Carolina Marshland Nightwalk

"I'm going for a walk!"

"You shouldn't go for a walk."

"Why?"

"It's dark. Because you'll likely step on a snake."

"Diamondbacks?"

"Cottonmouths! They'll come runnin' after ya. Neighbors dog died of a cottonmouth bite."

"I'm going for a walk."

"Take a flashlight."

South Carolina Utah

The air here smells different. More substance? Not flimsy like that desert stuff. ;-)

::shakes hands in a waving motion in an effort to waft humidity and general marshiness westward to share::

Never Ever

I never sleep the night before a trip.

Lizard Press Open!

New Rhythm, Prequel

You know how as a kid, everyone learns how to play the piano at least a little bit? But no one wants to learn theory. Which, usually, is fine. Cuz typically the teachers don't like theory either and would rather not teach it.

Well, even as a kid, I begged to learn theory. I never really found a teacher who would devote much time to it. But, eventually, I was introduced to scales and other precision practices. And. I. loved. them. Still do. I can practice scales and the like for hours. It's calming. I enjoy the rhythm. Of doing something similar, over and over, in different tempos or volumes or however else. Working within a set form and playing with it. At times, trying to perfect it. At other times, seeing what I can stretch around within those bounds.

I enjoy swimming laps for similar reasons.

Overlook

Drive up the canyon: Deer Creek Reservoir, cheat grass burned brown hills. There's an overlook here I am particularly fond of.

Sometimes, I bring a friend to help sort through my head, listen, talk, scream.

Usually the overlook is deserted. Today, folks were out to view the changing foliage.

Zinn, Exhaustion, Goodnight

Absolutely exhausted. Funny how much more a retail job can tire you out when sick. A quote for the evening, on another sort of exhaustion:

Introducing A People's History of the United States: 1492-Present, Howard Zinn asserts, "My point is not to grieve for the victims and denounce the executioners. Those tears, that anger, cast into the past, deplete our moral energy for the present."

Mira Betz

Recently Read

perhaps I'll order these, add images, etc. tomorrow.

Tear Soup: A Recipe for Healing After Loss Story by Pat Schwiebert and Chuck Deklyken Illustrated by Taylor Bills

Finding the Love of Your Life by Neil Warren

The Life You Can Save by Peter Singer

brief lives: Sandman (the) written by Neil Gaiman illustrated by Jill Thomspon and Vince Locke

Voices of Bipolar. The Healing Companion: Stories for Courage, Comfort and Strength Edited by The Healing Project

Smart Women Finish Rich by David Bach

Saint Francis Written and illustrated by Brian Wildsmith

Seven Wild Sisters Written by Charles de Lint Illustrated by Charles Vess

The Missing Piece Meets the Big O by Shel Silverstein

The Last American Man by Elizabeth Gilbert

Duck! Rabbit! Written by Amy Krouse Rosenthal & Illustrated by Tom Lichtenheld

The Nativity Illustrated by Julie Vivas

A Tree is Nice by Janice May Udry Pictures by Marc Simont

Tar Beach by Faith Ringgold

Agave Blooms Just Once by Gisela Jernigan illustrated by E. Wesley Jernigan

Shoemaker Martin Based on a story by Leo Tolstoy Adapted by Brigitte Hanhart Translated by Michael Hale Illustrated by Bernadette Watts

Private I. Guana: The Case of the Missing Chameleon by Nina Laden

In the past week, these have brought tears.

A Movie: Cactuses

An Essay: Chat History

Still Ill

A day for tea, talking, and kittie cuddles.

Being sick is one of the few times I actually wish I owned a way to watch movies. This is where Creative Commons comes in handy. Everyone, please enjoy Sita Sings the Blues

Trailer:
>edit: added trailer 1:00pm Monday 9/21

Ill

Today, I slept.

My throat is sore.

I made a delicious soup today, out of scraps and leftovers on hand. And, it worked. Good to be cooking again

More Ikea furniture assemblage.

Motorcycle ride up squaw peak courtesy o' and accompanied by friendly folk.

tired.

conversation on priesthood/Mother in Heaven/etc with roommie who reports to the MTC in 10 days

I tried to focus on listening. She's been sorting through this four months. I've been sorting through four years. She needs my ears, and authentic/honest answers, based in experiences, when she poses questions. Not my thoughts, story, history lessons and essays I've read or written. I hope I was successful on the ear-lending/experience sharing balance beam. Keep learning.

Post nasal drip =/= fun
Unpacking my room is nice.

Good night.

Good night.

Orange

Rode home along Orem Main, today.

There is a 4-way stop at the intersection just shy of this peach orchard, up on a hill. Caught me by surprise: shadowy mountains & fire sky reflected in Utah Lake. I pulled off for about a half hour; Stand and watch.

Most thoughts were directly of the scene (neighborhood, Lake, interstate, mountains, bird keeps flying by), but I also thought over hiking, time spent outdoors, dear ol' Kate Nash elbowed her way in there, too

Smorgasbord (Day Off)

Unpacking, building Ikea furniture, listening to Tony Blair on Development Drums, listening to Pandora: Soothe/Aarvo Pärt, watching goosebumps rise on left upper arm while waiting at an unusually long stop light in pouring rain, admiring the stormclouds o'er mountains. Bicycling, organizing, gentling, and also learning about CDs and IRAs at the credit union.

Have I done something kind for myself today?

The above question prompts a visit to Graywhale. I sample four albums, two of which coax broad smiles and happy laughter. Those are the two I purchase.

I ride my bicycle home, fast, at pace. My hair is cut long enough to ride the breeze, but short enough to sidestep the witches' mane. A thin, closely cut, skirt slightly restricts each pedal stroke.

Riding my bicycle home, images flit through various instrumental concerts: Jazz Bands; Vocal Performances; Symphonies. An unexpected turn in the tempo elicits laughter. My fingers stand up on their tip toes to dance along the chair where I sit. Normally, the latter goes unnoticed. Occasionally, a companion will join in finger-dance.

New Soul

Yael Naim

Loop

Julie Vivas