Best Diner

In Syracuse there is this 50 year old diner that never closes, the waitresses are surly and chain smoked as long as they legally could, one of my favorite places to study and recover from nights and blurry mornings. Doc is now applying for chapter 13 bankruptcy and I suspect Doc's will close for good. End of an era, a beloved spot on the west side of town, just off 690.

It is so beloved that Martin Sexton (a Cuse native) mentioned it in song... "grab yourself a cheeseburger at the Little Gem Diner off the old 6-9er..."

Murphy Bed in Eternity

I'm going to post like 5 different posts today, so spread them out for the week.

It's been a crazy week. In a span of five days I managed to get over my fear of submitting writings for publication and interview for a new job. I don't know about the writing (and probably won't ever know) but I did get the job, which is mighty exciting. I start next Monday. Wow. I'll be working for The American Chestnut Foundation (www.acf.org) and I am absolutely THRILLED to be doing this. It's a big boost for my “career” whatever that means; I'll actually be doing something about which I care. How novel. It is kind of wicked how much I relished giving my two weeks to current job. But now they won't let me use any vacation and I have no motivation to do anything there so I'm wasting everyone's time showing up every day. Glorious New Job is non-profit so I'll be even more broke than I am currently; if anyone has any ideas for part-time work let me know. Afternoons and weekends! Just no babysitting, or working with any people who have a high probability of defecating/vomiting on themselves while in my charge. I can't handle bodily fluids. My house in heaven just shrank with that confession. It's down to a fifth-floor walk-up studio in the Harlem of Heaven at this point...Sure can't wait for my squeaky Murphy Bed in Eternity.

Think Think Thunk

I think one of my problems lately has been my inability to think. I haven't been able to. This is partially due to being busy; going out every night, having something on the docket at almost every waking hour. I run and run and laugh and play and somehow in doing so I completely detach from whatever it is to which I am moored. As if I need the scheduled cloister to settle me, to let me back into my own head. Though for the life of me I don't know how I manage to so easily lock myself out.

No Ani

Tuesday night I met Nathan at the home of Anthony and Cara and after a rather pathetic game of horseshoes the four of us went downtown to see Dan Tyminski at The Orange Peel. It was enjoyable but I can't focus on that much bluegrass in one sitting. I get overwhelmed and it all runs together. Later in the week Ani DiFranco played two nights at the Orange Peel and in those evenings I was badly missing my DC sisters. I needed a strong fan to go with me but I know of none around here and Ani is not a show to go alone. I had a great weekend anyway, meeting my friend Emily for drinks on Friday night and Saturday involving delicious Jamaican food and Will Ferrell's GW Bush but every time I passed the Peel I got a little heartbroken. It was just a little splinter of disappointment.

Song Lyrics I Really Don't Believe redux

More song lyrics I don't believe:

“I want a girl with a short skirt and a loooong jacket.” --Cake. (no you don't, Cake. You want a hooker. Or at least a dominatrix with fingernails that shine like justice, who goes by the name “Kitty” and drives a White Crystler LeBaron. Totally sounds like most of the go-getting women I know. Oh wait.)

“Brother wanna thank your mother for a but like that.” --Salt n' Pepa (Somehow I don't think they are serious...at least I hope not. What an awkward conversation that'd be: “Hi Carl's mom, I'm Pep, and I just wanted to thank you for birthing this fine piece of ass. Truly, look at him from behind. Daaaaamn.” Just doesn't sound like the conversation one would/should/could have with one's paramour's mother.)

“At night I lock the door so no one else can see...”--Madonna (oh Madge. You wrote and photographed a book called “SEX”. Somehow I don't actually see you locking the door where no one else can see, you voyeuristic freak.)

“Fo' sheezy my neezy keep my arms so breezy.” --Jay-Z. (???????????????????????????????)

“I can catch the moon in my hand, don't you know who I am? Remember my name! FAME!” --Irene Cara (Unfortunately for you, Irene Cara, the only reason people will remember your name is when it is tagged along with two words: Flashdance or Fame. Which is cool and all, but being that those two songs are now both old enough to rent cars and drink, maybe it's time to do something else. Maybe “Fame” shouldn't have been your very first hit. Kinda sets the bar a wee bit too high. And FYI: Just because one has “FAME” they cannot alter the course of celestial beings. They can try, but don't think they actually can. In case anyone forgot to tell you: The moon is very large.)