If all is going as planned, Grandma B. and Jeff are now on their way south to visit us. Jeff will help me do some prep for the coming furnace install, Grandma visit with mama. I guess Grandma is having some trouble with 'shingles' and has little energy, but thought she could handle the trip. Now the question is, do I let her read Joann's poem about her? Mama and I got a good 'hoot' over it, but not sure if Grandma would like knowing her story has become a 'blogger legend' in poetic form . . . perhaps we'll have Jeff read it and give his opinion as to whether to show it to Grandma.
Have a great day! I'm off school today as the gym gets set up for the annual Harvest Party tomorrow evening.
God bless to all
Friday, October 29, 2004
Wednesday, October 27, 2004
More ideas...
Just remembered, I also want:
Five O'Clock People - The Nothing Venture and
Batboy: the Musical CD's...
You'll probably only be able to find them online through ebay or half.com
Five O'Clock People - The Nothing Venture and
Batboy: the Musical CD's...
You'll probably only be able to find them online through ebay or half.com
"Burnt Toast"
This one is a little more pleasant than the last two...woot.
"Burnt Toast"
Oh the crunchiness of leaves!
like jumping on burnt toast
or munching stale tortilla chips.
Dangerously charcoal skies
compliment crimson trees,
like the day I first tasted
hot apple cider, curled up
with Ma and Pa Ingalls,
waiting for twilight –
the ideal time to don
my ratty old Converse
and appease the crisp leaves
beside the driveway –
dying to be crunched.
"Burnt Toast"
Oh the crunchiness of leaves!
like jumping on burnt toast
or munching stale tortilla chips.
Dangerously charcoal skies
compliment crimson trees,
like the day I first tasted
hot apple cider, curled up
with Ma and Pa Ingalls,
waiting for twilight –
the ideal time to don
my ratty old Converse
and appease the crisp leaves
beside the driveway –
dying to be crunched.
"Pulling Teeth"
Here's an experience that at least the three sisters can share...maybe Daddy too? I'm hoping the rest of you will be able to understand a little better this experience and the rest of us will feel a little remembered pain:)
"Pulling Teeth"
Toes curled, stomach held taut,
fingers frantically grasping clinical arms –
“Towards me, a little – perfect.”
His finger rests on half numb lips,
like kissing a perfect white balloon.
“Love cuts like a knife”
ironically blaring over the screaming
whirs and hungry vacuum sucking
the water spraying an unfeeling chin.
The smell of rancid infection –
of too much food stuck for years
beneath the silver head of that molar,
now burning – like wet pavement
behind a fast food restaurant.
Mind over matter.
Gradually the pushing and pulling
become undulating waves on a beach.
Rubber gloves become lips – a mysterious
fantasy man leans in, creaking…
…creaking…CRACK!
Worse than fingernails on the blackboard.
A mighty twang from somewhere near
the cheekbone, like pulling a long hair
from the back of the throat.
For weeks a funky mucous flavors
the mouth, but
try as you may,
the mystery and the molar
are shattered, gone.
"Pulling Teeth"
Toes curled, stomach held taut,
fingers frantically grasping clinical arms –
“Towards me, a little – perfect.”
His finger rests on half numb lips,
like kissing a perfect white balloon.
“Love cuts like a knife”
ironically blaring over the screaming
whirs and hungry vacuum sucking
the water spraying an unfeeling chin.
The smell of rancid infection –
of too much food stuck for years
beneath the silver head of that molar,
now burning – like wet pavement
behind a fast food restaurant.
Mind over matter.
Gradually the pushing and pulling
become undulating waves on a beach.
Rubber gloves become lips – a mysterious
fantasy man leans in, creaking…
…creaking…CRACK!
Worse than fingernails on the blackboard.
A mighty twang from somewhere near
the cheekbone, like pulling a long hair
from the back of the throat.
For weeks a funky mucous flavors
the mouth, but
try as you may,
the mystery and the molar
are shattered, gone.
"Grandma Borovec"
Here's my darkly comedic poem written after I read William Stafford's poem about a similar experience:
"Grandma Borovec"
Clara’s ancient fingers grasp the shovel
hovering over the rounded belly
of the dead opossum resting resigned
in the rusty wheelbarrow – surely
they won’t last a day on their own.
Flea-ridden, squinting eyes, squirming,
caught in the innocent pouch
of their late mother’s rigid flesh.
Clara remembers her own pregnancies.
Six of them – weighing down her petite
five-foot frame with their tiny demands,
restless sleep, and beginning tap steps.
Long after her first husband succumbed
to Lou Gehrig’s, her second was crushed
by his tractor, and she found him
much like this opossum –
pregnant with life, but unable to finish
mowing the last acre. But there –
whack! – will be – whack! – no –
whack! whack! – prolonged agony –
whack! for these tiny – whack! – beings.
Whack! whack! whack!
But sleep will elude Clara –
envisioning the pious lives those
‘possums could have lived
had their mother survived
to wean them and teach them
how to scuttle across the road
without getting whacked.
"Grandma Borovec"
Clara’s ancient fingers grasp the shovel
hovering over the rounded belly
of the dead opossum resting resigned
in the rusty wheelbarrow – surely
they won’t last a day on their own.
