Notes from a Friend's Town

1. There exist, most certainly within the range of the appendages of my arm's appendage, all that my soul, mind, & body require to operate as a efficient & content collective. 2. Detachment doesn't always indicate a negative response. There are times you must employ a bit of distance to respond effectively. 3. Walking sticks should always have character. I don't look forward to the days when I'll need the assistance of one but I do know without an ounce of question that my walking stick will undoubtedly be the "coolest" walking stick two eyes could fall upon in that part of the century. 3a. I'm most interested in an excellent walking partner for that time as well. Quite frankly, much more than I desire the previously referenced apparatus. I suppose one must earn one of those much earlier in life though. 4. I have heard from trusted sources & tortured souls alike that in routine, there exist comfort. That we revert to routine in trying times ...

1. Abita's SOS was so-so, definitely expected a bit more from them. I know Pilsners go well with seafood but this didn't have enough kick. That's some resilient people along the coast, the charity brew should be equally as strong. 2. God bless the caregivers. Grant them never ending strength & rest that is always restorative for their lives are not their own and they aim only to comfort those in pain. 3. The fact that the news media was aware of the threat that would be posed to American Military personnel by publicizing the ramblings of a disturbed church leader intent on burning the Quran on the anniversary of the Sept 11 attacks & they insisted on looping the story for 5 days is a major problem. Their collective desire for improved ratings is going to create greater difficulty for the poor shleps working in combat zones. 4. Lesson #?? of adulthood: Physical exhaustion is the excuse children employ because they have yet to learn how to separate their bodies from ...

1. There must be a cold front lurking somewhere near by because this heat is ridiculous. 2. For what it's worth, I miss you. That doesn't erase the last piece of unresolved business between you & I but I'm man enough to say it in this impersonal digital medium with no clear clue as to who you are. That's how our exchange began through an impersonal digital medium with seemingly no clue whatsoever. 3. I've bought Chewy organic dog food. I'm hoping I don't become one of those obsessive pet owners I've spent years finding amusement in observing. 4. It's family time in my group of friends. Engagements are well under way, children are due, birthdays & month milestones are being marked. & I'm standing on the side, with my dog, realizing that he's the most likely to ride through thick & thin. 5. This whole business of transcending desire troubles me. I'm actually quite fond of desire as it is attached in part to my creative im...

1. I saw an older couple walking down the street today. The husband walked a solid clip for his age while his wife lagged behind a bit, slowed by the need to use a walking cane. He turned around realizing she was behind him, albeit by about 15 ft, & waited. Once she caught up, he extended his hand & walked with her at her pace. 2. In the routine, we find peace. In the details, we find ourselves. In part(s). 3. 9 days from Nirvana, 4 days til class begins & 2 days until the weekend. Yes, it appears my life has been reduced to a series of countdowns. 4. I'll stop laughing when I cease to find it amusing. Not a minute prior. 5. I requested some gift giving advice from a trusted source. Much to my dismay, I was told what I had suspected all along, regarding the appropriateness of my intended gift, was indeed correct. Oh how infrequently one longs to be wrong. Alas, such a victory was not provided today. I have instead, chosen to settle for the "lesser" gift. ...

1. If you didn't want to play anymore, all you had to do was say I'm out instead of just not showing up at the usual spot anymore. You could've left a note even. 2. It's ridiculously hot these days. The air is thick, refusing to cool even if you move it with a fan. Where, I ask, is the beautiful month of October? 3. Way too excited about this new recycled fire hose chew toy coming for my pet monster (Chew Wu!)! We'll see if it's as durable as the website claims, he's already demolished in 60 days a calf shin bone that was supposed to last a year. 4. The best approach remains show & prove not discuss then deliver. 5. *late pass* Why does J. Timberlake sound like a fake ass Ginuwine? Why get the knock-off when you could just buy the original? 6. I want to start collecting art from aspiring artists. Not so that I can brag about having an early piece once they achieve a degree of notoriety in the art world, although I might should that happen. It's m...

1. If I make an apple pie, substituting cherries for apples, is it still an apple pie? No it's not, it's a cherry pie. 2. I'm only mildly intrigued this time, so I'm barely invested which means I expect smalls returns. Funny thing is, it's the little things... 3. Coral will be the color for Spring 2011. We've seen pink, orange, greens (lighter end), turquoise, yellow & most recently purple (lavender) in the past decade. 4. Gift giving is an art. Too generic, it comes across as an afterthought, go too specific & you come across as obsessive. 5. Just because there are sights to be seen doesn't mean you need to allow your gaze to linger. 6. There are times when you could use someone right there by your side. In the event you come to that point sans support, the only thing left to do is move forward. 7. I hate hearing the right thing from the wrong people. It's not that they're wrong, it's just the weight of the words is off.

1. The inability to produce a summer beverage that retains it's flavor profile in the presence of ice is grounds for my mother to ban you from the kitchen. It doesn't matter if it's Kool Aid, Iced Tea (bag or powder mix) or iced coffee. Waste a gallon of water making something refreshing that tastes like tainted water in the presence of ice and you'll be banned from the kitchen until soup production season. 2. Summer brings out my sweet tooth like no other season. Lemon Meringue Pie, Peach Cobbler, Apple Pie just about any concoction that involves fruit, dough, and sugar is fair game. I may even try my hand at dessert production this year. 3. Chocolate City is looking less chocolate these days. Much to my dismay, I suspect this was going to happen when I returned 5 yrs ago. 4. This Oscar Grant verdict reads like salt in an open wound. The jury acquits, Gov. Schwarzenegger tells the Mayor of Oakland that the state of California, which is in record breaking debt, has ...