More Gossip

I was saddened to read that Jennifer spent a lonely holiday without Vince, her latest boyfriend.

Robert

Today was the day that our sweet Robert went into a home. “Home” being a euphemism for “not home.” I suppose the right thing to do would be to call Joy and ask her how it went, but I am weak of heart and not sure that I am ready to hear the details. I just heard from Robert’s son that after visiting a home (maybe the very home in question) he asked Joy, “If I am good, can I stay here and play with my friend?” That is, he wanted to stay at his real home with his friend (assistant/caregiver) Justin.

A hard thing about your dog getting old is learning to separate the ticks from the moles.

A few Christmas Observations

Noah, my great nephew or grandnephew – I am not sure which – open’s every present with a gasp and says, “Oh, my very own clothes,” or “Oh, my very own Robot.” When he gets something and doesn’t know what it is he gasps and says, “Oh, my very own ‘this’.”

My niece and nephew were bathing yesterday afternoon and the nephew said, laughing, “I have my finger in my butt.” My mother told them that they should not talk that way. The niece said, “We are in the bathroom. It’s okay to talk like this in the bathroom.” I suppose she was thinking of potty talk.

Make that two Christmas observations.

Is the music for “I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus” so good that it warrants an instrumental version? Because I thought the song was dependent on the titular line “I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus.” It’s kind of like a comedian humming the tune of a joke. I guess it could work if its an old joke.

Did you ever have one of those mornings where you woke up in Kewaskum but you were sure you went to bed in Wauwatosa?

Breakfast

Luke says presentation is one of the more important considerations when serving a meal. He says a little color can make all the difference in the world. I do not know why these words are underlined.

Pen Yan

I do not remember what this boat smelled like, but it reminds me of Dave who worked in a boat shop across the lake from Pen Yan, New York. Pen Yan is the boat’s brand. The green Johnson would suit this boat well.

Sea Horse

When I was your age I loved the smell of the gas/oil burning when a motor like this was running. They say smell is a strong memory trigger and this time I think they are right. Once, when I was about 6 years old, I fell asleep in class and woke up to what I thought was an outboard motor running. I lifted my head from my desk and realized I was in school and that the motor I had heard was from a passing car. I hated school and loved summer. I still love summer.

Ivy Leaguer

I’ve got this friend whom I’ve known for years and one day he was talking to me about how great the school I went to was: great tradition of education, old, famous, ivy covered walls. I finally asked him what school I went to. He said Harvard. I had to break it to him that I did not go to Harvard. Then I told him that it is a good thing I didn’t go to Yale either or I’d be offended. Then a couple of years later, I heard him talking to his girlfriend about me and the fact that I attended Harvard. I guess he forgot. This time I figured, “no harm no foul,” and let it stand. It could be just me but I feel I get more respect from the two of them than I would if I hadn’t gone to Harvard.

Winter

It is so cold here in the Midwest that there is almost no temperature. At least that’s what I heard on the news: the temperature is near zero (with wind chill). To me the colder it gets the more temperature there should be because the cold is such a physical thing. I feel like I am walking through a lot of degrees in Milwaukee and Chicago when there is almost no temperature.
Click for a taste of spring.

Ektachrome

Kodachrome

I like the look of Kodachrome

More Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving, Northern Wisconsin

Could This Be True?

How can we be sure? Is this something that is measurable? I, for one, am skeptical. But that's healthy right? The scientific method relies on skepticism.

Another from the Ewing archive.

Bird Dog?

This picture is by a Ewing (Perhaps James' father) taken sometime in the 50s or maybe the 40s. It was taken somewhere near Mt. Shasta, California.

Cat Hunt.
Here is a quote from the article linked above:

The proposal, which was raised five years ago and voted down by the Conservation Congress, was revived after a 2004 University of Wisconsin study that found non-native feral cats were a threat to native animals such as lovebirds.

There is not a bird called a lovebird native to Wisconsin. Lovebirds are Parrots native to Africa. But cats would kill them if they could.

Birding Chicago

Walking by a semi public garden in the West Loop, I stopped to see what birds were chirping. I was not surprised to see White-throated Sparrows. They seem to be the only sparrows in Chicago other than House Sparrows (which aren’t technically sparrows anyway) this time of year. Maybe Chicago is the fall home for White-throated sparrows. All the birds started to chirp with urgency when a Kestrel (sparrow hawk!) landed on the garden’s flagpole.

Taffy, Annie, Cottonwoods

Philosophers Corner

Derrida on Sienfeld:

"You should stop watching sitcom and do your homework; read."

D&D

Dunkin Donuts coffee with cream and sugar tastes like what coffee candy would taste like if coffee candy were warm and liquid.

Which reminds me of the Producers, which was originally a film about a Broadway show, then a Broadway show about a Broadway show and now a film based on a Broadway show about a Broadway show.

Is Dunkin Donuts coffee a coffee about a candy? The candy, we know, is a candy about coffee. If Dunkin Donuts made a candy based on their delicious coffee then my comparison would be flawless.

