Wednesday, July 30, 2008
Tuesday, July 15, 2008
7th Annual Lebowski Fest
Every July for the past seven years now, hundreds of fans of the 1998 filmThe Big Lebowski gather in Louisville. The two founders of Lebowski Fest are from Louisville, hence the location. However, they have since taken it outside Louisville to cities including Las Vegas, Los Angeles, Seattle, Austin, New York and to Chicago this past March (which was my first official Lebowski Fest). A couple were also held in Great Britain. They will visit San Francisco this September and are rumored to hold official Fests in Philadelphia and Tampa before the 8th Annual next summer.
It makes me cringe to call it a "convention." Festival is the more apt term, because it's more about one huge party segmented into separate events than a convention hall with people selling and sitting in booths. You won't find this level of live music at a Star Trek convention. People who attend the Fest are not limited - or consumed - by their fandom as you might see at a Star Wars thing... Meaning, we all know we have a love of this under appreciated movie in common - but it's great to find out what else we have in common. For example, talking about who the Amercian version of Daft Punk is with a couple from Pittsburgh. Or a very high level college basketball discussion from a crew of alums from Indiana University. I never would have met these people if we didn't first agree to go to a Lebowski Fest. However, there are costumes. And there are a lot of digital personalities meeting each other for the first time after many conversations on forums online. If you must label us, at least call us upper lower class nerds... but we prefer calling ourselves "Achievers."
Here is a collection of some of my more favorite pictures. Some were taken by me, most were taken by fellow Achievers.
Standing Room Only at the premiere screening of The Achievers. This documentary will be included as a special feature on The Big Lebowski 10th Anniversary DVD.
The Opening Party started with a performance by Pleaseeasaur
He was... odd...
I walked around a lot, talking to strangers in the method that all people who know me would not be surprised. Here's a picture of me with Jim Hoosier.
Jim Hoosier is a normal man from southern California. He was in a bowling league and answered a flyer that simply said, "Irish looking bowler" to be an extra in The Big Lebowski. He has zero lines. He's never been in another movie. But his character "Liam" looms large in the hearts of all Achievers and was treated as a celebrity all weekend. Here's a picture of "Liam n' Me" (FYI, that's a quote from the movie)
Then stand-up comedian (and actor from most recently The Sarah Silverman Show) Brian Posehn took the stage.
It was very clear that he was a fan of the movie too, and had instant rapport with the over 900 people there.
The night (officially) ended with a screening of the film.
This happened in about 8 hours time. From 6 PM over at the Executive Inn Hotel to see the documentary to the credits rolling at the Executive Lawn just before 2 am. The night wasn't done for me, as I joined fellow Achievers for a nightcap at the Executive West Hotel until about 3:30 am.
After a brief touristy trip to "The Highlands" section of Bardstown Road for lunch and what-have-you with four other Achievers, I returned to the Executive Lawn shortly after 4 pm. Snow Monster was already playing. I was amazed when I finally walked up to the stage and saw that they were just an electronic beat machine, a six year old drummer and five year old front woman.
Their set didn't last too long, it ended before joke got old (i.e. Pleaseeasear) - but they might have been overdue for a nap.
I really didn't pay too much attention to the next two musical acts. No offense to Broken Spurs and Everthus The Deadbeats - but I wasn't really there to listen to music... I was there to talk to fellow Achievers and play some of the great games they had. It really was awesome that all the games' proceeds went to local charities.
Here's a picture of two guys dressed as The Jesus and Jackie Treehorn playing the game:
By the way, the shirt I'm wearing in this picture is one I made myself. It's a quote from the film, "That's Marvelous."
Also at the Garden Party, available for free, was Cornhole (or "bags" or "bean bag toss game" or my favorite name that I saw one place "Super Sack Toss")
Here is a man dressed in a Nixon mask playing, along with close-ups of the boards
I spent a lot of the time talking with a crew of four from Cleveland. Here's a picture of two of them, showing the backs of their custom made bowling shirts:
Let the record show that the phone number is accurate. They paused the DVD to read the number off the side of Walter's van.
Somewhere around this time I got someone to take my favorite picture of the fest. I was happy to settle for just a picture of the costume, but one of the foursome from Cleveland walked over and offered to take a picture with me in it:
I don't expect many people to get this costume. The best costumes (in my opinion) are not of actual characters, but of actual lines from the movie. Maude Lebowski says, "her co-star in the beaver picture" This costume won the Best Costume contest for a key factor in their costume. They weren't just a "beaver picture." They built the frame large enough so people could take their picture with them - to be a part of the costume. So this way, I - TQ - was able to "co-star" in the said "beaver picture."
Here are two more costumes which are not characters, but lines from the movie: "Sex offender with a record" and "strong men also cry"
Which now brings me to the next band that played: Kentucky Prophet
During one of their songs, they invited people to participate in a dance competition. The winner was this girl from Dayton who I met a few hours earlier.
