How Did We End Up Like This?

I'm a Kindergarten teacher.  How the hell did that happen?

At this time in 2000, I was listening to John Frusciante and Ween everyday, buying pills from Daniel, spending my nights wandering the Ped Mall in Iowa City looking for people more troubled than I'd ever been in hopes of becoming more troubled than they'd ever been.  Thankfully, that never happened.  But I tried.  I really did.

At this time in 2006, I was a freshy fresh in Los Angeles, hoping to 'make it' as an actor in Hollywood.  I had no idea how to go about that, but luckily I was with a solid support group of people whose idea was only slightly better than mine.  Daniel became Herman, pills became drinks and baggies, but the intent was still the same: get somewhere bad.  While trying to be something legendary.

At this time in 2012, I was in Iowa awaiting my departure to Jeomchon, South Korea to start this whole Teacher thang.  I thought it'd just be a year.  I still don't know how that turned into my present.

I'm good with kids.  I'm great with kids.  But I feel about myself the way I felt about Morgan Freeman in Lean On Me, when it went to the '20 Years Later' scene.  He was the HNIC at the local high school, but his radicalism got him thrown out of his school, and now he was principalling a local elementary.  Benson told him that this wasn't what he was made for.

I've had plenty of Bensons.  But I've also been stubborn.

So I sit here tonight, off my first day of teaching, and I'm thinking "How did this happen?"  Not in a bad way.  At least, not in a totally bad way.  But I'm looking at myself, my thoughts on my legacy and my destiny, my passions, my paths, my past, and I'm wondering what I'm really doing.

I don't have any answers at the moment.  Or maybe I do, but I don't care to face them right now.  For now, I just choose to sleep off the soju and step it up for tomorrow.

Kids on kids on kids...

Older and older,
-LS^2

I was worried he wouldn't be stoked
about my surprise arrival in San Fran.

What I've chosen.  But fuck, they're adorable.
What will they be like in 2029?

Self-Portrait.

Doing what I love: wearing snails.

Your resident Homeboy.

Part of the campus.  Damn pretty.

Callie and Joanna.  They're gonna be great.

GOLGA.

Spiral Staircase

Lex plays music when he wakes up.  He doesn't play it quietly, and he doesn't not sing along.  Lately it's been some song by Sting about how he's Jesus Christ.  But once when he stayed with me in Los Angeles, he played More Today Than Yesterday.  It was eye-opening because a) I never knew the lyrics to the song (not that they're anything profound) and b) I always thought it was sung by a woman.  But now when I hear that song, I think of Lex.  And now that I live alone, I, too, can play music with reckless abandon in the morning.

So today, I give you More Today Than Yesterday by Spiral Staircase (I couldn't figure out how to embed it).

Enjoy with ever fiber of your bran muffin.

First day today.  Peace out, y'all.

-LS^2

Return of the King

"Trim the yards and ring the bells,
Daddy's comin' home!
Tie a ribbon and scream like hell,
Mama, I'm'a hold you!
I've been away for way too long,
I haven't forgot a thing..."

Forget the life to which you became accustomed, all Lucas-free and without Lucas and everything-you-ever-wanted-save-for-Lucas, because it's over.  It's gone.  That's your past.

I'm your future now.

It's Sunday morning.  Real easy like.  And I'm in Taipei, Taiwan, livin' here once again.  My apartment is big and dope, my job is fairly close, and in a few short months, the weather will border on bearable.

It's been a spell.  Since we last spoke, I lived out a year in Los Angeles with Lex, bounced over for a year in China and returned to the island in good faith and spirits.  I don't have any social media existence (for now), but I like to spout off to the choir.  And you, my Babies, my Choir, are all the richer for it.  I spent some time in San Fran with my cousins and my Brother, too, which was quite the experience.  I always dreamed of seeing Marco backdropped by the Pacific, and I finally got that chance.  Thank you Dawn & Co. for making that possible.

I'm on a new computer, so I have very few pictures or songs.  Deal with me in word form, and I'll cultivate a collection of proof of my sentiments in due time.

In a few minutes, I will take Callie for her first venture into Muzha's streets.  We will eat breakfast foods and coffees, and after that...well, who knows?  The world is my god damned oyster.

Now bask in your elation, maybe even take a nap.  You'll need it.

Namanasty,
-LS^2

Killin' with Jürgen last February in Thailand.

I couldn't put her down.

Collin, Jana and I watching some Stravinsky

at The Hollywood Bowl.

Liberty headlining Silverlake Magic.

A true horse cock.

Honoring genuine royalty.

GOLGA.

The aforementioned backdrop.  My heart broke, bled and pulsed seeing this dude in Cali.

The troupes regrouping in San Fran
(Marco, Anastasia, Sierra, Gateon, Dawn)
not pictured: me, Nicole Ritchie

Anastasia's new smile.

Sierra's new smile.

Me, every day, 'til my liver moves out.

Dork.

Where I'll be if you need me.

Off From Work Early

I think this blog is dead.

LS^2

My Own Desk

I'm not dead, and I haven't forgotten you.  I simply haven't cared for a while.  While I do hope you'll forgive me, chances are I'll never know.

Alex is behind me talkin' sexy.

That is all for now.

-LS^2

A little o' this,
and a lot o' this. 

The Patron Bagel Saint of Downtown LA.

Lex.

Ursula Plex's funeral.

Hey Suckas!

Hey Suckas!  Monthly updates simply won't do, so I'll quit being so absent.

No.  No I won't.

I'm going hiking with Evie in a few minutes.  She's the only person I ever really call up to hang with.  Except for Ryan.  But he's always workin' or walkin' his fuckin' dog.

I kissed a wounded dog on the leg lips last night.

I'm hungry.  And I want coffee.

I'm wearing a sleeveless shirt because being abroad changes a man.

I'm poor as dirt.  I'm Poor Boy.

That's it for now.

Amanda Bynes,
-LS^2

My Level 2 class.

These Japs love their Krispy Kreme.

Why does anybody love Krispy Kreme?

Taipei 101 from Elephant Mountain.

Centered pictures are boring.

Jeremy Lin visited our school!

RIP Lennis

On Thursday, Lennis Moore passed away.  Catie told me before classes on Friday, but I had heard many updates from my Mother, who was living with Lennis and his family for the last few months.  My mother's relationship to that family warmed my heart, but nowhere near as much as it warmed theirs.  Gin and Tonics 'til the sheriff cuts you off at that place, right there on the porch.  Such a beautiful home, such a beautiful welcoming spirit.  Sandy was my 8th grade English teacher, and about 9 years ago, she too was diagnosed with a brain tumor.  She lost a lot of her faculties, but still had a gorgeous and boisterous soul.  Lennis was patient and loving with her, and together those three were a damn good time and a damn perfect match.

I'll miss you, Lennis.  You made life a fucking riot and history lesson all at the same time, and I'll never hold a candle to you in that respect.  You're a wonderful man and it's a shame we won't be able to volley words and hugs next time I'm in Iowa.

May you be feeling the light somewhere,
Lucas