tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-66221282024-03-07T01:49:18.859-06:00The Jeremy Show BlogJeremyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14285992777141834192noreply@blogger.comBlogger405125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6622128.post-32911031150612253932018-05-08T19:45:00.001-05:002018-05-08T19:46:08.794-05:00Green Sweater<div style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px;">
I wore a green wool sweater today over my usual ill fitting work clothes, it’s still summer but it was chilly.I knew deep down that I looked ridiculous. It didn’t help that I was wearing green pants and a green and blue shirt with a green backpack. My shirt is constantly coming untucked, my shoes are falling apart. But in my mind, I am able usually able to convince myself that I look great, which is a quality that I like about myself. Saves a lot of time.</div>
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I like to imagine that I look like Kurt Cobain in that green sweater he wore on MTV Unplugged in the 90s, shortly before his death. This is so far from the truth, I am as far away as you could possibly get from angel haired, heroin chic. The only similarities to Kurt Cobain and I are that we are both male and we are/were usually struggling with some sort of mental health symptom (I’m assuming this on Kurt’s part). I have never done heroin, as Kurt did, but I have been known to enjoy a Vicodin or three even though any pain from dental procedures is long gone or was never there in the first place.</div>
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When I got out of work, I had my sweater on again and it had warmed up outside and I was gross and uncomfortable but I didn’t feel like taking it off. I walked to the bus stop with the sun blinding me because I forgot my sunglasses. I think my sunglasses are a promo gift from an insurance company or something and I would never buy real ones because I would just lose them. I actually think those who do buy expensive sunglasses are very foolish and I am pretty sure they lose their sunglasses all the time and just throwing money down the drain.</div>
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The green sweater began to feel like I was wearing an electric blanket on an uncomfortable and annoying “medium” setting. I still refused to take it off because then I’d just have to walk around carrying a ball of green wool or even worse somehow attach it to my backpack and have it drag on the ground and fall off. “YOU DROPPED YOUR SWEATER!”</div>
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I waited around for the bus to come, smoking a cigarette and not enjoying it. Papery, hot and dry. Not like a cigarette with coffee or even better, a cigarette after Taco Bell.</div>
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One bus came and it was too full for there to be any seating available. I really didn’t feel like standing. Too much going on with the sweater and the mild heat and the sweater. Another bus came that looked promising in the open seating department. I got on and realized this might not be the case.</div>
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I went into my seat seaking missle mode. Like a very competitive game of musical chairs that only I am playing. More that willing to plant myself next to a crying child or a demonic crazy man, all I care about is the seat.</div>
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I saw a few open seats in the back of the bus. Not completely sure, there was a possibility there was a seat mirage. A miscalculated equation of sitting bodies or standing bodies just getting ready to sit. With hope, I made my way back to the bus. It turned out there was one seat left! In the back, where it’s a little tighter, a littler warmer, but a seat is a seat.</div>
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Just as I was about to triumphantly sit my ass down, I saw that sitting in the seat next to mine, was my therapist.</div>
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I stopped, confused, frozen, just staring at him and smiling idiotically. He smiled, waited a beat, and then waved his hand at the open seat like a “Price Is Right” model after she opens the door of a brand new refrigerator or front loading washing machine. We both laughed a little “this is awkward but this is happening and there is no way out of it” laugh. I sat down and stared straight ahead, sweating, in my sweater. I chose to stare straight ahead. And then realized that because I made that choice I had to stick with it through the entire bus ride.</div>
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I thought of anything I could possibly say or do that would make this less awkward for both of us, as the bus made it’s clumsy way down Michigan Ave. There was nothing. Every thought, everything I observed, every person's face I saw looked back at me in awkwardness.</div>
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A therapist isn’t like your teacher or boss or former one night (or ten minute) stand that you can be like “It’s so crazy to see this person in real life” and move on. They know every issue you deal with, every tragic thing from your past, every stupid little thing. They know things your family doesn’t know or your partner or spouse doesn’t know. And this is for good reason. So you have a safe space to share your absolute crazypants thoughts, and so your family, spouse or partner doesn’t have to deal with it. The only thing is, you can’t really have a relationship of any kind outside the therapist's office. With the clock and the books and the neutral artwork.</div>
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Could I make casual conversation as I would with a coworker who I was forced to sit next to on the bus? No. Because that might open up a Pandora’s box that (as the myth goes) can not be closed. In this case, the one to close it might be the therapist. And I did not want to have some comment or topic fly out of my mouth that might get a blank stare. Not that I would ask him to compare dick sizes (that’s silly no one would do that on a bus, not during rush hour) but I just couldn’t think of anything that might be appropriate for a therapist and patient to talk about on the fucking bus.</div>
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So I said nothing and he said nothing. I looked out the window on Lake Shore Drive at the beach at all of the shirtless, tanned, perfectly toned men bobbing along in their endless jog to nowhere. I swear they are hired models. Then I started thinking he probably thinks that I am looking at all of the shirtless models who are jogging along the beach to nowhere. And then I was like, fuck it. I was too tired from this mild trauma to care anymore.</div>
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As we neared my stop, I got up and smiled at him. He grinned oddly, but happily and I got off the bus. I wondered if he was watching me as he passed by the bus and again decided I didn’t care.</div>
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I pulled and grabbed at the fucking green sweater trying to get it off me as if it were on fire. I walked down the street, my shirt partially tucked in, carrying the sweater in the aforementioned ball. Relieved to be away from that silent, seemingly benign but in the moment, horrific situatuon.</div>
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As I waited for my next bus, a bus that always has open seats, a homeless man came up to me and asked me for a cigarette. We go way back, he knows I’m good for it. After he took it he said, “George Burns lived to be 120.”</div>
Jeremyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14285992777141834192noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6622128.post-60542852249156151692018-05-08T19:31:00.000-05:002018-05-08T19:31:11.196-05:00Lithium Benzoate<div style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px;">
Before I was brought up to the Psychiatric Ward last summer, I was put in a wheelchair and told to wait. I still had my bag with me, so I dug in my bag and grabbed three Klonopin. Just some anxiety pills for the road. I thought I might as well be chilled out for a bit while I was getting accustomed to things. Just as I put them inside my mouth and was about to swallow them, a nurses hand reached into my mouth and pulled out the wet pills. “Nope can’t take anything that’s not prescribed!” She quickly took my bag away from me. I never saw her face.</div>
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As I was being brought up in the elevator with the EMT, he told me that I had the biggest room up there. It seemed exciting, despite the circumstances. The room was big, with a tiny bed, nightstand and huge window overlooking the buildings in Streeterville. I could see my work. From the high floor I was on, I imagined my coworkers as tiny little people working at tiny little computers. Their voices were muted behind the double thick glass.</div>
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It’s difficult to remember why I was there, and even when I remember I forget again. Although I don’t remember feeling particularly traumatized (it wasn’t my first time at the rodeo) I guess your mind does block out unpleasant feelings and memories. I was extremely depressed and anxious. A series of events unfolded to the point where I felt completely helpless. Wherever I turned, whoever I called, whatever was prescribed didn’t help. Nothing broke through the fog. I felt myself falling, closing up, shutting down.</div>
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The next day, I noticed a young guy and I decided to chat him up. He was cute, seemed nice and made eye contact with me. He also seemed “high functioning.” Which is a code word for “not completely batshit” in the psych ward.</div>
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He told me he wasn’t depressed. He liked the outdoors a lot and wanted to be a Park Ranger or have some other outdoor job. He said his parents put him in there because they didn’t like his life choices. He was really angry that he had to take a pill- Prozac. I nodded my head, sympathizing with him, thinking about the seven different pills I was happily taking.</div>
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I didn’t buy that he wasn’t depressed. I did believe that he didn’t need Prozac and definitely didn't need to be in the psych ward. He said his father was very verbally abusive and overbearing. I saw this later when he met with his parents during visiting time. I caught flashes of his dad pointing his finger in his son’s face as if to tell him what he really needed to do and what his real problem was.</div>
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A soon as I got in there I desperately wanted out. I did willingly check myself in. I knew that my medication needed to be adjusted and I needed to be forced to try to fix some of the issues in my life that were really, truly threatening my sanity and existence. But I wanted out.</div>
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I became obsessed with leaving. I had an irrational fear that I would never be let out. I felt like people were forgetting me. That the outside me, the functioning me would slip away, like a ghost. Like there was a shell of me walking around outside and I wanted to jump back into that shell before it disappeared.</div>
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I had been hospitalized before, multiple times, but I never remember being so afraid of being locked away. I made sure that I said all the right things to the nurses and doctors. I lied and said I was fine when I wasn’t. Which is not typical of me, I don’t think. I remember answering questions about my mental health like I was a politician. Everythings fine, nothing to see here. Just let me out.</div>
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I read “Postcards from the Edge” by Carrie Fisher that Erik had brought me. That was a tremendous help. Carrie Fisher was and still is so comforting. Basically, she taught me how to laugh at the ridiculousness of dealing with mental illness. I sat on my bed and read that book if I wasn’t being forced to attend a group.</div>
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They did have a “comfort room,” which was a small room with a flat screen tv playing nature scenes on a loop. There was LED lighting on the ceiling and floor that slowly changed soothing colors while sounds of the rainforest or a light storm played. There was a weighted blanket that you could put on you that really felt like a hug. I looked into buying one and they are outrageously expensive! Not that great of a hug.</div>
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We had Art Therapy which I really enjoyed. I decorated and painted small cardboard boxes in the style of “The Memphis Group” which was a collective of artists whose style influenced a lot of fashion and decor in the eighties. This style also matched the paperback cover of Postcards From The Edge.</div>
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I sat and designed my boxes with the Park Ranger guy while he colored in coloring books. The very happy and encouraging art therapist asked if we wanted music on. The Park Ranger guy said yes and suggested a Classic Rock station. This gave me anxiety. I didn’t realize until then that Classic Rock really does give me incredible anxiety.</div>
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Sometimes though, instead of Art Therapy we were forced to play games. Playing Scattergories with a group of depressed anxious people is not fun. Trying to think of an animal that starts with X while you are under the influence of sedating medication and a timer is clicking away is incredibly challenging.</div>
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They didn’t tell me I was leaving until about an hour beforehand. I gathered all my stuff and was ready to go but I was delayed because they were waiting for my Lithium levels to come back. Lithium is a mineral that humans ingest and is also present in our bodies. Taking bigger amounts of Lithium helps with depression, bipolar and mood swings. Taking too much is dangerous. The window between what is effective and what is toxic is small, so people who take Lithium have to get their levels checked.</div>
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As I waited, I sat down at a table in one of the little common areas. A woman who was not “high functioning” sat down at the table. She said she had a question for me. Normally I would be frightened or put off by a person like her, not wanting to risk somehow falling down the hole of crazy she was in. Because I was so happy I was leaving, I was totally down for chatting.</div>
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She asked if I would be interested in opening up a Southern style spaghetti restaurant with her. I didn’t commit but I told her I was open to it. She was very excited and ran to her room and came back with a menu she had created. The menu was just a piece of paper with some chicken scratch on it. She started listing off things we would need, “Wood, bread, blankets, pinecones…”</div>
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The pinecones got to me. I could imagine sleeping too long and dreaming about a weird spaghetti restaurant that served pine cones. But this woman actually lived in that confusing nonsensical and frustrating place in your brain where your dreams come from. This was her reality.</div>
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I gave her as much encouragement as I could as I was getting ready to leave. She looked so happy. I hope she really did get some happiness out of it and she is happily opening up her pine cone spaghetti restaurant in her head. I hope she is surrounded by people that smile and agree and laugh with her and don’t make her feel anymore scared and confused than she already is.</div>
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When I got outside I couldn’t believe how hot it and loud it was. I was only in there for a week-but could everybody keep it down? I sat on a curb on the sidewalk and orgasmically smoked a cigarette. I settled into the real world in a few minutes. I went directly to a group therapy session at an outpatient center, then had a meeting with the therapist at the center with Erik and then I went to see my regular therapist.</div>
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When I was in the psych ward I had my little ritual every night of drinking my disgusting decaf coffee and looking down eighteen floors onto the crowds on Michigan Ave. I desperately wanted to be out of there. And not just because I wanted a cigarette. I wanted to be in the real world, the sane world.</div>
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Going to bed in my own room the night I got out, I could ummeel the pressures and stress and irritation of living in the sane world slowly pouring onto me like wet cement.</div>
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The Park Ranger and I emailed back and forth for awhile but lost touch. I think at some point, you don’t want to go back there mentally. It’s scary and you feel ashamed and you want to pretend it didn’t happen and move forward. It’s hard for you to talk about and it’s hard for other people in your life to talk about. I still feel myself, even as I write this, trying to push back or ignore the memories of being hospitalized and pretend none of it happened. But it did.</div>
Jeremyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14285992777141834192noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6622128.post-68005762363582970862016-02-22T18:27:00.000-06:002016-02-22T18:48:17.447-06:00There is only ONE STAR on The Jeremy ShowHow can I make my words electric, magnetic, crazy and sexy and cool? It's not like it was kids. Too much stuff coming at us all the time. Too much information and pictures and GIFs and videos and memes. Everybody shut the fuck up! Everybody except me!<br />
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When I started this blog I was working in the box office of The Chicago Center for Performing Arts. The name makes it sound much more prestigious than it was. It was my first real job after moving to Chicago. I sat in a box office for eight hours a day with literally nothing to do but surf the internet, so I decided to start a blog. Publishing on the web back then was so exciting. It was like I unlocked a special door that pushed me on stage and I could write or say anything I wanted. And people read it! This was before Friendster, Myspace and Facebook. I felt like a star.<br />
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We are all stars now. We are all on our own little reality shows on Facebook. Documenting our every move. I don't have to tell you this. We all know about our own love hate relationships with social media. Our attention spans are tiny. And if you've read this far I am surprised. I'm writing this and I've already checked out.<br />
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So much has happened since my days at the box office. I think I was hospitalized for depression twice or once, I can't remember. I've worked as an artificial Christmas tree salesperson, a wallpaper librarian, a recruiter for Redbox customer service agents. I was writing in this blog when the Iraq war started, when the financial collapse occured, when everyone started shooting each other.<br />
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So what do I do now? Start a podcast? Start doing porn? Take some improv classes? Start making my own small films? How do I fill the void? Deep down there is a screaming child in a sequin vest and tap shoes that needs to put on a show. He will not be happy until he has an audience.<br />
<br />Jeremyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14285992777141834192noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6622128.post-7708178572563075162015-02-16T13:50:00.000-06:002015-02-16T14:18:33.046-06:00The Jeremy Show Interview: Rob Christopher's Pause of the Clock<span class="im">I sometimes think when I am laying in bed, covered in Cheetos dust and watching Netflix that I consume so much art, media, music, and film but the amount that I give back is very small. I take some pictures, write a little, etc. <i>Wouldn't it be great if we created or contributed just a small portion of the amount of art we consumed?</i> That's what I thought about when I gave what I could to my friend Rob Christopher's Kickstarter fund to finish his film "Pause of the Clock." </span><span class="im"><span class="im">At the time of this writing he has raised $9524. </span>He needs $5476. In nine days all that money that was pledged, will be flushed down the internet toilet if he doesn't raise it all.</span><br />
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<span class="im">His film was made twenty years ago- preserved in amber since the 1990's. I think if you look at the trailer, you'll be teleported back to 1995 and want to see more. </span><br />
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<span class="im"><a href="https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/814536463/pause-of-the-clock-a-film-20-years-in-the-making" target="_blank">I command you to pledge $5476 or $5 here</a></span><br />
<span class="im"> </span><br />
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<iframe frameborder="0" height="360" scrolling="no" src="https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/814536463/pause-of-the-clock-a-film-20-years-in-the-making/widget/video.html" width="480"> </iframe>
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<b><span class="im">First, the most important question- What</span><span class="im">’s your favorite memory of me?</span></b><br />
<span class="im">
</span>That
summer afternoon we were hanging out on my back porch and you were
smoking cigarettes and I took all those black & white photos of you
with my 35mm camera.<br />
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<b>Are you sure that was me? I don't remember that. </b><br />
Yes it was. I have some them.<br />
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<b><span class="im">My favorite memory of you is you going with me to see Bette Midler...begrudgingly. Very sweet. </span></b><br />
<span class="im">
</span>I'd forgotten about that till just now! I had fun.<br />
<div class="gmail_extra">
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<b><span class="im">How would you describe Pause of the Clock?</span></b><br />
<span class="im">
</span>It's
a movie about friendship and stories, and how two people can somehow
communicate by working on a film together but can't connect on a
personal level because they don't know how to talk to each other. It's
also a movie about movies. How, perversely, it's easier to look at
something honestly when it's in a movie than when you see it in real
life. And it's also a study of the questionable fashion trends of the
mid-1990s. Big hair, windbreakers, pastel t-shirts.</div>
<b></b><br />
<b>Why did <span class="im">it take so long to put this all together?</span> </b></div>
<div>
When
we finally finished shooting the movie, in 1996, I was exhausted. I was
really ready to edit the movie and finish it, but I was also flat
broke. I was so tired of asking people for money and trying to get
funding. The dream was over. It was time to get a job. I guess it took
20 years to build up the necessary energy to dive head-first into it
again! Also, it wasn't until last year or so that I started to feel I
could edit this film in such a way that it would work. It was much
easier, 20 years later, to start from scratch and be pragmatic about
what scenes worked and didn't worked.<span class="im"></span><br /><span class="im"></span></div>
<b><span class="im">Are there parts of your autobiography in this film? Traumas, childhood, etc...</span></b><br />
<span class="im">
</span>There's
a ton of between-the-lines stuff, but I don't know that all that is so
important to the audience. It's important insomuch as it adds a lot of
texture to what's on screen, and makes it feel more real. Anyway, I
don't want to go into all that. Gotta preserve the mystery.<br />
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<b><span class="im">Did you have any reservations about crowdsourcing?</span></b><br />
<div>
The
single best piece of advice I got before starting to plan my
Kickstarter was from my friend Gabe. He said, "You have to consider it a
full-time job." He was right. It's been a lot of hard work, but it's
also been exhilarating to see people get excited about this weird little
movie. I was, and still am, nervous about such a risky undertaking. But
I also don't know anyone who would be ready to write me out a check for
$15,000. Crowdfunding was the best option to get the money.</div>
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<b><span class="im">So you were raised pretty hard core Christian, tell me about that and
tell me if religion or spirituality still plays a part in your life.</span></b><br />
<span class="im">
</span>I
was. I was still very much a church-going, committed Christian when I
started making "Pause of the Clock." But less than a year after we
finished shooting it, I finally started coming to terms with the fact I
was gay and stopped going to church and drifted away from religion. Even
today, personally, I do not find Christianity compatible with being
gay. Or a lot of other things that are important to me. Maybe this is
shocking to admit, but I guess I don't really consider myself that
spiritual. Zen, maybe. John Cage zen. Que sera sera is my motto and has
been for a long time.<br />
<div>
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7kS-N1m-uPW9jqQGfhTTH821ci2LMKdctqa4fHKAnWkoTy_hLCGrQz8kagOyM7Y5ZbF_KfmR-Xy7LN_GbOKErYfctAigPUt879T74psqPbYCPokdWKY61-RZiKYV4s4-oDqpY/s1600/303826_10152122741560621_929481330_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7kS-N1m-uPW9jqQGfhTTH821ci2LMKdctqa4fHKAnWkoTy_hLCGrQz8kagOyM7Y5ZbF_KfmR-Xy7LN_GbOKErYfctAigPUt879T74psqPbYCPokdWKY61-RZiKYV4s4-oDqpY/s1600/303826_10152122741560621_929481330_n.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a><span class="im"><b>We both went to
Columbia College. Is there anything at Columbia that
actually helped you with filmmaking?</b></span><br />
<div>
I
have often said that I learned more about filmmaking from my poetry
class, taught by Art Lange, than I did from any of my filmmaking
classes. Now partially this was just me being a know-it-all kid who
wanted to do things his way and didn't understand that Columbia is,
primarily, geared towards being an industry school. Any art that occurs
gets in through the cracks, not through the front door. To look at it
another way, Columbia actually did teach me a lot about filmmaking;
only, they weren't lessons I wanted to learn. I learned that the
industry is rigidly broken down into roles, and genres. And woe to them
who try to be a "total" filmmaker, or try to make anything that's hard
to classify. Columbia helped me the most by nudging me into
concentrating on my writing. I'm a much better writer because I got so
disillusioned with filmmaking that I stopped doing it for so long. That,
in turn, has made "Pause of the Clock" a much better film now simply
because I'm a better editor now than I was back then, because I'm a
better writer. </div>
<b><br /></b><span class="im"><b>You are a big fan of David Lynch, what is it about his movies that you love?</b></span><br />
<span class="im">
</span>Seeing
"Twin Peaks" in eight grade was a eureka moment. Along with seeing
"True Stories" for the first time, it made me realize that film could do
more than just tell a story. I have basically been obsessed with David
Lynch ever since. The most important lesson he has for filmmakers is
that one must respect the mysteries of life. Mystery is a thing to
nurture and cherish, not to explain away. Lynch has helped me see that
you really have to trust your gut as a filmmaker. Your gut is a much
more valuable tool than your brain. Or rather, without your gut your
brain will always get you into trouble.<br />
<b><br /></b><b>If your movie became a huge hit would you ever consider moving to LA?</b><br />
<b></b><span class="im">
</span>No.<br />
<b><span class="im"><br /></span><span class="im">Do you have any other projects in the works?</span></b><br />
