{On Libraries}
Library Etiquette
(Written by one of my friends in my creative writing class)
My book cart squeaks mercilessly
as I push it around the shelves.
About as subtle as Dorothy's Tin-man
clanking geezerly through the stacks.
It's rude to stare through the shelves, though.
It's best just to pretend
there is no one on the other side
that you are on your own literary island.
You are definitely not in Kansas anymore, Toto.
Batting eyelashes between the turning of pages
is absolutely unacceptable.
Rule number twenty-three
in the Dewey Decimal Code of Conduct:
Books are not to be used as tools of seduction
in any way, shape, or function.
No food or drink is allowed on the premises
unless it is a moveable feast
in which case you will be moved
at least twenty thousand leagues from the books.
You drool on it, you dry it.
A library is a lady
with sense and sensibility up her sleeves.
As I was sailing through the dusty, towering aisles of my library recently, I was overwhelmed with how much I love libraries. I always am. There is the stillness and the creepy, secretness you feel when you discover a hidden alcove where no one else goes. They're usually big and crowded with books which make perfect barriers, cutting off the spaces between people. But this also makes it easy to stumble upon someone and be startled because they weren't making any noise, mastering the oh-I-wasn't-coming-here-anyway-walk-away is tricky. I came across some enticing titles when I was there last, such as, An American Dictionary of Slang and Black English. The one that I had to pick up was Chemical German, "What was that?" I wondered. In case you to are wondering, it is not the history of evil Germans creating lethal chemicals or the formula of the chemical make up of German citizens. No, it was merely the collection of writings on chemicals by Germans and the whole book is in German. But now we know.
Libraries are best taken with rain.
Friday, March 31, 2006
Wednesday, March 29, 2006
[Worthwhile]
With only five and a half weeks of classes left, plus exams, I have been invigorated with fresh energy to pursue my work. After all, studying is the reason that I'm here and what I love to do. But I have also been challenged to question the overall aim and usefulness of these classes. Rest assured, I have come away from my pondering with a positive conclusion. One of my conclusions was that life is beautiful, full of engaging characters and lively scenes, and I am immensely enjoying what I am doing right now, right here. What Sienna quoted Kierra on, about reckonizing the moments when we are happy now that we are adults, really spoke to me. But, I would also argue that, as adults, it is supremely necessary for us to do this--are memories are so short and fickle. It's easy to pass over the blessings and mercies.
One of the events that triggered my thoughts was talking to a woman in my creative writing class who is, probably, about 46 or 50ish but who is a full time student and working for a degree. Talking to people older than myself has always been fascinating to me and she helped to put into perspective, along with others, the uselessness of putting too much value on doing this now and this next and then this. Like my mom said, it really is not about the end product of a degree, or whatever else, but about the process, the impact that you make on those around you, the friendships, the random smiles.
Quote, enticing: The best thing about being a creative writer is that everything is relevant.
With only five and a half weeks of classes left, plus exams, I have been invigorated with fresh energy to pursue my work. After all, studying is the reason that I'm here and what I love to do. But I have also been challenged to question the overall aim and usefulness of these classes. Rest assured, I have come away from my pondering with a positive conclusion. One of my conclusions was that life is beautiful, full of engaging characters and lively scenes, and I am immensely enjoying what I am doing right now, right here. What Sienna quoted Kierra on, about reckonizing the moments when we are happy now that we are adults, really spoke to me. But, I would also argue that, as adults, it is supremely necessary for us to do this--are memories are so short and fickle. It's easy to pass over the blessings and mercies.
One of the events that triggered my thoughts was talking to a woman in my creative writing class who is, probably, about 46 or 50ish but who is a full time student and working for a degree. Talking to people older than myself has always been fascinating to me and she helped to put into perspective, along with others, the uselessness of putting too much value on doing this now and this next and then this. Like my mom said, it really is not about the end product of a degree, or whatever else, but about the process, the impact that you make on those around you, the friendships, the random smiles.
Quote, enticing: The best thing about being a creative writer is that everything is relevant.
Tuesday, March 21, 2006
WELCOME TO THE GAME SHOW "WHO HATES THAT HONDA?"
