“Libraries are far from the rarefied cathedrals of secular humanism they pretend to be, while librarians are the shadiest creatures this side of the Russian mob. Scratch the adamantly bland demeanor of any librarian and you’ll find trails of broken hearts, bathtubs full of meth fixings, and covert careers in porn.” — David Schmader, Last Days, 17 October 2002
…i will write a story about my childhood, and it will all begin with how messed-up “I’m OK — You’re OK” and Transactional Analysis really are, but… that day will not be today. HaHA!
— wm
ps did u know that Steve has been blogging for five years this month and I’ve been blogging for six? Happy anniversary to us!
“Many wind up in jobs irrelevant to their training. That helot frothing your coffee expected to become a barrister, not a barista.” — Jonathan Guthrie; Russell Groupies to Target Newbie Unis; Financial Times (London, UK); Sep 23, 2010
(Do you subscribe to A.Word.A.Day, by chance? It’s the best listserv I subscribe to — tied with my library listservs for first place. Happy Groundhog Day, woo-hooooooooo…)
The first- and second-graders at my school invited me to their Groundhog Day party on Wednesday, and their teacher told them, Now, we’ll have to go get her because you know she’ll forget.
My reputation, it haunts me wherever I go.
Hmmmmmm, what’s this?
That’s right… we went to the Harry Potter exhibit at the Pacific Science Center in Seattle. (Allegedly they’re going all Star Wars for the next exhibit.) It was very cool except for Bellatrix’s black dress and Umbridge’s pink suit with the kitty-cat pin… well. Both outfits, even without Ms. Lestrange and Dolores inside of ’em terrified me, honestly, yet I couldn’t stop staring at them. And You-Know-Who’s outfit uh-uh, don’t come near me, You-Know-Who. Really good show. They extended the run and it’s there through mid-February, if you’re in that part of the world or can drive there. (We drove. Also, can you believe that even though I am a lifelong Portland girl, this was only the third time I’ve ever been to Seattle? Hahahahaha. No, seriously. They put a stamp on your birth certificate in the hospital, it says PORTLAND ONLY in red. True!) We went to the Seattle Aquarium and saw the river otters and the sea otters and it was Hawaiian day so I could’ve gotten lei’ed but, you know. No thanks. (Allegedly they’re having Octopus Week in February, so be on the look-out for that, if you visit.)
What else? Went to the Pike Place Market and the guys were NOT there throwing the fish around, their stand was closed. No reason was given. I did buy some cool little Buddha statues, and snow globes, and the kids had their fortunes told by an animatronic lady. Hmmm. Yes, in retrospect, it was a good trip, thanks for asking!
If I ever remember what else I was going to blah-blah-blog about I’ll add it later.
xo
wm
ps how cute is that that they’re having a Groundhog Day party and want me to attend? For reals, so cute.
if you happen to get an e-mail from me that looks like this? it is not me, Ave, my friend, it is Sir Spam-A-Lot:
Ave, my friend
I met in the street a very poor young man who was in love. His hat was old, his coat worn; his cloak was out at the elbows, the water passed through his shoes – and the stars through his soul.
Honey, the stars were never as wondrous as they were when I met you in my dreams the other night. At last, I understood God better. And I learned that life holds many beautiful surprises and that even storms can be wonderful. My heart is overflowing with romantic thoughts of you and I hope to find you at (blah blah blah dot net) here.
Oll A.
However, if you see this poem? That’s right, it’s from me:
“My hat is old, my teeth are gold.
I have a bird I like to hold.
My shoe is off, my foot is cold.
My shoe is off, my foot is cold.
I have a bird I like to hold.
My hat is old, my teeth are gold.
And now my story is all told.”
— Dr. Seuss, “One Fish Two Fish Red Fish Blue Fish”
Good? Happy almost-weekend!
— wm
i love this post so much i want to pet it.
“Tension”
By Billy Collins
“Never use the word suddenly just to create tension.”
— Writing Fiction
“Suddenly, you were planting some yellow petunias
outside in the garden,
and suddenly I was in the study
looking up the word oligarchy for the thirty-seventh time.
When suddenly, without warning,
you planted the last petunia in the flat,
and I suddenly closed the dictionary
now that I was reminded of that vile form of governance.
A moment later, we found ourselves
standing suddenly in the kitchen
where you suddenly opened a can of cat food
and I just as suddenly watched you doing that.
I observed a window of leafy activity
and beyond that, a bird perched on the edge
of the stone birdbath
when suddenly you announced you were leaving
to pick up a few things at the market
and I stunned you by impulsively
pointing out that we were getting low on butter
and another case of wine would not be a bad idea.
Who could tell what the next moment would hold?
another drip from the faucet?
another little spasm of the second hand?
Would the painting of a bowl of pears continue
to hang on the wall from that nail?
Would the heavy anthologies remain on the shelves?
Would the stove hold its position?
Suddenly, it was anyone’s guess.
The sun rose ever higher in the sky.
The state capitals remained motionless on the wall map
when suddenly I found myself lying on a couch
where I closed my eyes and without any warning
began to picture the Andes, of all places,
and a path that led over the mountains to another country
with strange customs and eye-catching hats,
each one suddenly fringed with colorful little tassels.”
and..
“OH, MY GOD”
by Billy Collins
“Not only in church
and nightly by their bedsides
do young girls pray these days
Wherever they go,
prayer is woven into their talk
like a bright thread of awe
Even at the pedestrian mall
outbursts of praise
spring unbidden from their glossy lips.”
“So difficult it is to show the various meanings and imperfections of words when we have nothing else but words to do it with.” — John Locke, philosopher (1632-1704)
“The Dream Keeper”
Bring me all of your dreams,
You dreamers,
Bring me all of your
Heart melodies
That I may wrap them
In a blue cloud-cloth
Away from the too-rough fingers
Of the world.
— Langston Hughes
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