(note that almost ALL WOMEN there were there accompanied by their boyfriend/husband... but I was not there to meet a special ladyfriend...)
Her prize for winning were a pair of kneepads that the John Popper (circa 1995)-esque front man threw out to the crowd.
Let me just say that I'll be searching YouTube for the next few weeks looking for footage. Her dance was highly sexual and greatly benefited by the Sex Offender with a Record gyrations. I also laughed at how her boyfriend was absolutely loving the exhibition.
Regrettably, I missed most of Mike Doughty's set. I was looking forward to his musical set the most. Although I wasn't that big of a Soul Coughing fan, I do have two of his solo albums on my iPod and wanted to hear him. But it was 97 degrees out there, and I decided to leave the Garden Party early to stand in line for the Bowling Party. The one point from his set that shocked me - he played the song Circles. Although I thought he didn't play Soul Coughing songs - from what he saw he didn't have a playlist. It appeared he was announcing songs more to his partner on stage than to the crowd, and he was also asking for suggestions from the crowd. I bet someone yelled out that Soul Coughing song.
So I was in line just in front of this guy, again his costume was one single line, "Tattoo it on your forehead"
The Bowling Party's doors opened at 8, and I walked up to these two asking if they had room for one more on their lane:
These two are Louisville natives. They are married to each other and I must say are my current model for what I want my (if it ever happens) Marriage to be like.
Not only did she love the fact that he took a month to grow a goatee they both don't really like, custom dye/stich/customize a puple jumpsuit to bowl in and take off his wedding band in place of a fake 300 game ring BUT ALSO she died her hair grey to dress as another character (Smokey) from the film. The Jesus rolled a strike, then in slow motion re-enacted the character for which he was dressed as Strike Dance. Meanwhile, "Liam" (who was Jesus' bowling parter), ran over to our lane just in time as Our Jesus ended his dance with a point to him. When Liam pointed back, like how it was in the movie, the entire bowling alley erupted in cheers laughs and applause!
He went on to win the award for Best Jesus costume
Meanwhile, there was another band I didn't see or hear: ...soihadto...
This is the band featuring "Duff" from the Food Network show Ace of Cakes. For an upcoming Ace... episode Duff made a cake for the 10th anniversary of The Big Lebowski for this Fest. Here is a picture of the cake before it was absolutely devoured by Achievers:
I did get a nice chuck of the cake myself. It tasted awesome. It was "White Russian" flavored. (which is the preferred beverage of the movie's main character)
Now let's go over some of the other costumes from the Fest:
Marty the landlord:
The specific line "Not on the rug, man" was the inspiration for Not On The Rug Man superhero - one of the Best Costume finalists:
This foursome from Canada was dressed as actual characters: Saddam, Gutterballs girl, Maude and The Stranger
The Dude calls The Big Lebowski a "human paraquot" (this is the Best Costume finalist based on this line)
Knox Harrington, the video artist, was only in one scene of the film:
Another person dressed up as Marty the landlord, and performed "the cycle"
Maude:
The Pope was a Best Costume Finalist (again - from a single line "Does the Pope shit in the woods?" said by The Dude to Jackie Treehorn)
This finalist for "Best Dude" didn't win, but I liked his re-enactment of The Dude's pre-roll stretch
This Dude, real name Tom, won "Best Costume: The Dude" because not only did he wear jellies, but also had a bag phone and a beeper
This Walter, although there were others that looked more like John Goodman, won "Best Costume: Walter" because he was the only one who dressed in the scene when he confronts Larry Sellers. His costume was complete with Larry's homework in a plastic bag
This next costume, based on the single line "new shit has come to light" was a Best Costume finalist - but might have been discounted because a diffrent interpretation of the line won Best Costume last year
Best costume finalist, based on the line, "she's gotta feed the monkey" (said by The Dude to Brandt and The Big Lebowski)
Oh, and remember that foursome from Cleveland? They won Best Group Costume dressed as Talent Scouts for Jackie Treehorn Productions
The Bowling Party ended with the costume winners for Best Dude, Walter, Maude and The Jesus had a bowl-off for a giant check (a replica of the one used in the movie):
Welp, that about does her, wraps her all up. Things seem to've worked out pretty good
It makes me cringe to call it a "convention." Festival is the more apt term, because it's more about one huge party segmented into separate events than a convention hall with people selling and sitting in booths. You won't find this level of live music at a Star Trek convention. People who attend the Fest are not limited - or consumed - by their fandom as you might see at a Star Wars thing... Meaning, we all know we have a love of this under appreciated movie in common - but it's great to find out what else we have in common. For example, talking about who the Amercian version of Daft Punk is with a couple from Pittsburgh. Or a very high level college basketball discussion from a crew of alums from Indiana University. I never would have met these people if we didn't first agree to go to a Lebowski Fest. However, there are costumes. And there are a lot of digital personalities meeting each other for the first time after many conversations on forums online. If you must label us, at least call us upper lower class nerds... but we prefer calling ourselves "Achievers."
