Mistletoe Day!
Today, because you don't work, you'll dig out your Christmas decorations. Not to put them up yet. You start early but before Halloween is just silly. No, you'll make the excuse that you just want to see if there'll be anything you need to shop for when the time comes. In reality though, Christmas makes you happy. So you figured that it was worth a shot to look at some Christmas decorations if it might help you to not be so terribly sad.
Underneath the trays of ornaments and wrapped up in a tangled string of lights will be that fake twig of mistletoe that you always hang in the foyer. You'll hold that fake twig of mistletoe in your fingertips and you'll look back on all the boys from whom it won you a kiss. You'll go down the list of names, and you'll realize that you'd never kissed any of those boys. They're the names of boys you'd wished would kiss you under your mistletoe, but who had never been inside your house. You'll rack your brain to think of boys who had kissed you under the mistletoe, but there weren't any. You'll off yourself.
Happy Mistletoe Day!
Tuesday, October 21, 2003
Close To You Day!
You think David is dead because he stopped writing. He is not. Your mailman is simply in love with you and he's been hoarding David's letters to you and opening and reading them to find out more about you, find out what sort of man can win your heart. Your mailman is trying to learn who to be so that someone like you might one day wait for letters from someone like him.
First and foremost, your mailman thinks he should become the sort of man who works for an environmental concern in South America. Second, your mailman thinks he should be the kind of fellow that meets the woman he loves for a week's vacation in a province of Canada and then recollects the time he spent there with her in letters written months later. Third, your mailman believes his handwriting could do with some degrees of improvement.
But above all, your mailman knows that he should be the sort of man who has a relationship with a woman that goes well beyond timing his presence at the door of your building to coincide with your departure from the building just so that he might for a few seconds share the small vestibule with you. But he'll be there again today at 8:25 AM, and you'll ask him if there is anything for you and he'll hand you a cellular phone bill. You will be disappointed. He will be standing only eleven inches away from you.
Happy Close To You Day!
You think David is dead because he stopped writing. He is not. Your mailman is simply in love with you and he's been hoarding David's letters to you and opening and reading them to find out more about you, find out what sort of man can win your heart. Your mailman is trying to learn who to be so that someone like you might one day wait for letters from someone like him.
First and foremost, your mailman thinks he should become the sort of man who works for an environmental concern in South America. Second, your mailman thinks he should be the kind of fellow that meets the woman he loves for a week's vacation in a province of Canada and then recollects the time he spent there with her in letters written months later. Third, your mailman believes his handwriting could do with some degrees of improvement.
But above all, your mailman knows that he should be the sort of man who has a relationship with a woman that goes well beyond timing his presence at the door of your building to coincide with your departure from the building just so that he might for a few seconds share the small vestibule with you. But he'll be there again today at 8:25 AM, and you'll ask him if there is anything for you and he'll hand you a cellular phone bill. You will be disappointed. He will be standing only eleven inches away from you.
Happy Close To You Day!
Monday, October 20, 2003
The Wart Day!
Today, put Compound W on the wart that's lived on your left index finger knuckle for the past 46 years.
Wait an hour, then start to dig at the base of the wart with a metal nail file. After enough digging, you'll break the seal and you'll be able to get nearer to the belly of the growth. After this point, it's going to start to hurt.
The base of the wart...hang on. You named the wart after the close friend who personifies everything that's wrong with your life. In that, were you a better person you would never call such a terrible fool your friend. Right? Okay, the base of the wart has been dried up and numbed by the Compound W, but the root of the wart was unfortunately untouched by the application because you started digging at it far too early.
It's not your fault. Girls Are Pretty told you to.
So now, you have a wart that's pretty much just resting like a beach ball in a crater right there on your knuckle. With all the digging, what was once a bit unsightly is now downright disgusting. The mound is holding on by just a few sinews of extremely sensitive tissue. Cut it the fuck loose.
You need to shove the rounded blade of the nail file in there. Don't try to slice or dig. Just shove it into the mass like you're pushing through a crowd. The blood should really be flowing now. And you'll be crying and screaming the name of that friend you hate. But just a few more shoves and, though messy, it's out. The wart's gone. 46 years. It's gone. It'll start to grow back immediately.
Happy The Wart Day!
Today, put Compound W on the wart that's lived on your left index finger knuckle for the past 46 years.
Wait an hour, then start to dig at the base of the wart with a metal nail file. After enough digging, you'll break the seal and you'll be able to get nearer to the belly of the growth. After this point, it's going to start to hurt.
The base of the wart...hang on. You named the wart after the close friend who personifies everything that's wrong with your life. In that, were you a better person you would never call such a terrible fool your friend. Right? Okay, the base of the wart has been dried up and numbed by the Compound W, but the root of the wart was unfortunately untouched by the application because you started digging at it far too early.
It's not your fault. Girls Are Pretty told you to.
So now, you have a wart that's pretty much just resting like a beach ball in a crater right there on your knuckle. With all the digging, what was once a bit unsightly is now downright disgusting. The mound is holding on by just a few sinews of extremely sensitive tissue. Cut it the fuck loose.
You need to shove the rounded blade of the nail file in there. Don't try to slice or dig. Just shove it into the mass like you're pushing through a crowd. The blood should really be flowing now. And you'll be crying and screaming the name of that friend you hate. But just a few more shoves and, though messy, it's out. The wart's gone. 46 years. It's gone. It'll start to grow back immediately.
Happy The Wart Day!
Sunday, October 19, 2003
Booth By The Window Day!
It's Sunday again so you're drinking alone. Normally, you'd take the second booth from the back. The one by the newspaper stack so you can leaf through the Sunday entertainment sections. But tonight you wanted to look at faces. Tomorrow you'll remember it more as you waiting for a face, like you made plans to meet someone there. But tonight, as far as you're concerned, you're just sitting in the booth by the window and letting your eyes register the folks passing by.
