Zero Defex sounded great in rehearsal the other night. We're doing it again tonight. Our show at the Matinee is Wednesday. Be there! The new Precision bass sounds incredibly awesome. How did I play anything else up till now?
My close friends banded together to get me out of a jam by getting my car unstuck from the ice two nights ago. It took four of us about an hour and a half to get it free. Even the biting cold here in Ohio feels bracing. I’m writing more and better than ever before in my life. The burger shop down the street has delicious veggie burgers. Things are extraordinarily good.
I still have not found a place to live in Akron. But I was really concerned. See, the last time I lived in Akron was 1992. Maybe a bit of '93. Anyway, at the time I was suicidal. I wanted out. Out of Akron or out of life. I opted for out of Akron. A good choice, I think.
Akron has changed and I have changed. I'm no longer trapped here like I was back then. I'm here by choice. Well, by some degree of choice anyhow. This is a much cheaper place to live than Los Angeles or New York. I am part of this community, whether I want to be or not.
Kurt Vonnegut said he chose to live in New York rather than move back to Indianapolis because people in Indianapolis don't have any respect for the life of an artist or writer. They consider anyone who makes their living that way to be a lazy leech. Akron's kind of the same. But we shall see.
People say I'm taking a step back or downgrading. But it's hard to see it that way at the moment. The photo I posted is the blimp USS Akron floating high above New York City. That's how I'm feeling today.
I'm cautiously optimistic. That's my nature. I'm cautious about anything that seems really good. But right now, today, here at the Angel Falls Coffee Shop in Highland Square, I am cheerful.
I've been catching up on emails sent me by readers/fans today. I've been reading a book about how to make a living as a writer. In the chapter about emails from fans the author is like, "You can be a good author and reply to fans' emails the day you get them. Or you can be an aloof, inaccessible author and reply a week later." And I'm like, shit! I have emails from 2003 I haven't gotten to yet!I'm really sorry. But I have a low tolerance for being on line. I have to use the computer to write. And when I'm done for the day I prefer to put it away. Sometimes, though, I am on the damned thing all freaking day just doing what needs doing to keep up with everything. So emails from readers get a low priority. And I'm sorry if I appear rude.
