birthday madness

I'll be spending next Saturday (the 11th) celebrating my birthday (June 12th). Apparently, there's a book fair in Printer's Row that I'll be at during the day. That evening, I'll be doing sushi at a local restaurant to be determined. If you are reading this, please consider yourself invited. If you know of a good sushi place (here in Chicago) that also caters to my various vegetarian friends, please let me know.

If you're one of those strange people who believe in giving gifts through wish lists, you can find one for me at:

• Amazon.com using my name (I'm the only Amul Kumar on amazon).


• B&H Photo/Video which is mostly film that I can never have too much of. 


• practically anything from The Pinhole Resource, although particularly the set of Micro Drilled Pinholes. 


• Other good presents if you don't know me (although I don't understand why you'd get me a present if that's the case): antique camera equipment (you can find a lot of them for cheap at thrift stores), music that you enjoy, books on photography, art & art books


• In the end though, the best gift you could give me is your company.

Okay, I feel really embarrassed now.

another damn receipt

Found another receipt in the first pair of shorts I've worn this summer. This one was from the Phipps conservatory, the last date Ziggy and I went on before I moved. When I realized what it is from, I pulled out the stack of photos we took together that day and leafed through them.

Again, it stuck me that I can't do this with Christine. It's evolutionary instinct to remember the bad things, that's how we learn to protect ourselves from hurt. Without these tools to remember the good moments, it is no wonder that I have difficulty remembering the good in my relationship with her.

I have some negatives from a trip to the Point that I took with Christine, that day the rivers flooded. I think I may try printing from some of them, the better to remember a rare moment of joy in that last, painful year.