some days,
it just disembogues
from all sides
like a swollen river
or errant fireworks
exploding in your hand.
another to do list.
another shooting.
another free agency signing.
another dinner.
another tv show.
another flair up over the filibuster.
impossible to rank
consume,
or understand.
once you’re already wet
it doesn’t make sense
to search for an umbrella.
you’ll probably make use
of your hand
again—
once the smoke has cleared.
Showing posts with label TV. Show all posts
Showing posts with label TV. Show all posts
March 17, 2021
76/365
October 11, 2016
Lazy Staycation Daze
Lazy staycation days with nothing to do. Played some guitar in the morning, just fiddling with an E minor chord. Stayed up late last night so felt pretty drowsy. Had some lunch with Skye while Kaia was at a play date and Mairin was out shopping. Skye and I then headed to the pool.
It was just the two of us and the sun was warm and the breeze adequate. We swam. Played surfboard. Had a few races. Hold your breath contest. Statue and Shoulders (both games we have played since she was tiny.) Swim between my legs. Laid in the sun and relaxed. Hugged. Kissed. Then came back up stairs for showers.
The hours went by slowly, just the way you want on a holiday with nothing to do. We met Shasta and Dagam for dinner down at Malt House and then watched Stranger Things with Keri-Lee & Miles, and Steven and Katy. That show is getting creepy good four episodes in.
Now it is nearing midnight, there is the post debate/lewd assault tape Full Frontal to watch and off into the darkness of sleep. Lots of doctor appointments tomorrow. October is inching along. There might be golf and Pulau Ubin on bikes in my future.
It was just the two of us and the sun was warm and the breeze adequate. We swam. Played surfboard. Had a few races. Hold your breath contest. Statue and Shoulders (both games we have played since she was tiny.) Swim between my legs. Laid in the sun and relaxed. Hugged. Kissed. Then came back up stairs for showers.
The hours went by slowly, just the way you want on a holiday with nothing to do. We met Shasta and Dagam for dinner down at Malt House and then watched Stranger Things with Keri-Lee & Miles, and Steven and Katy. That show is getting creepy good four episodes in.
Now it is nearing midnight, there is the post debate/lewd assault tape Full Frontal to watch and off into the darkness of sleep. Lots of doctor appointments tomorrow. October is inching along. There might be golf and Pulau Ubin on bikes in my future.
September 13, 2016
Soul-less Data
I operated in a fog today. We had a teacher only day where we mostly worked in small groups to find evidence for accreditation. It was not fun or engaging work in anyway, and while working with Udi, Ian and Anne Marie is normally quiet thought provoking, today it was just a series of menial tasks that needed to get done. We didn’t, and I wasn’t in the mood, to have any interesting conversations about learning or life or anything. We simply copied and pasted documents into a template for a report.
What if this was your job? I know for many people it is. No kids. No teaching. No planning, No learning. Just data. Raw and necessary but with little soul.
But maybe, the monotony of the task matched my mood. I was no longer sick, but I had little energy for anything. During our PD days, our school is committed to having two hour wellness sessions, where teachers put on activities and we can take part in the name of well being.
There are things like art or exercise, but I usually do whatever Richard Nies is hosting- last time it was Texas Hold’em and today it was watching Monday Night football. It was a god awful game where the 49ers crushed the Rams in one of the worst offensive displays I have ever seen. I’m not sure watching the Niners win is good for my well being, because it actually made me a little sick, but it was a nice break in the middle of the day.
Did I mention that The Raiders are undefeated right now? One could say one of the best teams in the league. And one should.
Back home I was back in HOG mode- planning units, setting up presentations and just getting things done. Looking forward to getting back into the flow. I still feel I am recovering from my trip to CA, but a three day week and another weekend should get me back on track.
…
About to watch the first episode of Atlanta- Donald Glover’s new show and I am pretty excited. I love his work in Community as well as his music as Childish Gambino. Super talented dude, so I am sure that whatever he touches turns to gold.
