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Monday, August 18, 2008

It'll be two quid, mark



today i’ve been thinking a lot about “Peeping Tom”, made in 1962. Completely perverse & brilliant. So brilliant it ruined michael powells career. Which im sure he’s greatful for now. When your career is ruined, in years you become a genious to critics everywhere. And thoes critics shame the critics before them who called your work rubbish. They called it rubbish, we call is genious. However, theres always a fine line between the two.

So Mark, the main character in the film, carries around a camera. He shoots whatever he sees. The film opens with him filming a prostitute who advises him “it’ll be two quid” for her services. Once alone with her he reveals that one of the legs on his camera stand is actually some sort of ice pick. He slowly leans into her and as this is going on she can see the fear on her own face in the mirror attached to the top of the camera. Mark has made it so the last thing the victims sees before death is their own face frozen in horror. He continues this throughout the film and is eventually brought down. However, this is not whats important about this or any other film. The importance of peeping tom lies in the creation o Mark. The reason that this film ruined micheal powells career was NOT becasue it was perverse and women were being brutalized and killed. It is because unlike the myth created by a white supremist society, the killer in this case was an extremely likeable, sweet, handsome, talented guy. In 1962, this couldnt be. There were specific threats on the world and they did not include the composit character that would eventually become mark. The Haunting (1963) and Psycho (1960) symbolized perfectly what 1960’s audiences were to be afraid of: “ghosts” and the unstable “cross dressing” killer. These are extremes. The 1960’s audience lived on extremes, not that the person next door could be a threat.

I’ll keep thinking, but i know there is something more to this. When was the rise of the serial killer? Was it psycho? Or is that just wishful thinking? I know how much everyone loves to credit hitchcock for EVERY horror film tool, but i like to explore.

This weeks Films:

Rebecca (1940)

Aliens (1986)

The Night of the Hunter (1955)


i practically live in this car with this person :)

Monday, June 16, 2008

Good morning, Sangria.

Woke up at 4 am, a little earlier than normal. But still strange. It has now been 4 months of sleeplessness.  I find myself tossing AND turning all night. without interruption. Then i wake, suddenly, my eyes wide open! No chance of dozing off again.



Saturday, May 26, 2007

To my Grandmother - - at her death

Wrapped in something intoxicating
It is here she finds peace
Underneath her is salvation
And maybe that’s what her lover is looking for.
Underneath her lover is glory
What she has always longed to have
And beneath them both is serenity.
In the chaos of them, is the dignity of “us”
And in the dream of her is the mirage of love
Together, they form something exalted.
For her lover there is nothing short of dignity in her touch
And she lives to find tranquility when their fingers lock

Anointed by daylight they lay in lust.
Only to be fooled by eternal sunshine.
It is here that they wait

In all of this however life is simple
It’s about a woman, her lover, and the ties that bind them.

Monday, January 15, 2007

Spoon (part 1)


Note: this is a piece about my father. its like facto-fiction

I remember he went missing a lot. One Christmas he actually came home, lugged his duffel bag into the back room, and emerged with an arm full of gifts. He was a playful and affectionate father to my sisters and I -- when he wasn't alone with his needles. I remember something made him sick. Something made him shake and sweat, I just didn’t know it was called heroin. He would do anything for heroin. He would rummage through the kitchen at night looking for a small Grey box where mom kept the money. When he got sick like that all he could think of were his needles, and what it would take to fill them. Late at night I remember laying on the beam of light the spanned across the carpet. I stayed close to the wall. I watched him. Even when he had tantrums like this I couldn’t stop watching him. I remember hiding things from my mother that only met my fathers’ ears. I trusted him, and in many ways he was the only one I kept secrets with. His late night rampage through the kitchen was one of those secrets.

