The Jeremiad

I Interviewed a Coffee Scientist; talked to some comics creators

2010-01-07T09:17:00.000-08:00

I figured I'd cross-post links to a few recent pieces I'm excited about.

-- The science of coffee: a conversation with Coffee Chemistry's Joseph Rivera

Chats with comics creators (part IV still pending)
-- Part one: intro and Kako
-- Part two: Mike Dawson and Alex Robinson
-- Part three: Dan Cooney and Miriam Libicki

A few guides to making coffee at home (working on Siphon Pot now, but man, that's a hard one to crack; best practices vary by model, filter type, etc. I might just talk about the science of it. anyway). With step-by-step slide shows:

-- Moka pot (aka "stovetop espresso maker")
-- French Press

-- A conversation and slide show of coffee being roasted at my local fave, Caribbean Coffee Co

Excuse the Dust -- Where to Find Me Now

2009-12-03T10:53:00.000-08:00

Hey, folks -- it occurred to me I haven't updated the Jeremiad in about forever.

There's a reason for that -- I'm doing plenty of writing elsewhere, most of it, thankfully, not about me.

So, check out my exploration of the Santa Barbara coffee scene here:
http://bit.ly/SBCoffeeGuy

and

My collaboration with a bunch of talented people on a little Web magazine we call Osmosis:
Osmosis-Online.com

There are a few more, but I won't bore you, unless you ask nicely. Peace!

Brooke's Birthday

2009-07-09T13:55:00.001-07:00

Nice pic.

A Crawl to Action

2009-05-27T22:11:00.000-07:00

Stranded content. It pisses me off.

Back when I was writing for a San Francisco city blog, I garnered a number of contacts across many disciplines -- a couple cops, tech execs, controversial figures, etc. And after I left that site, many kept pinging me with news and other items of interest -- little of which I could use at my new, highly-handcuffed (subject-wise and editorial-wise) gig.

Stranded content. Couldn't do anything with it. Potentially interesting items just gone. Possibilities wasted.

Most especially the comics-related stuff, which is one of my first loves and passions. But then came an opportunity to write about comics for a pretty keen site. I turned in one article. Just one. Totally blew my chance.

My current gig is very specific, content-wise. And the content is interesting, but, again, there's very little room for writing creatively or incisively about things that are personal passions. So I started writing about comics for a print pub, a new one, that was taking contributions as long as they were gratis. I had three pieces published before the thing went kaput. Two articles I turned in never were published. I don't care so much about my time being wasted, but it upsets me that the artists/creators who took the time to talk to me won't get anything out of it.

More stranded content.

So what to do about it? Can I possibly be naive enough to take matters into my own hands and try to start an online magazine of sorts? With a fairly clear (yet open to evolving) editorial direction?

Why, yes. Yes I am that naive. Now I just have to see how many suckers I can convince to write about an article a week for free.

Why? Because generating cool content you can be passionate about is worth it, even if nobody's going to see it. (And after working on web properties this long, you can bet I'll get it in front of a couple eyeballs, but still, the point stands).

And, as important, doing projects with your friends is the best (especially if money's not involved). Like I told my entrepreneurial buddy Rob, who started his own company recently, when he asked for my take on some publishing and PR matters: "I'm happy to do that for you, and do it for free -- I don't charge my friends. At least not at first."

Because working with people you have strong relationships with cuts through a large amount of the formalities and awkwardness and communication bullsh*t. Hard to put on airs to guys and gals who've seen you at your best and worst.

Well, that's my attitude anyway; I don't expect others to necessarily share it. But I would like to give a little go to a side project with people I know I like "projecting" with.

When it comes to a midlife crisis, domain names are cheaper than sports cars.

file-o-file

2009-05-27T21:45:00.000-07:00

I was tasked with giving a technology column a name. Not that "techno-file" was such a wonderful name, but I thought it was funny when I was told no because it sounded too much like "pedophile."

So I submitted like 20 other names and the editor at the time picked something generic and serviceable.

I'm a little concerned. Content-dependent business strategies shouldn't be dependent on "generic and serviceable." Of course, a column name is less important than the content. The writing in the almost-monthly column is surely not scintillating (I am the writer, after all), but it's progressively gotten better purely based on the people sending me gadgets and such to review. The more I like the device -- or the more I'm disappointed with it, in the case of a negative review -- the better it tends to be. Because average devices spawn serviceable writing, while noteworthy (positively or negatively) tech inspires passion.

Should passion be a key determinant in how well the stories I file are written? I suppose that's less than professional of me, but I am afraid that's the case. I had a great conversation with a woman that owns a string of McDonald's stores back east. I loved writing the piece. Hope it shows.

Not sure what I am getting at here, except perhaps trying to square a few things in my brain.

Valuation

2009-05-21T18:51:00.000-07:00

Found myself contemplating my worst work experience, circa 2000/early 2001

I don't think anybody wants to be in a situation where he or she doesn't feel valuable.

To my thinking, it's the difference between sticking it out through the hard times -- knowing that there's something tangible and worth saving -- and running for the door at your first opportunity, because it's hard to place honest, emotional value in something that doesn't give a crap about you. This is life -- relationship or career.

Think about it: at your worst positions, have you ever been treated like a valued member of the team? And at your best, weren't your generally positive contributions generally posited on?

I guess that's where entrepreneurship has a leg up. Right? Because if you're calling the shots, doing all the work, and reaping the consequences (whether success or lack thereof), you know your own value. And only the customer -- and their dollars -- can prove you wrong. Not nearly as subjective as, say, proving yourself to the third boss to the left, two levels up, in a major corporation.

As I get older, I find that my job satisfaction is far more keyed to mutual respect and the accomplishment of agreed-upon goals than it is "making a difference" or fulfilling some personal artistic need. The primary responsibility of my most rewarding job to date was akin to watching paint dry, yet I did it, did it well, and loved the consequences of doing it: an environment of appreciation and respect, if somewhat subdued and formal due to the nature of the business.

When I initially conceived of writing about the above, I meant for this to be much longer, but there's really not much else to say.

The Wonderful Mystique of Magazines

2009-05-19T20:19:00.000-07:00

Dan Baum says: "The New Yorker, while a very good magazine, is just a magazine."

I'm not quite sure that's true. The thing is, anything that you see up close and, heaven forbid, participate in, loses much of its sheen. At least to my experience.

Of course, I'm not much of a fan of The New Yorker as a magazine. Who has the time? It's long, man, and, as my co-worker put it today, "they just shoot those things at you." Bap-bap-bap-bap, like it's coming out of an assault rifle. Content-wise, I actually prefer The Atlantic. I love The Atlantic. It must be true: a Facebook status of mine several days ago was something like: "the fact that the Atlantic is providing so much free online content is as mind boggling as it is schedule disrupting." Like, I don't even have to pay for the damned thing anymore, so I don't feel guilty that I read all the Coates and Fallows and maybe skip some of the other stuff.

But I digress. Back to the point.

I like The New Yorker fine, especially those rare occasions that I get my hands on the fiction issue. But its real resonance to me is as a character of sorts: a mythical institution. A subject of fiction and non-fiction. And even personal fiction.

About 7-8 years ago, Heather ordered a book from this discount catalog. "About Town" by Ben Yagoda. The origins of The New Yorker. I picked it up reluctantly, hoping for at least an anecdote of a favorite author. I ended up devouring it, everything from the Algonquin Round Table to William Shawn to Joseph Mitchell to Tina Brown. Etc. The vibrancy and wit and humor and slapdash beginnings and cultural impact . . . This look behind the curtain cemented the magazine -- both this specific one and magazines as a whole -- as primary points of interest for me. I read "Bright Lights, Big City," to get the nuggets of an insider's view within the fiction. I read the collected works of the aforementioned Mr. Mitchell, as well as John Cheever and a bunch of the others mentioned in "About Town."

