Elliot Elliot

The clothes cupboard

2010-06-02T23:08:00.000-07:00

I built an armoire for the kids today. It's kind of wonky. But it's pretty cute. Now it just needs to be painted. I've never built anything with hinges before. All their little clothes will fit in there on the little shelves.

David Chavez

2010-06-02T23:05:00.000-07:00

David Chavez was our guest tonight. We chatted. And watched Wipe Out.

Phases of sleep

2010-06-02T22:56:00.000-07:00

Oslo has slept with about 18 to 20 stuffed animals for the past four nights. He has these phases he goes through that stop as quickly as they started. It used to be the ghost lights from Ikea.

Congratulations

2010-06-02T22:54:00.000-07:00

Congratulations Pepper!

On winning the Chocolate Chip cookie bake off contest. I do love your cookies. Thanks for not letting me eat all of them.

Plastic Fruit

2010-06-02T22:52:00.000-07:00

I like to shop at Shop Co. I like to shop at Trader Joe's. I don't like fruit that comes in plastic packaging.

Rainy Sunday

2010-04-11T22:22:00.000-07:00

Well, hello there. It's been a long time since I have put anything up on my blog. I've been busy with school and family and just haven't really felt like blogging. But that's no reason to stay away for so long.

It's Sunday and has been very rainy. Whit and Meg (Peppers brother and wife) are in town for a conference so Meg came to church with us.

Actually, this isn't how I want to spend the last few moments of my Sunday night.

I'll check in later.

A week end on a Saturday

2010-03-14T07:37:00.000-07:00

This week I just wanted a weekend. I haven't had one or taken one in a while.
We woke up early and I did my chores. I haven't done chores in such a long time. The trash was taken out, the garbage area swept and the lobby vacuumed. We all showered and Pepper made breakfast. Some kind of crispy French Toast. It was good. We had a little lag time, Luca fell asleep on the couch and we almost didn't make it out of the house. Pepper had a short appointment to meet a new tenant to sign a lease and we were off. We drove to the botanical gardens to let the kids run and play in the sun. But the Anarchist convention taking place at the entrance changed our mind and we kept driving. It looked like the same bunch I see in the Burning Man photos, except they were dirtier and less artful. Since we had skipped lunch at home we made a stop at Peasant Pies for some carry out. If you happen to visit their establishment, you may notice that the door says Push, going in and out. From there we went to the park at Clarendon and Olympia, near twin peaks. We ate our lunch and the kids played. Each of them had a head bonk. Oslo was thrown off the merry-go-round which gave him quite a scare. Luca smashed into the bench we were sitting on. Some how she didn't need stitches or even break the skin. But she did swell up. They both shook off their bumps and kept playing. The sun was out, the sky was more blue than I remember seeing it in some time and the leaves on the trees a brilliant green. I had to lay down for a bit and just stare into the sky. It was one of life's perfect little moments. After a while we set off to go shopping. On the way off the hill we neared the Randal Museum. I'd never been there and Pepper thought it would be fun to pop in for a bit, so we did. we saw the bee's and the petting zoo. We watched the horned owl sleep, played in the exploration and toy areas. And ended with a visit to the electric train set in the basement. Oslo did not want to leave but we had to move on with our day. That meant a trip to the mall to get some new clothes for the kids. Most of Oslo's pants have been hanging well above his ankles for a few weeks now. Pepper and Luca went in first as Oslo slept in the car. I stayed with him and even fell asleep. When we woke up we met Pepper and Luca inside. The kids hunted around in the toy store and I went in search of some new shirts. After finding a few, Luca was at her end and with a cry signaled our time to depart.
At home we found dinner, cleaned the living room and settled in for a movie. We watched, The Swiss Family Robinson, a film Pepper and I had both watched at home in our childhood. So it seamed fitting to show it to our own children. The night went just as is should have. The kids were on and off the couch. Laying with mom and with dad. Eating and spilling popcorn. And occasionally kicking each other. Luca was so tired she couldn't go to sleep so we had to put her in her bed. The rest of us huddled on the couch and watched the adventure unfold on the screen. Soon enough I fell asleep. I think that's standard procedure for a dad. The last thing I remember is pepper covering me with a blanket.
It was a wonderful end to a much needed day off.

Snowfoot Car, with video

2010-02-07T08:20:00.000-08:00

I guess when you live here, it's helpful to have this:

Interview with Fred Armisen

2010-02-02T20:28:00.001-08:00

Nick Fehn

2010-02-02T19:45:00.001-08:00

SNL Lawrence Welk

2010-02-01T23:12:00.000-08:00

J.T. on SNL

2010-02-01T23:04:00.001-08:00

My face Front, left, right

2009-10-28T19:24:00.000-07:00

This is my face.

This is my symmetrical face, left side.

This is my symmetrical face, right side

Inhale in the face of the infinite black hole

2009-06-11T20:40:00.000-07:00

I was working in my studio and heard loud voices calling out to see if any one was down here. My first thought was that some tenant had buzzed drunken friends into the building and now they were lost in the back stairwell trying to find their way out or back in. I didn't want them to try to get into our apartment or my studio so I got up to redirect them. Swinging open the door wearing my stern face, ready to tell them to get the hell out of here and keep it down because people are sleeping, I found myself staring into the infinite black hole of a hand gun. Clutching it tightly with a solid aim at my face was a police officer. He was flanked by four or five others. All crammed in a narrow stairwell. Seeing this the once stern look I wore evaporated to reveal a total dumbfounded shock. Gripping the doorknob I inhaled- black hole. The officer yelled at me to come out of there. With out exhale I inhaled again- Black hole. "Sir! I have a gun pointed at you please come out of there!" Double inhale- BLACK HOLE. "SIR. MOVE OUT OF THE DOORWAY AND COME TOWARD US."

Shaking my head slightly trying to make sense of the scene in front of me I let go of the door and slowly walked toward them. Two officers asked me different questions at the same time. For some reason I didn't sound very bright as I tried to answer them simultaneously. Another officer carried out a quick sweep of the studio while two others moved out through the side door into the back patio area. Pepper who had been at the back window watching all of this opened the door to meet me.