I could see the spoon. It was sitting on the table after being thrown down by my fathers’ hand. I could see the needle, clear and unmarked. It was in better shape than our ghetto home. The bedroom was dark, and had blue curtains drawn closed, that never parted to allow sunlight in. I could see my little toes stretched in the doorway directly where the line of light and dark began. I saw my father sitting. I wouldn’t call him a small man. He seemed like he was 16 feet tall, and his hands seemed out of proportion to even that height. They were heavy looking and solid, with square cut fingernails. They looked like hands that had done a lot, I remember thinking they were hands I could trust. What I paid more attention to was his face. Long and narrow, it was, with high cheeks and a bold nose that fell in a sharp angle from his brow. His chin was stuck out a little, and made a little dimple in either side where it fell into his jaw line. His eyes were bright and darting. They could never focus, always jumping around in his head. His hair was curly, like mine, it stood on end. It spiraled towards the heavens and so I thought he was an angel. The aura I saw around my dad was usually bright orange and bounced off everyone else. Today he had no aura. I could see him sitting on the edge of the bed. Each bead of sweat took residence on his skin and held on for dear life. I could see the needle go in, and I saw the liquid draw itself out of the syringe’s frame. His face, that’s what I’ll never forget. His pain ended and all I saw was pure pleasure. I stared hard at him. The giveaway was his body, vibrating like an idling car. His jaw spun and his eyes were darting blots. I didn’t need to see the needle again, I knew. My hands clenched at my side, I said nothing. My mouth hung party open as I watched him. Even when he was high, he still mesmerized me. He still hadn’t seen me. I emerged in half shadow, deeper into the room now. My father laid on his back in plush pillows and blankets. Almost like he was sinking, almost like the bed was eating him alive. But he was just high, like always. Slowly I raised myself limb by limb onto the bed. I leaned in close to make sure he was breathing. He was. As I leaned back my silver necklace caught up with a tiny span of light coming through the curtains and caused a high shimmer of light. This shimmer waved across my fathers’ eyelids, but left him undisturbed. I leaned in again to check on his breathing. He was fine. Since I was crouched on the bed on all fours my lower back began to crumble. I could not stop watching my father.

Sunday, March 28, 2004

Pieces of You

I’d like to see you,
maybe standing next to my bed.
I’d paint you in obscene colors,
bathe your back.
I’d like to drop you,
Nestled between two valleys,
Where ivory can clothe you.
Sparkle you with greens and whites of desert sands.
I’d like to dissolve you.
Let all the salty sweet of your skin indulge me.
Glow on my lips, and rest on my jealous tongue.
I’d like to touch you,
Maybe run my fingers down your side.
Trust you with my ear lobes.
I want you down underneath my speech, naked to all lies and grievances.
I want to see you
Glowing, glowing in these blankets.
- -Trust me- -
I want every piece of you….

Wednesday, July 23, 2003

theres the fingerprint thing - thats in the works

1. This survey gets a little personal; can you handle it?
k. obvi

2. If you married the last person you texted, what would your last name be?
Reilly-Mallon- and ( like cass mentioned) the marriage would be legal!

3. Were you happy when you woke up today?
blissfully happy.

4. When were you on the phone last? And with who?
earlier today with John.

5. Answer honestly, Crayola or Rose Art? Crayola

6. Is there anyone you need to make amends with?
I think i did my best. i only want peace for us all

7. What are you excited for?
getting a GOOD therapist, moving away with my loves, lex's return from chile

8. What were you doing yesterday?
growing up

9. Honestly, who was the last person to tell you they love you?
miranda jane fillebrown -- and ohmigod do i love her back

10. What's the last thing you put in your mouth?
beeer and pills

11. Have a best friend?
yes. a few. susie. steve. john. miranda. bessem. camille. lex. patrick. olivia.

12. Are you scared to fall in love?
already fallen<3

13. Do you think teenagers can be in love?
depends

14. Last person you wanted to punch in the face?
Rather not say...hmmm.. i think it was beyonce. ya that fucker deserves a punch

15. What time is it this second?
6:56pm

16. What do you want right now?
get paid. get a job. make peace.

17. Who was the last person you took a picture with?
oslivia

18. Are you single/taken/heartbroken/like someone or confused?
wow. um. that was a little laborious. im TAKEN! & HAPPY

19. When was the last time you cried?
when i was jonesing for meds and coundn't get any. such a bitch

20. Do you have a good relationship with your parents?
pleading the 5th

21. Do you find it hard to trust others?
it's almost like...im a little numb

22. How fast does your mind change?
when i make a choice i stick to it. no wishy washy - learned that from mama

23. I bet you miss somebody right now.
that was a statement. not a question. and yes, i miss her.

24. Can you honestly say you're okay right now?
working on it.

25. Why do you think so many people cheat?
because they have no concept of what respect means

26. Tell me what's on your mind?
i feel hopeful but trapped. anxious and excited for some new dynamics

27. What are you looking forward to in the next three months?
liv's birthday. mirands summer job ending. growing, blossoming, and blooming personally.

