slow graffiti's blog

ahem ...

nobody@vox.com(slow graffiti) — Mon, 28 Apr 2008 22:52:11 -0400

... so, I think maybe I'm going to start making appearances again. I dunno. I have a lot of internet haunts that preoccupy me. Only lately I have been feeling absolutely none of them. But, I miss writing. And I like doing it here because I just sort of verbally meander without an audience or expectations, and there's something sort of reassuring about that.

Of course, that means that does mean that if I want to keep this thing interesting, I have to make entries that aren't so damned meta all the time.

That, though, is sort of what bloglines and the like are for, no? Original content is made so much easier when you can just steal links from other people and make the force the "original" by adding a few base comments from your own little head. Or something. It's worth a try at least.

Thus, these, pictures of the auroras are pretty fabulous. And the time is terrific, because I just started reading Neither Here Nor There by Bill Bryson, which begins with his journey to Hammerfest to check out the Northern Lights. I'm not sure if I've said it here or not, but seeing them are on my pretty short list of things to do before I die. Ideally from Iceland, but that's just a romantic notion and I'd pretty much take them however I could get them. I can still remember the very first time that I ever heard about them, in some children's book I read when I was like eight. Surprisingly, it was a chapter book, fiction, in which one of the characters was named Aurora after them. And thus, a lifelong fascination began.

I have been a fan of Carrie Brownstein for, um, not quite that long, but my devotion to her could have been more hardcore, at it's peak. Although, that wasn't a devotion to her personally, per se, as much as it was to Sleater-Kinney. And even though I will continue to be bummed about one of my favorite bands breaking up (although credit where it's due: they did it with class), but her newish gig as a blogger for NPR is almost making up for it. This week she has had excellent posts on Madonna - and really, I couldn't agree with Miss B. more on the subject - and the guilty pleasure she takes in waching the Bachelor. I cannot admit to the Bachelor thing. Although I've been suckered into more reality television programming than I care to admit, I never got into this one. But I'd be totally lying if I said I wasn't in front of the tv, watching the finale of Big Brother last night. So I, you know, won't say that.

Finally, I really want to make these carrots. At some point in the more recent past, I discovered that I really, really like cooked carrots and these sound delicious. Before I cook anything though, or even, like, make ice cubes, I need to do some dishes. Which, honestly, I've been meaning to get to all night and have yet to do so. Now, maybe.

Read and post comments | Send to a friend

shucks

nobody@vox.com(slow graffiti) — Fri, 14 Sep 2007 03:37:59 -0400

oh, poor neglected vox blog. whatever did you do to me, to make me love you so little? it's not you, it's me. i swear. and it isn't right, really, because every time i do visit, i suddenly remember why i liked you so much in the first place. but then i don't log on, and keep not logging on, and then i simply forgot. it's heartless and unforgivable of me, but there you go. i could tell you that, in the near future, i will be different. better. more loyal. the girl, no woman, that you always knew i could be, as you believed in me more than i believe in myself. but probably i would be lying. and you'd know it, deep in your pretty little heart. such an old story.

nevertheless. one never knows. maybe i mean it this time.

Read and post comments | Send to a friend

Vox Hunt: I See You

nobody@vox.com(slow graffiti) — Sun, 18 Feb 2007 18:11:49 -0500

Show us your eyeball.

jenn - eyes

Submitted by Cassie.

Read and post comments | Send to a friend

look at me not sleeping

nobody@vox.com(slow graffiti) — Sat, 20 Jan 2007 04:47:44 -0500

Somehow, in the last hour or so, when I was trying unsuccessfully to get to sleep, a wee bit of snow came down. Which, by the end of January in New York city shouldn't be remarkable enough to note, but it is. Alas, just now I tried to take a picture of it - when it's fresh and unspoiled by the many feet that will soon trample it and turn it into dirty grey slush - my efforts failed miserably. Must study use of camera. I'm quite sure that with all the bells and whistles on it, there is a way to take good night pictures, but I'm not quite up to figuring it all out right now. Besides which, I'd then have to hook it up and transfer ... which I've been meaning to do because there are other photos on there to post, at least to flickr if not here.

