It's 151 am, CST, and I am awake.
Fancy adjectives and colorful prepositional phrases have become an addiction, but the buck stops here.
The buck stops here? What does that even mean?
While I'm avoiding this journal because I feel some neurotic need to impress you with my verbage, the days are flying by and my life is going going going.
So. How's about I just give you a run down of some fun times that have been had in the very recent past? I will promsie you, as I have so many times before, Dear Readers-- most especially you, Future Self-- that I will elaborate more at a later date.
~Special Session: one of the best years ever
~Funtimes with S.S. group in Birmingham
~Luau to celebrate one Miss Chelsea's birthday
~Possible new job opportunity
~Bachelorette party
~Tuscaloosa!
~Atlanta: Willie Nelson, John Cougar Mellencamp, Bob Dylan
After many hours and many miles, I am now in Birmingham for Britni and Mark's wedding. Oh happy day! Jessica and I got in to town late late, slept late late, and went to the mall to meet Jennifer and Lance. Afterward we went to get my shoes and then enjoy a very relaxing manicure and pedicure. Jessica and I took one wrong turn ended up spending an hour in rush hour traffic, leading to a hasty change of plans and an even hastier change of clothes in the parking lot of a Dairy Queen.
Have I mentioned how much I love curly hair? It makes for an easy fix.
We did a little practicing at the wedding location then skidaddled over to the rehearsal dinner, where we toasted our dear dear friends and shared a glass or three of wine.
We ended up at the Quest for dancing and drag. Now you tell me that is not a fun group of people!
Everyone is good and asleep, and I am headed that direction myself.
Tomorrow is probably going to involve a lot of tears. Good tears. WOW.
Please, remember me, happily, by the rosebush laughing.
- Grace
- Florence, Alabama, United States
- Dancing in both directions at once so everyone won't notice that she's never heard this song before.
Saturday, August 01, 2009
Wednesday, July 22, 2009
Hello, lamppost, whatcha knowin'?
Got no deeds to do,
No promises to keep.
I'm dappled and drowsy and ready to sleep.
Let the morning time drop all its petals on me.
Life, I love you,
All is groovy.
No promises to keep.
I'm dappled and drowsy and ready to sleep.
Let the morning time drop all its petals on me.
Life, I love you,
All is groovy.
Monday, July 13, 2009
And when you write a poem, I know the words, I know the sounds, before you write it down...
The other day I had a conversation with Henry, who is from El Salvador and speaks very very little English. We stumbled through an exchange of information, swapping between broken Spanish and even more broken English. He told me about his wife and kids who are still in Central America, and I told him that I would miss my family too much that far away.
"Miss?"
"Miss... ermm... uhhhmm... miss..."
"Girl?"
"No, miss... to... hm... to miss... to.... hmm."
So I looked up "miss" in a Spanish/English dictionary, but it only had definitions for "miss = missus" and "miss," like you miss a train and "miss," like you miss a target.
Among its nine entries, Webster offers these two definitions:
1.) to notice the absence or loss of
2.) to regret the absence or loss of
What a strange and terrible feeling! What a difficult concept to explain! What a sad sad word!
Ultimately, I looked up "to long for" for in the dictionary, and a light went off in Henry's eyes, and even though it wasn't quite the same, he knew what I was talking about.
"To notice the absence or loss of." "To regret the absence or loss of." Well stated, Webster.
How odd it is to feel happy, to be content, to know that the world is right, while still this feeling lies buried in the pit of my stomach, not a pain or a bother, but a presence, a slow creeping pressure that nudges my organs from time to time. Even as I celebrate my life as it is with my friends who are here, there is absence and there is loss, and I both notice and regret these things.
I began to wonder why there wasn't a more suitable title for this important emotional state, but I suppose it would be a redundant adjective when it came to describing the people we love. We would be better served with a word that describes that change of life, that point at which we begin to permanently miss someone or something.
There is no burning pain, no searing hotness that calls out at your absence, friends. Not usually, anyway. Instead, it is the gentle pulling that I feel on my heart strings, the permanent knowledge that you are there, and I am here. I notice this. I regret this. I cherish this, too.
These daily tugs, these subtle reminders, they are evidence of your presence in my life. However transient our actual time together has been, you have made a indelible mark on me, and I thank you for that.
"Miss?"
"Miss... ermm... uhhhmm... miss..."
"Girl?"
"No, miss... to... hm... to miss... to.... hmm."
So I looked up "miss" in a Spanish/English dictionary, but it only had definitions for "miss = missus" and "miss," like you miss a train and "miss," like you miss a target.
Among its nine entries, Webster offers these two definitions:
1.) to notice the absence or loss of
2.) to regret the absence or loss of
What a strange and terrible feeling! What a difficult concept to explain! What a sad sad word!
Ultimately, I looked up "to long for" for in the dictionary, and a light went off in Henry's eyes, and even though it wasn't quite the same, he knew what I was talking about.
"To notice the absence or loss of." "To regret the absence or loss of." Well stated, Webster.
How odd it is to feel happy, to be content, to know that the world is right, while still this feeling lies buried in the pit of my stomach, not a pain or a bother, but a presence, a slow creeping pressure that nudges my organs from time to time. Even as I celebrate my life as it is with my friends who are here, there is absence and there is loss, and I both notice and regret these things.
I began to wonder why there wasn't a more suitable title for this important emotional state, but I suppose it would be a redundant adjective when it came to describing the people we love. We would be better served with a word that describes that change of life, that point at which we begin to permanently miss someone or something.
There is no burning pain, no searing hotness that calls out at your absence, friends. Not usually, anyway. Instead, it is the gentle pulling that I feel on my heart strings, the permanent knowledge that you are there, and I am here. I notice this. I regret this. I cherish this, too.
