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p.s. Hey. What's up? Not me. Still sick though possibly very slightly better but with a new hacking cough to show for me this morning. Ugh. Improvement of some sort is the order of my day since tonight is the Paris premiere of Christophe Honore's film 'Homme au Bain', in which I think you all know I play a small role, and I'm attending that no matter what. Today is also supposed to involve the biggest national strike in France since 1996. It's technically an uprising against Sarkozy's intention to raise the age of retirement, but it is expected to be swelled by much additional protesting against his odious, racist immigration and expulsion policies, so it may well be quite a whopper of a strike and related manifestation, as they call street protests over here. I hope to bundle up, wander out, and see what's what. Oh, and yesterday was the birthday of two of this blog's beloved d.l.s, so a late, very HBD to Panda? (who finally turned 16) and Jheorrge! Anyway, I'd better do this while the coffee I just gulped down is still active. ** David Ehrenstein, Hey. I like Greenaway more than you do, but I do find about half of his oeuvre pretty irksome. His films' puzzle-like narratives and substructural play are very up my alley, of course. My fave is 'A Zed and Two Noughts' whose nerve-wracked score is also the best thing Michael Nyman ever did, imo. Thanks for the well wishes. Oh, and Chloe Webb, totally. She's seen far too rarely for sure. ** Renaud Cerqueux, Hey. Wow, you're up to a lot of hugely intriguing stuff. How can I get the Stokolm EP when it's out? Does the band perform live? I don't know if I knew before that you write fiction. That's obviously very interesting. Why is the story collection proving to be a struggle to finish? The usual lack of time reasons? I wish I could read your writing. I wish I understood French infinitely better than I do. ** Paul Curran, Hey, Paul! Thanks for checking in. Hope things are going okay down there. Singapore, nice. You been before? I don't remember. ** Scunnard, Oh, I can't imagine this cold will drag on for too long. Another day or three at most, I reckon. Okay, I'll either track down your email and send my cell number or send it to M later on, if I space out. In any case, we'll figure it. Coffee with Claire Denis? You know her? Very cool. Hope she gets back to you, obviously. Okay, I'll keep dragging or sloshing myself along now, man. ** Syreearmwellion, Hey, man. Those paintings on your blog are kind of amazing. They kind of vibrate of something very eerie in the best way. I also really like the new poem. Is it 'new' new? Anyway, ... Everyone, our d.l. pal Syreearmwellion has posted two mesmerizing paintings he made a while back on his blog Mercantile North, and you really should check them out as well as the poem posted atop them. Go here. Feel better. I'm trying on my end. Oh, yeah, I have this superstition or fragility about showing my work before it's finished. I have this one friend I show things to first, and if a novel survives that test, I send it to my agent, and then I usually have to live with it for a few months before I let anyone else have a look. One time I made the mistake of reading a piece of a novel ('God Jr.') in progress in public, and the experience so freaked me out that I stopped working on the novel for a year. So, I'm really cautious. But thanks for wanting to see it, of course. ** Sypha, Hope you don't get my cold. It's semi-nasty, but I'm counting on it being a quickie. Really glad you liked the post so much. Thanks, that means a lot. I hear you about the attention span thing, but people don't seem to have a problem with reading 600, 800, or whatever page novels by Stephen King and those types. And American critics' idea that 'the important novel' must be 'the long novel' is certainly in play. 'Freedom' is definitely benefitting from that prejudice. ** Bill, Hey. Thanks for the health-related wishes. I'm actually trying to 'make some truly bizarre walk-throughs of unbuildable spaces' in my current novel, and, yeah, ha ha, don't hold your breath for it either. ** Paul Joseph, Hey, man. Oh, cool I'll get to meet you when I'm in NYC. Of course, how nice! Enzensberger and Bachmann are an intriguing couple. I was just reading about the latter's handful of unfinished novels the other day. Like her work a lot. His too, from what I've read, which is the obvious couple of epic poems, I guess. I think that new short story idea of yours is really ace, really beautiful. Thumbs up from me. GeloMyrtol, hm, I'll check if it's around, thanks a lot! ** Allesfliest, No, you're sick too? I did that ignoring thing for about a day. Well, I'm still trying to ignore it, but it's just super in my face now. Oh, you semi-quoted one of my very, very favorite ever Malkmus lyrics. That helped. Give me a hint, and I'll wrap a favorite lyric of yours around some sentence of mine. ** The Dreadful Flying Glove, Do tell me what you want your prize to be. I'm kind of excited