I've been practicing my zen detachment since Peej's departure, but the universe is mocking me every step of the way, as it is wont to do.

And not even in very inventive ways. I mean I was having a joyless lunch at Souper Salad, when Hall and Oates' "Baby Come Back" comes on the PA:

...All day long wearing a mask of false bravado
Trying to keep up a smile and hide the tears
But as the sun goes down I get that empty feeling again
How I wish to god that you were here

Baby come back, any kind of fool could see
There was something in everything about you
Baby come back, you can blame it all on me
I was wrong and I just can't live without you

I was like, come on, Mockful Universe, you can do better than that. I know you can. I mean, you are the same universe that gave us Karen Carpenter and Luke and Laura and "The Rose".

So then I get a cup of coffee at Starbucks and when I'd finished and ripped off the little cardboard tube-top thingy it was wearing to see what its "The Way I See It" had to say, here's what I got:


Sonuvabitch! These fuckers are ten times worse than fortune cookies. The mockful universe was really outdoing itself today. This was clearly a sign from Israel Horovitz meant specifically for me. I am thinking of sending one back:


Whatever. The universe is full of signs, most of them reading FALLING ROCKS, ROTARY AHEAD, and/or NO EXIT.

And what the hell fun is it to "choose someone who already loves you" anyway?  I mean, that could be anyone. It's much more challenging to go out and find the one who doesn't.