I have been cranky this summer. Too much heat, work, and ridiculous politics. Not enough rest, reading, and picnics. I find myself replaying yesterday’s bad mood or anticipating a snow day in some relaxing future. It is easy to get preoccupied backwards and forwards, the present seems a jam packed to-list and those people that when […]
Archive for the ‘Life’ category
The dumpster
One day there was a construction dumpster in our driveway. We share a driveway with our neighbor and she explained she was having work done on her house. She went on to say that we were welcome to use the dumpster to throw away anything too big for the weekly garbage pickup. This was great […]
I just sew
Every quilt I complete and give away annoys her. “When do I get mine?” she asks in that tone that already knows the answer. “I just haven’t found the right pattern.” I just haven’t found the right colors.” I just haven’t found the right inspiration.” I can’t use time as an excuse because I figure […]
The yellow wallpaper
It’s been close to two years now since I bought my first house. It’s a ninety year-old Craftsman-style home on Main Street in a small city in Wisconsin, full of hand-rubbed plaster walls, oak built-ins, and birdseye maple floors. Despite my occasional restlessness and a love for urban life, this is well and truly my […]
All Together Now
Last night the hubs and I took a brief respite from our ongoing 30-Rock marathon to watch “Commune”, a 2005 documentary about Black Bear Ranch, a commune that was started in the late-60’s in Northern California. [youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dZ0OuT2hiuY[/youtube] While the film touches on the political and social upheaval of the time, most of the focus is […]
A process, an end, a beginning
The college search and decision process represents, for some kids, a significant threshold. They begin to move from the present emotion of adolescence to the future rationale of adulthood. They have to consider their own identity in an attempt to find a cultural and academic match. They must take a sobering account of their performance and […]
The old fools
The Old Fools by Philip Larkin What do they think has happened, the old fools, To make them like this? Do they somehow suppose It’s more grown-up when your mouth hangs open and drools, And you keep on pissing yourself, and can’t remember Who called this morning? Or that, if they only chose, They could […]
Oldness and sex
Some colleagues and I were just out having dinner and out-olding one another. One woman said she was glad to finally be old enough that our college students look like tiny soft little babies who could not possibly be sexually attractive to anyone. I responded that I feel so old I see them as being […]
Of Butterflies’ Wings
I went roller skating for a friend’s birthday party. So. Much. Fun. Exactly like this. [youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZiwtTwJkcrM[/youtube] Okay, maybe not quite. Also, it was strange. Oh, how youthful feelings of inadequacy came flooding back in a tidal wave. The moment I walked into the building, I noticed people I know — some very well, some just […]
