Bug Horn Rex...
Current mood: focused
Category: Music

The current band is Bug Horn Rex and all of my online efforts have gone to it lately. Please head on over there and check the band out, then proceed to the actual band site for a lot of photos and even some recordings from a while ago. It's all cross-linked where possible.

I'd love it if you'd look into the gig blogs on the band's MySpace page and let me know what you think. A few months ago I decided that the collected thoughts of the 8 members post-gig with some related photos over on our site and the chance for people to comment on their experience would be much more interesting than my occasional musings here about driving around without gas while overthrowing capitalism. So now I'm giving the view from the small stage over there while coordinating everyone else's posts, and I'm going to resign this blog to the occasional post.

On the personal side, this band has really inspired me to work on my music. I'll be honest, it's been a long time since I've played in something that I personally care about musically. Lots of playing with friends and moments to smile about since the fall of !Tang, but not much with any meat on it. It's easy to get comfortable when it's all within reach. Now I'm right back into something that is really beyond me, challenging, interesting... it's perfect. I've got things to work on again, lots of them.

Yes it's traditional jazz, and I would usually agree with most: yawn. But Erik & I decided from the start to use traditional jazz instrumentation and concepts as a platform for reinterpreting pretty much anything that we want to play. So the book that started with Hello Dolly and Bayou Breakdown has slowly morphed into something a little more interesting and out there, ranging from my adaptation of the Kink's Sunny Afternoon to a few Latin numbers and some barroom blues. We're now focusing on cramming even newer stuff in the 20's framework while still trying to not make it sound forced. This is driven by a desire to get Ray more into the mix on vocals, something that will certainly make performances more engaging. It's very interesting and exciting as an arranger to take A and interpret it as B, it's what I've been doing for years in the marching band realm but this is much more personal.

Anyways, that's that and this is this. One last request that you be a friend of Bug Horn Rex on the MySpace. You'll get a gig announcement once in a while, you'll maybe get inspired to come see us sometime, and then you can join the fray too. If not, you can read about it at your leisure and that's fine too.

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FREE DAY
Current mood: FREE

LET IT BE KNOWN that FEBRUARY 29TH shall henceforth be known as FREE DAY, a day where FREEDOM IS CELEBRATED with GREAT GUSTO and NO BOUNDARIES.

* FREE DRINKS shall be readily available from RETAIL OUTLETS. ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES. AUTHENTIC HORCHATA.

* FREE SNACKS shall also BE AVAILABLE. Also, FREE DRUGS and FREE CLOTHES. You get the idea.

* BIG CORPORATIONS shall also GIVE AWAY THINGS for free. Not free samples but FREE REGULAR SIZED THINGS. Like FREE CARS and FREE HOUSES and FREE LIFE INSURANCE and FREE PRESCRIPTION DRUGS.

* RICH PEOPLE shall OPEN THEIR DOORS to poor people to GIVE THEM THINGS. Like FREE TRINKETS or FREE ARTWORK or FREE TURKEY DINNER or FREE PRESCRIPTION DRUGS.

* SALARIED WORKERS shall BAIL ON THEIR JOBS. Do the math, you aren't getting paid for this day. THIS DAY IS FOR US. Go outside and BE FREE.

* People shall DRESS and GENERALLY BEHAVE as they see fit to CELEBRATE FREEDOM. Naked is fine. DON'T JUDGE. Nice tits.

* GOOD NATURED DEBAUCHERY shall be ENCOURAGED, including INAPPROPRIATE COMMENTS, PHYSICAL ANTICS, and the use of RECREATIONAL DRUGS. It's all good, it's FREE DAY.

* ALL LAWS shall BE SUSPENDED. The only rule shall be that you shall NOT ENDANGER OTHERS. This shall be ENFORCEABLE BY ANYONE, but they shall be NICE ABOUT IT.

