My mother just, in all seriousness, asked me to make sure that my sister is sleeping and not dead.

My night, if you couldn't tell, has been less than great.


So. A very early Happy Things post, because I need reminding of things to smile about.

Overheard in New York:
Father: It was the Million Man March. It was a million men marching in the capital for our people.
Son: No girls? No moms?
Father: No girls, just men.
Son: So there was a million penises?
Father (trying to bring it back onto subject): Yes. But it was the Million Man March.
Son: So there were two million balls?
Father: That's not the point.
Son: But everybody had one penis and two balls, right?
Father: Presumably.


I'm going to guess that kid is somewhere in Freud's phallic stage of development.


Two of the best pictures of Milo and Adrian (or Hanz and Franz) that have ever been taken, ever.


Last night, one of my friends was feeling down because of seeing something that reminded her how awful some people can be. I told her "some people can turn out so unfeeling and cruel to other people. But when you see someone like that you just have to take care of other people twice as hard!" And I'm happy that it made her feel better to hear it. (♥ Djuna!)

But I've been thinking about that all night now, and it's hard to keep that kind of caring up when no matter how much good you try to do, there will always be people trying to take advantage of you, or undo your good deed, or simply keep fucking the world up somewhere else. This isn't an excuse to give up, of course, but...

It's hard for me to express this properly, but there's a line between a spirit of service to your fellow person, and a spirit of servitude that allows people to use you, and I think I am starting to figure out where that line is, finally. Even if I would rather be taken advantage of by a few people and help many more, instead of not trying at all, it's good to recognize where I am being a blessing and where I am just being a sucker.

So that makes me happy too, I suppose.

Now, I would be happy if I could get a little more sleep. My eyes are starting to compete with Rahm Emanuel's for perpetually carrying luggage.