And really I ought to be sleeping, even though I suspect I won't. I'm thinking maybe it's all-nighter time, and perversely I'm a little thrilled by that, since I can't remember the last. Besides which, it might not even count, because I did sleep a good deal of Friday away, including one "nap" from five to a bit after ten, which stretches the definition. I was supposed to do something tonight too - go to the sort of girlie cocktail party that people who don't really know me seem to think that my life frequently consists of, because they've seen such things on tv, or read about them in chick lit novels. The reality is so far from that. And today, I feel like I'm on the edge of sickness - there's definitely something going around, in the circles I sometimes travel in - and sleep was oh so enticing.

Thus, my day off was a lot of sleep and a bit of tv, and finally finishing up The End of Mr. Y, which I pretty much loved, except for the ending. Like the Bookslut reviewer, I'm going to pretend like the epilogue doesn't exist. Also I cleaned, although not enough. Tomorrow, or rather today, in a few hours, I'm supposed to work. Which is why the all-nighter thing is probably not the greatest idea. Saturdays are always so slow though. Because I'm not at my regular location, I never know what to do with the hours that I'm not on the reference desk. Even if I bring some work with me, it feels like I can't really accomplish anything and frankly I'd rather be on the desk the whole time, except for maybe a few breaks. Otherwise I feel like I'm just killing time and pretending to do stuff, which then makes me feel a bit dodgy and guilty. Also, working with a different group of people seems to take interpersonal communication skills that I don't necessarily want to bother with. Oh well; maybe I'll be pleasantly surprised.

Read and post comments | Send to a friend

QotD: The Big To Do List

nobody@vox.com(slow graffiti) — Wed, 03 Jan 2007 21:27:56 -0500

What's on your "do before I die" list?
Submitted by Caroline.

for as long as i have known about them (which i think was upon reading some long forgotten chapter book in elementary school where one of the characters was named after them) at the top of my list has been to see the northern lights. later, when i got sort of into bjork and iceland, it was ammended to "see the northern lights in iceland." recently, i was very disturbed to read some travelogue about a guy who went to iceland and when he asked to go on the northern lights tour, was told that the weather hadn't been optimum for seeing them there for ages ...

in any case, that's how my list begins. how it continues, i'm a bit more hazy on. there are many things that i would like to, but few things that seem absolutely necessary for me to do.

Read and post comments | Send to a friend

let's play catch up

nobody@vox.com(slow graffiti) — Fri, 29 Dec 2006 15:11:24 -0500

I have the day off today, as I am working tomorrow, and it seems that I am mostly going to spend it cleaning and playing online. Not a terrible shock, and as the holiday season is always hectic, it isn't exactly unwelcome. I went back to Ohio for Christmas, and because I couldn't get vacation days, it was a super quick trip - in very late Friday night and back to New York on Monday. It was a fantastic time and I looooved being able to see all of my family, whom I miss terribly. Since I had to go right back to work on Tuesday, though, seems like I haven't had time to just relax and breathe a bit, which is where today comes in. I slept in and have been listening to the radio (I love you XM!) and it's been nice. Soon I shall go do dishes and clean the apartment a bit more thoroughly than has been done in awhile. Which will be good too, not only because I hate the mess but because I've always found the cleaning process a bit cathartic.

Before that though, as I am feeling type-y, I thought I would scroll through the vox archives and answer some of the Questions of the Day that I missed. I am bad a regularly logging on here and posting, something I sort of wish to change. If I were a believer in New Year's resolutions, doing so might be one of mine. The questions are probably my favorite part of vox, and maybe the photo hunt will go along with that, since I want to start using my pretty camera more. So, we'll see.

In the meantime, here are a few answers that I've missed giving these last few months.

How do you take your tea or coffee?