* JAILS shall be OPENED UP. PRISONERS shall ROAM THE STREETS to see what they are missing. Prisoners shall RETURN BEFORE MIDNIGHT or they shall be HUNTED AND SHOT. A WAIVER shall be SIGNED TO THIS EFFECT. Prisoners shall be FREE TO NOT PARTICIPATE if they don't agree to THE TERMS.

* There shall be NO DISCUSSION of what happened on FREE DAY outside of FREE DAY. FREE DAY is like the CITY OF LAS VEGAS and FIGHT CLUB this way.

Now that you know, get out there and CELEBRATE! FREE DAY is already HALF OVER! FREEDOM!

Currently listening : Ladies & Gentlemen: The Best of George Michael By George Michael Release date: 10 November, 1998

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Happy Valentine’s Day
Current mood: Delighted
Category: Delighted Fashion, Style, Shopping

In Papyrus I find a Valentine's Day card with the right mixture of sentiments: cute, crude, funny. It is easy. I like this store.

The two young female employees are moving at lightning speed as they ring up the steady stream of cards and boxes that a day like this brings. The periodically scoot over to the wrapping station to put together something amazing for us procrastinating slobs in line, and they quickly return with a meticulously wrapped box that is surprisingly affordable. Customers are referred to as "guests" and it's not annoying because they mean it. They genuinely like days like today. Days like today are why they work in Papyrus.

I can't help but compare this to J.C. Penney, where I have just spent 30 minutes waiting in line for a guy in a zoot suit to allow me to exchange 2 pairs of flat-front chinos for the same flat-front chinos in a fatter size.

Anyways, the guy in front of me gets called up and he's a gruff man. He's lived life.  He doesn't suffer fools. The giant shopping bag he's holding is not from the mall; too dirty. "Do you gift wrap?" he asks. Apparently he's not been making sense of the whirlwind of activity surrounding us. "Certainly!" is the friendly response, followed by the requisite "How big is the box?"

These are the moments I live for.

The guy reaches deep into the bag, pulls out a personal wand massager, and places it on vertically on the high counter.

"This big."



It looked exactly like this Hitachi Magic Wand. But cheaper. In a box. On the counter. Standing on end. I cannot contain my delight. My day has just been made.

Our young hosts are visibly humored, but they're professionals. There is no laughing, no gasps, just friendly guidance through the gift wrap options after a few initial stammers. He gets the price for wrapping a box this size and weighs it against simply purchasing the paper. Everything unfolds with this thing standing there in all of its glory.

Meanwhile, I get called to the other register and proceed right next to it. I have never been happier. This guy is awesome. His lady will enjoy it, I can tell. This is what Valentine's Day is all about.

Currently listening : Buzz Buzz By Laurie Berkner Release date: 01 January, 2001

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Jury Duty...
Current mood: Dismissed...

I'm Free From The Chain Gang Now
Johnny Cash

I got rid of the shackles that bound me
And the guards that were always around me
There were tears on the mail mother wrote me in jail
But I'm free from the chain gang now

All the years I was known and respected
'til one day I was wrongly suspected
I was shackled in chains in a cold freezin' rain
But I'm free from the chain gang now

All the years I was known by a number
How I kept my mind is a wonder
But like a bird in a tree I got my liberty
And I'm free from the chain gang now

I got rid of the shackles that bound me
And the guards that were always around me
There were tears on the mail mother sent me in jail
But I'm free from the chain gang now

There were tears on the mail mother wrote me in jail
But I'm free from the chain gang now

---

Yesterday I had jury duty and it took 7 hours to not be selected.

I am self-employed and I make pretty good money and dig the schedule flexibility and all that, but not having an employer means that I get no income for things like jury duty. That's a bummer.

Yesterday:

   + $0 income
   - $5 for parking (validated)
   - $6.50 for Beef Chow Fun at Shan Dong
   - $1.50 tip
   - $1 gas
= - $14 for the day (loss)

Had I been selected for the jury, I would have received $15/day payment starting the following day.