Down the block, crossing the street towards you, will be Jonathan. It will take you a second, then you'll remember that he had a small part in an awful one-night play you got roped into eight months prior. You shared twenty seven words with him that night and you remember liking him and hoping he might come out to the bar after the show. He did not and you decided he probably did not drink and therefore had nothing in common with you. You forgot about him.
He'll get close enough to hear you knock on the window, but you won't. He'll be close enough for you to see that his is not the face of a man who wants to come in and catch up over a Sunday evening drink. He'll be close enough for you to see that he's broken. You won't put on your coat before you run out after him.
Your gray sweater is a thick one, but it'll still be too cold out for you to leave your jacket in the bar. It'll all be okay in a minute though, you'll think.
You'll have to run half the block before you're within arm's length of him. His pace will be quick. When you can reach out and grab him, you'll hesitate. Then you'll reach out and grab his left hand. He'll wheel around, not like he's going to take a swing, but like he might be getting arrested.
Close up, you'll see his limp cheeks climb back onto their bones with not a little effort. You'll watch him take in your face and go from puzzlement to recognition, then back to puzzlement. He'll say, "Oh, hey. How've you..."
You'll cut him off when your left hand joins your right in holding his left hand tight. You'll squeeze his hand tight in both your hands, then you'll look up and let him know without saying so that he can keep on looking terrible in front of you.
His face will fall and he'll take a deep breath then two steps into your embrace. Eight months ago, you shared twenty seven words. Tonight he'll take two steps into your embrace and you'll stop thinking about how cold it is outside. He'll kiss the side of your head, your cheek, then your lips. Then you'll walk back to the bar with your arms around each other and you'll take a seat in that booth by the window. He'll have a whiskey, thank goodness.
Happy Booth By The Window Day!
It's Sunday again so you're drinking alone. Normally, you'd take the second booth from the back. The one by the newspaper stack so you can leaf through the Sunday entertainment sections. But tonight you wanted to look at faces. Tomorrow you'll remember it more as you waiting for a face, like you made plans to meet someone there. But tonight, as far as you're concerned, you're just sitting in the booth by the window and letting your eyes register the folks passing by.
Down the block, crossing the street towards you, will be Jonathan. It will take you a second, then you'll remember that he had a small part in an awful one-night play you got roped into eight months prior. You shared twenty seven words with him that night and you remember liking him and hoping he might come out to the bar after the show. He did not and you decided he probably did not drink and therefore had nothing in common with you. You forgot about him.
He'll get close enough to hear you knock on the window, but you won't. He'll be close enough for you to see that his is not the face of a man who wants to come in and catch up over a Sunday evening drink. He'll be close enough for you to see that he's broken. You won't put on your coat before you run out after him.
Your gray sweater is a thick one, but it'll still be too cold out for you to leave your jacket in the bar. It'll all be okay in a minute though, you'll think.
You'll have to run half the block before you're within arm's length of him. His pace will be quick. When you can reach out and grab him, you'll hesitate. Then you'll reach out and grab his left hand. He'll wheel around, not like he's going to take a swing, but like he might be getting arrested.
Close up, you'll see his limp cheeks climb back onto their bones with not a little effort. You'll watch him take in your face and go from puzzlement to recognition, then back to puzzlement. He'll say, "Oh, hey. How've you..."
You'll cut him off when your left hand joins your right in holding his left hand tight. You'll squeeze his hand tight in both your hands, then you'll look up and let him know without saying so that he can keep on looking terrible in front of you.
His face will fall and he'll take a deep breath then two steps into your embrace. Eight months ago, you shared twenty seven words. Tonight he'll take two steps into your embrace and you'll stop thinking about how cold it is outside. He'll kiss the side of your head, your cheek, then your lips. Then you'll walk back to the bar with your arms around each other and you'll take a seat in that booth by the window. He'll have a whiskey, thank goodness.
Happy Booth By The Window Day!
Saturday, October 18, 2003
Your Friend Mark Wants To Fuck The Living Shit Out Of You Day!
Got a friend named Mark? Then Mark wants to fuck the living shit out of you. It doesn't matter if Mark is married and impotent and you are dead and buried. It doesn't matter if you and Mark are both dudes who are the kind of heterosexual that just end up worshipping every girl you date, without ever once exhibiting the kind of angry womanizing so indicative of borderline closet-cases. It doesn't even matter if Mark is fucking the living shit out of you whilst you read this. Mark still wants to fuck the living shit out of you. Deal with it you big fat baby.
Happy Your Friend Mark Wants To Fuck The Shit Out Of You Day!
Got a friend named Mark? Then Mark wants to fuck the living shit out of you. It doesn't matter if Mark is married and impotent and you are dead and buried. It doesn't matter if you and Mark are both dudes who are the kind of heterosexual that just end up worshipping every girl you date, without ever once exhibiting the kind of angry womanizing so indicative of borderline closet-cases. It doesn't even matter if Mark is fucking the living shit out of you whilst you read this. Mark still wants to fuck the living shit out of you. Deal with it you big fat baby.
Happy Your Friend Mark Wants To Fuck The Shit Out Of You Day!
Friday, October 17, 2003
Life At 8239 Sunny Cove Lane Day!
The house is full of gray. Gray air, gray faces, gray shirts. Your little sister is dead.
Your mom's hands are the color of the end of the day. They're cold and her arms are all bone. It's better she not hold you for a few months.
Your friends, Derek and Lee, they're going to be knocking on the door any minute now. There's an ambulance in the driveway, but Derek and Lee are only six years old and an ambulance will not tip them off to make like the rest of the neighbors and stand rubbernecking from the edge of their lawns. Derek and Lee will just go ahead and knock on the door to find out why there's an ambulance in the driveway and whether you're still going to come outside to play. You're six years old too, as it happens.