Here is a collection of some of my more favorite pictures. Some were taken by me, most were taken by fellow Achievers.
Standing Room Only at the premiere screening of The Achievers. This documentary will be included as a special feature on The Big Lebowski 10th Anniversary DVD.
The Opening Party started with a performance by Pleaseeasaur
He was... odd...
I walked around a lot, talking to strangers in the method that all people who know me would not be surprised. Here's a picture of me with Jim Hoosier.
Jim Hoosier is a normal man from southern California. He was in a bowling league and answered a flyer that simply said, "Irish looking bowler" to be an extra in The Big Lebowski. He has zero lines. He's never been in another movie. But his character "Liam" looms large in the hearts of all Achievers and was treated as a celebrity all weekend. Here's a picture of "Liam n' Me" (FYI, that's a quote from the movie)
Then stand-up comedian (and actor from most recently The Sarah Silverman Show) Brian Posehn took the stage.
It was very clear that he was a fan of the movie too, and had instant rapport with the over 900 people there.
The night (officially) ended with a screening of the film.
This happened in about 8 hours time. From 6 PM over at the Executive Inn Hotel to see the documentary to the credits rolling at the Executive Lawn just before 2 am. The night wasn't done for me, as I joined fellow Achievers for a nightcap at the Executive West Hotel until about 3:30 am.
After a brief touristy trip to "The Highlands" section of Bardstown Road for lunch and what-have-you with four other Achievers, I returned to the Executive Lawn shortly after 4 pm. Snow Monster was already playing. I was amazed when I finally walked up to the stage and saw that they were just an electronic beat machine, a six year old drummer and five year old front woman.
Their set didn't last too long, it ended before joke got old (i.e. Pleaseeasear) - but they might have been overdue for a nap.
I really didn't pay too much attention to the next two musical acts. No offense to Broken Spurs and Everthus The Deadbeats - but I wasn't really there to listen to music... I was there to talk to fellow Achievers and play some of the great games they had. It really was awesome that all the games' proceeds went to local charities.
Here's a picture of two guys dressed as The Jesus and Jackie Treehorn playing the game:
By the way, the shirt I'm wearing in this picture is one I made myself. It's a quote from the film, "That's Marvelous."
Also at the Garden Party, available for free, was Cornhole (or "bags" or "bean bag toss game" or my favorite name that I saw one place "Super Sack Toss")
Here is a man dressed in a Nixon mask playing, along with close-ups of the boards
I spent a lot of the time talking with a crew of four from Cleveland. Here's a picture of two of them, showing the backs of their custom made bowling shirts:
Let the record show that the phone number is accurate. They paused the DVD to read the number off the side of Walter's van.
Somewhere around this time I got someone to take my favorite picture of the fest. I was happy to settle for just a picture of the costume, but one of the foursome from Cleveland walked over and offered to take a picture with me in it:
I don't expect many people to get this costume. The best costumes (in my opinion) are not of actual characters, but of actual lines from the movie. Maude Lebowski says, "her co-star in the beaver picture" This costume won the Best Costume contest for a key factor in their costume. They weren't just a "beaver picture." They built the frame large enough so people could take their picture with them - to be a part of the costume. So this way, I - TQ - was able to "co-star" in the said "beaver picture."
Here are two more costumes which are not characters, but lines from the movie: "Sex offender with a record" and "strong men also cry"
Which now brings me to the next band that played: Kentucky Prophet
During one of their songs, they invited people to participate in a dance competition. The winner was this girl from Dayton who I met a few hours earlier.
(note that almost ALL WOMEN there were there accompanied by their boyfriend/husband... but I was not there to meet a special ladyfriend...)
Her prize for winning were a pair of kneepads that the John Popper (circa 1995)-esque front man threw out to the crowd.
Let me just say that I'll be searching YouTube for the next few weeks looking for footage. Her dance was highly sexual and greatly benefited by the Sex Offender with a Record gyrations. I also laughed at how her boyfriend was absolutely loving the exhibition.
Regrettably, I missed most of Mike Doughty's set. I was looking forward to his musical set the most. Although I wasn't that big of a Soul Coughing fan, I do have two of his solo albums on my iPod and wanted to hear him. But it was 97 degrees out there, and I decided to leave the Garden Party early to stand in line for the Bowling Party. The one point from his set that shocked me - he played the song Circles. Although I thought he didn't play Soul Coughing songs - from what he saw he didn't have a playlist. It appeared he was announcing songs more to his partner on stage than to the crowd, and he was also asking for suggestions from the crowd. I bet someone yelled out that Soul Coughing song.
So I was in line just in front of this guy, again his costume was one single line, "Tattoo it on your forehead"
The Bowling Party's doors opened at 8, and I walked up to these two asking if they had room for one more on their lane:
These two are Louisville natives. They are married to each other and I must say are my current model for what I want my (if it ever happens) Marriage to be like.
