Saturday November 3

Okay it’s conformity, but if it brings in more traffic to buy art I’ll try it. So you’re witnessing history, the first entry in the warrenfarr.com online journal.

Rowen came by this afternoon on his way to work at Arby’s and told some jokes. Then I had to go shopping— Kroger for groceries and Waldenbooks at the mall for a birthday present for Mom.

Since Mom hardly ever visits my site I can say what it is, a book titled Pop Art. She’d said she really enjoyed my last art book gift, one on Hopper. It’s all a plot— I’m planning her library to fill out mine when she leaves it to me.

Made it to the eight-o’clock Symphony with minutes to spare, casing the lobby for familiar faces. In the seats adjoining mine sister Lori and niece Nikki used Mom and Dad’s tickets.

Haydn first half, Schumann second. Good performances.

During intermission friend Kelly found me and said hi, brother John and Carla were there, but missed seeing many others. Straight home afterwards, stopping only for 97.9-cent gas. There’s a war on?

Wednesday November 7

This warm and sunny afternoon Jerry Watson came by to show me his custom job on his new Monte Carlo— additional paint, hand brushed flames, lowering, and other touches. He’s already won two awards with it. Only his hard-edged acrylic-on-canvas paintings look as sharp.

Visited parents to pick up past-week’s papers— Mom had found some old photos, including some of me as a kid, and wanted me to see them. Before I could even get there though there was a surprise— car battery dead as Tut. The car had snuck its taillights on during the night and I didn’t catch it. New charger/starter worked fine though.

Later in the day Sarah, just back from New York, returned my call. The city had been satisfying but somber— even on Bleeker Street death held the air in its grip. Could still only telephoto Zero through a distant fence. More devastation at MOMA, but this was to clear the way for a major expansion. She saw Bruegel drawings and prints at the Met.

Almost decided on a nap— glad I didn’t though, want to be tired enough to sack before dawn. Gotta get my sleeping schedule at least somewhat straightened out for drive to Indy Friday.

Tuesday November 13

Indy Weekend. Had to jump-start and drive both ways nonstop, since apparently the car battery is shot. Charging is low because of a valve-cover gasket leak, oil on belt causing slippage. The battery problem is aggravated by a bad brake-light switch. My taillights go on late at night and discharge the battery.

Weather was perfect though, had an enjoyable visit. Arrived Friday in time for late Chinese buffet out with hosts Marvin and Donna. Next morning rolled out of bed early (for me anyway) and, with the aid of research Marvin had done at the Indiana Historical Society, the two of us spent the day photographing round barns between Vincennes and Terre Haute.

Sunday we visited the Indianapolis Art Center before hiking the northern part of the Monon Greenway, a newly-completed rail-to-trail into Carmel that neither of us had been on. I said hi in passing to several women I wanted to meet— it would have been difficult though since they were going the opposite direction.

We finished the weekend that evening by watching my old video copy of The Last Detail. The drive back Monday was beautiful too. Since I couldn’t turn off the engine, made only two quick stops— one for gas and one for business— so back by one that afternoon.

Friday November 16

Jerry came by yesterday with dressing to clean the oil off my belt and a wrench to tighten the valve-cover gasket. It was loose so maybe that was at least the partial cause of the leak. Then he gave me a jump and followed me to Penske. They were great about replacing my defective battery and refunding the difference over the lower-price one I put in.

Got the house straightened for Thursday-night philosophy. Regulars Ernie and Clinton showed, Rowen was free so returned after some absence, and Rebecca, a new attendee, brought our total to five. We abandoned a Bertrand Russell chapter in the book to talk well past normal quitting time, enjoying the fresh opinions of our lively new member.

On the subject of religion, shame on Frank Graham for calling the entire Islamic religion “wicked, violent and not of the same God.” Same God, yes— the vast majority of Muslims are at least as peace loving as the average Christian. No faith is exempt from extremists. The al Qaeda is no more representative of Islam than Jonestown is of Christians.

Sunday November 18

Assembled props for theme shot for my new Shop main page. Had small white bag with handles, but had to go to K-Mart to get white spray paint with which to cover Christmas theme on side of bag. (They had that but were out of 89¢ flat black for End of Mammoth Mine backpanels and spacers.)

Took many coats of white on bag— tried not to do too much too fast but still managed a couple runs. First try at shooting was a wash. Background too dark and late sun through gallery window didn’t have enough character. Will try again in morning.

I called sister Lori. She invited me on two-hours notice to go with her to see niece Nikki play in Youth Orchestra concert at Tilghman Auditorium. It began with Overture to Nabucco and ended with Finlandia. For what they had to work with they did very well and received a standing ovation.

