I'd like to start this post by pointing out that I am not crazy. I have the professional opinion of two psychologists on that. Admittedly both balked when I asked them to put it in writing. . .
That said, here is my plan for April! I joined napowrimo and committed to writing a poem every day in celebration of National Poetry Month. I also joined nablopomo (don't you love these names!) and committed to doing a daily blog post for April. Seriously, they said I wasn't crazy. Really. Anyway be sure and come back in April and read my daily posts & I'll update you on poem status. Or I'll give up and hide my head in the pillow and cry.
March One Small Change: My change for March was to quit drinking diet coke. I did pretty good. I did have a coke a couple of times but I just bought an individual bottle, not a six-pack and I'm still committed to not drinking it any more! It was kind of difficult because I really like the taste and I think I was having diet coke cravings. Anyway I'm proud of myself for doing this and mostly sticking with it!
April One Small Change: I have one small bad habit. I tend to use more water than necessary. When I do dishes I let the water run when I could turn it off, same thing for brushing my teeth and washing up. So for April I'm going to use less water. I feel like this will be easy but I suspect it's going to be hard to remember. I think I'll make a sign to remind myself!
March Libraries & Reading: I went to the library four times. One visit was to a new branch, North Natomas. I read nine books in March.
U is for Undertow - Sue Grafton Latest alphabet mystery series
Call the Dead Again - Ann Granger British country mystery
Nothing Was The Same - Kay Redfield Jamison Jamison's account of her husband's death & the differences between grief and depression
Borderline - Nevada Barr Latest in mystery series
The Places that Scare You - Pema Chodron Accepting what happens, ways to deal with life and not become angry and bitter
The Fellowship of the Ring - J.R.R. Tolkien Ok if you don't know what this is about there is no hope for you! I've read this, I don't know, maybe 20 times and I never get tired of it.
When Things Fall Apart - Pema Chodron More on dealing with life . . .
Sometimes in the Open: Poems from California's Poets Laureate - edited by Bob Stanley Poems (bet you wouldn't have figured that one out)
Socialnomics - Erik Qualman Using social media in business
Wednesday, March 31, 2010
Tuesday, March 30, 2010
A Few Thoughts
I went for a walk today. I don't have any pictures to share though, just a few thoughts. I met a man during my walk. He stopped me, said hello, told me quite a bit about his life and asked me for money. He had clearly been drinking but he was polite and I felt sorry for him. I don't carry my purse with me when I walk so I had no money to give him. He told me he needed it to take a bus ride back to Santa Monica. I don't know if that was true or not. The odds are high if I'd given him any he would have bought something else to drink. I still wish I'd had some to give him.
I've been kind of feeling sorry for myself the last couple of days. It feels a little trite to say that he made me realize how lucky I am but he did. Yeah my life could be better right now. But I'm lucky. I have people who love me and care what happens to me and I didn't get the impression this guy has anyone. I was out walking because I wanted to be, not because I had no choice. I see a lot of homeless people around Sacramento. I also see a lot of people ignore them and treat them rudely and I'm not sure why they do that. Fear maybe. Or maybe they really don't care. They have busy lives and no time to talk for a minute or smile at someone. I'm not the most outgoing, friendly person around but when someone talks to me I don't ignore them. It doesn't matter if they are pushing a cart full of bottles or trailing secret service guards, it's rude to ignore someone who is speaking to you.
A lot of things matter in life but I think what matters most in our relationships with other people is kindness. One of my favorite stories is The Other Wise Man by Henry Van Dyke. If you haven't read it, click on the link and read it. It's a short story and won't take you long. The "moral" is at the end: "Verily I say unto thee, Inasmuch as thou hast done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, thou hast done it unto me."
You can take it as a religious or moral lesson or just take it to mean that we're all human and no one should be treated as less than that. I don't know. I don't have any answers to the problems society faces. I don't think I'm really any nicer than anyone else. I was brought up to be polite so I'm polite. I'm just sad tonight because I'm thinking about that man and wondering where he'll sleep and hoping he gets enough to eat. Life is sad sometimes and I guess there isn't always a good solution. But I still think kindness matters. I suppose you could say if I'd given him money and he'd bought more liquor that wouldn't have been a kindness. I disagree though. I think the kindness is in acknowledging him and helping if possible and letting him make his own decision. So next time I walk I'll bring a couple of dollars with me. And yeah, in case you wondered, I'm a bleeding heart, naive, gullible, liberal. I'm good with that though.