Not only did she love the fact that he took a month to grow a goatee they both don't really like, custom dye/stich/customize a puple jumpsuit to bowl in and take off his wedding band in place of a fake 300 game ring BUT ALSO she died her hair grey to dress as another character (Smokey) from the film. The Jesus rolled a strike, then in slow motion re-enacted the character for which he was dressed as Strike Dance. Meanwhile, "Liam" (who was Jesus' bowling parter), ran over to our lane just in time as Our Jesus ended his dance with a point to him. When Liam pointed back, like how it was in the movie, the entire bowling alley erupted in cheers laughs and applause!
He went on to win the award for Best Jesus costume
Meanwhile, there was another band I didn't see or hear: ...soihadto...
This is the band featuring "Duff" from the Food Network show Ace of Cakes. For an upcoming Ace... episode Duff made a cake for the 10th anniversary of The Big Lebowski for this Fest. Here is a picture of the cake before it was absolutely devoured by Achievers:
I did get a nice chuck of the cake myself. It tasted awesome. It was "White Russian" flavored. (which is the preferred beverage of the movie's main character)
Now let's go over some of the other costumes from the Fest:
Marty the landlord:
The specific line "Not on the rug, man" was the inspiration for Not On The Rug Man superhero - one of the Best Costume finalists:
This foursome from Canada was dressed as actual characters: Saddam, Gutterballs girl, Maude and The Stranger
The Dude calls The Big Lebowski a "human paraquot" (this is the Best Costume finalist based on this line)
Knox Harrington, the video artist, was only in one scene of the film:
Another person dressed up as Marty the landlord, and performed "the cycle"
Maude:
The Pope was a Best Costume Finalist (again - from a single line "Does the Pope shit in the woods?" said by The Dude to Jackie Treehorn)
This finalist for "Best Dude" didn't win, but I liked his re-enactment of The Dude's pre-roll stretch
This Dude, real name Tom, won "Best Costume: The Dude" because not only did he wear jellies, but also had a bag phone and a beeper
This Walter, although there were others that looked more like John Goodman, won "Best Costume: Walter" because he was the only one who dressed in the scene when he confronts Larry Sellers. His costume was complete with Larry's homework in a plastic bag
This next costume, based on the single line "new shit has come to light" was a Best Costume finalist - but might have been discounted because a diffrent interpretation of the line won Best Costume last year
Best costume finalist, based on the line, "she's gotta feed the monkey" (said by The Dude to Brandt and The Big Lebowski)
Oh, and remember that foursome from Cleveland? They won Best Group Costume dressed as Talent Scouts for Jackie Treehorn Productions
The Bowling Party ended with the costume winners for Best Dude, Walter, Maude and The Jesus had a bowl-off for a giant check (a replica of the one used in the movie):
Welp, that about does her, wraps her all up. Things seem to've worked out pretty good
Monday, July 14, 2008
What I did on my summer vacation (TQ’s abridged version)
An unabridged version of the following, which is written in a vocabulary and tone more understandable to normal society, will be posted soon.
A very hot 97 degree afternoon in Louisville was the setting for the 7th Annual Lebowski Fest Garden Party. One of the events, which also included the Sheriff of Malibu Coffee Mug Throw, was the Ringer Toss:
This is a picture of me in The Dude's car, about to throw The Ringer (a.k.a. Walter's Undies or "The Whites") at a Nihilist.
The Garden Party lasted well over four hours featuring former Soul Coughing front man Mike Doughty. Before I left the Garden Party for the Bowling Party I got my picture taken with the eventual Best Costume winners:
I spent most of the Bowling Party's four or so hours at a lane with a lovely married couple who were dressed as Smokey and The Jesus. He ended up winning the award for Best Jesus Costume:
And the last nugget I'll mention here is the custom cake that chef Duff made. It was made / filmed for an upcoming episode of Food Network's show "Ace of Cakes:"
The cake was "White Russian" flavored. Believe me when I honestly tell you it was the most delicious cake ever. It was also the most liquor infused cake made I've ever eaten too. Everything you see, besides the wooden table, was edible.
And that's just a small sample of my summer vacation,
TQ
A very hot 97 degree afternoon in Louisville was the setting for the 7th Annual Lebowski Fest Garden Party. One of the events, which also included the Sheriff of Malibu Coffee Mug Throw, was the Ringer Toss:
This is a picture of me in The Dude's car, about to throw The Ringer (a.k.a. Walter's Undies or "The Whites") at a Nihilist.
The Garden Party lasted well over four hours featuring former Soul Coughing front man Mike Doughty. Before I left the Garden Party for the Bowling Party I got my picture taken with the eventual Best Costume winners:
I spent most of the Bowling Party's four or so hours at a lane with a lovely married couple who were dressed as Smokey and The Jesus. He ended up winning the award for Best Jesus Costume:
And the last nugget I'll mention here is the custom cake that chef Duff made. It was made / filmed for an upcoming episode of Food Network's show "Ace of Cakes:"
The cake was "White Russian" flavored. Believe me when I honestly tell you it was the most delicious cake ever. It was also the most liquor infused cake made I've ever eaten too. Everything you see, besides the wooden table, was edible.
