The full weekend of fun began early with Thursday night’s “Save or Shave?” benefit show. And continued with the boyfriend’s birthday on Friday. On a whim I got us a hotel room downtown Minneapolis. Dinner was had at Haute Dish before an evening of nerd rock with energetic front man Dick Valentine and Electric Six. I failed to take a single photograph on this day. Saturday morning we attempted to brunch at Hell’s Kitchen but I’d forgotten they are notoriously busy. Waiting one to two hours for a table is never in my plan so we doubled back to the hotel for a quick bite. Then it was time to retrieve my offspring. And take him to see Yellow Submarine on the big screen. Though I’ve seen it many times this was, by far, the most enjoyable viewing. Saturday evening I met the parents (eep) and Saturday night we returned to Hell’s Kitchen under different circumstances, to see a local band showcase. Had a good time despite my utter exhaustion.

Mother’s Day morning I awoke to this angry looking squid “card” from my son. And then I dragged him to a friend’s front porch for the May Day Parade. That afternoon I squeezed in a maternity shoot for friends (so many lovely photos to edit). Managed a little bit of downtime before dashing off to the 331 Club for legendary Japanese band The 5.6.7.8s. It was the only show I made it to of the Girls Got Rhythm Fest (which I hope they have again). They were AHHH-MAZING but I was too tired and sober to fully enjoy the packed-like-sardines venue.

I haven’t had Photoshop on any of my machines for a while, because hey, it’s crazy expensive. I’ve been using Canon’s crappy Digital Photo Professional software for photo editing but I’m not satisfied with it. So I’d toyed with the idea of the monthly subscription to “rent” it vs. buying it and it is cheaper. But then I realized there’s the discounted student rate, DUH! I’m not a student but I HAVE ONE. And he is most likely going to be taking Photoshop classes at school in the Fall. Score!

Speaking of scoring…sort of. Folks, Rusty Quarters Retro Arcade is floundering. They’ve really seen a drop off in business lately (the glorious weather? other factors? who knows). I know we haven’t been stopping in as often as we did over the winter. But I’ll rectify that. And you should too. Stop in and often! Just a few more quarters from you on a semi-regular basis will make a HUGE difference. Bring a friend. Have fun. /End PSA

Forging ahead with five fine things:

• So moving and it makes perfect sense: Lincoln High School in Walla Walla, WA, tries new approach to school discipline — suspensions drop 85%. It is especially relevant to me now, with my son transitioning to junior high soon. But I think of all the students I went to school with who acted out, but clearly had deep-seated reasons for doing so that weren’t being addressed.
• Yeti Records opened in the Fall of 2012 and have been a great part of the local music community since then. I’ve enjoyed many art openings / shows there (including the recent Record Store Day festivities). Sadly the rent is too damned high. The husband and wife duo behind Yeti are moving out of the brick and mortar store front and looking to go mobile. The Luck’s are raising funds for Yeti Records on Wheels, the food truck of quality vinyl. Pitch in if you can. They are halfway there.
• Been listening to the new Lower Dens all week, Nootropics. Also, now on bandcamp International Novelty Gamelan. Thanks for the heads up Reviler!
• Yep. The boy discovered that Yellow Submarine will be on the big screen, for a limited engagement. And I’ve agreed to take him to see it.
• This is beautiful, which is the opposite of my personal experience (and the experiences of most, I imagine) with hospitals: “Flowers in the Hospital“

Last weekend I didn’t see the Super Moon (it was cloudy and stormy) but I’m still blaming its influence, among other factors, for my terrible headache - now on day five - and foul mood. Been attempting to snap out of it with varying degrees of success. I’ve had several stupid-ish stretches where everything feels vaguely unsatisfying and stressful, for no particular reason. Stress baking isn’t the answer but that didn’t stop me from baking two loaves of banana bread, and some other. food stuffs But I’ve also had much happiness in my life lately. This morning I chaperoned the boy’s class field trip to The Minneapolis Institute of Arts, which was lovely. And we enjoyed Free Comic Book Day last Saturday followed by a screening of The Avengers. And there are other good things as well. But I don’t want to jinx those.

