new york’s alright

No, I didn’t kill myself because no one was bidding in the auction of my daughter’s first painting, although, I must confess, the irony of killing one’s self because of an unsuccessful bid to raise funds for a suicide prevention charity does really appeal to my sense of humor. No, I was just on vacation in New York City. Linette had to go for work, and I tagged along with the baby. We had a great time, although we didn’t have a chance to see everyone, and everything, we’d hoped to… like the Darwin exhibition at the Museum of Natural History and various readers of this blog. There just wasn’t enough time… Which leads me to the main point of this blog entry.

I want to, from this year forward, spend one week a year in New York City with my family. I don’t know how we’ll afford it, but that’s the goal. Maybe, I’m thinking, a wealthy reader of this site might step forward and offer some kind of arrangement whereby the Maynard-Lao family house-sits for them every year when they vacation in Monte Carlo, or wherever it is that wealthy families go off to when they leave the city. (We don’t have much to offer in return, but we’re generally very clean, well-mannered and respectful of the property of others. We can also walk dogs.) The other option, as Linette and I discussed over a box of cannoli this morning, is that we somehow transition ourselves into careers where others would need to bring us to New York on occasion. After giving it some thought, I’m pretty sure that my best bet is in publishing. Linette, given the fact that New York is also home to the American fashion industry, has chosen the goal of becoming a plus-size model. So, tonight, I’m going to begin work again on the ongoing “children’s book project” as Linette gnaws her way though alternating sticks of butter and cream cheese.

OK, here are a few highlights from the trip:

This entry was posted in Mark's Life. Bookmark the permalink. Trackbacks are closed, but you can post a comment.

8 Comments

  1. sstrudeau
    Posted April 4, 2006 at 12:08 am | Permalink

    Glad you made it out here and I totally understand the busy-ness. Hell, I live here and can’t keep up with all the people I want to see and things I want to do.

    If you ever feel like hitting an air mattress, y’all are welcome to our living room. Hell, maybe we could even lend you the whole apartment (dog included) if we happen to be out of town (you know, like, in Michigan). ;)

  2. Dr Cherry
    Posted April 4, 2006 at 12:18 am | Permalink

    I’m jealous. Next time you’ll have to go to the Whitney, it’s my favorite.

  3. mark
    Posted April 4, 2006 at 12:30 am | Permalink

    Yeah, we wanted to go to the Whitney Biennial, but couldn’t find the time. Daniel Johnston has a few pieces in it this year, so we were particularly interested. No time to do it though.

    And, thanks for the offer of the air mattress, Scott. I appreciate it.

  4. Tony Buttons Esq.
    Posted April 4, 2006 at 11:01 am | Permalink

    This just in from Howard Dean:

    Indicted Republican leader Tom DeLay announced late last night that he will withdraw from his race for re-election and leave Congress within months.

    This comes after Friday’s news that a key former DeLay aide pleaded guilty to conspiracy and agreed to cooperate with the ongoing federal investigation of DeLay’s money-for-influence machine.

    DeLay says he made his decision because he doesn’t want to let Democrats make him the issue in the 2006 elections. But Tom DeLay himself has never been the issue.

    DeLay is a symptom of a larger disease — a sick Republican culture of corruption that touches everyone who took his dirty money, voted for his corrupt leadership, or sat silently while their party has sold our government to the highest bidder. The corruption extends to the House, the Senate, and the Bush Administration — and this November the accountability must reach just as wide.

    Democrats aren’t running against Tom DeLay this year. We are running to end the Republican culture of corruption and restore integrity to our government. What we stand for is clear.
    On April 29th, when tens of thousands of volunteers hit the streets in the first-ever 50-state canvass, they will be carrying the six simple things that Democrats stand for. At the top of the list is a clear commitment:

    1. Honest Leadership & Open Government: We will end the Republican culture of corruption and restore a government as good as the people it serves.

    In honor of Tom DeLay’s retirement, today I am ordering another 250,000 of the door-hangers that bear this message — that’s an investment to reach another quarter-million voters on our April 29th organizing day.

    Your $50 can put 233 pieces of literature in the hands potential volunteers and potential voters. Will you make a donation?

    http://www.democrats.org/delayretirement

    Already over 370 neighbor-to-neighbor organizing events have been scheduled for Saturday, April 29th. Democrats across the country will be going door to door, talking with folks in their communities about what Democrats stand for and the kind of change our country needs.

    Please take a moment to find or create an event near you. Learn more about the 50-state canvass here:

    http://www.democrats.org/50statecanvass

    This year’s election will be about fundamental change in Washington, and it’s up to each one of us to fight for every vote in every single state.

    Tom DeLay is just the tip of the iceberg. The American people have had enough of the Republican culture of corruption — but it’s going to take your involvement to make change happen.
    Thank you for doing what you can.

    Governor Howard Dean, M.D.

  5. srah
    Posted April 4, 2006 at 11:46 am | Permalink

    You could become some kind of science expert and be flown to NYC all the time as an expert witness. That’s what a friend of mine does. Some law firm flies him there a couple of times a year.

  6. schutzman
    Posted April 4, 2006 at 12:48 pm | Permalink

    “Sickness, insanity and death were the angels that surrounded my cradle and they have followed me throughout my life.” -Edvard Munch

    So, good luck trying to harness that creative energy, Mark.

  7. mark
    Posted April 4, 2006 at 5:57 pm | Permalink

    Yeah, it’s a sad story. The guy was pretty messed up. And, you’re right, I don’t want to tap into his creative energy. I’d just like to know more about his process. At least to me it looked as though he wasn’t too concerned about the possibility of alienating his fan base by trying new things. I guess you could say his output was erratic, but I kind of appreciated that. He seemed to always be trying something new.

  8. It's Skinner Again
    Posted April 5, 2006 at 10:12 am | Permalink

    My friends Anthony and Betsy were also there. Anthony had just bought a graphic novel by Kim Deitch (a brilliant artist and a nice man); the “Gandy Goose” comic I got at the flea market featured characters created by Kim’s father Gene — in fact, that’s why I got it. (Gene Deitch shook up Terrytoons in the ’50s with lively modern stuff like “Tom Terrific” and “Clint Clobber” — he’s a cartoon great!)

    The Hungarian liqueur was “Unicum,” a thick, dark brown, herbal, bitter, intoxicating concoction a friend brought me from Budapest. It doesn’t taste like Kozy Shack.

    I hope Mark isn’t suffering from anal leakage again. I hope those pierogis helped; they’re binding.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Connect

BUY LOCAL... or shop at Amazon through this link Banner Initiative No One Cares