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Archive for ‘October, 2009’
6 results.
1) In New York one need not consider the existance of other geographies.
2) The drive away co. kept our $150.00 deposit. They claim we stole the C.B. radio and burnt holes in the upholstery.
3) We live in an apartment we call a box (home sweet box, there’s no place like box, bless this box.) The landlords call it a studio, which is a very polite way of putting it. It’s a sub-sub-sublet and the landlord found out so we have to vacate said box at the end of the month. We have to find a real place to live anyway – so they can bang they box upside they haid.
4) I work at a sign shop doing layouts (drawings) for $250.00 a week (not enuf) It’s a good shop, and I’ll probably be making more money soon – just have to prove myself. The guy I work with, a brit named Ansley is an ex- record producer and indi- label head (rasta, funk, r&b) his wife couldn’t hack all the musician types + coerced him into moving to Brooklyn. He’s got a reggae buddy who wants to put a studio in his basement and Ansley has the bucks and the temptation so he’ll probably get into it again. I hate working for a living.
5) Run DMC are the kings of rock and their heralds blast them on the street everywhere.
6) I paint all the time – I’m working on six paintings. The east village gallery scene is uninspiring, so is everything else (soho, midtown, noho) but it’s summer and rather low key. The work I’ve seen is lame, no craft, no ideas, no guts.
7) Liberty weekend was wierd.
8) I haven’t thought of playing music – although there is a lot to go listen to. All the bands bitch about the lack of clubs (they keep getting closed down) I hate the door men at the ones that are open.
9) New York stinks something awful in the summertime.
10) The buildings and streets are beautiful, a frontal continuous wall of hard textures broken by non sensical decoration like it’s just been caught ripping off your t.v. set. I walked to work from the subway for almost 2 weeks before I noticed the empire state building was only a few blocks away looming over me like just another bunch of windows and bricks. When I noticed I realized I was only paying attention at street level. I look all around me now. Fuck’em if they think I’m a tourist – I am always.
11) If we get hungry at night, we can go eat anywhere. All night long. New York’s agogo + everything tastes nice
12) A man attacked commuters with a samari sword at the statten island ferry last week – god told him to kill all Haitians + people from the midwest.
13) I have seen John Lurie, Allen Ginzburg, Stiv Bators, Bernard Goetz and various bums who used to be somebody on the streets.
14) I hope there’s not a garbage strike this summer.
15) Fuck is used every other word here. The best was fuck you you fucking fuck.
16) All you guys should be here.
17) I have learned to eat while I walk.
18) We went to check out a homestead building (squatters) on our block, everybody bummed cigs. The entrance way was huge but filled with trash, no electricity, water or heat, just an empty shell of the building. We walked past the entry in the dark, back into the rear of the building over more trash and busted down doorways. The stairs had been ripped out long ago and a system of old fire escape ladders was the only thing to get up or down on. The building looked like what we would live in should the bomb go off.
The people who lived there were just camping out mostly punks, bums and fringe types, that weren’t really interested in working on the place or buying it from the city – we stayed and talked + smoked cigarettes for a while anyways. I was sitting on the last available chair like surface in the room which was a cage turned on it’s side with a rat on the inside. Guess we’re not gonna live there.
19) I cut all my hair off, real short.
20) David Byrne hasn’t had us over for lunch yet.
21) Everybody communicates through their answering machines here.
22) Today is Tuesday, the 10th or 15th or somewhere around there. It’s after midnight I have to go to work in the morning.
23) The $10.00 is for busfare for the typewriter Jud. Could you ship it out for us on the greyhound to the Port Authority – Stick it in a box if you could. Please, we’d really like to have it. Address is Ray Abeyta … E. St NY NY 10009 PH# (my work) xxx – xxx- xxxx – Ask them to have New York call me. Thanks
24) Scratch you cats later.
Love Ramon
*WI Note: I have left all incorrect spellings in order to preserve the integrity of this letter.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/wormintruder/4057767928
http://dicemagazine.blogspot.com/2009/09/ray-abeyta-brooklyn-ny.html
http://www.rmartinabeyta.com
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/08/05/realestate/05habi.html?_r=1
http://guestofaguest.com/directory/ray-abeyta/26448
There are a lot of things wrong with this song…
a) Needs to be re-recorded and mixed properly.
b) Colin’s bass needs to be synced with Craig’s guitar.
c) It is a cover tune.
d) There are TONS of arrangement errors.
e) ETC.
This song first arrived into my life through an unlikely source. Memories travel back to a troupe of young brownie scouts who lined up on stage with their smiling faces, and whom sang so beautifully to a room full of gleaming adults. Their performance being what initially prompted my desire to record Barges, and why it even exists in my music archives to date…
Thing is…
Today really seemed appropriate to post, despite the fact that it is not completed.
