Mr. Silverstein’s alligator (I don’t know where your favourite place to read is, but I guess if I had to choose one place in particular then I’d choose…anywhere).

Self-portrait //// Camas, WA //// April 9, 2013

The Vow.

I told Becca, via cellular telephone, that I was just leaving the coffeehouse, that I would hurry and not dilly-dally, then as I was gathering my things to depart, I looked over and there was a guy on his laptop scrolling through fonts on a Typography website. 

Regarding things I get excited about: Typography. 

So I started to stop and chat, and I KNOW, I just know he would have been delighted, but then I remembered my promise. I stole one more glance - I think he was testing out a sans-serif take on Bodoni, which of course you know is kind of crazy. And crazy-cool.

So I looked, and then walked past him without a backward glance. I'll never see him again. That's fine, I guess. 

I drove home, and listened to Velvet Underground, and my son tried attacking me with a light saber today but it's not even a real one so I was fine.

Overheard.

"I have a lot of self-control. Until somebody makes me mad."

- young man, late teens, Alice Cooper hair, casually monologuing his life philosophy to another passenger on bus.

Human nature.

It sounds good: the idea that my emotions should be separate of external forces and that other peoples's behavior shouldn't cause affect my feelings.

But we're talking about human nature, which we are all prisoner to to some degree. And 'getting mad,' though not quite so refined as simply 'getting angry,' is still an emotion that needs an outlet. And I am more interested in allowing emotions their place and time, but finding suitable outlets for appropriate ways of dealing with it.

If somebody runs into my car, then drives off, they have made me mad. I will not deny myself those moments of rage. I will not, however, go taking out my anger at them in an aggressive manner

Regarding the level of comfort and self-assuredness an adult male should have in engaging in the following activities by himself.

Going to the cinema = Totally okay

Ice skating = Sometimes okay,
especially if you've just been watching Serendipity,
or, of course if you're following a Brian Boitano career path,
or, of course if you just really love ice skating, which is cool.

Hanging out at a busy playground = not really okay.
How about a solo hike? Totally cool.