Wilco has a new album out that I want to explore and they just did a three night stint at The Fillmore in SF. Damn! I miss good live music. We get a few okay shows here in Singapore, but no three night stints by Wilco.
What if this was your job? I know for many people it is. No kids. No teaching. No planning, No learning. Just data. Raw and necessary but with little soul.
But maybe, the monotony of the task matched my mood. I was no longer sick, but I had little energy for anything. During our PD days, our school is committed to having two hour wellness sessions, where teachers put on activities and we can take part in the name of well being.
There are things like art or exercise, but I usually do whatever Richard Nies is hosting- last time it was Texas Hold’em and today it was watching Monday Night football. It was a god awful game where the 49ers crushed the Rams in one of the worst offensive displays I have ever seen. I’m not sure watching the Niners win is good for my well being, because it actually made me a little sick, but it was a nice break in the middle of the day.
Did I mention that The Raiders are undefeated right now? One could say one of the best teams in the league. And one should.
Back home I was back in HOG mode- planning units, setting up presentations and just getting things done. Looking forward to getting back into the flow. I still feel I am recovering from my trip to CA, but a three day week and another weekend should get me back on track.
…
About to watch the first episode of Atlanta- Donald Glover’s new show and I am pretty excited. I love his work in Community as well as his music as Childish Gambino. Super talented dude, so I am sure that whatever he touches turns to gold.
Wilco has a new album out that I want to explore and they just did a three night stint at The Fillmore in SF. Damn! I miss good live music. We get a few okay shows here in Singapore, but no three night stints by Wilco.
September 12, 2016
Pig Parts
I took Kaia to Vivo City today to get a cover for my new iPad and damn near lost my mind. It was jam packed crowded and took nearly 40 minutes to find a spot. Kaia read in the back while I huffed and puffed and sighed loudly and swore a few times. It was an exercise in patience, and I think I passed because we eventually parked and laughed about it as we made our way up the stairs, but it was touch and go for most of the time. Nothing like losing your shit in front of your kid, to the point where they see you at your worst animal state.
It didn't help that I was starving, so after I got the iPad cover we braved the chaos of Vivo to find a Japanese noodle shop that actually had vegetarian Ramen. In my heart of hearts I knew that the broth could not possibly have been veggie, but I swallowed by guilt and ordered it anyway. Damn cravings. Assuming the “don’t ask don’t tell approach.” It came and it was delicious and Kaia actually had some noodles and we chatted and enjoyed an ice cold 7-Up and some fried Tofu on the side.
On the way out, as we were paying, Kaia noticed that they were selling some pork bone packages for homemade broth. She looked at me and said, “You don’t think that was in our broth do you?” Busted. From that moment, I could taste nothing but death and bones in my mouth. I feel instantly sick by the thought of pig parts in my soup. “At least I only had the noodles. You were slurping up the broth.” This girl pulls no punches.
I have been pretty lax on my commitment to veganism since summer. Eating donuts and muffins and all kids of baked goods recently, but this pork fiasco was a good reminder to tighten things up a little bit. There is always a give and take with me. I have never been super militant, but I have been letting too many things slide lately and the veggie Ramen was just too much today. Poor Kaia, was super grossed out that she had inadvertently eaten some pork as well.
It’s one thing to have a Starbucks muffin and pretend like everything is fine, but it is another thing to actually see pig bones in plastic packaging and imagine them floating around in your soup. Nice reminder.
…
Met up with Claire, Shruti, Georgina and Georgia tonight to talk some broad brushstrokes about the Daraja Academy GC in Middle and High school. We each have nearly 25 participants and even had to turn many kids away. I am so stoked that we have reached this level of stability and that I am working with teachers who are so commitment and dedicated to this cause and this school. We had some food and drank a few beers and discussed the larger issues we want to cover and possible events for the year. There are some good things coming down the pipes and I cannot wait to see the kids this week and get them on board as well.