<span class="im">
</span>I
am nearing a finishing point on my work-in-progress, "3 Things about
1000 Movies." I would still love to turn it into a book with drawings.
For my next film project, whatever that turns out to be, I'd really like
to collaborate with another writer and fashion a screenplay. The
thought of working together with a writer and bouncing ideas off each
other really gets my juices flowing.</div>
<br />
<div>
<b><span class="im">You are having an Oscar party! What kind of punch are you making this year?</span></b></div>
</div>
<div>
<span class="im">
</span>I
haven't settled on my punch recipe yet. A bit worrisome. Some people
agonize over their Oscar ballots, I agonize over what punch to make for
my Oscar party.<br />
<div>
<b><span class="im"><br /></span><span class="im">If you were going to have themed foods for each Best Picture nomination what would they be?</span></b></div>
<span class="im">
</span>"American
Sniper" would be, umm, a bowl of really spicy chili mac. "The Imitation
Game" would be a bowl of Skittles. "Birdman" would be a platter of
chicken fingers with Velveeta dipping sauce. "Boyhood" would be, I
dunno, something with tater tots and BBQ brisket. "Selma": Hoppin' John.
"Whiplash": chicken fried drumsticks, haha. And "The Grand Budapest
Hotel" would be an elaborate tray of hors d'oeuvres that no one was
allowed to touch.<br />
<span class="im"></span><br />
<div>
<span class="im"><strong>Tell me your
thoughts on the movies nominated for best picture. What movies are
missing from the list, what movies shouldn't be on there?</strong></span></div>
<span class="im">
</span>Mostly
I'm just pleased that "Boyhood" is on the list. The others, I haven't
seen all of them but you know, it is what it is. I wasn't surprised but
was still disappointed that "Interstellar" was missing. And really,
really irritated that "Life Itself" wasn't a Best Documentary nominee. <br />
<b><br /></b>
<b><span class="im">So about the time Harry Potter finished up...you posted the ending
online- which was very controversial in our little blogosphere at the
time. I think you have an aversion to pop culture and things that are
overhyped, etc. Is it about the content, the value of the mass media-
what is that about?</span></b><br />
<span class="im">
</span>No, it's about this completely
annoying, repulsive sanctity we seem to have for spoilers. Spoiler alert
this, spoiler alert that. <br />
<span class="im"></span><br />
<div>
<b><span class="im">Luckily you took me to Trader Vic's at the Palmer House before they closed. There will never be another place like it. Tell me about your love of tiki culture? Where did that come from?</span></b> <br />
It's
a beautiful form of escapism that partially inoculates me against
cynicism. If I'm sitting in Lost Lake with some friends, listening to
some steel guitar tune and sipping on a powerful rum drink, at least at
that moment everything's all right.<span class="im"><br /> </span><br />
<b><span class="im">Tell me why people should crowdsource your film.</span></b></div>
<div>
It's
a 16mm time capsule unlike any other indie film project out there. It
captures the mid-1990s but also tells us something about our own time,
what has changed and what hasn't. It's a fun, homegrown movie. It's got
some awesome music in it. And, every pledge counts! It all adds up. </div>
<div>
<b><br /></b>
<b>Tell me everything that’s in your backpack or bag.</b></div>
<div>
Diary
notebook, cell phone charger, Kleenex pack, Moleskine daily planner, a
pack of cold tablets, iPod, combination padlock, Norman Mailer's "Miami
and the Siege of Chicago," and a single strawberry Starburst.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/814536463/pause-of-the-clock-a-film-20-years-in-the-making" target="_blank">Pledge whatever you have here</a> and read more about Rob Christopher on his website www.randomcha.net </div>
<span class="im"></span><br /></div>
Jeremyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14285992777141834192noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6622128.post-3558398499363793052013-12-14T07:17:00.002-06:002013-12-14T07:23:54.087-06:00The Jeremy Show Interview: Big Brother Winner Andy Herren<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIwY5_2XU1nyMwdJ3KgwJgmhXBCmedAcdwCjfgYbCHXskVIUvoUtsmLSzgBFYoRL_wiyXPK94ISf_xSnpJLuc0n9rmdNHqVSv49199aFCmQZpZbYwE75ev67s3GtCErETw8yW8/s1600/andy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIwY5_2XU1nyMwdJ3KgwJgmhXBCmedAcdwCjfgYbCHXskVIUvoUtsmLSzgBFYoRL_wiyXPK94ISf_xSnpJLuc0n9rmdNHqVSv49199aFCmQZpZbYwE75ev67s3GtCErETw8yW8/s400/andy.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">I think I love Big
Brother so much because I love observing people, looking at people do
extraordinary mundane things, I always look in other people's medicine
cabinets, sociopathically stare at people on the train, etc.And I am going to
go out on a shaky limb here and say that Big Brother is one of the most
underrated documentaries of our time or ever in the universe. </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The television show has
all the over produced, cheesy, offensive (to some) trappings that come with all
reality TV shows. And I eat that all up and love it. The video feeds are
something different. You can watch a group of people fight, be bored, sleep,
make out, make friends, eat, cry, laugh and take showers for three months, 24
hours a day, seven days a week. Like any fan describing their obsession to a
non-fan I can't articulate how much I love Big Brother- it's heroin candy. </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The premise is simple-
the houseguests are locked in a house for three months. The show is on on three
times a week every summer. Every week 2 houseguests are nominated for eviction.
Every Thursday, during a live show the house votes to evict one of the
nominated houseguests. The strategy for being the last houseguests standing
(and winning $500,0000) varies- but always includes lying, deceit, physical
endurance and social manipulation. On the last episode, alll of the other
houseguests who have been evicted vote on who (out of the two remaining) they
think should win the money. All the while everything is filmed and viewers have
access to watch everything that goes down.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">This summer Andy Herren
of Chicago won Big Brother. Not only was he the first openly gay person to win
Big Brother but he’s from Chicago and he’s delightful. I had a chance to speak with him and talk about his time on Big Brother.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span></div>
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<b><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">You said you weren’t an
insane fan of Big Brother but a pretty big one. How did you get into watching
Big Brother?</span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">I got into watching Big
Brother by accident, actually. I was flipping through channels, and somehow
landed on CBS. What was on? Big Brother 3! You know, the season where Marcellas
used the Power of Veto on someone other than himself. I started watching, and
the rest is history!</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span></div>
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<b><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">So...You won $500,000!
Congratulations! Did your thoughts on what you would do with that amount of
money change when you actually had the check in your hand?</span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">I always knew I would be
smart with the money. I'm investing it, for the most part. I want these
winnings to turn into more and more winnings as the years progress. As for
frivolous spending, I'm going to travel extensively! Europe, Australia, Japan,
and Hawaii are on the agenda at the moment.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span></div>
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<b><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">This season was hailed
as the "Most Controversial" ever. One of the houseguests, Aaryn did
say some ridiculously racist things and a handful of other houseguests said
stupid things. Besides Aaryn- who I truly don't think realized that what she
was saying and the way she was saying it was going to cause a lot of problems
for her -- I just think the rest of it was just general jackassery like any
group of young bored people. Did you have any idea that all of this would be so
controversial when you were living in the house?</span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span></div>
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<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/rCXN4qa9kaE?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">NOBODY had any idea this
racist stuff would take off in the way it did. Granted, we all did notice
Aaryn's comments, but I believe you are correct in assuming that she had no
idea her words would cause such an uproar. She even started saying racist
things just to say them, as we would all joke that she was the house racist. Do
I condone her comments? Hell no. Do I think she is young and ignorant and not
actually an evil racist bigot? Hell yes. I was very surprised by the attention
this all got. I mean, any comment that makes others feel bad isn't right, but I
really never felt like I was in a hateful environment. I very strongly believe
that nobody in the house is actually racist, and I hope that we can all move on
from this and remain close with one another. As for me...I am MUCH MORE
offensive in real life as opposed to the house. I'll leave it at that.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span></div>
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<b><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">You tweeted, "It's
slightly discomforting that I was so hated while on BB. Not because I'm
embarrassed, but because in real life I'M SO MUCH WORSE." Explain this
tweet.</span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Basically, I say
ridiculous things all the time. Anyone who knows me will tell you that I'm
actually a very kind, loving person, BUT I have a filthy, vile, disgusting,
awful sense of humor. Nothing offends me, because I am usually the one doing
the offending. This is especially prevalent when I'm drunk. I wasn't drunk too
often in the Big Brother house, but when I was, I said some gross things.
Remember my "Elissa is a chronic masturbator" rant? Yeah, I was drunk
during that, and it was not meant to be taken seriously. The problem? Many
Americans do not sense sarcasm, and they took it seriously.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span></div>
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<b><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Do they even give you
enough alcohol in the house to get drunk?</span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">If everyone has a drink,
they do not give us enough alcohol to get drunk. If people give up their share
of alcohol, then others can drink the shares that have been given up and
feasibly get drunk. For example, I gave up my alcohol 90 percent of the time,
and then on the rare occasion that I wanted to get drunk, I would remind people
that I had been giving up my shares, so they would give me theirs. I rarely
drank because people would get super selfish about alcohol, and it put me in
good graces if I gave it up. Looks like that strategy paid off.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span></div>
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<b><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">One of the best moments
of the season was after you were announced the winner- you came down and hugged
your parents. They looked SO proud of you. Tell me about them. What did they
say was their experience like when you were in the house?</span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">THEY ARE AMAZING. They
were so damn happy for me while I was on the show. My dad is a very quiet,
stern guy for the most part, but after the show he gave me the biggest hug and
said he had never been more proud of me. It was a lovely moment. My mom watched
the feeds 24/7, and my dad would get updates from her. My mom was actually so
scared about my possible eviction when I was up against Aaryn that she couldn't
watch. She said she heard my dad screaming/cheering, and she knew all was well.
They loved me being in the house, and, according to them, all they really
experienced was positivity. They aren't on Twitter, and that is where most of
the stupid assholes who hate me dwell.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span></div>
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<b><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">How was your experience
coming out to your parents? How did you tell them?</span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">I was outed by a
neighbor before actually telling my parents about me being gay, but they were
both cool with it. There's nothing much more to tell! My mom was sad I didn't
come out earlier.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span></div>
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<b><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Tell me about the
transformation from relative anonymity to instant fame. What are the good
things and bad things about it? </span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">It's been pretty easy! I
like people recognizing me. It is sweet. The only negative side is the INSANE
hate I got once I left the house. I'm used to being well-liked, so it was odd
to see so many people wishing me nothing but the worst. I played the game I
needed to play, and I have no regrets. I get that I didn't play a very likable
game, but anyone who respects the game should see what an amazing job I did. I
played EVERYONE, and was rewarded for it. I also like the free stuff people
give me! That's a neat perk of being "famous."</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span></div>
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<b><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Rumor has it that you
lost your job over your appearance on Big Brother. Did you lose your job and if
so, what was the reason? What happened there?</span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">I did not lose my job!
:)</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span></div>
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<b><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Who are you still in
contact with outside of the house? Who do you think you won’t keep in touch
with?</span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">I have been in good
contact with most of the cast. The only two people I haven't talked to are
Elissa and Howard, who I have no ill will towards. In the house I hated Elissa,
but outside of the game I would like to be on good terms with her. I talk to
Amanda and McCrae every day, and I talk to Judd, Spencer, Helen, Kaitlin,
GinaMarie, Candice, Aaryn, Jessie, and Jeremy relatively frequently as well. I
also text back and forth with with David, who is a hoot. I don't like having
negative relations with anyone, so hopefully we can all move forward and be
pals, because we all shared such a unique experience.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span></div>
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<b><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Is Judd as adorable in
real life as he was on Big Brother?</span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span></div>
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<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/Pi9FZZ8Iv6U?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Judd is EVEN MORE
ADORABLE IN PERSON. He is wonderful. I can't imagine anyone meeting Judd and
not loving him. He does have a fiery side though (that temper!...fiery yet
still ADORABLE).</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span></div>
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<b><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">What has been your best
experience with a Big Brother fan and your worst experience with a Big Brother
fan?</span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Best experience with a
Big Brother fan: My roommate and I were running late to the movies a few weeks
back, and a car pulled up beside us. It was a husband and wife, and they were
big fans. I then asked them for a ride to the movies, and they obliged! Ha! I
haven't really had any negative experiences with fans, except online, but most
of the online fans are complete waste of space morons who don't actually
understand the game, so they don't bug me too much.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span></div>
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<b><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">What are some things,
secret little behind the scenes things that you think most Big Brother fans
would be shocked to know? Did your gaydar ever go off on any of the male
houseguests?</span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">We NEVER see any people
while we are in the house. It is weird. Like, I didn't know what the producers
looked like until the show wrapped. Another secret: They give us the same food
week after week, which can get monotonous. I wanted a bit more variety!