These daily tugs, these subtle reminders, they are evidence of your presence in my life. However transient our actual time together has been, you have made a indelible mark on me, and I thank you for that.
Thursday, July 09, 2009
This is where I forget to breathe, and all the things I scripted, they sound unfounded...
Today someone missed the toilet at work, and, as the discoverer of said accident, I decided to clean up. I'm snapping on my rubber gloves and taking a few deep breaths outside the bathroom door, steeling myself for the ugly odors and the messy chore before me, and in my head thoughts about Special Session are chasing each other like Wile E. Coyote after the Road Runner, buzzing and frantic and mad with power. It was an absolute take-over, sparked by something mundane and unpleasant, a welcome and forced escape from the reality of 40-hours-a-week and bedtime without milk and cookies.
These moments will come less frequently as the year passes, but still they will come, unexpectedly, caused by other mundane tasks on other mundane days.
It's amazing for me to look back on my years there, to observe the evolution of my role at camp and of camp's role on my life. This summer, like last summer (like next summer like next summer like next summer), I spent a week with God's chosen people, a race of misfits and lost gigglers, working and playing and love love loving.
For an all too brief moment, I was thrown back into cabin life on the first night, in the very cabin that started my Special Sessions, with a camper from my very first year. Sockets were shot and tantrums were thrown and pajamas were missing and holy hell, what a nightmare! It's beautiful, though, don't you see?
Do me a favor. Go grab a couple iron rods. I'd check local junkyards first, maybe a neighbor's backyard. I'll wait here until you return, or you're welcome to take the metaphor by the horns and play along with pencils and paperclips. Make them stick together. Go ahead.
If you've really embraced this exercise, you may have spent a good minute and a half clanking those rods together, making loud noises but failing rather miserably at adhesion. Those of you who are more persistent (or at least more inclined toward following directions) may stack your bars and apply pressure, or you may even attempt to bring outside forces to bare: tape, glue, string, an unused tie or perhaps a hair clip. Alas, the effort is in vain, but you knew that from the beginning, stubborn though you are. Even if you have managed a temporary union of the two cold rods, you aren't so cocky as to think it will last.
You see, to make metal stick to metal-- to make iron stick to iron- you must heat those heavy rods to a crispy 2750°F. Now, quickly, while you're wearing those bulky gloves and you've got that space age mask on, you can jam those red hot balls of melted metal together, however crudely or poetically you desire. Give it some time, let the metal cool. Then try to pull them apart. Go ahead. Task number two. Try your damndest.
I wash my hands of this metaphor. You get the picture. You were ten steps ahead of me the whole time, weren't you? You knew all along, but you humored me, and I appreciate it.
Those chaotic first nights have left me with a few scars and a lot of stories and some bonds that won't be breaking. Unmade beds and late showers and impatient blind women have upped my temperature, and I'm smack dab in the middle of an iron web. Thank you and thank you and thank you, goodnight.
These moments will come less frequently as the year passes, but still they will come, unexpectedly, caused by other mundane tasks on other mundane days.
It's amazing for me to look back on my years there, to observe the evolution of my role at camp and of camp's role on my life. This summer, like last summer (like next summer like next summer like next summer), I spent a week with God's chosen people, a race of misfits and lost gigglers, working and playing and love love loving.
For an all too brief moment, I was thrown back into cabin life on the first night, in the very cabin that started my Special Sessions, with a camper from my very first year. Sockets were shot and tantrums were thrown and pajamas were missing and holy hell, what a nightmare! It's beautiful, though, don't you see?
Do me a favor. Go grab a couple iron rods. I'd check local junkyards first, maybe a neighbor's backyard. I'll wait here until you return, or you're welcome to take the metaphor by the horns and play along with pencils and paperclips. Make them stick together. Go ahead.
If you've really embraced this exercise, you may have spent a good minute and a half clanking those rods together, making loud noises but failing rather miserably at adhesion. Those of you who are more persistent (or at least more inclined toward following directions) may stack your bars and apply pressure, or you may even attempt to bring outside forces to bare: tape, glue, string, an unused tie or perhaps a hair clip. Alas, the effort is in vain, but you knew that from the beginning, stubborn though you are. Even if you have managed a temporary union of the two cold rods, you aren't so cocky as to think it will last.
You see, to make metal stick to metal-- to make iron stick to iron- you must heat those heavy rods to a crispy 2750°F. Now, quickly, while you're wearing those bulky gloves and you've got that space age mask on, you can jam those red hot balls of melted metal together, however crudely or poetically you desire. Give it some time, let the metal cool. Then try to pull them apart. Go ahead. Task number two. Try your damndest.
I wash my hands of this metaphor. You get the picture. You were ten steps ahead of me the whole time, weren't you? You knew all along, but you humored me, and I appreciate it.
Those chaotic first nights have left me with a few scars and a lot of stories and some bonds that won't be breaking. Unmade beds and late showers and impatient blind women have upped my temperature, and I'm smack dab in the middle of an iron web. Thank you and thank you and thank you, goodnight.
Tuesday, June 23, 2009
Smile when you feel the sunlight...
