Rumble in Open Diary 2001-2018 (Pre-Prosebox)

Bike ride yesterday was such a joy that I decided to do it again tonight. But this time alone. Jon is a cool guy and all, but way clingy. I can only take him in small doses, and I invited him in after our ride only to be polite. I finally booted him when I told him I needed to shower, and he offered to “conserve water” with me. Ew. G’bye, Jon!

Still, yesterday was filled with exploration. I found out there’s a sort of drag strip over by the park where the daredevil kids do wheelies and other tricks on their crotchrockets while the skateboarders do flips in the halfpipe ramp-a-ma-gig. I realize I sound like a complete moron, but I have no idea what those things are called. We watched about 40 guys (and a girl) take turns flipping around on their bikes, back and forth. I can’t believe nobody bit it, but perhaps we didn’t stay long enough.

Then over to the Chinese market, which smelled of 100-year-old eggs and a bazillion species of sea urchin. I bought mangos, wasabi peas, edamame, and funny sesame crackers of some sort. Then back over the bridge and up the hill. Jon lagged so far behind at one point that I had to wait for him for a few minutes. He blames his shape on the cigarettes. I call bullshit.

Back home and alone (finally!) in time for the big thunderstorm. It was so soothing, and I washed my bod inside while the rain washed everything else outside. The storm was practically over by the time I’d scrubbed myself dry and smoothed lotion all over. Clean. A new me.

In bed, book in hand. I don’t know why, but I can’t sit down to read anymore without feeling the sting of tears. This time it’s Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close, and damn, does that kid make me cry. I can’t wait to crawl into bed tonight…not to finish, though I think I will. But to cry some more. Cry myself clean.

Work’s weird. I’m headed for Deadlinesville, and dreading the nights and weekends that are looming. Two more articles out today with quotes from yours truly. Crazy Tony called me from his breakfast table at his family’s place on Long Island to tell me that he can’t sit down for coffee and open the newspaper without seeing a quote from me. I was flattered. You know I love the attention. I’d go to the ends of the earth for a pat on the head.

You realize that I do feel a rumble under the ground? I know it’s not my imagination. Things are changing. Things are shifting. It’s only natural. It might not be this week. It might not even be this year. But something’s in motion.

I do love life! Even though I have no clue what I’m doing here.