Before Ojai

DIARY

It's been awhile since I straight up said what's happened lately.
The last time I really wrote in detail was around the end of July, when I got back from Flint. It already seems to have been a long time ago.

Midway through that week, I got the call from Advanced to go back and work with Ortho again. I accepted understanding that I really needed the money and that I wouldn't find a job before going to Ojai.

That weekend Dan Suberviola visited and stayed with me. We had a role-playing marathon on Saturday, and I shoved through Canaryville Blues, which I'd drafted by tennish Sunday night. Before finishing, I went for a walk about my neighborhood, along the vacant lots just north of the Orange Line, and then Hoyne Park, and I walked south to McKinley Park where all the families sat out with picnics and music from their car stereos. I got back.

That week, of course, I tried to stay afloat over the work going on. And managed. I cleaned my room on Thursday night. Friday morning was a graceful summer morning; cool and silvery bright. After work I went home, and Jessica and I quarreled some, which was frustrating. We celebrated our "anteversary"... one year before our wedding. We had a bottle of white wine the Kennedy's gave us and lemon chicken. Then we drove to Andersonville for a walk and drinks at Kopi. I had Milk, Ice Cream and Orange juice drink, and Jess had an espresso shake. Very sort-of magical.

On Saturday, Jess and I read to each other for much of the morning. We stopped at Unique and bought me several Hawaiian shirts... that's my new fashion by the way. It's all about Hawaiian shirts. We went to a party for Lisa and Liz and Co. at Armand's. We picked up Elisabeth on the way. Much talking. It's hard to breathe much life into these descriptions when I feel like they took place on the other side of the moon now, though really it was only about ten days ago. But then Jess and I went back to her place, quarreled some more, and did my laundry for the trip. Then, at two AM, we drove back to McKinley Park, and I packed, then Jess drove me out to O'Hare.

On the way, we passed an accident that hadn't been cleaned up.

A man lay in the middle of the pavement, spasming, while his head and shoulders was held still in another man's lap. A car lay nearby, it's drivers door sheared off. The police and ambulances were just arriving.

Jess dropped me off at around 4. I waited at O'Hare with my McDonalds coffee, and two hours later, my flight left.

~ Connor