While you are upstairs sharpening your number two pencils and
doodling in your notebook about how you
hate
this small town
I
am listening to a song that follows the beat of my gum
pops and flip
flops and I'm
sharing it with the dandelions on the roadside
While you plot a secret escape to India
I
am constructing a tiny Taj Mahal out of
rotten pecan shells and I've got
plans to
expand
While you stare bleary eyed at your window trying to figure out what is wrong with the world
I
feel what's right falling like
moth tears
and my skin undulates with every ramshackle
dance move that finds my feet and
I
wear a honeysuckle perfume that drives the bees
wild and
I
rummage through the leaves
like a child in grandma's attic so
happy
to re-awaken her old treasures and
you
might
find me
on your doorstep one day wiping the gravel from my
knees
because while
you
were comparing
flight prices
I
(chased a lion)
(wrote a novel)
(planted a tree)
(planted a forest)
(kissed a whale)
traveled.
doodling in your notebook about how you
hate
this small town
I
am listening to a song that follows the beat of my gum
pops and flip
flops and I'm
sharing it with the dandelions on the roadside
While you plot a secret escape to India
I
am constructing a tiny Taj Mahal out of
rotten pecan shells and I've got
plans to
expand
While you stare bleary eyed at your window trying to figure out what is wrong with the world
I
feel what's right falling like
moth tears
and my skin undulates with every ramshackle
dance move that finds my feet and
I
wear a honeysuckle perfume that drives the bees
wild and
I
rummage through the leaves
like a child in grandma's attic so
happy
to re-awaken her old treasures and
you
might
find me
on your doorstep one day wiping the gravel from my
knees
because while
you
were comparing
flight prices
I
(chased a lion)
(wrote a novel)
(planted a tree)
(planted a forest)
(kissed a whale)
traveled.
Monday, June 15, 2009
Why don't I read more Jack?
Here's to the crazy ones, the misfits, the rebels, the troublemakers, the round pegs in the square holes... the ones who see things differently -- they're not fond of rules... You can quote them, disagree with them, glorify or vilify them, but the only thing you can't do is ignore them because they change things... they push the human race forward, and while some may see them as the crazy ones, we see genius, because the ones who are crazy enough to think that they can change the world, are the ones who do.
Sunday, June 07, 2009
Something good this way comes...
So, since I started working at the Goodwill, I've been flirting mightily with this guy named Daniel. Daniel is from El Salvador, as are several of my co-workers. He knows a handful of English words, mostly work related-- "sweep," "lunch," "time to clock out and go home"-- although this has not stopped us from flirting on and off as he pieces together bits of broken furniture and I price my tattered books. My Spanish is a combination of over-cheer and misplaced accents, so this has mostly been an adventure in body language.
He bought me lunch last week. Chinese food. How very cultural.
So we stumble through our conversations, and I realize how very many Spanish words I am able to slaughter, and how useless my limited vocabulary is. I point to things, to the shoes on the shelves or the covers of my books, and I struggle with the foreign syllables-- "libros!" "caballo!" "zapatos!"
I made it my goal to touch him this week. I didn't realize how few times we make physical contact with co-workers until I made a conscious effort to nudge his shoulder or brush his hand. There aren't near enough excuses to touch one another these days.
This afternoon, my hands were so cold, all day, despite high temperatures outside. Fantastic, cold hands, what a perfect avenue to engage in some casual contact. The thought crosses my mind and I start to smile and heat washes over me and my fingers are no longer cold. Damn! Now what?
The freezer! Aha!
And unguarded moment in the staff kitchen...
"Daniel! My hands! Muy frío!..."
Mission accomplished.
He bought me lunch last week. Chinese food. How very cultural.
So we stumble through our conversations, and I realize how very many Spanish words I am able to slaughter, and how useless my limited vocabulary is. I point to things, to the shoes on the shelves or the covers of my books, and I struggle with the foreign syllables-- "libros!" "caballo!" "zapatos!"
I made it my goal to touch him this week. I didn't realize how few times we make physical contact with co-workers until I made a conscious effort to nudge his shoulder or brush his hand. There aren't near enough excuses to touch one another these days.
This afternoon, my hands were so cold, all day, despite high temperatures outside. Fantastic, cold hands, what a perfect avenue to engage in some casual contact. The thought crosses my mind and I start to smile and heat washes over me and my fingers are no longer cold. Damn! Now what?
The freezer! Aha!
And unguarded moment in the staff kitchen...
"Daniel! My hands! Muy frío!..."
Mission accomplished.
Monday, June 01, 2009
I just want your kiss, boy...
She sat alone, watching the fireworks, giant blue and green orgasms that left spiderweb stains on the black velvet sky. Happiness puddled in her stomach, leaked from beneath her fingertips, oozed out of her pores. A tangy breeze tiptoed off the water to ruffle her hair and send tiny goosebumps racing down her spine. Her eardrums reverberated as the rockets shot up and out, and she couldn't stop smiling, and she couldn't stop crying, and she couldn't remember a better night.
Thursday, May 21, 2009
And we can pop bottles all night...
Oh my dear sweet baby James! It's been a while... I still love this song!
I still love YOU!
You know, sometimes I don't know what the hello is going on. Other times, I'm sitting at a bar with Amanda and Jessica, drinking margaritas, and I'm thinking, hey, this is right where I need to be right now.
I still love YOU!
You know, sometimes I don't know what the hello is going on. Other times, I'm sitting at a bar with Amanda and Jessica, drinking margaritas, and I'm thinking, hey, this is right where I need to be right now.
Wednesday, May 20, 2009
Ya need never ever gotta go in your wallet, long as I got rubberband banks in my pocket...
So, I'm still not writing every day, although I'm getting better. I hope that it is at least somewhat apparent that I am using this journal as a means to hone my writing skills, in addition to its uses as a memory keeper and friend link. Granted, I rarely re-read the entries nowadays-- not before posting, that is-- so I'm sure there are misspelled words and grammatical faux pas terrorizing my fragile sentences, but that aside, I hope that you find some enjoyment in the reading aside from merely satisfying that aching hunger for news of my life.
