brettsing

New type love. Naturally it’s from HF&J.

I want tungsten. I want it now. I also want Sentinel, but that is old news. I nabbed these pictures from the website for it at HF&J. Look it up at typography.com

Brett Patrick Casey :o)

New table!

New table from Crate&Barrel Outlet (a CB2 table) for VERY cheap. Now I just need to buy new chairs, which will likely end up costing more than the table.

New Glasses!

The other day, I realized that I have had my current glasses since 2005. I high-tailed it to LensCrafters in the Jefferson City mall to check out frames, only to find out that it had closed.

I went to Columbia, found some frames, and made an appointment. Now, a few days later they are all ordered. They look like this:

Only mine don’t include a bizarre looking Photoshop outer glow.

Looking through Dolce’s creative but ridiculous to navigate website to find this picture of these radioactive spectacles, I found another pair in the same style that I like even more! And I found them for cheaper too. Maybe I’ll the frames and buy them and save up for a second pair. These are more fun, while the others are a little more businessy.

I really like the mixed materials here. I think they are really fun. I think I shall have to procure them. Perhaps I’ll get cheaper lenses in this pair though, I added all these damned options to them which made the ones I got awfully pricey.

I love new glasses time!

Brett Patrick Casey :o)

Some drawrings.

I spent this afternoon doing some “technical” style drawings for a project. I’ve several more to go, but they’re turning out kind of cool.

Brett Patrick Casey :o)

How very tempting…

Today was day 7 of Phase 1 of the South Beach diet. Today, This morning, I noticed that it was easier to tighten my belt. Still haven’t cheated, not even once. Nate and his boyfriend Kevin were visiting this weekend, yesterday was a whirlwind of fun activities and fantastic restaurants and food. Today as well.

Let me start with yesterday. To begin, transit was a nightmare: I took the blue line downtown to meet them. (The bus from my place to the blue line was HOT as hell and by the time I got off after only 6 blocks I was feeling it.) As soon as I got to the top of the stairs, I heard the train coming behind me so I ran to catch it. We get to Belmont and the operator announced that the train would only be travelling as far as Western (which for those of you who don’t live in Chicago is 6 stops before where I needed to get off the train-Washington) We boarded a shuttle bus and drove down Milwaukee and after what seemed like an hour were finally deposited at Clark/Lake. From there, I just walked to my destination… The Art Institute.

I saw Nate, Kevin and their friend Joli, (Kevin and Joli turned out to be fun as hell btw–we love them) as in Millennium Park as I was walking past. We walked over to The Art Institute. Saturday was The Art Institute’s much anticipated opening day for “The Modern Wing.” We entered the front of the building and proceeded up the stairs where we were met by a black gospel choir (with 1 white lady) who was bringin’ the museum house down! It was loud and rockin! We loved it! We was praisin’ Jesus up to the Art Institue. Before their performance was over, my friend Lucy showed up.. we ran into each other out front… literally, and rejoined the group for the rest of the performance. The new wing is gorgeous of course and features a “Floating Staircase” we didn’t see much art since it was so crowded– upon exiting we learned that yearly membership is only $80 and includes unlimited entrance for two adults and any quantity of children.

Here’s where the food starts: Nate, Kevin and Joli decided to head to Atwood Cafe to eat calamari.  (Um… Graham cracker crusted calamari) I decided I’d better not and so Lucy and I went to Argo for green tea and a walk around Daley plaza, and the rest of the theater district. We went to Nordstrom Rack for a while and met the group after they were done eating. Lucy left and the rest of us headed to Garrett where they ate the caramel cheese mix popcorn (YUM) but I was good, and refrained. After that it was time for the Sears Tower Skydeck which by the way is closed because of a remodel and construction (of the new ledge which will be two inches of glass that hang off of the 103rd floor that if you’d like, you can walk out onto over the city… can’t WAIT for that!) so we saw the city from the 99th floor.

We walked around for a while longer, and cabbed it to Wakimono in lakeview… which btw is a Sushi place I’ve been wanting to try for over a year. Again I was good and didn’t eat sushi. I had edamame, and “Artisan Tofu in sesame and Chili oil” which was pretty spicy and REALLY REALLY REALLY good. We went to a fun candy store that has EVERY type of candy you’rve ever heard of… but I didn’t even sample. THEN we flew over to Bobtail… home of my favorite iced cream in Chicago… which is a Homemade Merlot with dark chocolate chips. Yet again, I was good and I sat ice cream out.

