I believe...that hotdogs and buns ought to both come in packages of eight

I believe many things. I believe that it's hard for me to write, sometimes. I believe that fruits are best eaten outside. I believe that hot weather should be complemented with a cool chick. I believe that art is the pinnacle of human creation. I believe that most T.V. is junk, and that the collective intelligence would be higher if people actually read something worthwhile every so often. Like I said, I believe many things.

I really dont want to write about everything I believe because such an ontology would take up more time than both you and I have. Granted, I have more time than I know what to do with, and I never thought I'd be in that kind of situation, but between you and I, I really dont feel like writing such an exhaustive list. Instead, I'd like to write about a few ideas that massaged my mind while I was out running.

I'm not really a runner. I'm more of a panter. I think most of my exercise comes from the amount of panting I do while attempting to run long, inhumane distances (three or four miles). The facial distortions at the end of the run have to be worth a few hundred calories per tic. So, rather than focusing on the sheer activity that is running, I often let my thoughts wander in order to forget that I am subjecting my body to something that might be considered a Gitmo torture. Sometimes I think about the life I left behind. I'm always leaving lives behind, but that happens when change pounces. Other times, I think about the decisions I made that culminated in a run down a Phoenix side street. I don't mean the kind of decisions that began the same hour in which the run was begat, but the kind of decisions that spiraled into the glorious flame-out of which I am a part.

I didn't contemplate that existential line of thinking long and I barely touched on other important subjects (to law, or to teach). Instead, I decided to focus on something in which I really believed. I believe cities have auras which affect those who live in them and in their metro areas. When people visit a city, part of the incredible glow of passion comes from the culture clash, or rather, the mixture of auras. Yeah, people bring their city auras with them. I'm not sure how long it takes for a city aura to dissipate. When I lived in D.C., I never completely cast off my Chicago aura. After a few months of D.C. life, I think I was assimilated into D.C. culture. Of course, when I moved back to Chicago, my D.C. aura was immediately discarded. The home aura is the most natural.

I'm not really in the mood to describe the auras of all the cities I've visited. My head still throbs from running in the heat. Even though I ran at 8 at night, it was still over 100 degrees. I don’t care if it’s a dry heat. The oven is a dry heat, but the food gets cooked all the same. Some auras, though, are preferable to others. I love Boston, D.C., Chicago, and San Francisco. I wouldn't mind living in any of those cities, although San Francisco is highest on my list because of the incredible weather (Fog and rain don't bother me that much) and the passionately bohemian culture which rises rampant off the bay.

I'm not in San Francisco, though. That much is apparent. I'm in Phoenix, and I'm not quite sure what to make of it. I've been making friends, and I have a lot coming in from other states. That is a good thing. Once I acquire my own car (convertible with manual transmission), I'll be free to make my way around as I please. Things will be even better when I find my own apartment, over in the east valley. One hundred mile round trips from bars do become tiring after awhile.

I really dont mean to constantly rag on 'nix. It's a good city with good people. There certainly are some good looking women here. People weren't kidding. But, I'm not quite sure what to make of the Phoenix aura. Some cities give off their auras liberally and I need not be there for long to sense the vibes emanating from the wealth of the cities. Boston battered me with aura the moment I stepped in it, as did Los Angeles and San Francisco. Phoenix, on the other hand, has been very subtle with its aura output. Every so often I breathe in and think to myself that, ah, this is the Phoenix smell, then a wave of revulsion hits me and I realize that I just inhaled a bug or something. I highly doubt that searing, oppressing heat and a multitude of winged exoskeletons defines Phoenix.

The nightlife is the most vibrant part of a city. Without a nightlife, the city would wither and collapse under the weight of its own ennui. The funny thing about 'nix is that the nightlife is outsourced. I've yet to go drinking and dancing in Phoenix proper. That honor is reserved for Scottsdale, Glendale, and Tempe. The funny thing about that is the bars aren't filled to maximum capacity. I'm told that the summer is the reason for the occasional club breathing space. Call me biased, but I doubt that a club in Chicago will have empty tables because all of the college students have gone home. A small part of me wants to believe that ASU and ASU-West is the life blood of the Phoenix night life, but an even larger part of me, the part that wants a decent summer night life, denies it completely. I just havent found the right clubs to hit, although I've hit quite a number.

I'm going to give Phoenix a few more months before I decide whether this will be my place for a few years. I dont think I'll ever be able to call Phoenix home. Well, I dont want to say that for sure. There might be a chance that I'll settle down here. It all depends on my social life and if I'm able to make the proper connections.

I dont mean to be so morose. I'm just having a hard time adapting to all this change. I went from a thriving, burgeoning social scene to spending most of my time watching daytime TV with my mother. She likes Buffy, Angel, and Charmed. I'm going to gut myself.