Happy Hat Trick ...

Stopped by a friend's house tonight and she surprised me with a cool journal featuring images from 'Goth-Icky' and an awesome book of depressing songs by Tom Reynolds. (Thanks, K!) When I got home, my September issue of Mojo had arrived complete with another great Mojo CD release, 'The White Album Recovered' no. 0000001. October should be bringing no. 0000002. Not a bad way to wrap up a Monday.

Reading in 2008 ...

Reading. A good way to start the new year. Last year was such a blur I might have found my way through a couple books. Here it is still January and I've finished 2 books that have been on my books-to-read stack for awhile.

The first book I finished reading this year was Fargo Rock City by Chuck Klosterman. Why didn't I read this book sooner?! A fantastic read that brought back plenty o' memories as well as provided some great music commentary. I wasn't into metal - went more the the punk, goth, alt route - but had plenty of friends who were and fondly remember watching back-to-back videos full of spandex and big hair on MTV before going to class. Moving Chuck's other books up on my to-read stack.

After Fargo Rock City I moved on to By George by Wesley Stace. While it might seem an odd segue, there is a connection ... one book written about music, the next written by a musician (some of you may know Stace by the name John Wesley Harding).

I started By George last year - having picked up the book immediately upon release - but, due to my own series of unfortune events, I was distracted from finishing the book. Returning to the pages this year, I found myself drawn in by the characters and the connections between the two boys George. I continue to think about the people, the family, the connections ... and am looking forward to both JWH's next album and Stace's next novel.

Hmmm ... what to grab next from the reading stack ...

Literary Death Match ...

Ah, another great way to get out of 'work week' mode and into a creative space. I went to Opium Magazine's Literary Death Match at the Swedish American Hall in San Francisco with friends on Friday night. Absolutely fantastic (and not just saying that because of the superbly tasty free No. 209 Gin).



Readers: Round 1: Evany Thomas (McSweeney's) v. Wesley “John Wesley Harding” Stace (Swink)
Round 2: Gary Kamiya (Salon) v. Daniel Handler (Opium)
Judges: New Yorker editor Ben Greenman (Literary Merit), Shaun Landry (Performance)and Oscar Villalon (Intangibles)

The final round ... a game of 'Opium' (Horse) between Wes & Daniel. Handler won by a point.


Making a note to catch more of Litquake in '08 ... off to go read more of 'By George' now ...

Secrets Revealed ...

When the 'straight job' takes over and there doesn't seem to be enough time (or energy, or brain power, or whatever) to create, I make sure I'm at least reading a good book.

The latest? Totally hooked on 'The Secrets of Rusty Things' by Michael deMeng.

I pre-ordered a copy (sight unseen) after taking a class from Michael at Artfest earlier this year ... so worth the wait!

I've always been a fan of mythology. When I was a kid, and it was time for our class to visit the school library, while the other kids went for the latest on sports or ponies, I went for books on mythology (Greek, Roman, Norse ... whatever I could get my hands on) or books on the Beatles (but that's a different post). So, imagine my joy to get a book full of insight into using found objects to create cool things inspired by various myths and legends. Not to mention the fact that the artist has a great sense of humor and it surfaces in his writing (ah, pop culture references, thank you very much)

It's late, I have work tomorrow ... time to go read more secrets ...

(you can also find 'secrets' on amazon ... but you won't get the extra cool goodies you'll get when ordering from The Artist Nook)