I have been doing battle royale, these past few days, with depression. While this is not a new thing, it has been particularly sharp. Forgive, dear ones.

28. A place that you’d like to visit, or want to live.

I think I live in a pretty lovely place now. Coral Gables has its own charms: Mediterranean Revival architecture, lots of green space, a fair degree of safety on the streets, art, books, and good food. 

That said, where would I go, if I could? San Francisco’s pretty high on my list. I have been there before, but I’d love to go again. I would also add to my list the following cities: Tokyo, Seoul, St. Petersburg (Russia), Moscow, Paris, Buenos Aires, New York City, Milan, and Chicago. Each city has its own particular draw, and no two cities wake up and sleep in the same way. I also add Los Angeles, although it really strikes me as a very amorphous place—a living, fantastical tableau where you encounter mythical creatures and ghosts from bygone eras. (I blame Italo Calvino for shaping my view of the City of Angels.)

If, however, I could live any place I pleased, I would move to Portland, Oregon. What’s not to love about a place with strange history, good coffee, bookstores, and the like? 

29. Five weird things you like

Just five? Oh. Le sigh. 

But, here I go:

• Peanut butter mixed with Steen’s Cane Syrup, slathered on Sunbeam bread;
• The Dr. Demento Show (sadly missed, and a gateway to great comedy);
• Coffee and Diet Coke;
• Kaiju flicks, horribly dubbed; and
• the “Hannah Mantegna” vid on Funny or Die. (Joe Mantegna earns brownie points for some seriously hilarious genderscrewing!)

30. What excites you now

The prospect of philosophy as mixed martial arts at tonight’s Socrates Cafe, over at Books & Books. (Who says deep thought can’t be visceral?)