XXVI: Not keeling

Sometimes saying something common backwards makes it sound more interesting, but sometimes saying that same something so many times in a row makes it sound strange. Try it: Sailboat, sailboat, sailboat, sailboat, sailboat, sailboat, sailboat, sailboat, sailboat, sailboat, sailboat, sailboat, sailboat, sailboat, sailboat, sailboat, sailboat, sailboat, sailboat. Now tell me, just what is sailboat? A word, you say, (what is word?) Referring to an object, (what is object?) used as a method of travel, (what is travel?) It is what you see when you close your eyes and say sailboat but instead hear windblown, white-capped waters, stubborn and sunburned youth in salty life jackets ducking under the mast at "Ready about!" as all aboard change direction through the eye of the wind. What are you spewing? I said, Don't judge the English major... She's just excited is all, is all. Too much time in Starbucks will do that to you. Too much time can make you realize there are more and more strange people in the world, and the older you get the stranger all of the strangers seem and all the more strange you feel around them. Isn't it strange? Try it: Strange, strange, strange, strange, strange, strange, strange, strange, strange, strange, strange, strange, strange, strange, strange, strange, strange, strange, strange... See? It is just a word.

XXIV: panoramic cruise ship

A funny thing happened on the way to Jungle Duty today. Stopped at a purple light at the intersection of Swimming Pool. and Rooftop Terrace., I slowly peered over to my left and who did I see but the one and only Kermit the Frog! Now, I know what you're thinking: That's impossible... Kermit the Frog is dead. But I am telling you, the resemblance was uncanny. In a yellow taxi cab, Kermit waited by my side for an entire 2.5 minutes until the light changed. Two and a half minutes is more than enough time to check out each and every one of his remarkable facial features: Half- circle eyes, check. Small Saturn-shaped pupils, check. Triangular green face, check. Pink tongue with red outline, check. I stared over at him, rolled down my window and listened to his radio... Kermit was jamming to Gorillaz self-titled 2001 debut album: Gorillaz. It must have only been playing for a little while because I could make out the lyrics, "And the verdict doesn't love our soul, The digital won't let me go..." And, in disbelief, I just thought to myself, Kermit is definitely going where I'm going. But following my fleeting thought I blinked and turned the light Kermit Kolored and zoom, off he went, so fast, as if he were never there.