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Archive for June, 2008

People like to break things.

Monday, June 30th, 2008

I went back to Governor’s Island with Erin to take down the typewriters and of course it started downpouring the minute after we rented our bikes. In other words, our asses got very, very, very wet. Erin came prepared and had an entire outfit in her purse. Literally her purse is the size of a wallet and she busts out with a whole wardrobe of clean, dry clothes. She probably had like a 20-piece Chicken McNugget meal in there too. That reminds me a of a dude on the ferry wearing a shirt with a hotdog inside of a heart and it said LIPS AND ASSHOLES. I couldn’t tell if it was a band name or if he was celebrating Gay Pride weekend, or if he was saying that he actually likes hotdogs in the real I-like-eating-lips-and-assholes way. Confusing statement. But awesome shirt nonetheless. Anyway they ended up closing the island a little early. Rosalyne (THANK YOU ROSALYNE) also came to help me carry the shit off the island. If you see Rosalyne give her a hug. She loves getting hugs from strangers.

Anyway I had put a little sign on the typewriter tables saying, hey buddy, write whatever you want, just leave the paper in the typewriter. So of course, everyone tore off the paper. Also they jammed the keys, messed up the ribbons, and worked the lever on the Sears Tutor so hard that the spring broke so now the lever doesn’t work. The worst though, was that someone was messing with the ribbon and then WIPED HIS OR HER HANDS ON THE WALLS. There were like black finger print smears on the wall. I wanted to die. Dude. Look at this house. It is old. It is historical. It is pretty. It is pretty because people do not use the walls as a napkin. Dude, use your CLOTHES. Don’t use the damn walls. Don’t be a dick.

Over the weekend there was the Olaf Eliasson opening, the arts crap, and also a SWIMMING RACE around the island. It’s like they really, really, really want people to visit Governor’s Island. And it worked. Everyone I know pretty much went there for the very first time, which is cool. Anyway swimming in any river that goes through NYC seems…toxic. Like you will get all kinds of diseases. However, if you survive it somehow, you will never, ever get sick again. Your immune system will be like hah, encephalitis? I SURVIVED NEW YORK HARBOR, NATCH. On the ferry Erin and I were chatting with this fella who was convinced that the Harbor water was cleaner than the tap water because “there are many drugs in the faucet water.” Like you know, people go into the john and shoot up or snort a rail and then pee or do a big-kid sitdown and then all that winds up in the water system and heroin and coke are apparently not filtered out. I was like shit, son, I should drink more water. It’s one of those situations where you just shrug. I like shrugging. It is a good way to end conversations I think. Hey, Annie, is that thing due today? Shrug. Hey Annie, is the 1 train running? Shrug. Hey there is a lot of drugs in NYC tap water. Shrug. It’s nice.

Analog Mechanical Internet

Friday, June 27th, 2008

I just got back from Governor’s Island.

First of all, a shoutout:

Erin, if you are reading this OMG I LOVE YOU AND I MEAN THAT IN THE GAYEST WAY POSSIBLE. Without Erin and her appendages I would not have been able to lug two tons of shit to Governor’s Island. So Erin, thank you. You have lovely arms and they are especially lovelier when they are toting my shit.

Anyway, I ended up using three typewriters instead of four, because the fourth was stowed away in a car and the owner of said typewriter and car was very, very drunk last night and we were unable to meet up (WHAT? WHAT DID YOU SAY? OH? TYPEWRITER? OH IS THAT NOW? YOU NEED IT NOW? WAIT, HOLD ON ANNIE JUST A SECOND, YO DUDE, ORDER ME ANOTHER SHOT! WOOOOO YEAAAH CHIICKKSSS). At first I was panicky (which is not a word, but guess what, it is today) because that means I would only have THREE TYPEWRITERS. Originally this project had ten. And then five. And then four. And now three! Three! Three is for losers! Three is for people who cannot do four, five, or ten! But then I realized, hey, it would be OK. I just felt bad that JoMo had to build four tables, when in fact, all we needed was three. Three or four, no one will care unless they are a real asshole who likes even numbers.

So then Erin and I hauled three tables, three typewriters, three 25-foot long pieces of paper, a drill, screws. I should mention here that one of the typewriters is about 20 pounds. My arms are about to fall off as I type this. The table legs were separated, all I had to do was drill them into the tables at the site.

Right. Drill them in. So easy, right?

My drill bit was stripped. It looked like a piece of gum. No good. I have NO IDEA how one would strip a drill bit, but I did it and I am sad for it. I did not bring another drill bit. Because, like, who strips a bit? Annie strips a bit, that is who (whom). So then Erin ran all over the island looking for an organizer to come and save my ass.

Then came the hero with the Greatest Drill in the world and a drill bit that does not suck. I thanked him many times and would’ve you know, tickled his balls and whatnot had he asked. That is how grateful I was. He put the tables together. The guy was a rock star. Seriously. If any of you guys go, he was the one who designed the dollar mini-golf course.

Anyway, the event organizers gave me a sweet, sweet indoor space, and if any of you guys go, check it out. You’ll find the analog, mechanical internet in the Admiral’s House.

