summer coda

My weekend began with an unexpected dinner on the back porch, with my roommate's family and some other friends downing Ethiopian-spiced spaghetti, injera, and curry.

Since the nights are finally cool and the evening was already feeling festive, we got out the fire pit and roasted marshmallows, and invited the little punks who run around the neighborhood over where they proceeded to be hilarious in the way that only middle school kids can be, pretending to be older than they obviously are and trying to talk up my roommate's sister who responds, "what are you, like 12 or something?" which they are.

Saturday was a weird day with a lot of random errands, the general frustration of the earlier post, and existential spiritual questions being pondered by candlelight in my kitchen over cups of citrus tea, but Sunday was full of art-making and east side adventuring with the partner in crime.

We had originally planned on going in search of Jamaican food but every single place we drove by was closed, so we called Joe, the source of all knowledge of directions, interesting places, diners, and dives, and he sent us to "Everything and Then Some," a soul food spot in East Cleveland.

The sun was so perfect and golden and everything was chill, we were singing along to the Fugees and driving down Euclid past cheap motels, storefront churches, corner stores with handpainted signs and silver Cadillacs parked out front.



We finally found it, across from the I Have A Dream Cafe and the Superfly Barber Shop, and as promised, it was so good even if I did get the side-eye from every woman there.

"They think you're another girl stealing their men..." "Little do they know the ugly truth that we're just friends..."

(photo courtesy of ClevelandSGS)

Totally satisfied with our greens, sweet potatoes, and cornbread, we went to my new favorite lakefront spot at Villa Angela (thanks Bridget!) and lay on the rocks by the water listening to music, talking, drifting in and out of sleep as the lake breeze rustled the cottonwood trees above us. and then walked up the beach taking photos of the rocks, the sand, and the people before heading back to the west side.

I can't believe this summer has gone so quickly. It's been absolutely crazy and incredibly beautiful in so many unexpected ways. School's back in session and I'm wondering if I should bother with this creative writing class I'm signed up for because when it's nice out like this I just don't have the time to be inside watching plays or people read poetry, I want to be doing my own creating.

the words of the prophets

So I spent the last week hovering between total depression and moments of bliss, not for any real good reason except that I'm human and there's constant equal doses of amazing moments and conversely the continual shortcomings.

Some have told me that feelings of melancholy are indicative of spiritual problems, that I need to claim in the name of Jesus that yes I can be happy all the time. Others have let me make excuses for my emotions, disregarding the way that they've maybe not been so fun for the others around me. Some say I'm too busy and others that I need to be doing more. I get to the point where I feel like they're all wrong more or less. there were a lot of chronically depressed people who God spoke to, and if the book of Ecclesiastes and Dylan taught us anything, there is a time and purpose for everything, including sorrow.

I was able to force myself out of the blue funk, and I've always found that venturing to the east side does wonders, with its change of scenery and the chillness of some good people that always make me laugh. I made three sojourns out there in the past 5 days, one for Apples to Apples at a friend of a friend's apartment, Friday night cups of tea and scrabble at Algebra



where we were immensely amused by the sketchbooks in the back:

"



followed by pizza and gelato and then late night donut shop coffee-drinking, and then yesterday at Jerusha's apartment that was spontaneous and good times, discussions on theology, the history of India, eastern religion made palatable for the west...

Because as bad as things get in this city, there's enough to keep me here and keep me hopeful.

west to east and east to west.

Took some vacation time today. Me and roommate had grand road trip plans for Columbus or Kent and ended up exploring more of our city with much success, making the jump from the old familiar parts of Parma to the heart of the east side.

We stopped at Timeless Guitars and while I'd still love an upright bass, I played a beautiful vintage short-scale bass with great sound and style that would make more sense right now and she found some banjos down in the basement that she liked. Hung out in Parma for a little bit to visit my sister and get some groceries and then drove out to Euclid to pick up free moving boxes we saw on Craigslist.

By this time we were hungry and craving something spicy so we called Muk to see where he likes getting Jamaican so he sent us to DK & A down on 120th & St Clair. It's easy to miss but the food is amazing and there's a lot of it. And despite the catcalls from the passing drivers, I'd go back there again if I'm out that way. The spices were comforting and made me think of warmer sunny days.

We met up with him at the food co-op parking lot and ate curry chicken and drank fruity organic stuff in the car as the windows fogged up, and then went out to some party in Mayfield. While I'm so intimidated by groups of new people, I ended up having a nice time and I'm thankful that the frustrations of past experiences don't always need to repeat in the present.

And even though it's started snowing, we're back home and it's warm.

social adrenaline

Got to paint this weekend, realized my need for some acrylic paint because the guache isn't cutting it for what I'm doing now. Also took some random Cleveland shots in the hour or so before sunset when the light is just beautiful.

A friend of mine was in town this weekend before heading back to Jordan so a group of us ended up going bowling Saturday night at Twin Lanes which is probably my new favorite spot in Cleveland for such things because it's cheap fun and stellar people-watching. I'm notoriously bad at bowling (my lifetime average hovers around 50) but it was good just hanging out.

My friends who just got married had us over for dinner last night. It's been awhile since I laughed as hard as I did at their table, hearing wild stories that really should be in a book somewhere because they're just so good. They're amazing people and I'm glad that they're just around the corner from me.

From there, I ended up driving over to the east side to hang out with the guys because I haven't seen them in forever and it's always such a good thing. Every time we hang out, he always has some Youtube goodness for me. The last time it was Balls of Steel and the Ice-T/Soulja Boy feud, this time it was late 1950's R&B and SHAKER HEIGHTS!



Enjoy.