Matthew's blog

Weekend update

This weekend I had an Invasion marathon. I Netflixed the hell out of it so I could see the whole series. My boss introduced me to it and got me hooked. I'm quite upset with ABC for cancelling. SO MUCH was left unanswered at teh season (turned out to be series) finale. I managed to get some Christmas shopping done, much to my chagrin. My goal for next year is to not purchase any Christmas presents. I just don't see the need to give someone a gift just because it's a certain time of year. I'd rather surprise people throughout the year. It's much more fun that way.

Kate also hosted a small party at her house on Saturday. She is a consummate hostess and possesses natural style and grace. I've attached a few photos. Enjoy!

Dec 11, 2006 5:03:31 PM

First Snow

Today was the first snow of the season in the Nati. On the way out of the apartment, I managed to spray myself in the face with hot coffee and then got stuck in traffic due to a very bad wreck. When I got to work, I decided that I didn't want to be there and took a vacation day. I was very glad I did so. Below are some photos I snapped of the snow.

Dec 7, 2006 7:53:28 AM

Holding...Releasing?

I figured out a way to photograph my largest painting. I also took a picture with myself in it to give a sense of scale. The piece is 5' x 9', oil and latex on canvas. If you're interested, you can see more of my work by clicking here.

Oct 15, 2006 2:47:23 PM

Banned Books Week, September 23 - 30

Banned books

This coming week is very important. It is national Banned Books Week, which celebrates our intellectual freedom and spotlights that, even in this day and age, there are people fighting to ban books. Below is a listing of the Top 10 Challenged Authors from 1990-2004.

1. Alvin Schwartz

2. Judy Blume

3. Robert Cormier

4. J.K. Rowling

5. Michael Willhoite

6. Katherine Paterson

7. Stephen King

8. Maya Angelou

9. R.L. Stine

10. John Steinbeck

Challenged means that attempts have been made to have their work removed from libraries and/or schools. I will be the first to admit that not all literature is apropos for all ages. However, banning books is not a proportional or fitting response.

“Intellectual freedom can exist only where two essential conditions are met: first, that all individuals have the right to hold any belief on any subject and to convey their ideas in any form they deem appropriate; and second, that society makes an equal commitment to the right of unrestricted access to information and ideas regardless of the communication medium used, the content of the work, and the viewpoints of both the author and receiver of information. Freedom to express oneself through a chosen mode of communication, including the Internet, becomes virtually meaningless if access to that information is not protected. Intellectual freedom implies a circle, and that circle is broken if either freedom of expression or access to ideas is stifled.”

Sep 21, 2006 4:53:49 PM

Historic walk

Here are some photos from the walk I took on Tuesday in Covington. It was such a pretty day.

Sep 21, 2006 7:46:13 AM

Matthew (x10)

I've been playing around. Let me know what you think. Matthew - original is the (oddly enough) the picture I started out with. Be sure to click on them to get the larger image. Some of them don't look different from others but they are.

Sep 17, 2006 1:15:14 PM

Movies...

So, here are some upcoming movies I'm looking forward to seeing. They are in no particular order. I've linked them to IMDB.com if you want some more info on them. Wasn't that nice of me? I think so.

For Your Consideration - new Christopher Guest flick

Running With Scissors

Marie Antoinette - looks like it could be kind of fluffy but as some of you know, I LOVE pageantry and there will be a lot of that in this movie. It's about Marie Antoinette after all.

The Prestiege - love looking at Hugh Jackman and it looks like it might have a plot.

Renaissance - monochromatic, animated graphic novel-like movie set in 2053.

Transformers - don't judge. This is going to kick your ass! (I hope at least)

Borat - kind of silly but it looks fun

Volver - I do love Almodovar!

The Science of Sleep - and I also love Gael Garcia Bernal

F*ck - documentary about the word

The Return - cheap horror thrill

The Aura - sounds creepy but possibly thrilling

The Fountain - again Hugh Jackman with Rachel Weisz

Exit - documentary about legally-assisted suicide in Swizterland

Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix

Perfume (same director as Run Lola Run)

The Queen - about Queen Elizabeth II after Diana died

And here are the next 5 in my Netflix queue:

Sep 17, 2006 8:38:20 AM

déjà vu

Déjà Vu

Tonight, I had dinner with a new friend, Matthew, at an Ethiopian restaurant (East African, I believe was the name). I was pretty excited because it was my first time having Ethiopian (I've always wanted to try it) and I was having it with someone who had had it several times. He was able to suggest what I should try. Overall, I enjoyed it. I knew going in that you eat with your fingers but as soon as the food I arrived; I forgot this fact. Then it dawned on me again that you eat with your fingers. Please don't ask me what I had. I couldn't begin to tell you.

Anyway...while we were waiting for the food to come out, I had a déjà vu moment. Matthew was giving me a quizical look after seeing the expression on my face. I told him what was going on and he said that he had a theory about déjà vu. The theory is that déjà vu moments are signs that your life is on track...a check mark of sorts that all is as it should be. I explained that these moments happen pretty consistently for me. He continued saying that he explained his theory to a woman he worked with and she told him that she had not experienced déjà vu for 20 years. How sad is that if Matthew's theory is correct?!

What do you think about his theory and déjà vu?

Sep 9, 2006 7:35:00 PM

Fog

Fog 001

So, there was some intense fog in the Nati yesterday morning. We had more fog today but nothing like yesterday. The fog reminded me of the movie The Others, specifically when Nicole Kidman's character tries to leave the manner house and she get's lost in the fog. While I was driving across the bridge to Covington, I literally could not see our office tower...anything really. It was quite eery.

Sep 8, 2006 5:38:29 AM

Fireworks in the Nati

So, today was the Nati's fireworks show. We had a party (read as gathering of screaming children) at work since we have such a great view to watch them. So, I was able to snap some decent (not great) photos of them along with pre-show photos of the ships gathering and the Stealth Fighter flying over head. Apparently, half a million people (between the Ohio and Kentucky sides) attend this show.