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Wednesday, October 1, 1997
A Tent in the Arctic
By Paul Ford
The story of my life, in dribs and drabs.
For years, I've had a fantasy of that tent, of sitting alone in a field of open white, buried in snow, with canvas walls and thermal underwear, invisible to airlines, surviving on beef jerky and reading books. Of all the images in my mind, this one resonates most strongly - the aloneness of the solo traveler, the person forgotten by the world, safe and free.
I was born August 11, 1974 in Bryn Mawr, Pennsylvania, in the morning. I remember little of the event. My father was a playwrite and my mother was a puppeteer; both wrote poetry. You know how that goes.
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1 Faced with the possibility of violenceThe train rattled gently. Once more his fists tensed. Monday, January 29, 2001 |
2 10 Jul 98Holiday in the Arctic (finished) Friday, July 10, 1998 |
3 Early OnWhen the author was a pup. Friday, September 28, 2001 4 sections. |
4 Middle YouthWhat happened when little was happening. Thursday, December 28, 2000 |
5 College YearsA gloomy gus amidst the upstate snow. Thursday, December 28, 2000 |
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6 Then to New YorkComing to the city, and what I found there. Thursday, December 28, 2000 57 sections. |
7 ReticulationWhy the desire to network? Why the desire to shake hands and make connections? Friday, April 9, 1999 |
8 NoticeCelebrity! Who cares about it? Monday, April 5, 1999 |
9 Big DayA new job, with attendant hopes and feelings (I quit 6 months later). Rock, Paper, Scissors is a made-up name, by the way. Sunday, January 31, 1999 |
10 MorningTrying to get your life together when your life is not together Saturday, January 16, 1999 |
11 I Fucked Everything Up and Now I Must DieI'm bored as hell, and I can't take it anymore! Sunday, February 28, 1999 |
12 Late Night, 5th AveAn attempt at an elegaic tone, trapped at work at night feeling worn and bored Monday, March 8, 1999 |
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13 Clement ParkHours after Columbine, I wrote this Saturday, March 20, 1999 |
14 Still in Clement ParkThe day after the Columbine murders Sunday, March 21, 1999 |
15 01 Aug 98Tolerance Saturday, August 1, 1998 |
16 02 Aug 98Shoes Sunday, August 2, 1998 |
17 03 Aug 98Meditation Monday, August 3, 1998 |
18 09 Aug 98River I Sunday, August 9, 1998 |
19 13 Aug 98Zoom Thursday, August 13, 1998 |
20 Death TripThe funeral of my grandfather. Thursday, February 4, 1999 |
21 Basic ElegyAn urgent memorial. Saturday, January 1, 2000 |
22 28 Jun 98Dear Reader Sunday, June 28, 1998 |
23 29 Jun 98A Love Letter to Consumer Society Monday, June 29, 1998 |
24 80An old man, some music, and lots of e-mo-tion. Saturday, March 27, 1999 |
25 ReunionDeath in the family (again) Monday, April 19, 1999 |
26 Mr. Social's Night on the Town: PreludeGoing out and coming unglued. Friday, April 23, 1999 |
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27 Mr. Social's Night on the Town: A Burnt-Out CaseGoing out and burning out. Friday, April 23, 1999 |
28 In the Ancient BottleA few thoughts on alcohol, the ambrosia of the terrified romantic Friday, April 23, 1999 |
29 OutboundGoing on the road. Friday, April 23, 1999 |
30 TightsMonday, April 26, 1999 |
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31 BlanketLove lost, boring goals. Monday, May 3, 1999 |
32 SpeakingChat with dad. Friday, May 7, 1999 |
33 Peak of the CycleFeeling all nervous like, trying to calm down, chest and heart and so on. Sunday, May 16, 1999 |
34 DiscussionThe crank from Queens grabbed me on the train. Here's what he said. Thursday, May 20, 1999 |
35 Weekend: Avenue AI got drunk and went into a park. Thursday, May 27, 1999 |
36 Weekend: Avenue BMeeting a woman and talking about getting taken from behind, and so on. Thursday, May 27, 1999 |
37 UndisasterDrug abuse and how it screws up your writing style. Tuesday, June 1, 1999 |
38 StopwatchI can drink beer quickly. Saturday, June 12, 1999 |
39 ConsiderationsIf Molly Bloom was I, and I was Molly Bloom, and we were trying to write for the Web, maybe this would be what we'd write. Maybe not. Monday, June 21, 1999 |
40 2nd AvenueA half-antidote to spiritual failure.Muddle of desires. Wednesday, January 5, 2000 |
41 Paul Ford Re-enters Outside World Here I come! Monday, March 13, 2000 |
42 b i k e ! I've got a bike. You can ride it if you like. Monday, April 10, 2000 |
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43 Fred, a Cat A nice cat, gone. Sunday, April 16, 2000 |
