The Book Stall on Main had "Pillars of the Earth." Didn't take long to get there. Next to a yoga parlor and an exotic Asian goods store. Inside the bookseller has it waiting for me, spine broken.
Seller rings me up and says, Good author. Good book. Have you been here before?
No.
He's old and friendly and his front teeth are gigantic. Four dollars.
I reach into my pocket. The bills are wadded up.
You go to school out here at OU?
Yes sir. I do, I'm a student at OU, the university. I pull the bills free.
He takes them. What are you studying?
I tell him that it's creative writing.
He says, Oh, that's what I used to do. Write. Wrote a play once, probably something I'd be embarrassed to look back on, but I got it made. But I gave it up. But I got into the book field. Got four of these shops open around town. Try to read everything that comes in, but gave up on that. Used to work at the newspaper, used to be a printer's devil.
Printer's devil?
Yeah, printer's devil. Like a janitor.
Oh. Very cool.
I go around to the other side of the counter, towards the door. The bookseller says, I want to recommend a book to you. It's called Raintree County. They're reprinting it for the first time in I believe fourty years.
Who's the author?
Ross Lockridge, Jr. They made a movie of it. Butchered it. He killed himself over it. Must have worked on it forever. I believe he worked to about fifteen or sixteen drafts. Liz Taylor was in it.
And he just killed himself?
Yeah, and for the longest time no one could figure out why he did it. This young guy, must've made a fortune, the book was a great success, and he just offed himself. I think it's because they butchered his book when they made it into a film.
I promise to check out the book and leave. I get into my car and go home, the whole time secretly hoping that this old man was the one who wrote Raintree County, that he faked his death to escape the spotlight and retired to Oklahoma, more content in selling books then writing them.
I look at Wikipedia. Raintree County the book was published the same year Lockridge poisoned himself with carbon monoxide, 1948. The film wasn't made until 1957.
In the credits to the film they misspell his name, listing him as Ross Rockridge, Jr.
Tuesday, January 8, 2008
Sunday, January 6, 2008
1/06/08
Working at Kirkland's sometimes I poke my head out the front doors and look out at the people walking by. Kids screaming because the playplace is right there. Today I saw this guy in a Led Zepplin t-shirt and he was staring at a girl with big doe eyes in a white sweater with pink flowers on it. She was staring at Dippendots. The way he stared with his mouth kind of slack squishing his stubbled double chin might seem creepy through words but his eyes actually looked at her without lust. More like longing. You will only ever see guys look like that once in a blue moon. So you tend to remember it.
Got tips on how to better crush my trash in the compactor from the janitor who used to manage a grocery store until him and seven of his friends caravaned to Oklahoma to live in a house on a few acres for $25 grand. He wears glasses and his greased ponytail combs over a large bald spot. He's friendly.
I watched this movie, "Election", it's from Hong Kong. I had no idea what the fuck was going on the first two thirds, but there is a neat sword fight and the end is good so it's okay in my book. Certainly not "The Best Film of the Year" so fuck off Quentin Tarantino.
I finished reading my second book of the year. I set my goal at 50.
The first was a reread of "No Country for Old Men."
The second was "I Pass Like Night" by Jonathan Ames. Good shit, but I'm a sucker for the "Catcher in the Rye" formula. This book, "Hairstyles of the Damned", and "The Average American Male" all have appealed to me. Same vignette style, same lack of a plot, same concentration on one character's development. I don't know why I like these kinds of books so much. The next one of this kind might be "Snow White and Red Russia" by this Polish writer. Same idea.
I'm halfway through my third, "Drown" by Junot Diaz. Good stuff so far.
After that I've got "The Alphabet Versus the Goddess" by Leonard Shlain, maybe something by Tom Piccirilli, and "The Fighter" by Craig Davidson. I need suggestions. I really want to read "The Pillars of the Earth" by Ken Follett but I'm scared how far back that would set me as far as my 50 book goal goes.
Have a great day.
