The Last American Year(s)

Brrrrrrrr.

2010-12-01T17:19:00.001-05:00

Flake 1, originally uploaded by Last American Year.

Give peace a chance

2010-12-01T13:21:00.001-05:00

Give peace a chance, originally uploaded by Last American Year.

Happy Holidays!

Almost Famous

2010-02-04T10:17:00.011-05:00

Lately, city living and the accouterments of the urban setting have provided some photographic opportunities. And a few of the opportunities have been noticed. All of these images below have appeared on a Chicago related site or 2 or three.

Just today someone said to me "congrats, Todd, on your slow takeover of all Chicago media."

The Good Book

2010-01-11T16:24:00.002-05:00

I think FaceBook is the devil.

March 28 - Monologue

2009-03-28T09:03:00.000-05:00

My boss said it was a short assignment. She said I’d be here 3 weeks, that was in July. It’s now November. I had been home for 2 days after a month of work in Virginia. I wasn’t rushed to get out of the place because she did say it would only be a couple of weeks . . . that was 5 months ago.

So here I am. In Dublin. Sounds nice to people that have always dreamed of visiting the place where they like to believe that their relatives were from here. Truth be told they were most likely Welsh but were just ashamed to say that so they wouldn’t be associated with Prince Charles.

The home of U2, whom I have not seen because they live in France now. A weekend get away for everyone from the UK or the European mainland so they can get trashed and wreck the town with impunity if they can make the returning flight or ferry on time.

I hate this place. Just the city itself, the people are fairly nice. Drunk or sober they are either cordial or so overly friendly that it could border on molestation in some states. The streets are dirty and there’s “liquid” everywhere. Could be water. Could be beer. Could be urine. It’s probably urine.

Work is a short walk from my 200 euro a night hotel through only a few puddles. Too close to take a cab and too far to ride the bus with the hungover or in most cases still inebriated workers at an all too early hour. The hotel staff is pretty friendly, they know who I am, they are glad to see me or maybe they just want my company’s money. I settle my bill every 6 weeks with the corporate card and the last time this was done it was 23000 euros. So they are always nice to anyone spending that amount. It’s not my fault the bills are so high, it’s the project leader. He’s been here 4 months longer than myself and has decided to immerse himself in the local culture. This doesn’t mean he’s taking the bus tour, visiting the museums, the galleries or the historic sites. This means he’s getting plowed every night at my hotel bar with the locals. Drinking to the point of incoherency and is usually passed out and placed in a cab leaving me with the bill.

I’m not in the bar with him mind you, the front desk normally calls me at 2AM to tell me that it is time for him to go home and his tab needs to be settled. My evenings here are quite different, every night I order soup from room service and I cry in the corner of my hotel room. Okay that’s a lie, I don’t always order soup.

You might think that this assignment is uneventful, it’s not. You see project lead has a bad habit of making commitments with strangers to get together over the weekends to take in some local color. Local color does not mean taking the bus tour, visiting the museums, the galleries or the historic sites. The end result of this is usually much worse. Like the time we wound up in Belfast.

March 21 - Monologue

2009-03-21T10:31:00.001-05:00

You know I’ve been waiting tables for about five years now. Not at the same place, mind you. I’m an actor, did I mention that before? So anyway I wait tables to pay the bills between acting gigs. Yeah I’ve worked at most of the chain restaurants right off the interstate. Olive Garden, Outback, Sizzler, Applebee’s . . . you name it I’ve worked there, well if it’s in this town.

I think that the best opportunity for me would to get into dinner theater, but I don’t think that this town is ready for that kind of scene yet. Maybe in 20 or 30 years when the population is older but not right now.

My work keeps me in the public eye so I am always on stage. Whether it’s the theater or the lunch to dinner double shift I stay in character. I feel it enhances the customer’s experience. I want them to feel like they are on a journey of sorts. A veritable culinary cruise. Over the years I have perfected a variety of accents which I use at my place of employment.

At the Outback I have an Australian one that I picked up from watching Crocodile Dundee . . . one and two. Things like “G’day mate,” and “now that’s a knife,” always play well there. I spent two years working on my Italian accent while working at Olive Garden, Macaroni Grill and Maggiano's. I only bused tables at Maggiano’s but sometimes I could use some lines; “hey-ah that’s-ah lots-ah dirty-ah dishes.” The customer is instantly transported to the Spanish Steps in Rome at a small ristorante tucked away on a side street while the local kids play “football-ah.” I have one that’s en français that I used at La Madeline. A British one that I used over at O’Malley’s Sports-n-Darts Pub “Freshen your drink, Guv'ner?”

I can do them all. I even do a real nice Mexican one that I used when I worked at Uncle Julio’s Casa Nacho Grande Bonito but the kitchen staff didn’t like it very much. I think they were just jealous because my accent was as authentic as three types of salsa that we served. Come to think of it I was there less than a month because I got that dual role as Mitch and Murray in the Shady Lane Retirement Home production of Glengarry Glen Ross.

