“Fat, drunk and stupid is no way to go through life, son”
Dear Diary,
I know you think i’m ignoring you. I’m not. I’ve been eyeing you periodically, knowing that eventwise there’s been enough to write about, but emotionally i was either not ready or not willing. Mostly the latter: laziness has abounded as of late. That’s okay. Today I went drinking. Laziness has been replaced by arrogance. Bring it!
It has been an interesting couple of weeks. Two weeks ago I was visiting family and friends — seeing the new minimalls that had sprung up around my childhood haunts, and enjoying the untouched parts like the rail trail. Last week I was gorging myself on all the fruits Seattle has to offer – amazing steak, beer, big breakfasts, and an intense Sounders (soccer) game. This week the temperature has changed again (toronto: hot and sunny; seattle: @#$@ing cold and rainy; new orleans: @#$@ing hot and humid), and i’m enjoying visiting a new place. NoLa is definitely cool. The big easy saw me thru this morning with my first real grits (@mothers) and a fun random encounter — Arish (a work colleage) & I went for dinner at Cochon (where I had THE. BEST. DINNER. I’VE. HAD. SINCE. DANEILLE’S. BIRTHDAY. Perhaps even the best in a year or more! it was like, indescribably awesome – pork, but in a tiny tiny bit of gravy with really deep fried cabbage, soaked parsnips, and even another vegetable that normally i’d totally despise, but as the waiter recommended, that i totally loved in this dish. omigoodness.), and when we were leaving we asked the hostess who seated us where a good place was to find a patio to have some beers. She recommended one some ways down. We were having a nice leisurely chatty stroll for some time, when we noticed a car with a women speaking to us — the hostess had gotten off work and driven past us, and stopped to offer us a ride. So we grabbed a ride and bought her a few rounds, had a chat. She was an escapee from Toledo (“mean ole toledo”) ohio, quite eccentric and self-centred, but a tree-hugging artist all the same. Completely misled by the media, but definitely not more than average, and quite a nice person. Interesting chat, and then Arish & I grabbed a cab home.
Even at midnight it is so hot and humid that without a fan directly on me, I sweat uncomfortably sitting down. But even so, I really enjoy being outside in it – it is a kinda “I know i’m dirty and i don’t have to care” feeling. Not necessarily nice for everyone 
Tomorrow & wednesday I pull my duty shifts at the booth. Thursday i might take off so i can take my camera around the city some, but i have to write 10000 feedback reviews on all the people i’ve worked with first. Yay. Thank @#!@ that the culture here appears to be eating & drinking & partying, for after i’m done.
Me ‘n’ the big easy – we goin git along real good.
And are you getting fat? GK