1/17: A group of people walk down to the beach at Larrabee at sunset. They are wearing hoodies and carrying plastic cups of wine. The cups are full. The people are somber.
1/18: The phrase "double bird strike" sticks with me.
1/19: More than the pain, it's that feeling of falling that stays with me all day. That moment when my brain was trying to correct what was happening as it was happening, as if I could just revise this scene and right my bike. Like when my dad would take me on the Tilt a Whirl, and my sisters and I would lean, lean to make it swing the other way. Falling is what remains. Not hitting. The ground has disappeared, replaced with my steady movement toward it, a line forever approaching zero.
1/20: It is so cold, this day when everything changes. A woman's breath hangs on the shoulders of people in front of her. Her cheers are all wet and light. They don't float so much as climb.
1/21: The room is packed, and the guy sitting in front of me smiles at everyone. Like he's thrilled to see us, me, people he's never seen before. Like we are who he's been waiting for. After I read, he grins and claps, and he is so dainty, and he is so lovely.
1/22: There is a page on Facebook for fans of Aretha Franklin's inauguration hat.
1/23: Graciela's brother died of appendicitis, so they are returning to Oaxaca. Mom showed the girls a map of where they were going because they didn't know. She tried to point out all the places her kids live, but her map didn't have Africa so she couldn't show them where Erin was. They were disappointed.
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1/17 - While working on a tattoo, a tattoo artist discusses how he loves to watch the show "John and Kate Plus 8"
ReplyDelete1/18 - Snowboarding gear is propt up against a heater, smelling like it might start a fire.
1/19 - A couple who live in an apartment with paper-thin walls have very loud sex.
1/20 - Not paying attention, a girl on the bus steps on a guide dog.
1/21 - Ice and frost remain on a sidewalk, even after the sun has come out all day.
1/22 - A trail of ants try to move a cracker left on the floor.
1/23 - A woman uses her inhaler because she can't breath after finishing her meeting.
Saturday: Smoke can seriously slip through any opening.
ReplyDeleteSunday: Dungeons and Dragons can be ridiculously intense if you're watching the right people play it.
Monday: Peanut M&Ms are addictive
Tuesday: Sticky keys are the hemorrhoids of the keyboard, they cause nothing but trouble and are a pain in the ass.
Wednesday: A man fell down my apartment stairs today.
Thursday: Being modest with a low self-esteem but knowing that you're amazing can be a little counter intuitive.
Friday: Seeing old friends can make a day the best all month.
My parents never forgave me for quitting my piano lessons when I was 8.
ReplyDeleteBending it further, higher and higher towards high E, all the while praying it won't snap.
As a boy, I hoped puberty might not come so I might remain a sopranist.
I don't know the words in the second verse, only general noises that sound similar.
It danced upon the cathedral, and hung over the room watching the crowd from above, side-stepping here and there the wind from the organ.
The static clung to the end of notes, forever seated at -40db.
And in the silence, she grabbed my hand and let go almost at once.
A circle of ice lifted off the surface of water in a bucket. It has a hole in it where a stick was stuck. I hang the ice circle, transcient bauble, dripping portal, from a bare branch of an apple tree.
ReplyDeleteI found yarn spun from moonlight at the little wool shop in Fairhaven. This silver white mohair was on sale, and then the shop owner gave me an extra discount for taking mixed dye lots. Mixed dye lots of moonlight.
"Adam! Are you roped?"
"Kamalla, this cabin roof is only 12 feet off the ground."
"I don't care. You could fall."
"Yes!" Adam agrees, skillfully,acrobatically and harmlessly demonstrating for me.
Annie leaves fresh goat milk in old fashioned glass milk bottles on the top shelf of our refridgerator.
Ziggy winds a rope of little gold lights through the community garden, to
illuminate the way to his hidden cabin.
Forgot that it is Sunday and that we have a potluck here on Sunday evenings. No problem, there will be plenty of food. I don't have to
prepare a thing!
Tired after working from 8am until 5pm at the Martin Luther King Conference. At 4:51 I was clock watching, wondering if I could leave yet.
I looked around to see what I noticed. I saw the teen from the rez. who made the movie that amazed the crowds today. He didn't look one bit tired.
