... a deviant path is the only way ...

My headache got worse as I got closer to Mill, an unfortunate remnant of the cumulative stresses of the last couple weeks. It occurred to me that I wouldn't last too long at the drum circle, with all the people and noise. Instead of going around the backs of buildings, as per my usual, I decided to see if socraticlaughtr was still around by checking to see if his bike was still in front of the local internet cafe, so ended up walking down Mill to get to the drum circle.

I rounded the corner and got about a half block before I saw the first group. About 6 black kids were dancing to the combined sounds of rap music thumping out of a nearby bar, and the indecipherable shouts of a large white guy with a megaphone. I got closer. "You are being deceived by television...!" was the only thing I could make out, but I realized by his strange 2-dimensionality that he was denouncing the sinners in the bar. His words rose and fell with the music very nicely, and later, it amused me to think he was subconsciously being subverted by the evils of music, dance, decadence, and sin.

My headache forgotten, I deftly navigated around the entrance queue and other passerby crowding the bar front and couldn't help grinning.

The next street corner held a marvel, four musicians busking, not just the usual one. Clarinet, trombone, banjo, and tuba were jamming together, neo-dixieland style I guess. I stood and listened for several minutes while they each soloed, and wished I had brought my wallet, to give them a five. I took a business card instead, then reluctantly crossed the street to drift past the now-relocated preacher and the clown making balloon animals for tips.

I swung back around, going behind the stores I had just crossed in front of, and jaywalked across Mill when I got to the drum circle, stabbing my thigh on the non-malleable local vegetation in the median. The drum circle was packed with all the folks who didn't have the option of going on Christmas and New Year's Eve. socraticlaughtr found me and told me I almost got cited by the bicycle cops, and I dragged him back to see the buskers, where he graciously loaned me $2 to throw in their banjo case. He headed home to get ready for his new job, and I went back to the drum circle, which had relocated with lightning speed to the front of the post office.

Things progressed normally from there. I spun poi a bit. I chatted with ?Adam? (Tardis-key-necklace guy) and a friend of his, and learned about a club night that I'd like to check out. They confirmed it wasn't fetish at all, and relayed how on Halloween, someone got kicked out for wearing pleather pants that were too tight. Dickless Dave is going to live his hearts desire, and is leaving for Vegas today. I wanted to rip the testicles off a guy with a "nice tits" laser pointer, and met an former Arkansas gothling by name of JD. The laser pointer guy kept appearing in my peripheral vision and raising my stress levels, so I left about 2 am.

side notes: I heard a strange rap song that was set to the music of NIN's Closer. I don't want to forget my first mooning on University in December. Jaywalking is legal as long as you're over 45' from the nearest intersection. The girl playing a banana to The Primate Fiasco's music.

- I've wrapped up my training with HRBlock, but my transfer (as the computer system understands it) is not being as speedy as I wish it to be/as it should, so I haven't gotten any hours yet. I should talk to my office manager tomorrow.

- I'm very close to finishing my new lower-middle-class bodice. I need to tip the boning, sew up the bottom seam, and put in the grommits. I need to buy tipping fluid, so I'm waiting to do that until I am earning money. On the plus side, I can buy Tool Dip at Home Depot for a mere $5, as opposed to buying professional dressmaker tipping fluid from Greenberg and Hammer for $20. Woo!

- I'm also feeling the necessity of fixing up my car, but I also feel the need to wait on that until, surprise surprise, I'm earning money. For those who don't know, I spun into a street sign my last day in Minnesota, and took out my driver's side directional light, as well as a good chunk of my front bumper, and I also bent my tire rim. I found a scrap yard here in the Phoenix area with the parts I need for crazy cheap, only about $125 for all three of those, but then I get to try and put them on. Joy.

- I went to the drum jam again on Saturday, all by my lonesome. I chatted with a few people there... scary pessimist and Rocky guy (why are they everywhere? Ahhh!) David, and Gray, whom I like better when he's not constantly hitting on me (although then the encounter is rather less amusing).

- I feel like ... half babysitter/half big sister here in the house I'm living in... very odd. Very different. I've never before had a naked three year old hug me and say "I love you Sarah. Deba. Sorry for calling you Sarah." .... I've now dressed my first three year old. I'm trying to teach her the alphabet and numbers. And I start having weird surreal conversations that would probably only be of interest to other people who interact with lisping three year olds on a regular basis.

- I spun poi at the drum jam. Nothing exciting, but it was a good conversation starter, and I enjoyed it.