RIP David Mills

David Mills, a former Washington Post reporter who went on to write for some of TV's greatest dramas including "Homicide," "NYPD Blue" and "The Wire" and was currently working on HBO's "Treme" died.

I did not know him, but knew his work. He also had the blog Undercover Black Man that I link to here. If you had not checked him out before, please do so now.

He was 48. We never know how much time we have so you better make the most of it.

D.C. 2010

In D.C. for Passover. Yes, Rambler's a Yid!

I get here about three times a year and both love how little it has changed in some parts and how much it has in others. Bethesda is almost a miniature Georgetown now. Rockville has its own version. I know. Rambler those are suburbs. You said you were in D.C. Trust me, I'm a D.C. boy with the Wilson diploma to prove it. No MD or VA prep school or DC private school for me.

But I'm staying with my brother in Kensington so what can you do. Anyway, Tour Guide would know best, but I guess the new thing for the suburbs is to create their own little downtowns to become more appealing to those who might be more inclined to stay in the city.

D.C.'s population has actually been growing. The city is a lot nicer than when I was growing up here. Not that it was awful then. It had its scary parts and now there are fewer scary parts. The whole 14th Street corridor is cleaned up. It feels like Brooklyn Heights. Columbia Heights looks like some city from the future!

Because of the strict zoning laws, none of these new developments seem overwhelming or out of place. Unlike New York, with its hideous glass hi-rises everywhere, D.C. architects actually seem to want the new to blend with the old. Radical concept.

For all that is new here, the old DC charms has not been lost. Roaming around Dupont Circle is timeless. Upper Northwest is as picturesque as ever. What's new works and what's old remains.

I'm sure there are others who blog constantly about the downfall of old D.C. and who knows, maybe they have a point. All I know is every time I'm back here I start to think that this is a city I could live in again should I feel the need to pull yet another geographic. I can't say that about New York.

I spent ten years in NYC before moving back to LA and yet I never miss it or think of it as home. I spent four years of my youth in DC and about four more as an adult. Yet this is where I consider myself from. I guess it's because all the pivotal early moments of life happened here. My first kiss was here. First drunk was here. First lay was here. Learned how to drive here. Etc.

When I come here I feel like I'm home. Just like when I'm back in LA I'll feel like I'm home. Don't have that feeling in NYC.

Didn't mean to turn this into yet another why I don't miss NYC rant. I'm just checking in and reporting that D.C. is still a pretty cool city.

I know I keep you amused...

More Rod.

Dreaming of an Alabi

If this doesn't make you smile I don't know what to do with ya! The Faces sloppily (of course) performing one of my favorite Rod songs, the under-appreciated "True Blue."

Wrong To Steal

Stood next to you all night
Not quite sure what I saw back in the day
Why did I think you were right
Must have been really hungry to eat off that plate

Just another vacant stare
Was there ever anything there
Just another vacant stare
Was I just a dare

Tried to see what it was I saw
Wanted to feel what I felt
Came away just feeling raw
Looking for another stiff belt

Just another lap in those empty eyes
Another chance to listen to your lies
Just another lap in those empty eyes
One more time to hear your fake cries

Would like to cut myself open in front of you
Splatter myself all over your dress
Like to see me inside you
Feel myself draining and at rest

Just one more time to make you see real
Another chance to make you feel
Just one more time to make you see real
One last time to show you the deal

Standing Eight

Got in the ring and took a blow.
Tasted blood again, but I won't go.
Still staggering as bell calls for more.
Will I stand or hit the floor?

Not much of an update

But I'm getting lots of spam comments on old posts here. Anyone know what the hell that's about. Otherwise, here is what is new. I'm now dating just one girl instead of two. I still look at too much Internet porn. I'm still wasting way too much time doing dumb stuff when I need to be writing.

Yes, I will revisit she's nothing but trouble. I promise.

OK, going to take a shower now.

Peace!