Infinite Summer

I've decided to make the most of my convalescence. I am catching up on all sorts of media that I haven't had time to really delve into. My major project is actually a popular one this summer. In honor of David Foster Wallace's life (just after his death), loads of people are reading his Infinite Jest. There is a huge online community full of people from all of the world working their way through its dense 1000 pages together. It is a challenge, but engrossing, and I can't wait to be able to say I've read it start to finish.

P.S. If you decide to join in, here are some helpful tips from kottke.org.

Vicodin

I am apparently terrible at keeping my July 10th Resolutions... In my defense, I did just have my ankle chopped open on Monday, and have been lying around on Vicodin for the past few days. Perhaps it is a decent excuse. Perhaps not.

July 10th Resolution

I have made a new goal to write a blog post a day for one whole month. Partially, this is brought on by the fact that I am going to have my ankle chopped open on Monday, and will be in bed for at least two weeks. Also, I just want to be a real blogger, not one of those who starts a blog but then never ever does anything with it. I may change the format somewhat, I'm not sure what all I will be talking about. But, since I have a total of (I think) zero regular readers, that shouldn't shake the foundations of anybody's world. The end.

BSG Again

I know I've already written about Battlestar Galactica, but I can't contain myself. I honestly don't know how to describe how exquisite this series is. Within itself, it has astonishingly complex and compelling characters. Human relationships are messy and unpredictable, things don't always turn out the way you expect. And, below the surface, it is a remarkable commentary. Early on, the group we've come to identify as Us, the humans, did some terrible things, dehumanizing their enemies. This, unfortunately, is a position we've grown accustomed to in the United States these last few years. Then suddenly, in the third season, We are dropped into the opposite side. We are the Iraquis, and they are instantly humanized in a way I don't think I've ever seen before. We see ourselves in these characters, just trying to survive, resorting to measures that on the surface seem abhorrent. It is honestly some of the best television ever created.

The Underground Tour

As promised, I will now tell you about the tourist-traps in Seattle that I actually liked. I know that all of the... one or two... of you have been just dying to get my take. I have to say, I loved the underground tour. The tour guides are charming and hilarious. You pick up a lot of fascinating Seattle history (our founders were CRAZY). My favorite bit was the story of the... ahem... sewing industry in the early days. It was lovely. Also, there is a bar.

The Crocodile

This fabulous little music venue used to be one of Seattle's greatest music-type-dives. Then it mysteriously closed up shop about a year ago. It has reopened with a pretty swanky new interior, and it is hosting some amazing shows. I saw Kay Kay and His Weathered Underground (a great Seattle band), as well as The Builders and the Butchers there the other night. It was lovely. The floor is small enough that those of us who barely break five feet don't get swallowed up in the crowd, unable to see anything. They also have a great balcony space, if you (as a fellow vertically-challenged human being) want an even better view. The bartenders are great; the drinks are reasonably priced; overall, I'm in love with the place.

Dooce

Dooce.com is a blog run by Heather Armstrong. I suppose it would fall into the category of a mommy-blog, but it is so much more than that. She is a former-Mormon living in Utah (an experience I know well). Her writing is funny, engaging, and poignant. I met her last night at a reading for her new book, It Sucked, and then I Cried, about her experience with postpartum depression. She was brilliant and hilarious (and very pregnant). She read an excerpt from her blog about being in Washington years ago. It was about a fart. I would recommend her blog and books to anyone, whether or not you dig the mommy-blog bit.