And then, on one weird day in San Francisco, I met an ex-stripper at a bar that claimed to be David Remnick's daughter (not that I asked) and told me the inside scoop on the Las Vegas topless scene. It was a hell of an interesting afternoon.

Cut to about a month ago. After having our stuff in storage for about a year, Heather unpacked all the books and put them on the shelves. "About Town" kept staring at me. But I really didn't have time to read it. Or, rather, I maintained my position of late: since I read and write all day for work, the last thing my brain wants to do when I get home is read anything long-form. Pathetic, yes. So I stuck with blog entries, comic books, and Twitter feeds.

Yes, Twitter feeds. I was led somehow to Dan Baum's Twit-story on how he left The New Yorker a few years back. Fascinating reading -- again, the magazine as a character/antagonist captured my fancy. As did a little of the bitching/fallout that followed Mr. Baum's airing of the mildly soiled. And when all that died down, I picked up "About Town," and started reading it once again.

And it's still a really good story. Even if sorta true.

I work at a magazine; I'm the Web editor, and I arrived at this position sort of, as my mother might put it, "by way of China." The job started about a year and a quarter ago -- around the time the 'About Town' and all my books were in boxes. And the view from the inside has been interesting and educational. But I can't imagine anyone outside would find even our most amusing characters and trying situations and occasional triumphs half as interesting as Mr. Baum's recent "war stories."

Partly because Mr. Baum seems to be a highly talented individual. And partly because The New Yorker, even to casual fans like me, is hardly "just a magazine."

Nisens in San Diego

2009-04-03T13:42:00.000-07:00

Courtesy of Melanie Marsh, via Facebook:

Wee Folk

2009-03-18T13:41:00.000-07:00

Jude, St. Patty's-style:

Pretty Hilarious

2009-03-13T09:02:00.000-07:00

What kind of resources does Slate Mag. have that they can recreate Asteroids with Jim Cramer's head as the ship and John Stewart/Blodget/bear market symbols as the asteroids? Kind of hilarious . . .

What can be sweeter . . .

2009-03-02T12:17:00.001-08:00

. . . than fruit from your own trees?

Below, an orange (exotic, I know), and white I believe is a "white sapote."

Haven't eaten the orange yet, but the sapote was pretty damned delicious. Like pear-flavored pudding . . . or maybe a pear-flavored mini-mango. Hard to describe.

Can't wait to move.

Three!

2009-02-23T22:04:00.000-08:00

Happy B-day to my little guy, who turned three today.

We spent the weekend with friends down in SD . . . friends with an 8-month old. Jude was pretty good with the baby. I was hoping he'd get a good feel for having a baby around, in anticipation of the pending sibling.

He was unfortunately in a crappy mood today, brought on by a weekend of eating too little (super picky; eats even more poorly on trips), a minor illness late last week, and overexcitement. But we did have great fun over the weekend.

Yay California

2009-02-12T18:30:00.000-08:00

So, I screwed up. Big time. Got into a little accident in a rental car last October when we were in Florida. Covered through my credit card's insurance, rather than the car co.'s. Called and reported it to the credit card co., they sent paperwork.

4 months later the bill comes. I'm all "great, time to check out the paperwork from the credit card co." only problem: that paperwork clearly says "must be turned in within 45 days." No reason to wait for the bill.

Frack.

So I get on the phone with a very nice agent who sounded very sad to tell me I was out of luck, but then she asked if I live in Calif. Which, of course, I do.

California residents, because of state law, are not subject to that limitation. $1400 I don't have to spend. Thank the freakin' lord.

And the great state of California.

Top Chef, HB-Style

2009-01-30T15:38:00.000-08:00

It's true, I no longer write about my cherished Top Chef (though I still enjoy it immensely). But in my job capacity, I get to talk to some pretty high-profile culinary folks. Here's an interview I did with Chef Alex Garcia, who used to have a show on the Food Network and is now running Boca, a restaurant at the L.A. Live venue (have any of you L.A. friends been there?). Funny enough, he brought up Tom Colicchio during the course of our conversation:

Chef Alex Garcia Brings Classic and Nuevo Latino Cuisine to L.A. Hotspot

I love talking to chefs. Going to do a fun piece for Valentine's Day . . .

'Become an online journalist'

2009-01-30T08:50:00.000-08:00

Irony police, or good advice? Just received junk email from mediabistro that encourages me to pay them for a seminar that will inform me on how to become an online journalist. Hmmm.

In Honor of the Inauguration . . .a little pontification on a good coffee.

2009-01-20T10:40:00.000-08:00

I've been sitting on this since December, but this seem like the right day to publish it.

Caribbean Coffee Company's Obama Blend coffee shares some characteristics with our new president . . . and has some aspects that are decidedly different. But that's not a bad thing.

Obama Blend is what I usually call "thinking coffee." It's the kind of beverage that demands you stop what you are doing, take a moment, and consider the flavor even as you are tasting it. It's finely crafted and dark roasted, similar to CCC's other flavors that I've tried, yet there are some really interesting notes underneath the bold, deep flavors it shares with the company's other blends. Flavors of raisin, maybe, but more bright than sweet. I'm no expert, just a guy that knows what he likes; somebody in the industry can quantify that much better. In fact, in the entire 12 oz bag of whole beans I ground and consumed over the course of a weekend, I never quite nailed it down -- not through my vac pot, nor my french press, nor my moka pot . . . but I know I liked it a good deal.

And that's probably why the coffee in honor of Barack Obama is different than the man himself. He's very popular and has wide appeal, evidenced by his decisive victory in the election. The coffee . . . honestly? It's not for everyone. I really like it -- probably my favorite CCC blend next to the Cubano -- but my sister, who usually shares my coffee sensibilities, was not a huge fan. Fortunately for her, she takes her coffee with milk, an act that moderates the Obama Blend's unique undertone and makes it more like your usual very nice dark roasted coffee.

President Obama strikes me as a very cerebral man, and, because this coffee makes me think, perhaps it makes me a little more similar to him. Encourages me to exhibit some of his characteristics -- like being energetic. Would that it could improve my jump shot. Nonetheless, a blend in honor of a man that, through drinking it, encourages you to invoke his braininess is quite a fitting tribute.

A Real Swinger

2009-01-14T11:36:00.000-08:00

Thank Goodness for Camera Phones

2009-01-12T15:30:00.000-08:00

Would've been hard otherwise to acquire the Dick Tracy-esque ability to capture those stunningly wonderful, quiet moments that just seem so beautiful ...

Good Flick

2009-01-09T09:47:00.000-08:00

I hate to be a bandwagoner, but I loved -- LOVED -- Slumdog Millionaire. And it's not because I almost never go to the movies . . . if that were true, I may have liked Zack and Miri Make a Porno. Which I didn't.

