Jen

I'm watching my usual daytime programming and what does it get interrupted by? The stupid Michael Jackson case. Someone please tell me if you care whether or not he goes to jail. Send him away! Let him go back to his freaky mansion! Makes no difference to me!!! I don't care, so please don't make me watch it. I don't want to hear from "specialists," I don't want to hear from lawyers who are "specialists", I especially do not want to hear the opinions of fans and bystanders who think they are special. Please get this crap off of my television.

On Friday, I was told by our usual UPS guy (after pointing at the tattoo of a peacock located conveniently on my forearm) that the tattoo of choice for those that have used/are using heroin is the peacock on the forearm to cover up track marks. Thanks for mentioning this in front of my boss, UPS guy!

Speaking of heroin, that is one drug I could never see myself using. I mean, I hate getting shots for Christ's sake, could I ever inject something just for shits and giggles? No thanks.

I wanted to thank all the lovely people that read Matt's poems. I'm sending off the final bunch today. So, sometime in July, we should know yes or no. Pretty crazy, eh? I mean, it feels like we've been here longer than we have, but I can remember our move cross country like it was yesterday. . . getting a flat tire in Nebraska, torrential rain storms in Utah, Josie (cat) dry heaving in the seat next to me. Ahh, good times. It was a trip to remember, that's for sure. And we are going to do it again? Are we nuts?

There are many things I love about living here. I love how on a clear day, you can see the mountains behind the skyscrapers; it's amazing. Especially when those mountains have snow, and it's 70 degrees where you are. I love how there is this point on Venice beach by the jetty where you can stand and see waves after they break. I love how when I am lying in bed, unable to sleep, I can close my eyes and hear the waves crashing on the shore and let it lull me to bed. I love walking down my flower covered, palm tree lined block every morning and every night with the scent of flowers and ocean salt. These are things I'll miss.

But as I have complained about on a pretty much daily basis (traffic, cars, driving. . . ), it is these problems that this city is built on. The same view of the mountains on a clear day is usually covered up by a layer of yellow something that hangs over the city. I saw an ad yesterday that said "We make sure nobody in LA walks." Think about that for just one minute. Are you saying you want even MORE cars on the already congested highways and streets? You want even more air pollution in a city that has a visual clearance of only a mile or so? You want more pissed off drivers who are willing to cut someone off or get in an accident so they can shave 5 minutes of their hour commute? God, I hate that, I hate it so much. Yes there is traffic in any big city, but this is outrageous.

And now I have stepped off my soapbox, courtesy of Jiffy Lube and General Motors.