If selected:

   + $15 income
   - $5 for parking (validated)
   - ~$6.50 for delicious grub at Shan Dong
   - ~$1.50 tip
   - $1 gas
= + $1 for the day (gain)

Given the relatively large loss on the first day, the trial would have to go 15 days for me to show a profit as an Alameda County juror. Yes, starting in the 4th week of trial I would have started to net $1 per day of service.

Interestingly, financial hardship was not why I wasn't selected. The change in income from "hundreds per day" (roughly) to $1 per day was not considered by the judge in chambers. My personal beliefs weren't the issue, either, as I was never called into the box to answer even the cursory questions about employers and translators and service organizations and similar incidents in my past. Not that any of this would have been an issue in this case. This wasn't a drug case where my personal beliefs would have resulted in an awkward speech followed by an immediate dismissal by the prosecution.

I was dismissed because I had a last minute vacation planned over part of the trial time. The judge required validation of this, so I had to secretly use my cell phone's last battery tick from the gallery to get the booking confirmation email from Erin and forward it to the court clerk. Some poor sap had just finished explaining why he could not be impartial when I was let go. Here it was well into the sixth hour and the attorneys hadn't started to ask their own questions yet.

Chambers logic:

Losing thousands in income = not an excuse
Losing a couple hundred in plane tickets and quality time with the wife = valid excuse

That's our legal system in a nutshell. The court arbitrarily can't consider some things but places a lot of weight in others. Then decisions are made. Deal.

If all things are equal and jury duty comes up again in the future for a trial scheduled for more than a few days, I'll have to be more passionate about the lost money, bring printed proof of any and all conflicts and issues, and hope for a more sympathetic judge. Booking a nice vacation a few weeks prior and planning to work remotely wouldn't hurt.

Don't get me wrong, weeks of justice served with Beef Chow Fun, Special Dumplings, and/or Bean Curd Family Style from Shan Dong would be fantastic. I've served on a jury before and found it tedious but very interesting. Financial circumstances just won't allow it right now.

I'm sorry, your honor.

Currently listening : American V: A Hundred Highways By Johnny Cash Release date: 04 July, 2006

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Security...
Current mood: Screened...

Whats Your Name?
Lynyrd Skynyrd

Well, its 8 o'clock in Boise, Idaho
I'll find my limo driver
Mister, take us to the show
I done made some plans for later on tonight
I'll find a little queen
And I know I can treat her right.

What's your name, little girl, what's your name?
Shootin' you straight, little girl, won't you do the same?

Back at the hotel
Lord we got such a mess
It seems that one of the crew
Had a go with one of the guests, oh yes
Well, the police said we can't drink in the bar
What a shame
Won't you come upstairs girl
And have a drink of champagne

What's your name, little girl, what's your name?
Shootin' you straight, little girl, won't you do the same?

9 o'clock the next day
And I'm ready to go
I got six hundred miles to ride
To do one more show, oh no
Can I get you a taxi home
It sure was grand
When I come back here next year
I wanna see you again

What's your name, little girl, what's your name?
Shootin' you straight, little girl, won't you do the same?

---

It wasn't until we were midway through the Southwest Airlines "checked-in-online-but-need-to-check-bags"  line that my missing driver's license was realized. This is the sort of thing that sets me into a panic, and Erin knows it. I flashed back to stuffing my license in my shirt pocket along with my Costco and debit cards upon making my triennial replacement sock purchase in Livermore a few days earlier. They didn't even ask for my license! What was I thinking?

Stay calm. What to do, what to do? If I had realized the missing license at any earlier point, as needed I would have returned to the off-site parking lot, searched the car, driven home, searched the house, booked a later flight, returned to the off-site parking, returned to the Oakland Airport, proceed through normal procedures alone, convinced Erin to pick me up at the airport in Los Angeles, and our trip would continue with the required modifications. Here we were approaching the head of the line, though. Crap.

