MIDATLANTICISM?

Only because of late I've been cruisin' and bruisin' on Atlantic Ave in BK, and how it feels like an incredible crossroads where a part of me splits and veers off down different spines of Brooklyn

Okay, since we're feeling tangential and abstract, how about the Atlantic? I've never actually been to any other ocean. I've been on both sides of the Atlantic, up and down in different places. It's like a longlong green backyard that a part of me needs to have, whereever I go. Why? Because I grew up a beach kid. You've got your beach kids, and your camping kids. It's not a matter of what you like better, it's what you know better, and what you breathe better, and what grew up inside of you better. A lot of me grew up on the Jersey Shore, and Jones Beach, and for some godawful and godawesome reason, Coney Island. I am looking forward to the beach this summer. Let me know if you want to go for a shore walk. I might have tidbits about things we find.

Godspeed, look for the waters.

repent, ye non-posters

hey all,
i have to apologize for not posting lately (while not really posting much here in the meantime) because i'm short on both time and the means to express myself properly. i'm in Buras, Louisiana which is a small town on a peninsula reaching down into the Gulf of Mexico and, as it turns out, is in the heart of Cajun country. someone told me yesterday "we're at the bottom of the world," which in some ways (both literally and figuratively) seems true, sometimes. it's weird- i feel like i'm on a different planet and somehow, i kind of don't want to leave. i came here for 2 weeks but have decided to stay longer-- maybe a month or more. i want to tell you about all the amazing, sometimes completely insane, times i'm having and i just don't have the time or the verbal ability to put it all into words. i'm keeping a journal and i'll tell you all stories when I see you again. perhaps I'll even blog them when i get the chance. in any case, i still love you all and miss you and if you get the inclination to come visit me at the bottom of the world anytime this month, please know you're always welcome.
love,
Doyle

YEAH

Because listen.

We need to do some kind of collaborative run down on how awesome the Cribs and Teddie were.

Brief run down?

The Cribs = shitty on purpose and adorable as a result.

Teddie = DEAD FUCKING ON

You know what I'm talkin' bout, C.

i promise

to write more frequently in this blog, starting tuesday. be prepared for an epic post.

HEY

Dear Courtney, Doyle, and Takashi,

Yo, you're totally leaving blog behind. I'd keep going, but it looks embarassing when every entry is about FRIENDS, FEELINGS, and HOW MUCH I LOVE MY HAIR.

Please remedy.

Fondly,

Workoff

THE KIDS

In fairness, this should be a dual post, w. two contributors

Two blips convened in the midatlantic state of NJ last night, where Courtney and I found the Jersey version of us kids.

We met these kids from the College of NJ through her high school peeps. These kids, they were clever and funny just like us.

I was kind of glad to see us, in a different kind of context, and to realize that there are usses all across the country.

Cos dude, we're pretty fucking awesome.

SPRING

Spring is one of my favorite concepts.

Right now it is based on my love for a few things (LIST VERSION AVEC BULLETS):

- Girlier new haircut
- Looking at my green hi top Chucks
- Peter Bjorn and John's "Young Folks"
- Running around in fields
- Catch
- Geneseo in top form
- Brunch w. mimosas, poached eggs, and COURTNEY

In spite of Nor'easters, I am excited. In anticipation of, I've already revved up a mix. I still enjoy mixes, or PLAYLISTS as we the ipod generation will now call them. I think this one has a good swell to it.

Brian Jonestown Massacre - "Whoever you are"
Albert Hammond Jr - "In Transit"
Peter, Bjorn, and John- "Young Folks"
Belle and Sebastian - "Women's Realm"
Sufjan Stevens - "Chicago"
Ted Leo Rx - "Me and Mia"
The Thermals - "Pillar of Salt"
Neutral Milk Hotel - "Holland 1945"
Ambulance LTD - "Heavy Lifting"
The Cure - "Friday I'm in love"

Now here's one. Justifiably, I've played out Pillar of Salt and Me and Mia. I'm not sure they fit my SPRING vibe. If you can find a decent substition, I will cement it into the mixlist.