Although they fed me all summer for free, so I shouldn't complain.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span></div>
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<b><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Did your gaydar ever go
off on any of the male houseguests?</span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">My gaydar went off on
Nick a little bit, because he would do odd things like always call me over to
talk while he was in the shower. I'm 50/50, though. If he's gay, I wouldn't be
shocked. If not, I would also not be shocked.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span></div>
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<b><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Do you think there could
have been a possibility of a bromance- whether or not it would have just been
used to get you or whoever else further in the game? Did any of the straight
guys ever flirt with you?</span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">I was in a bromance with
Spencer!!! We were BFFs from the beginning, which you NEVER saw on the show. He
kept me sane in the house. He is an intelligent and hilarious guy. SPANDY FOR
LIFE!!! I do believe our bromance got him further, as I never wanted to sever
ties with him. I wanted him at the end because I liked him and I knew I could
beat him.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span></div>
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<b><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">What is your dream
“Celebrity Big Brother” cast? And who do you think would win?</span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Oh goodness, I have no
idea who my dream Celebrity Big Brother cast would be. It would most certainly
include Anderson Cooper, Ryan Gosling, Jennifer Lawrence, Emma Stone, and
myself. I say this because I selfishly want to meet these people (and school
them at Big Brother).</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<b><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">You said that you were
rejecting friend requests on Facebook like it’s your job. Are a lot of people
asking you for money? </span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">I basically reject
Facebook friendships because I like to keep Facebook personal. Like, only
people I actually know or could see myself getting to know in real life are
people I will be friends with on Facebook. Twitter/Instagram/etc are for people
who I may not know to be able to interact with me. And nobody has asked me for
money yet! I think people know I'm smart with my money and won't fall for any
hair-brained schemes. I also think my friends and family know how hard I worked
for the money, and they aren't the type of people who would see my winning as a
way to better themselves financially. When I left the house I wanted to get
back to Chicago to retain my strong personal relationships with friends and
family, so relationships haven't been strained at all. I love the people I
surround myself with!</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<b><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Are you dating anyone? </span></b></div>
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<b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbOL0S_YiDIYkWPIAm0xuFclFL51to78XeiTIUT9JFpVPeq36n1jh0eDMBwc-dp8rEktoUmpkh3sHnZrfmdIVCdTAoSKhpWYvG9PQsgx0t-m2KkV26-W9IXR9Ul5-pGjj0onob/s1600/big-brother-15-house-guest-andy-herren-11.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbOL0S_YiDIYkWPIAm0xuFclFL51to78XeiTIUT9JFpVPeq36n1jh0eDMBwc-dp8rEktoUmpkh3sHnZrfmdIVCdTAoSKhpWYvG9PQsgx0t-m2KkV26-W9IXR9Ul5-pGjj0onob/s320/big-brother-15-house-guest-andy-herren-11.jpg" width="320" /></a></b></div>
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span><br />
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">I am casually dating,
but nothing serious. I'm SUPER picky and tend to lose interest quickly, so I
don't bother really dating anyone unless they seem very right and I see
long-term potential. I'm also a hopeless romantic and retain the belief that
one day I will meet the man of my dreams and it will happen exactly like it
does in cutesy romantic comedies (I know, I know...BARF). And when I go on
dates, I love it when guys don't know about Big Brother. It's nice to know that
they like me for me and not for me being a television personality.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span></div>
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<b><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">What are your plans for
the holidays?</span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">For Christmas I'll be
going to my parents' house in the suburbs to spend time with friends and family
who are at home.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<b><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Can you tell me what you
have in your medicine cabinet? Please list all the contents, brand names, etc.</span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Flintstones Chewable
Vitamins, Advil Liqui-Gels, Crest Whitening toothpaste, Edge shave gel, contact
solution, a toothbrush, Old Spice Aqua Reef deodorant, cherry Chapstick.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<b><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Do you ever still feel
like cameras are watching you?</span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">When I first came back,
I definitely woke up a few times thinking I was being watched (which was super
weird), but, to be honest, the whole being filmed thing faded quite quickly. I
was back to picking my nose and masturbating in no time!</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<b><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">What are you buying
yourself for Christmas?</span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">I have no idea what I'm
buying myself for Christmas! I'm very low maintenance. Maybe a book or
something?</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<b><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Last question- If you
were describing to a four year old how you won the money how would you say you
won it?</span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">I lied to lots of
people, and then the people I lied to gave me tons of money.</span><br />
<h4>
<i><b><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Who should I interview next? Why should I interview you? Email me at <a href="mailto:jeremy@thejeremyshow.com">jeremy@thejeremyshow.com</a> and let me know. </span></b></i></h4>
</div>
Jeremyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14285992777141834192noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6622128.post-67894214790896555812013-11-02T07:27:00.001-05:002013-11-02T07:27:17.380-05:00You can have it all<p dir=ltr>I fired my therapist and psychiatrist yesterday. It was a dispute over a balance that I had incurred. Ask anyone who knows me and the first thing they will tell you is that I am knows that I am meticulous with money. So the blame is obviously on the evil psychiatric behavioral industrial complex. And not me. Never me.</p>
<p dir=ltr>Wednesday was awful. I got in a raised voice with the receptionist at my behavioral health center on Chicago's fabulous Magnificent Mile. Exchanged icy looks and words with my psychiatrist, abandoned my umbrella that obviously had a hole in it, fought with Sallie Mae, stood outside in the rain waiting for busses for 30 minutes multiple times, lost my headphones multiple times.</p>
<p dir=ltr>My only saving grace was listening to the angry sexy genius raps of Mr. Marshall Mathers. My beautiful blond Eminem. My angry best friend, my muse. Allegedly misogynistic, playfully homophobic and slightly deranged. Just how I like him. </p>
<p dir=ltr>Until I losty headphones. Fucking stringy, tangled, earpieces always falling off, balled up in my pocket. I had three pairs and left them all at work and they were.gone the next morning. On the floor. Cleaning people at work? Good for them. </p>
<p dir=ltr>You can have them. You deserve it. Cleaning up after me. Take everything else while you're at it. My files, my computer, my pens that are all out of ink, my job, my life. Take it and run with it. See if you can make something out of my island of misfit toys, my menagerie of hopes and dreams and cigarettes and lube and neurosis and Direct TV and various magazine subscriptions I dont read. Take it, cleaning woman or man. Clean it all up, organize my internal and external crap, Windex the shit out of it and sell it all on eBay. My heart, my soul, my life. Get 20 bucks and order a pizza. Make a night out of it.<br><br><br><br></p>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXaX7tRLPrv_p7LtmuEgKH1-aulz0aq17IiBQtF-HNSLN0bSjzraNwjNOkXsaubHfsrICdVwhB2nXMnQvE9wS522qcqEOkkVQbHTceA-4K_pY6iV-0e4fgUHHejd1hoRYL-nhyphenhyphen/s1600/20130729_222637_20130729224524013.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"> <img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXaX7tRLPrv_p7LtmuEgKH1-aulz0aq17IiBQtF-HNSLN0bSjzraNwjNOkXsaubHfsrICdVwhB2nXMnQvE9wS522qcqEOkkVQbHTceA-4K_pY6iV-0e4fgUHHejd1hoRYL-nhyphenhyphen/s640/20130729_222637_20130729224524013.jpg"> </a> </div>Jeremyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14285992777141834192noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6622128.post-32065843322650195172013-09-28T08:25:00.002-05:002013-09-28T08:38:26.763-05:00The Jeremy Show Interviews: Mister Rogers Archivist Tim Lybarger<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoVgYbi3o6KBXiuL6LmOfrae7IbWD3aBnkfCo7W1W7P1jGxSu0Ifh1hUulXjQx1l8Sr2lojzkMjkWs2MMEXWQJefKas3Bobv09yW7mc_F4iZwr5RJnC3REZL-3k_6DwqfGAmxZ/s1600/DSCF1309.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoVgYbi3o6KBXiuL6LmOfrae7IbWD3aBnkfCo7W1W7P1jGxSu0Ifh1hUulXjQx1l8Sr2lojzkMjkWs2MMEXWQJefKas3Bobv09yW7mc_F4iZwr5RJnC3REZL-3k_6DwqfGAmxZ/s320/DSCF1309.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Tim Lybarger visiting X The Owl in The Neighborhood of Make Believe.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div>
</div>
<div>
<b>It was announced this week that a film about Fred Rogers (based on a book by </b><b>Tim Madigan's memoir <a class="autolink" href="http://www.amazon.com/Im-Proud-You-Friendship-Rogers/dp/1470155117/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1380370657&sr=8-1&keywords=im+proud+of+you" target="_blank" title="I'm Proud of You">I'm Proud of You</a>) is in the early stages of development. I sat down with the Internet's authority on Mister Rogers Tim Lybarger, the creator of <a href="http://neighborhoodarchive.com/" target="_blank">The Neighborhood Archive: A Collection of All Things Mister Rogers</a>. Read what we talked about as we took a nostalgic walk through The Neighborhood of Make Believe.</b><br />
<b><br /></b>
<b>So, what are your thoughts on the movie coming out?</b></div>
<div>
I'm actually pretty surprised. There was a lot of talk
a few months ago about this but it was all so vague that it didn't seem
anything would really come of it. Looks like that may not be the case.
I'm thrilled for <a href="http://www.timmadigan.com/" target="_blank">Tim Madigan</a> -- his book is wonderful and he's such a
great person!<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcSwE7AFtcPCTaXn-omq-yVsZrvHXpp3zBi_b4i4yHsMp_Fmq5XI2xq-T4elXz08_TfJzS1A46xMsKt3uqbb1SYQvL0nNDRgRNeBI2GrHvnx0NqvUkzodQ0D7al1O9tnh8_z_b/s1600/spot-jim-parsons.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="118" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcSwE7AFtcPCTaXn-omq-yVsZrvHXpp3zBi_b4i4yHsMp_Fmq5XI2xq-T4elXz08_TfJzS1A46xMsKt3uqbb1SYQvL0nNDRgRNeBI2GrHvnx0NqvUkzodQ0D7al1O9tnh8_z_b/s200/spot-jim-parsons.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Jim Parsons</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<b>And who do you think should play Mister Rogers?</b><br />
That's a tough call to make. I'm not sure
that the actor have to be a spitting image of him, but thinking that
way, Jim Parsons would be great!</div>
<br />
<b>I
was a big Mister Rogers fan. My Mom said that she thought Sesame
Street was too fast and loud for me. I didn't really get into it. Do you find
through your archival work with Mister Rogers that their are Mister
Rogers people and Sesame Street people? Is there anything specific
you've noticed about a Mister Rogers fan? </b><br />
<div>
Not to say that there aren't kids who enjoyed both
programs, but there are definitely Mister Rogers kids and Sesame Street
kids. These two programs were groundbreaking in very different ways.
Likewise, they were applicable to children in very different ways. While
one was fast-paced and emphasized the ABCs and 123s, the other kept a
slow tempo and taught kids that it's okay to have feelings. Is there anything specific I've noticed about Mister
Rogers fans? Absolutely. Among the many that I've heard from through
the Neighborhood Archive, they are a very kind, caring, and patient
group of people. Whether this is fully attributed to their appreciation
of Mister Rogers' Neighborhood or not is up in the air...but I certainly
think it's no coincidence.<br />
<br />
<div>
<b>You have six different websites/blogs which are all amazing. On
the main portal to your site TimLybarger.com your intro line is
"archiving the insignificant." Tell me about that statement.</b></div>
<div>
It takes a certain kind of person to have any kind of
interest in what I do. Either you get it or you don't. My brother has a
pretty solid music collection and I remember him jokingly saying once
that he was "archiving for future generations." I, too, am archiving for
future generations. I'm just archiving stuff that only myself and a
very small niche of other people are interested in. To most people it's
insignificant.<br />
<br />
<div>
<b>I think
we are all librarians of pop culture in some way. We all have our
libraries of DVD's and books and toys from our childhood. What is the focus of your collection? How much do you have? And
how does your wife feel about it?</b></div>
<div>
I guess the focus of my collection would be things
that remind me of my own childhood. I've often said that I had a
wonderful childhood and given the opportunity, I would relive ages 2-17
over and over again. So I often find myself picking up items at flea
markets and garage sales that I owned as a kid -- books, games, toys.
