March 2009
March 22, 2009UNEMPLOYMENT
- By Fredrick
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I, much like the thousands of other unfortunate souls here in New York City, was let go. I was fired. I have no job.
Which, I guess in some strange way, means it's as good a time as any to take a vacation. I went back upstate to spend a week with my family and a little time with my friends. While I was in Corning I had the opportunity to go for a very long drive with one of my dearest friends, Alexandra. She was also unemployed.
Our trip took us from Corning to Big Flats, to Montour Falls, to Waktins Glenn, to Geneva, to Sodus Point, to Rochester, and a score of other places I'd never been and didn't bother to acquaint myself with. It was soothing, and even now it feels good to watch the country roads fly by.
Music by Dang Ol' Devendra Banhart.
March 16, 2009
Night Trip on Shortline Bus
- By Fredrick
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He asked me if I was making a movie, and I told him I was doing something like that. Said you wouldn't be able to see much at night, and I guess that's true. But you can see enough, and I guess sometimes Upstate looks more optimistic at night. When you have the power to light up those beautiful things, obscure the undesirable ones in the shadows, it becomes sort of a whimsical place.
The shortline route from Port Authority makes the following stops: Binghamton, Owego, Waverly (which is half in PA and half in NY), Elmira, and Corning. Of course the line goes further on, I'm not sure where it stops, maybe Hornell or Jamestown. I stopped recording in Elmira, since this is where the bus driver decided to start talking to me. Elmira is also the place where they were supposed to have a huge hub, considering that Coach USA sponsored the building of that stadium. The bus station is still a little building under the old railroad tracks.
Music by Samamidon
March 11, 2009
Chinese New Year Parade
- By Fredrick
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Yeah, so I'm a little late. Miranda and I went out at the beginning of February to the 2009 Chinese New Year parade. As far as parades go, I'd say this one was certainly a good one - not too long, plenty entertaining, very festive, and no sirens or marching bands. Of course Canal Street was packed to capacity, but off the main street it wasn't so bad. I thought we had more video from the parade, but I guess not. Here it is, though, in what I think turned out to be a pretty lovely video.
I guess I'd been holding out that the Chinese new year would fare me better than the western equivalent, but since the dawning of 2009 I've lost my car, my job, the balance in my bank account and I fear I haven't seen the end of my loss yet, either. Here's to hope and luck to get me through the remainder of this decade.
Music by The Japonize Elephants.