The Southwest customer service agent quickly cut off my confession with a reassurance that it was no problem. Wait, what, no problem? "Happens all the time", he said. "The code I'll put on your boarding pass will send you through the special security check." Who knew? Sounds good, thank you. At the front of the initial security line the agent hid my boarding pass and quizzed me: "What is your name?" she asked. I passed the test and was sent to the far right where I was patted down by hand. The carry-on items went through a machine as normal but were also hand checked. This took five additional minutes. Sweet.

Pre-dinner in Pasadena that night, I was carded as I ordered a pint at the bar. I explained my blunder and the bartender left to get the manager. It all seemed promising until I realized that the manager was just getting a visual on me so I could be monitored the rest of the night. "We card anyone under 40 here, no exceptions", she explained. "So you actually believe that I am over 21 but you are bound by this arbitrary rule?" I asked. I forget her actual response but it didn't involve me getting beer. I mentioned that I was able to fly all the way here without identification and that this setback was the first of the trip. The conversation was over before it started. An hour and a half later Erin put her beer in front of me as we were seated and the high security beer-denial system was defeated.

The rest of the trip was as great as that delicious illicit Racer 5 IPA. Well, the Cal / UCLA game itself sucked, but Gerald and Liz had a kick ass post-game short-rib barbeque where we talked about this season being no different than any other promising Cal season gone wrong and that is something that we should take comfort in. We welcomed young Will to the ranks of Old Blue and reminded him with a forced smile that we still could win Big Game. Dusk settled on the golf course and hijinks ensued as we made our way back to the car.

Flying out from LAX the next night after a hazy Sunday afternoon spent at Mike's, I got the same quiz at the head of the initial security line: "What is your name?" The special security zone had an air-puff machine instead of a pat down, always a treat. As the agent searched through my bag by hand, pretty young people were zipping through the same zone. I imagined that this was also the special secret celebrity entrance to the Southwest terminal after noticing that one chick looked like she may have been on Big Brother or something. She giggled and shook as the machine puffed air. All of this was faster and much more entertaining than the regular security line. Well, Erin was slowed up by trying to fly with a locked metal cashbox.

My license was on our entry cabinet, wrapped in a Costco receipt with the two other missing cards. My new socks are nice and fluffy, thank you.

Currently listening : 20th Century Masters: The Best Of Lynyrd Skynyrd (Millennium Collection) By Lynyrd Skynyrd Release date: 09 March, 1999

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Stamps...
Current mood: Revolting...

Give Peace a Chance
John Lennon

Ev'rybody's talkin' 'bout
Bagism, Shagism, Dragism, Madism, Ragism, Tagism
This-ism, that-ism, -ism -ism -ism

All we are saying is give peace a chance
All we are saying is give peace a chance

Ev'rybody's talkin' 'bout
Minister, Sinister, Banisters and Canisters,
Bishops, Fishops, Rabbis, and Pop Eyes, Bye bye, Bye byes

All we are saying is give peace a chance
All we are saying is give peace a chance

Ev'rybody's talkin' 'bout
Revolution, Evolution, Masturbation, Flagellation, Regulation,
Integrations, mediations, United Nations, congratulations

All we are saying is give peace a chance
All we are saying is give peace a chance

Ev'rybody's talkin' 'bout
John and Yoko, Timmy Leary, Rosemary,
Tommy Smothers, Bobby Dylan, Tommy Cooper,
Derek Taylor, Norman Mailer, Alan Ginsberg, Hare Krishna
Hare Hare Krishna

All we are saying is give peace a chance
All we are saying is give peace a chance

---

I prepared my Q3 estimated tax payments and got them into the mail at work with first class postage stamps affixed. 2 days later my federal payment was returned to me at home, 22.9 miles from the dropoff point, indicating that $0.02 was due. Yes, scrawled by hand over the red "Postage Due" ink: ".02"

The stamp, despite only indicating "First Class" and "US Postage", was really the old first class rate. The rate has changed 2 cents from the time this purposefully vague stamp was printed, and this rate change invalidated the clear "First Class" marking. Needless to say, our stamp organizational scheme did not catch this. The fine folks at the Pleasanton Post Office sure did, on 1 of 3 letters at least!