The officer who had held me so closely at gunpoint apologized. I didn't know what to say in response. "Ah that's okay." didn't seem appropriate. So I just composed myself best I could an listened. He then informed us they had received a phone call that a gunman was in the building and they had been searching all the floors, rooftops and stairwells. Fortunately I didn't meet the suspects description so I wasn't shot.

All in all there were about 10 police officers deployed in the sweep of our building. In the end there was no gunman. Just a jealous, angry immature girlfriend who wanted to teach her boyfriend a lesson. I don't know what lesson he learned but I learned- Don't date crazy teenage girls with a disposition for drama and then spend the evening with another girl who's hotness is equal to or grater than the first girls hotness and expect the evening to go smoothly. And make sure, this one is very important, you never match the description of the suspect. Pepper might suggest add that one move more quickly when a gun is pointed at them. I'm not sure if sudden movements would have been the best course of action.

Even though there was roughly 15 feet between me and the open end of the gun. That barrel appeared to hover a few short inches from my future.

Just another day at the beach

2009-03-31T22:27:00.000-07:00

I said let's go to bed. We got up from our chairs, turned off the lights and walked out of the room. Instead of going to bed I walked directly to the computer and sat down to begin typing. I shut down applications I wasn't going to use any more, plugged my headphones in and pushed play. The entire Smashing Pumpkins, Zeitgeist, album was at the top of my iTunes party mix and it filled my ears through my junkie headphones not the good ones Pepper bought me for Christmas. Two years ago Pepper found out I am finally super easy to shop for. iTunes gift cards. I get excited every time I get one of the little plastic cards. Really excited. Without embarrassment or wonder. Maybe you know the wonder where you hope the gift giver believes you are really as excited as you seem. And then when you've given them enough of a show you feel a little bit bad that you sold your performance so well. Now they think you really love the yellow squishy thing that does some amazing thing that changed their life or they thought you would love so much because they were sure it was going to change yours. And then maybe you feel a little worse because you stop thinking about that whole thing and wonder why you put so much expectation on what a gift should do. Maybe it's more simple a thing. Maybe it really is just some one giving a thing they found and it seemed fun at the time maybe even a little funny and they thought it would seem fun to you for a moment. Or maybe even a little funny. But when you got it you didn't chuckle and you didn't think of how fun it was to receive a tiny little trinket. Instead you started your little routine saying how much you loved it through an unnaturally wide smile and a discourse on how useful it will be in your life all the while you are wondering how long you'll likely keep it before you can throw it away without any guilt. Well, the good headphones do not fall into that category. I was truly excited and surprised to get them along with some iTunes gift cards. The only thing I thought about was how long would they last through all my bus trips to school each day. I still use the case they came in. Except right now. It's the bad ones and the one in the left ear doesn't work that well. It shouldn't be an issue because my right ear doesn't work that well either. So I sort of always hope it will balance out when I put them in my ears. It doesn't balance out. So I guess I hear better than I thought.

If there is one thing I am good at it's not doing the thing I am supposed to do. I think I have always done this and I think I have always just considered it an artful way to live. Like my whole life is some kind of performance piece that I have been skillfully crafting for years. Take today for example I woke up and went to school. It was a homework critique and it took the whole six hours session. I sit with each student and break down the painting piece by piece. A lot of people ask how one grades art like I am going to agree with them that it's all subjective and anything can be called art. I see a lot of painting and very little art. Painting is very easy to grade. It looks like an apple or it doesn't. It looks like light falling across fabric or it doesn't. Easy. But tiring. That was it. The whole first part of my day. Talking and grading. Grading right to their face. It can be brutal. "I know you want to do this but with your best effort and all your time and money you've put into this you have earned a C-. Maybe you should go into insurance. People will always need insurance." I've said things like this, in jest of course, but totally serious. Having as many students as I have had I hope that one of the C-'s comes back to tell me how I was wrong about them and sticks their paycheck in my face or mentions my lack of belief in them in some interview they have published in a magazine. I would love to be wrong with that kind of outcome.

After class I made it to the bus stop. It was almost all I could do. I even ran for the bus. But it wasn't the one I wanted so I ended up waiting. Leaning up against a wall. Loitering really. The bus I ride is a school bus commissioned to take students from class to their dorms. I live a few blocks away from the dorm so it works out that I have a fast, free ride into school each day. All of that is great. I'm glad it's there. It's just these buses don't have real bus stops. The bus just happens to stop at about the same place every time. We get on. We get off. And it always in mass. So we are always in the way. There are too many crossing the street. There are too many clogging up the sidewalk. There are too many leaned up against a store front surely driving away business. But that's life in the big city. There are always a bunch of people doing a bunch of stuff and it all overlaps.

I had to stand on the bus. A messenger bag around my shoulder- because they are cooler than a backpack- and sticking in the face of some lucky girl with a gray comfy seat. I noticed one girl who was eagerly helping her hair form into dread locks. I thought, do what you want to your hair you still have a hairy face. Maybe a session or two of laser hair removal would be a better use of your time and effort. I agree that might sound kind of mean. But let me remind you I didn't say it out loud. I didn't tap her on the shoulder or knock my knee into hers and say "Laser hair removal would do more to detract from your fur than any amount of cat tails stuck to your head ever will." That's what I call dread locks- Cat Tails. I've never seen a tail on the end of a cat flattened on the asphalt and thought "I think that would look good on my head. I should go find some more. Because if one looks good a whole collection would have to look great." Now even if I had said anything like the things I was thinking she could have said, Do what you want with the hair on your face it won't detract from the fact you have little to no hair on the top of your head. And if she would have said that to me, she would have been right. At the next stop enough people left that I was able to get a seat. The girl next to me was talking loudly about her friend she loves very much despite how stupid and selfish she is. And how with out the help of the loving smarter friend the stupid friend would starve and be kicked out of school. That stupid girl sure is lucky to have a friend like that. The smart compassionate girl must have grown tired of expounding on her virtues and transitioned into her vices. Apparently if a young man is willing to take the time to text her she is unable to avoid sleeping with him. I mean being "romantic" with him. She must have had a moment of self awareness and realized how loud she was speaking and that she sounded kind of slutty. Instead of lowering her voice she just exchanged the word "sex" for "romantic". I sort of wish she had used something more appropriate like "Cheesecake". It would have sounded something like, "What am I supposed to do. It's late and he wants cheesecake and I've had a long day and I want some cheesecake. And he's like texting me about how he wants to come over and make cheesecake in my dorm room." I was pretty tired so I don't remember her words exactly but that's pretty close.