Your Dad and your older sister are the ones in the living room (the couch used to be brown but it's gray) sitting on the couch with the policeman. Your dad is explaining to the policeman in the gray uniform why the wrong pills made your little sister stopped breathing. Your big sister isn't crying.
There's a knock on the door. That'll be Derek and Lee. They're going to ask your Mom whether your little sister is really dead and your Mom's not going to answer. She's just going to shut the door, making a point not to slam it.
Happy Life At 8239 Sunny Cove Lane Day!
The house is full of gray. Gray air, gray faces, gray shirts. Your little sister is dead.
Your mom's hands are the color of the end of the day. They're cold and her arms are all bone. It's better she not hold you for a few months.
Your friends, Derek and Lee, they're going to be knocking on the door any minute now. There's an ambulance in the driveway, but Derek and Lee are only six years old and an ambulance will not tip them off to make like the rest of the neighbors and stand rubbernecking from the edge of their lawns. Derek and Lee will just go ahead and knock on the door to find out why there's an ambulance in the driveway and whether you're still going to come outside to play. You're six years old too, as it happens.
Your Dad and your older sister are the ones in the living room (the couch used to be brown but it's gray) sitting on the couch with the policeman. Your dad is explaining to the policeman in the gray uniform why the wrong pills made your little sister stopped breathing. Your big sister isn't crying.
There's a knock on the door. That'll be Derek and Lee. They're going to ask your Mom whether your little sister is really dead and your Mom's not going to answer. She's just going to shut the door, making a point not to slam it.
Happy Life At 8239 Sunny Cove Lane Day!
Thursday, October 16, 2003
Hot Cowboy Day!
You hate the stink of hot cowboy. But you've been DJ'ing this line dancing gig for six years now and it's all that you know how to do.
Also, you're the best.
First time you breathed in some hot cowboy, you brought him home to stay for two years. Two wonderful years that ended the night a bounty hunter burst into your bedroom and ripped his naked swearing body from your arms and dragged him off to honor the word he gave to his bail bondsman.
You swore that night that your sheets would never be tainted with the stench of hot cowboy again. But four years is a long time to go it alone. And you've made some slips along the way, one slip that lasted eight months, another slip that lasted three years and four months. A slip that's driving his truck to Los Angeles as you sit there behind your turntables, spinning like only you know. With every flick of your wrist the booted folks up and down those lines can feel your declarations of never, never again. Hot cowboy just ain't never gonna be cool.
Would you be this good if if didn't make you ache? Is being a linedance DJ all you have, or is being a linedance DJ all you ever wanna be? Linedance DJ gonna stink with fresh hot cowboy on her shirt collar tonight.
Happy Hot Cowboy Day!
You hate the stink of hot cowboy. But you've been DJ'ing this line dancing gig for six years now and it's all that you know how to do.
Also, you're the best.
First time you breathed in some hot cowboy, you brought him home to stay for two years. Two wonderful years that ended the night a bounty hunter burst into your bedroom and ripped his naked swearing body from your arms and dragged him off to honor the word he gave to his bail bondsman.
You swore that night that your sheets would never be tainted with the stench of hot cowboy again. But four years is a long time to go it alone. And you've made some slips along the way, one slip that lasted eight months, another slip that lasted three years and four months. A slip that's driving his truck to Los Angeles as you sit there behind your turntables, spinning like only you know. With every flick of your wrist the booted folks up and down those lines can feel your declarations of never, never again. Hot cowboy just ain't never gonna be cool.
Would you be this good if if didn't make you ache? Is being a linedance DJ all you have, or is being a linedance DJ all you ever wanna be? Linedance DJ gonna stink with fresh hot cowboy on her shirt collar tonight.
Happy Hot Cowboy Day!
Wednesday, October 15, 2003
Seventeen Minutes At Kennedy Airport Day!
He's going to get on a plane to Madrid and you can't go with him past the security gates. Past the security gates, he's going to leave you behind. The love ends here, at Kennedy Airport. So make some small talk with the people in line around you.
"Hi. He's going to send me a letter in three months telling me that he's a different person who's met someone new and he doesn't think we should see each other anymore."
"Hi. He got me pregnant twice. In seventeen minutes, I'll be kissing him for the last time. I'm okay with it I guess. I'm only 20."
"Hi. Did you drop these gloves? One and a half years we've been in love I think. I mean, it was definitely love, but shouldn't I be sobbing or something? In August, we stayed in bed for twelve days straight. That's something, isn't it? Is that something?"
When he is standing at the security gate, looking at his watch, make faster small talk with the people in line around you so you don't make him miss his plane.
"Hi. See him over there? Do you think we look good together? I never thought so. I think I look better with his friend Marcus, honestly. Though I was never attracted to Marcus. But I look better standing next to Marcus. He can fuck like it's gonna end hunger. No not Marcus. Him."
"Hi. Do you speak English? Fuck."
"Hi. Wanna see something cool? I'm going to go kiss my boyfriend goodbye forever. We're not breaking up. He's just going to Madrid. He'll come back, but not to me. Watch this."
Now go to him and wrap your arms around his neck and kiss him with all you've got in you. Stick one of your fingernails underneath another of your fingernails to bring tears to your eyes.
Happy Seventeen Minutes At Kennedy Airport Day!
He's going to get on a plane to Madrid and you can't go with him past the security gates. Past the security gates, he's going to leave you behind. The love ends here, at Kennedy Airport. So make some small talk with the people in line around you.
"Hi. He's going to send me a letter in three months telling me that he's a different person who's met someone new and he doesn't think we should see each other anymore."
"Hi. He got me pregnant twice. In seventeen minutes, I'll be kissing him for the last time. I'm okay with it I guess. I'm only 20."
