I'm There

            There is a place where seals and penguins are common things. Where snow storms happen in the summer and glare from the ground burns the whites of your eyes. Butt cheeks get dry skin, and I'm there.
             I'm at a place where thin beards and hairy pits are commitments. A place where overalls make you desirable and hiking boots are considered attractive. Where inhibitions drop with time regardless of how sober or perpetually drunk you are. It's a low standard paradise, and I'm there.
             It's a place where people can get there cabin fever on. Where producing Freezing Man for Thanksgiving or MAAG for Christmas brings out the need to ride the giant seesaw or run on the human gerbil wheel. Where Under the Bed Gallery is really a mini art gallery under someones bed and Ice Stock brings in the New Year. A place where a round of whiskey slaps turns into an all bar slap/punch fest and no one hits out of anger, and I'm there.
              This is a place that 34 degrees makes you sweat. A place that talking about the smell of moss causes folks to salivate. A place that produces enough free time having a drawn out conversation about the logistics of making a child that is 75% genetically yours doesn't seem ludicrous, but worth while.
              This is a place where spending all day working with someone and eating every meal together still leaves you making plans with them for that night. A place where no matter how annoying or abrasive someone seems, you learn to love them because there are NO other options. It's a place that has equality the communists would be jealous of and the lack of materialism needed to take down Wal-Mart. Hippies would seem high maintenance, and I'm there.
               Talking about a favorite bar in Beijing isn't one upping the other guy, because they've been there too. Bouncing off ideas of Siberia or Malaysia next isn't chatter, because they're thinking of going too. It's the realization that crazy is normal and "real life" is here and they all feel it too. It's a rolling stone's paradise, and I'm there.

Hope you all had a great holiday season and enjoy the new year!

Chris