about having an assignment. Really pleased you liked the Boullee post, man. Thanks for letting me know. You know, I like your SPD idea. It's very tender and stuff. I've rarely ever done an overtly emotional and kind of sentimental SPD. That would be interesting. I'm writing it down to take very seriously when I'm in a mental position to make such a serious decision. Thank you! ** Michael_karo, Somebody's got to be NASA. Why not me? You want to be surprised? Okay, and so you will be. Dude, what a treasure! The signed 'Clear Spot', I mean. One of my two or three most favorite Beefheart albums. Not to mention that it has one of my top ten all-time favorite songs in the world on it. I think you know which one. ** _Black_Acrylic, A whole bunch of that energy is beaming your way too, man. There's definitely enough to share and share alike. How are you feeling? ** Pisycaca, Yeah, I so wish that at least one or two of those tombs had been built. Apparently, the only two surviving buildings/works by Boulle are right here in Paris. One is private home and the other is a hotel, I think. As soon as I'm mobile again, I'm going to go have a look. It's kind of chilly warm, if you know what I mean, rather than cold here. How about there? Are you still roasting? Will it be winter/ spring in Argentina when you're there? ** Steevee, Yeah, Yury's loading me up with all kinds of homeopathic cures. He's a bio nurse. You sent me the unedited Noe interview? Thank you so much. I'll go find it. That's awesome and kind of you, Steve! Christian Mistress, totally new to me. I'll seek some samples. ** Eli Jurgen, Now you're sick too? That makes four of us. This is not good. Ha ha, yeah, I have to say that coca cola remedy of yours made me kind of urp too. Love ginger though. You must feel much, much, much better instantly, I command you! Congrats on your first nasty youtube comment. There's no nasty like youtube nasty. I guess because the nasties around there all seem like they're 10 years old. Going to North Korea is a positively inspired idea! Someone should do the tourist thing there, and I can think of no one whom I'd trust more with that responsibility than you. A painting for Plexus? Plexus, do you know there's a painting for you on Eli's blog? Oh, and I'll pass along your generous general offer too. Everyone, the mighty artist/d.l. Eli Jurgen has an offer for you, and I quote: 'ATTN other dlers, if you have an idea of your ideal painting, post a comment on my blog and I will paint it for you. I use my hands.' Guys, you want one of them paintings, so skedaddle. Fyi, your fellow d.l. Kiddiepunk also has a deep love for Hanson, and he's not even embarrassed about it, and nor should either you and he be, I say. ** Plexus, Especially if they were life-size cakes. I mean the same size as the tombs would have been if they had been built. Was that clear? I'm too unclear to know. Bed boats are better than boats. Aren't they? I remember my bed boats were better than any boats on which I've set sail. Although I've only been on two boats, I think, and one of them was the Queen Mary's corpse, which doesn't qualify. Sorry, I'm kind of spaced. Okay, so you want a post that mixes 'pictures of pretty blonde boys' with 'delicious descriptions of awesome soups'? I can do that, and I will do that as best and as soon as I can. Any hints on the 'pretty' thing, or should I decide who's pretty? ** Misanthrope, Then build it. What's stopping you? Money? Who needs money when you have a dream? Oh, yeah, Obituary SPD. That was good. I'll rewrite that down and think about it when I can actually think. Thank you, bud. I'm fading, man. Better trudge along now. Love ya, smarty pants. ** Alan, Hey, A. Oh, well, I'm ready for the not good news whenever you're ready. Know that. For now, your good news is ultra-good news indeed! Do you have any estimate on how long you'll need to fiddle with it? Man, I'm happy for you. Oh, I think maybe I did a 'home' SPD, but it was so long ago that most of the people who hung around here back then probably aren't even looking at this place anymore, and it is a top grade idea. Again, I'll scribble it down and think hard about it as soon as I de-clog. ** Chris Cochrane, Hey, C. Very cool about the 'Them' recordings. You're still going to play live onstage though, aren't you? Man, I hope so. That kind of really made or seriously helped make the show. ** BLAKE BUTLER, Hey, Blake! Awesome to have you here, man. Yeah, the Boullee stuff is incredible, no? Now feast your eyes on my pinatas. How about dem apples? I want to write a novel that's like a pinata, don't you? I'm deleting right now too. I wonder who's deleting more. I'm thinking ... you? ** Inthemostpeculiarway, Hey. Uh, yeah, Yury's taking very good care of me. And since the strike nixed his work day today, it shall continue, I imagine. The tea maybe helped. I guess so. I'm not cured, that's for sure, but probably somewhat. Are those nails called 'French nails'? The French have it all, don't they? That is kind of weird and I