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August 21, 2003

Post-Blackout

Still in New York, post-blackout...


I tried to update this weblog two days ago, and just as I was about to finish a really long entry, the computer crashed. But at least it wasn't another blackout. If I'd been at my "real" home, back in Boston, it wouldn't have affected me; as it stands, though, I'm still housesitting for the lovely Mary Jane Skalski (producer of the Mysterious Skin film) on the Upper West Side of NYC.


On THAT day, I was hanging out in the East Village with my friend Tony Knight. We started noticing (a) none of the streetlights were working, and (b) the lights in the Starbucks were kaput. Gradually we realized what was happening. We went into Dick's Bar and hung out with 12 or so guys, all of 'em over 50... they drank and told their conspiracy theories and drank some more. That night it was sweltering and the city was weirdly darkened and shushed. Scott Savaiano & his friend Eldin arrived and we walked around the city for a while, then slept (or tried to sleep) on Tony's roof.


Since then I've been doing a lot of freelance work. Basically this means proofreading a hellishly large Star Trek manuscript for my freelance employers. Tough to do my own writing when I have to spend hour after hour on Klingons, Cardassians, Ferengii, and the rest.


Prince Gomolvilas, I owe you an email!!!


In movie news, this Sunday they ended their shooting schedule. Mary Jane reports that other than a few brief scenes of Neil (ie, Joseph Gordon-Levitt) on the New York City subway, their shooting is basically done. Now Gregg will start with the editing, I presume. The Mysterious Skin page on imdb.com continues to grow a little bit each week.


Brady Corbet, who plays Brian in the film, is also currently starring in the movie THIRTEEN, which I think starts this week in some cities.


I saw a skateboard/car accident this week at Union Square and it's stuck in my mind forever, I'm afraid... primarily because the guy had a compound fracture, and it was the first time I've ever seen a shinbone literally jutting, bleeding, out of somebody's leg. I nearly puked.


The new records by The Zephyrs and Broadcast are what's in my cd player this week. Also, I finally bought myself a present: a 30 GB iPod. Unfortunately, my Mac can't run OS X, so I'm going to have to wait a while to actually enjoy the damned thing.


All of my favorites on BIG BROTHER 4 have been booted, so I think I'm rooting for Jun now. And although I kinda like the Clowns the best on the Amazing Race, they're gone too, so I'm sticking to my gay brethren and hoping for Reichen & Chip.


Speaking of TV... I'm in love with Kennedy--you know, the one who used to be an MTV veejay. She now hosts this show on the Game Show Network, FRIEND OR FOE, and it's worth it just to watch how snappy she is.


Enough.


Zzzzzz....

Posted by at 02:03 AM | Comments (0)

August 14, 2003

Insomnia

INSOMNIA!!!


Still in NYC, housesitting for Mary Jane Skalski, who's producing the Mysterious Skin film. Haven't heard too much from the west coast, where everything's being filmed at present, so I feel strangely removed. Nearly every day, though, there's a new name added to the spot for it on the imdb.com site. I'm getting a little obsessed with looking at the page.


I finally bought an iPod, but was distraught when I realized with the new model I'll need OS 10.2 on my Mac, so I guess it's back to the computer store tomorrow.


The novel is at a standstill, mainly because I've been taking on a bunch of freelance proofreading jobs. Supernatural romances and Star Trek novelizations. Not exactly the stuff that makes me want to rush to the computer and pound out something creative after I've finished reading.


I owe nearly everyone in the world an email.


Time to go search the medicine cabinet for a sleeping pill.

Posted by at 01:46 AM | Comments (1)

August 12, 2003

Silent Twins

I can't believe how f@#$ing long it's been since I made an entry.


I will enter a "real" weblog posting later tonight, I swear it! But only after my night of TV watching is over... Big Brother 4, Boy Meets Boy, and Queer Eye for the Straight Guy are all ready to go.


I recently saw a pair of twins, in twin strollers, waiting on the sidewalk as their trashy mom made a payphone call. They were spontaneously singing the same notes, making the exact same strange noises at the exact same time-- unplanned, etc-- one of them would try out some strange sound or series of notes, and the other, simultaneously, would mirror the sound or the notes. Then the second would try another series of sounds, and the first would mime those sounds right along with her twin. It was one of the strangest things I've seen in ages. They were totally telepathically communicating. The mother wasn't paying a smidgeon of attention but I was transfixed. It reminded me of one of my favorite nonfiction books, THE SILENT TWINS by Marjorie Wallace, which I wholeheartedly recommend.


I'm back in NYC, housesitting again until the end of August. It's so unbearably humid here. Walking feels like swimming in a muddy stream.


The new Zephyrs record, A YEAR TO THE DAY, is fantastic and I can't stop listening to it.

Posted by at 07:23 PM | Comments (0)