I wish that I liked tea, because it seems like such a cozy thing to drink and I like the idea of putting the kettle on and snuggling down with a cuppa, but I really don't. Maybe I should try it some more and it will grow on me, as I can't imagine that I was instantly a fan of coffee when I started drinking it (which I do believe happened when I was in college). I do so love my coffee though, and tend to take it black, no sugar. Preferably iced. In general, I'm just not a fan of hot beverages. Which could also go a ways in explaining my reluctance to embrace tea. Although I do love hot chocolate ... Anyway, back to the coffee. I can drink it with milk or sugar, but generally don't like to. I like it strong and bitter. I find it very interesting that, here in New York, people think you generally odd if you drink it this way. I can't tell you how many clerks in coffee shops give you looks - and even ask you questions like "Really? Are you sure?" if you say no to milk and sugar. Sometimes I like to get a shot of syrup in the coffee, usually raspberry. I also enjoy mocha cappucinos and other fancy starbucks drinks, but don't get those so often.

What are your superstitions?

My boyfriend teases me that it is a fine line between superstion and o.c.d. Thinks that I might clarify as the one would be seen by someone else as the other. Thus, thinking not about quirks that may seem slightly obsessive-compulsive and limiting myself to traditional superstitions, the one that I am most consistent about is knocking on wood, which I do frequently. I also pick up pennies. And while I don't avoid sewing on Sundays, when it's necessary, I invariably feel a little guilty about it.

What books did you love as a child?

Oh, so very many. I was hugely into Nancy Drew and other syndicate series books, like the Dana Girls and Trixie Belden. I loved the Beverly Cleary and Judy Blume books, like practically everyone (even still today - I love it that I am always having to replace these books at work because so many kids read them). For a long time, my favorite books was The Westing Game. I loved all the Katharine Patterson books, especially The Great Gilly Hopkins and Bridge to Terebithia. Where the Red Fern Grows. Mr. Popper's Penguins. Remember Me to Harold Square. The Anne and Emily books by L.M. Montgomery. Going back earlier, Are You My Mother? is the picture book (although it's really an Easy Reader) that I remember adoring and reading over and over again.

What is your favorite board game?

Scrabble. It's a classic for a reason, and remains the one that I play most frequently. We also play a lot of Yahtzee, although technically there's no board with that one. I love Trivial Pursuit, Monopoly, Life and Clue, although Trivial Pursuit is the only one of thse that we play even a bit. Scattergories is always a good time. I haven't kept up with new games that much, although I really enjoyed the few that I played at parties - like Apples to Apples and that one where you build train lines, the name of which I don't remember. In general, I adore board games and when I was younger my sister and her family would come over and we would have "Family Fun Night" which frequently involved playing games. It may seem sort of cheesy, but I always loved those nights and they are some of my favorite memories.

Top 5 Tv shows of 2006?

The show I've been most into this season is Bones. It's one of those shows that sort of creeps up on you and is much better than you expect it to be, even though it doesn't get tons of buzz. I am still very loyal to Veronica Mars - although I haven't been as into this season as in past ones - and The Gilmore Girls - which I know lots of people are critical of and think has jumped the shark, but I'm actually enjoying this season way more than last season, which I just thought was so Not Good. The Office is probably the only comedy that I look forward to watching. Um, that's only four, so for the fifth, pick the guilty pleasure reality show of your choice - Top Chef, Project Runway, Big Brother, etc.

What song gives you the most holiday cheer?

Fairytale of New York. It's Christmas (Baby Please Come Home). Silver Bells. Winter Wonderland.

What were you afraid of as a child that seems silly to you now?

That my entire family would be replaced by pod people when I wasn't paying attention. Seriously. I think I must have seen Invasion of the Body Snatchers at a fairly young age, although I don't recall doing so. Just the fear, which I never realized was probably inspired by said film, until I saw it with a friend during the college years.

What is your favorite cover song?

Recently, I Want to See the Bright Lights Tonight, as covered by Sleater Kinney.

What tv show was cancelled way too soon?

Well, I have the Freaks and Geeks and Wonderfalls DVD sets for a reason.

These answers are getting shorter - must mean it's time to sign off and clean, no? Thus, I'll just offer one more, which seems a good sort of summing up one -

How did you pick your Vox name? Does it mean something?