Untitled

2009-03-10T09:46:00.002-05:00

He kept a sundry of lucky items and homemade poultices at his desk. A plethora of severed animal parts and witch-doctor potions. A chicken’s foot from New Orleans for voodoo spells. A luck rabbit’s foot stained with Dr Pepper, caked in powdered donut sugar and it’s fur matted with bits of tobacco. The belief in the ghost of John Wayne that stalked him and left his soul cold.

He was the best and brightest of the new wave of office workers. Too smart to be where he landed but too unmotivated to search for new avenues of advancement. What was the point? If you’re in a half-a-horse town, how many miles is it until you find a whole-horse town? 100 miles, 1000 miles, 10,000 miles?

He liked it as much as he hated it. He sometimes came to work reeking of liquor and reminded his cube mates all too often that some of them stunk of garlic. His life was a mesh of over-lapping days of the week.

Waking up as Bryant Gumble called it quits.

Working late but not so late as to miss last call.

Staying out all night and hitting a diner by dawn. A little man passed out in the seat across from him . . . he was drunk too but not as bad as he would be in the years to come when in the not too distant future he would vomit on the floor at his going away party. Or the time he would finally hit rock bottom and find himself on the lowest of 12 steps to wellness . . . confessing he was powerless to alcohol.

Almost Famous . . . in the call center

2008-09-24T08:43:00.003-05:00

Hi Call Center and Correspondence Volunteers!

It is debate season and we are in the home stretch of the campaign. We appreciate you finding a few more hours in your schedule for us every week. We are continually amazed at the organization we have been able to build. It would not be possible without your willingness to make such a strong commitment to the campaign.

Since we're in the final stretch on our way to Election Day it's about time we make some custom Operations-Communications t-shirts. One of our volunteers, Roxana, and her husband have designed some awesome shirts for us. If you're interested in getting one of these shirts (see attached designs), please reply to Noah with your name, preference of Call Center or Correspondence shirt, and shirt size. (If you wish to buy more than one shirt, specify quantity, design preferences, and sizes.) The shirts will cost between $12 and $17 apiece. Please reply with your order by the evening of Sunday, September 28, as we will be placing the order first thing on Monday morning. Once you have placed your order make sure to bring your money into the Ops-Comm Center at your next shift in order to reimburse the person
who will place this (large) order.

Below please find the remaining shift needs for the Call Center and the Correspondence department.

We're looking forward to seeing you this week!

Thanks,

The Ops-Comm Team

Talk Like a Pirate / Today's Me Birthday

2008-09-19T22:29:00.000-05:00

Getting Ready for Halloween!

2008-09-12T22:08:00.002-05:00

Garry was there!

2008-08-30T22:08:00.002-05:00

Time Machines

2008-08-30T22:05:00.003-05:00

With all the hullaballoo of that Public Enemy show and Kurt making Chicagoist or Gaper's Block or whatever hack websites this town has . . . AND with the looming Lollapalooza fest thing this weekend. I was determined not to be shown up or out done again.

So . . . in a time machine of my own design and construction from ordinary household items and Rox's modernist collection of kitsch I travelled back to 1974 and sent my 4 year-old self back to the Coldplay show 2 weeks ago at the United Center. Of course I saw Time Cop and have watched enough Star Trek to know that I can't occupy the same place at the same time . . . so 4 year-old Todd saw them on the 22nd and 37 year old Todd saw them on the 23rd.

Goals

2008-08-25T06:50:00.001-05:00

I made my goal only to see they are sold out.

I <3 movie trailers.

2008-08-19T19:43:00.007-05:00

So I'm on Apple.com watching the new trailers and there is this Western called Appaloosa.

I'm not a huge fan of westerns but I'm game for new stuff. As you can see it had Ed Harris and Aaragorn from Lord of the Rings are about to smote some baddies.

Anywho they both get killed . . . the end. I just saved you like 9 bucks.

You can thank me later.

Gotham

2008-07-19T10:59:00.001-05:00

NN5U2153, originally uploaded by Last American Year.

I live in Chicago now. All my things, except my car, are here with me . . . it’s a sad state of affairs in cramp-ed-ness. There is barely room to move but the house next door is going up for sale so Rox and I got approved for a mortgage.

Housing crisis? What housing crisis? We get a loan if we put $30k down . . . good times.

We’re supposed to have a yard sale tomorrow to alleviate the amount of crap that we have but today it is rainy and it’s supposed to rain tomorrow. Also we haven’t printed the flyers or posted the ad on Craigslist. I need to get my act together.

Oh and I saw The Dark Knight yesterday, it was good but it needed to be longer for character development. It felt like TwoFace was really rushed along, hurry up, wrap it up, you’ve got to deal with all of those that wronged you.

I’ll see it again, in IMAX.

Principal. Principle.

2008-07-06T09:20:00.002-05:00

Principal, originally uploaded by Last American Year.

With the heat and humidity of the summer setting in, we’ve got combatting weather fronts at every house and business each time a door is opened. Cold, manufactured, climate-controlled air conditioning takes on oppressive, dank, July heat-waves mano-a-mano. And you know what? July . . . always . . . wins.