"Hi. Did you drop these gloves? One and a half years we've been in love I think. I mean, it was definitely love, but shouldn't I be sobbing or something? In August, we stayed in bed for twelve days straight. That's something, isn't it? Is that something?"
When he is standing at the security gate, looking at his watch, make faster small talk with the people in line around you so you don't make him miss his plane.
"Hi. See him over there? Do you think we look good together? I never thought so. I think I look better with his friend Marcus, honestly. Though I was never attracted to Marcus. But I look better standing next to Marcus. He can fuck like it's gonna end hunger. No not Marcus. Him."
"Hi. Do you speak English? Fuck."
"Hi. Wanna see something cool? I'm going to go kiss my boyfriend goodbye forever. We're not breaking up. He's just going to Madrid. He'll come back, but not to me. Watch this."
Now go to him and wrap your arms around his neck and kiss him with all you've got in you. Stick one of your fingernails underneath another of your fingernails to bring tears to your eyes.
Happy Seventeen Minutes At Kennedy Airport Day!
Tuesday, October 14, 2003
Build Clouds Day!
Build four clouds. One from newspapers, one from a soap bubble and the smoke of a cigarette, one from stone, and one from shirts. Then hold the clouds over your bed when it's time for your lover to wake up. When his eyes flutter open and he looks up and sees you waving the clouds over him, say "Wake up sleepyface. What's a matter, too cloudy?" When he laughs, switch clouds. Drop the two in your hands and pick up the two that are sitting on the bed and wave them over the bed in a circular motion. Your lover will ask you to c'mere, in a let's screw kinda way. Don't. Instead, move the clouds around in an even faster circular motion and shout, "Uh oh! Storm front!" Then start spitting on the blanket.
Happy Build Clouds Day!
Build four clouds. One from newspapers, one from a soap bubble and the smoke of a cigarette, one from stone, and one from shirts. Then hold the clouds over your bed when it's time for your lover to wake up. When his eyes flutter open and he looks up and sees you waving the clouds over him, say "Wake up sleepyface. What's a matter, too cloudy?" When he laughs, switch clouds. Drop the two in your hands and pick up the two that are sitting on the bed and wave them over the bed in a circular motion. Your lover will ask you to c'mere, in a let's screw kinda way. Don't. Instead, move the clouds around in an even faster circular motion and shout, "Uh oh! Storm front!" Then start spitting on the blanket.
Happy Build Clouds Day!
Monday, October 13, 2003
Smiling Over Coffee In Your Jackets And Everything Through The Glass Is Faggy Day!
While the idea is in your head, the sweetness makes your teeth hurt. It goes thusly:
You call. She answers. You ask. She accepts.
You suggest. She agrees. You wait. She arrives.
You speak. She stiffens with the shock at having heard put into words a point of view she'd always embraced as undeniably true but always imagined to be far too silly to ever think anyone else might feel the same way.
She speaks. You warm, as if an extra pint of blood had suddenly been pumped into your veins, after hearing a sentence that you've been waiting to hear for two years. A sentence that lets you know, without a doubt, you will sleep for eight hours tonight.
You smile over your coffee in your jacket and everything walking past the streetside window of the coffee shop is faggy. She smiles over her coffee in her jacket and everything walking past the streetside window of the coffee shop is faggy.
As you wait for the hours to pass, you wish you could just live in the idea in your head. You know it never works out so sweetly.
And it won't this time either, but by around 7:44 PM tonight, it's gonna be pretty darned tasty. Check it out:
You call. She answers. You ask. She accepts.
You suggest. She agrees. You wait. She arrives.
You speak. She responds.
She speaks. You respond.
(about a half hour passes without epiphany, or anything you'll even remember, and then at 7:44 PM)
You smile over your coffee in your jacket and everything walking past the streetside window of the coffee shop is faggy. She smiles over her coffee in her jacket and everything walking past the streetside window of the coffee shop is faggy.
What sucks about you is there's still gonna be a little fraction of your heart that's pissed off that all the stiffening and the extra blood pumping never happened and you just went ahead and jumped to the smiling and everything going faggy. What sucks about you is you still won't accept that people only smile when they're too tired to try and look pissed off.
Happy Smiling Over Coffee In Your Jackets And Everything Through The Glass Is Faggy Day!
While the idea is in your head, the sweetness makes your teeth hurt. It goes thusly:
You call. She answers. You ask. She accepts.
You suggest. She agrees. You wait. She arrives.
You speak. She stiffens with the shock at having heard put into words a point of view she'd always embraced as undeniably true but always imagined to be far too silly to ever think anyone else might feel the same way.
She speaks. You warm, as if an extra pint of blood had suddenly been pumped into your veins, after hearing a sentence that you've been waiting to hear for two years. A sentence that lets you know, without a doubt, you will sleep for eight hours tonight.
You smile over your coffee in your jacket and everything walking past the streetside window of the coffee shop is faggy. She smiles over her coffee in her jacket and everything walking past the streetside window of the coffee shop is faggy.
As you wait for the hours to pass, you wish you could just live in the idea in your head. You know it never works out so sweetly.
And it won't this time either, but by around 7:44 PM tonight, it's gonna be pretty darned tasty. Check it out:
You call. She answers. You ask. She accepts.
You suggest. She agrees. You wait. She arrives.
You speak. She responds.
She speaks. You respond.
(about a half hour passes without epiphany, or anything you'll even remember, and then at 7:44 PM)
You smile over your coffee in your jacket and everything walking past the streetside window of the coffee shop is faggy. She smiles over her coffee in her jacket and everything walking past the streetside window of the coffee shop is faggy.
What sucks about you is there's still gonna be a little fraction of your heart that's pissed off that all the stiffening and the extra blood pumping never happened and you just went ahead and jumped to the smiling and everything going faggy. What sucks about you is you still won't accept that people only smile when they're too tired to try and look pissed off.
