I ran into my friend Dave who I used to hang out with in the "rooms." He seems to be doing great and said that he does yoga every day now, meditates each morning, is getting ready to go on a retreat where he will refrain from speaking for two weeks, has embraced a vegan lifestyle, and is generally "living in light". He invited me to join him for a soy latte, and a fungus-based imitation chicken taco at his favorite vegetarian restaurant. Once we walked inside the restaurant he announced that the energy of the wait staff was toxic to him. I asked him if there was anyplace else he wanted to go, but he told me that all of the restaurants in the area are toxic to him. His car was near mine and while we walked to it a meter maid stood by writing a ticket, at which point he got down on his knees and cursed the toxicity of the city of Los Angeles, and US in general (while we're at it). I asked him if there was any place in the world that isn't toxic, and he told me that there is an island off of Costa Rica and his plan is to go there and live by himself and commune with the purity of God. When I left, he thanked me for not being toxic and we hugged good-bye. I hope I never get so healthy that everything seems toxic, but I still eat meat and have never done yoga, so perhaps I am still living in darkness.