Oct
29
2006
It’s 9pm Sunday night. I recently figured out how to use my password to get into the office after hours, which has revolutionized my life. I still don’t have internet at home, but I can come here and surf and feel important at my messy desk. I didn’t need it tonight because Keli’s been here all day laboring over her political feature. I was in earlier, and then I took off on a trip to the comic book store, Blockbuster and the Chinese restaurant. Then I went home and chomped egg rolls and Hunan beef while watching the second and third episodes of Deadwood. After that, well, I was bored, and decided to come back to the office and dick around on the blog … she was still here, as was Chuck the editorial designer.
The point of all this is that it’s really great to work someplace where normal hours don’t apply. I do love it here at the Current. Where else would I get paid to look at punk rock erotica (see my article this Wednesday)?
Oct
27
2006
I got a new camera phone yesterday, so finally here’s the visual.
Oct
26
2006
In today’s Express-News Kinky Friedman reacts to my story:
“I didn’t expect the media to be so low,” he says, brown eyes narrowing. “I thought they would go after the guy who’s really stuffing money in his pants. That’s (Gov. Rick) Perry.
“Or they would go after the hypocrisy of (Democratic candidate Chris) Bell. But no, they’re going after how much do we make from the talking action figure.”
Oct
22
2006
I took off my hat and the doctor immediately diagnosised my bald leopard spots as alopecia areata. Bloodwork will confirm it. There’s not a whole lot I can do. He suggested the dermatologist could inject steroids into my scalp to get it to grow back. You know, my ego survived high school without steroids, it can certainly survive odd baldness–as long as we’re talking about a purely cosmetic problem. In most cases, the hair grows back in nine months anyway.
I feel better now, knowing it’s not a fungus or some Ghanaian parasite. If people want to stare, that’s fine … I know it’s just a ridiculous malady. I can laugh it off.
So, Shanny, you were wrong, wrong, wrong.
Oct
16
2006
From The Sun: “BRITAIN is such a soft touch that even AMERICANS are coming here to claim asylum and sponge off the state.” Link.
I miss the Sun’s two-speed crosswords and page 3 girls.
Oct
12
2006
A photojournalist without a scooter is no photojournalist at all. Man, I had a great time tonight. Elaine and Keli sent me out to cover the Dia de la Raza march, across downtown to the federal building to protest the various anti-immigration measures being contemplated by Congress. I was zipping all over the place, OM-1 around my neck. I’d stop, shoot some photos as the march passed, then zoom down back roads until I was ahead of the march and do it again. I’d never felt that kind of freedom on the road before. The cops on their cock-rockets were making fun of me, but they were just jealous. Afterwards I chatted with one of the Congressional candidates, and he promised to ring me next week with some dirty secrets. Slick.
How’s that Shannon?
Oct
08
2006
My new hat …
… was made in Italy. It’s by Country Gentleman.
Oct
07
2006
Not gonna discuss the bald thing anymore, except to say that I bought hats for every occasion at the Rivercenter mall today to cover the hair ‘n’ pale globe of the earth my cranium’s become.
No new developments here, not really. I’ve gone three days without tipping over on my scooter. The Battlestar Galactica premiere was great, as was the Texas gubernatorial debate. Right now, I’m downloading the new Foreign Beggars album.
I need to get out more and make some friends. In the meantime, all y’all can feel free to call me anytime at night for a chat.
According to Statcounter, yesterday someone in Ghana googled “I am look for people tobuy made in ghana goods,” and got me.
Oct
05
2006
It started with an alien probe mark in the back.
Amanda found it when she was getting ready to shave my head a couple months ago: a small crop circle of baldness on the back of my head. I’ve been expecting male pattern baldness to start for years, but this spot wasn’t where it ought to be. Instead of you know, where you’d put a yamaka, it was on the back of my head and a little to the side. Just weird.
I showed it to everyone I knew in Seattle, and we had a laugh about brain implants.
Then a second one appeared, right on the crown of my head, like a little dent in my hair. I didn’t notice it until Keli pointed it out during our first coffee together. Flatten my hair out, and it’s kind like a Friar Tuck. That was two weeks ago.
Then just a few minutes ago, I was touching the back of my head and thought I felt another one, so I went into the bathroom to check. The coffee shop has mirrors that go all the way around so for the first time since Amanda cut my hair I got to see the back of my head. The alien mark’s grown… now it’s kind of like someone’s taken a couple bites out of my hair… but kinda wispy in some parts.
I might be sick. It could be alopecia areata, which has no known cause but affects 3 percent of the population. In that case, it would grow back in 6-9 months. Or it could be an infection, ring worm, hormonal, whatever. If not… well, it might just be time … I just kinda wish it would happen evenly and not overnight. My pride can handle being bald, but it’s just kinda embarassing to discover a bald spot in a coffee shop bathroom.