Maybe a class action attorney will get involved here. If I am mailed a letter asking if I want to opt out of the class on this one, I most certainly will NOT return that letter with valid postage!

The intended delivery would have been from Pleasanton to San Francisco, a mere 37.7 miles from the dropoff point and 14.8 miles from the return point. I think I'll remail it from Oregon next weekend with the additional $0.02 attached. I will perform this legal act of non-violent protest in lieu of voting this year. See, the USPS is part of a larger organization known as "The Man", and people like me that "get it" sometimes need to "stick it" to "The Man". Some of you know what I am talking about!

Now they have "Forever Stamps (tm)" that are valid for the first class rate forever. Genius! I will get some of those and use them to mail my old cell phones back to the Sprint corporation headquarters. I just have a feeling that Sprint could use the parts of all of my old phone to make fancy new phones, and these fancy new phones might inspire them to upgrade their customer service to near-human levels, and this is also something that I support!

Currently listening : Imagine / Give Peace Chance / Happy Christmas By John Lennon Release date: 20 December, 1999

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Barry Bonds...
Current mood: Pleased...

The Loner
Neil Young

He's a perfect stranger
Like a cross of himself and a fox
He's a feeling arranger
And a changer of the ways he talks
He's the unforeseen danger
The keeper of the key to the locks
Know when you see him
Nothing can free him
Step aside, open wide
It's the loner

If you see him in the subway
He'll be down at the end of the car
Watching you move
Until he knows he knows who you are
When you get off at your station alone
He'll know that you are
Know when you see him
Nothing can free him
Step aside, open wide
It's the loner

There was a woman he knew
About a year or so ago
She had something that he needed
And he pleaded with her not to go
On the day that she left
He died, but it did not show
Know when you see him
Nothing can free him
Step aside, open wide
It's the loner

---

There is way too much focus being placed on Barry Bonds in regards to steroids. It trivializes the issue, if there is one, to focus on one complex and conflicted player and the conditions of breaking the homerun record. When he retires there will still be widespread usage in all sports. Will it just be swept back under the rug or will a new villian be chosen?

I heard an estimate on KNBR that fully half of the league was on steroids or growth hormone in the late 90's and early 2000's. This was informally extrapolated from the leaked information in the BALCO case, which covered not only Barry but a large number of less famous players. It ran from established stars trying to maintain all the way down to rookies trying to break through.

The popular perception is that steroids are primarily a hitting for power thing. Yet decreased recovery time is the real benefit, enabling more workouts in the off-season and less fatigue as the season plays out. Failed testing results from the minor leagues have shown that starters and relief pitchers were as likely to be using the stuff as position players and designated hitters. It makes sense, as pitchers are always recovering from their last outing. We can't just look at a player and tell that they are clean. It requires a blood test, and then you can only be somewhat sure.

I'm a Giants fan and a Barry Bonds fan. The homerun record is all that the Giants have going for them this season. It's interesting to watch. The players on opposing teams must have some strange feelings when their fans hold up the asterisk signs and taunt Barry. These players know that many of the guys on each bench have used or are using. The protesting fans just seem naive and self-righteous to those in the know. If they care so much, they should be boycotting sports instead of demonizing a player.

Barry broke the record last night and the Giants lost. Hank Aaron delivered a simple and moving pre-taped message via the scoreboard. Barry looked genuinely touched as he thanked the players and fans before returning to the dugout. He's an interesting and complex guy, detached, brash but soft-spoken, talented as hell. It's been a fantastic ride to watch him play all these years and this was his finest moment. You only get so many chances to see greatness.