I've been kind of feeling sorry for myself the last couple of days. It feels a little trite to say that he made me realize how lucky I am but he did. Yeah my life could be better right now. But I'm lucky. I have people who love me and care what happens to me and I didn't get the impression this guy has anyone. I was out walking because I wanted to be, not because I had no choice. I see a lot of homeless people around Sacramento. I also see a lot of people ignore them and treat them rudely and I'm not sure why they do that. Fear maybe. Or maybe they really don't care. They have busy lives and no time to talk for a minute or smile at someone. I'm not the most outgoing, friendly person around but when someone talks to me I don't ignore them. It doesn't matter if they are pushing a cart full of bottles or trailing secret service guards, it's rude to ignore someone who is speaking to you.
A lot of things matter in life but I think what matters most in our relationships with other people is kindness. One of my favorite stories is The Other Wise Man by Henry Van Dyke. If you haven't read it, click on the link and read it. It's a short story and won't take you long. The "moral" is at the end: "Verily I say unto thee, Inasmuch as thou hast done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, thou hast done it unto me."
You can take it as a religious or moral lesson or just take it to mean that we're all human and no one should be treated as less than that. I don't know. I don't have any answers to the problems society faces. I don't think I'm really any nicer than anyone else. I was brought up to be polite so I'm polite. I'm just sad tonight because I'm thinking about that man and wondering where he'll sleep and hoping he gets enough to eat. Life is sad sometimes and I guess there isn't always a good solution. But I still think kindness matters. I suppose you could say if I'd given him money and he'd bought more liquor that wouldn't have been a kindness. I disagree though. I think the kindness is in acknowledging him and helping if possible and letting him make his own decision. So next time I walk I'll bring a couple of dollars with me. And yeah, in case you wondered, I'm a bleeding heart, naive, gullible, liberal. I'm good with that though.
Monday, March 29, 2010
Sunday, March 28, 2010
Silent Sunday
Aren't these pretty! I went to Trader Joes Saturday and they had bunches of daffodils for only $1.29 each. I bought 3 bunches because I thought they looked so pretty.
Saturday, March 27, 2010
A few pictures
Some pictures from my walk yesterday. I think that I live in a very pretty neighborhood!
A lot of the curbs have little flower gardens planted in them. I don't know if the people that live near them do it or if the city does but I think they look pretty. I had to stand in the street to take this picture. Fortunately no one ran over me.
Here's another curb. I think this is lavender.
There are so many flowers blooming all over!
I had to wait for the train to go past. I like watching the trains - I don't know why. . .
A view down the railroad tracks.
I like this corner. It's planted with a bunch of bushes & trees and looks sort of like a jungle to me. It's really cool to walk underneath it!
More pretty flowers by someone's house.
Here's another curb. I think this is lavender.
There are so many flowers blooming all over!
A view down the railroad tracks.
More pretty flowers by someone's house.
Friday, March 26, 2010
Another Exciting Library Visit!
By the way in case you think I'm a little odd with this visiting libraries thing I'd like to point out that there are other people in the world that do the same thing. I know this because I personally know one of them. Admittedly I gave birth to her and may have had some influence on her actions but it still counts!
Since I'm sure you're all wondering, here is the list of the Sacramento County libraries and my visiting status. The names in red are branches I've already visited. There are 28 libraries and I've been to 9. I want to visit them all by the end of the year. I'm pretty sure that shouldn't be a problem.
Arcade Library
Arden-Dimick Library
Belle Cooledge Library
Carmichael Library
Central Library - the 1st one I went to!
Colonial Heights Library
Courtland Library
Del Paso Heights Library
E.K. McClatchy Library - this is my neighborhood branch & my favorite!
Elk Grove Library
Fair Oaks Library
Franklin Library
Galt-Marian O. Lawrence Library
Isleton Library
Martin Luther King, Jr. Library
McKinley Library
North Highlands-Antelope Library
North Natomas Library
North Sacramento-Hagginwood Library
Orangevale Library
Rancho Cordova Library
Rio Linda Library
Robbie Waters Pocket-Greenhaven Library
South Natomas Library
Southgate Library
Sylvan Oaks Library
Valley Hi-North Laguna Library
Walnut Grove Library
Thursday, March 25, 2010
Some Thoughts for Today
I was looking for a quote yesterday and found this page with a bunch of funny and not so funny sayings. I thought I'd share a few today:
Life should not be a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in an attractive and well preserved body, but rather to skid in sideways, chocolate in one hand, martini in the other, your body thoroughly used up, totally worn out and screaming, "Woo hoo! What a ride!"