An internet pal died this week. Someone whom I’ve never met in person – But, someone who was able to surpass physical barriers, by making a lasting imprint on my mind. A uniquely informative individual…
http://www.mactonnies.com
http://posthumanblues.blogspot.com
http://www.flickr.com/photos/mactonnies
http://twitter.com/mactonnies
I not only enjoyed his virtual contributions, and online presence- Mac presented an even balance to our verbal communications. He was a complete gentleman anytime we spoke.
This song Barges is also linked to an old, and extremely dear friend, who is now deceased by many years: Craig Ellis. Those who have followed my journal through the years will recall that I have spoken about Craig before. To those new here: Craig is someone who will always remain a dear friend for life, even if he is no longer present. Together, we wrote years upon years of original music, dating back through the 90′s – Music that I am only now able to return for the reworking of.
If you have ever lost anyone close, then you understand what makes it so fucking painful to face these devastating associations.
Once again…
I am now posting this unfinished/unmixed song because???
Well, maybe it stems from an overbearing sadness of not knowing what comes after death?
My melancholy is left wishing that it did not happen, and further fueled by a disbelief of their absence from life.
I am not a religious person…I am just VERY fucking sad they are no longer here.
“This tattered vessel arrives to dock the shores briefly. Two friends passing by en queue, with me tearfully singing along to their departure. This token of my remembrance exists only as symbolism to reconnect past, present and future tense. My hand outstretched, and waving goodbye to such fine impressionists, who have made kind moments even kinder through the sharing of information.”
This song is what I was working on when the shocking news of Mac arrived.
So, unfinished…YES. Though, hand delivered with all love and condolences: Right on time.
Thanks, Craig and Mac Tonnies for your offerings in friendship.
You are gravely missed on this end~
An homage to honor the marriage of my friend Kersen Witkin, and his beautiful wife Kiyo Taga.
It is kind of strange speaking about why the making of this piece has been so special, because I don’t normally have one specific reason behind why any of my collage art ‘exists’ – So, it might not be very easy to express going so ‘very out of my usual way’ to create an art piece with two people specifically in mind during the creation process. But, here goes anyway…
Kersen is someone I met over 15 years ago. Meeting him has been a wonderful experience in and of itself. He is someone who is incredibly inspiring to me. Someone who is fiercely loyal to those whom he loves. Someone who has always kept an open mind with regards to our friendship. And, most importantly, a true friend who has never judged me for being who I am.
Beginnings?
I first met him while he was a teaching assistant at the Montessori school where my two children were attending school.
Everyday, after classes ended, when I would show up to fetch my daughter Sofia, and son Joshua – Kersen would be there watching over this bubbling schoolyard of children. With all these busy bee kideroonies buzzing around our feet, we would strike up conversations about the randomness of this and that. At some point the question eventually turned to, “So, what do you do outside of being a mom? Why are you always dressed up?” – To which I returned the curiosity, “So, are you planning on becoming a teacher? What are your future plans?”
hehehe :)
From that point forward, our conversations moved on through many different subjects spanning the years. We have both relocated from NM. He now lives in NY, and I in CA – Opposite ends of the coast, but just as close.
Despite any distances, we continue to keep in touch like we are still standing out on that playground.
Recently, Kersen married his beloved, Kiyo Taga.
Now, because I have known him for so long, I know some details about his personal encounters with previous girlfriends, (not ALL, but some!) And, not unlike any of us, there have been some misfires which inevitably paved way into our chatter. We always spoke unceremoniously of our current relationships, and of past experiences in contrast.
Regarding Kiyo?
Well, Kiyo was different from day one. When he spoke about her, I knew he was telling me about his future wife. And, in hindsight, I believe that he knew it too. To elaborate: It was overtly simple to understand, and embrace who she was becoming to him, through his descriptions of her – And, who they were becoming as a couple was even clearer. So, none could be more pleased than I over this perfectly matched outcome, ( except for their families, of course! )
“It is without question, extremely apparent that these two people belong together: Absolutely.”
Alright then…
One of the most heartfelt projects I have taken on to date: A piece enveloping everything that is sacred, and subjective about love and friendship. A piece for my friend, with whom I have traveled quite a distance – A piece specifically dedicated to him and his lovely wife for the sharing of their lives together. A visual journey spanning years, and with more to come in the future. A piece to display and commemorate my complete respects for their union: The Beloved: Kersen and Kiyo
Take care till next time, everyone~
http://kersenwitkin.wordpress.com
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3454/3988279837_1b2c8f7ea4_o.jpg