I wanted to choose a name that was a little more annonymous than previous online monikers I've had. When I signed up for Vox, I was listening to a lot of Belle and Sebastian - they're sort of one of my go-to bands. The depth of my affection waxes and wanes, but it never goes away completely and sometimes verges on mania, when the mood is right. Slow Graffiti is not my very favorite song by them, but it is on my favorite ep (This is Just a Modern Rock Song) and I'm very fond of it. And, it sounds just interesting enough, even if you don't know the song. And if I were inclined to get very pomo and analytical about it - which I've never been tempted to do until this very moment - blogs are sort of like technical graffiti; and I am quite untimely about it, as the very existence of this post proves. So, there you go.

Read and post comments | Send to a friend

QotD: Mistletoe Kisses

nobody@vox.com(slow graffiti) — Sun, 17 Dec 2006 19:55:57 -0500

Who would you like to kiss under the mistletoe?
Submitted by EmmyAngua.

I somehow doubt that this holiday season will find me under any mistletoe. I don't think that it ever has, and there are no plans for shenanigans in any place that it might hang. But then, I don't quite need the sprig of fauna for an excuse, and all of my kisses these days are for him.

Read and post comments | Send to a friend

QotD: Bring Back the Snack

nobody@vox.com(slow graffiti) — Fri, 25 Aug 2006 18:45:09 -0400

Are there any snacks, food or candy that are no longer made that you desperately miss?

I know that when this topic comes up, those of my generation (approximately) tend to bemoan the Jell-o Pudding Pop. In fact, that's how I found out about this question of the day - another blog friend posted that particular missed treat. And I readily cop to being quite the Pudding Pop fan, back in the day. But they did bring them back a year or two, at least in certain areas. But I'm not sure it took, because I haven't seen them lately. Then again, the grocery store where I usually end up shopping (albeit begrudgingly) is pretty unreliable. They tend not to have the same frozen treat selection on any two different shopping trips. Just recently, when I had strep throat I bought the best Superman tie-in popcicles there, that I've yet to see again.

However, as good as the Pudding Pop was, when it comes to pudding-centric treats, I would much rather see the return of Pudding Pockets. I was obsessed with these when I was younger and would make them all the time. I particularly remember this one summer, when I think that virtually all I did was make/eat Pudding Pockets and play Clue. For those not fortunate enough to be in the know, Pudding Pockets was a box cupcake mix and at some point you added pudding to the middle of the concoction, so the end result was something like a Hostess cupcake, but with pudding instead of cream. They came in a variety of flavors, but my favorite was yellow cupcakes with chocolate pudding. Recently I have tried to concoct my own version of this, with your standard, readily available supplies, but so far I have not perfected it to the point that my nostalgic cravings are satisfied. It is a worthy experiment, however, and I will press on.

I also really, really liked Pac-Man cereal . It was sort of like Lucky Charms, only much tastier. Of course, if they had ever come out with Ms. Pac-Man cereal, it would've been even better.

Cereal

Read and post comments | Send to a friend

QotD: I Just Made That Up. Only, not really.

nobody@vox.com(slow graffiti) — Thu, 24 Aug 2006 19:20:41 -0400

Remember sniglets? Do you have any favorites? Have you ever made up your own word? (Now's as good a time as any.)

Yes, I remember them. One year, someone gave me a word-a-day calendar with them on them.
No, I do not remember any favorites.
And no, I tend not to make up my own words. That I am aware of. I believe in the Oxford English Dictionary. Like a lot. I think it's one of the most amazing things ever and I wish I still had access to the electronic version of it.

Read and post comments | Send to a friend

To make more of idle hours

nobody@vox.com(slow graffiti) — Tue, 15 Aug 2006 12:42:19 -0400

Usually - and I hate to admit it, but it's true - I'm pretty bad at maximizing my weekends and/or days off of work. Take today, for instance. I didn't sleep the entire morning away (somewhat of a rarity) and upon waking I had definite ideas as to what I might do. The two leading contenders are/were laundry, which I need desperately to do and visiting the American Museum of Natural History, which I've been meaning to do for awhile. Thus far I have done neither, although I've consumed a lot of coffee, caught up on internet stories and written at length about periodicals. And, it's not like I've given up. I'm quite convinced that by the end of the day, I will either have clean clothes to wear to work tomorrow or a newfound appreciation for the wonders of nature. But it sort of bothers me that it takes me so long to get in motion.

