Arrived

Made it to Florida on Friday last, although it rained so hard and relentlessly from Houston to Pensacola it was like driving through 525-mile-long carwash at 65 mph. Now all I have to do is find a job, find an apartment, pay off my multitudinous creditors, and forestall car reposession. Then I can really throw myself back into the blog.

On the Road (or Side Thereof)

Tuesday morning I head back east in my mechanically imperfect car, pulling a heavy trailer. Destination: Florida. (As my first wife was fond of saying, "All trash eventually blows south to Florida.") Anyhow, I have no laptop, so expect no posts for a few days.

Help Barack Obama and Yours Truly at the Same Time

Particularly useful for those who have already donated the legal maximum to Obama's campaign, I'm pledging to donate half of the final sale price (up to the allowable maximum) of this painting (click to go to eBay auction) I'm auctioning on eBay. And I'm throwing in free shipping!
An erstwhile John Edwards supporter, I'm now fully backing Sen. Obama.

Just About My Favorite Postcard Ever

The cocktail lounge at Hotel Ojibway in Sault Ste. Marie, overlooking the Soo Locks from a distance of only 150 feet. This card was published in 1955; I'm pleased to learn the property still exists. Now it's owned by Ramada.

Trashball 021108: Chew Honest Scrap

So, another 1913 Dayton, Ohio, flood postcard, but this time I noticed a strange little detail. There's an ad on the side of a building that reads "Chew Honest Scrap". I'm guessing "scrap" was probably the leftovers from cigar/cigarette manufacture or something, but I'm going to try to find out.
UPDATE: Yep, googling proves it was a cheap chewing tobacco.

Trashball 021008: Don't Be Such a Gloomy Gus

Hey, pal. I know you're not exactly with a fresh-faced debutante, but you gotta dance with what brung you.
Found at a Washington, DC, estate.

Trashball 020808: Santa Fluid

Every child's dream. Or maybe every shopping-mall Santa's dream.

Goodwinart.com Update

So, I have finally gone into my website and done some administration. Everything is updated, meaning that things that have a price are available for purchase and everything else has been correctly marked as in private hands. Go exploring! By the way, most everything available is in the non-objective gallery.

The Phone, Again

For those unlucky enough to receive an email earlier suggesting that my phone would be cut off on Sunday, I have bad/good news. Il telefono e' morto.

Think I'll go test my airbags now. Maybe.

Hello Pittsford, Hello Jeffersonville, Hello NYC, Hello Salina, Hello Old Trafford

I'm experiencing a near-constant paucity of cigarettes. My preferred brand is ANYTHING menthol. Send donations to:

Christ. Goodwin
1015 Davis Ave 4
Las Crucible NM 88005

With advance thanks,
I remain,
Yrs &c.
CRGOODWIN

Trashball 020608: First in the Short Line

Well, I seem to be in a 1980s (or, as someone once put it, "nineteen-haties") mood today. I wonder why. Here's M, the first in a short—and hopefully ended—line of unglued Chinese women. And no: I don't have a "thing" for Asians. In this photo, I believe she's looking at me and thinking, "Did you know I'm going stand over you with a butcher knife while you sleep tonight?"

Trashball 020608: 1968 Volkswagen Beetle

My first car and dear old Mom paid $200 for it (by the way, did I ever repay her?). This photo was taken going downhill somewhere along the Pennsylvania Turnpike, when I got the car up to 80 mph by coasting down a long hill. My co-pilot, whoever it was (no, it wasn't Him), snapped the pic in the shiny wheel of a passed semi.

Trashball 020608: Vacuum Cleaner, 1986

But who was really doing all the sucking? I suppose she might've been cuter. But I might have been, too. And yes, I was cutting my own hair at the time.
Found among my personal effects.

Deconstructing The Smiths' "This Charming Man"

Really pretty interesting.

Trashball 020608: Choices, Choices

I never can decide.

America's First $2.00 Bill, and a Funny Story

Funny to me at least, because I often get strange looks when spending $2.00 bills. The story is at the bottom of this eBay listing. Anybody got a spare $1,250,000 lying around?

Trashball 020408: Retirement Home

Now here's a place I can imagine living out my final days. The fact that it's a room at McKay's Motel in Gatlinburg, TN, about 40 years ago makes it that much more appealing. Dude, they have a wall-mounted TV and knotty-pine paneling!

A Placid Valley

ELENA: Giace in Arcadia una placida valle...

FAUST:...Ivi insieme vivrem...

ELENA: E avrem per nido

le grotte delle ninfe,

e per guanciale...

FAUST: ...Le tue morbide chiome...

ELENA: ...E i fior del prato...

Mefistofele by Arrigo Boito (1842-1918)

Image by Marcel Duchamp, "The Illuminating Gas"

Trashball 020108: Short Orders

I wish I knew where this place was—they've got a helluva deal on Sunday dinners.