"Our first contestant is Hayley Taylor, come on down! So, Ms. Taylor, your first question for $500, are you ready? O.K. if a car runs out of gas three times on a trip, the last time being within site of a gas station, what kind of car is it?"
"A Honda!"
"Correct! You just won $500! Now for the $600 question, if a car turns its windshield wiper fluid and windshield wipers on by itself in a possessed way upon entering a gas station causing the driver to panic and accidentally turn on the lights for which there is no warning beep to turn them off, what kind of car is it?"
"A Honda!"
"You're on a roll tonight, congratulations you are now at $1100! For the $800 question, don't be nervous, if a car rolls out of it's space towards the driver while she is writing down the license plate number and then refuses to start because the battery is drained due to its lights being on, what kind of car is it?
"A Honda!"
"Whew, that was a tough one, but it didn't phase this champ, Ladies and Gentlemen! For the $1000 question, if you get this right you will be our winner, O.K., if a car stalls moments after being jumped by a Public Safety officer and must have the officer return and be jumped again and then is driven to a gas station, turned off, filled with gas and then refuses to turn back on and must be jumped by a stranger with a non-Honda vehicle, what kind of car is this?"
"Ummm...a Honda?"
"CONGRATULATIONS! We have a new winner of WHO HATES THAT HONDA? This has been a GMC and Cheverolet sponsored program and a special thanks to our model vehicle known as Greg's Car for all live testing."
Unfortunately, some Hondas were injured in the production of this show.
"Our first contestant is Hayley Taylor, come on down! So, Ms. Taylor, your first question for $500, are you ready? O.K. if a car runs out of gas three times on a trip, the last time being within site of a gas station, what kind of car is it?"
"A Honda!"
"Correct! You just won $500! Now for the $600 question, if a car turns its windshield wiper fluid and windshield wipers on by itself in a possessed way upon entering a gas station causing the driver to panic and accidentally turn on the lights for which there is no warning beep to turn them off, what kind of car is it?"
"A Honda!"
"You're on a roll tonight, congratulations you are now at $1100! For the $800 question, don't be nervous, if a car rolls out of it's space towards the driver while she is writing down the license plate number and then refuses to start because the battery is drained due to its lights being on, what kind of car is it?
"A Honda!"
"Whew, that was a tough one, but it didn't phase this champ, Ladies and Gentlemen! For the $1000 question, if you get this right you will be our winner, O.K., if a car stalls moments after being jumped by a Public Safety officer and must have the officer return and be jumped again and then is driven to a gas station, turned off, filled with gas and then refuses to turn back on and must be jumped by a stranger with a non-Honda vehicle, what kind of car is this?"
"Ummm...a Honda?"
"CONGRATULATIONS! We have a new winner of WHO HATES THAT HONDA? This has been a GMC and Cheverolet sponsored program and a special thanks to our model vehicle known as Greg's Car for all live testing."
Unfortunately, some Hondas were injured in the production of this show.
Thursday, March 16, 2006
[Place] Cocoa Beach, FL
[Temp] Hot, hot, hot!
I'm rowing six hours every day right now--eeh! My hands are disgusting and I am tan and tired. I've only seen two dolphins this year but it was exciting. Some high points have been:
-Today we ran full speed into an unseen sandbar in the middle of the river and we had to get out of our boats and walk them off. It was so much fun, I love upsets. We waved to our novice as we were standing in the middle of the river.
-Today we did a ton of switches. Our two eights would come together and we would hold on to each other's oars and a person would stand up and switch boats, climbing leap frog-style over the other rowers until they reached their new seat. I got to do this three times, I loved it!
-While our boats were together, our coach let us all stand up in the boats. So we were all standing up in our boats in the middle of the river, yay!
-I stroked today!
-Playing in the ocean
-Beating Fairfield, a D1 school, in all the pieces that we raced against them
-Beating Emory in all the pieces against them
Pictures to come...
[Temp] Hot, hot, hot!
I'm rowing six hours every day right now--eeh! My hands are disgusting and I am tan and tired. I've only seen two dolphins this year but it was exciting. Some high points have been:
-Today we ran full speed into an unseen sandbar in the middle of the river and we had to get out of our boats and walk them off. It was so much fun, I love upsets. We waved to our novice as we were standing in the middle of the river.
