You don’t even have to think about what you’re saying, the starets said. All you have to have in the beginning is quantity. Then, later on, it becomes quality all by itself. — Franny and Zooey, by JD Salinger This passage is from the first of several ‘acts’ of the short novel, when Franny is describing… Continue reading What the starets said
This table may find its way to being my new coffee table. My brother and I came across it Sunday night walking home after dinner. As evidenced from the photos it needs some work— to be stripped, sanded, and re-stained. Also, it's too tall, so the legs will have to be sawed off (as I did to my… Continue reading A find— and a dilemma
Its beaches are among New York City's finest assets in the summer season, and the past weekend included two days delightfully spent where the Atlantic meets the sand at Jacob Riis Park. I spied a couple of cormorants drifting on the water out beyond the crashing waves. They're more commonly spotted lounging in the sun on the jetties of Coney, drying their… Continue reading Umbrellas and breakers
Sunday afternoon was rainy, so our usual outdoor flea market was out of the question. We drove instead, a few miles farther to an indoor one, new on our radar. On the whole, it was a bust. Few, if any, actual antiques, or even vintage items— unless you count things like toys and VHS tapes from the 1990s… Continue reading The mystery of the shallow bowls
This afternoon after brunch Jon and I did some cycling around Rochester to some vintage and antique shops and secondhand book shops. Most of this haul was found at Small World Books, a shambling old house on North Street in which every room is walled with books, and several cats reside. We were in there no longer than… Continue reading Saturday’s literary treasures
Each successive month of summer leaves us in its wake faster than the previous— longing for 9:30 sunsets, never quite knowing what time it is for the wanton excess of sunlight. This summer has held some challenges and sad moments, a couple more of which I learned about on Sunday. 2016 has been an unstable year, and persistently so.… Continue reading Lengthening shadows of late summer
Sketchbook anthropology during a birthday gathering in a crowded bar.
Here are a couple of silly drawings from the sketchbook the other night. I've been remiss here, as happens at times, especially in summer, when the call of being outdoors is strong. .
Sometimes I feel as though I’m steering a ship with no map, no stars to navigate by, and the most frustrating thing is that there’s no way to even ask for a map, for stars. You’re just there, adrift in the darkness, hoping that the next piece of intel will crack some code, provide you… Continue reading Cardinal directions
Gonna get a little political, just for a minute, because it's important, damnit. The election is still months away, I realize, but the smallish faction of Bernie-or-Bust people out there being loud has gone too far, considering at this point they are going against their beloved Bernie. Look, I've been a great fan of Mr… Continue reading Attention Democrats, Progressives, Liberals!
e daggar art: THE MUSEUM 