March 26, 2005
I went out dinner with my dad yesterday, Good Friday, because, like all good Catholics, we observe the day of Jesus’ death in quiet contemplation and “fasting,” which is an ancient Catholic ritual wherein we take our family out to a gigantic seafood buffet.
This being my last few days in Bay Minette, we went to Frazier’s, the only half-good restaurant in town, and the only restaurant I’ve ever been to that has a threat posted above the seafood buffet: “Extra charge for uneaten portions!!” It’s always a good place to see the ghost of Christmas future—all the people you graduated high school with, and their two to four children. And while I hate to admit it, sometimes I happen to run into someone I liked and it’s nice to catch up.
Last night wasn’t terribly exceptional. Other than enjoying the running commentary on the quality of the meal (“rubbery” crawfish are too hard to open) courtesy of famed restaurant critic “Jimmy,” approx. age 8., and seeing a girl I knew in high school (and her two children), it was Frazier’s as always: grimey, a little embarrasing, and fucking delicious.
March 26, 2005
I’m movin’ on up—tomorrow. So, iammattthomas.com and my email will be going neglected for a few days. So don’t worry, if it takes me a while to respond, I’m not dead. I’m just in the middle of a whirlwind relocation effort executed in what must be record time. Or maybe I will actually just be dead.
Thanks to all who have sent words of encouragement, whether here, or email or in person. It’s nice knowing that when you’re taking a big step like this one, you’ve got people all over interested in your continued success. Cheers!
March 25, 2005
I don’t really like Bay Minette. And while I can’t say it hasn’t felt like home, ever since going away for college, I can’t overcome the feeling that I have outgrown it. This area is nice enough, and I understand that it’s popular enough for some to envy those who live here. But there’s no market for what I do here. There is no niche for me, so I’m not terribly torn up about leaving.
I can’t deny, though, a certain fondness for it. It’s small, and hot, and rather dull, but it’s unbelievably comfortable. Baldwin county is as a part of me as my brown hair, dislike of tomatoes, and inability to whistle. Parts—not Bay Minette, but parts—are undeniably beautiful in ways that an urban place like Baltimore can not approximate.
And frankly, it is far easier to be stylish when one is a large fish in a small pond, than vice versa. My love of Franz Ferdinand and my Rainbow flip-flops that label me as “city folk” down here barely qualify me for the privilege of riding public transportation in a city like Washington. This is all to say that, going out in public in Washington and Baltimore is going to take a lot more effort than, say, Spanish Fort.
So I guess I have to say that I’ll miss Alabama. She’s not been terribly kind to me recently, but she’s home, and I’ll always love her for that.
March 24, 2005
Today I accepted a job as a web designer at an innovative and interesting company that I believe will allow me to create a lot of good work while learning from and collaborating with some stunningly good designers and programmers. I can’t help but worry that it will be tough to live up to the talent already there, but I’m looking forward to giving it a shot.
I am nervous, but excited, about moving to Baltimore—for reasons not the least of which is that Camp and I have discussed moving to the area for quite some time. D.C. is an amazing city—and Baltimore has some interesting parts, too—so it’s only fitting that we select it as the next town to paint red.
And I’m grateful to the folks in Baltimore for the opportunity, and to Shaun Inman for providing the tip about the job on his web site.
Here we go…
March 23, 2005
I know this is a shot in the dark, but I finally found the serial number for my lost iPod. If, by some strange twist of fate, Google manages to index this page, and you’ve found an iPod with the serial number JQ427409PS9 and managed to get to this web site, please get in touch with me.
March 23, 2005
Who should I get in touch with to be interviewed on television for my insight on the Schiavo situation? My credentials are as follows: no formal education in medicine, never met the Schiavo family, never seen Terri Schiavo in person, and know only about her condition what I’ve seen on television.
I’m asking because I just saw Patricia Heaton, of Everybody Loves Raymond fame, on Entertainment Tonight offering her opinions on Terri Schiavo’s condition. She told us that Michael Schiavo is a “disaffectionate husband with dubious motives.” She says that it is “very clear” that Terri Schiavo’s husband does not have her best interests at heart. She does this as though, for some reason, she has some information or insight that is useful in some way to the American public.
But Patricia Heaton doesn’t know anything about this family. She isn’t a doctor. She isn’t qualified to give medical advice. But ET interviewed her anyway, so I can only assume that since we are equally qualified, I’m also a good candidate to spout my opinions on TV. And I’m sure that ET must be looking for someone, since at no time during the two-part segment with Heaton did they provide any divergent viewpoint or ask any questions of Heaton that weren’t complete pandering.