Belated: The Best Thanksgiving Turkey Ever

2009-01-05T14:56:00.000-08:00

Brought to you by charcoal, smoke, patience, a kick-ass brine, an amazing rub, and my lovely wife. Best Thanksgiving Turkey ever (though the practice turkey was a little better . . . we're guessing it was the lower heat/much longer cooking time, which was not exactly intentional)

recent reads

2008-12-26T10:55:00.000-08:00

All-Star Superman vol 1 by grant morrison and frank quitely: similtaneously goofy, wonder-filled, and emotionally resonant. reprints numbers 1-6 of the limited series. looking fwd. to vol. 2.

orphans of chaos and fugitives of chaos by john c. wright: the first two books of a trilogy, this is the inverse in many ways of its spiritual predecessors (narnia, harry potter, others) in that being different and gifted is complicated and terrible and only a little better than mundane, if at all. and it's decidedly more adult. i love some characters, situations, and greek-mythos influences, but iffy on some of the relations and transitions. i mean, i like the protagonist less than, say, lyra silvertongue from the golden comass, even if the story is much better. like them, not quite love them. still looking fwd. to number 3.

umbrella academy:apocalypse suite by gerard way and gabriel ba. quirky, delightful, creepy, cool... but not too cool. which is a good thing. on the verge of all-time classic; can't quite quantify what else i'd like too see in it. but very good. looking fwd to the folo-up, currently being printed as single issue comics (probably will wait for the trade)

(all painstakingly typed on my phone, aaagh! greetings from the northeast!)
more later...

Happy, Peaceful, Cool

2008-12-18T16:35:00.001-08:00

Gift from my coworker Charlene -- a really cool Happy Buddah she picked up in Cambodia. Took the pic with the BlackBerry Storm I have out on loan -- apologies for the quality; reflective of my skills and likely not the quality of the device.

Thanks Charlene! This is awesome.

you dirty rotten fink!

2008-12-17T11:38:00.000-08:00

Fun Headline

2008-12-11T16:53:00.000-08:00

Chestnuts Roasting on an Open Fire, Toxins Nipping at Your Lungs

Yeah, I wrote it (the headline, not the article). Sue me for liking it.

Something clever about twitter

2008-11-25T19:44:00.000-08:00

yeah, I'm twittering. Not really on purpose. Just kind of want to see what the fuss is about. I see the value from the writer's perspective in having a sort of stream of consciousness writing venue, but who can read this format, for crying out loud?

http://twitter.com/theJeremiad if you wanna check it out.

Sparks are Gonna Fly

2008-11-20T10:53:00.001-08:00

Pretty happy with this short piece I wrote on the Chevy Volt. Damn, wish I could have attended the preview with our photog and publisher.

Practice Turkey

2008-11-10T06:55:00.000-08:00

Brined and rubbed and slowly smoked, 12+ pounds of Tryptophanic terrificness . . . best turkey I've ever had. Made right in my own back yard by my wife, who's rightly testing a new technique before the big day.

(I helped a little).

I have eaten little but turkey in the past 36 hours. What a great day and a half.

Why I Voted the Way I Did

2008-11-04T11:12:00.000-08:00

There are things I tepidly like about both candidates and things that greatly disturb me about both candidates. How is a registered independent, fiscal conservative, socially left-leaning moderate to choose?

It ultimately came down to this: I do not like rewarding political parties for a prior candidate's poor performance. While I don't believe McCain is "more of the same," I think the Republicans -- well, both parties, really, but particularly the Republicans -- had better find a higher class of candidate within their ranks. No gimmicks, no retreads. Someone that can define GOP values for the future rather than suffer from relations to the recent past. Someone that doesn't need to invoke or pander to religious groups. Common sense policies should be the appeal, not weird moral half-statements and obligatory, temporary churchiness. Not that McCain was really a bastion of many of these things, but boy is he unexciting. I can't imagine listening to 4 years of his speeches.

So, yeah, that should be a good clue how I voted. Again, neither candidate was my cup of tea, but the GOP is definitely not the party I'd like it to be.

Oh, yeah -- No on Prop 8. That one I oppose with NO equivocation or reservation.

I imagine I'll regret posting this, since I don't really share or talk about politics. Oh well.

HATCHED!

2008-10-31T10:33:00.001-07:00

Just in Time for Halloween, I'm a Ghost . . .

2008-10-27T10:59:00.000-07:00

GhostWRITER, that is.

One of the freelance pieces I ghosted for someone just got published. Cool! I guess I am contractually or ethically bound to not reveal what it is, but thought I'd mention it. A little bit of silver on those clouds that abound.

A Mighty Elixir

2008-10-23T14:51:00.000-07:00

I did a li'l write up on a cool company out of Irvine (SoCal) called "Tattoo Potion." Skin care stuff to protect your tats.

If I ever get off my butt and get another tattoo, I'll def. try out the product.

Here is the piece

Back Home

2008-10-14T10:52:00.000-07:00

The place where Tyler and Linda held their wedding seriously has the best signage ever.

Here's most of what I did in the Keys (besides drinking):

florida keys

2008-10-10T16:10:00.000-07:00

hot as hell and humid and with many of the faraway people I care about the most.

life is good.

Off to the Keys

2008-10-09T09:40:00.001-07:00

Taking a red eye to Miami, then driving tomorrow morning to the Keys for a wedding. Jude and Heather in tow, of course.

It's almost like a vacation. If we stayed an extra couple days, it would be . . .

But it'll be a lot of fun in any case. Never been! Looking fwd. to it!

It's Relevant! It's Humourous!It's Relevant! It's Humorous!

2008-10-08T16:46:00.000-07:00

At least I hope so. A short piece on more silly stuff surrounding the election . . . like custom ice cream and party-colored coffee cups:

A Slip of the Taste? A Lick of the Tongue? More Silly (But Delicious) Presidential Campaign Tie-ins

Mas Tequila

2008-10-01T16:11:00.000-07:00

Talking to this guy made and writing this story made me super thirsty

My Hands and Feet are Mangoes

2008-10-01T08:27:00.000-07:00

Phish is coming back for a reunion tour.

Awesome.

Just Found Out

2008-09-25T15:48:00.001-07:00

PJ Corkery, a well-known and respected columnist in San Francisco for years, died Saturday.

He commented once on one of my SFist pieces. That was something of a thrill. One of my better memories of that whole experience. It was typical mopey stuff from me, but at least honest . . . was bumming about a death in the wife's family. He said:

Sometimes when a writer feels his heart really isn't in, he produces his most heartfelt work. Thanks for this evocative, eloquent, and bluesy piece. ... This piece has been with me all day. Went out to Pier 32, Red's Java Hut, and raised a mug to the lady, and to yourself. Thanks. ..

So, um, no, thank you, dude. Rest in peace.

It's happening again . . .

2008-09-24T12:15:00.001-07:00

So much energy. Want to complete so much. Ideas flowing. Been a while; think the move and adjustment just got the best of me since March, but man, I am feeling spry today.

Manic Jer = back. Let's see what he can accomplish.

New Pennies!

2008-09-23T14:50:00.001-07:00

Hey, did you know that there are 4 new pennies coming out? Read about it here.

Cute, Cuddly Goggles

2008-09-18T12:44:00.001-07:00

Just came across an article by Juliet Lapidos on Slate about goggle shopping. It's a surprisingly good piece, especially considering that non-swimmers, to my experience, tend to write, well, crappy articles about swimming. Go figure. But her goggle insights were right on . . . glad to see the famed $5 Swedish Goggles got their just due.

In any case, this is indeed another one of those "look at that funny copy error" postings:

Somehow, I think goggles should fit "snugly" . . . you're not going to curl up with them in bed. Or are you, you kinky bastard?

My Kid, the Know-it-All

2008-09-15T11:35:00.001-07:00

"Judah, how old are you?"

"I two."

"You're two-and-a-half."

"No, Daddy -- I two and a whole."

You should have seen the look on his smug little face, too.

It's My Density

2008-09-09T18:18:00.000-07:00

Ahhh, don't know how to dance around this . . . but I will anyway.