And, too often, my days off are spent not being well-utilized at all. I sleep and putter and tidy a bit and before I know it, it'll be early evening and, hey, maybe I haven't seen that episode of the Simpsons that comes on in fifteen minutes (not likely).

But, did you ever see that episode that begins with all of Springfield going to the botanical gardens to see the Sumatran Century flower? Because this past Sunday, I did make myself utilize the day off, and I did exactly that. Well, the botanic garden I went to was in Brooklyn and it's actually called the titan arum or, commonly, the corpse flower. And, unfortunately, by the time I got there it didn't smell like rotting death. It was, however, a really gigantic flower and pretty fascinating to hear about.

corpse flower

As you can see, my camera lens was a little dirty, which is why it's kind of blurry. But, those are normal-sized people walking around, and the corpse flower dwarves them. It's a shame I'll probably never be walking through the wilds of Sumatra and see the plant in it's natural habitat, because I bet that's pretty awe-inspiring. Apparantly it was a lot more open on Friday, when it first bloomed - also the time when it smelled like a corpse. Maybe in four years, when it will hopefully bloom again.

In any case, that was the first time I'd been to the Brooklyn Botanic Gardens, and it's really a pretty cool place, so I'm glad for the opportunity to have checked it out. And only five dollars to get in, so I think I'll be going back. It's huge, and on the edge of Prospect Park, which I've always been fond of. I didn't linger too much, because I was supposed to be meeting people afterwards, but I walked around enough to know that I want to explore it more. I especially liked the Shakespeare Garden and the lily ponds.

flowers

lily pond

Afterwards, I caught the bus to go to McCarren Pool, where I was meeting D. and her fiance, to see one of the free shows their putting on there this summer. The bus ride was direct, but extended, and looking out at Brooklyn as it passed by gave me the opportunity to do some Borough pondering. When I first thought about moving to New York, I was pretty convinced that I was going to live in Brooklyn. With my job being where it was, I ended up in Queens, somewhat reluctantly. I've grown to appreciate Queens and do feel that it's really pretty underrated (as probably are the other boroughs, but I don't know Staten Island and the Bronx enough to speak of them). And I love my apartment and my neighborhood.

But, there's still just something about Brooklyn. I was theorizing about it with D., and I think it stems from the fact that, prior to becoming part of New York City, Brooklyn was it's own city, and a pretty substantial one at that. Because of that, it has a coherence, a history, and a collective identity that Queens lacks, perhaps because Queens was just a bunch of towns strung together. I like how the result of that is that in Queens, your neighborhood is very much your link and on my mail I get to write Kew Gardens, NY instead of Queens, NY. I miss the history and the urban quality of Brooklyn though. Or, I guess, miss the idea of it. Another comment I made when D. and I were talking is that (generalization alert) Brooklyn is for people who would like to be living in Manhattan and Queens is for people who would like to be living on Long Island. I know it's not true across the board; I for one would opt for Manhattan over Massapequa any day of the week, but it is the feeling that one gets.

Back to Sunday, though. I actually only stayed a little while. I really like the McCarren facility and am glad that it's suddenly getting so much use, despite the controversy. It's unlike any other space I've ever been to and I'd like to go to some of the not-free shows, but they're way too expensive. It was incredibly crowded and I was starting to feel achey. If I had been more into the bands, I might've stuck around, but it was difficult to maintain enthusiasm for groups I wanted to check out, but didn't already love. Here, I will avoid making snarky comments about hipsters, because that is just so easy and such a cliche, but will comment that there are some sartorial choices that just shouldn't be made, no matter how clever or edgy you think that it is.

Thus, with a slight headache, I made my way back down to Grand Avenue and hopped on the bus back home. The ride was nice, and I got a lot of reading done. At the store I stopped for popcicles and Vitamin Water, because I'm all about popcicles and Vitamin Water right now. The evening was, I think, just like any other and thus beyond much comment. I don't know that the overall utilization will inspire me to make the most, from here on out, of my not-working days. And besides, sometimes you really just need those days where you never change out of your pajamas. It did make for a nice Sunday though, and that's enough for now.

Read and post comments | Send to a friend