Navrati in JC 2014

For the past few days, I celebrated my first normal-human weekend since I began my latest phase of employment. Meaning my first weekend without freelance work.

I did the sort of things most people do, like laundry, grocery shopping, a trip to IKEA, coffee with a friend, some apartment organizing, and then I briefly took a look at the barbecue festival across the street.

The festival was just silly. Is Jersey City known for its heritage of barbecue? Where did all these earnest young men in trucker caps and facial hair come from? Why do people choose to wait in long lines in the sun for the same food they could just go to the barbecue carry-out for on any given day?

The scene, and that is very much what it is, was depressing. I love where I live, but it's evolving, changing into something kind of annoying.

Later that night, a friend of mine—Ed Ward—was visiting from out-of-town. He was staying at a little hotel in India Square, up near Journal Square. I'd walked by it once after dropping off my car at my mechanic's, and sent him the link, and here he was checking it out.

"There's a festival up here. Starts at 7."

I went up on the jitney, the dollar van. We toured the movie palace, walked around Journal Square, and finally, the street party was happening.

Jersey City is still great and one of the most diverse cities in the country. You just have to go a little farther out to find it now.

A Touch of Imelda

It's that time of year when we all get confused about whether to wear sleeves or not, sandals or shoes, jacket or no. So I've been getting ready to swap out the seasonal clothing, but also not quite sure if I should yet.

I pulled all my summer shoes out of my closet.

This is ridiculous. And I have two more pairs under my desk at work. And how many of these shoes don't give me blisters? Only two sets.

And sometimes one of those rebels too.

Even Spidey Needs A Rest

I just found this in my Photostream.

Spidey must've had a long day at Baltimore Comic Con.

In My Parallel Life, I Never Left Austin

When an old friend of mine was in town in July, I went by WORD Jersey City to see him perform Ivy and the Wicker Suitcase with his wife and daughter.

At some point when I was chatting with him, he said, "You know, there's an HEB on Oltorf with a painting that looks just like you."

Sure, sure, I thought.

And then he sent me a jpeg.

Craftsy

I went through a tear of making stuff, right before I got utterly bogged down in work. 

Pottery was fun, but in the end, it was taking up too much of my time. My first-ever mug is below, complete with too-big handle. I loved pottery! But you can't do it in two hours a week. 

Day Job: The Previous One

I got around the paywall for the WSJ with a little help. 

So this has been going on for months now. A bit more detail is here. 

It's pretty nuts. Especially considering we're essentially inactive right now.