It was humid enough this morning to almost be considered fog on the mail run. The tops of the trees obscured by the moisture rich air. The sun can’t be seen or located due to the white out condition of the sky and your eyes ache just by looking up.

I think about the change of venues, exchanging of destinations going forward. Chicago becomes home and Georgia becomes the vacation spot for family holidays. I’m not worried, I’m a little anxious is all but I’m not losing any sleep.

I think about a summertime of mowing acres of grass at the waterworks just 14 years ago, time enough for kids to be born and enter high school. Those were indeed the best days so far . . . but I think even better ones are yet to come.

Let me tell you about the time I got engaged.

2008-06-20T17:48:00.002-05:00

L1010525.JPG, originally uploaded by pigolincolorado.

People can come up with all sorts of reasons to tie the knot. Some say it's a good idea, some people are in love and some people just don't want to be alone. For the longest time I was convinced the only reason to get married was to have some one that would find my body when I shuffled off the mortal coil . . . because even if someone is around you're still dying alone . . . unless it's some type of large disaster.

Cheerful stuff, no?

I think I follow the bulk of the married population by saying that I got engaged for love. Unlike the few back in my days of high school where the recently graduated or dropped-out did it because half of the happy couple was pregnant. Those lasted.

Still cheerful? No. Okay.

I think I am qualified for marriage, I'll recount my list of the qualifications:
1) I have a full time job.
2) I am diligently saving and investing for a very early retirement.
3) I am on the fence for having kids. Not opposed to the idea but scared at times. Me and the future Mrs both agree we would like to sleep in whenever we can.
4) Did I mention that I love her? I do love her.

Now we don't have a date for the wedding yet, but when we do I'll let everyone know where the party will be. We can't offer you a place to stay but you'll be more than welcome to help us celebrate. At the moment I'm lining up selling all the furniture I am not taking to Chicago. Rox is coming in 18 days to help me pack up the truck and then we are hitting the road to start a life together.

Good times!

Exit Music (for a film)

2008-06-16T16:23:00.002-05:00

Exit Music (for a film), originally uploaded by Last American Year.

It seems like we are all making some changes these days albeit good or bad. Feels like these same steps have been taken before but yet in slightly different directions for vastly different reasons.

I'll be on the road soon, bound for Chicago; a city where the friendships are few but there is a good chance of cultivating some new ones. As much as I like the country and the quiet of small town, I find myself missing all the trappings and accouterments of big city life.

At times I feel that this is a mistake. Not from a stand point of the engagement and forthcoming marriage; that never crosses my mind. I find myself comparing what is to come to what happened in Virginia. A town with a few close friends but I spent most of the week alone in my apartment working and never interacting with anyone. And when I attempted to meet new people it seemed forced and disingenuous . . . not to mention just plain weird.

Rox does a good job of including me in activities with her friends, but I know I need to strike out on my own and get off the "anger bridge" and make it to the "friendship shore." You know what I mean.

Check back with me in a year to 6 months, ask me how I'm doing and what I am up to. Tell me I should start running again, I know I should, maybe that will be my ticket.

Never watched an episode...

2008-06-08T07:18:00.000-05:00

... but I found this highly amusing.

Reputable News Source: The Times

2008-04-18T12:31:00.004-05:00

Tyler Durdens Unite

2008-04-08T19:47:00.001-05:00

If I was your Tyler Durden, then Damon wouldnt know me, unless he's mine, and you know him because maybe by default, our Tyler Durdens cascade... Maybe there's only one real person in the universe and we're all his Tyler Durdens...

Buy a shirt, support my meth addiction.

2008-04-02T19:55:00.001-05:00

Your own ... personal ... Jesus.

2008-04-02T10:48:00.002-05:00

What's in it?

2008-03-31T13:10:00.002-05:00

Sadly it's not what you think. I had a credit from BofA that I needed to spend.

Ewok Village

2008-03-24T19:59:00.001-05:00

L1000770.JPG, originally uploaded by RED Letter Days.

One of Rox's favorite photos of me. Note the parasol.

I got a new . . . bike?

2008-02-12T21:36:00.001-05:00

Georgia on his mind.

2008-02-05T20:54:00.000-05:00

Insert Yourself in Iceland

2008-01-28T20:32:00.000-05:00

I was supposed to have been in iceland last week. But with Dad's shattered heel I figured I would be a good son and cancel. The travel mates weren't terribly put off. As you can see they saved a chair for me at this coffee shop they stopped in for a drink. Okay if it's just an empty chair that's okay, I just like to think that they saved it for me. Thanks to Rob for the photo! I'll see you next time I am in London!

Bathroom Medical Advice

2008-01-28T20:02:00.001-05:00

Bathroom Medical Advice, originally uploaded by Last American Year.

In a time in America where Universal Health Care could in fact be right around the corner! Don't forget to watch the State o' the Union tonight!

58 Days to go

2008-01-26T20:52:00.000-05:00

Saturday Nights & Sunday Mornings is the story of what happens when all the bright lights start to burn instead of glitter and you become more of a part of the shadow they cast behind you than the person you are in front . . . . it's about a flood of sin and liquor and dissolution and insanity and it's about trying to rebuild the life you wrecked in the wake of that flood.