…
Finally watched the first episode of Stanger Things and so far, even after only one episode, it is living up to the hype.
The Raiders won their first game.
I am over my short flu/cold/whatever it was.
It didn't help that I was starving, so after I got the iPad cover we braved the chaos of Vivo to find a Japanese noodle shop that actually had vegetarian Ramen. In my heart of hearts I knew that the broth could not possibly have been veggie, but I swallowed by guilt and ordered it anyway. Damn cravings. Assuming the “don’t ask don’t tell approach.” It came and it was delicious and Kaia actually had some noodles and we chatted and enjoyed an ice cold 7-Up and some fried Tofu on the side.
On the way out, as we were paying, Kaia noticed that they were selling some pork bone packages for homemade broth. She looked at me and said, “You don’t think that was in our broth do you?” Busted. From that moment, I could taste nothing but death and bones in my mouth. I feel instantly sick by the thought of pig parts in my soup. “At least I only had the noodles. You were slurping up the broth.” This girl pulls no punches.
I have been pretty lax on my commitment to veganism since summer. Eating donuts and muffins and all kids of baked goods recently, but this pork fiasco was a good reminder to tighten things up a little bit. There is always a give and take with me. I have never been super militant, but I have been letting too many things slide lately and the veggie Ramen was just too much today. Poor Kaia, was super grossed out that she had inadvertently eaten some pork as well.
It’s one thing to have a Starbucks muffin and pretend like everything is fine, but it is another thing to actually see pig bones in plastic packaging and imagine them floating around in your soup. Nice reminder.
…
Met up with Claire, Shruti, Georgina and Georgia tonight to talk some broad brushstrokes about the Daraja Academy GC in Middle and High school. We each have nearly 25 participants and even had to turn many kids away. I am so stoked that we have reached this level of stability and that I am working with teachers who are so commitment and dedicated to this cause and this school. We had some food and drank a few beers and discussed the larger issues we want to cover and possible events for the year. There are some good things coming down the pipes and I cannot wait to see the kids this week and get them on board as well.
…
Finally watched the first episode of Stanger Things and so far, even after only one episode, it is living up to the hype.
The Raiders won their first game.
I am over my short flu/cold/whatever it was.
April 4, 2016
I Wish I Knew
I love TV. I love talking about it. I love reading about it. I love watching television and I always have. It is my American right to love the stuff. I was raised on it. I loved watching Silver Spoons and Different Strokes and Who’s The Boss and staying home from school to watch I Dream Of Jennie and Bewitched. I loved watching Three’s Company with my Iranian grandmother and Love Boat with my mom.
You can say that TV is making us dumb, but I won’t deny my love. I binge watch The Sopranos and Mad Men and Game of Thrones. I like the smart stuff, the artsy stuff and even the dumb stuff. I love television. I love following the arcs and exploring the sets and listening to the music and noticing the glassware and the costumes and deconstructing the scripts and marveling at the acting and falling in love with the characters and being crushed when a series end and freaking out when new love affairs begin.
I love watching TV with Mairin and on my own. I love staying home on a Friday night to watch a show or looking forward all week to a night when our shows are released. I even like some reality TV. Monday nights are good TV nights for us these days in Singapore.
Tonight we put the kids to bed and cracked open two bottles of wine- one white the other red. Sure we are a middle aged cliche, but the Walking Dead season finale was on and I could give two shits about being predictable. Did I mention I love TV? We watched and gasped and loved it and hated it. There was so much to appreciate and even more to criticise. We are six years invested into these characters and so we demand a lot. I read reviews and suggested improvements. I am not sure where I am with the show, but I know I'm still in.
Then we watched Girls. Another show I adore. I thought about the color palette and how sophisticated the show is looking in season five. The directing and writing is at a zenith these days and it is beautiful how much they can pack into an episode.
