GJ Willis' Art Notes

Today, I got up very early to go to my local supermarket which I rarely shop at. I left at 7:30AM. I came back at about 8:30AM. While there I was disheartened to find that there were no giant bags of kettle popcorn as there were on previous rare visits. Oh, no! I hope they haven’t stopped selling it!

The rest of the day I worried about whether or not I should go to the Baltimore Book Festival despite the bad weather outside. I wanted to know how my zine looked amongst the other artists book. But then again who knows maybe it looked to amateurish to be up in the tent with the other artists books. Maybe it was hidden underneath the table or trashed. My fear began to feel overwhelming. I decided not to go, but to stay at home curled up in the fetal position.

Today, I’m wearing a pink shirt with a ribbon tie around the neckline, blue jeans and red flip flops.

Today, the bus was on time and not crowded. The driver was again the stern looking woman. The light rail driver did not pull off immediately when he saw me. So it looks like I’m going to be on time.

I couldn’t help myself today. I said, “Hello!”, to that friendly Latino man that I always see on the bus and light rail in the morning. He seems to know every single Latino in Baltimore. I’m sure if he saw Ricky, the guy at work, he would probably know him.

An odd thing that happened on the train was that when I got on it there was this man singing acopella, “People Get Ready”. You know that song that includes the lines, “People get ready, there’s a train a comin’, Don’t need no ticket, you just climb aboard.” I think it was originally done by Curtis Mayfield or maybe the Isley Brothers. Anyway, I found his choice of song ironic. Also, I should note that he had a lovely singing voice.

Today, the lady bought the baby on the light rail train again. Yay! I missed seeing that baby the previous day. He always seems so curious and cheery in the morning as he peers around from his mother’s arms.

You know I’m not quiet sure if it’s a boy or a girl? One day it’s in pink, today it’s wearing a white long sleeve shirt with blue and gold stripes. I don’t think it would be right if I went up to her and ask, “Ms. is that a boy or a girl?” Then again it’s kind of hard to tell when they are that young. He/she doesn’t have a lot of hair yet. Right now it’s just cute and gender less.

Today, I’m wearing an oversized olive green shirt with a yellow flower design across the top, along with blue jeans and black canvas tennis shoes aka the Walmart $3.00 shoes.

Most listened to cd’s this week. Two cd’s that have been held over from last week are, Bobby Darin and That’s Entertainment. Overall, this week I was going for an eclectic mix. My mix included a Gilbert and Sullivan operetta to a French ambient synth-pop duo. Below is the most listened to cd’s at my desk in no particular order.

Phase 4 Stereo:Gilbert and Sullivan:HMS Pinafore,

That’s Entertainment Soundtrack,

They Might Be Giants-Flood,

Bobby Darin-The Bobby Darin Story,

Air-Talkie Walkie

Today, the bus was late. It was so late that it was crowded with people standing up. Also, it was driven by a different driver. This time it was a rail thin light skinned woman.

I also just missed the light rail train. I was running for it. I know that the light rail driver saw me running. I had to run right in front of the train to get to the other side of the street to the train. Instead of opening the doors for me he chimed his bell and kept on truckin’. The evil bastard!!! I’ve seen him wait and open his door for plenty of people who were running for the train. That bastard!!! How come he couldn’t open the door for me!!! So now I have to take the other train which will make me late for work.

Today, I’m wearing a flower print blouse, blue jeans, and black canvas shoes.

Today the bus and light rail were both on time. This morning the bus driver was the same one that we had yesterday! Two days in a row of the stern looking woman. I wonder if she’ll stick around for the rest of the week. The woman who always brings her baby with her doesn’t have the baby with her this morning. I miss that kid...

The train stalled on the bridge leading to North Avenue for the longest time. It made me fear that we would have to encounter another morning train switch. Fortunately, we did not have to swithc trains. I also noticed this morning that the driver was wearing a fluorescent yellow reflective vest like the other driver wore on Monday who instituted the train switch. 6:10AM, the train stalled again a little after the North Avenue train stop. I pray we will not have to switch trains. 6:13AM the train moved it turns out it was waiting for a southbound train to pass. Woo hoo! That was close. I hope that there will not be a lot of delays this morning. I hate it when I leave out on time for work but the bus/train makes me late.

Yesterday, it rained so I was pleased as punch. I got to use my smiley face umbrella! I also finally decided on a background design for one of the paintings I’m working on.

One thing I’d like to do is get tickets to see Wilco. I understand that they will be at the Meyerhoff sometime this fall. I’m not a big time super Wilco fan or anything. I like some of their songs. Also, I figure it would be an interesting thing to do, besides, I doubt that people who are into Wilco would be a particulary angry group.

