Collar (Photo)

Moby got a brand new bag.

Er, collar. The old one, the elastic was fraying. This one is more subtle. Just like him.

He has claimed the parka. Wonder how it wound up on the stool.

Loss

It just hit me. I have lost all your comments on the Pi of Pie. I planned to take the posts down, never for a moment considered that I would also be deleting all your fine words and generous encouragment. A Sudden Horrible Realization. And nothing whatsoever I can do about it now. Destroying my own pots, unraveling my own work, my own writing, is one act. Destroying yours, that is quite another kettle of fishiness.

I apologize. And I miss those words. I will treasure them, you may believe that.

Here, This may help .

Pants

A seat of the pants post. Not unique, but an experiment nevertheless. Not sure that I can, or want to, return to the formal sort of essays I started this site to practice. Not ready to start another novel. Nor with any good idea of what to do next. All at sea being essentially done editing the π. Perhaps I can dither at daily thoughts. Movie suggestions. Odd news. Feature other blogs. My stories feel far away, taking a long nap under the bed until the thunder is long gone. Continue to share my photographic view of my world, certainly.

I am empty and alone and cold. Drifting. It's not bad. Just not very juicy. Hibernating.



So, as when I want to contact friends, and cannot find words, I relate an Item of Interest.

Brewer's Dictionary of Phrase and Fable.
Rain.

To rain cats and dogs. In northern mythology the cat is supposed to have great influence on the weather, and English sailors still say, “The cat has a gale of wind in her tail,” when she is unusually frisky. Witches that rode upon the storms were said to assume the form of cats; and the stormy north-west wind is called the cat’s-nose in the Harz even at the present day. 1
The dog is a signal of wind, like the wolf, both which animals were attendants of Odin, the storm-god. In old German pictures the wind is figured as the “head of a dog or wolf,” from which blasts issue. 2
The cat therefore symbolises the downpouring rain, and the dog the strong gusts of wind which accompany a rainstorm; and a “rain of cats and dogs” is a heavy rain with wind. (See CAT AND DOG.) 3
The French catadoupe or catadupe means a waterfall.

Tilt (Photo)

Emergency (Photo)

Stay (Photo)

One Hundred Words.

One hundred nouns. No adverbs, no adjectives. Describing oneself.
ink
clay
hangnails
feet
sneakers

camera
blood
hands
book
bells
~
candles
cat
earrings
school
glasses

ragdoll
nightmares
bear
fish
shower
~
scarves
bruises
massage
zits
caves

pens
needles
tokens
brushes
hats
~
socks
knives
paper
skillet
tea

kettle
cup
pot
strainer
beer
~
chocolate
mouse
cayenne
watch
clock

mucous
shit
flesh
bone
titanium

~ *
sprain
shout
song
harmony
voice

brothers
uncles
cousins
aunts
lovers

~
television
movies
plays
stories
blog

ice
wind
thunder
blizzard
rain
~
springs
muppets
irony
sarcasm
nudges

otters
fire
elephants
ocean
mountain
~
letters
silk
tricot
fleece
velcro

bridge
mud
snow
dust
boots
~
glue
wood
desert
dessert
glaze

thread
train
tree
stream
rock

Chair (Photo)

Pie (Photo)

Dripper (Photo)

Sushi (Photo)

Four

Formulae be damned. A friend asks me to do a meme, I have no good reason to refuse. Here you are Dale.

Four Jobs I have had.

Shelving books
I have worked in the Detroit and Salt Lake libraries for a total of about a decade. Always part time, always shelving books for minimal pay, usually going to school, and felt lucky to have had that. There is a wonderful zen quality to putting books in order. I know Dewey by heart. And I had a list of books to read always in my mind. I cannot ever return books on time today, because for so long I worked in libraries - staff are not charged overdues. I consider it my way of giving back to pay the fines these days. After I was working as an RN, and making a living wage, I returned as a volunteer,giving tours at the new library in Salt Lake , signed up to be a docent because I couldn't wait to see inside as it was being built. I saw it before floors were in. Maybe when I eventually retire, I can shelve books again.

Radio DJ
I didn't want to go to college right out of high school. Didn't know what to study, didn't feel smart enough. Odd, since I was offered a Merit Scholarship, full ride, on the strength of my SAT and ACTs, the highest in my school. I instead took a radio announcer course, and at the end got hired at an automated country station in northern Michigan. I produced local radio spots, and recorded weather and traffic annoucements, and sat there while the tapes played. I made sure it kept working and built up a tolerance for country music. It was an awful, lonely, strange interlude in my life. I was very young, and miserable, and had no adequate coping mechanisms. But I got to see SCTV when it was great.