This is Heather by the way.
ReplyDelete1. A car did a California stop and almost hit a man, he slid off the hood of the car and pointed at the window shield and yelled.
2. For those of you who have been following mine, I met shirtless dude in the bathroom again. This time he'd tried to be sneakier because it was at four in the morning and apparently he thought we don't use the bathroom then.
3. Three girls walking to class, one of them not as well-dressed. The conversation was between the two well-dressed ones and whenever the dorkier one tried to contribute they dismissed her.
4. Family Guy is better than the Simpsons
5. Astrological signs aren't accurate
6. A girl spilled ketchup on a white shirt because white clothes always attract stains
7. The roommate and his ex-girlfriend steadily got deeper into an argument about nothing
1/17/09 – She lifted one of the layers of plastic blinds, the sun casting shadows of vertical striping across her skin. She wondered if he could see her from across the courtyard.
ReplyDelete1/18/09 – She fell to the floor, pulling the tablecloth with her, the contents of her cereal bowl flowing out onto the linoleum. Milk surrounded her body in a white outline as though her veins had spilt dairy products instead of blood.
1/19/09 – The headlights of his car flickered onto a golden lab, sitting at the median in the middle of the road. He did not think it was allowed to keep such large dogs in the city apartments.
1/20/09 – Rubbing the paste across her skin, she hid the lines cobwebbed across her palm. Her lifeline, love line. The effect was like a face with out a mouth or eyebrows.
1/21/09 – The keys littered the floor, everyone’s home, car and safety deposit boxes at his finger tips.
1/22/09 – She dipped the spatula in the dye the spread it liberally across the scalp of the client. It oozed down the girl’s face and dripped onto her ears.
1/23/09 – It wasn’t till she was seventeen that she realized a jack-o-lope wasn’t a real animal and there for not a feasible pet.
Saturday: The fact that my automatic heater happens to not click on while I'm sleeping, only when I awake, rising to create heat, my frosty breath guiding my way
ReplyDeleteSunday: The ice that has formed, daily, on my stairway to my home, as well as on the walls, and on the handrail. Memo to self: Do not grab anything while rushing down the flight of stairs. Instant death.
Monday: The flaming red tint of my ex-roommate's hair as she draws nearer to me on my way out from school, and the accompanying emotion that comes up from seeing her once again. Bad times.
Tuesday: My acupuncturist and her inability to remember if I like her cupping therapy, a device that uses suction on the skin to draw up congested chi, I love it dearly. Every week I say, "Yes, absolutely."
Wednesday: My brother's ability to constantly amaze me. He has admitted today that he wants to become a "Shriner". I also learned that despite my stereotypical idea of what those members do, someday he might be dressed up as Santa in a hospital, offering his services to the community. What a guy.
Thursday: I realized today that with each passing season I seem to prefer a totally different type of alcohol. Winter seems to be full of tequila.
Friday: No matter how evil they act towards me, my ex-roommates will always approach me when they really want something. "Amy, the heat bill will be $97 a piece." You've got to be kidding me...
Saturday: I feel heavy and haven’t eaten anything but Special K. I've realized Britney Spears is amazing.
ReplyDeleteSunday: There were a few stars in the sky but I couldn't tell if they were satellites or not.
Monday: Both back tires slashed.
Tuesday: 19th century literature professor asked, "Who is Michael Jordan?"
Wednesday: Change of address form delayed financial aid award check by five weeks.
Thursday: Michael Scarn attempts a normal day.
Friday: New puppy finally looks at me again after I broke its leg with one of my back tires.
Let me be your frame-tail narrative baby, let me edit out your tears. I wear deodorant baby, have for most my years.
ReplyDeleteIn the quiet of the oval office, Barack Obama looks at the stump of his missing right hand, lost to a bomb while visiting Europe. He must decide between a robotic hand or a simple hook.
Walking past the tattoo shop at night, a woman is inside, earnestly posing her naked midriff. (True!)
An eight after weeks of threes and fours made him happier than a fifty dollar meal. It's wonderful to sleep.
participating in a real conversation is better than watching a fake car chase. Teachers are inspirational.