Jessica and I went home late late Tuesday night, sneaking up to the old bedroom a bit before five Wednesday morning and sleeping a few hours before she went to her house. The absence of Meagan (and Abby) did not go unnoticed; they left for California Tuesday morning. (She is there safely now, in case you were curious, and she already has a part time job and a cute little apartment!) I got to spend some really good time with Gramma, and later Jessica came back over and we (along with Lindsey) headed out on some Africa errands. Jessica and I grabbed some cute skirts at the Salvation Army and I picked up a little set of flower speakers for my iPod at T.J. Max, then home again home again to visit with the parents and siblings. Thursday afternoon we said goodbye to Graham, who was off to Tuscaloosa, then Lindsey, Gramma, and I met Mom for a pedicure (which was oh-so-relaxing). Mom and I went to a doctor's appointment for moi, then I ran by the farmer's market to pick up a few veggies and some blackberry jalapeño jelly (delicious!). I met Jessica at Jonathan's apartment, where we got to see his loveliness and a few of his friends. We ducked in at Jeff's to say hello, then I headed to Outback to meet the fam for Dad's birthday celebration (with the parents, the grandmothers, the sibling, and the uncle).
We finished dinner, then had some cake at the house, then I packed up, Jessica arrived, and away we went!
The ride home was rather uneventful, aside from the considerable number of animals we saw on the way home. Mostly these animals were red splatters on the highway, although we did get to see a few deer and even a fox in the wee hours of the morning!
Here I spent the first paragraph babbling about my writing, practically begging for compliments, and what did I do? I spent the whole post listing, sentence after sentence summing up the day to day goings on of a very brief time in my recent life. Alas, it is necessary, for my memory already experiences daily failures, and I imagine the condition will only worsen as I age. So what's going on in your life? I'm dying to know, you know...
Jessica and I went home late late Tuesday night, sneaking up to the old bedroom a bit before five Wednesday morning and sleeping a few hours before she went to her house. The absence of Meagan (and Abby) did not go unnoticed; they left for California Tuesday morning. (She is there safely now, in case you were curious, and she already has a part time job and a cute little apartment!) I got to spend some really good time with Gramma, and later Jessica came back over and we (along with Lindsey) headed out on some Africa errands. Jessica and I grabbed some cute skirts at the Salvation Army and I picked up a little set of flower speakers for my iPod at T.J. Max, then home again home again to visit with the parents and siblings. Thursday afternoon we said goodbye to Graham, who was off to Tuscaloosa, then Lindsey, Gramma, and I met Mom for a pedicure (which was oh-so-relaxing). Mom and I went to a doctor's appointment for moi, then I ran by the farmer's market to pick up a few veggies and some blackberry jalapeño jelly (delicious!). I met Jessica at Jonathan's apartment, where we got to see his loveliness and a few of his friends. We ducked in at Jeff's to say hello, then I headed to Outback to meet the fam for Dad's birthday celebration (with the parents, the grandmothers, the sibling, and the uncle).
We finished dinner, then had some cake at the house, then I packed up, Jessica arrived, and away we went!
The ride home was rather uneventful, aside from the considerable number of animals we saw on the way home. Mostly these animals were red splatters on the highway, although we did get to see a few deer and even a fox in the wee hours of the morning!
Here I spent the first paragraph babbling about my writing, practically begging for compliments, and what did I do? I spent the whole post listing, sentence after sentence summing up the day to day goings on of a very brief time in my recent life. Alas, it is necessary, for my memory already experiences daily failures, and I imagine the condition will only worsen as I age. So what's going on in your life? I'm dying to know, you know...
Monday, May 18, 2009
Why, why, why, oh, why are you quick to kiss?
I thought of some other song obsessions: You're My Flame by Zero 7, Be Still My Heart by the Postal Service, Umbrella by Rhianna, and Souls Like the Wheels by the Avett Brothers. Right now I cannot stop listening to Snails by The Format.
Lindsey's graduation was oh so much fun. I left several hours after work on Friday, called Graham upon my arrival in the wee hours of the morning, and grabbed a quick nap in the Gribbin House living room. I awoke with cheerful hellos to Lindsey and Lydia and Genevieve, then off to breakfast with the siblings and Aunt Alice and Uncle Jim. Back at the house we read some stories out of Pretty Little Things, which was appropriately entertaining.
Later I battled traffic to meet the Aunt and Uncle at Wal-mart/Sam's for some grocery fun, then a quick trip back to campus for the actual New College ceremony. There in a great long row were Aunt Dana, David, Grandmomma, Nancy, Katie, Morgan, Mom, Meagan, Gramma, Uncle Keith, Dad, and Graham! My oh my, but it was a beautiful sight. The event was short and sweet; the speakers were interesting and the graduates glowing. We ambushed Lindsey with celebratory confetti poppers in the lobby afterward, shared a few awkward minutes snapping pictures and not quite mixing with the crowd, then re-convened in the Canterbury for some delicious fun and exciting food.
Little things made that day so nice... Uncle Jim cutting limes for the Corona, Nancy turning cartwheels in the yard, Dad strumming his guitar... family is good. I wish Everyone could have stayed longer, although the night that followed was fun as well. The family trickled away, with an especially tearful goodbye to Meagan, who left for California on Tuesday. Those of us left- if my memory serves me, that was me, Lindsey, Graham, Alex (whose mother I was able to meet; she made a mean batch of turnip greens!), Lydia (whose family I got to see (including the elusive Henry!), although I didn't get to spend near enough time with them (can you ever spend enough time with Velma Atkins?)), Genevieve (after a brief hiatus in which she joined adventured out with her family), Drew (a new friend we (kinda) made that day) and... hmm. I think that was it at the time, although please forgive (and promptly correct) me if I've left anyone out. I've compiled that silly list just to say that we mostly scattered and took naps! Eventually we awoke to scavenge for left over beer and potato salad, began a game of Trivial Pursuit, and enjoyed the company of Ryan and Ben and Max and Nicole and various other kindred spirits.