I now understand that there are people out there who truly do not like me. Oh, I mean, there always have been, but usually it's out in the open and mutual. I just found out that an old, well, can't call him a friend, is really not down with me.

And he's given me plenty of hints over the years.

What can I say? I'm pretty dense sometimes.

Contrast that bullshit with the unexpected outpouring of warmth I got from a bunch of my college friends a few weeks ago -- some of whom I'd not seen since I was 22. To a man, we were happy to see each other.

I'm just fed up with my unrealistic expectations of people. Expect nothing, spare the disappointment. A good lesson. The only person I'm allowed to expect things from is me.

< / Sob story >

haha ha. poetry is like a trainwreck...

2008-09-01T14:34:00.000-07:00

. . .it's impossible not to look. And an exercise in willpower not to laugh.

Guy that was sitting next to me as our flight from Vegas was pending was writing in this little notebook. Obviously stanzas. I couldn't resist a peek.

First line:

"With your designer vagina..."

Oh, the humanity. Oh, the hilarity

They Grow Up So Fast

2008-08-29T01:56:00.000-07:00

Conversation with an Actor I Dig

2008-08-26T15:42:00.000-07:00

For work, I got to interview this actor that I really like, David Zayas. It was so weird talking to him on the phone . . . hearing/interacting with a voice that's usually on the television. He was a really nice guy. Here's the interview. Hope you enjoy it.

'Such a Jerrrrrrk'

2008-08-22T07:04:00.000-07:00

judah likes the slide but always goes down on his stomach, backwards.

Which is okay, but I want him to at least TRY it in the normal
position. So every time he does up the slide I say "slide on your
butt! Slide on your butt!"

He always answers "NooOooOoooo" (really obnoxious extended "No").

So a couple weeks ago, we're at the park and he's up on the slide and
he looks right at me and says, "Daddy, I go on my butt."

I look back at him. "Really?" I ask.

He goes "nooOooOoooo" and flips over.

Without thinking about it, I say, "Judah, you're such a jerk!" even
though I'm laughing.

He started sliding down then, as he's going he's yelling "such a jerrrrrrrk."

I totally cracked up.

So then judah runs back up to the slide, slides down on his stomach
again, and again yells "such a jerrrrrrkk . . ." as he falling.

Anyways, "Such a Jerrrrrrk" is Judah's battle cry on the slides these
days. Pretty funny to me.

Too Cool to be Forgotten, by Alex Robinson

2008-08-05T15:20:00.000-07:00

Alex Robinson's 'Too Cool to be Forgotten' had me crying like a little kid. Bitter, honest, free-flowing tears that still embarrass me.

There is precedent for this. There are at least two scenes in Robinson's seminal work, "Box Office Poison," that had a similar effect on me. Perhaps not the same kind of sadness, but certainly as powerful.

It's an interesting juxtaposition -- Mr. Robinson's cartoony art style with his very true, perhaps even realistic, dialog and situations, draw me in completely. Don't get me wrong -- I quite enjoy Robinson's art. 'Cartoony' is a good thing. Somehow it sells me better than a more rendered or realistic style.

'Too Cool . . .' is not schmaltzy or anything like that. No melodrama -- just a good story that builds to a surprising, touching conclusion. The concept: a middle-age man trying to quit smoking goes to a hypnotherapist as a last resort to break the habit. As he undergoes treatment, he's somehow transported back to high-school -- back to a time before he began smoking. What follows is an examination of what it means to be an adult, to be responsible, and a whole heap of time-travel paradox angst from a protagonist that's read and seen the books and movies that cover such things (Back to the Future, et al).

I was a little surprised by the books form factor: it's a hardback, but a bit smaller than normal comic magazine size. I think it would benefit from a larger print size, but that's hardly a complaint. The design of the thing, to look like a box of Kools cigs, is pretty damned clever too.

Do you have a spare 15 bucks and a spare 30 minutes? (Or a decent library?) Check it out. I liked it almost as much as I did Box Office Poison, and it's far less of a time commitment.

provocateur

2008-08-04T13:58:00.001-07:00

I never understood how or why it would be fun to show up to a place where you aren't welcome and start causing a ruckus.

Until recently.

SOLD.

2008-07-31T12:22:00.000-07:00

Thank you for your good-luck wishes, everyone. We are the proud owners of NOTHING.

Condo = somebody else's. Good for us, and good for them too.

In a way I thought I'd be back some day.

Now we take a break, try to save some dough, and think about moving on.

Funny to See 'em all growed up

2008-07-31T05:57:00.000-07:00

Hey, here's some personal stuff you should feel free to ignore if it ain't your thing.

When I was a college student I was involved in many a creative writing class: poetry, plays, stories, TV/radio scripting . . . I was a creative writing minor, after all, something I don't often share.

I'm not sure exactly why, but I find it somewhat shameful.

I had visions of being a writer, not just professionally, but a writer of some influence. It's natural--you read something that shakes you to the core, and you want to give a gift like that to others.

So, as any writing student knows, the coolness of getting to write for college credit is counterbalanced by that most evil of enterprises known as "workshopping."

Workshops are horrible. There are cliques, for one thing -- groups of students with similar sensibilities that frown on other such groups. The only good thing about the cliques is that you can trust the criticism to be constructive from someone in your own. So you have to sit through people just shitting on you because they don't even try to get it. In college it's easy to have the attitude that by complimenting something else you are detracting from yourself. I was as guilty as anyone. Then some kiss-assy types will tell you how great it was in some bullshit or non-critical way, which is just as bad if not worse. So the point is you usually can't believe the nice stuff and you're overwhelmed by the not-so-nice stuff, most of which you can't even learn from.

Then there are the just plain bad writers. Sorry, it's true. Some people stop progressing as writers at a certain point, or at least they don't move beyond their old tricks in time for the advanced class. So when you have to read their stories or whatever it's just a painful waste of time.

So, to personalize this a little bit: I may well have been one of the latter. I enjoyed all my writing classes until one my senior year. It was a class in which I grew severely disheartened by the feedback, to the point where I stopped progressing, or even trying, and, eventually, just stopped writing. My bad. I needed (need still, probably) a little more intestinal fortitude.

You hear about young, successful people, or see young, talented peers in action, and, shit, don't you want to be more like them? Even if you don't really like them as people?

So, cut to the here and now. The things that were once so important to me and went away came back slowly, organically, in dribs and drabs, in a fashion that allows me to enjoy my minor successes and get over my minor failures. I'm dealing with it, as we all are in our thirties: changing priorities with, if we're lucky, little glimpses into what truly succeeding would feel like. For me it was signing a comic I had a hand in down at San Diego Comic-Con a few years ago. It's seeing my byline in a glossy print mag every month (even if I don't feel like such a wonderful magazine writer). You know, stuff that isn't changing any lives, but at least approaches the fringe of some long-ago fantasies.

I found myself wondering what some of those fellow workshop people were up to. Particularly the 'cool' ones, the ones whose pieces were, um, generally praised rather than shit on. The ones whose writing the prof. obviously dug. The ones I was pretty envious of.

I actually googled the one person whose name I recalled and read her personal web site. And, from what I can tell, she's a fucking new-agey koo-koo bird who, even in her "bio" section, seems to have amped up her level of self-importance and snottiness.

So, yeah, in a way, thank god I didn't succeed in that workshop. Cuz you never know what damage an unchecked ego might've done me in the long run.

In some small way, I feel better about myself.

(and now back to our regularly scheduled programming of Judah pictures . . .)