Tip of the Week

Our show is a New City Tip of the Week.

Capote, not Coyote

This evening at The Oriental I saw a film called Capote – similar to coyote but with a p sound in place of the y sound. The Capote in the movie did not look hungry like the coyote in Death Valley, but at times he looked equally miserable.

But what interested me early on in this film was something else. It was a scene in which Truman enters a train compartment and there is a woman who I immediately identified as Harper Lee. And it was. I do not know how I knew it; I do not recall knowing that T. Capote and H. Lee were friends or colleagues, but somehow I knew. Furthermore, I do not know what Harper Lee looked like or looks like, so if Catherine Keener looked like her I wouldn’t be the one to tell you. Also, I did not know the Nelle Harper Lee and Truman Capote were childhood friends, or that her first name was Nelle. I loved To Kill a Mockingbird, both the book and the movie.

Din Din

Cooked: I did.
Recipe: One bratwurst and a tablespoon or more of spicy mustard. Cook Bratwurst until burnt on two sides.
Dishes: I will.


Presentation is a big part of cooking. I chose the yellow saucer for its relationship to the mustard. The mustard is presented in what in the culinary arts is known as a “bulls-eye" presentation. It is considered a bold move and should not be overused.

Karaoke, I Mean Coyote

This mangy coyote was asking as politely as it knew how for a handout. This poor, pathetic canine resides (if indeed it still resides at all) in Death Valley.

Okay Karaoke

I had actually never done karaoke before Friday and not just because it is hard to find the Fat Boys, Pearl Bailey and whatever else I said that I am partial to singing. Most people have to be pretty drunk to sing Karaoke; well, I do not drink. So when people say “I’ll do it but I have to be drunk,” I agree, “I’ll do it too, but you have to be drunk.”

Karaoke

When it comes to Karaoke, I have a few requirements:
I always bring my own microphone; a headset mic like Madonna and Brittney Spears use. That way my hands are free to play air guitar and for some of the more complex dance moves. Also, I am fussy about the songs I will sing. Two songs I am particularly fond of singing are, “A Man is a Necessary Evil,” by Pearl Bailey and “In Jail,” by the Fat Boys. I enjoy the challenge of "being" each Fat Boy: Mark “Prince Markie Dee” Morales, Daren “Buff the Human Beat Box” Robinson, Damon “Kool Rock Ski” Wimbley.

Famous People are Great

Yesterday I saw the "meat guy" from Strangers With Candy. He was Jerri Blank’s stepmother’s lover. Other famous people I have seen include Kristen Johnston or Johnson from Third Rock from the Sun, Harvey Keitel from various movies, John Baldisarri from the art world, Ken Fandell – also from the art world. If you are famous and left out of the list but know that I have seen you, please do not take it personally; perhaps I am just not a fan. It is important to me to see famous people or to know people who know famous people or to know people who know people who know famous people. It makes me feel close to greatness. I can regale my friends for minutes with stories like how a friend of a friend walked her dog with Kevin Bacon and his dog.

This Week's Social Calender, for last week

Social events in Chicago that, if you weren’t there, you probably missed: A party with a real live DJ - times 2!! Where was it? Wouldn’t you like to know? I’ll give you a hint – West Grand Ave, upstairs. Who threw it? Nice try. When was it? S-A-T-U-R-D-A-Y - night. And the night before that; an intimate get together of sophisticates, intellectuals and academics in honor of yours truly.

Lordy, Lordy, Look Who's Forty

Me.

Like you, I am a loser

I must be one of the 295,734,130 unluckiest people in the country! Why me, I mean us? Once again I lost the lottery (Powerball) - I mean we. This time the stakes were much higher, $340 million. That money was going to go a long way toward my early retirement. If I had never played the lottery and if I had kept the money I would have somewhere around $5.00. And if I did the smart thing and invested that $5.00, at %2 APR - I would have a little more than $5.00 in a few years.

Personality Test

I do not usually do this but I found this personality test that is amazingly accurate. It doesn’t even have questions, just multiple choices. Some of the choices seem unrelated but once you see how the test is evaluated it will all make sense. Well, I’ll just let you take it and then later I will tell you how to evaluate it.

1.

A. Ford Ranger
B. Toyota Tacoma
C. Chevy S10

2.

A. Labrador
B. Pit Bull
C. Pug

3.

A. Law & Order
B. Law & Order: Criminal Intent
C. Law & Order: Special Victims Unit

4.

A. Winter
B. Summer
C. Sourdough Pancakes

5.

A. African American
B. Black
C. Negro

6.

A. A. Hitler
B. W. Wordsworth
C. D. Earnhardt

7.

A. Igneous
B. Metamorphic
C. Sedimentary

8.

A. Fall Colors
B. Snow
C. Thunder Storms

9.

A. Damian Hearst
B. Patty Hearst
C. Tracy Emin

10.

A. Wedgwood
B. Waterford
C. Spode

Told you I was older than you, or did I say richer?

