The sun is shining, the sky is blue and the tree are beautiful - I'm going hiking and I couldn't be more thrilled. There will be photos forthcoming.
Enjoy the day, friends.
Quote o' the day:
"The leaves fall patiently
Nothing remembers or grieves
The river takes to the sea
The yellow drift of leaves." - Sara Teasdale
10.27.2007
10.25.2007
I need something to believe in
There are moments, days, when I find myself overwhelmed by beauty in everyday things and by simple acts of kindness that come so unexpectedly at a moment that you need it the most.
Today as I was cleaning up my dishes from dinner, I looked out the window and the moon was so beautiful that it absolutely took my breath away. A full moon, or almost full, it was high up in the dusky blue sky, with grays and purples and pinks below it. Framed with fall foliage of various colors, I stopped. Tonight, on my way home from a reading, I saw a shooting star. It completely overwhelmed me.
Couple that with the fact that this reading I went to at Magers & Quinn, of a poet who has just written a beautiful book of poems about living in the country and about her step-son going to war and I just find myself needing to take a deep breath and let these things wash over me.
Two recommendations for the evening:
Dan Wilson's new CD, Free Life, is fabulous. For those of you that are familiar with Semisonic, he was the lead singer and has just now released his solo album. The link above goes to the story they did in the Star Tribune that is almost as fabulous as the CD itself.
The poet that I went to see was Ann Iverson. The poems were beautiful and incredibly emotional, without being overly political. Check out her book, Definite Space. If you like poetry, you won't be sorry.
Quote o' the day:
"This moment contains all moments." - C.S. Lewis, (British Scholar and Novelist. 1898-1963)
Today as I was cleaning up my dishes from dinner, I looked out the window and the moon was so beautiful that it absolutely took my breath away. A full moon, or almost full, it was high up in the dusky blue sky, with grays and purples and pinks below it. Framed with fall foliage of various colors, I stopped. Tonight, on my way home from a reading, I saw a shooting star. It completely overwhelmed me.
Couple that with the fact that this reading I went to at Magers & Quinn, of a poet who has just written a beautiful book of poems about living in the country and about her step-son going to war and I just find myself needing to take a deep breath and let these things wash over me.
Two recommendations for the evening:
Dan Wilson's new CD, Free Life, is fabulous. For those of you that are familiar with Semisonic, he was the lead singer and has just now released his solo album. The link above goes to the story they did in the Star Tribune that is almost as fabulous as the CD itself.
The poet that I went to see was Ann Iverson. The poems were beautiful and incredibly emotional, without being overly political. Check out her book, Definite Space. If you like poetry, you won't be sorry.
Quote o' the day:
"This moment contains all moments." - C.S. Lewis, (British Scholar and Novelist. 1898-1963)
10.22.2007
home alone tonight, nothing brings me down
If anyone gets the song from my title tonight - I will buy them a drink (that's if you're in the near area...).
This weekend was pretty darn good. Even orchestra was ok - despite all of the yelling at that we got because we were wasting time with mistakes. But, we had a good time Saturday and Saturday night - good food, games and just general relaxing. And no sasquatches. And my cake turned out pretty good despite the mess that I made while making it.
Now to read a book, write a review on it and practice.
Ooh... and I finished the NY Times crossword puzzle today. I think I may have never actually been able to do that by myself until today. :) (I did look up a few things, but whatever.)
I did actually have something to tell you, friends - but I do not, at this moment remember what it was. So sleep well tonight and hopefully, tomorrow is as beautiful as it was today.
Quote o' the day:
"He who hesitates is a damned fool." - Mae West
This weekend was pretty darn good. Even orchestra was ok - despite all of the yelling at that we got because we were wasting time with mistakes. But, we had a good time Saturday and Saturday night - good food, games and just general relaxing. And no sasquatches. And my cake turned out pretty good despite the mess that I made while making it.
Now to read a book, write a review on it and practice.
Ooh... and I finished the NY Times crossword puzzle today. I think I may have never actually been able to do that by myself until today. :) (I did look up a few things, but whatever.)
I did actually have something to tell you, friends - but I do not, at this moment remember what it was. So sleep well tonight and hopefully, tomorrow is as beautiful as it was today.
Quote o' the day:
"He who hesitates is a damned fool." - Mae West
10.18.2007
and i’m falling but i’m not dreaming
Today as I drove to work, my windshield got splashed numerous times with large amounts of water as other cars hit large puddles that collect in the large potholes and uneven roads that wend their way through NE. And even though I know that the glass protects me from the water - that there is no way that it will hit me, I shrink back, I blink and am amazed each time that I am still fully dry. It's the same way those few times that I sit behind home plate at the Twins' games. I know that the net will catch those lightning fast foul balls that fly backwards and threaten to knock someone unconscious, but I react, instinctively shielding myself from the ball.