Likewise, I love watching television shows that I enjoyed when I was
young. I'll take the A-Team or a healthy dose of Saturday morning
cartoons over America's Got Talent any day. As for my wife...she's doesn't get it. I don't mean
that in a negative way either. She's the type of person who is content
to take a picture of something and throw it away while I love being able
to physically see something to bring back memories. She does a good job
of tolerating my collection and humoring me when I start telling her
about the latest thing I've found.<br />
</div>
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<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/VFSZPIsl0vo?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>
<b>My favorite Mister Rogers song, or the
one I remember the most is "I Like to Be Told." Bette Midler sang it in a
concert I saw and I cried. That song has so much meaning. The idea is
mainly- children (and adults) like to be told the truth. And with truth
comes trust. The more I think about it the more I can see it applies far
beyond children and into the adult world- work, relationships,
government. What Mr. Rogers song resonates for you?</b></div>
</div>
<div>
This is exactly what got me into archiving the
career of Fred Rogers. I had grown up watching the Neighborhood program
and as an adult, parent, and educator, I began to recognize that his
message was one that wasn't just for kids. I Like To Take My Time can be
applied to rush hour traffic and Let's Think of Something to Do While
We're Waiting can help during a lengthy stop in any waiting room. I can't say that I really have one specific Mister
Rogers song that resonates with me any more than others, but I often
think about his overall message of patience, love, and compassion for
others -- our neighbors -- in this world.</div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxgR1Wbcow8yYrEYprtKHKc517UA8mg-NM5CUBIHBotg1rArKqsL-nUnj_k2OvgGjHk9vcF6f9L_GRUKfMGz2jZ113WjsRnHobDqjN7fYrt8dAJDVgZYGItGwHwlrXCG10mqgL/s1600/Lady+Elaine+Fairchild-Mr-Rogers.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxgR1Wbcow8yYrEYprtKHKc517UA8mg-NM5CUBIHBotg1rArKqsL-nUnj_k2OvgGjHk9vcF6f9L_GRUKfMGz2jZ113WjsRnHobDqjN7fYrt8dAJDVgZYGItGwHwlrXCG10mqgL/s200/Lady+Elaine+Fairchild-Mr-Rogers.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lady Elaine Fairchild</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div>
<b>OK tell me everything you know about Lady Elaine. She
is my favorite. What's her deal?</b><br />
She's a feisty one, that Lady Elaine. Fred often
talked about how he expressed his various feelings through the puppets
in Make-Believe. No doubt any mischief was expressed at the
Museum-Go-Round! (Most) everything I know about Lady Elaine can be found on her page of the Archive site - <a href="http://www.neighborhoodarchive.com/mrn/characters/lady_elaine/index.html" target="_blank">http://www.neighborhoodarchive.com/mrn/characters/lady_elaine/index.html</a> </div>
<div>
<b><br /></b></div>
<div>
<b>Tell me about the evolution of your amazingly
thorough and beautiful archive. Where did it start? What are your future
plans or developments do you have coming for the Neighborhood?</b></div>
<div>
My brother and I had a Mister Rogers record when we were kids
and one day I was looking for some details about it online. I figured
surely there was some catch-all site detailing every nook and cranny
about the long and influential career of Fred Rogers. Much to my
surprise, there was nothing of the sort. Having spent several years
detailing the career of constantly-touring folk singer Todd Snider on
<a href="http://eighteenminutes.com/">EighteenMinutes.com</a>, I figured there was only one thing I could do. From there, the site just caught on like wildfire as
other fans of Fred and his work picked up on my efforts. As the site
continues to grown, I'm constantly amazed by the response I regularly
receive from Mister Rogers fans around the world.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<b>Did you ever get to meet Mister Rogers or other cast members? Tell me about that.</b></div>
<div>
Although
I never had the chance to meet Fred in person, I did invite him to my
college graduation (sort of). Finishing my undergraduate degree, I was
sending announcements to family and friends and had a few left over. Not
expecting any sort of response, I sent one of the extras to Mister
Rogers with a note thanking him for the message he instilled in me and
countless other children around the world through our childhood visits
to his Neighborhood. Much to my surprise, within a matter of just a few
days, I received a personal response in the mail from Fred. It was at
this point that I knew this man was so much more than just the host of
some show I watched when I was a kid. As for others, I've had the chance to meet David
Newell (Mr. McFeely) a few times and very briefly met Betsy Seamans
(Mrs. McFeely) once. I've had a few phone conversations with Audrey Roth
(Miss Paulificate) and Burt Lloyd (Mr. Allmine). Betty Aberlin (Lady
Aberlin) and I have corresponded off and on through email and Twitter
over the past few years and I've recently been in contact with Francois
Clemmons (Officer Clemmons). In every one of these cases, I can say that
each and every one of these people have been wonderfully kind and
generous as they are very clearly not far removed from the characters
they portrayed on the Neighborhood program.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<b>As for the Neighborhood of Make Believe itself-
it seems to be a trippy mirror image of what's going on in Mister Rogers
"television home." What's the psychological reasoning for all of this
as you see it? Why is the show set up in this way?</b></div>
<div>
The shows were scripted from start to finish and no
detail was left unaccounted for, so the similarities between the "real"
neighborhood and the Neighborhood of Make-Believe were certainly
intentional. I've always felt that the show spoke to children on various
levels in different ways. While some where able to take away Fred's
message from his "real" neighborhood segments, others were more
comfortable with the make-believe portions. To me, this provided
children at various stages in their lives with the opportunity to pick
up the same important message being shared on any particular
Neighborhood episode.</div>
<div>
<b><br /></b></div>
<div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCffwoiA2RgqFJik-PiM7IC2CwDE0TF0DMbNVZM8aV1ZlfXR3tBI8Yc1l9antjIC1_Hyuxur9ID0Sv_Whdl7x5c6Ymx5OqRhLXS2_Xcyjsj0l5m8j85HM70fa9_xWT_JlfkdFk/s1600/yoyo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCffwoiA2RgqFJik-PiM7IC2CwDE0TF0DMbNVZM8aV1ZlfXR3tBI8Yc1l9antjIC1_Hyuxur9ID0Sv_Whdl7x5c6Ymx5OqRhLXS2_Xcyjsj0l5m8j85HM70fa9_xWT_JlfkdFk/s1600/yoyo.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Yo Yo LaBelle</b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<b>Who is your favorite Neighborhood of Make Believe resident and Neighborhood resident?</b></div>
<div>
In
the Neighborhood of Make-Believe, if I had to pick a favorite, I'd say
it'd probably be X the Owl as I appreciate his light-hearted outlook on
life. That being said, I have a somewhat weird obsession with the alien
character -- Yo Yo LaBelle -- that only appeared in a few episodes. In the "real" Neighborhood, it's hard to pinpoint a
favorite. If I had to chose, probably Mr. McFeely simply because of the
regularity of his appearance and his fun interactions with Mister Rogers
throughout the run of the show.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<b>Do you know what happened to the set and props of the show?</b></div>
<div>
Up
until recently, most of the Neighborhood of Make-Believe set was on
display throughout the building which housed the office space for the
Fred Rogers Company. Earlier this summer, the FRC relocated to new space
in Pittsburgh and I'm not sure if these pieces went with them or went
into storage. The Neighborhood of Make-Believe models were on
display in the FRC offices at their previous location and I can only
assume that they are on display in their new space as well. I've also
been told that the street display seen in the opening and closing of the
program is on display in the new office location, too. As for the set of Mister Rogers' television house, the last I knew is that those pieces were in storage.</div>
<div>
<b><br /></b></div>
<div>
<b>Why
wasn't there much merchandising for the show?- it seems like Sesame
Street was all over the place. I would have killed to get my hands on
that playset.</b></div>
<div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6KbEREicKLrLA7B7KiSm2Qn-Sj_bReVoRaBr2DOWCviNrigkSV4IxhjJJEjigs-mEtRH1-hQGWjpTIk35KVRqQ6vdzLwsz2ypblQa39k9dcfUc0OtVz7mep2UCXFXEjbVLW4h/s1600/playset.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6KbEREicKLrLA7B7KiSm2Qn-Sj_bReVoRaBr2DOWCviNrigkSV4IxhjJJEjigs-mEtRH1-hQGWjpTIk35KVRqQ6vdzLwsz2ypblQa39k9dcfUc0OtVz7mep2UCXFXEjbVLW4h/s1600/playset.jpg" /></a>Yeah. The playset. Tell me about it. I'd do anything
to get my hands on one of those. I've tried asking everyone from the
Fred Rogers Company to the individuals who designed that piece and have
come up with nothing. The best I can put together is that a prototype
was created but never marketed on a mass scale. I think the fact that there wasn't a huge market for
Mister Rogers merchandise can be attributed to Fred's nature of
simplicity. I think his one and only focus was reaching out to children
on a personal and individual level. He could have taken the Neighborhood
to a mass market and capitalized in a major way through merchandising
opportunities. Instead, he chose to keep the focus on the message rather
than the market. Typical Fred, from what I understand.</div>
<div>
<b><br /></b></div>
<div>
<a href="http://pbskids.org/daniel/" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgo8dy1ovifF5PoLaw6fpr5diVki9eQMMBZcNfr42aP-q0D8aYsBjBY-LLWnhlYcodA9g4tEM9cAkMUA1L_LclAkEVya1keMmbtAuqgW-1e6WR1gQ4oMol9WboluaBoQ5bVO4rw/s1600/showposter.jpg" /></a><b>With your own kids, do you see anything else on children's television that gets close to Mister Rogers' style?</b><br />
<div>
Nothing. There's Daniel Tigers' Neighborhood which is the "next
generation" of Mister Rogers' Neighborhood, but there's nothing out
there that comes close to a daily visit to the Neighborhood. Everything
on TV for kids is either fast, flashy, commercialized, or all of the
above. I've yet to find a children's program that has reached the masses
that Fred reached in such a simple yet unbelievably influential way. For the record, my kids LOVE Daniel Tiger's
Neighborhood and I could not be happier to see Fred's message carried on
in such a positive and popular program. The response to Daniel Tiger
has been phenomenal!</div>
</div>
<div>
<br />
<div>
<b><br /></b></div>
<b>What is known about Mister Rogers private life?
Is there anything that has surprised you or that you found interesting
in your research? Has there been any good biographies you can recommend?</b></div>
<div>
When it comes to Fred's personal life, everyone has
this part of them that hopes there's some dirt somewhere...some sort of
secret life that could tarnish the seemingly perfect persona seen on
television. While I hate to disappoint, everything I have
gathered over several years of researching his life and career has
pointed to one thing -- he was the same kind and caring person in real
life that you saw on TV. There are two different biographies that I would
recommend for anyone interested in a quick look at Fred and his career
-- both in video format. The first is <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Fred-Rogers-Americas-Favorite-Neighbor/dp/B0000A9GLR/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1380373776&sr=8-2&keywords=Fred+Rogers%3A+America%27s+Favorite+Neighbor" target="_blank">Fred Rogers: America's Favorite Neighbor.</a> This one is a fantastic look at Fred's life and career
scattered with many clips from the show as well as lengthy interviews
with Fred himself. The other is <a href="http://www.amazon.com/dp/B006JN87EI/?tag=googhydr-20&hvadid=24987395071&hvpos=1t1&hvexid=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=995321329422860636&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=b&hvdev=c&ref=pd_sl_25ygpf5025_b" target="_blank">Mister Rogers & Me</a> (available on Netflix Prime) -- a documentary
featuring various individuals touched by the message of Fred Rogers.</div>
<div>
<b><br /></b></div>
<div>
<b>What do you discuss on your podcast?</b></div>
<div>
The
podcast started out with conversations with a few other fans of the
Neighborhood and has evolved a bit into mostly interviews with people
who have been involved with or heavily influenced by the Neighborhood
program in some way. I've spoken with a handful of Neighborhood cast
members such as Audrey Roth (Miss Paulificate) and Bert Lloyd (Mr.
Allmine) as well as others who were involved behind the scenes (Eliot
Daly). I have to admit that the podcast is one aspect of the
Neighborhood Archive that I tend to neglect. For some reason it always
seems to go to the back burner as you can see by the fact that there are
only about 20 episodes.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<b>Clearly, you were a child of the eighties- what
is it about the eighties? What do you remember as the vibe of that
decade for you?</b></div>
<div>
It might just be that I was
a kid and things are simple when you're young, but I feel like the 80s
were a much simpler time than we live in now. We didn't have the flashy
movies and video games we have today...but we didn't know any better. We
were content to drop a quarter in a machine for a few minutes of
Pac-Man or to hear a song we liked played from a jukebox. I'm sure that
the 80s were no less complex for adults than today is for people my own
age, but the feelings of comfort and simplicity that come back to me
with memories of my childhood in the 80s cannot be matched.<br />
<br />
<div>
<b>When people are passionate about something (for me it would be Madonna, Martha Stewart) I find it interesting, no matter
what it is. </b><b><b>My boyfriend is a BIG Disney fan.
</b> I
might be wrong but I do feel like you can follow the trail of our deep
passions (like everything else) back to our childhood. How do you feel
about that? Do you think that you are trying to get back something from
your childhood? Or does your passion for pop culture relate to something
else?</b></div>
<div>
I think you've hit the nail on the head. Many people
-- myself included -- find comfort in remembering simpler times. Being
able to thumb through my baseball card collection from when I was a kid
immediately takes me back to summer afternoons of backyard baseball and
trips to the drug store to buy wax packs of the current cards. Listening
to certain songs will immediately put me back in my bedroom on a warm
summer evening with the windows open while I listened to the local pop
music request show. I've often said that I can't tell you much that I
learned in college, but I can easily come up with any detail from my
childhood that you'd care to request. While some people may say I'm
stuck in the past, I look at it as a recognition of the wonderful
childhood that I was blessed enough to experience.<br />
<br />
<b>Visit Tim at <a href="http://www.neighborhoodarchive.com/index.html" target="_blank">The Neighborhood Archive </a>and follow him on <a href="https://twitter.com/mrnarchive" target="_blank">Twitter!</a></b> </div>
</div>
Jeremyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14285992777141834192noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6622128.post-66973645563387658362013-09-25T20:44:00.001-05:002013-09-25T20:44:34.467-05:00PorchI'm on the porch. I spend as much time as I can here. My Dick Tracy mug is almost out of coffee, just the cold, dark last sip left for me to savor. I read somewhere that it is better to drink somewhat cold coffee- you can actually taste the flavor. I don't like super hot boiling coffee. I try to ask for 4-5 ice cubes in my Starbucks Grande Dark Roast. Sometimes, for some reason, I become very shy at Starbucks and am even to scared to specify Dark Roast.<br />
<br />
If my coffee is too hot I feel like I am suffocating, I can't breath, I need to take off all my clothes to escape the heat and sit outside in the snow naked drinking coffee. If you think about it coffee does taste the best just right before it starts going to lukewarm. That's when the caffeine has kicked in and any conversation you are having with your friend or lover or yourself becomes almost electric. The possibilities are endless! The day is so full of opportunities! We should do this and we should do that and sex and movies and food and sex and paint the kitchen green and.... Target!<br />
<br />
I am the guy that's always on his porch when you walk by. If I could smoke in my apartment I would be in my room in front of my computer. But, as the world does it's slow crawl toward cigarette prohibition I am placed here on my porch for the time being. This is good though, because I would not leave my room if I was allowed to smoke inside. And when I don't leave my room I have a habit of eventually hospitalizing myself.<br />
<br />
Tonight I heard someone playing Donna Summer's "Love To Love You Baby" in their apartment. Now I hear what I would call "gameshow theme jazz." Very upbeat Price Is Right style jams. I can get down with that.<br />
<br />
There are regulars that pass by my perch through the alley. The aforementioned lesbians (who seem somewhat angry at me- see my post about them), the leather daddy who nervously, incessantly walks his dog multiple times a day and night, always looking behind him as if someone his after him, my neighbor and good friend who jogs at night and stops by to pay a visit. My other neighbor and good friend, his wife, that pokes her head through the railing, checks in on me and blows me a kiss.<br />
<br />
There is a new neighbor right across the alley. He's in his twenties and gay and does not like me. This is what I think is going on with him- He has his first real job, foolishly bought a condo (believe me when I tell you I am not one to judge specifically on financial decisions or lack thereof, but I just get the feeling this was a hasty decision that he will regret) and now he's thinking he's in Andersonville and he's going to find a boyfriend and get a dog. He might get a dog. But with the dirty look he shot over at me when I first said "Hello!" I can say with a certain amount of confidence that he will not be finding a boyfriend anytime soon. <br />
<br />
He bought a barbeque and some Target outdoor multi-colored lights and some plastic deck chairs. I heard him say to one of his female friends referring to our lights, "They only have white lights, I have colored!" Fuck off you angry ugly young gay man! He's in that real queeny stage of development. The only people I've seen him have over on his deck are gaggles of fag hags who he takes on tours of his apartment. I am only included on the deck part of the tour. He is real braggy about his condo and he's just an ass. I don't really remember what he's bragging about but it's annoying and stupid.<br />
<br />
He has barbeques with his ladies but he doesn't seem like a great entertainer. One of those people who would just have hot dogs and have a bag of chips. His girlfriends stay a short time on his deck and they all gossip about the girl who isn't there. Just real mean spirited insecurity based gossip. Kind of like what I am writing here. I wish him well. He's fine. I haven't seen him on his porch lately. Or in his house. Maybe he already moved.<br />
<br />
Then there are the neighbors down below who feed stray cats all night. At first it annoyed me a lot. The cat would come up to my deck and expect me to feed him. I ignored him. I am not so easily tricked by animals (or people for that matter)/ There has to be a boundary.<br />
<br />
Anyway, this couple below me spends an hour every night feeding and playing with random cats that walk through the alley. I do not approve of this. I think it's cruel. Unless they are planning on adopting the cat I feel like you are just leading them on. But these two are very faithful to the cat(s) and do this every night and because it seems to be a consistent activity that they take seriously it bothers me much less.<br />
<br />
I didn't tell you about the Mexican man who decided to sleep on our porch. I came outside at about 9:00 on a Friday night to have my cigarette and nighttime coffee and there was a disheveled Mexican man sleeping on our porch with his back up against the brick wall of our building. This was happening at the same time the neighbors were doing there cat feedings. The girl saw the man and said "Hey" very sweetly. Almost as if she was saying "Hey welcome to the neighborhood do you want me to feed you?" She was behaving like she found a new cat.<br />
<br />
No. Not welcome to the neighborhood. I approached the man who was sitting very near my smoking and drinking coffee zone and said "Hey- you have to go." He said nothing, he was really really drunk. He was doing some sort of drunk sign language like, "No, go away, it's fine, don't worry about it." I was irritated and just kept saying, "Hey you gotta go." "You need to leave." "You have to go NOW." He shooed me away with his hand as if I was being rude and bothering his sleep.<br />
<br />
I was just really irritated that he had interrupted my smoking time and encroached on my spot. So I called 911 and explained the situation. My wonderful straight roommate came out and did his best "very serious don't fuck with me shpeel" to get him to leave. The Mexican man shooed him away too. <br />
<br />
The police came and got him off our porch. I guess he was carrying a desk lamp around in a plastic bag because the policeman asked if the desk lamp in a plastic bag was mine. If you are on the right side and the stakes aren't too high - Chicago Police men can be very sexy. I feel like a schoolgirl around men in uniform.<br />
<br />When I got up the next day, the desk lamp in the plastic bag was still there. Out of the whole experience this was the only thing that made me said. This guy walking around Chicago, near death drunk, carrying a broken desk lamp in a plastic bag. Did he buy it? Was he going to try to sell it? Whatever way it came into his possession and whatever his plans were for it- it just made me really sad. Desk lamp. Drunk.<br />
<br />
Call me a racist if you like. But this man was Mexican. He was virtually wearing a sombrero. I know there was more to the man than being Mexican but to me he was the Mexican man. This is not a judgement against Mexican people I am just saying....forget it. I'm not going down this Paula Deen road. He was my Mexican man. And I hope he is ok, I hope he has more to love right now and more loving him than a broken desk lamp.<br />
<br />Jeremyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14285992777141834192noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6622128.post-20690583854080624942013-09-19T19:24:00.003-05:002013-09-19T19:24:47.698-05:00Deleted Scenes<b>Untitled</b><br />
<br />
I'm sure some people would frown on it. Especially the psychiatric
community. But I am finally ready to come out and say I am engaged to my
therapist. He is a wonderful man and I am over the moon that we will be
spending the rest of our lives together.<br />
<br />
Our first
date was pretty casual. Pretty much like any other date I've ever had.
