To DA January 18 2010

Dear Pen-pal,
Are you /Did you go to Germany to see the opera? I didn't realize you were such a jet-setter. I have recently started a project where I use musical elements to control video of myself dancing. I'm pretty excited about it. It's been a while since I've been excited something like that. I put a video up on the youtube the other day. What have you been making?
-Gabe

To JT January 18 2010

Dear Pen-pal,
I have to admit that I am a little jealous as I love being in school and love upstate New York.
Not that long ago I had an interview for a job at West Point. The second half of interview was spent discussing all of the things I like about upstate New York.
Surprisingly, I didn't get the job.
-Gabe

From JT January 11 2010

Hi Gabe-
I'm at RPI, yes, doing this E.Arts PhD program. Strange to be in school. I like the quiet of upstate but miss the goings on & people in NYC. What you doing in LA? Driving gloves are a good idea & would make YR. time behind the wheel a la mode...

From DA January 11 2010

I think I knew you weren't in Oregon anymore, but I'm glad to know about the air. I am flying to Germany on Wednesday, and I am imagining the air there will be a lot like it is here - clod and dry. I decided I am bringing boots, which I may have to wear to the opera, since it seems absurd to pack another pair of shoes for a one week trip. My lips are chapped; I imagine that'll be about the same in Leipzig. Remember Alisha? She made me a potato out of paper clay, and it's I keep looking at in between sentences. If I liked potatoes more, I'd have tried to eat it by now. What are you making these days?

Rejection

Dear Applicant,
Thank you for your recent interest in a pen-pal position. After careful deliberation, I regret to inform you that I have chosen more suitable applicants.
I will keep your application on file should another position open up.
Thank you,
Gabriel

To KE January 6 2010

Dear Pen-pal,
Some guy just sat behind me at the coffee shop and he keeps talking about his fancy bike and how cool he is. I kind of want to punch him.
Did you know that the Toronto coat of arms pictures a beaver and a bear plotting to attack an eagle?! I think it's pretty clear where terrorists come from.
Love, Gabe

p.s. The guy I wanted to punch is wearing a fanny-pack and just told his friend that some movie is supposed to be better than Pearl Harbor.

To LG January 6 2010

Dear Pen-pal,
I am working on a project where I use an audio signal to control video footage of myself dancing. It seems wrong to talk about computers on a postcard, however, I really wanted to tell you about it. In principle, each of my limbs would be controlled by a separate audio signal and the resultant video would projected behind me.

To DA January 6 2010

Dear Pen-pal,
I am not actually in Oregon anymore, but I can still tell you about it. The air there is cool and damp. It has a wet smell, but not like mildew, more like moss. During the summer your lawn dies and everything is overtaken by black berries. When the winter arrives, your lawn suddenly springs back to life. It's too soon for me to say that I miss it, maybe later.
-Gabe

To AK January 6 2010

Dear Pen-pal,
Now that I've acquired 5 pen-pals, I suddenly don't have anything to say. I am presently sitting outside at a coffee shop across the street from my elementary school. When I lived in Brooklyn, I always wished that they would open a coffee shop in walking distance from my apartment. Shortly before I moved out of New York, one opened up a block away. Unfortunately, it wasn't very good.
-Gabe

To JT January 6 2010

Dear Pen-pal,
What are you doing in ____? Are you at ____? I am in _______ presently. While I do enjoy that it is 70 degrees in January, I also miss some aspects of actual winter, for example; seeing your breath when you go outside. I also like wearing scarves and gloves. I am thinking of getting some gloves that I can wear around town. I guess they could be driving gloves.
-Gabe