Five discouraging, depressing or disheartening things plus one vaguely inspirational one:

1. What Happens To 3 Out Of 4 Girls After Leafing Through A Fashion Mag For 3 Minutes? And that’s not just “girls” of course. Plenty of
2. A highly enthusiastic letter was written by author Philip K. Dick in 1981. Dick had just seen a pre-release glimpse of Blade Runner — a movie that was based on his novel, Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep, and which is now regarded by many as the greatest science fiction film ever made — and, delighted by the footage, felt the need to share his thoughts with the production company responsible. The tragedy is, Philip K. Dick passed away 5 months after sending this letter. He never saw the final movie.
3. Gen X Hits Another Bump in the Road. Yep.
4. The city Chernobyl built - “I thought there would be a much bigger fear of radiation, but the bigger fear is the loss of jobs and the uncertainty of the future,” Crow said. So sad.
5. Mile High Bummer Club - “A 52 year old Flilipino guy lost it on a Cathay Pacific flight from Bangkok to Hong Kong. He tried to attack the cabin crew with a knife (maybe the tiny one they give you to spread hard margarine on your dinner roll) and nearly made it fully into the cockpit, before he got taken out in a head lock by a fast thinking Mongolian business man.”
6. More hopeful than helpless but still sad. A well written essay/obituary for John Grabski III by Steve Albini. Also, fuck cancer.

But hey, it’s May now. Time for happier shinier new things. This morning I registered the boy for classes for SEVENTH GRADE. Damn. Thankfully he’s way more excited than anxious about the whole thing. And we’re both stoked about Saturday’s Free Comic Book Day. Our annual family tradition is to make a pilgrimage to The Source (this year in their larger location just up the road from their old digs). Hopefully there will be plenty of cosplay enthusiasts to photograph. And Sunday is the Heart of the Beast’s annual May Day Celebration in Powderhorn. This year with oodles of friends who now live in that neighborhood, and the boyfriend will be performing at the festival as part of a marching band. Hooray!

Five good things for this fine Thursday:

• Now this is an idea I can get behind. History Happy Hours! Also historical, but somewhat more recent - Graveyard Of Cool: Cell Phones Throughout The Years
• Excellent advice. 5+ secrets to taking better portraits. You know what else would help me? A 50mm 1.2 and/or 85mm 1.2 lens. Alas I don’t have that sorta scrilla for faster lenses.
• “The Amazing Hair Salon That Doubles as a Retro Game Store” - I want to go to there. One of my son’s Dads will actually be in Denmark soon. I think he should bring us back a souvenir.
• Amusing. “A Night With the World’s Most Hated Bands: We take in a concert doubleheader with Creed and Nickelback“
• ‘Star Wars’ AT-AT cat condo: May the fur be with you. “Handmade AT-AT Walker cat condo may be met with shedding and snoozing from its cat residents, but every cat-owning “Star Wars” fan on the planet will desperately want one.”

The kid and I already have a busy weekend ahead. But now we have a forgotten deadline to boot. Since May is NEXT WEEK. I was hoping we could make some super short films together. In general, but specifically to submit for consideration in The Soap Factory’s Ten Second Film Festival, in conjunction with Northern Spark 2012. We better get cracking. Deadline is Tuesday.

Four more good things for this Monday, plus one stupid one:

• I just found out my friend Chank created the fonts for the Hunger Games books. Crazy. To create something and know, for certain, that at least tens of millions of people have seen it, if not more.
• After a busy weekend of shows the boyfriend and I stayed in last night to watch Koyaanisqatsi. I hadn’t seen it in several years. The time lapse photography is just so beautiful. It was the perfect way to end the weekend.
• Recently I tweeted about seeing two musicians playing saws Thursday night in different venues. This piqued @SawLady’s curiosity. Turns out she knows them. Here she is performing the Star Trek theme on musical saw. Neat.
• An interesting piece: 2 Lies Photographers Tell Themselves. I carry at least one camera with me at all times and shoot daily. But yeah, I catch myself thinking my shots would be better if I had faster lenses or newer bodies or whatever but you’ve got to work with what you have. WORK IT.
• What is wrong with people? Jeez indeed.