We spent a pleasant hour together looking into each others eyes, making
small talk, talking about my problems, my idiosyncrasies and my severe
debilitating clinical depression.He didn't seem phased. As our date
came to an end, we agreed to meet for another date for a week later. <br />
<br />
I've dated a lot of men. But as I casually walked home I smoked twelve cigarettes and thought about him. I know he <br />
<br />
<b>Evil Empire</b><br />
<br />
Listen! If you don't like Wal-Mart. Then start your own Wal-Mart. Start your own goddam store. <br />
<br />
<b>Untitled</b><br />
<br />
Marilyn Monroe movies help me fall asleep the best. Something so comforting about her. The hair?<br />
<br />
<b>Random things coming to my head as I just wake up</b><br />
<br />
"You know what really gets my goat?" referring to nothing<br />
Schizophrenics have something called word soup.<br />
<br />
<b>Out Of Body Experiences</b><br />
<br />
Just a cup of coffee and a bed with a cool comforter. <br />
<br />
<b>Untitled</b><br />
<br />
Oh honey, you don't know the half of it. The <br />
<br />
<b>I got my rock moves</b><br />
<br />
<b></b>What horrible emotional landscape are you exploring?<br />
<br />
I
passed by one of thirtysomething boys in Andersonville- the kind that
seem to be on every corner on a patch of grass waiting for their dog to
relieve themselves. I say hello and receive a non committal half smile.
That's fine I'm really not asking for anything more. I couldn't handle
anything more.<br />
<br />
I take note of my depressed mood as I
glance at flowers sticking out of a chain link fence. It's like there
are the flowers and I am depressed, tired, weary. There is the sidewalk
drenched in my mild depression and anxiety. This cigarette has
depression coming out of it. <br />
<br />
I wonder what the other
guy sees. How differently we perceive the world through our emotions!
Like for him the flowers could be beautiful, or maybe he doesn't like
flowers, or they make him think of his grandma, or maybe when he looks
at them he's not even seeing the flowers- he's seeing them but thinking
about Doctor Who or Jimmy Johns or whatever. But what emotion is he
seeing life through?<br />
<br />
He could have some real problems-
not my stupid made up ones. He could be going to jail tomorrow or have a
terminal illness or he could be cleverly hiding a gun. Jeremyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14285992777141834192noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6622128.post-86061710664077251182013-07-20T11:17:00.001-05:002013-07-24T20:13:48.204-05:00The Jeremy Show Interviews: Artist Matt Irie<div class="ecxMsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4M_zFYqn_r7u5EI9ALw4d2blK7rBcjVpRkssc60HRQpFbs2XzlkUXdMny1ghQwF4j2W80hMQfuzvzJGjiWraEWic6eO_gEPnqGKZsvIOwC3nLeClQk9KtEGmJAabRbWfgqfQ2/s1600/mattirie.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4M_zFYqn_r7u5EI9ALw4d2blK7rBcjVpRkssc60HRQpFbs2XzlkUXdMny1ghQwF4j2W80hMQfuzvzJGjiWraEWic6eO_gEPnqGKZsvIOwC3nLeClQk9KtEGmJAabRbWfgqfQ2/s1600/mattirie.jpg" /></a></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;">Last week I had a chance to sit down and talk with local artist Matt Irie about imaginary friends, Marxism, Prilosec and art.</span><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="background-color: white;"> You can learn more about Mr. Irie at his website <a href="http://mattirie.com/" target="_blank">www.mattirie.com. </a></span></span></span></div>
<div class="ecxMsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<br />
<b><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="background-color: white;">What is inspiring you right now?</span></span></span></b></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="background-color: white;">
</span></span></span></div>
<div class="ecxMsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="background-color: white;">British
crime dramas, my new bike, contemporary abstraction. I would like to say the
<a href="http://www.guggenheim.org/new-york/exhibitions/on-view/james-turrell" target="_blank">Turrell exhibitions</a> in New York, LA, and Houston but unfortunately, I don’t
think I am going to make any of them.</span></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="background-color: white;">
</span></span></span></div>
<div class="ecxMsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<br />
<b><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="background-attachment: scroll; background-clip: border-box; background-image: none; background-origin: padding-box; background-position: 0% 0%; background-repeat: repeat; background-size: auto auto;">How could you see British
crime dramas or your new bike taking shape in your work?</span></span></span></span></b></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="background-color: white;">
</span></span></span></div>
<div class="ecxMsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="background-attachment: scroll; background-clip: border-box; background-image: none; background-origin: padding-box; background-position: 0% 0%; background-repeat: repeat; background-size: auto auto;"></span><span style="background-attachment: scroll; background-clip: border-box; background-image: none; background-origin: padding-box; background-position: 0% 0%; background-repeat: repeat; background-size: auto auto;">I
don’t. I may have a TV problem. Geoffrey Todd Smith used to work on his
drawings in front of a TV before he got a studio in the city. I was making
large text drawings at the time that required a lot of reading and
concentration and I was jealous. To be honest, I think I was just bored of
making the drawings. Once I began working on the drip paintings in earnest and
got my studio situation squared away (I have a studio at home), I set up a small
TV and DVD player left over from a piece Dominick Talvacchio and I did. I
started with all of the HBO and Showtime shows and then moved onto cable shows like
The West Wing and Battlestar Galactica. We have a pretty great library by us and
in time I moved onto what they had a lot of, which is BBC crime dramas. I like
the pace of the long form television series. You don’t have to pay such close
attention. I used to listen to a lot of audio books in the studio but got
sucked into things like The Wire. I found myself making excuses to finish
episodes or watch another one, which kept me out of the studio. The TV has kept
me productive. It’s still like listening to audio books except that I now look
up from what I’m doing from time to time. I
just enjoy riding my new bike. It has no influence on my work that I can see.</span><b><span style="background-attachment: scroll; background-clip: border-box; background-image: none; background-origin: padding-box; background-position: 0% 0%; background-repeat: repeat; background-size: auto auto;"></span></b></span></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="background-color: white;">
</span></span></span></div>
<div class="ecxMsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<b><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="background-color: white;"><br />
How did you decide that art was going to be your career?</span></span></span></b></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="background-color: white;">
</span></span></span></div>
<div class="ecxMsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="background-color: white;">It started
with my finding out that I was getting a D in physics senior year. I then
learned if I was going to major in some kind of art discipline I could drop
physics and take another art class. That sealed the deal. I went into undergrad
as an illustration major and after asking my Drawing II instructor, Mark
Arctander, which illustration class I should take, he advised me to take some
“real art classes.” The next day I changed my major to painting and that was
it. </span></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="background-color: white;">
</span></span></span></div>
<div class="ecxMsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="background-color: white;"><br />
<b>Tell me about your first job.</b></span></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="background-color: white;">
</span></span></span></div>
<div class="ecxMsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="background-color: white;">My first
job was a
paper route in Fort Wayne, Indiana
where I am originally from. I don’t remember much about it. I remember how bad
it was trying to deliver papers after an ice storm and I remember me and couple
other kids who had routes going with the area manager to sell subscriptions
around the city for extra cash. I also remember the manager guy had a shitty
car with a revolver in the glove compartment. </span></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="background-color: white;">
</span></span></span></div>
<div class="ecxMsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="background-color: white;"><br />
<b>Why do you stay in Chicago, rather than a larger city for art like LA or NYC?</b></span></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="background-color: white;">
</span></span></span></div>
<div class="ecxMsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="background-color: white;">I worked
in NYC for a summer on a Sol LeWitt mural in Midtown Manhattan between my first
and second year of grad school and thought I might move out there sometime
after I graduated. However, after grad school I started teaching at few
colleges around Chicago and then Cougars began touring. The band, friends and
family have played a big part in keeping me in the Midwest. I like New York and
LA is growing on me, but I prefer to live in Chicago. Maybe someday… </span></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="background-color: white;">
</span></span></span></div>
<div class="ecxMsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="background-color: white;"><br />
<b><span style="background-attachment: scroll; background-clip: border-box; background-image: none; background-origin: padding-box; background-position: 0% 0%; background-repeat: repeat; background-size: auto auto;">Tell me how LA is growing on you because I stayed there for
six weeks and almost hospitalized myself and dropped out of school.</span></b></span></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="background-color: white;">
</span></span></span></div>
<div class="ecxMsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="background-attachment: scroll; background-clip: border-box; background-image: none; background-origin: padding-box; background-position: 0% 0%; background-repeat: repeat; background-size: auto auto;">I went to LA as a kid and liked it well enough. Then I went back a few times
during various tours. Maybe it was the weather, the places we played or the bands
we played with, but I got a bad vibe about the place. The airport is awful. A
couple years ago Geoffrey and I went out there for an art fair and I had a
better time.</span><b><span style="background-attachment: scroll; background-clip: border-box; background-image: none; background-origin: padding-box; background-position: 0% 0%; background-repeat: repeat; background-size: auto auto;"> </span></b></span></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="background-color: white;">
</span></span></span></div>
<div class="ecxMsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="ecxMsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<b><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="background-color: white;">Tell me about your favorite building in Chicago.</span></span></span></b></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="background-color: white;">
</span></span></span></div>
<div class="ecxMsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="background-color: white;">Good question! I am a big fan of Modernism so of
course the Mies buildings, but maybe more so Bertrand Goldberg’s buildings such
as Marina City and River City II. It will be a shame when the old Prentice Women’s
Hospital comes down.</span></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="background-color: white;">
</span></span></span></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: auto; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiR7Jd8fluYDTmp-rEDns_JzYP2w7I7oFjYe2qxqlOGPdUJVILIQe-vlq31BTOCd5E7Zo3KOB-TVIipGnufDU-0SSfkyaba_EIjVQIHLxxTac8-rQKuvgwwF2Y45aVTtYx83N_U/s1600/prentice.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiR7Jd8fluYDTmp-rEDns_JzYP2w7I7oFjYe2qxqlOGPdUJVILIQe-vlq31BTOCd5E7Zo3KOB-TVIipGnufDU-0SSfkyaba_EIjVQIHLxxTac8-rQKuvgwwF2Y45aVTtYx83N_U/s320/prentice.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Prentice Women's hospital on it's way to architecture heaven.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="ecxMsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="background-color: white;"><br />
<b><span style="background-attachment: scroll; background-clip: border-box; background-image: none; background-origin: padding-box; background-position: 0% 0%; background-repeat: repeat; background-size: auto auto;">I work close to the Prentice Women's Hospital. I love the
building as well. But Walt Disney's quote- "Disneyland is not a
museum" always comes into my mind when I hear about the controversy
surrounding whether it should be saved or not. I guess I feel like if it should
be saved it would have been saved- that the world can't always be a museum. I
don't know what kind of fascist attitude that is but that's how I feel. </span></b><br /><span style="background-attachment: scroll; background-clip: border-box; background-image: none; background-origin: padding-box; background-position: 0% 0%; background-repeat: repeat; background-size: auto auto;">I see your point. Everything is in motion and change. For me I think it’s
a matter of taste. That style of brutalist architecture is my jam. I understand
it no longer meets the hospital’s needs and thus has to go, but I’m willing to
bet that the building that goes in its place will have far less character, for
better or for worse.</span><span style="background-attachment: scroll; background-clip: border-box; background-image: none; background-origin: padding-box; background-position: 0% 0%; background-repeat: repeat; background-size: auto auto;"></span><b><span style="background-attachment: scroll; background-clip: border-box; background-image: none; background-origin: padding-box; background-position: 0% 0%; background-repeat: repeat; background-size: auto auto;"> </span></b></span></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="background-color: white;">
</span></span></span></div>
<div class="ecxMsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="background-color: white;"><br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-JgtFQ7kwQ53ShAj2Z1CEfHFsqigSpVziS66fJxMJsZf2q8QVyycI51Gh0KobD_uAs-hIY-F9lLAeyj99NZ24j4mbaPlidhN3qbi3wekLLq7fE-34DLvyayJ-C-Ifr37pR8aW/s1600/clownshoes.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="206" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-JgtFQ7kwQ53ShAj2Z1CEfHFsqigSpVziS66fJxMJsZf2q8QVyycI51Gh0KobD_uAs-hIY-F9lLAeyj99NZ24j4mbaPlidhN3qbi3wekLLq7fE-34DLvyayJ-C-Ifr37pR8aW/s320/clownshoes.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">First Clown Shoes, 2008</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<b>Your sculptures (like <a href="http://mattirie.com/sculpture/view/153" target="_blank">Saucepan</a>, <a href="http://mattirie.com/sculpture/view/43" target="_blank">First Clown Shoes</a>) remind me of things you'd
buy at a really smart novelty magic shop. It's as if your inner child is performing
a magic show for the viewer. Were you a performer as a child?
</b></span></span></span></div>
<div class="ecxMsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="background-color: white;">Yes. As a
child I would lip sync to Michael Jackson, Prince, and Hall & Oates in the
living room to an imaginary audience while my parents watched TV in another
room. In high school I started playing the drums and singing in bands. I like
that you refer to those pieces as performative. In one way or another I want
all my work to function in a performative/experiential way.</span></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="background-color: white;">
</span></span></span></div>
<div class="ecxMsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<b><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="background-color: white;"><br />
So the first thing that strikes me (at least on your website) with your artwork
is the title you give each one. What goes into titling a painting? Do the
titles usually relate to the painting directly? Is there hesitation when you
title a piece of work or do you enjoy it?
</span></span></span></b></div>
<div class="ecxMsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="background-color: white;">My titles
used to be very literal, descriptive, and/or minimal such as <i>Drawing #1, Stop Sign, Cord</i>, etc. I
suppose <i>Saucepan</i> and <i>First Clown Shoes</i> are as well. However,
shortly after I began making paintings again I decided to approach them
differently. I used to try to keep what I did musically separate from what I
was doing in the studio, thinking that they didn’t really have much to do with
each other. Now I generate titles similar to the way I write lyrics, which has
to do with word play and collage. I take notes all the time and have running
lists of things that could be used for titles and/or lyrics. After I finish a
painting I refer to the notes and assign a title that fits best with the
specific piece in an ambiguous way. My hope is that the titles allow for
another way to approach the work. I think there has always been humor in my
work and this way of generating titles provides me the opportunity to inject a
little humor into what might otherwise be seen as too formal of an
investigation. </span></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<b><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="background-color: white;">
</span></span></span></b></div>
<div class="ecxMsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<b><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="background-color: white;"><br />
You shared a show with artist <a href="http://thejeremyshowinterviews.blogspot.com/2007/07/jeremy-show-interviews-geoffrey-todd.html" target="_blank">Geoffrey Todd Smith </a>(who I've also interviewed
for my site) called "Imaginary Friends." I forgot about imaginary
friends- did you have one as a child? </span></span></span></b></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="background-color: white;">
</span></span></span></div>
<div class="ecxMsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="background-color: white;">No, just
imaginary audiences (see above). When I was a kid I played a lot with action
figures. I would give them each their own personality and character traits as
if they were a part of some large story arc. Does that count?<br />
<br />
<b>Yes. I think I had one and it involved some sort of watch that I could summon them with. This was with my friend Nicole. We both had the watches. I think mine was a girl. </b></span></span></span></div>
<div class="ecxMsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<b><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="background-color: white;">As I get older I find it is difficult to make non-imaginary friends, or
difficult to find the desire to make new friends. Do you find this as well as
you have gotten older? </span></span></span></b></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="background-color: white;">
</span></span></span></div>
<div class="ecxMsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="background-color: white;">Perhaps.