Podiatrist assistant
While failing as an acting student, I lucked into a weird little job working for a podiatrist who was forced to be a doctor by his parents. I washed feet and took x-rays and pushed the doctor from room to room. I was a good gopher, and I liked the patients, and it was a preliminary experiment that showed promising results.
Dance instructor
It was, as a business, selling and a bit of a scam. But I can dance, and I can teach, so I liked that part. Got fired because I wouldn't push people into the high priced packages.

Perioperative RN.
It has marked me. And so I stand with my hands close in front of me, held between nipples and navel level. I think it polite to cross my arms and turn my back on others. I can go an entire day not saying anything not directly related to the job. I can put away utensils by the pile with one hand. I rarely drop anything without catching it, but if it drops below my waist, it's gone. My husband takes scissors and pens as I drop them into his hand in the manner he can immediately use them, as well as any surgeon takes an instrument. I hate watching TV shows with operating room scenes.

Four movies I can watch over and over.

Life of Brian
For all the silliness, it is real history, and has a heart. And the funniest full frontal nudity ever. So much intelligence and knowledge in an exuberantly ridiculous film.

Rivers and Tides
Real philosophy, genuine art. The art I would do, had I any talent. Resonant and lovely and powerful. I like putting the movie on as background when friends are gathered, and watch as it sucks them in, unobtrusively compelling. Andy Goldsworthy is an enlightened master, quietly doing what he does.

Princess Bride
So fun, so warm, so full of wonderful dialogue and wit, so very silly and endearing. With fabulous fight scenes. "I'm left handed too."

Seven Samurai
Breathtaking and complex and the stuff of myth, never ceasing to be human and vulnerable and genuine and humorous. Kurosawa and Mifune and Shimura.


Four places I have lived

Detroit
First two decades of my life. A dirty old town, good if you got money, which I ain't. A place to be from. Detroiters are not more violent than anyone else. We are just better shots.

Kalkaska
Just south of Traverse City. It has a giant fiberglass trout. It has lots of pine trees. When I was there, it had two stoplights, that local sheriffs ignored.

Salt Lake City
A strange place with a vibrant subculture if you know where to look. Great brew pubs. I lived between the Opening Ceremony venue and the Medal stages during the 2002 Troubles. No, I'm not Mormon.

Boston
An easy place to love, a difficult place to live. Not having to have a car, in fact better not, is the best. I love not driving. Trains are cool. And, yes, I do like winter.


Four tv shows I love to watch.

New Tricks
From the BBC and PBS. Wow. Just a police procedural, but well written, and such wonderful older Brit actors.

Joan of Arcadia
Charm and an honest exploration of god, on TV. Astonishing. What if god were one of us, indeed? Not sad it ended, since it was about to jump the shark, but those ideas, those characters, will live on with me.

Frank's Place
An old show that didn't last long, but it was so well written, it tackled race face on. I still miss it. Strange Luck as well.

COPS!
My guilty pleasure. I cannot defend it.

Four places I've been on vacation

Lava Hot Springs
Getting older while soaking in hot water while snow falls on my head is just fine.

Antigonish, Nova Scotia
Bagpipes. Parades with big bellied men with faces painted on said tums. And my mother signing out $10 & $20 traveler checks to pay $300 to fix the transmission.

Moab
Red Rock country, bare and stark beauty. Switching entrees in a restaurant, each liking what the other ordered.

Ocean Beach
Friends and surf, and a restaurant on a pier heaving as a storm blew in. Hot cocoa and chili fries.

Four blogs I visit daily

Random Acts of Reality
London EMT, that particular sense of humor.

LanguageHat
What is the difference between an entomologist and an etymologist? Only the etymologist knows for sure.

Blue Abstractions
Best friend, as I hope for a new post.

Bob Ishmael
Hoping for a post at all.



Four favorite foods

Chocolate
Obviously.

Eggs on toast
Fried eggs with chipotle pepper, on maple raisin bread with smoked mozzarella cheese.

Oranges with candles
So you peel the orange, close to a candle.Then you twist the peels into the flame. The volatile oils are, well. Um. I have some pyro tendencies.

Hot and sour soup
From Wok 'n Roll. They mean it when they say hot.


Four places I'd rather be

Nearer friends, but still here.

In a hot tub or hot springs.

Being massaged, a real professional therapeutic full on, breathing through the pain massage.

Nowhere at all, I am in the best place. Everywhere is here anyway.

Four albums I love. No, only bands, or singers. MP3's mean I don't listen to albums, and have not for years now.

Joan Osborn
She rocks.