Been a whirlwind of activity since last Thursday. Saw Sleeping in the Aviary perform at the MIA’s Third Thursday, then moved on to “Rectal” Night with Rana May and Dreamland Faces at the Black Forest Inn. Friday night was Mother of Fire’s “Feral Children” release show, complete with costumes and swordplay. And Saturday we started out Record Store Day 2012 at Hymies and moved on to Yeti Records. Did lots of socializing and listening to local bands play - more than taking photos. Then wound up at a housewarming party, a birthday party and the Hexagon for Hollow Boys. Busy busy.

Five other fantastic things:

• Yesterday there was all the hoopla about the Rock the Garden lineup announcement, about which I really don’t care. But then came the Heliotrope 9 lineup announcement. And I bounced up and down for joy! Heliotrope is my happy place, wherever it happens to happen. And this year that venue will be The Lab.
• Happy Birthday David (NEW Prometheus Viral!). I’m extremely jazzed about the release of this movie on June 8th. I even used the word “jazzed” which is not a word I use.
• Stupid Things in Super Slow Motion: “There’s a Danish TV show called Dumt & Farligt in which two guys are given a house and the task of doing stupid and dangerous things that come to mind. In addition to recording the experiments in real time, the show decided to also use a Phantom Flex high speed camera to capturing everything at 2,500 frames per second. The video above provides a slow motion look at things ranging from setting off large fireworks indoors to microwaving a bottle of red wine.”
• Your Morning Ennui: Henri the French Cat Articulates the Pain of Existence
• I had no idea that record players in cars were ever a thing. How wonderful and sort of ridiculous. But for audiophiles of this modern era here’s a handy How To guide for Enjoying Turntables Without Obsessing. Thank you NYT!

Now for a tragic thing, with a slightly hopeful twist. From my dear friend Manny:

Last month some friends experienced a tragedy when their house caught fire. One of our friends lost his life while waking his housemates. A tremendous burden is left for these folks as they try to recover and rebuild their lives. Here is my contribution. I will be offering my hair for benefit. On May 10th I will shave my head if that is the will of the most donations.

Send money to saveapomp@gmail.com and I will not shave my head.
Send money to shaveadour@gmail.com and I will publicly shave my head at the Turf Club on May 10th, 2012.

All proceeds will go to help out the these folks.

Five good things for this extra bloggity week:

• I found out about this amazing weekend of Comics, Philosophy & Practice happening next month in Chicago. But registration is closed because of the “overwhelming” response. Well, duh. Did you see this line-up? Everyone from Lynda Barry to R. Crumb and Gary Panter and Daniel Clowes and Joe Sacco and Art Spiegelman and Chris Ware. Craziness.
• I’ve seen this done before but I particularly like the execution of this series - “Adding Monsters to Thrift Store Paintings“
• This is spot on and hilarious: We’re Not Young (a parody of Fun’s We Are Young)
• While I’m not a huge sports fan I do have a soft spot for the Twins. And I just learned about a way to enjoy the home games that doesn’t involve going into the stadium. I can plunk ass down in Fulton’s Tap Room, right next to the stadium, and enjoy the offerings of various food trucks. Yes please.
• An ok problem to have? Too many good movie options in this town! I still haven’t gotten to the film fest. And the Walker is in the middle of their Lawrence Kasdan series. And there’s the Trylon, now awarded “Best Theater” by City Pages. And international action movie mayhem makes its way to the Lagoon this weekend with The Raid. TOO MUCH AWESOME.

Though it’s only mid-week I’m getting really excited about Record Store Day on Saturday. I’ll be bouncing back and forth between Hymie’s (music starting bright and early at 10:30am with a marching band) and Yeti Records (music starting at 1pm) all day. Come out to support your local record stores, and your local bands!

