Hearing on a health pod that spiked inflammation levels had to do with improper hormone regulation—this I already knew—but that it had also to do with lack of testosterone production. Dudes crashed out, inactive, jerking it nonstop, no motivation getting flared up and spazzing out bc their body wasn’t producing enough T.

That it was good to do those things—get up, get active, stop jerking it nonstop—that regulated your hormones, yeah.

But that it was also good to eat foods that contained/encouraged T production.

That beets were one of those foods.

I didn’t know whether this take was legit. Had any scientific backing.

Fully aware of this take’s potential sus-ness. That bringing it up publicly could prove ‘problematic.’ That I thus wouldn’t bring this up publicly.

Wouldn’t dump my shit onto people.

No reason to.

Bc I also figured, eating beets couldn’t hurt.

It didn’t matter whether or not this take was sus / didn’t have hard scientific backing. The only part of the take that mattered was that it encouraged me to get tf up, get active, stop jerking it nonstop.

And to start eating beets.

That this take encouraged me to start eating beets was the only part of it that was useful.

About everything else to do with this take, I would put a fkn lid on.

And what was sick was, now I could just add beets to my order.

My juice game was:

A leafy green (spinach or kale).

Half an apple (Pink Lady or Fuji).

An overripe, sliced then frozen banana.

A celery stalk.

A root veg (carrots or, now, beets!).

A root (ginger or turmeric).

A berry (blue or straw).

Tap water.

2

AUTONOMOUS BAE

May 2019

Coming home from work one day, noticing my plant Ryden had given me. Looking parched perched on the dining table surrounded by junk mail.

Gas bills.

Unread New Yorkers.

Seeing it, immediately realizing my neglect. Feeling an intuition-urge to Act.

I watered it.

Then texted autonomous bae about whether she was tryna go see Ryden anytime soon.

Last I’d heard he was moving his eyebrows some. Elevating them to signal Yes. Not elevating em when Nah. That his parents were still here, from California. Had moved into a spot near his care facility up in Manayunk, leaving their jobs and lives in San Diego in the lurch the past six months since coming out here, first Ryden went under.

That they wouldn’t be around much longer.

Would be moving him back to San Diego once his work insurance ran out.

A had added two routes to my routes. One was Manayunk home deliveries that was sketch bc Manayunk, which sits elevated NE of the city proper and overlooks the Schuylkill, is hilly af. Engine straining to ascend those hills, e-brake creaking to stay all 6 tons put, midway up em.

But passing Ryden’s care facility on this route another reminder.