You Can't Really Tell, But . . .

2008-07-30T06:24:00.000-07:00

. . . In this pic, I am pretending to eat Judah's head with a plastic knife and fork. From the Greek Festival this past Sunday.

Active Contingent

2008-07-14T06:27:00.000-07:00

Offer extended, counter-offer sent back, counter-offer accepted.

Some cause for cautious optimism.

Are we making money? No. Are we losing money? Don't think so.

Just bidding a fond farewell to a treasured home and, should everything go through, accepting that it's time to move on to the next thing.

Please cross fingers, people.

Preparing for life as a band geek?

2008-07-01T00:31:00.000-07:00

No, gawd, I'd be psyched is J picked up an instrument or two . . . heaven knows I wish I'd stuck with the piano. I often forget how important music is.

I write, right?

2008-06-27T17:48:00.000-07:00

Hmph, wonder why I haven't been posting my stuff . . . been writing quite a bit for the website and magazine. here's the latest and gr8est . . .

One of these days maybe I'll post my now-famous Stimulus Check story.

'We're Having FUN, DAMMIT!'

2008-06-16T10:13:00.000-07:00

Faith Hutson and Judah Nisen, most definitely having a good time at the zoo . . . right?

(Photo credit: Erin Hutson)

Here's to good friends

2008-06-05T16:40:00.000-07:00

A rather maudlin Jeremy would like you all to know (even you, random viewer) that he loves you all and sincerely regrets not seeing you more often.

More Famous Than Ever

2008-05-29T05:10:00.000-07:00

Old buddy J. Hayter used my "pain at the pump" photo for this actual journalistic enterprise. Picture worth 100 words -- what's my rate?

Judah's art

2008-05-27T18:00:00.001-07:00

He did this with ArtGem. No sh*t.

Pain at the pump

2008-05-23T16:40:00.001-07:00

When You Kissed Me and Stopped me From Shakin' . . .

2008-05-23T15:57:00.000-07:00

We met a rather flat Barry Manilow last week. He seems to want to sell us his white wine.

Sorry, buddy, we prefer red.

There Must Be A Myth-take

2008-05-23T06:44:00.000-07:00

Damn. Robert Asprin's dead. This guy was one of my favorites when I was a much younger lad. Myth books, Thieves World, Pule's Company, Time Scout . . . he brought the funny and the occasional harder sci-fi.

Graduated!!

2008-05-16T05:49:00.000-07:00

I got my first speeding ticket last December. It sucked. Mostly because I enjoy money and resent it when it's taken from me in some fashion.

Graduated from Internet Traffic School last night and I've never been more proud.

Broke My Web Cherry . . .

2008-05-15T20:53:00.001-07:00

registered a domain name today. heh.

The Trimethyldioxypurist Rides Again (Sorta)

2008-05-14T17:58:00.000-07:00

Nice to know there's some capacity to do some fun coffee stuff every so often for my new place of employment.

Headline Writing Tip

2008-05-13T06:32:00.000-07:00

I came across this on the wires:

"No Surprises Expected Today"
--The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, 05/13/2008

Since the very definition of a "surprise" is that it's unexpected . . . this is a pretty silly headline, no?

Ready to party

2008-05-06T20:35:00.000-07:00

Weekend before last, we drove down to Pacific Palisades for a b-day party. Getting Jude ready for a hot day . . . suntan lotion. Cool necklace, buddy.

Turnabout=Fair Play

2008-05-02T11:46:00.000-07:00

After all the crap I've given to the SFGate guys over the years for stupid typos on the web, it's only fair that I point out a dumb mistake I let get published on the site that I'm in charge of.

(Of course, this does not address the sometimes misleading headlines, like that one about "Tear Down This Wall", which still upsets me). But, yeah, human, etc.

Look into my eye . . .

2008-04-25T21:43:00.000-07:00

Yeah, that's me in the art in this story

Wow, Wesley Snipes is going to jail

2008-04-25T17:58:00.000-07:00

That bothers me for some reason.

Dr. Doom = Old Maid

2008-04-21T16:49:00.001-07:00

She gave it to me when I saw her this weekend. Horrible condition, but kinda funny -- The cards have reprinted art by Kirby, Ditko and more. Was good for a chuckle and a trip down memory lane.

My sister is helping my grandparents to clear out the house they've lived in for 50-something years. She found one of these Marvel Card games

just thought I'd share.

This I know

2008-04-21T04:53:00.000-07:00

I know getting older is no big deal. In fact, I am trying to use turning 34 as a launching point to be a little better about some of the things that are more important to me in the long-term versus gratifying in the short term.

Even so, I know this to be true: even though I technically haven't earned any days off at my newish job, I should not have come in today. It's just to hard to be all self-introspectiony and be productive as I should be at the same time, even if my publishing tools and such were actually working effectively.

(Too far? Yeah. Sorry.)

Sushi tonight. Sake!!! (hey, what's that I was just saying about short-term/long-term?)

Top Chef: I Was Right; Sorry, Had to Make Some Money

2008-04-18T06:31:00.000-07:00

So, again, no real Top Chef commentary here except to say I was right a few posts down that Ryan would be leaving soon. I know, not such a bold prognostication, was it?

So, I had to finish a freelance project Wed. night and while I was able to watch my favorite reality TV show, I did not really have the time to write about. And since I don't get paid for this . . .

Well, shit, it's not like the public is clamoring for me to review it anyway. It's fun when I have the time.

Top Chef: This Bond Cannot Be Broken (But go away, please)

2008-04-10T07:30:00.000-07:00

Cut to the chase: 1/2 of the couple is gone. Good. Now it's a non-issue.

I ended up liking Zoi as a character -- seemed to have some decent personality along with her occasional petulance (like whining about white chocolate wasabi). But all in all, I'm just glad I don't have to focus on a "plot line" I found pretty distracting. I mean, people being petty jerks is fun; having to view this tabloid-esque aspect as juxtaposed to a real relationship is a drag.

O course, the fallout of her leaving looks to be promising, as FauxHawk-Woman will be on the warpath.

As I said last week, Spike is by far the more irritating of the beard brothers. Andrew is just a spazz -- and seemingly a well-meaning one. Spike and his jaunty hats need a swift kick in the tuchas.

Ming -- not looking his best.

More later.

Top Chef: Chrismas Story Hilarity

2008-04-03T13:50:00.000-07:00

I doubt I'll have time for a full review this week -- short version: Dale has really good knife skills, Blaise is a friggin' wizard, Spike is indeed the more annoying of the beard brothers; the relationship is super-tiresome; bu-bye Manue).

However, I would like to at least acknowledge the hilarity that ensued when Ryan and Mark of the Conchords teamed up for a movie-related course. They had to pick a movie.

Total incompatability.

Mark's rattling off movies I mostly hadn't heard of ("Bad Boy Bubby," for one) that sounded totally Kiwi or Aussie (I'm reminded of the Simpson's Ep where the Australian lad finds a bullfrog and decides to name it a "Chuzzle Wuzzle" or something like that). And there's Superdense Ryan, insisting on using "that Christmas movie where they get Chinese food," but he can't come up with the name. Of course, Mark hasn't seen it and doesn't know what the hell he's talking about. Ryan's walking around going "that movie where it's like 'Don't shoot out your eye'". -- or something similarly wrong. Isn't it "You're gonna shoot your eye out"?

Talking about A Christmas Story, of course. Even Jewboy Jer knows that.

