Clear Comfort

Alice's World.

 

 

 

when Alice saw Clear Comfort forlorned, aged, herself riddled with arthritis, in poor state of health and wealth, she cried

The story book,  "Alice's World: The Life and Photography of an American Original, Alice Austen, 1866-1952"



 

 

 





tintype by Melissa Cacciola

Linear.  Non-linear thinking.   The tintype.  Gopro.  Lonnie Holley.  Singlespeed cyclocross racing.

I got the email hyping the new gopro camera.   I watched the incredible video.  Of scenes of hugging lions, jumping off peaks, swimming with a whale in the sea.

I layed in bed this morning and worried a bit about my imagination.   The importance to have a quest, to make a discovery. 

Our world, mine at least, is in bloom.
I realize that I am a lucky one.  That at this point in time, that my world, is expansive, and for the most part I am truly free,  I am smart enough to play by the rules, or manipulate them, avoid,  or operate un-detected

tintype by Melissa Cacciola

on Lonnie Holly.
I love listening to Bill Callahan's music.
Lonnie Holley is opening for Mr. Callahan.  In Philly and as I've said,  up in Providence.  by chance, I'll be there also.  Racing my SS Friday afternoon, then sitting in a beautiful theatre to enjoy the show.
Lonnie Holley
Is a special performer.  much like ....., 
a conciseness streamer, of his soul,  current life,  using the large obvious social influential aspects,  the things that just have come about in large forms,  touching our dense large population.


The tintype.
A show up at the Alice Austen House.   Just to stand in that house would be an experience for me.
and that it still stands, and that she and her photographs were remember, and forgot and remember again.

Ms. Austen at her home:

I guess its what I needed to go with my morning coffee today,    A thought to rattle about in my head, to obsess over a bit, as I tinker on my SS bike and prep for my trip.  As I think of questions to ask Lonnie, if by chance, my Facebook message gets through, makes sense, and I meet him tonight.

Its nice to write about the future, and I look forward to finishing this story, writing from the memories of tonight.


from The New York Times: Lens.
Melissa Cacciola speaks. (I did cut and rearrange the words to make the statement that I wanted)
“Why do I think tintypes are so powerful.....these objects were treasured....it might have been the only portrait of someone is haunting....kept close...might be all you have of someone far away or gone"    ".....Can we really say that about an photo?”....

....“I’ve never seen anything like them. Ever"...


ah, how I wish I could take this in, yes, it is something that I want to see,.... I know, that I like this feeling, yearn,  that maybe, its better to imagine them.
Not see them.   Well I don't have to worry about that.   if I'd step in the door, see them hanging on the walls.  Walk up stand in front of them and peer.  Absorbing.  




my book, how I learned about Alice, my empty coffee cup, time to start the day
Its one of a few books I'd want to always have and keep,  one I love to read over and over again.
Everytime, it pulls me in so deep, that I've forgot that I've read it before.

Cheers, dlowe.

  to Alice!

iPhone photo illustrations by Mr. DLowe!

Candystore

I don't have a sweet tooth.
but I've got that craving, that hard on, for Providence.



Cheap Trick - "Surrender"


Yesterday. Sunday I road out there. To Valley Forge.
There are some very nice CX thin ribbon spinning trails at Valley Forge.
Its just a long paved rail trail to get there and back.  The SRT
On the way out, I got an "on your left"  and I was all to the right.
Jumped the wheel and got sucked along.
and that's nice.  
We sped along at a nice 23mph clip.
passing peeps rolling along.

I rolled up along and gave a look in the eyes, "real nice".  "thanks for the tow".

 I did my easy strolling about on the trails.

 

 

Not convenient at all, for me,  these short trails.    They are perfect for rolling out the cross legs.



Really, some of the best cx thin single track.

on the way back in, a Bike Sport shop rider, old bloke like me came up at 21mph's.
how'd your race go? he asked.  "good",  "you race?"   "nah" he said.
and he pulled me back to Manayunk.
Sitting outta the wind, pedaling and moving fast.  Its good for the mind and soul.
I felt no need to come around, to take a pull.
He went on his way, with a nod, me a slight lift of a few fingers off the brakehoods.


