No Clever Title: Goodbye to All That

"I can remember now, with a clarity that makes the nerves in the back of my neck constrict, when New York began for me, but I cannot lay my finger upon the moment it ended." Even though I felt like this was just a longwinded way of saying the cliché, "Hun, what happened to us? How'd we get here?" I enjoyed it. These lines, of course, are the entire model for movies like (500) Days of Summer*, which is now in and of itself, a cliché. I don't mind this cliché, especially in Didion's essay Goodbye to All That. Maybe it's because this essay has a little less predicability than two characters in a indie film being in love with The Smiths and talking of how Ringo is a favorite Beatle solely for the reason of him being the least loved.

I feel as if this cliché needs to be talked about more often but not through other clichés.  (Whew, cliché, cliché, cliché.) This is where Didion comes to the rescue. Throughout the essay, I felt constantly reminded that she was falling in and out of love with her city. "I never told my father that I needed money because then he would have sent it, and I would never know if I could do it by myself. At the time making a living seemed like a game to me, with arbitrary but quite inflexible rules."  After reading this, I couldn't help but wonder if this is why we fall out of interest with certain entities. As soon as we find out everything there is to know/finish the game, do we become so anxious and panic ridden that we can't be comfortable without the game? I feel like I'm stumbling through my reasonings. It seems to me that this is the heart of the essay. Once everything starts to sound the same and you no longer have interest in what something has to offer you, we feel the need to move on. That seems natural. Also exhausting. There are plenty of examples. Divorce, college students changing majors 6-8 times, miserable relationships, sufferers of commitmentphobia. It's a hard subject to write about without being scoffed at by students of an english creative writing course, but it seems to have finally been pulled off.

Also, I'd like to give a big S/O to my main lady, Diane Ackerman. There's a point in Goodbye to All That that would make her proud (at least I think it would.) "For a lot of the time I was in New York I used a perfume called Fleurs de Rocaille, and then L'air du Temps, and now the slightest trace of either can short-circuit my connections for the rest of the day." Pg. 685

*While writing this post, I was trying to think of other movies based around the cliché of "How'd we get here?" This is all I got:

1. Blue Valentine

2. The first 15 minutes of Mrs. Doubtfire. 

3. Hook 

4. Maybe Up? 

I'm struggling. I need help.

Victoria by The Kinks

The title of this post has nothing to do with Mr. Rodriguez but the title of his essay reminds me of this timeless song. I sometimes worry when my mind works like Dr. W's (e.g. American Pie).

When first reading Late Victorians, I was lost in the direction* the essayist was trying to take. Luckily, our anthology has a Contents by Theme and Form. It was neatly labeled under "Mosaic." It was all by itself.  Poor Rick. After looking up the definition of mosaic, I still was not clear on Late Victorians.

I scribbled in my book that San Fran was being molded into a living organism. As I write this post, I'm not too sure I believe my own notes. When he talks of the city being "Land's end," I can't help but imagine some sort of giant biological specimen engulfing entire dreams of those who are unfortunate enough to travel there. Maybe this doesn't make sense due to Rick constantly reminding us of the movements taking place there? But he also seems conflicted with said movements so maybe my crazy metaphor isn't so crazy? Who knows.

I did enjoy how he talked of how AIDS being the plague of absence. This was an interesting and even more depressing look on the disease. He also talked about how homosexuals had to fill a void because society made their "unnatural activities" feel, well, not natural, thus non-existent. (I found this on pg. 760 which I tastefully labeled "An Architecture Lesson on Sodomy") They then have to take other activities and must cling to them, like something that likes to cling to things.

* Are we allowed to use the word "direction?" I just found out from Mish's comment on Friday that we are not allowed to use "flow." Is there a list?

Don't Pass Go (Pop Culture Essay)

Slowly, Seth separates the top half of the box from the bottom. I’m hit with the aroma of the old Monopoly board. It smells like old books. I’ve never played with this many people before. Eight grown men arguing over token pieces? This will be interesting. Seth doesn’t hesitate to shout dibs on the car. Kolton states that since it’s his house, he will be toting the car. I swear the car token of Monopoly has the same ego-connotation of a grown man driving a modern day Mustang; car token = small penis. The argument of “No, mine is smaller. I should get the car” is keeping me occupied while they play rock, paper, scissors to decide. Now that everyone else has a token, I get to choose between the thimble and the iron. I saw in a Monopoly documentary that the thimble is hardest to see on the board. That’s the obvious pick. It’s game time.

