Ephemera

On this day, eight years ago, I was in jail awaiting trial on felony drug possession charges.  I was one of a handful of people awake in my dorm watching television.  I called my mom to tell her the world was coming to an end.  That’s what it felt like.  I was on the phone with her when the second tower was hit, live on TV.

I felt like the worst citizen in America that day, and for weeks to come.

I remember the first time I saw a commercial aircraft in the air, weeks later, and how hopeful that made me.

On this day, as on this day in 2001, my thoughts and prayers are with those who’s lives were changed forever.  May whatever God there is be with you and keep you and comfort you.

I learned a little while ago that another person I know in the rooms successfully escaped feeling anything ever again.  It happens more often than I’m comfortable with; people try to get sober and can’t and then intentionally or unintentionally end their suffering by ending their lives.

As a group we die a lot.

I wasn’t particularly fond of this cat.  He was crazy.  I am pretty selective about whom I hang around, but this guy was on the periphery of one of the groups I’m kind of close to.  I had sat with this guy, who hated me (I’m not projecting – he told people that), on a number of occasions, while he struggled to ‘get it’.

When I heard that he committed suicide all I could think was, “Now I don’t have to try to be nice to him anymore.” I am not sad for him nor am I sad for myself.

There are people I care about though, who this will really hurt – and that breaks my heart.

Crystal Taylor <crystal@twitter.com> to outofgas@thelastchancetexaco.com

6:23pm

Head of User Support

Hello,

We’ve recently been contacted by the trademark owners of Texaco, who’d like to get started with a Twitter account.  Although your account is not violating our TOS, we do state that we like to help businesses reclaim user names when possible.  Would you be willing to give up the user name in exchange for a Twitter shirt?  If so, great!  If not, that’s fine too, just thought it was worth asking.

Thanks!

Crystal

to Crystal Taylor <crystal@twitter.com>

6:37pm

I want a Texaco t shirt, too. Size extra large – mens. I’m a big fan of their logo and their tag line – as a sort of spiritual truth. You can tell them that. You can also tell them that there are woefully few Texaco stations in Idaho, where I live, but one of them, at Mack’s Inn, Idaho, shares a name with my blog and a song by Rikki Lee Jones – thelastchancetexaco.com.

So yeah, if they can send along some cool stuff with red stars on it I’m thrilled to hand the name back.

Best wishes,

Chris

Losing Gracie was seriously the saddest thing I’ve been through in  forever.  I found myself crying for a couple of days.  I kept thinking I saw her.

A dear friend kept suggesting that I get a new cat right away.  You need a buddy, he’d keep saying.  I kept my eyes on the classifieds and on the Humane Society web site, looking for another Siamese.  I hadn’t seen one, but, you know, it’s  kitten season.  I was hopeful.

I stopped by the Humane Society on my way home from work yesterday and there was a small female cat whose paperwork said that she had been adopted once already and returned.  Apparantly this was a jealous cat.  She did not like living in a multi-cat home.  Stella did everything she could to get my attention,

I got Stella home, and she felt at home right away.  There was no hiding at all.  She needed a good brushing.  Still does.  I’ve never seen a cat shed this much.  She also needed a bath something fierce.  She hates water more than any cat I’ve ever had, and I have the injuries to prove it, but she didn’t hold a grudge at all.  She is far more affectionate than Gracie was.

And she plays fetch.  I’m not kidding.  It’s pretty sweet.