Happy 4th ahead of time!
June 29, 2005
Jeff and I went to see fireworks in Madison Heights (his old stomping grounds) this past Sunday. It twas nice. We had a grand old time. It never ceases to amaze me how many people take pictures of fireworks in an attempt to freeze in time their beauty. I looked behind us (we were up on a hill) and all I saw were tons of cell phones being raised the way people used to hold lighters up at concerts. Glowing screens and frantic people trying to get the best shot they possibly can. It kinda freaked me out! I think it is due to that fact that Jeff and I do not own a cell phone and therefore despite me owning one years ago(no camera abilities), it still seems so new and foreign. Who thought we would be using cell phones to capture images? Or access the web, and whatever else they can do these days. F.Y.I. We used a camera for our shots. But I guess that was implied since I already told you we do not own a cell phone.
We’re suppose to be going to see more fireworks (Detroit) tomorrow night (Wednesday). Our friend Gina was nice enough to invite Jeff and I up to the roof of her office building in Downtown Detroit to view the fireworks up close and personal. Extremely close and personal since her building is directly in front of Hart Plaza. I’m pretty excited. The last time I watched the Detroit fireworks was atop the Lafayette Lofts in Detroit and that was probably back in…let’s see……about 1999 or so. This location is going to beat that one out by a long shot though. I dunno if we’ll be taking pictures though. I might just relax and enjoy them.
Well, this is going to be my last post until sometime in July. Jeff and I are leaving Thursday morning to head out to Massachusetts for a family reunion. We will be in Chicopee for the weekend, then we are winging it to Boston and any outlying areas we decided to hit. I don’t know where we will be for the 4th of July. Hopefully seeing some fireworks somewhere. I do know one thing though. We are definitely hitting the beach sometime during the week. Provided I see no sharks. *I hear they are trying to eat people in Florida*
Verzerren vs. Bubblegone
June 26, 2005
I went to Ann Arbor to see my friends Jason and Joe perform at the WORK gallery in Ann Arbor. They performed as part of the Culture Shoppe for the Future “Asswarmart” exhibit
curated by Zack Denfeld.
Would you believe Jason and Joe performed for an hour and a half straight? Yeah. It was one of the best shows I’ve seen them do in terms of visual/audio. I really enjoyed it. Kinda glad they did not choose a traditional route with their performance (video showing on a screen behind them). A lot of electronic/expermental artists tend to overuse video in their audio perfomances. I feel it becomes monotonous after a while and despite the content has the potential to take away from an otherwise great audio experience. Perhaps it is due to video’s impeccable knack for dictating to the listeners/viewers what they are hearing/seeing. Bubblegone vs. Verzerren created a unique and memorable experience for their listening/viewing audience by creatively integrating the visual with sound and WITHOUT the use of a psychedelic video (sorry to all you avid laptop video artists). Their audio and visuals melded together seamlessly one never dictating the other because the two became one in front of a live audience (Verzerren used a variety of tools from his toolbox to poke and prod different things using a mic to pick up their sounds while also using a video camera to capture and send the audio/visuals to two tv sets outside of the gallery). I believe that is what made this show work so well.
Bubblegone will be performing in Grand Rapids this Saturday. Check his website for more information. As for Zack Denfeld’s show at the WORK gallery, you have only a small window of time left to check it out. His show ends at the end of this month. Every month University of Michigan graduate students curate a show, bringing in whomever and whatever they choose (mostly its U of M student work). In some cases (such as Zack’s) the artist/student curating can even sleep at the gallery. Hey, He doesn’t have air at his apartment!
Piquette Fire in Detroit
June 21, 2005
I was driving home at about 11:45 pm tonight headed east on I-94 when I noticed a huge plume of smoke and a yellowish-orange glow near the New Center area of Detroit. At first I thought it was coming from Wayne State University. As I got on I-75 N I saw a better view and could not believe what I was seeing. An ENORMOUS FIRE! I mean BIG. I quickly got home and Jeff was watching the news already. “It is the old Piquette Plant!” he told me quickly. “The building they built the old Studebakers at!” “Its been burning since 10:10 pm tonight”. Unbelievable. I drive by there all the time on my way to Wayne State University’s Recreation & Fitness Center.
I know the Piquette building was vacant and for some an eye-sore, but it was part of our automobile history and so I can’t help but feel a deep sense of loss as one more part of Detroit has gone up in smoke (metaphorically speaking as well). Apparently the fire is more than a city block wide, and has about 150 firefighters fighting it. It is also destroying the Piquette Market and is on its way to the Piquette plant, the Model T’s birthplace currently a museum. Here is some info about the Studebaker Plant.