Happy Smiling Over Coffee In Your Jackets And Everything Through The Glass Is Faggy Day!
Sunday, October 12, 2003
This Game Is Not About How Many Things You Can Buy With Your Light Green Money Day!
This game was devised thousands of years ago when God created the Earth and he said, "This game is about people meeting people and falling in love with people and making promises to people and creating people who are gonna be people who crave people and search for people or wait for people who meet people and fall in love with people and make promises to people and create people who are gonna yeah yeah this'll be a great game. Now should it be with pieces travelling around the board according to a roll of the dice or should it be more like Checkers? I'll think on it in the bath later."
So don't act like you're cool just because you have a lot of money.
Happy This Game Is Not About How Many Things You Can Buy With Your Light Green Money Day!
This game was devised thousands of years ago when God created the Earth and he said, "This game is about people meeting people and falling in love with people and making promises to people and creating people who are gonna be people who crave people and search for people or wait for people who meet people and fall in love with people and make promises to people and create people who are gonna yeah yeah this'll be a great game. Now should it be with pieces travelling around the board according to a roll of the dice or should it be more like Checkers? I'll think on it in the bath later."
So don't act like you're cool just because you have a lot of money.
Happy This Game Is Not About How Many Things You Can Buy With Your Light Green Money Day!
Saturday, October 11, 2003
Do You Mind My Asking How Your Wife Is Doing? Day!
I'm forty three now, married, a father. Still strange to be saying it. Strange for it to be true for all these years already (five). I guess I'm sort of finishing up things, yes. For so much of my youth, I was clawing into myself, trying to dig out from under the hair and the layers and layers of skin that one thing that will make me golden. There was a greatness inside me, there still is, and I drove myself mad trying to root it out. But it was a squiggly little fucker, slippery and sly, it knew just when to feint my lunge. One day, in my late thirties, I concluded that my hunt for that greatness was its only sustenance, the only thing that kept it alive. So I stopped looking for it and let it die.
Anyway, you know about me and your wife. A year and half we had around 13 years ago. Well, I loved her. And I kept loving her. But unless I became the man I wanted to be, I knew I could never have her. I could not present myself as I was, as I am, a man less than a fraction of who he'd hoped to be, I could not give this man to her. It would have been an insult. But while I was searching for that better man inside of me, I held out hope that one day I would feel that I deserved to take her by the hand.
That day never came and it never will, I've decided. And when I made that decision, with it came acceptance of the fact that your wife will be the only woman I will ever truly love until the day that I die. Yes, I am married, and I am married to a beautiful woman who has given me beautiful children. I repeat, your wife will be the only woman I will ever truly love until the day that I die. Which is why I hope you don't mind my asking you presently, how is she?
Happy Do You Mind My Asking How Your Wife Is Doing? Day!
I'm forty three now, married, a father. Still strange to be saying it. Strange for it to be true for all these years already (five). I guess I'm sort of finishing up things, yes. For so much of my youth, I was clawing into myself, trying to dig out from under the hair and the layers and layers of skin that one thing that will make me golden. There was a greatness inside me, there still is, and I drove myself mad trying to root it out. But it was a squiggly little fucker, slippery and sly, it knew just when to feint my lunge. One day, in my late thirties, I concluded that my hunt for that greatness was its only sustenance, the only thing that kept it alive. So I stopped looking for it and let it die.
Anyway, you know about me and your wife. A year and half we had around 13 years ago. Well, I loved her. And I kept loving her. But unless I became the man I wanted to be, I knew I could never have her. I could not present myself as I was, as I am, a man less than a fraction of who he'd hoped to be, I could not give this man to her. It would have been an insult. But while I was searching for that better man inside of me, I held out hope that one day I would feel that I deserved to take her by the hand.
That day never came and it never will, I've decided. And when I made that decision, with it came acceptance of the fact that your wife will be the only woman I will ever truly love until the day that I die. Yes, I am married, and I am married to a beautiful woman who has given me beautiful children. I repeat, your wife will be the only woman I will ever truly love until the day that I die. Which is why I hope you don't mind my asking you presently, how is she?
Happy Do You Mind My Asking How Your Wife Is Doing? Day!
Friday, October 10, 2003
Lately, The Only Time You Put Your Boyfriend Up On A Pedestal Is When You Need To Vacuum Under The Couch Day!
Back in 1999 when you two first started dating, he was up there so much he started complaining about the nosebleeds. It was always, "No darling, don't you worry about a thing. You just plop yourself up on the pedestal and eat this sandwich. I'll go off to work and when I come home I hope you don't mind if I bring some friends and colleagues by to admire you. They'll be quiet."
But the days of giving the baby boy 500 dollars every time you leave the house just to make sure he never wants for anything are long gone. You've been noticing more and more that he has a blemish on his neck and that he eats 40 dollars a week in takeout heroes, which is tiresome because you still can't bring yourself to ask him to work. And that pedestal. The only time it supports anything but your car keys is Saturday evening when it's time to straighten up. But you can't even refer to it as what it once was. You just give him a "Honey, sit on the thingy for a second." And he groans because it's a Barney Miller marathon on TV Land, but you don't love him anymore. Youn don't. You don't love him anymore.
Happy Lately, The Only Time You Put Your Boyfriend Up On A Pedestal Is When You Need To Vacuum Under The Couch Day!
Back in 1999 when you two first started dating, he was up there so much he started complaining about the nosebleeds. It was always, "No darling, don't you worry about a thing. You just plop yourself up on the pedestal and eat this sandwich. I'll go off to work and when I come home I hope you don't mind if I bring some friends and colleagues by to admire you. They'll be quiet."
