p.s. Hey. I'm getting started a little late today, so I'll basically just keep moving. Oh, know that I'll post the info re: the imminent LA blog gang meet-up later on today, and also that I'm pretty sure I'll be announcing the next in our series of Self-Portrait Days tomorrow morning. ** Steven Trull, Hey. Well, I certainly hope to see you for more than five minutes since you're also expected to be at whatever post-reading dinner thing we end up organizing. Hard to pickpocket someone when you have food in your mouth, although if anyone could handle that double duty, it's you, sir. ** Slatted Light, Thanks, pal. You good, better, best, I hope? ** Put The Lotion In The Basket, Really glad you dug the gallery show, all credit to the apparently shy Mr. Ricter. Hope the performance at Sussex went incredibly. Do tell, man. Love to you. ** Oscar B, Ha ha, well, just to solve one little mystery for anyone else here who wondered why our phoning was so damned yesterday, I was, as you know, in the shower. Yeah, the show was fun, right? Talk to you in a bit. ** Empty Frame, Hey. I might have mentioned this to you before, but everyone I know who's stayed at the Jules Ferry Hostel has had nothing but positive remarks about the experience. So, you might try that. It's near Republique and, thus, a reasonable if healthy walk away from the Marais. Plus, the Republique metro station is a pretty good hub. Un Regard Moderne is god, and its stocked books are a mishmash of English, French, Japanese, and on and on. There's the Village Voice bookshop just off St. Germaine, but I hear it's a shadow of it former great self these days and likely to close soon. There are others, and Oscar was just mentioning a very good used English language bookshop whose name I've forgotten, but, for general English language books, URM and S&Co. are the best. I thought what you called 'kitschy' and I might call 'designy' added a weird, 'inappropriate' aspect to the sculptures that I ended up thinking were more contributory to their power than not. Indiana's great, yeah. His and Acker's relationship was complex. ** David Ehrenstein, Hey. Great you can make it on the 14th, and if Bill ends up being able to come, that's a bonus. Oh, I figure we'll just gravitate naturally and in the moment to some eatery somewhere around the newsstand after a while, I guess? Real sorry to hear that about the Burton. Of course I'll go see it quickly anyway, but it does seem like the early opinion on it is full of disappointment. ** David, Don't know the Red Riding films. Cool to see you reference 'Cutter's Way'. That's one fine, neglected film right there. ** Tomkendall, Hey, Tom. Great news about you hitting the 100 page mark on your novel! Seems like a no turning back point, having gotten that far and into it. Very exciting. I hope the job thing gets its shit together on your behalf. And the rejections mean squat, but you know that. Lots 'o love to you too, man. ** No more teenagekicks, First, reading, last night ... so ... ? Maybe you're right about the 2006 blog generation being the uncles and we the nephews and nieces. I was half-thinking how, since I used to post so much porn on the blog back then and rarely do now, the place has, uh, matured or something, but maybe it's gotten more feckless and unchained. Does meditation help with stress regarding the bank account drain now impending due to my tooth's disloyalty 'cos that's where my real pain lies? It probably does, right? Yeah, where did Kate Braverman come from, for goodness sake? She's one of my former sworn enemies from way back in the days when the heat of the LA lit. scene wars mattered. ** Alan, Oh, interesting about the Hannah find. I think I found him just because his name was a common reference point among writers I liked back in the early 90s. Yeah, I mean, even if your real package had arrived, the only difference would be my staring wistfully at things in 3D rather than at jpegs. So the virtual version ended up being even kinder in a way. ** Bollo, If I end up having to get root canals, and I'm guessing I will, I'm glad to know they might be a breeze, though it's the hurricane they will blast into my finances that's the most painful part. Oh, wow, those performance stills look really good. Damn, why isn't Dublin an arrondissement of Paris? No, really, why? Hold on. Everyone, d.l. Bollo aka the ultra-good Dublin based artist Jonathan Mayhew did a performance the other night that most of us were prevented from seeing due to severe logistical issues, but we can now see some pretty damned promising and just plain pretty performance stills if we like, and I certainly do or rather did, and you should follow me over there and have a look. And, maybe an even better option, if you're technically equipped -- here's a slideshow. Really looks great, Jonathan. And very cool about the opportunity to do a sequel. Thanks a lot, man. ** Chris Stamm, Hey, Chris! Yeah, damn, I wish I could. That was Akashic Press' decision to cut me loose at San Francisco. Now, having subsequently come to peace with the decision, I've got stuff I have to do in LA on that date. I keep getting foiled in my Portland going plans. Maybe I can schmooze Harper Perennial into scooting me up there on whatever tour I do for 'Smothered in Hugs', if they even have me do one at all. Anyway, yeah, I wish I could, man, very. ** JW Veldhoen, Well, then that Demetz guy should totally carve you, right? ** Christopher/ Mark, Hi, Mark. Balkenhol, yeah, right, it's