Update: it is now 2:15 am and I can smell the smoke from the fire here in Hamtramck. The fire has also jumped to another building, where important medical files are stored and where there are offices and or art studios.They desperately want to save this building but can’t go inside because it is too hot and the building is considered unstable. Sadly, they do not feel they will be able to save it and I won’t be able to watch and wait. I am going to bed now. The extent of the damage should be better known tomorrow or I mean later TODAY.
Hamtramck Residents Beware
June 20, 2005
Jeff was talking to our neighbor across the street Ted (he’s always looking out for our street) who told us to watch out when walking around Hamtramck. I guess a couple african american guys in a white neon have been going up to people, holding two guns up to them, and stealing whatever they have. Apparently this has happened to more than one person, Ted’s friend being one of them. He said his friend had just got done picking up some food with his girlfriend when he heard two guys coming up from behind. He told his girlfriend to run as they came up on them. I guess he was ready to hit them when he noticed they had two glocs held up to his head. They stole his wallet, and almost his food. He told them the food was for his mother and to please not take it. The shits gave him the food back but got away with his wallet. Again, beware of a WHITE NEON with two sketchy guys inside. Call police immediately if you see them around the area. Those creeps need to go to jail.
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June 17, 2005
Pistons do it again!
June 16, 2005
Whoa! We just got done watching the Pistons shred the Spurs 102 to 71. We beat them so bad that after a while it actually hurt to watch. I started feeling sorry for the other team.They played pitiful tonight *let’s hope they continue that way* The cameras kept showing a couple of the Spurs team members on the sidelines hands held to their sad little sweatball faces. At one point their coach was even consoling one of their players who looked like he was ready to jump underneath one of Ben Wallace’s shoes just so he could be put out of his misery. I don’t blame him. At least he would have then been part of the winning team after being reduced to basketball bubblegum.
There comes a time when you just have to admit it, THE PISTONS ROCK! Detroit Rocks.
Go Detroit! Go MJ…uhhh wuh?
June 15, 2005
I just wanted to give the Detroit Pistons some props for winning the game tonight. I don’t usually watch basketball, but have found myself addicted to these games just as I was last year they were in the Finals. Last year, right after they won the championship, I ran outside grabbed an old cheerleader megaphone my landlord had sitting on the frontporch (in Ypsilanti) and screamed YEAH YA THE PISTONS WON!!!A! WOO HOO! Then I put it down and immediately felt totally stupid. I dunno. Something about just letting go over something I don’t usually care about was a strange sensation. I think I scared myself. Maybe it was the inner cheerleader in me. Who knows what might happen this year if they win again. I could get crazier. Time will tell.
I was going to write about Michael Jackson’s Innocence but I think I will just let you hear/see what other people have to say since it will most likely be more interesting than my blabber Click here for New Yorkers opinion on Rocketboom You may need to look for yesterdays news(Tuesday) in their archives. Timeless commercial at the end.
Lunch in A2
June 15, 2005
Had lunch with my friend Jason earlier today (Tuesday). Some topics of our conversation: Meijer’s Briggs,my personality being ENTJ, Jimmy John’s sandwichs never being cut in half, job searching, Jason’s upcoming shows,traffic tickets, people who always get out of traffic tickets, parking tickets, Secret Post someone’s secret, jason’s last time in Chicago, O.D’s birthday fun, beer, puking, strip joint, limosine, rich man,Brian has a girlfriend,and finally grad school.
Found it!
June 15, 2005
When I woke up Sunday morning there was a sushi sock hanging over the lamp above my bed. “MY SUSHI SOCK!” I screamed with excitement. Seriously. It was one of the bestest ways to wake up (excluding the aroma of coffee brewing. Think old Folgers commercial for visual). My sushi sock had been missing for months now and Jeff just happened to find it hiding under the washing machine. I had put the lone sock in my sock drawer when I first realized its match was missing. I knew I would have them back together again. Now if only I could find my other camera sock. That lone sock has waited patiently for years in my sock drawer. I guess its time to retire it and accept I will never find its other half. *Sigh* I probably left it behind at one of my old apartments in Ypsi or Ann Arbor. I bet it is now being used as someones oven mitt or dust rag as we speak. Don’t tell me none of you have never used a sock as an oven mitt. Lord knows I never thought to buy one back when I was fresh out of the nest. Socks work out just fine if you double up on them (especially mens cause they are extra cushiony).
I have had a love for unique socks (see previous entry ) since high school. I still get that feeling of excitement when walking past the sock section in department stores. I can’t buy just one pair of cute socks. Especially if there is a buy one get one half off or free. I’m not talkin the cheap socks either. They have to last. I feel the material, and I can tell the cheap from the quality. Holes. The cheap ones get holes.