Graham and Lindsey and Ryan and I late went to the Bear Trap to see Chris (who had also been at the afternoon's festivities) play and drink a few beers... that is to say, we drank beer and Chris played guitar. We did not go to watch Chris drink beer. ANYway, I played a lonesome game of quarters for the first part of the night, much to the annoyance of my companions, until Brock showed his smiling face and upped the stakes by... well, by playing, so it was an actual game and not just me throwing quarters at a cup of beer. Lindsey joined, and by the end of the night we were really very good, to the delight of the barkeep, I'm sure, as our intended one round became two and three and four. There toward the end the bar really filled up, and we visited with another friend, Boone, for a bit, and then it was home again for more scavenging, and perhaps a little bit of dancing amidst the glow of a light-switch rave.
Sunday morning, I eventually breakfasted with Ryan and Lydia and Lindsey at Sonic before Ryan and Lydia parted for the day. The afternoon involved another nap, if I'm not mistaken, some light reading and light showers. Graham and I had dinner at a Chinese place downtown, where we were served cripy fried "chips" and what appeared to be a bowl of warm ketchup before our meal. As we left I had a brief conversation with a young woman at an outdoor table, who was down on her luck and vomited in the middle of our conversation (although she continued talking immediately following said spewage without any acknowledgment of the abrupt eruption) and then I packed up the car and headed for home.
It was hard to leave, though. That is a fun group there. I think I will miss Lindsey's college experience as much as she will.
Not to far away from Montgomery I almost hit a deer, which led to the scariest incident in recent memory. She appeared very suddenly on 82, dark and beautiful and terrifying. I swerved left, missed her by inches I'm sure (although at the time the violent jerking of my car convinced me that she had, indeed, been hit), and fishtailed on the grass and gravel alongside the highway. Seconds later-- days, really, but time gets funny situations like these-- the back end of my car took a final swerve, sending me back on the road, perched in the same lane, facing north this time, and all I could think about was an episode of the Gilmore Girls where Rory gets hit by a deer and how I didn't die and how I should call my parents (which I did).
Once in the city a black jeep pulled up behind me a cut off his lights for a spell before exiting, and at the well-lit gas station I was approached by a man asking for gas money. My dear frazzled nerves went on strike at that point, and remained in hiding for the better part of a week. As you can see though, dear sweet Reader, I made it home safe and sound, and I'm already so behind in my updates that this long rambly entry does does even begin to cover my most recent tales of joy and sorrow.
It is late. And I tire.
Until next time...
Lindsey's graduation was oh so much fun. I left several hours after work on Friday, called Graham upon my arrival in the wee hours of the morning, and grabbed a quick nap in the Gribbin House living room. I awoke with cheerful hellos to Lindsey and Lydia and Genevieve, then off to breakfast with the siblings and Aunt Alice and Uncle Jim. Back at the house we read some stories out of Pretty Little Things, which was appropriately entertaining.
Later I battled traffic to meet the Aunt and Uncle at Wal-mart/Sam's for some grocery fun, then a quick trip back to campus for the actual New College ceremony. There in a great long row were Aunt Dana, David, Grandmomma, Nancy, Katie, Morgan, Mom, Meagan, Gramma, Uncle Keith, Dad, and Graham! My oh my, but it was a beautiful sight. The event was short and sweet; the speakers were interesting and the graduates glowing. We ambushed Lindsey with celebratory confetti poppers in the lobby afterward, shared a few awkward minutes snapping pictures and not quite mixing with the crowd, then re-convened in the Canterbury for some delicious fun and exciting food.
Little things made that day so nice... Uncle Jim cutting limes for the Corona, Nancy turning cartwheels in the yard, Dad strumming his guitar... family is good. I wish Everyone could have stayed longer, although the night that followed was fun as well. The family trickled away, with an especially tearful goodbye to Meagan, who left for California on Tuesday. Those of us left- if my memory serves me, that was me, Lindsey, Graham, Alex (whose mother I was able to meet; she made a mean batch of turnip greens!), Lydia (whose family I got to see (including the elusive Henry!), although I didn't get to spend near enough time with them (can you ever spend enough time with Velma Atkins?)), Genevieve (after a brief hiatus in which she joined adventured out with her family), Drew (a new friend we (kinda) made that day) and... hmm. I think that was it at the time, although please forgive (and promptly correct) me if I've left anyone out. I've compiled that silly list just to say that we mostly scattered and took naps! Eventually we awoke to scavenge for left over beer and potato salad, began a game of Trivial Pursuit, and enjoyed the company of Ryan and Ben and Max and Nicole and various other kindred spirits.
Graham and Lindsey and Ryan and I late went to the Bear Trap to see Chris (who had also been at the afternoon's festivities) play and drink a few beers... that is to say, we drank beer and Chris played guitar. We did not go to watch Chris drink beer. ANYway, I played a lonesome game of quarters for the first part of the night, much to the annoyance of my companions, until Brock showed his smiling face and upped the stakes by... well, by playing, so it was an actual game and not just me throwing quarters at a cup of beer. Lindsey joined, and by the end of the night we were really very good, to the delight of the barkeep, I'm sure, as our intended one round became two and three and four. There toward the end the bar really filled up, and we visited with another friend, Boone, for a bit, and then it was home again for more scavenging, and perhaps a little bit of dancing amidst the glow of a light-switch rave.
Sunday morning, I eventually breakfasted with Ryan and Lydia and Lindsey at Sonic before Ryan and Lydia parted for the day. The afternoon involved another nap, if I'm not mistaken, some light reading and light showers. Graham and I had dinner at a Chinese place downtown, where we were served cripy fried "chips" and what appeared to be a bowl of warm ketchup before our meal. As we left I had a brief conversation with a young woman at an outdoor table, who was down on her luck and vomited in the middle of our conversation (although she continued talking immediately following said spewage without any acknowledgment of the abrupt eruption) and then I packed up the car and headed for home.
It was hard to leave, though. That is a fun group there. I think I will miss Lindsey's college experience as much as she will.