I want to live in this house. If I lived there I would make everyone call me Admiral because that is a sweet nickname. Much better than “chief” or “boss” or “asswipe.” The inside of the house is just as sick as the outside. I put the typewriters throughout the house and tried not to interrupt the (real and totally legitimate) art that was on the walls.

Here is a Royal from the 30s given to me by Pony.

I put that in the green room.

Here is a Royal Portable, from the late 30s/early 40s, donated graciously by Cosmo Apale, a gentleman who responded to my Freecycle post. His generosity made this project possible.

I put that in the purple room.

I also had a blue 60s Sears Tutor.

I put that in the yellow room.

Note that the AC unit was part of the original house. Ha ha ha. Admirals need air conditioning too you know. Anyway people already started typing on them as I was leaving, which is cool.

Speaking of houses, Erin and I rented bikes and rolled around the island and then came across a large mechanical dinosaur eating a house.

Very curious. If you want to visit the Island of Governors, I highly recommend watching out for house-eating monsters. The Parks Service is letting them roam free there. Beware.

Island of Governors

Thursday, June 26th, 2008

Tomorrow I an putting up typewriters on Governor’s Island. However, it is going to rain, so I’m not sure how that’s going to work out. They are looking into inside spaces for me, but aren’t sure about it. I can’t leave these things in the rain, they would be so sad and cold. Pony gave me a typewriter that is from the 30’s I think. It’s made of iron, so I guess it might rust if mother nature has her way with it. It also weighs the same as a Hyundai. Which might seem light, but it’s kind of heavy for just a typewriter. JoMo made the tables and they are much nicer and much better than anything I could do (which actually isn’t much at all). I was thinking hey, just take a piece of wood and slap on some legs, call it a day. Then you know, accessorize it with a scarf to hide the fact that it is butt ugly. But I was WRONG. JoMo is an architect. Nothing would ever just be a piece of wood with four legs. So thanks to JoMo and thanks to Erin who is graciously coming along and helping me set up.

Also, someone stole Erin’s TREE. Can you believe that shit? Who does that? She apparently left for like a minute from her shop, and when she came back her tree had been snagged. Why would someone do that? That is how starved people are for trees in this concrete jungle. I mean come on! Take cash monies, take jewelry, take cookies, take five, Take That (oh shit remember them?). But leave the tree alone. It was so happy in front of her shop. It was so cute. And now you have taken it away. The tree is sad. Erin is sad. Shame on you, tree stealer!

Ravi! What did you do?

Wednesday, June 25th, 2008

Ravi!!! You are too busy making clarified butter. Come back here and help me. What happened to my sidebar? —–>

And why is it over here? <——–

And what’s with the “See It” “Hear It” stuff at the bottom? That was in the links section. That is the strangest shit ever. Looks buggy. And not like the kind you put a baby in. But the other kind that fills me with unearthly rage so much that I can lift a minivan, but not to save a trapped orphan underneath, but rather to move it on top of you.

Shit man, if I paid you, I would totally demand my money back. Damn you, Ravi!

As for everyone else who is not Ravi, hello and you are still my friend.

Uh Technical Difficulties Again

Tuesday, June 24th, 2008

I don’t know what’s going on down there in the bottom lefthand corner, but it appears that there’s some kind of…database error. I don’t know how to fix it. I didn’t do anything, I swear. I think my categories are broken. Wordpress is angry. Probably because they like Aerosmith.

I am about to blow your mind with trivia.

Tuesday, June 24th, 2008

Q: Who was the rapper featured in Paula Abdul’s “Opposites Attract”?

A: People will say, EASY PEASY IT WAS MC SKAT KAT! And I would say, OMG you are a total dork, holy crap, but guess what? You are SO wrong. It’s the Wild Pair!!!

Q: Who directed that video? (This one will BLOW YOUR MIND.)

A: David Fincher.

(Fight Club,Seven, Panic Room, The Game, etc.)

He also directed “Vogue,” “Express Yourself,” and “Janie’s Got a Gun,” among others.

This is the second time “Janie’s Got a Gun” has come up. Yesterday I was eating at Once Upon a Tart with JoMo and they were blaring Aerosmith like it was 1991. He asked me “Do you think Aerosmith knows all their songs sound the same?” The answer was obviously no, which is why they sound the same. Like I can just see their creative process: ok how about I start with this this soft guitar riff…how about in 4/4. Something easy…like maybe I play these two notes back and forth over and over again. OK! Great idea, Joe! Then I’ll come in a little louder! OK! Rock on, Joe! And then Steven, you scream and yowl like this yoooowwwwllllleeeeeeeee. OMG that is the best song we’ve ever come up with! High fives all around!

But seriously, Aerosmith, wtf. They’ve been around forever too that is the sad part. For the last twenty years they have literally been singing and selling the same EXACT SONG. They are loaded from ONE SONG. And all the videos where Alicia Silverstone traipses around wearing one or more of the following:

-bikini
-mini skirt
-Catholic school uniform

Man, I wish I were Aerosmith. It’d be so awesome.

