It seems like it's all changing. Clinton wrapped up his past scandals with admitting he tricked us and waved good-bye. Bush had his parties and signed his name into history. When I take a long look at our new leader, I don't feel like he is addressing me when he speaks to the nation. But here I am, still part of the nation. When the aliens come and say take me to your leader, I think I'll still tell them to stop by Kurt Vonnegut's place.

I watched NFL football all year again, and it has come down to the Baltimore Ravens and the New York Giants. Two teams I never expected to be in the Super Bowl this year, but there they are, right in front of me. The Ravens and the Giants. It has an odd ring to it, but no matter what, that's who it is. The old saying is that defense wins championships, and that will be the case this year. The winner will be the team with the offense that screws up the least. I'm going to root for the Ravens because they used to be the Cleveland Browns. Baltimore used to be the Colts, but that team is now in Indianapolis, and so Baltimore's boys are now the Ravens. New York has always been the Giants and the Jets, though now they play in New Jersey. It won't make a difference either way who wins, but I have to root for someone.

I am learning more about Tom Pendergast than most mortal men.

The economy is slowing down. No, it isn't. Yes, it is. No, it isn't. Yes, it is. No, it isn't. Yes, it isn't. No, it is. Yes, it isn't. No, it is.

It is a time of transition.

John Ashcroft is going to be our new Attorney General. They are still debating about it, but it is going to happen. This is a man who just lost an election to a dead candidate. The job of the Attorney General is to decide who to prosecute for federal violations. If there are federal laws John Ashcroft does not feel are important, he will not prosecute people who violate those laws. He doesn't like Roe v. Wade, so what's he going to do with laws he doesn't like? It seems like a pretty important position, and it will go to a man who just lost an election to a dead candidate. I want this to make sense, but I can't quite make it all come together.

I spent my Saturday afternoon watching a play about a little girl who overcomes her fears by hanging out with a couple pirates. I applauded and had a good time. I spent my Saturday evening watching my alma mater's basketball team lose to the Number One ranked team in the country by 31 points. My team just stopped scoring after fifteen minutes, and you cannot win if you do not score. I did not applaud or have a good time.

My governor submitted eight new proposals concerning drug use and harm prevention. Some have to do with medicinal marijuana, some have to needle exchanges, and some have to do with further studies on the subject. A few days after this, my governor, who as an active tri-athlete, slipped on a patch of slippery ice while running early in the morning and fractured part of his spine. He is said to be improving and ultimately have a full recovery.

It is starting to sink in that there will not be any professional baseball played in my town this year.

I am going to a sweat up in the hills tonight. It is an old Indian ritual which is put on by some nice new age white folks I know. I will sit in an enclosed hut with glowing rocks steaming while I sweat profusely and intensely, talking to the Great Spirit. This is my third time. Sometimes, I am the Great Spirit, and sometimes the Great Spirit is something far different from me. I really don't know what it is going to be like this time.

It is a time of transition.

As much as I desire continuity and clarity, it is inevitable that life around me creates more and more confusion. Just when I think I understand how it's going to go, someone or something throws a monkey wrench into the works. Or cuts a dream down to a stark reality. Or presents an unexpected possibility. Or does nothing at all.

Like I said, I want this to all make sense, but I can't quite make it all come together. But it is all happening. Right now. Right in front of me. And all I can do is let it happen, and see where it goes.

Nobody told me there'd be days like these, except for John Lennon. And he didn't tell me until long after he was shot and killed.

So here we go, one foot in front of the other, into the present. With only the past to guide us.

Chris Jungle walks the walk, and talks the talk.