Peanut Butter Twix:
3.09 Ounces.
2.05 Dollars.
480 Calories.
Not as good as regular.
On the front,
4*
To
Go
*Bars
The astrix and its mate an inch away from each other, the whole message superimposed over a picture of 4 Twix bars. Just a note for easily confused and sue-happy persons. (Click here to view!)
In the bathroom a man uses a large knife to gouge the top off a tin of tuna fish. He then tries to heat it under the air blower. He wouldn't even share. (Fiction!)
1/17 (#11)
ReplyDeleteThese multicolored off-brand budget sticky notes from Haggen don’t stay stuck to anything for more than fifteen seconds.
~
It occurs to me that this makes them barely “sticky” notes at all.
1/18 #12
Skies are blue, sunlight warm. Shadows are still frosty. It looks like two different different worlds stuck together.
~
Step into sunlight, enter Planet Spring. Step into shadow, enter Planet Winter. The sun is confusing my sense of place.
1/19 #13
"Pay attention" keeps showing up downtown. Yesterday I saw it in marker on a wall. Today I looked down and saw “Pat Attn.” etched into the sidewalk.
~
What is Bellingham trying to communicate to me?
1/20 #14
Someone in one of my classes sounds like Woody Allen. I'm not giving names.
1/21 #15
Boxes of discarded food on the side of the street. Mostly pasta. Something called “Damn Good Chili.”
~
Dinner for the next two weeks. Don’t disappoint me, chili.
1/22 #16
Coffee shop. An older woman with a large hat sits across the table from me. She takes a tattered journal out of her bag and starts writing in some erratic, undecipherable personal script. I get the distinct impression this is part of a pattern.
1/23 #17
A little girl to her brother: Taylor! You always wanted a candy pen with a Christmas tree stamp at the top! And today, when you finally got one, you were SO happy!
The brother looks indifferent.
~
Sometimes you can tell a creative non-fic writer at a young age.
Sorry this is a day late, completely spaced.
ReplyDelete1/17: Kittens are way too cute not to go to heaven when they die.
1/18: It’s true, Canada does kind of smell like Ranch Dressing.
1/19: I wish I could understand half the crap that goes on on facebook; and I’m a Microsoft Certified Professional.
1/20: I think Denzel could play Obama in the movie. He might be older though.
1/21: I’m kind of disappointed that the world isn’t any different then it was yesterday.
1/22: I want to write things that are fun again. I want to write about gunfights and spaceships and hard nosed detectives and femme fatales and Viking warriors.
1/23: I’d much rather read a good genre story then a mediocre literary one any day.
1/17: I'm told by the driver of the late night shuttle to not eat in the vehicle when he sees me with a nutmeg muffin, but I already have the garbage beg he stores behind his seat shoved between my legs to catch crums. He approves.
ReplyDelete1/18: Frost on grass makes a crunching noise when stepped on that is akin to the sound of hard snow, but even more pleasing, and more precious in it's rarity.
1/19: When introducing mother to girlfriend, be on guard for hidden messages in seemingly pleasant communication.
1/20: Aretha Franklin puts a little RESPECT in "My country tis of thee". Sometimes less is more.
1/21: A large bellowing roar from the water reveals the source of what I thought must be a tidal wave when hearing it from the campus two weeks earlier.
1/22: When kicked in the face three times in one day, a change in routine may be advisable, but who cares?
1/23: A bus driver remove a man's bike from the front rack and order the man to leave. The man says, "excuse me man" when riding past me, then turns around and rides in the other direction. Nice bike.
Saturday: In the Colophon Café, a six year old boy gets up from the table to do five push-ups. He counts out loud. Distressed, his little sister dumps ice water on her mother’s lap. The boy lifts himself from the floor, pulls out his yo-yo, and starts walking the dog.
ReplyDeleteSunday: A blond, curly-haired Irish boy stares at me. I admire the way the sun shimmers in his curls. “Top o’ the Sunday mornin’ to ya!” he says with a smile. Did that really just happen?
Monday: There’s a thin layer of ice on the lake; tight, like a thatched roof.
Tuesday: I hugged a stranger today. He wore a suit and tie. And his lapel smelled like bubble gum.
