Joyful and Triumphant

This holiday season has been busy and exciting, as I have gotten the chance to spend a little bit of personal time with several of my aunts, uncles and cousins. I got to hang out in Harrisburg two days before the rest of the family showed up on christmas eve. The pieces of this special holiday weekend came together slowly from arriving at Aunt Wanette's house on Wednesday night until finally my mom dad brothers and sisters arrived on Saturday afternoon. I had so much fun all weekend with my family, playing sports, singing, playing music, eating, and performing in the customary talent show and entertainment program. I am up late tonight trying to jot down my feelings about christmas this year. Of course all of the excitement took a small toll on me, as I am suffering a bit of a cold right now. All is well though, because I have the freedom to sit in bed eating an embarrassing amount of chocolate and surfing the web on my cute new acer lap top. Now I am not sure what my plans are for new years eve, those are up in the air, so no promises, just going with the flow seeing where my journey takes me. Ahhh it is nice to be with family. I love all of them, all 35000987 of them.

I can relate to this

by Anne Edmond

Coffeeshop hopping

My new bff Maliyah is too young to go "barhopping", so yesterday afternoon we coffee-shop hopped. Wired from caffeine and jamming to Nicki Minaj "Pink Friday" is not a bad way to spend a Sunday.

New favorite things of Indiana

1. Joe's drawings of "fat charmanders" and "fat neopets"
2. Tom's pizza (same thing every time- greek salad large pepperoni pizza, 10 breadsticks between 3 of us)
3. Cafe Amadeus
4. bike rides (love/hate relationship with this)
5. waking up early
6. drives with Maliyah, browsing big houses and nice neighborhoods on these drives
7. chatting with Aunt Heather during Marcus's soccer practices
8. Michael Jackson on the wii

Thoughts on the first few days

Jimmy Stewart accompanies on my walk across the street.
We play Michael Jackson Experience and Mariokart at night.
I had a great donut and coffee from donut connection this morning after my morning drop-off. Slept on new futon last night.
More to come later.

Monastic

http://vimeo.com/16145484

Hola viernes

I miss Kelsey already. Today we would probably be going to the pool or to Barnes and Noble or something that involves basking in the sun, chatter, and fun. Good luck Kelsey!

On another note, I have a bug bite on my arm pit which is annoying me. What to do what to do.

On another note. I need a miracle, which comes in the form of a free application to CNU. Who has 50 dollars for an application? Not me.

On another note, my goal for today is if I am watching teen jeopardy, I hope to guess at least 5 correctly. Is that too much to ask?

On another note, why do more songs on spiritandsong.com cost money now? Is it just me, or did there used to be more free songs?

Energy

it is said that one of the most important of writerly qualities is energy. I want to talk about this notion, and how I have lacked this element recently.

If my stories are good, they have details and the narratives with complete thoughts. To reach this, I have to put more energy into my endeavors. I call myself a writer, but I find my writing to be broodish. I only pick up the pen while I am wallowing. I want to see interactions, have dialog, be present for the foreshadowing and meet all of the characters, even the antagonists.
Here is an example of a poem I wrote the other day.

untitled

ready alert available
antsy expectant trying

moments combusting
certainly uncertain
exasperated boredom
clenched butt cheeks
buzzing nothingness

decompress

deep breath

calm energy

"Did you get anything out of it?"

Here's a little slice of life at New Balance. I choose to describe the scene in detail, for the sake of prose. Don't worry, it has a happy ending.

"Do you have any wides in size twelve?" I was chatting with two other sales associates when a customer approaches us at the front of the women's running shoes aisle. "I am looking for my daughter, who as you can see has a big foot" the obese man says, pointing down to his daughter's feet as she strolls toward us down the aisle. The other two associates explain that a twelve two e is not available in many styles. I feel that I have a goofy expression on my face from flirting with my coworkers and it is hard to wipe off the smirk right away. I slowly walk away as two people already are helping this family, the other two lead them in the right direction towards the few women's styles in that size. Maybe they'll find a unisex shoe for her in men's I say to myself.

I make my way to the cash wrap and steal a few moments to stare out the window day dreaming. I ring up a few customers. "Think fast" the customer says, picking up a pair of socks and pretending to throw them at me from behind the counter. The family is ready to make the purchase. It took me a moment to realize he was playing with me, and Rob says "this one is not so good at that, a good thinker, but not a fast one". Thanks Rob. "How many fingers am I holding up" customer dude says to me, holding up his five fat fingers. I jokingly hesitate and squint my eyes staring at his hand, Rob is standing behind him "helping me" by holding up his own five fingers. "give me a minute...uhm four?" The customer dude is like "are you in school now?" "did you go to college locally?" In a more serious tone this time. I shake my head "no". "did you finish, get your degree?" "actually yes" I nod. "did you get anything out of it? you are working retail. was it a good use of your parent's money?" Am I really discussing this here? "I got debt out of it. That's what. it was a good investment." I turn away and continue staring out the window. He says he is just playing around. Good to know.

As he leaves I just stare at them walking in the parking lot to their station wagon, my head and mouth full of obscenities. I turn to Eric "I have a bachelor of arts, I know it is fucking useless."

To stop a short story before it becomes long, I retreated back to the floor to attempt to be useful for the remaining time the store was open. As I am straightening shoes in the women's aisle Eric passes me "it's retail, you deal with assholes. Today was your day." Jajajaja, awww I can't stay mad. Before I know it, the last customers come and go, and it is time to close the store. Eric switches the music and before I know it we last 3 workers are doing our closing duties while listening to salsa music. My mood turns so fast, like a child, the whole day is behind me. I am just happy.

Virginia, wet and wild

My lifestyle, summed up: trying to do everything, nothing slow so as not to focus.
I certainly haven't been shopping for any new shoes
And
I certainly haven't been spreading myself around
I still only travel by foot
And by foot it's a slow climb
But I'm good at being uncomfortable, so
I can't stop changing all the time

I noticed that my opponent is always on the go
And won't go slow so as not to focus, and I notice
He'll hitch a ride with any guide
As long as they go fast from whence he came
But he's no good at being uncomfortable, so
He can't stop staying exactly the same

happy Memorial Day.

Did you know that it was first enacted by formerly enslaved African-Americans to honor Union soldiers of the American Civil War – it was extended after World War I to honor Americans who have died in all wars.

May flowers

Above:Philadelphia

Below:Happy Mother's Day














I hope when people ask what you’re going to do with your English and/or creative writing degree you’ll say: Continue my bookish examination of the contradictions and complexities of human motivation and desire; or maybe just: Carry it with me, as I do everything that matters. And then smile very serenely until they say oh.
(from "Dear Sugar Column #72: The Future Has An Ancient Heart")

Don't be a drag be a queen

\

I am getting on a train tomorrow bound for the North.

swimmers