his father's family. Tet was born and raised here in the U.S. and only came into contact with his father about four years ago. HIs mother and father seperated when Tet was very young. It's been an interesting and, at times, intense time for Tet finally getting to fill in the holes in his life through re-connecting with as well as discovering a whole side of his family he never really knew before. Ultimately, it's been very rewarding for him.

Left to right
(back row): K-C, Bagel, Diana
(front row): Tet, Po-Hong, Me, Jackie

Beginning with last year, I've made it my mission to make sure that I really celebrate every birthday. There was a long stretch of time during my 20's and even in my early 30's (with the exception of my 30th) where I was somewhat indifferent about my birthdays. I don't know why, but I was. It may have had to do with how I felt about my life at the time, but honestly, who knows? Somewhere along the line, something changed and I realized that I really should celebrate "my" day.

Last night was one of the reasons why I'm happy that I changed my attitude. It was also one of the reasons why I'm glad to have the friends in my life that I do. I'm appreciating the connections I've made over the years more and more each day. Last night's festivities just added to the pile of reasons why I'm glad to have the company of some fun-loving people.

Things started off innocently enough with dinner. The rest of the night was spent at one of our occasional hang spots in Old City. From that point on, it was almost a vertical descent into free-flowing debauchery, complete with the requisite, but brief table dancing incident. Nothing too scandalous, well, nothing that I remember, at least, *heh* Seriously, it was all good fun, complete with one of our crew (names omitted to protect the guilty ;) ) grabbing passers-by and making them dance with us.

So, let's review the additions to the list that's going to get us sent to at least one of the rings of Hell for having too much fun, shall we?

Let's see:

Partaking of much alcohol. Check
The requisite sex conversation. Check
Revealing tmi about whom we'd 'do'. Check
Dancing and forcing anyone who passed by to dance with us. Check
Inspiring the people in the booth next to us to dance. Check
Possible inappropriate groping. Check

Yep, it was of those nights... ;)

This was taken over a week ago on Saturday night (I'm on the left, with Jackie in the middle and Tet on the right). Yes, I know, it's the three of us...again. Trust me, there's nothing funny going on besides our jokes...well, some of them are funny... We just happen to hang out fairly often and this is one of the few recent pictures of me that I like. I'm planning on getting my own digital camera soon and then you'll get to see even more.

Um, no, the clothes stay on ;P

Anyway, we were at a fairly new concert venue here called World Café Live, which hosts national acts and houses U of Penn's public radio station, WXPN. We were there to catch a live show by King Britt and his Sister Gertrude Morgan Experience. Great show. It was also a benefit for Hurricane Katrina victims. Afterwards, there was a rotation of dj's, including King, who kept the night going and the floor full of dancing people. The crowd thinned out sooner than it normally would at other places on a Saturday night, but that just meant more room to dance.

My world is becoming smaller and smaller with each new person I meet. Lately, I've been more social than normal for me. I have a core group of friends that I hang out with on a fairly regular basis, but over the past few months, I've begun to move beyond that tight circle and meeting other people online and off. Conversations with two of the newer people I've met recently have been filled with, "You know so-and-so, too?!?". I was at a dinner party last night and there was this on-going guessing game going on between the host, another guest and myself about where they knew me from. I'm certain that I haven't met them before, judging from the possible sources of meeting places, one of which were brunches on Sunday's at someone's house. That's not possible because I work every Sunday.

The host I know I haven't met before. The other guest I'm not so sure of. She did look familiar, but then, this is a small city when it comes to groups of people who know each other. Within the sub-groups of various communities, like the art, dance, music, and writing communities, it's positively incestuous. I was chatting with someone yesterday and over the course of our conversation, our worlds just collapsed under the weight of all the connections we made between mutual friends and acquaintences. There was one instant where she knew someone I didn't.

Most of the people I know here are just casual acquaintences I've met through my job or in the art world. These are people I might see out at some events or I see them where I work, but that's the extent of my contact with them. I have a tighter group of friends with whom I keep in touch with every few days or weekly, sometimes. I'm in contact with more people online now, also, so I tend to stay connected more than I think, sending emails or instant messaging.

I have to say that, if possible, interacting face-to-face is still my favorite way of connecting. I spend a lot of time on the computer. When I make plans, wash, get dressed and meet up with someone for conversation or just to hang out, the immediacy of that contact is so refreshing. Even just walking down the street and having the most cursory of contact with strangers, like making eye contact or even brushing past someone on a packed sidewalk, makes a huge difference in how one can experience one's relationship to the world. I say that because I've been very busy over the past year with my art-related agenda and making my way through personal changes and have allowed my solitary nature too much leeway. Hence my recent objective to not just meet new people, but to interact with others in a more meaningful way and not allow myself to fall into the comfort of solitude all of the time.

Solitude is a wonderful thing to indulge in but I'm striving to have more of a balance in my life between alone time and social time. So far, so good. I feel like I'm on a new adventure even if it's largely a mental one.

So, yeah, I'm up pretty early and have been since 3:30 or so. I fell asleep watching The Work of Director Anton Corbijn. A day of eating and drinking after the wedding of friends will do that to you. I must've fallen asleep around 10:30.

The wedding was for my friends, Joni and Matt. Joni is an artist whom I've known for at least 10 years. We collaborated on a text and image project together about 6 years ago. Her and Matt have been together for five years and they both thought it was time to get the formalities out of the way. The wedding was a really nice and simple affair. It was held in one of the historic homes (now a youth hostel) that dot Fairmount Park. The ceremony itself was non-religious in tone and consisted of family members from both sides giving brief testemonials about the bride and groom. When that was done, Joni and Matt exhanged vows and rings and that was it. Short and sweet. The way I've always thought I'd like to do it, if I were to ever get married. The best part is that the bride and groom requested that no one give them gifts. Instead, they had a potluck reception which was fantastic.

I was afraid that the weather was not going to cooperate after yesterday's drenching the area took, but it was nice out. A bit cloudy and chillier than it's been in months, but it is October.

me, jackie, and tet me, jackie, and tet at matt and joni's wedding, Sunday 10.09.05

This is the first time I've worn a tie in a long while.

These are some recent photos from two weeks ago of myself and a few of my closest friends. All pictures are courtesy of my friend, Jackie.

me, tet, and po me, tet, and po hanging out at Tony Ward's opening.

There are four more here

So, last night I joined a few friends of mine for a low-key night at a bar. It was me, Tet, K-C, and Jackie. I get there a little late because I took a nap and slept longer than I intended. They'd been there for an hour or so, had eaten and were going through the first pitcher of Hoegaarden of the night. I settle in and order another pitcher of beer along with some fries. I'd eaten already and just wanted something to snack on.

At one point, we're all talking and Jackie says something about text messaging another friend of ours, Po-Hong, and see if she'll join us. Jackie takes care of that and we continue talking. Another half-hour goes by and suddenly it happens. This surreal moment occurs where, as if on cue, our table gets quiet. I'm looking at the three of them and they are all checking something on their cell phones. They're hunched over and intently staring at the phone screens and thumbing buttons. The hush of sudden silence makes me feel like our table is somehow on a different existential plane than that of the rest of the bar.

I don't have a cell phone yet, by the way. While they are engrossed in the phones, I refill my glass and take a long look around the bar to see who's around. I don't recognize anyone and shift back to the table. I'm looking at this scene and start chuckling to myself. It's only been a couple of minutes and just like *that*, the three of them become animated again and the conversations starts up. I just laughed. It was simply incredibly funny to witness this slice of contemporary life happen. Now, instead of those lulls in conversations happening when you temporarily run out of things to say, there's always the phone to check.