Author: Gil

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Thanksgiving

I’m thankful for the love I share with my wonderful wife.

I’m thankful that we have a pair of endlessly entertaining dogs.

I’m thankful that my friends and family put up with my long absences from their lives.

I’m thankful for Homer and Sam Cooke and all the books and all the music.

I’m thankful for water, black coffee and gin.

I’m thankful that I have libraries, real and virtual.

I’m thankful that I still have a job and that it affords me some opportunities for travel.

I’m thankful for Louie and Louis.

I’m thankful that I have eyes that can’t help but see.

I’m thankful that we’re in a golden age of comics, both new and archival.

I’m thankful that I’ve discovered the joys of dressing well.

I’m thankful that we live in the future, even though I feel like I’m falling further and further behind.

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What It Is: 11/22/10

What I’m reading: The Odyssey, but I’ve let that slide this past week. Also, I realized on Sunday that I hadn’t read my copy of Jason’s new comic, Werewolves of Montpellier, so that was like discovering an anthropomorphized, ligne claire jewel in the cushion of my sofa.

What I’m listening to: Stankonia, The Point of It All and not a lot else.

What I’m watching: Another week of season 1 of In Treatment, the finale of Bored to Death, and the first stage in our annual LotR marathon (we usually save it for December, but Amy was feeling the urge for some Fellowship on Saturday; yes, my wife & I are a match made in geek heaven)

What I’m drinking: At various times during the week, G&Ts made with Right, Citadelle, Death’s Door and Beefeater gins.

What Rufus & Otis are up to: Celebrating Otis’ one-year anniversary with a 5-mile hike through some swamp-like trails at Wawayanda. Also, celebrating my return from a five-day trip to New Orleans by wagging their tails something fierce.

Where I’m going: Nowhere! I’m taking the week off from work, cleaning house, taking care of some errands — okay, maybe going into NYC at some point — and otherwise taking it easy.

What I’m happy about: Finding a well-fitting navy suit at Rubenstein’s in New Orleans (they did their alterations same day so I could wear the suit at the conference). And getting to see my pal Paul Longstreth play his solo gig at Bistreaux on Toulouse for a little while the night before I returned home.

What I’m sad about: The conference itself was pretty disastrous. The exhibit hall was woefully undervisited by attendees, and that’s a bad sign for a show that has struggled in the past few years. This event usually provides me with at least 4 or 5 serendipitous conversations that lead to articles or interview subjects, and I had absolutely zero this time around. I had good meetings and talks with our advertisers and other exhibitors, but I rely on those non-client conversations. Grr.

What I’m worried about: Not getting done all the things I want to get done on this week off.

What I’m pondering: Adding “What I’m wearing” to this post, if only to show off some of the new clothes I’ve picked up this past year.

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Maintenance Issues

Ahoy, ahoy, dear readers! I’m trying to upgrade the code for this blog a little, so if you have some problems with viewing posts or pages, drop me a line. At the moment, I’m trying to restore the super-awesome banner without having it show up on the iPhone version of the site.

Speaking of which, check out this site on your iPhone! The new code makes it a lot smoother than the old version!

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On the Mark

While I was busy having a fantastic dinner at August last night, my pal Sam bumped into Mark Cuban, owner of the Dallas Mavericks, in town to watch his team take on the Hornets tonight.

Sam  & I will be at the game tonight, and I’m hoping his new pal moves us up to the good seats. (Editor’s note: this is the fourth basketball arena Sam & I have visited, but we’re just friends. I swear!)

Also, I picked up some Cafe Du Monde for breakfast today and brought it back to my hotel room. I laid out a hand towel on my desk, nommed away, and left such a mess that I put the following note on the towel after I deposited it on the bathroom floor: “This is only coffee and beignets! No hazardous material!”

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What It Is: 11/15/10

What I’m reading: The Odyssey.

