Marie Javins's Blog, page 12

Everyone Loves A Parade

The backyard is on a parade route.

There the Whole Time

We stumbled over the earthquake emergency supply cabinet at work yesterday.

That in and of itself isn’t as weird as it seemed at first glance. It’s Los Angeles County…makes sense businesses are prepared for emergencies.

What was weird was the boxes of N95 masks which were presumably in there the whole time we were desperate for them. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

Late Pandemic State

This isn't special.

Today, I got a late start and walked to work, taking a meeting from my phone as I headed in. I spent all day at my desk in the office except when I went to Coffee Commissary for a takeaway sandwich. I got a lot done but of course ended up with more in my in-box than I eliminated. An editor stopped by and we had a brief meeting with a boss-person via my laptop monitor.

I left work at 7:30 after becoming distracted by reviewing some covers and packing a few boxes.

And then I stopped by the supermarket on the way home, and I didn't feel like making dinner, so I picked up some samosas and a little salad.

So what, you might say. There is nothing worth talking about here on this update.

And that is what makes it so wonderful and not the least bit special.

I did put on my mask when I picked up lunch and when I walked into the office building. And there were only three others in all day. But ultimately, today felt perfectly, exquisitely average.

Basking in normalcy feels pretty good at the moment.

A Less Innocent Time

Once upon a time, as the former Austin Chronicle intern, I went to the first SXSW. I think I flew from Dayton Airport that year, since I was going to college in Ohio. Later, I went to subsequent SXSWs, those times from New York.

This was a different world, a world where everyone you knew was at one show or another, and you’d see all your friends over the course of the night. Parking was plentiful, BBQ and tacos were cheap, and lines were easily avoided by a few quiet words to a friend at the door. Back then, we didn’t stay in hotels because we were young and sleeping on friend’s floors or sofas seemed perfectly acceptable. You’d go to a bar with a friend to see a band, then they’d wander off to a different show, and you’d go along with someone else to another spot. Eventually, you’d all end up at the same spot again, the best spot, the place where everyone you knew was laughing and enjoying the band the whole town had turned out to see. Or maybe it was a party, but there was always a band there, too.

I don’t remember when I stopped going to SXSW, but it was before some of you were born. Life changes, people find other things to do, and in time, I stopped visiting Austin altogether. Eventually, I no longer recognized the names of the acts, and finally, didn’t even look to see who was performing.

I wasn’t in Austin for SXSW last week, and I got out of town yesterday afternoon before it really kicked in, but my five days in town felt like the old days. Not that I was hopping from club to club or seeing music—in fact, I saw zero bands. But I did see friends. So many friends, friends from Austin and the Chronicle, friends from Ohio, friends from comics, one friend from my hometown of Alexandria, friends from bands, Daniel’s family, and they all saw me too, as I spoke on stage about Daniel Johnston’s artwork and our friendship, and how we ended up putting his Batman, Superman, and Orion on the cover to Batman #121.

I even made a few new friends.

I stayed in a tiny house in the backyard of a host who had been following my career, as he too had worked at the Austin Chronicle. I took photos of the tiny house, but I neglected to take photos of all my wonderful friends.

I have a few group shots, but not of everyone.

And I realized, I never had cared about SXSW. I only cared about spending time with my friends, and about those special nights when they’d all end up together.

A Look Back at 2015

Seven years ago, we moved from Broadway to Burbank. Feels like five...because we just spent two years in pandemic-weird-zone.

Even Tinier Than My Tiny JC Studio

I’m staying in a backyard tiny house in Austin this week. The layout is ingenious, and it makes me want to be more clever with my studio in Jersey City.

What Will Fit In It, Though?

Tiny new pot came out of the kiln. Mini-hippo added for scale.

Pushy Animals

Jersey City raccoons have attitude.

Secret Agenda

Whales schmales. The real reason I went to La Paz was to buy pottery from Olivia, a potter whose work I admired and purchased from a coffee shop in San Jose del Cabo last year.

I tried making this kind of pottery myself but I couldn't--she glazes it at low temperatures (less durable but lovely). I don't have control over the kiln at the studio.

I Never Struggle With Talking

What will we talk about? I have no idea! Be there and help me figure it out.