These chords are old but we shake hands.

2006-04-10 at 8:18 p.m.

James has adopted the box from my IKEA greenhouse as his new bed. He lets me cover him with the blanket I knitted.

We found Tommy an apartment two subway stops away from me. It was the first one we looked at. The landlady is a french-Canadian wonder who is slightly grandmotherly but in no way elderly. She said I had beatiful skin and when we left she hugged us both and sent us off with "oh, we're going to have fun!". I already adore her.

His apartment is on a little tree-lined street off of Yonge (the upscale north part, not the seedy south part). His friends Tyler and John live a few streets up. Tommy brought me to meet them right after we found the apartment. They share a two-bedroom above a convenience store on Yonge. These boys are hilarious.

Tyler opened the door wearing a shirt that said 'Ty is Dreamy'. John was still sleeping so Tommy went to wake him up and introduced me while he was still in bed. He waved. Their apartment is immaculate because John likes to clean. Tyler has a hairless guinea pig that looks like a donkey. His name is Kellog (Tyler: "Like the cereal!").

They threw on clothes (which if you didn't know it took them 45 seconds to get dress would actually seem like well-planned hipster outfits complete with aviators) and walked back with us to see the new apartment. There's a park two seconds from it so like all boys seem to do, they found various ways in which they could possibly kill themselves. I just laughed at them and took pictures.

Tyler as he gets hit by a car by Tommy and John. (sidenote: today I was almost hit by a car, the bumper came within inches of my knee, and it was an effing Rolls Royce. I would never forgive myself if I let myself get hit by a pretentious car)

Tyler throwing himself over the suspended bridge.

John throwing himself over the suspended bridge.

Both of them at the same time.

John and Tyler sliding together across the void.

And hanging upside down. Tommy and Tyler are sharing a ring. Cute.

Then it was Josh Ritter. He must have found himself a girlfriend or something because he was suddenly and surprisingly confident. Like during Wings when all the lights are turned off, a girl shouted where are you - pause - he whispers (from the darkness) "right next to you". Then he pulled out the dirty verse of the Science Song. It was hilarious but I shall not repeat it.

It was a good but short set, not the best I've seen but Tommy was impressed so I'm glad he liked it. We sat at a table in the back so we have one picture. It's not even the right way because it's the backside of the screen.

And then the street ride home.

We all move Tommy in next week. I'm glad I'm actually going to have real friends in the city.

speaking at length + speaking in lines