Good morning, birthday buddy

56. It’s just a number. But, man, did that number fuck with me this year. There is only a couple people I confide in to let them know why. Those few have watched me descend into…

Once when I was younger, and I knew much more than I do now,

I stopped in a shop on a street named Sweetfield Circle.

I saw the sign telling me there were sandwiches made by hand.

I was hungry,…

https://www.thenation.com/article/society/juneteenth-emancipating-history-mississippi-slavery/

A Pilgrimage and a Parsed History

This story hits deep into those places that are difficult to put into words. 

On one hand, it is a wonderful lesson in persistence and desire for connection. It is easy for me…

The Brotherhood of Man 

I love Beethoven's 9th. Period. Always have and always will. I mean, we've all grown up humming that tune, right? It's like it's been put in our DNA somehow and we just know it. But I…

Never Underestimate the Value of Digression

And so it begins…

Voila!

I saw a video display
today
along with the retinue
for which our brains to play.
And, lo, for me to see
with patent ease
and dexterity
the sounds…

Monterrey Park New Year’s Massacre

State Rep. Whoever stands there and the first thing out of this woman’s mouth is “I am shocked by this news this morning…”  Holy shit, lady, you are an adult human living in the United…

The Mother Hips at Pappy & Harriet’s

The venue? 

Well, I mean, it's Pappy & Harriet's. All the myths and legends are true. Close quarters. Dirt roads. Joshua Trees. Great sound. Close enough inside to hear every excited out-of-key audience…

The Ghetto Bird

Ghetto bird on a fly by low
Somebody got a little too high
Associations of mass destruction
A quiet weeping and a pent-up sigh
Sirens northbound on Reseda tonight
Red lights flashing on Sidewalk Sara
Pushin’ her…

There's an old expression I grew up hearing. It is meant to invite quiet contemplation, perhaps breaking bread together or having a cup of tea or coffee. It is meant to invite someone into your intimate thoughts.Sometimes it is meant…

The Crucible

In today's world we make decisions that require circumspection and knowledge of motives; otherwise, we could find ourselves in a whole heap of trouble before we even know what hits us.  What makes Miller's play such a masterpiece…

The Best Classroom

Let's be honest, sometimes the best classroom is not the classroom.  You're not going to learn about the Spring bloom in the Yosemite valley by looking at pictures on a computer.  A textbook will help you identify…

Hello all,

January 14-22, 2019. UTLA members went on strike. You know who was NOT a part of that? SEIU. Nor was AALA. Instead, they worked to cram the students into auditoriums for daily lessons and meals. They worked on…