My Niece January 22, 2007
Posted by Mark in : Family, Friends, I'm Not Gay , add a commentMy brother and family passed though LA yesterday on their way to San Diego. They met Arthur, Jeremiah and me for lunch at a 50’s diner in Sherman Oaks. We had a great time. Later in the day my brother sent me a text message. S is my niece. It read:
“S asked if A&J were gay and said she knew because a) they are cute together and b) their hands were nicely moisturized.” 
A Night Out August 6, 2006
Posted by Mark in : Friends, Movies , 2 commentsRecently I was called a living IMDB. I took that as a compliment, but maybe it means I talk too much…about movies that is. Over the last two nights I’ve gone to see two comedies at the Boston Commons AMC. Last night I went to see Clerks II, and tonight I went to Talladega Nights. Yes, I know, two stars in the cosmic firmament of fine films, but I am willing to go see anything in a theatre, especially if someone asks me to go with them. You never know, you might learn something. I will say that Clerks is better than Nights, and I can’t imagine that either was improved by the big screen. I did get to sit next to John both nights and that was fun. His laugh always cheers me up, even though its deepening timbre catches me off guard now. And I got to steal Skittles from him when he wasn’t looking.
After the movie tonight we were walking down Boylston Street, past the new dormitory that Emerson will be opening in a few weeks. The construction company has taken down all of the fencing from the front and now pedestrians can walk next to the building and look through the glass. I was walking with John and Alex, an Emerson Alumnus, so I said we should take a look. I was telling them both about the history of the area, Piano Row; about the real estate deals that made it possible; how it was the first new building that Emerson College was constructing; I described how the awning had lights that changed colors. Just as Alex and John pressed their faces to the front doors, I said, “Pretty impressive huh?” John turned to me and said, “Not as impressive as that,” as he pointed through the door to the inner lobby, and continued with, “That’s the biggest damn rat I’ve ever seen!” It was a rat and it was very big. We all burst into laughter. It was the funniest thing we had seen in two nights. I was a little embarrassed, but sometimes a living encyclopedia and a rat can make your day. 
The Hub August 4, 2006
Posted by Mark in : Friends , add a commentArthur Nicholls and Jeremiah Cohick left Boston today to move to Los Angeles, California and I will miss them. I have known them for less than a year, but they have had such an impact on my life, that I would be remiss if I didn’t comment here. They have taught me more about technology, life and love than any two people have in the last thirty years. I would like to be able to say more, but I have neither lived long enough nor do I have the depth of character or composure to adequately describe how I feel.
If Boston is the Hub of the Universe, we lost two strong, bright and shiny spokes today.
I’m glad I’m not moving August 2, 2006
Posted by Mark in : Friends , 2 commentsI was sitting here watching my mac render some Final Cut files and the internet beckoned. After a few riffs, I stumbled upon the link below.
http://pcweenies.org/toon_archive.php?toon=878
I realize the the toon is about Jeremiah’s friend Ryan, but I was at Jeremiah and Arthur’s apartment last night and they are in box hell getting ready for their move to LA. Somehow the toon seemed poetic.
Farewells July 28, 2006
Posted by Mark in : Friends, Verse , add a commentBelow is an old favorite of mine by the late Raymond Carver.
In the Year 2020
Which of us will be left then –
old, dazed, unclear –
but willing to talk about our dead friends?
Talk and talk, like an old faucet leaking.
So that the young ones,
respectful, touchingly curious,
will find themselves stirred
by the recollections.
By the very mention of this name
or that name, and what we did together.
(As we were respectful, but curious
and excited, to hear someone tell
about the illustrious dead ahead of us.)
Of which of us will they say
to their friends,
he knew so and so! he was friends with ______
and they spent time together.
He was at that big party.
Everyone was there. They celebrated
and danced until dawn. They put their arms
around each other and danced
until the sun came up.
Now they’re all gone.
Of which of us will it be said –
he knew them? Shook hands with them
and embraced them, stayed overnight
in their warm houses. Loved them!
Friends, I do love you, it’s true.
And I hope I’m lucky enough, privileged enough,
to live on and bear witness.
Believe me, I’ll say only the most
glorious things about you and our time here!
For the survivor there has to be something
to look forward to. Growing old,
losing everything and everybody.
