Girl in a bubble!

Copyright Jason Covert, 2007

"You have to love Chinatown."

Jason Covert sent my this photo (via cell phone) while on his way to
work this morning.

Richard Renaldi

Renaldi opening @ Yossi Milo, NY

Last Thursday I teamed up with Stewart, Kevin, and Jason to hit up a bar and then the opening of Richard Renaldi's "Plains" at the Yossi Milo Gallery in Chelsea. Check out Richard's Bus Traveler portraits here; I think they're amazing - my favorite of his many projects. After roaming around for awhile I spotted Amy Elkins and said hi. Just before meeting Amy one of the guys realized he left his bag at the bar and ran out to hunt it down. Wow! That kinda sucks, glad I don't have to worry about that!

After roaming around Chelsea for a few hours I go home and drift off to sleep. I suddenly get an idea for Boonville and I go to dig out my notebook -- This specific notebook is about 4 months old and has all of my most recent notes and ideas for the Boonville Project. So, as I'm searching for it I realize my NY Times is not in my bag and then it hits me. My notebook was on top of my Times at the bar! NOOOO!

At least my friend was conscious enough to have realized he left his shit at the bar before he got home, not me though. I call... "nope, we don't see anything." I call a friend and bitch for about 5 minutes and then I sit with the loss. Fear and paranoia hit... will somebody take advantage of this sensitive material? Blah, Blah... A bunch of paranoid shit went through my head. I eventually let go and came to terms with the loss. Long story short, I called the next day and eventually received my property. Nice!

Day 105

six days after ACL surgery

It has been over three months since I had my ACL surgery and seven months since I had my first surgery, a meniscus repair which led to my ACL happiness.

On day 105 I am hard at work on finalizing my Boonville Proposal, I am sending it out today to have a few of them printed up. They will be reviewed by close supporters next week before being distributed to the world. This will be the second review of the proposal -- the last one took place just before my second surgery.

Also, I am now allowed/able to run in a straight line!

SURVIVAL ON LAND AND SEA

I sometimes fantasize about being lost in the middle of nowhere, trying to survive with only the clothes on my back (I usually dream of being in Alaska). The idea of truly being forced to save your life by using common knowledge, patience and a bit of luck is empowering to me.

While Laura and I were on our adventure over New Years I came across this handbook in an antique shop for only a buck! This book was prepared in 1943 for The United States Navy by the Ethnographic Board and the Staff of The Smithsonian Institution. The Ethnographic Board existed for only three and a half years and was set up to be a clearinghouse for the US Governments wartime needs. Their most important undertaking was this book - by 1944 they had distributed 970,000 copies to the Armed Forces.

One of my favorite passages is taken from the second section titled "Men Against the Sea";

All birds are good to eat. Some kinds can be caught on a baited hook and line. Their blood is both nourishing and thirst quenching. The intestines make good bait, and bird skins and feathers may be used for improvised hats or garments. Turtles are also good to eat and their blood is suitable for drinking.

Kinda creepy. Below you will find diagrams taken from the handbook referring to creating your own fishhooks, starting a fire, poisonous plant life and how to find the North Star. I'm pretty psyched with the find.

Millbrook, NY

Millbrook, NY

On Saturday, Laura and I got in our borrowed car and set out for somewhere in upstate NY. We decided to just drive and figure it out as we went. After about 2 hours we decided to start looking for a cheap motel to spend New Years. After getting spun around a bit and finding ourselves in the middle of nowhere, we ran across Millbrook, NY. As soon we entered Millbrook I was blown away, this town is right out of Norman Rockwell's wet dream. It had so many charming details I can't begin to name them. The images below were taken at the entrance to town and inside the local tin diner.


Baby Jesus?

Diner


We also got stupid and played some Sequence. See a few more photos here, here and here