I am in the midst of the last week of my 30s. Is there something that one can do in his thirties that he cannot do in his forties? If so, let me know fast so I can do it. Someone recently told me one thing - what was it - oh yeah, see. The film department secretary told me that her eyesight declined when she turned 40. The possibility of an eye-test crossed my mind while I waited all morning at the DMV. I did not find out if I needed one though because I had to leave before my number was called.

I'm speechless

Not frostless.

A.J.'s Birthday

Happy birthday (yesterday) A.J. Happy shoulder surgery too.

Deadbeat

While driving to Chicago Wednesday night, it suddenly hit me that Robert is no longer part of my daily (weekly, monthly) life. Even though he is old enough to be, Robert is not like the father I never had. In some respect, even though he is too old, he is like the son I never had. I feel like a deadbeat dad. Not really, I just miss him.

Karaoke

When it comes to karaoke I have a few requirements:
I always bring my own mic – I’m not risking a case of bird flu (H5N1) for the pleasure of singing a few songs.
And I only sing certain songs: Big Papa by the Notorious B.I.G.; anything by Sinatra (the RCA years), and You Remind Me of My Jeep by R. Kelly.
I like the beginning when Mr. Kelly sings:
“You remind me of my jeep
Girl you look just like my car
Something like my bank account . . .”
If a lady is not flattered by those sentiments then maybe the lady isn't worth the trouble.

My Neighbor

My upstairs neighbor plays the drums and does not sleep. He is up at all hours. I mentioned this to Luke who said, “Maybe he works all day.” What’s the opposite of graveyard shift? Playground? "You'll have to forgive my noisy neighbor, he works the playground shift." Even though it makes no sense, that was my first thought too, “Gee, that guy is up all night, maybe he works during the day.”
He also plays bass and maybe guitar and drags heavy objects across his floor.

Hurricanes, Earthquakes, Wars, Teaching

This morning I woke up in a melancholy mood and then I turned on the radio: one disaster after another – I hadn’t heard about Stan until this morning.
Meanwhile in Iraq, Ann Garrels, on NPR, was asked about the recent slow down in violence. She mentioned that five men were found this morning, handcuffed and with a single bullet to their heads. She said, “That’s a daily occurrence in these parts my man,” (not in those words). It reminded me of the months after September 11 when I’d turn on the radio and hear about nothing but the threat of terrorism and other related stories. Even on Fresh Air. I couldn’t wait to hear something as mundane as a critique of a television show.

$140.00 Bike Ride

Luke and I went out with our Eddy Merckx bicycles to the Great Western Trail. We unloaded the bikes from the truck and I stuck my wallet, keys, and spare key (it was in the wallet) in the glove compartment. Then I locked the door. Then I called a locksmith. The first locksmith that directory assistance hooked me up with was not even in the same state as my locked truck. The second one was not happy with my description of our location. He repeatedly asked for an address. I repeatedly told him that there was no address, we are in a parking lot for a trail. Eventually he agreed to send a locksmith. He said 20 minutes; we waited about an hour and called a different locksmith. This one kept saying, “What part of Chicago did you say you were in.” I thought I made it clear that we ware not in Chicago. He said that a locksmith would call me and that it was very important that I answer the phone. I am still waiting for that call. I tried AAA but the first locksmith finally called and interrupted that call. So he came, asked me if I was clear on the price. I said, yes $55.00. He said it was $55.00 for the service call and $89.00 to unlock the door. My silent question was, “What service does the $55.00 cover?” Who would ever pay a locksmith to come and not unlock the car? “Hey thanks for looking. So I was right, it is locked isn’t it?”

Have you read the news?

I was just talking with a good friend about self-promotion and the difficulties some of us have with it. It feels like bragging and when you are as awesome we are, bragging seems redundant. I know what you're saying; there is some truth in sarcasm. Please do not read sarcasm in that sentence.
But my point is that thanks to you our book is number one.

Film Criticism

When the film, "E.T." came out I was among the first few hundred thousand to see it. I went with my brother and sister-in-law at the Del Oro theatre in Grass Valley, California. After the film and much blubbering, my sister- in-law said, "That was better than 'The Graduate'," and she loved "The Graduate." Maybe it was the special effects (kids flying on bicycles) in E.T. that knocked "The Graduate" off of its throne.

I tried to find an article comparing "E.T." with its predecessor, “The Graduate” but failed.

Happy Birthday

On October 4, 1926, my father was born.
A few years later, on October 4 (I wont say the year), the artist and personal friend of mine, Pam Larson was born.

I Have Always Relied on the Kindess of Friends

Although I am richer than I’ve ever been; before I could finish writing that sentence I realized that the richest I’ve ever been was the summer before I went to college; I did not have much money but I had no dept. (Do two semi-colons make a colon?). But my thesis remains the same. Although I have a higher paid job than I’ve ever had, I do not have any money. I do not want to get in to the particulars because talking about salary and such is crass. I will just say that I make more money than you, you, and you, but not you, you or you either. If not for the kindness of friends I would be embarking on a lean and miserable month. Thanks friends.