44 Puppet Show, early afternoon in a warm October in West Chester, Pennsylvania, 1988 People find it curious that I grew up doing puppetry, but I swear to God it was a pretty normal childhood. Wednesday, April 12, 2000 |
45 Another Puppet ShowPerforming “the Gingerbread Man” Thursday, April 15, 2004 |
46 Transit The end is near. Wednesday, May 3, 2000 |
47 MicrocelebrityI ain't famous, but won't you think I am? Sunday, February 20, 2000 |
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48 Truly a CloudEach time I check the Web, I expect bombing. Monday, September 11, 2000 |
49 PianoA plain recollection Sunday, January 7, 2001 |
50 Movie StarIn the morning, I brush with Fame. Tuesday, January 16, 2001 |
51 Amiable Chat Down 9th St.Focusing the narrative on its geographical heart. Friday, May 5, 2000 |
52 Contagious!Going to the doctor for the first time in 5 years. Tuesday, December 19, 2000 |
53 Professional Driver, Closed CourseSorting through the sounds of words. Tuesday, December 12, 2000 |
54 The boxes reach to the ceiling.A half-essay about dust and a small room. Saturday, January 20, 2001 |
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55 Biography of a Full-bore JackassShort bio of the author of Ftrain.com, written by OCTAVE9, a computerized expert system Thursday, May 4, 2000 |
56 Update, before another leapI suck so bad. Thursday, May 24, 2001 |
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57 Rebel Quietly in the MorningsDon't sit too close, I've got kulchur Monday, June 4, 2001 |
58 Bridge and River Consecration...the voices of the builders.... Saturday, June 16, 2001 |
59 East River UnconsecrationI take my heart back from the East River. Monday, September 30, 2002 |
60 Park in Brooklyn HeightsA quick moment Tuesday, June 19, 2001 |
61 Valuable InformationAdvice for young fellows who play with fire. Wednesday, June 20, 2001 |
62 Again, sick, arghThe author is in good spirits but is also a frog. Monday, June 25, 2001 |
63 We Live Like KingsCome on, face it. Wednesday, July 4, 2001 |
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64 Clown/FountainTwo photos from a long walk. Friday, July 6, 2001 |
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65 Police Boat/Red Boat/C TrainThursday, July 12, 2001 |
66 Imaginary DogWhat he would be like, if I could have him Thursday, July 19, 2001 |
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67 London Temporary Shelter RequestAmerican seeks floor and roof. Thursday, July 26, 2001 |
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68 I must not think bad thoughtsPolitics keeps me up at night. Friday, July 27, 2001 |
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69 Brief CorrectiveResponding to responses. Tuesday, July 31, 2001 |
70 Ben Gurion!Zoom, zing, zip. Wednesday, August 8, 2001 |
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71 Big Boy NowThe wooden sheep is a red herring. Friday, August 10, 2001 3 sections. |
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72 September 11, 2001I am so sorry. Wednesday, September 12, 2001 |
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73 Over and OutThere's still you. Tuesday, September 18, 2001 |
74 Not Much at Ground ZeroA walk to downtown Brooklyn, then over to downtown Manhattan. Saturday, September 22, 2001 |
75 The PhoneIt was vermin. Saturday, September 29, 2001 |
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76 StickerFound on a Brooklyn phone pole. Saturday, October 27, 2001 |
77 Best OfAn amateur's chrestomathy. Monday, October 29, 2001 |
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78 Neighborhood GalleryWednesday, October 24, 2001 |
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79 SingerA photo of a singer. Thursday, November 8, 2001 |
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80 Thanksgiving CompositionA declarative story about my Thanksgiving holiday. Monday, November 26, 2001 |
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81 Squirrels, in Union Square ParkA man in the park said, “squirrels find only 10 percent of what they bury.” Tuesday, December 4, 2001 |
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82 LettersInvestigating the epistolary impulse. Tuesday, October 2, 2001 4 sections. |
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83 Collected DialoguesPieces of the aural environment from Dec 30 to Dec 31, 2001 Tuesday, January 1, 2002 |
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84 Prolog(ue)Scott and I head over to Boyd's and see his 3-D theramin. Friday, January 4, 2002 |
85 As if it matteredThe puzzle piece with the frayed edges is the last one you need. Thursday, May 2, 2002 |
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