true. There's supposedly an issue or two of Bannister Slide in the post to me, so I'll let you know the scoop, and maybe even scan and share some. ** Bill, Hey. Yeah, I keep hearing mostly shrugs at best about the Herzog/Lynch film. It sounded so promising, sigh. ** Sypha, As Steevee I think said, that Ellis gossip is very grain of salt stuff. I don't know Bret extremely well, but I know him well enough to know that whatever his politics may be, and I think he's basically apolitical and only really interested in politics as a possible substance for social satire, they're not as simple and black and white as that agenda-toting blogger claims. Yeah, weird about the FB thing, although, and I could be wrong, but I think the option to add her as a friend would pop up for you if she hasn't either seen your request or made any decision on it yet. ** Blendin, Hey, B. The invite for our thang will be up here later. Oh, btw, I got the Day, and I love it to bits, and I'll send you the launch today too. I guess it's hard to know about the decision on that presentation in the video, although every image I've seen of the works online shows them in a totally basic, stark light, so I'm imagining those plain ones are the official versions made by or sanctioned by Demetz. Yeah, of course invite non-d.l.s. I'm hoping the event will pull in anyone who looks at this place who lives in LA. Snacks would be nice, potluck-style, sure, and, like I said to David E., I figured we can gravitate at some appropriate point to a restaurant around there or something. I arrive on the 11th. ** Ken Baumann, Hey, Ken. Yeah, the Higgs novel has blown my mind, and I've seen nothing but raves from the other early readers. Man, I think 2010 is really going to be one for the books, even more than last year, which had a lot of great books to its name. I mean, the year's barely started, and I've already read a bunch of knock out tomes, and the agenda for the rest of the year looks mindboggling. I can't remember ever being so excited about fiction, and not only that, American fiction, which is pretty wild for a European-centric type like me. Anyway, just sharing some of my thrill a minute life as reader right now with you. Very, very interesting about the short film. You'll have to tell me more in LA, and I'm so glad you're in the novel writing groove. Me too. High fucking five, man. ** Jeff, Hey. Yeah, that's what really jumped out at me in my initial exploration of The Necks, how it's about building a state of mind/music. I really like that a lot, and your comments made crystal clear sense, man. I'll go follow your links and hear/find out more, starting with that interview you mentioned. Much appreciated. The De Maistre is pretty curious so far. I'm still kind of dipping in. His world view is extremely far from mine, obviously, but that isn't bothering me. His writing is really good, and so far I'm mostly enjoying his pretty, thick, but swift prose. I'll say more as I get more into the book. When do you get to LA? ** Steevee, Very sorry to hear about the cold's onset. Do you have any particular cold fighting regimen? ** Dan, Hey, Dan! That interview with you that you linked to on FB the other day was really great. I loved what you said. Really, two more faintings? Trippy. Maybe that's why Frank never gave us an update on the screening, ha ha. Oh, yeah, do come on the 14th if you can. That would be great! I'll have the scoop on where/when up and visible later today. Lovely to hear from you, Dan, and I look forward to seeing you soon. ** _Black_Acrylic, That is awesome news about the possible art editor job at The Skinny! Yeah, let us know how that develops. Would you move to Edinburgh for it? Very, very nice, Ben. I'm glad the editor knows what's good for her. Oh, and very sharp review in The Skinny, and it's nice to see the added photos of the show/event. They do make it look as seductive you make it sound. Everyone, check out an art event/ performance review by our own _B_A, or rather Ben Robinson to be more specific. It's a very good read, and the accompanying photos are a bonus too. ** Stan_cz, Ah, you're back in one piece again. Excellent, ha ha. Clinics like that are a crapshoot. Some manage to be completely doable, and some are more like the one you seem to have ended up at. Have you ever done that ear clearing thing where they put that funnel of paper or something in your ear and burn it? I did that once. It freaked me out, but I think I remember it worked. My tooth is fairly painless as along as I make sure my food isn't too cold and that I force it to tiptoe around said tooth. I have a dentist appointment for Saturday, so I'm just behaving myself until then. ** Uli, Hey. Yeah, what you say about the ATP movie is pretty much what I've heard. It just sounds frustrating more than anything else. There was a recent-ish movie about Glastonbury that had the same problem in addition to the problem of its far less interesting line up of artists. Maybe they'll release a less edited DVD version at some point with full performances? You would think so. In the meantime, I'll skip it, thanks. Oh, nice that 'Light Boxes' has been published in Germany. I'll go check the trailer. It's a splendid book in English. Will you read the German translation? ** Misanthrope, My various things were crossed for quite a while, even when I was watching the Rochas runway show and surrounded by ultra-well dressed people who were already looking