Next birthday, I'd like to have a BIG party

have a BIG party
This is a big birthday, and I've missed all of my other significant birthdays with the exception of my 18th birthday, when my father took me and my best friend Jan out to eat at The Abbey.

wow

Disney Overload

MonsterMustDie and I went to the Eyedrum Art Auction last night to take part in the fundraiser & rent party. Saw friends like Klimchak perform and took part in the silent auction. Actually won a couple of small items between us. I have a tiny Ashley Anderson watercolor of a coffeemaker and MonsterMustDie got the best thing - we now have a Steve Seaburg skeleton trellis.

First thing this morning, I sprang out of bed, showered and went to the VA Highlands for a fresh haircut. After getting a new 'do, I made it to the Morningside Farmers Market and brought home lovely fresh arrugula, tomatoes, cucumber, onion, etc.- ingredients to make some good late-summer salads at home.

Now that I finally have most of my software and hardware in or back on order, I spent a block of time earlier this afternoon installing new software and setting up the new computer and printer. Starting to feel more professional in here with the current tools available to me. This gives me a lot more to occupy myself with at home now too.

Then, cabin fever set in again and I went to IKEA and Sam Flax with MonsterMustDie to get a few organizational things for the office and buy frames for some new artwork at the house.

The rest of the evening has been Disney movies: Ponyo at the cinema. Then, upon getting home, housemate watched Pinochio on Disney channel and now he's watching Willy Wonka. Gotta hide in my room now... until the storm of cute is over.

Goodbye, RIP, Les Paul

Anyone who has ever heard an electric guitar recorded in a multi-track format owes a debt of gratitude to Les Paul... so, I guess that means just about everyone. Thanks for everything, Les.

Eyedrum Art Auction - August 14, 7pm - 10pm

Positively the most diverse and entertaining art auction in town! Featuring a silent auction of over 100 pieces of artwork in every price range, from every genre, in every size and in all mediums. Painting, Drawing, Book Arts, Jewelry, Photography, Sculpture, and more from local established and emerging artists will be included. ED Recordings, Eyedrum merchandise and memberships will also be on sale.

Your purchases at the Benefit Auction will help support Eyedrum's operating costs and programming year round. Eyedrum is a completely volunteer run non-profit organization featuring contemporary art, music, film, theatre and literary events.

Email eyedrumauction(a)gmail.com to volunteer, donate artwork or for more info. $10 at the door. FREE for Eyedrum members. Costumes and dancing encouraged!


Thanks to all the generous Eyedrum auction artists!

Matt Allison, Ashley Anderson, Larry Jens Anderson, Anita Arliss, Alicia Araya, Yun Bai, Chris Bakay, Rose Baron, Daniel Biddy, Lillian Blades, Christopher Boehm, William Boling, Natalie Brandhorst, Phoebe Brown, Sloane Cheatham, Susan Cipcic, Cheryl Cline, Terry Coffey, Marcia Cohen, Hope Cohn, Benny Cokeman, Woody Cornwell, Linda Costa, Anne Cox, Jerry Cullum, Jeff Dahlgren, Terri Dilling, Ruth Dusseault, Laura Dyer, Tae Earl-Jackson, Heather Elder, David Rossi Elliot, Emer, Sarah Emerson, William Etheridge, Julia Fenton, Tom Ferguson, Nancy Floyd, John Folsom, Edie G, Angus Galloway, Jane Garver, Debra Gavant, Lynn Gay, Mike Germon, John Glover, Rory Golden, Kojo Griffin, Ayed Halim, Anna Hamer, Ting Ying Han, Jody Harris, Tim Haugh, Jess Hinshaw, EK Huckaby, David Huff, Andy I, Janet Jenkins, Eric Jennings, Kim Jones, Jennifer Julian, Cecelia Kane, Mark Karelson, Dana Kemp, Susan Ker-Seymer, Drew Kitchens, Kati Kulscar, Judy Kuniasky, Nick Kuwick, R Land, Sarah Lawrence, Mark Leibert, Anya Liftig, George Long, Sean Ludwig, Eric Mack, Karen Mackay, Kelly McKernan, Joy McKinney, Harold McNaron, Corrina Sephora Mensoff, Michi, Hormuz Minina, Mandie Turner Mitchell, Johana Moscoso, Billy Newman, Jessica Orlowski, Erin Palovick, Esteban Patino, Wynne Ragland, Allison Rentz, Darius Robinson, William Rossoto, Mario Schambon, Steve Seaburg, Maxwell Sebastian, Teresa Sims, Avantika Singh, Madeline St Romain, Whitney Stansell, Marcy Starz, Karen Tauches, Brett Thompson, John Trobaugh, Joe Tsambiras, Lisa Tuttle, Clark Vreeland, Heather Stevens Weese, Howard Wershil, Aaron Whitehouse, Steve Willams, Stan Woodard, Cynthia Zarrilli, Tom Zarrilli.