As I left the bus I heated up almost instantly. I was wearing a coat and the sun was out and unobstructed by clouds. I thought, this is a beach day. When I arrived home I slipped out of my shoulder bag and coat and asked "Who would like to go to the beach?" We all went. It was just another day at the beach. Another beautiful day at the beach. The kind that makes me fall in love with this over and over again.

What I did just now

2009-03-02T22:32:00.000-08:00

While listening to The Cure I updated my Facebook, Twitter and now my blog. Way before all of that I walked half way home then caught a cab. As I walked up to my building Oslo was yelling for me out the window. "DAD. DAD... DAD." I can't think of a better sound. We both smiled a lot when we saw each other. Later we ran and "flew" around the lobby. Tonight he said "More. Fly." So we did.

Family Outing

2009-02-06T13:26:00.000-08:00

Last night when I returned home from work I drank a glass of water ate a chip and packed up the family to walk down to Kevin Moore's latest and greatest art exhibit at the Hespe Gallery. Pepper strapped Luca into the Baby Bjorn and we were off. Oslo was so happy to be outside that he ran almost the entire 12 blocks from our home to the gallery. Kevin's show was amazing. It is something that should be seen by any who have the chance. It was also a pleasure to see a lot of friends out in support of the show. Some of them I see often and others it's been a while. We were also very happy to have Tracy Astle join us on our night out.
After the show we ended up getting some of that Powell St. Pizza. Oslo didn't eat much but he sure drank a lot. And since he had run all the way there he was too exhausted for the walk home so I carried him as he slept. He is getting heavier as he grows up but it was still nice to have him zonked out on my shoulder. I know these days are numbered so I try to enjoy every moment I get.
And Kevin, Bravo.

Skate/ Park

2009-01-18T23:10:00.000-08:00

We met up with Rachel, Adam and Kim and all the kids at a bay side park. It was another warm clear beautiful evening. Rachel got a new skateboard so we cruised the Embarcadero and circled Giants Stadium. Later we met up with Tyler, ate pizza and watched skateboard videos. I tried not to be to play it cool but I really had a great time. Even some one tossing cookies in the kitchen didn't dampen the evening. It just felt that good to be out in the warm air in this beautiful city with people we love.

If any one wants to join our EMB skateboard coalition you are welcome to. All one needs is a board. All levels are welcome. Right now we just roll around. Some times we hassle shopkeepers but I think we are losing interest. If you can't skateboard but still want to join some exceptions can be made... Maybe you are good at making treats and want to share that with us. You can join. Maybe you have a car and want to pick us up at the beach after we ride through Golden Gate Park. You can join. See we are an easy bunch to get along with. Even though there are only two of us, three if you count Adam our filmer, I think by the end of the month our numbers may double.

I'd like to give a special thanks to Pepper, Tyler and Matt at DLX for helping this dream come together a little easier.

Do not trust the Postal Service

2009-01-06T08:35:00.000-08:00

We all know not to trust the Postal Service. Don't we? But do we really know not to trust them?

While we were out of town we asked that our mail be held until we returned. A simple request. At least we thought.

We returned to our San Francisco home and the first thing we saw through the lobby window was our mail box open and empty. The next day we called to post office to find out if they had our mail. They told Pepper we didn't get any mail. - In ten days over the Christmas Holiday we didn't get any mail? We called back each day talking to different people at the post office who all shifted the blame or responsibility to some one else and even back to us. So for four days we have been calling and visiting the counter of our local branch trying to find out what happened to our mail. So far the official word is that it has been delivered and is out of their hands and responsibility. I did however get in touch with some one who oversees these type of cases and he said he would look into it. But what can be hoped for?

Through some investigation of our own we have learned the mail was delivered to an open box and we have verified that a number of personal and valuable envelopes had been sent during that time. I wonder how long it will be before we find out our Luca owes thousands of dollars to creditors for trips to spring break town in Florida, a kick ass new stereo with hundred inch woofers and banquets galore at the local TGIFridays.

So the real problem, more than our mail being delivered early, more than it being delivered to an open mail box, is that we trusted the United States Postal Service to preform a simple task.

Disgruntled? I am surprised more people don't go "postal" on the postal service.

2009

2009-01-06T08:25:00.000-08:00

So far 2009 has not started off well for the Elliot family.

Except for Luca we have all been sick for a week. Some kind of slow acting flu/cold. At lest today I think we are on the mend.

The Moon and New York city

2008-11-22T22:33:00.000-08:00

Dear Blog spot,
I've been spending a lot of time with Facebook lately and I was wondering if you and I could still be friends?

The first day with Luca

2008-10-21T08:53:00.000-07:00

Pepper is doing very well for just having given birth. She has liked having a few comforts from home.

Luca

2008-10-20T23:38:00.000-07:00

Luca Plum Margarite Elliot
Born October 20 2008
8 lbs 10 oz
21 inches long

More photos to follow

Baby Nameless

2008-10-14T22:13:00.000-07:00

On Peppers countdown we only have one day to have this baby. I'll be surprised if it happens tomorrow.

Every day people ask what we are going to name it. And we don't know. Before Oslo was born we went through all kinds of names. With this one almost nothing comes to either of us.

But here is a short list of our top names we can both agree on.
Boy
1. Hutch Dragon Price Elliot
2. Del M. Elliot
3. Shem Hankrum Elliot
4. Justice Hammer Elliot
5. Cloudy Tamm Elliot
6. Eli Sable Elliot

Girl
1. Blondie Von Della Elliot
2. Trang Cartwright Elliot
3. Mantha Candice Elliot
4. Lori Lavern Elliot
5. Chaste Golden Elliot
6. Ronnie Brayer Elliot

Unisex
1. Clinton/Clintonia Subaru Elliot
2. Viz Fixen Elliot
3. Duo Vanderkemp Elliot
4. Forest Don/Dawn Elliot
5. Runglink Grestallvra Elliot

It'll be one of these.