I understand that expecting journalistic integrity of Entertainment Tonight is sort of like asking a press contact from McDonald’s to impart sound dietary advice. Nonetheless, the fact that an actor would take advantage of their celebrity status to freely speak ill of Michael Schiavo was completely stunning to me. If Patricia Heaton doesn’t like the law, she should try to get the law changed. She shouldn’t use other peoples’ suffering as a crutch to prop up her career now that her brainless sitcom is over.
March 22, 2005
Not every aspect of the trip went well. Friday morning, while leaving Birmingham, I realized that my iPod was missing. I was listening to it on the flight from Baltimore, and apparently left it on the plane. It wasn’t in my car, and I didn’t take the bag it was in anywhere else after the flight. I called Southwest and, not surprisingly, no one turned it in.
So, to the Southwest employee or passenger who found my iPod, but decided not to call anyone from my address book to let them know you’d found it: I hope you go deaf.
The thing that’s really bugging me, though, is all of my data was backed up on that drive. Who knows how savvy the iPod’s new owner is, but all of my photos, personal documents, and some projects are in the hands of a stranger. Not to mention the fact that I’m fairly afraid to do anything with my PowerBook, knowing that I don’t have backups of anything right now.
I’m already feeling the shakes. This withdrawal is going to be painful.
March 18, 2005
Photos from Washington are available now.
Took the MARC train down to D.C. today, justifying it by doing it to help figure out the transportation system, but really just because I’ve always wanted to go to Washington.
I started my day at the office, getting my first insight into how many revisions are required when you’re dealing with schools. My new bss dropped me off at Camden Yards downtown, where I decided to start exploring. I figured I’d just get on the light rail, but it got to the end of the line before I realized it, and I ended up just walking to Penn Station. I got there, realized a MARC train was leaving for D.C. in five minutes, and decided to buy a ticket and hop on board.
Walking out of Union Station, I saw the dome of the Capitol and felt very nerdy because all I really thought about was The West Wing. I walked to the National Gallery of Art, and lost interest before I could figure out where the front door was. Ate a crappy lunch because my cabbie recommended the food court at the Old Post Office as a good place to get lunch. (He called it “The Pavilion.”) I was glad I went there, though, because I found a “tour elevator” that the National Park Service runs, going up to the bell tower of the Old Post Office. I got some interesting pictures from the top, including my only good view all day of the Washington Monument, which is right now surrounded by red dirt and looks much more like something I’d see home in Alabama.
Of all the things I did and saw, the best was Metro, the subway. I got on because my feet were killing me, but once I saw how cool the inside of Metro is, I just wanted to walk around inside. Metro stations are straight out of a 1980s depiction of the 21st Century. Retro-futuristic, I guess. After doing that for a while, I realized it was time to get back to the airport, so I found the line to Union Station and was back in time to buy a $6.00 glass of sweet tea at Starbucks before getting back on the MARC.
I arrived at Baltimore Washington International about 6:30. After going through security and stripping half-naked, It was 7:30. At about 7:35, I read the Departures board to find that my flight had been delayed until 10:15. So I ate a gross turkey and cheese sandwich at the “BWI Deli,” finally got on the plane, got drunk off one beer at 40,000 feet, and landed back in Birmingham, excited, sore, bloodied, and ready to sleep.
March 17, 2005
Having a good time here in Bodymore, Murderland. I got to meet the staff yesterday and today I’ll be wandering around downtown, seeing the sights. Photos to follow.
March 11, 2005
From the Associated Press:
Votes Thursday as the Alabama Senate, on a 30-0 vote, gave final approval to a proposed constitutional amendment to ban same-sex marriages. Voting yes were 10 Republicans and 20 Democrats. Voting no were 0 Republicans and 0 Democrats. Not voting were 0 Republicans and 5 Democrats.
That’s it. When every single one of the 25 Democrats who enjoy the majority vote in the state legislature vote betray their party and their constituents by supporting this unconstitutional bullshit, it’s time for me to go. It was a Democrat who introduced the bill!
I’ve joked about my waning patience for the state’s political system before, but this camel just had his back broken. Time for any Alabamian who doesn’t believe that a new 3/5ths rule is in order for gays and lesbians to take this guy’s advice get the hell out of Dodge.
