| onward! |
[17 Jun 2009|10:23pm] |
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I've decided to go to Austin in August, mainly for the Society of American Archivists convention but also to check out the UT Austin library program and the Harry Ransom Center, and wander around Austin itself. Any suggestions for things to do, people to meet up with, and/or places from which to borrow a bicycle would be most welcome.
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| happy birthday to me |
[16 Jun 2009|10:37pm] |
I've now officially aged out of Jane Austen heroine territory. (One could make an argument that the events of Persuasion last long enough that Anne could conceivably have a birthday during that time, but I'd rather just look forward to the next stage, kickass spinsterhood.)
I feel I've moved forward on so many things that were just glimmerings of wishful thinking this time last year, and it's a good feeling. Here's hoping that the next year will continue to progress in leaps and bounds towards optimal awesomeness.
me.
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| let me count the ways |
[11 Jun 2009|11:42pm] |
Some things that are making me happy of late:
-good times with good friends from near and far
-being almost completely unpacked
-playing the accordion, and getting to try out fancier accordions, one of which may soon be mine
-the Queer Arts Festival (which so far has involved Dorothy Allison, riot grrl nostalgia, and...an accordion!)
-the return of film potluck from beyond the grave
-strawberries
-finishing knitting projects
-cupcakes (thanks, N.!)
-new-to-me movies (thanks, R.!)
-re-reading old favorites (thanks, E.M.F.!)
-the prospect of returning to work at the Bancroft soon
-having an interview scheduled for another library job
-the announcement of the program for the Silent Film Festival
And that's just this month...
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| decemberists @ fox |
[21 May 2009|12:28am] |
Opener Other Lives was atmospheric beard rock. They did have one beardless member, but she had a cello, so it all worked out.
Hazards of Love was wonderful live. I think my enjoyment of it was aided by the drowning out of the lyrics -- an odd effect for a Decemberists set, but as I've said elsewhere, I'm beginning to find Colin Meloy's ongoing obsession with sexual violence against women in his songs rather creepy.
Becky Stark is even more adorable than usual when she's attempting to play a drum (as everyone was during "The Rake's Song").
Shara Worden is seriously amazing as the Evil Queen.
I couldn't see much of the re-enactment of the Donner Party (with Chris Funk as the Historical Squirrel), but it was hilarious nonetheless.
The renovated Fox is gorgeous, and the lighting effects were amazing. The floor is thankfully on multiple levels -- I was behind the first railing, which put me a foot above the crowd in front of me. The gods that hate short people still managed to place someone tall enough to block my view directly in front of me, but he moved around enough that it wasn't too bad. And transit home was a breeze -- hurrah for east bay venues. Lots of good shows on the Fox's upcoming calendar; I will definitely be back.
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| bring your hovercraft |
[26 Apr 2009|04:21pm] |
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My moving day is May 9. Let me know here or on Facebook (or by e-mail, phone, or even [gasp] in person) if you're able to help out -- there will be the customary free pizza (at lunchtime, no less).
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| life changes |
[13 Apr 2009|07:55pm] |
Laura and I broke up. It's difficult, but is, I think (or at least hope), for the best.
I've found a lovely room to rent starting in May, but it would probably be good for all concerned if I could start living elsewhere before then, so if anyone knows of anyone within biking/easy public transit distance of the Berkeley campus looking for a housesitter or willing to take on a temporary roommate I'd appreciate your sending them my way. I can't really afford to pay much rent, but I could cook them a fabulous dinner.
This also means my library school plans have changed. I'm no longer planning to start at San Jose State in the fall, but instead will apply for the following year to programs all over the country (and possibly some in Canada). I'm tempted by the glorious life of a film archivist, but that has its own specialized programs largely separate from manuscript archiving, and I don't want to limit myself too much.
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| archives! |
[24 Feb 2009|07:35am] |
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Lots of good stuff on the Beinecke blog lately -- lesbian pulp fiction, silent movies, and H.D.
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| the next three months will be long |
[15 Dec 2008|12:05pm] |
The SF Silent Film Festival has announced the lineup for its winter event (thankfully on February 14 this year):
Buster Keaton's Our Hospitality (1923) - Hurrah to ending the dearth of Keaton at the festival of late.
The Kiss of Mary Pickford (1927) - A Soviet film (!) featuring Pickford and Douglas Fairbanks (!!), who were apparently filmed not knowing that the footage would be used for a feature (!!!). How have I not heard of this before?
F.W. Murnau's Sunrise (1927) - In the slot of "films that are even awesomer with the Castro's extra shot of grandeur."
Paul Leni's The Cat and the Canary (1927) with Louise Brooks - I was just reading Lulu in Hollywood last night, and thinking I should move this up my Netflix queue. ETA: Oops, I was confusing this with The Canary Murder Case - this film has Laura La Plante, not Louise Brooks. It's still something that's been on my to-see list, though.
In short: I highly approve. Tickets are on sale now!
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| upcoming events |
[23 Nov 2008|12:58pm] |
Tonight: The Passion of Joan of Arc with live choral accompaniment, at Hertz Hall on campus. I remember being blown away by this film on a tiny television screen in the ML lounge, so I'm really looking forward to seeing it on a much larger scale.
Tuesday: The Decemberists at the Warfield. Presumably sold out at this point, though I haven't checked. Anyone else going?
Wednesday: Milk opens at the Castro. I probably won't go see it till after Laura takes her quals the following week, though.
Thursday: Thanksgiving with the family.
Friday: Autumn Leaves at the PFA, as part of the Robert Aldrich series. The blurb for the film begins, "Does a spinster-typist deserve happiness?" Given that the spinster-typist in question is Joan Crawford, I'm guessing the answer is yes.
Saturday; I'm planning on hosting a knitting/craft night at my place. Please comment or e-mail me if you're interested.
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| repo! the genetic opera |
[18 Nov 2008|08:58pm] |
This movie wants to be Blade Runner meets Rocky Horror, but only makes it to Hot Topic presents Xanadu.
It doesn't help that they forgot that even a campy cult musical benefits from songs that are not horribly, horribly bad. The woodenly expository lyrics make "Dammit Janet" sound like the heights of Sondheimian wit.
Anthony Stewart Head does his best to sell it, though. And the scene with Sarah Brightman projecting Princess Leia Our Heroine's dead mother from her freaky eyes to sing backup for her was...effective.
However, if you saw the music video for "Total Eclipse of the Heart" and thought "if only that were a feature film!", this may be the movie for you.
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| go forth and dramatize |
[03 Nov 2008|08:30am] |
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Saw The Quality of Life at ACT last night -- highly recommended. Hilarious, heart-rending, a little too close to home as to religious right-wingers who want to impose their personal views on everyone else, extremely well-acted, wonderfully written with great pacing and management of tonal shifts, and altogether an excellent night of theater.
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| my gay lifestyle |
[24 Oct 2008|06:30pm] |
Today I returned to volunteering at the SF GLBT Historical Society archives. My project? Cataloguing a collection of queer zines. Awesome. I really wish I had been aware of zine culture circa 1995.
And then I came back to campus to work at the Bancroft Library ribbon-cutting ceremony, after which they opened up the public areas to those who had provided financial support to the remodeling. My job? Elevator operator. I found this hilarious because according to Ann Bannon, elevator operator was the butch dyke's job of choice in 1950s New York City -- you could wear pants to work. If I had more time, I would totally have tried to hunt down a vintage elevator operator uniform on ebay.
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