A Mysterious Killer

Michael and I were in bed watching the local news in the wee hours here in Phoenix when a story about a cute young man named Matthew Bevil came on saying that he'd died suddenly of bacterial meningitis. His handsome face popped up on the screen and the memory of our friend Larry's tragic death came rushing back to us. The 24-year-old Matt Bevil was a popular bartender in Scottsdale and a journalism student at my alma mater, Arizona State University.

I didn't know Matt Bevil, but if his friends or family happen to see this post tonight please know that those of us who have lost a loved one to this deadly disease share in your pain. We still don't understand why this happened to our Larry, and perhaps we never will.

The medical director of Arizona Department of Health Services was quoted as saying that only about 3 percent of the people who contract bacterial meningitis develop severe, life-threatening infections, and “we don’t fully understand why some come down with bacterial meningitis and others don’t." One thing that I'm sure you do fully understand is how lucky you were to have had Matt in your life, and I hope those memories help you persevere during this dark time.

Read: Disease claims young bartender

Read: Student dies of meningitis infection

Visit the memorial site for Matt on MySpace here.

Monday, Monday

Los Angeles was great. Perfect weather, lots of R&R and saw some old friends.

We got to my parents' house Sunday afternoon. My nephew is more adorable than ever (and talking much more than I'd been led to believe). We're off to visit the new development where my parents are building a new house (halfway to Tucson).

Hope your week is starting off well!

kenneth in the (213)

Sunset Boulevard

I'm busy packing for my a.m. flight to Los Angeles. The past six months have been extremely difficult, what with the deaths of my dad, my uncle, my friend Mike and my friend Larry. Consequently, I have been kind of a homebody of late, not really in the mood to travel or do much. I've been feeling more upbeat in recent weeks (aided by some exciting things that have been happening with my writing), so I decided it was time to head West to have some fun -- and see my family.

First stop is West Hollywood, my old home in the early 1990s (above). Now Hollywood isn't for everybody, but it's all the things that people hate about it that makes me love it so. Everything is so over-the-top and ridiculous (what's not to love?). In what's become an annual pilgrimage, Michael and I skip "attractions" and spend some quiet time by the hotel pool, go to Crunch gym on Sunset for the inevitable droolfest and celebrity sighting, and take the rental car out for long drives along Sunset Boulevard past the Beverly Hills Hotel, the beautiful houses and UCLA's gorgeous Westwood campus until you hit the Pacific Ocean.

On Saturday night we've got tickets to see my girl Susanna Hoffs and Matthew Sweet at the Roxy on the fabulous Sunset Strip along with my best friend from sixth grade, Mark. I'm expecting a run-in or two with some ex-roommates, ex-lovers and D-list celebrities (Jane Wiedlin, Corey Feldman and Mindy Cohn are my predictions). (The concert is at the Roxy Theater, which happens to be where Susanna's pretty-boy-ex Donovan Leitch is starring in "Hedwig and the Angry Inch" --awkward!)

Then we're off to my hometown Phoenix, where my mom, stepfather, a brother and my sister live. April's the time to be in Phoenix -- sunny but not too hot. Perfect lounging-by-the-pool weather and cruising by the old house. My nephew, AJ, is nearly 4 now, and I haven't seen him since June. I hear he's doubled in size again, even if his vocabulary hasn't. My sister is pregnant with a backup baby, so it will be fun teasing her about being an adult (she'll always be a little girl to me).

Blog postings will be few and far between, but will return to normal by next week at this time. Hope you have a great week ...

"Under the Covers Vol. 1" by Matthew Sweet and Susanna Hoffs is the funnest album I've heard in years!

Especially "Different Drum" "Run to Me," and "Sunday Morning"

The Shirt Off His Back

Thank god no one ever accused Nick Lachey of not being willing to give the shirt off his back.

When I bought this week's OK magazine I didn't know this was about to hit the stands. I'd heard last night that Nick was going shirtless in the new Rolling Stone, but now it looks like their newsroom neighbors loaned them this photo for a sneak preview of the delicious results ...

Guess Wood

When I think of the Guess? brand I think of 1987.

Thanks to the company's new ad campaign, now I think of 1987 and hot men.