El Camino up and down my block

I blame Sergei for this, as I've now noticed that there is an El Camino that travels in the opposite direction of me every morning when I come home from work. It seems like there was a time between 1983 and 2001 where I hadn't seen a single El Camino (except the street El Camino Real in California), and now I've seen many. WTF?

Now that that is out of the way, some of you may be wondering where I've been or what I've been doing. Others may not, but are still reading this. Other others may yet be wondering why they are reading this at all, or who I am, or what the point of anything is, really? Well, I'm gonna tell ya... Also, I'm gonna steal some of Sergei's thunder as the great blogging movie reviewer mofo, as I've actually been to the theater twice in the last two weeks.

Let me start by saying that "Pirates of the Caribbean" was one kick-ass movie. I mean, I only went because Larissa was so excited, and we all wanted to see her before she left for Spain. Well, we wanted to see her reactions to the movie, anyway. She made a lot of noise, to be sure. But I could barely hear her over my own roars of laughter and squeals of delight. Johnny Depp plays the stark-raving mad Captain Jack Sparrow as if he were some sort of Hunter S. Thompson of the seven seas. A truly inspired performance, bolstered by almost as brilliant turns by Orlando Bloom and Geoffrey Rush. Keira Knightley gives the film a damsel-in-distress who can also kick butt while looking hot in a corset and frilly dresses. I usually don't dig action movies, but this film has some of the best sword-fighting since "Rosencrantz and Gildenstern Is Dead" or "The Princess Bride."

Nextly, a gaggle of us saw "28 Days Later," the Danny Boyle-directed sequel to Sandra Bullock's rehab vehicle. If you don't get the joke, it takes about a minute to sink in. If you've seen previous Boyle films, you know that this is gonna be twisted and sick. It's also a little long, but very compelling nonetheless. What I thought was most impressive was not the story itself, but the textures the DV-shot movie used to convey the story. Parts are grainy and brittle, some are smooth. The camerawork is brilliant and the editing is amazing. The soundtrack, too, is gripping. The fact that there is a film playing in multiplexes with Godspeed You Black Emperor! songs in it is something I find inspiring. And Matt didn't even complain about it. Also, the usual Boyle dark humor pops up in the most welcome and sick places.

Other recent outings have found me helping Beth move and then taking in a fine show by The New Pornographers, who have apparently added another show for August 22nd at the Bowery (I believe). They were simply on fire that night, but then again, when ISN'T Neko Case sizzling? I mean that in a talent kinda way. No, really. After the show, we walked across the Williamsburg Bridge back the the apartment in Brooklyn she was moving out of. One of the best walks in my life. I now want to walk across every bridge between Manhattan and Brooklyn. I hear the Brooklyn Bridge is absolutely beautiful. One could argue that by crossing the bridge, it is true that I don't know when other people are kidding. But I disagree. Remember this, my friends, when something is said half-jokingly, half of it is true.

I started working on permanent status Monday night. Last night was my first night on my new crew. It's different, but I'm the senior Library dude, so I get to give the orders. Let's hope that I don't go mad from a moderate amount of power. Mwa ha ha. I work Thursday night, but hopefully I will make it to Saints N Sinnners for a bit. Friday night is Mitchfest 2k3se, featuring The Repercussions UK and The Potbelly Bandits. Saturday is The Siren Festival (3rd Annual), featuring Idlewild, Modest Mouse, Hot Hot Heat, Sahara Hotnights and more rock than you can shake a stick at. I think I still have two spaces left in my car.

I don't think I have anything else to say right now. buh bye.

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