mad's back in town and it's cold here.

I started to write this a few days ago, thinking she was asleep, but she happened in on me so I shut it down. Want Something Else to be a secret as long as I can keep it one.

I don't remember what I was trying to write about that night, must have been a Saturday, but I was strained for inspiration. Sunday, however, was a great night. I opened the bar and made forty dollars, quite unremarkable, but I followed my nose to a nearby bar to help see off an old workfriend, who's leaving Philadelphia for the last time. Her name is Colts, and she had a bad habit of working at the Chain whenever she was in town studying. Colts, her roommate, and B and I hopped from one bar to the next while the Flyers secured a playoff seat. We ended up at Scarlett's, which has a great deal on Yuengling pitchers and had an open pool table, which we put to use for three hours, playing doubles. I spent every dollar I made that morning on beer that night, and had one of the more memorable sunny afternoons I've had in a long time. Colts and I agree that the table we occupied, right next to the pool table, with warm, gentle breezes blowing in from the tall, old-fashioned windows, is one of the best seats this side of the river on a Sunday afternoon.

I played myself sober later that night in a game of tackle football with B and a few of his sporty companions. I'm still sore two days later, and it feels great. He's a big guy, though I think I impressed him. B taught me a few of his tricks when I started serving, and now I'm watching my trainer slide behind the bar to join me in the great ranks of the beer tap-handlers.

The lesson for today is that an afternoon shooting shit, and then a little sweat, can relax a lingering sore throat right out of you. I'm so glad I finally got away from the rigors of a static evening in front of the damned television, mired in the throes of my roommates' insatiable want to pass the time.

We asked a question in class today, one I want to ponder on and maybe try to answer in a later post: Where are all the great women artists?