Just Say No

I went to see writer Sean Howe talk about his new book tonight, over in Echo Park. I thought it would be a record of the magazine HIGH TIMES but the book is about its enigmatic founder, Thomas King Forcade, who was a radical in the seventies, or possibly a grifter, who can really say? Anyway, it reminded me how in the seventies there would be smoke-ins on the national mall, and how pot was everywhere in those days and was nearly legalized under the Carter years. This isn't a book about pot, though, that's just part of the story.

Of course, the Reagan era was coming and the world was about to change a whole lot. Anyway, the book sounded great so I was fortunate enough to buy the last copy at the bookstore and get Sean to sign it.

But you know what makes this book extra-special? Cover art by Bill Sienkiewicz! (Sean let me have one of the posters.)

Powerless

The Jersey City house cleaners clicked off the power strip to my router a few weeks ago, and I haven't been able to remotely spy on the raccoons and opossums since.

I had no idea how much I depended on this.

Pottery Fail

Win some, lose some.

I Think It Went For $950k

I would like this house, please. But for the 2015 price of $140k. 

(Which gives some context for how I was able to afford my own Jersey City house in May, 2015.)

Some Finished Pieces

Here's a couple pottery pieces I experimented with. I'm pretty pleased with how they came out.

I Guess I Have to Buy Flowers Now

Working on my vase and rock thing.

Mud and Water

I’m working on a little tray to hold dish soap in JC. It sometimes drips onto the counter. 

Surely one of these will find their way to the finish line.

But Is It A Metaphor?

Like all creative endeavors—or like, you know, life—pottery begins with optimism and hope. You have only to try, and your genius will take shape. 

Tonight I couldn’t center the clay, but I kept trying, and finally it just kind of collapsed.

Watch Our for Bouncing Spiders!

Cuz I really know how to have a birthday!

Baby Mat

I made another baby mat for a colleague’s new baby. This colleague is a yeti-ist. A Bigfoot fan. The bears are just for California.

Some Advantages to Working at a Big Office

Puppies came to work today in advance of Puppy Bowl.

What a delight.

Sunday Expedition

I have zero interest in the Avatar sequel, but I'll watch the heck out of the LA Natural History Museum's exhibit on Cameron's submersible journey to the Mariana Trench.

There Are Worse Reasons

I'm thinking of going to San Francisco in March to see Jake Shimabukuro perform on his ukulele. 

I know that's loopy, but here we are.

What Will Fit In It, Though?

Tiny new pot came out of the kiln. Mini-hippo added for scale.

Useless Little Pots and Bowls

I don’t even know what to do with these but I keep making them, trying to learn to get predictable results.

Remember the Aranui from MariesWorldTour?

I'd like to go to Pitcairn Island on the Aranui.

Unfortunately, the cheapest bunk is $4308.

Maybe I'll go to Staten Island instead.

Fun to Watch, Though

I had to go into Manhattan on a Tuesday morning, so I got a Blossoming Hot Chocolate. 

The novelty lasts only seconds.

Annual Reminder

National Bundt Day is coming! I am trying once again to bake a Tunnel of Fudge.

Where's My Lasso?

This is a little too small for me but would have fit kid Marie in the 1970s...she would have been thrilled to wear it everywhere!

Hand Built

This is a basic pinch pot I made out of leftover clay because I only had 20 minutes left of class.

I like how it came out, for once.