Wednesday: A box pops up on the computer screen. “MICROSOFT WORD CANNOT SAVE THE CHANGES MADE TO THIS FILE. WE HAVE NO LOGICAL EXPLANATION FOR YOU. SOMETIMES THESE THINGS HAPPEN. SO I HOPE YOU ARE A BUDDHIST OR SOMETHING AND HAVE A SUBSTANCE-FREE WAY OF DEALING WITH IT. WE’RE SORRY FOR THE INCONVENIENCE. GO CALL YOUR MOMMY."
Thursday: Do normal people sweat this much? Wait—When did I stop considering myself normal people?
Friday: I didn’t know frost on a car could look like a flattened tropical plant.
Saturday: I have already seen six people with really bad pit stains. It makes me wonder when deodorant stopped doing its job?
ReplyDeleteSunday: Fire is the most destructive and romantic things at the same time. Anything that has to do with love seems to have a negative attribute. Its flames dance though so it is almost mocking those it destroys.
Monday: I walked to work from a further bus stop and smelt manure and french fries. It made me never want another french fry and wish that any sort of feces remained smell-less. Gross
Tuesday: Bagels with cream cheese are probably more fattening than a doughnut and yet I overheard two girls discussing how good they were with food today and that was what they both ate for breakfast... OH MY GOD thats going straight to their thighes!
Wednesday: Ex boyfriends either get better looking or worse, in my case they just get worse and it makes it so much easier to keep them as en EX
Thursday: Sun makes everyone happier. Even if it is cold in Western Washington, shorts come out with the sun.
Friday: Is it wrong to be thinking about how good a beer will taste at eleven in the morning. I just want a good dark beer that goes down smooth and eases the stress.
The ever-green clematis that turned brown when we had the snow in December has some green spots on it. I’m so glad it’s not dead!
ReplyDeleteThere is something that looks very much like a dead mouse out on my deck. (It was just a piece of a dog toy…whew!)
When you forget a Diet Coke in the freezer it explodes and leaves quite a big mess.
Lots of people are discussing the change in presidency. It’s interesting how many people believe that our country is on the right track. (I hope they're right!)
The piano teacher has a funny way of saying everything in a way that makes her seem like she’s extremely happy all of the time.
One of my fish is missing. I don’t see how he could have gotten out, but I can’t find him anywhere. I wonder what could have happened to him. The only think I can think of is that he jumped out of the little opening in the back of the aquarium and that a cat ate him. Not likely, but I can't think of anything else.
I forgot to put the garbage out. I hate it when I do that.
1/17- As I ponder all of the really useful things I could have done with $700, he seems to notice, because he throws in, "Well, normally a TV like this would cost well over a thousand, so I pretty much had to buy it."
ReplyDelete1/18- It really takes the fun out of yelling at a bad driver when you turn, slip, and fall on your ass immediately afterward.
1/19- The dining hall provides healthy options. It's just that about 85% of what they serve is stereotypical college junk food.
1/20- Something has definitely died at the top of Indian Street.
1/21- Three guys walk alongside each other, and all of their shirts are stuck under their backpacks. It's evidently macho to wear shiny underwear as long as they're basketball shorts.
1/22- The same people that will force you off the sidewalk if you're walking in their path will lunge out of the way like scared rodents when you're on a bike. It's as if, to them, being on wheels means you own the space you travel in. I can imagine how this applies to their driving, which is undoubtably horrible.
1/23- After promising myself I'd do all my homework on Friday so I could enjoy the weekend, here I sit after hours of internet Scrabble and I haven't done a thing.
Two men walking down Holly are discussing the horrid nature of early 80’s rock ballads. Their conclusion comes to the gods hating humans by creating bands like Kansas and Journey.
ReplyDeleteIt’s close to 2am and there is a woman walking her dog by the skate park.
Fred Meyer’s has an employee working the self checkout that looks like an overgrown Alfalfa.
Condoms are on the same isle as feminine hygiene products.
Multiple people are slipping and falling on the icy/frost covered campus pathways, yet there is no deicer put out.
The police are at the house across from mine, second time this month. I’m beginning to think my neighbors are shady people.
My cat has reclaimed his youth with a new found obsession over a toy covered in feathers.