Lieber Ed... (that's German, folks - No, the Ed part is just a name... but not just any person!)

To my friend Ed:

So nice to be in touch again. Welcome to the In-Door, as I'm calling this little experiment. Anyway, I won't ramble to you through this blog (but I will over email real soon, no worries, and, yes, I'd love to have a drink some day soon... to anything, though I hope a 'convalescence' on my behalf would have taken place by that time).

[For any Japanese friends, acquaintances, or anyone else who is trying to practice his/her English by reading my blog (and I apologize for making that so difficult for you, but がんばってね), allow me to introduce you to, possibly, a new word today: convalescence. Check out the definition here. You won't understand how it applies to me, but that's part of the mystery that makes the In-Door fascinating, isn't it!]

Anyway, Ed, old boy, I'm glad to hear that you are busy. Imagine, from plumber to Ivy League scholar, to plumber again. That's the kind of story that reminds me that there are interesting things still happening in this thing called 'life'.

[For everyone out there, that makes two of us now... PhD dropouts, that is. At least I don't feel so lonely anymore. Nobody understands that. Now I'm joined by the finest of all possible scholar-dropouts. Did you do it just to make things easier for me, E? 'Cause things don't get easier for me, even with the help of well-intentioned old pals! What does that say about me, heh?!]

Ed, the project at the folks place sounds interesting. And good for you for working hard enough in the daytime to only be able to eat, clean, and put in a couple 2x4s before crashing. Bravo! If your mind is turning to pablum, maybe your body is grateful for the change in lifestyle. Maybe you can never satisfy both...

Germany? It's on, bro! It's always been on, no? Just a matter of time. Our fates will reunite us there again in the future. My liver will be good and healthy and ready for good beer and cheap wine in public spaces. I wonder how Johnny and Mechthild are? Do you have a contact for her?

**Family: are you checking this out yet? Mom, Pops, sisters? If so, allow me to introduce you to my friend, Ed. He's the man. He has as much chance as I do in life at finding happiness, and there are many other things you would probably find 'interesting' (read: annoying/retarded) about him and the way he thinks about the world or does things in everyday life. And he never seems a bit strange to me at all. In fact, he's the most normal thing in this crazy, crazy world. Little sis, if you're getting this, Ed lives in Vic (has all his life) and, despite my efforts to discourage him, is interested in knowing who you are. If you feel like making a new friend in Vic, let me know and I'll get you guys details. I don't really know if you guys have anything in common, but sometimes that makes for easier friendships, no?

Gotta put an end to this. In-Door followers out there, this is an example of how things can get really mixed up here. And I can only promise you more strange stuff in the future. Of course, because you might feel like you're missing out on something or 'not in the loop' here, but that's just because you are. Don't sweat it.

I will follow this with a post about something interesting that has very little to do with me.

This has been an online, virtual ode fired off in the great blogosphere to a helluva friend that I almost never get to see, whose company, when I have the opportunity to hang with him, is always like gasoline to a fire, or like fine scotch to an alcoholic with impeccable taste. I'm not saying he causes trouble. I'm saying I AM trouble, and he just happens to make me feel okay about being me. I rarely feel that, but I like to.

Good night world. Cheers Ed, for breaking the long silence.

I'm out...
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Played while I posted: The Flaming Lips - Knives Out (Kcrw Version) [Radiohead Cover]
via FoxyTunes