Today we went to Bistro 110 for brunch which is a semi-fancy French Quater kind of restaurant right off of the Magnificent Mile. This time Harold, Kevin’s friend Shila–who is also really fun, and Joli’s husband joined us. We all had delicious breakfasts. Many had crepes but had a fritatta which also turned out to be very good. (Luckily, the chef was kind enough to make it without mushrooms for me.) The service was quite nice, and they had a live new orleans style Jazz band. It wasn’t terribly expensive either… two breakfasts + coffee and soda: $50 w/ tip! Following that, we visited the Hershey botique across the street. Again… no indulgences.

After that, Shila departed and we went on a floating tour of the city. We boarded on the river, went through the locks and out to the lake where we saw the city from afar (but not very far) We headed back in toward through the locks and toured the south fork of the river but not very far shouth… down to about Jackson street. The views were beautiful and aside from the fact that it was a tad cold and I opted NOT to bring a jacket, the entire 90 minute ride was fantastic. I even learned quite a few pieces of Chicago trivia. Why Streeterville is called Streeterville, for example. Unfortunately I forgot we planned to go on the boat ride today and also forgot a camera.

We said our goodbyes, and Harold and I had dinner at Roti again. All in all, a fantastic weekend… and I stayed on my diet… only 7 more days until phase 2!

Stay good kids,
Brett Patrick Casey :o)

A love affair with space…

When I was a relatively small child I had, from time to time, the occasion to visit some of the older homes and apartments around Jefferson City. Often, these occurances were to help friends that my dad collected while working at the Christian bookstore move into a new apartment. Sometimes downtrodden people, at least as I remember them. Growing up as I did, in a home that was small but new when we moved into it, I thought anyone who lived in a home older than 20 years was poor. Not that we had any fortune of significance, but poor as far as I knew it. The detail and craftsmanship of these homes fascinated me. Why should that kind of craftsmanship and architectural beauty be reserved only for people of limited means?

I knew that at some point in my life, I just had to live in a home like this. As I grew a little older my interest in design, particularly that of interior spaces, became a stronger and more prevalent influence in my life. I found that the spaces I was most drawn to were modern ones created inside the preserved shells of older homes. At some point it became clear that monetary wealth had nothing to do whether people chose to live in an older home or not.

The history of architecture and its inhabitants began a thirst in me that in spite of my research, touring, and current living situation remains unquenched even today.

I watched a movie tonight that took place in the late ’50s and early ’60s. The setting was a little bit older town and so most of the architectual details in the homes were those common right around the turn of the century. My current apartment here in Chicago was built in 1901. Recently, I had the opportunity to tour the (currently) vacant apartment upstairs. Because of unruly tennants, our place has had more cosmetic updates than the place upstairs. Both places retain many of the original details and much of the building’s charm.

These details jump out at me with some frequency, but even more often they are lost in the day to day business of life. Right after watching this movie tonight though, they hit me with new and intensified importance and familiarity.

The crowns on the windows doors, the 10 inch baseboards, the paneled archway and the coffered ceilings. They’re all filled with the stories of the past hundred and eight years. During World War 1, this apartment was here… people lived in it, perhaps one if their children fought. On December 7, 1941 its inhabitants likely sat in this living room, or the kitchen and listened to the radio reports. World War 2, the Kennedy Assassanation, the Challenger explosion, all of them were recieved and considered by people living in this apartment. The people living here, these events affected them, their decisions their tastes, and therefore their contributions to the current character and state of this structure. What were their lives like?

Why was the double-hinged door dividing the front and back of the apartment removed? The holes from its hinges remain. Did it break? What events led to its removal? Was there a fight between a husband and wife in which the door broke?  I wonder what happened here. I wonder what happened all over this city.

Brett Patrick Casey :o)

Twitter Creepiness.

There is someone as Comcast whose job it is to search Twitter posts with the word “Comcast” in them, and respond to people. Yesterday, someone asked me “What is wrong” when I posted “I hate Comcast.” For the moment I find this a little creepy (because they really didn’t do anything wrong, I was just whining about the fact that I scheduled them at the same time as something else, and their appointment window is so long. I know that’s pretty standard for any cable company though. So now I have to feel a little guilty about that. However, if there had been a real problem that I wasn’t receiving help with over the phone, I suppose the Twitter lady would be quite a nice thing. So in general, I remain on the fence on the twitter-crawling.

Off to do interviews, Harold is going to wait around for Comcast.
Brett Patrick Casey :o)

8 hours of 1:1 time with a pro photographer: priceless

Even though it (on VERY seldom occasion) requires me to work on a Sunday, can I just tell you how much I absolutely love my job?

I was fortunate enough to spend a bunch of time with a professional photographer yesterday during an on-location shoot for work.

Achieving Impossible focus. This makes me happy.

Brett Patrick Casey :o)

The Year In Review…or whatever.

I’ve now been living in Chicago for a little over a year.

A conversation I had today sort of made me realize how drastically my life has changed in the last year. This wasn’t actually a realization that I came to on my own, the person I was having the conversation with said this to me. He’s right.

