Speculative Poetry and Fiction
Last night I transferred files over from my old computer to my new(er) one, thanks to a coworker. I was so excited when I did this, I could barely breathe, let alone speak. To go with the cliche, I was electrified.
This sounds on the outside like no big deal, so let me give you a little back story.
I’ve been missing in action, I know. At the moment I’m visiting with family and relaxing. It’s a packed house with kids and chaos and lots of laughter and love.
Since it’s the holidays, I’ve just been kicking back and reading and that feels like the right thing to do. I’ll start posting more regularly next week with all my end of the year wrap ups, too.
I hope you are all loving life and enjoying the holiday season!
1. Thanksgiving yesterday was great, family and food filled fun. Lots of laughing and eating. Turkey and stuffing and salad and twice baked potatoes and candied yams and green beans with bacon, not to mention pecan pies and apple pie and pumpkin cheesecake — all homemade, by the way. Plus lots and lots of champagne.
2. I received a rejection for a poetry chapbook submission, called The Letterbox, sent out many months ago. The rejection included a personal note, thanking me for submitting. The editor said I had a nice narrative arc to my poems and suggested that I submit again. I never take rejections to heart, because they are a part of the process of being a writer, but it’s always great to see that personal touch and get a bit of encouragement.
3. I have no motivation to do anything at all, even though I’m supposed to pull off 18,000 words before midnight tomorrow. *sigh*
4. I’m am enjoying reading Slice of Cheery by Dia Reeves, which has consumed most of my day so far.
5. I’m sure I have enough motivation to seek out more pecan pie, though. Mmmmm, pie. And then a nap.
In October of this year, I traveled to Italy and along the way bought myself a $300 Italian leather jacket. It was a huge expense for me, more money than I probably should have spent. But the jacket was gorgeous and fit me perfectly and came with a wonderful little story, and I didn’t once feel any regret about the purchase.
I came home and showed the jacket off and received positive responses from family and friends, assuring me that it was a great purchase. “It’ll last you forever,” several people said.
Except that today, I discovered that I somehow managed to tear the jacket, a solid two-inch rip in an awkward place just above the right pocket — which just about breaks my heart. I know it’s just a thing, an object I don’t need to hold attachment to, but dammit, between the cost and how much I love wearing, it hurts.
Apparently, there might be a shop near my office that does leather repair, so I’ll take it in and see what they can do to fix it.
At the moment, though, I’m just taking deep breaths and trying not to loose my sh!t.
Fortunately, for everyone, there is this story to make everything all better.
Miles Scott, a 5 year old boy who’s fighting leukemia, just wanted to be a superhero, specifically, he wanted to be Batman. So, Make-A-Wish Foundation worked to put together a special event, turning San Francisco into Gotham City for a day. Miles as Batkid and accompanied by Batman, was driven through in a “bat-mobile” and was able to partake in a series of death defying rescues, while thousands of people cheered. The miniature hero got ot help nab arch-villains Riddler and the Penguin and save a damsel in distress tied to the city’s famous tram tracks.
The internet exploded with glee at the event, and every Batman, from Adam West to Christian Bale congratulated Miles on his heroism.
Several years ago, I used to spend a ridiculous number of hours watching Inside the Actors’ Studio, hosted by James Lipton. The show had a blend of celebrity, study of craft, and personal exploration, all combined with Lipton’s unique soft-spoken tone, that made it fascinating.
At the end of every episode, he asks ten questions, an adapted version of the Proust Questionnaire. I am always fascinated by the answers given and couldn’t help thinking what I would say should I ever become a director and appear on the show.
Here are my answers to those ten questions as I would give them today.
1. What is your favorite word?
I have many words and phrases at catch my attention and linger. Some due to meanings, some just because of how they sound. At the moment, “indubitably” comes to mind as a favorite. I like the playful way the syllables fall of the tongue. It’s a fun way of saying, “Absolutely. Yes.”
2. What is your least favorite word?
Should. I don’t like the way “should” tends to put me into a state of arguing with reality, which just causes frustration.
3. What turns you on creatively, spiritually or emotionally?
I’m tempted to say “everything,” though that would be an untrue exaggeration, because not everything can be pleasing or enlightening in life. But every time I take a deep breath and think about the world and all its interconnections, I very much want to believe in the beauty of things.
4. What turns you off?
Humiliation. The feeling that I am being judged negatively by others.
5. What is your favorite curse word?
F*ck. Sometimes it’s the only word that fits, and it’s hands down the best curse word in the English language. Here is evidence.
6. What sound or noise do you love?
My niece’s squealing laugh. The patter of rain on my window. The crunch-pop sound of snow beneath my feet.
7. What sound or noise do you hate?
The screaming of car brakes. Nothing good comes from that.
8. What profession other than your own would you like to attempt?
Explorer. I imagine this in the sense of seeking out new realms as yet unseen (providing the conquer, destroy, and colonize aspect could be taken out of the process), of which there is not much left on Earth. In which case what’s left is space (the final frontier), so maybe a more accurate answer is Astronaut.
9. What profession would you not like to do?
Coal miner. I don’t like the idea of the dirt, grit, or dark.
10. If Heaven exists, what would you like to hear God say when you arrive at the Pearly Gates?
“You did good.”
Post inspired by Daily Prompt: Inside the Actor’s Studio.
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In other news, the first trailer for Maleficent, staring Angelina Jolie, is out. I am cautiously optimistic.