Why don’t you fly to NYC and we’ll drive back to Michigan together and then do the cross-country thing.

You might get tired of my car-farts though. Rental cars from Newark Airport are super-cheap.

I might be doing a group camping trip in September in Oregon. Coiuld possibly coincide the trip with that.

Fuck all that anti-midwest rhetoric. So far—mid July—not one turn-on of the air condiditoner. Very few dog-breath days, many cool, refreshing nights. Last weekend, at the cabin on Beatrice Lake, sweet breeze blowing a loving song of summmer. Loons calls to lull you to sleep. Somewhere I heard a wolf howl. Sat in the sauna, and sweated all the evil out, then jumped in the lake for a soul-cleasing dip with the blue gills. Nodded off to sleep with the delighful flavor of Grain Belt on my breath. Awakened a new man.

This is God’s county, Aaron (and PJ—I know you’re reading). Ely is calling you………….

You’re damn straight. Even Chicago has seen a fair summer. No air conditioner in my temple, and even the cats (who insist on wearing goddamn fur coats year-round) haven’t raised an eyebrow. Ely, Branson, Moose Lake…All good stuff. I do hear the “call of the wild.” Probably taking a scooter trip home to Michigan next weekend and a 12-hour scooter ride up to Minneapolis sometime later in the summer towards fall, for a scooter rally there. Can’t wait.

You wouldn’t ride your scooter 12 hours to see your blood brother Ryno and your brother in need Halsey? Surely you’re not coming just for the rally…

Aaron- I drank 2 Grain Belts after work today (it was 2 fer 1) and then I got wobbly and fell asleep on the floor.

Kurt, you bet I’d ride there for you, but this is a rare case where there’s someone else insane enough (and with vast mechanical knowledge no less) to ride with, offering some semblance of peace-of-mind on an otherwise foolishly-long scooter trip. Unfortunately, it looks like blood-brother Ryno will be out of town on that particular goddamn weekend, so I may not get to see him. But I look forward to seeing you, if you’re in town. You and Ry are about all I got left in Minneapolis, I haven’t maintained good contacts post-MCAD, and most of the crew now lives elsewhere…with the exceptions of Charlie, Kevin, Dimmel…?

Hey Aaron, thanks for giving Ryno some work to do. He owes me 162.50, but I’m being cool about it for now. If it gets to be next month and I’m dropping his rent again, I’ll be kicking in the spokes of his bicycle. No joke. I got a lot of anger and frustration building up inside me…

Dude, I was so ready to pay you. Now I don’t think I can afford to. I can give you some $$, and maybe a B.J.

I’m in a freaking jam, man. You can keep my deposit $$ if worse comes to worse. Someone has to give me a job soon. Fuck.

Thanks, Drap. You can make that check payable to Kurt Halsey Fredriksen.

Kurt+Ryno:

You little assholes better work these matters of finance out, and quick. I’m concerned. It could break you two up, and we know how fickle “rebound relationships” are.

Listen up, when Ryan comes to you, hold him close and tell him, “Time are tough my lover, things will be okay. I understand yer woe.”

Then you two will be on a better path, together.

I am in a Jam too, Ryno. I was just joshing you. You know I gotz sympathy for your cause. I have a BFA in Painting… Ha!

“Ryno used to work teaching art.
Budget’s getting cut —
he’s down on his luck, its tough.
Soooo tough.

Kurtie works the Walker half-days
playing with his cat
he goes home and paints ‘bout love
oooooh looove”

Yer a dick, draplin.