1.) MARCH 2006. Spent a four hour holiday in suncup with Ma Pa and Matt, highlighted by a visit to death by sashimi at the generically named "california buffet." All you can eat sushi, korean barbeque, chow mein, wontons, fried chicken, collard greens, egg rolls, and potstickers. but food took a backseat to more pressing matters- Ma survived a traumatic car wreck on the foothill expressway offramp and continues to have recurring nightmares of being t-boned by a sixteen wheeler. Mr. Karoke, our longtime neighbour, suggested a careful examination for latent spinal trauma which has an incubation period of two years. Ma and I spent some quiet moments glancing at old photo albums of better times. a stroll down memory lane- those really were the good old days? The jarring transition from 3rd to 4th grade was a cruel splash of cold frizzy water. new school, no friends it was like starting over from scratch. More obnoxious fights at home over finances. What's past is passed- you tackle the problems you have today and try to see what you can do about fixing them for tomorrow.

2.) February 2006. After Charlie's rock concert at the dingy Gig on murky Melrose he subsequently had some pretty people over upstairs in room 314. Stunned by her elegance, I stupidly shook paws with a dazzling glamour girl from missouri who came out west with nothing but her hopes and her dreams. Ashley's a soulful singer, I heard her belt out a faith hill song on karaoke night at the Hollywood Barney's where she waitresses to pay rent and buy food until her big break comes. I swear, 10 jessica simpsons step off the bus everyday here in the valley of the sun to taste a piece of the pie and show their family back home that they made it to the bigtime.

3.) Waking up groggily ten minutes short of noon, i joined nate on the beer stained couch as the Steelers pounded the living hell out of denver on his 80 inch plasma screen. fascinating shit. Later on had my manhood questioned by Alfredo for having the audacity to watch women's figure skating on Espn. And then there was the Seahawks Redskins game up at Seth's place in the Hollywood hills. the deep fried turkey they fixed up was deelicious and i tossed the black lab a piece of the drumstick. Pop was right- you gotta live before you can write. By the way, downtown l.a., broadway street is little central america- the poor parts, garbage on every street, puddles of urine in every doorway, the foul stench of wherever you turn, but construction is on the way- is it beyond repair?