I pick up the small smooth dice and roll. Double six! Electric Company. I hate that I can’t buy anything first round. Stupid rule. I roll again. Look at my little thimble go! Finally my $200 bucks and Reading Railroad. Oh the historic railroad. At the time I was too young not to be excited. Looking back now, it wasn’t all that great. I can’t believe I finally get to ride the train! A snowflake falls on my eyelash as Dad and me wait to board. The heavy set man with the cool hat rips our tickets. “Welcome aboard little one. We have a special visitor stopping by.” The whistle sounds. We’re off. It’s been forever and all I’ve seen is naked trees and snow. It’s still pretty. Why is there a sudden, overwhelming amount of commotion coming from the front? Oh my god...I mean gosh. I’m not suppose to say that. Is that Santa? Holy crap. Holy crap. That is Santa! What am I going to ask for? Ohmanohmanohman.

Josh already has two magentas. Someone needs to land and buy States Avenue before Josh. Yes! Mark to the rescue. Sweetness. I can’t believe it’s fucking raining. Athens is one of the ugliest places when it rains. Oh man, she’s gonna cry. We should probably cross. Damn the streets get slick when they’re wet. The Artist is still playing at the Athena? We hardly both fit underneath this tiny black umbrella. Carpenter street. Almost there. I wish she would just bring her own. Is it not obvious that I’m in misery being this close to her? Yeah, she’s gonna cry. Taking her to dinner was probably a bad idea. Certainly it won’t be that much of a shock to her. We’re both miserable. It’s been like this for a couple weeks now. God is this what Zach was saying when he told me relationships were work? Finally. 120 State Street. 

“Hey. Maria...listen...I um. Well...”

“Yeah. I know.”

“Wait. What?”

“I’ve been thinking about how we’ve been acting the past month and I’m not happy. Are you?”

“Good god no. Sorry I didn’t mean to laugh”

“It’s okay. We are kind of a joke. Thanks for walking me back. Stay dry.”

All eight of us are all over the place. With so many opponents, it’s near impossible to get a monopoly. I need to pick a partner. With only Boardwalk and Reading, I’m just a sitting duck. I need Park Place from Josh. After much due diligence, I get States for Reading from Mark, then Park Place for States. Josh and I own the board. Two houses on each please. After I roll a ten, I land on the corner and go directly to jail. Damn. Could he put these handcuffs on any tighter! I’ve been compliant with everything he’s asked. Yeah yeah, I’m watching my head. Don’t worry. What is he looking for in my car? What did I do to make him want to check? Alright Anthony lets go through this again. We were just driving around and wanted to check out the old park we use to play peewee baseball. All three of us were heading to different schools when the summer was over and we were feeling reminiscent. That’s the truth. Did he truly think I was about to make a deal? What was he asking Billy and Seth? Oh great, he’s coming back.

“Come on bud. You’re okay to go.”

“That’s it?”

“ Have a good night son.”

That was weird. Good thing Seth has a cop for a dad. Small town politics aren’t all that bad. 

An hour and a half in and we’ve dropped half the players. Derek was the first to go. He’s still pissed. Actually it’s probably because of the BCS game. Why did he put a hundred bucks on Notre Dame? Kolton won’t stop bitching about Josh giving me his properties so he could sleep. Seth lands on Chance. “Advance Token to Boardwalk.” I’ve had four houses on it for half the game. He shows us the card. The Monopoly Man is on it. He’s pushing a baby carriage and is carrying his dog. It reminds me of Ben Robey. Old junior high basketball coach turned father. 

“Hey Ben.” He’s got Luke. He’s getting huge.

“Anthony! How ya been? You going to the festival?”

“Yep.”

“And the Avett show tomorrow? You’re a busy man. I’ll pick ya up around 2? I think we’re grabbing BD’s for lunch.”

“Good deal.” I see him everywhere! It’s a bummer he’s not coming in. After all it was him who recommended I go to the Nelsonville Music Festival. So many good artists. Iron & Wine, Dawes, Old Hundred, M. Ward. And I can’t believe I’m seeing the Avetts for what, the fourth time? Third time with Ben. No wonder I’m always broke.

