Sunday, September 18, 2005
I have found a new sort of noise.
I live in a neighborhood where no car was built post-1995, yet they all have car alarms (that go off frequently). Across the street sits a business with a small parking lot. The parking lot has no trees, yet they still hire a man with a leaf blower three times a week. The incredibly loud leaf blower man starts his job at 7am and it takes him at least an hour.
This morning I heard the random plucking of strings. I looked out my window into the alley, and saw below, a well-dressed man with ponytail holding a ukulele. He plucked at it tentatively – like it was the first time he had held it. He studied it. Tucked under his arm was something in a paper bag. I asked myself the following questions: “Why is a well dressed man holding a ukulele? Did he just find it? What’s in the paper bag? And why o’ why is he doing all this in the alley below my window?” He played this instrument without rhythm or musicianship for two minutes. He then pulled a 40 oz. bottle of beer from the paper bag and chugged the remaining contents. Pony-tail man then kindly found the closest trash-can and sat the bottle on top.
Surprisingly, the ponytailed-well-dressed-ukulele-beer-chugging-possibly-homeless man was still only the second oddest person I'd seen in my new neighborhood. There's still the guy in the park who walked his pet rabbit on a leash.
It will take some time to become familiar with all of the sounds in my new neighborhood.
And some high quality ear plugs.
I live in a neighborhood where no car was built post-1995, yet they all have car alarms (that go off frequently). Across the street sits a business with a small parking lot. The parking lot has no trees, yet they still hire a man with a leaf blower three times a week. The incredibly loud leaf blower man starts his job at 7am and it takes him at least an hour.
This morning I heard the random plucking of strings. I looked out my window into the alley, and saw below, a well-dressed man with ponytail holding a ukulele. He plucked at it tentatively – like it was the first time he had held it. He studied it. Tucked under his arm was something in a paper bag. I asked myself the following questions: “Why is a well dressed man holding a ukulele? Did he just find it? What’s in the paper bag? And why o’ why is he doing all this in the alley below my window?” He played this instrument without rhythm or musicianship for two minutes. He then pulled a 40 oz. bottle of beer from the paper bag and chugged the remaining contents. Pony-tail man then kindly found the closest trash-can and sat the bottle on top.
Surprisingly, the ponytailed-well-dressed-ukulele-beer-chugging-possibly-homeless man was still only the second oddest person I'd seen in my new neighborhood. There's still the guy in the park who walked his pet rabbit on a leash.
It will take some time to become familiar with all of the sounds in my new neighborhood.
And some high quality ear plugs.
Wednesday, September 07, 2005
Being that I like to both write and draw, I'm a sucker for sketchbooks and pens. I have an infinite and diverse collection of both, despite being highly particular (my left-handedness has made me quite picky about my pens due to potential smearing). Recently, I added a new sketchbook to the collection. I'd been suspiciously eyeing the Moleskine line for a while. It advertises that it was the choice of Picasso and Hemingway. While seeming to be an attractive endorsement, it made me leary since it appeared like a trendy line (and they were also on the pricey side). But I bought in, and picked up their large sketchbook. Thus far, I'm lovin' it. It's a fantastic product. The sketchbook itself has great heft (it has to feel good holding it in your hand). The covers are rigid, and the pages smooth and thick. The binding allows every page to be folded out perfectly flat. My only problem is that the paper doesn't absorb water (it sits orphaned on top like the paper was a tarp) so I have to forgo watercolors. But it makes me excited to draw, which is the best compliment an art supply can be paid.
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