And that's just a small sample of my summer vacation,
TQ
Sunday, June 29, 2008
The Rounds
Allow me to guide you on a tour of my daily web surfing.
I almost always start here on MySpace.
Check to see if anything's changed (it usually hasn't).
After I've read my the blogs posted by my "friends" and check out any new pictures, I'm off to my band of the moment's page and listen to the same four songs for free as I try to hold out on buying an album. Currently it's Grand National
I'll leave this window open and listen to the music as I continue The Rounds.
Next up, checking out the Springfield Isotopes (my fantasy baseball team).
These guys may not be familiar to you, but I follow their lives as closely as a new Father-to-be watches his newlywed's growing belly:
Off to Lebowskifest! Check what's newly posted on the message boards, maybe post a bit myself, see if they've released this year's Official Fest T-Shirt yet.
I've put IMDB back into the rotation lately.
Which usually reminds me which movies to add to my Net Flix queue, so I stop there next.
And then I visit the worst site of them all (as far as wasted time is concerned)
What I do there deserves it's own blog post.
Sadly, I like to also visit YouTube (which seems to get worse and worse every day)
Then it's back around the loop again.
Change the band on MySpace from Grand National to My Morning Jacket.
Take a closer look at this guy's stats (I think I need to drop him)
More posts to read on the boards.
Back to IMDB, the most useless of my re-visits... But I can't miss another famous death the way I did a few days ago:
Which reminds me to add this movie to my queue:
Oh, you know you gotta check this page again.
Then back again to the web's caboose: YouTube (Nothing else in the top two pages is worth your time to embed - trust me)
And my third lap begins with writing this blog, and the research needed to find it's pictures.
I'll probably keep running laps until I get too fatigued and go to bed.
Good night,
TQ
Post Scripts: Honorable mentions to sites I frequent a ton (but not usually daily)
Slate for current events
Stereogum for music radar
I almost always start here on MySpace.
Check to see if anything's changed (it usually hasn't).
After I've read my the blogs posted by my "friends" and check out any new pictures, I'm off to my band of the moment's page and listen to the same four songs for free as I try to hold out on buying an album. Currently it's Grand National
I'll leave this window open and listen to the music as I continue The Rounds.
Next up, checking out the Springfield Isotopes (my fantasy baseball team).
These guys may not be familiar to you, but I follow their lives as closely as a new Father-to-be watches his newlywed's growing belly:
Off to Lebowskifest! Check what's newly posted on the message boards, maybe post a bit myself, see if they've released this year's Official Fest T-Shirt yet.
I've put IMDB back into the rotation lately.
Which usually reminds me which movies to add to my Net Flix queue, so I stop there next.
And then I visit the worst site of them all (as far as wasted time is concerned)
What I do there deserves it's own blog post.
Sadly, I like to also visit YouTube (which seems to get worse and worse every day)
Then it's back around the loop again.
Change the band on MySpace from Grand National to My Morning Jacket.
Take a closer look at this guy's stats (I think I need to drop him)
More posts to read on the boards.
Back to IMDB, the most useless of my re-visits... But I can't miss another famous death the way I did a few days ago:
Which reminds me to add this movie to my queue:
Oh, you know you gotta check this page again.
Then back again to the web's caboose: YouTube (Nothing else in the top two pages is worth your time to embed - trust me)
And my third lap begins with writing this blog, and the research needed to find it's pictures.
I'll probably keep running laps until I get too fatigued and go to bed.
Good night,
TQ
Post Scripts: Honorable mentions to sites I frequent a ton (but not usually daily)
Slate for current events
Stereogum for music radar
Thursday, June 26, 2008
"How's the hunt?"
Writer's note: I sincerely thank anybody who will take the time to read this post. May I warn you that it will be a boring recap of my weekend. There may be some insight into my psyche, but I'm not making any promises... No offense will be taken if you stop reading now.... Thanks.
This week I worked an extra hour Monday through Thursday. Although I usually work more than 40 hours a week, this "extra" effort was with the sole intention of taking advantage of my employer's "summer hours" benefit (Between Memorial Day and Labor Day if you work 40 hours in a week by noon on Friday you can take Friday afternoon off).
I had scheduled the sixth of my six private golf lessons for 3:30 Friday afternoon. Not wanting to go home before doubling-back to Glenview I stayed in the office an extra two plus hours.
-not doing any work mind you-
I used the hours to put the finishing touches on my latest gaming operation:
It's a very successful pool. Well beyond expectations such a niche sport would offer.
(no further comment on my last golf lesson necessary, it was rather non important)
Friday evening was reserved in my social calendar for the Taste of Des Plaines.
