signalnoise

So, we had talked about going out for sushi tonight .... but Ive got this chest cold thing that's either coming on or clearing up. It's not yet 100% obvious which way it's going to me. So we made French toast and I think we'll watch a movie later (Gone Baby Gone I think, if you're keeping score at home). So it goes. The quiet is nice.

But seriously, next week, watch out raw tuna: Your ass is mine.

(If any of my Chicago peeps are curious, we're planning on trying out Agami, which is up near the Aragon and the Riviera. I have a friend in my program who raves about it. Afterwards, there is a discussion of going to check out boobies.)

Hey, where's my fucking spring by the way? This weather needs to break. It's finally starting to today - maybe?

Otherwise, things are things. Spring break has been nice. For once, our breaks overlap, and even coincide with Easter. Getting home was nice - saw the family and some friends (and their new baby!). Crazily, we've been talking about pro-creating lately. Not for a bit.... but it's on the table now. It's exciting. I think?

I finished up a conference paper early in the week. Badly. But he's done and ready to show off next weekend. I also read the papers I'm discussing that same weekend. They were OK. In other academic news, I was asked to review an article for publication. In about five years, this will be the kind of "citizenship" work that buries me and makes me lament I can't get to my own work. Right now, I'm just stoked that I can be to a more integral part of my profession.

The dissertation is going well. I have two empirical chapters and a theory chapter nicely under way. I'm going to spend the next two weeks fine-tuning the empirical chapters, and then try and get them out for publication. I plan to spend the rest of spring cranking on the data and writing up the third empirical chapter. The summer will be spent on the fourth empirical chapter and reworking my theory chapter. That will leave next fall and winter for the introduction and conclusion. Then spring will be edits, and we'll defend by next summer. When I put it that way, it all sounds *so easy.*

Really though, the last fews days I've only done some "housekeeping" work and not touched my own work. That's nice. I feel really re-energized and ready to dig in. For a bit there, as I finished up these pieces with little niggling details, it felt like I was just spinning my wheels and I was getting frustrated. I'm ready to go at it now though. Rearing even.

But in all honesty: I'm stoked.

Bummer of the week: The Sons & Daughters show at the Double Door was canceled last night. For sucks. In other concert news, we'll be doing Pitchfork and Lollapalooza again this year. We'll also be at the Black Keys, the Long Blondes, and I'll be seeing Billy Bragg. I'm not a huge fan of Bragg, but a friend is coming in town for the show, so I figured: why not? I've heard M.I.A. and Holy Fuck are playing the Aragon at some point too, and we may check that out. Lots of shows lately. But it balances. We don't have a car, aren't big shoppers, and haven't seen a movie in ages - not much has been out. So those entertainment bucks gotta go somewhere right? Recently, we also checked out The Black Lips and Wilco. Both fun shows.

Revelation of the week: Yesterday, the wife and I checked out Reggie's Record Breakers, a South Side record store. I really dug the store. But I don't see myself becoming a regular shopper, not at all. I've been searching for a suitable replacement for a record store since the Virgin MegaStore closed. While I dig Reckless Records's Loop location - it's small and the selection spotty. I'm looking for something reasonably close to Hyde Park, so the other locations just don't cut it. So I've been doing the iTunes/Amazon download service thing. Honestly: I'm not sure I can go back to CDs. It's just so much cheaper and easier to download. (The cost thing is huge. Even the cheapest used CD is still more than most legal downloads.)

And, really, the idea of not hauling around dozens of jewel cases for the rest of my life really appeals to me. I think I might buy a hard drive to hook up my wireless network, and set up automated back-ups, so I never have to worry about losing my music. I think this is just the way of it for me from here on out. I suppose the sound quality suffers some. But I use headphones and a less than awesome personal stereo at home anyway. What do I need super hi-fi for, my ears ain't all that?

In fact, streamlining my life by getting rid of more shit is real theme of my life right now. I was playing with the idea of picking up a turntable and checking out some LPs. Just to see you know? And I was like... No. It's just *more shit* to carry around eventually. I'll be moving in a year and change to relocate to my job (assuming I get one...). At some point after that, we'll be moving into a permanent house type situation. I have tons of shit at my parents house I need to then reclaim/get rid of. Fuck, I already have a slew of books HERE I need to get rid of (I'm thinking craigslist eventually - just lots of old graphic novels, bad fiction, and out of data academic books I need to part from my shelves). So yes: streamlining is the new me. Along these lines, if there was a way for me have Netflix on my TV without having to get DVDs, with both renting and buying options, I would end my Netflix account, rip my DVDs to a hard drive, and stop buying movies (AppleTV isn't quite there yet - selection is still a bit thin). I just want to own electrons from here on out.

The one bummer thing about all this is that it makes me think about moving at all. I hate that my job will, most likely, take me away not only from *this* city but from *any* major city. I love that I can walk to the liquor store (we're doing more boozing lately...) and see old Chinese guys doing Tai Chi in the park on my walk to school in the mornings. I love this place. I'm lucky to have been here at all. Leaving is gonna make me shed a little tear.

Books: Right now, I'm tearing through Zombie Island. I dig it. Just ordered a bunch of cool shit from the great used book site AbeBooks. Even with shipping, I picked up like five things for under $35. Amazing. And all in good condition. Lately, I've been into Peter Watts, Tim Powers, Dan Simmons, and Alastair Reynolds lately. All good sci-fi recommendations.

And, finally, we've gotten into The Wire. We LOVELOVELOVE it. Best thing ever, seriously. But I guess you knew that right? I love how the show doesn't point fingers at either cops or drug dealers, but just tells these stories. In fact, if David Simon is pissed at anyone - he's pissed at powerful men on both sides of the law who use others like pawns. It seems like the Special Deputy *and* Avon Barksdale are equally vile in his eyes. Great stuff.

So wow. This is quite the stream of consciousness dump huh? Sorry for the lapse. No real excuse honestly. Just been busy. And this place doesn't scratch my itches. I still enjoy an occasional set. But the boards and groups are a bit of a mess. And some of my favorite folks are rarely updating/commenting - or are just plain g-o-n-e. No fingers being pointed: We all have to grow up and get off the internets at some point right? I don't know what that spells for my future here. But my account is active until like September. So lots of time.

Oh! Politics! Wild stuff huh? I'm pulling for Obama, but I like that Clinton is still in this. I think it vets them both. And I'm not convinced this hurts the party. I think voters have short term memories, and once the general heats up - people will be over this. And its so damn exciting - I can't help myself.

Hey Chicago: Remember to turn out your lights at 8 tonight!

OK. I think that's all I got for right now. If you can believe it? Sorry for the rambling length, and thanks for coming this far. I'll try and be back soon(er).