Dinners like this are why I’ve gained 87 pounds these past seven days.

PS- that’s a regular dinner plate.

#photos #cake

Peeps, here’s your it-doesnt-really-mean-that-im-into-you jam for Wednesday.

I normally don’t like videos with talking but this one will do since I took gold in Wimbledon tennis back in 99. 🎾🏆

Also, if I had hair I’d wear an athletic headband in the summer. 👍

#musicvideos

Audio (MP3): 20180613 - I fucked this up

I set up an auto-renew feature on a client’s website not long ago so members could check a box and have their member account renewed each year. It’s a win-win for the client and the member since neither would need to do anything. The client would collect their membership dues and the member would have uninterrupted access to the site. Hurray!

However. When the first member selected the option their credit card was charged twice. And then of course it happened to the second member.

Read more →

I’m eating a donut with steel blue stripes. Will the wonders never cease?

#photos #donuts

Audio (MP3): 20180612 - It forever influences the present

I was talking with one of my friends several months ago and I brought up something that sounded an alarm in her. What I’d just touched on triggered an unhappiness almost like ripping someone’s blanket off on a chilly night when they’re sound asleep.

I don’t know who first used the blanket analogy but I love it so much that it works its way into the things I write.

But anyways, you fuck people up and you won’t be able to take that shit back.

It’s unfortunate that I can’t be my best self with certain people because of the torrid history between us. Even though I can forgive people, there can be so much damage in the past that it forever influences the present. And then also, the future will be permanently stained.

Okay, maybe that’s not entirely true, that relationships can “never recover” but both people really have to want it. They have to fill the present with astounding moments and create a backlog that more than rivals the historical damage of the past.

What I’ve seen, more often than not, is that people can never get there. At least not both of them.

And sometimes it seems like you just run out of time.

#relationships #photos #HeavyMachina #diariespodcast

I was reading through my FB birthday wishes this morning and below are my absolute favorites:

I hope your day was filled with clear streets Tastee Donuts and quiet people.
—Mike P.

Hope this is an amazing year as you become more and more remarkable.
—John S.

Happy Birthday, I thank you for all your words and thoughts, they inspire me to keep true!
—Kim B.

‎Happy birthday Travis! Hope you have a wonderful chipmunk and puke-free day! 💖😚💖
—Carol M.

Happy Birthday, Travis! I hope your day is as awesome as you are!!!
—Linda F.

‎Happy Birthday Travis! May your work day be short and your donuts be plentiful.
—Heather M.

I’m truly blessed to have such great people in my life.

#gratitude

It’s all fun and games unless you have to catch a chipmunk in the morning and then you have to catch another at bedtime. That makes two in one day.

#photos #chipmunks

Audio (MP3): 20180612 - At 4:54 am this morning I was wide awake

Video (MP4): 20180612 - At 4:54 am this morning I was wide awake

At 4:54 am this morning I was wide awake.

I woke up from one of those dreams that wake me because the story turned sour.

The scene was an industrial area early in the morning. The sky was gray, the air foggy and misty. I was shuffling along to meet back up with a group of friends that were having a get-together of some kind.

A car pulled up and an early 20-something boy got out. And then his girlfriend, too. A homeless wanna-be monarch and his queen. Not blatantly hostile but an obvious menace.

As the two walked toward me a two more 20-somethings appeared. And then all four drew closer like wary insects knowing they’re almost to feed.

With a dismal future planned I looked at the grubby crown and said, “do you want the cash in my wallet?” And he nodded.

The dream fast-forwarded as they often do and I was on the ground looking up at the scattered gray sky. The three cockroach minions held my arms and legs while the soiled monarch was lying flat on his stomach beside me. Going through my wallet, flipping business cards and whatever aside.

Then he held up my car keys as the primary prize. He started taking the keys off, unringing them one by one. He motioned that I could keep my truck key and then scooped the others in a pile on my chest, like he was going to keep them.

Pinned on my back I said to him with irritation, “now you’re just fucking me.”

And then I woke up. Because I was done with all of that.

#dreams #alliislost #diariespodcast #diariesvideo

I wish I had a job that I could just settle in to. It wouldn’t even have to be the greatest job. Just one I felt good about doing. Like this is what I’m gonna do the rest my life and I’m okay with that.

On my way to work I drive by a tire shop every morning. I see the guys inside, drinking coffee, rolling their tires, and I’m somewhat jealous. Seems to me to be pretty carefree.

I don’t know, maybe I’m romanticizing the guys and their wrenches but they never seem too stressed in the morning.

Jimi told me once that if you can stand going to your job you’re doing better than most.

Once you tune in to “this sucks”, you’ll be miserable evermore doing that.

#worknews

Audio (MP3): 20180611 - A frantic game of animal tag

On this morning, the 11th of June I was greeted with a squeaky chipmunk in the basement just as I sat down with my first cup of coffee. It filled my heart with joy as the two H-Ks (hunter killers) and a lone chipmunk played a frantic game of animal tag.

A frenzied game of hide and seek if you will. Where if you lose needly claws hooked to hair trigger tendons pulled by honed muscles will rip into your hide and not too often let go. You’ll be lucky and kiss your mother if you narrowly escape with only a minor puncture wound.

Ah yes, the screams of blood filled, animal murder first thing in the morning.

And then as I’m putting the basement things back in order after I’ve caught and released the chipmunk, I hear Pearl in her litter box taking a shit. All the excitement and exercise must’ve got her bowels working.

💩 #cats #chipmunks #diariespodcast