Yesterday I walked into the city across the bridge to the cafe near the yoga studio, where I read a book that I am having trouble getting into – and I am halfway through it already, so maybe I am into it and just don’t even know? No, I know that I am forcing myself through this book – and eavesdropped on a local retailer bemoaning holiday sales to the woman behind the counter.

She said, “They start the season earlier and earlier and people aren’t even considering buying gifts yet. I mean it’s sixty freaking degrees out! Who is thinking about Christmas?” The woman behind the counter nodded and sighed.

I thought to myself: If you start the season earlier, the nervous breakdowns start sooner. You would think people wouldn’t even consider losing their shit until at least mid-December, but you would be wrong.

Actually you can freak out anytime you like about anything you want. There’s no freakout rules. I checked.

Then I went to yoga and focused Very Hard on my ankle, like I sent every single ounce of energy I had toward it healing. I visualized the nerves rebuilding themselves very, very quickly. It looked like some sort of stop-animation film. And then I pictured myself running down a street, smiling and breathing, which is odd because I am not a runner, but that was where my mind went, so I’ll take it. I am going to keep doing this kind of thinking until it works. You wait. Seriously, dude. I’m going to fix this ankle with MY BRAIN.

Later I stopped by Desert Island to pick up a copy of Lisa Hanawalt’s new comic book, I Want You #2. It was a party, and there were cans of beer behind the counter. All you had to do was ask, and you could have a beer. (I didn’t ask.)

Whenever I see Lisa she looks totally different to me, but admittedly one of those times was Halloween and she was in a costume, and also maybe her face changes depending on whether her hair is up or down. (She could have one of those faces.) (She is very cute any way you slice it.) But there she was, behind a table, next to a big stack of books, so it had to be her.

I had Lisa sign a book for Mahoney, who really likes her work a lot. (I do, too.) While she signed the book, I tried to convince her that she should drive to Red Hook even though she hates the BQE. I am all up on Red Hook these days. It’s probably kind of weird.

Lisa told me I looked fancy and I didn’t believe her.

I think this is going to be a long month.

(12/01/10) | 2 Comments »