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Saturday,
March 9, 2002
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down where Chalow lives
hum?
a mighty oak
the man and the oak
gyro reflection, da man
this one joins the long line of pix using the window as a extra lens
self-portrait of photographer in an abstract painting
[apologies if you still use a 56K modem or, gulp, slower]
"Don't be too timid and squeamish
about your actions. All life is an experiment."
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staying calm After the opera last night, we had no set plans. I'd promised to call my mother, just in case she wanted to go somewhere. FFP and I had idly talked about going to a movie in the SXSW fest. I like these calm days, drifting from thing to thing, doing what seems to work. So, that's probably why things were rubbing me the wrong way. That's why, when someone seemed to be imposing their schedule and their baggage on me, I lashed out. Of course, I should have seen it coming and refused the activity up front. Perhaps I didn't see how far it was going and how much it was going to irritate me. But I'm glad it ended in a quick change of plans rather than an hour of argument and recrimination. Calm instantly returned. Time to think about it and respond only as it deserves.
FFP and I walked in the northeast campus area. The day was pleasant and sunny although the wind blew a little cold. It wasn't bitter, however. I had fun shooting pictures with the Canon digital. We found a coffee shop on Duval at 26th and we talked to a friend in his driveway on Greenway. There's nothing like getting down on the ground to see one's city. Did you know that a house J. Frank Dobie lived in is on 26th? It's a writer's center or something now. We stopped to read the historical marker. FFP also commented that he used to go to Eastwoods park to sit and think. I think this was my first time to walk through this park. It has a lovely oak tree. One of the branches of it is supported by the branches of a younger tree. That's the sort of thing you only see on the ground.
FFP goes to get some plants to spiff up a bed in the front yard and then to get fitted for some custom shirts and get some fresh flowers. I clean out vases for him, including polishing the silver rim on a vase we got at a charity auction that has become part of a 'little corner of art'in the house. To explain: when we moved the old dresser out of our bedroom to the room that isn't really a room so much as the end of a hallway, I suggested we put art on it. You know, some objects, lean a painting against it, whatever. I took a found object collage off the mantle (bought at Fiesta years ago) and a piece of art made by a friend from a book and put them on it. Gradually, over the next few days, FFP and I added things, rearranged things the other person added. One of his additions was this crystal vase with cobras and a silver rim, with fresh flowers. It was fun, an unspoken bit of communication. All the stuff (save the fresh flowers) came from around the house, of course. Anyway...how'd I get off on that?
We decide we need some lunch and go off for salads at 34th Street Cafe. It's buzzing. We see a couple of people we know.
FFP puts his plants in while I goof off in front of the computer, messing with my pictures and my writing and occasionally getting up to do something else.
SXSW films. There are people with badges and people with film passes that cost $50. We don't have either. Still they sell tickets for any empty seats. While FFP was working and doing errands, I looked through the listings in the Chronicle, using my yellow pencil to mark ones that were in the afternoon and evening today. We picked one at the Millennium Youth Entertainment Complex at 5:15. A place for skating, bowling, video games and movies on the east side, we had no idea the place existed. We got there and walked around watching kids (and adults) do video games, skate, bowl and have birthday parties. We sat on the edge of a small fountain in the foyer and read our books and waiting. When time for the film came, turnout was sparse. We got in easily. The movie we'd chosen, Inertia directed by Sean Garrity, had very high production values for an indie. It was about the relationships of four main characters and a couple of smaller roles. I enjoyed it. And, if I had any criticisms, they fell away when the delightful young director took questions and talked about the way he developed the characters using improv actors working with back story he provided. He was very sweet about the questions (ours included) declaring them good questions. I also liked how he used Winnipeg, his city, as itself and used all local people.
When the moderator calls a halt to questions, we get in the car and FFP dials Jeffrey's and asks Jim for a table in the bar. Granted. We arrive and are delighted to find Kisha waiting on us. We have some caviar, some drinks and some other food.
I don't know if it's the two glasses of wine or the late night last night, but I decide to read in bed. It's still early. I'm asleep soon, though.
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178
JUST
TYPING