barrington99@gmail.com 8/3/10 I need to write something. Even if it just this ten minute free-write. I’m in a difficult place these past few days, because I’m scattered in my focus in all kinds of ways. Part of it is that I’m neve quite sure now who I’m writing for. Even as I write this, I’m undecided. … Read more
When summer was new and seemed to sprawl endlessly before me, I purchased a season pass to the Academy (of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences)’s “Oscar Noir” series. The pass was a great bargain at $30 for 15 Monday night films, and as summer began I intended to make it to at least ten. Due … Read more
After nine years, our tenant moved to the beach. I’m happy for her, because she’s a friend. But now I need to rent my old apartment during a difficult period for real estate. We were fortunate for while, that the rent from this apartment matched our own rent, leaving just the mortgage, but that is … Read more
Today is an interesting day for aspiring screenwriters–the day the quarterfinalists are announced for the Nicholl screenwriting competition. It is one of the oldest (since 1981 I believe), and most respected of the screenplay contests–I guess because it run by a reputable foundation, and, I guess, since a thirty thousand dollar fellowship to the winner … Read more
A friends from Australia and her girlfriend stayed with us for the weekend at the start of a five-week cross country adventure. It was great to see them. Their visit also gave me a chance to do some things I don’t usually do on my own. Activities that might be described as “touristy” by locals, … Read more
Went to the airport tonight to pick up my friend and her girlfriend, just in from Australia. As I dis-embarked my car at the airport, I decided to clean a few handfuls of rubbish from the car in honor of my guests. As I tossed the gum wrappers, windshield flyers and old water bottles in … Read more
1) Just finished reading Flowers for Algernon. For the first time. The last few pages made me cry. 2) A co-worker at my Internship #2 self-comforts by playing kittenwar, a website where you look at pair after pair of kitten photos, and click on the photo that is the cutest. What is this thing called … Read more
At my mother’s yard sale, the professionals automatically knocked every price in half or less. “Would you take five bucks for that?” a woman asked my mom, pointing at the fifties floor lamp with floral shade. Yes, she would. A man took a handful of wrenches for three dollars. The woman looked at the tripod. … Read more
One of the reasons for my recent trip to Indiana was to help my mom clear out belongings that have accrued after forty two years of marriage, Four decades of hardware and camping gear, sports equipment, hobbies, model trains planes, paintings by the dozen, and mountains of books and boxes of record albums. My grandparents, … Read more
These are things out in the world that occupy some part of my mind of late. (As always, disclaimer–no claims to total accuracy in reporting…this is the news filtered through a layperson’s sensibility and memory. My sources these days are NYTimes online, NPR and other radio, articles posted by friends on blogs and Facebook.) 1) … Read more