Best Seller

Our book, Big Ten Co-eds, Preppy Girls and the Lost Cheerleaders, is a top ten seller at Photo Eye Book Store. And it hasn’t even come out yet.

All Work and No Play Makes Jon a Dull Boy, Luke Too

What am I doing here? Good question. You thought we would be in Northern Wisconsin fishing for Northerns and Muskies by now. Last night, around midnight, I had to make a decision: keep driving North and watch Luke get sicker and sicker or drive back to Milwaukee and send Luke, Jen and Sister back to Chicago.
So anyway . . . hmm? Oh, Luke was stressed out about our show (Oct. 28, 2005, Bodybuilder and Sportsman Gallery, Chicago, Il). As soon as we turned around the old Luke was back, laughing but feeling a little guilty about spoiling our trip to Manitowish Waters.

My Desk

This photograph is of my workspace. I keep my analog writing tools on the left and my digital writing tool and entertainment on the right.

My House

This is my house. I tried to pretty it up with some mums. To me, Fall is mum season.

Taffy at The Lake

Here is another photo I found while looking through my negatives. This is my dog Taffy. She lives in California.

My Friend

While looking through my negatives I found this one of Robert and me. I miss him. We were both kind of left leaning and I think that helped in creating the great relationship we had.

Todays Trip to the Lake

Please take the time to check my link list now and then. It could really help my bottom line. New Catalogue has a new blog. Check it out for updates and behind the scenes photographs.

Our Book

Rumor around town is that our book is selling like hot cakes. Its not out yet but a friend very close to the publisher warned us that we might want to tell our friends to pre-order the book if they want a copy. Click on the title of this post to order the book from Photo Eye in Santa Fe. Goodnight.

Hip Smelly Fonzarelli

I found a hip café with free WiFi and its called HiFi and that rhymes (or those rhyme). The café is in the hip area known as Bay View, a mere twenty-minute drive from my house. The smoking situation is the same as in the two cafés that I reviewed in my last article. Either I have lived in places with anti-smoking ordinances for too long to remember what cigarette smoke smells like, or there is a smell common to Milwaukee restaurants that I do not like. Part of the smell is surely burning tobacco but I cannot put my finger on the other part of the smell. If I may compare the smell to sound I would say it was a high-pitched smell, like a car alarm heard from a distance. It’s probably just cigarettes.
The café is for the rockabilly crowd. If Fonzy still lived in Milwaukee he might hang out here – but come to think of it, Fonzy hung out with mostly nerds. Fonzy had the unique talent of living in both the world of nerds and the world of hoods. The classic argument that The Fonz relished his position as the big fish in the small pond by befriending Messrs Cunningham, Malph and Webber rings true with this observer.

Complaining

At the moment I am thinking of two areas where Milwaukee has failed me. One is that the cafés that offer wireless Internet charge for it. Node, the café that I am in now, charges $2.00 per hour; the only reason that I am still here is that I ordered my coffee before I saw the $2.00 per hour sign. The other failure is that smoking is allowed in restaurants. “Allowed” may not be strong enough a word - “expected” seems closer to the smell. I may have to give up and leave this smelly establishment. This place (Node) stinks but Fuel is a hipper café closer to my house and is much worse. People complain about California and its strict environmental and health laws but soon everyone else will be dead and Californians will be happy and healthy eating Avocado tofutti in smokeless restaurants and drinking Free Trade Coffee in smokeless cafes and running on organic treadmills in smokeless gyms and killing their flat screen televisions by humane methods in smoke fee environments.

Dude's Back

Dude came back after three nights and two days of freedom. That proves what I’ve been saying all along, birds like living in cages. Pam, dude’s caretaker, put her (Dude is a her) cage out on the back porch and Dude landed on the trellis. Pam put her hand out and Dude got on her finger and came back in the house.

By the way, Dude does answer to "Dude." During Dude's rambling Pam would walk the neighborhood calling her name and Dude would chirp in response.

Rocker

This is my new chair.

Dude, Missing

If you are in the Boston area and see a budgie (or parakeet to the layman) that answers to the name “Dude,” please post a comment on this blog with you email address. Dude my not actually answer to Dude or anything else.
Dude was last seen in Jamaica Plain.

Lunch time, yesterday

On my way home from yet another day of work, I stopped by a Middle-Eastern restaurant (*a gyro joint), and ordered a schwarma (which in this case was a lamb, yogurt and veggie sandwich on flatbread). After eating for a few minutes, a man who was seated in a comfy chair smoking a hookah suddenly got up, put his hand on my shoulder and offered me a cup of mint tea. It was a delicious cup of tea. He sat back in his chair but immediately got up and took the sugar from the only other occupied table in the room and poured some in my tea. Then he disappeared behind me for a few moments only to reappear with a sprig of fresh mint, which he placed in my tea.
That is the kind of service I appreciate. I would actually love a restaurant that the customer enters, finds a seat, and a friendly person approaches and offers whatever they happen to have. ”Hey, you wanna try these spring rolls? Randy just made them. They are lovely.” And then she comes back after a short while and brings the customer a glass of homemade mead, whatever that is. I know it has something to do with honey. And so on until desert.
A barbershop or salon like that would be good too, except it would be haircuts instead of food.
But I would not go to a dentist that operated that way.