Not to far away from Montgomery I almost hit a deer, which led to the scariest incident in recent memory. She appeared very suddenly on 82, dark and beautiful and terrifying. I swerved left, missed her by inches I'm sure (although at the time the violent jerking of my car convinced me that she had, indeed, been hit), and fishtailed on the grass and gravel alongside the highway. Seconds later-- days, really, but time gets funny situations like these-- the back end of my car took a final swerve, sending me back on the road, perched in the same lane, facing north this time, and all I could think about was an episode of the Gilmore Girls where Rory gets hit by a deer and how I didn't die and how I should call my parents (which I did).
Once in the city a black jeep pulled up behind me a cut off his lights for a spell before exiting, and at the well-lit gas station I was approached by a man asking for gas money. My dear frazzled nerves went on strike at that point, and remained in hiding for the better part of a week. As you can see though, dear sweet Reader, I made it home safe and sound, and I'm already so behind in my updates that this long rambly entry does does even begin to cover my most recent tales of joy and sorrow.
It is late. And I tire.
Until next time...
Thursday, May 07, 2009
But me, myself, I got nothing to prove...
Jessica and I celebrated cinco de mayo in style-o. READ: We sat on the porch and drank beer until odd hours, then went to bed. It was really nice, though.
I think I have a crush on a guy at work, but it's not really a justified crush. He doesn't speak English, and my Spanish is terrible. He is very attractive. His name is Daniel. I don't think it is his real name.
Tomorrow after work I'm headed to Tuscaloosa. I'm not looking forward to the drive or the gas bill, but I am very much looking forward to hanging out with my family and friends on Saturday. It's going to be fantastic.
Speaking of money... I gotta find another job. I haven't been looking in earnest, yet, so no complaints in that department. I did go ahead and move to part time at Goodwill so I have a set schedule there and some free time to actually look.
I don't think I wrote about the wine festival. It was really nice! I had to work Saturday when Amanda and Jessica and Chelsea went, and then I volunteered with Jessica and Chelsea Sunday. We handed out wine glasses, and then at the end we got to do a little wine tasting. Since they had been yesterday, they had some excellent recommendations. The weather was really nice.
We also celebrated dos de mayo! Amanda and Chelsea went out to the celebration and had a hook-up at the margarita stand; I met them later, and Jessica came once she got off work. There's a big fountain in the park area that just shoots up from the sidewalk, and Jessica and I ran through it toward the end. It was very perfect.
Not so perfect? I then lost my keys... I'm still not sure how it happened, although we think that I may have set them down when I was getting my tickets and then the ladies at the table turned them in to Cantina Loredo (where I finally tracked them down the next day). That day ended up being really good, actually, because I went to see Amanda at work, and they had puppies and I played with them. I also went grocery shopping, which I thoroughly enjoyed.
I think I have a crush on a guy at work, but it's not really a justified crush. He doesn't speak English, and my Spanish is terrible. He is very attractive. His name is Daniel. I don't think it is his real name.
Tomorrow after work I'm headed to Tuscaloosa. I'm not looking forward to the drive or the gas bill, but I am very much looking forward to hanging out with my family and friends on Saturday. It's going to be fantastic.
Speaking of money... I gotta find another job. I haven't been looking in earnest, yet, so no complaints in that department. I did go ahead and move to part time at Goodwill so I have a set schedule there and some free time to actually look.
I don't think I wrote about the wine festival. It was really nice! I had to work Saturday when Amanda and Jessica and Chelsea went, and then I volunteered with Jessica and Chelsea Sunday. We handed out wine glasses, and then at the end we got to do a little wine tasting. Since they had been yesterday, they had some excellent recommendations. The weather was really nice.
We also celebrated dos de mayo! Amanda and Chelsea went out to the celebration and had a hook-up at the margarita stand; I met them later, and Jessica came once she got off work. There's a big fountain in the park area that just shoots up from the sidewalk, and Jessica and I ran through it toward the end. It was very perfect.
Not so perfect? I then lost my keys... I'm still not sure how it happened, although we think that I may have set them down when I was getting my tickets and then the ladies at the table turned them in to Cantina Loredo (where I finally tracked them down the next day). That day ended up being really good, actually, because I went to see Amanda at work, and they had puppies and I played with them. I also went grocery shopping, which I thoroughly enjoyed.
Tuesday, May 05, 2009
Saturday, May 02, 2009
You still ain't got a job, and I work in a market as a check-out girl...
I've watched some movies recently. Here is what I think about what I have seen:
1. American History X - I watched this over Easter weekend at Jonathan's with him and a few of his friends. It was good, although violent. I remember Micah and his friends talking about it a lot in high school. I guess it lived up to expectations, though. I like Edward Norton.
2. High School Musical (I, II, and III)- Zac Efron? More like Zac, what the EF is wRONg with you?! But seriously... I would watch them again.
3. Seven Pounds- I really liked this one, although it was sad. Will Smith continues to impress. I did not know he was actually that talented. Well... he is.
4. Twilight- I thought the movie was worse than the books, which is surprising, considering how terrible the books are. I read them all, so I can say that. I thought the movie was going to be good. I was wrong.
5. Bride Wars- Cute, funny, nothing bad, nothing special.
6. Slumdog Millionaire- Another violent flick, but still very good. I can see why the movie won so many awards. The little boys were adorable. The acting was great. The story was interesting. I just watched this one a few minutes ago. I'm still not sure what feeling one is supposed to be left feeling.
So, there are some movies I have been watching. I have also been listening to a lot of This American Life and a few episodes of Radio Lab.
