Such a long, delayed flight, we didn’t get back and to bed until after 2PM. I am dying.
Too much walking. Too much heat.
Too many people for my introvert heart.
I am turning inside and finding only discomfort, tightness and pain.
Would that I could stand sensory deprivation, but claustrophobia’s a real bitch.
Target: 700 words
Written: 854 words, novella: The Mungk
Read: Through The Looking Glass, Lewis Carroll
Comics: Saga 5-8
Music: Other Worlds, Screaming TreesWe did that walk. Down Broadway. In ninety degree heat.
On the plus side, I got a good deal on good shirts and shorts from an Aeropostale outlet.
Also, of fashion in New York. I’m not sure who convinced women that the new trend should skin-tight and throw away those bras, but hell, good job, Illuminati or Obama or whoever we have to thank for that.
I know, I know.
Dirty old man, it’s horrible. I’m horrible.
I should be spayed and neutered already, and I would be, if it wasn’t for this damn sex drive. I’ll get you next time, meddling sex drive.
I think it’s official; I’ve got heat delusion. Goodbye, Central Park Zoo. I love your red panda and your penguins, but you should really let them all go home.
Target: 700 words
Written: 456 words, novella: The Mungk
Read: Assholes Finish First, Tucker Max (this shit is colouring my views, thank heaven it's done)
Comics: Saga 1-4 (HOLY SHIT)
Music: I Don't Give A Fuck About You, Pearl JamI’ve walked probably about fifty New York City blocks of varying lengths and my dogs are barking.
Still. I appreciate what the city has to offer and all, but damn.
I am peopled the fuck out.
There are too many people on this planet. I’m not calling for a plague or anything, but like, people, stop breeding.
Republicans claim to be pro-life, but man, abortion is one of the many ways we can help this planet by not contributing to overpopulation, unhappiness, children and parents in poverty or abuse, because they weren’t ready and didn’t want kids… you’re contributing to fucking misery and death, the death of us all, with your anti-environmental, anti-woman, anti-life stances.
Like fucking vegans, you’ve taken a high-minded principle (don’t abort fetuses or eat animals), and missed the actual real world impact of such a stance, both from a moral, and historical standpoint.
The most “noble” of intentions based on completely flawed premises (of course, I’d also argue that vegans may actually have noble intentions, but Republicans, given their pro-gun, pro-capital punishment and pro-who-gives-a-fuck-what-happens-to-the-kid-after-they’re-born stance, are entirely disin-fucking-genuous).
Anyway, people. Keep fucking, but stop breeding, for Pete’s sake, whoever Pete is.
Target: 700 words
Written: 962 words, novella: The Mungk
Read: Assholes Finish First, Tucker Max
Comics: Danger Girl: Renegade 3-4
Music: Other Pirate Material, The StreetsI usually hate musicals (and parts of this I didn’t care for), but this was still pretty good.
I guess maybe I’m okay with musical comedies?
If they star Daniel Radcliffe and Jonathan Groff?
Yeah?
Maybe?
Target: 700 words
Written: 1382 words, novella: The Mungk
Read: It Devours!, Joseph Fink, Jeffrey Cranor
Comics: Danger Girl: Mayday 3-4, Danger Girl: Renegade 1-2
Music: The Original Cowboy, Against Me! (EVERYTHING EXCLAMATION MARKS!!!)I think if I lived in New York, it’d be in Chelsea. Something about the vibe.
Of course, I hate people and I could never afford it, but you know, the vibe.
Still, space and quiet are more important to me. And besides, I’ve never bought into this idea that because something is from a big city, it’s automatically “better”. Street food in New York is no better than street food anywhere else (and I’ll die on the hill that Chicago dogs are the absolute fucking pinnacle of that kind of street food – New York’s is generic shit).
I might even say Chicago deep dish is better than New York pizza, that, in fact, having had pizza in many different parts of the world, I would actually rank New York pizza lower than most.
Toronto is the same fucking way. This attitude that bigger is better is idiotic. That might be true of Broadway shows, but let’s face it, a small indie flick usually has infinitely more depth and quality than a big budget action thriller or a star-driven rom-com.
Sometimes, the actual jungle is cooler is than the concrete one.
