Ahhhh, now I have a chance to pull up a chair and have a chat before trundling off to bed. Got any decaf? No? Okay, just a glass of milk then, thanks, and whatever leftovers are in the fridge. Oh man, I'm too late for that chocolate cake... but ooh, hey, I could finish off those last coupla chicken drumsticks. They didn't have any decent food at the coffeehouse where I just played, and I skipped dinner. Mmmm, that baked potato ought to reheat in the microwave just fine.

Yup, played at yet another nearly-empty coffeehouse for nothing but compliments. Sure it's gratifying to watch people smile at my performance, and their words are all very nice, but I can't eat words unless they're my own. The one -- one! -- friend who actually came out specifically to hear me wanted to hear my political songs, but I didn't think that was the place for 'em. I promised I'd sing 'em for him when I go to his gig next week in the city, where there's a circle afterward.

He told me he started drinking again, after years on the wagon, because he went on a cruise with his folks. Too much temptation there to resist. He said the drinking feels like coming home. *shiver* I'm worried about him; with his health problems and the meds he takes, he shouldn't be touching the stuff.

Oh well, at least he won't be tempted to drink at the big songwriters' club fest this Saturday; we organizers had a bit of a problem with a different club member at a recent song-critique meeting who had one or two too many, so we're getting serious about enforcing our no-alcohol policy for all our events. No smoking either, but no one seems to have a problem with that rule, thank goodness!

After that I'll be going to the seashore (or, as we say around here, "going down the shore") for a couple of days to visit my brother and his girlfriend again. They rent a house on Long Beach Island every summer, and they invite as many people down as they can. Problem is it's a tiny cabin that barely sleeps the hosts, much less the guests, so it becomes more of a depot as friends and family come and go on a tight arrival-and-departure schedule. I've already come and gone a couple of times this year. It's not a very relaxing arrangement but, hey, the price is right! Gotta tell ya, the first time I visited and had to stay in a room next to where my straight-as-an-arrow bro shared a bed with a woman he wasn't married to, I couldn't sleep a wink! :-D

Speaking of sleep, it's time to throw out my chicken bones, turn off the kitchen light, and go get ready for bed. Thanks for hanging out with me and listening to me babble on. Nice PJ's, by the way. Good night!