Seth can’t pay up. He’s gone. Of course the other two would forfeit. We hardly ever finish a game. Since he was the first to go, Derek has to pack up the game. We all gather around the television to watch Derek lose money. I’m still in the mood to reminisce but I know I’ll just bore the guys with my Monopoly stories. Hopefully States Avenue and “Go to Jail” have a more colorful story to tell next time I win Monopoly.

It's an Eggers thing.

I'm comfortable in saying that I am enjoying Eggers work a little more than I am Ackerman. I was a upset to see on the syllabus Wednesday that we are soon going back and talking more about Ackerman's hyperbolic experiences. However, Eggers is the bee's knees. I enjoy how he can undercut any subject about himself. We all suffer from this when talking about oneself. When he is not sarcastically talking about his parents death or some master escape plan he has conjured up in his head for him and Toph, Eggers can convey a rather serious tone to show the reader just how much he struggles with his internal thoughts.

One of my favorite writing styles Eggers uses to convey tone is on page 103 when he actually uses a music bar to show us exactly how a woman uttered the sentence "What a good brother you are!" (I would try to insert some form of musical bar in here but I would shame myself.) I can not think of a better way to convey tone than to actually insert musical notes of how the person was talking. Someone should do this for an entire essay. I volunteer Patrick.

Also, on page 117-120, I enjoy how Eggers used Toph to play out an imaginary conversation between them. At first I thought Toph had become some badass philosophical genius but I like to think Eggers took this opportunity to show the reader how he want to express himself with Toph. 

pp. 119

"All this energy from you! Were you drinking soda before bed?"

"And poor Dad. Why not just leave him alone? I mean --"

"God. Please. So I'm not allowed to talk about --"

"I don't know. I guess so. If you feel you have to."

"I do."

"Fine."

"I can't see past it."

"Fine. So you're going to stay up tonight, most of the night, like every night, staring at your screen..."

This, in my opinion, was such a powerful method Eggers uses to convey just how serious this subject is for him. Personally, I do this all the time. I constantly daydream of conversations I wish I would have with certain people. Usually blown opportunities on dates.

Life's Hardest Decision

There are two different writing styles that Eggers uses throughout the first part of AHWOSG that I throughly enjoyed.

1. A quick, precise dialogue.
2. Squirrely, argumentative conscience

Throughout this emulation, I want to try to combine these styles while trying to keep a light, humorous tone like Eggers. Here we go...

Once again, Friday has rolled around. After our usual bar shuffle through the streets of Athens, Taylor, Billy, and I stumble back to our house. We lost Kyle along the way. He ran into an old fling and decided to go home with her. It probably won't go well for him. It never does.

"Will you grab me a beer Anthony."
"Sure thing. What's gonna be playing on the tube tonight?"
"I don't know" Taylor said with disdain.
"Where's the remote?"
"Look behind the couch!"
"Found it."
"So what are we watching?"
"I don't care!"

Christ. There is only three beers left...and all the Woodchucks are gone. That's it..I'm getting a mini-fridge. I'll have to smother my own drinks into the house. Damn I'm hungry. I bet Kyle won't mind if I raid his food...

"How about the Big Lebowski?"
"Noway man. I watched that the other day stoned."
"Wanna watch a scary movie?"
"Like a B-lister?"
"I'm tired of watching shitty horror flicks."
"How about Rocky?"
"NO!"

Damn Billy must have a man-crush of Sylvester Stallone or something. He watches a Sly flick at least once a week...I mean I like Rocky, but damn...Pop-Tarts! Score. Ah they're blueberry...dammit Kyle. You're taste in Pop-Tarts is almost as abysmal in your taste of women. Burn...I could go for some First-Blood though. Sly is such a badass in that movie...he's a badass in all his movies...no that movie is all the way in my room...too far.

"Let's just watch a couple episodes of something..."
"That's cool"
"How about some Office?"
"Nah."
"How I Met Your Mother?"
"Anthony, you watch that show literally everyday."
"Yeah man. It's unhealthy"
"You're unhealthy."
"Nice. Comeback tool."
"Well then...since we can't decide...Hot Rod it is..."
"Fine."
"Sounds good."

This is a dilemma my friends and I face on a weekly basis...finding something to watch on Netflix. It truly is a huge event. I guess there's just too many options. However, we do have one rule: Whenever we can't decide within 10 minutes to watch something, we must watch Hot Rod or Pineapple Express. (We alternate between the two.) I can quote both movies verbatim; we're a very indecisive group of men.