It's about the way it feels.

It's about me.

~ Adam Duritz, Counting Crows

Tragedy on the smaller scale.

2008-01-22T21:41:00.001-05:00

Tiny Tragedies, originally uploaded by Last American Year.

About an hour before they found Heath Ledger's body, I was pondering all the tragedy and sadness in the world. Partly due to the grayness of Virginia that I left and the grayness of Georgia that I arrived in. This all nestled in with the possibility that I may very well have been served the incorrect food item for lunch weighed heavy on my mind in the great scheme of things.

This wasn't the case, it was just the wrong sticker. Those who know me, know that I despise most types of cheese. So when I saw this sticker on my sandwich wrapper as I sped down I-85 the situation seemed dire.

I was going to post about some things such as tsunamis destroying villages, terminal cancer ruining happy families and something else. However given the turn of events of the afternoon I will retire and call it a day.

The Smiths and Rox wish for a Merry Xmas

2007-12-24T19:52:00.000-05:00

Tell them you knew me before I went mad.

2007-12-12T21:46:00.001-05:00

All of a sudden . . .

2007-12-11T19:40:00.000-05:00

I like Obama a whole lot better.

The Vacation

2007-11-28T21:43:00.000-05:00

Twelve equitable days on the road.
1,128 miles (give or take).

Drive thru

2007-11-27T22:12:00.001-05:00

Drive thru, originally uploaded by Last American Year.

Much like sucking the sweet marrow from the bones of the holiday spirit . . . I feel a sense of contentment at the moment. I feel my life is full. I’ve spent a lot of time weighing the cost/benefit of small town living versus big city living. What I’ve discovered is that every one in the small town is waiting for death . . . or so it seems.

I used to think it was just the old people back in the day; but now that I’m old, it seems that my aged brethren . . . like Emily Dickinson are just biding their time waiting for the reaper. Filling the hours between now and the afterlife with episodes of Dancing with the Stars and Judge Judy.

Maybe it’s just me, but I don’t want to block out my alloted time gossiping on who died or has cancer or got divorced. I really don’t. Instead I’ll take long drives, listen to some music and find myself in familiar locales like the Dairy Queen drive thru ordering myself an ice tea as an excuse to escape the house. It could happen.

Tu me gusta!

2007-11-26T19:39:00.001-05:00

Me gusta tu!

Rip Off

2007-11-06T08:59:00.001-05:00

The Sheer Wait of Nostalgia

2007-11-05T18:45:00.001-05:00

Well it's been 6 months since the big who-ha of the 24Hours of Flickr. I decided that since it was 6 months to the day I should snap a new photo to show you that I survived the summer. I transitioned back to my previous job, I lived thru the project and I remain (to this day) emotionally unscathed for the most part. I became a hobo, I decided to throw myself into my work and personal hygiene out the window. I decided to go to Iceland. I made all sorts of decisions, and all of which were for the better.

My life is different than it was. It's more complicated than it used to be but I am loved nonetheless. I listen to a lot of music from the 70's again. I found a new appreciation for Jefferson Starship. I drank a lot. I took some pills. I smoked, etc.

But it's been nothing but growth along the way.

This House Is Not For Sale

2007-11-04T21:31:00.001-05:00

IMG_2180.JPG, originally uploaded by pigolincolorado.

Ryan Adams ~ This House Is Not For Sale

Tell 'em that the house is not for sale
We're still livin' here, how come nobody can tell
They're takin' all the furniture, movin' our things
Come on little honey, put your head on my knee
Tell 'em that the house is not for sale
And calm down, calm down, calm down
Calm down, calm down, calm down

Do you remember when we even bought this thing?
I danced you across the wooden floor and you signed the lease
What happened in the car that night?
What happened in the car that night?
Tell 'em that the house is not for sale
And calm down, calm down, calm down
Calm down, calm down, calm down
Calm down

Tell 'em that the house is not for sale
We could grab a couple sheets, yeah, give 'em quite a scare
I remember lyin' on the bedroom floor
You were holding me, little honey, kissin' my soul
Tell 'em that the house is not for sale
And calm down, calm down, calm down
Calm down, calm down, calm down
Calm down
Calm down

Chicago is f@*king scary!

2007-11-01T22:22:00.001-05:00

BAT ATTACK_1714.JPG, originally uploaded by pigolincolorado.

Absconded

2007-10-27T11:25:00.001-05:00

I think I got ripped-off. I'm so happy. I am somebody.

YEE HA / HEE HAW

2007-10-20T11:49:00.001-05:00

YEE HA / HEE HAW, originally uploaded by Last American Year.

Success in synching Andy and Sheighla's two iMacs via firewire. Why can't everything be this easy or provide so much joy?

Pensive Afro

2007-10-18T20:42:00.001-05:00

IMG_3507, originally uploaded by RED Letter Days.

A true player!

"PaPa J." and "ounces"

2007-10-18T19:48:00.001-05:00

"PaPa J." and "ounces", originally uploaded by krinkle mouse.