Some one took my hoodie

2008-10-14T20:30:00.000-07:00

I brought my black hoodie to school today
I didn't know it was so
some one else could take it home
I thought it would be another cool night in the city
So I packed my black hoodie
I hung it on its hook
It hung there so alone
I went away for lunch
And some one took it home
I lost my black hoodie at school today
It was a warm night
the moon was full-
and bright
Soon it will be cold again
Some one else may bring my black hoodie to school some day
I hope it finds my hook

This is a poem. It's how I write but not how I write letters or essays. It's how I write poetry. Because sometimes I am a poet. Other times I am a good dancer.

...but not for 2,400 dollars

2008-10-11T22:50:00.001-07:00

Sure I would like this shoe...

I have been doing a little shoe shopping lately. It's been something on my list of things to do for, um, two years. Finally, last week I broke down and bought two pair of Clarks. I have been really happy with them. For years I have mostly worn sued skateboarding shoes. It kind of felt like maybe it was time to transition from sued to leather. I was hoping it would still be in a skateboarding shoe but once I started shopping I found out I am hard to shop for.

I need some new music

2008-10-09T19:46:00.000-07:00

What have you got?

When you get a chance...

2008-10-08T13:38:00.000-07:00

Give me a call. I have still have some ailments and new shoes I want to talk about.

A Dead Kennedy and Bread On the Table

2008-09-21T23:20:00.000-07:00

When I was in my youth I found punk rock music. I will not sing the praises of this genre nor will I say in hind sight it has little value and I now see how destructive it is.

While I was searching out and listening to punk rock music I undoubtedly came across the Dead Kennedy's fronted by Jello Biafra. They were a political band and sang about issues and events I had never heard of. Even today it is not uncommon to hear of a political issue or figure from the past and finally a DK song from 20 years ago makes sense.

In my late 20's I saw Jello speak at the University of Utah. I enjoyed hearing him speak about an array of topics some I agreed with others I didn't but I always respected his clear stance on issues. He also had a way of sharing information in a way that was entertaining and informative. A combination I feel is valuable and powerful.

Even though I was exposed to some history, like who was Pol Pot, and rethought some issues - the drudgery and conformity of corporate America- the most powerful lessons I learned from Jello Biafra through punk rock were "how's" instead of "what's".

One of the lessons I picked up on was "Become the Media". Don't just wait for the media to feed you what they want. Instead broadcast your own facts with your personal bias. At the time I think he may have been referring to graffiti, news letters, zines, rallies and public access TV. Now the with the widespread use of the Internet and blogs I am sure he meant that too.

Another lesson was to simply stand up for what you believe in. In one of his songs he says he loves his country and suggests he may even "love it more than you" because he is willing to fight against the "stars and stripes of corruption". I think on many topics we would be on opposite sides of the fence but I still respect him and his method. At the core of his message I felt he was most interested in people acting in a way they thought was responsible instead of trying to get them to think or act like him.

When I saw him speak those years ago he said something that surprised me. I think if he had encouraged everyone to go out and burn a flag on a street corner it wouldn't have surprised me as much as it would have disappointed me. But what he said went something like this. At the end of the day we are all pretty much the same. We are worried about keeping a roof over our heads and putting food on the table.

I remember this ending put all his music and what I had heard in his spoken word tour into a different perspective. I saw him as a person who had strong convictions about daily issues and the state of things in America and the world at large and allowed him self to get heated up about it. But he knew, though the issues were real, it was still a form of entertainment. A way to get people to listen and hopefully act. And action is the message I heard the loudest from him. He has his views and he takes action. And he understands that others have their views and they should take their responsibility to act as well. I can't say never but I rarely felt preached to when I listened to the Dead Kennedy's. Other than I should exercise my right to act with in the laws that have been laid out by our government. Even though his views were clearly in opposition to most national leaders the message I picked up on was overthrow corrupt leaders by lawful means. Educate the public, encourage conviction and action, and vote. So I was surprised that at the end of his lecture he acknowledged the commonality we share in general as people. And that from this we should engage in dialog with each other. An unlikely sentiment from a world renowned punk rock icon.

With elections on their way and prop 8 on the ballet in California and SB 777 having already passed I have had current issues on the forefront of my mind more than any other time in my life. My son and a baby on the way contribute to this in the greatest of way. Having lived through the life the previous generation fought for or failed in for me, I am now concerned for the future I must help build for my children. And I do not think breaking down definitions and destroying tradition is the way to build a brighter future for any one.

Who would have thought that 20 years latter the Dead Kennedy's would have influenced a Mormon father of two to stand up for what he believes in and vote.

I don't know what I would say to Jello Biafra if we ever met. It might just simply be, "Thanks for encouraging me take a stance."

An amusing video using Sticky Notes.

2008-09-07T16:38:00.001-07:00

Paul Foot

2008-09-06T19:18:00.000-07:00

Talent Show

2008-09-06T17:39:00.000-07:00

There was a talent show held today at the church on the corner of Pacific and Gough. It had singing and dancing and dancing and singing and comedy and some ball bouncing and a Poem. And all of that was just on the main stage. At the back of the grand hall were tables with artwork and crafts and crafty art work and even a slide show of photos from around the world. Then there were some video presentations shown on a screen. In spite of some audio technical errors and a curtain that never closed and a small flicker in the lighting it was a wonderful way to spend an afternoon. Seating was comfortable and treats were in abundance. Children were running and playing and some how the one that tumbled off the stage did so with such childish grace and good fortune that he wasn't hurt. The timing of the event even had it's benefit. It was late enough that one was able to go to the beach in the morning and, due to the still long days of summer, if one wanted to could easily return to the beach in the late afternoon.

As for us? We just came home. It had already been a good day. We had spent the morning at the beach with a couple of friends and relaxed in the sun and splashed in the waves.

Pepper alert

2008-09-03T22:12:00.000-07:00

So when I am super famous. Not just blog famous. Pepper is going to come out with a sneaker and sweat pants line. We have been throwing around a few names for her company.
Pepper and Squid Inc.
Pepper Pushers
Socks and Pepper
Pepper the Company and Co.
Pepper Stay
Hot Pepper Pants
Sweat n' Pepper
Pepper Pants Shoes
P.U.M. wear
Ugly Stuff You Wear
Beauty Inside
Or
Roller Dance Smash Up Power Punchers In the Face of the People (RDSUPPIFP)
Rides Up P.I.F.P. YO! and Co.