It was my first Youth concert and not-impossibly my last, because afterwards the general manager of the Paducah Symphony announced, to the intense protest of those present, that the Youth Orchestra had been voted by the board of directors to be terminated in a budget-cutting move, general fund-raising having fallen $25,000 short.

Friday November 23

Great Thanksgiving with family (also take-home goodies, including both turkey drumsticks). Chad surprised me with visit on his way back from family dinner, belly full and tank empty. Being a full-time student while finishing a house doesn’t leave much time for earning an income. Better than my excuse for being broke— low output and sales.

While Chad was here mutual-friend Deon, a graphic and website designer, called from Phoenix. He’s considering trying for a Webby with his ddough.com site but wants to clean a few things up first. The only award I’ve ever applied for with this site was the Coffee Cup Award, offered by a woman through her personal GeoCities site. I never heard from her.

Today I labored over Car Series, Tanks Up all day while listening to a Next Generation marathon on TNN. The fact that any drama series could hold my interest for eleven hours straight attests to the staying-power of Star Trek, destined to become an American classic.

Friday November 30

Saw many art friends this afternoon at the reception in honor of Bob Durden, the new Director of the Yeiser Art Center. The refreshments were first rate— cheese and crackers, filled mushrooms, sandwich rolls, walnuts, and a choice of wines. Commissioner Buz Smith encouraged me to move to Lowertown and be a part of the Artist Relocation Project.

I hadn’t planned on attending the Christmas parade but since it was right outside the markethouse I enjoyed the variety of floats, bands, and twirlers while I let the wine settle and promoted my upcoming New Year’s Eve party to those friends and acquaintances that I saw there.

At the rate I’m going though, instead of refreshments at my party this year I’ll simply have a small wicker basket with a note saying “Your Generosity is Appreciated.” Regardless of my economic situation it will still be a great party since friend Deon and his wife Kat will be in town, and hopefully most of the old (and new) friends will be able to come.

Last night was Philosophy Roundtable here and we had a good turnout for discussions on hedonism, the Brain-in-a-Vat Hypothesis, and a variety of other topics.

Thursday December 6

Philosophy Roundtable, our 7:00 PM Thursday night discussion group, is showing signs of renewed vigor, with a couple new attendees and an increasingly-festive atmosphere melding into our intellectualism. Tonight we watched and discussed Stephen Hawking’s A Brief History of Time (Rebecca brought her copy, mine was loaned out).

Our chief fixation seemed to be the idea that if we were to plunge into a black hole our energy would eventually be re-emitted from the hole as radiation. I liked the idea that God does play dice with the universe— research into quantum theory is showing that nature is inherently indeterministic, we really do have free will.

After the meeting Laura’s friend Louise in New York called Laura on her cell phone and said she was coming to Paducah. I invited her to my New Year’s Eve party and Laura persuaded her to stay until January 1st to attend. Laura almost bought a major work, Night Trailers, but decided she couldn’t afford it. Rowen stayed after and visited.

Also attending tonight were Clinton and Ernie. My financial situation: destitute.

(While writing this entry I revisited Stephen Hawking’s site. Not only is he still alive and well, he just got a sporty new wheelchair, the Quantum Jazzy 1400.)

Tuesday December 11

Robert Coleman has always been one of my favorite Paducah City Commissioners, and his performance at tonight’s meeting was no exception. One statement of his was somewhat disconcerting however.

In a discussion concerning a couple square blocks that the city was considering acquiring from the Housing Authority, he made reference to two other city-ownership adventures, lumping them together questionably. The first was the office-building fiasco at Fifth and Broadway, the second was “boarding-up” a historic building at Sixth and Harrison.

In the first instance the city risked an amount in the hundreds of thousands on an edifice that is neither historically or aesthetically out-of-the-ordinary. The lure of an estimated few dozen to a hundred or so jobs seemed to make it worthwhile, but now it sits, a white elephant.

In contrast the city is spending only a few thousand to stabilize and protect a significant structure, perhaps the earliest apartment building in the city and a key element of the Lowertown historic district— simply trying to do for that neighborhood what it couldn’t do on Fountain Avenue in the recent sad case of the Sherrill-Truitt house.

Thursday December 13

Philosophy Roundtable met tonight. We’ve read the introductions to more philosophy books than you could imagine, so why stop now? Having last week watched the movie A Brief History of Time we decided to sample the book of that title, making it through Carl Sagan’s Introduction as well as most of Chapter One.

