My new best friend, Twindaddy, ran a contest to write a tagline for his blog. The grand prize winner (that would be me) won a guest post on his blog, which I have hurriedly taken advantage of before he had a chance to change his mind.
I decided to run a post from 2010, long before I migrated to WordPress, so it’ll be new to most of you. With all apologies to Dickens, it was the best of times, it was the worst of times.
Exile on Pain Street 
It was the year of our Lord 2014, when Trent walked through the snow… great post by the way, Mark. You need to be read more.
Thanks, Trent. Nothin’ to it. I’ve got a million of them. My first guest post!
BESTFRANS!!!!
The post is new to me, but the theme is familiar. You had a great experience and it filled you with yearnings and regrets. 🙂
Yes! That’s 100% accurate! I need yearnings and regrets like fish need water and Italians need garlic.
This was AWE SOME. I commented over there. Beautiful. XO
I’ll comment here, too. What the hell? I think this is my favorite post of yours. I loved every second of reading this. Yes, this is what life should be. A jazz band at 1pm on a Wednesday. Not being stuck in an office. But I, too, have bills to pay and a child to feed, so it is not my every day life. But it’s my sometimes life, and I savor every one of these moments – whether they are mine, or yours.
Thank you for your kind words and for taking the time/trouble to comment in two different places. Commenting is work enough. I didn’t mean to compound your task!
I’ve been trying to leave a comment here for hours, but I can’t seem to connect with wordpress on my computer. Trying with my phone now, because I do want to say how much I enjoyed that post. I remember it from way back, and, coincidentally thought about it on Sunday afternoon when in a bar listening to three old geezers (one of which was the Mr.) playing guitars.
Thank you very much for going through the trouble! I really do appreciate it. I know what a frustrating pain in the ass the interweb can be when it’s not behaving. I saw that a comment was left on the other site but I don’t think the owner has approved it yet.
That place is fantastic. I need more small venues that in my life. The fact that I stumbled across it, as opposed to it being a part of my everyday experience, makes me feel like I’m missing out on something grand. It’s never to late to fix a hole. I hope.
xoxoxoxoxo i’m glad for the chance to read that entry again, sugar! all those little moments, right? thanks again.
I’ll bet I could spend a month doing nothing but reruns. In finding something to send over there, I reread many, many posts. A lot of them just laid there like a dead fish and didn’t keep their luster but there were quite a few that I’m still quite happy with. My history.
I read it over on your guest spot(comment’s stuck in the moderation slot) and had a wonderful warm rush, remembering the Three Petes.Are they still there? If I’d been in the Village on a Wednesday last June I’d have gone to hear them!
That was a lovely post.
Oh, my Lord! Their names WERE Pete! How did you remember that?! I didn’t. What a steel trap you’ve got nestled in your cranium. My is more porous.
Easy! My Main Man is also a Pete! Mostly, I remember that a friend sent me a message to say if I was free he’d meet me for a farewell lunch…But those guys were gooood.
What a sweet story. I’m glad you shared it. I guess life is a balance between obligation and indulgence. Once, before I was married, I called in sick for work and just started walking– I walked practically the whole length of manhattan. Took a detour to the met, bought myself lunch. Boy were my legs hurting the next day!
I haven’t “worked” since being married and even with all my mommy duties the pace of life is very different from someone working 9-5 and commuting. I’m like a self-employed scullery maid. At least I can set my own hours, sort of.
That’s so funny! My wife is also a self-employed scullery maid, so you can’t fool me with that set-your-own-hour stuff. I know better. You wish. Plus the pay is terrible. At least it doesn’t involve a commute. That’s a big plus.
I want my life to be pure indulgence and ego-gratification. Is that so much to ask for? Apparently, it is.
You forgot the worst/best part… sleeping with the boss!!
Blogging is the closest mere mortals like us will ever approach to pure self indulgence.
I remember that the first time round too. I still enjoy it’s wistfulness and the avoidance of any feeling of wallowing in self-pity.
My goodness Mark, you’ve got patience, replying to two sets of commenters!
I have a lot of free time.
A lot.
I hope you’re not implying you’ve lost your job? Although that would make your posting apposite.
No, not at all. I actually do a lot of blogging from work. We’re casual!
Oh jolly good! That’s OK then. As you were 🙂