But the days of giving the baby boy 500 dollars every time you leave the house just to make sure he never wants for anything are long gone. You've been noticing more and more that he has a blemish on his neck and that he eats 40 dollars a week in takeout heroes, which is tiresome because you still can't bring yourself to ask him to work. And that pedestal. The only time it supports anything but your car keys is Saturday evening when it's time to straighten up. But you can't even refer to it as what it once was. You just give him a "Honey, sit on the thingy for a second." And he groans because it's a Barney Miller marathon on TV Land, but you don't love him anymore. Youn don't. You don't love him anymore.
Happy Lately, The Only Time You Put Your Boyfriend Up On A Pedestal Is When You Need To Vacuum Under The Couch Day!
Thursday, October 09, 2003
Get Good Lookin' Day!
First, lose the parrot. Next, buy seven bow ties and assign each bow tie to a day of the week, so that if it is Thursday, everyone can be sure you will be wearing your "Thursday Bow Tie." Bein' good lookin' is about more than just doing facial flexes to try and naturally chisel your cheekbones. Bein' good lookin' is about offering coworkers and potential fuckfools a little bit of certainty in this life. "What can I count on in a world where children just disappear without leaving any clues, like my son did. Here's his picture, have you seen him. He'd be 14 by now. I miss him. Nice tie. Oh hey, that's your Thursday tie. It's Thursday! I feel like this big boat we call human existence now has an anchor. Help me with this zipper good lookin'."
Next, and this is just for the guys, wear lavender eyeshadow on one eye.
Happy Get Good Lookin' Day!
First, lose the parrot. Next, buy seven bow ties and assign each bow tie to a day of the week, so that if it is Thursday, everyone can be sure you will be wearing your "Thursday Bow Tie." Bein' good lookin' is about more than just doing facial flexes to try and naturally chisel your cheekbones. Bein' good lookin' is about offering coworkers and potential fuckfools a little bit of certainty in this life. "What can I count on in a world where children just disappear without leaving any clues, like my son did. Here's his picture, have you seen him. He'd be 14 by now. I miss him. Nice tie. Oh hey, that's your Thursday tie. It's Thursday! I feel like this big boat we call human existence now has an anchor. Help me with this zipper good lookin'."
Next, and this is just for the guys, wear lavender eyeshadow on one eye.
Happy Get Good Lookin' Day!
Wednesday, October 08, 2003
Don't Fuck Up The Machine Day!
The machine works. It's refined, oiled, and good. Every part of the machine understands its duty, and every part expects the same of every other part.
"Nex?"
"Chicken broccoli white rice to go."
Good. Right and expeditious. The machine understands that you understand the machine. You are welcome here, as you prepare your exact change of five dollars and twelve cents. You are why lunch sometimes is perfect.
"Nex?"
"Hi are there vegetables in those noodles?"
The man behind you is a threat to the machine. As long as the man behind you is allowed to proposition the machine with a transaction, the machine is in danger of coming to a complete halt. Kill the man behind you with a large metal fork.
"What you do?"
"I've done what is necessary."
"I call police."
The machine has to call the police. The machine can't appear to condone such a crime against society, no matter how necessary it might be to the machine's survival. Watch the server as he dials the three digits of 911. He'll wink, and he'll wait to dial the second 1. He wants you to run. For your own benefit. For the benefit of the machine. Run.
Happy Don't Fuck Up The Machine Day!
The machine works. It's refined, oiled, and good. Every part of the machine understands its duty, and every part expects the same of every other part.
"Nex?"
"Chicken broccoli white rice to go."
Good. Right and expeditious. The machine understands that you understand the machine. You are welcome here, as you prepare your exact change of five dollars and twelve cents. You are why lunch sometimes is perfect.
"Nex?"
"Hi are there vegetables in those noodles?"
The man behind you is a threat to the machine. As long as the man behind you is allowed to proposition the machine with a transaction, the machine is in danger of coming to a complete halt. Kill the man behind you with a large metal fork.
"What you do?"
"I've done what is necessary."
"I call police."
The machine has to call the police. The machine can't appear to condone such a crime against society, no matter how necessary it might be to the machine's survival. Watch the server as he dials the three digits of 911. He'll wink, and he'll wait to dial the second 1. He wants you to run. For your own benefit. For the benefit of the machine. Run.
Happy Don't Fuck Up The Machine Day!
Tuesday, October 07, 2003
Living With AIDS Beats The Shit Out Of Living With Your Parents Day!
At least AIDS doesn't tell you to get a fucking job every five minutes. And if you're living with AIDS, you can bring home babes any time you feel like it. And you don't have to worry about your Dad all of a sudden coming down to use the basement bathroom just so he can get a look at her. And the best thing about living with AIDS is that people think you're awesome just for living. Try to get someone to admire your courage for pushing two of your folks' old couches together and pretending it's a king-sized bed. I'm telling you, you have to get out of that situation. Catch AIDS.
Happy Living With AIDS Beats The Shit Out Of Living With Your Parents Day!
At least AIDS doesn't tell you to get a fucking job every five minutes. And if you're living with AIDS, you can bring home babes any time you feel like it. And you don't have to worry about your Dad all of a sudden coming down to use the basement bathroom just so he can get a look at her. And the best thing about living with AIDS is that people think you're awesome just for living. Try to get someone to admire your courage for pushing two of your folks' old couches together and pretending it's a king-sized bed. I'm telling you, you have to get out of that situation. Catch AIDS.
Happy Living With AIDS Beats The Shit Out Of Living With Your Parents Day!
Monday, October 06, 2003
If On Payday Your Boss Insists On Stuffing Your Paycheck Into Your Mouth, Don't Rock The Boat Day!
