Hello internet. Welcome to the third installment of Words From The Midwest, my ongoing blog series in which I will write and write about anything and everything my mind wonders about as it wanders about.

Currently, I’m listening to Marshall Crenshaw’s Definitive Pop Collection which is a collection of songs by the great Marshall Crenshaw. I rarely dig anthology type greatest hits packages but this is all I could find by him on the internet or at my local library. It’s as good a collection as can be found, however, and allmusic gives it a four and a half star rating. And I concur.

Cynical Girl has just come on. I heard it for the first time not too long ago and it has quickly become one of my favorite songs of all time. It’s like if Buddy Holly and Phil Spector had a baby of Power Pop perfection.

“I’ll be lost in love and having some fun with my cynical girl who has no use for the real world.”

One hell of a chorus.

I am, as usual, sitting on my back porch as I write this, looking out on the wall which separates my yard from the neighbors’. It’s covered in ivy and thus reminds me of Wrigley Field. I’ve never been to Wrigley Field. I’d love to go someday.

Last night I went to the brand new bar which has opened up in my part of Ohio City which has been dubbed Hinge Town. The bar is called The Jukebox. It will have an ever-revolving jukebox filled with some of the best music you could think of. Soon, with every drink you buy, you’ll receive tokens for the Jukebox, making it so there is always good music playing and, if you’re a frequent bar-hopper, you know that this is as rare a commodity as there is in this day and age. Last night it was on free play so I chose two songs, one by Dr. Dog and one by Mos Def, so you can gather that not only is there nothing but good music but there’s also quite the eclectic mix.

This evening, I will be getting new neighbors. The entire downstairs of my building is dedicated to housing the Jesuit Volunteer Corps of Cleveland and today marks the first day of a new group. Last year’s group was pretty fantastic although I didn’t get to know them as well as I could have and should have. Perhaps this year will be different. I’m certainly in a much better place, mentally, than I was a year ago when I moved back to Cleveland. But I’ve been over all that.

Tomorrow is my twenty-sixth birthday. I’ve already gotten a couple gift certificates, one to Beat Jar Juice Bar and one to Rising Star Coffee, my two favorite places around. I’ve already spent almost all of both of them. So worth it.

I also got a new pair of Chuck Taylors from one of my sisters and, tomorrow, I’m going over to another one of my sister’s house for bratwurst and macaroni salad and probably some beers and hang out time. It should be a great birthday.

Sunday I’m going to go out to visit the camp which I grew up at and used to work at. It’s called Camp Christopher, it’s in Bath, Ohio, and it is my favorite place in the world. My parents met there, both my Dad and my Grandpa used to be Director there, and I worked there on and off for seven years. I miss it from time to time and it’s always good to go out to visit.

I’m also going Monday with my good friend Abbey.

I suppose I’ll leave it there as there’s not too much else to say this afternoon other than I hope you enjoy your weekend and don’t get so drunk that you get sick. And if you do, just make sure it’s in a toilet or a trashcan.

Goodbye for now.

Michael