I missed out on going to the Ani Difranco concert last Saturday out of fear. I kept thinking it would be filled with rowdy drunken butch lesbians who would want to kick my ass. I wanted to go but was afraid....

Today, I’m wearing a blue striped shirt, stoned washed jeans, and black canvas shoes.

Today, the bus was on time. The driver du jour was a woman who had an intense look as she drove the bus. She wore thick black rimmed glasses and had a short no nonsense hairstyle. Also today it seems we have our usual light rail driver.

As it turned out yesterday I was on time. However, I didn’t have enough time to eat breakfast. My stomach was growling throughout the morning. The Baby on the Light Rail Report: This morning she/he is quiet.

Recently, over the weekend I found my self deeply disturbed by a review posted on Amazon.com about The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time by Mark Haddon. Basically the book is about a 15 year old boy with Asperger’s Syndrome who solves a mystery. The reviewer lambasted the book saying it was unrealistic. In a sense she/he said that autistic people were all subhuman and incapable of deep thoughts. This made me feel very upset. It was obvious that the reviewer hadn’t a clue about the differences in Asperger’s Syndrome versus classic autism. Individuals with Asperger’s Syndrome have normal to high IQ’s, therefore, it wouldn’t be a complete leap of faith that they/we would be capable of reasoning enough to solve mysteries. As to whether or not the mystery is completed in a realistic fashion I do not know as I have not read the book. I have to read it now so that I can refute her claims. I don’t feel it would be right to post a review without reading the book just to call the reviewer a bigot. I posted about the review on several e-mail lists I belong to that are primarily composed of adults with Asperger’s Syndrome. Below is a copy of the evil review:

2 of 13 people found the following review helpful:
More Sugar Coated Than The Breakfast Cereals Your Kids Eat, September 11, 2004
Reviewer: Mataja K. (New York) - See all my reviewsI hated this book. However, you may like it if you don't actually know much about autism and you've never lived with an autistic person. As someone who's done both, I find it nauseous becuase it's a growing trend of fictionalizing and heroizing what is a debilitating disease that as of yet has no cure. If you want to dismiss the seriousness of autism, read this book! It gives the protagonist waaaay more logic and order and an extraordinarily higher IQ than most autistic persons have. In essence, this is a "theory of autistics" fiction book, not an actual account and shouldn't be taken as anything more than a way for non-autistic people to pretend that they understand more than we do about the autistic world. The fact is the autistic world doesn't make sense, and they wouldn't be giving you these detailed explanations as if they're Plato or Aristotle or some other philosopher who's just rattling this off the top of their head. For those who choose to read it, remember this is fiction, not fact, and it was not written by someone who is autistic, and however much he knows, the fact is that autism is infinitely more incomprehensible, disturing, and debilitating that this book will let you know.
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On a more upbeat note: My new favorite group of the week is The Secret Machines. I really love that song of theirs that they play on WTMD, Nowhere Again. It sounds absolutely brillaint! I really must find one of their cd’s.

Today, I’m wearing a purple Hanes T-shirt that I was surprised to have found at the bottom of my dresser drawer. I’m wearing it with stone washed jeans and Payless tennis shoes.

Today, I just missed the bus. So I took a cab down to the light rail station instead. I was lucky to have found a cab this early in the morning especially right after a bus went down the street. Usually, they have passengers in them who could not wait for the bus to come. The cab driver was either African or West Indian. He didn't say much. Cab fare was $3.75

At 6:15 while on the northbound light rail train heading for Hunt Valley I was struck with terror when the light rail driver made the announcement for us to leave the train at the North Avenue station and board the train on the right. Argggh!! The dreaded Monday morning train switch! This could only mean one thing I might be late this morning. When we got off the train at North Aveneue there was no other train there except a south bound train heading for Linthicum. Arggh!! A few minutes later the train arrived.

There was a crying baby on the train heading towards Hunt Valley she seemed to have quieted down ever since we got on the new train. I have gotten on the train numerous times with the baby and her mother. She is normally quiet as an angel but not this morning. Hmmm, maybe she knew something was up before we did? Anyway, we boarded the new train at 6:20. Time will only tell if this morning train switch will make me late this morning...

I mailed out my zine on Saturday. I don’t know know why but I’ve been feeling down ever since I dropped it off at the post office. I miss working on it. Also there are still some changes I want to make on it. I hope that Gary Kachadourian receives it today. In case he doesn’t receive it today I sent him an email to let him know it may arrive on Tuesday. I feel it’s best to cover all your bases.

Today I’m wearing jeans, beige Muppet shoes, and a stripped ecru, olive green, and pink shirt.