So be on the look out for some amazing stuff from Pepper. She is the real brains and talent in this operation we call a family. I am just a front.

I know

2008-09-03T20:37:00.000-07:00

I know. I know. I know. Some times I get bored with my blog too.

There Are

2008-09-02T22:42:00.000-07:00

There are a lot of good blogs out there.

At The Computer

2008-08-29T10:32:00.000-07:00

A list of things at our computer station. From left to right.

-A small gold frame painting of Christ
-A generic gray/tan computer speaker with a green light that glows when the power is on
-A stack of seven blank compact discs in thin clamshell cases. (They are stacked on the speakers)
-Four learn French discs (on top of the blank discs)
-A Motorola V3 flip phone Motomanual (on top of the French discs)
-Two Discs of images for a music video I did some work for that was never made
-A red box from Red Envelope. It contains:
-Eleven photos of my son and wife. They were a gift.
-Three Viz Media business cards
-An expired temple recommend
-A menu for the 21st Amendment
-My cousins Address
-Two memory cards for a camera I don't own any more
-The corner of an envelope with a friends return address
-ipod slip case with a print of a race car driver on it
-More photos of Oslo- his first birthday
-Another disc of Oslo photos
-A copy of the Beastie Boys, The in sound from the way out
-An empty cd slip case for the Arcade Fire, with Cameron's address written in the corner
-A gray USB chord for Peppers camera
-An Orow Wheat coupon
-A note pad with phone numbers and a list of things to do
-A black Sharpie marker
-A burgundy Sharpie marker
-The right side gray/tan generic computer speaker. It has no light
-Black cloth for cleaning the lenses on my glasses. It's collecting dust. I just use my shirt
-My eye prescription
-Zoo membership
-The url for a friends website
-A thank you card sent to me for a painting I did for a friend
-Two Thomas and Friends DVDs out of their boxes
-A box of trendy thank you cards I need to use up soon. I am behind on my thank yous
-Another stack of cds, some burned some blank and some empty clam shell cases
-A black USB chord for my camera
-A wooden rooster magnet
-Two wedges of wood from a Utrecht frame
-A mostly empty case for my Waccom tablet pen
-A silver plastic GE cordless telephone and base unit

Email

2008-08-28T19:34:00.000-07:00

On average I get six emails a week.
On average I check my email seven times a day.

Long Blog

2008-08-14T14:31:00.000-07:00

Long Blog entries are the worst.

MASS-ively annoying-EMAILS

2008-08-14T12:43:00.000-07:00

Today I received two mass emails. I have been receiving more and more of these lately. And I don't particularly like finding them in my inbox. Even if it's for a good cause or something incredibly cute or funny. What ever the case I tend to loose a little faith in the person sending or forwarding the message.

Here's why. Even though the messages in the mass emails are varied there is generally a bias point of view and some outrageous point intended to get the reader to rally behind the cause. Maybe it's something like this:

Recycling- The Hidden Evil Of The 21st Century.
Stop recycling!
In towns across America illegal immigrants are collecting fingerprints and DNA from discarded bottles and cans. Once the personal leavings are collected and cataloged the recyclables are then traded, right out in the open, for cash at various locations that are likely in or near the neighborhood where you and your family live! The money the collected goes to funding identity theft and human cloning. And if that isn't scary enough soon enough it will be taught in schools that it in order to save the earth we must all recycle. When the real truth is, the only way to save the planet is to save America. And in order to save America we must save every bit of human waste in the very bottles we bring into our homes.

So I urge you to think twice before you toss out that bottle of pickle juice little Jimmy just gulped down after his soccer match. What is really being recycled? Glass or our children?
Stop recycling! Stop the invasion of an army of our own children- except they will be clones armed with glass shooting guns made of glass that can easily avoid detection by metal detectors.

This is clearly not a real issue, as of yet, but this is pretty much how most mass emails sound when I read through them. And tag lines like- "I don't know who wrote this but I thought you should read it and pass it on" or "I saw this on the news" and "A hitch-hiker sent this to me and when I wrote back they were gone" -never help the validity of the message.

Like I said in the beginning I found two of these in my email today. And each of the mass emails had a mass response, which is something I find more irritating than the initial email. However today I happened to take a moment and respond to each of the writers on an individual basis.

The first one was very thoughtful, polite and open in their dialog with me. It felt like a civil conversation between two people who have similar and opposing views. I felt a sense of respect from them and hope they felt the same from me.

Then second interaction I would like to share with you. I will refer to the other person as A. Because that's how they signed their email . And my response will be represented by an M. That just stands for "Me".

In response to a mass email calling for votes.

A- "Seriously...not everyone shares the same political views. Stop already."

M- "I agree that we do not all share the same views political or otherwise- I don't like tomato's. Nor do I like mass emails. One of the things I like less than mass emails is being included on the mass email response to the mass email. Please be the change you want to see in the world and respond only to the sender.
All the best"

A- "Are you kidding me. That was just lame. Keep to yourself and I don't need someone to tell me to be the change blah blah blah"

M- "I am not kidding you. Where is the lameness in not wanting be included in a mass responses? Can you explain to me how you have the right to tell me to keep to myself when it was you who instigated this dialog by sending me an email? Is that a specific guideline I should follow or is it more of a general rule that every one should follow?"

I haven't heard back from A. And if I do that will be the last of it. I have already given this more time than was intended.

So in closing I ask that you not include me on your mass emails (unless it's an invitation to a party or BBQ or boat race- is that a regatta?). And please if you need to respond to a mass email, simply respond to the sender. It's just good etiquette. So please help get the word out.
Good luck will come to you if you copy these last two paragraphs and forward them to 10 of your closest friends. If even half the people on your list will do the same when it comes back to you, you will find out who your real friends are and who had a secret crush on you in the fifth grade. It's so true it's creepy.

