Apr 06 2009
My Amazon Shopping Spree
I’m not often given gifts. I’m just not on mutual gift-giving terms with many people. The people who do want to give me a gift usually give me gift cards instead. They say I’m hard to shop for.
I don’t think I’m really that hard to shop for. My sister asked me the other day what I wanted for under $20. I said as many G2 gel pens as $20 minus postage will buy. Easy. You can get ‘em at Walgreens.
This year, I was given a total of $70 in Amazon.com cash from my Aunt Sharon and my friend Nouf. I’m pretty amazed at what that was able to buy. So many goodies on the way. (Thank you so much, the both of you!!)
This is pretty much the only book on my list. I’ve had to leave so many books behind after each of my intercontinental moves, that I’ve stopped feeling sentimental about owning books. I’m fine with the library. Fine with giving away good books that I don’t plan to read again. Instead, I have a small collection that I’ll carry everywhere, forever.
This book goes in that stack.
I’ve wanted this catalog ever since it was released in December. I would’ve asked for it for Hanukkah, but, for obvious reasons it just seemed inappropriate.
Jonny, the figure in my banner, is a derivation by Art Spiegelman from the Entartete Musik poster, the companion show to Hitler’s Entartete Kunst exhibition. I’m not much of a historian, but this one episode of history is really close to my heart (about 13 inches). That’s why I’m so excited; this is the other half of the degenerate story: the visual arts.
2) Liberia Flag - Polyester, 3 ft. x 5 ft.
Amazon.com hasn’t been just about books for a long time. I know I need wall art, especially now that I have a new roommate. All I’ve got is framed photos, my map of Arizona’s lost mines and ghost towns, and a brutal political I bought outside the DNC. It’s supposedly from Shephard Fairey’s printhouse.
I love the wealth of meaning in this Liberian flag, its history, pain, promise. It’ll remind me everyday of my commitment to return to West Africa. I’m looking forward to the reaction of friends first entering the room, that double take when they notice the single star.
But, the $2.99 will be officially well spent the day Semantics comes to visit and we get drunk in my room and sing All Hail Liberia. (Too bad the Lone Stars didn’t qualify for the 2010 Cup).
3) My Name is Nobody - Movie Poster - 27 x 40
Read into the poster whatever you like. Is it perfect for wallowing in self-pity? Absolutely!
Is it an existential reminder that life is a what you can laugh at? Yup!
Does it serve as justification for embracing my slobhood? Damn right!
And it’s just one of my favorite films of all time.
(Plus, it’s just pretentious enough to be endearing, right?)
4) Private Stash: A Pinup-Girl Portfolio by 20 Cartoonists
OK, this was a suggestion from my friend Ashley, who’d bought it for one of our mutual friends. It’s a whole lot of sexy ladies drawn by a whole lot of dorky cartoonists I like. It folds out and it will be going along the wall, perhaps in the living room.
I kinda wish I’d bought two of them so I could hang both sides on the wall.
5) Outward Hound Pet-a-Roo Carrier
This is a replacement for the one my parents bought a few years ago, which is on its last threads. That one is blue, but my new one will be green.
Shuddup. I don’t want to hear about it. I love my terrier and I love having her on my scooter. Pbbbbth.