They sell garlic fries at Giants games. Each tray of fries has nearly a full bulb of garlic on it. It was one of the first non-traditional foods they introduced back at Candlestick Park, and lots of people have lined up since then to get them. There is a noticeable garlic scent in the stadium, they sell so many of these things. Yet if you look down when you leave a game, there are nearly full trays of garlic fries everywhere.

You can enjoy the game for what it is and take pleasure in these moments, or you can find something else to do and leave the rest of us alone. And before you buy, ask yourself: do you really want those fries?

Currently listening : Neil Young By Neil Young Release date: 25 October, 1990

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Bongos... [Jimmy Cliff]
Current mood: Drumming...

Bongo Man
Jimmy Cliff

Bongo man a come, Bongo
Bongo man a come, Bongo

I'm giving you the warning
A new day is dawning
So better be prepared
When Bongo Man gets here

Bongo man a come, Bongo
Bongo man a come, Bongo

Better be prepared
When Bongo Man gets here
I'm giving you the warning
A new day is dawning

Bongo man a come, Bongo
Bongo man a come, Bongo

----

Did I ever tell you about my Toca bongos? This was last year.

Hi Toca,

I bought some silver Elite fiberglass bongos nearly a year ago and have fallen in love with hand drumming. But the shell on the 8 1/2" drum recently failed, completely crushing itself like an aluminum can. I think that heat weakened it structurally while increasing the head tension... kaboom! Not sure if this is something that happens occasionally or if they were somehow previously damaged. Doesn't matter, lesson learned. Loosen heads. Always.

Anyways, can I purchase or otherwise obtain a replacement shell from you? Color, material, whatever does not matter. A dinged up return, or any shell that you've got in any sort of playable condition would be hugely appreciated. These were purchased 2nd hand so I don't have any warranty materials.

I just purchased some red Custom Deluxe bongos to play with as a replacement. But I'd love to get these Elites working again so I can take them on trips and casual outdoors gigs.  :)

Please let me know if there is anything you can do!

Thank you!

Mark


Hi Mark,

Sounds very odd but possible I guess. Send us your address and I will see what we have in returns. Possibly something will come up that I can send you. Generally we ask that you go through a dealer but since you bought these used then we can try and help you out directly.

Elite series is not the top of the line but is a nice sounding set. These shells are a bit thinner than our pro line and therefore cannot handle the high tensions that the pro line can.

Either way we will try and send you an 8-1/2" elite or something similar.

Kaman Percussion

Shortly after this email Kaman shipped me a brand new set of bongos, giving me a total of 2 1/2 sets: one fiberglass drum from the broken set purchased on eBay, the nice new wooden set purchased from them after that one broke, and the replacement fiberglass set that was sent on their dime.

Of course, I was blown away. Customer for life!

Just so you know, Kaman Music is the parent company of:

GUITARS: Ovation, Adamas, Takamine, Hamer
PERCUSSION: Toca, Gibraltar, Gretsch Drums, LP Music, Sabian, Dixon Hardware
AMPLIFIERS: Genz Benz
ACCESSORIES: Seiko, Kaman Wearables, Lee Oskar Harmonicas, Hercules, Cherub, Levy's Leathers
VALUE LINE: Applause, Jasmine, Slammer
EDUCATIONAL: Becker Instruments, CB Percussion, LP Rhythmix, Vic Firth Percussion

Right on!

Currently listening : Ultimate Collection By Jimmy Cliff Release date: 23 November, 1999

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Garbage...
Current mood: Fuming...

