Byvshyj CCCP

[ Tuesday, July 29, 2003 ]

 
Second day at work. Looks like it will be interesting. Most people seem to get along.
S [6:31 PM]

[ Sunday, July 27, 2003 ]

 
Saw Seabiscuit today with Mark. Good movie but not Oscar material, though I suppose there's a chance William H. Macy will be nominated for best supporting in his role as a radio announcer. I didn't like two scenes drawing a parallel between the jockey and the horse. They were too long and too blatant.

Tomorrow is my first day at work. It's been a long time since I had a first day at anything.
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How did I forget to say I saw Pas/Cal Thursday at Tower Records in Birmingham? Shesh. They're only my favorite Detroit band. They were headed to Chicago to play this weekend.

The band was all happy and smiling. Cas had a bunch of family there. He tried some audience participation. He took two minutes setting up a rapid four-count to lead into the one minute song "Grown Men Go Go." Richard Panic climbed on one of the amps to play guitar (but...but he's the keyboardist). They played the four up-tempo songs off their EP, a cover of a guy I'm not familiar with, "The Handbag Memoirs" (which oddly enough is the title of the EP but appears on their next release), and a couple I didn't recognize.

I took some film pictures. Undoubtedly, they'll be crappy: I'm short and there were people and displays in front of me.
It was of interest to see a couple people from the crowd also turn up at Soviet's show the next night. Lord save me, I may now be tracking the movement of scenesters.




S [10:25 PM]

[ Saturday, July 26, 2003 ]

 
Went on the Southeast Michigan Land Conservancy tour of the Sibley Prairie. I'm passingly familiar with local plants, particularly those on prairie land, and I saw some I never knew were around here. There were even wild blueberries! Who expects those around here?

The soil was sandy. In the woods there's a 25' wide depression which annually fills with water then drains through the year, providing a home for amphibians. I've never seen anything other than frogs and toads in our area. There was also a greater variety of butterflies than we find by our house, four miles away.
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Last night I was again at Lager House, this time for Soviet. They're an electroclash band, so an early 80s sound with multiple synths, guitars, and--unexpectedly--live drums. I was pleased and bought their CD and a pin.

Someone in the crowd said their appearance last fall was more lively. More like the lead singer who was emoting, getting on his knees, and putting on a bit of a show.

S [3:06 PM]

[ Wednesday, July 23, 2003 ]

 
Met Nicholas in Windsor yesterday for 15¢ wings and beer. He introduced me to two Russian girls. One I may tutor on TOEFL. More likely we'll just meet to chat po-russki.

Saturday, he, Mike O. and I went to the Czech & Slovak Festival at the Yack. Two of us were in modified ethnic outfits. With no wine from the Old Country, slivovitz and Czech beer had to stand in. We met Slovaks of the American, Canadian, and genuine types. May see some again. One bore a très Hungarian name, Tibor, but was anti-Hungarian! One may want me to check on her immigration status. The married one who danced so long with Nicholas has already e-mailed him!

The three of us caught last-call (just before one) at the brew pub kitty-corner to the arena. I drank nothing further. We strolled the boardwalk in Bishop Park. The moon reflected brightly in the river. We reached the power station at the far end. They want to engage in mischief. First, they want to get onto the coal pile by going above or around the fence (by the sea wall). Then they notice the fuel is not exclusively coal but is mixed with chipped tires. They blame me as a lib and Downriverite for allowing this to be burned (?). Then they light three shreds on fire. I manage to stamp out two. The third must have extinguished itself. We experienced no black out for lack of fuel, nor did I hear of a conflagration on the news. By this time they were in shape to drive, so we split to our respective homes.

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The Sunday before last--because nothing happened this Sunday--I took advantage of another series of free concerts at Chene Park. Concert of Colors brings together all styles of world music in hope of promoting diversity and tolerance. There are usually some big names.

The main draws for me were Paris Combo and Natacha Atlas. There were some sound problems at the beginning Natacha's set. Maybe that's why she seemed like a bitch. Or maybe she wasn't feeling well. The MC hinted at that.
S [3:25 PM]

[ Thursday, July 17, 2003 ]

 
Yahoo! I received a call offering me the job. At the end of the month I report locally (and begin earning a paycheck!) then the last week of August I go to Gyawjah for training.
S [3:03 PM]

[ Tuesday, July 15, 2003 ]

 
Got a call from the center processing my employment paperwork. The lady noticed my drivers license has expired. That's true. I have a new one now. I didn't think they actually went over everything with a comb. I'll fax a copy when the downpour stops.

She said it was the only thing delaying the file from being handed off to someone to schedule my entrance. Even the security clearance is complete.

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My ears recovered by Sunday night. I never made it to Blanche, which motivated this burst of show-attendance, on Saturday. I did go back for ethos on Friday. I brought earplugs and noticed no diminishment when I got to my car, though one ear did ache while they played.

I recognized their single "Gonna die" from Darren Revell's much-missed "Big Sonic Heaven" program.
S [4:15 PM]

[ Thursday, July 10, 2003 ]

 
My ears still have not recovered from the music last night. I was at Lager House to hear The Singles. Also playing was The Riots, another 60s-ish band but with an organ and a girl playing guitar in white boots and a blue mini-skirt (mini-dress?). Both were fun to hear, but The Singles are the better vocalists.

Last week at Tastefest my ears were assulted as well. The bass at the stage playing electronic music was set to vibrate every hair on your body. I preferred to stay further down the street where you could still hear plenty fine. I went with the intention of seeing Carl Craig, Richie Hawtin, Juan Atkins, and esQuire, but I was also introduced to Mark Dignam and Blanche. I bought CDs of the last two.

Actually, I've bought more CDs in the last week than I have the last two years. Aside from the two at Tastefest, I've picked up Pet Shop Boys Disco 3, Brendan Benson's Lapalco album and his Metarie single where he's accompanied by others. I've been in a good mood and felt flush with cash I made earlier in the week.


S [2:24 PM]