And with that…

…I hereby close this blog.

It’s been a long time coming.

I’d rather kill it now than continue to watch die a slow, lonely, painful death.

I may pick up a bloggy-type thing again, eventually.

(In fact, I’m sure I will; I can never keep shut up for very long.)

In the meantime:
- web site: Vicarious Evolution Entertainment
- tumblr: Things I Like More Than People

Black Mesa Indigenous Support Trip

The edited version of an essay of mine, reflecting a recent volunteer trip to Navajo County, Ariz., has been featured in the PackratNest.

Here’s the text, in full:

Photos: Road Trip

In our 30s together

I tried to help pay. I always do. He almost never lets me. He let me once in the entire time I’ve known him, and that was one of the first times we’d seen each other since I graduated college. (In fact that one time he not only let me pay for myself but for his beer as well.) Before that he always said he’d buy me lunch whenever we went out, but that was when I was a student, and now that I wasn’t, I wasn’t sure of the rule, so I always tried to help pay. I would do that anyway; I was raised to never assume anyone would buy anything for you.

In his usual way: “Put your damn wallet away.”

“Oh are you sure?” I protested a bit. “Mine was more money than yours.”

“Want to leave the tip then? 4 bucks.”

“Okay.”

“I’ll pay for you until you’re 30.”

“Oh is that the new rule?”

“Though once you’re in your 30s, I’ll be in my 40s, and I’ll be wanting a hand-out… Wait, will we be in our 30s together at all?”

“What month’s your birthday? ‘71 baby right?”

“Yeah. June.”

“We’ll be in our 30s together for 2 months.”

“Oh great.” He gave me his bitter little laugh.

Photos: Paul’s Apartment at Peach’s Grill

Local band Paul’s Apartment playing at Peach’s Grill for Neil Thompson’s benefit, September 27 2008

Raccoon attack

Tonight on my way home from work I was charged by a raccoon.

It was in an unlit walkway between two streets and some shops (King’s Yard for those of you familiar with Yellow Springs, Ohio), and I sat the silouette of two creatures. I paused and took a step toward them, thinking them cats, which I love and always try to seduce. The one in the back I think was a cat. The one closer to me was not a cat. I saw this immediately and before I could do anything it came at me, running full speed toward my feet, making a noise like a small dog wrenching and writhing a small child.

I kind of yelled. Did I mention it was dark, and that it was a narrow footpath so I had nowhere to run and I probably would have tripped and then I would have really been in trouble? I had a baguette in my hand, not for me, I’m gluten intolerant but I was bringing it to this family I know. I swung the baguette and it whacked the raccoon in the face. It was tossed kind of behind me to the edge of the footpath, and I looked back at it assuming it would come at me again. It didn’t, so I walked quickly away.

I brought the bread to the family’s house, left them a note saying they might want to cut off the ends (I didn’t remember which end), and also that I wouldn’t be camping in their yard as I had intended because tonight I was terrified of raccoons (which also frequent their yard), and making a comment about how gluten isn’t all bad for me, it saved my life or at least my ankles.

Photos: Sideshow/Variotee (Mostly Fire)

Manton Ave Project’s Bigtop! a three ring musicale – May 2008 – photo by Mark Turek

June 2008 – photo by Jamie

September 2008 – photos by Jonas Byrnes

Photos: Ireland

Ireland – see more

Photos: Summer

Reflection Pond at the Christian Scientist Center – South End, Boston, MA

Photos: Ri Ra, Post Logic Collective, Providence Library

Ri Ra