Scott Fiedler is definitely one of my top two favorite Fiedlers.

I have been looking for this character description since I was reminded of it in Paris by my chain-smoking companions. First I thought it was Dickens (Miss Havisham, perhaps), then I was convinced she was an Orwell creation. I reread the entirety of "Coming up for Air" in search of her, to no avail. Trying to fall asleep the other night I realized- she's from that silly book by Murdoch, the one where they steal the German Shepherd acting dog. "Under the Net." I read it in Glasgow while working my way through The Modern Library's list of the 100 Best Novels. I don't own it. I told myself I'd go to the library one day and check it out. I probably would have, eventually.

I'm in the middle of "Travels with Charley" and have been trying to get my friend, Sarah, to pick it up. I've sent her a few pieces via text message and this morning I emailed her a particularly long passage, practically the whole first page. I do this a lot when I really like a book, fill journals and inboxes with bits of it. As I thought about this, that light bulb lit up.



Success! Please accept this gift of words.

From Iris Murdoch's "Under the Net"

"In the midst sits Mrs. Tinckham herself, smoking a cigarette. She is the only person I know who is literally a chain-smoker. She lights each one from the butt of the last; how she lights the first one of the day remains to me a mystery, for she never seems to have any matches in the house when I ask her for one. I once arrived to find her in great distress because her current cigarette had fallen into a cup of coffee and she had no fire to light another. Perhaps she smokes all night, or perhaps there is an undying cigarette which burns eternally in her bedroom."

I have been on the "Fishing With John" bus for a long time but it was only within the last year that I was turned on to his paintings.


SOME ANIMALS NOAH HAD ONLY ONE OF, THE ONES THAT CAME BY TWO PUT ON A MUSICAL, WHICH LIKE MOST MUSICALS WAS BAD


PANTHER OUTSIDE OF HOUSE AS PHOTOGRAPHED BY ABRAHAM ZAPRUDER


BIRD HAS ABSOLUTELY NO FACE

Lurie says painting saved his life. He has been in ill health since the mid-1990s, and lived largely in seclusion. I couldn't find a lot about it on the internet but it it's all in his paintings.


I NEED TO KNOW IF THERE IS LIFE AFTER DEATH AND I NEED TO KNOW KIND OF SOON



www.johnlurieart.com for more.

Jacob, Max and I are sorry that we didn't believe you a year ago when you said the apocalypse was imminent.

TADPOLES.

Oh, there's more! FISH!

I am a terrible scholar. I did nothing for Bloomsday. I worked all day so I couldn't go to the Rosenbach and the only other thing I can find to do is this:



Which would be great minus Philebrity and the 700 Club.

Maybe I will just read Ulysses and recreate one of those cocktails. Except I don't have any of those ingredients. Or Ulysses.

Well, bourbon and Dubliners it is.

happy anniversary, max!

Yesterday was Max and my two year anniversary. I made these delicious molten lava cakes with raspberries and ice cream.



I am getting used to blogger but it frustrates me that I can't make my images any wider than 400 pixels. Also my font size is always different. WHATEVS.

Anyway, happy anniversary, Max! I have a lot to post about but very little time! I was promoted at work and am training two employees today. I am the busiest bee.

a modest mouse proposal

Tomorrow is the full moon. Because I work at a hippie spa I am convinced that everything that's gone wrong this week for everyone- and that's a lot- can be blamed on the moon. Increased appetites, insomnia, general grumps, localized grumps, whatever. It's the stupid moon's fault. I mean, seriously, if it affects the tides of the ocean it can probably cause a little crazy crazy.

Considerably less seriously, Mr. Show and I have found the solution:



The idea is facing considerable backlash from the animal kingdom. At least, I think these guys are from the animal kingdom.



And this clip, I believe, speaks for itself.



I've been thinking about the moon a lot recently, as you can tell. I wonder if there really is something to this moon thing, or if I am just losing my mind. The internet has a lot of answers, but none that I'm willing to get behind. Here's an example. This is one of the first hits on google for "moon effects."

REALLY? REALLY? The website might have some decent information, but I'd never know, I am way too distracted by all of the flashing. What is that icon on the top left, an Interstellar Police car? I guess the moon question will just have to go unanswered, until Krysta Tanico writes her first book.

me: i need to stop listening to rilo kiley and modest mouse on repeat.
i feel like i am in a funk.
maybe it's the moon.
jacob: and antarctica

4000 Flavors

There was a surprise waiting for me in the mailbox yesterday morning- Volume 3 of 4000 Flavors, a zine created and compiled by friend and Philly neighbor (he lives on the other side of the river but we are all neighbors here), Sean Hamilton. I sent him two pieces when he first dreamt up the zine and was pretty stoked when he used one in the first issue. I didn't make it to the release party (working on Saturdays is for the dogs, man) but he was kind enough to send me a copy and I really dug it. I wrote about it here and included my submission.

Laziness and other vices set in on my part shortly thereafter and I lost track of this tiny gem (speaking of tiny gems, please check out this blog by the Vassallo siblings) until yesterday. While I was "sleeping" Sean was hard at work- Volume 4 was released in May and Volume 5 is in production. 

As for Volume 3, it's pretty damn good. It's cool for me to see what some of my former classmates are doing, and to add new names to my mental rolodex. Plus, a piece of mine is in it! I'm not putting this piece online- you'll have to buy Volume 3 to read it. Volume 1 and 2 are available online here- for $5 or less! Even if you can barely afford your rent, like Sean and I, you can shell out $5 to enrich your life. I plan on purchasing Volume 2 as soon as I get my next paycheck.

I've linked it twice already, but please check out the 4000 Flavors blog. I've really enjoyed catching up with it today and yesterday. There is also a pretty cool article on Phrequency about Mr. Hamilton. 

Alright, time to make my hubby dinner and play fetch with the cat. Check out those links.