I'm not a very religious man, though I am religious enough to have a clearly outlined set of beliefs. Those beliefs are pretty clear on what constitutes the afterlife, and I have no questions about what I expect when I die, but studying other ideas of the afterlife is always interesting. Fascination with the idea of reincarnation may be cliche, but the fascination is still there.

My understanding of reincarnation (correct me if I am wrong) is that the station that one is born into, or even the species that one is born into, is determined by your conduct in your previous life. A person who behaves badly may be born into a more harsh life, or as something like a crow, or a bug. It lends itself to some interesting ideas, doesn't it? Ideas and possibilities for what may await us in the long cycle of lives after we die.

Let's make a game out of it.

Reply to this post with an idea of how you see me being reincarnated.

Reply to anyone else who replies, saying how you see them being reincarnated. Just for fun, you see.

Been a while since my last entry. Sorry about that. All of you know how things can be in the rough and tumble life of a high school teacher. I have dragged many, kicking and screaming, into the home stretch for their primary education. The claw marks on my arms are badges of courage, both for myself and for the young people who had the audacity to fight the system which has held them for so long.

I was taking a walk through the city three days ago when it occurred to me that I would enjoy having a cup of coffee. Bereft of other options within a reasonable distance, I stopped inside of a Starbucks.

I ordered my coffee and waited as the barista prepared my drink, not noticing when another man came in behind me. I stepped to the side so that he could place his own order, but when I looked up I noticed he was wearing a foam rubber JFK mask and had a very large bulge in his hoodie's right pocket. If he didn't have a gun, he was doing a good job faking it.

"Hey," I said to him, "are you trying to rob a coffee shop?"

The barista heard me say that, turned around, and froze stock still. The guy ignored me, but he proceeded to pull out his gun and gesticulate wildly, demanding that the cash register be opened and emptied. A real class act.

I noticed the barista had my order, so I asked her "How much is normal for a tip in this hell hole?"

The guy wheels on me, and shoves the barrel of his pistol up against my visor. Let me tell you: it's something everyone should experience at least once. Looking down the end of that barrel is like seeing the whole world condensed into steel and poured into the shape of death, a marvelous thing to be mulled over later. Really makes you feel alive, so long as you aren't dead.

He started to say something, but I don't remember what. "What," I asked, "you going to shoot me just so you can rob a coffee shop, Mr. Thief? Big man you are."

This was a mistake, and I could see it in the tensing of his wrist, but disaster was averted when the barista bashed him in the head with a coffee mug the size of my head and thick enough to be used for armor plating. He went down like a sack of wet grinds.

I stayed long enough to buy the novelty mug from her. Got it cheap, since it was chipped. I made this entry to tell you about this mug.

Who wants to bet I can't drink a gallon of coffee in an hour?

There is something to be said for the simple pleasure of sitting in the computer lab, having a tall mug of black fire and a lunch packed with love. This is close to being my favorite forty-five minutes of the day.

I had a conversation with your coach, Pearl. I think he'll be more understanding as to the necessity of your continued spiritual growth, now. A man, a teacher, must always make the well-being of his students his first priority. It's one of my rules. I think Barry agrees. Or will pretend to.

Let's see, what else has been going on... I suppose there isn't a lot to report. How about that Engarde, huh?

Iris, I want to thank you for a lovely dinner. Let's do it again soon.

*Diego Armando has won the race to complete his Valentine's Day Box before his daughter completes hers, which isn't saying much. The box itself looks to be a shoebox with a very clean slot cut in the top of it, the whole thing wrapped in a deep red wrapping paper and finished off with a white heart placed in the front center of it. One can only imagine how hard this would have been to make if the texture of the paper hadn't been so different. Instead of his name, a coffee cup has been drawn inside of the heart.

The box is placed just outside the gate to Kurain, with a very tiny tarp over it to protect it from the elements*

[[You guys know the drill: all comments are screened, anon commenting is on. Drop a line!]]

Mmmm. Been a while since I've used this thing. Still fresh, though, as all good things are.

So much going on lately. The mid-year lull has ended at Cromartie High, and we're getting back into the swing of things. I have a stack of papers I need to grade, but it won't hurt to sit back and enjoy a hot cup of java. It can wait.

Nice to see that most of the folks I'd been in contact with are still active. Familiar faces are a comfort.

Wright, we never set down when you and me were going out with the girls. How does an amusement park sound, in the next couple of weeks? I'll buy the tickets if you buy the lemonade. Assuming the girls want to go with the old people, of course.

Has anyone seen Ron? It seems like he just fell off the face of the Earth.

[[* In which I will play Diego Armando.]]

( Just a little something to end on. )

[[yes, go back and read this scene http://fragrant-coffee.livejournal.com/13062.html ; you'll need to in order to get what the Hell is going on here]]

I had a very, very nice time on my last blind date. Of course, a man never talks about what he did with a lady, so I will commit no such faux pas... Though you may have heard about a bit of it on the news.

Angel, thank you. You are a miracle worker. That you'd have a backup planned is something I wouldn't have guessed at – I underestimated you. When you see Nancy again, tell her I said hello and that I hope that whatever had her held up is better now.

Viola, thank you again for a wonderful evening. I hope you enjoyed it as much as I did.

All right, this has gotten ridiculous. I don't use that in the kindest sense of the term, either. In fact, I will go so far as to say that if there is a kind sense to the word "ridiculous" I would like for it to be stricken from the public consciousness, so that my own use of it will not be misconstrued.

I haven't had espresso in something like ten years, but it seems appropriate right about now. Have to get my thoughts in order. If there were a way to infuse my brain with the stuff, I would be doing it right now. Right now.

( Let me tell you about Helena )

Poll #1234069 Should I dye my hair black?
Open to: All, detailed results viewable to: All, participants: 18

I've been considering it for a while. Should I try to recpature the appearance of my youth?

All right so date two is down.

Damn, this is good coffee. I'm going to finish this cup before I continue. You'll pardon me: staring into the inky blackness allows me to lose myself and forget, and then taking it into myself throws memory into stark, burning relief.

Ahhh.

All right.

Before I start: I already gave Pearl a relatively family friendly version of this story, and if anyone tells her the uncensored version I will make them pay for it. Now...

( Cut for the sake of length )

I think I'm going to need more coffee.

So, I went on the first of my blind dates today. Save the blind jokes for later.

( Putting this beneath a cut for the sake of length. )