Hard'on.  and my body rings, tingles.
whatever comes along, whatever.  I'll have some extra clean undergarments packed in my bag.
Providence.

cheers, d.

sunday nights a purgatory

I don't have a Single speed cross bike built up yet.  I got most of the bits, but not all of them.
It looks like I'll be taking off the baskets, and tightening some spd's back onto the Free Spirit.  That's my stead.
I really looking forward to the long weekend up in Providence RI.
Fridays the SS race,  and it'll do me just fine to get in a few laps, my openers, on the Free Spirit.
I'm thinking of documenting the race from within the race, to race with a  stills camera, to really do my best to get some good shots from within the race.
We'll see.



last Friday night I notice that I'd start to pick up a cold.  My treatment has been decongestant and double IPA's.

Saturday.   Racing.   The local circuit, PAX.  Townhall Cross.  
9th.
Good day,  broke down my weak spots to the long slog to the climb, and the bit up from the turns to the U-turn towards the second half of the course.    Keeping it simple, kept me up there.

                                    photo: Cabalu

 

I like Carlos Cabalu's photos.    He seems to be able to capture some nice pics.  and I'm glad that he  often makes me a target.  Thank you Carlos.


Good.  Simple.  Old. Full of nuance.  will for me last a lifetime.  Simple complexed.


Elizabeth Cotton - "Can't get a letter from down the Road"

Simple very.  I'm really let down by Costello and the Roots.  Fails, for lack of nuance, brittle. soulless
the New Elvis/Roots,  so much talent, the harder the failure.



Elvis Costello/The Roots - "CINCO Minutos Con Vos"



trying not to look up the drain spout,
and stand still and let the days pass
cause I can't run into them
by whatever I plan
as much as I think going to go on
a bird may fly over
and poop on my head.


cheers,  I love cross season. dlowe.

montgomery

I didn't have work today so I got out this real beautiful morning for a quite a pleasant cyclocross ride.
Most, a lot of people I work with and hang out with know that I talk quite a bit about Rockwell Kent.
I like to think I am not more obsessive in investigation through the internet than anyone else.
I loved the show of Kent's work that I saw at the Philadelphia Museum of Art.   I road down with my compatriot Meisha, who I got to know sharing a room together with him, and Gorka.
In an America Best Value hotel,  down in Baltimore to race cyclocross.

 

I sat in my easy recliner chair.  Almost crying.  At the end of his book on Rockwell Kent.
What would I do now?   I composed myself.  and examined the dust jacket notes.  (1st press 1980)
...Philadelphia.....  and there I was off,  and not much work later, an email was sent.  I was on my way to meeting David Traxel.




I have to be a bit honest, after our chat at Earth Bread Brewery,  I took advantage of the discount growler fill.   I got home, felt good, cracked the growler,  then needed 3 aspirins at 5am to keep sleeping.




Its true to me that some days are way more wonderful than others.  And I'm finding that they are coming more often.  


John Prine - "Angel from Montgomery"

 

I am happy that King Krule, the young English lad, added dates to his visit to America, and will be playing at the Fishtown bar. Johnny Brenda's.  

Vigor, swagger, sneer, snappy. 
so many words,  its like the salad I made tonight.  They seem to have a taste of oil that wont dissolve and is left on the cleft of my palate. 

fall is like spring, the crackle,  snap chill, it makes the blood do something.
makes me want to get under the covers and snuggle, wrap my arms around my wife.
I have many layers to wear to ride. and I choose the appropriate, to stay just a bit too warm, or a bit shivering.
but whatever, the air is nicer, the sunlight looks prettier.  and I'm riding, a bike, that looks like a road bike, with knobs tread on the tires, down dank mud, shorter rides.  Tonight again I want to race more.

 

Last night I sat with Mr. Traxel, and we drank beer, and talked about life.   It came down to taking risk, to not be scared, to look out into the world, to explore.

cheers,  David Lowe.

John Prine  "I had this really vivid picture of this woman standing over the dishwater with soap on her hands....She wanted to get out of her house and her marriage and everything. She just wanted an angel to come to take her away from all this."