Skunk Love

I have referenced my fear of skunks before. It may be irrational, but it is not unfounded. Skunks stink. Skunks spray. If a skunk sprays you, you stink. This would not be good. I think it would be quite terrible.

I remember when I saw my first skunk in the neighborhood. It was dusk and I was driving home from work. He was standing in the middle of the street. As I got closer, he refused to move. I had to swerve at the last minute to miss him. He never budged. It was then that I decided he was out to get me. I named him Damien. I wondered if it fought with the possums or cats in the neighborhood. (I once saw a gang of about six possums stubbornly standing in the same spot in the street. I imagined they were shooting craps.)

My apartment is often invaded by Damien's scent. It is strong enough that he could be sitting across from me on my futon. One morning I walked out to my car and mysteriously, it smelled like skunk. At night, when I hear rustling in the brush below my window, and that smell accompanies it, I imagine it is Damien, coming by to remind me he is out there, waiting for me. Sometimes I imagine he just outside my front door.

I would have been willing to chalk this up to paranoia. But not anymore. Recently, while sitting on my patio reading, I witnessed my neighbor, who lives below me, having a conversation with our landlord, who lives above me.

Neighbor: Good day sir. Your skunk family is back.
Landlord: Is that so?
Neighbor: Yes, they come around 9:30 every night.
Landlord: We used to have a female, male and a little one. You think the family is still together?
Neighbor: I'd like to think so.
Landlord: So would I.

Confirmation! It's true! It's not just me. The skunks do loiter around. I have reason to want to be in before nightfall. I have reason to watch my back.

The funny thing is, I think I may be the only one who is afraid. Clearly my neighbor and landlord were speaking of the skunks with some level of affection. There is a mural underneath a freeway overpass nearby, reflecting scenes of the neighborhood. Quite prominent in the painting is a large skunk. One of my neighbors who lives down the hill actually said to me, "I kind of like the skunks." I was speechless.

Maybe Damien is not out to get me, but I don't like my chances if he ever catches me out after dark.

Michael Lee/Black Brandon

Fall is around the corner and I will be faced with the decision of what shows to add to my TV watching itinerary. I will remain faithful to Heroes, Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles and 30 Rock. I'll probably try out Fox's Fringe because Joshua Jackson remains one of my favorites. I'll also watch the first few episodes of the new 90210 on the CW. That's right, I'm going to watch a trashy teen drama. I have my reasons.

One reason is that the "Walshes" (I don't know the name of the new family, but you know whom I'm referring to) are relocating to Beverly Hills from Kansas City, Missouri (my hometown, represent!). Another reason is that one of my favorite characters (Michael Lee) from one of the best shows I've ever seen (The Wire) is one of the show's stars. He plays "Brandon" (known as Dixon on the new 90210). Tristan Wilds, the actor who played Michael Lee, is black. On 90210, his character was adopted by the white "Walshes" in Kansas City. My friend Kellye coined the nickname Black Brandon and probably no matter what roles are ahead in Tristan Wilds' sure to be long career, he will always be affectionately known as Black Brandon (at least to Kellye and I).


The other day, I was at the intersection of La Brea and Wilshire, and saw men putting up this corner billboard. I did a triple take. There was Michael Lee/Black Brandon, sitting in a pool, smiling—something I never witnessed him do on The Wire. I am curious to see how this tough kid, who while on The Wire was weighed down by the ugly streets of Baltimore and was also quite good with a gun, will transform into a happy-go-lucky teen in Beverly Hills. Very curious.