I could see the heat waves rising from Michigan Avenue on a bright Chicago summer day. Every radio station and each small talk conversation contained, at least once, a phrase resembling, “Hot enough for ya?” with a tone of distain and discomfort. The weather bonding us for a time. I, on the other hand, love that kind of heat. The kind where all at once you become enveloped by the …

My sister Lisa and I are dedicated to the ancient and well renown practice of The Kitchen Party. Her kitchen is temple and retreat. It’s the safest place in the world. We were speaking about why there can be so much physical pain in a thought. The idea of a loved one dying. The realization that I must leave home. Planing to quit my job. The knowing of just how …

Walking down the streets of Winnipeg I found myself saying goodbye. I was booked to fly to Chicago early the next morning on a one way ticket. No plan to return and already a little homesick, the next year of my life will find me facing great challenges and I worried about doing this alone, so far from home. Processing my feelings about this next leap, my walk took me …

My father tells the same story when I speak about music. Once upon a time, in a German cafe, he heard a fantastic singer. The singer was also his waiter. The whole room was mesmerized by his waiters’ song and my father can still recount the quality of musicianship. The same year, in England, he heard another singer. Some horrid hack that no body paid particular attention to. It hurt …

Couldn’t sleep last night and made the fatal error of eventually taking a few Valerian root pills. Pills which are now being counteracted by a venti Awake Tea Soy Latte. Extra hot to help ease the chill from this morning’s Chicago CTA Blue Line train ride to O’hare. At least the security guard was in a great mood, and so the usual “random” search (prompted either by my Rastafarian tam …