Anyways, they kicked ass on the dish (a "Christmas Quail with Eggroll and Cranberry Sauce" or something like that; while not in the Winners' Circle, it was probably the next one in line . . .), but their interaction was hilarious. And I have a suspicion that Mark carried the team. Ryan will leave in the next 3-4 eps, I am guessing.

New LIfe is Kinda LIke This

2008-04-01T21:38:00.001-07:00

Top Chef: Block Party Pooper

2008-03-27T12:08:00.000-07:00

Okay, okay -- I skipped last week. Sue me. Real life and all that. I actually wrote like two paragraphs about Wylie Dufresne that will never see print (oh, the tragedy)

Top Chef, season four, episode three:

The cheftestants, with a slight focus on the bearded ones, are engaging in some delightful horseplay. By delightful, I mean annoying. Based on ep. one, you'd have thought that Andrew was the annoying one of the bearded bunch; alas, I am coming to understand that Spike's the one that really needs a fistful of shut-the-f-ck-up.

Ugh, more annoying platitudes from the women's side. "We just want a woman to represent." Oh, please. Siding with your genitalia over food sensibilities, flavors, and a good sprinkling of gamesmanship is the only way someone will win. Casey came close last season, as did Tiff in season one. I don't think suffrage slogans are exactly called for here.

Back to Andrew, who talks about being there to have fun. Well, that's not as bad as saying you just want someone with a penis to win, but it's still a little silly, You are there to win, to learn, to get national exposure . . . maybe then to have fun.

Okay, I don't often do a "male swoon," but YAY, RICK BAYLESS. Why do I like him? On the cover of one of his books he's wearing a Reverse Flash t-shirt. Just like me. See?

Jer/Professor Zoom/Reverse Flash throttles arch nemesis 10-month-old Judah/The Flash -- Halloween '06

Rick Bayless' somewhat less violent version of Reverse Flash-related family time

But I digress.

I also like Bayless' temperament and I love Mexican food. He's an interesting cat.

So, the quickfire: make an upscale taco for Senor Reverse-Flash.

Erik is bugged by the "turn mexican food into fine dining" thing.
Manuel's looks pretty damned good.
Spike, despite instructions, will keep it street food. Apparently, he thinks chickpeas in a taco are street food. Way to be all "rebel without a case" there, Mr. Jaunty Hat.
Andrew -- Oh, sh*t, I knew I liked this guy -- DUCK (mmm, duck) and plantain JAM. Are you kidding me? That sounds awesome.

The Dregs
Bayless calls Erik's mishmash a "train wreck"; cut to Erik telling the camera that Bayless can "screw himself." Class-ay.
Lisa's skirt steak works against her -- it's chewy!
Ryan's decision to serve his taco with a piece of paper on the plate turns it back into street food, regardless of the content.

The Crema
The beard brothers are happy: Spike's . . . whatever it was with the chickpeas gets him a "yay," as does Andrew's duck/plantain slice o'heaven. Faux-Hawkman Richard's "I've turned some veggies into a Faux Tortilla thingee" is the winner, though.

The increasingly annoying Spike whines that Bayless basically made it sound like his was the best then gave it to TrailBlaiser. Boo hoo. But good for FauxHawk Rich: his jicama taco is going on some menu at one of Bayless' restaurants. huzzah!

The main challenge: a neighborhood block party for more than 100 (40 adults, 70 kids supposedly). Divided into two teams, the chefs must run around the neighborhood and beg for food.

Valuable aside: so, I just googled "jicama taco" to doublecheck the spelling of jicama . . . and, friggin' a, everybody and his mother is blogging about this show. Gah. In a much more timely manner than me, might I add. Well, eff all of you, I did it (among the) first and (at rare times) I was among the best. Cue Danny Whatsisace: "I'm gettin' too old for this sh*t." Anyways.

Spike and Andrew seem to be the stars of today's show, which rarely bodes well. One of them actually says something about "red beard power".

The teams take divergent strategies. The Red Team is Ryan, Spike, Erik, Sk8r Zoi, Andrew, Dale, and Jennifer. They go for the kind of food folks expect, just raising the game a touch -- corn dogs, pasta salad, whatever. They call it "classic American." Dale bitches that he didn't want to play it safe, but that's a one-on-one with the camera -- never heard him say that in front of the team.

Stephanie, Richard, Nikki, Mark, Lisa and Antonia (um, I think*) . . . they go sorta hi-class, with pallella and a desert that includes a churro-chip hybrid and some fruit. Oh, and a "sexy drink." Chef Tom asks what makes it sexy . .. and it's the lavender.

*This was one of my big bugaboos starting in season two: TWO MANY PEOPLE. Hard to get invested when there's like 40 contestants . . . let alone keep 'em straight.

So, despite the brick o' mac'n'cheese and the pallella actually turning out to be, according to the judges, a rice pilaf, the blue team wins -- but barely. Tom C. tells them he expects better. They dug the dessert though, so Stephanie is the big winnah! Yay female genitalia! (see how stupid that is? How about "yay, great dish/great execution/great cooking?)

The only aside of note in the elimination interview with Team Red is Andrew proclaims they'll have to get security to drag his ass out of there. Um, dude . . . NOW you're starting to scare me.

I'll cut to the chase: Erik, he of the "Rick Bayless can screw himself," gets eliminated for his corn dogs. The judges all agree they were probbaly great straight out of the fryer, but a chef should know they'll go soggy soon enough.

Okay, y'all -- next week, more more more.

Do do do do doot . . . Two Bits

2008-03-26T06:13:00.000-07:00

Actually got a decent haircut yesterday. Goodbye supercuts, hello Fantastic Sam's.

Ha.

Umm, what else. Swam again; hopefully I'll be in shape when I start h20 polo with the new team next week.

After two wonderful days of using the vac pot and one wonderful (yet time-consumed) morning drinking from the moka pot, today I broke out the French press. And it's also good.

Swimming in the darkness and seeing it turn to pinks and purples as you're doing laps is pretty amazing. And, my lord, it smells like flowers and/or ocean everywhere out here.

Life is good. Seems strange to say it so simply.

Chocolate, Coffee, Oranges

2008-03-24T10:19:00.001-07:00

fine combo

Top Chef Dilemma

2008-03-20T08:51:00.000-07:00

Well, my reprising the role of Top Chef reviewer has hit another snag: I got drunk and got home late last night. The result? I missed the first 10 minutes of the show and was a little too, um, happy during the rest of it. I can certainly give my half-remembered impressions later today . . . or I may just watch one of the 4,000 repeats and do it right.

comics now! #2

2008-03-19T20:18:00.001-07:00

haven't acquired not read it yet, but another small contribution from me is within

Swumm

2008-03-19T09:30:00.001-07:00

I went to Masters Swimming with my dad today (6 a.m.). It was a swell way to start the day, not sitting here worried for the rest of my desk-bound day if I'll have a chance to exercise. It was the first organized swim thing I've done since college (water polo practices with my San Fran team you did your own warm up usually).

Surprised I survived? Not me. Tired, but I did just fine. I may well go back.

L.A. Week After Next?

2008-03-18T10:30:00.000-07:00

My lord, I am so tired of traveling. It'd sure be nice to have a weekend sitting on my ass at (my temporary) home. With some exercise interspersed, perhaps.

But . . . now I have a car. And a practical reason to go down to L.A. to go along with my desire to see my pals down there (my sister needs some help setting up her new place; I can give my dad a hand with that).

So, L.A.-based friends -- would you be around week after next for a short (or not so short) visit? I will have Heather and Judah in tow if we go.

