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A Card For Every Occasion

A friend who is a major dog lover recently called me to let me know her
dog died. She is very distraught. She has pillows with her dog’s image
embroidered on them. A trash can with his face painted on it. Prints of
her dog’s breed on the walls. So I wondered if they made sympathy cards
for lost pets, and sure enough, they do. Whether most stores actually carry them, I’ll find out later today.

Inspirational Quote of the Day

“The woman or man who, being really on the Way, falls upon hard times in the world will not, as a consequence, turn to that friend who offers her refuge and comfort and encourages her old self to survive. Rather, she will seek out someone who will faithfully and inexorably help her to risk herself, so that she may endure the suffering and pass courageously through it, thus making of it a ‘raft that leads to the far shore.’

Only to the extent that we expose ourselves over and over again to annihilation, can that which is indestructible arise within us.”


Karlfried Gras von Durkheim, The Way Of Transformation

Finally Summer

Overnight I went from space heater to cooling fan. And I’m a little too shellshocked to put away the space heater just yet. Not for nothing–it’s supposed to be 60 degrees tomorrow. But even though I am generally not a summer person, I can’t get enough of this weekend’s weather. I actually enjoy being reminded that my body is capable of perspiring in situations that do not involve physical exertion. I’ve missed it.

This morning I found both Diesel and MacKinnon’s to be half empty. That has never happened to me before. I wasn’t sure if it was the weather or the timing–it was about 10:30, and some sort of marathon was starting up, runners with numbers on their backs swarming the sidewalks. But shortly after I entered both places, they started filling up.


Everyone was so friendly this morning. From the smiling runners stretching before their race to the heavy-accented (and likely mafioso) old guys greeting each other in front of Mike’s (“How you doin’?” “How you doin’?”). Funny what a little sun and heat will do for those who have been deprived.

Silver Spring

Tonight I’m off to Maryland for the AFI Silverdocs festival. The word “excited” is not usually one I use when thinking of Silver Spring, but this trip is actually generating excitement. It’s like I get to re-imagine my home town for a new purpose, and it’s like a whole new place.

Amazon Knows Me

Apparently you can download my Errol Morris interview and my Beautiful Mind review, both from Cineaste, on Amazon.com.
Bizarre. Who would want to pay $5.95 for that? And who would even think
to look there in the first place? (Unless you are some bored,
self-absorbed person searching Amazon for your own name…)

Netflix Bottleneck

Netflix finally got a copy of Grey Gardens
and some asshole has rented it so I have a “short wait” before they
send it to me. If you are that asshole, send it back, damnit!

Subway Saviors

Tonight was the third time I have been approached on the subway by a
pair of attractive young Mormon men who want to save my soul. I’m
starting to feel like Ross McElwee in Time Indefinite,
who said that he had an uncanny ability to attract Jehova’s Witnesses
to whatever house he was in–his own or those of friends. Even friends
who have never had a Witness stop by would get a visit if Ross was
there. (And incidentally, I’ve had Witnesses stop by my house here
twice. And there was that psychic who gave me (and only me) her card on
the subway.) Ross wondered if someone was trying to tell him something.
Me too.

Marathon Hair Day

I’ve just had my Judy Jetson stylist consultation. Next Friday I’ll be
spending nearly 4 hours in the salon. What have I gotten myself into.

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