Got tips on how to better crush my trash in the compactor from the janitor who used to manage a grocery store until him and seven of his friends caravaned to Oklahoma to live in a house on a few acres for $25 grand. He wears glasses and his greased ponytail combs over a large bald spot. He's friendly.
I watched this movie, "Election", it's from Hong Kong. I had no idea what the fuck was going on the first two thirds, but there is a neat sword fight and the end is good so it's okay in my book. Certainly not "The Best Film of the Year" so fuck off Quentin Tarantino.
I finished reading my second book of the year. I set my goal at 50.
The first was a reread of "No Country for Old Men."
The second was "I Pass Like Night" by Jonathan Ames. Good shit, but I'm a sucker for the "Catcher in the Rye" formula. This book, "Hairstyles of the Damned", and "The Average American Male" all have appealed to me. Same vignette style, same lack of a plot, same concentration on one character's development. I don't know why I like these kinds of books so much. The next one of this kind might be "Snow White and Red Russia" by this Polish writer. Same idea.
I'm halfway through my third, "Drown" by Junot Diaz. Good stuff so far.
After that I've got "The Alphabet Versus the Goddess" by Leonard Shlain, maybe something by Tom Piccirilli, and "The Fighter" by Craig Davidson. I need suggestions. I really want to read "The Pillars of the Earth" by Ken Follett but I'm scared how far back that would set me as far as my 50 book goal goes.
Have a great day.
Saturday, January 5, 2008
fist pounder
The new Radiohead album is great.
I want to see "There Will Be Blood" but it's not showing anywhere around OKC anytime soon.
I went to the bank today. It was the one on Main because the one by Blockbuster was closed. It's clean and white inside and everything seems to be new and square. When I was there I saw a woman lose her shit. She made a payment for something and the receipt showed that she'd made it on 1/07/08 which is due to a technicality with "business days" and whatnot. But the bank clerk explained that the funds should go through and that there shouldn't be a problem. She turned to her husband saying "They've got me heated already" and I thought she was being a bit silly. The bank clerk said "Sorry" and the angry woman said "I want you to write down, just get something on official paper that says I did this on the 5th" and clerk said she couldn't and the lady said "Well, when I get the $39 late fee you're gonna split it with me." The clerk said "Ma'am we're...not responsible for that." The lady began to yell and growl. Many 'fucks' were said. There was tension everywhere. I laughed as I watched, because it was funny. On one hand I felt bad for the clerks because it's not their fault, remember people, it is NEVER the clerk's fault for bank policy. It's also not the bank's fault, clerk or no, that you waited until the last second to pay your bill and maybe now you're going to get that $39 fee you're pounding your fist about. On the lady's side, though, it is bullshit that there is such a thing as a "business day" and if you paid for something on the 5th you should get credit for that and not have to pay a fee.
Christ that's a long paragraph. Anyway.
New Y the Last Man is coming. I'm excited. The new Northlanders was good, as was the new "Omega the Unknown". Anyone who digs Lethem will dig his comic series.
That's it for now. Later.
I want to see "There Will Be Blood" but it's not showing anywhere around OKC anytime soon.
I went to the bank today. It was the one on Main because the one by Blockbuster was closed. It's clean and white inside and everything seems to be new and square. When I was there I saw a woman lose her shit. She made a payment for something and the receipt showed that she'd made it on 1/07/08 which is due to a technicality with "business days" and whatnot. But the bank clerk explained that the funds should go through and that there shouldn't be a problem. She turned to her husband saying "They've got me heated already" and I thought she was being a bit silly. The bank clerk said "Sorry" and the angry woman said "I want you to write down, just get something on official paper that says I did this on the 5th" and clerk said she couldn't and the lady said "Well, when I get the $39 late fee you're gonna split it with me." The clerk said "Ma'am we're...not responsible for that." The lady began to yell and growl. Many 'fucks' were said. There was tension everywhere. I laughed as I watched, because it was funny. On one hand I felt bad for the clerks because it's not their fault, remember people, it is NEVER the clerk's fault for bank policy. It's also not the bank's fault, clerk or no, that you waited until the last second to pay your bill and maybe now you're going to get that $39 fee you're pounding your fist about. On the lady's side, though, it is bullshit that there is such a thing as a "business day" and if you paid for something on the 5th you should get credit for that and not have to pay a fee.
