esprit de l'escalier

Beatles for Sale

I was an early convert to the Fab Four, after my mother slipped me a compilation tape one year in my stocking in elementary school. I loved them and loved that tape to death. When I think of the Beatles, several super fan friends pop into my head, but first and foremost is my friend Joe Peppercorn. He was my first die hard Beatles fan friend. He introduced me to lots of music in high school and college, but to me, he is synonymous with Revolver. We were on the school paper together, and he played that album again and again in the staff room. I own it either because he gave it to me, or I just was convinced of its greatness and/or missed him and hearing it in college.

I bring this all up because I just came from listening to him play the Beatles. He's playing all of the recorded Beatles works in chronological order tonight, with a little help from some friends. (He was in the paper today about it!) He started around 4pm and probably has another couple of hours to go.This is the second year he's done this crazy marathon, but I missed last year's performance. I'm so glad I was able to see some of this year's.

I had hoped to get in to hear A Hard Day's Night, but missed it, arriving to catch Beatles for Sale. (I do love the early Beatles. I am a sucker for early 60s pop.) I hadn't planned on staying that long, but evetually my friends and I decided we needed to wait to hear Revolver. I left after the band closed out Sgt. Pepper.

My friends and I were the dancing girls in the back against the wall. The night was one big sing-a-long, with us twisting and shouting along. A favorite moment tonight? The audience participation in "I Just Saw A Face." That was a song I remember listening to over and over, rewinding the tape, so I could memorize the words. Or maybe how every so often he would preface a song by shouting, "And this one is by the Beatles!" I stayed for about 80 songs, out of the 215 they are planning on singing and playing tonight. I hope Joe doesn't lose his voice for too long after this. Great fun all the same. Well done sirs.

A bit of a purge

Tonight I took four bags to Goodwill and had a full trash can out at the curb. It feels so good to have a bit of a purge, especially since my apartment (bedroom specifically) has been looking like an episode of Hoarders.

Several months ago my mother dropped off a car load of stuff from their house, mostly stuff I was hoping to not have to deal with ever again. I have slowly been weeding my way through those boxes, as well as several tupperware bins of crap going back to college. Tonight I felt like I have made it to the other side and am on the home stretch. Yes, I still have three boxes of books that need to be sold, but my apartment is beginning to look respectable again. Thank god. I hope I can continue to whittle down my possessions. I feel too laden down in nonsense. Here's to a lighter 2012!

Instant Christmas

My parents and I took our annual Christmas trip down to Lexington to visit our friends Jack and Rob. Sadly my siblings didn't make it this year, with my sister in Montana and my brother in Istanbul (!). All the same, we had a great trip. Christmas eve I ate my weight in cheese. Christmas day we went walking in Pleasant Hill, the Shaker village outside of town. I shot a roll on my Yashica Mat there. I also got a good long visit with my dear friends Libby, Ryan, and her parents. Good friends, good food, good visits. Good trip all around. I hope you all had lovely weekends. Here are some Impossible Project shots I took witih my trusty Polaroid SX-70.

Benedetti Christmas party

Last night was my friends' annual Christmas party. It's my favorite party of the season. There's a hilarious cover band, a great spread, and an interesting mix of people. I promised my friend Tina that she would be "all over" my blog today. Here are some shots I took with some Impossible Project film (love this stuff). I hope you all have a great holiday weekend!

Views from Philly

My parents and I went to Philly over Thanksgiving. They stayed with my aunt and uncle, and I stayed with my cousin. These are photos from her apartment. Nice work if you can get it.

Instant kitties

Today I got a note from my friend Mark that made me happy. Thanks Mark. I also got a roll of film back that I had slowly clicked my way through in October and November, which also made me happy. I should have some photos to share, along with some stories I have not yet told.

These two polaroids are of my friend Natasha's kitties, Pushkin and Mila. I used some of the Impossible Project's new black and white film for my Spectra. How have I ignored this film for so long? It is spectacular.

I was in Chicago this weekend. We had a nuclear family get together, as my sister and her husband were in town and my brother lives there. It was nice to see everyone. I've been missing my siblings lately, and neither are coming home for Christmas. It was seriously cold and I walked and walked and walked for three days straight. I didn't have enough time to see everyone I would have liked to have seen, but it was good to see those that I did.

This coming week is slightly nuts. Christmas parties start up this weekend, and I'm kind of excited for all of them. Hope you all have a great week!