-Today we did a ton of switches. Our two eights would come together and we would hold on to each other's oars and a person would stand up and switch boats, climbing leap frog-style over the other rowers until they reached their new seat. I got to do this three times, I loved it!
-While our boats were together, our coach let us all stand up in the boats. So we were all standing up in our boats in the middle of the river, yay!
-I stroked today!
-Playing in the ocean
-Beating Fairfield, a D1 school, in all the pieces that we raced against them
-Beating Emory in all the pieces against them
Pictures to come...
Wednesday, March 08, 2006
[Mood] Happy
[Read] "Tender is the Night" by Fitzgerald, finally a book!
Oh! I just wanted to shout out how much I love my creative writing class! Every class, I have come out feeling enriched and enlivened and brilliantly happy. Also, today was the second time that we have cut class short (it's a 2 1/2 hour class) to attend a lecture at the O'Neil Literary House. I am always stunned by the beautiful words that pour out of these magical people called writers. Every sentence is perfectly formed, they are witty and so intelligent--I could just sit and soak in every word that drops from their lips. Well, now my mind has been refreshed, which is good because my body is exhausted and my head is aching. Why? I've been up since 5:30am for 6am practice, read that Anna Peipon. I actually like morning practice because it leaves my afternoons free and it's very efficient, what else am I doing at 6 in the morning? Economy!
The Lit House is getting 1,300 brand new books from Amazon.com! We're having a week long celebration and today Wyatt Mason, a premier critic and translator, spoke on "The Writer and the Library."
[Read] "Tender is the Night" by Fitzgerald, finally a book!
Oh! I just wanted to shout out how much I love my creative writing class! Every class, I have come out feeling enriched and enlivened and brilliantly happy. Also, today was the second time that we have cut class short (it's a 2 1/2 hour class) to attend a lecture at the O'Neil Literary House. I am always stunned by the beautiful words that pour out of these magical people called writers. Every sentence is perfectly formed, they are witty and so intelligent--I could just sit and soak in every word that drops from their lips. Well, now my mind has been refreshed, which is good because my body is exhausted and my head is aching. Why? I've been up since 5:30am for 6am practice, read that Anna Peipon. I actually like morning practice because it leaves my afternoons free and it's very efficient, what else am I doing at 6 in the morning? Economy!
The Lit House is getting 1,300 brand new books from Amazon.com! We're having a week long celebration and today Wyatt Mason, a premier critic and translator, spoke on "The Writer and the Library."
Sunday, March 05, 2006
[Listen] "Hoper" by Stand *Love, love, love!
What a glorious evening! Tonight because of the placid and bright weather and yesterday evening was glorious too because my baby brother came to visit me. It was wonderful to see him, I hadn't seen any of my family for about forty-one days, eek. We had a fantastic time together ; )
One of things we did was go to the Student Center to hear this band from Dublin play. Wow, we went with my friend Tonie and we were all amazed, they were so talented. I am in love with them--Irish accents, gorgeous voices, gorgeous faces (at least one :) and great songs. They're like a mix between Coldplay and U2, oh, there name is Stand and "Hoper" is my favorite song by them. Here's a picture:
Third to the right is my guy, he was really shy but his voice is haunting.
And more friend profiles are coming but I am going to try to get pictures so that you have visuals.
What a glorious evening! Tonight because of the placid and bright weather and yesterday evening was glorious too because my baby brother came to visit me. It was wonderful to see him, I hadn't seen any of my family for about forty-one days, eek. We had a fantastic time together ; )
One of things we did was go to the Student Center to hear this band from Dublin play. Wow, we went with my friend Tonie and we were all amazed, they were so talented. I am in love with them--Irish accents, gorgeous voices, gorgeous faces (at least one :) and great songs. They're like a mix between Coldplay and U2, oh, there name is Stand and "Hoper" is my favorite song by them. Here's a picture:
Third to the right is my guy, he was really shy but his voice is haunting.
And more friend profiles are coming but I am going to try to get pictures so that you have visuals.
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