Falling and Laughing

K., Erik, 1977– Falling and laughing Chicago: 2007. p. : ill. (some col.); imaginary dimensions. Coarse language sometimes used. Non-fiction, except for bits fabricated by author. SUMMARY: Music-, dog-, word-besotted Chicago man discovers he enjoys talking back to the internet. Fun times ensue. SEE ALSO: SUBJECTS OCCUPATION: Lapsed librarian, current designer, aspiring flâconteur (rare minotaur-like creature that is half flâneur, half raconteur).

SUBJECTS Falling and laughing 1. Thoughts--their shape. 2. Thoughts--ones had while walking dog. 3. Thoughts--ones that made me laugh. 4. Thoughts--the kind I’ve got. 5. Spleen--its venting. 6. Japery--assorted. 7. Words. 8. Music. 9. Books. 10. Obsessions--varied. 11. Animals--facts. 12. Animals--made-up things.  13. Dogs--beloved halfling Rottweiler. 14. Birds-- the bowerbird. 15. Birds--the great bustard. 16. Illinois--Chicago--residents--lives and customs. 17. Happiness--its pursuit.

Close Drawer

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“Vibrational Match,” Marnie Stern

I find this to be the very best song to listen to when you’re trying to stay highly motivated/throwing wild fives/PMA’ing very hard, and also when you’re trying to have a heart attack.

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“Do It,” The Rollins Band

And finally, Life Lessons Learned from the Best Show on WFMU that are standing me in good stead today, No. 4.

Thanks KAG. Thanks Tom Scharpling. Thanks Jon Wurster. I mean this all (except I don’t really have a razor cane, alas).

Regular intanet website blogging to resume tomorrow.

Be cool. Drink a milkshake.

Best Show Life Lesson, no. 3.

Splash some cold water in your face

Or, Life Lessons from the Best Show on WFMU that are standing me in good stead today, Part 1.

I want someone to punch me in the arm, as hard as they can.

Is this something I can solicit for on craigslist?

Why I Am Having Serious Work-Focus Problems Today
I am breaking blog silence, but it is so I don’t have to break blog silence further. Maybe this will temporarily get it out of my system. Anyway, why:
(1) Supra (Confidential to KAG: no, it isn’t real)
(2) Looking so much at this photo of El Perro Del Mar I took last night
(3) Thinking about how gorgeous it was when EPDM closed her set with a cover of “Blue Moon.” Only my favorite fucking sad song. Only my favorite Big Star ode to longing. I have video of the whole thing and I’ve never been so excited to put something on my internet website. But that has to wait for now. (The EPDM photo is actually a video still, by the by. You should be really excited to see her in motion.)
(4) Repeat
OK focus now you asshole.

Why I Am Having Serious Work-Focus Problems Today

I am breaking blog silence, but it is so I don’t have to break blog silence further. Maybe this will temporarily get it out of my system. Anyway, why:

(1) Supra (Confidential to KAG: no, it isn’t real)

(2) Looking so much at this photo of El Perro Del Mar I took last night

(3) Thinking about how gorgeous it was when EPDM closed her set with a cover of “Blue Moon.” Only my favorite fucking sad song. Only my favorite Big Star ode to longing. I have video of the whole thing and I’ve never been so excited to put something on my internet website. But that has to wait for now. (The EPDM photo is actually a video still, by the by. You should be really excited to see her in motion.)

(4) Repeat

OK focus now you asshole.

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“Mario’s Cafe,” St. Etienne

Everyone’s dreaming of all they’ve got to live for

Thinking so hard today about London in the spring. This, of course, is the soundtrack. It also happens to be the most PMA song this side of Rastafarian hardcore [SFW/I don’t mean that kind of hardcore you sicko]. Play it loud and bass-y.

Chant down Babylon. Chant down February.

In northern climes, it is well known that February is the most vicious motherfucker of a month. Yes, it is short, but consequently it has a serious Napolean complex. It is the Joe- Pesci-in-a-Scorsese-film of months, the honey badger of months. It will fight dirty, kick you in the balls, punch you in the kidneys, basically do whatever it takes to extract its psychic toll of misery. It’s only the 3rd, and I already feel its sharp claws in me.

Which is why I am standing athwart the next 25 days, Gandalf stylee, wizarding stick planted resolutely in front of me, and shouting: NO. Not this time, February. You are strong but I am stonger. Here is how I am fighting you:

  1. This song. Over and over again, so many times.
  2. Thoughts of early April’s showgoing schedule, which saw the exciting addition of JOANNA FUCKING NEWSOM last night.
  3. Thoughts of noted eels in London in April, eels which are succulent and of the best quality.
  4. Smiling at people on the street for no fucking reason.
  5. Gemma, always Gemma. You can’t get her down! Me neither!
  6. Thinking about how good it’s going to feel to climb out the February-pit and feel the sun on my face in March. March, now there is a month. THINK THIS:

    Saul Steinberg, my psychic Gandalf figure.
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“There is a Place,” Silver Jews

There is a place past the blues I never want to see again.
There is a place past the blues I never want to see.

Black planet, black freighter, black sea:
Police Conversation 1783

I saw God’s shadow on this world
I saw God’s shadow on this world
I saw God’s shadow on this world

I could not love the world entire.
there grew a desert in my mind.
I took a hammer to it all.
like an insane medieval king.

I saw God’s shadow on this world
I saw God’s shadow on this world
I saw God’s shadow on this world
I saw God’s shadow on this world

I could not love the world entire.
there grew a desert in my mind.
I took a hammer to it all.
I took a hammer to it all.

I saw God’s shadow on this world
I saw God’s shadow on this world
I saw God’s shadow on this world
I saw God’s shadow on this world
I saw God’s shadow on this world
I saw God’s shadow on this world
I saw God’s shadow on this world
I saw God’s shadow on this world
I saw God’s shadow on this world
I saw God’s shadow on this world
I saw God’s shadow on this world
I saw God’s shadow on this world

(related)

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“Strange Victory, Strange Defeat,” Silver Jews

We’re coming out of the black patch!
We’re coming out of the pocket!

1:26—when Cassie kicks in for these lines—is my single favorite moment from the entire Silver Jews canon. Reliable chills/fist pumps whenever I hear it. You don’t need to be aware of their back story to be affected by this song, but if you do know everything they went through together to get to a point where they could sing these lines so full-throatedly, in unison, it’s all the more of a huge roundhouse heart punch.