I wish there was a way that I could work on a TV show. I wish there was a way that I could take a year to teach middle school students how to write an 11 episode TV series. That is all we would do. We would watch and learn and copy and write and shoot and fall in love with TV. I am not sure how to write a TV show, but I know what I know and what I love and what I can teach and I think I can teach kids how to write and how to shoot and how to create.
(Side note- I love watching gay men kissing on TV, because although in the past it has made me feel “weird” I think the more we see gay people on TV being themselves, the closer we will come to understanding love and humanity and all the things we find so hard to understand.)
Then we watched Togetherness. One of my favorite shows, only to find out that next week is the series finale. Series! WTF? Really two seasons and that is from the Duplass brothers? This show is gold. If you are not watching it than get on it. If you are forty-two and slightly buzzed on red wine on a Monday night, and listening to the first Bon Iver album and wondering if you are cool or lame and swimming in words, then this might be a show for you.
I love TV and tonight was a night to spend with my love.
The rest of the day was uneventful- got home. Ignored the kids for most of the day. Let them re-acquaint themselves with themselves, their rooms and their toys. I lounged on my bed, played a lot of guitar, took a shower and poked around the internet on my phone. We had dinner at Bergs and oh-did I mention the TV?
…
Last night I wrote about my desire to Jet Ski. This got me thinking about other things I want.
I tend to paint myself as a non-consumerist type, and while it is true that I try to not give in to all my materialistic desires, I am still, like everyone else, mired in the consumerist societal assault on what I should want. Here is a partial list of what I want if I had all the money in the world:
A long board. Yup, a long board skate board to ride up and down East Coast park. I will also need a pair of “real” sunglasses. I am thinking a pair of Ray Ban Way Fares ala Bob Dylan in the 1966 black and white era, the time he was tight with Allen Ginsberg. I also want some kind of hat other than a baseball cap. I am thinking fedora, but not so wooly or beaver hair or whatever those things are made of. I want straw, but not the kind every other douchy middle aged guy has. I want to be cool and original, but I have no idea what that means anymore, so maybe I just want a cool hat and sunglasses and my long board.
I want this miniature guitar I saw at the music store. It is the size of a ukulele but has six strings and is tuned like a guitar. I want it for travel and hotel rooms. I want to cover it in stickers, because I don’t like stickers on my real guitar. I want a case for said guitar and I want to take it with me wherever I go. I may want to add pick ups on it so I can plug it in, so I might want a small amp and maybe a few effect pedals. As long as I am wanting in this field, I want a full Marshall stack and a Gibson SG ala Soundgarden and Black Sabbath. I want a mandolin and a clarinet.
I want new headphones and a Go Pro or similar waterproof camera. I want a bigger TV and an Xbox. I want fancier shoes and a better wardrobe. I want to be able to pull off a man scarf. I want a monthly massage package and a custom made back suit ala Vinny Chase. I want books and books and more books. I want a record player and every Pearl Jam record on vinyl. I want one of their tour posters in a frame, maybe the one fro the Golden Park show where Vedder passed out after four songs. I want better speakers and surround sound system for my movies. I want the new Apple TV and a better set of pots and pans. I want a knife block and a set of whiskey drinking tumblers. I want a fully stocked bar and a set of scotch bottles from duty free. I want Martini glasses and my own pickled onions like I had in NYC. I want the house painted in warm maroons and blues, and I want more art on the walls and a new car- something green and sustainable, maybe a Prius.
I want more tattoos- full sleeves, shoulders and back. I want to get my ears pierced. I want an herb garden and bigger trees for every balcony. I want new curtains and a new love seat. I want that funky clock and a display case for the lego. I want more lego, especially that 1968 VW bus. I want a nice set of color pencils and a new a new a new a new……I want. I want a new……I wish I knew.
