Greetings from day two of what will be three weeks off from teaching with a slight interruption (teaching).
I woke up cranky yesterday–which given that I survived another six-week class and have all my holiday bidness behind me—seemed odd and out of character. Ali and I “got passionate” (that’s eye-talian for “yelled”) about coffee grounds in [...]
The first thing I did was hang paper lanterns from China Town on all the lamps.
Years of hotel living has made clear the importance of lighting in cozying-up the joint. Or maybe it’s my inner Blanche DuBois. Though the walls are of wood, the studio is modern and airy and not especially cozy for a [...]
I visited New Orleans once, three weeks after 9/11. Getting off the plane and dumped on to Bourbon Street with its hordes of testosteronies slurping Hurricanes from football-shaped and sized containers was heart-stopping in its “how will we survive three whole days here?!” factor.
Eventually we found something of the old Nawlins: the Spanish moss wrought-iron [...]
I was thinking about Halloween this week, thinking about what costume I would make, were I going to be home in NY. I came up with: Little Red Riding Hood, but with fur, snout, and tail.
I have the Gustave Doré picture above hanging over my bed, which I spose could be seen an ironic comment [...]
There is a scene in Dead Man where Johnny Depp comes across a dead fawn. He touches the wound, a small arrow hole on the deer’s neck, and draws on his face with the blood. He marks himself, and in doing so, gives in to his destiny, becomes himself.
Now, it’s true that I can watch [...]
For years I named my shoes. I grew up in Hollywood, where shoes and hair are everything, so from the time I was old enough to do anything about it, I’ve never had fewer than 30 pairs.
The naming didn’t start until college–I stacked boxes to the top of my closet, inscribed with the names [...]