Accidental intimacy

A fellow dog-owner spotted me in the National Geographic film, which is streaming on Netflix. As soon as I walked into the dog-run this morning, he shouted, "I saw you in a movie last night!" I still haven't watched it, but I like being microscopically famous.

Today I got out of the train and a guy accidentally walked into the same section of the subway turnstile with me. We were momentarily stuck in this tiny space together. When I turned around, he flinched like I was going to hit him, but I was charmed by this accidental intimacy.

Personal space is a myth. (As I write this I am smoking my next-door neighbor’s cigarette by proximity.)

"You give me chills, Dolly."

I've getting in touch with my bluegrass roots (of which I have none). No, I haven't tuned my banjo, nothing as practical as taking it out of the case. What I meant is that it's been Dolly Parton non-stop around these parts.

I've been operating with little to no sleep. Here comes the crash, perfectly sandwiched between the chaos.

Top five Dolly songs on repeat if you choose a life of no sleep:
1. The Seeker (I LOVE fake gospel!)
2. Twelfth of Never
3. Crimson and Clover
4. Here You Come Again
5. All I Can Do

Aesthetically, I prefer fall to the other seasons. Plus, the comfort food can't be beat. I need to sing praises to the chef at work for cooking one of the best (organic!) lunches of the year.

Today's menu:

Chinese Black Eyed Beans & Greens
Pumpkin Chickpea Curry
Basmiti Rice
Italian Asparagus w/ Tomatoes
Roasted Zucchini
Sweet Potatoes
Tomato Soup


A coworker friend, Jules and I are going to start country line dancing! Today, I purchased my first pair of cowboy boots. This class will be a perfect supplement to tap dancing. Now I just have to get back to Aikido...

I'm blaming my joy on Happy-Go-Lucky (and a fair amount of wine and coffee).


(These pictures are from National Genographic Project weekend. I can't be more descriptive than that as I have agreed to remain quiet until further notice.)

Jumping through hoops for stardom

One of the coordinators of National Geographic/Genographic fame visited me in my Astoria abode this afternoon. (Look! He's a lefty, too!) The good folks of the Genographic Project are searching for starlets for their documentary.

Here he is on the phone with my mother, who was explaining my Bubbie's genealogy.

Even though he already knows the results of my lineage, the coordinator-- who will remain anonymous-- wouldn't budge when I tried to coax the results out of him. I have to wait for the Big Reveal, which takes place mid-October.

He asked lots of tough questions, especially about goals for my blog. Writing on this thing is just habit, at this point. I would love for my blog to be highlighted on the documentary, but I'm not sure it's relevant. (I wish I was better at marketing myself-- maybe that's one of my goals?)

The crew is trying to avoid adding too many people of the same demographic to the film, so I'm hoping I'm not too generic for television. It probably didn't help that he knew people who attended college with me.

the fam

I don't remember the last time all of my family was in the same place; this was Zaddie's final gift to us.


That's Bubbie. (The matriarch.)


My parents.


Kimberley and me.


Mom, Bonnie, and Kimberley.


Darwin!


Climbing around the creek near Bubbie and Zaddie's house. (Yes, I'm wearing the same clothes every day.)

I've loved being in Zaddie's community. People have come out of the woodwork to remember him with my family. I'm having a secret desire to escape to Duluth, to shack up with Bubbs for a few months and write non-stop until winter passes.


In other news, but sort of related, The Genographic Project has contacted me! I'm meeting with two of the documentray coordinators this coming week to see if I'm suitable for their production. Could I really be a star?

my favorite time of day

...is when the sun is setting over Manhattan. Sometimes I remember to look out my apartment windows (these shots are taken from my bathtub) or to run up to my roof to watch the colors change before darkness sets in.

The good people of the Genographic Project sent out a mass email, asking for more details from all of us that took part in the Astoria study. I referred the coordinator to my blog and he wrote:

"Just read your blog entry about the street fair. Very observant, especially about Spencer and his sunburn."

Suddenly I feel famous.

Something is brewing; the air is different. Or maybe it's just that everything seems on the brink. I'll say more when I know more, or maybe you have hints about this?

It's been almost a year since I've lived and/or worked in a basement and my blog still has its old name. Should I just give up and keep it the way it is?

Listening: to all 23 songs in my itunes with the word "lost" in the title.

Reading: Veronica recommended Gemini by Michael Tournier, which should come in the mail in the next couple of days.

Watching: the Republicans. This is way better than television.

Trying: to apply myself.

Tomorrow: if all goes according to plan I'm headed back to Aikido after my month-long sabbatical.

Roots

According to some studies, "Queens is the most ethnically diverse 115 square miles on earth."

This morning, Astoria was visited by National Geographic and IBM for a genealogy project, a five-year endeavor "using DNA as a study tool to map how humankind populated the planet."


Along with hundreds of other neighborhood folks, Kim and I stood in line to participate in the project.


Helicopters with cameras circled above.


We had to swab the insides of our mouths. The samples will be sent to a lab and in October, the television crew will return to Queens to reveal the results of our genetic makeup. Unfortunately, women can only find out their matrilineal descent from this study. My father's family is much darker, and I would like to learn more about the origins of his side, but you need a Y-chromosome to access this information. Kim's father's side is interesting because her father's grandparents hid their Jewish identity. Additionally, some of her father's family may be buried right here in Queens.


We couldn't help ourselves; we (more than) consented to be on camera.


Dr. Spencer Wells, host and geneticist of The Genographic Project


The street fair was swarming with camera crews.


Dr. Wells, who is about as white as they come reddened over the course of the day. His next stop is Malaysia and I hope he remembers to wear sunscreen while he's there.


Each participant had a quick photography session. Here's Kim, hamming it up.


Am I famous yet?


Another amazing Sunday brunch, street fair, and bizarre adventure with Kim.