You can say that TV is making us dumb, but I won’t deny my love. I binge watch The Sopranos and Mad Men and Game of Thrones. I like the smart stuff, the artsy stuff and even the dumb stuff. I love television. I love following the arcs and exploring the sets and listening to the music and noticing the glassware and the costumes and deconstructing the scripts and marveling at the acting and falling in love with the characters and being crushed when a series end and freaking out when new love affairs begin.
I love watching TV with Mairin and on my own. I love staying home on a Friday night to watch a show or looking forward all week to a night when our shows are released. I even like some reality TV. Monday nights are good TV nights for us these days in Singapore.
Tonight we put the kids to bed and cracked open two bottles of wine- one white the other red. Sure we are a middle aged cliche, but the Walking Dead season finale was on and I could give two shits about being predictable. Did I mention I love TV? We watched and gasped and loved it and hated it. There was so much to appreciate and even more to criticise. We are six years invested into these characters and so we demand a lot. I read reviews and suggested improvements. I am not sure where I am with the show, but I know I'm still in.
Then we watched Girls. Another show I adore. I thought about the color palette and how sophisticated the show is looking in season five. The directing and writing is at a zenith these days and it is beautiful how much they can pack into an episode.
I wish there was a way that I could work on a TV show. I wish there was a way that I could take a year to teach middle school students how to write an 11 episode TV series. That is all we would do. We would watch and learn and copy and write and shoot and fall in love with TV. I am not sure how to write a TV show, but I know what I know and what I love and what I can teach and I think I can teach kids how to write and how to shoot and how to create.
(Side note- I love watching gay men kissing on TV, because although in the past it has made me feel “weird” I think the more we see gay people on TV being themselves, the closer we will come to understanding love and humanity and all the things we find so hard to understand.)
Then we watched Togetherness. One of my favorite shows, only to find out that next week is the series finale. Series! WTF? Really two seasons and that is from the Duplass brothers? This show is gold. If you are not watching it than get on it. If you are forty-two and slightly buzzed on red wine on a Monday night, and listening to the first Bon Iver album and wondering if you are cool or lame and swimming in words, then this might be a show for you.
I love TV and tonight was a night to spend with my love.
The rest of the day was uneventful- got home. Ignored the kids for most of the day. Let them re-acquaint themselves with themselves, their rooms and their toys. I lounged on my bed, played a lot of guitar, took a shower and poked around the internet on my phone. We had dinner at Bergs and oh-did I mention the TV?
…
Last night I wrote about my desire to Jet Ski. This got me thinking about other things I want.
I tend to paint myself as a non-consumerist type, and while it is true that I try to not give in to all my materialistic desires, I am still, like everyone else, mired in the consumerist societal assault on what I should want. Here is a partial list of what I want if I had all the money in the world:
A long board. Yup, a long board skate board to ride up and down East Coast park. I will also need a pair of “real” sunglasses. I am thinking a pair of Ray Ban Way Fares ala Bob Dylan in the 1966 black and white era, the time he was tight with Allen Ginsberg. I also want some kind of hat other than a baseball cap. I am thinking fedora, but not so wooly or beaver hair or whatever those things are made of. I want straw, but not the kind every other douchy middle aged guy has. I want to be cool and original, but I have no idea what that means anymore, so maybe I just want a cool hat and sunglasses and my long board.
I want this miniature guitar I saw at the music store. It is the size of a ukulele but has six strings and is tuned like a guitar. I want it for travel and hotel rooms. I want to cover it in stickers, because I don’t like stickers on my real guitar. I want a case for said guitar and I want to take it with me wherever I go. I may want to add pick ups on it so I can plug it in, so I might want a small amp and maybe a few effect pedals. As long as I am wanting in this field, I want a full Marshall stack and a Gibson SG ala Soundgarden and Black Sabbath. I want a mandolin and a clarinet.