*Please tell me how to pronounce that word. I ordered one in Boston once and asked, …”yeero? Is that how its pronounced?” The woman who took my order, a Greek woman said, yes. Then she yelled over her shoulder, “One gyro!“ pronouncing it like gyroscope.

Shower

Last night:
I feel like I should have a shower, not take a shower but have a shower thrown for me so people can bring gifts like towels, sheets, a nice set of kitchen knives, pots and pans, a KitchenAid. So today I registered at the following stores: Bed, Bath and Beyond, Williams-Sonoma, and Barney’s.

Just a moment ago a tall, attractive blond women walked into my house. I was happy to have a visitor until she asked for Justin. I said, “I left that dude in Albuquerque.” But what I really said was, I think you must have the wrong house. And then I told her that she was my first visitor.

This morning:
Speaking of showers but this time taking showers, mine does not work. I decided I'd take a bath instead but there is no plug.



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Sunday's Model

rowley
Originally uploaded by Jonathansadler.

Another photo shoot this weekend. We thought we’d teach this guy a little lesson about trust. Lesson #1. Who can you trust? No one. And # 2. Don’t get caught with your drawers down.

Coincidentally, this gentleman has a split-cane fly rod.

Hydro

hydro
Originally uploaded by Jonathansadler.

I’m not one of those guys who are into fast cars, for instance I think NASCAR is for republicans – the poor ones. (I’ve got nothing against poor republicans except - forget it, the list is too long). I am not interested in racy looking motorcycles either. But for some reason I love these little, wooden hydroplanes. And the “some reason?” It’s because I grew up on a lake with these little boats. My buddy Chris had one called “Skua.” Skua is my favorite hydro of all time. The engine was so big that the driver had to lean forward over the bow to make it plane. If there was a passenger, she (the passenger was always a she, like the girl affectionately known as "The Girl in the Purple Bathingsuit") had to sit on the bow so the driver had to lean forward over the passenger to make it plane. I had a hydro that I never got a motor for and my cousin Clyde traded it for a late ‘20s Johnson 10 Hp Seahorse.
Something about the fall makes me think about summer. Luke and I are dreaming about getting split-cane fly rods.

Toad

toadgirl
Originally uploaded by Jonathansadler.

There are toads in the Midwest too.

Labor Day

meatbeach
Originally uploaded by Jonathansadler.

This is a poor picture of me at the beach on Labor Day. I'm the one in the foreground.

This one needs no title

shoes
Originally uploaded by Jonathansadler.

Here is a picture of my shoes at work.

Little Savior

I saw a bumper sticker that said, "Try Jesus," but I thought it said, "Tiny Jesus." When I realized what it really said I said, "Oh, 'Try Jesus,'" as if that clarified anything. But Tiny Jesus makes as much sense as Try Jesus to me. So if you would like a “Tiny Jesus” bumper sticker let me know.

My Adidas

my adidas
Originally uploaded by Jonathansadler.

Today a panhandler said to me, “Don’t look so sad; just think, you could be in my shoes.” So I went out and bought some new shoes. But before that, I reflected on the fact that apparently I look sad when I am trying my best to look neutral. But what can I do? When I see a person walking down the street alone and smiling it makes me feel uncomfortable because smiling to your self is kind of like talking to yourself. I am trying to learn to raise the corners of my mouth but not too high. If I’m not careful I’ll look annoyed or – I hesitate to use the word crazy- unstable? Whatever it is I do not want to look it. If you want to put someone in a bad mood tell him to smile or better yet ask, “What’s wrong with you?” If you want to put someone in a good mood, wear these shoes. (Although a woman almost threw up when she saw me try them on.)

Katydids

The "crickets" that I mentioned earlier were shieldbacked katydids (family Tettigoniidae, subfamily Decticinae), scientific name: Anabrus simplex Haldeman or "Mormon Crickets." But I call them simply, "Crickets of the Church of Latter Day Saints." I've heard that the Church of Latter Day Saints, the Mormons, is the fastest growing religion. Do the Crickets count? Because I do not think it's fair if they do. They are lowly insects with little free will. They should not be forced into a religion that they may or may not understand.




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A Birthday

Stephen
Originally uploaded by Jonathansadler.

The child pictured is my brother I believe. If the photographer were to ask for advice I would kindly give it to her/him as I am a photo teacher. But he/she has not asked and I am fairly sure the photographer is no longer with us. I am positive the man is my father, also not with us, and the woman is my mother. She is in California. August 29th is my brother’s birthday. Happy Birthday Big Brother.

Why am I still awake?

We drove from Jackson, Wyoming to Chicago in two days. “We” are Pam and I. In Jackson we visited Oona who took us to Grand Teton National park where we heard elks bugling.
But what really interested me was the giant crickets in Idaho. We saw them running across the street and they looked like small mice. I tried to pick one up but it was eating a grasshopper and it occurred to me that if it could eat a grasshopper it could bite me. There is a possibility that it was not eating the grasshopper but was just standing on it. You know how that is, sometimes it looks like you are eating something but you are just standing on it?

