cgb by cgb: July 2007 Archives

Unnatural

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This may seem like an odd thing for someone heavily invested in technology, as I am, to hate, but one of the things I absolutely, viscerally hate is the computer animation of animals (and babies) so as to give them the mannerisms and/or the speech of human adults.

It's a popular technique (this summer's Underdog, for example) and one that seems to appeal to plenty of people, but I find it deeply repulsive. I can't watch commercials that use it, and I won't watch it in movies.

When it's used for aliens, or fantasy creatures (Narnia, e.g.), it doesn't bother me at all. The talking toys and creatures in Wonderfalls? No problem. But a talking squirrel, or a dog raising its eyebrow, or babies turned into adults? That stuff makes me nauseous. (Yes, the dancing baby put me off Ally McBeal for the rest of that series' life.) I have a similar reaction to child beauty pageants, which made it difficult for me to watch/appreciate Little Miss Sunshine at the end.

There are plenty of things I don't care for, and just don't engage with, but the unnaturalness of this kind of anthropomorphism, for some reason, repulses me.

Hair Care

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There are three distinct periodizations to my life when viewed through the lens of hair care:

Up until high school, I went to my dad's barber (Rudy was his name, if I recall correctly). We should bear in mind here, however, that my father was all but bald. My cuts were even, but that was about all.

In high school, and extending into the first couple of years of college, I went to a stylist named Cindy (again, I'm pretty sure that was her name), upon whom I had something of a crush. For a few years after that, I just got my cuts when and where I could.

From grad school on, for most of the time, I've gone ahead and taken care of it myself. It's almost a full circle kind of deal, because I really only worry about it being even, and the way I achieve it is to shave my head a couple of times a year. I don't always go full bald, but I do it often enough for it not to be much of a shock to the folk around me. I can let it grow out for a couple of months, and usually I can squeeze another month or two out of it by trimming the sides (I'm not a fan of ear-wings).

I've had the same hairbrush for years, don't use much shampoo, and I don't spend money on styling, of the studio or personal hair care products varieties. And that suits me just fine.

Saturday mornings

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davbank.jpg

One of our family traditions growing up was Saturday morning errands. My dad, brother, and I basically vacated the house for all sorts of whatever every Saturday.

One of our regular destinations, pictured above, was the Davenport Bank Building, which has since been bought and sold a couple of times, and is now owned by Wells Fargo, I believe. Anyhow, my dad's law firm rented the 7th floor (and later the 6th as well), and our barbershop was on the 4th floor, and on the ground floor, there was a little newstand shop that was the only place to buy candy sticks (that I knew of at least).

Anyhow, one of the memories I have is being able to futz around in their office supply closet to my heart's content. I love the office supplies. I remember also flying paper airplanes out of the 7th floor windows, and in a town with few other comparably tall buildings, this can be a lot of fun.

Fireworks

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Every year, my dad, brother, and I would drive down to Missouri, cross the border, and buy fireworks for the 4th of July. We held an annual block party for July 4th, with a few relatives and friends thrown in for good measure. Hamburgers, hot dogs, chips, potato salad, cole slaw, and a big hollowed-out watermelon filled with every conceivable berry and melon. Good stuff.

My other memory of those times is that it was the one time of the year when we were allowed to drink any kind of pop we wanted to lay our hands on. So, in addition to visiting various sketchy roadside fireworks vendors, we made an annual pilgrimage to the store for things like Black Cherry Shasta, Creme Soda, Sunkist Orange, Grape, and Strawberry, and the like.

And sparklers. Lots and lots and lots of sparklers.

July 2007: Monthly Archives

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This page is a archive of entries in the cgb by cgb category from July 2007.

cgb by cgb: June 2007 is the previous archive.

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