October 28th, 2002. Monday
I'm often surprised what a difference a good, thick pair of socks can make. It makes you feel better walking or standing around, having a nice, dry cushion on your feet, even if your shoes are falling apart.The notable events of the past week-
On Tuesday night, went with Miss Charming Melodee to see the David Sedaris reading at Carnegie Hall. The two striking observations: 1) Carnegie Hall is very large, which I knew, but I was struck by how large it is vertically. We were all the way at the top, and it was an imposing height. 2) David Sedaris sounds like a total weenie. He's hilarious, but he really sounds so dorky. Also, during his readings, I tried to imagine how funny I would find it if it were just Joe Shmoe talking, and not someone I was already predisposed to like. His first few readings were only so-so, but the last few were really funny, particularly one called "Six to Eight Black Men."
I also bought the new Pavement DVD that night. I've been waiting for it for years. I'd forgotten how much I loved that band, I mean really, really loved them, and how funny they were. But watching the last videos and the videos of the last concerts they did, it's good that they broke up. Man, do they looked bored. And Malkmus couldn't look less interested in playing Spiral Stairs' songs. It was pretty awful. Made me kind of sad.Wednesday, I made a trip to the emergency room after suffering an extreme allergic reaction to an anti-biotic. Hives, skin irritation, light headedness. Not fun. And little scary. But I sat in the emergency room for so long that by the time I saw a doctor, it had pretty much all cleared up. So I filled out some forms, waited for another hour, decided I didn't want to pay for the none-treatment, and snuck out. Called in sick for the night job though.
Thursday, called in sick to the day job. Childhood friend Jason came up. We discussed a little problem he's having right now. Actually a big one. Played some basketball at the park down the street. Hadn't done that in a while. Just like old times. I was on fire from 3-point range. Then we went back to my place and had a couple of whiskey and ginger ales. Not like old times.
Friday after work, met up with Miss Charming Melodee at club Luxx in Brooklyn, where her brother's band was playing. They drove up from Athens, GA. While going to lunch that afternoon, they apparently ran into Jeff Mangum, the man behind Neutral Milk Hotel. They knew him from Athens and that whole crowd. He apparently just moved to my neighborhood. So that's kind of exciting to hear. I was just thinking that day about my favorite records, and how many albums I own that I would say are great from start to finish, without one really weak track. And their second cd is definitely one of them. Off the top of my head, the only other ones I can think of, to round out the top five, are Weezer's first, the Silver Jew's "American Water," the Pumpkins "Siamese Dream," and probably Radiohead's "The Bends." Off the top of my head.
So the band was pretty good. The bands that followed were not. Actually, just the band immediately after. This terrible, terribly band with an Asian lead singer. He introduced every song with "Ok, this next track..." I don't know why he called them "tracks" instead of songs, but it really annoyed me. He also used this terrible rock star inflection when he spoke that made him sound like he was trying to imitate Zack de la Rocha from Rage Against the Machine. Just awful. There songs sounded pretty different from one another, but they all sounded like other bands. The first song's riff was Pavement's "Summer Babe," and he sang as if he were Randy Bachman. Then some song that sounded just like a PJ Harvey song. But they all sounded like they were being performed by Creed doing a 311 imitation. So during the painfulness, Miss Charming Melodee and I went and got a burrito and a taco, respectively, and then went back to watch the other bands. Then off into a cold drizzle and toward another bar on the desolate waterfront of Williamsburg. An interesting little place. I wish I could remember what it was called. Her sister got sick shortly after we got there, so we took a car back to Greenpoint. Hung out with Miss Charming Melodee's siblings and made some pancakes, which were a disaster due mostly to lack of a spatula. So eggs were also made. With ricotta cheese, which isn't really good for eggs. But I still made a tasty little burrito with them. Added olives, cos you can't just have eggs wrapped in a tortilla. The combo worked surprisingly well.Saturday, watched tv for most of the afternoon. Cooked dinner for Miss Charming Melodee and sister, then went into the city to see her brother's band again. First band we saw was just awful. Again. I'm tired of going to shows and having terrible bands take portions of my money. It was the Allison Scola band. I'm naming the band in hopes that, Allison, if you read this, and you seem like the type of person who would comb the internet for your own name, please pack it in. It's not working out. The postcard she had had a picture of her on in, singing with her eyes barely closed. The description read "intelli-jazz pop fused with light soul." Ugh... Have you ever heard a more damning description? The picture actually fit quite well, as her face really conveyed "light soul." After one song, she said "Yeah, there was a little jam at the end of that song. I really like the word jam. I love words, since I'm a songwriter. And I love the word 'jam' because it had like 50 possible meanings. Why don't you guys just shout out possible meanings of 'jam'?" I normally don't participate in such absurd nonsense, but I couldn't resist yelling "Stuck in a bad place!" I doubt she heard me, but even if she did, I think she was too wrapped up in being on stage and having people's
attention to recognize the irony.Also met Miss Charming Melodee's parents at the show. I'd met them a few times before when we were both living in Park Slope, but not in our current capacity. Talked with them briefly. Think it went well. Then I hopped on the F train to Park Slope, where the residents of my old apartment were having a party.
The old apartment looks good. Wish I hadn't done the courteous thing and brought beer, because one of the roommates had called a beer distributor and got a large number of beers on the cheap. So there were over a hundred Budweisers in the bathtub. Which I guess was kind of gross, knowing that tub as well as I do. It was kind of weird being back there for a party and not being at all responsible for it. I felt very detached from things. But mostly in a good way. I hadn't hung out with Jen or Matt for a while, so it was good to see them as well, though I didn't get to talk that much to them. The whole place was too smoky, and I spent a lot of the time feeling sick.
Got home, cooked food, and watched a surprisingly good chunk of Robocop 2. I think Frank Miller (he of "The Dark Knight Returns" fame) wrote it, which I always found surprising, since I remembered it being a terrible movie. But then after watching it, it had Frank Miller's fingerprints all over it. Dismemberments, evil kid as the arch villain, etc.And sunday- hung out with the sisters, then went into the city to meet my recently reacquainted friend Michelle for coffee, pie, and conversation. Then met Geoff in Soho and back to my place for food and Sunday night tv. Relaxing evening.
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