Sadly, I only saw two people wearing these shirts:
However, the night was a great success (for me).
I met a stranger off the Internet.
Now this will be shock to most who know me: this was with ZERO romantic context. Yes, I have been known to meet many strange women under romantic contexts initially introduced via the World Wide Web.
No, not this time.
This was a married man met under the context of a shared interest: The Big Lebowski.
(May I go on record that I believe meeting a married man who happens to love a movie I also love to be infinitely more odd and creepy than my misguided pursuits for love.
Regardless, the man I met (along with his wife) may join me for my trek to Louisville next month for Lebowski Fest. It's going to be a tough solo journey, which makes anybody I can meet before hand a bonus. I'll probably feel more comfortable going to the official "meet-up" next Saturday knowing he'll be there too.
But he left soon (THANKFULLY) as other people I knew had arrived to the TASTE.
His (the stranger) departure may have been influenced by a rapid fire quote session from a movie he may not have been as familiar with (Michael Mann's LA crime saga masterpiece Heat).
So with the stranger out of the picture, I joined my crew of Des Plaines diehards. I need to make special mention that I would know none of these people without MySister. The following is a circle of friends who have all known MySister before me, and I was able to hijack my way into their friendship:
Brian / Deke (allowed spellings also include DiC) / Billy
Dennis
Dave
his girlfriend (and also my next door neighbor) Rebecca
Nate
Bridget
along with her husband (and one of the people that taught me poker) John (pictured here)
and HERBO!
This is Herbo:
"Herbo" is actually named Shawn. However, when I met him my sophomore year at Marquette (his freshman year), he was introduced to me as Herbo.
When Herbo bicycled up to me at the TASTE, I called out to my old acquaintance "HERBO."
Which significantly shocked John.
Turn out, John's younger brother (who has passed away earlier this year ) was the one who coined the "Herbo" nickname after a man who both John and his brother met one year in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.
This instance of me calling out "Herbo" (when he had no prior knowledge that I had known Herbo previously) had visibly shocked him. It was an odd legacy of his late brother that he did not expect. It made me feel slightly poignant... all I could muster was corny "small world" sentiment.
Taste of Des Plaines was a success due to the people who showed up, as the above tale demonstrates. Sadly, that was all the Taste was good for. I didn't go to the rain soaked Saturday events, and the better food that I, and others, sampled was actually from Mount Prospect (not Des Plaines!).
____
Saturday's activities were dominated by golf.
I spent over 5 hours with two of my good friends.
We went to Indian Boundary (one of the Forest Preserve courses).
My friend Stefan shot a career best.
My friend Brian shot his last round on his first set of clubs (he's awaiting the delivery of his new set)
And I - I shaved another 20+ strokes off my score (and there's a LOT of room for further improvement).
The notable story from the round of golf isn't golf related. In fact, it's not really a story but an isolated comment.
Somewhere on the back 9 Brian asked me:
"How's the hunt?"
I've really only heard this question in reference to job hunting. Being happily employed, I was confused and asked for further clarification of what he was asking.
(He was asking about my quest for love)
I politely told him I was taking some time off from dating.
Which is true.
Honestly, I can't afford to take up golf and start shelling out first date money.
But the term "hunt" has really itched my sub-conscience ever since...
Others have accused me as being a serial dater.
Many have wondered if I enjoy "the pursuit" more than any discovery.
Everybody has failed to realize that I am a horrible suitor with enough excess baggage to cripple a prop-jet and lack the needed class/finesse/"game"/and overall suave that is needed in fostering and maintaining a meaningful romantic relationship. Although I am (by all reviews, acquaintances and encounters of my past would verify) a nice guy - there are elements of immaturity and selfishness that seem paramount in my difficulties.
A recently married friend, by the name of Ryan, has recently declared that I have an overtly romantic view of the institution of Marriage. I hope this is the reason for my unsuccessful hunt. Both for the reasons that the perfect girl has yet to prove Ryan wrong - or me wrong.
____
Sunday was a very relaxing day spent mostly with my parents. They allowed me to use their laundry faculties and their couch as I convinced them to turn off Cable Politics for some good old fashioned Euro 2008 (as previously mentioned VERY PREVIOUSLY).
My dad cooked hamburgers outside on the grill. I drank milk. My Mom lectured me that I need to use sunscreen when I golf. We talked about Fathers Day next weekend. All in all, you could hire a painter to commemorate the event. The scene I'd want illustrated: Yours truly figuring out the speed dial functionality on their cordless phone and programming in all six total numbers of MySister and I.
Finally, tonight I finally made a decision on my "AT HOME" Net Flix options.
On May 7th the following movies arrived at my residence:
Tonight I watched The Diving Bell and the Butterfly.
And, upon the recommendation of my friend Stefan, "tagged and bagged" Starting Out in the Evening.