Which reminded me of a few days previous. I was driving north on Highway 14 in New Mexico and as I rounded a corner there was a tarantula crossing the street. I tried to swerve but I needed to swerve left to avoid the spider. There was a car coming toward me on the left - I had to decide - me and the person in the oncoming car or the spider? It was a split second decision but you know the result. I backed up my Taurus to checked on it just in case. The tarantula almost made it; I only ran over the head.

Book review: The Notebook by Nicholas Sparks sucks.

Fish

fish
Originally uploaded by Jonathansadler.

Back from fishing. This is all I caught. Or bought. I realized after getting there and buying a one day fishing license for $14.00 that what I really wanted to do was hike. A man from Albuquerque named Justin, I know - not a “man’s” name, met me at the lake on Sunday. He had never fished and it was a joy to show him the ropes. “That’s right, put your finger through the ring and pull back. Well done!” Justin’s a quick learner.

I leave tomorrow.

Gone Fishing

Diddy? He did.

I realize, as I am sure you do, that Cabin is lacking in political and pop cultural content. Today I read a news story that I could not ignore: P. Diddy dropped the “P.” His name is Diddy now. He said the “P” was getting between he and his fans. He also said that all of his former names were confusing even himself and that it took too long to explain who he was when he called someone. I admit if someone called me and said, “Hi, Jon, this is P. Diddy,” I would wonder who it was. If someone called and said, “Hi, Jon, this is Diddy,” I would say, “Oh, hey what’s up Diddy.”

Produce

produce2
Originally uploaded by Jonathansadler.

Thought you might like to see the results from my garden.

Untitled (no subtitle either)

The internet no worky in Albuquerque – at least not at our house in Albuquerque. I had to go to the Flying Star to check my email.
One thing I think we can all agree on, whether democrat or lowly republican, doctor or lowly mechanic, professional athlete or lowly amateur, is that Milwaukee is easier to spell than Albuquerque. Not much easier but easier. Do you think I’ll get more mail when I move? I do not think so but I do not blame the spelling of city names. I blame the Internet. I moved to easy to spell Boston after the Internet was pretty well established. I did not get tons of mail in those days. Sadly this missive offers no answers to the lack of real letters in my real mailbox. My address? Yea right. Next thing I know I’ll be getting offers to buy stocks from companies no has ever heard of delivered right to my house. Not this time bialzibub333x2!

Diane had a suicide, maybe.

Diane?
Originally uploaded by Jonathansadler.

Somehow Diane ended up about three feet from the pond. It reminds me of the David Sedaris story, “Get Your Ya Yas Out,” about his Greek grandmother. Her gold fish jumped out of its bowl and Ya Ya says, “He think to have a suicide,” and “Why he have a suicide?” I am not sure how Diane died. Was it a suicide? We may never know.

Times, Dimes

This afternoon I overheard a couple of laborers talking to a carpenter about wages. The general consensus was that they weren’t getting paid as much as they would have a few years ago. I decided to throw in my two cents: “When I was your age you could get two nickels for a dime. Now it’s the complete opposite; now you need two nickels just to get one dime.” I think that helped put things into perspective.

undisclosed

undisclosed
Originally uploaded by Jonathansadler.

Please excuse my lack of entries over the past few days. I have been in an undisclosed location. The attached photo is the only hint I can give of my whereabouts. Okay, one more, the location is on the West Coast in the Sierra Nevada. And the building that I occupied was not Internet ready - nor was it electricity ready or phone ready. In other words the building, the cabin, was not ready. Hopefully it never will be ready.
And in other news, I did get the job in Milwaukee. Of course this means I will be moving to Wisconsin and leaving my beloved Robert in Albuquerque. I already left my beloved Taffy the yellow dog in California. All of which reminds me that Robert and I need to eat lunch.

Baby Carrot

carrot#1
Originally uploaded by Jonathansadler.

I picked this little carrot a few moments ago. I couldn’t resist. Yes, it is just a baby. A delicious baby.

Jerry

jerry
Originally uploaded by Jonathansadler.

Here is a picture of Luke’s father. We were out target shooting in the desert in Western Idaho. He died this morning. I only met him once but I will never forget the experience. Luke and I drove to Idaho for his sister’s wedding but first Jerry managed to round up the family, a sizable amount of guns and ammunition, and take us to the desert for a day of target practice. We shot at plastic gallon jugs full of water. Water would come out of the hole so we knew whether or not we hit the target. It’s hard to see a bullet hole at 300 feet. We also shot bottles and cans. After a few hours of shooting, Luke’s brothers and nephews and in-laws went home. Luke and I had planned on camping that night. A while before sundown Jerry said, “I am going to go home and get some steaks and some more ammo and spend the night out here with you.” He came back with a tent, lawn chairs, a BBQ, steaks and more ammo. It was pitch dark by then. He drove his car up to where the targets were and aimed his headlights so we could continue to shoot in the dark. In the morning he loudly admonished his poodle for breathing too loudly (or some such offense) saying, “BE QUIET. YOU’LL WAKE THE BOYS. TOO BAD THEY'RE STILL SLEEPING; THEY'RE MISSING A HELL OF A SUNRISE.” Two seconds later we got out of our tent and Jerry said, "You just missed a beautiful sunrise."
He’ll be missed.

