19 July

So not much has happened since my last post. Mostly because I've decided I've been taking too much advantage of the low drinking age here and it's time to take life a little more seriously. Well, not too seriously...but I could use a little grounding here in this foreign land, and the bottle is certainly not the way that's going to happen.

Last night I saw Harry Potter with some friends. I want to start of my quick little review of the movie by saying that I really enjoyed myself while I was watching it and all in all, I'm glad I saw it. HOWEVER, it was a terrible movie! Yeah, it was. It got the job done though; it finished up the series, had some cool combat stuff and managed to make most of the fans happy. Cool. Now that part of history is over. Right?

The other day I encountered my first American bigot. That was fun. In his defense, he was somewhat intoxicated, but he started saying some shit about black people and dropped a few N-bombs. I couldn't help myself once he started looking around for someone to acknowledge his opinion, I just busted up laughing. Partly because I couldn't believe he said that, partly because everyone in the room was suddenly uncomfortable. Nice one, bro.

I've realized that this place is actually super liberal. I was in some political office downtown trying to get a "justice of the peace" (something kind of like a notary) to sign a paper saying that I am, in fact, 18 even though I have multiple documents proving it - this way I can get a 18+ card so I don't have to carry my passport around if I want to buy alcohol - ANYWAY, this political office had these flyers about a new bill passed. This new bill sounded pretty sweet to me. Basically, it was a tax the rich, don't tax the poor bill, and I told the lady it was awesome and she told me that no, I was awesome. Well it didn't go exactly like that. At least the first part was true.

Also, last post I mentioned that Country Road was played at a bar I was at and how it doused me in a wave of melancholy sadness. I found out the next day that the guy had finished his set by playing Wagon Wheel. Damn, if I had been there...I can only imagine. Wagon Wheel is another song that has deep camp connections with me. It's the first place I heard it and really the only place I really love it. Had I been there when 'ol Johnny was playing that song, I would've been screaming it at the top of my lungs, beer glass in the air, tears streaming down my face. As soon as the song finishes I'm going to sprint north like Forrest Gump in a vain attempt to reach Hancock before the next campfire so I can, again, sing Wagon Wheel and Country Road at the top of my lungs with tears streaming down my face.
Lucky for me (and everyone else in the world), I had already left by then.

I think I really need that guitar. I'm going to continue my attempts to have on in my hand today after I watch some internet TV here in the library.

Hancock people, dedicate the next Wagon Wheel to me. And sing it at the top of your goddamn lungs.