FYI: "Tagged and Bagged" is the returning a Net Flix film UNWATCHED. Two out of the last four movies I have received have met this fate (the other one was Lions for Lambs.
----
And that's my unabridged weekend. Both what I did and what I thought. If you're still with me... wow...
This week I worked an extra hour Monday through Thursday. Although I usually work more than 40 hours a week, this "extra" effort was with the sole intention of taking advantage of my employer's "summer hours" benefit (Between Memorial Day and Labor Day if you work 40 hours in a week by noon on Friday you can take Friday afternoon off).
I had scheduled the sixth of my six private golf lessons for 3:30 Friday afternoon. Not wanting to go home before doubling-back to Glenview I stayed in the office an extra two plus hours.
-not doing any work mind you-
I used the hours to put the finishing touches on my latest gaming operation:
It's a very successful pool. Well beyond expectations such a niche sport would offer.
(no further comment on my last golf lesson necessary, it was rather non important)
Friday evening was reserved in my social calendar for the Taste of Des Plaines.
Sadly, I only saw two people wearing these shirts:
However, the night was a great success (for me).
I met a stranger off the Internet.
Now this will be shock to most who know me: this was with ZERO romantic context. Yes, I have been known to meet many strange women under romantic contexts initially introduced via the World Wide Web.
No, not this time.
This was a married man met under the context of a shared interest: The Big Lebowski.
(May I go on record that I believe meeting a married man who happens to love a movie I also love to be infinitely more odd and creepy than my misguided pursuits for love.
Regardless, the man I met (along with his wife) may join me for my trek to Louisville next month for Lebowski Fest. It's going to be a tough solo journey, which makes anybody I can meet before hand a bonus. I'll probably feel more comfortable going to the official "meet-up" next Saturday knowing he'll be there too.
But he left soon (THANKFULLY) as other people I knew had arrived to the TASTE.
His (the stranger) departure may have been influenced by a rapid fire quote session from a movie he may not have been as familiar with (Michael Mann's LA crime saga masterpiece Heat).
So with the stranger out of the picture, I joined my crew of Des Plaines diehards. I need to make special mention that I would know none of these people without MySister. The following is a circle of friends who have all known MySister before me, and I was able to hijack my way into their friendship:
Brian / Deke (allowed spellings also include DiC) / Billy
Dennis
Dave
his girlfriend (and also my next door neighbor) Rebecca
Nate
Bridget
along with her husband (and one of the people that taught me poker) John (pictured here)
and HERBO!
This is Herbo:
"Herbo" is actually named Shawn. However, when I met him my sophomore year at Marquette (his freshman year), he was introduced to me as Herbo.
When Herbo bicycled up to me at the TASTE, I called out to my old acquaintance "HERBO."
Which significantly shocked John.
Turn out, John's younger brother (who has passed away earlier this year ) was the one who coined the "Herbo" nickname after a man who both John and his brother met one year in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.
This instance of me calling out "Herbo" (when he had no prior knowledge that I had known Herbo previously) had visibly shocked him. It was an odd legacy of his late brother that he did not expect. It made me feel slightly poignant... all I could muster was corny "small world" sentiment.
Taste of Des Plaines was a success due to the people who showed up, as the above tale demonstrates. Sadly, that was all the Taste was good for. I didn't go to the rain soaked Saturday events, and the better food that I, and others, sampled was actually from Mount Prospect (not Des Plaines!).
____
Saturday's activities were dominated by golf.
I spent over 5 hours with two of my good friends.
We went to Indian Boundary (one of the Forest Preserve courses).
My friend Stefan shot a career best.
My friend Brian shot his last round on his first set of clubs (he's awaiting the delivery of his new set)
And I - I shaved another 20+ strokes off my score (and there's a LOT of room for further improvement).
The notable story from the round of golf isn't golf related. In fact, it's not really a story but an isolated comment.
Somewhere on the back 9 Brian asked me:
"How's the hunt?"
I've really only heard this question in reference to job hunting. Being happily employed, I was confused and asked for further clarification of what he was asking.
(He was asking about my quest for love)
I politely told him I was taking some time off from dating.
Which is true.
Honestly, I can't afford to take up golf and start shelling out first date money.
But the term "hunt" has really itched my sub-conscience ever since...
Others have accused me as being a serial dater.
Many have wondered if I enjoy "the pursuit" more than any discovery.
Everybody has failed to realize that I am a horrible suitor with enough excess baggage to cripple a prop-jet and lack the needed class/finesse/"game"/and overall suave that is needed in fostering and maintaining a meaningful romantic relationship. Although I am (by all reviews, acquaintances and encounters of my past would verify) a nice guy - there are elements of immaturity and selfishness that seem paramount in my difficulties.
A recently married friend, by the name of Ryan, has recently declared that I have an overtly romantic view of the institution of Marriage. I hope this is the reason for my unsuccessful hunt. Both for the reasons that the perfect girl has yet to prove Ryan wrong - or me wrong.
