--CAN YOU TAKE, TAKE IT ALL OFF MY HANDS?

 

 

…Today’s the day. Hop in if you can. There’s always room for more:

https://bendinggenres.com/register/brave-ink/

 

...I need to figure out a way to stop beating myself up, or it’s going to be a long rest of my life.

 

…“Don’t be scared of yourself.” Ocean Vuong

 

…But I might be, especially these days.

 

…“What if a piece of wood discovers it’s a violin?” Rimbaud

 

…When you say, “I get it,” what do you mean? Because I don’t get it. 

 

…Some days I really hope there are no angels.

 

…I wouldn’t say I’m a coward, but I wouldn’t call myself brave, either.

 

…My writing partner, for the last five times we’ve exchanged, has said, “I’m not sure what you’re trying to say here,” which is accurate.

 

…No, I’m good. Thanks for asking.

 

…Here’s a grand idea. Why don’t I torture myself some more and listen to this:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_3hLiRSIKFo&list=RD_3hLiRSIKFo&start_radio=1

 

…You kiss me slow, like you don’t have any doubts.

 

https://poets.org/poem/bearing-edge?fbclid=IwY2xjawNeVw5leHRuA2FlbQIxMABicmlkETFqeTBnRGt6OERtZ05vamF1AR7TY7GLPGkAbYqSP_Mj1XIK6thybwjuYYtg5Fn4s0A_iNWGkycZjN4ezMkGcQ_aem_oq8clziDDWZOf_gI4gu9sQ

 

…Hey, there Mr. Blue. We’re so pleased to be with you.

 

…It’s been a while since I had a mini-concert in my office which is a pretty good idea when you have no other ideas in your head.

 

…How is “Livin’ on Prayer” considered one of the happiest songs ever? Shake yourself.

 

…When your 18-year-old nephew is dispensing wisdom like the Dali Lama to you, better than you could to him, that's when you need to take a peek, Patterson.  

 

…“Oh boy.” It seems like I say, Oh boy way than I should.

 

…Fuck that. It’s sunny and there are ducks on the lake today.

 

…It’s probably not a big thing for you, but to actually be able to smell a bar of soap on your skin, that’s a big thing for me.

 

…You got your problems, Dear, and I’ve got mine, something beautiful and scary at the same time.

 

…Cause why end it there?

 

…I had to restart my computer and somehow I lost 50 pages of blog diaries while old notes are showing up, so some of this might sound familiar. Sorry.

 

…Guilt is a really horrible emotion. Maybe even worse than anxiety.

 

…You’re looking good, just like a snake in the grass. One of these days, you’re gonna break your glass.

 

…I understand now why that airport hamburger tasted so bad to Anthony Bourdain.

 

…It’s Friday for somebody, somewhere. Fridays always seem to cheer people up. Yay. 

 

…It doesn’t matter what you think if you don’t show up.

 

…“Who the fuck has time for gestures?” The Bear

 

…All I’ve got to do is make it through the weekend. All I’ve got to do is make it through the weekend. All I’ve got to do is make it through the weekend…

 

…Maybe esoteric is just another word for a nap. How about that?

 

…I’m a writer, but then no one’s perfect.

 

…If you really want to punish someone, just don’t reply. That will do the trick, sure enough.  

 

…I’ll call you back later. I promise. Pinky Swear.

 

—WHAT I’VE LEARNED, Jose Andres

 

--My favorite Spanish saying? “No le pidas peras al olmo.” Don’t ask for pears from the elm tree.

 

--You can be afraid and fearless at the same time.

 

--Sometimes you have to be a little bit gloomy so people can take things seriously.

 

--Luck is luck. It happens sometimes even when you don’t wish it. But everything else in life needs to be more than luck. It needs to be effort. It needs to be hard work. It needs to be repetition and error.

 

--In high school what I learned was: Don’t be afraid to ask I think 

I’ve never been afraid to ask.

 

--Poorer people are the most giving. I’ve seen it many times, in an emergency, and if they can share the half of loaf of bread with somebody because they have nothing, they are going to do it.

 

--I always share my dreams with people. It’s a way to show my intentions. I think I do it to put pressure on me, like, “I’m going to do this.” And it’s having everybody as the support team checking on you that will do this.

 

--If it was up to me, I would make the world the classroom for children, and it would make the world better and smaller. I know it’s almost impossible, but we can do something in between.

 

--My father would invite everybody for a Sunday paella once a month and not keep track of who he invited, so it was very random who would show up. And my mother was always like, “What happens if more people show up?” And my dad would say, “Well, we’ll add more rice to the pan.” It’s always the way. It’s always the way.