November

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My two weeks of holiday start today.

Last year, these two weeks were marked by the loss of Emma. As such they were recovery days rather than holidays.

This year things are different, though strangely similar. Gaby’s again pregnant, over six months now. We’ve been lucky. The kid’s a kicker, and so far he’s passed all the hurdles that come with a pregnancy. His big sister, no doubt, is watching over him. It looks like, three months from now, I am going to be a dad. I’m elated, scared shitless, and anxiously awaiting the month of November.

Yesterday, we got news that Gaby’s dad is not doing well. As in: “this may well not last too long.” Cancer is an ugly son of a bitch. Treacherous. Vile. Merciless.

As my two weeks of holiday commence, we find ourselves hunting down cheap airplane tickets to Argentina. To be there and, perhaps, to say goodbye. And with every new belly kick, we are reminded that there is new life awaiting us. Coming back.

Come November.

The Rage & The Fury

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While all of us Zappa freaks await the official release of FZ conducting Edgard Varèse‘s “The Rage & The Fury“, I had some fun imagining what the cd-cover might look like. How’s this:

The Rage & The Fury

Frank Zappa on Varèse:

[...] the thing that is fantastic about what he wrote for normal instruments is that he got sounds out of them that nobody had dreamed of before. For instance, “Deserts”, which is probably the starkest of the pieces in terms of the way they deal with the raw material, there’re special overblown chords that produce difference tones, which you wouldn’t be able to get any other way – you know what I’m talking about? If you take two intervals and play them very loudly on a woodwind instrument – for instance, this one spot where two piccolos are playing either a Major second or minor second apart, very high octave – when you blow it real hard you hear a third note that’s not there. To know in advance what’s going to come out and to plan your composition to achieve effects like that was something that people just hadn’t thought of doing before.

Feelin’ Groovy!

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Don’t let that title fool you: I’ve been so busy at work recently, I hardly ever get to update that other site of mine anymore — let alone this one. Did manage to squeeze in a little design job though, with the executive help of Gabriela. No money involved, just helping out a good friend. Hope he likes it!

Click to enlarge:

Poster for a barber-shop singing camp aimed at (American!) teenagers. Gaby was in charge of the hairdo’s and the typography whilst I spent a Saturday afternoon drawing open mouths of various persuasions. Fun!

My favourite is the blue-scalped Goth, though it must be said the dorky “Will Someone Release Me From These Dumbass Glasses” kid has a certain je ne sais quoi as well.

I’ve Got A Question Mark

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‘t Would appear I’m a question mark, punctuation wise.

You seek knowledge and insight in every form possible. You love learning. And while you know a lot, you don’t act like a know it all. You’re open to learning you’re wrong.

You ask a lot of questions, collect a lot of data, and always dig deep to find out more. You’re naturally curious and inquisitive. You jump to ask a question when the opportunity arises.

Your friends see you as interesting, insightful, and thought provoking. (But they’re not always up for the intense inquisitions that you love!)

You excel in: Higher education

You get along best with: The Comma

What Punctuation Mark Are You?