t-rex tragedies        

Look what I get to add to my book collection! A 1934 print of Alice's Adventures in Wonderland and Through the Looking Glass. When I have it in my hands, I feel like I'm holding a relic from some enchanted land, or that it has some magical power I haven't yet deciphered. It's in pristine condition and so so beautiful...

I was instantly enchanted by the set when I saw it at Feldman Books several months ago but couldn't justify that it was the price of a designer boot. I went back yesterday just to look at it and hold it again. When I came in, the book store owner greeted me with, "Didn't you come in many months ago for the Lewis Carroll set?" and I said, "I haven't been able to stop thinking about it!" He brought it out for me again, and while I was longingly admiring it he offered me a lower price, adding "because you like it so much."

At my favorite SF spot, Bourbon and Branch, a real speakeasy during the Prohibition that covered as a cigar shop. They still require password for entry into their door that's hidden in the middle of the Tenderloin next to a crackwhore, and recently opened up the basement (which was the location of the actual bar in the 1920s). I really recommend trying to check out all four rooms at some point.

The party invites were these "Drink Me" viles filled with port, and a riddle for the password "Mister Rabbit" to enter. All the tea cakes had "Eat me" or "Try me" written on them. It was a lot of fun...but I always enjoy planning parties more than the actual events, I don't know why...

...maybe it's the difference between hopeful creation and impending end. Both seem to me an awareness of the passage of time but with very different lights. And maybe that's why youth is generally pleasantly looks upon, the illusion of a generous portion of time that in large quantities appear to be hope. Ok, side tangent, I watched this silly historian's talk who proudly found what Michelangelo looked like, pulling from the statue of David (which is assumed to be modeled after him in his youth) and the Vitruvian Man (him in old age). The absurdity of the endeavor to begin with aside, it interested me that the portraits of him as a youth and in old age didn't satisfy the audience; people wanted to know what he'd look like in his "prime." And I thought maybe people always picture themselves in their prime as the base metric; viewing old age they as a deviance from and childhood as an approach to it.

Misc Herr Johann

...or don't thumb-wrestle Audrey?

Herbert von Crab is smoking because he's from New York. Herr Johann is smoking because he's European. Salmon is smoking to be served with bagels.

Herr Johann lit the candles for the cake made specially for you.

At Cafe Barrone, Herr Johann and Pelle were supposed to proof read my paper but they ended up getting into a staring contest with my desktop image instead. (they lost)

While this girl was gazing hungrily the pastries, 
Herr Johann was gazing hungrily at the girl.

Afterwards, the remaining crab wasn't difficult to break in. Telemachus decided on English over Western training as is apparent by his two hand grip of the reins.

My dear brother barricaded my bedroom door with a pyramid of toilet paper.

PELLE NOO!!!!

Followed by rage and destruction

Pelle and Herr Johannes Johann have tea in the Athens hotel room.
(Adopted Herr Johann in Vienna)

빨개벅구 망처나서! 

HERR JOHANN! NO!

(he consumed about 30€ in minibar items that could've been purchased for 7€ at the market down the street.)

참내.

That little white speck in the lower right corner is Pelle in his toga looking at the exhibit.

Herr Johann at the Parthenon 

The Birth of Tragedy!
Herr Johann and Pelle kept nagging for whoppers and popcorn. They were disappointed to learn the Theatre of Dionysus did not have a concession stand.

Apollo is so hot.

...as is Aphrodite.
I wonder if the Greco Romans were pressured to chisel cellulite from the same controversy surrounding contemporary airbrushing of models as promoting poor body image and eating disorders.

Greek kitty watching the fort
psst..catnip. catnip

?!

Don't these look like the tops of giant pineapples a t-rex or giant ate?


(trail up Lycabettus Hill)

Don't these look like American dog poo?


(Greek dog poo near Lycabettus Hill)

Pelle having a glass of wine at a bar in Plaka. 
The colorful bottles are all home brewed liquor and gave the place a carnival feel

dine and deutsche. 
(On the right are the German flash cards we carried around all through Greece as part of an effort to improve communication with Herr Johann as we think his misbehavior may be rooted in simple misunderstanding.)