To have an expectation fulfill itself leaves no room for surprise--and in its wake, a reel of disappointment.

I know a man who says things but does not follow through, yet I hold on to hope that this time--and the next time, he will.

I'm having difficulty deciphering whether I'm patient and loyal or plain and pathetic.

Jeff sent me this, Post Reject.  Rejects from Post Secret.

Aikido/Capoeira/Jiu-Jitsu

I've been researching various martial arts techniques in hopes of taking classes starting Summer or Fall 09.  This six year old girl chokes this boy at a Jiu-Jitsu Tourney.  I'm thinking Aikido or Capoeira.  

Capoeira is an Afro-Brazilian martial art, game, and culture created by enslaved Africans in Brazil during the 16th Century. Participants form a roda (circle) and take turns playing instruments, singing, and sparring in pairs in the center of the circle. The game is marked by fluid acrobatic play, feints, subterfuge, and extensive use of groundwork, as well as sweeps, kicks, and headbutts. Throughout the game, a player must avoid a sweep, trip, kick, or head butt that may knock him or her on the floor. Less frequently-used techniques include elbow-strikes, slaps, punches, and body-throws. Capoeira has evolved from one main form, known as "Capoeira Angola", into two other forms known as "Capoeira Regional", and the ever-evolving "Capoeira Contemporânea"  (taken from Chang's Martial Arts website.  http://www.changsmartialarts.com/home)

Aikido, is a Japanese martial art developed by Morihei Ueshiba as a synthesis of his martial studies, philosophy, and religious beliefs. Aikido is often translated as "the Way of unifying (with) life energy" or as "the Way of harmonious spirit." Ueshiba's goal was to create an art practitioners could use to defend themselves while also protecting their attacker from injury.

Aikido is primarily a grappling art in which attacks are neutralised with various types of throws or joint locks. Aikido techniques are intended to be implemented after first blending with the motion of the attacker, so that the defender may redirect the attacker's momentum without directly opposing it, thus using minimum effort.  (http://www.changsmartialarts.com/home)

Holy Shiz with a Shiz Nizzle Hiz

Maria sent me this...

Anarchal Effervescence

Have you ever felt like becoming an Anarchist
but just didn't have the gumption?
Didn't really know what it was all about?

Totalitarian Themed reads.

Read in succession:

V for Vendetta, Alan Moore
Fahrenheit 451, Ray Bradbury
The Giver, Lois Lowry
Anthem, Ayn Rand
1984, George Orwell
Brave New World, Aldous Huckley

and any and all Kurt Vonnegut, but mainly
Welcome to the Monkeyhouse
specifically shorts: Euphio Question, Barnhouse Effect

The only book I have yet to read is Huxley's. Just finished 451 last night, V for Vendetta the night before. I will write separate posts for each of those, as they are most deserving. Bradbury blows my mind--the book always has--and this was my first time with Moore, but holy fucking shit (pardon my language) but jesus christ is it the most fantastic word and picture orgy I've ever experienced.

My dad took me out to dinner last Wednesday night and he laughed at me, then said,

"Chess. You're anarchal."

Silence on my part.

"You're beliefs and ideals are centered around anarchy."

Silence on my part.

"Figures you're my daughter." "I'm proud of you."


Then he told me that though he supports my beliefs, I will need a real job to sustain myself.
That's why I'm writing a comic.

Okay. READ V FOR VENDETTA and FAHRENHEIT 451 and anything else you fiction mongers enjoy. Blast off! Next on the list is A Heartbreaking Work of Staggering Genius.





The book is better, far better--the ideals portrayed at the ending are completely lacking in the movie...but for those of you who enjoy the stimulation by millions of half-second clips all jumbled in front of you... the movie is still riveting. Say riveting in an accent for deserved
emphasis.

Got to Florida and found my mom. Asked her to sing the song I promised...
Here's my grandfather's campaign trail song.
Sing to the tune of SO HAPPY TOGETHER


When you vote for Harry Callaghan
You know you cast a vote to get an honest man
A man who will do his best
To Keep us all
So Happy together

Me and You and You and me
No matter how they cast the vote
It's got to be
The only one for Orange is Cal
and Cal for Orange
So Happy Together

He will tackle taxes and school problems too
With All his might
Education, business, and housing will see his strongest fight

You and me and you and me
No matter how they cast the vote
It's got to be
The only one for Orange is Cal
and Cal for Orange
So Happy Together

Asymmetry is where it's at.
Been trying to see things from a new perspective these days--
Looking all cross-eyed.
It's helping with the men, see.