Among the topics we discussed were the nature and existence of God, whether Allah is God (yes), whether the big bang supports the existence of God (maybe), what was before the big bang (there is no before), and what is beyond the edge of the universe (there is no edge). Attending were Rowen, Laura, Ernie, Clinton, Jerry Cain, and myself.

Donaldrollerwilson.com is the website of a nut artist, Donald Roller Wilson, who I was in a show with (’89 Corcoran Biennial). Unlike me at this moment, he obviously can pay his mortgage.

Monday December 17

Panic attack— saw ad on another site for long-distance anytime at 3.9¢ a minute, seemingly beating our (Zone Telecom) 4.0-4.6¢ a minute rate which I’d thought was the lowest anywhere. Then relief— I read the fine print. Whereas ours carries no monthly fee, theirs has a $3.95 fee, more than wiping out savings unless you use hundreds of minutes a month.

Last night 60 Minutes ran an expose of the tactics of the big telecommunication companies, moaning that deregulation had seemingly failed— people were still paying high rates. No, deregulation hasn’t failed— big advertising and marketing budgets have succeeded in keeping customers from the small, low-overhead internet-based companies. We aren’t fooled though!

Just got my first monthly bill from Zone Telecom— all of 68¢! Even I can afford that. Course most of it was undoubtedly my free 50 minutes. Wish every month came with a free 50 minutes but hey, how greedy can you get?

While I’m on a sales kick use your phone savings to place a down payment on the Car Series, Ryder  painting that I’m working on. No one has put a hold on it yet. Sure at $3,200 it will be my highest-priced Car Series but it will involve extra work and special effects, including an authentic-looking Ryder cracked-and-crumbling finish. Thank you.

Wednesday December 19

I’m intrigued by the idea of being able to realize a million dollars per painting. Right now a typical Car Series sells for two thousand plus. If I could only double my price every two years, in eighteen years they’d be going for a million plus per. Several living artists have actually made it to that level and beyond.

Even with a gallery commission, twelve to twenty paintings a year (I’d have an assistant to help me work faster) would net six to ten million before taxes. I could spend that. Harem women look good in South Seas pearls, and I need to rebuild my Colonial cabinet, maybe even picking up a Brasher Doubloon.

Some would say I’d have to die first but that’s a myth, perpetuated in part by a few exceptions like Van Gogh. While prices if you’re well-known would probably go up a bit, generally if you’re obscure and in low demand before you die you’ll remain that way after. Unfortunately if I have another holiday like this one I might soon test that theory.

Saturday December 22

Philosophy was Thursday. Ernie, Clinton, Laura, Rebecca, Jerry, and myself, with a guest appearance by Deon Doughty, home from Arizona for the holidays. Rebecca brought, read, and we all discussed a recent magazine article on one man’s search for the divine. Is there an eternal reality, outside of time and space?

This afternoon Deon and I got a chance to meet Jason Turner, the Paducah Film Society’s new executive director, when we went downtown to the Maiden Alley Cinema to see Mulholland Drive. We liked the stylish, true-to-Lynch hypernoir, with enough metaphors and loose ends to make you want to soon watch it again, despite its two-and-a-half-hour length.

Wednesday December 26

Here they are, the first of my long-awaited annual forecasts for the coming year, 2002. Before you get too hard on me please remember, I’m new at this.

I have good news and bad news. Which do you want to hear first? I’ll get the bad news over with and follow it with the good.

Major earthquakes in Japan, India, and Alaska— smaller ones in California and Mexico. Some terrorist activity, but much more in Western Europe (Chunnel) and Russia than over here. Continued rise in unemployment first quarter and into the second. Tornado in St. Louis. Cruise ship involved in collision. President Bush assassinated. (Hope that’s wrong!)

The economy takes off despite the unemployment. Gas stays reasonable into the summer travel season. There’s a huge jump in the number of births and marriages, but it’s emeralds not diamonds that soar in price. The most profitable internet company is eBay. A new island appears near Easter Island, around Easter. (Couldn’t resist that one, sorry.)

If I do really well— or really badly— I’ll try again next year. I want to at least best the ball and star gazers.

Saturday December 29

Philosophy was Thursday night, with Ernie, Clinton, Rowen, Rebecca, and myself in attendance. Ernie read some really cool Blaise Pascal, then after I read the rest of Chapter One of Stephen Hawking’s A Brief History of Time we discussed scientific means of ascertaining truth.

Yesterday Clinton and I, along with Deon visiting from Arizona, met at my place and drove up to Goreville, Illinois to spend the evening with the Cad, Joe arriving back from work well after nightfall. We drank and snacked, the five of us topping the evening off with a scrumptious visit to Dad’s Pizza in downtown Goreville, the meal hosted by Clinton and Deon.