Most of the new friends I make I meet through work these days. Having a
full-time job, a studio practice, being in a band, and about to become a father
makes it difficult. I have a number of terrific friends and with how busy I usually
am it’s hard enough to find the time to see the ones I have.<br />
<br />
<b>You use the hammer and sickle in your sculpture and drawings- tell me about
what interests you about that icon. </b></span></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="background-color: white;">
</span></span></span></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: auto; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhORufT1Nn_h3auafb_DvDYZV7dDmyy92_75NFfC8qHCi9OiNBrhU7SZwwhHZ87-nUIPTrrkzidmDx1IPt2IMrikx4qFMtMwgX2JLsBFcbNdBxJVCgGWAynyLEQwqPT47_qPMYf/s1600/poorhammer.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhORufT1Nn_h3auafb_DvDYZV7dDmyy92_75NFfC8qHCi9OiNBrhU7SZwwhHZ87-nUIPTrrkzidmDx1IPt2IMrikx4qFMtMwgX2JLsBFcbNdBxJVCgGWAynyLEQwqPT47_qPMYf/s320/poorhammer.jpg" width="315" /></a></span></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">
Poorhammer-Sadsickle II, 2008</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="ecxMsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="background-color: white;">I had a
great Western Civilization professor, Marvin Rosen, who was a Marxist. He and I
became very close and ever since I have been interested in the left and Marxist
inspired philosophy/politics. In 2008 I started a website www.poorhammer-sadsickle.com
which no longer exists. The site was mostly an archive of screen shots of posts
on craigslist of things like last Sunday’s Chicago Tribune or a half-used
bottle of lotion and then the responses to the posts. I sent letters to the
Hammer Museum from Sickle and a letter to Sickle, the clothing site, from
Hammer as if they were old lovers trying to get back together. The Reader
actually published a Missed Connections from Hammer to Sickle. At any rate, the
<i>Gifts </i>sculpture and the <i>Poorhammer – Sadsickle</i> drawings grew out
of that project. The icon itself interests me as a signifier for the Marxist
inspired philosophy/politics mentioned above. In 2008 you could buy a CCCP or a
Che Guevara T-shirt from places like Target. Working with the icon allowed me
to explore the space between the ironic and the sincere, which was something
much of my work was focused on in grad school. </span></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="background-color: white;">
</span></span></span></div>
<div class="ecxMsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<b><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="background-color: white;"><br />
Tell me about what's going on with Cougars. I see that the Cougars Wikipedia page says that there is a new album in the works..."Gentlemans
Choice." Is that still in the works?</span></span></span></b></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="background-color: white;">
</span></span></span></div>
<div class="ecxMsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="background-color: white;">Cougars is
still a band, albeit a much more relaxed version of it. We are now a five piece
(down from eight) and all have full-time jobs, other projects, families, kids,
etc. We still practice somewhat regularly, but rarely play out live.
“Gentleman’s Choice” is the working title of what will be our third full-length
record. It’s still in the works and at present we are one to three songs away
from having enough material to record again after about seven years. I think it’s
the best stuff we’ve written. We write slowly. Many songs have been put to the
grave.</span></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="background-color: white;">
</span></span></span></div>
<div class="ecxMsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="background-color: white;"><br />
<b><span style="background-attachment: scroll; background-clip: border-box; background-image: none; background-origin: padding-box; background-position: 0% 0%; background-repeat: repeat; background-size: auto auto;">How does your artistic sense affect what you wear? Rupaul says
the whole world is in drag- as if we are all playing some sort of character
that we idealize. What character are you? Do you put that much thought into
what you wear?</span></b></span></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="background-color: white;">
</span></span></span></div>
<div class="ecxMsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="background-attachment: scroll; background-clip: border-box; background-image: none; background-origin: padding-box; background-position: 0% 0%; background-repeat: repeat; background-size: auto auto;">I suppose there is a connection, but not one that I consciously
cultivate. Although here I may have a problem as well. Other than my dress
shoes and the ones I wear with shorts, I’ve been wearing the same style sneaker
(Adidas’ Stan Smith) for over a decade. I have a nice pair, an everyday pair,
and a shitty pair for yard work and such. Likewise, I buy the same style jeans
year after year (Levi’s 527) and I only wear crewneck undershirts that have
tight collars. It’s the same story with sox and underwear. The only real
variation is in shirts, casual button up plaids or solid color long sleeves in
the fall with the occasional sweater or sport jacket and t-shirts or short
sleeve plaids in the summer. However, lately I have been getting into golf
shirts. I think they help to disguise my love handles.</span><b><span style="background-attachment: scroll; background-clip: border-box; background-image: none; background-origin: padding-box; background-position: 0% 0%; background-repeat: repeat; background-size: auto auto;"> </span></b></span></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="background-color: white;">
</span></span></span></div>
<div class="ecxMsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="ecxMsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="background-color: white;"><b>If you are having trouble sleeping- what do you do? Is there anything that
always works for you?</b></span></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="background-color: white;">
</span></span></span></div>
<div class="ecxMsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="background-color: white;">I don’t
usually have much trouble sleeping, but when I do I generally close my eyes and
think of all the shit I need to do.<br />
</span></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="background-color: white;">
</span></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<b><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="background-color: white;">
</span></span></span></b></div>
<div class="ecxMsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<b><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="background-attachment: scroll; background-clip: border-box; background-image: none; background-origin: padding-box; background-position: 0% 0%; background-repeat: repeat; background-size: auto auto;">What items do you carry in your bag?</span></span></span></span></b></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="background-color: white;">
</span></span></span></div>
<div class="ecxMsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="background-attachment: scroll; background-clip: border-box; background-image: none; background-origin: padding-box; background-position: 0% 0%; background-repeat: repeat; background-size: auto auto;"></span><span style="background-attachment: scroll; background-clip: border-box; background-image: none; background-origin: padding-box; background-position: 0% 0%; background-repeat: repeat; background-size: auto auto;">The Metformin, generic Prilosec, and
ibuprofen are in there in addition to Dramamine, fresh breath, 5 hour energy, and
generic Nicorette. You can also find a half dozen flash drives, two or three
college ruled, spiral bound notebooks, and folders full of art stuffs and lyrics.
More than likely there will be the most recent Artforum in there as well.</span><br />
</span></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="background-color: white;">
</span></span></span></div>
<div class="ecxMsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<b><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="background-color: white;">What do you find different
about students today compared to when you were a student?</span></span></span></b></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="background-color: white;">
</span></span></span></div>
<div class="ecxMsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="background-color: white;">I’m not
sure. Perhaps there’s more apathy. I feel like when I was in school my classmates
and I wanted to take over the world. Of course there were mopes then, but I
feel like now there is a lack of students who really want to do great things.
Maybe there’s less ambition. However, every year I always have a handful of
pretty great students.</span></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="background-color: white;">
</span></span></span></div>
<div class="ecxMsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="background-color: white;"><br /><b>"Lamppost," your Installation for Public Art Fund NYC that you
collaborated with Dominick Talvacchio on, is genius. Tell me about that
experience.</b></span></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="background-color: white;">
</span></span></span></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: auto; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqOXzj7T8RyYEf5S49ncSm2AT2iHENfNOz9NPv_Aj1TFDa9iv5_UNq4_sZD4KIHqdxuLVlrw7FmVpOGWax6MTfwoP52Sx0u31jxjTSrQJr_UENa23pCd1pjTFvtQ-KzouzVE1L/s1600/lampost.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqOXzj7T8RyYEf5S49ncSm2AT2iHENfNOz9NPv_Aj1TFDa9iv5_UNq4_sZD4KIHqdxuLVlrw7FmVpOGWax6MTfwoP52Sx0u31jxjTSrQJr_UENa23pCd1pjTFvtQ-KzouzVE1L/s320/lampost.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lamppost, 2009</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="ecxMsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="background-color: white;">Thank you!
The Public Art Fund asked Dominick and I to propose a project for an outdoor
exhibition of site-specific sculpture at MetroTech Center in Brooklyn, New
York. After our proposal was excepted, Dominick and I worked with a contractor
based in Queens to fabricate a lamppost that was identical to the lampposts at
MetroTech, only ours was made to look as if it was wilting or being sucked
into/creating a depression in the ground. Overall I would say it was one of the
most stressful things I’ve worked on due to budgets and deadlines. From the
beginning of the fabrication and installation<span style="color: #1f497d;">,</span>
anything that could have gone wrong did. In the end we completed the piece
around 3:30pm the day of the opening reception which started at 5pm. <br />
</span></span></span></div>
<div class="ecxMsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<br />
<b><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="background-color: white;">You've worked in installations, video, public art, etc...what area of the arts
do you want to explore next?</span></span></span></b></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="background-color: white;">
</span></span></span></div>
<div class="ecxMsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: auto; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYDom1-OKl60B4sFxUQJcAMD_8glxDR1ByTJ78SL3IIsxsdOAdqCG8XGZculon4JR7WFQVV2qy9DLCmC4s8NlmqyEu3oo9HqSCtFZryZ_eONjf_fsrRie1Ieq48li2-s9fGdjA/s1600/141.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYDom1-OKl60B4sFxUQJcAMD_8glxDR1ByTJ78SL3IIsxsdOAdqCG8XGZculon4JR7WFQVV2qy9DLCmC4s8NlmqyEu3oo9HqSCtFZryZ_eONjf_fsrRie1Ieq48li2-s9fGdjA/s320/141.jpg" width="318" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Firemud, 2011</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="background-color: white;">I have
always worked with whatever the idea calls for. I have never set out to make a
video<span style="color: #1f497d;">,</span> just to explore the medium for
example. The performances were performances because that was the best medium
for the idea I wanted to investigate. For the last four years I have mainly
concentrated on painting. After the stress of <i>Lamppost,</i> Dominick
and I focused on our solo work and eventually stopped collaborating. At some
point I would like to explore other ideas and I have a few things in the works
that are more akin the work I was doing with Dominick. However, at the moment
there is still more work to be done with the paintings.</span></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="background-color: white;">
</span></span></span></div>
<div class="ecxMsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="background-color: white;">
</span></span></span></div>
<div class="ecxMsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="background-color: white;"><b>What are you doing this weekend?</b><br />Working in the studio, going
to my brother-in-law’s graduation party, watching The Killing & Newsroom,
and possibly a studio visit. <br />
</span></span></span></div>
Jeremyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14285992777141834192noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6622128.post-54828935372724374022013-07-09T19:23:00.002-05:002013-07-09T19:23:26.867-05:00not even that hotI would like a whole wall of window air conditioners. I want 28 of them. I want to cause the lights to flicker all across America because of all the power that I am using to cool myself off. I want to have to curl up in a blanket because "it's gettin a little chilly." I want to crave soup and a grilled cheese I am so synthetically cold. I want to look at the people sweating outside and laugh maniacally while I am wearing a snowsuit. I want it to actually start snowing in my apartment because of how cold the air is. I want the pipes to freeze. I want to get frostbite. I want to have to be taken to the air conditioned hospital in an air conditioned ambulance because I have a serious case of frostbite caused by too much air conditioning. I want to be like that overly tanned woman and her daughter she took to the tanning beds. But with air conditioning. I want to have a child and have it be thirty below in my apartment and have him/her in a snowsuit and make snowmen in our apartment. People will youtube me. I want to go viral with my air conditioning. I don't just want it for myself, I want to take it from other people. I want all of Chicago to be hot and I am the only one who is cool as a cucumber. In my snowsuit smoking a cigarette. Like Cruella Deville but instead of puppies I steal air conditioning. If I have to go outside I wear a NASA chemically cooled space suit and it takes me 3 hours to walk a block. I want to go to the grocery store like this to buy just one 2 liter of Diet Cherry Pepsi. It will take me the whole day to walk there and I will cause such a commotion I will be on the news (after the sports and weather) as a human interest story. Jeremyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14285992777141834192noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6622128.post-42641583381567869102013-07-06T06:52:00.001-05:002013-07-06T06:52:14.913-05:00its all good though..well I tell you folks it's been a long week for ME. the paula deen scandal and having the first hangover in about three years. that crazy off the hook gay pride parade really took it out of me. sippin on other peoples drinks and handfuls of vodka soaked gummi bears from a lovely lady who's name escapes me and I am off my rocker. a very mild sunburn and lots of naps. lots of overly air conditioned naps. went ahead and bought disney's oz on blu ray. puttin that shit on and takin naps. james franco turns out is very very sexually attractive. smokin my brains out. marlboro special blend 100's. smokin the hell out of that shit. thats some good tobacco man. walkin around andersonville peepin the boys and daddies and their frickin dogs. always walkin their dogs. dont they know real gay men get cats. i don't have to walk my frickin cat. sippin this coffee on the porch and smokin the last of my marbs and lovin the weather. broke as fuck. its all good though. had a bbq on the fourth of july. all my homies watched some big brother. that was off the hook. then the big E had the homies watchin some disney american themed shorts. im like i like disney but its frickin hot in our apartment so i sat outside with the neighbors and some other good peeps and smoked and watched them smoke. real chill. had to work friday so i was like i got to get to bed fucks! i climbed in bed around eleven and turned on that oz movie and snoozed it out. work was ok. real slow. then came home and watched some reality show about an airport that i had set to dvr from work. it was all good. lookin forward to hanging with some work peeps on sunday. today is for some ac naps and smokin more reds. weekends is weird. i get real tweaked in the morning about 5 and then go back to bed at 9 or so and wake up in a crabass mood that lasts the rest of the day. its all good though. Jeremyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14285992777141834192noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6622128.post-79525383674979562032013-06-15T08:12:00.001-05:002013-06-15T08:48:05.115-05:00"I am out of meth and need to buy some from your downstairs neighbor." Psst....I think we have drug dealers living below us. Can I say that? Will I get shot?<br />
<br />
The apartment below us has always been a magnet for odd characters. When we first moved in there were some pretty normalish 20somethingish boys living there. We only saw this one dude that was staying with them. I spent a few nights smoking on the porch with him. He was a real talker-- which is always good for me. I enjoy observing people, especially talkers who are basically giving themselves psychotherapy- working out issues. One evening, I came out for a cigarette and must have fallen asleep on the porch. I woke up with him quietly awaking me- "Jeremy, time for bed."<br />
<br />
He was staying with them for awhile until he could find a job and move out on his own. I did give him some job hints- staffing agencies that I have worked for. He would take the number but I knew that there was not a chance in hell that he was going to call. He ended up working for a cell phone store. He was one of those guys who work in cell phone stores. A strange breed. Jittery young men REALLY trying to sell and do a good job. With their shirts partially untucked- wearing sneakers. Former Little Ceasers guys really wanting to turn a new leaf and become men. Get their lives together. <br />
<br />
Then there were some dude with a kid. I think he was middle eastern. The story we cobbled together was that he was recently divorced. His daughter was dropped off on the weekends. With her Dora the Explorer luggage on wheels. I wasn't sure if he was selling drugs or just doing them. But I got that vibe from him. I don't think he was working. Drug fueled weeks of laying around in a garden apartment falling into a pit of filth and drugs and then spending the weekend with an adorable daughter. Could be worse I guess.<br />
<br />
Then some bitchy bitchy lady moved in downstairs. I don't think she was up to anything. But she was always on her cell phone when she exploded out of the apartment door. Really ripping into someone. Lots of anger and disagreement and yelling into her cell phone. Never said hello to me. One time I think she said "Jesus Christ" directed at me. Maybe a cigarette butt had fallen through the slats from my porch to her cement back door entrance. But I TOTALLY got her. Understood the frustration and ridiculousness of it all.<br />
<br />
The new person that moved in is clearly selling drugs. The door buzzed a few weeks ago and I answered it- staticy garbled girl freaking out on the other end of the intercom. I did not let her in. Locked in the vestibule, the glass lobby door separating us. <br />
<br />
"I'm supposed to see an apartment," she yelled through the door, twitching and very nervous. I translated this as, "I am out of meth and need to buy some from your downstairs neighbor." She must have found the right apartment. Later I was on the porch and she and alleged drug dealer came out. The drug dealer informed her, "This neighborhood is very quiet- you need to come to the back door."<br />
<br />
Since then, there have been random nervous people waiting outside the back door as I smoke my cigarettes and judge. Seeing me, they walk away and pretend to just be enjoying the sights of our filthy alley. Just taking a Sunday stroll by the dumpsters. Cars pulling up, leaving quickly.<br />
<br />
My prediction is that this won't last long. The garden apartment people seem to come and go.<br />
<br />
My thoughts are- whatever gets you through the night. Like the lady screaming into her cellphone- life can be real hard. Hopefully the drug dealers and drug takers are finding some peace and relief in their pursuits. Whatever the sacrifice. I wish them well on their journeys and hope they can get to a good place. <br />
<br />
I just don't want to be shot.<br />
<br />Jeremyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14285992777141834192noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6622128.post-26465784788019786232013-06-14T06:37:00.000-05:002013-06-14T06:37:07.617-05:00The Jeremy Show Interviews: Gay Porn Star Blue Bailey<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAnjRcI6UbOHZnVvpzWt0YJLlqkDgdvMDQ_GwT_nq1g6kUilU-22JhSWM0P09a0iViNwXFcbgYXM5LwbDLrV1jYVDj_rCm7PQ9zzKuH3Mc8En4zV3LE0Dm9G5ISpXGxyGoJFsn/s1600/199964_106984999400511_2127060_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAnjRcI6UbOHZnVvpzWt0YJLlqkDgdvMDQ_GwT_nq1g6kUilU-22JhSWM0P09a0iViNwXFcbgYXM5LwbDLrV1jYVDj_rCm7PQ9zzKuH3Mc8En4zV3LE0Dm9G5ISpXGxyGoJFsn/s400/199964_106984999400511_2127060_n.jpg" width="298" /></a></div>
<div dir="ltr" id="docs-internal-guid--1f6f139-4267-03f5-1385-2e95d2ead9e5" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
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<div dir="ltr" id="docs-internal-guid--1f6f139-4267-03f5-1385-2e95d2ead9e5" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
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<div dir="ltr" id="docs-internal-guid--1f6f139-4267-03f5-1385-2e95d2ead9e5" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">You
mentioned in a post that you paid off unsubsidized loans with porn? I
should totally do that-- how else am i going to get rid of it? My scene
would be very niche. Slightly overweight, bipolar gay porn! Did your
debt have anything to do with choosing a career in porn?</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Not
at all. I’ve always had a day job that has paid the bills, but porn was
a fun and easy way to make extra spending cash. Now that I've
graduated, I'd like to pay off all my unsubsidized loans as quickly as
possible to avoid accruing interest during future education. </span></div>
<br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"></span><br />
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Tell me about your trip to Amsterdam.</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Originally,
I was going to Italy as a gift from my grandmother for graduating SFSU.