Christ that's a long paragraph. Anyway.
New Y the Last Man is coming. I'm excited. The new Northlanders was good, as was the new "Omega the Unknown". Anyone who digs Lethem will dig his comic series.
That's it for now. Later.
Wednesday, January 2, 2008
New Year's and the Flaming Lips
Let me tell you about New Years. It was about two days ago.
Rios and I watched "The Bourne Ultimatum." It was solid and the fight between the assassins in Tangiers was fantastic.
We left for the city at about 8. Found five dollar parking in Bricktown after fifteen minutes of cruising outside the Cox Communication Center.
Come in at about 9. Stardeath and White Dwarves are ending their set. Whatever.
We kick kids out of our seat. We get laser pointers. The stadium is hot, and smoky. I watch the people in the crowd and everyone points at other people with their lasers. There is a man with dreadlocks and an umbrella hat and he is covered in Christmas lights. There is a girl with large pink hair. A man dressed as a Centurion and an astronaut.
The group of people in front of us are drunk and fun to watch. The show begins and they dance and fall over. I laugh and Rios laughs. The couple next to us gets offended and I hear, "It's really a self-reflection" and they leave. The man says "Excuse me" when he leaves like he's just pissed at the world and I'm not sure if the girl he's with is drunk or just can't keep up because they charge up the stairs with her headlocked and bent over. Thinking back on that, I wonder why they left that way. Hopefully they fucked and it all ended well.
You can't spend time worrying about other people at a kickass time like that, or you're just a tool and it's obvious that you prefer bitching to fun.
The show was loud and they played songs and there were lights during "Vein of Stars." It was great and typical of the Flips. I think I've seen them too much lately. I know their sets well, down to Wayne's speeches between songs.
Bohemian Rhapsody was fun to sing.
When we got home Rios put "Guero" by Beck on Jimmy's radio and we danced and I drank a fourth of that bottle of Basil Hayden's. Rios made spaghetti, it was the shit. My nose felt stuffed so I thought it'd be a good idea to drink tabasco. I drank some. Then my lips burned. So I drank milk.
Some combination of the three released upon my skin some horrible rash. Red like a burn victim and spreading over my back, I calmly informed Rios that I needed to induce vomiting. So I did. It was massive, crusting a half inch on top of the toilet water. Spaghetti noodles lodged in my throat.
I laughed about it and so did Rios but she claimed the smell was horrible. I threw up a bit on my socks, and the next day I forgot about that and wore the socks again.
Rios and I watched "The Bourne Ultimatum." It was solid and the fight between the assassins in Tangiers was fantastic.
We left for the city at about 8. Found five dollar parking in Bricktown after fifteen minutes of cruising outside the Cox Communication Center.
Come in at about 9. Stardeath and White Dwarves are ending their set. Whatever.
We kick kids out of our seat. We get laser pointers. The stadium is hot, and smoky. I watch the people in the crowd and everyone points at other people with their lasers. There is a man with dreadlocks and an umbrella hat and he is covered in Christmas lights. There is a girl with large pink hair. A man dressed as a Centurion and an astronaut.
The group of people in front of us are drunk and fun to watch. The show begins and they dance and fall over. I laugh and Rios laughs. The couple next to us gets offended and I hear, "It's really a self-reflection" and they leave. The man says "Excuse me" when he leaves like he's just pissed at the world and I'm not sure if the girl he's with is drunk or just can't keep up because they charge up the stairs with her headlocked and bent over. Thinking back on that, I wonder why they left that way. Hopefully they fucked and it all ended well.
You can't spend time worrying about other people at a kickass time like that, or you're just a tool and it's obvious that you prefer bitching to fun.