guess kind of weirdly nice how that guy tried to shave your friend's name in his hair. Maybe it's like the non-poet way of writing her a poem? That thing with your cat was scary. In a good way. From way over here. Mouth guard? Oh, 'cos of teeth grinding? My day: Nothing much. Sick. Worked on my novel a little. Staggered out to buy food and cigarettes. Drank a lot of stuff and swallowed a lot of pill-like objects. Made arrangements by phone with the people who are going to the premiere with me tonight: Yury, Gisele, Jonathan Capdevielle, Oscar B, Kiddiepunk, Scott Treleaven, and maybe Jean Luc Verna. The strike might kill the metro system, and, if so, we have a long, long walk to and from the theater ahead of us. Listened to some music: S4lem, Perfume Genius, Deerhunter, ... I forget what else. Made a blog post. Watched part of some movie on TV wherein Gerard Depardieu played some historical figure who could play the cello. Checked the pre-strike French news to see what to expect. Surfed the internet aimlessly. Ate my usual dinner more sluggishly than I usually do. Etc. Fell asleep. I guess I'll be able to tell you about the movie premiere tomorrow if nothing else. How did you and Tuesday get along? ** Statictick, That's the spirit, man. Plus, you're typing a lot more than you were, and that has to be good. Nice about the American Mars gig, of course. Oh, no sweat on the slower Porch Rat post, although I greatly look forward to it. Indian summer is fine. We're having Indian fall over here. Take care, pal. ** JW Veldhoen, Okay, we rule. More you than me at the moment. I don't rule nothing. I'm overruled only. This too shall pass blah blah blah. Can't you tell? ** NB, Hi, N! Divine to see you! Yeah, totally, about the tombs, right? Some French guy was trying for a while to find backers to built the Newton one out in the French boonies somewhere, but I don't think that panned out. You good? Any writing going on or anything? ** L@rstonovich, Dude. You saw the big P! I think they're doing a second stroll through Paris, and I think I'm not missing it. Any surprises? Did they do 'Grave Architecture' in honor of my post yesterday? I thought Jared was already in LA. Sherman Oaks? Why in God's name? Oh, it's not so bad. Really, Pavement have a blurb by me on their FB page? That's cool. I'll go see what I said. What's up? ** Tomáš, Hey, man! Great to see you! You're back? You're post-studies? I want to hear your stories. You around? I'm around for the next month or so. Let's do it. ** Changeling, Hey! It's fucking cool to see you! I've been very often thinking to myself, where and how is Changeling? I did read somewhere that you couldn't or didn't like sitting down these days, and I wondered what the hell that was about, but now I know. I'd be your tail bone nurse if I had a clue. Ice pack? No, heat pad? No, ice pack? Yeah, I'm sick, and it sucks, and I'm sick of it. 'Nuff said. Very interesting about your writing-related real world spots too. Would you do a post on your blog about that? Is that interesting? Of course, that chateau you talked about made my mouth water, etc. My novel is kind of counting on the inherent appeal of a place like that. Which band do I like particularly? Yes, I've been reading your new work with my fannish dedication but without the comments to back my admiration up, which is the fault of my novel's attention sucking power, to be honest, but my thoughts are long overdue. Give me time to lose the cloud in my head, and I'll try to make up for lost time. Anyway, man, excellent to see you! ** Destroyed beyond emptiness aka little foal, First, what an alternate name. Pretty. Anyway, hi, Darren! I'm happy to see you. I wish I was in better mental shape at the moment 'cos there's a lot of important, beautiful things in your comment. You know, you could say you want to run away here, and it wouldn't change a thing, and I'm sure your want would be totally understood. Sometimes when you run, the arrival is as important as the departure. But you sound like you've found your way back into Belfast emotionally, right? And that's good, for sure. Can you quit your job? Is that feasible, possible, etc.? 'Cos you don't want to create a stressful situation that might hurt your writing in a new way, you know? I'm glad you missed being here 'cos here missed you. It's only fair, ha ha. Anyway, thanks for what you said, Darren. You're a totally amazing guy and greatly loved, and this place is yours as often as you want, and the more often the better, I say. Anyway, I hope I'll have more of my brain working when I see you next. Tomorrow maybe? Is that too greedy? Whoa, I just refreshed the page before I posted, and your comment has disappeared! Wtf?! I saw it at least. Strange. ** I made it through yet again. I thought a big stack of pinatas was a really good blog post idea for reasons that I hope will be obvious to you. I hope to feel better and maybe even make you feel better tomorrow, ha ha. Anyway, bleah, bye.
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