I had the flight booked two weeks prior to meeting up with her and
went to Amsterdam and Berlin with my partner. We lucked out and arrived
the weekend of Amsterdam Pride. It was a beautiful city to visit and
great coffee. </span></div>
<br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"></span><br />
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">
You mentioned that you wouldn't mind moving to Chicago- what is it
about Chicago that you liked that much? As opposed to San Francisco</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">SF
is great, but I would consider moving to Chicago at least for school.
The city is part inspiration for Nolan's Gotham City, so how can you go
wrong with that. </span></div>
<br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"></span><br />
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">I am 37 you are twentysomething. Tell me about where you see yourself at 37.</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">At
37, I see myself being a successful attorney at a law firm specializing
in media/entertainment and/or first amendment law. I'd like to own a
car, property, and a puppy or two. </span></div>
<br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"></span><br />
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">What do you know about Bailey Blue, the female pornstar who has your name in reverse?</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Nothing actually, except the name. We should do lunch and talk shop </span></div>
<br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"></span><br />
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">You were 1st Runner-up for Mr. RentBoy SF 2013! How did you feel that you won? What did that mean to you?</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Didn't think I'd make it past the first round of eliminations, so was quite surprised. </span></div>
<br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"></span><br />
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">How does your family feel about your job? Tell me about them if you want to.</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">They
actually found out by an ex. He had decided to call and let them know
after we had broken up and I had moved out. My family is and has always
been supportive of me. </span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"> </span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">What was your first film? Tell me about that experience.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">I
don't remember the name of it, but remember it was group j/o scene and
very uncomfortable at first. I did meet my partner at a shoot, and do
remember that one quite well. He lived in Walnut Creek at the time, and
I walked him to the BART after we finished. </span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">I
feel like there are such generational differences between gay men. I
feel like maybe the coming out process is quicker, with a little less of
the self loathing and depression than in my generation. Do you feel
there are major generational differences between you and older gay men? I
don't know I feel like Liberace and you feel like Matt Damon to me.
Thoughts?</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">I
definitely feel that the coming out process is easier than prior
generations, but I'm sure the self loathing and depression you mention
existed in both. Social media has had a major impact on promoting the
acceptance of the LGBT community, but I think there are certain
setbacks. Every aspect of a teen's life is now documented and broadcast
instantaneously, opening them up to continual criticism and potentially
harassment. </span></div>
<br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"></span><br />
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Are there many Jews in porn? God Jewish boys are hot.</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">I
personally don't know that many, but then again I don't really ask
either. I'm not that religious, but I was raised Jewish and identify as
a Jew. </span></div>
<br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"></span><br />
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">How did you choose Blue Bailey as your porn name? Mine is Pepper Rowley</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Out drinking with friends in LA....it was originally gonna be Bailey Blue, but some slut stole it :p</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">If
we're doing the first pet and first street name equation. Rocky
Horseback. Named my dog after the Red Power Ranger and the first street I
remember living on is Horseback Circle</span></div>
<br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"></span><br />
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">What was it like growing up in Las Vega$?</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">It
sucked!...When I grew up there , all you could do was drink and gamble,
which obviously wasn't an option as a minor. Thankfully, I had a good
group of friends to hang out with and drive around blasting 80s music.</span></div>
<br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"></span><br />
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Do
you think it would be a good vacation for a gay couple one of whom (not
me) is very against the idea and thinks that we shouldn't go there if
we don't have a lot of money? But I just want to go back to an old
seventies hotel like the Riviera and be Sharon Stone in Casino. Walk
around and smell the sin and money and cigarette smoke in the air. Get a
free cranberry and vodka and play the nickel slots-- THATS ALL I WANT
BLUE!!!!!</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">You'd
have to plan it during a gay holiday. National Coming Out Day was the
most busiest. The porn convention used to bring in a ton of gays, but
it focuses almost enitrely on the straight side now. </span></div>
<br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"></span><br />
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">What value meal do you order at McDonalds?</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">I'm
more of an In-n-Out...and in again...guy. Double double protein style
and animal fries. Read into that as much as you'd like :)</span></div>
<br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"></span><br />
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">
Are you able to put your education in broadcasting to use in porn? I
went to Columbia College and got a degree in Television. I tried a few TV
jobs- now I'm a Administrative Assistant at a college. It's fine.</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">I
didn't do much production, but the BECA department at SFSU offered
courses with lighting technique, video editing, and basic media
aesthetics. I have a friend who studied video and photography, and he
works as an editor for a porn company. My official degree is a BA in
Broadcast & Electronic Communication Arts, emphasizing in Law and
Regulation of Media. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"> </span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">What is on your Amazon wish list? Or what do you want to buy?</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Alfred
Hitchcock: The Masterpiece Collection on Blu Ray...and the Adam West
Batman Series on Blu Ray if they ever get a release date for it. </span></div>
<br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"></span><br />
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">I see you went to Madonna's MDNA concert- what did you think? Huge Madonna fan here.</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">it
was a really good show, and I'm glad I got to see her once. Wish I
would've made it to the confessions tour though. Not rushing to pay her
ticket prices again anytime soon, but I'd certainly shell out the money
to see Kylie, Muse, or GaGa. </span></div>
<br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"></span><br />
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Do you want kids?</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Nope, but I do want a few puppies. </span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"> </span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">What is all the crap about barebacking in porn? What is your stance?</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">To
me all it is - is sex. Super hot sex without protection, sure. But it's
nothing to be demonized. It's like internalized homophobia to me. It is
a decision that should be made between the performers and certainly not
regulated by law. There's a whole bigger discusser to safer sex
practices than simple condom propaganda i.e. Prep, serosorting, and the
like. </span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"> </span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Besides porn- what is your passion? What are you a total nerd for?</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Horror
shit! The '78 Halloween is by far my favorite film. Nothing beats
going to the midnight opening of a scary movie with a bunch of audience
reaction. Looking forward to Dexter/True Blood Sundays this summer!</span></div>
<br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Did you enjoy high school? Did you play sports? Any other activities?</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">I
was the fat kid in high school and could not wait to get the fuck out.
Didn't play any sports and used band and ROTC to get out of PE. </span></div>
<br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Unusual celebrity crushes- mine Louis CK, Chris Pratt (from Parks and Rec).</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Paul Rudd from Halloween 6.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJkwwtgN0yIpTFw5SyqWoSuqsdbLF35cxrcKuxCXfH1c1sD9hPaTHtDGd9-e_lL1qETunacWTXNKleJeNxe5Qz7BXbOaH97HwshHHYdE7e-9413dHI-QKA5w19wJcWycvJDIUi/s1600/paulrudd.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="192" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJkwwtgN0yIpTFw5SyqWoSuqsdbLF35cxrcKuxCXfH1c1sD9hPaTHtDGd9-e_lL1qETunacWTXNKleJeNxe5Qz7BXbOaH97HwshHHYdE7e-9413dHI-QKA5w19wJcWycvJDIUi/s320/paulrudd.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">What is your typical daily routine?</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Wake up as late as my schedule will allow, work then gym or the reverse, home, BF time or solo time if he's out</span></div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
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<br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Have you met any celebrities who knew you from your work? Who? Did you sleep with them? </span><br />
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Nope, but Andy Cohen can come get it anytime.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcgpKrhM7IrV5-0fB3lugiQsgWArGExNXLHZLqbpoY_Ube35WZxweOCo0p-Bap9Z_J7iE5htB7S_E1iUN0C75z1T96w4y0eSdHCkSFO85z-tNR9inmKCt0l4PBWKd7Zq56SkwA/s1600/tumblr_m40ffwOpZI1r7b601o1_500.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcgpKrhM7IrV5-0fB3lugiQsgWArGExNXLHZLqbpoY_Ube35WZxweOCo0p-Bap9Z_J7iE5htB7S_E1iUN0C75z1T96w4y0eSdHCkSFO85z-tNR9inmKCt0l4PBWKd7Zq56SkwA/s320/tumblr_m40ffwOpZI1r7b601o1_500.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"></span><br />
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<br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Tell me a favorite "Jewish saying" Is that a thing? Or some words of wisdom you try to live by.</span></div>
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Shabat Shalom, MotherFucker!</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNBfljP9AcQpNzAk5J4FT6kUcm4p6r_v8K4sins3VeWRddHJ_bxLjdkPjTkWSj_FVqWTOyxs-p7S-e0yyQyihVRfyn0k5G6Kr14ee0YkNhXzsrmc2Vz7TGVf0Bc8KYFL9zZwMO/s1600/250139_106984192733925_6013999_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNBfljP9AcQpNzAk5J4FT6kUcm4p6r_v8K4sins3VeWRddHJ_bxLjdkPjTkWSj_FVqWTOyxs-p7S-e0yyQyihVRfyn0k5G6Kr14ee0YkNhXzsrmc2Vz7TGVf0Bc8KYFL9zZwMO/s400/250139_106984192733925_6013999_n.jpg" width="265" /></a></span></div>
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><br /></span>Jeremyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14285992777141834192noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6622128.post-58430659254475279832013-06-09T09:20:00.000-05:002013-06-14T09:35:33.302-05:00naked parties<br />
I want to experience Chicago as I did when I first came here in my early twenties. I used to visit my good friend in a Bronco II that my dad bought for $500. I was supposed to move in with Hillary but chickened out at the last minute.<br />
<br />
I would come to her apartment with Tidy Cat box of videotapes that I anticipated us all watching- Bette Midler concerts, Absolutely Fabulous episodes, 90's indie gay movies. I never travelled anywhere without my VHS's.<br />
<br />
Summer in the city for a suburban gay twentysomething boy was like Disneyland. If only I could be that skinny again with bleach blonde hair. Thrift store clothes. Full of horniness and not understanding how to harness it. Awkward at every level.<br />
<br />
Everyone smoked back then. It was heaven. Coffee in the morning and cigarette after cigarette after cigarette. Pre-internet, pre-9/11, pre-facebook, pre-Grindr.<br />
<br />
I had anxiety and depression then. As I do now. I must be blocking that out now- because all I can remember is the heat and the no air conditioning. Drinking deliciously excessively and able to withstand it. To get sloppy sexy hilariously drunk. We had naked parties. We would have a whole party where everyone would get naked. It's amazing how fast the self consioucness of being naked melts away, when you realize that everyone is the same. Everyones bodies have weird issues.<br />
<br />
Lots of dancing, 90's music, Janet, Madonna, Pet Shop Boys. Electric synthetic beats and buzzes. The Clinton era. No real responsibilties. <br />
<br />
<br />Jeremyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14285992777141834192noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6622128.post-7956594566606556052013-05-18T07:13:00.001-05:002013-05-18T07:13:44.521-05:00Deleted ScenesThese are some unfinished blog posts. Enjoy.<br />
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<strong>Rejuvenique</strong><br />
<a href="http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/4135NV3W4SL._SL500_AA280_.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><span style="color: black;"></span><img alt="" border="0" src="http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/4135NV3W4SL._SL500_AA280_.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 280px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 280px;" /></a><br />
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It's been in the back of my mind for a long time and I keep putting it off.<br />
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Time to take some time for myself with the Rejuvenique mask. This mask, which has been available for some time and endorsed by the wonderful Linda Evans is available at Amazon.com for the low price of $39.99. Not to drop any Christmas hints. <br />
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<strong>Yellow Wallpaper</strong><br />
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I would never paint a wall yellow because it makes babies go crazy. Also because of the story "The Yellow Wallpaper" where the woman goes crazy or whatever- I can't remember. I need no help in that area. <br />
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I've lived in my apartment for four or five years. I can't remember how long I've lived here. During that time the white walls have accumulated a yellow patina created by Camel Light cigarette smoke. I've thought about painting several times. I would love to paint a bold orange or some shade of blue. If I move out my lease dictates that I paint it all back to white. I don't feel like I'll want to paint when it comes time to move. So I sit with the ugly smoke stained walls. Apathetic.<br />
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I was walking home today trying to understand where things went wrong. Never a good idea. My brain goes in a loop. The dime store therapist in my head tries to figure it out and I argue with him and then I get confused, scared and mad. <br />
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<strong>Jeremys Pot Den</strong><br />
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I really wish I could smoke pot. I am relaxing- listening to some trippy mash ups of Madonna songs from her latest tour. And I think a big fat doobie would really be great right now. Just light it up on the porch and enjoy the Sunday.<br />
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The first time I smoked pot was with my good friends Lara and Rebecca. Names have been changed in case they are planning on running for president, not a bad idea as these two ladies could rock some serious pantsuit. We were at a very sexy and sexually ambiguous (clearly straight) gentleman's house for some sort of post high school, pre community college hot tub party. <br />
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<strong>Sarah Lunesta</strong><br />
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She wakes up and finds herself on the kitchen floor in front of her paper shredder. She has apparently been shredding in her sleep. Thin ribbons once magazines, unopened envelopes, recipe cards, insurance papers overflow in the shredder basket. The red ERROR light on the top of the shredder blinks in surrender.<br />
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Thanks to the side effects of the seemingly unlimited supply of sleeping pills from her doctor, Sarah has woken up before in these strange still lifes. Woman in Bed, Empty Ben and Jerry's Ice Cream Container. Woman in Bathtub with Shampoo in Hair, Briefcase, Tostitos. Woman on Couch, Sound of Music DVD Menu, Coke Zero, Jolly Rancher Wrappers.<br />
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This scene in front of the shredder is not a surprise, more of an annoyance. She gets up unsteadily and makes her way from the kitchen, to the hall and back to her bed. Climbing under her comforter, her foot wrestles with a crinkly plastic bag. A closer look at her sheets reveals a constellation of half melted chocolate chips. No thought of cleaning this up or changing the sheets because there is no energy.<br />
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Sarah was originally prescribed these pills after her boyfriend left her and she had a miscarriage. Or was it a miscarriage.<br />
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<strong>The Winter My Brain Exploded</strong><br />
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On the bus, headed to work. All the windows were caked with salt making the bus a claustrophobic eggshell. Myself and the other passengers were the yolk. I don't remember now why, but I am compelled to crack open this shell, to get off this bus. A woman commented on my swift departure. I find some shelter and call into work. <br />
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Then I call in the next day, and the next day and so on. Anxiety and depression comes over me like an avalanche. I work with my therapist and psychiatrist to find a way out. The avalanche continues to come over me. I become afraid to drive, afraid to leave my apartment, afraid to be in my apartment. I go to my parents for a change of scenery and it does not help. I come home and it does not help.<br />
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The root causes of the depression and anxiety are there. This didn't just come out of nowhere. I had been worried about money for months. Student loans and bills had been mounting and I was able to make some arrangements. I was able to juggle and spin plates for awhile. But at some point I was not able to. My body told me that as I lay on the floor in my parents spare room rocking and talking to myself like a crazy person. I had gone crazy. It was official.<br />
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I am able to write this with the help of an anti-anxiety drug that is addictive and that I am very nervous about being on. <br />
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<strong>Prilosec</strong><br />
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I am drinking baking soda dissolved in water because I have terrible acid reflux and I don't seem to have any Prilosec. I've looked in my carpet for a stray pill but I seem to have vacuumed them all up. <br />
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Yesterday, I had my blood drawn to see where my testosterone levels are. I have been taking a gel form of testosterone for six months now. I was having hot flashes, then aching bones. After researching it all myself I discovered that I had low testosterone. After my last test the gel wasn't working so they doubled it. We'll see how things go. <br />
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I was disturbed to hear that over six hundred Starbucks stores are closing.<br />
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<br />Jeremyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14285992777141834192noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6622128.post-36733784089953162242013-05-04T14:13:00.001-05:002013-05-04T14:13:05.169-05:00Angry lesbians next door who don't say helloI'm on the porch, smoking my cigs. Here they come with their bad attitudes and their bags full of empty boxes of organic Trader Joe's bullshit and I don't know what else. What do lesbians throw away? I guess they're just like the rest of us, I don't know.<br />
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But what gets me is they never smile or say hello- whether they are throwing away garbage or putting on their bike helmets and heading out for the day. They won't even make eye contact. And where are they off to anyway? Some lesbian drum circle? I halfheartedly apologize for my stereotyping and well, homophobia. But just give me a smile lady. We're in this together. <br />
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There is another portly lesbian a door away who drives down the alley and always stops her convertible to say "Hey, enjoying the weather, man?" So much so that I'm like- hey back off. But it's still nice to be noticed. Not these lesbians.<br />
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I may be in the depths of depression, I may have just crapped my pants, I may be wearing two different shoes and contemplating the end of days but I will always say "Hello." <br />
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I don't want to be their friends, and I certainly don't want to come over and eat their food. But I would like them to wipe those frowns off their faces and make an effort. And this may be asking too much- but I would also like them to jazz up their outfits a little. A little product in the hair. A skirt once in awhile wouldn't kill them. <br />
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I bet they're lawyers or some shit. Social services. Those are the worst.<br />
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I had a lesbian therapist that drove me into the mental hospital. Well, ok she said "If you feel you need to be hospitalized- you should go."What kind of bullshit is that? Can't we dance the dance of clinical depression? The patient therapist waltz. "Downward Spiral," the new dance craze sponsored by Lexapro!<br />
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This is a horribly misogynistic, homphobic rant that is inexcusable. But I'm serious about the skirt.<br />
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<br />Jeremyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14285992777141834192noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6622128.post-53524867193543647252013-01-15T19:12:00.003-06:002013-01-15T19:16:39.952-06:00I crave a life of intensity.I crave a life of intensity. Just today I was begging a friend on the east coast to quit his job and go with me to Las Vegas. I told him I wanted to live my last days in complete depravity. Drinking brown liquor by a dirty motel pool. Our untoned moderatley hairy chests and fast food bellies burning unevenly in the hot Nevada sun. Surrounded by meth addicts and organized crime middle managers.I want lots of screaming and slapping, unidentifiable gunshots in the night. Police sirens and men wearing dirty white t-shirts and basketball shorts falling down drunk.<br />
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My friend told me to be careful what I wish for.<br />
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I told him I wanted to feel the burn. Third degree Las Vegas sunburns! Dry skin, dehydrated cotton fuzzy hangover headaches. Falling asleep in filthy bathtubs at four in the morning. Drugs! Hard drugs- drugs you've never even heard of. I want to be a guinea pig for the next generation of deadbeats.<br />
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My friend said he was leaving Subway and had to get back to work.<br />
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I want my life to be instagrammed in late sixties/early seventies patina. I want to cry like a Kennedy wife. Excess and tragedy, pills and liquor. Fashion and misery on the rocks. Natalie Wood clawing her way back onto the boat with thick red lacquered nails. I want mental illness before mental illness. I want a spooky neurosis. I want people to wonder what the hell I'm doing at six in the morning, slamming cupboards and breaking dishes. Laying on the kitchen floor sobbing with a paper shredder and a cigarette. Shredding pictures of so called old lovers and friends I haven't seen since high school.<br />
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No intensity.<br />
Still.<br />
Cold.<br />
Quiet.<br />
A clearing of the throat.<br />
A sneeze.<br />
Bless you.<br />
The back of an envelope.
