The Shark and Jacques Cousteau

Last tuesday night, Robin and I celebrated our third anniversary and yesterday she presented me with my anniversary gift: Jacques Cousteau's, "The Shark: Splendid Savage of the Sea." This was my absolute #1 book when I was a kid and to this day, I dream of putting down the camera and jumping on a boat to roam the high seas.


A funny thing happens when you re-encounter a book as an adult that you once loved as a kid -> It's like a form of time travel. As I looked through the book, there were so many pictures that I knew so well and yet that had been lost somewhere in my memories. It was like suddenly waking up from amnesia and feeling the same feeling that you had felt fifteen years earlier. And so I read through the book, my favorite chapter headings being: "Chapter 5- The Squaloscope: Abu Marina. Operation "la Balue." The capture and study of sharks. Study of anesthetics: cognac, MS-222. The respiratory system." and "Chapter 8- The Island of Derraka: The narrow escape of Doctor Francois. Individual cages. Battling a swarm of little sharks." and finally, "Chapter 9- Frenzy at Shab Arab: Arrival at Shab Arab Reef. A terrible mass frenzy. The killing of a shark and its effects."


At the end of the book, there is a series of really amazing drawings. I found these two and it all became clear to me: this is why I take pictures! This is what I was born to do! If anyone out there has a boat, is planning on taking off for a deep sea excursion and is in need of a cameraman . . . I'm your guy!

Thick as a Brick

Lately I've been trying to update my address book. Last night I sent out an email asking people for their info and working on auto-pilot, I accidently sent one to Robin. Today I opened my mailbox to find the above email.

(ps. if anyone reading this would like to be added to my mailing list, send me your address to jon@thegit.net)

Caught In The Act!

Two nights ago, we had our garbage can stolen and for the first time, I caught it on tape! Now the tough part . . . relocating it.

Midnight Meditation

Another Git Enters the World

Last night, my brother Ben and his wife Jenn welcomed their daughter Julia into the world. Ben is my youngest brother and this is my family's first niece/grandchild. Ben has just launched a new blog to document his experiences as a new father and so . . . let the spoiling begin!

It's a Beautiful Day in my Neighborhood

Street Portrait

As mentioned in previous blog entries, I've been spending my days pacing up and down the Armitage Brown Line platform making field recordings for a public art piece that I am working on at the moment. If you walk to the southbound portion of the inbound platform and look out onto the street, there is an amazing portrait of a realtor painted directly on the side of a building. Why not artist's murals as well?

It's Hard to be a Muse

This morning I received two images in my mailbox, both of which confirmed what I already knew: I am an important person and people think about me when I'm not around. I'm not sure who the top drawing is by, it was found by the surly Brian Ulrich. My favorite part of this drawing is that Matt Siber has three ears. I always said he was a good listener. The immaculate collage found above was created by the illustrious and highly skilled Caitlin Arnold. It is an homage to the new wave of Chicagraphy that is sweeping the nation (or at least my apartment). Featured within are Jon (the pillow hugger) Gitelson, Jason (twinkle toes) Lazarus,Matt (grin and bare it) Siber,Greg (the chipmunk) Stimac and Brian (I invented the peg) Ulrich.

YES!!!

Lately I've been passing some nights upstairs at my friend Nate's apartment swapping music and playing computer risk (I haven't won a game in months). Nate recently turned me back on to one of my high school favorites . . . YES. There's nothing like guitar harmonics to set the soul on fire. I saw Yes live in 1992 at Nassau Coliseum during their "Circle In The Round" tour (they had a rotating stage and every musician that had ever played for the band). I remember taking a few hits off of a joint (sorry mom) and falling asleep in the aisle before the show even got into full swing. The next thing I knew, I woke up to the encore which was Roundabout. Life was good! Long story short . . . don't do drugs.