I planned on going to a Barbara Ehrenreich reading/signing tonight, but changed my mind when I heard her latest book is a political satire. I’m feeling especially down about our country right now - normal ills + side effects of election mudslinging. I don’t need to hear any more about all the problems facing America. Yes, we’re all screwed. I got that memo.
So I was sitting at my desk and watching sunlight come through the blinds. “Whoa,” I thought. “It’s evening and I’m home. The sun is still out and…” I ran to my bedroom to 1) put my jeans back on and 2) retrieve the new camera.
*I wear gauchos at home. They are the official sponsor of Amanda Relaxing At Home 2008. (Also 2005, 2006, and 2007).
Camera around my neck, I walked around the neighborhood. I hit up Central and Morningside Parks. Three older people on the sidewalk asked if I’d take a picture of them. Of course, I agreed. One kid on Frederick Douglass and 112th yelled, “Take that camera away from here, white ho!” before I got out of earshot. It took everything in me not to saunter back over to him and “Oh snap!” with my camera.
The manual focus is pretty intuitive. I didn’t view each shot after taking it, like I normally do on my point and shoot. The consequence? A few beautiful shots lost in blur. Oh, well. There will be other jaunts, even if I have to stop spending so much time in bookstores to go on them.
Nice blog…..liked them check mine too
http://www.dileepwarrier.blogspot.com
This is for you. Whoever you are. Bean lovers, electrical engineers, mothers, deadbeats, whoever the hell. Shoot me a line at handandarturo@gmail.com and I’ll interview you about what makes you go. Here’s the first interview:
So what do you do?
Teach
You like it?
It works
Best part?
When it transcends bullshit, when it transcends how everybody’s feeling. When the kids drop it, and I drop it, and we get down to it.
What do you mean?
So many teachers, especially in the city, are in love with telling you stories about ‘these kids.’ They love talking about how poor the kids are, how much they misbehave, how much of a challenge it is and blahbity blah melodramatic blah. But when it comes down to it, and you’re in the classroom, and everybody’s doing what they’re supposed to do, and you planned a great lesson and it’s working and they’re practically sweating because they’re working too, it’s nice. It’s the best part of it.
What do you listen to?
Drake, some Elliott, Lennon George Pixies Kurt, some classical when the sun’s starting to dip, my man Tom Waits, the Chuck Bukowski of singer songwriters.
Favorite Bukowski line?
‘when the 300 pound whore came in I was ready.’ I think it was in Tales of Ordinary Madness. Never laughed as hard, never re-read a line so many times. That’s how he opens the story- ‘when the 300 pound whore came in i was ready.’
Favorite Fante line?
‘Laughter, and wild applause from the bushes.’ From ‘A Road to Los Angeles,’ where Fante let go of any semblance of restraint
Best writer for the NY times?
Dargis. I think she described Zooey Deschanel with something like ‘the actress, with her fluttering blues,’ or something. Something sweet like that, and she can tear them down eloquently.
Habits?
Hoping to get through day after day without speaking to anyone
Family?
Strong, strong. Siblings and their demons, big tough family, caught between blue-collar and white, reads a ton not quite well-read, not poor, not middle class, catholic.
Anything you want to say?
Trust feeling as little as possible, go with whatever insticts point you in a practical direction. Be Jeffersonian in your self-discipine. Listen to no one who gives advice. Admire Seymour-Hoffman’s body of work
cool shots….I was hoping to see the one of the three old people though.
Cathy in TX
my blog is better then first post, but this blog is good. NY blogs rock
Cathy,
I’d post the picture of the neighborhood folks, but I’m hesitant to put up pictures of others without their permission. I’m paranoid.
I thought of that after I posted.