Your standard arty highway shot.

When I pulled out from the pump it sounded like I ran over something so I looked back and the hose from the gas pump was lying on the ground. I'd left it stuck in my tank and ripped it clean off the pump. My first thought was, "Wow, I drove of with it in my car, just like in the movies." Then I thought, "I wonder if anybody saw that."

I wasn't going to just take off like a chump so I got out, inspected the damage, (and found out that there's some sort of quick-release mechanism so you don't ruin the nozzle when you do what I did) and went inside to tell the clerk about it. It was one of those vast I-5 filling stations with a McDonalds in it where the clerk never even looks outside. I says, "I pulled out with the nozzle stuck in my tank and ripped the hose off." He looks down, sighs, and says, "License please."

I'm kind of shocked. What does he mean talking to me like he's a cop. I asked what he needed it for and he said, "In case you broke it they need to charge you for the damage." And I'm like, what the hell? I came in here out of the generosity of my heart. You want to charge me? You didn't even catch me! I could've just sped off into the night. Here I am, bothering you, distracting you from refilling the cigarettes, so I can *let you know* about a little accident in you station and you want to take down my license?

I went back into the car and got it out and he copied it down.

It's 1:19 am and I'm about to get on the road. I'm just about packed. Thought I'd be done sooner but I decided to backup my hard drive just in case something happens. I'm bringing just about every expensive piece of equipment I own with me so something better damn well happen.

I'm going to El Lay. Just decided tonight when I woke up. I was thinking the first thoughts I usually think as I wander out of sleep: "What day is it and where'd I park my car?" I realized it was Thursday and that I need to move it before tomorrow so I thought, since I have to re-park my car anyhow, I might as well drive to LA. That's the way I tend to think about matters of parking in my neighborhood. I don't consider driving to LA that much of a chore and I'd rather do it than re-park my car.

Also, I had remember that Ben told me to meet him and his marching band in LA. He said they have lots of groupies and I can be one of them.

I passed the time before leaving by watching the film "Waking Life" and I highly recommend it. It’s about dreams and reality and this animated kid (young Mitch from "Dazed and Confused") walks around and listens to people philosophize on life and dreams. There are some very beautiful parts. Like when the two guys that are talking about the "holy moment" suddenly turn into cloud people. Or when that girl picks him up and tells him about her soap opera. Talk about a dream girl... and then there’s Timothy 'Speed' Levitch playing himself, of course, the man on bridge who goes salsa dancing with his confusion. You want to press the pause button on that guy cause he’s laying in on thick. If you’ve seen the movie "The Cruise" you’ll have an idea of the flavor of the ramblings.

So here I go on a cruise.

I know this is probably illegal, but I just have to post this photograph. It's the wallpaper on my computer. If you desire any insight into what drives the construction of this website, nay, my very existence, a viewing of this cannot be left out. I can't take my eyes off it. What a tuches!

I just wrote an angry rebuttal to some no-taste doofuses stinking up the Internet Movie Database concerning a film I saw tonight. It's called "In The Bedroom" and it's very very good. The movie, I mean.