Idaho

I am in Chicago. Luke left this morning for Boise. His dad is not doing well and is not going to get better. I do not know what more to say, what I should say, or if I should say more. A guess the point of this post is to let Luke know that I am thinking of him and his family.
Luke, you are like a brother to me and I feel like I should have gone with you.

Interview

Some of you are aware that I interviewed for a job today. It was in Milwaukee and, you’ll be happy to know, I was the tannest one in the room. It was really no contest.

Kehlsteinhaus

alpine_cough
Originally uploaded by Jonathansadler.

Here is a picture from our recent trip to Europe. This is an Alpine Cough, a member of the crow family. This picture was taken at the Eagles Nest or Kehlsteinhaus, high in the Bavarian Alps. This teahouse was a birthday present for Adolf Hitler who is famous for being evil among other things. These birds apparently fill the niche that House Sparrows fill in lower altitudes – that of begging for food at outdoor cafes.




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Music Appreciation

I am in my house listening to records (Queen, Sheer Heart Attack at the moment).
During lunch today we were talking about people we had known who had been in a coma and became Christians afterward. I said, “That’s when Jesus strikes, when you are at your weakest.” *
As we left the restaurant, J. noticed Robert still had his napkin in his hand. It was a linen napkin. I tried to get it and he said, frustrated, “I’m taking this to UCLA. Every time I have a banana . . .” He trailed off and I can’t recall what else he said but he was not going to let go of that napkin.

Now I am listening to Beethoven: Symphony No. 7 in A Major, Opus 92. I know what some of that means. “Beethoven” is the composer. “Symphony,” I think, implies that it was written for a large ensemble and “A major” must be the key. I am not sure what Opus 92 means. Is that part of the symphony? In other words, did the orchestra just play a section of a larger piece?

*To you Christians out there, that was not meant to be offensive - just an observation on how your savior operates.

Bat

batt2
Originally uploaded by Jonathansadler.

I found this bat on the side of Highway 14 Sunday afternoon. Are you starting to think that my interest in natural history has gone too far? Perhaps too many dead animals?
My other question is, do you or any of your friends know what kind of bat this is?

Lee Friedlander

Friedlander-Self_PortraitPS
Originally uploaded by Jonathansadler.

This is for Mr. Holmes. I understand your indignation. My fault. Here is a picture of Lee Friedlander by Lee Friedlander. This photo alone does not explain why he is one of my favorites. My admiration of Lee’s work has developed over years of study and a picture, being worth a mere thousand words, must therefore fall short.

Party

This evening we (the ABQ family) went to a party in Santa Fe. The occasion was an event that I did not understand completely but Photographers and curators from all over were there. On the way there we stopped for gas. I tried to explain to Robert that we were just stopping for gas and would be leaving shortly so "please stay in your seat." He started to try to climb out from the confines of his seatbelt (without unbuckling it) so I tried to put it back on. I was seated behind him. Robert grabbed my hand with his superhuman strength and angrily said, “Your Fat!” I did not take his anger personally because I figured he didn’t know who I was. I think the “Your Fat” comment proves it. Because I am not fat. Maybe a little chubby or “big boned” but not fat. (This writing was just interrupted when I heard the quiet whine of water pipes. I followed the sound to the source: Robert had decided to get out of bed and take a bath. He was very good though. I coaxed him out of the tub and he stood perfectly still with his eyes closed while I blew his hair dry).
The party was lousy with women who remembered Robert from the good old days. Men too, but the women were all over him. We sat with Lee and Maria Friedlander. I think I may have been inadvertently photographed by Lee. Incidentally, he is one of my favorite photographers.

Obituary

Sphinxandblack
Originally uploaded by Jonathansadler.

Left: Black-chinned Hummingbird, deceased.
Right: Sphinx Moth, also deceased.

The hummingbird hit a window I think and I believe the moth died of old age.

The moth is survived by a whole bunch caterpillars from eggs that were probably laid here and there while migrating north.

We can hope that Mr. Hummingbird had no family. Otherwise there will be some fatherless hummingbirds and we have all read the statistics on single parent families. Sure it can work but its not ideal.

Not the Best Gardener in the World

nightbeast
Originally uploaded by Jonathansadler.