I'm Only Happy When It Rains
Garbage

I'm only happy when it rains
I'm only happy when it's complicated
And though I know you can't appreciate it
I'm only happy when it rains
You know I love it when the news is bad
Why it feels so good to feel so sad
I'm only happy when it rains

Pour your misery down
Pour your misery down on me
Pour your misery down
Pour your misery down on me

I'm only happy when it rains
I feel good when things are going wrong
I only listen to the sad, sad songs
I'm only happy when it rains

I only smile in the dark
My only comfort is the night gone black
I didn't accidentally tell you that
I'm only happy when it rains
You'll get the message by the time I'm through
When I complain about me and you
I'm only happy when it rains

Pour your misery down
Pour your misery down on me
Pour your misery down
Pour your misery down on me

Pour your misery down
Pour your misery down on me
Pour your misery down

You can keep me company
As long as you don't care

I'm only happy when it rains
You'll wanna hear about my new obsession
I'm riding high upon a deep depression
I'm only happy when it rains

I'm only happy when it rains
I'm only happy when it rains
I'm only happy when it rains
I'm only happy when it rains

Pour some misery down on me
Pour some misery down on me
Pour some misery down on me
Pour some misery down on me

I'm only happy when it rains

----

The newscaster is commenting on the garbage strike again. Apparently replacement workers are starting to pick up trash, but some folks are concerned that service has only returned to the affluent areas of Oakland thus far. Our neighborhood is mentioned on the "other" list.

We look outside. The overflowing garbage bins are still there, all the way up and down the street. They've been there for over a week. Our bins are usually only half full but someone has offloaded a few additional sacks.

I pull the nearly full bins into the yard. Next week this is going to get really ugly.

At least we don't run a crab shack.

Currently listening : Garbage By Garbage Release date: 15 August, 1995

10:00 AM - 0 Comments - 0 Kudos - Add Comment

Kids...
Current mood: Detached...

Greatest Love Of All
Whitney Houston

I believe the children are our are future
Teach them well and let them lead the way
Show them all the beauty they possess inside
Give them a sense of pride to make it easier
Let the children's laughter remind us how we used to be

Everybody searching for a hero
People need someone to look up to
I never found anyone who fulfill my needs
A lonely place to be
So I learned to depend on me

I decided long ago never to walk in anyone's shadows
If I fail, if I succeed, at least I'll live as I believe
No matter what they take from me
They can't take away my dignity

Because the greatest love of all
Is happening to me
I found the greatest love of all
Inside of me
The greatest love of all
Is easy to achieve
Learning to love yourself
It is the greatest love of all

I believe the children are our future
Teach them well and let them lead the way
Show them all the beauty they possess inside
Give them a sense of pride to make it easier
Let the children's laughter remind us how we used to be

I decided long ago never to walk in anyone's shadows
If I fail, if I succeed, at least I'll live as I believe
No matter what they take from me
They can't take away my dignity

Because the greatest love of all
Is happening to me
I found the greatest love of all
Inside of me
The greatest love of all
Is easy to achieve
Learning to love yourself
It is the greatest love of all

And if by chance, that special place
That you've been dreaming of
Leads you to a lonely place
Find your strength in love

----

Two teenage girls sit at the tall table in the corner. One talks with quiet animation into her cell phone. Emotions are revealed between long pauses. Her friend sits silently with her back to the wall, slowly alternating looks across the table, down towards her food, and right to the parking lot outside. There is no eye contact.

Without a word, the quiet girl stands and takes their food to the trash. She opens the door and waits for a moment. They leave together, phone conversation uninterrupted, and cross the parking lot together.

Inside the electronics store, a boy changes direction as he notices the unused Guitar Hero setup. He half-heartedly examines both controllers before strapping on the black one and selecting a song. The colored notes of Jessica fly towards him and he presses the controller on cue. He's played this one on this difficulty before.

An older girl stops, watches the notes light up for a moment, and speaks. Embarrassed, he half turns and realizes that she is talking into her phone. He continues to play, relaxing a bit when she finally continues walking. Her friend is around, somewhere.

The middle school lets out and children flood the courtyard. The parade of minivans slowly ambles forward as children are called to the vehicles in front. Only a few head for home on their own, on foot and on bikes.

Currently listening : A Decade of Hits 1969-1979 By The Allman Brothers Band Release date: 22 October, 1991

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