IQ Text

2008-08-12T19:28:00.000-07:00

Please don't text in the movie theater. Even though I can't hear your phone, I can still see it. It's like watching little fire flies pop up and down in the dark - except it's not charming or magical.

What I did on my Summer vacation

2008-08-04T16:50:00.000-07:00

Things from this post may end up in the book in more detail but this is not the book. It's just a regular post.

Today marks the end of another semester. It was a fast and fun seven weeks. I had four Pre College painting classes for High school students and one undergrad Abstract Painting class. I had the fortune of having a really good bunch of students in each of my classes and met some wonderful people who I think have some very bright futures. I gave some of the most harsh criticism I have ever dished out. It was though but needed to be said and for the most part brought impressive results. And some funny stuff happened.

There was the student that shook and hid their face each time I spoke to them. The one that liked me enough to promise a quick and painless death when they became President or Emperor of the world. I was hugged and picked up from the floor by an energetic corn fed young lady. Even after I said no, one of my more bold students drank from my Dr. Pepper. I said "It's yours now. And you owe me a Dr. Pepper next week." Which is still owed to me. I also think some one ate an orange from one of the still life set ups. That thing had been sitting around for a few weeks. One fifth of my students dropped out in the first week. I latter found out I was considered a mean teacher for the first few weeks of school. (It was all part of the plan.) I was able to work in a karate kick to one of my painting demos. "Uhhh. I have a question." was my favorite quote from the semester. One of the brilliant students made a self portrait out of gummy bears. It was half yellow half white. Just like they were. There was even a car wash for cancer and bake sale thrown in there.

Like I said, it was a fun semester. Too many things to mention. But now it's on to my summer. I will be building a crib and a bed for Oslo, building an online class and spending time with my family.

The Best Joke

2008-07-23T10:28:00.000-07:00

Another Part of CHAPTER FOUR
There is a bunch of stuff that happens in the middle of this and the tent stuff that actually ties together. When the hard copy of the book comes out and it has all the words from all the stories it will make sense.

The other day I heard one of the best jokes ever. I even had the opportunity to play a small role in the punch line. But I don't want to take too much credit. Mostly I just listened and observed. Here I will try to retell it in a way that is both funny and instructional. This works really well if the person you are telling the joke to has kids. Parents have a perspective that helps them understand this kind of humor.

Here's what you do. If you see someone with their child, go and sit by them and strike up a mild conversation. Be patient and before long the parent will inevitably say something about the child's development. And as soon as they do you say, "Oh he or she is so advanced." At first it might not sound funny but with a little patience and luck it will pay off. And here's how. If good fortune is on your side some one else will join the conversation within a few moments and when they do you can just casually slip in the punch line of the joke. Like so, "One of my favorite things to say when ever anyone is talking to me about their kids is that they are so advanced. It's like my little joke." Be sure to say it loud enough that the person you just played the joke on can hear it. That way they get to share in the punch line pay off.

So I have decided to write a book

2008-07-22T22:39:00.000-07:00

People say to me a lot, "Mark, you should write a book. I would totally read it." When I hear this I have always been repeating in my mind, "I am a painter and a drawer. A visual type artist. Why would I write a book? A book writer is an author. A word artist... Which I am not." But on my face I just laugh and then look down at the floor or my lap as my smile fades like I am giving it some thought. But really I am just wishing it had never been mentioned. So I just keep looking down and I wait for the conversation to change. Which it does at some point. Because some one always says something.

Well, recently, no one has told me I should write a book. It might be because I have almost stopped talking to people. And if I do talk to some one I rarely say anything that would be in a book. But with no one prompting me to write I have had time to think. And through that thinking I have decided to write my book.

When ever I hear any one give advice about doing some thing creative I always remember the same thing that is eventually said. "Make, such and such, based on what you know." And since I know my life I'm sure my book will be mostly about that. Maybe some fiction thrown in if I forget a bunch of stuff or if I find my life too boring to write about.

Looking back I would have to say my book has gotten off to a pretty good start. I have already written three paragraphs and two sentences. And that's even before I have gotten into the meat of the book. This has just been the intro. Or the foreword. I don't read much so I don't know which one it is.

For some reason my wife of four years likes to point out the fact that I don't read. Maybe she thinks that will motivate me to read. Like today when I asked if she was still using the damp wash cloth sitting on the edge of the sink. In my mind I thought that would encourage her to put the wet cloth in the hamper. And maybe she did. I have not looked so I don't know. What I do know is that I do not read more than I have to.

And now with out further discussion or build up I will begin. (Please note this is only a sample. This is not actually how the book starts.)

And as it came crashing down it sliced the skin from my heal clean off.
That is the end of chapter three

CHAPTER FOUR

A good friend of mine likes to go camping. He calls it "back packing" though. I don't know the difference and it doesn't really matter because either way the person/persons involved end up in a tent.

In a tent. Of the ways I have woken up, this is one of my least favorite. Perhaps the only other way I have woken up that I like less is waking up after a surgery. I think it's the temperature and the lighting. Never, upon waking in a tent, have I felt rested or refreshed and eager to start the day. In a tent there is always something wrong. It's either too hot, too cold, too moist from breath build up and night sweats, and usually insanely bright for 5:45 am.

Now I will admit I have never spent good money on a sleeping bag but I have borrowed sleep sacks from a few people who have. And the common factor seems to be that by morning I feel like I am wrapped in a twig filled dirty damp napkin smelling of beef jerky.

Times have changed some may argue. And then tell me all about the latest brake through in watermelon rind fibers. And they keep going. And it's all good stuff but all I can think about is, in tents. I hate to wake up in tents. Cold (hot), twig filled dusty, nylon smoke house, crusty socks stuffed into wrong terrain kind of shoes by my face, dripping walls tents.

Peas and corn

2008-05-24T19:43:00.000-07:00

When it comes to prepackaged peas and corn, I only like frozen peas and canned corn.

Roberts Freestone Carver

2008-05-07T17:14:00.000-07:00

Though he was a policeman, a horseman and a rifleman, none of those are what come to mind when I think of my grandfather. Instead it is his roll as foreman. Each week he would oversee my lawn mowing duties, making sure I let fall the grass that needed to fall and bagged the grass that needed to be bagged. When I was done he would bring me a bottle coke and we'd sit in the shade of the back yard tree and he would tell me I was a hard worker.