3 Mustafas 3
They still take my breath away, and make me dance.

They Might Be Giants
So witty and wonderful, and in concert, they rock. And they have a rock to wind a string around.

Squirrel Nut Zippers
They rock and swing.


Four vehicles I've owned

Banged up, second-hand, blue, no-speed, coaster brakes, bicycle.
LPCs (leather personnel carriers)
MBTA
Emerald green neon.

Four others, to pass the chain on...
Moira
Bob Ishmael
Mary
Udge

There would be more, but I'm tired of urls. Feel free to consider yourself "it" if you have posted a comment, ever.

Blue (Photo)

Installation (Photo)

Stare (Photo)

Referential (Photo)

Golden (Photo)

Evidence (Photo)

Bear (Photo)

The Joke

Bunny (Photo)

Exception

I don't do this, but I laughed so, and it is New Year's Day, so here is my utterly atypical post. Via Language Hat.
http://www.languagehat.com/

Joy to all.


"I'm in New York for the American Philosophical Association's Eastern Division meetings, and I'm having breakfast at the Art Cafe on Broadway, at 52nd Street. It's all bustling efficiency, staff zooming hither and thither. Two eggs up with bacon and wheat toast arrive within a couple of minutes. Suddenly there's a shattering crash from behind the counter, and the Greek proprietor is looking down mournfully at the coffee cup he dropped on the tile floor to smash into a thousand pieces. Four or five nearby waitresses turn in shock. For two seconds of silence they stare at the scene of the accident. And then one of the waitresses yells excitedly: "Opa!" — the traditional Greek cry of encouragement to dancers and musicians and drinkers at those wild parties where they smash plates on the floor as they dance just to show what a great time is being had. And then the entire staff cracks up, and they all resume working at high speed, but now laughing till tears come to their eyes — the boss included. It's only breakfast time in New York, but already, thanks to one well-chosen interjection, it's like a party."
http://itre.cis.upenn.edu/~myl/languagelog/archives/002737.html

What? (Photo)

Peeking (photo)

Moss (Photo)

Safe (Photo)

Peek (photo)

Filler

1. Were you named after anyone?
Do pseudonyms count?
2. When did you last cry?
You mean before right now? Kidding, probably yesterday.
3. What is your most embarrassing CD?
I am not embarrassed by music. If it sounds good, it is good.

4. Have you ever told a secret you swore not to tell?
Never.
5. How do you release anger?
By not feeding it. Let it starve.
6. Do you trust others too easily?
No. I trust, then observe, then trust some more, etc.

7. What class in high school do you think was totally useless?
The lost year after high school. Oh, wait, class as in subject- religion, no question.
8. Do you use sarcasm a lot?
No. What do you mean? Are you implying something?
9. Favorite movie(s):
I've rated over 4,000 movies on Netflix, and you want one? Are you nuts? Give me a category and a time frame, I could maybe give you some suggestions.

10. Which celebrity do you most resemble?
Amanda Root.
11. What are your favorite colors?
Purple, and midnight blue.
12. What are you listening to right now?
The hum of the computer, the swish of the dishwasher.

13. What is the weather like right now?
Mild, dark, boring.
14. Favorite Drink?
Good beer.
15. Favorite Food?
New Taste of Asia's chili shrimp and chicken. Grow hair on your lungs.

16. Summer or winter?
Winter, as long as there is polartech.
17. Hugs or kisses?
Both. Ok, ok, hugs.

18. Where Would You Want to Go on your Next Vacation?
Iceland.

19. What Books are you reading?
A Year at the Movies- Kevin Murphy. Going Postal- Terry Pratchett. Absolute Friends- John leCarre.
20. What did you Watch Last Night on TV?
Cops. Why?
21. What's the furthest you've been away from home?
Saudi Arabia.

Ham (Photo)

Some folks are simply not shy.

I have won nanowrimo this year, and will be editing and posting chapters, probably starting next weekend. Thank you for your patience and continued support this past month. I hope the new POV and changes in style- due to simply burning out old, bad, habits, will meet the high standards of such an august group of writers who so kindly read my drivel.

If nothing else, I have gotten so much practice typing that I may be up to more frequent posts.

Whew.

Elegant (Photo)

And such a lovely south-of-London accent that always charmed me. Dear Aunt P.

Berries (Photo)

Ice (Photo)

Wilma (Photo)

Yoga (Photo)

Guardian (Photo)

Leaf (Photo)

Knot (Photo)

Fish! (Photo)

Argument (Photo)

Autumn (Photo)

Archives.

Wild hair up orifice. Nanowrimo. See you in December, read archives, leave posts.

~Love

Z