Slice of Life

Local Queens residents pause in front of the corner Greek pizza shop to watch the Presidential Debates, which were broadcast on large-screen TVs and through a loudspeaker on the street.

My Ode

To Rudy Burckhardt

Cloistered.

A recent trip to the Cloisters was chalk full of beheaded Angels, dismembered Virgin Marys, and other Medieval depictions of Christ and Biblical figures. Enjoy!

Leaves Compared With Flowers

by Robert Frost

A tree's leaves may be ever so good,
So may its bar, so may its wood;
But unless you put the right thing to its root
It never will show much flower or fruit.

But I may be one who does not care
Ever to have tree bloom or bear.
Leaves for smooth and bark for rough,
Leaves and bark may be tree enough.

Some giant trees have bloom so small
They might as well have none at all.
Late in life I have come on fern.
Now lichens are due to have their turn.

I bade men tell me which in brief,
Which is fairer, flower or leaf.
They did not have the wit to say,
Leaves by night and flowers by day.

Leaves and bar, leaves and bark,
To lean against and hear in the dark.
Petals I may have once pursued.
Leaves are all my darker mood.

Flowers and Fences

Recently, I realized that I have captured a few photographs of flowers creeping their way through a chain-link fences. Perhaps I am drawn to the logical symbolism, the urban poetry, the very Ian Malcolm-y-ness of the relationship: that nature, um, ah, finds a way.











Astoria, Summer 2008


















Washington Heights, Fall 2008


















Santa Monica, CA, Summer 2007

Autumn in New York

Sugar Maple Foliage (30th Avenue, Queens)













Jackson Pollock's Autumn Rhythm (Number 30)

Aisle 4

They're Identical. And they can even finish each other's stamens!

Which Way To Head Wounds?

Well a Nyuk Nyuk Nyuk Nyet

Today's text message to my sisters:

just want to let u know, i was buying thread at this tiny russian thread/sewing shop in the fashion district and the song that came on? the curly shuffle.

An Ode to Toast: A haiku.

Toast is this cat's name.
Me'w, chew, poo: it's all the same.
Blurry is his game.

Haiku. Highlights Magazine. Spring, 1976.

Sleep caterpillar.
Awake brand new butterfly.
Who knows how or why?

-Jonathan Michael Jackson

MEMORY LANE #5 : Cancun Do's & Don't's (This is the actual document I was given upon landing at the Cancun Airport in 2001)

Life Lessons (learned on my twin sister and my 2-month roadtrip across the U.S. in 2002)

• All roads lead to somewhere.
• Take Old Farmer's advice.
• Never travel without an updated atlas.
• If camping locally, buy local map.
• It's never too late to turn around.
• Curiosity may get you lost (if that's what you're looking for).
• If you do get curious: paved and numbered roads will lead you to the interstate.
• 2-lane country roads are 55 mph. Even when it doesn't say so.
  
• On an atlas, a grey road is always more fun than a blue road, but not as efficient as a pink road.
  
• Do not get a haircut at a beauty school in an Anchorage, AK strip mall.
• If you find yourself in the Anchorage, AK strip mall beauty school, do not get the haircut if it is under $10.
• Never bring a pet chihuahua to a club.
• If you must bring your pet chihuahua to a club, DO NOT EAT.
• Curb drunk dialing.
  
• If you do drunk dial and violent hiccuping begins, hang up the phone.
• If someone asks you if you're in the film crew, YOU SAY YES!
• Always have a spare pair of clean underwear hidden in a secret place.
• Remember secret place.
• Playing Blackjack with a Pinochle deck will yield the highest ratio of 21. Ever.
  
• Gentlemen come in all shapes and sizes.
• If the kitchen is dirty (and you can SEE it), don't eat there.
• If you can get can a free tutu, take it.

If you don't look good, the dog gets it.

Junkyard Dogs

As we enter the 2nd week of the 2008 NFL season, I'd like to take a moment to pay tribute to the Chicago Bears Defensive linemen of yesteryear (by which I mean the 1985 season) who led the Monsters of the Midway to their Superbowl Victory, with what is widely hailed as the greatest Defense of all time.

These upstanding men included...

#55 Otis Wilson

#50 Mike Singletary

#99 Dan Hampton

#76 Steve McMichael


And here's to this season...

Here's to you, Brian Urlacher, for your brave efforts rehashing the Junkyard Dogs once again this season. We know you're working hard. So. We will ignore.

Everything (we find on MySpace).




Achem.

Anyway. With last week's season opening surprise win against the Colts (even Vegas didn't see it coming), Kyle Orton looks positive. For now. Especially since Orton has someone to connect with: rookie Matt Forte. Big ups for your great efforts last week. And no pressure, dude.

You've only got 3 million people behind you. Waiting for you to let us down.

Not a big deal.

Just, please keep barking at Dallas fans.

Blue But West: This Wasn't Planned. I'm Serious!

Uphill Battle for Marketing Dept. at this Newark Eatery

Things That Made Me Laugh Today

Someone paid for it. Someone made it. Someone ate it.

Former intern/current friend proved she COULD.


Fake boobs.

Annapolis "is a small town with a big drunk problem." -Mike G., Annapolis at Noon

As is evident with the first posted sign at the docks.