- Experience is a wonderful thing. It enables you to recognize a mistake when you make it again.
- You cannot make someone love you. All you can do is stalk them and hope they panic, and then give in.
- Honesty is the best policy, but insanity is a better defense.
- You shouldn't compare yourself to others - they are more screwed up than you think.
- Depression is merely anger without enthusiasm.
- Age is a very high price to pay for maturity.
- There is a fine line between genius and insanity.
- Dogs have owners. Cats have staff. (Yeah I definitely know that!)
- If you must choose between two evils, pick the one you've never tried before.
- If you can smile when things go wrong, you have someone in mind to blame.
- It takes only a day to love someone, but it takes a lifetime to forget someone.
- Never wrestle with a pig: you both get all dirty, and the pig likes it.
Life should not be a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in an attractive and well preserved body, but rather to skid in sideways, chocolate in one hand, martini in the other, your body thoroughly used up, totally worn out and screaming, "Woo hoo! What a ride!"
Wednesday, March 24, 2010
napowrimo
I just signed up on the official challenge pledge post for napowrimo - National Poetry Writing Month. The pledge is to write a poem every day in April. So I have signed in blood (well sort of) and pledged my most sincere, ambitious and lofty word of honor. I'm getting carried away with words already. Anybody want to join me?
Ada LoveLace Day: Hypatia
I joined Ada Lovelace Day and agreed to write a blog post about a woman in science/technology. I decided to tell you about Hypatia.
Hypatia lived in Alexandria from about 350-415 C.E. She was a mathematician, astronomer and philosopher. There isn't a lot of historical information about her, what we know is from letters others wrote referencing her work and life. She was described by a contemporary as a woman who made such attainments in literature and science, as to far surpass all the philosophers of her own time.
Some of her works include:
Wrote The Astronomical Canon
A Commentary on the Arithmetica of Diophantus
A Commentary on the Conics of Apollonious
Edited Commentary on the Almagest of Ptolemy
Edited Commentary on Euclid's Elements
Evidence suggests she invented or contributed to the invention of the Hydrometer.
She led a very public life and was the Director of the Neoplatonist School at Alexandria.Unfortunately it wasn't the best time to be a woman, a pagan and a public figure. Believed to be supporting the wrong side in a quarrel between the Bishop Cyril and Alexandria's Governor, Orestes, she was, according to sources, dragged from her chariot, stripped, killed, the flesh stripped from her bones and her body parts scattered. Accounts differ somewhat in what happened but none of them sound pleasant.
Her story has been romanticized in literature and she has also had, among other things, an asteroid and a lunar crater named after her.
Hypatia lived in Alexandria from about 350-415 C.E. She was a mathematician, astronomer and philosopher. There isn't a lot of historical information about her, what we know is from letters others wrote referencing her work and life. She was described by a contemporary as a woman who made such attainments in literature and science, as to far surpass all the philosophers of her own time.
Some of her works include:
Wrote The Astronomical Canon
A Commentary on the Arithmetica of Diophantus
A Commentary on the Conics of Apollonious
Edited Commentary on the Almagest of Ptolemy
Edited Commentary on Euclid's Elements
Evidence suggests she invented or contributed to the invention of the Hydrometer.
She led a very public life and was the Director of the Neoplatonist School at Alexandria.Unfortunately it wasn't the best time to be a woman, a pagan and a public figure. Believed to be supporting the wrong side in a quarrel between the Bishop Cyril and Alexandria's Governor, Orestes, she was, according to sources, dragged from her chariot, stripped, killed, the flesh stripped from her bones and her body parts scattered. Accounts differ somewhat in what happened but none of them sound pleasant.
Her story has been romanticized in literature and she has also had, among other things, an asteroid and a lunar crater named after her.
Tuesday, March 23, 2010
An update
This is kind of a catch-up post. I haven't been posting much for the last month for a couple of reasons but I'm going to try and post more often! Actually I shouldn't just say reasons. I've shared a lot of stuff on this blog and it's kind of dumb to stop. So my reasons include:
In February a friend died unexpectedly and it's been a really hard thing for me to deal with. He was someone I was very close to and I miss him a lot. He lived in Texas but we usually talked on the phone at least every other day. I still find myself thinking that I should call him. It's hard to remember sometimes that he's gone but it's also hard not to remember. I think that makes sense.
