I swear to god, I should make a blog just with the questions my brother asks me on any given day. Kind of the opposite of Things I Learned Today, a friend-of-a-friend's blog.
Today's memorable gems:
- Why do people think it's a bad idea that we bought Alaska?
- What does it mean when the cat looks at me like that?
- Would it be bad if people in Egypt stoned you?
- What does it mean to scan something?
- What do apples with peanut butter taste like?
- Paul Auster's Book of Illusions: Just wow. Auster's Timbuktu was so much more than a "dog book," and this book managed to communicate so much about art and grief I know I'll be picking it up again to learn and see more than I did this first pass through. Auster's characters really live for me, which usually makes his books that much more heartbreaking.
- Jeanette Winterson's Art & Lies: Strangely blogged about earlier this month, this is one of my favorite books of all time. Winterson's mastery of language impresses, surprises, and makes my spirit soar. Recommended most highly.
- Mark Waid's Kingdom Come (painted by Alex Ross): Dramatic story of the DC superhero universe, a bit overdone on the Biblical front, but filled with nerdy in-jokes and beautifully painted by Ross.
- Warren Ellis's Transmetropolitan (art by Darick Robertson): I had read through most of the series, except the final two books, previously. This past week, I started mortoring through them again, intent to see the thing through. I was well-rewarded and consider this among my favorite comic series.
- James Patterson's Hide & Seek: Guilty pleasure, Patterson's books. Borrowed this one from my in-law's library and, honestly, I mainly read it last night in order to clear more space on our bookshelves for the TEN Discworld novels I brought home yesterday. Really, after the last four books, this was almost shameful to read.
- Several artsy crafty magazines leading up to February/Thingaday, including Somerset Workshop, Somerset Studio, Cloth Paper Scissors, Adorn and this month's ReadyMade and Domino. I absolutely LOVE the Somerset publications and CPS, always learn something fun and inspiring via Adorn and RM, but I hated Domino. I picked up their green issue, which may have made the spendy designer things all the more infuriating. I clearly am not anywhere near their target demographic: According to Domino, the easy ways to green your home were $28/yard wallpaper, $1700 coffee tables, $350 tablecloths, $700 blankets, $165 jeans...The not-so-easy things? Joining a CSA, using cloth napkins, reading books (!!!), turning down your themostat, buying in bulk, and shutting off the firkin' faucet while you brush your teeth. I AM NOT KIDDING.
Whew. Toomuchcoffeewoman, mayhaps?
Anyway, next up is Howard Norman's The Museum Guard. I know nothing of the book or the author, except that I found it on my bookshelf; I may blame my stint volunteering at The Book Thing of Baltimore for this. All I know is that it is on my shelf and mine to read. :)
red disc of hosannas.
Anyway, after reading a few of the opening pages, I prepared to return to work. I paused, glanced at the cover, Winterson's words still swirling in my head, and thought about the process of making a slipcover for my copy of the book. What images and words would I use? What would the purpose be? The thought turned over in my mind.
While handling the book, turning it over and considering that process, a slip of paper fell out:
as an apple falls,
as rain falls,
because you must.
Use gravity to anchor your desire.
I thought about the process of writing out Winterson's words, how it made me slow down and take them in differently when I was transcribing them versus just reading. The work of interpreting/translating figures heavily into Paul Auster's Book of Illusions, which I finished earlier this week prior to picking up Art & Lies, and likely influenced this line of thought.
What if I transcribed the entire book? What if I made my own unique copy of Art & Lies, not just a slipcover but the entire book?
What the purpose would be? How long would such a thing even take? How would I handle the nine pages of Der Rosenkavalier printed at the book's end? I've no idea if this will every be actively pursued, but it's been percolating in my mind all morning while I should be making graphs and charts for a work report.
That's how I would describe this weekend: insanely productive.
Sometimes you feel the fog of depression lift and, suddenly, so much is possible. My brother spent the weekend visiting friends, so the husband and I ate spicy food, drank beerz, got to see "No Country for Old Men" in the theater. Which, on its own, would make the weekend swell. But we also reorganized and cleaned our living room, did a serious bleach job on both bathrooms, bought and set up a new outdoor kitty box, scrubbed clean the lanai around the pool, chemically treated the pool water, went grocery shopping, made some headway on our recycling piles, did a couple loads of laundry and made plans for what we want to accomplish next weekend.