THANKS

s'pose i should start practicing saying "y'all" now

So I got an internship in Mobile, Alabama and will be moving there for the summer. It'll be nice to be up an' moving again, and to go South for the first time in about 6 years or so. The planning for this thing was a lil' spontaneous (e.g. the last-second decision to catch a bus from ohio and make a several-stop trip out of the deal rather than flying or driving straigiht down) but only a lil'. I've got a long way to go before i'm hopping around the country lone ranger style, all unpredictable and mysterious-like. Anyway, I'll get to see some of the family for a few days, then spend 2 weeks in New Orleans, before getting settled in Mobile. Hopefully it'll be a good trip.
Looks like I'll be making a stop in Rochester (maybe Geneseo, depending on time constraints) eithier Wednesday thru Friday or just Friday right before 'Stine and I blow out of town. I won't have a car of my own so a) mobility will be limited (i.e. visits may have to be very planned and may include lots of other-people-coming-to-me!) and b) poor 'Stine is gonna be stuck with me for a loooooong time! I'll try to make it up to her-bake her some bread or something. I dunno.
That's all that's new with me right now, but updates to come. Hope to see you all sometime.

Take a Letter!

Dear Geneseo,

I think it might be time for one last go around, while kids still live in town. Let me know when you are habitable (read: when winter has calmed down enough so that it doesn't blow angry in my face) so that i can come visit again.

Unfortunately, and in an unfortunately adult way, i will have to negotiate this trip around workin' on the weekend, which has been happening too often lately. And Dear Geneseo, let me know if you want me back.


Love,

Angela

my night

i'm too tired to write a post now, but i wanted to put this here as like a "remind-me-to-tell-you-about" in regards to meditating with ravi shankar in ithaca and meeting the mad-conservative jesus hippies. so yeah. remind me, or this will.

the jesuits run my life!

I'm on my couch at home, and I just drank with my mom, so things are pretty good. Yesterday, however, I was pining for Ted Leo. The story goes like this: Ted was playing a show at the 9:30 Club in DC, which I hate. The show cost $30, which is too expensive. Also, I was planning to drive home after my evening class. All in all, the whole Ted thing wasn't going to work, and the mature part of me accepted it. To cope, I'd pretty much blocked it out of my mind. Forgot that Ted was in my zip code, guitaring and ideologuing. Sometimes we do this. It worked until the morning of, when, listening to Ted on the pod, I got on the bus and sat opposite a dad reading the paper. He happened to be reading an article about Ted, complete with picture. Normally I'd be all "o hay teddy i'm lookin at you," but yesterday morning it made me sad. Like, sad sad. Anyway, I just remedied everything by buying tix for myself and my dear dear Monic to the 5 May Ted show at Webster Hall. Needless to say, you all should join us. And, it's 16+, so bring yer sibs.

My Dad called a few days ago and told me that he's been reading C.S. Lewis's Christian apologetic works. I told him about my reading C.S. Lewis as a Miltonist. Very odd, unprecedented conversation, but I like my Dad. A lot.

Going to Bonny Dune in a few days, and so excited! My mom has tasked me to turn Clue into a drinking game for the fam. Suggestions?

new mundane-ish things going on

i'm coming to geneseo/rochester (again) tomorrow for this FACE AIDS dealie and Smitler's birthday. i can't wait to see smitler and heard a rumor there might be an isler in town, too... that's an unconfirmed rumor, though. maybe i'll also stop by this sick gypsy shindig, too, and/or swing a trip to letchworth. yea, spring!
still no news from the internship in alabama (yes, kids: mobile, alabama) so i still don't know what's going on with this summer. if i'm any less destitute by then and don't get this deal maybe i'll consider just travelling. i feel like it takes me 6 months to decide to do anything these days, though. meh. we will see. anybody who wants a travel buddy for... whenever should feel free to let me know.

well.

kombucha is pretty good. in japan, kombucha was made from this plant called kombu that grows in the ocean. is it salty?

well, i have a little secret. i was a bit stoned last night and thinking, perhaps i may not be able to marry to a woman who doesn't like the cardigans. and i'm sure i have more of those. yes, and you?