My grandfather passed away peacefully in the familiar surroundings of his Ogden Utah home in the company of loving family members on May 6, 2008.

Songs from the dust, How Seven Days in Sammystown burried the Beverly Hills Cop

2008-04-20T21:23:00.000-07:00

The "Beverly Hills Cop" soundtrack was the first tape I ever owned. It had that song "Axel F". To this ten year old boy it was the coolest song in the world. It really spoke to who I was as a person and what I wanted out of life. Then I heard The Far Side of Crazy, a minor college radio hit by the newly reformed Wall of Voodoo. The album was "Seven Day's in Sammystown". After hearing this album I wanted virtually noting to do with Top 40 Radio. I liked the song "The Far Side of Crazy" so much I signed up to lip sync for my fourth grade talent show. A few days later I got stage fright and erased my name from the list. I don't know what would have happened if I had preformed but I think it may have included the "stop button" on the square, green public school issue tape deck being pressed early. What ever the case I have never regretted keeping my admoreation for that song to myself that year. Also on the album was "Black Board Sky" a pulp fiction type song with the line "My head is ticking like a bomb on a subway train." I waited years to use this line in a real life situation. Sadly the situation never arose. There was "Museums", from this song I was introduced to the word "Anthropologist" and still have an affinity for the word to this day.
It was 1986 and I listened to Wall of Voodoo consistently for the next few years. However, over time I found new musical interests and the tape began to gather dust in my humble yet growing music collection. Eventually I moved onto compact discs and it was stored away. My love for the album never diminished I just knew it so well I didn't need to listen to it any more. Until now, fifteen years later.
On my last trip to my mothers home in Utah I rummaged through some of my old things and pulled out a few tapes I had not heard in years and brought them back home with me. Some of them that made it are, A compilation of 12" Remixes from The Cure, two mix tapes I made - One from Junior High and the other from High School, A mix tape from an ex-girlfriend (some people think it's weird that I still have this... But it's a really good mix.) And of course Wall of Voodoo. The tape has some garbles and warps and sounds like I am listening to it from a distant memory. And to make it worse it's not even the actual album. I never owned it. All I ever had were cheap copies. I had to make a second duplicate on the verge of the 90's because I had worn the first one out. Not spending the $9.99 to buy this album at the Toad Tape in the Ogden Mall still haunts me. Even still, when I walk into a record store I take a moment to look in the "W's" just to see if any one has traded in a copy- It's been out of print for nearly two decades. I found a couple of discs for sale on line but they are selling for almost $400 (that is my annual Coca-Cola budget) so I just can't justify spending that much on one album. (I can't really justify spending that much on Coca-Cola either. They don't need the money. Maybe I'll switch to RC Cola.) Even if it was the most influential album of my life I just can't do it. Nor do I think it should be done. So instead, it's on continuous play in our car. When you have a tape with a good full album on one side and a not so good album on the other side, continuous play means- a listen then a rewind then repeat. I had forgotten how slowly tapes rewind but it's been worth it every time.
Sorry Axel F, you didn't have the staying power.

Wall of Voodoo - Far Side of Crazy

2008-04-20T21:22:00.000-07:00

Elbow - "One Day Like This"

2008-04-20T21:21:00.000-07:00

Yoriyos - The Pied Piper

2008-04-09T13:23:00.000-07:00

Her Space Holiday - Japanese Gum

2008-04-01T11:23:00.000-07:00

Plecebo - Pure Morning

2008-03-31T21:23:00.000-07:00

Placebo - A Song to Say Goodbye

2008-03-31T21:13:00.000-07:00

Band of Horses - The Funeral

2008-03-31T21:08:00.000-07:00

Dirty Vegas - Days Go By

2008-03-31T17:34:00.000-07:00

Pulp - Common People

2008-03-31T16:46:00.000-07:00

Utah Saints - Something Good

2008-03-31T16:42:00.000-07:00

The more clear version.

Neko Case - "Deep Red Bells" (Live)

2008-03-31T10:05:00.000-07:00

U.N.K.L.E. - Rabbit in Your Headlights

2008-03-02T21:59:00.000-08:00

Blur - Coffee and TV

2008-03-02T21:56:00.000-08:00

The Heavy - Coleen

2008-03-02T14:08:00.000-08:00

Snow Patrol - Run

2008-03-01T02:36:00.000-08:00

M.I.A. - Paper Planes

2008-03-01T02:34:00.000-08:00

Justice - D.A.N.C.E.

2008-03-01T02:29:00.000-08:00

The Cure (In Orange) - A Forest

2008-03-01T02:23:00.001-08:00

Interpol- C'mere

2008-03-01T02:05:00.000-08:00

Rodney Mullen. It was a different time back then

2008-03-01T01:38:00.000-08:00

Alpine Stars, Carbon Kid

2008-02-27T11:51:00.000-08:00

Smoosh - This Modern Love (Bloc Party cover. live)

2008-02-27T11:40:00.000-08:00

Liz Durrett - Knives at the wall (Live)

2008-02-27T11:38:00.000-08:00

Fredo Viola - The Sad Song

2008-02-27T10:58:00.000-08:00

Yeah Yeah Yeah's - Down Boy

2008-02-04T19:27:00.000-08:00

Rain and Snow

2008-02-02T18:33:00.000-08:00

We have been getting a lot of rain here in SF. And I know Utah has been pounded with snow. I'd love to see some photo's of Utah snow. So if you have any posted, let me know so I can check them out.

Christmas 2007, SF (From the Queen Ann to Baker Beach)

2007-12-27T00:14:00.000-08:00

Larkin Street Studio

2007-12-19T22:17:00.001-08:00

Ho Ho's

2007-12-12T12:08:00.000-08:00

I had not ever had a Hostess Ho Ho chocolate cake treat until I was 31. The reason that is surprising is because I eat most of the common junk food out there. Once I tried them I couldn't stop. Every time I walked past a Walgreen's or the like I wanted one. Well, on one of the days I wanted one I got one that tasted like wooden stick- the kind they build fudgesicles around. So I let Hostess know about it. Within a week they sent me a thank you and two coupons for free treats.

