Jason's Blog, page 149

Ah, merde!

The little shop where I used to buy my milk and bread has closed down and been replaced by a new, bigger shop with bright colours and lights. It was already a chain shop, 8 à huite, and is now taken over by the owner, Carrefour, but before, it was a bit dark and dusty, a place where I didn't feel completely out of place. Now it's become this ugly, shiny monster, looking pretty much like the kind of supermarket I tried to avoid shopping at in Norway. With the exception of little, old ladies, I don't really see who would want this new place, looking very much like an eyesore on what used to be a pretty charming little street. Why does everything have to become so ugly and soulless? Really, is this progress? Ugh... I will have to find some new place to shop now. Hopefully I won't have to end up walking for ten minutes to go get my youplait yogurt that I thought was in my fridge but turned out I ate all of yesterday.

Man, chair

I got this drawing

...during the signing at Desert Island in Brooklyn. I don't remember the name of the guy who gave it to me, but thanks anyway!

it was just a little while ago

almost dawn
blackbirds on the telephone wire
waiting
as I eat yesterday's
forgotten sandwich
at 6 a.m.
on a quiet Sunday morning.

one shoe in the corner
standing upright
the other laying on it's
side.

yes, some lives were made to be
wasted.


Charles Bukowski

Henrik Ibsen Superstar

NYC sketches

Also,

...I watched The Avengers and will report that I was bored out of my skull. I found it in English and in 2D, but after only 5 minutes I realized I had done a mistake in buying a ticket. Maybe it's because I'm an... adult, a 46 years old man? I just felt no connection at all to the story and the characters. Granted, there are some very funny scenes, showing there is room for humour in a superhero film, but the story was just some slapped together old sci fi tropes about oh, some portal to another world, an invasion from outer space and zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz. Who's in danger? A lot of people, apparently. Millions! Yawn... The Spider-Man films got repetitive with poor Mary Jane being rescued all the time, but at least there you cared a bit for a minute or so what would happen. No, I'm afraid the train is gone. The smoke puffs are getting smaller. The sound of the engine is getting weaker. Etc. I have seen my last super hero movie.

Okay, I might do a last exception for Batman, but that's it.

Ah, New York...

America

(apologies to Allen Ginsberg)

America I have returned to Europe and my feet hurt
America I walked around in Manhattan and peed in the corners, marking my territory
Manhattan now belongs to me
America I only did three sketches while in New York
That's not very good at all
America you are too big for my sketchbook
Yes, that is the reason
How do I fit in the sky skrapers?
America will you sign your photo for my nephew?
He's a big fan
America do you want me to strangle Paris Hilton in her sleep?
America I'll do Kim Karblooshistan as well
Two for the price of one America
Well, you can think about it
America these are the books I bought in New York
C by Tom McCarthy
Jesus' Son by Denis Johnson
Angels by Denis Johnson
You have many good writers America and Johnson is one of them
I got another book as well
Various Positions; A Life of Leonard Cohen by Ira B. Nadel
but I got that book in Toronto
I'm sorry America yes, I've been unfaithful
Will you ever forgive me America?
America these are the books I picked up at the Fantagraphics stand
Love and Rockets New Stories no. 2
Murder by High Tide by Tillieux
Sibyl-Anne vs. Ratticus by Macherot
New York Mon Amour by Tardi
Yes, it's another book about you America
What else is there to tell about?
Your dreams are filling my European brain
The neighbors are complaining about the noice
America I got a cold in New York
No I don't really blame you
I should have worn a sweater
I get colds easily
It was stupid of me
Why am I telling you this America?
America I don't know
America when will the first black, lesbian atheist be elected president?
America will the last buffalo be served as a hamburger at McDonald?
America when will the flying cars come?
Come on America
America we are waiting for you
You have to show us the way America
We still want to believe in you America
America I'm lost in your airports
America am I holding my map upside down?
America is this train going uptown or downtown?
America is that person holding a gun?
Will you look for me America?
America I knew that you would

Written while jetlagged. Thanks to everybody who came out for the signings. It would have been a bit lonely if you hadn't. Thanks to Benjamen, Desert Island, Peter and Chris of The Beguiling, and Jacq, Kristy, Jen, Mike and Janice of Fantagraphics who politely faked interest while I rambled on endlessly about my unhappy childhood in an orphanage and my theories about who built the pyramids (The pharaoes, I tell you!) Okay, I'll go to bed now.

Cigarette 7