Another reason is that I've felt horribly miserable with a toothache and I'm afraid of dentists so I kept putting off going. I finally went Saturday and got it taken care of and I feel like a new person! The funny (well I guess it's funny) thing is that it wasn't anywhere near as bad as I was afraid it would be. I suppose I should learn a lesson from that but I'm not holding my breath.
One Small Change - I'm doing very well! I did have a diet coke one day last week. I felt like I was having a craving for it and ended up walking down to the store near me and buying one. Unfortunately it tasted pretty good but I'm not giving in again. I consoled myself with the thought that at least I walked to the store and didn't drive!
So that's about it. Stay tuned tomorrow for my Ada Lovelace Day post. Check out the link, if you haven't joined there's still time!
In February a friend died unexpectedly and it's been a really hard thing for me to deal with. He was someone I was very close to and I miss him a lot. He lived in Texas but we usually talked on the phone at least every other day. I still find myself thinking that I should call him. It's hard to remember sometimes that he's gone but it's also hard not to remember. I think that makes sense.
Another reason is that I've felt horribly miserable with a toothache and I'm afraid of dentists so I kept putting off going. I finally went Saturday and got it taken care of and I feel like a new person! The funny (well I guess it's funny) thing is that it wasn't anywhere near as bad as I was afraid it would be. I suppose I should learn a lesson from that but I'm not holding my breath.
One Small Change - I'm doing very well! I did have a diet coke one day last week. I felt like I was having a craving for it and ended up walking down to the store near me and buying one. Unfortunately it tasted pretty good but I'm not giving in again. I consoled myself with the thought that at least I walked to the store and didn't drive!
So that's about it. Stay tuned tomorrow for my Ada Lovelace Day post. Check out the link, if you haven't joined there's still time!
Monday, March 22, 2010
Sunday, March 21, 2010
Monday, March 15, 2010
Sunday, March 14, 2010
Saturday, March 13, 2010
Going Home
I went home today. That sounds funny doesn't it? I went to the Bay Area & visited assorted family members and it felt so much like I was home and safe and stuff was ok. Driving back to Sacramento I started (once again) thinking I'd made a mistake moving here. If you've driven on 80 to Sacramento you may have noticed there is a point where you can see the city kind of rising up out of the ground. It's my favorite view of Sacramento and when I saw it tonight I knew (once again!) that I hadn't made a mistake. Which, of course, made me start crying. (I'm a weepy little person sometimes.)
I was thinking that the cliche "home is where your heart is" does have some truth in it. I love Sacramento, I love my apt here and I don't ever, ever, ever want to move! Most of my family is in the Bay Area though. It's where I grew up, where I've spent all my adult life until now. Where my heart is and always will be. I don't have a physical home there anymore but it's still my home. But my heart is also in Sacramento. I'm making a new life here just for me (and my cats) and I love it and wouldn't change for anything. So I think that's ok. I think you can love more than one place just like you can love more than one person. And it's actually kind of nice. I was going home on my way to the Bay Area and I was going home on my way back to Sacramento.
It felt good to pull up in front of my apartment, lug all my stuff in and see my cats. I'm back home tonight and warm and safe and happy to be here. And it's good and it's going to work. Somedays you just can't say it too many times.
I was thinking that the cliche "home is where your heart is" does have some truth in it. I love Sacramento, I love my apt here and I don't ever, ever, ever want to move! Most of my family is in the Bay Area though. It's where I grew up, where I've spent all my adult life until now. Where my heart is and always will be. I don't have a physical home there anymore but it's still my home. But my heart is also in Sacramento. I'm making a new life here just for me (and my cats) and I love it and wouldn't change for anything. So I think that's ok. I think you can love more than one place just like you can love more than one person. And it's actually kind of nice. I was going home on my way to the Bay Area and I was going home on my way back to Sacramento.
It felt good to pull up in front of my apartment, lug all my stuff in and see my cats. I'm back home tonight and warm and safe and happy to be here. And it's good and it's going to work. Somedays you just can't say it too many times.
A Saturday Fable
I was looking at some of the search terms people use when they end up at this blog. One that comes up a lot is girl and snake fable. It's an entry I had posted in 2008 and it gets more views than anything else I've posted. Apparently it's a popular story. Go figure huh? Anyway, since people seem to like it I thought I'd repost the story along with a different version of the song. Read the story, sing the song and always remember to look before you leap. Ok, sorry just getting caught up in the moral of the tale.
