and if california slides into the ocean like the mystics and statistics say it will i predict this motel will be standing until i pay my bill

One year when I lived in Austin, Leila came and stayed with me during SXSW. It was such a good trip . . . she tried mushrooms for the first time, we got day drunk on free SXSW booze and hung around West Campus and downtown, and I let my friend Rachel use my house to throw her birthday party while Leila and I got stoned and played Wind Waker in my room. Ahh! When life was beautiful!!

I remember one day we went to Spiderhouse (RIP) by my house in Hyde Park and met some of her friends who were in town. Leila has said many nice things about me as long as we’ve been friends, but I remember that day she said to everyone: “If Ryan says he’ll come visit you, he means it. He really will come visit you.” I don’t know! I have always remembered it. As many can attest, what she said is true, you know . . .

laura and i made a rare joint celebrity appearance at the nintendo store in san francisco, california