February 6, 2004

I cleaned out my e-mail box today. I was holding on to many e-mails that I wanted to respond to for some reason. I unwittingly sent out a prank virus e-mail in the summer. I wanted to say something to the people who gave me a heads up. There were listeners who e-mailed the show above and beyond the call of duty. I wanted to give a personal Super Thank You. There are friends who I hold onto the last e-mail from as a reminder to keep in touch. Well, they?re all gone. And it feels great. Fucking great. There is nothing better than a fresh start. I am still planning on changing my e-mail address. What if I change my e-mail address and not tell anybody. Is it really changed? This is a question for the ages.

Also deleted. Notes to myself to remember conversations with friends. Example. That kind of defeats the purpose of me riding my bike out to your house ? you picking me up.

Once, back in the day, when I was like 16 or 17 years old, I had an infected pimple that made my eye swell up like I was punched. I went to the emergency room. The doctor said that my sinus was completely infected and that the infection was almost to my brain. The doctor said, one more day, and I could have died. I love almost dying. If it weren?t for the pain, I would almost die every day. It really clears out the head. I have a sore blackhead on my cheek right over my sinus at this moment. I am going for it.

This afternoon, in the lobby of my building, I saw an extremely tall man with arms that were disproportionately short compared to the rest of his body. Woah. The guy had some short arms. And they weren?t baby arms. They were just really short compared to the rest of him.

If I can do tomorrow during the day, I?ll do it: Tales of the New Salem Witch Hunters. Otherwise, I will see you at the Beachland.

Go Cavaliers. Make it happen.

posted by Thea at 7:38 PM

February 5, 2004

The Cavaliers losing last night at the buzzer (you can say all you want about the Cavaliers losing it in overtime but they lost that game before the final five minutes) was a crusher. Without a center in the closing moments, there was nothing that the Cavaliers could do to stop Shaquille O’neal. Carlos Boozer, a big man and a strong defender, looked like a little boy against O’neal. I understand why LeBron James wanted to shoot it in Gary Payton’s face. I was a teenager once. You learn. It’s funny, I was telling my once and future mentor (neither one named Chuck) that I think that I am crazier now than I was when he first met me thirteen and a half years ago. It is just that with age, I now have a filter. When I was nineteen – no filter whatsoever. I think a little bit (just a little) before I speak now. That’s age. LeBron James will get there and the Cavaliers will win them at the buzzer.

I had a wretched commute on the bus this morning. Flyer. My ass.

Jeff, from many notable local bands and a co-worker of mine, hooked me up with links to a bunch of websites with pictures of abandoned buildings on them. I got very excited when he told me about them because I always think that nobody else likes weird crap except for me. I am mentally planning a trip to Detroit, MI.

I went to the library to do some research for work. I found a book with many major errors on the topic I was researching. I laughed out loud. That’s not right. I used to think that because it was in a book that could be found on a library shelf, it had to be true. No. Not really. For some people, books are just something else that they did – not their life’s work. Written. Printed. Sold. Sitting on a library shelf somewhere. Maybe somebody taking it off and laughing at it every now and again. That sounds good to me.

For the first time since being hit by the car, I closed the door to my office and did push-ups and sit ups at work. Man. Perfect. I feel great. Fucking great. I need to find the Alcatraz Workout and get back at it.

Going home. Eating dinner. Going for a walk. Reading. To bed. Tomorrow.

posted by Thea at 4:36 PM

February 4, 2004

I did not have the Winter Blahs last year. I was suffering from a blazing bladder infection during the dog days of February. The intense pain took my mind off of the blues. A fact. I am about sick of cold weather this time of the year. I know. So is everybody. But it is me who is BLOGGING. Self absorbed. Point of view. Besides the pain, I was just starting to get my rock on with the band. Even though it was painful to sit behind the drums, they were going boom boom boom and that made me forget that it sucks too. That was last year. I am not too down now. I am having a bit of a hard time sitting still at work. I am agitated. It’s like there are ants in the pants. I need some activities at the office. Maybe I should go walking at lunch? Even with the snow, Winter has been easier this year. My apartment is totally warm. That is helping the situation out immensely. Laurie and I have been going out walking every night. The sidewalks on Lake Avenue are treacherous from the ice. I hold my arm close to my body because I want the shoulder to stay put if I fall. Every night, we debate whether to go out or not. We hit it every night. We complain while we are walking but we are both happy that we got out for a while once we are home.

posted by Thea at 9:26 PM

February 3, 2004

I saw this picture on the e-mail computer today. It is literally right around the corner from where I live from back in the day - way back in the day. Like when there were streetcars running up and down Clifton Blvd. This particular streetcar was part of the Lake Shore Electric Railway Co. This line of streetcars ran from Cleveland, OH to Toledo, OH through Vacationland (Shout outs to Ruggles Beach, Mitiwonga Park and Beulah Beach – Top of the Food Chain) with a connection to Detroit, MI. I could tell you that I totally think that life was better in the past but I want you to consider that it took four hours to get to Toledo, OH on the electric trolley and ask yourself if it makes any difference. I am wondering. I am thinking about it. Is progress making the difference? Aren't we the same people? Is life getting worse? Does fast food and the interstate make life blow? I don’t know. I do know this: I love looking at old pictures on the e-mail computer.

posted by Thea at 9:36 PM

February 1, 2004

Big ups to my dad on his 59th birthday! He is the man now dog.

I told Thea that I was going to start BLOGGING again. It was a month off. That was enough. I told her that I was ready to start kicking again. And I am. But not tonight. I am trying to avoid massive statement. It is my enemy.

So, what did I do in the last month? I spent a lot of time with my family. I spent a lot of time with my wife. I am just over two thirds done with editing the second book. I spent a lot of time listening to jams. I spent a lot of time thinking. I am ready, again, to kick it into gear. I think I have a game plan. I think I have a time frame. I think that I have goals. Now, it is time just live and let it happen. I don’t know. I feel pretty good about the road ahead and am looking forward to seeing how it all turns out because I am sure that it is going to be pretty far off what I am thinking it will be now.

I doubt that I will talk about any of this tomorrow on the Assholier than Thou Good Times Happy Friends Monday Morning Radio Show Starring Baby Fea (yea!).

posted by Thea at 7:51 PM