What I’m listening to: The Lady Killer, The Point of It All, and some gorgeous jazz music, courtesy of my old pal Paul Longstreth, who was playing the club at the Royal Sonesta on Bourbon St. last night (btw: I’m in New Orleans this week)

What I’m watching: Week 2 of season 1 of In Treatment, the finale of Eastbound and Down, and a catch-up of Bored to Death episodes. On Sunday, I caught The Social Network at The Theatres at Canal Place, and enjoyed that. I haven’t liked Jesse Eisenberg in any previous film, but he did a great job with the role. The movie’s last act was kinda weak and, well, it just sorta stopped, but it was a fun ride.

What I’m drinking: Beefeater & Q-Tonic (on Sunday evening; there’ve been various other gins over the course of the week, including Fifty Pounds, Citadelle, and an alleged Hendrick’s)

What Rufus & Otis are up to: Lamenting the lack of a farmer’s market and missing their Sunday hike, since Amy wasn’t going to jam them both in the back of her Mini while I’m away.

Where I’m going: I’m in New Orleans, after a delayed Saturday night flight.

What I’m happy about: Just being in New Orleans. I know New York is the Greatest City Ever, but New Orleans is still my favorite. Oh, and getting to see Paul play on Sunday. That was just rapturous for me.

What I’m sad about: Being here without my wife. I’ve traveled to a lot of cities on my own, but it doesn’t feel right to be here without her. When I got in late-ish Saturday night, I went out from my French Quarter hotel to get some dinner. I ended up getting a fried catfish po-boy and Abita at Primo’s on Decatur St. I had a table on the balcony, and looked out to the river, and realized that I was across the street from the place where we got married. I felt a few moments of elation, recollecting that weekend five years ago. Then a guy down on the sidewalk began bellowing in a rage at someone on his cellphone, and the moment snapped.

What I’m worried about: Getting instant-onset diabetes from those beignets at Cafe Du Monde.

What I’m pondering: Whether the idea I had at the jazz club Sunday night for a movie script is totally awesome or just the hack result of too many G&Ts and an excessive emphasis on the romance of New Orleans.

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What It Is: 11/8/10

What I’m reading: The Odyssey and the first book of Clyde Fans.

What I’m listening to: BLACKsummers’night, Boxer, Barking, High Violet, and a new Mad Mix I’m struggling with.

What I’m watching: The first week of season 1 of In Treatment (I’m intrigued enough to stick with it; also, I’m a huge mark for Gabriel Byrne, ever since Miller’s Crossing). On Saturday night, Amy & I tried giving Avatar a try on HBO. After 45 minutes, we were so bored we decided to take our chances with The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus, which turned out to be a lot more entertaining and inventive.

What I’m drinking: Citadelle & Q-Tonic.

What Rufus & Otis are up to: Nothing exciting. They took a shorter-than-usual but vigorous hike up in Wawayanda on Sunday, and they were kinda bummed that there was no farmers’ market to visit on Saturday. Seriously, they seem to have figured out a 7-day week, and got all agitated when a Saturday morning went by without a trip down to the market. Poor boys.

Where I’m going: New Orleans, for the AAPS annual meeting.

What I’m happy about: I had an idea for a recurring podcast segment that I thought would be awesome. I shared it with a few potential interviewees and they were all thrilled by the idea.

What I’m sad about: Having to learn how to be a good audio interviewer in order to execute that aforementioned idea. For my day job, I do my interviews on the phone and then transcribe them for the magazine/website. I always shudder at the sound of my own voice and the vapidity of some of my questions, but then, maybe I’ll be more engaged when the topic is something I’m more interested in. And I can use a voice-distorter to sound like a kidnapper or something, instead of my occasionally “nasal wraith” voice.

What I’m worried about: Not following through with this awesome idea. It’s a recurring problem of mine. I’m hoping that I’ll overcome it by watching lots of In Treatment.

What I’m pondering: Going back to wearing glasses occasionally. I realize that my midlife crisis is manifesting itself in a desire to dress well (within a budget), which I think is a lot healthier than my dad’s version — buying a Corvette and a motorcycle and dating an 18-year-old hairdresser. So I’m thinking of buying a pair of these, because I need to look more bookish (?).