Evan

california

Northern California?

It's been a minute for good reason. I completed a final draft of a new novel and am currently going through the arduous tasks of both editing it and finding someone to publish it, rather than self-publish. I am doing this as an experiment to see what if

qanon

CVB, New Roman Times, QAnon, and Walter Kirn

In 2006 Walter Kirn published a serialized novel on Slate.com called The Unbinding. While major literary figures from Sir Arthur Conan Doyle to Dostoevsky And Armistead Maupin published major works in this format, when Kirn's novel appeared on Slate.com, it may have been the first to

memory,

Music is in the mind of the beholder

Bossa Nova is a little sadder now that João Gilberto [https://www.nytimes.com/2019/07/06/arts/music/joao-gilberto-dead-bossa-nova.html] has died. There's a reason why The Girl from Ipanema is one of the greatest songs ever written and emblematic of the Bossa Nova genre. Astrud Gilberto

Earthquake Drunk

Apparently there is a one in twenty chance an earthquake will be followed by a bigger one. And that is what happened tonight. Yesterday morning around ten-thirty as Americans were planning a day of grilling, chillin' beer drinkin' and fireworks watchin' (especially on the beach here in

I had a short story published.

I'll keep this short and sweet, much like the story I wrote. There's a new site called Trash World, for experimental and absurd flash fiction. My short story "When life gives you lemons," [https://trash-world.com/when-life-gives-you-lemons/]was published there. You should read it.

Glenn Tilbrook and Squeeze

Squeeze is one of the most underrated bands of all time. Chris Difford and Glenn Tilbrook were the New Wave equivalent of Lennon-McCartney, although strictly speaking their music wasn't always New Wave in that sense. One of the first albums I remember getting with my own money was

food

Rabbit hole. Research. Same difference.

The new freelance gig has me working remotely for the most part. This is a first, which might not be saying much considering I'm not even at the one-year mark in this new endeavor. But time passes in strange ways. On some days, eight months seems like three

writing,

The Annual Gumbo Memorial

Life is a series of writing prompts. Every day, one after the other, if I keep quiet, keep my eyes open and know where to look, something will appear to get my mind reeling. I used to do a mental exercise. I'd sit somewhere like an outdoor bar

Bloom after chilling

The crocuses poked through the last snowfall of the season, orange and purple blooms closed like colored pencil tips, wet and translucent. I’d forgotten all about them. I’d buried their corms in the cold ground the same day dad died. Back in early November, just before the first

The existential place called Should Be

Thinking about stillness with the desert still fresh in my mind. I do like the idea of having somewhere quiet to write. But I also recognize that's an excuse for not finishing the projects I have. The only outside distractions where I live are the sound of barking

Stars come out at night unless they don't

This weekend was spent at a wedding in Joshua Tree, which has become the ad industry destination of the moment, at least among the ad industry people in Southern California. So much so, that the ranch where my friend got married is owned by former ad people. While the wedding

The sea takes on the color of the sky

The sea takes on the color of the sky. Almost Grey, they’d call it, If it were on a paint chip sample in the hardware store. Down the street, a faded old Ace Is The Place on a building up for sale, Too expensive for anyone to buy, let

death

Blogs forgotten. Absent friends.

Say a word for them. Slices  from people's lives. Some profound, some inane. Some hyper-focused on a topic, as if they read somewhere about "building a brand to build your audience," and "how to stick to one topic so you can stay on brand."

Don't let our youth go to waste and other lies about creativity

An article came across my linkedin feed suggesting there are two times in our lives when we are the most creative: In our twenties and in our fifties. I didn't bother reading it, because I think it's bullshit, and I think most people in creative fields

Church on Fire

Years ago, just after graduating from college, I took a trip to Europe. I stayed a few months, starting in Prague and heading west. This was pre-social media, and before the iPhone. At the time, I didn't own a cell phone. The stories that happened were without a

lucksmiths

Music is subjective except when it isn't.

After working January 2nd to April 5th without a day off, thecampaign that led me down to South America and other parts unknown has finally launched and the first spot is out. I'm already anticipating taking time off after the second spot is finished to clear my head

enty

That Time I went on the Crazy Days and Nights Podcast

Recently I had the chance to go on the Crazy Days and Nights Podcast, and co-host the show with everyone's favorite 300-pound, six-time divorced Entertainment Lawyer otherwise known as Enty. I've been a subscriber to the CDAN podcast for close to its inception, I think. But

wire

Wire and other palette cleansers

"The island monkeys love the dark No one is home, they've gone for a walk The island monkeys love the dark No one is home, the chemicals talk" One of the best shows I've seen, easily in the top ten, was Wire at the

art

Barrio Logan, San Diego, 3.24.19

Took a trip down to San Diego to visit a friend and see some fantastic artthe mixed media works were stunningToo bad this was already purchased. I would have gotten it.I bought this one, though.There was also a 40 minute dance that was impressive. This little girl was

A day at the Capitol (records)

I've said this a few times, but one of my favorite parts of working in advertising as a Creative Director writer is working with artists and musicians, and being part of the collaboration process. This afternoon I got to work with a musician at what is arguably one

Echo Chambers

"You have these echo chambers built around reporters who are media personalities and who tweet using the name of their papers and networks they write for with no editorial oversight whatsoever." – Ron Coleman I just finished watching Ron Coleman [http://www.likelihoodofconfusion.com/]on Michael Malice's

dogs

The stray dog dreams of home

Writers write about what they know. It's a mantra repeated so many times it's downright cliché. But it's there for a reason. It's also incredibly misinterpreted. In college writing classes, writers took this to mean "write biographical events." Problem is

Inspiration

Since November I've been working as a creative director in an advertising agency  fifty miles away from where I live. The commute has been brutal but the experience has been great. In a few days I'll be traveling to South America to spend two weeks shooting

Fyre Fraud (The Hulu documentary)

Ata friend's suggestion, I watched the Hulu documentary about the Fyre Festival and B illy McFarland who is now serving six years in prison for wrie fraud, all to get an ill-fated millennial  version of Woodstock off the ground. And by millennial version I mean arrogant, self-absorbed, superficial

Outsiders

Just rewatched "How to draw a bunny, [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/How_to_Draw_a_Bunny]" the documentary on artist Ray Johnson. I really liked his art, and the backstory of an inscrutable person who used humor in his art, specifically mixed-media art that was one-on-one. Sending