Live entertainment provided by: KalimbaMan Kevin Spears with special guest Mario Schambon, Marimba Lumina Enlightenment with Klimchak, The Jazz Invaders quartet featuring Greg Hammontree, Dan Gilormo, Justin Chesarek and Colin Agnew and after party mix and dancing with DJ Black Sunshine.

Live Auction @ 9:15 p.m. with Dennis Coburn and Tom Zarrilli includes prizes and special art service items: Botanical Gardens passes, a guided tour of the Moore in America exhibit, a Shocking Real-Life Writing Seminar with Hollis Gillespie, High Museum of Art family memberships, free event at the Roberts-Mozley Home courtesy of the Cultural Arts Council of Douglasville/Douglas County, rain barrel painting by Priscilla Smith, annual memberships to WonderRoot, art installation services from SOLO Installation and Design, artists portfolio websites from Portfolio Atlas, graphic design services by Lyn Hillman, interior design services from Jamie England, recordings from Dust-to-Digital, yoga classes from Bikram Decatur, original clothing from Kortni Potter of Dramagirl Designs, thematic portraits by DornBrothers, costumes from Costumes Etc., pet supplies from Park Pet Supply, chamber music session from The Vauxhall Garden Variety Players, a guided historical tour of Ponce De Leon with Tom Zarrilli, a gift card for Agave and much more!

Special thanks to Karen Tauches for the art auction design. Please visit our generous sponsors: Six Feet Under, Decatur Atlanta Printing, Dukes Vodka, Cabbagetown Market, Stella Trattoria, Pabst Blue Ribbon, and Joe's Catering.

Craig Ferguson explains everything

It is true. All true.

it's complicated

Trouble getting my rebate from the Apple store on a printer I would not have purchased if not for the rebate. Spoke to a very nice man at the toll-free number. Now I wait - up to two weeks - to see if it comes through.

Oh, and adding to my anxiety, I found a typo on the resume I've been sending out while looking for a new full-time job.

And my credit card had been suspended for "suspicious activity" because of my computer and software purchases. No representative from my credit card company phoned to check with me first - the company just killed my card for no reason. I was still well within my limits on my account. I never got to speak to a human being when I phoned about the credit card. Now, I have to go back and try to make sure all my transactions are good and my stuff is still coming to me. Stuff I need to work.

Normal Watches - Social Networking

What They Say:
Check email. Watch some YouTube. Update Twitter status. Make some Facebook friends. AIM your crush. This watch is for those who are highly networked and proud of it.

shrub killer

Something has simultaneously killed three small trees & large shrubs in our yard. All at the same time, a Japanese Maple, an ornamental fruit tree, and a tea rose are all dead. Unlike the cluster of bushes that died under our back window, I can find no evidence of insects or disease on them - just dead crispy withered branches and leaves. Doesn't seem to be affecting any of the native plants around the house.

message from Eyedrum

From: Allen Welty-Green agmedia@mindspring.com
Subject: Eyedrum events: July 22-31
Date: Jul 21, 2009 12:17 AM

We want to alert anyone who has not yet heard: Faced with a heavy rent burden and ever-increasing operating expenses, Eyedrum's board of directors held an emergency meeting Sunday, July 11, to consider the survival of the longtime art and music organization.

The options are few. They include a significant decrease in rent, bringing on other Atlanta-based arts organizations to sublet part of the 6,000-square-foot space, a move to a smaller space, or an end to the award-winning venue altogether.