Instinct. Reflex. They protect us in so many situations that could be harmful. We know, instinctively when there is something that might knock us down and keep us down. But how do we keep ourselves from over-reacting to something that might go either way. In our lives, we encounter situations in our professional lives, our 'friend' lives, and in our love relationships that turn out badly. Maybe more than once. How do we discern these good situations from the bad? When do we shut out the instinctive voice in our head that says - watch out, you're going to get drenched, get out of way? Because maybe, this time, it will be different.
You can't turn off instinct. And if your reflexes don't work, you may have something physically wrong with you. But you can, when there is the slightest chance that things will turn out different, open yourself up to that possibility and embrace it. Yeah, you might get drenched, but it might be the kind of water-soaking that only comes with a really good rain. The kind that hits you when you're standing in the cul de sac and swimming in a puddle in the middle of the storm.
On a side note, today was a pretty shitty, craptastic day. But it turned out all right in the end and I'm tired enough where I might just be able to sleep in this huge house tonight.
Tomorrow is Friday. TGIF.
Quote o' the day:
"Telling us to obey instinct is like telling us to obey "people." People say different things: so do instincts. Our instincts are at war.... Each instinct, if you listen to it, will claim to be gratified at the expense of the rest...." - C.S. Lewis, (British Scholar and Novelist. 1898-1963)
Instinct. Reflex. They protect us in so many situations that could be harmful. We know, instinctively when there is something that might knock us down and keep us down. But how do we keep ourselves from over-reacting to something that might go either way. In our lives, we encounter situations in our professional lives, our 'friend' lives, and in our love relationships that turn out badly. Maybe more than once. How do we discern these good situations from the bad? When do we shut out the instinctive voice in our head that says - watch out, you're going to get drenched, get out of way? Because maybe, this time, it will be different.
You can't turn off instinct. And if your reflexes don't work, you may have something physically wrong with you. But you can, when there is the slightest chance that things will turn out different, open yourself up to that possibility and embrace it. Yeah, you might get drenched, but it might be the kind of water-soaking that only comes with a really good rain. The kind that hits you when you're standing in the cul de sac and swimming in a puddle in the middle of the storm.
On a side note, today was a pretty shitty, craptastic day. But it turned out all right in the end and I'm tired enough where I might just be able to sleep in this huge house tonight.
Tomorrow is Friday. TGIF.
Quote o' the day:
"Telling us to obey instinct is like telling us to obey "people." People say different things: so do instincts. Our instincts are at war.... Each instinct, if you listen to it, will claim to be gratified at the expense of the rest...." - C.S. Lewis, (British Scholar and Novelist. 1898-1963)
10.15.2007
even I’m getting tired of useless desires
I'm supposed to be writing a paper right now, and as usual, I've gotten myself so freaked out about that blank word document that I can't make myself get started.
The other part of it is that this professor has ground all of any will or excitement I had for this class by being a pill about our papers. I think our entire class is worried about how this next paper will turn out, grade wise.
So what have I done tonight? Made cookies, had dinner, read a lot on the subject of my paper, but so far, no actual writing. I've got my MLA books out and am all ready to go. This is why I never write at home. I can't do it - I will do ANYTHING to avoid doing it. Hence the mad cookie making.
And now I'm sitting here, waiting for that stroke of genius to hit me and then I can start writing. But for now, I have Smetana's My Country playing and can hear the clock ticking. My cup of Lipton's "Quietly Chamomile" is brewing and my sister has called me from Albuquerque at least two times and the cats want all of my attention and are getting none of it.
And now we've switched from major to minor in the Moldau theme in the Smetana...things are getting ominous. I should take this as a sign and start working on said paper ASAP.
I should also be sorry I've wasted all of your time with this blathering. Here's a funny tidbit - the ATM's at MCTC speak to you in a British accent.
We're back to major mode, but I should still sign out. Maybe now I can write about the backlist of A Tree Grows in Brooklyn.
Quote o' the day:
"Generally speaking, everyone is more interesting doing nothing than doing anything." - Gertrude Stein
The other part of it is that this professor has ground all of any will or excitement I had for this class by being a pill about our papers. I think our entire class is worried about how this next paper will turn out, grade wise.
So what have I done tonight? Made cookies, had dinner, read a lot on the subject of my paper, but so far, no actual writing. I've got my MLA books out and am all ready to go. This is why I never write at home. I can't do it - I will do ANYTHING to avoid doing it. Hence the mad cookie making.
And now I'm sitting here, waiting for that stroke of genius to hit me and then I can start writing. But for now, I have Smetana's My Country playing and can hear the clock ticking. My cup of Lipton's "Quietly Chamomile" is brewing and my sister has called me from Albuquerque at least two times and the cats want all of my attention and are getting none of it.
