guess what fenske, the happiness formula works

there's a theory going around that good things make you happier if you've gone without them for some time. it's proving true. I've been without legal wheels for almost two years now.

and while I don't have plates yet for the new cherrybomb, I'm already beating the street with the bravado that goes hand in hand with being legal.

and today I purchased "insurance" so I'm not held "liable" for any of my "booboos." SOLEGAL!

I almost drank a ladybug

instead I coughed up a throat full of leigh street malaria water

friday was filth and puddles and pushing and blood and thrill.
and rugby with some wild eyed homies who make me smile.

just like to remind the viewing audience that saying yes is scarier, but always more rewarding.

what will I add to my journey today? how will I help others journey?

say yes more often.

not my shirt

I do not own the shirt pictured at the left:
mine is obviously blue.
duh.

we gave it 110%

and it paid off.

throwing a party is a funny thing. mounds of energy and prep, worries and woes all spent to make sure the thing goes off without a hitch. smoke and mirrors to set up, refreshments to round up, costumes and make up.

then the hour comes.
and nobody comes.

ah yes, fashionably late, nothing to worry about.

and they came, oh did they come. eventually they all came; werewolves and pop stars, brandcenter logos and umas.

and it was a party.



there was dancing and chaos and blood and nakedness. pots of beer and cake all smeared. round and round and round we went until someone blurted that the kegs had run dry and the juice was no more.

and still we went round.

and then we were in the street. and all our friends were going home. somehow. toilets and beds were calling their names. and daylight.

there would be no dreaming tonight. all that magic had already been spent.















you stay classy, brandcenter.

et tu, Carrie?

the evolution of relationships is a puzzling thing. romantic ones are difficult enough to unravel, but platonic ones? how do you know if your casual internet buddy has graduated to full fledged BFF status?? and is the feeling always mutual?

like any other relationship, what you get out of a friendship mirrors what you put in, and if you keep it purely superficial that's what you'll get in return. which isn't necessarily a bad thing. superficial buddies have their place, social connections, drinking circles and whatnot.

but the awesomeness of true friendship lies in the elevated expectations. and it goes both ways. you know that person'll go to the mat for you; you're plenty pleased to reciprocate. it's quite wonderful. where it gets sticky is when the superficial starts acting like the true friendship type. expectations don't match up. some become abusive and others get pooped on. it's mostly nasty.

when it comes to friendship, even when we try to keep it light, how do we end up in the dark?

takin' out the trash

friday night ten-thirty pm I exit the tobacco company down in the slip. four kids in a donked out caprice roll up to the stop at 12th and cary, music bumpin'.

before the car completes its turn three beat cops are chasing it down, guns drawn. pistols stuffed through car windows and into kids faces. shouting ensues.

hands in the air.
out of the car now.

how violated do these kids feel?

crowds of white folk gather to see what the big hoo-ha is. they find the amount of force used inappropriate. I find it offensive.
before all is said and done four squad cars are on the scene. better safe than sorry.
thank you richmond pd.
thank you for keeping our streets squeaky clean.

sunday brunch at the house o'payne

had quite a busy morning. some of us talked with god at church, some of us found her in the kitchen. the wisest of us skipped god and slept in. then we got together for pancakes and fruit. and good company.









it's rosh hashanah this week, a great time to talk about things we're grateful for that happened in the year past. friendship was a pretty common theme around the table. hmmm. we were just sucking up to each other. but we all seemed especially grateful for the house of payne. this place is becoming an institution. seems like its made quite a few people happy in the short while its existed, and that's mui importante.

something to consider: yom kippur is coming up this weekend. its a time to reflect on how we can do better next year; better for ourselves, for each other, for the earth community as a whole. it's easy to get caught up in the chaos of the moment. lets be sure its not at the expense of bigger adventure.

by the way, brunch was delicious. next time yer all invited. welcome to the fam, amber!