Intoxication

At Starbucks tonight, the following questions/thoughts were forced upon me:

What invisible, external substance do groups of individuals roundly consume in order to become socially drunk? Not intoxicated by liquor. No. By just sitting at a table with cups of water, a group that I was in close proximity to became intoxicated.

Laughing overtly. Obnoxious comments. Arguing. Singing. Odd hand gestures. Convulsions. Disturbing noises. Modulated voices.

They were drunk. Just being together was somehow license to carouse and cavort with manners no better than that of twitchy, methamphetamine abusing, rainbow coloured Shetland show-ponies.

And this was in coffee shop, not a bar.

What manner of buffoon is it that can be wholly and serenely unaware of their surroundings and the level to which they infringe upon other people by their actions? At what point is it okay to label a person so flummoxed by commonplace social etiquette an unforgivable, hopeless Philistine? An ignoramus? A dolt?

Pics from Access 5k Outreach

Hatchets & Sweet Tea

Last weekend, I spent some time with a couple friends that I met while enrolled at college. They're lovely people that moved perhaps 18 months ago to a better job, a nicer house, and a coastal town. Together, the three of us spent the fat portion of that drizzly Sunday afternoon exchanging jokes, snapping snapshots, crisscrossing all around downtown, and eating at a barbecue chain. I drank southern tea and ate chicken wings with brown sugar. They drank Cokes and had sandwiches with garlic bread in lieu of white, wheat, rye, or pumpernickel.

After dinner, I departed from them with a full heart. And stomach.

Our relationship has not always been this way; in fact, there have been several occasions where I violently spouted obscenities at him. Several occasions. Violent obscenities.

My friend. His wife. And we had wonderful last Sunday together.

What mended relationships? How are we in a good place again?

(1) humility
(2) time
(3) honesty
(4) real attempts, however thwarted and feeble they may be, at having some objectivity
(5) love.

Last night, I formally buried the hatchet with another person. It was like taking the first pain-free, deep breath after being held underwater; instantly, I recognized that it was over. The spell was lifted. The surface broken. The breath finally taken.

I enjoy enjoying people. I like being hopeful.
Thinking quite badly of people can be the godawfullest thing.

I am again reminded of my friend's words, "Get over yourself." More and more, I understand them anew each day.

Admit we're all douche bags. Forgive someone. Live life with others. Love everyone.

jacksonpollack.org

I really enjoy the website www.jacksonpollack.org because of it's simplicity and subtle creativity. It recently won a Webby, which is a sort of Oscar for the world wide web, though acceptance are limited to five words only. You can see video pertaining to the 13th annual event, including all of the five word acceptance speeches on The Webby Award youtube channel. Some of them are really quite funny...

Your assignments, then, are as follows:
(1) try www.jacksonpollack.org;
(2) check out The Webby Award acceptance speeches.

Ending The Letter: Rant: Your spirituality sucks.

In my opinion, Chris Abel has recently written one of the better notes on religion/God that I've read in awhile. You should read it.

Ending The Letter: Rant: Your spirituality sucks.

California Baseball Band

I went to a show this evening at Black & Brew, a local coffee/beer/sandwich shop. A friend of mine, Austin Quinn, is a member of the band that was featured this evening, California Baseball Band. I really, really enjoyed their music. You should give them a listen. Really.

http://www.myspace.com/californiabaseballband

Six Book Saturday

Today, I purchased six books from the local chapter Salvation Army Thrift Store. They ranged in price from $.99 to $1.99. The total: $11.49.

I bought:

1. The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho (yes, I do already own this one, but I thought I'd give it to someone),
2. The Idiot by Fyodor Dostoevsky,
3. Dracula by Bram Stoker,
4. The Shipping News by E. Annie Proulx,
5. The Poisonwood Bible by Barbara Kingsolver, &
6. There Eyes Were Watching God by Zora Neale Hurston.

All things considered, this was quite the boon for me. As you may know, I purchase books at a compulsive rate sometimes. This idiosyncrasy was brought to light again today, though at a reasonable cost. In a manner much like Chris Abel's recent post, I know I will read them...sometime...

New Music?¿Good Music

In no particular order, this is a list of some (relatively) new music that I think is worth a listen:

*Conor Oberst: Outer South
*Jason Lytle: Yours Truly, The Commuter
*Japandroids: Post-Nothing
*Serge Gainsbourg: Histoire De Melody Nelson
*Phoenix: Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix
*Manic Street Preachers: Journal For Plague Lovers
*Bill Calahan: Sometimes I Wish I Were An Eagle
*Isis: Wavering Radiant
*The Decemberists: The Hazards of Love
*Me Without You!: It's All Crazy! It's All False! It's All a Dream! It's Alright!
*Grizzly Bear: Veckatimest
*Leonard Cohen: Live in London
*Bat For Lashes: Two Suns
*Antony & the Johnsons: The Crying Light