And now we've switched from major to minor in the Moldau theme in the Smetana...things are getting ominous. I should take this as a sign and start working on said paper ASAP.
I should also be sorry I've wasted all of your time with this blathering. Here's a funny tidbit - the ATM's at MCTC speak to you in a British accent.
We're back to major mode, but I should still sign out. Maybe now I can write about the backlist of A Tree Grows in Brooklyn.
Quote o' the day:
"Generally speaking, everyone is more interesting doing nothing than doing anything." - Gertrude Stein
10.11.2007
I find a fatal flaw in the logic of love...
Warning. Major griping about the grocery store ahead.
The NE Rainbow is full of U of MN students. All over the store, stopping and talking to each other in the aisles. I never noticed it before, but tonight, they were everywhere.
The lines were ridiculously long for 7:30 on a Thursday night and they were out of a lot of things that I would normally get. And for some reason, I always manage to grab the cart that doesn't drive straight. So then I end up steering all crazy all over the store.
But, it is sort of fun, because you look in their carts and they have the typical ramen noodles, soda, noodle-roni, etc. It made me smile and remember when we used to run to the ghetto Sunmart at 10 for groceries and snacks.
Ok, so maybe not major griping.
Anyone want to take a guess at the lyric today? Kudos to Lisa for guessing the Ryan Adams' lyric.
Quote o' the day:
"I have a new philosophy. I'm only going to dread one day at a time." - Charles M. Schulz, Charlie Brown in "Peanuts," US cartoonist (1922 - 2000)
The NE Rainbow is full of U of MN students. All over the store, stopping and talking to each other in the aisles. I never noticed it before, but tonight, they were everywhere.
The lines were ridiculously long for 7:30 on a Thursday night and they were out of a lot of things that I would normally get. And for some reason, I always manage to grab the cart that doesn't drive straight. So then I end up steering all crazy all over the store.
But, it is sort of fun, because you look in their carts and they have the typical ramen noodles, soda, noodle-roni, etc. It made me smile and remember when we used to run to the ghetto Sunmart at 10 for groceries and snacks.
Ok, so maybe not major griping.
Anyone want to take a guess at the lyric today? Kudos to Lisa for guessing the Ryan Adams' lyric.
Quote o' the day:
"I have a new philosophy. I'm only going to dread one day at a time." - Charles M. Schulz, Charlie Brown in "Peanuts," US cartoonist (1922 - 2000)
10.09.2007
I worked hard for every little bit I got
Ever since the 35 bridge collapsed, they've had traffic cops at every light in NE, holding our hands through the stress-inducing, rage road causing, annoying traffic. Monday they were not there. And you know what? We all made it on our own. Sure, there was traffic, but no more than usual. I actually think that it was faster. Maybe because I left my house at the insanely early time of 7:30, instead of 8, but it went ok.
And I thought, maybe, just maybe, we've gotten to the point where they can let us go. Let go of our hand and let us walk, or as the case may be, drive, on our own. But then this morning, they were back. In their bright yellow, with their whistles, hats and light sabers; waving us through red lights, stopping us at green lights and whistling severely at those who do not listen. They had yesterday off because of Columbus Day, I guess.
That begs the question, when will it end? Will we wake up, drive to work one day to find that traffic laws actually apply? Or, will they keep guiding us through what is sure to be at least the next two years of construction (if they ever actually come up with the cash and a plan) until the bridge is complete? And on a grander scale, when do we know when the appropriate time to walk away is? When do you say, I've had enough hand holding and simply let go?
But before I wax too philosophical, I need to vent. Even before the afore mentioned bridge collapsed, surely, the most detested words in all of Minnesota were, "Road Work Ahead." And now, with no other ways to go, those road signs nearly cause me to have a stroke. They have been repaving a road that is a fairly major road near my house and thus detouring traffic onto our 30 mph residential road. And now, they're finished with that, but they are working on the intersection of the two major roads also near my house. Any guesses as to where traffic is being detoured? You got it - our road. So you see, people that don't normally drive that road want to go 50 and I want to piss them off, so I go exactly the speed limit. Which is not something I'm really known for doing. Because there are often cops on the road, just waiting. And I don't know about those idiots, but I don't really need another speeding ticket.
So yes. Roads lead us to where we need to be, but what do we do when the roads aren't accessible? Or passable? I want to be the guy whizzing by all of cars, cars that stack up behind one another like rows of ladybugs in the afternoon sun. The guy who rides his scooter to work and gets to laugh at all of us suckers in our cars.
Maybe I should learn to take the bus.
Quote o' the day:
"Americans will put up with anything provided it doesn't block traffic." - Dan Rather (American TV newscaster, b.1931)
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