28. Have you ever worn the opposite sex's clothing?
no such thing. clothes are clothes so if you don't get that then you're probably a homophob

29. When did you last talk to your number 1 top friends?
what? this isnt myspace. stop. talked to three of my bestfriends today

30. When is your next road trip?
Rangely, ME. sometime. and hmmmm whenever i move away

31. Do you have someone of the opposite sex you can tell anything to?
tons

32. How's your heart?
huge

33. Have you ever felt like you weren't important
lots. but its something to work through

34. Do you think somebody's in love with you?
I know she is. & i have a yellow stone ring to prove it :)

35. What do you plan on doing after this?
watching 'Coraline'

36. Next time you will kiss someone?
right now...all night

37. Have you told anybody you loved them today?
like 1million times

38. Who do you not get along with?
racists.homophobs.xenaphobes.sexists. and other civilians

39. What does your 3rd recent text say?
none of yours

40. What are you wearing right now?
all black...pretty much. oh ya, im a ray of sunshine

41. You're locked in a room with the person you last kissed, how is it?
really hot & unlocking the door would be the last thing on my mind

42. When's the last time you had a grilled cheese
a few days ago

43. What's your favorite boy and girl name right now?
Axel

44. How did you feel when you woke up?
refreshed

45. Do you wish someone would call or text you right now?
ys. a few. i just need to feel aknowledged

46. Do you crack your knuckles?
fuck no

47. What were you doing yesterday at midnight?
sleeping next to my bear

48. What are your LEGAL initials?
AMF

49. Whos the first B in your contacts?
Bessie

50. When was the last time you laughed really hard?
just now...

51. Your number 1 top friend walks out of your life, do you go after them?
yes. i did, and ill always do that.

52. Last awkward moment?
ummm thurday - - but it ended up beng nice and even wonderful.

53. Are you afraid of the dark?
fuck no

54. Do you have good vision?
nope

55. Have you ever tripped someone?
hahhaha duh. i have been an angry little twerp all my life

56. Have you ever slapped someone?
def. when appropriate

57. Are you Irish?
scarily

58. Do you use chap stick?
yes. obsessed

59. Do you have any scars?
plenty

60. Is there someone you will never forgive?
nope. im a forgiving person

61. Are you dating the person you last held hands with?
hmmm yes

62. Name the last person to text you?
John Reilly

63. Would you marry someone 8 years older than you?
marraige is tricky. but age doesn't matter to me - cause i know who im gonna marry anyways (but only when it becomes legal. did i mention this already?oh ya. i did)

64. Can you go in public looking like you do?
whoa. rude.

65. Have you ever kissed someone whose name started with a J?
yes yes yes.

66. What part of the bed do you sleep in?
usually the left

67. What's the first thing you'll do on your wedding day?
when it becomes legal i will adopt my good luck ritual that i have been doing all my life. Dance into my clothes via guns n roses

68. Do you fall for people easily?
naw

69. Has anyone put their arms around you in the past 5 days?
yes

70. Do you miss the way things used to be?
absolutely, but there are some parts that just hurt too much

71. Has anyone ever told you they're in love with you?
yes

72. Song you're thinking of right now?
the lady don't mind - talking heads
big love - fleetwood mac
the snow queen of texas - the mamas and the papas

73. Want someone back in your life?
yes. but i wont force it

74. Will tomorrow be better than today?
can't know, but thats the joy of it

75. What’s the color of you’re shirt you are wearing?
black

76. Has anyone ever sang or played music for you personally?
yes!=

77. Does it bother you when someone lies to you?
depends. lying about your sexuality because of the increasing sense of homophobia in this country does not. but saying you'll do something and then not- make me want to vomit.

78. Is there anyone who understands your relationship status?
who cares what they understand