May 26, 2005
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One thing and another…
I may never get used to blogging from the library, but I’ve decided to give it my best shot and not just leave a series of superficial updates on our computer problems.
A question has been bumping about in my brain:
How many added generations of jihad, over and above what we had already been destined or doomed to endure, must we now experience because of the messianic fantasies that Barbara Bush held for her son and the son’s neurotic need to excel his father and show the old man up for a wimp and a wannabe?
If and when I do get a computer at home, there will be at least one profusely illustrated photo blog with all the shots I haven’t been able to post — I might even soon be impelled to drag out the complicated and fussy Fuji camera when I run out of memory in the point-and-shoot Kodak. I might even finally learn how to use the damn Fuji. That would be a nice little turd to fish out of this punchbowl. Er… I think I might have confused a metaphor or something there. I meant it would be a silver lining to this cloud, or a rose for the thorns or something like that. How do I know what I mean?
Something on my mind keeps popping up when I least expect it. It’s a spot of hope, tinged by more than a shade of performance anxiety. I entered a writing contest. Joni, who used to be known around here as pink and has been reincarnated with angel wings, told me during the winter just past about a contest being run by Glamour magazine, for true life stories. I managed to get my entry in before the deadline, even though I spent an awful long time trying to decide which story to send. I settled on the “crab boat to Kodiak” story, and subsequently second-guessed myself numerous times, wishing I’d sent them some other story or a different one. If I win, there’s a money prize and an appointment with an author’s agent that could lead to my memoirs being published. Wouldn’t that be nice?
Well, I’m hungry and Greyfox promised me lunch when I get to his place. He’s waiting for a shipment of knives I have in my car for him. I’m in Willow now, and he said he’d reserve one of the Wasilla library computers for each of us for 5 PM, so I’ll get back onto Xanga again then. Now, I’m off… well, actually I’m a bit off at any given time, but what I meant is that it’s time to get back on the road. Seeya.
UPDATE: Answer to spinksy’s question, yes the crab boat to Kodiak story is linked in the memoir section of my left module as — get this! — “crab boat to Kodiak.”
Pam, maybe library blogging with a friend would be fun. I’ll never know. Greyfox is no friend, and so far all the blogging I’ve done at the library has been mostly frustration because of the distractions (whatever happened to librarians who enforced quiet?), the time limits and the odd table arrangements.
On that last issue, the arrangement, the machine I drew this time is a Dell with the monitor affixed unmovably to the top of a box that rests on a normal library table so that to sit on this hard straight wooden chair and focus on it through my bifocals I have to elevate my chin uncomfortably.
The keyboard sits beside the box on the table and if I were to try and use it that way, my spine would be twisted in order to be on the chair, looking at the monitor and reaching for the keyboard. I solved that by moving my chair back and turning it about 45 degrees to face the monitor, then moving the keyboard into my lap. I suppose it could be worse. In Willow (this is Wasilla), they have the cables tied up so that I can’t move the keyboard into my lap, so I sit with my elbows elevated to shoulder height to type. C’mon, laugh… visualize it, and laugh.
Oh, and the delete key is non-functional, too. Where the hell did I leave those ruby slippers? I wanna go home.
Comments (19)
Have you posted the story here?
It would be awesome if you were published – especially with cash involved!
The digital camera I bought is a Fuji and I love it!
Library blogging with a friend will be fun!
Librarians who enforce quiet have been outnumbered and overwhelmed by the people who regard the library as a form of community center. We try to keep a lid on the worst offenders–people on cell phones are my particular bĂȘte noire–but there’s only so much we can do…
The fact that they put a time limit on it alone is very stressful! Okay … what can I say, the eternal optimist in my was blogging!
I miss the days when libraries were quiet.
that turd in the punchbowl thing, that sounds like greyfox rubbing off on your language, hehe. and i want a signed copy of your book when (and not if) it’s published. i’ve seen glamour, and you are definatly the most kick ass woman to send in her story.
Thanks for visiting my site! I love the flow of your posts. They have a natural rhythm to them that makes me think I’m actually hearing you. Then again, it could be those voices that whisper in the night for me to get another cookie from the cookie jar. . . you never can tell with voices. Nevertheless, I think I can hear yours and that’s an accomplishment for any writer.
I understand completely about situating keyboards and monitors to accomodate the health of your spine. I’ve kind of resolved the situation (in lieu of finding the perfect computer desk) by placing a board of any type on the desk of slidey keyboard thingy that never pulls out far enough, and the arm rests or lap if need be. It’s actually quite efficient.
I haven’t been around for awhile but did your home computer crash? I’ll just have to read back. I agree with you on the Bush thing.
Hey SuSu–you mentioned a good meeting recently and I want to share with you what happened in my AA meeting tonight. On Fridays we throw out a topic, and tonight it happened to be family. There were a lot of good comments and in the last five minutes when asked if there were any burning desires, a guy named Paul raised his hand. His mother died this morning–she got hit by a reckless driver. The stillness in the room (amidst the crying) was unbelievable…the fact that he was there through such a thing and didn’t pick up over it. At times I am reminded, in ways like this that hit me like a ton of bricks, that now that I’m sober I can experience what it means to be truly human, to really feel, even (maybe especially) the hard shit and not drown those feelings. I am so grateful for my sobriety and just hope to goodness I can hold on to it. It was an amazing night, just wanted to share. Hope your computer problems get ironed out, so sorry. <3
My husband is fascinated by your blog. He is new to xanga. I think I sold you a collage a couple of years ago. Anyway, rock on. Keep writin’. You are awesome.
Hey! Long time no see? Well I have something to ask you. I am creating this xanga movement of helping out those that cry for help in xanga: emo and cutters. Can you join this movement to help these people?
When will you hear about the contest? That is so great! I agree with you on Ms bush–shouldn’t she just stay at home and iron out gw’s ‘barbed’ comments-yoohahahahahahahahaha.
Kathy — just stopping by to see if you are here yet… knowing you are not but anticipating perhaps I’ve missed something
good luck on getting published… and I think your memoirs would be a great read.
Just found this
Fingers crossed for publication!
just scrolling back through.
wanted to let you know that joni took off her angel wings and is pink again.
Response from I forget who that said ‘the fact that he was there through such a thing and didn’t pick up over it.’ was so delightfully refreshing. I forgot all that AA lingo (pick up means bend over and grab, or housecleaning to me now). I Personally quit meetings years ago after being 13stepped on too many times! I remember some jerk saying he keeps sober by staying out of KMart. But ya do what ya gotta do to stay sober!
So many questions on the statement ”Well, I’m hungry and Greyfox promised me lunch when I get to his place. He’s waiting for a shipment of knives I have in my car for him.”
Waiting for the knives in order to prepare lunch? You’re both having knives for lunch, which is why he is waiting? He promised to serve body parts off his neighbor from Hell for lunch, and awaits the knives for their ‘quality check’ so to speak? You’re both ‘doing lunch’ at a posh restaurant and plan to use the knives somehow in your getaway? Prying off the window in the rest room, perhaps? I’m confused!