The show was loud and they played songs and there were lights during "Vein of Stars." It was great and typical of the Flips. I think I've seen them too much lately. I know their sets well, down to Wayne's speeches between songs.
Bohemian Rhapsody was fun to sing.
When we got home Rios put "Guero" by Beck on Jimmy's radio and we danced and I drank a fourth of that bottle of Basil Hayden's. Rios made spaghetti, it was the shit. My nose felt stuffed so I thought it'd be a good idea to drink tabasco. I drank some. Then my lips burned. So I drank milk.
Some combination of the three released upon my skin some horrible rash. Red like a burn victim and spreading over my back, I calmly informed Rios that I needed to induce vomiting. So I did. It was massive, crusting a half inch on top of the toilet water. Spaghetti noodles lodged in my throat.
I laughed about it and so did Rios but she claimed the smell was horrible. I threw up a bit on my socks, and the next day I forgot about that and wore the socks again.
Sunday, December 30, 2007
Sweeney Todd sucks
Rios took me out. She bought me nachos with two helpings of cheese instead of cheese and chili. We got jalapenos in a cup. I saw a huge poster for the new Indiana Jones and "There Will Be Blood", which I want to see. High school kids hung on there girlfriends and screamed and made asses of themselves. I don't understand why you can't punch a kid under 18. What is the thought behind this? If anyone deserves it, it's the puke that turns to people in the movies and talks to them not because he's sociable, but because for some unfathomable reason he thinks it's funny and that it will be impressive to the girl he's with. Before the movie even started he became too much for the girl and she left. He followed.
Bit of a digression, there. Sorry.
Three drunk sorority girls sat behind us. They were annoying and loud, but I held Rios's hand and kept my temper. The movie started and here are my critiques:
1) Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street is an awesome name for a movie.
2) Jesus fuck the music is boring. Every time these people started singing it was like waiting for the bus.
3) Johnny Depp and Helena Bonham Carter are fantastic actors. Not so much singers.
4) The gore is fucking fantastic, but I think the best throat gore still goes to "No Country For Old Men." Somehow that one burst carotid artery at the beginning owns all the kills in "Sweeney Todd."
5) My biggest problem with the film is ghostly. Hard to explain, or to even understand myself.
Imagine a crazy old man who promises to show you something interesting and then shows you pictures of the interesting thing to get you interested then he tells you how the story ends and that's it. You're done. That's kind of how Tim Burton seems to be making movies. I think I mentioned it with Corpse Bride, but it's unique to both of these films: Feels like there's something missing. I don't know what. But they feel hollow to the point of echo and it makes my skull throb.
I believe I may hate this film. Which is a shame. It's well acted and beautiful looking but it just feels like there is nothing there. NOTHING. OH MY GOD I THINK IT MAKES ME WANT TO SCREAM.
It honestly hurts my brain. Goodnight.
Bit of a digression, there. Sorry.
Three drunk sorority girls sat behind us. They were annoying and loud, but I held Rios's hand and kept my temper. The movie started and here are my critiques:
1) Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street is an awesome name for a movie.
2) Jesus fuck the music is boring. Every time these people started singing it was like waiting for the bus.
3) Johnny Depp and Helena Bonham Carter are fantastic actors. Not so much singers.
4) The gore is fucking fantastic, but I think the best throat gore still goes to "No Country For Old Men." Somehow that one burst carotid artery at the beginning owns all the kills in "Sweeney Todd."
5) My biggest problem with the film is ghostly. Hard to explain, or to even understand myself.
Imagine a crazy old man who promises to show you something interesting and then shows you pictures of the interesting thing to get you interested then he tells you how the story ends and that's it. You're done. That's kind of how Tim Burton seems to be making movies. I think I mentioned it with Corpse Bride, but it's unique to both of these films: Feels like there's something missing. I don't know what. But they feel hollow to the point of echo and it makes my skull throb.