Thank you Hostess. You are America.

I went for a walk

2007-12-11T20:49:00.000-08:00

Ended up at the mall in a room full of arcades filled with plush toys.

Billboard

2007-12-11T19:18:00.001-08:00

At Faculty auction with The Boy

2007-12-11T08:19:00.000-08:00

I think I like this one best.

Monk Portraits Two and Three

2007-12-11T08:13:00.000-08:00

Studio Larkin 2007

2007-12-11T08:08:00.000-08:00

Early Night Sky

2007-12-11T08:02:00.000-08:00

Leaving 60 Federal 2007

At Angel Dear

2007-12-11T07:53:00.000-08:00

Playtime Squeeze

2007-12-11T07:43:00.000-08:00

When they stayed over.

Oslo and Licorice Whip

2007-12-11T07:14:00.001-08:00

Extra long Twizzler.

Circa: Summer 2007

2007-12-06T19:59:00.000-08:00

2007-09-08T22:08:00.000-07:00

The back of the landmark San Francisco museum The Legion of Honor

A view through trees and over a golf course into the Pacific Ocean from the back of the landmark San Francisco museum The Legion of Honor

Oslo at the wheel. He took his shirt off because it was so hot and because that is how he feels most comfortable driving around.

A view of the bay with sailboats all over it.

Suddenly Pepper appeared. Here she is waving at the camera. But it's sort of like she is waving from the past into the future. I guess she is just like that- always thinking ahead.

A warm day at China beach

2007-09-08T21:54:00.000-07:00

This was our first visit to China Beach.

Grass restration at the old ball diamond

2007-09-08T21:38:00.000-07:00

Baseball diamond undergoing grass restoration.
Close up of barricade at the baseball diamond undergoing grass restoration. This photo makes you feel like you are actually there.
A far away photo of the park where the baseball diamond is. This photo makes you feel like you are far away from the park. And maybe it makes you want to go there some day to at least see what they have to play on... They don't have a lot of picnic tables.
Pepper had gone to this park a few days earlier for a birthday party. She liked it and wanted to go back. This time there was another birthday party and a craft day at the clubhouse. Since we weren't invited to the party and we didn't even know who they were the park just felt crowded. Shortly after the teeth picking guy with the plastic bag showed up we went back to the car. Pepper, fed the boy and I took photos of the baseball diamond.

Kilby Court, Sandwich release party

2007-06-03T22:22:00.000-07:00

Tide Pools, Monterey, CA

2007-05-16T14:13:00.000-07:00

Pepper and Oslo, days before Utah

2007-05-16T13:36:00.000-07:00

X-ray

2007-05-16T13:07:00.000-07:00

At work Again

2007-05-16T13:01:00.000-07:00

Bachelorhood is Pretty Good

2007-05-02T23:09:00.000-07:00

I have to admit being a bachelor again feels pretty good.

On Sunday I dropped Pepper and Oslo off at her sisters house in Monterey. She spent a couple days there, then flew to Salt Lake this morning. She and Oslo will stay there for a few weeks and I will join them when I am finished with school in two weeks.

Monday was not all that special. I just sat and drew some images, to be printed later in the week, and I did some laundry. It sounds simple but these two tasks took all day. Fortunately I enjoy both activities.

These are two of the images I drew that I probably won't print. The Hairy Man-Child ended up being reminiscent of Oslo. That is the stance he has when he is really mad. I also mixed in some worst case scenario: Not growing, super-porcupine-like hair growth on his back, long teeth and bald. Note: Oslo this did not start out as you. I love you very much and think you will grow up to be very handsome. It's just a coincidence that this is how you stand when you get all tense and upset. I don't think you will have hairy monkey arms. Also I am sure you won't be able to fit into your little coveralls for much longer, let alone at age forty.

On Tuesday I had class most of the day. For breakfast I had store bought cookie dough. At school I painted in the morning and went to a lecture in the late afternoon. Then it was back to school to set up to print the drawings I had made on Monday. I was at there until closing, midnight. On my way home I grabbed some dinner. Two cheese burgers, a hot fudge sunday, and a giant coke. When I got home I topped it off with some more cookie dough. I watched a few scenes from the movie The Goonie's and went to bed.

Wednesday morning came as early as usual. I reviewed my list of things to do, researched on the Internet for a bit, then had some cookie dough for breakfast. With all this quiet time this thought came to me, "I sure am glad my body knows how to turn things like cookie dough, soda and ice cream into skin and blood and stomach lining."

Yep, being a bachelor is pretty good. Treats with (or for) each meal, burgers after midnight, soda for a night cap and sleeping in the middle of the bed.

Pepper, you will be impressed to know I went to the store and all I bought was toothpaste, T.P., bread and some bottled water. No Little Debbie's, no chips and no licorice... Some how with the above information that doesn't seem like much of a success.

My heart and my health miss you. Sorry I am such a wreck without you.

Another Work Day

2007-05-02T16:20:00.000-07:00

Today's Biggest Fear

2007-05-01T23:05:00.000-07:00

Today my biggest fear is having an entire bucket of freshly excavated earth front loaded, by a front loading tractor, into the bed of a dump truck containing splintery wood boards, rusty nails, concrete chunks and me, still alive mind you, and all I thought was I was getting some free wood boards.

I Don't Know Who Reads My Blog

2007-04-18T23:18:00.000-07:00

I don't know who reads my blog. Just in case you are the person that stole my black jacket with the zip off hood from the back of my '87 Dodge Colt back in '91, I just wanted to let you know I still think about that jacket. It was kind of new to me at the time and I hadn't started to get tired of it yet. So I hope you liked it while you had it. Maybe if you still have it you could send it to me. I don't mind if it's all worn out. I just want to see if it is really worth remembering. However, if any kind of house pet hunkered down and gave birth on the jacket, there is no need to send it... If I don't receive it I will just assume that's what happened.

This way when one side runs out the other side is already empty

2007-04-18T17:18:00.000-07:00

Digital Plastic

2007-04-18T16:53:00.000-07:00

Fun with Photo Booth and a window sticker for the proud parent.

Check it out

2007-04-18T16:47:00.000-07:00

Mark+Work+Photo Booth+Transparent Sticker+Photoshop