The “What I did on my summer vacation” Edition :: Issue #181, Rusty’s Electric Dreams

“Summer summer summertime…”


Rusty's Electric Dreams, an inbox zine by Rusty Blazenhoff

An inbox zine for positive deviants and the people who love them
Issue #181 :: The “What I did on my summer vacation” Edition :: 7:25:2018

What I did on my summer vacation…

Remember when summer meant long, hot, lazy days delightfully interrupted by s’mores, swimming, and fireflies?

I barely do at this point. Mine has been more like long, hot, productive days of work, work, and more work. I can’t complain too much though. Work is good. Work gives me purpose. Work pays the bills. Work challenges my writing skills. These are things I tell myself to avoid waves of FOMO.

I’ve been writing a lot this summer for work. I never meant to be a writer. Had I known, I definitely would have paid better attention in English class. Instead, I’m learning the hard way. Sure, there’s the kind of writing you do for a blog. But, that’s not really writing, that’s blogging. Then there’s writing like this weekly (mostly, mostly… I know I’ve been gone for a spell) note to you. This is more like writing a penpal, or I guess, thousands of penpals at once (look at my efficiency!).

Then there’s writing for work. This kind of writing requires planning, thinking, a lot of rewrites, self-doubt, and the harsh scrutiny of your client. This is the kind of writing that requires being thick-skinned, hunched over, and patient. I’m getting better at this kind of writing.

This summer hasn’t been ALL about writing for me. This summer I’ve done summery things too. For instance, I went and saw Sylvan Esso at the Greek with my young friend (she’s 30 years old). Three things about that:

1.) We got there as the doors opened and grabbed two of those awesome stone thrones (the “prohedria“) for ourselves. I’ll seriously never be able to go again without sitting in one of those… insta-royalty!;

2.) A crush from over 15 years ago spotted me (sitting on my fancy throne) and came up to say hello. I pretended I was fine with this, and;

3.) The band’s Amelia Meath is so badass. I will be her when I “grow down” (the opposite of “grow up”).

Also, in all fairness, I did have s’mores this summer. SJ had a friend over for a backyard camping adventure and we melted marshmallows on the stovetop. Now, at the end of this week, I’m going to a waterpark near Sacramento with SJ, a friend of hers, and my young friend. It’ll be super hot (over 100 degrees) and I can’t wait to float around the park’s “lazy river.” That’s kind of like swimming.

So, the only thing missing from my summer will be fireflies and we don’t really see those in California

What have you been up to this summer? Are you going to Burning Man? It’s ok I can handle the FOMO.

Rusty Blazenhoff
P.S. Oh! I also went to see the Go-Gos, ate my way around the Marin County Fair, saw the future of flight, watched the crazy amateur fireworks here in Alameda, and did some other fun things. I’m summering ok, I guess.

As seen on the Internets

:: Here’s the story… of the real-life Brady Bunch house going on the market
:: https://boingboing.net/for-sale-the-real-life-brady.html

:: Unofficial map of Burning Man 2018
:: https://www.google.com/maps/d/viewer

:: Trust me on this: Go see Sorry to Bother You 

:: https://boingboing.net/must-see-bizarro-viewing-boot.html

:: Speaking of which: How Boots Riley Infiltrated Hollywood
:: https://www.nytimes.com/magazine/how-boots-riley-infiltrated-hollywood.html

:: Holy mackerel! Seattle’s Pike Place sold to its employees
:: https://www.dailykos.com/-People-over-profit-Famed-Seattle-fish-market-sold-to-longtime-employees-instead-of-highest-bidder

:: Nope, we don’t actually have ‘little people’ houses in Alameda
:: https://www.kqed.org/cracking-the-bizarre-urban-legend-of-alamedas-little-people-houses

:: This fireboat, wow
:: http://www.thisiscolossal.com/flow-separation-tauba-auerbach

:: The real meaning behind DEVO’s Energy Dome helmets
:: https://boingboing.net/the-real-meaning-behind-devo.html

:: Our pal Kimric Smythe on the accordion business
:: https://www.eastbayexpress.com/at-smythes-accordion-center-the-squeezebox-business-booms

:: The three levels of self-awareness
:: https://markmanson.net/self-awareness

:: Cut & Shut: Trippy video of VWs by Chris Labrooy
:: https://vimeo.com/223262226

:: You are this many days old
:: https://www.peterrussell.com/age.php

:: Must-see: Visually dissecting the comedy routine of Ali Wong
:: https://pudding.cool/2018/02/stand-up

Real things you can actually buy: yes way!

 

I hate people

Eh, passive-aggressive, schmassive-aggressive: Who wouldn’t want to leave secret messages for their houseguests through a revealing sequined pillow? $19.99 to $29.99 at Pearl Reveal Cushions. via

Featured Events

 

Pop Trash: The Amazing Art of Jason Mecier

[7/27 SAN FRANCISCO] Book launch party for Jason Mecier’s new book Pop Trash at Secession Art and Design, 6 PM to 8 PM
[8/3 LOS ANGELES] Book signing and opening night of the Pop Trash exhibition at La Luz de Jesus Gallery, 8 PM to 11 PM
[8/4 LOS ANGELES] Book signing at Sweet! Hollywood, 1 PM to 4 PM

Austria and Southern Germany 
[11/30-12/7] Kristmas with Krampus, Rev. Al Ridenour is taking folks to experience real European Krampuslaufs

Los Angeles, CA
[7/28-7/29] Three new shows of 49 Boxes at the Mountain View Mausoleum

Oakland, CA
[8/5] A Witches Walking Tour of Oakland Lake Merritt Walk, “Join us for a 2.5 hour walk along the Lakeside Dr. part of the lake as we identify the magical, medicinal, and practical uses of over 22 plants,” 11 AM to 2 PM (Every first Sunday from March to October)

[9/29] FIGMENT Oakland 2018, 10 AM to 6 PM

Richmond, CA
[8/11] Dress like Rosie the Riveter for the Rosie Rally Home Front Festival, 11 AM to 4 PM at Craneway Pavilion

San Francisco, CA
The Edison Escape Room, it’s new! Palace Games at the Palace of Fine Arts

[8/11] Rooftop Park opening block party, 12 PM to 4 PM, FREE (You have to see this thing!)

[8/30] Nerd Rock Returns: Three Day Stubble and more at SF Eagle, 9 PM

 

What went down at the late Zsa Zsa Gabor’s garage sale, as illustrated by Mimi Pond

Rusty’s Electric Dreams is a (mostly) weekly inbox zine by Rusty Blazenhoff for positive deviants and the people who love them.

Described as, “One of the most inspiring, weird and off-kilter collections of curated kitschy ephemera for the big-brained.”

People like it.

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