dog days
Summer is here. Or at least San Francisco's version of it. This means the temperature now fluctuates plus or minus 10 degrees around 70 rather than the usual plus or minus 5 degrees. I'm worried that after spending so much time here I will have no tolerance for the weather in Europe, a continent which actually does have seasons, and pretty severe ones at that.
My time is spent working madly both on a Supercollider programming project and decorating my new apartment. The thought processes for thse activities are not so dissimilar, in programming you're trying to arrange things with maximum efficiency while retaining maximum effect. Decorating a tiny studio is the same, each possible object requires long thought and lots of conversation, nothing can be wasted and we have to be totally mindful of keeping a feeling of open spaciousness about the studio as well. The feeling of space is my favorite thing about this new place, it is tiny but I never feel confined in it, the light is spectacular and the blonde hardwood floors are very warm without feeling stuffy. In short, I love this space and I feel like there's a world of opportunity in it. If we can just figure out the best way to make it work.
Last night I was working in the kitchen while listening to the documentary Wim Wenders made of Yohji Yamamoto playing in the other room, Notebook On Cities and Clothes. I got such a feeling of nostalgia mixed with a sense of excitement, nostalgia for Tokyo, and excitement for Paris. This simultaneous mix of strong feelings, could we call it excistalgia?
Comments
hey Roddy, painting and SuperCollider, you're more of a man than me. My multitasking skills are not that effective, I just spent 10 days painting someones house and my brain could not have coped with SC in this time. Tuesday I start a new project so I can dust off the SC cobwebs that seem to accumulate quite quickly for me in times of painting. I'm really looking forward to seeing your hardwood floors in August and also your and Lee's visit to Amsta'. Thanks for the addition to your non exhaustive list. When are you going to show me some MovableType man? Seamus x
Posted by: seamus | June 4, 2005 4:56 AM
For me it's really good to be able to vacillate between different activities simultaneously. It's like if I'm working really hard on a music project, I need hours of just listening to mindless pop to counteract it. If I just work too much on one thing at a time, then I really go nuts.
I'm sooo excited about coming to Amsterdam as well, can't wait for the Kraakgeluiden gig, I miss that place a lot. I don't think there's another Kraakgeluiden in the world.
What's the weather going to be like while we're there? Should I pack a jacket?
Posted by: roddy | June 4, 2005 12:44 PM
weather could be anything judging by the last few weeks but you should be able to get by on a few shirts or tShirts, one jumper and an umbrella, or maybe a light jacket. I always over pack, travel heavyish. SC
Posted by: seamus | June 4, 2005 5:23 PM