These days are all, happy and free

And the final American jaunt of the summer comes to a close, with rain over Philly: slippery turns and car accidents, a dusty pink light emanating from behind the clouds, a pulsating, muted electricity from within them.

The long weekend was spent on a sailboat in Martha's Vineyard with my good friends Hasbrouck and Rebecca. The weather was ideal, the booze flowed uninhibitedly, the sun was strong, and the waves glassy and forgiving. Every night the stars sat unmasked and milky above the placid harbor, and the breeze would be light and chilly, and from off in the distance we'd catch whiffs of great coastal parties, of fireworks and thumping jazz bands. We sailed, tumblers in hand. We ate enormous sandwiches, pots of mussels, ice cream sundaes, steak, grilled off the back of the boat. I browned in the sun, I spilled red wine everywhere, I lusted over middle-aged men in white pants and seersucker sportcoats. But even as I write this, a morning later, my memory escapes me. Like trying to recall a dream. Let me just say this, in an attempt at summarization: we spent the majority of our time lying on the beach, exploring on mopeds, drinking on the boat, eating with our cocks, wearing our Nantucket Reds, and watching Happy Days. In every pocket of this adventure hid something interesting, or hilarious, or surreal, or extremely picturesque, or just really fucking rad. I don't know if it was the company, or New England; the Johnny Walker on ice, or the dewey marine air, but it was all just unsurmountable.

So that's what's been going on. Now back to the Burgh on Monday for moving in and scary-ass writing workshop. On another note, I don't know where this blog is headed. I suppose I just don't really have the time for it right now, to be honest. Maybe it would be best, for now, to declare a sort of informal blogging hiatus. Oh, don't be like that.

P.S. The Happy Days hierarchy goes as follows:
1. Howard Cunninghan (The semi-racist realist)
2. Richie Cunningham (the optimist)
3. The Fonz (the Byronic anti-hero)
4. Mrs. Cunningham (The master manipulator)
5. Ralph Malph (the enabler)

5.5 Chuck
6. Anonymous, objectified female characters
7. Potsie (The Machiavellian)
7. Joanie (The parasite on the side of humanity)

8. Black people (where are they?)