Jimmy Eat World

Well, Paris is burning. Is this amith's song? Well if not, then it should be. It is damn hot here. I saw a thermometer that said 104 degrees F. And there is little too no respite as the Europeans don't believe in air conditioning. It seems to me they have, over the last 100 years, adopted some more radical notions. I predict a few more summers like this and they will adapt this American monstosity, despite the attendant poor astethics.

Once again, I have distinguished myself as a terrible language student in my week of french here - well I did skip 2 of the five classes, but in the classes I went to, similiar to my experience with Spanish at Columbia, I quickly became an object of ridicule. When the teacher addressed me frequently the only word I qwould recognize was "James." Fortunately, I sat next to this kindly Japanesse housewife, who's husband had been transferred here, and she was a very dutiful student and would feed me the anwsers.

AS always, women are covering for you. I just hope the heat wave ends before I arrive.

i predict a five degree increase in the temp with you two red heads tearing up the city... just when they thought it was cooling off from adam being there.

So tell us at least about the delicious things you are finding at Le Bon Marche, or the dancing all night at Cafe Universal, or your long lazy romantic walks down the Seine in the evening when the music of bohemian's guitar rises past the little bookshops! The heat? What heat!

Well I finally found Le Bon Marche, although I did not buy any food. I have been taking nite time walks alomg the Siene, now that the heat has broken. In Paris, they are trying to recreate a beach along the Siene, without any swimming of course, and at night the thoroughfare is bustling with people, street musicians perform, couples sit along the banks sharing bottles of wine. In addition to this very pleasant cosmoplitan setting, one also can enjoy the iridescent splendor of Paris at night. The horizon behind you is dominated by the gold-plated dome of Les Invalides and the Eiffel Tower.

New York City, in addition to a steady, non-interupted supply of electricity, sadly lacks any similiar urban setting. The powers that be probably accurately recognize that New Yorkers cannot properly police themselves to be able to congregate in masses along the banks atop flowing water while concurrently drinking in public.

The Parisians enjoy one major advantage over us New Jorkers that I see, they possess a vibrant communal respect and appreciation for shared space, one that appears to be consistent and does not have to be trolliped by adversity. Jane Jacobs identifies this as a key compenent of any Great city or urban neighborhhod. Thus, the area along the Siene is not littered with broken glass and beer cans in the morning.

Additionally, for example, the most beautiful inner-city public space I have seen - the Luxembourg gardens - where I take my morning runs. The garden is centered by a truly breath-taking floral area. And the park is dotted with exquisite sculptures. There is no place in Central Park that even remotely compares to this. The park also provides lightweight metal chairs to sit in. Remarkably, these chairs are not attached to the ground. The only way this would ever happen in NYC is if these seats were affixed to the ground via reinforced steel or else people be taking them out by the truckloads.

Reactions to recent catastrophes in NYC, suggests that people are comporting themselves in a more stately manner. So maybe in time we will be able to emulate this a little.

now now - you forget the chairs in bryant park...

of course, free chairs behind a library where you can't remove books.

It does not matter how slowly you go, so long as you do not stop.

Truth is not determined by majority vote

The shifts of Fortune test the reliability of friends.

The picnic on Saturday was hot but tons of fun. Sorry to those that missed out. James cleaned up the competition on the badminton court.

You weren't too bad yourself Amol. Thank god for the fountain.

Megan

Is this working? James, what's this play people are talking about?

It's good to be in touch and read the comments of so many old friends. I hope seeing Hulk didn't get you too nostalgic for my late-night sparring episodes with Joe at Claremont 47!

Be well,
Josh

Josh

Good to hear from you. I have tried my hand at creative writing and put together a little play. I will send it to you if you like?

Well, I am back to Europe tomorrow. It was great to see everyone, I will keep in touch via the blog and e-mail.

Enjoy August!

James

Gratitude is born in hearts that take time to count up past mercies.

James has his next injection on Friday, June 27th and then he is flying back on the 28th.

Indeed, starting on the 28th, I will be back for two weeks. Of course, given the weather, I will be returning with an arc; so please be lined up in two's and I will shuttle everyone to safety.

I am looking forward to seeing everyone.

JK

Hi James, Meg, kate, jen etc!
This is James' cousin Christine,I finally got a chance to check this site out- it's awesome, and by the way, Jen, the kids have gotten so big! i showed their pictures to everyone in my office and they agreed they were the most adorable kids ever! But back to the important info, James, please tell us, where are you now- how was amsterdam? oh and i apoligize for my dad's weak attempts to be cool- i guess you have to give the old man a break every now and then!
Chris

Hey Christine,

You should try to convince James that he should visit Luxembourg.

How is Boston?

Megan

James- you should definitly visit Luxembourg- you might miss it if you blink, but it is beautiful. Bofferding is the local beer- I wouldn't know from experience or anything, but i heard it is really good!
and megs-boston is great...I am alittle depressed that the beach is not at my doorstep- but i think i will survive!

