January 13, 1986

10:10 am

Jess is zonked out in my bed, leftovers from a night of drinking. He was suppose to leave today, his new driver was going to start but he hasn't been able to get hold of him for four days. I had thought I could invite Craig from work home tonight (to see what would happen) but it looks like I'll still have my "ghost" inhabiting the living room.

Proud that last night I had dinner with Merv (at Piraeus, My Love) and 1. didn't get drunk and 2. didn't hang around to watch a movie. He was pretty well sloshed by the time we parted on the street and I think he wanted to go home to bed (with or without me). I had to go up there to give him back his keys.

My back molar finally popped out this morning. I woke up and felt it in my mouth. The pain is gone at least but so is most of my ability to chew on the left side. It was one of the molars Dr. Flynn capped when I was little. It looks like a baby molar.

There is half a box of frozen fish sticks in the freezer. I wonder how Jess managed to cook them?

Bought "Why I Go to the Movies Alone" by Richard Prince. First impression was that it is a lot like my own writing. Second impression is that people will think my writing is a lot like Richard Prince's. Basically he writes about the same kinds of things in the same way that I do (sometimes better). I'm using picaresque narrative and perhaps I shouldn't. What is important is that these writings NOT be edited, that obscure (or just plain bad) structure be left in tact, like a painting or photograph, that they be linked not with a literary tradition (though they are using a literary form) but with my paintings (as Prince's are linked with his rephotographs). There is something fundamentally "right" about this book. It would not be right for Prince to publish a book of his rephotographs, perhaps a portfolio of the rephotographs (but that seems somehow elitist and boring). That would make them re-rephotographs, or not photographs at all but another form that would have to be contextualized and thought over.

I should do my exercises (and stop smoking). Perhaps go down to Pearl and buy a gold frame for my first "NEWSWEEK." See how it looks framed. It is the one without photos or ads, December 16, 1985. Must also buy blades, wire and mat board.