Grab Bag Post – An Array of Art Books, a Confluence of Kittens, a Jiving about JavaScript, and a Vision of Vermin · 25 July 2007
This post is mostly just a pointer to the review section, where you can read my review of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows (hidden off the front page in order to avoid spoiling it for those still finishing up).
As often happens though, a few things of note have crept up that may be of interest to readers and don’t really fit into my regular posting format.
First - My sister has informed me that a second Taschen bookstore has opened in Los Angeles (the first is in Beverly Hills). I’d never heard of Taschen before she sent me the link, but as it had the word “bookstore” in the title, I could hardly resist looking them up. It turns out they’re a publisher of art books, and after reading about them, I’m quite excited to go to the store. But. . .
Second – For the first time in ages, I’m going to be in San Diego for 2 straight weekends. I’m house sitting for 2 people, with charge of a total of 4 cats (one of them my own). I’m quite glad to have a break from the weekend commuting (and of course Comic Con is this weekend, so I’d be in San Diego anyway) but Taschen will have to wait.
Third - Did you notice the JavaScript in my last post? (Click the Tower card if you didn’t). I’m extremely proud. I didn’t know any HTML when I started this site last December. I started off with the pre-loaded Textpattern template (and boy, was it boring) and since then I’ve basically rewritten everything. It’s nice to be able to put things I’m learning into practice.
Fourth – I had a horrible dream the other night, a nightmare really. I’m not sure what prompted it, but two days later the image is still with me. Those easily grossed out may want to skip the next paragraph (oh, how I wish I had that option).
I dreamt I was brushing my teeth, and all of a sudden my tongue was covered with embedded black pods. It was like my taste buds had turned into foreign objects, jet black, shiny, sinister foreign objects. I started brushing my tongue, and the toothbrush was able to dislodge some of the pods, but then I looked at the toothpaste tube and saw with horror that the tube was full of more pods. Somehow I realized that this meant for every pod I was brushing out, I was brushing more pods in. Even through this realization, I couldn’t stop brushing, and eventually a small waterfall of the grotesque pods was cascading out of my mouth. *Shudder* (I may blame Jackson for planting the seed of this idea with his allusion to the guy who had a bug lay a colony of eggs in his forehead).
My heart rate has literally increased while I’ve been writing this. For the life of me I can’t figure out why it would affect me so much. Perhaps it’s because I had such a strong visual image of something horrible happening to me? But, it’s been two days now, and every time I find myself with a quiet moment, this image pops into my head.
Is there some symbolic meaning that I recognize on a subconscious level and I’m not able to pin down? Perhaps it’s just a manifestation of me knowing that I’m overdue for a dental checkup. Whatever the case is, I’m hoping that writing about it will help exorcise it. I may resort to drastic measures and create a short story based around the image if it doesn’t stop haunting me. I’m frankly sick of having the image creep up on me unawares and making my stomach roil during the day.
You’ll notice that the pictures here are of Kiwi kitten (provided by my sister) . Happy, cutesy, Kiwi. That’s what I’m thinking of, kittens. I am the master of my own brain; really I am.
Bugs,
JavaScript,
Mouth,
Nightmares,
Taschen
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Chris · 25 July 2007, 20:13
What a horrible dream…yuck! I have chills now, lol
Ah, you get to go to Comic Con! I’m very envious. Say hello to Neil Gaiman for me ;)
Mailyn · 25 July 2007, 22:09
I love artbooks although I prefer Japanese artbooks. Sadly they are very very hard to come by down here. sigh
That is one cute kitty!!!! __
Kim · 25 July 2007, 23:14
Chris – I’ll be trying to catch him, but I’m going on Saturday and his schedule seems pretty light that day. I will be carrying around something for him to sign, just in case I accost him in the drinking fountain line or something :)
Mailyn – That’s a shame about not being able to find good art books nearby. I know that most stuff is available for purchase online these days, but there’s something special about going and picking out a book in person, especially one that’s meant to be mostly visually stunning.
Nymeth · 26 July 2007, 07:15
That sounds like a terrible dream, yikes. I have had some like that, that just keep haunting me for days.
Lovely kitten pictures :D And I hadn’t noticed the javascript before, no. Very well done!
I like Taschen quite a lot. They print quality books that are, for the most part, very reasonably priced.
Have fun at ComicCon! I hope you do run into Neil!
Jackson · 26 July 2007, 19:09
For the brave (don’t say I didn’t warn you!): here is the story
Sorry for the bad dreams (Kim) and chills (Chris).
Kim · 26 July 2007, 19:34
Nymeth – She’s a cutie (not quite as cute as my cat, but much more fond of the camera).
I’m getting pretty amped up about ComicCon, only 1 day to go!
Jackson – It’s a lot better today but there’s still no way I’m clicking that link :P
jean pierre · 27 July 2007, 02:16
the taschen books are very cool and they have a very wide range!
that dream…! ugh! what makes it so horrible for me is that its so invasive – these bloody black pods. your mouth and tongue are such vulnarable places, that for that kind of thing to happen to them is truly horrific.
i also think that its so unique – this thing that happened your dream – and that could ad to the horror. i’ve never heard of pods sprouting up on tongues…!
Jen · 27 July 2007, 19:02
Ummmm… I swear I tried to post a comment two days ago. Kim, do you have me blocked? After using my kitten for shameless self promotion!
Kim · 27 July 2007, 21:51
jean pierre – I think you’re right, it was part of the uniqueness of the horror, something I haven’t been desensitized to yet.
Thank you for the awesome email about dream symbolism too, I haven’t had a chance to review it properly, but it’s material for the weekend perusal!
Jen – You commented on the Harry Potter thread. And yes, I am just using you for your kitten. ;)
jean pierre · 28 July 2007, 04:37
yeah, thats exactly right – if its unique then one hasn’t been desensitised to it yet.
its a pleasure for the email. i found the dream so shocking that i really wanted to try and find out what it meant.
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