Top Chef: Season 4's Premier

2008-03-12T22:02:00.000-07:00

Hi -- You may remember that I wrote reviews of Top Chef seasons 1 and 2 for SFist. I skipped writing about season 3, though I watched and enjoyed it (except for that Hung fellow winning). Now it's season 4, and Jer has to write about it.

10:02 Looking at the theme song part -- my first look at all the contestants. Seriously -- what's up with all the friggin' faux hawks?

10:03 Zoi -- she's from San Francisco. Were I still doing this for SFist, that would have been my focus. Now who gives a shit.

Later: more. Computer too far from TV; gonna transcribe my notes on Thurs. a.m. if I have time . . . but let's just say that Tony Bourdain and Rocco DiSpirito on the same show -- I'm surprised the world didn't shake and fall to its foundations. Jeebus.

+ drinking. Hard to type.

UPDATE:

Hmm . . . initial impressions (which will be kept minimal, cuz i don't want to go on and on about someone who gets the boot in eps 1,2, or 3)

I'm gonna have to come up with a new one of these once it narrows down a li'l.

I think I like that skinny bearded nose fellow from Le Cirque. Probably jealousy about the skinniness and his ability to grow a beard.

Oooh, Pizzeria Uno . . .people milling about calling it "an institution" in breathy voices. Gimme a break.

Oh, gawd . . . "we're a couple . . ." SNORE. I'll be damned if I can tell the faux-hawk lesbian chick from the faux-hawk dude, though; blond w/ round faces. (Note added after the fact: except by their cooking -- Fauxhawk Man seems to be the shiz.)

Padma! Her lips say one thing, but her actions say "Out of my way, NEED PIZZA." Almost smell the skunky coming off of her.

Oh, so they ARE making pizza for PADMA. Color me SHOCKED. Perhaps conceived of the thought he same means that she thought of the Vending Machine Challenge in Season 2.

I can't figure out her name, but I think I like the one that looks like a chubbier Catherine Zeta Jones.

Nikki and Manuel both get a little too much camera time w/an all-to-perfect quote. Possible last hurrah?

Dude w/fro is a kiwi! Sweet! Bravo's trying to capture the Flight of the Conchords demographic. They should bring Murray on as a guest judge. Come to think of it, two of the contestants looks like the psycho-fan from that show -- both Valerie and Antonia, kinda.

Faux-Hawkman makes a pizza with a sweet tea sauce. He's either on crack or a friggin' genius.

Andrew (totally like, um, ADD or something): "I am making food people would actually eat."

I like him for some reason. Skinny+beard+a little bit of the right kind of obnoxious.

Lisa goes for BBQ duck pizza. Somehow the way she's doing it seems chintzy. If she doesn't make it through Top Chef, I bet they'd give her a tryout at California Pizza Kitchen.

UPDATE 2
Part of the challenge should have been to the pizzas to Padma and Co in less than 30 min.

Wait -- what's this Stereotypical themes? Chicago=deep dish pizza for the first quickfire? So . . .

Week 2: Hotdogs at Wrigly Field
Week 3: Mobster food
Week 4: Speakeasy drink special edition (they do one alcho episode every season)
Week 5: cook something on the L train -- for REAL COMMUTERS
Week 6: Wylie Dufresne shows up (okay, that would be awesome and I am expecting it anyway)
Week seven . .. of, forget it. I miss Stephen and Marcel and CJ and Malarky and Tre and "Mother Bowel Movement" Andrea . . . these clowns aren't really doing it for me (granted, 15 minutes in).

OMG. I HATE Rocco. The only thing I ever enjoyed about Rocco DiSpirito was Ruth Reichl's descriptions of visiting his restaurant in Garlic & Sapphires. He comes off as a real condescending prick on TV.

Quick Q: Season 3 Dale vs. Season 4 Dale. Who would win?

Foreshadowing: MINNA DOESN'T USE SALT WELL. Her pizza has no salt.

Anyways, Flight of the MarkChords does well, as does Faux-Hawkman Richard and a few others.

Padma and Rocco run off to pull some tubes and make out.

Oooh, fancy use of Chalk/Chalkboard. Class is in session for classic dishes. Flight of the Mark-Chords has no clue what some of them are.

Personal Friend of Jackson West (who I now feel slightly guilty about dissing above) Sk8tr Zoi draws the souffle another San Franciscan. Erik looks like a cool San Francisco kinda dude. More chefs w/ink, please. They can do an L.A. Inked X-over.

I feel less guilty about making fun of Faux-Hawkman though; "Richard Blais" of "Trail-Blais" catering or something. Dude brings it with the cooking, but the bad pun . . . ugh.

Dale's a little aggro too, and is excited to proclaim his flavors "on point." I like him. He's like Hung from last season in terms of confidence, but somehow comes off as far less arrogant.

So, Faux-Hawkman vs. Beakman (okay, that's not cool to go after a guy's schnozz, I'll stop), er, uh, Andrew.

UPDATE 3:

Fresh pasta + time limit = buh-bye, nikki. (comment after tha fact: that's why I shouldn't call my shots)

Okay, I do like some of these people. They candid without being self-righteous or self conscious or whatever. And spouting fewer platitudes than most. Perhaps I'm just too used to politicians lately,

Oh dude -- Tony Bourdain is the other judge today? Unbelievable. Bourdain + Rocco in one episode = world is shaking at its foundation.

Andrew loses, but says "I stood strong against a cat I knew was a bad-ass." Y'know, I think he's right.

I won't bore you with results when there's so many contestants except winnerz and lozerz.

UPDATE FINAL: Well, shoot, I spent the weekend moving and away from the internet, so let's cut this stream-o-consciousness ramble about Top Chef on Bravo to a close and pick up in a slighter tighter fashion next week: Nimma went home for using way too much salt on some scrimps. Combine that with her cauliflower flan having to be turned into cauliflower scramble (and Chef Tom totally called her on it), and in ironic conjunction with her lack of salt earlier in the day, our one person of color packed her knives and went.

PS -- Gail is back next week. Swoooooooon.

Cute Librarian and Double Rainbow

2008-02-25T18:57:00.000-08:00

Katie Cook's quickie sketch, commissioned for Heather (check out her super-cute/cool work at katiecandraw.com:

Auspicious beginning to my SoCal relocation:

On my last weekend as a Full-Time San Franciscan I . . .

2008-02-23T21:54:00.000-08:00

Not necessarily in the order of importance:

-- Went to WonderCon (as a journalist first and fan second*).
-- While there, got a cute sketch of a sexy librarian for the wife.
-- Drank absinthe at a bar.
-- Bought some pants.
-- Met up with a bunch of friendly folks from an online forum I frequently frequent.
-- Went to the Noe Valley Farmers' Market
-- Went to music class with Jude.
-- Celebrated Jude's second birthday.
-- Ate a cupcake.
-- Got quite nervous.
-- Managed not to give in to despair.

I'm exhausted . . . and it's only Sabado. Tomorrow, off to S.B. solo. J and H join me in a week. Coming back for the big move in mid-March. Ouch.

* Got enough for a righteous 800-900 words, man. Good stuff.

New Chapter: Stage One

2008-02-07T06:47:00.000-08:00

Last day at S&P = today.

I was telling someone this yesterday . . . now that I'm leaving, I'm suddenly remembering some of the things that I've come to take for granted about working here.

I don't just mean the view (though I'll indeed miss looking over the Bay Bridge and Cupid's Span and all those green glass behemoths that are being built in SOMA).

I'm recalling that this was my first workplace where I most everyone felt I interacted with was really, impressively smart. It made me raise my game a little, I think (hope). I like it this way. Learning through interaction/osmosis. Good stuff. 4.5 years is a long time, for me anyway.

