I was reminded by a sister that this day last year was a popular day for those seeking long and successful marriages. All those sevens were seen as potential lucky symbols. I, of course, urged her to buy a lottery ticket with next month's confluence of eights, probably a lucky series for her.
I saw a short outtake from the beginning of Iris Murdoch's autobiography this morning. When she retired from a mind-numbing job to write full time, she was unable to write at all. It took her some time to find a routine and enough monotony to begin to find thoughts to write. She spent time working her way into a routine that would allow her to write. Add to that a short bit about a teacher dealing with an student with Asperger Syndrome, and I feel lucky to not have either problem. Though the non-productive part of my early summer may be similar to hers, I had too many ideas, and needed to push the silly, repetitive ones aside. Like in meditation practices, which I believe some of my writing activities emulate, monkey mind is prevalent. I find the only way to deal with this is to let the monkey speak and then move on. It is easier to edit out the little blurps than to try to stifle the primate. Stifle him, and I stifle my creativity.
I am off to school again this morning. Spend the day there writing and slogging away at things. