Went home to Michigan with Aunt Lottie and Carol for John Hackenberg's 50th birthday celebration (held on Halloween because his birthday is Christmas day and he can't compete with J.C.). Short but great trip, the best part was that I didn't have to drive out there, though it was a bit of a drag to have to borrow someone's car to go anywhere once we were there. Thanks to my uncle John for letting me use his for the evening, I got to go visit my aunt Pat in Marcellus and my cousin Joe in Dowagiac. I hadn't seen Joe's new baby girl yet so it was good to meet her and catch up with him. I also stopped to say hi to my cousin Ben Weigel, had to catch him at work so we couldn't have a proper conversation, but it was good to see him nonetheless. Also got to see long-lost high school friend Tammy over the weekend, she's doing well, has a 3-year old daughter now and is really into being a mom. Tammy and I went to Junior prom together as friends and also walked in graduation together but we've lost touch for the last 9 years or so. Great to see her and catch up.
Here are photos from John's Halloween party (and some of fall colors too), you can see my costume that was "inspired by Clint Eastwood," but much like Designer Imposters, it was kind of half-assed. I didn't plan too well for it but it was still well-received, thanks again to uncle John for the replica Josey Wales pistols/gunbelt with real bullets, poncho, hat, etc. The biggest problem is that I don't have the right face for it, too round and childish, I need squintier eyes and a thinner, more angular nose, not to mention proper beard stubble...
The party was held at the local Knights of Columbus hall, and that in itself was an interesting enough photographic subject to warrant its own feature page. Kind of a small-town Catholic borderline-occult group that seems fairly harmless, but it's still weird enough to creep me out a bit. They say they're a charitable group and this may be true, I have no idea what they do apart from renting out the hall for wedding receptions and parties and BINGO games.
Across the street from the hall stands a derelict restaurant/club, last known as The Crystal Club. I popped over there for a look and found windows broken and the door sort of broken open, so I went inside and had a look around. Ruins always shake me up a bit but I love them nonetheless. This place hadn't been occupied in about 10 years, but somehow the fluorescent light was still flickering above the bar! The drop ceilings were all caved in, the place was a fucking mess, looked like a tornado had come through. I took a bunch of photos and will post them and link to them in the next few days. So weird to see the fragments of a former life laid to waste, makes my guts sink to survey those scenes. Probably a lot of that kind of feeling down by New Orleans right now.
Jean-Regis, my great friend from the PETA days just got back from his month in France yesterday, he hadn't been back in over 4 years. We lent him Vanessa's digital camera so that he could document his trip and family and hometown, I'm quite pleased with the photos he took and only wish he'd taken more. Makes me want to visit France and Spain, it looks so quaint and...European! Where's the Wal-Mart and the strip malls!? Without further adieu, here are Jean's photos of Perpignan and surrounding areas, France and Spain. He's going to send me some captions for the photos in the next few days, but the handsome young lad is his brother Remey.
Last but not least, I'd like to direct your attention to the recent electronica-l musical works by my friend in NYC (via Paw Paw!) Joseph X. Burke and his ongoing music project/website Obfusc. I have no idea what that word means, if it's an acronym or what, but I really like the jams he's been kicking out, and he's promised that "Other Ill Shits" are in progress and coming soon. My favorite is probably the track Orthodox Contortionist from the Wrought From the Walls LP, sounds like some wicked video game shit and has a great buildup and resolution, some very agreeable bass and treble sounds in there. Joe's a hell of a good guy and quite multitalented. He's trying to convince me that my next move should be to NYC, part of me is definitely interested... I'm almost surely getting the hell out of Chicago next summer and I've got to pick a place. I know NYC is great, I just don't know if I could afford it for a year or two, time will tell, we'll be looking at our options in the coming months...
