My friend Ben is a poet, and a damn fine one. I read a poem of his recently, "Summation", about what it means to be a person, at the end of another year. Dogs have it easier than we do. But we get by just fine.
I was so moved by it, that I decided my final gratitude of the year, which is for him, his poetry, and our friendship, would be to record it read aloud, and share it with you.
"Squidward" is sort of a direction for me. Missy always says that I head toward things I'm afraid of, as opposed to away.
I see that's true, and that when I'm able to bring people along with me, that makes it even better.
Case in point: since my conversion to being a pescetarian, I've been slowly getting my sister-in-law, who's not real big on fish, to try new fish things. The other day it was lobster bisque. She was hesitant at first, but then warmed right up to that bisque.
Go on, say bisque again. I did too, it's funny.
Anyhow, last night was more of the same. Missy, MB, and I went out for a fancy dinner for the very best reason: we just felt like it.
At the restaurant, I ordered a calamari appetizer (which my sister Pene's one relative famously and hilariously calls an "advertiser".)
When it came to the table, she was hesitant . I mean calamari is just Italian for squid , right?I reminded her about the bisque, she laughed and tried it.
So did Missy.
We headed squidward.
Saw this on a friend's facebook page today.
"This vet had a heart attack back in September and Animal Control took his dogs since he couldn't take care of them. Since the man took so long to get better, the shelter sterilized the dogs and put them up for adoption. Now 3 months later, he's finally back on his feet. He visited them and put down a deposit (since he didn't have enough money for the full adoption fee). After seeing their reunion a bunch of volunteers got together and donated enough money to pay the full adoption fee and some extra, as well as dog food, treats, etc. This video is him finding out he gets to get his dogs back."
Veteran surpriseThis vet had a heart attack back in September and Animal Control took his dogs since he couldn't take care of them. Since the man took so long to get better, the shelter sterilized the dogs and put them up for adoption. Now 3 months later, he's finally back on his feet. He visited them and put down a deposit (since he didn't have enough money for the full adoption fee). After seeing their reunion a bunch of volunteers got together and donated enough money to pay the full adoption fee and some extra, as well as dog food, treats, etc. This video is him finding out he gets to get his dogs back.
Posted by Scott Johnson on Friday, December 25, 2015
My friend William gave me an amazing gift a while back. He made me homemade beer, called DC Munch Beer, with an adorable ageplay pride label. One or two bottles had special "Mako Edition" labels. The last one of these, a big growler, has been sitting in my fridge, waiting for me to open it for a while.
"It's okay to nurse your beer."
Tonight, apropos of nothing, I decided tonight was the night. Missy had to work, and I made dinner for myself and my sister-in-law Marybeth. We had very nice lobster bisque (which I warmed, from a box). I don't know how to make it yet, but I want to learn. Plus, we had excellent fancy-shmancy grilled cheese sandwiches, with mushrooms I sautéed, and guacamole. (Trust me, they're amazing.)
MB was hesitant about the bisque, but I told her to be bold, and unafraid, and give it a shot. She LOVED IT. I decided to celebrate by cracking open the last bottle of my custom beer. It's been in the fridge aging for a long while.
It was fantastic.
As is my friendship with the man who made it. William is a great friend. He's visited, spent lovely time with my family. I've always liked him enormously, and over time, we've gone from casual friends to very good ones indeed.
I'm very glad for his friendship, which, just like his beer, continues to get better the longer it ages.
I'm actively writing again. Spent the better part of my day tinkering, editing, and retooling in my new novel, A Little Patch of Sunshine. I'm up to over 36,000 words now. I just started the ninth chapter. I estimate the book is still not 1/3rd done, but getting close to that mark.
It feels really good. Each time I do sit down to write, I become more certain about things I've ben mulling over for a while. I think the process of reading what I've already got to folks is having the desired effect. Been heating up this keyboard all afternoon.
It feels good.