askance at my lack of style before they noticed how contorted I was inside my awful clothes. I guess they're still crossed. Tell me when I can free them. If you get one of those govt. jobs, will you take it and then grin and bear during the commute? ** Jose, Right, that's why Christians get all crabby apple faced when they get old, ha ha. I like the Raelians' sense of style. They should relocate to Paris. Except, it's weird, France has to be the country least interested in UFOs and the paranormal in the world. I've lived here for over four years, and I've watched French TV more often than not, and I've never seen a single program, segment of a program, or even brief mention/discussion of either UFOs or ghosts in all that time. It's almost spooky. ** Creative Massacre, That was a weird day. Nice about the high school girl's crush on you, assuming she doesn't turn into a crazed stalker or something. I hope you don't have to say a permanent bon voyage to onion rings like I did. Talk about a tough relationship break up, ha ha. Try not to worry about your parents being weird about the therapist. People have such odd ideas about therapy and what it means to see a therapist. If therapy ends up being helpful, they'll realize from the way you talk about it that it's just like getting good advice. Let me know how that goes today, yeah? ** Inthemostpeculiarway, Bubble bath author photo ... hm, interesting. You know how I love to shock my readers, and what better way? Actually, Paris is even better than my swoons about it would indicate. You have to come check it out. I'll have you swooning your head off within a block or two, promise. Sorry about the thwarted 'Brady Bunch' reunion, but do you really want to see them fat and wrinkled? Thanks for giving my little 'Ugly Man' some face time, pal. Love the 'Bitch' story, you devil. Oh, I've seen those glasses with the straws wrapped around them, I think. Yeah, they're cool. Dude, you balk at my veggie food and yet you eat that dyed orange petroleum product nacho 'cheese'? I promise I have never grossed you out as much as you've just grossed me out. My Wednesday: There was the usual writing, of course. Yury got me a dentist appointment for Saturday, so my fate is sealed or whatever. Oscar and I attended the Rochas Fall/Winter 2010 Collection runway show at 5 pm. We got there early, and my pal Marco, who's the head designer of Rochas, was outside smoking his last cigarette, and so I got to blab with the very nervous him and make tentative dinner plans for while he's in Paris, and that was cool. Then he scooted inside, and then we were ushered along with all sorts of fashionista types including a bunch of people who are apparently very famous since the paparazzi went bonkers taking pictures of them, into the building on Place de Vendome where the show was happening. Anna Wintour and Grace Coddington made their appearance to much tittering and neck craning and excitement. I don't know much about fashion, but I thought the collection was really good. Very retro-60s psychedelic, and the clothes looked especially weird and cool on the clomping, staring models who traversed the runway to the sound of Tommy James & the Shondells' 'Crimson and Clover'. I think it was a pretty big hit based on the applause and stuff. Here's the only pix/report on the show that I've found so far this morning, if you want to see. Anyway, Oscar and I had a lot of fun, and then we came back here, parted ways, and got back to our respective work. I ate more food that might turn your stomach, and not too much else, and then the day and night ended as they always do once I climbed the wooden staircase to my loft bed. Thursday? ** Christopher Higgs, Hey, Christopher! It's an honor to have you here. I so love and admire your novel, I can't tell you. It's just exhilarating. I'm going to show a smidgen of my appreciation with a little alert about it here on the blog on Monday. Just thank you so much for such an incredible pleasure and inspiration. I hope that, as the books rolls out, you'll be hearing a lot more words of praise and forms of appreciation, and I would sure wager that you will. Take care, and thank you a lot for visiting. ** L@rstonovich, Oh, wow, Jim Woodring, yeah, definitely. I haven't seen 'The Portable Frank' -- that's a kind of compilation of his Frank books, isn't it? -- but I love what I've read of his a lot: two of the 'Frank' books, 'Seeing Things', and a couple of others. Fantastic stuff, absolutely. Gosh, I should do a post on him/his work, duh. Anyway, I totally share your enthusiasm. ** Justin, That beaver reaction was really nice. There's a little bit to read/see about the Rochas show if you click that link in my comment to Itmpw. No goodie bags. You probably would recognized all the famous people there. I didn't. I just knew they were famous. They looked famous. Goodie bags would have been nice. I hope I didn't miss getting handed something. That Anarchy shirt sounds top, and I'm pretty sure I know what you mean or the type of shirt you mean. And yikes on the expensive shoes. Oh, the AMcQ Day is all set up, worked beautifully, and it's ready to launch, and looking visually up to your expectations, or I hope so. ** Paul Curran, Hey, and thanks for that, Paul. ** Bye. Oh, the post today is an attempt to indulge my fondness for miniature golf, argue on its behalf, and seek your thoughts, all of which is quite obvious, I guess. Oh, well. Tomorrow is Friday, and I'll see you then.