There Comes a Time

One of my weaknesses is book sales.  I hit every one of them and usually come away with a bag full, put them on the shelf and read them at my leisure.  Well.  All three of the book cases are full now.  It's time to clear out some of the clutter - and thank goodness for FreeCycle.  All I have to do is box them up, put up an ad and BOOM.  Someone will come to my house and take them away.

But...which ones will go?  I began sorting through them this evening.  There - that's the one Dr. H gave me.  This one is one of my favorites.  Here's Lewis Grizzard, Erma Bombeck - two of my favorite humorists.  No, they've brought me too many smiles and surprised me with poignance when it was least expected.  No.  They can't go.  Fannie Flagg!  Those are keepers.  None of the poetry, either, can be tossed in those boxes. 

I swear.  Decisions, decisions.  By the time I'm done, the shelves will still be full...but it's like giving away an old friend you can revisit any time you like...

I'm trying.

Not Long Now...

In a few short weeks, I should be on my way to Durham for the birth of my grandson.  His name will be Steven McArthur, after my brother.

My daughter, Beth, calls more than a few times a day to keep me updated on her progress.  She called me at work on Friday to say:

"I think you should know, Mom, I feel like something is going to happen today."

"Like..what? Why?"

"I don't know, I just feel weird.  You're on standby, right?"

"Right..."

Well, the weekend has passed and nothing weird has happened so far.  I'm not sure how my boss will react to a last minute request for vacation time, but frankly, I'm looking forward to going.

It has been a long summer.  A full week of different scenery will be delicious.

Is my face red...

Last week I posted a link to a poem that kept drawing me back to it, Letters to My Wife by a gentleman who goes by the name of metta5chak (his actual name is Dave).  I commented...the man found my forum and (oh my god) read my scrawlings.  Someone of HIS ilk??  I wanted to crawl under the desk and groan.

His is the first work I've read in quite a while that actually stirred me, made me want to pick up a pen and write like I used to - no matter how badly.  He is concise, powerful, gifted beyond what most people could hope for, IMHO.  He left a comment to a poem I wrote years ago, was quite complimentary.  And I still want to crawl under the desk and groan.

Yet...the stirring is still there.

At the very least, I'm experiencing serious hero-worship for a 78-year-old poet.  And I told him so.  ;-)

 

Magnificence

Every now and then, I come upon prose or poetry so significant that it begs to be read.  I won't copy and paste it here, but will point the way.  An amazing piece...

Letters to My Wife

Everything, all at once

I have been really lazy, computer-wise, for the past few weeks, but life has been extra busy.  Finally got around to the journals and answering emails, and am feeling a bit perky now!

Work has been ... exciting, I guess is the word.  There was a stabbing on one of the units at the institution last week, and we had to stop a transfer so Lieu could get the goods on a gang member (leader?) he had been trying to catch for the last few months.  They knew he was ordering hits on other inmates, but could never prove it - until then.  That's the thing about work...so much happens so fast, there's little time for boredom or dwelling on anything besides work. 

On Friday, we did take a girls morning (Fridays are the slowest day) and have a coffee klatche (or however you spell it).  It was nice - a lot of bonding going on and all that.  And when the men figured out what we were up to, they wanted in on it, too.

Well - that's a portion of life as I know it in a little more than a nutshell.  And now..a meme..

If you came to my house… 

You would see:  A LOT of trees, a couple of dogs, some cats, a horse pasture, my grandson and the rest of my family.  and me.  You would see a lot of books...you could take a few home, if you liked, and a variety of tea pots, a few potted plants.

 

I’d probably feed you:  Whatever you were in the mood for.  Chilie?  Salad? Pork chops? Quiche? Probably the famous Chicken Casserole and a veggie platter, home baked bread and a nutty buddy pie for dessert.

And offer you this to drink: Water, tea (hot or iced), coffee or coke.

I’d undoubtedly ask if you’d read:  Alessandro Baricco, Tanizaki.

I’d want to play this music for you: Not sure...something easy on the ears or something to match the mood.

I’d want to tell you about: The history of the area

I’d probably suggest a game of:  Scrabble, or some kind of card game like gin or canasta

I would definitely show off:  My new patio!

I might get on the computer and show you: Funny emails, the poetry boards. The laughing cat.

If it was a long enough visit, we might watch:  Whatever you'd like to watch.  I have chick flicks, comedies,westerns and dramas and musicals.

Well, that's it.  I won't mention the mess you might see, wouldn't want to scare you away.

Breast Cancer Patient Protection Act

Breast Cancer Patient Protection Act

Spreading the word.  Please visit this blog entry by The Wanderer.