as we may blog

After thoroughly embarassing myself on the phone with Mags tonight—think catatonic stupor—I realized that I needed to improve my phone skills quickly or risk (further) social ostracization. I wisely put the job search on hold and contemplated how best to conquer my recent muting. The solution, like most things in life, was a push of the F12 button away.

Armed with this blue sticky, I’ll never again be at a loss for conversation.

For those of you keeping score at home, Mags accepted the job offer in New York today which means she’ll be NYC bound in January and I’ll follow after I wrap up my studies here in April.

I can’t tell you how excited both of us are to take this next step. So I won’t try. But you can imagine how much sensemaking I’ve been doing today (thanfully, not in the Thompsonian sense). One of the most pressing things I need to resolve, though, is which is more mattbot, authentic home or authentic road?

The idea of authentic home is appealing on several levels, plus mom always said orange was a good color for me because it matched my eyes.

I need to get through this last end of semester push before I can really wrap my head around what this all means, but I thought I should at least post something, right? After all, how can I know what I think until I see what I say? Or see what I wear, anyhow.

I could count on two middle fingers the number of car trips I’ve taken to Michigan that haven’t been exhausting. This is very likely some sort of symbolism from the gods that I ignored for the last sixteen months.

Last night was no exception. A lengthy delay in Chicago due to holiday traffic meant the drive through Michigan was dark and crowded. It felt like an ancient video game: without streetlights or even lit up billboards, all the context was stripped away by the dark. Still, the cars around me moved swiftly, changed lanes and braked frequently as Michigan cars do, unfazed by the heavy mist hovering above the highway.

As Cheeks and I hurtled through the dark in silence I thought back to moving day last year and realized that there may only be one more trip back to Michigan. For that, I was thankful. Not because I hate Michigan but because it means change is near, an opportunity to regain the sense of place that I’ve missed so much over the last two years.

Leaving is easy. It’s coming back that’s hard.

I’ll be spending just under 1,000 hours in the car this week and (as the Iowa cohort well knows) central Illinois is an absolute wasteland. The Arby’s at exit 75 will be a small reprieve, but I need more.

You can help.

Leave a comment suggesting a song or two for me to listen to in the car. I don’t care much about genre, whether I’ve heard it before or not. The only requirement is that it be entertaining.

Here’s what I’m already planning to include:
Art Brut (many songs from Bang Bang Rock and Roll — thx Scat)
Some upbeat Yo La Tengo I haven’t listened to in a long time
HOT SNAKES since the better half won’t be along for the ride, probably the Peel session
The Detroit Cobras, songs from Love Life and Leaving
The Dismemberment Plan, "Ice of Boston" because it makes me feel more prepared for winter

So yeah, anything else? Don’t be shy. If it gets really good it would be cool to pass this around to others to make their own improvements.

This is not Central Records.
This is not the School of Dentistry.
This is not the hospital.
It is possible that you dialed the wrong number.

I’m an understanding guy but you’ve got to figure out that my telephone number is not the gateway to the information you seek. I wish you the best of luck in your quest for dental records. Just please stop bothering me. I’m begging you.