IJ – Infinite Summer

I’ve been participating in the infinite summer read. It’s brought up a lot of memories since the first time I read Infinite Jest was on vacation ten years ago. I had just finished school and Jen and I were going to take a trip westward to visit my friend Nathan. We had little money and I needed a large book for the flight there and back. I found a British printing of IJ in the discount bin at Barnes and Noble. Something sounded familiar about the title, but I knew nothing further. It was large and looked interesting and became my vacation book on sight.

I was tempted by the massive thickness but held out to start reading, I knew that I would need something to occupy hours in the terminals as well as the six hours of flights there and back again. I knocked out a good 50% of the book that week. I have a great memory of Jen and I laying together in a Seattle hostel and reading for a couple of hours.

I finally finished the book during the first week of working at Interlochen. I pretty much pushed aside any and all social opportunities (nothing unusual about that) and did nothing but work and read IJ. I remember finishing it on a Friday evening and being so stunned that it was over that I had to get out of my dorm room and be around people for awhile, so I joined the rest of my co-workers at the local bar. I had gone into a place in my brain that I couldn’t explain but I couldn’t be alone either.

IJ sent me down a spiral of collecting everything I could by DFW, but I haven’t been able to return to IJ for years. I read the rest of his books that summer and grabbed everything I could find online. It’s been a great trip getting here again, and I’m really enjoying the ride again.

July 1, 2009 | Filed Under Books, personal | Comments Off 

Vacation Day 6 – Jul 1, 2009

Hit the road to Kansas City. We stopped just outside of St. Louis to grab breakfast at Bob Evans. It was another pretty easy drive. Once we got into town we headed towards the 18th and Vine district to see the Negro Leagues Museum. On the way there we passed by Arthur Bryant’s (most BBQ fans know the name) so we stopped in for lunch. It was a nice solid sliced pork sandwich on Wonder Bread. The pork had a lot of flavor and the fries were tasty as well (fried in lard if I’ve read correctly).
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After lunch we headed to the museum. It was pretty eye-opening to see that over 20k player participated in a variety of negro league teams, a large number seemed based around the midwest: Chicago, Indianapolis, Louisville, Cleveland and Kansas City. The Monarchs of KC had an impressive history. It did make be wonder about the price they payed once Major League Baseball became integrated. Once black players started getting signed, the talent in the negro leagues decreased until the went away completely in 1960. Many of those teams and even the leagues were black-owned and they had a lot of pride in that ownership.

There were some great throwback jersey’s for sale and I eyed a Chicago one as well as one for the Indianapolis Clowns, but I don’t think that a pudgy white-guy like myself can pull that off.

There was a half-price bookstore on the way, so we stopped there on the way to the hotel. It was probably the largest half-price bookstore I’ve seen and Jen hauled away a nice stash of books. I’m still holding back my purchases until I get through my current reading list.

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After checking in we went to Oklahoma Joe’s as recommended by Anthony Bourdain in his list of 13 Places to Eat Before You Die. It is actually connected to a gas station, but the line was out the door and the smell of smoke was fantastic. The wait was worth it, it was the best tasting BBQ I’ve ever had. Everything was full of flavor. The sausage had a great smoky taste and the chicken had a great flavor as well. The ribs were extremely tasty and fall-off-the-bone tender. That was some mighty fine food. I was euphoric when we walked out of there.

July 1, 2009 | Filed Under personal | Comments Off