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Journal (The Ember Update)

Tuesday, May 27

Ember?

My name is Marlene. It's not pronounced the way it's spelled. Say, "Mar-lay-neh." Sometimes people suggest that I put an accent over the first "e" to make it Marléne (pronounced like the "e" in "cafe"). I was named after Marlene Dietrich, who in fact invented the name. Her real name was Marie Magdalene (so "Mar" from Marie, and "lene" from Magdalene ... with a German accent).

Most of you probably read my journal through wunderland.com, and there it's pegged as "The Ember Update." Ember is short for "Nuclear Ember," which is an anagram for Marlene Bruce. So there you are.

Balticon

This past weekend was Balticon, and I had a great (but exhausting) time working at the Pop Tart Cafe. Thanks to everyone who showed up at the Cafe ... both to help and to play! I got in lots of games of Volcano, which I'm getting pretty darn good at. Maybe I'll try to compete in the tournament at Origins.

During breaks I got to have long, interesting conversations with Dan and 'Becca (editors of The Earthling's Handbook). It was great 'cause I'd only really encountered them in more impersonal ways previously. Also got to see the impressive and fanciful artwork of both Omar and Sheila Rayyan at the art exhibit.

Sorry, but I never got around to getting my camera out to take pictures, but I'm sure there will be something up at Wunderland this Thursday.

Heartbeat

On a whim I decided to Google my old elementary school heartthrob, Shaun Cassidy (…even though I probably only perused them maybe thrice in about 20 years, I'd kept all 4 of my old Sean Cassidy LPs for sentimental reasons, but then lost them in the flood). I'd heard he was writing for TV, but since I don't watch TV I didn't really care to pay attention (it turns out he writes for some CIA-themed show called "The Agency"). In the Google search results I found this Writer's Guild of America article, from which comes the following quote.

I became a writer because I had so many ideas I wanted to see realized. As a writer, I can literally wake up in the morning, have an idea, put it on paper and make something of it. But a lot of writers don't present ideas, perhaps because they've felt diminished by very powerful executive producers who had their own ideas and just said, basically, "take dictation." I don't want that.

That resonates in me, only not entirely positively. Yes I have lots of ideas that I contribute to my work and air to my friends, but when it comes to creating artwork I feel repressed. Wish I could figure it out (I'm working on it…).

History

Thinking about the flood and all, I feel like I keep repeatedly losing my sense of personal history. I started out being adopted from a young German couple (so my birth family history is somewhat obscure), moved between three countries as a child, kept numerous diaries from ages 10-18, all of which I threw away in a fit of upset after my ex read and later criticized them (I look forward to never seeing him again), then I lost later journals and sentimental memorabilia in the flood (including, I think, most of my adoption records and papers).

Perhaps all that's why keeping a web journal (with photos) is so cathartic. Since it's on the web and archived elsewhere, there would have to be several very separated things destroyed before I would lose this record of my adult life. (But, god, throwing away those childhood diaries ranks with my biggest life regrets.)

Wednesday, May 21

Kadon

I was lucky enough to be invited by Kristin to a party at Kadon founders, Kate and Dick's house (Alison had to work, and Andy was going to enjoy being home alone). If you don't already know—I didn't—Kadon makes what they call "game puzzles" (I'd call them art). Be sure to check out their web site.

Here are pictures of a few game puzzles around their house.

The house itself was really cool. They have a mufraj, a ballroom, a studio with a futon loft, a middle-eastern bathroom, persian rugs, etc. When I walked in, I hardly noticed the people because I was busy examining everything and going "Wow, look at this!" (They even had Rudyard Kipling's "If" hanging inside the front door.)

The party was full of interesting people. Mensa folk, some of the thinkers behind Project Renaissance who are working to start a University, artisans and teachers, etc. Here are my notes from after the party, which may not mean much to you (but I'm recording here for myself):

Tiles, patterned/geometric/progressive artwork, finely (delicately) patterned picture frames & tissue box (Iranian?), Eastern bathroom, studios, hidden workshop through shuttered window-type entrance, fellow with tunnel vision, Persian rugs, host & hostess Dick & Kate dancers, she artist, he engineer, run Kadon, punny wizard with carved cane, Scottish fellow and wife from Games Magazine, giant straw sculpture, ballroom, Eames chair, Thai papercuts, stamps showing dancing on (every?) continent, someone mentioned Buckmister Fuller in another conversation, Renaissance University enthusiasts Sheena, Tijl, …, Chris Palmer (the amazing Origami guy), hat tent, Win Wegner, Socratic method, conscious vs. unconscious perceptions, tapping on greater awareness, science AND arts, Smithsonian/Enterprise, the droll punster, Spider Robinson's Time Traveler, …

Thursday, May 15

Cirque

Went to see Cirque du Soliel with my Mom a couple weeks ago. The performance was Dralion—which seemed to be a mixture of Asian and African influences—and while pretty spectacular (that juggler with the solo act ... wow!), I would posit that live is not as good as watching one of the performances on DVD via big-screen TV. The biggest flaw was that the sound was really unnecessarily loud.

Numerous elements of Dralion were very reminiscent of Quidam (which is positively breathtaking on DVD), though I thought the recurring appearance of aerial scarf acrobats a bit inelegant. Perhaps they included more because the guy in the big metal "German wheel" never actually performed. (It was really odd because they brought the ring out on the stage twice, kinda showing it off with everything else. It's not actually in the show's published itinerary.)

Gee, I guess that doesn't sound very enthusiastic. I'd still highly recommend Cirque du Soliel performances … I just like them better pre-recorded. I tried taking pictures, but only got three blurry ones from the "Ballet on Lights" that are maybe worth looking at (click to see more):

College Perk

College Park is about to get a new coffeehouse! The College Perk is opening on Route 1, just north of University Blvd. on the left. Kristin and I were taking one of our many walks (usually to the Post Office), and decided to swing by and see how construction was coming.

The building is an old residence/business which was once Hausers House of Birds. When the House of Birds closed the place was never much cleaned up, but instead boarded up and left for years. The new owners have largely had to gut the interior and reconstruct. Below are some in-progress photos. The inside will eventually be painted blue and purple (though it's been rumored that one back room will sport an orange tiger-stripe rug).

Earlier names considered for The College Perk were "The Bourgeois Pig" and "The Penguin Underground." Read more about this new place in The Diamondback. Maybe they'll even have good dark-roasted decaf for coffee connoisseurs like Rash :o).

From the street.	Driveway side.	Main entrance.	Out the back.
Sunlight on the floor.	French doors by main entrance.	View to left.	View to right.
Bannister.	One of the old radiators.	Windows in an alcove.

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