Contemplating My Navel (Personal Blog)

Conversations with Kevin (July 1, 2009)

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We are going to try something a little different this week on “Which End is Up!?” My good friend Kevin Smith, whom you may know as the beloved of my recently departed partner in crime, Jesika, has become a blogger in his own right – a pretty good one too. Check him out at It Ain’t Hard to Tell.

Kevin’s blog was begun as a way to cathartically chronicle his recovery from the loss of Jesika. But over time, it has become about other things too: say, Kevin’s obvious love for comic books, and the crappy state of hip hop music.

A couple weeks back, as I was ill and repressed, Kevin suggested that we test out a sort of cross-blog promotion. Once a month, we will meet for lunch and discuss a variety of topics: maybe pop culture or current affairs, maybe a little venting about our various trials and tribulations, with a dash of career development progress. In turn, we will post rundowns of these conversations on our mutual blog platforms. Kevin and I have two very different viewpoints, so the hope is that our meetings trigger some healthy debate, and the involvement of all of our readers.

We are supposed to meet for burgers at noon today. I haven’t had red meat in almost three weeks. However, due to a four day bender of PMS-induced gluttony last weekend, I think it will be the salad for Boop.

3 AM Procrastination (June 30, 2009)

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Hi dee doo! This is Boop blogging at you in the middle of the night. Why have I turned into a creature of the dawn? Pure, old uselessness yesterday and a state of mental exhaustion leads me to this state. I have a piece I should have sent to the life coach on Sunday night. But Eddie and Mummy were buzzing around all Sunday evening getting ready for their trip to South Carolina this week. That spilled over into the 4:00 AM chaos on Monday morning, from which it took awhile to return to sleep.

I met my high school chums E, Gary (and Gary’s partner Chad) for lunch and a movie yesterday. MY PMS-induced feeding frenzy left me in need of a nap at 4 PM. There I basically remained for the rest of the evening, occasionally waking to watch a few minutes of CNN and speak to Eddie by phone. (side note: I think I have undone most, if not all of my 9 pound weight loss in the last four days).

Jimmy Choo Shoes (June 27, 2009)

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My good buddy Jimmy, someone who entered my life during my recent stint at the ADA, wails on the guitar. Seriously. The first time I heard him play, I expected talent, but the dude is a virtuoso. I am proud to know someone with such skills.

Since this is my blog (well, mine and Jen’s), I can use it to plug stuff I really believe in. One such item is Jimmy and his band, Part-Time Models. Here is a description of their mission:

“Part-Time Models is a high-energy Chicago rock cover band that plays songs to move to, sing to and drink to! PTM kicks into high gear from the very first song and doesn’t let up until every bottle in the bar is empty, all high heels have been kicked off, shirts are off and dolladollabills are on fire. Come ready with no excuses and party with Part-Time Models all night long!These guys are certainly not actual models, instead the name Part-Time Models being a reference to the instant classic song “Most Beautiful Girl” by Flight of the Conchords(but you already knew that). Members of PTM both individually and collectively have been seen on most of your favorite Chicago stages ranging from Hard Rock Cafe to Double Door to Cubby Bear to Wise Fools to Chicago City Limits to festivals, etc. No strangers to the Chicago music scene, this crew brings you pro-quality versions of your favorite current and past sing-along rock songs…making sure to keep up with the latest songs on the radio today, of course the classics, and everything in between!”

If you’re in the area, and even remotely like to rock, I highly recommend you check out their show on July 31st from 11pm – 3am at The Rockhouse (formerly Déjà vu) on Lincoln Ave. Here is a link to The Rockhouse web site:

http://www.rockhousechicago.com/

I am always happy to support local talent, especially when that talent lives inside a dear friend. Rock on!

Project “Beat It” (June 26, 2009)

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Since 1983, I have been on a quest to learn the infamous gang dance at the end of the “Beat It” video. I have had several stops and starts. In fact, there is a painting of me hanging in my bedroom, done by my tremendously talented friend Brandon. A photo was taken of me way back in 2002, performing some of the moves in the parking lot of the Kum N’ Go (seriously, that was the name of the mini-mart) in Omaha, Nebraska. Brandon cropped my head out of the shot (wished he could have cropped the extra 25 pounds of fat I had on me too) and captured the simple glee of my drunken display for all immortality. I love this painting.

After a mostly sleepless night last night (for some reason I can’t separate Mike and Jesika right now), I decided I needed to channel my brokenhearted energies into something positive. This morning, inspiration struck! Yes, I am almost 31 years old. Yes, there are any number of productive ways I could spend my time. But I am finally, once and for all, going to learn each and every step of the “Beat It” dance.

As kids, Jen and I were particularly fond of acting out the part where the two gangsters tie their hands together, pull knives and dance around in a threatening circle. Now, I must tell you folks: Jen is at least twice the dancer I am. She is naturally gifted. Just ask the menfolk of Boys’ Town who lauded her with catcalls and free drinks after a spot-on replication of Madonna’s Cowboy dance in the “Don’t Tell Me” video. Jen, I welcome your expertise and assistance in helping me get “Beat It” down. Let me know.

I will not rest until I have accomplished this. I may be clumsy and slow, but I will prevail. Eddie just bought us a new 24″ inch monitor for our office. I will find the video on YouTube in HD and get to work. Once I am satisfied I am not a total disaster, I will have Eddie film me, and I’ll post the final result on this blog.

I don’t think there’s anyone, no matter how cynical, who didn’t wish for a moment as a child, that they could be the Gloved One. I think Jen got it exactly right yesterday when she said Michael’s death is like a real loss of our own youth. I want to hold onto that and be able to pay tribute to MJ well into my 80s by nailing this iconic routine. I can never duplicate his mad skills, but I’d like to think Mike would enjoy the sight of this old dog inspired by him to learn a new trick.

Goodbye Legend (June 25, 2009)

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Michael Joseph Jackson: 1958 – 2009

I don’t know about all of you. I know Jacko went wrong many times in the last 15 years, but for me and so many other kids growing up in the 80s, he was IT. This is how I choose to remember him. I kept telling myself I would see him perform live “someday.” Eddie and I even talked about trying to catch him in London later this year. Now we will never have that chance.

Much will be said, written and offered about the original MJ in the coming days and weeks. A lot of it will be, deservedly, critical. Nonetheless, no matter which part of the globe you sat on, you knew this dude, and loved at least a song or two. How many people can you say touched that many lives?

Along with the Challenger disaster of the 80s, 9/11, Obama’s clinch in the election of 2008 and the moment I learned my dear friend Jesika had passed, this day is forever seared in my memory. How about yours?