My life has changed a lot. He also said that something seems like it is wrong with me, and that I don’t have a good attitude living here. Something is wrong with me: I’ve gained a whole bunch of weight back and I feel like shit about it ALL the time… but I’m doing something about it. I wouldn’t say that any general attitude about me comes as a direct result of surroundings.

Sure, living in the city has its challeneges. Depending on what time you’re travelling, and how far you are going, it can take an hour and a half to get there. For some reason, Illinois drivers are crazy morons. (As Ryan always said) Like seriously, it snows here a lot… but people in Missouri can handle it so much better. I’m not sure if its the snow combined with the much increased number of cars on the roads or what… but the people can’t handle it. Same when it rains. They can’t do it. It’s like bad. Parking can suck too… my car is currently parked two and a half blocks away. Normally it actually isn’t that bad, but right now is bar time… and I live right above two pretty popular bars. (The Secret Polish one, and The Filapino Karaoke One) which makes parking much worse about this time, especially on the weekends.

I’ve grown a lot as a designer, and (if I ever find time) would like to re-do my site and portfolio to get some new stuff out there for the people to look at.

Harold is VERY great. In every aspect. At almost everything. Sometimes it makes me ill. Though he is constantly doing everything in his power to make me feel the contrary; I sometimes feel like this stupid little person that he has to put up with. I don’t feel like he should have to deal with it. With me. That’s my own shit, and not his, and I know it. I’ve decided to look up some therapists to sort of explore that a bit.

I feel like I’ve come a long way from working at the Pizza Hut in Jefferson City, right? Why can’t I be proud of those accomplishments? Why (in my head) is nothing I do ever good enough to feel proud about? Every accomplishment always feels like a stepping stone to something else–not something to be celebrated–something to be embarrassed about having to go through. Like, I should have understood it sooner, learned it faster, adapted more quickly, whatever.

Another thing that is very different about being here is that I have no celebrity factor. I don’t mean that the way it sounds… In Missouri, I was very out and about, and a lot of people (in my community) knew who I was and sort of the things I did. The bar community, and the more organized LGBT community overlap so much there… it was sort of a natural thing. I’m not sure how much they overlap here. Not that I go out to bars and make myself known there either, quite the opposite actually. Harold and I have gone to bars toghether exactly seven times in the year we’ve been together. Four of those, he has left early because he was tired or not feeling well. I need to find another way to be social. I used to be good at bars. I’m not good at them anymore, and I don’t want to be in them as often or as much. Even though here they are so much bigger and nicer, they are still really losing their appeal.

Harold and I host dinner parties, and brunches and (on occasion go to them.) If we go to a party, it usually has something to do with church. For example, a couple of weeks ago we attended a wine an cheese tasting that one of his friends at church gave him tickets for. It was fabulous, it was hosted by another couple from church. They opened up their gorgous (not to mention giant) home in Hyde Park for this fourty person event. (Part of the church fundraising auction… Harold donated a big southern brunch, which we’ll actually be having tomorrow afternoon!)

I like this time in my life, and I enjoy doing these things. The only trouble–and also the reason I need to figure out other ways to be social–is that all of these wonderful people are Harold’s friends. Everyone is always really nice to me, and very welcoming, but its not like I could really call any of them if I wanted someone to go catch a movie with or something. Unforunately, Harold has to work a lot. We all know I’m not the biggest fan of sitting around by myself–though I’ve gotten better at that too.

I feel like nothing I do has worth, and I want so badly for it to. By the end of the year, 150+ million people will have seen my motion and print designs in locations around the country. That’s cool, right? Something to be excited about? I am. But it doesn’t seem good enough. I feel like the work could be better. I’m always pushing for it to be. I feel its getting closer. I’m excited about that. I’m really excited to see what we can do the better we work together, and the more we figure timetables and other things out. Its a good thing. I’ve got to teach myself some AfterEffects though. I just need to.

Its been a pretty shitty week. I lost a friend (in MO) this week. One of the directors of the theater group I was in the last few months I lived there. We’ve actually kept in touch this year. Because I’m here, I feel guilty for not being able to really be there for the other people in our little group. I’m thinking about them, and his partner constantly. I really really wish it hadn’t happeend. Its so shitty. It still doesn’t feel entirely real. We hung out and sang showtunes over Thanksgiving.

Well, I guess I should go to bed. I have to get up early to clean for the decadent southern brunch tomorrow.

Brett Patrick Casey

Hmmmmm.

Eeek!

Anyone who knows me well, knows why this particular photo horrifies me. The work though, is very nice. I espcially like this series. “Departure” Series is here: http://www.daniel-everett.com/

Brett Patrick Casey :o)