Quote of the day goes to my brother, Mulk:

Okay, so I decided that our family's Empire shall be based on a company that sells apple pies to whales. They'll be beaching themselves in no time for the delicious flavor of home cooked Lopez yummynessnes..

I see no flaws in that plan. Especially if the secret ingredient is military sonar.

Emma has given me a homework assignment. She has excellent timing. The assignment is simple. At least, it shouldn't be too complicated. No more than I make it, I suppose.

She instructed me to write something every day. As I said, her timing is excellent because I have been drifting off into what I call the "Nother Place." It's not a bad place, there's a lot of YouTube, Kingdom Hearts, I never have to do any laundry, and there is certainly no homework.

It's not a bad place.

Dana P. celebrated her birthday today. We went to Four Peaks (one of my favorite places) and a rambunctious good time was had by all. I made her a birthday card because I am poor (well, American-poor not like East Timor-poor) and I wrote her a poem that Dana gave me permission to share. So here it is:

Dana! Dana! She's the greatest
She loves joy; she's not a sadist

If you fall down
she'll pick you up
She'll sing your song
she'll fill your cup
If you get lost
she'll find your place
She will not kick you
in the face

Dana! Dana! She's the best
She will not kick you in the face

I'm a bit rusty with rhyme and meter, but I think I expressed everything I meant to.

I wrote the poem on the back of an old chemistry exam as I was walking home from school instead of attending my chemistry class this evening. The words were bouncing around my head and I didn't want to lose them but nor did I want to stop moving. It's a good thing I don't live in a real city or I probably would have been struck by a car or bike or brisk walker with a briefcase as I walked along with my head down and brow furrowed.

Also written on the back of the chemistry test from I-don't-remember-when: "It's easy being me. I just have to decide if I want to stay me."

What? That's not related to chemistry at all.

I was having difficulty getting out of bed this morning but I'm glad I did. I now believe that the universe has a fundamental (and familiar) order to it and that I am an inextractable part of a glorious plan.

There are those that will tell you that proof negates faith. That the two are mutually exclusive. That the possibility of being wrong is what makes our choices special.

I suggest you hand those people The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy and a big ol' plate of super-bacon until they too see the hilarous and delicious light.