Signing Off

Yeah, yeah. I know. It's been a while now since I've posted anything. I've been busy with... slacking? Hmmm, yeah, I guess "slacking".

Anyways, things have come to a close for me here in Sacramento. I'm ready for the next stage of my so-called life. Where I'll end up? Dunno.
Honest and for true.
I'm going to do some travelling and see where I end up. I plan too much and think it's time to just let things happen.
So I'm packing my bags (and boxes and shot glasses and pool table and rhino's head (yeah, I got one of those. what? you don't?) and other crap that I've accumulated over the centuries) and leaving.

It's something that's been coming for a long while now. My life turned into a HUGE whine-fest for... cripes, has it been this long? Talk about procrastinating!
Barring a few bright spots (some of whom might be reading this), Sacto hasn't been good to or for me. If I bother reviewing my existence, all but 2 of the worst things that ever happened to me happened here.



But those dark, dank areas aren't for this rant.
These bright spots are:

1) Fred. Come on! Of course she's #1!! Anyone who's heard about me 's heard about Fred. She came into my life at one of the lowest points I've had and gave me stability. Any woman in my life must be comfortable with the idea that she comes second to Fred or she won't last long. Fred is my little girl.

2) The friends I made. One has disappeared (see "The Mystery of the Vanishing 'Other Jeff'"). Some have themselves moved away. Some- we drifted apart as people often do. A few (oddly, all named Jessica) I helped leave my life- one for her own good, one for mine, and one because. And you others have become a little family in your own to me.
Bless you all. Each of you taught me about life, and enhanced my life by being in mine. I took something from each of you and made it part of who I am.
I thank you for that.

Oh! And one psycho stalker nutcase! Can't forget her!

3) Den-i-o's. Greatest establishment to waste a Sunday morning E-V-E-R. Where else can you pick up a 1930s Bakelite rotary phone, 3 lbs of carrots, an original Monkees 45, a switchblade, and a navy Navy pea coat- all for under $40 total?!

4) Empire Comics. For the life of me, I can never remember Ben's store's full name but it's the place in Sacto if you're a sci-fi, fantasy, or comic geek. Or all 3! Plus it's Sacramento's only independent comic publisher.
A-1's good for its product; Empire's for its people.

5) Oaks Lounge. Where everybody doesn't know my name, just some of them. The bartender (Jamie- such a yummy sweetie) mixes a great drink and there's karaoke on Fridays and Saturdays via KJ Chris (possibly discontinued now- dunno...).
Many thanks to one of the aforementioned Jessicas for originally taking me there. You can have it back now ;)-

6) Carl's Jr (big, greasy burgers with guac/salsa/cilantro/jalapenos- my favorite "pick-me-up" meal), The Firehouse (65-page wine list), Costa Vida (sweet-pork burritos), Beach Hut Deli (the Shark Bite), Habit (good burgers and even better onion rings), La Fiesta (grilled fish tacos), Nugget Markets (honestly- who's goes there for groceries?), Ettore's Bakery (death by diabetic coma- worth it!!), Tower Cafe (the outdoor heating makes this a great place for winter dining, flank steaks, and desserts), The Flaming Grille Cafe (exotic meat burgers- gotta get my 'roo on!!!), Fox And Goose (one word- "bangers").
I'm led by my stomach so naturally I'll miss the places to eat. For those of you who don't travel much- even the franchises mentioned here aren't populous outside of the West coast.

Special Props) Donna. For taking in an almost complete stranger (given- at a price ;) ) and giving him a home and a surrogate sister for a year.
Fred 'n I will miss you terribly.

PLAY ME!



C'mon, Fred- let's get outta here.