Chapter 52
My name is Andrea
I am a proud graduate of the inaugural Documentary Media Studies program at The New School
I live with my dog in New York City
I have a NEW companion tumblelog, inner sanctum. Please come see it!
send me an email! andrea.nugent@gmail
This is an audio recording of an exorcism.
Specifically: I found myself increasing bothered by a “demon” inside my brain who would urge me to ‘hurry up and move on to the next thing’ — not in words, but emotionally, prodding me to rush because, supposedly, there was something more important in the future.
Once I became aware of him, I found it nearly impossible to focus on my work — not only did the demon distract me, but my awareness of my own inability to ignore him distracted me.
I decided to commit demonicide. I created a beat in Ableton Live, turned off the lights, put on headphones, and commanded my subconscious to freely spit out whatever it felt like. This track is a 2-minute excerpt of the procedure. When I stammer on “authority”, that’s the eureka moment: that’s me realizing my blind acceptance of the demon’s urges.
Moments later, I see the demon’s face: someone I once worked with, who represented the worst possible work ethic: Machiavellian, unthinking, and talentless. His personality had become lodged in my head in the form of awful little demon, corrupting my ability to focus! (I covered up his name in the mp3)
This was Saturday; the days since, I’ve felt a renewed sense of calm, clarity and self-confidence. I’ve regained a love for the process of work, not just the outcome. I feel whole … like anyone who’s ever conquered a disease. Normally these breakthroughs are internal and transient; I’m so happy I recorded this one!
Brains ftw.
The difference in your voice near the end — the dramatic drop in tension — is really pronounced.
Lately I’ve been loving 70’s colored glasses with the geometric patterns. Just found these at Salvation Army.
I’ve been having such a fun time hanging out with Anna and Tyler, and sometimes lending a hand fixing up their great new place. Soon it will be time to paint. Heh.
Best horoscope ever? Check. (via supernice)
Ooh, that means me, too!
(via firsthome)
(via
sweethomestyle) right herewow, i love this, even more when i posted it yesterday. http://finemess.tumblr.com/ i’m sure it would have killed you to maybe reblog instead of steal my picture and post it to sweethomestyle. yes i know you are following me and yes i know you posted it there, but hey, thanks for the “<3” on my original post.
I’m with you, firsthome. They did it to me, too. This is how they roll. I would love to know their excuse, since it actually takes more work to strip off the attribution than to just go ahead and reblog it intact. Shame on them.
Going through some old photos.
Very early morning in my (NY) living room.
Just got this at Goodwill for Anna. It’s a Morse Fotomat 4300, Made in Japan. I’m guessing It’s from the late 50’s, but it’s a little harder to date foreign-made things. I am in love with this gleaming beauty! I don’t think it has ever been used.
Anna Lodwick Love
1972 also saw the addition of a half bath. I adore these tiles. And, since my mom has four of these amazing hand towels, also from that year, I snagged one for me and one for Anna.
In 1972, my mom had the place redone, adding wall cabinets, a sink, dishwasher, and washer and dryer in the kitchen. And she had these fabulous tiles put in all around.
This old bassena is in the entrance hall of the building. Until 1972, we had one in the entrance hall of the apartment, too. In fact, it was the one source of water in the apartment and it only ran cold. If you wanted warm water, like for washing, you heated it on the stove.
My Vienna
View from the cabinett into the kitchen. See how thick the wall between the rooms is? When I was little, a swing hung in that doorway — the kind for very small children, with a back, and a bar across the front - and I just loved swinging in that thing.
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My Vienna
A Walk in the Park
Across the street from our apartment building is a park where I was often taken as a child (as was my mother, and as were my children). The first thing you come across is this Mid-century bear statue (1). I sat on that bear many a time when I was little (as did my children).
After leaving the bear, you next see this enormous bomb shelter (called “bunker” in German) (2), an everlasting remnant of WW II. There are actually two in this park, and numerous others scattered throughout Vienna. They are now being used in various ways — one is an aquarium — because, of course, there is no way to tear them down safely. They’re pretty heavy-duty.
The sight of this thing is etched very strongly among my earliest memories. There’s a playground at the base of it, and I spent many hours there as a child (not to mention as a mom).
My mom didn’t use this shelter during the war. The building in front of hers had been a post office, long ago, and because back then the post office was used for transferring cash, the basement of the building had extremely sturdy and secure walls, and was suitable to go into each day near the end of the war, when the U.S. was bombing Vienna on a daily basis.
From this angle (3), it looks like a monster in a science fiction movie, looming among those other buildings, that are just kind of standing there, minding their own business.
Like most parks, this one is ringed by some very fine, old houses. I never noticed this one as a child, not until I was much older and could appreciate such things. It’s a splendid Art Nouveau building in pristine condition (4).