Five fine things for this Tuesday:

• Enjoyed myself last night at the punk bowl at Memory Lanes. Only stayed for the first two bands - Ashen and Rifle Diet - but they gave me that little bit of doom and punk my day needed.
• Really enjoyed this short, Mr. Foley - “A darkly funny but nightmarish scenario, a man wakes up in hospital with a group of sound artists soundtracking his life.”
• Obscura Day is coming up on April 28th, 2012. Locally we have two events - one at the Wabasha Street Caves and the other at Allen Christian’s House of Balls. But daaaaang New York City has it going on. Wherever you may be in the world, get on it.
• Giving the new Spiritualized some more spins to see if it grows on me, before they come to town on May 1st. But Ladies and Gentleman We Are Floating in Space will always be tops.
• My old friend Ian has a shiny new web site for his record label, 25D. Check it out.

After nearly six weeks away at Canon repair my favorite lens, a 17-40mm wide angle, has returned to me. For just $233. Replacing it would have cost a whole lot more but OUCH. It took us a little while to warm up to one another after being apart so long. There may have been some mutual resentment. But we got over it and have already been doing happy fun things together. And I’m looking forward to more, and better, times ahead.

Five good things for today:

• HuffPost’s Barb Stuckey is like my soul sister. I was nodding my head while reading: Why Eating Should Be More Like Sex. I’d like to high five her.
• Friday was all gloomy and shoe-gazey. The weather isn’t much better today but I’m trying to pump things up a little with Hunx & His Punx, and Too Young To Be In Love.
• SO excited about the next Simon Pegg movie, A Fantastic Fear of Everything. Coming out June 8th. Yes.
• Looking forward to the Root Of All Evil Radio 25th Year Anniversary Party / Benefit (just look at all those metal logos!) with bonus Morticia reunion. Haven’t seen them in years and years.
• Beware of Mr. Baker indeed! Watching the trailer for that Ginger Baker documentary made me want to back away. Far far away. But he’s a talented crackpot, to be sure.

The week ahead is another busy one. Finishing off my taxes (yikes). Getting through yet another stack of summer camp paperwork. And somewhere along the way I’ve got to squeeze in some Minneapolis St. Paul International Film Fest screenings, before Record Store Day busy times on Saturday. And maybe fitting in brunch times with friends somewhere. These are logistical/lifestyle problems I can manage.

Five good/interesting things for this Friday the 13th:

• A beautiful squid from the Chesapeake Bay: “The color patterns are amazing and the melanophores can change size from dilute colors to focused, bright spots.”
• My new favorite thing: Magical Game Time by Zac Gorman. SO MUCH YES.
• Short film animator Don Hertzfeldt will be screening his work and speaking afterward at the Riverview Theater. Ordered my ticket! SQUEEEEEE!
• Friends who live in warmer climes scoff at our short growing season, but I’m still excited for area Farmers Market openings.
• At last, one day passes are being offered for the Girls Got Rhythm fest. Amazing line-up wedged into an already overly packed weekend.

And now for some identity-related issues. The “Double Identity” project - stacked photos of identical twins - by photographer and twin Caroline Briggs. From her:

The battle between wanting to be alike, yet craving an identity separate from your real-life clone, is one I have lived. By creating a single portrait from two people poses questions about their relationship and their desire - or lack of desire - to live completely separate lives.

Less neat and more frustrating: Barbie goes bald, but don’t tell the “normal” kids:

Distributing the bald Barbies directly to children’s hospitals is a good way to get them directly and quickly to the kids that are being immediately impacted by hair loss. But it also serves to underscore the separation of these kids from children who have not lost their hair, treating them as something different, existing in a different world, instead of showing that just because you lost your hair doesn’t mean you are any less normal. I do applaud Mattel’s decision to make the doll, but I’d love it even more if anyone who wanted to could easily pick one up!

And another HELL YEAH to this wonderful lady - “Ashley Judd Slaps Media in the Face for Speculation Over Her ‘Puffy’ Appearance”

The Conversation about women’s bodies exists largely outside of us, while it is also directed at (and marketed to) us, and used to define and control us. The Conversation about women happens everywhere, publicly and privately. We are described and detailed, our faces and bodies analyzed and picked apart, our worth ascertained and ascribed based on the reduction of personhood to simple physical objectification. Our voices, our personhood, our potential, and our accomplishments are regularly minimized and muted.

Love her. Please read her piece.