the ancients have awakened...

To honor the Memorial Day holiday, I sat in Logan Circle to start my class text reading assignments. My old roomate was there too, who is also unemployed and in the same field as I am. In times of budget crises, public affairs and communicators are the first to go, especially, mysteriously, after the website has been redesigned...

Anyway, he told me that John Logan, the man for which the circle is named, was one of the first to call for some kind of rememberance for America's soldiers. How fitting that I had decided to chill in the park on this day. Turns out Herb has a more detailed call to pour one out for John Logan on this memorial weekend.

The Circle seems to have it's own rhythm, with homeless and unemployed people enjoying the park up until about 5pm. Then the dog walkers come in and they are eager to chat with you, even if it appears that you are trying to read. But then when you chat with them, the conversation is aborted when some other dog walker appears, their dogs start fighting, and then they fuss over the dogs.

I didn't get that invite to anybody's beach house that I was hoping for, but it's OK since I hear the beach was jam-packed anyway. I have a much nicer time when the crowds are down in September. Plus I'm not the biggest fan of baking on the beach during the hotter months, so the cooler autumn months are breferred.

That's not to say there hasn't been any action here in the 'hood. Friday night was ridiculous, with nothing less than a street party going on the other end of the block at that address, again. The funny thing was, it looked like the party was going to start the next night too, with requisite car-washing and loitiering by a lot of people who don't actually live on this block, as usual. But when I came back from the gym, the street was serene but for a gathering of four older ladies having a chat where the mob would usually be. It seems the ruckus awakened the ancients of the block and they are not amused. Visits by the police are nice, but temporary, and only serves to excite the mob. What has longer term effects in many neighborhoods in this city is when the elders get involved. Do not anger the ancients.

The sun hadn't yet set when I heard a group of kids out front later that afternoon. It's not unusual, as they like to look at the fish in the pond. But then I heard rocks moving and water splashing, put my shoes on and went outside to see a group of pre-teens up in the yard trying to catch my fish with a cup. With an ornery, "Get the fuck out of there, you little shits!" and they scattered to the winds. Little shits.

And tonight, someone got their hands on a four-wheeler, and is vrooming up and down the street, ad nauseam.