Weekend Update

I haven't done any writing the past week, spent it all with editing, housekeeping, promo preparations and getting ready for GRNW. It's still weeks away, but I started packing. I'm the paranoid type of traveler wants to be ready for every eventuality, over packs, and ends up accidentally leaving behind something essential, like a toothbrush.

I bought me a new backpack from IKEA. It's big, but small enough to be a carry-on. I also got colorful plastic bottles for shampoo and stuff.

That should do it, right? On second thought, what'll the weather likely to be in Seattle in early September? Should I pack an umbrella? A raincoat? Wait, I don't own a raincoat.

On other notes, I've received Dead in the Desert Back from proof read and copy edit, and will spend the weekend formatting it. It'll be ready to sent out for reviews on Monday.

I went to the movies yesterday to see The End of the World. The fire alarm went off, a minute after I stepped inside. Having once worked for a company big on fire drills, I just turned around and walked out. Not so much the other patrons, but eventually they were all herded out.

People don't like unexpected stuff, even the threat of fiery death to mess with their routines and expectations. I vaguely recall an article about a London subway fire where people ignored barricades and walked straight into their deaths. The fire chief got into trouble saying that they died because of their own stupidity.

I obey the fire alarm, because whether there's a fire or not the big red trucks will show up and you'll be kicked off the premises anyway. Am I right?

Wednesday Word: Purlieu

purlieu |ˈpərl(y)oō|noun ( pl. -lieus or -lieux |-l(y)oō(z)|)the area near or surrounding a place : the photogenicpurlieus of the Princeton.• figurative a person's usual haunts.• Brit., historical a tract on the border of a forest, esp. one earlier included in it and still partly subject to forest laws.ORIGIN late 15th cent. (denoting a tract on the borderof a forest): probably an alteration (suggested byFrench lieu ‘place’ ) of Anglo-Norman French puralee ‘a going around to settle the boundaries.’

Just think of purlieu as an alternative to 'hood. It's not hard to use in a conversation either. A gang of green parrots moved into my purlieu, making a squawking racket in the trees.

Vintage Monday: Hello Sailor!

I have a whole collection of these square color photos, and did a research once to find out the brand of camera they came from. Unfortunately, I've forgotten my findings. I should've written it down.

Anyway, this photos seem to have been common in the sixties and then disappeared in the early seventies. They are a good example of color photographs--especially from that time period--being far less archival than black and white. The edge of this picture should be white. However, I have a great fondness for them, despite and because of the color shifts and fuzzy focus. There's something vaguely dreamy about them.

This particular photo is especially attractive thanks to the composition and the colors. The girl in red, flanked by the sailors in white stand out nicely against the blue-gray of the submarine.

Wednesday Word: Squirrelly

squirrelly |ˈskwər(ə)lē|adjective1 relating to or resembling a squirrel : the chipmunks were little squirrelly things.2 informal restless, nervous, or unpredictable.• eccentric or insane.

Isn't it funny that to "squirrel something away" means to save it for a rainy day, yet squirrelly is synonymous with being nutty?

On a totally related note, Pink Squirrel Press presents:

In this collection you'll find five summery tales from both sides of the Atlantic.

Vintage Monday: Alternate Form of Transportation

Check out the workmanship that went into that carriage. This goat cart was not a spur of the moment lark. My favorite part is how patiently the goat stands--he's a fine animal.

Vehicular Weirdness Day

Sometimes out of nowhere life turns into a low budget movie, with Tarantinoesque inspirations.

Earlier today some of my facebook friends linked a news article about a car crashing into and destroying a (minor) local landmark. Later I went to see a Shakespeare play in Griffith Park and while we waited for it to start an older gentleman sitting nearby read an article from the local newspaper to his wife--the article was about the same accident. Turns out he knew the driver of the car. He told about it to his wife. Interesting coincidence.

I left the play during intermission because I was getting cold. As I was driving down a mostly empty street in my usual leisurely manner a car passed me and cut in front of me so close I had to step on the break to avoid hitting it. It was an old, beat up piece of shit. At first I assumed it was a case of bad driving. I caught up with the car at the next stoplight and then we got going again. And that's when I started to get suspicious. I kept an eye on the car in the rearview mirror and saw it change from the right lane to the left and get behind me. I changed to the right lane, and next thing I knew it was coming up fast on my right. I instinctively slowed down and drifted left. There was a sound and then the other car sped off, taking the nearest right turn. It dawned on me that I just narrowly escaped an insurance scam.

The first move was the "swoop and squat," the second the "sideswipe." Apparently it's a popular scam, but I have no idea why they picked me--my car is neither new, nor expensive. During the second attempt they managed to hit the right front tire of my car. I guess they weren't brazen enough for a third try. I'm sorta pissed now, but I'm also filing the experience away for possible use in a story.

Vintage Monday: Fun with Walls

I wonder why this never caught on.