And death shall have no dominion

Bought and watched Solaris this weekend. I've been meaning to do this for a long time, seeing as the soundtrack is probably my favourite movie score. The premise, of being forced to endure grief twice, is chilling. It's not a sci-fi film, really; it's a love story.

Worked a little on the short story I mentioned, although just notes so far.

My friend Rich comes to town this week. A 'potential itinerary' detailing plans to "smash NY," "smash Boston" and "get lush with college students" arrived this morning.

Not writing. Not sure why.

I finished a notebook about 10 days ago and haven't bought a new one yet. Excuses can be found - friends here, work, other stuff going on - but I could have found time. Maybe if I buy a new one, I'll just start writing again.

Toying with a short story in my head. I want it to crawl all over the body of a young person just as they're about - suddenly and horribly - to die.

I know someone who writes short stories that are among the best I've ever read. If he lets me, I'll put them up on here. But I don't think he'll let me.

We think caged birds sing, when indeed they cry.

That title's irrelevant. I was just talking to someone about John Webster, that's all.

I watched Magnolia for the first time last night. At least 6 people I know and like list it as their favourite film. I loved it, and I love it more the more I think about it, and really want to watch it again, right away. The whole cast is magnificent. The little boy steals the show, but Julianne Moore's outbursts in the lawyer's office and the chemist are bloody great too:

Alan: Linda, stop. Now you take a moment, you breathe, and one thing at a time.
Linda: Shut the fuck up.
Alan: You know what would help you, Linda?
Linda: Shut the fuck up. Shut the fuck up.
Alan: You need to sober up.
Linda: Now, you must *really* shut the fuck up now, please - shut the fuck up.
Alan: Linda.
Linda: I have to go.
Alan: Let me call you a car, Linda.
Linda: Shut the fuck up.

78 degrees today

Amazing. Spent much of the day in New Jersey at a client's office, talking about domestic appliances, so made up for it with a wander to Bryant Park just now. Bumped into Nick, who kindly let me interrupt his writing. Talked about giant blue wasps.

Went out in Williamsburg last night and got in at 5 this morning, so motivation levels are low. I met someone who has the word 'TATTOO' tattooed on his shoulder. I found this hilarious.

I haven't read anything or written anything this week because my friends are here. All I've done is eat and drink. Hence this astonishingly dull post.

At the risk of sounding like Veruca Salt

I want a dinosaur skeleton.

In work. Dull. Several friends visiting at the moment. Nice.

Giving serious thought to changing the colour scheme of this here blog. Since it's Spring and all.

Beautiful, beautiful song. Thought I'd linked this ages ago but it seems not. I listened to The Cinematic Orchestra a lot at university and haven't since. I shall remedy that.

A pedant writes...

Someone goes through the BBC News 'have your say' boards, copies the less well-informed comments onto his own website, then mocks them. It's utterly delightful:

http://ifyoulikeitsomuchwhydontyougolivethere.com/

("...you’re right Steve, trying to save the lives of brown people you’ve never even met, who live in far away Bongo Bongo land is a shit idea. My weekend’s fucked without the £1.60 this reckless government initiative has personally cost me. I was hoping to have a posh wank tonight, but now it’ll have to be a straight up and downer.")

Thanks to Tim Hancock, who should come and visit me.

Odd few days

I have been chipper and charming with almost everyone, apart from maybe one person.

When I wake from dreams, or verge-of-unconsciousness half-dreams, I tend to type what I remember into my cellphone so I don't have to turn on the light to scribble in my notebook. I save it into my draft messages, then I forget about it, sometimes for days. Three I found yesterday:


I want to dance with you. I want to dance across your hip bones: one-two, one-two.
___

Everything went sideways under me, like I was the needle and the world was the record.
___

"There is no one as beautiful as you." He was doing up the back of her dress. She was sobbing, "It's not true. It's not true." He carried on, repeating, "There is no one as beautiful as you."

I *hate* emoticons

But I've just discovered, courtesy of my office mate Ted (who makes copious use of the offending typographical creatures), that they were invented by Nabokov: "I often think there should exist a special typographical sign for a smile — some sort of concave mark, a supine round bracket, which I would now like to trace in reply to your question."

I never thought I'd see the day when hating smileys made me feel like an intellectual lightweight.

Weekend started well - much-needed night out with Sophie and Mel. This photo confirms what I've long suspected: I am the palest non-albino in human existence.

Saturday was an absolutely gorgeous day so I walked around Brooklyn, took some photos with the camera my dad gave me, then sat in McCarren Park for maybe three hours. Last night I started feeling depressed for the first time in about a month, and couldn't sleep. But I feel okay today. I haven't regained any weight at all despite eating pretty much normally for three weeks now.