I believe I may hate this film. Which is a shame. It's well acted and beautiful looking but it just feels like there is nothing there. NOTHING. OH MY GOD I THINK IT MAKES ME WANT TO SCREAM.
It honestly hurts my brain. Goodnight.
laundry
There is two dollars and some change curled in an empty box of Wal-Mart brand medicated chest rub. I am not sure why it's there. I want to take it, maybe for a coke, but it seems to be there for a reason.
I'm folding a giant pile of laundry.
The grass is gold and it's warm outside but I wish that winter would just hit us full on. It's too much of a tease.
Saw a golden retriever dragging its tiny French looking owner along today. I sat on my porch and watched it, half because it was funny and a quarter because it was a beautiful dog and another quarter because if it shit on my lawn the walker and I were going to have words.
Rios took me out last night to Taco Cabana. I had Sour Cream chicken enchiladas and a Dos Equis and Rios had a cherry Fanta and a quesadilla which she didn't finish so I did. It's got nothing on Taco Bell's quesadilla. What's up with that place being so delicious?
We have this picture in Kirklands, it's a map and it's got Latin words written around it and I'm passing the time trying to translate it with no help whatsoever. So far I've translated "illustratus" and the prefix "terra" and I'm trying desperately to remember "integro" which I know forms integrity or integral. Maybe it means "center"?
As you can see, I've got three words out of about ten or eleven. I'm on the fucking case. And I'm also really bored at work. The store is empty, closing. So what the fuck?
I think I'm going to see Sweeney Todd tonight. Looking forward to it.
I'm folding a giant pile of laundry.
The grass is gold and it's warm outside but I wish that winter would just hit us full on. It's too much of a tease.
Saw a golden retriever dragging its tiny French looking owner along today. I sat on my porch and watched it, half because it was funny and a quarter because it was a beautiful dog and another quarter because if it shit on my lawn the walker and I were going to have words.
Rios took me out last night to Taco Cabana. I had Sour Cream chicken enchiladas and a Dos Equis and Rios had a cherry Fanta and a quesadilla which she didn't finish so I did. It's got nothing on Taco Bell's quesadilla. What's up with that place being so delicious?
We have this picture in Kirklands, it's a map and it's got Latin words written around it and I'm passing the time trying to translate it with no help whatsoever. So far I've translated "illustratus" and the prefix "terra" and I'm trying desperately to remember "integro" which I know forms integrity or integral. Maybe it means "center"?
As you can see, I've got three words out of about ten or eleven. I'm on the fucking case. And I'm also really bored at work. The store is empty, closing. So what the fuck?
I think I'm going to see Sweeney Todd tonight. Looking forward to it.
Thursday, December 27, 2007
The Many Cocks of the Kirk
Something I don't understand is when people get fucked and they say, "Is that all you've got?"
I mean sure at the end of it one might say to another, "Damn, did you see how much Tom fit in her vagina? Impressive." But it still leaves you with a broken box.
The home decor store in which I work isn't doing so hot. So they're closing the one we're in at the end of January. I say fuck this, but all my coworkers seem determined to keep working their asses off for a company that has it's cock shoved firmly and Shiva-like up our collective asses.
The last fifteen minutes I sort of sit there, and I get shit for it. WHY? What does it matter? We're being SHITCANNED. Come on.
I need a new job. Suggestions?
Kahlua beats me. Dig the eye.
Everyone at work asked, "Did Stacey give you a black eye?"
I mean sure at the end of it one might say to another, "Damn, did you see how much Tom fit in her vagina? Impressive." But it still leaves you with a broken box.
The home decor store in which I work isn't doing so hot. So they're closing the one we're in at the end of January. I say fuck this, but all my coworkers seem determined to keep working their asses off for a company that has it's cock shoved firmly and Shiva-like up our collective asses.
The last fifteen minutes I sort of sit there, and I get shit for it. WHY? What does it matter? We're being SHITCANNED. Come on.
I need a new job. Suggestions?
Kahlua beats me. Dig the eye.
Everyone at work asked, "Did Stacey give you a black eye?"
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