I’m leaving in the morning for Seattle.

Samantha moved to Seattle in like, 1998 and I’m finally going there–to see her and meet this city and the people she calls family.

It will be the farthest West I’ve ever been.

Tonight the Quartet of Doom came over and we drank. Work has been killing all of us. Personal relationships have been complicated, both internally and externally, and the four of us haven’t been together as a group for nearly a month.

Ellen brought her guitar. Julie made her, but still, she brought it.

She has been learning how to play my favorite Patty Griffin song this week. Tonight we tried it together for the first time. I don’t think I sounded very good and Ellen doesn’t think she played very well but Karin and Julie made appreciative noises and really, it wasn’t half bad. I’d almost say we have potential.

Karin made fun of the lyrics until we played it, at which point she said, “Okay, it’s not a bad song.” Doy. Her cell phone ringtone is Guns ‘n Roses.

Making Pies
It’s not far
I can walk
Down the block
To TableTalk
Close my eyes
Make the pies all day

Plastic a cap
On my hair
I used to mind
Now I don’t care
I used to mind
Now I don’t care
Cause I’m gray

Did I show you this picture of my nephew
Taken at his big birthday surprise
At my sister’s house last Sunday
This is Monday and I’m making pies
I’m making pies
Making pies
Pies

Thursday nights
I go and type
Down at the church
For Father Mike
It gets me out
And he ain’t hard to like
At all

Jesus stares at me
In my chair
With his big blue eyes
And his honey brown hair
And he’s looking at me
Way up there
On the wall

Did I show you this picture of my sweetheart
Taken of us before the war
Of the Greek and his Italian girl
One Sunday at the shore

We tied our ribbons to the fire escape
They were taken by the birds
Who flew home to the country
As the bombs rained on the world

5am
Here I am
Walking the block
To TableTalk
You could cry or die
Or just make pies all day
I’m making pies
Making pies
Making pies
Making pies