Flea-ridden, squinting eyes, squirming,
caught in the innocent pouch
of their late mother’s rigid flesh.
Clara remembers her own pregnancies.
Six of them – weighing down her petite
five-foot frame with their tiny demands,
restless sleep, and beginning tap steps.
Long after her first husband succumbed
to Lou Gehrig’s, her second was crushed
by his tractor, and she found him
much like this opossum –
pregnant with life, but unable to finish
mowing the last acre. But there –
whack! – will be – whack! – no –
whack! whack! – prolonged agony –
whack! for these tiny – whack! – beings.
Whack! whack! whack!
But sleep will elude Clara –
envisioning the pious lives those
‘possums could have lived
had their mother survived
to wean them and teach them
how to scuttle across the road
without getting whacked.
Christmas Christmas!
Well, I'm busy as ever...and typing is such a hastle...sorry! Short update is: donated blood today...the lady bruised my arm; the whole in my mouth is gradually becoming less of a chasm and more of a plain; I'm directing a ten minute play for my directing class; I'm leading a serve trip the third week of my Christmas break to the Seattle area; I'm writing lots of poems for my writing poetry class...of which I will post three for you...Here's my preliminary Christmas list:
Fun Socks (as always)
Black and white Converse high-tops with red stitching and red on the inside (size 7 1/2 mens)
DVD's:
Fiddler on the Roof
Sound of Music
Anne of Green Gables (and the rest)
Muppet Christmas Carol :)
Napoleon Dynamite (if it comes out in time)
That's all I can think of for now...
here comes the poetry...
BWAH HA HA!!!
Fun Socks (as always)
Black and white Converse high-tops with red stitching and red on the inside (size 7 1/2 mens)
DVD's:
Fiddler on the Roof
Sound of Music
Anne of Green Gables (and the rest)
Muppet Christmas Carol :)
Napoleon Dynamite (if it comes out in time)
That's all I can think of for now...
here comes the poetry...
BWAH HA HA!!!
Sunday, October 24, 2004
Junction City Happenings . . .
It's been awhile since my last post, so thought I'd add what I've been up to . . . let's see - lots of projects to do, a few done. On the done side - attic fans properly exhausted so insulation can be added, hole cut in concrete footing wall for adding natural gas heating to the house (I'm doing some of the prep work to save money - the contractor comes Nov. 9th to start the job, then attic insulation on Nov. 19th, unless I decide to do that myself with some help), cleaned up garage with mama's help so that 'Jewel' now fits, put up extra TV antannae to improve reception, trimmed tree and chopped up branches and took to recylce center, put in a bathroom vent fan, put mirror over the mantle, measured for piping to natural gas furnace and water heater, and installed futon in 'den'. To do list is longer and growing - but it's sort of fun doing these things and it keeps me out of trouble. My brother Jeff and grandma B. are coming Friday - Jeff is helping do some of the prep work before the heating contractor arrives. They go home Saturday.
My class at school is going well - we went to a pumpkin patch last Friday - had a damp hay ride, watched a catapult throw a pumpkin, paraded through the pumpkin patch, chose a pumpkin and some gourds to take home, and explored the 'hayflower' - an outline of the actual size of the Mayflower made with bales of straw, including a center area built up to represent the inside part of the ship - makes one appreciate the tight quarters the Pilgrims had to spend over two months enduring. This coming Saturday is the Harvest Party.
Mama's trying to put together a family get-together for her sisters and brother at our place before Thanksgiving. I'll try to let you know when/if it works out so you can join us if schedule allows.
Tim doesn't have consistent internet use, so will update what I know about him - he is currently homeless, staying with a friend until an apartment opens up. It appears he will be in a studio apartment next door to Jaden Hurtienne. Due to Jaden's current reputation, that could be a challenge for Tim, but he's hoping it will work out OK.
Time for church so I'd best go for now. We are and will be praying about the job possibilities, Andy - such as the UPS one on Wednesday. I've heard they are a fairly good place to work as far as pay and benefits are concerned. Marie once worked for them for a short time.
God bless to all!!!!
My class at school is going well - we went to a pumpkin patch last Friday - had a damp hay ride, watched a catapult throw a pumpkin, paraded through the pumpkin patch, chose a pumpkin and some gourds to take home, and explored the 'hayflower' - an outline of the actual size of the Mayflower made with bales of straw, including a center area built up to represent the inside part of the ship - makes one appreciate the tight quarters the Pilgrims had to spend over two months enduring. This coming Saturday is the Harvest Party.
Mama's trying to put together a family get-together for her sisters and brother at our place before Thanksgiving. I'll try to let you know when/if it works out so you can join us if schedule allows.
Tim doesn't have consistent internet use, so will update what I know about him - he is currently homeless, staying with a friend until an apartment opens up. It appears he will be in a studio apartment next door to Jaden Hurtienne. Due to Jaden's current reputation, that could be a challenge for Tim, but he's hoping it will work out OK.
Time for church so I'd best go for now. We are and will be praying about the job possibilities, Andy - such as the UPS one on Wednesday. I've heard they are a fairly good place to work as far as pay and benefits are concerned. Marie once worked for them for a short time.
God bless to all!!!!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)