Last night, after watching the Tour De France, I realized I hadn’t watered the garden. It was dark so I put on my headlamp and found this gopher walking around. He kept heading to my feet so I went in and grabbed my camera. He seemed to not see me because of the light shining in his face. This is one of the reasons I am not a great gardener. A great gardener, I think, would have smashed this guy with a shovel. I followed him around with my camera and then, when too many bugs were drawn to my headlamp, said, “Goodnight little enemy.”
Another reason I am not a fabulous gardener is my aversion to killing bugs. There are these lovely little grasshoppers for instance. They come in several colors including bright green with red and a nice cream-colored variety. They could be the same kind - the color depending on other circumstances. One thing I do know is that they are nymphs; they haven’t developed wings yet. See? I am more interested in the grasshopper itself than in its habit of eating the leaves of my plants. I am getting better though. I kill cucumber beetles between my thumb and forefinger. One thing I will not do is resort to spraying.

Randy and Diane

randydiane
Originally uploaded by Jonathansadler.

I bought these fish for my little pond yesterday. Unfortunately, I cannot find them today. I haven’t given up hope completely but there was an animal near the pond last night and it was huffing at me. It was dark so I could only make out its vague shape. I fear it may have been a fish eater. On the bright side, there are plenty of good hiding places in the pond so hopefully Randy and Diane still there.

Albuquerque, New Mexico

toadpond
Originally uploaded by Jonathansadler.

Back in Albuquerque and, in case you were wondering, Robert did recognize me. I walked into the house around 6:00 AM and his wife said, “Jon?” and Robert jumped out of bed saying, “Where is he?” And when he found me he hugged me with his head pressed against my chest saying something about not believing I found him. Then he asked the following questions: “Who did you bring with you?” looking at the dogs behind me; “Did you bring your girl.” And “What’s that,” pointing to the air purifier. Then I offered the following answers: “Some dogs;” “I don’t have one,” and, “That’s an air purifier.”

And a toad moved into the pond. Before I left I put 12 mosquito fish in the pond. When I saw the toad I figured he'd eaten them. Maybe he did, but there are about a hundred more to take their places. These fish are prolific. Not only that but notice the plant next to the toad’s left hand - the water hyacinth. When I left there was just one; it has quadrupled in three weeks.

Chicago, Illinois, USA

We are back in the United States, the most powerful country in the world. I think that is what I missed the most while in Europe – the power. I admit it was nice lording my country-given power over the Europeans for a while but its good to be back.

Ceske Budějovice

We find ourselves in Ceske Budějovice with two days left in Europe. I know what you are thinking, why are they leaving Europe the day the Tour de France begins? I blame the timing of the Prague Biennale.
Last year I bought my beautiful bike around Tour de France time and a certain wonderful woman that I work for asked me, "why not enter the race?" It seemed like a good idea but it also looks pretty hard. A month later the Olympics were on and we were watching swimming. The same wonderful woman, having known that I took swim lessons the previous winter, told me that I should swim in the Olympics. I can swim several laps with only short rests in between. I wish I had her confidence.

Maybe I will write about Europe when we get home.

Veinna

This neighborhood seems nice to me and I do not know that I should think otherwise just because the hotel is surounded by brothels. Word on the street is that the Veinese prostitutes cost the most and the price drops with different nationalities. One might do a study on race and class issues based on the price for sex in a given neighborhood or city. One might.

Venice has a Biennale too

I am writing from Italy and my template is in italian. For instance "tamplate" is "modello" and "post" is "impostazioni."
Our room or "camera" is nice but once again Luke and I are sharing a bed. Since leaving the USA we have had separate beds once - bunkbeds at a friend's apartment in London.
We are in Venice looking to compare its Biennale with the one in Prague. Yes, there is one in Venice too. If it turns out to be of any interest I will report back.

London

I sat in the front of the plane on the flight over which was lovely. I was the first bloke off the plane besides two other blokes and a bird. So really I was the third bloke to deplane. Luke and I are staying with a chap named Graham. Brilliant of him to put us up. We are both pretty nackered so we are going to hit the sack. Tomorrow we are going to a cricket match.

Cheers

Prague

Luke and I are at the National Gallery in Prague. The show looks good. I took up cigar smoking. Its pretty cool. Its possible and even legal to smoke Cuban cigars in Europe. The only problem is that even the good ones stink and cause cancer. Fidel Castro even quit. Maybe I'll consider quiting. Its just not that easy.

cover

cover
Originally uploaded by Jonathansadler.

Luke and I leave for Europe today but first I thought I'd leave you with the cover of our forthcoming book.

Robert Big Self

bigself
Originally uploaded by Jonathansadler.

I found more signature practice. I'm sure that while he was trying he asked, "Me?" and someone said, "Yes you." So, “Robert Yes You” was born. I do not know how Robert "Big Self" happened.

Power 2 Dogs

sign
Originally uploaded by Jonathansadler.

Robert was asked to sign his name this morning. This is the result.

garden

garden
Originally uploaded by Jonathansadler.

And here's a view looking southeast from the garden.

now

now
Originally uploaded by Jonathansadler.

This is what my garden looks like so far.

then

then
Originally uploaded by Jonathansadler.

This is what my garden looked like after planting.

Europe

lilly
Originally uploaded by Jonathansadler.

I’m going to Europe in a few days –again. I know what y’all are saying. Y’all are saying, “Lucky Jon gets to go to Europe all the time." But look what I am leaving behind. And it just bloomed yesterday.