Vonnegut Update

I haven't posted one of these in a while- mostly because I got hung up on one book. Specifically, Wampeters, Foma and Granfalloons, a collection of essays, speeches, and an interview. I won't lie or try to beat about the bush about this, but I was bored shitless trying to read this book.

While I understand the historical implications of the things he discussed in these books, most of them mattered so little to me that I couldn't even feign interest to myself. There was no small amount of joy in my heart when I finished it Wednesday on the way home from work. I can only estimate, but I believe it took me at least a month to read those 288 pages.

Today, however, I had the distinct pleasure of beginning my favorite Vonnegut novel, Slapstick. Something about this book just represents the best parts of Vonnegut to me. That something is the cunningly absurd idea which wins the main character the presidency- the idea of artificial middle-names to create extended families. It is a fun idea because it would mean a great deal to a great many people living far away from their origins, far from their families.

I've recently been exposed to a wide network of extended family- mind you, I already have one myself- in the Assassin's family. She has probably 4 times the number of cousins I do, and most of them live in or around Chicago. Well, most of the ones I've met so far. I digress.

The other thing I really love about this book is the duality of Wilbur and Eliza- the genius they create when they're together.

It appeals to the romantic in me.

Years ago, I started writing a novel, and the first line was a tribute to this book. I still remember it, too:

"I am in New York. It is raining."

Chapter 1 of Slapstick begins:

"To whom it may concern:
It is springtime. It is late afternoon."

The sad thing about starting this book today is that I only started reading it on my way home from work, catching the 3:45 train home. I finished the book about half an hour ago. This saddens be because if I wanted to write a movie based on this novel, I would probably take about the same amount of time to tell the story, perhaps a little longer. That, and I feel like I didn't get time to really enjoy it.

Ah well, as we all know, the show must go on, and I must keep reading. I have just crossed the halfway point in terms of pages on this project:


In other news, I am sick. I am in a bad mood, despite having just read my favorite novel. The mood is mostly work related. The sickness is mostly throat related, after being sinus related earlier this week, which means no karaoke for me. Hopefully it will pass soon. As always, there will be more later.

Uncle Logan's Dave, Part II: Electric Boogaloo

The irony of today isn't lost on me, I personally guarantee it.

Today my friend Rick was buried. We're having a drinking wake on Friday night, which will undoubtedly be a very late night.

Today the Assassin's parents celebrated their 30th wedding anniversary with dinner with myself, the Assassin, and the Assassin's little sister.

I also had my tooth, well, now lack of tooth, check-up today. Everything looks ok, so I'm happy, the Doc's happy, and that's good enough for me.

My sister T, also gave birth to a baby girl tonight. My father reports baby, mama, and papa are all well. Pictures, and the properly spelled name (my dad wasn't sure how her name is spelled yet) are coming soon!

Rest in Peace, Ricky V

I just heard that my friend Rick, who was barely older than me, died of a heart attack yesterday. He was a good friend.

He was a good friend because he would always turn into the most emotional guy ever, after about 4 drinks. Many a night he told me he loved me and got teary and swilled another gin and tonic while chomping on a cigar. That was usually when he would start offering to buy me scotch, or sketch, depending on your understanding.

Speaking of scotch, he was a good friend because he made the most daring bets. He spent more than a few nights sitting at my table making outrageous bets while playing poker. Sometimes he won. Usually, he lost.

He always brought good beer.

He once bet me a bottle of scotch that he could beat me at a game of Air Hockey, and he was determined to win. Given my prowess at air hockey, it was a fool's bet, and I never actually collected my reward. Not that it matters now.

He was a big friendly guy who would always share what he had, no matter how broke he was. I always admired that about him.

Rest in Peace, my old friend.

Got a tattooed tit- say number 13

Wow. I've gone a whole month without a post.

A month and three days for those of you scoring at home.

There's been a lot happening, however, the Vicodin haze plus the pain plus the dirty glasses make reading the screen and typing about the past month seem crazy.

Let me explain that significantly vague sentence by briefly summing up how I got into that state.

Last Monday, I felt like I had something stuck between my teeth. Last Tuesday I had a mild toothache. Last Wednesday I hurt so much I left work early and went to the dentist. After a couple pokes and prods, and an X-ray, I was told I had broken my tooth, specifically, that crazy #13. The break seemed to be a part of a missing filling that went bad quickly after the filling went missing. The break was such that it went below my gum-line, which probably caused a great deal of my pain. Not to mention the exposed nerve. My dentist gave me a referral to go to an oral surgeon to have #13 removed, and a couple of prescriptions- one for antibiotics, one for pain, my sweet old friend Vicodin.

Unfortunately, my appointment got out after 5, so I couldn't call that day. I called the next day, hoping to get a Friday afternoon slot. No dice. They're closed on Friday for the holiday weekend. They're closed on Monday, too, but that's not the surprise. They had a 2pm slot, but I had already eaten that day, so it was botched. I had no choice but to wait until today.

So wait I did, and kept a steady flow of drugs going. Finally, this afternoon, out it came, and although it hurt like hell, I must say, I feel so much better.

I'll try to tell you about the rest of my month tomorrow. Just hold tight.