Bud Cort, Ruth Gordon and Keto Shimizu July 24, 2006
Posted by Mark in : Friends, Movies , add a commentI walked into the DPL at Emerson today and there was a familiar song playing, but I couldn’t quite make it out at first. Keto was sitting in an office there staring at a computer with the music playing, then it struck me what the song was. It was, Trouble, by Cat Stevens. It seemed so out of place hearing that song from the 70’s being played there, by such a young person. It wasn’t even one of Stevens’ biggest hits. It is from the soundtrack of the film Harold and Maude and that is why Keto was listening to it. It was a special moment and a wave of pleasurable lament swept over me.
I thought of putting the lyrics to the song here, but changed my mind. So in honor of the of the 70’s, Cat Stevens and the old soul Keto Shimizu, I decided to put something else here. I know it’s sappy, but thats what nostalgia is about, right?
If You Want to Sing Out, Sing Out
- Cat Stevens
Well, if you want to sing out, sing out
And if you want to be free, be free
cause theres a million things to be
You know that there are
And if you want to live high, live high
And if you want to live low, live low
cause theres a million ways to go
You know that there are
You can do what you want
The opportunitys on
And if you can find a new way
You can do it today
You can make it all true
And you can make it undo
You see ah ah ah
Its easy ah ah ah
You only need to know
Well if you want to say yes, say yes
And if you want to say no, say no
cause theres a million ways to go
You know that there are
And if you want to be me, be me
And if you want to be you, be you
cause theres a million things to do
You know that there are
Well, if you want to sing out, sing out
And if you want to be free, be free
cause theres a million things to be
You know that there are
You know that there are
Food for Thought April 4, 2006
Posted by Mark in : Food, Friends , add a commentI had a great day today. I ate great food, with great friends.
I feel full.
curves, arcs, circles March 19, 2006
Posted by Mark in : Blogging, Friends, Layers , add a commentI was walking toward the T this morning to meet with A and J to work on a project. I probably didn’t need to go, those boys are so bright and so dedicated that they need no supervision. My real reason for going was to learn a new application and other, more subtle, aspects of life. I have to admit I like being close to them, they teach me more than they can ever imagine. There is such a sweet earnestness to them. I guess I hope some of it will rub off on me.
A few blocks from my house, as I passed the Sheraton Commander, an Asian family walked out of the hotel just before I passed. I always walk fast, and was slightly frustrated by their slow pace, but six people and three generations do not move together gracefully. Leading the pack was a Father and a young child that looked pretty new to the walking experience. In the middle was the Grandmother and an older child. In the rear was what I imagined the Daughter/Mother of the children, helping her elderly Father along. I was considering passing, them by walking just along the curb, but just before I did, simultaneously the small child in front and the Grandfather stumbled. It was like some unseen hand had pushed them at the same time. There were a couple of short shrill gasps while both parties were quickly grabbed and snatched back from falling. The Grandchild and Grandfather just kept on moving like this happened all of the time. All of this made me slow down, physically and psychically too, it made me think of my family and my life
Of course the circle of life is a cliché, but it isn’t often that I see a duplex example. When I saw it, I thought of that circle though and I was reminded of the time I was in Dayton visiting my brother. It was my last night there and after my parents had left and Tim had gone to bed. I stayed up to record some of his albums to tape (long before i-pods). That night I was very taken with Joni Mitchell’s Ladies of the Canyon. It was old even then, it was 1984, so the album was about 14 years old. In particular I was taken by the song The Circle Game.
I knew that night was going to be one of the last times I would be alone with Tim. In a few weeks, his girlfriend Peg, now his wife, was going to move in with him. It seemed like he was growing up and moving on and in some way I was losing him. I recorded the album to the best TDK tape I had with me and then listened to it several times that night and at least once more on the plane ride home the next day. What I didn’t know that night, while I was listening to that music and thinking of the part of the circle Tim was entering, was that I had just seen my Father for the last time. He died suddenly a just few months later, before I could get back home to see him. I did not appreciate when I waved good bye to him, that I was on a new arc of my circle.
I’m like that though, good with the obvious, but I often miss the greater meaning, the poignant, subtle or often silly echo of a moment until much, much later.
As I was starting to put my observations down for today I suddenly realized something I had missed. When I passed that family I was on my way to do a Quicktime VR of a computer lab at Emerson. What was this Quicktime VR? A 360-degree interactive panorama or a simulated virtual reality view of a lab at Emerson.
