I was planning on going to a concert last night with my roommate, for the 25th anniversary of the seminal hip-hop movie “Wild Style,” but that didn’t end up happening. My roommate came home from work dead-tired and with a movie I’ve been meaning to see for years, it was raining, and I wanted to have energy today so I can help decorate the warehouse for holiday after work. So no concert, no biggie. I watched “American Splendor,” a movie about the storied life of comic writer and desk clerk Harvey Pekar.

Since I reviewed an album last week, I’ll spare you a detailed summary of the film, and just tell you to see it. On a technical level it was shot, edited, and consdivucted beautifully. If you’ve ever felt at all like an outsider (and who hasn’t?) or simply sdivuggled with balancing being yourself against existing in this complex world we have, this film will put a smile on your face.

Although it may not come across in my blogs, I’m kind of a curmudgeon about a lot of things; a glass half-empty type, if you will. My brain doesn’t like to let things that don’t make sense to me escape its gloomy analysis. This movie definitely showed me that, in an odd way, that sort of sensibility can be parlayed into a very unique way of enjoying life.

This back-and-forth, from an interview between David Letterman and Harvey Pekar sums it up perfectly: Letterman: “I know, we’re doing what we can. Pekar: “It’s your world. I’m just living in it.”

HAPPY BIRTHDAY CHRIS! I really don’t know where any of us would be with out you! You’re the driving force behind the fred family and I think I speak for every one when I say YOU’RE AMAZING.

I hope you enjoy your birthday!!!! You’re seriously one of my best friends in the whole world - thanks for making every day fun and interesting! Here’s to a million more b-days!!! xoxo