In today's shit-stained economy, the American dream is all about taking what you can get and clutching it to your chest like it was a Korean baby. So your boss insists on pushing you up against your cubicle wall and forcing your lips and teeth to part and make way for the check bunched up in his fingertips while he twitches his upper lip and says, "Yeahh...yeahhh...uh..." What are you gonna do, sue?
No way they'd fire you. But they'd fire your boss. And they'd dissolve your department. And they'd keep you on for a year or however long it takes to avoid another lawsuit. But after that you can be sure you'd be out of a job. Sure, you might be loaded from the settlement you got in the harrassment suit. But you'll never work in middle management again. And then who will you matter to?
Happy If On Payday Your Boss Insists On Stuffing Your Paycheck Into Your Mouth, Don't Rock The Boat Day!
In today's shit-stained economy, the American dream is all about taking what you can get and clutching it to your chest like it was a Korean baby. So your boss insists on pushing you up against your cubicle wall and forcing your lips and teeth to part and make way for the check bunched up in his fingertips while he twitches his upper lip and says, "Yeahh...yeahhh...uh..." What are you gonna do, sue?
No way they'd fire you. But they'd fire your boss. And they'd dissolve your department. And they'd keep you on for a year or however long it takes to avoid another lawsuit. But after that you can be sure you'd be out of a job. Sure, you might be loaded from the settlement you got in the harrassment suit. But you'll never work in middle management again. And then who will you matter to?
Happy If On Payday Your Boss Insists On Stuffing Your Paycheck Into Your Mouth, Don't Rock The Boat Day!
Friday, October 03, 2003
It's the Girls Are Pretty Pumpkin Patch Weekend!
It's October, which means Prettygirl has to go to work. Prettygirl only works around 29 to 30 days a year, all in October, and always dressed as a Scarecrow who walks around saying shit to people buying pumpkins and candy apples at the Old Maid's Pumkin Patch. It pays $6.00 per hour. So Prettygirl really only makes around $700 a year. Anyway, since Prettygirl is going to be at work for around 7 hours a day for the next few days, Friday through Sunday are going up all at once so it can be over and done with for God's sake finally.
Sunday, October 5, 2003
Hold Him Close To You And Don't Let Him Go Day!
Today, if you let go of your boyfriend, he'll die. Literally, if you don't keep your arms wrapped tight around your boyfriend, wrapping yourself up in as much of him as you can, his lungs will fill with bile and he'll stop breathing. And it's not like loosening your grip will open the valves and let just a little bit of bile feed into his lungs, then when you hold him tight again his passages will be all cleared up. No, it's really just like you'll be putting a gun to his head and pulling the trigger. Basically, if you loosen your grip just enough, and it's unclear how this is measured, but if you give him just enough wiggle room, his lungs will suddenly flood with bile and within three minutes he'll be brain dead. The only way to keep from killing him is to either steadily increase your grip or never waver in how tight you're hugging him.
This is just like Hands On A Hardbody. Except instead of touching the truck you have to hug it nice and tight, and instead of it being a truck you might win, it's the boy you love with all your heart that you might kill.
Happy Hold Him Close To You And Don't Let Him Go Day!
Saturday, October 4, 2003
She's Locked In The Meat Locker Day!
If you're wondering where your girlfriend is, she's locked in that meat locker over there with the guy everyone thinks she should be with because there's no chemistry between the two of you. I'm sure nothing's going on inside there. I mean, yeah, they probably have to kind of cuddle together to keep warm, but I'm sure it means nothing to her. She's only doing it because she has no choice. Relax, she loves you. She could stay inside that meat locker with the guy everyone, including you, thinks is the right guy for her forever and it wouldn't make any difference. Your love is strong enough to conquer an undeniable need for the one she's supposed to be with.
Anyway, these two strong guys are gonna hold your arms and just make you stand there staring at the locked door for a couple hours. Your girlfriend and the guy she's supposed to be with are locked up in there.
Happy She's Locked In The Meat Locker Day!
Friday, October 3, 2003
Last In Line For Cookies Day!
Today, there are delicious cookies that come out of the oven piping hot. The boy in the front of the line gets the hottest, moistest, most wonderful cookie in the whole wide batch. The boy in the back of the line gets the shittiest cookie. Today, you are the boy in the back of the line. Today, you get the shittiest cookie, if you even get a cookie.
Happy Last In Line For Cookies Day!
It's October, which means Prettygirl has to go to work. Prettygirl only works around 29 to 30 days a year, all in October, and always dressed as a Scarecrow who walks around saying shit to people buying pumpkins and candy apples at the Old Maid's Pumkin Patch. It pays $6.00 per hour. So Prettygirl really only makes around $700 a year. Anyway, since Prettygirl is going to be at work for around 7 hours a day for the next few days, Friday through Sunday are going up all at once so it can be over and done with for God's sake finally.
Sunday, October 5, 2003
Hold Him Close To You And Don't Let Him Go Day!
Today, if you let go of your boyfriend, he'll die. Literally, if you don't keep your arms wrapped tight around your boyfriend, wrapping yourself up in as much of him as you can, his lungs will fill with bile and he'll stop breathing. And it's not like loosening your grip will open the valves and let just a little bit of bile feed into his lungs, then when you hold him tight again his passages will be all cleared up. No, it's really just like you'll be putting a gun to his head and pulling the trigger. Basically, if you loosen your grip just enough, and it's unclear how this is measured, but if you give him just enough wiggle room, his lungs will suddenly flood with bile and within three minutes he'll be brain dead. The only way to keep from killing him is to either steadily increase your grip or never waver in how tight you're hugging him.
This is just like Hands On A Hardbody. Except instead of touching the truck you have to hug it nice and tight, and instead of it being a truck you might win, it's the boy you love with all your heart that you might kill.
Happy Hold Him Close To You And Don't Let Him Go Day!
Saturday, October 4, 2003
She's Locked In The Meat Locker Day!