Target: 700 words
Written: 497 words, novella: The Mungk
Read: It Devours!, Night Valians
Comics: Danger Girl: The Chase 3-4, Danger Girl: Mayday 1-2
Music: The Original Broadway Cast Recording Of American Idiot (hey, when in Rome, right?)Here we are, at Tony DiNapoli’s in New York City, my lovely wife and I (and our daughter), enjoying family style fettucine alfredo and baked ziti over a glass of Chianti, because we can.
Because we’ve been married for fifteen lovely years, together for seventeen. I don’t necessarily believe in the reality of monogamy (and I think the insistence causes a lot of unhappiness in the world), but I wouldn’t choose anyone else to share these years with.
I can, without any doubt, say that I am a better man today for her, and for me.
Happy anniversary, darling.
Target: 700 words
Written: 293 words, novella: The Mungk
Read: It Devours!, The Night Vale Guys
Comics: Danger Girl: Trinity 3-4, Danger Girl: The Chase 1-2
Music: Origin Of Symmetry, MuseI can’t afford this trip, but my daughter and wife decided we must go see some musical with Daniel Radcliffe on Broadway.
I hate musicals, but Daniel Radcliffe’s pretty great and I guess, the rest of New York is all right.
So we’ll do this, regret it later, and I’ll probably have to work a bunch of OT to catch up.
Fuck me.
Target: 700 words
Written: 367 words, novella: The Mungk
Read: Fully Engaged, Thomas Sterner
Comics: Danger Girl/G.I. Joe 3-4, Danger Girl: Trinity 1-2
Music: Organic Soundball, Red Hot Chili PeppersSometimes, I wonder, why is this my life?
Why am I sitting on a couch, searching French asparagus recipes in a pair of swim trunks and an old St. Patrick’s Day t-shirt?
I should be sunning on the beaches of Ibiza or sauntering around Vienna or Santorini, or sharing drinks with Jimmy Buffett on St. Lucia. I should be enjoying the isolation of Lapland or the bustling, noisy markets of Marrakesh or the flowing drift of the Yangtze.
I should be surrounded by people I love, not people I haven’t let get close enough to really truly be myself with.
But, then… asparagus is pretty good. I’m a big foodie, I have a nice family, I’ve done plenty of travelling, to beaches and rivers and cities and tundra and so forth.
And Jimmy Buffett is dead.
Today is about wanting what you don’t have. Today is about appreciating what you do.
And thinking the world is a worse place without the margarita man. Rest well, Mr. Buffett. I too don’t know where I’m’a gonna go when the volcano blows.
Target: 500 words
Written: 400 words, novella: The Mungk
Read: The Sword Of Shannara, Terry Brooks
Comics: Y The Last Man 41-44
Music: Vivid, Living ColourNo rest for the weary. No breaks for the forlorn.
No quarter given to the depressed.
Life is a cruel motherfucker. Part of me wonders if I died when I was younger and this was my own personal hell, offering me chance after chance for happiness, but then inflicting such insecurity and depression to fuck them all up.
Life gives us joy only so we know the pain of taking it away (thanks, Kelly).
Life shows us joy so we know what we’re losing.
Target: 400 words
Written: 1030 words, novella: The Mungk
Read: The Fire Starter Sessions, Danielle Laporte
Comics: Nailbiter Returns 2-5
Music: Various non-album songs, Tragically Hip (my personal muses)Well, we did it.
Despite the unending disembarkation syndrome (sea legs in your head), and a head-tattoo-ed right winger wearing a Grunt Style t-shirt with a smoking handgun and the word Aromatherapy on it, we made it home.
(Seriously, who wears a shirt like that on a plane? Or anywhere for that matter. Thanks you making us all wonder the whole trip if you were going to shoot up the joint. I noticed you had a “first trip to Disney” button attached to your backpack. What did you wear to the Magic Kingdom? A tank top that read Child Molester? Seriously though, I thought you neo-Nazi gun nuts hated the mouse right now?)
We are home, and our dogs and cats are ecstatic. I am ecstatic. Too many crowds. Too much togetherness.
I’m ready for a real vacation.
Target: 400 words
Written: 323 words, novella: The Mungk
Read: The Fire Starter Sessions, Danielle Laporte
Comics: Nailbiter 28-30, Nailbiter Returns 1
Music: Keepin' The Summer Alive, The Beach Boys (hey, we're back now, seemed apropos)