ACTIVITIES

Partially because it is spring, and partially because I am adopting a new and more ACTIVE persona, I think it is fair to write about activities.

THE OLD
Spring = catch. Anyone who knows me well will know that I love a good game of catch. Soon enough we'll move past early spring chill when your fingers are too cold to do anything decent, to the real deal awesome spring days. Spring also = the Yankees, and I'm finally situated in NY for long enough of a time to go to a bunch of games. We are going to a ton of games this summer for a new kind of rowdiness with the kids. Oh yes.


THE CONTINUING
Darts season goes on, and even though we never became a league team, I still have the darts in my hand (and a song in my heart?). I recently got a dart board at home, and in the first day, only hit the dog once.

Hockey skates - I skate with Russians at a former air force base on the border of Brooklyn and Queens. They are teaching me how to hockey stop, which will be infinitely useful if I ever play hockey for the KGB (life goal)

THE NEW
The Vew - Do board arrived today. It's a fantastic red and brings me back to days at THE PIT when we did fuck all and everything at the same time. Its shape is identical to Danny Brew's board, and I've got two rolling blocks. Yes. Courtney I'm not sure what else to say except you will be amazed at how RED this is. I hope that this will lead to:

THE MAYBE
I've fallen in love with boys on skateboards again, so that for some reason, I'm seeing this as a reasonable venture. That is all for now.


Aside from that and other continuing activities like rocking out (READ: BREAKDOWN IN YYY'S CHEATED HEARTS), we remain ready - the hair is still its own being, the kids still aren't ALL right, and we are always available for brunch.


also - i am so excited i think a spring mix about being excited is in order. details to follow

oh, and also!!

kombucha! it's my newest fascination. it's a raw beverage that's supposed to promote all sorts of health. it's carbonated, which is key, and a little delicious. the dude who makes it claims that it cured his mom's cancer. so, i mean, it can probably cure me of last night's drinking, right?

fun or not fun?

live the walkmen didn't impress me. the end.

OK I'm in the blog

i'm not so good at this blogging dealie but intend to give it a try. i'm pretty sure i'm not really one of those people who are consistent or eloquent enough to "blog" (it's a verb and a noun, right?) in such a way that people want to read but i do like to read what other people write and figure this will be a good way to keep in touch with people collectively. by the way, angela workoff, i kind of fell in love with your brain a little for what you wrote about the Northeast. as a kid who bounced all over the place before landing here, i couldn't agree more, and the wording makes my heart hurt, kinda. SO good! Also! Thanks Courtney for starting themidatlantic. and getting it going. I love your updates and as always, love you x1,000 for being my brilliant/hilarious/amazing wifey. I'm so excited.
In regards to all this nomad business, i'd like to think of myself as such but mostly just wish i were a lot more nomadic than i am at the moment, and will probably be depending on you kids to provide me with a lot of sexy travelling stories for me to live vicariously through for some time.
I've actually settled into a routine for the next month or two that might get kind of monotonous from day to day but that I'm actually kind of enjoying. I'm getting better at paying attention to details and being happy about simple things. So, I'm pretty sure I've made the point that my updates are pretty mundane but I'll try to keep 'em coming. Here are 3 things I can tell you so far:
1) The sound of TV in Arabic has gotten so familiar it's comforting to me. My boss watches it 24/7 and I've only learned words pertaining to food (ooh, for example! "warak aresh" means "grape leaves with meat," "kyar bil-labin" means "cucumbers in yogurt" and "chubbus" means "[flat] bread." yea, me!), but my morning now starts with a cup of rakwi and chopping vegetables/bread/lemons to the sound of cartoons in a language I don't understand. It's weird, I guess. I like it.
2) Come to think of it, I spend about 50% of my day not knowing what's being said around me. Between Arabic and Russian (4 out of my 10 co-workers are from Eastern Europe) i can honestly say that I don't have a clue what's going on for most of the time while I'm at work. No fucking clue. It's great.
3) I'm intrigued/a little alarmed to realize how much servers can learn about people between snippets of overheard conversations and things they leave around restaurants (fliers, receipts, random unwanted objects, etc.) I mean, it's not like i could take over somebody's identity at this point but I have all these imagined stories about the people that come in all the time. I have theories on people's deep secrets, why the mean people are mean, etc. This is alarming because I can only imagine if there's someone like me (really nosy with a hyperactive imagination) working at GFR and what kind of shit they could tell me about myself if i asked them. (I don't think I would want to know.)
4) I'm starting some baby pea plants for the spring and re-remembering how much I loved growing plants pre-70 main. It sounds dumb but it's really exciting to me. I can't wait till they're huge and I'm harvesting peas out of my backyard. Rock.
Anyway I'm running out of time for now but that's my first post for ya. love it or hate it, i'm now officially a member of TheMidatlantic. The End.