If you're wondering where your girlfriend is, she's locked in that meat locker over there with the guy everyone thinks she should be with because there's no chemistry between the two of you. I'm sure nothing's going on inside there. I mean, yeah, they probably have to kind of cuddle together to keep warm, but I'm sure it means nothing to her. She's only doing it because she has no choice. Relax, she loves you. She could stay inside that meat locker with the guy everyone, including you, thinks is the right guy for her forever and it wouldn't make any difference. Your love is strong enough to conquer an undeniable need for the one she's supposed to be with.
Anyway, these two strong guys are gonna hold your arms and just make you stand there staring at the locked door for a couple hours. Your girlfriend and the guy she's supposed to be with are locked up in there.
Happy She's Locked In The Meat Locker Day!
Friday, October 3, 2003
Last In Line For Cookies Day!
Today, there are delicious cookies that come out of the oven piping hot. The boy in the front of the line gets the hottest, moistest, most wonderful cookie in the whole wide batch. The boy in the back of the line gets the shittiest cookie. Today, you are the boy in the back of the line. Today, you get the shittiest cookie, if you even get a cookie.
Happy Last In Line For Cookies Day!
Thursday, October 02, 2003
Cabride With A One Night Stand Day!
Her sweet tender kiss makes you think that having sex with her tonight
Would be the perfect revenge for that three and a half year old break up you never got over
His kiss tastes like chewed food, so you try to focus all of your concentration
On his erection poking into your hip.
You’re both a little carsick from the alcohol
So you stop kissing, play with each other’s jacket zippers, and start in with the questions
How long have you lived in the city? Are your parents still together? Isn’t it cold out lately?
She says 4 years, they divorced when I was ten, and yes but I kind of like it
But you don’t pay attention
You just watch her profile up against the passing cityscape in the taxicab’s window
You think that she would look good showing up to parties with you
Where did you grow up? What do you want to be? What made you come up and talk to me?
He says New Jersey, a drummer in a band, you look pretty when you sip from a glass
But his answers aren’t important
What’s important is that his hair comes down in front of his eyes
It might be nice to be old and lying in a hospital bed and brushing that hair away to look into those eyes just one last time
Maybe it’s just because this is your very first cabride together, your very first time going home together, the very first time you’ll ever sleep together
That you both can’t help but think that for the two of you, this’ll always be the very first time
Assuming it isn’t the last
The cool night air
Makes you feel that your stomachs have settled
So she climbs atop your lap and you start to kiss some more
And you try not to let on how panicked you are over the fact that your erection disappeared 30 blocks ago
And you’re afraid it might not ever come back again EVER! EVER! EVER!
Happy Cabride With A One Night Stand Day!
Her sweet tender kiss makes you think that having sex with her tonight
Would be the perfect revenge for that three and a half year old break up you never got over
His kiss tastes like chewed food, so you try to focus all of your concentration
On his erection poking into your hip.
You’re both a little carsick from the alcohol
So you stop kissing, play with each other’s jacket zippers, and start in with the questions
How long have you lived in the city? Are your parents still together? Isn’t it cold out lately?
She says 4 years, they divorced when I was ten, and yes but I kind of like it
But you don’t pay attention
You just watch her profile up against the passing cityscape in the taxicab’s window
You think that she would look good showing up to parties with you
Where did you grow up? What do you want to be? What made you come up and talk to me?
He says New Jersey, a drummer in a band, you look pretty when you sip from a glass
But his answers aren’t important
What’s important is that his hair comes down in front of his eyes
It might be nice to be old and lying in a hospital bed and brushing that hair away to look into those eyes just one last time
Maybe it’s just because this is your very first cabride together, your very first time going home together, the very first time you’ll ever sleep together
That you both can’t help but think that for the two of you, this’ll always be the very first time
Assuming it isn’t the last
The cool night air
Makes you feel that your stomachs have settled
So she climbs atop your lap and you start to kiss some more
And you try not to let on how panicked you are over the fact that your erection disappeared 30 blocks ago
And you’re afraid it might not ever come back again EVER! EVER! EVER!
Happy Cabride With A One Night Stand Day!
Wednesday, October 01, 2003
You're Just Another Ballerina Day!
Beg him back. And hurry. Think he won't get over you? You're just another fucking ballerina.
For God's sake he's wardrobe. You all come running to him with your frays and your split seams and you beg and plead and cry. He sews it all up, good as new, and it's like all of a sudden you've been handed the Daddy who was never sober enough to make it all better when you fell off your bike, so you fuck the living shit out of him. He's slept with almost every girl in the cast, except for Monica. But that's only because she killed herself before he had the chance.
Beg him the fuck back. And hurry. What you had with him was a love special enough that he'll come back if you get to him in time. But it wasn't special enough that he won't have to run through more than three or four more ballerinas before he can say out loud to himself "guess she must have been just another ballerina."
He's young and he's stupid and he still believes that there's no limit to how many times a man can fall in love (the limit is six).
Happy You're Just Another Ballerina Day!
Beg him back. And hurry. Think he won't get over you? You're just another fucking ballerina.
For God's sake he's wardrobe. You all come running to him with your frays and your split seams and you beg and plead and cry. He sews it all up, good as new, and it's like all of a sudden you've been handed the Daddy who was never sober enough to make it all better when you fell off your bike, so you fuck the living shit out of him. He's slept with almost every girl in the cast, except for Monica. But that's only because she killed herself before he had the chance.
Beg him the fuck back. And hurry. What you had with him was a love special enough that he'll come back if you get to him in time. But it wasn't special enough that he won't have to run through more than three or four more ballerinas before he can say out loud to himself "guess she must have been just another ballerina."
He's young and he's stupid and he still believes that there's no limit to how many times a man can fall in love (the limit is six).
Happy You're Just Another Ballerina Day!
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