the Rhythm of Life is published weekly by David A. Johnson. -=-=-=-= E-Mail Dave: rhythmofdave at aol dot com -=-=-=-=-=-=- AIM Screen Name: d0johns1

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A NEW DAY

December 4, 2004. Volume 3 Issue 1

A new day, a new word processor. Since last we spoke, things have been more than a little rough, there’s been the breakup detailed in this issue, there’s been work, there’s been work, and lets see…there’s been work. For awhile there it looked like my little corner of the web would be shut down for no reason other than I didn’t have time to feed my cat let alone write a weekly column, but then things changed.

For starters, I bought a new computer. The laptop is doing just fine those of you who remember how excited I was last summer when the box from Compaq arrived at my door, but I needed something to store files on in case anything ever happened to the thing I love more than life itself. I thought a new computer would inspire me to write more Rhythms, unfortunately no, and besides, when all is said and done, I’m still writing this issue on the laptop.

Next, I thought maybe I needed an upgrade. Office XP was suddenly obsolete, and the Office 2003 box was so shiny and new. I bought it, upgraded both systems and sat down on a blank page and just stared.

Odd, I thought. Perhaps I didn’t have enough new material to work through. I then sat down and outlined the next 12 issues of Rhythm of Life, all of which will be appearing weekly again starting now. (My next scheduled break will begin in April) Kim alone has provided me with fodder for three spin offs and a movie starring Linda Cardinelli.

That’s not it. So why was I having writers block issues? And most importantly, why I have I just spent half a page in Word 2003 discussing writers block when you tune in each week for something else altogether?

Kaylee, you inspired me on the phone tonight. The issue I propose is not writers block per-se, it’s actually relationship block. When things aren’t progressing one way or another and the relationship probably should just end, but for some strange reason it doesn’t. I’m not about to give up Rhythm of Life, but Kara’s damn well about to give up on Jed. For those of you wondering who the fuck Kaylee is, you’ll just have to wait.

I moved to Mesick in September and was able to rejoin the Kara/Jed relationship saga right where it had left off. For the past month however, Kara had been increasingly standoffish about her relationship with Jed. Ever since she had moved, nothing he did was enough for her. On her weekends, if he couldn’t stay for the entirety he didn’t care enough to make the relationship work. If they talked on the phone it wasn’t long enough and he obviously didn’t give a damn about her. If he went a day without calling then an apocalypse was breaking out on the Cadillac Hellmouth. I was several minutes from calling Kara a shiny white taxi with shiny white men inside, when we both realized exactly what the problem was.

The relationship wasn’t working out, and theories abounded as to why. What it ended up being however, was that Jed really needed some time, as Kara and he came to the realization of one evening on the phone.

“That’s fine, take your time figure things out, just don’t expect me to wait around.” Was Kara’s reply.

I had a similar conversation with my laptop regarding lesson plans. It ended the exact same way, one week later I was back in front of the keyboard with a loud sigh. One week later for Kara and she was back on the phone making weekend plans with Jed.

Jed was coming up to do an off road race he’d been preparing for all summer, and Kara and I were invited guests. It was an interesting experience, breaking my truck into 4 wheel drive in the middle of September to make it through backwoods trails that just aren’t meant for vehicles to travel upon. For Kara and Jed it was the beginning of the true end.

When it was all over, I excused myself to return to my apartment which was growing rapidly more pimped out by the minute. Kara and Jed returned to Kara’s apartment where they proceeded to consummate their non-relationship once more, followed by a quick breakup talk.

Basically, Kara was pissed that Jed hadn’t figured things out in two weeks, and Jed was pissed that Kara was pissed because he had only had two weeks.

Things ended, and she vowed never to call him again. We assumed he would do the same, but lo and behold, three weeks later the phone rang, and Kara entered the next phase of getting rid of Jed.

She decided it would be much more fun to sit on the phone with him and toy with him since he didn’t know what he wanted, when she knew perfectly well she didn’t want him anymore. This worked out well for several days until he informed her of some of the most shocking news she had yet to hear from Jed’s mouth.

“I’m back with the Ex”

Hmmm. Kara had now invested in a relationship where she had had a lot of fun, but suddenly things were not so much fun anymore. Jed was back with “The Ex” and her little game of torture and torment suddenly seemed to be turned right back on her. By investing in him as a puppet, when the puppet began moving without her consent, it freaked her out. Bad puppet master, Bad!

His number was deleted from her phone however, a week later, when she still trying to play the game, had a two hour phone conversation with him only to learn the ex was sitting in the other room.

This sort of set Kara back a little, but it’s opened up a whole new door for her relationship wise, because it’s proved once and for all that Zeke is gone.

Driving out to Boston to pick up a junked out car, getting pulled over twice and sleeping in the back of a pickup truck. Will she consider these the good old days someday? What about the ride in a race car? All these experiences Kara had with Jed were a part of the relationship that changed her in all sorts of ways. The point is, no matter how good, or how bad things are, you’re constantly learning, and Kara this time around learned to trust those instincts. When someone’s not ready to date you because they’ve just gotten out of a six year relationship, you should listen to those instincts before you end up sleeping in the back of a pickup truck in a rest area in New Jersey.

As for Dave, both the Laptop and the Desktop are working in synchronous harmony. Office 2003 coexists peacefully on both machines, and the lesson plans keep on rolling out. Ask me about the 28 year old Science teacher on the seventh grade team however, and you’ll have an unfolding story for the back nine of this volume of Rhythm of Life.