Sometimes I will want to just listen to one song over and over and over and over. Most recently, this song has been Fast Car. Some other songs that I remember becoming obsessive over include, but are not limited to: We Both Go Down Together by the Decemberists; Fluresent Adolescent by Kate Nash; The Way I Am by Ingrid Michaelson; Paper Planes by M.I.A.; Though Shall Always Kill by Scroobius Pip vs. Dan le Sac; Irreplaceable by Beyonce; Casimir Pulaski Day by Sufjan Stevens; Foundations by Kate Nash; Walcott by Vampire Weekend; The Trapeze Swinger by Iron and Wine; Big Girls Don't Cry by Fergie; Oxford Comma by Vampire Weekend; and Whatever You Like by T.I. These songs have been listed in no particular order. They are just the ones that I can remember at the moment. I just listen to them over and over...
1. American History X - I watched this over Easter weekend at Jonathan's with him and a few of his friends. It was good, although violent. I remember Micah and his friends talking about it a lot in high school. I guess it lived up to expectations, though. I like Edward Norton.
2. High School Musical (I, II, and III)- Zac Efron? More like Zac, what the EF is wRONg with you?! But seriously... I would watch them again.
3. Seven Pounds- I really liked this one, although it was sad. Will Smith continues to impress. I did not know he was actually that talented. Well... he is.
4. Twilight- I thought the movie was worse than the books, which is surprising, considering how terrible the books are. I read them all, so I can say that. I thought the movie was going to be good. I was wrong.
5. Bride Wars- Cute, funny, nothing bad, nothing special.
6. Slumdog Millionaire- Another violent flick, but still very good. I can see why the movie won so many awards. The little boys were adorable. The acting was great. The story was interesting. I just watched this one a few minutes ago. I'm still not sure what feeling one is supposed to be left feeling.
So, there are some movies I have been watching. I have also been listening to a lot of This American Life and a few episodes of Radio Lab.
Sometimes I will want to just listen to one song over and over and over and over. Most recently, this song has been Fast Car. Some other songs that I remember becoming obsessive over include, but are not limited to: We Both Go Down Together by the Decemberists; Fluresent Adolescent by Kate Nash; The Way I Am by Ingrid Michaelson; Paper Planes by M.I.A.; Though Shall Always Kill by Scroobius Pip vs. Dan le Sac; Irreplaceable by Beyonce; Casimir Pulaski Day by Sufjan Stevens; Foundations by Kate Nash; Walcott by Vampire Weekend; The Trapeze Swinger by Iron and Wine; Big Girls Don't Cry by Fergie; Oxford Comma by Vampire Weekend; and Whatever You Like by T.I. These songs have been listed in no particular order. They are just the ones that I can remember at the moment. I just listen to them over and over...
Friday, May 01, 2009
I've seen those English dramas, too... they're cruel...
Every day I come to this site, and every day I stare at the blinking cursor, punch the space bar a few times, refresh the page, and close the browser. Perhaps not at poetic as the shutting of a blank journal, but significant nonetheless. I am deciding, right now, to write more. Lots and lots of people recommend writing every day, although I can't recall the famous author who advised such, even if it's just to write what you had for breakfast this morning.
This morning, I had an apple for breakfast. And last Tuesday, Jesse Hill was killed in a dirt biking accident. The last time I saw Jesse was on Easter Sunday; the last actual conversation I had with him was probably when I was 13 and he was 10. He was one of Graham's closest friends from middle school. I talked to my mom about the service last night; all these names kept coming up, little boys who are not little boys any more, boy scouts who are college-age men, doing college-age things, not thinking about the pinewood derby or working on homework while my mom teaches a bunch of 8 year-old kids how to tie knots.
Wednesday I went to a banquet in Tuscaloosa, where I got to see my family and many friends. I got there late and enjoyed the dinner and the speakers and the South African Ballet troupe. I missed the drummers. I showed everyone my quilt and drank a Red Stripe and stayed up really late talking about scotch tape and smart cars and I ate Taco Bell with Ryan Spain.
This morning, I had an apple for breakfast. And last Tuesday, Jesse Hill was killed in a dirt biking accident. The last time I saw Jesse was on Easter Sunday; the last actual conversation I had with him was probably when I was 13 and he was 10. He was one of Graham's closest friends from middle school. I talked to my mom about the service last night; all these names kept coming up, little boys who are not little boys any more, boy scouts who are college-age men, doing college-age things, not thinking about the pinewood derby or working on homework while my mom teaches a bunch of 8 year-old kids how to tie knots.
Wednesday I went to a banquet in Tuscaloosa, where I got to see my family and many friends. I got there late and enjoyed the dinner and the speakers and the South African Ballet troupe. I missed the drummers. I showed everyone my quilt and drank a Red Stripe and stayed up really late talking about scotch tape and smart cars and I ate Taco Bell with Ryan Spain.
Thursday, April 16, 2009
...and I'm thinking about what to think about.
Last night I had a dream where "The Way I Am" by Ingrid Michaelson came on the radio. This song is the alarm on my phone, and I awoke with a start.
I've been re-reading The Hound of the Baskervilles on my breaks at work, when I'm not working on my quilt. Two days ago I was hit on by a man with crazy eyes who is building a time machine.
I have found copies of The Little Prince in Spanish (which I gave to Jonathan), French, and English.
I think I made a new friend at work today. She is a college student around here who loves old books and old movies.
Jessica and Amanda and I went out tonight and talked about people who died for a long time. It was very sad but also very cathartic in a lot of ways. Then we started Steel Magnolias. Now we are all asleep.
I've been re-reading The Hound of the Baskervilles on my breaks at work, when I'm not working on my quilt. Two days ago I was hit on by a man with crazy eyes who is building a time machine.
I have found copies of The Little Prince in Spanish (which I gave to Jonathan), French, and English.
I think I made a new friend at work today. She is a college student around here who loves old books and old movies.
Jessica and Amanda and I went out tonight and talked about people who died for a long time. It was very sad but also very cathartic in a lot of ways. Then we started Steel Magnolias. Now we are all asleep.
Tuesday, April 14, 2009
You can deny the Holocaust all you want, but you can’t deny that there’s something between us...
