i am

sometimes i need the reminder and it couldn't come from a better source.

nolapdbs : an update

nearly 2months after receiving the bs ticket (a warrant is suppose to go out after 1month) and calling nola traffic court for my ticket to post dayaftereveryotherday only to hear the deflating automated service tell me once again that the ticket wasn't in the system and to call back or use '0' to speak with a representative (which i always did); i finally received a tip from one such representative (who i must say were all pleasant each time i spoke with them and were generally always trying to be helpful). the tip; a new # which led me to the clerk's office and a woman who couldn't believe the ticket was issued 2months prior and not yet in their system. fax you a copy of the ticket? surely - against my initial instinct, thinking that if they had lost the ticket i'd be giving it right back to them. a quick phone call minutes later from the voice i'd just left with my faxed ticket; "mr.fool, the officer has been contacted and is on his way in with his books now," she huffed seemingly very perturbed. "the date to deal with your ticket has been extended through december. you'll still need to contact the ticket office to know when your ticket actually gets into our system." i sigh.... "then you can begin payment or get a court date." i sigh again....

"great! because i intend on contesting!"

"okay, well if you keep calling and it still doesn't show up, you call me back."

thanks miss. at least i don't have to worry about the warrant... right?

so i hadn't called back about the ticket. instead i'd just planned to make my way to the courthouse some afternoon in late november to contest for a court date. 

5days ago a # i don't recognise hums my phone and i leave to go to voice mail as i do all unknowns. the same # hums again and this time leaves word.

i check.

i have 1 unheard message. first message... a different voice calling from the clerk's office; "mr.fool, i wanted to let you know that your traffic ticket "j7####6" has been voided. you will not have to pay this ticket. missoriginalclerk'sofficeassistant wanted me to call and let you know. i'll be sending a letter to your address informing you of the same. no need to call back. thank you."
yesterday the letter she spoke of was waiting inside on the hardwood when i returned from work.
i assume one of three scenerios. one; that my nagging up the chain led to my good fortune. two; perhaps i flagged an officers lackluster job performance and as a result (or thank you) the clerk's office let me off the hook at a time when 3nopd officers have already made the news for the worst reasons. three; maybe my words to the ticketing officer actually reached him on the day of and he found it within him to void the ticket before turning in his books.
my instinct leans furthest toward one but regardless the reason; i'm pleased and thankful.
drive good.

in the rain : acl : queens of the stone age

i sat by the ocean and drank a potion, baby to erase you.

i had lost my friends and pushed forward to stand alone in the crowd 10feet back from center stage. friend1 went to mingle with other music. friend2's energy radiated from further forward to my right, but couldn't be seen, only felt. the sun had completely hidden itself just in time for the stage lights+effects to matter. the darkness meant the band could enter the stage under haze and minimum visibility. lights slowly faded in from behind the drum kit to reveal silhouettes and then proceeded to stream out over the excited crowd. josh raises his guitar pick to the crowd. screams of anticipation. he drops the pick which falls to strike the first note of you think i ain't worth a dollar, but i feel like a millionaire in perfect unison with the fall of the first cool drop of rain on my hand; it's presence infinitely amplified by breaking what had otherwise been a very dry hot day; minus my consumption of costa rican imperial lager+h20. each note seemed to bring with it an extra raindrop until the exponential additions of rain broke into down pour right at the start of track2; no one knows where josh felt prompted to cheer the crowd. "we're here now, don't leave me!" he screamed between verses... no one was going anywhere.
green+yellow flashed in time beautifying the shower. by track4 the energy was lifted to baptismal levels; the rain+sound serving as a cleansing of soul+mind+body. i focused internally a moment, tasting the water on my lips and feeling the kick+bass in my heart. i pulled my heart from my chest and washed it in the energy. i placed it back in it's vacancy and felt restored+rejuvenated+realive.
reunited with friend1, i found myself fulfilled, content, at peace, joyful.
walk good.