Geography

The idea of a midatlantic blog appeals to me for many reasons, described THUSLY:

1. The Northeast - there are some of us who want to go West for warmer places, or more Portland - y places. Aside from becoming good friends with Kathy from the Thermals, this does not appeal to me because I would miss the Northeast too much, and the fact that so much of my wide ranging character was born out of seasons. It feels good to me, to be melancholy because November is empty trees and winter is soundless and white, and spring feels like being alive again. Plus shit, I think we're tougher kids because we know what brown and grey looks like.

2. Maps - we have been nomads and will continue to do so for a while yet. I was a big fan of matt pond PA's "The Nature of Maps" because of my blip theory and how much I like thinking of the lines drawn between us far flung kids. We can do a connect the dots between Rochester, Brooklyn, Georgetown, Ohio, and whereever the hell Takashi winds up.

3. This is our movement, goinggoing and getting bigger.

There. Now less FEELINGS and more rowdiness.

i know it's just business as usual.

Takashi is in CUERNAVACA, but he's decided to join up anyway. I want to be in Cuernavaca so badly that I seriously feel really hungry right now, and I think that might be why. I'm going to go drink a beer now. I just wanted to welcome Takashi, and let everyone know how jealous I am of him.

welcome to the midatlantic.

Hi!

It's been a good long time since I've done this, and I'm rusty as fuck. I'm afraid that all things I write these days read like unfortunate lists, so I'm not going to fight it.

1. Yesterday I went to the grocery store and talked to my mom on the phone while I was gathering food for purchase. She called me a bon vivant because I asked for asiago at the cheese counter. I don't think it's a negative thing, really, but it may be negative when it comes from my mother. The reasons for this are probably obvious. We all know about moms.

2. I am now finishing Four Weddings and a Funeral, which I watch every time it's on tv. I like John Hannah. Ange, in your infinite knowledge of all actors, fancy this one? Also, I love "darling Fee," Kristin Scott Thomas' character. I realized today that she may be me. She's all gaudy and fabulous, over accessorized, possibly drunk, cigarette smoking (more on that later), and sadly in love with Hugh Grant. Ah, me. Darling Fee.

3. This week I started walking to Georgetown. It's three and a half miles and highly enjoyable, even though I don't find D.C. very walkable. That may be why I like it. I'm spitting in D.C.'s face, all fuck you, I'm walking. Yeah.

4. I can't stop listening to Ted Leo lately. Maybe it's the D.C. connection. Did you know that he apparently used to live a mere few blocks from where I live now? I wonder if he still does. I think my favorite thing about Ted Leo is that he's an East Coast nomad, which I am too. I think the Tyranny of Distance is a great fucking record.

5. Last night I did something quite unprecedented. I'm still awaiting the results of this experiment. Eventually I might write a long and sorry post about it.

6. Nico just bit my hand. Have you guys been to www.icanhascheezburger.com? I think you might like it.

7. I realized when I was thinking about creating this thing that I'd completely forgotten about awesomebaby. If you don't know what awesomebaby is, maybe you shouldn't go to www.awesomebaby.blogspot.com. It's the blog I used to have with Pat (Pooch). I'd completely forgotten about it. Strange.

8. After all this time, I still really miss smoking cigarettes. I think I'll start smoking again. Maybe just for a little.

That's all, you guys. Thanks for doing this with me.