Florida Hizzle

Florida to many, mostly myself, has been a place destined for two types of people: college kids and old people. then there are the kids of the old people who bring their kids to visit the old people, but they don't matter. Then there is the rest of the world--mainly Irish and British people who don't want to have anything to do with the Parisian version of Disney world and spend a hell of a lot more money to go to the Real Disney world just to say they came and conquered. Perhaps the Parisians would come over anyway because they would want to check out their rivals and it'd be funny to them to 'piss off' the Irish and the British. Now that the Irish and British seem to be getting along, it'd be a fair fight...but knowing those Parisians, it end with the Irish beating the bloody pulp out of...well now I'm getting off track...and I was going to include the rest of the world, mainly the Indians, Pakistanis and Italians--because south america and Russia don't matter--and the Chinese don't do Disney. Come to think of it though, the Italians are probably too poor to visit. The stereotype that they're rich is false. There are rich politicians and rich super models but they're either in Milan or Naples and those who live in Venice are rich--but the models will get old and move elsewhere, the politicians will die or become disguised, and the venitians will drown. Okay. So, Florida.

My parents have moved there.

I thought, at first, this would be horrible. Now, I've realized, this is incredible.

With the second blizzard in April, Chicago officially sucks. The only thing the Irish and Chicagoans have in common besides ancestry and the south side is talking about the weather. No kidding you can make friends with just about anyone either here or there just by saying something like, "Oh fuck. It's snowing again."

So here are a few polaroids from my last trip to Paradise...where I've come to love old people, their kids, their kids' kids, all spring breakers, and just about anyone and everyone who lives in Florida--especially the Greeks in Harpon Springs and the Crocodiles. Everyone is god damn happy--even the caged up Anaconda my brother Justin and I spent $20 bucks to see.


Okay, so just for symmetry's sake, I'm going to keep writing. I used to be an editor on the school paper--and since I'm now in graduate school, I should probably specifiy that this was in high school...although I could have left ya'll wondering if I was an editor now--but no, thanks to technology, I only work with my hands these days. Wink. ...Yikes.

The palm tree picture is just a few blocks away from my parent's house. There's an airfield, a yacht club, and a lot of land where people take their dogs. There's a shit ton of unformed seaglass and it seems to be the dumping ground for old brick and cement. You can catch the cruise ships every night around 4:30 and wave to the kiddies and their parents going off to Bermuda, Bahamas (comon pretty mama...[had to]). And for symmetry's sake, I love you. Ciao.

I feel inclined to include a P.s.

P.s. Any comments that appear racist or judgmental are in fact not. I'm a peace lovin' mama with a mean fist and bumper stickers on my car to prove it. Hi-ya!

Polaroids & Comics

Because Polaroids and Comics are amongst my favorite things, I have a few new ones for you. A few drawings from my travels overseas that I recently found and then some polaroid work done while spending a week dog sitting.




The cafeteria illustration is in the Roma Termini on the second level. I was waiting for a train to Napoli to stay with CSer, Cristina. There I would visit Pompeii and meet Nicola and afterward travel to Praiano to meet mi famiglia.

The Church is in Piazza San Marco en Milano. I had found an alley flea market a street away and had stopped to eat lunch (an apple and loaf of bread) on the stairs opposite the church.

The self portrait is from a polaroid taken in Milano at Flamino's sister's apartment. Flaminio studies neuroscience and was on sabbatical in Chicago writing a book--we met here through a family friend--he and his family live in Lago di Como.

This photo was taken while my grandpa was on the campaign trail.
Standing: Tricia, Eileen, MaryEllen, Danny, Betsy, Dossie, Kathy
Sitting: Anne, Margie, Sheila, Grandma (Eileen), Grandpa (Harry), David, Joey.

I grew up staring at this photo. I like to imagine what each of my aunts and uncles were like back then as well as my grandparents raising twelve kids. It's the most interesting to imagine the past and match it with the present--to ask about stories and personality traits that have stayed with people--and now look to their children--and watch the generations connect.

My grandpa hired someone's friend's band to write a campaign jingle for him. At his funeral my mom sang it and everyone else joined in. I wonder what Harry J. was like on the campaign trail, what the parties were like, his speeches--and what that must have been like for the kids. I'll have to call my mom and ask her to sing the song so I can type it here. The lyrics went to the tune "So Happy Together" ....if you vote for Harry callaghan, he's your man, He will rally, something about schools and taxes, housing developments...like no one can?

By the way, my grandma is a fox. Look at her little thang after twelve chillin (children slang)! She and my grandfather in white, their house on infamous Berkley Avenue, and a fancy evening out.