A young girl was trudging along a mountain path, trying to reach her grandmother's house. It was bitter cold, and the wind cut like a knife. When she was within sight of her destination, she heard a rustle at her feet.
Looking down, she saw a snake. Before she could move, the snake spoke to her. He said, "I am about to die. It is too cold for me up here, and I am freezing. There is no food in these mountains, and I am starving. Please put me under your coat and take me with you."
"No," replied the girl. "I know your kind. You are a rattlesnake. If I pick you up, you will bite me, and your bite is poisonous.”
"No, no," said the snake. "If you help me, you will be my best friend. I will treat you differently."
The little girl sat down on a rock for a moment to rest and think things over. She looked at the beautiful markings on the snake and had to admit that it was the most beautiful snake she had ever seen.
Suddenly, she said, "I believe you. I will save you. All living things deserve to be treated with kindness."
The little girl reached over, put the snake gently under her coat and proceeded toward her grandmother's house.
Within a moment, she felt a sharp pain in her side. The snake had bitten her.
"How could you do this to me?" she cried. "You promised that you would not bite me, and I trusted you!"
"You knew what I was when you picked me up," hissed the snake as he slithered away.
A young girl was trudging along a mountain path, trying to reach her grandmother's house. It was bitter cold, and the wind cut like a knife. When she was within sight of her destination, she heard a rustle at her feet.
Looking down, she saw a snake. Before she could move, the snake spoke to her. He said, "I am about to die. It is too cold for me up here, and I am freezing. There is no food in these mountains, and I am starving. Please put me under your coat and take me with you."
"No," replied the girl. "I know your kind. You are a rattlesnake. If I pick you up, you will bite me, and your bite is poisonous.”
"No, no," said the snake. "If you help me, you will be my best friend. I will treat you differently."
The little girl sat down on a rock for a moment to rest and think things over. She looked at the beautiful markings on the snake and had to admit that it was the most beautiful snake she had ever seen.
Suddenly, she said, "I believe you. I will save you. All living things deserve to be treated with kindness."
The little girl reached over, put the snake gently under her coat and proceeded toward her grandmother's house.
Within a moment, she felt a sharp pain in her side. The snake had bitten her.
"How could you do this to me?" she cried. "You promised that you would not bite me, and I trusted you!"
"You knew what I was when you picked me up," hissed the snake as he slithered away.
Friday, March 12, 2010
Pictures from my walk
I walked today and brought my iphone with me so I could take pictures. Yesterday I saw so many pretty flowers blooming but didn't have my phone with me. I wanted to listen to music today while I walked and was trying to decide whether to bring my shuffle or phone to take pictures. It took a few minutes for it to dawn on me that my iphone has an ipod on it. Sometimes I worry about myself.
This is in the alleyway where I park my car. I thought the daffodils looked pretty blooming inside the kind of icky fence.
A pretty tree. I like the pink flowers!
I thought this looked pretty cool!
This is a bush on my corner. The flowers are a peach color and really pretty.
The picture you get when you're trying to use the ipod & camera on your phone at the same time.
A little patch of pretty flowers.
I don't know what this bush is but it's very pretty. I see a bunch of them in my neighborhood. I especially liked this one because it has white flowers planted inside it.
Another pretty plant. The leaves are really nice but if you enlarge it you can see yellow flowers. I don't know what this one is either. I think there is a plant id app that you can get for the iphone. I guess I should look for it!
This is in the alleyway where I park my car. I thought the daffodils looked pretty blooming inside the kind of icky fence.
A pretty tree. I like the pink flowers!
I thought this looked pretty cool!
This is a bush on my corner. The flowers are a peach color and really pretty.
The picture you get when you're trying to use the ipod & camera on your phone at the same time.
A little patch of pretty flowers.
I don't know what this bush is but it's very pretty. I see a bunch of them in my neighborhood. I especially liked this one because it has white flowers planted inside it.
Another pretty plant. The leaves are really nice but if you enlarge it you can see yellow flowers. I don't know what this one is either. I think there is a plant id app that you can get for the iphone. I guess I should look for it!