PaPa J and Ounces. Very cool. Very cute.

Orchids

2007-10-12T15:21:00.001-05:00

IMG_3511, originally uploaded by RED Letter Days.

If someone gave me flowers I would blog the shit out of it. Seriously, I would . . . . I would.

Mistakes Make Pretty

2007-10-11T20:50:00.001-05:00

Real Lens Blur, originally uploaded by Last American Year.

Trying to a take a picture of my new lens and got this unfocused and quite pretty Christmas like result. Not sure how the blue and green got in there.

Trip to the Field Museum saves my ass for WordIt

2007-10-08T18:55:00.001-05:00

It's only $10k

2007-10-08T18:21:00.000-05:00

Knock it down, save the porch, rebuild it.

Less Tiara: More Booze

2007-10-08T18:04:00.000-05:00

I'm certain by now most of you are convinced I have a drinking problem. This couldn't be further from the truth. Ask the Chicago critics. I had wine with dinner on Friday (no not a whole bottle) and wine with dinner on Saturday (again not the whole bottle). Although I lobbied for nightcaps at the Skylark these were either rebuffed or ignored. Basking in the glow of a stellar performance by The Cardinals I cared not for alcohol that would have made me forget or embellish an otherwise flawless performance.

I have been unfortunate to have been captured (photographically speaking) in compromising positions as of late. I have received the odd text message stating that alcohol is not a crutch . . . and I agree. It is merely a tasty and refreshing means to an end . . . but not hard liquor . . . I promised Jesus I’d never touch that stuff again and I’ve kept that promise going on 9 years. Work is stressful but it's really almost over and at this point there is no way to prevent the impending train-wreck.

Just my thoughts, just my opinion and just my current outlook for the next 17 days.

T-rex Arm

2007-10-04T20:27:00.001-05:00

SUE'S FOREARM_9843.JPG, originally uploaded by pigolincolorado.

My arm is as long as a stubby old dinosaur arm. At the Field Museum in Chicago.

The Hole in My Head

2007-10-01T18:48:00.000-05:00

On two occasions today I have written a word that has no relevance to the task at hand. For instance on this morning's testing call I put the word "moat" in my notes. Yes that rhymes but I was writing notes and not the word "note."

Then on the afternoon testing call I wrote the word "ritz." I have no idea why I did that. No idea at all.

I asked Roxana to tell me if I have sleep apnea, she said I didn't. I can only chalk it up the regular use of prescribed sleeping pills but I am still not sleeping. Not sleeping well and not sleeping enough. All that latent ambien in the bloodstream ain't no good for nobody.

Update

2007-09-27T20:29:00.001-05:00

Update, originally uploaded by Last American Year.

And my third.

2007-09-27T19:54:00.000-05:00

My second mobile iTunes purchase.

2007-09-27T19:52:00.001-05:00

iPhone software 1.1.1 arrives

2007-09-27T18:27:00.000-05:00

This has access to the iTunes store, the real store. Not that watered down store some other networks have. So what was my first purchase you might ask?

What will happen in Chicago?

2007-09-25T18:15:00.000-05:00

~That will be fun. If you don't piss me off.~

Dear Chicago (an Open Letter to Ryan Adams)

2007-09-25T17:24:00.000-05:00

While most of the fine folks that have attended your Chicago shows in the past probably weren’t lucky enough to see you play in the South . . . I myself have had the good fortune of seeing you in Atlanta and Chicago on the same tour. I can say that the performances were vastly different. I’m not saying either diminished the other but it seemed like you wanted to be in Atlanta and you wanted to play all night if they would have let you.

Today I got news that a friend had gotten us tickets to see your show this Saturday at the Chicago Theatre. I booked a plane ticket and I’m all set. All the news stories on Google say you’ve changed. I wanna see if you’re just more Atlanta and less Chicago for everybody else. Maybe they just never knew to begin with.

All the critics talking about how Easy Tiger is the best thing ever, folks on the street say “Well it’s no Heartbreaker or Gold.” Myself, I’m partial to Love is Hell, Exile on Franklin Street, Cold Roses and Jacksonville City Nights in that order. Easy Tiger is a fine album, I like the bootleg live tracks from the Norva back in 2006 myself. That there has a damn fine version of Two Hearts . . . I hope you play that.

I’m not gonna judge you or your pending Chicago performance. I’m gonna say it was a damn fine experience just to be there. Break a leg, okay don’t actually break anything. Just play but play like you mean it.

Sincerely,

Todd Davis

In honor of Bill Murray almost sharing my birthday.

2007-09-21T18:34:00.001-05:00

19 years, 363 days older than me. I hope I'm this cool in my fifties.

Geek (circa 1999) Y2K

2007-09-21T13:24:00.000-05:00

I was at Wal-Mart last night just picking up a few things and I realized that it was almost time for Star Trek. I started to panic. The cashier thought I was an idiot for watching Star Trek. I kindly explained to her, that perhaps if she watched a little bit of it and learned some simple theories of Quantum Mechanics then maybe she wouldn't be a cashier at Wal-Mart.

