There comes a time in every man’s life when he finds himself answering three ringing phones while typing on two separate keyboards trying to meet the passed deadlines that the phone calls are about and he just stops and says, “Fuck it,” and cracks a bottle and spends the rest of the afternoon rethinking his entire life.  And today was that day for someone, somewhere, no doubt, but not for me, dear reader.  Woke up early, wrote a bunch, went out and did some superhero shit, then wrote some more.  I also attempted some accounting, which really broke up the rhythm of things.  But it had to be done.

N.P.: “Eyes Without A Face – Poolside Remix” – Billy Idol

What can be said about today that hasn’t already been said about the tens of thousands of other Mondays that came before it?  I’ll tell you what: not a goddamn thing.  If they did an autopsy on today, the coroner would find it “grossly unremarkable.”
That said, I did get some decent writing done.

N.P.: “The Healer” – John Lee Hooker, Carlos Santana, The Santana Band

“Jesus Christ it’s bright,” were the first words uttered today when I opened the door to take out last night’s empties.  I never like starting the day by exclaiming the obvious.  But this was piercing brightness, dear reader.  It was enough to drive me instantly back into the house for the duration of the day.  I can’t stand that stupid star.
The hippies are to blame for the present unacceptable brightness, somehow…I can feel it.  But that is a problem for a different day.  I have enough problems of my own without dealing with the goddamn hippies and their nonsense.

N.P.: “How Soon Is Now? (Live)” – Johnny Marr

A shamefully sunny Saturday in February in Fecal Creek, California.  I did a few pointless laps around that pointless fucking traffic circle in front of City Hall this afternoon just to confuse my fellow commuters and express my rather resigned indignation at the Current State of Things.  There there were, of course, whiskey and wings.  Poured some out for lost friends.  Then I got down to writing.  Tomorrow is looking promising as well.

N.P.: “Waba Duba” – Yello

So I quit watching/listening to the news about 3 weeks ago: it has been amazing.  One of the best things, psychologically, that I could have done.  I strongly recommend it, dear reader.  Unbelievably refreshing.  This week, I started keeping my phone on Do Not Disturb.  Which I also strongly recommend.

N.P.: “After Dark – Kombinat100 Remix” – Tito & Tarantula

Wicked depression.  Crippling anxiety.  The running, screaming existential fantods.  And all that before my feet even hit the floor this morning.  This is what this pointless sobriety hath wrought.  Well, no more, dear reader.  No.  This is ridiculous.  My mind unaltered is far too dangerous of a thing to be allowed to just run free for hours, let alone days, at a time.  Bad Things happen.  As with any machine capable of great bursts of speed and danger, brakes are essential.

N.P.: “Au coeur de la nuit” – Die Form

Five minutes into today and I was already not a fan.
But Jose is back, thank Christ, with his Army of Gardeners.  The lawn has, at long last, been quelled.
Got a lot done today, but it still didn’t feel like enough.

N.P.: “Spirit in the Sky” – Bauhaus

I’m frustrated, dear reader.  I’m working my ass off but not getting nearly enough done.  No matter what I do, I still just see the list of things I didn’t do at the end of the day.  I just think if I’m going to spend the entire day sober, I should have more to show for it.

N.P.: “Symphony of Pain” – Accept

Tomorrow is Street Cleaning Day in Fecal Creek.  That would not be news in most small towns, but Things Are Different in The Creek™.  [Ed. note: the ™ is there because I’m very proud to report the town of Fecal Creek is presently considering that phrase, originally uttered drunkenly by yrs. truly in the parking lot of The Paddy Wagon on an icy, foggy December morning, as the new town motto for 2021.][There is allegedly a $10K award associated with the winning slogan, so fingers crossed, dear reader.]  I’ve only been through one official Street Cleaning here, but from what I observed during my first, it is not a good time to be anywhere on the streets, or really anywhere outside at all.  Yes, the Anhedonia County workers clean the actually streets with up-armored street-cleaning tank/trucks.  They will also be scooping up any furniture/household items/computer/surveillance  equipment you may care to leave out.  For free.  Turns out Street Cleaning Day is also the beginning of the season for the Homeless Eradication Program, so any homeless you wish to be free of can be left on the curb with the unwanted furniture and electronics tonight with confidence that they will Be Gone by 2/17.  That’s the other weird thing about Street Cleaning Day in Fecal Creek: it is 24 hours long.  Meaning they put out notices telling citizens that whatever you intend on having picked up, you need to have out on the street at midnight on 2/16, and then Stay The Fuck Inside until midnight on 2/17.  Lest ye be Picked Up, would be the dire inference there.
I stuck some furniture out there, plus a printer, plus a couple of relatives.

N.P.: “Materia oscura” – Die Form

Today was good.  Foggy and gray…looked like Moscow outside.  Got a bit of writing done.  Training on the new software some more tonight.  I’m starting to get comfortable with it.

N.P.: “thrown rocks (on empty dreams)” – elephant bass communication, Edward Ka-Spel