A Moment Of Grace

The Wells Street Bridge is under construction this week and as a result the red line has a lot more traffic. Last night I was waiting at the Monroe stop for about half an hour in a crowd of people.

I was standing for a good portion of that time next to a young woman reading. We didn't talk and I didn't think much of it. As time passed train after train came thinning the crowd gradually. When I was close to the edge of the platform a train came and I thought I was going to get a spot but I didn't, I was edged out.

The young woman who had been standing next to me did get on and was close to the door. Looking into the train we caught each others gaze. And for a time neither of us looked away. Her eyes were blue green with a lot of flecks in them like the facets of a gem. I didn't want her to think I was some creeper staring at her so I looked down the platform for a moment then looked back. She was still looking at me. As the train binged and the doors closed she mouthed "I'm sorry" and gave me a conciliatory grin. I half smiled and shrugged as if to say "no worries" and the train pulled away.

In and of itself it was relatively meaningless but it was one of those moments that made you feel like people were nice: that even in a crowded, sweaty, irritating circumstance people can be compassionate.

I will probably never see her again but I'm grateful for her and people like her. Any resentment I had because of my work day or the CTA delay was washed away with a small act of kindness.

Lunch Bunch

Katie was in town from LA and met Ryan and I for lunch. We had a very good albeit brief catch up session. It's great to have friends that move away and when they come back it's like they never left. There's no weirdness you just pick up where you left off, in my experience that's the exception not the rule. We gossiped, talked some shop, and had some excellent falafel.

It's nice to break up the work day with friends, something I never really took the time or interest in before. No matter how bad or boring your day is, an hour of companionship can turn it around.

Me: So hows LA?
Katie: Every idiot is writing a screenplay. If I hear one more bro tell me he's writing Hangover 4 for National Lampoon I'm going to kill myself!

Graffiti 98

Every once in a while we all put on the bear suit.

'To The Wonder' & 'Oblivion' Reviews

To The Wonder is an abstract romantic drama from Terrence Malick. It follows a man falling in and out of love although the man is as much scenery as Paris or rural Oklahoma are in the film. Most of the shots encompass only his torso and focus on the woman. The film has hardly any dialogue, long protracted beautiful sweeping shots, heavily underscored scenes that focus on two people interacting physically not verbally. To The Wonder feels more like a dream or a dance than a movie. The men and woman in the film aren't actors, there's no acting to speak of in the film, they are performance artists.

The film is certainly challenging. There is no narrative to speak of and aims to effect you emotionally rather than mentally. You can infer a lot of things from the film and invent your own story as to what is happening. Depending on your outlook that could be frustrating or invigorating.

The only dialogue you hear clearly is breathy repetitious narration. This can be taxing but if you go into the movie with the right mind set and some patience it can be an extremely rewarding experience.

At the end of the the day To The Wonder is about love, its many facets, and its indescribable nature.

If you are in love, looking for love, or heart broken this film will bring you some clarity and maybe some peace.

See It.

Oblivion is the first major SciFi release of the year. It takes place on Earth 60 years after a war humans fought against alien invaders left the planet a nuclear wasteland.

The film looks beautiful and the story is passably entertaining but it doesn't scratch the surface of its potential. Instead of coming up with an original idea the film recycles ideas from other scifi films like The Matrix, Moon, WALL-E and Independence Day to name a few. The "twists" in the plot are telegraphed to such a degree that when the surprises are finally revealed there's no effect. The audience figured it out twenty minutes before the characters did.

I was entertained but I wasn't excited. Another mediocre, run-of-the-mill, scifi flick. All gums, no teeth.

Rent It.

Sun Through Tracks

When I was a boy
the city loomed
and swallowed me
As a man
it cradles
nutures
and supports me.

When I was a boy
I hated the city
fought against it
As a man
it's a part of me
a silent conspiraor
comforting and wise.

Be Like Water

I first heard this idea years ago from the biopic Dragon: A Bruce Lee Story. I think it extends much further than martial arts to performing, interpersonal communication, work, on and on. Strength and purpose is found in flexibility not rigidity. Being confident and comfortable, knowing yourself and expressing yourself, not in despite of other people or things but in harmony with those things external. Lee goes on to say something like: water is the strongest thing in the world, you can't cut it or break it, but water can wear down rock, running water never grows stale so you got to just keep on flowing. He talks about being so aware that you can always act in an honest manner, staying in ones truth.

I've been thinking about this a lot recently. I use to be very angry and reactionary. I'm getting better at reacting after a pause and only saying those things that are constructive while still expressing my wants and needs. There is a lot of unnecessary conflict and I'm trying to let those things that don't matter or which I have no control simply flow through and around me.

"It is like a finger pointing a way to the moon, don't concentrate on the finger or you will miss all that heavenly glory." -Bruce Lee

There's a great remix with parts of this interview here.

Bubble Boys: Carnival

Episode 7 is full of manic-energy and owes the tiniest bit of inspiration to the HBO show Carnivale. Having Danny and Craig in the studio together, two of the highest energy people I know, was quite a treat and a little bit of a trial. There was a lot of yelling and some pretty strange stuff. It was a real pleasure having Craig on the show because he's been my mentor and friend for a long time now. It gave me a little extra juice. There are some great lines in here and some really weird situations. Three more till the end of season 1!


The Bubble Boys hawk their gum on a carnival midway and witness the tribulations of a clown.

Featuring:
Steve Nelson as Sven Ingaborg
Andrew Tisher as Henry Mossmouth
Danny Groh as Charlie The Clown and Townspeople
and Craig Uhlir as Mr. Enus and Townspeople