I want new headphones and a Go Pro or similar waterproof camera. I want a bigger TV and an Xbox. I want fancier shoes and a better wardrobe. I want to be able to pull off a man scarf. I want a monthly massage package and a custom made back suit ala Vinny Chase. I want books and books and more books. I want a record player and every Pearl Jam record on vinyl. I want one of their tour posters in a frame, maybe the one fro the Golden Park show where Vedder passed out after four songs. I want better speakers and surround sound system for my movies. I want the new Apple TV and a better set of pots and pans. I want a knife block and a set of whiskey drinking tumblers. I want a fully stocked bar and a set of scotch bottles from duty free. I want Martini glasses and my own pickled onions like I had in NYC. I want the house painted in warm maroons and blues, and I want more art on the walls and a new car- something green and sustainable, maybe a Prius.
I want more tattoos- full sleeves, shoulders and back. I want to get my ears pierced. I want an herb garden and bigger trees for every balcony. I want new curtains and a new love seat. I want that funky clock and a display case for the lego. I want more lego, especially that 1968 VW bus. I want a nice set of color pencils and a new a new a new a new……I want. I want a new……I wish I knew.
February 22, 2016
Splintered
I had a lot to say this morning. Lots of thoughts running through my mind, hoping to be articulated, I shaped them as I walked across Tent Plaza toward lunch. A few more thoughts demanded attention on my run. I was gonna write about old friends and about the insecurities of men, but now it is almost midnight and I have forgotten the shape of what I was going to say.
I drank a bottle Champagne with Mairin and I am listening to Leather and Lace by Stevie Nicks and Don Henley at the moment.
Now I am in to Ball and Chain by Big Brother and Holding Company with Janis Joplin and oh man oh man that guitar. Are you kidding me?
What can I write now that matters more than these blues? More important than this live set from the Carousel Ballroom from 1968?
The Stevie Nicks was from the season premiere of Togetherness. They sang it as karaoke song in New Orleans and I tracked it down to Spotify. We watched Girls and Togetherness and Walking Dead and we rested and laughed and drank champagne. I was thankful that this is what we do alone and together.
The Joplin is inspired by The Season of Witch the book I am reading.
The great ideas I cultivated all day were erased by the ease of the champagne and the mindless yet necessary TV viewing with Mairin. And now this Holding Brothers’ guitar is not helping the writing process. How did this explosive sounds escape my ears for so many years?
…
Gonna call it a night now. The words are just too jammed up and they don’t seem to matter. There is no direction or focus or purpose. The ideas are blended together and broken into snippets. I cranked out 750 words earlier for the book and that was all I had in me I guess.
Maybe the brain needs a rest. Maybe the thoughts need to sleep. Maybe the words need to drift away and not be pinned down for you to examine or for me to curate.
Find your own words and share them with me.
Good night.
I drank a bottle Champagne with Mairin and I am listening to Leather and Lace by Stevie Nicks and Don Henley at the moment.
Now I am in to Ball and Chain by Big Brother and Holding Company with Janis Joplin and oh man oh man that guitar. Are you kidding me?
What can I write now that matters more than these blues? More important than this live set from the Carousel Ballroom from 1968?
The Stevie Nicks was from the season premiere of Togetherness. They sang it as karaoke song in New Orleans and I tracked it down to Spotify. We watched Girls and Togetherness and Walking Dead and we rested and laughed and drank champagne. I was thankful that this is what we do alone and together.
The Joplin is inspired by The Season of Witch the book I am reading.
The great ideas I cultivated all day were erased by the ease of the champagne and the mindless yet necessary TV viewing with Mairin. And now this Holding Brothers’ guitar is not helping the writing process. How did this explosive sounds escape my ears for so many years?
…
Gonna call it a night now. The words are just too jammed up and they don’t seem to matter. There is no direction or focus or purpose. The ideas are blended together and broken into snippets. I cranked out 750 words earlier for the book and that was all I had in me I guess.
Maybe the brain needs a rest. Maybe the thoughts need to sleep. Maybe the words need to drift away and not be pinned down for you to examine or for me to curate.
Find your own words and share them with me.
Good night.
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