Sadly, nothing untoward in Amsterdam. Even though marijuania is the only intoxicant I am allowed. Maybe next time. We did almost start an international incudent when the security guard at the Risyk museum told us it was closed (a half hour early). My mother went ballistic; after several minutes of back and forth, the guy finally admitted that the sign was misleading. Alas, wer still did not get in. I can attest that the "Hey buddy, I just work here look" transcends language, culture and continental divide.

[laughing, james you are hysterical] - that's great to know the "look" really works, seems like i will be able to pursue my career goals abroad after all.

How did you do in the 5K?

megan

From the wordless rest of us, good luck Friday.

MEGAN!! Tha t is my word and you stole it from me. For the record megan called me the otherday to ask me (her younger sister) how to spell the word and what it meant.

Megan, you have the play don't you? Here's what you should do -- create a new post and paste it into the field called "Extended Entry". That way the whole play won't just go on the frontpage here. But everyone will be able to get to it by clicking through. Test it out - I'll fix it if it doesn't come out right.

Correct me if I'm wrong here James, but the Belgians are immensely proud of their fries. They seem to think that they invented the fry. But we all know it was Ben Franklin, don't we.

we all know it was the irish

Amol; Indeed, they are proud of their French fries, waffles and moussles (as in the seafood, not Van Damme).

I sincerly hope that the Belgians invented the french frie. Otherwise I see no real legitimacy to their claim of nationhood status.

Megan - Mom has arrived safely, and I have been publically on record as a supporter of the fat tax for years.

Claud - Us Irish have mostly cornered the potato market, but we did let the french frie slip away:

yes! dish please;)

I went to antwerp yesterday. Pretty nice city, brussels is prettier, though. Much of the city is modern though; as the Germans bombed the port during the war. It is really close to Brussels. About 35 minutes, of course, it took my father and I almost two hours. Against my better counsel, my father wanted to drive as opposed to taking the train. They have a strange system with their highway signs here - where a particular city will be shown on every sign for about 20 miles, and then the next 5 signs on the highway will not show that name and then it will suddenly reappear. Needless to say, this through us for a big loop - as we ended up almost fully circulating the city's outer circle highway.

Antwerp is all about Peter Paul Ruebens. They have decided that this guy is their horse, even though he was not actually born in Antwerp, and they are gonna ride him long and hard, until he can't ride anymore.

On the other hand, the city of Brussels, is currently engaged in the apotheosis of Jacques Brel, celebrating the 25th anniversary of his death.

Jacques Brel, for those of you who don't know composed and performed folksongs in the 1950's. To the Flems he is like Frank Sinatra to the tenth power. His music was popularized in the US via a play called "Jacques Brel is alive and well in Paris" which is currently being reprised in Brusells under the title "Jacques Brel remains good and dead in Brussels." But he is of great importance to Megan and I as our parents probably would not have married if it was not for his music. In fact, they used one of his songs as their wedding song. This fact alone, i think qualifies Megan and I for Belgish citizenship.

I will try to be a more active participant on this weblog and e-mails, but the two local Internet cafes are both closed due to "Holiday." Sometimes I get the sense that hard work is not the most valued attribute here, instead I think it is the number of french fries one can consume in an hour.

How many French Fries have you been able to consume in one hour?

I think you should take on some of the locals in a French frie eating contest.

Megan, is anyone going to tell us who these cute kiddies are exactly? Nephews?

Why yes. Jackie is James's nephew. He will be three in October and he is the cutest kid and he has the greatest belly laugh.

Schuyler is James's goddaughter. She is about three months old.

is that red hair i see??

Ooops,

I posted in the wrong place.

James, we want visuals! Pictures! Please see my note posted as a comment to Amol.

Hugs,
Nat

PS- Site looks great, guys!

Nat, are you trying to take credit for my care packages again? How many times have I told you...
:)

In honor of Jim's play and all of the images and emotions that it conjures up, I checked out Joyce's Ulysses from the library, the literary bear if there ever was one. How apropos that has turned out to be for within the first 30 pages I encountered a passage that shines considerable light: "Like him was I, these sloping shoulders, this gracelessness. My childhood bends beside me. Too far for me to lay a hand there once or lightly. Mine is far and his secret as our eyes. Secrets, silent, stony sit in the dark palaces of both our hearts: secrets weary of their tyranny: tyrants willing to be dethroned."

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James,

Glad to hear you like your new city. Take lots of pictures, please! Are you speaking French? Are there a lot of tourists doing their summer Grand tour thing? Please show us your favorite bar, building, church and cafe. Miss ya.

Cheers,
Nat

Hi James -
I have been to Brussels for European Soccer Championships. It is a cute city, but watch out that famous "Golden Beer". The one that comes almost as little as Whiskey : )
GOOD LUCK and THE BEST.
Cenk.

THE PLAY

GIVE ME MORE! I know there is more to the play. I want to see it.

By the way, James, did you get the sweet-n-low I sent over?

Go for it!