Jul
Posted on 3rd July 2009
Today I write to you from my homeland of Cleveland, Ohio or- more specifically- University Heights, Ohio, where I spent my formative years and- as long as we’re on the topic- lived with my parents past the age of 30 (to be fair, I lived other places before then but I have definitely spent time past the age of 30 being a full-time resident there. Easy, ladies. One at a time). I am visiting for a few days in observance of the popular 4th of July holiday and my dad’s birthday, and also just hanging out Cleveland-style with my parents.
Like a lot of other places in the country, Cleveland is pretty gray and rainy at the moment, as evidenced in the photo above that I took near my parents’ house yesterday. Then again, it’s kind of like this here a lot of the time. It’s a lot like London, only without the cool accents and, you know, some of the cool stuff they have over there in London. But make no mistake about it- Cleveland has its own share of magic. And now it’s got Shaquille O’Neal too. Whoa.
I am writing at the moment from the big Whole Foods near my parents’ house, a store that I find delightful even though I think it greatly contributes to the end of locally-owned businesses here and pretty much everywhere I go anymore. It’s okay- I’m guessing the world is going to explode any day now, so I will enjoy my bizarrely expensive fruit salad and free wi-fi while I can. Plus, in the time I’ve been sitting here, they have played Joe Jackson and an old song by the Alarm, which is more than I can say for the world music-obsessed coffee shop I go to most days when I’m back in New York. Don’t get me wrong- I really like the coffee shop, but I can’t abide by world music. It’s a cruel invention projecting the idea of good times while making people miserable with its steel drum bullshit. It must die.
Other than hanging out with my parents or buying stuff at Whole Foods, I have spent most of my time in Cleveland eating ice cream from Mitchell’s Homemade Ice Cream, which is pretty awesome ice cream made by two guys I knew growing up. It’s exciting to watch friends become ice cream magnates from afar. In an alternate universe, I would love to be an ice cream magnate. Actually, the more I think about it, I think I’d really like to be an ice cream magnate in this universe as it remains unclear to me what else I’m doing at the moment. Maybe there is excitement around the corner. I wonder.
In other news, I am gearing up for my first ever Dave Hill Explosion behind bars next week, when I will be performing at Sing Sing prison for what I understand will be about 250 maximum security violent felons. Most people seem to think I’m kidding when I tell them about this show, but it’s true- it’s going down next week. I am really excited and also kind of terrified about the whole thing. But one of the reasons I ended up becoming a performer was because I thought it might help me overcome assorted social anxieties I have had over the years, so I’m guessing performing for 250 inmates at a prison should really do wonders for me on some level or another. Or I could die. Really it could either way I suppose. Life is funny that way sometimes. Anyway, I will keep you posted on what should undoubtedly be something worth blogging or- at the very least- Twittering about. And if anything should happen to me, just know that I love you very much.
Dave Hill
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