Set for the New Year?
TV Guide is compliant.
Star Trek will be there.

Hick (circa 1999)

2007-09-21T12:37:00.000-05:00

I made an attempt last night to get in touch with my roots. So I sat on the couch, drank a six pack and watched 3 hours of country music videos. I'm now considering the purchase of a mobile home.

Here is my redneck haiku . . .

White dawg on a chain.
Red clay yard . . . dusty and dry.
Polish the gun rack.

I'm thinking of a vacation.

2007-09-16T18:13:00.001-05:00

Golden Gate, originally uploaded by Last American Year.

And I'm thinking of San Francisco to Seattle by car. 7 to 10 days. Something like that. In November, late October if I can swing that. Of course I stil have that credit to fly back to England. Stay with James and Kelly, come up with Haiku Warrior names . . . attend hat parties . . . etc.

Utahraptor

2007-09-15T06:52:00.000-05:00

While the previous card caused a brief concern in the internet community let me assure you that it was all sent in jest as myself and WG bemuse ourselves with the trappings of modern life and the mundacity (patent pending) of our “careers.”

Yes obviously we all die and I’ll be dead someday; however, I’d like to point out that I will live decades longer than WG and I’ve pointed this out to her. She merely has a few years left by her own calculations, basic witch-doctorey and medical skills that borderline with that of carnival barkers selling snake oil and various tonics.

Then I got this card.

And all of a sudden it was 1977 again. The 1977 before Star Wars came out. I wanted nothing more than to live out my adult career life as a Paleontologist. I wanted to dig up dinosaur bones and put them back together. That would have been cool, then Star Wars killed all that. Star Wars killed my dreams, now I do something with computers.

What a great card.

A loved one, friend, admirer, or other computer user has sent you a card!

2007-09-14T19:21:00.001-05:00

My first b-day card so far, just a week away!

2007-09-13T12:39:00.000-05:00

A lawn.

2007-09-08T13:15:00.000-05:00

I'm not there anymore.

2007-09-05T16:38:00.000-05:00

Your message

To: todd.davis@rbs.co.uk
Subject:
Sent: Wed, 5 Sep 2007 22:33:12 +0100

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todd.davis@rbs.co.uk on Wed, 5 Sep 2007 22:33:35 +0100
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remacentxs01.rbsres01.net 5.1.1

Things I Shouldn’t Hear

2007-09-03T18:52:00.001-05:00

Not since that cold and wet fall day when I told Jason I was feeling blue and needed a CD to listen to in order to lift my spirits have a heard something as dire as this album. However this is not the story of Galaxie 500’s “On Fire.” There was nothing on fire on this album other than angst.

This is about The Clientele, a new sad band that I’ve just picked up on within the last week. Their current catalog boasts 7 albums, I’ve heard a bit of everyone of them but I’ll have to say that “Suburban Light” is by far the most splendidly depression ridden album I’ve heard since “On Fire” and possibly Mojave3’s “Ask Me Tomorrow.”

They’ve got a sound you might have heard before and maybe even something your parents might have heard in the late 1960’s. A cross between Galaxie 500 and Love, feel free to draw your own comparisons.

The album covers for Suburban Light, The Violet Hour and Strange Geometry are also exquisite and stunning. They would great on your iPod screen and the hipsters would be so envious. You should expect the bets of the tracks like “Monday’s Rain” and “Isn’t Life Strange” to make their appearance on forthcoming samplers.

The commute

2007-09-02T10:00:00.001-05:00

The commute, originally uploaded by Last American Year.

On Tuesday I was surprised with a package in the mail, I meandered my way at guessing thru an online survey of someone that I thought I knew. At any rate my attempt garnered me a prize package that would make Bob Barker envious. Thanks for all of those things, that magnet is totally going on the new fridge in the new kitchen in the new house.

To retrieve the package I had to cross the tracks in the stifling summer heat of a Tuesday morning. It was as if an invisible and scorching fog that had descended on the town, it was hot.

So now it's the weekend and I managed to make my way north to Pennsylvania. I drove thru the power-grid of the Keystone State, New Jersey and Delaware . . . a place where all states touch and everybody can agree without a doubt that they love Springsteen, but they can't agree if they are for the Eagles or the Steelers.

A beautiful, clean cover.

2007-08-30T12:51:00.000-05:00

Another letter to Jon Railey

2007-08-24T17:56:00.000-05:00

That daughter of yours not digging the ride may prove problematic with the wanderlust that you got in your veins. She'll come around.

You know I think it's great that you are thinking about school. Writing is where you need to be, not that you aren't doing great things now but I for one have always enjoyed the items you have scribed. Still got those little ones from the video store days sealed in fused plastic time capsules for generations to come . . . provided that there are no neutron bombs between now and then . . . and that the summer heat doesn't get any worse.

In you is the next great American novel, you're Hemingway with out the wrestling and suicide, you're Kerouac without the speed and typing binge, you're Hunter S. sans drugs, you're Vonnegut without all the trauma of Dresden. You'll pen Slaughterhouse-Six, lawsuits be damned! Call it a sequel.