____
Sunday was a very relaxing day spent mostly with my parents. They allowed me to use their laundry faculties and their couch as I convinced them to turn off Cable Politics for some good old fashioned Euro 2008 (as previously mentioned VERY PREVIOUSLY).
My dad cooked hamburgers outside on the grill. I drank milk. My Mom lectured me that I need to use sunscreen when I golf. We talked about Fathers Day next weekend. All in all, you could hire a painter to commemorate the event. The scene I'd want illustrated: Yours truly figuring out the speed dial functionality on their cordless phone and programming in all six total numbers of MySister and I.
Finally, tonight I finally made a decision on my "AT HOME" Net Flix options.
On May 7th the following movies arrived at my residence:
Tonight I watched The Diving Bell and the Butterfly.
And, upon the recommendation of my friend Stefan, "tagged and bagged" Starting Out in the Evening.
FYI: "Tagged and Bagged" is the returning a Net Flix film UNWATCHED. Two out of the last four movies I have received have met this fate (the other one was Lions for Lambs.
----
And that's my unabridged weekend. Both what I did and what I thought. If you're still with me... wow...
Tuesday, June 24, 2008
Cut Copy
I want to make this quick... Something to get that last post pushed down... These guys, Cut Copy, aren't yet at "Band of the Moment" status. However, I'm excited about seeing them at this year's Pitchfork Festival. I doubt the crowd I'll see them with will be as excited as the people in the below video.
(Oh, and bonus note: I first found these guys from the iTunes free Discovery Download single of the week - Well done Apple)
Cut Copy - Live on rove from ewan macloud on Vimeo.
(Oh, and bonus note: I first found these guys from the iTunes free Discovery Download single of the week - Well done Apple)
Cut Copy - Live on rove from ewan macloud on Vimeo.
Monday, June 23, 2008
Encompassed in Yellow Tape: Questions from a Crime Scene
I need to finally address this
A 21 year old (man? kid? gang banger?) was stabbed less than 25 yards from my condo.
Stabbed... Twice in the chest... To death...
I have a real hard time calling the deceased a man. He's 8 years younger than I. But I can't call him a kid. He was done with school and starting his adult life.
The presumption he was a "long time" gang member doesn't necessarily make it easier on me. Sadly, it doesn't make it tougher.
The fact that he was stabbed, and not shot, has given me a completely screwed up sense of safety. The other fact that a kid younger that the deceased also aides to my ungrounded sense of security.
Honestly, this hasn't changed my life. This hasn't changed my willingness to walk to my friend's place, or Potbelly's, or the train station.
I'm not in a gang.
I'm almost 30.
I don't wear expensive shoes, or anything of value that would make me a "target."
I don't bother any kids, they don't bother me.
I don't take a thought about what they may be doing or talking about on their stoop next door - I highly suspect they given a half thought to me in my Corolla driving by them.
A neighbor of mine used the term "ashamed."
Ashamed to be living here
Ashamed his friends know that a murder, not just a death, occured here
I don't feel shame.
And not really any fear.
But I'm angry.
Angry that I've been proven wrong somehow.
A long time ago (it now seems) my friend drove over here and drove home. A friend who lives close enough for me to walk. I teased him the first time he drove over. He reasoned that he didn't want to walk that path at night.
Does the death of Israel Morales make him right?
Does the death of Israel Morales make me some kind of macho / testosterone fueled nimrod for continuing to take no pause?
Should I have known better and should I know better now?
I can't say my neighborhood is safe to anybody without a footnote or asterisk. It is now basically meaningless that the police station headquarters is 6 blocks away. The next 50 to 1,000 times someone asks me, "How's your neighborhood." I will hesitate before speaking.
I'll have to wait until I stop running through these recent facts to spun a spinned response. Wait to let the items at the tip of my brain fall back into silence.
All these are indirect consequences. All my emotions are based on perceptions of others. Safety of my friends, Property value to prospective buyers, Rumors.
Maybe it would be different if I didn't wear headphones to bed that night?
What if I had heard the "altercation" at 2 am, as the Des Plaines Police Detectives described it to me at 8 am the next morning. How about the fact that I was already awake when the detectives conducted their initial canvas. The random knock at the door surely would have scared me - but nope, I was awake.
I was mildly, only mildly, inconvenienced getting my car outside the yellow tape perimeter. Even less trouble sneaking my car around the poorly guarded "barricade" in my alley to my parking spot.
This is the closest I've ever come to a violent act, and all I can feel is a twinge of inconvenience in my Saturday errands? Am I that cold?
Last Sunday, I sat on my balcony, in the near dusk light listening to my iPod as I looked at the candlelight vigil held my his family struggling to figure it out. I attempted to figure me out... figure what to say...
That's over a week ago now, and I'm still at a loss of emotion. I don't know what it means... This (writing) certainly hasn't helped... This has only chronicled my questions - not answered any.
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