Beat by Hope

Monday, June 23rd, 2008

So last night I saw this amazing apartment in Greenwich Village. It was in a MEWS! Like a carriage house behind the actual apartment building that is on the street. Very cute. Gardens on both sides! 300 sq ft! It was an illegal sublet but whatever. Anyway I was really into it and the guy renting it seemed really excited about me and I was filled with….hope. For the first time ever. Hope. It feels a little strange and I didn’t realize what it was. And then I figured it out later. Hope. It kind of feels warm and fuzzy, but also sparkley. You know like fairies and ponies and unicorns, shit like that.

And then he told me he had to go with the first person who looked at the apartment. Which was not me. I was crushed by hope. This must be what Hillary feels like. Beat by hope. Bleah. I’m right back where I started. I’m never feeling any hope ever again. EVER. It sucks.

Thanks for rocking!

Sunday, June 22nd, 2008

Thanks to everyone who came out last night to the Last Known Settlers show. And, uh, sorry about being so late. Heather got fucked picking me and my crap up due to all the stupid street fairs (I mean how much fried dough could one eat in this town?) and then we got stuck in TRAFFIC in Chinatown/Little Italy. We were both overcome by blinding rage, and guess what, when you are blind it is really hard to drive. There was a lot of yelling involved. A lot of yelling at cabbies and tourists and completely oblivious girls in the middle of the street on their cell phones with their boobs hiked up to their chin, or as Heath puts it, “Wearing their boobs like a necklace.” Indeed. We both agreed that we liked boobs and liked necklaces but as entirely separate entities. Anyway we got to the show, I ran in, set my crap up at lightening speed and then let it rip. Sorry if I blew right past you or mowed you over on my way to the stage. Then at the end the sound guy was haggling us like OMG GET OFF THE STAGE! He said this as I was in fact, TRYING TO GET OFF THE STAGE.

Anyway thanks to everyone, especially Brian who I think has been to like EVERY LKS show ever, and to Steve who came all the way from Westchester because apparently that is where all the hip, old people live now. He got a Homie and a hot pink ninja for his troubles. Also there was a group of “weirdos” there and the only name I caught was Mike. Everyone else was really stingy with the names. Don’t be stingy with names. You have one so you can share it with others. That reminds me of “That’s my name, don’t wear it out! Nyeh nyeh nyeh!” Do you remember that? Ha ha ha, god kids are so lame. And yet here I am, laughing about it.

For all those who want to go to a street fair, there’s one on Lafayette below Houston. Enjoy. Go get some corn. Some lemonade. Some fried dough. A cannoli. And then buy a stupid shirt or a sack of athletic socks for $3. Dude, every street fair in the city has the SAME CRAP it’s unbelievable that it still goes on as it does. And all it does is get in my way on the way to rocking. STOP KEEPING ME FROM ROCKING, STREET FAIRS. I’m on to your silly game.

The time now is almost 5:00.

Friday, June 20th, 2008

The time now is almost 5:00. See above, at the subject line. It is almost 5:00.

I have not left my compartment yet. I am considering leaving the compartment. In fact, at some point I was going to leave the compartment but then managed to only get half dressed before getting distracted. You can guess which half is dressed. But really, I want to leave and see sunshine. I hear it’s out there, I wouldn’t know. But this is what happens when you work from home. You get sucked into the compartment hole and bust your ass until you look up at the clock and realize, holy shit. I have only eaten cereal all day and it is 5:00 and boy would I like some lunch right now but oh wait, let me just finish this thing and send it off and oh let me call this person and discuss this and then let me write this quick email.

Now it is almost 5:00. My refrigerator has nothing and I ate all my cereal. I am going to gnaw off my own arm. But first I must finish up this thing.

I have not gotten any vitamin D today. Everytime someone says vitamin D all I can think of is vitamin dick. Which is pretty funny. Vitamin A stands for…you guess it, asparagus.

I’ll take HOLY CRAP for $500, Alex

Thursday, June 19th, 2008

My co-worker and friend Brian is going to be on JEOPARDY! Can you believe that shit? It’s not surprising because Brian is seriously an idiot savant except he is not an idiot. I guess that would just make him a savant. He goes to pub trivia every week at Pete’s Candy Store and schools everyone’s asses. The only time he doesn’t win is when he is HOSTING it. It’s ludicrous. You know, I don’t even go because what is the goddamn point? Brian won’t let anyone on his team if they can’t name the vice presidents in order. To be perfectly honest, I always get too drunk at pub quiz to answer the questions so by the time we get to the visual round I am leaning on the table with my head in my hands and saying “oh god I think I am hungover already.” And then Mr. Pony yells at me, “ANNIE! Dude! WHO IS THIS SILENT FILM ACTOR?” And then sometimes I hobble home on the train and think, wow, why didn’t I take a cab? Because I was TOO DRUNK to think about a cab. And all this happens on a Wednesday. My problem is that it only takes one drink and I am absolutely stupid. I just can’t hold it. I mean I’ve tried and tried and have gone through rigorous training sessions, but it just hasn’t worked out for me. One drink and I’m stupid. At least I’m a cheap date. Anyway, congratulations Brian. Bring home the big bucks.

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