Friday evening I was mighty tired, so I decided to just sleep and sleep and wake up and drive, which I did, around 4 Saturday morning. I actually got on the road around five, and the drive took longer than planned because I missed a turn a couple hours into the journey. I had planned to grab some lunch with Lance, but I misjudged my Birmingham route and missed him, unfortunately. I ended up stopping in Dodge City to have lunch with Jeff.
That afternoon I got home and saw the fam (sans Graham, who didn't arrive until later that night). Lindsey, Meagan, and I went out looking at dresses and bought some scraps for Lindsey's potential quilt. We dyed some really beautiful/experimental eggs later. Sunday morning everyone got dressed up and headed to church for a really nice service, despite the babbling babies. Francis and Audrey sang "Roll Away the Stone," which is a bit of an Easter tradition at St. Joe's, I suppose. The song is always beautiful, and this year was no exception. They didn't begin with the usual haunting two part that they usually use, but they kicked it up by the end. The build up was totally worth it. It never fails to bring tears. It's beautiful, and it reminds me why the Jesus story has continued to thrive. What a wonderful hopeful ending!!!
Mom really put together an outstanding Easter dinner for that afternoon. Grandmomma and Uncle Keith came, as well as Jill and Hunter and Hope. We took a few pictures and attempted to fly kites. After the egg battle (which Mom totally won, as usual (although Moonie had her beat last year, I believe)) we played a long lovely round of bacci ball! My grandmother playing bacci is the cutest thing in the world.
I was supposed to leave Sunday night, but the skies were unfriendly and I decided to not drive through the tornadoes and call in to work. Lindsey and Graham had crazy damage in Tuscaloosa. I ended up spending a few hours with Jonathan; I worked on my quilt and got to meet some of his friends and we watched some Summer Heights High, Pete and Pete, and then American History X. Monday was a very lazy day, in which I mostly slept, did a little laundry and packing, and spent some time with Meagan. I left around 7 that evening, hitting a little rain in Muscle Shoals and otherwise enjoying clear-ish skies and no rainfall. I made it home in six hours and with limited commercial interruption.
Pre-Easter:
Amanda and Jessica are very silly, and we had a lovely night filled with full wine glasses and nineties hits. We dance and we sang and we did not throw up on this.
Kite flying the first: more successful. Jessica and I took Magenta and Riff Raff to the park for some high flying adventures. We also played with some puppies earlier that day. It was the first sunny day in at least a week, and we definitely enjoyed it.
Sometime soon I need to tell you about some thoughts about Lent and the Easter Season and about church and about me.
Right now though? Right now, I'm going to bed.
That afternoon I got home and saw the fam (sans Graham, who didn't arrive until later that night). Lindsey, Meagan, and I went out looking at dresses and bought some scraps for Lindsey's potential quilt. We dyed some really beautiful/experimental eggs later. Sunday morning everyone got dressed up and headed to church for a really nice service, despite the babbling babies. Francis and Audrey sang "Roll Away the Stone," which is a bit of an Easter tradition at St. Joe's, I suppose. The song is always beautiful, and this year was no exception. They didn't begin with the usual haunting two part that they usually use, but they kicked it up by the end. The build up was totally worth it. It never fails to bring tears. It's beautiful, and it reminds me why the Jesus story has continued to thrive. What a wonderful hopeful ending!!!
Mom really put together an outstanding Easter dinner for that afternoon. Grandmomma and Uncle Keith came, as well as Jill and Hunter and Hope. We took a few pictures and attempted to fly kites. After the egg battle (which Mom totally won, as usual (although Moonie had her beat last year, I believe)) we played a long lovely round of bacci ball! My grandmother playing bacci is the cutest thing in the world.
I was supposed to leave Sunday night, but the skies were unfriendly and I decided to not drive through the tornadoes and call in to work. Lindsey and Graham had crazy damage in Tuscaloosa. I ended up spending a few hours with Jonathan; I worked on my quilt and got to meet some of his friends and we watched some Summer Heights High, Pete and Pete, and then American History X. Monday was a very lazy day, in which I mostly slept, did a little laundry and packing, and spent some time with Meagan. I left around 7 that evening, hitting a little rain in Muscle Shoals and otherwise enjoying clear-ish skies and no rainfall. I made it home in six hours and with limited commercial interruption.
Pre-Easter:
Amanda and Jessica are very silly, and we had a lovely night filled with full wine glasses and nineties hits. We dance and we sang and we did not throw up on this.
Kite flying the first: more successful. Jessica and I took Magenta and Riff Raff to the park for some high flying adventures. We also played with some puppies earlier that day. It was the first sunny day in at least a week, and we definitely enjoyed it.
Sometime soon I need to tell you about some thoughts about Lent and the Easter Season and about church and about me.
Right now though? Right now, I'm going to bed.
Maybe next year.
What I'd really like to see you do in the coming weeks is party harder and party smarter than usual. In my astrological opinion, you're most likely to attract life's maximum generosity by shedding some of your social inhibitions and cultivating the pleasures of free-form networking. Believe me, I know how important it is for you to maintain the kind of strict boundaries that protect you from being overly influenced by other people. It's what keeps you in close touch with your intuition. But for the foreseeable future, I think you'll thrive on the unexpected blessings that come from giving yourself to the intelligence of the crowd.
Thursday, April 02, 2009
But we'll stay...
Goddamn, my life is good.
FACT: I am so lonely.
I love everything about you that hurts
FACT: I am so lonely.
I love everything about you that hurts
Thursday, March 26, 2009
I will stay here, with you, my love...
The rain has slowed to a quiet drizzle, but it was storming something fierce earlier. The thunder shook us so hard that my car alarm went off.
The Second Gleam is always a satisfying listen.
Check out the Felice Brothers next time you're bored.
The Second Gleam is always a satisfying listen.
Check out the Felice Brothers next time you're bored.
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