Thursday, March 11, 2010
This is a very good thing
When the voice and vision on the inside become more profound, and more clear and loud than the opinions on the outside, you have mastered your life. ~John DeMartini
I was updating quotes on my Facebook page and added this one that I found awhile ago. I liked the quote, which is why I saved it, but I hadn't thought a lot about it. I did tonight and realized something pretty astonishing. For my entire life the opinion of someone else has always been more important to me than my own. What I thought other people wanted from me and expected me to be mattered more than what I wanted. In the last year and especially in the last few months that's been changing. I wouldn't say I'm there yet but I can see that I'm getting to that point. My first inclination is still to turn to someone else for validation but it's changing.
A year ago I would have said I'd never be at a point where I could trust and believe in myself. I believe now that I will eventually. I know it isn't going to be easy - it hasn't been so far! The past year has been very hard for me and in many ways I'm not the same person I was a year ago. And that's good but I'm crying now because it feels, in some way, like a betrayal. I know it isn't, I know it's good but it sure is hard. As I think about it the person I feel like I'm betraying would say it isn't, that trusting myself and listening to myself is the best thing I could do. In many ways that I'm able to feel this way now is in part thanks to him. And realizing that helps me let loose of a little more anger and I feel lighter and happier.
Well this got a bit more personal than I intended but I guess I'll go ahead and post it anyway. While I was writing it I got the following email from the Universe that seemed to fit pretty well!
It's working, Robin! Every day you're getting closer! Everything you've ever wanted is being pressed toward you. Everything is clicking. Don't let the illusions trick you. Don't let the events of today dampen your spirits. Things couldn't be any better than they now are. You couldn't have more reasons to celebrate. Now! Do it! The hardest work is done! Just show up, be present, open every door and let events unfold. Life is your stage. This is your parade. Together we can do anything.
I love it when you're hot,
The Universe
I was updating quotes on my Facebook page and added this one that I found awhile ago. I liked the quote, which is why I saved it, but I hadn't thought a lot about it. I did tonight and realized something pretty astonishing. For my entire life the opinion of someone else has always been more important to me than my own. What I thought other people wanted from me and expected me to be mattered more than what I wanted. In the last year and especially in the last few months that's been changing. I wouldn't say I'm there yet but I can see that I'm getting to that point. My first inclination is still to turn to someone else for validation but it's changing.
A year ago I would have said I'd never be at a point where I could trust and believe in myself. I believe now that I will eventually. I know it isn't going to be easy - it hasn't been so far! The past year has been very hard for me and in many ways I'm not the same person I was a year ago. And that's good but I'm crying now because it feels, in some way, like a betrayal. I know it isn't, I know it's good but it sure is hard. As I think about it the person I feel like I'm betraying would say it isn't, that trusting myself and listening to myself is the best thing I could do. In many ways that I'm able to feel this way now is in part thanks to him. And realizing that helps me let loose of a little more anger and I feel lighter and happier.
Well this got a bit more personal than I intended but I guess I'll go ahead and post it anyway. While I was writing it I got the following email from the Universe that seemed to fit pretty well!
It's working, Robin! Every day you're getting closer! Everything you've ever wanted is being pressed toward you. Everything is clicking. Don't let the illusions trick you. Don't let the events of today dampen your spirits. Things couldn't be any better than they now are. You couldn't have more reasons to celebrate. Now! Do it! The hardest work is done! Just show up, be present, open every door and let events unfold. Life is your stage. This is your parade. Together we can do anything.
I love it when you're hot,
The Universe
Monday, March 8, 2010
Sunday, March 7, 2010
Thursday, March 4, 2010
Poetry Day
The Mystery
I became a creature of light.
I sat in a driveway in California;
the roses were hydrant-color; a baby
rolled by in its yellow stroller, making
bubbling fishlike sounds.
I sat in a folding chair
reading Nero Wolfe for the twentieth time,
a mystery that has become restful.
I know who the innocent are; I have acquired in some
measure
the genius of the master, in whose supple mind
time moves in two directions: backward
from the act to the motive
and forward to just resolution.
Fearless heart, never tremble again:
the only shadow is the narrow palm's
that cannot enclose you absolutely.
Not like the shadows of the east.
My life took me many places,
many of them very dark.
It took me without my volition,
pushing me from behind,
from one world to another, like
the fishlike baby.
And it was all entirely arbitrary,
without discernible form.
The passionate threats and questions,
the old search for justice,
must have been entirely deluded.
And yet I saw amazing things.