A smooth pen.<br />
Something to remember.<br />
Something to pick up at the store.<br />
Something for tomorrow. Or the weekend.
Jeremyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14285992777141834192noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6622128.post-2813907222966570342013-01-14T21:55:00.002-06:002013-01-14T21:55:21.264-06:00ArgyleThis morning I rubbed myself down with a generous amount of unscented moisturizer in an attempt to ward off dry irritated, itchy skin. I then put on my thermal underwear. I imagined that this would hold in the moisturizer, creating a barrier to the dry winter air. <br />
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I have found myself wearing sunglasses in the morning. Even when it is still very dark. I find that the sunglasses shield a little bit from the cold. However, I wonder if I am using it as a barrier, a transition from the dark peace of sleep to the stark reality of the day. I start to worry that people on the train think I am crazy, wearing sunglasses when it is almost still pitch black. And then I remember that I don't give a fuck what anyone on the train thinks.<br />
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At my el station, Argyle, there is a horrid horrid smell. At first I thought it smelled like someone was cooking garbage. I imagined that there was some insane woman stirring a giant cauldron of old newspapers, kitty litter, old tires, empty bottles, discarded pieces of clothing, random bits of plastic. An urban witch, stirring her garbage potion, cooking up havoc and despair for the city. I think it's just really old, cheap, discarded cooking oil from the many restaurants in the area.<br />
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The smell is horrible. And it's never not there. It's always there. In the summer, in the dead of winter. I am usually not so sensitive to such things. I smoke, I miss the occasional shower. I probably am not the best smelling person on the planet. For me to be so taken aback by an odor something is very very wrong.<br />
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The smell haunts me. I can almost recreate it in my mind and almost smell it right now I have it so memorized.<br />
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I have no idea what I was talking/blogging about.Good night.<br />
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<br />Jeremyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14285992777141834192noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6622128.post-83484832733975667382012-12-29T18:32:00.001-06:002012-12-29T18:32:40.426-06:00white boxPeople in my past still haunt me. People from grade school, high school, various jobs are with me everyday. Living on and on with me everyday. Real conversations in my head with people I haven't seen or heard from in years, decades. So much of my time living in these scenarios, arguing, laughing, spending time in my head with people who are no longer in my life.<br />
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Today, falling into a nap, after watching a Vogue documentary, thinking about a fashion shoot with all of these missing people. Bryan Rooney in Gaultier drag, Jared Schmidt in a cable knit sweater, leather pants, cowboy boots. Tina Casillas in an homage to Elizabeth Taylor. Old schoolmates like 90's supermodels in a huddle, smiling at the camera in Couture. <br />
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Get out of my head! Too much time spent looking up old friends and people I barely knew on Facebook.<br />
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Brings me back to wanting a white room, white bed, white sheets. Throw everything away. A lobotomy. Clear it out.<br />
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<br />Jeremyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14285992777141834192noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6622128.post-78885541834612810212012-11-17T11:43:00.002-06:002012-11-17T11:45:26.938-06:00WallpaperI love when people are passionate about stuff. I love that Erik fills our house with his passion, Disney. I've always loved Disney since I was little- more Disneyland. I grew up in northern California so we drove down to Disneyland a few times and those are some of the happiest memories of my childhood.<br />
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When people are passionate about things you can see their soul light up and you get to bask in the glow. Erik's love for Disney makes him so happy, excited. It gets me excited, excited for him.<br />
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I'm very passionate about Martha Stewart. There is truly no one else like her. She creates a fantasy world, much like Disney. I want to live there. In the world of ruthless organization with touches of well thought out whimsy. Clean, perfect, sensible. But this world doesn't exist, even for Martha Stewart. She presents this world. But she doesn't even live there completely. She wants to live there as much as we do.<br />
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Martha is great because you can tell that SHE is totally passionate about her interests- food, decor, gardening, the holidays.<br />
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Like myself, and Erik (although I don't want to speak for him), I think she is reaching back into her past and trying to relive good memories and maybe wallpaper over some of the bad ones. <br />
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Anyway, whatever you love, keep loving it, keep exploring it, and keep loving new things. NEVER EVER let anyone tell you that what you like or what you do is silly. That is a trait I deplore in people. Absolutely deplore. When people do that they are actually telling you how much they hate certain parts of themselves and how desperately they are trying to cover these parts -- and that you should too. Whether it's Martha Stewart or Disney or a balloon fetish keep the things in your life that you love alive and keep growing them and exploring more things. I like when people like things. Jeremyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14285992777141834192noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6622128.post-76551079103884505002012-10-14T15:39:00.000-05:002013-01-15T21:04:13.694-06:00Jeremyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14285992777141834192noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6622128.post-73706774791716306542012-10-13T07:00:00.002-05:002012-10-13T07:00:36.304-05:00Shirtless pics of Joel McHaleI get up early on the weekends. Coffee, cigarettes. Googling my way through the webisphere. Shirtless pics of Joel McHale? Yes please. Free Kittens on Craigslist, Hypomania, will walgreens deliver me things, best wireless blutooth headset.....<br />
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Today at 6:34 it rains as the sun comes up very slowly. Thinking about how I should stay far away from any election coverage because it causes me unnecessary depression and ultimately means nothing. Something about how Joe Biden really knocked Paul Ryan on his ass- doesn't mean anything to me. I mean it does, it does too much and that's why I can't watch.<br />
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Paul Ryan reminds me of a pervy tech guy. Nothing against tech guys... or pervy guys for that matter. He just reminds me of one of those single guys with no date at your table, divorced, talks to you a little too long, borrows a cigarette, borrows another one, says he doesn't smoke as he smokes, you see him again in the bathroom, "Hey man." You think him antisocial, but then see him on the dancefloor an hour later doing the Chicken Dance as you sit at your table, now alone. Who's antisocial now? More of a go-getter than you thought.<br />
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And Barack, and Joe, and Romney and their wives and relatives are all now caricatures. Only a handful of years away from their own reality TV shows. "Just Malia!" "Ann Romney- My Turn." Interviews with Oprah, ending in an overenthusiastic high five.<br />
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I love pop culture, I love all my tv channels, all the ridiculous shows- candy everyone wants. But how does Jeremy get back to nature?<br />
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My "safe place," that imaginary calm place you return to in your mind as you fall asleep, is me in the middle of the ocean on a raft- miles away from anything. Laying on my back- floating away from everything and everywhere. No shore in sight. Just me and the water and the depth below, miles and miles down. Away from Melissa Rivers, away from Sandra Lee's Semi Homemade, away from work, Angry Birds, Facebook, Grindr, Sallie Mae's calls. Away from Target, amateur porn, the CTA, Walgreens pharmacy, Starbucks' filled with lonely gay men. <br />
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Just me on a raft floating into the unknown. I'll hit shore again, turn on my cellphone and put on my Kenneth Cole shirt and Perry Ellis pants and Zappos dress boots. <br />
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<br />Jeremyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14285992777141834192noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6622128.post-17702147139302658472012-10-11T06:21:00.000-05:002012-10-11T06:59:29.784-05:00Naked on the streets of San DiegoFor ten years I have been looking for Chicago's best pizza. Turns out it's a little place called Dominos. I am so sick of cardboard crusts, weird sauce, deep dish diarrhea inducing messes and artisan cheese over an open flame bullshit. Just give me the classic, birthday party pizza. I enjoy Dominos' "Brooklyn Crust" option. More of a New York style pizza, hence the name. I have been to New York twice so I am pretty familiar with their Pizza.<br />
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The last time I ordered Dominos, however it came stone cold. I hopped online and read Dominos the riot act. And they put a credit on my tab. I went ahead and reordered the same thing the next night. Having spent all my money on Halloween decorations, a free pizza came in super handy. However, on the phone they told me that there would be a $2.97 delivery fee. Excuse me? Who has $2.97 just laying around? I am not Bill Gates! Jesus Christ!<br />
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So, I scrounged around and came up with a dollar and assorted change that I told myself would present itself roughly as "$2.97 and a small tip." I handed my offering to the pizza boy ( who was decidedly less attractive than would have hoped). He gave me a very dissapointed but not uncourteous, "thanks....have a good night..." I didn't give a crap I got my pizza. In my socks and pajamas, I hurried back to Oprah interviewing Jason Russell the "Kony 2012" guy. BTW- I have no sympathy for this guy. I have the explanation to the mystery surrounding his breakdown. He is gay! And you know my unofficial policy- "Gay until proven straight." But this guy is gay as "A Star is Born" is long. He is gay and he was smoking meth and very stressed out- THIS is why he was walking around the streets naked and masturbating in the streets of San Diego. Trust me, I have been there. If you don't believe me - watch "Oprah's Next Chapter." Dear reader, I am certain you will agree.<br />
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The next day I find myself at the corner of Clark and Jewel Osco. Waiting for that gosh darn Clark bus (full of crazys) to pick me up. Lighting up my second Camel Light 99 I noticed a chubby guy in a Dominos ski cap and a very old woman staggering along the sidewalk. Of course, it's the pizza boy and his very old grandmother coming for revenge. I knew my poor tipping would come back to haunt me. As they hobbled closer I became less sure of the fact that it was my pizza boy. In fact, I think I think this guy was just homeless. The two of them making their way through the rush hour hustle and bustle in Andersonville.<br />
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"Uh...excuse me..could I get a cigarette..." I felt like the priviliged Mother Teresa of cigarettes drunk with power. He walked over to me as I deemed whether or not he was worthy of my precious Camel Light 99. As I pulled out my very generous supply of cigarettes the old woman said craggily, "Could I also have a cigarette?" I pulled one out for her too. "I have had...just had...breast cancer surgery...could I have..." I gave her a cigarette and smiled. "OH THANK HEAVEN! THANK HEAVEN," exclaimed the lady. Exactly the reaction I would have had - had I been in this woman's position. I made this lady's evening with an ironically carcinogenic gift.<br />
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The two continued on and found their way to a pair of benches to enjoy their Camel Light 99's. My generous gift. Did she just have breast cancer surgery? Were they both just coming from the hospital? Or was this her shpeel- maybe she HAD breast cancer surgery and this was part of her "special skills" portion on her panhandling resume. *Had Breast Cancer Surgery *Was evicted from low income housing...Anyway you slice this sad pizza, I believe this lady was going through sheer HELL in the last days of her life.<br />
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I thought about running after them and offering them all my cigarettes and everything I had previously purchased at Walgreens- A bag of Fritos Scoops, A 2 liter bottle of Pepsi Next, a box of Immodium, a supersize bag of cough drops, a bag of Gevalia French Roast coffee (on sale!), my prescription for Lexapro... It would be like a "Jeremy's Favorite Things" episode. "You get Immodium and you get Immodium...IMMODIUM! YOU ARE GETTING IMMODIUM!!!!"<br />
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But I did not. They got up from their benches, both with unfinished Camel Light 99's smoking in the autumnal night air and carried on their way South. I went home and fast forwarded my way through last Saturday's SNL, lamenting the loss of Kristen Wiig. <br />
<br />Jeremyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14285992777141834192noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6622128.post-62830609957227233702012-09-29T18:57:00.002-05:002012-09-29T18:57:21.668-05:00That crazy Donner Party!I am just about done listening to "Desperate Passage," about the Donner Party. I was terrified to read/listen to this- but it was on sale on Audible.com for $4.95 and I was intrigued. Not knowing much about the situation I had visions in my mind of a crazy flesh eating family of pioneer zombies terrorizing the wild west.<br />
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Turns out they were just realllly hungry. And really wanted to get to California! Two things I can relate to in different ways. Their story is fascinating. I have never been so motivated in my life as these people. I can't imagine just heading into a complete unknown searching for a better life. Such courage and faith.<br />
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Today I woke up and chatted online and then went back to bed and woke up and went back to bed, etc. Not depressed- just bored. Meanwhile, the Donner Party is going 2 miles an hour, creeping their way to California- eating shoestrings, their pants, their family - just trying to get to friggin California for Christ's sake. I could just take a relatively pleasant and moderately priced Southwest flight, pop a Lunesta and I'm in Los Angeles in no time. I would quickly become bored with Los Angeles, miss my cats and want to come home. <br />
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I love Audible.com. I love audiobooks- ever since I was little. I remember those little 45 records you used to get with a picture book. I listened to "Bedtime for Frances" so many times. I can't tell you what the story was about- something about a bear (was she a bear?) not wanting to go to bed. I moved on to biographies about Carol Burnett and Joan Rivers. Later I got into Stephen King. Stephen King is one of the best storytellers. Just a master- the Shakespeare of our times. Quote me on that. The battle between good and evil- so simple but so beautiful.<br />
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The Donner Party were not evil. That's what I learned from this book. They were just doing what they had to do to survive. But, like I said, my imagination can scare up such horrifying fantasies about things I know nothing about. How many other things do I avoid or condemn in my mind when I have absolutely no idea what the facts are or what I'm talking about.<br />
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I remember during 9/11 I became terrified of Anthrax. I imagined the most horrible terrible things. But it's a skin rash, flu like symptoms and then you die or don't die. No walk in the park by any stretch of the imagination- but nothing like I imagined. I just looked up the symptoms on the CDC website and one of the FAQ's is, "How
can I know my cold or flu is not anthrax?" Good God! <br />
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<br />Jeremyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14285992777141834192noreply@blogger.com1