Well, off to work. New job starts 2 weeks from Monday; lots to do in-between.

Moving

2008-01-29T10:53:00.000-08:00

Sorta moving Feb 24, cuz I gotta start the new job Feb. 25. Big move (i.e., all my crap plus the wife and kiddie) will be moving some time in March, looks like around mid-month at this point. Aaaah, can't believe it's actually happening! Change = crazy.

Odd photos I meant to post

2008-01-24T13:44:00.001-08:00

. . . so, here they are out of context.

Happy Jer (?). How weird is this pic?

Walking to Water Polo practice after sundown a few months ago, along the Embarcadero:

Comics Now! mag hits the stands

2008-01-23T18:40:00.001-08:00

Exciting to me as I made a minor contribution. Huzzah!

Mr Smiley

2008-01-22T09:22:00.001-08:00

I needed to hear that . . .

2008-01-18T17:42:00.000-08:00

It may have been a bit of hyperbole, but the woman on the other end of the phone told me "your writing samples were wonderful."

I know they're at least pretty good, but it was nice to hear somebody enjoyed them more than usual.

I'm really excited. I find it unbecoming when people are overly happy, and, as my own harshest critic, my own excitement is starting to annoy me. I'll try to rein it in a little.

Can't Sleep

2008-01-18T06:00:00.000-08:00

Been up since three. Late coffee with Rita + a lot on my mind. I should have gone the decaf route -- at least on the second one.

Gave notice at the job yesterday. Three weeks -- fairly generous, right? Most people just want as quick and clean a break as possible. I actually want to do my best to make sure they won't miss me. In fact, if they don't much miss me, I'll really feel like I've done my job well.

Wait -- what's that, you ask? Why did you give notice at the job you've been at for 4.5 years (longest tenure anywhere)? Pretty much the best (full-time) gig you've had?

We're heading to a new zip code. I wouldn't trade the last (almost) 10 years in San Francisco for anything, but there comes a time when you've got to make a choice about what's best for your family, and right now this isn't it.

Anyways, more on that some other time.

Somewhere, Bert Is Mourning

2008-01-09T18:39:00.000-08:00

Today at One Market Street (Mission side) this bird (a ~~hawk~~ falcon** I think) was devouring a pigeon, peck by peck. I snapped this and a couple other pics with my phone camera and left; when I came back an hour later it was almost done eating. Just feathers strewn everywhere. Tons of looky-loos, many of whom had been there the whole time since I'd left (or come back at exactly the same time). A cop, whose car was doing that "I'm parked illegally flashing yellow" thing. Not sure what the hell he was doing besides nothing. A lot of people with actual cameras were snapping pics, so some high-res photos are bound to show up somewhere at some point.

I feel a little sick. I mean, it's fascinating, and lord knows I hate those flying rats, but seeing a creature tear another apart is a little disturbing and the huge crowd that gathered and gawked (of which I was admittedly a part) made it much worse.

**A coworker of mine, who is awfully smart in general, thinks it's a falcon. I believe him.

Put A Lid On It

2008-01-04T07:56:00.000-08:00

In a rare moment of clarity I figured it out: passion is my friend, anger is most definitely not.

The problem is sometimes I have trouble distinguishing the two.

Too much boiling over lately. Not good. Just not good. But this smidge of self awareness may help start mitigating it. I hope.

Good Reads

2008-01-02T23:23:00.000-08:00

Done a little reading lately.

Most excitedly, I finally bought Douglas Wolk's "Reading Comics" -- critical theory applied to comics in a non-pretentious, funny, readable, digestible manner. Barely into it (50 pages maybe), but loving it.

I read "Candy Girl" by Diablo Cody, who just happens to be the screenwriter behind the much ballyhooed movie "Juno" in theaters right now. H saw it; I did not and won't until DVD. Very entertaining book, though. Even if she does sort of overdo it with the cleverisms (too many attempts at clever terms of phrase, I mean; it gets a little old). As I said to my sister-in-law's boyfriend, who gave me the book: nothing I'd rather do on Christmas Day than read about strippers. Rrowrr.

I read the first 10 chapters of Naruto. I've read all the new stuff since the 2.5-year gap (a break in the story where it stops, then picks up again with main characters as teenagers vs. preteens). I wasn;t really looking forward to the early stuff, but it's great -- the art is amazing, and the story is oddly more touching than I expected. I love manga.

Almost done with Omnivore's Dilemma. It's good. Makes me sort of rethink everything with raising/eating food, though I can't claim it'll make me, err, "re-action" everything. Or anything. Maybe some things. More or less put it down to start on Wolk's book, above. Should probbaly just finish it.

I read an issue of Men's Health, which advised me to eat this, that, and the other thing, and stay away from x, y, and zee. And to do certain kinds of exercises so that I'll look more like the B&W cover model. Six pack I don't need, though I'd like to be a bit more healthy and active. These mags always seem to have the opposite of the inspiration effect I'm looking for.

Happy New Year, folks. You cross your fingers and I'll cross mine.

Being Lazy = Fun

2007-12-19T21:47:00.000-08:00

When Do You Lose? When's The Game Over?

2007-12-17T07:01:00.000-08:00

Was just thinking about life in the context of the video-game generation, of which I am a part. I think the '80s games where you'd play ad infinitum on progressively harder versions of the same level are a better metaphor for life (i.e., Pac Man is the same game board forever, but with every level ghosts are a little faster; the third cartoon is the final one, replayed every few victories . . . an amusing break that gets boring) than these much more satisfying modern games that are far more immersive and have definite endings.

There's no point in real life where you can pull a George Costanza, tell the funny joke and leave the room, never to return, eternally basking in your moment's glory. The drudgery continues. Wheels keep spinning, or, as I usually say, we keep on treading water. Alternately, on the negative side, you can pretty much decide "game over, I lose," and pull the plug, but I'd hardly call that a satisfying ending either.

I don't mean for this to sound like a dreary, depressing post -- I'm really quite happy. Just looking forward to changing some things, yet again, because the sameness is getting to me.

Greek To Me

2007-12-14T23:39:00.000-08:00

One of my first passions was for Greek mythology, and to a lesser extent Roman (I didn't like it as much because I liked the Greek names of the gods better). It then extended into a love of other myths (Norse, Indian, etc), then probably fed my (former) love of fantasy and my still current love of the modern pantheon of 4-color comics.

Anyway.

I'm thinking quite a bit lately about two of my favorite mythological figures, one Roman, one Greek.

The Roman figure is Janus, god of doors. Literally two-faced (as he's two-headed), you can interpret the symbolism in any number of meaningful ways. For now, it's been all about exits. How to exit from a situation gracefully, how to leave my current residence in a responsible manner. Eyes in the back of one's head surely could help. Learn from history lest we repeat it, blah blah blah. Always a plan. Freedom--he's almost tapped into the same kinds of things that I love about Houdini.

The other doesn't have two heads, it has three: the chimera. Let's ignore the modern genetic anomalies that the term's come to refer to . . . I'm talking about a vicious beast with a lion head, a goat head, and a snake head -- though often the snake itself is depicted at the chimera's tail, so like Janus he can always see behind him. It just happens this head's attached to his ass. I think the power of three is meaningful; now that we're a household of three I feel like the chimera is my spirit guide as much as the frog. Yes, this probably means another tattoo. When I have some extra cash. But the goat head will need to be a bull's head instead . . . Taurus, baby.

Anyways, here's the stupid crap I'm thinking about whenever I have a few seconds lately. Silly . . .