On to Parenthood, I hear it changes people. I've heard the quantifications before "I was never so afraid in my life" . . . etc. This I don't doubt, however I am troubled enough looking after myself I couldn't fathom the responsibility of looking after something so utterly . . . helpless. How do you cope with that? How will you manage all the day to day items that such a critter must require. It's not like a cat you know . . . or from what I gather. A ceremonial Fred Flintstonesque in placing the baby out on the stoop with the milk bottles.

For me things are fine, the day to day is just that. I am day to day. Working hard trying to get everything done, acting more like an admiral of industry these days . . . barking orders. Working late. It's no fun but I struggle with the desire of not working but I know that there are many things to accomplish. I think it's a fair statement that I don't want to find myself 30 years down the line worrying about making ends meet. That's what happened to grandma in 1983 when her husband passed. Thank goodness he was retired military so there was always money from Uncle Sam, she had a modest and comfortable living until she went into the great beyond a decade later. There's still so much to see and do in this world and I worry that I spend too much time not seeing it. Rest assured things will change in October and I'll take some trips. I'll send you notes from the road.

Now when you come to town, let me know. I'm around most of the fall.

Poem in Real Time

2007-08-23T15:57:00.000-05:00

I received this today from Jon, thought it was too fantastic to keep for myself. No, the world needed to see this one.

Yesterday I drove my family's trash out to the county landfill, 8 mi. shy of the county fairgrounds where, come autumn, gravitrons and tilt-a-whirls will spin us beyond the event horizon. We humans have a curved rod that runs N to South inside of us. Its segments resemble thorns on a rose. We spin on these like an axis. Splitting a fig requires no paring knife.

This morning I was up at 4. Eleanor and Mama were fast asleep. My head was swollen, about to burst. On the bathroom tiles, I stood there, facing myself. I applied ointments, salves, saline rinses, and pharmaceuticals to my temples, cheekbones, eye sockets, and right ear. When I looked at the clock again it said 5:00. "Unh," said I, and stepped outside to pee.

News Bulletin: New York has been robbed of her summer. Two thieves in brogans and masks bundled it up when angels had their backs turned. Eye witnesses not surprised, say give an angel a plate of hot wings and that'll buy you 5, 10 minutes. Anybody tell you that. They could've stolen the world.

Fencing ain't just for nosy neighbors and ivy leaguers. Seasons fetch a grip on the underground. Two thieves need thieve no more. The big payoff. The jackpot. Back down South, my man Vernon discovers something stirring at the county dump, somethin' big, somethin' wrong, writhing in a burlap bag. He says, "Hey, Jim, lookit."

Yesterday my thermometer said one oh six. Same time, transistor radio said one oh eight southerners have died from this here heat wave. An empty bag, kudzu piles thirsting on top of parched pines, legal tinder, the whole ecology is about to blow. "Motherfuckers be droppin’ like flies," says the inmate with a shovel in his hand. Flies buzzin' around the county dump.

At the fairgrounds, empty as the eye of a wasp, a man is crooked but standing. Daddy was a revenuer, and he knows how to open locked horses - without the use of his hands. He wears no cross around his neck. He is Mr. Subluxation, swatting flies, and come fall, he aims to be sitting pretty. He is the combat of the world, longing for his loved ones.

~Jon Railey~

The Bourne Ultimatum

2007-08-18T14:11:00.001-05:00

080506-03, originally uploaded by Todd Evans.

Taking a drive on Saturday to take in a movie, who knew they served beer in the balcony? They never tell you these things when you grow up in a dry county in the Bible belt.

Open almost continuously since 1927, currently open seven days a week with first run and classic movies. Technically, state of the art all around including Dolby Digital sound.

VIP adult only balcony with new, plush seating and bar type tables. Food can be ordered from the Ritz Cafe located inside the Ritz Theatre building. The Cafe is open generally for lunch five days a week.

Me and McGee made that t-shirt

2007-08-16T20:07:00.001-05:00

maya_0815_57.jpg, originally uploaded by TheVits.

Oh yeah and Armin's wearing it . . . practically an endorsement.

Dog Days

2007-08-15T20:55:00.001-05:00

Dog Days, originally uploaded by Last American Year.

You know it's hot. Actually we made it to 103 before the sun decided that we had enough UV and oppressive heat for the day. At 9:55pm it is 93. Maybe we'll get down to 80 overnight if we're lucky.

Those of you in the cooler climates should rejoice.

My Simpson Self

2007-08-15T08:24:00.001-05:00

Actually I'm rather dashing in the Simpson's world.

Back in olden times, there were keys.

2007-08-12T15:51:00.000-05:00

Furrilla

2007-08-11T20:30:00.001-05:00

Furrilla, originally uploaded by Last American Year.

Go speedracer!

I own stock in this place.

2007-08-10T16:45:00.000-05:00

Crying Time

2007-08-09T17:12:00.001-05:00

IMG_2183.JPG, originally uploaded by RED Letter Days.

I weep openly beneath the Gherkin.

barefoot in the park

2007-08-09T17:11:00.001-05:00

barefoot in the park, originally uploaded by RED Letter Days.

