Pink Petals of Desire
Tuesday, April 8 The cherry blossoms are in full bloom in the city, and for me, cherry blossoms always evoke the beginning of a new school year. This…
6 to 6: Traveling Mercies
She got Mother-Theresa-like into my cab in her brown dress and said: “To Saint Augustine Cathedral, on Broadway.” Saint Augustine was on the other…
Transmissions from Chicago, Part 2
There’s a common saying around here, and Chicagoans have doubtless either heard or repeated it. It has two variants, both meaning the same thing:…
Transmissions from Chicago, Part 1
Things were different here. Royko (RIP) said as much, back when this city was still Second City (now best known as some shit improv troupe; I’d…
My Love and Peace Letter to Greyhound, Part 6
Bus 4501, 9:00 AM, January 7, 2011---11:00 AM, January 7, 2011 We were twenty minutes late getting into Indianapolis. The driver of the bus to…
My Love and Peace Letter to Greyhound, Part 5
Bus 1682, 3:20 AM, January 7, 2011---8:30 AM, January 7, 2011 Clenching my asshole closed, shivering, and puffing as quickly away as possible at this…
My Love and Peace Letter to Greyhound, Part 4
Bus 1306, 6:55 AM, January 6, 2011---5:25 AM, January 7, 2011 I arrived in Denver, Colorado with a two hour layover. Let me take a minute to describe…
In the Shadow of Watts Towers, Part 1
I. Teaching isn’t easy. Certainly not in Los Angeles. I might as well say it at the start: I hate it. It’s hard to be among the young. The first day…
My Love and Peace Letter to Greyhound, Part 3
Bus 1300, ???? Finally, Salt Lake City! Moron...I mean Mormon capital of the world! I had a three hour hangover...I mean layover here. My whiskey…
My Love and Peace Letter to Greyhound, Part 2
Bus 1304, 10:30 PM, January 4, 2011---4:05 PM, January 5, 2011 I woke up in Portland on the front bus seat, missing my four front teeth. I suppose at…
