Sounds | Notes | Legalese | Sights

The problem in trying to change yourself is identifying when change actually happens.

You want change to be a finish line, a demarcation that says, “Yes, you have made it. You can rest now. You’ve done what you set out to do.”

What I discovered in 2005 is that no matter how much change you can affect in your life, there’s always more to do. There will always be more change ahead, and you’re never really done changing.

As much as I want to understand what Hunter S. Thompson did on February 20, 2005, all I can think is he missed the point. After all of the times he was able to cut through the rhetoric and bullshit of everyday life, he was unable to reconcile the later years where his body wasn’t working right. Football season is over, indeed. Goddamnit, Hunter, we’re just getting to the best part.

As much as I’ve seen, as much as I’ve done, there’s still so much more I want to do, and there’s so much more out there to experience. The coming years are filled with glowing promise, and I simply can not wait to see what’s around the bend.

I wish I could express the gratitude and love I have for Amanda, my fiancee and confidanté. You are the love of my life, my raison d’être, my Cosmic 2x4. I am grateful for every minute I have with you, and look forward to our wedding day.

The Amigos live on: many thanks to Marty Yawnick, Thomas E. Moore III, R. Chance Munsterman, Greg Woodson, and Jessica Hendrix. At some point in the very near future (February 24, 2006, maybe?) we shall all gather and scream at the world. Gaia knows we’re coming, and needs to get a mop.

• Mondo gratitude to Phyl, the one aunt who will claim ownership for me without hesitation;
• Richard and Sunny Hunter, who (along with Mike Turley) dragged me kicking and screaming through the greatest adventure I’ve had in years;
• Mike G., whom I still think has one of the sharpest comic minds around;
• Laura Harper, who was a key component for my renaissance;
• Erika, who won’t quit telling stories about me to Amanda;
• Brent, who has the worst timing in calling me;
• Dave, RJ, Jen, Sully, Tasha, and Travis (in absentia), as well as anyone at No Frills Grill whom I was too drunk to be able to remember their names;
• Efrain and Jennifer;
• Ray, Mecca, Windy, Bobby, and the remainder of the gang at City Streets;
• Mary Candyce, who knows;
• D.J. Coffman, for making me lurch coffee out of my nose at inopportune moments;
• John Leeming, for continually hounding me about the damned Madonna joke;
• Rose, for being my grounding element;
• Bonnie, for services above and beyond pimpitude;
• and, most importantly, you. Yes, you.

This disc was produced, mastered, and packaged on December 9, 2005, using Mac OS X.

See you all around the bend.

—Devin Pike