I became almost radiant at the end;
I carried my book everywhere,
like an eager student
clinging to these simple mysteries
so that I might silence in myself
the last accusations:
Who are you and what is your purpose?
by Louise Gluck
I became a creature of light.
I sat in a driveway in California;
the roses were hydrant-color; a baby
rolled by in its yellow stroller, making
bubbling fishlike sounds.
I sat in a folding chair
reading Nero Wolfe for the twentieth time,
a mystery that has become restful.
I know who the innocent are; I have acquired in some
measure
the genius of the master, in whose supple mind
time moves in two directions: backward
from the act to the motive
and forward to just resolution.
Fearless heart, never tremble again:
the only shadow is the narrow palm's
that cannot enclose you absolutely.
Not like the shadows of the east.
My life took me many places,
many of them very dark.
It took me without my volition,
pushing me from behind,
from one world to another, like
the fishlike baby.
And it was all entirely arbitrary,
without discernible form.
The passionate threats and questions,
the old search for justice,
must have been entirely deluded.
And yet I saw amazing things.
I became almost radiant at the end;
I carried my book everywhere,
like an eager student
clinging to these simple mysteries
so that I might silence in myself
the last accusations:
Who are you and what is your purpose?
by Louise Gluck
Tuesday, March 2, 2010
February Reading/Libraries
I didn't read as much in February. For a short month it felt very long and hard and I'm glad it's over. I read five books and went to the library three times. Two library visits were new libraries for me. I visited the Arcade branch and Colonial Heights. I'm not sure how many I have left to go, quite a few though.
In February I read:
The Lady in the Tower: The Fall of Anne Boleyn - Alison Weir Focuses on the last few months of Anne's life and looks at reasons for her fall.
Out of Africa - Isak Dineson In case you wonder, of course I've read this before. Numerous times. It's one of my favorites. If you haven't read it do it now!
Dial Om for Murder - Diana Killian This is the 2nd in her yoga mystery series. Very good as are all her books!
The Lost Symbol - Dan Brown I requested this in October when I first moved to Sacramento. I was something like 450 on the list and it finally came in about a week ago. Good story but I think I liked Da Vinci Code better.
A Restless Evil - Ann Granger English village mystery. Good story and there are a lot in the series to read!
In February I read:
The Lady in the Tower: The Fall of Anne Boleyn - Alison Weir Focuses on the last few months of Anne's life and looks at reasons for her fall.
Out of Africa - Isak Dineson In case you wonder, of course I've read this before. Numerous times. It's one of my favorites. If you haven't read it do it now!
Dial Om for Murder - Diana Killian This is the 2nd in her yoga mystery series. Very good as are all her books!
The Lost Symbol - Dan Brown I requested this in October when I first moved to Sacramento. I was something like 450 on the list and it finally came in about a week ago. Good story but I think I liked Da Vinci Code better.
A Restless Evil - Ann Granger English village mystery. Good story and there are a lot in the series to read!
One Small Change Update
Oops a little late with posting this but . . . I guess I'd give myself a B for February. My change was to keep the heater off unless it went below 65. I definitely used the heater a lot less this month but there were a few times I turned it on when I could have just put on a sweater. My windows leak cold air in and sitting in the living room can feel pretty cold even when the rest of the apt is at 68 so I gave into temptation a few times. It was a good change though and I'm hoping for a lower utility bill!
On to March. I've been worrying over the last few days what to do for March. I spent some time reading other blogs to get ideas and finally came up with one. This is a good change for me and for the environment and, ok I'm just trying to avoid writing it. Gulp. I'm going to quit drinking diet Coke. That will eliminate all those plastic bottles and save money. There are a lot of plastic bottles too. I usually drink 2-4 bottles a day (and then wonder why I'm awake at 3:00 am). Today is the 2nd and I have one bottle left I'm going to drink and that's it!
Good change. I can do this. I can. Really. I hope.
On to March. I've been worrying over the last few days what to do for March. I spent some time reading other blogs to get ideas and finally came up with one. This is a good change for me and for the environment and, ok I'm just trying to avoid writing it. Gulp. I'm going to quit drinking diet Coke. That will eliminate all those plastic bottles and save money. There are a lot of plastic bottles too. I usually drink 2-4 bottles a day (and then wonder why I'm awake at 3:00 am). Today is the 2nd and I have one bottle left I'm going to drink and that's it!
Good change. I can do this. I can. Really. I hope.
Monday, March 1, 2010
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