The Phoning Detective
A podcast about Japan & memory, more watercolor-birds, and a phone call from a friend/detective
The Virtual Memories Show News
A 2x/week email about a podcast about books & life
Podcastery
This week, I posted Episode 578 of The Virtual Memories Show, feat. . . . Gil Roth! No guest this week, so you get me in conversation with some virtual memories of my own! On the occasion of my going to the movies for the first time since 2018, to see Wim Wenders’ amazing new film Perfect Days, I reflect on a cusp-of-pandemic trip to Japan, and prattle on about Keith Haring & Koji Yakusho, a misplaced fortune, The Tokyo Toilet, an empty parking lot, Country & Western, a special 5K run, a big bag of Kit-Kats, and more, so give it a listen! And go watch Perfect Days!
Last week, I posted Episode 577 of The Virtual Memories Show, feat. a conversation with Scott Guild about his debut novel, PLASTIC (Pantheon), which features a dystopian future of eco-terrorism, meta-reality, and . . . a world populated by plastic figurines who break out in song? We talk about the 10-year process of writing the book, how he found the stylistic elements that made it work, and why making the characters plastic brought comedy into the apocalypse. We get into Scott’s history as a musician and songwriter, the album he made (with all sorts of great artists) to accompany the novel, and why he’d love to do live performances of it. We also discuss his writing influences, how he accidentally created his own Barbenheimer, why he didn’t show his novel to his wife until 3-4 months before their wedding, and a lot more. Give it a listen, and go read PLASTIC!
Recent episodes: Aaron Lange • Donald J. Robertson • Elizabeth Flock • David Thomson • Sammy Harkham • Ed Subitzky • Chris Silverman
The Phoning Detective
On Sunday, I sent one of these emails out with some rough vibes, about how my neck-shoulder injury/pain had kept me from keeping up with my duly self-appointed podcast-rounds. I managed to record a monologue episode that day, which was a nice change of pace.
Later in the day, one of my past guests called, concerned about my health. He’s gone through some of what I’m experiencing, and had some advice/suggestions for me, which led to us talking for ~45 min. We shared some stuff about our lives, which I don’t really do, except in vague, allusive/elusive terms.
I was kinda impressed by some of the observations he had made about me, which I credit to his novelist-understanding of character and his strong-reader ability to pick up on some of the cues & clues I put in these emails. He loves crime novels, and it felt good to be read.
And I was just happy that he cared enough to call. In the moment and for hours after, my pain abated and I felt more or less functional for a while. I ordered a book that he mentioned and promised to let him know if it helps with My Whole Thing.
(I don’t know why I have to go with ’past guest’ instead of ’friend’, but that’s how I’m wired, I guess.)
If there’s a mental/psychological component to my injury (which is part of what we talked about), it’s not a stretch to say that the cumulative pressure of making the podcast every week — and, sure, these semiweekly emails, too — may be contributing to it all, in terms of the stress and anxiety. But at the same time, it’s brought so many wonderful people into my life that I can’t imagine life without it.
Art
More Japanese White-Eye watercolors? I know, I know. But I’m enjoying the process, because there are no sketches or pencils; I just work directly with color as shape. I made a postcard on Monday night (above) of a bird among some cherry blossoms, but massively screwed up the background (should have tested it on a paper swatch). Last night, on a whim while watching TV, I tried to make one from watercolor pencils and a water-pen (below). That was a neat challenge, because I had to get all the pigments down first, before applying the brush. (Once the paper’s wet, I can’t really do much with the pencils.) I enjoyed figuring that out, even if this one turned out a little rough. You should go to the Flickr album of most of the art I’ve made & find something you like.
Postcardery
Let me know if you want to be on my postcard-a-day list. (Financial supporters of the podcast get a hand-drawn/painted postcard as a thank-you.)
Until Next Time
Thanks for reading this far! I’ll be back on Sunday with links, books, & somatic craziness, and Wednesday with a new episode, maybe some art, & who knows maybe a little profundity or something.
Wild spirit winds from out your chest / Collides with world and wilderness / It needs a gentle hand to call it home,