louisa marion makes us look good

None better. Email her. Hire her to take amazing photos. Smile.

there's nothing like finding yourself quoted in a wikipedia article

Read it in context.

the obvious conclusion (actual conversation edition)

lit kitsch

Lauren, possibly my most bibliophilic friend (given how many times she scoops me on cheap first editions over at AbeBooks) thought I would enjoy Out of Print Clothing.

And I do.

It's certainly a step above The Great Gatsby t-shirt at Urban Outfitters, which filled me with equal parts lust and disgust. I guess I just don't want my favorite books kitschified (um, go with it) and slapped on a pre-distressed overpriced t-shirt like TMNT or Sesame Street.

Of course, I couldn't resist buying a Where the Wild Things Are shirt last summer. But somehow the reselling of my childhood bothers me less than the marketing of wearable representations of lit classics.

But, buy a shirt and give a book? Admirable. And that Moby Dick cover is killer.

this year i... (return of)

...buried my father. The last five months have been rough.

Really, I'd just like to thank all of you. For distracting me, listening to me, picking me up. Sometimes literally.

Thanks.

this year i ... (strikes back)

(photo via Roxie)
...grew a ragged beard (and smiled at least once).


...shaved, except for the mustache (thanks, Abby).


(photo via Louisa)
...realized I was better off without the mustache (but with the beard at a more manageable level).

Yes, I learned a lot about facial hair in 2009. And about looking creepy.

this year i...

...bought a bike. It's orange with blue tires. Like a can of Fat Cat. I named it Oscar. I rode it all over MPLS and wore striped socks. It was a good summer. Aside from the Joose.

This was Sam's idea. You should do it too.