I feel a tad exhausted but also so pleased with what was done around the house. Plus, getting all this done means my house will be in much better shape for February's dinner party. (I probably failed to blog about this in the past, but I decided last fall that I was almost thirty and had yet to throw what I would call a dinner party. So I declared a potluck dinner party with a Cuban theme and, lo and behold, people showed up to indulge me. Now we're trying to make it a monthly tradition.)
Anyway, more than what was even accomplished this weekend, what really has me buzzing is the new organizational system for my studio the husband and I devised this afternoon. It will likely only set us back a couple of weekend's work and fifty bucks, but it will solve so many problems and make my space both more usable and more unique. I call that a win.
So, productivity, adult time, dinner party plans, future plans, good feelings all around. I <3 this weekend.
1. I've come to realize that my butt: isn't the width I think it is.
2. I've come to realize that when I talk: I'm having a harder time thinking of the right words. I have not yet come to realize whether or not this should alarm me.
3. I've come to realize that, if I love someone (not family): What does "not family" mean? If I love you, you are in my circle of intimacy, you are family. It's a very small raft I'm drifting on through this life; those who are on the journey with me are my family. I love them, they help me be the person I dream of being, and I try so very hard to do the same for them.
4.
I've come to realize that I need: less stuff than originally imagined.
5. I've come to realize that I've lost: very little. I originally started a list of things I've supposedly "lost": my way, my mother, my virginity...but none of those things were lost; I know where they are:
- I haven't lost my way, though I did hunker down for awhile and try to catch my breath.
- I haven't lost my mother. I know where I last saw her, where she is now, and that I carry her with me everyday.
- I haven't lost my virginity, but I did set it aside, but I know where!
6. I've come to realize that I hate it when: I fail to do things. Better to do and fail, better to at least make a showing, than to realize you let time go by.
7. I've come to realize that if I'm drunk: it's likely I'm either avoiding something or trying to forget something.
8. I've come to realize that money: is the source of 90% of my crises.
9. I've come to realize that: it's impossible for me to be worthy of the love that's been given me, but it's worthwhile to make an effort to be so worthy.
10. I've come to realize that I'll always be: a little off kilter.
11. I've come to realize that I have a crush on: heh, Mike Rowe.
12.
I've come to realize that the last time I cried was: yesterday, while dusting my mother's photographs.
13. I've come to realize that my cell phone is: now my watch
14. I've come to realize that when I wake up in the morning: I'm rarely happy about it, but that could change.
15.
I've come to realize that before I go to sleep at night I: prefer to have a warm body next to me.
16.
I've come to realize that right now I am thinking about: reorganizing my studio.
18. I've come to realize that when I get on Facebook: I'll always be surprised by the people who remember me.
19. I've come to realize that today I will: far more productive than I could have predicted.
20. I've come to realize that tonight I will: be happy to see my brother again and so grateful for all that was accomplished while he was away.
21. I've come to realize that tomorrow I will: be writing like a madwoman for a work report.
22. I've come to realize that I really want to: travel more often.
23.
I've come to realize that the person who is most likely to repost this
is: my lionness.
24. I've come to realize relationships: are far more complex than anyone ever told me.
25. I've come to realize love: is almost indescribable in its strength.
26. I've come to realize my best guy friend(s): are very committed to me and irreplaceable.
27. I've come to realize my best girl friend(s): live too far away.
28. I've come to realize food: is a great way to bring people together.
29. I've come to realize, when I'm a girlfriend I: really sink into someone's life: their goals, their dreams, their needs. It used to be something much more lighthearted (I see this in my brother's middle school romances), but oh how it evolves.
30. I've come to realize women and men: still have a lot to learn about each others' perspectives.
31.
I've come to realize over the summer: what depression is.
32. I've come to realize heartbreak: can, in fact, happen to me.
Originally published at file under "Miscellanea". You can comment here or there.
1. Once I was the King of Spain! Okay, not really, but it made my day a little brighter to make that reference.
2. It's a lot harder being sick when you have a kid to look after.
3. Today at work I will be an editing guru and clock out no later that 5:30.
4. What's apathy all about?
5. If I make a mistake I try to own up to it, make it right, and learn from the lesson.
6. When I woke up this morning, I thought "ACK! What was that?!" The newest addition to our fur family had knocked over a rather large jewelry box from my dresser and was contentedly curled up in the newly vacant space.
7. And as for the weekend, today I'm looking forward to starting Thing-a-day, tomorrow my plans include investigating some estate sales and Sunday, I want to do some major cleaning and organizing around the house!