I take my shoes off in Hyde Park.

Sleeping in Hyde Park.JPG

2007-08-09T17:10:00.003-05:00

Sleeping in Hyde Park.JPG, originally uploaded by RED Letter Days.

I nap in Hyde Park.

IMG_2259.JPG

2007-08-09T17:10:00.001-05:00

IMG_2259.JPG, originally uploaded by RED Letter Days.

It's my butt.

City Slicker

2007-08-09T17:09:00.001-05:00

City Slicker, originally uploaded by RED Letter Days.

What's with my butt?

Miles 2.0 (for real)

2007-08-08T17:25:00.001-05:00

Saturday!

Being helpful pays off!

2007-08-08T17:08:00.000-05:00

Valuable tech support and willingness to just lend a hand to remove evil Palm software and point out that Monolingual will save you space on your Mac nets me some iTunes cash. I purchased something I owned a portion of, a solid investment. Put it on my tombstone "Todd was helpful."

8 Days

2007-08-04T21:18:00.001-05:00

Eight days on the road away from my Mac makes me sad.

Don't stop believin'

2007-07-28T22:10:00.001-05:00

Don't stop believin', originally uploaded by Last American Year.

Snapped at liberty valance in Richmond va. Worst 3 egg omlette ever.

Miles 2.0

2007-07-26T15:55:00.001-05:00

billboard2, originally uploaded by Last American Year.

I've pretty much decided I'm going back and getting myself another Mini. I work hard, I deserve it.

He's Gone

2007-07-26T06:37:00.000-05:00

From the L.A. Times

Police in New Jersey are enlisting the public's help in identifying a body presumed to be that of Jeremy Blake, a rising art star who was seen wandering into the ocean off New York's Rockaway Beach on July 17, after leaving behind his clothing, wallet and a suicide note. His girlfriend of 12 years, blogger-filmmaker-writer Theresa Duncan, took her own life in the couple's East Village apartment earlier this month.

The body was discovered by a fisherman approximately 4 1/2 miles off Sea Girt, N.J.

Police are seeking anyone who has knowledge of dentists or doctors who performed dental work on Blake.

The artist's work has been collected by museums including Los Angeles' Museum of Contemporary Art, the Museum of Modern Art and the Whitney Museum of American Art in New York City; and the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art.

Blake, 35, who lived in Los Angeles for several years but moved to New York in February, also created an album cover for alternative-rock star Beck's 2002 album "Sea Change" and an abstract animated dream sequence for writer-director Paul Thomas Anderson's 2002 romantic comedy "Punch-Drunk Love."

Boba Tea

2007-07-25T13:39:00.001-05:00

Boba Tea, originally uploaded by ScanTheVan.

Ewwwwwwwwwwww. That's nasty!

For Jamie

2007-07-25T09:50:00.001-05:00

Kisses,
todd

Bring Out Your Dead

2007-07-25T07:38:00.000-05:00

Bring Out Your Dead, originally uploaded by Last American Year.

Twenty-five year-old Army Specialist Benjamin "Trey" Bartlett, was killed July 15th in Iraq. Hundreds of friends, family members, and fellow soldiers came to pay their respects today as he was laid to rest in Woodland, Georgia. People packed the tiny church, and the street outside, to say goodbye.

Trey was the first person that I actually knew that has died in Iraq. In fact I think he's one of the first people from the tri-county area to have been killed in the war. It's quite sad for the town and his family's story is not a particularly pleasant one.

You see Trey's mother, father and sister have all passed away. And now there is one more empty house on Highway 41 between Woodland and Manchester. There is one more fresh grave in the city cemetery whose most recent clientele tend to be those that have lived long and full lives. It's not intended to be a place for those who are so young.

Hard Days

2007-07-24T20:16:00.001-05:00

What's the best Crowded House single?, originally uploaded by Last American Year.

Nothing beats a hard day working on crunching numbers and mining data than a little baking. Enjoy.

Hee Haw

2007-07-24T18:45:00.001-05:00

Fancy Honey

2007-07-22T14:14:00.001-05:00

Fancy Honey, originally uploaded by MilkaWay.

Stupid Decisions

2007-07-22T07:09:00.000-05:00

Whilst 2006 will go down as a banner year of REALLY stupid choices, I've decided to add one more to the pile. Miles. I miss Miles.

I was thinking about a wagon or a sedan but the ones I was considering were just as long as the current X-Terror. Sure the lease was up on Miles and his driver side door presented some unique challenges near the end. So it was time to move on but maybe I should have moved on to Miles 2.0.

I also have a PRIME drive that begins less that a mile from the house. Georgia 354 that cuts across the Pine Mountain Ridge thru Roosevelt State Park. You can't take curves like these at 55 MPH in an SUV.

Video Break

2007-07-20T20:04:00.000-05:00

Thanks Mom & Dad

2007-07-20T19:48:00.001-05:00

2 years and 2 days of posts

2007-07-20T09:48:00.000-05:00

Oh and I made the local paper, everyone at the post office was fawning over my celebrity status.