Having just celebrated 10 years in October 2008, the demise of Atlanta's longest-running alternative art and music space would be a huge loss to the Atlanta community. Eyedrum consistently has been a nurturing ground for creativity and progressive thinking in that time.

The board is now in negotiation with its landlord, Braden Fellman, and will reconvene soon to discuss any developments on rent reduction, and to consider proposals from other arts organizations. Arts organizations and investors who are interested in partnering with Eyedrum should contact Vice Chairman Allen Welty Green at agmedia@mindspring.com.

Any donations received through Eyedrum's website (http://www.eyedrum.org) will be directed toward operating expenses. And while such donations are greatly appreciated, the urgency and severity of Eyedrum's financial burden cannot be overstated. Without a hefty reduction in overhead costs, a major move - physically or in terms of the organization's identity - is unavoidable.

Supporters possessed of more time than money are reminded that Eyedrum always welcomes the energy of new volunteers.

EYEDRUM facing end to 10-year run

From: Theopia LaGon
Sent: Jul 15, 2009 9:30 AM
Subject: EYEDRUM facing end to 10-year run

Good morning,
I am sad to announce that Eyedrum Art & Music Gallery may soon be shuttered. Please read the text below. Reply with any questions or concerns.

Thank you,
Chante

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Wednesday, July 15, 2009

Eyedrum May Soon Call It Quits
Financial straits snare Atlanta's longest-running all-volunteer nonprofit arts space

ATLANTA - Facing a heavy rent burden and ever-increasing operating expenses, Eyedrum's board of directors held an emergency meeting Sunday, July 11, to consider the survival of the longtime art and music organization.
The options are few. They include a significant decrease in rent, bringing on other Atlanta-based arts organizations to sublet part of the 6,0000-square-foot space, a move to a smaller space, or an end to the award-winning venue altogether.
Having just celebrated 10 years in October 2008, the demise of Atlanta's longest-running alternative art and music space would be a huge loss to the Atlanta community. Eyedrum consistently has been a nurturing ground for creativity and progressive thinking in that time.
The Eyedrum music archive, the gallery's greatest asset next to the people involved, features more than 1,000 shows recorded live over the past 10 years. It is one of the few venues that features - built-out by members of the all-volunteer board - three visual art gallery spaces, and a performance space with a professional-quality sound system with multi-track recording capability.
Eyedrum secured a $30,000 Warhol Foundation curatorial grant in 2006, and is a 10-year Best of Atlanta winner in both music and art categories (Creative Loafing).
These accomplishments were achieved all while operating debt-free - yet another point of achievement considering the nontraditional nature of the organization, and limited grant and sponsorship funding.
The board plans to attempt a negotiation with its landlord, Braden Fellman, later this week, and will reconvene no later than July 26 to discuss any developments on rent reduction, and to consider proposals from other arts organizations. Arts organizations and investors who are interested in partnering with Eyedrum should contact Vice Chairman Allen Welty Green at agmedia@mindspring.com.
Any donations received through Eyedrum's website (www.eyedrum.org) will be directed toward operating expenses. And while such donations are greatly appreciated, the urgency and severity of Eyedrum's financial burden cannot be overstated. Without a hefty reduction in overhead costs, a major move - physically or in terms of the organization's identity - is unavoidable.
________________________________________________________________________

Started in 1998, Eyedrum is a nonprofit organization developing an interdisciplinary approach to the arts by incorporating a wide range of contemporary art, music and new media in its gallery space. The gallery is operated entirely by volunteers, and supported through memberships and donations. It has been recognized internationally as well as locally by Atlanta's Office of Cultural Affairs and within the community at large for its advancement of innovation.

voice from the past

Someone I knew from the eighties, Mr. Dickens, phoned tonight after seeing some very old photos of him that I had scanned and posted. He was one of the cool kids. I'm glad he's alive and well and grumpy as he ever was. We didn't talk as much about the people we both knew as about the time zone and life in general and nothing in specific. It was a nice conversation. I hope he's happy enough with his world now.

Solar panels, measured and designed remotely using satellite images - Springwise

Solar panels, measured and designed remotely using satellite images - Springwise

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