I sit in cars when I'm sad.

When I hear stuff about friends' pains that I was previously unaware of, oh, my, does my heart break. I can't stand hearing about a new, undiscovered sadness that I never noticed about someone I already care about. I hate hearing about my friends hurting each other in new and exciting ways.

I think the film kids are just generally dramatic. It comes with the artistic territory, man. We gotta feel pain to make some great art. And when we can't find it, we make it.

And because of our generational enlightenment (see HERE) we feel every bit of the pain we're creating. Is my generation a bunch of masochists? Or are we artists searching for our next story?

Bottom line: Some of my friends are very sad. I'm at a loss.

Is this what being an artist is? Exploiting pain? Can I elect to exploit my joie de vivre instead? I swear that comes around every once in awhile, really.

In order to break me out of this funk, I need to listen to some strong guitars and reassuring vocals. Time for "Leaders of the Free World" by Elbow.

Followed by "Papa Don't Take No Mess" by James Brown.

Yeah. It's going to be a good day now.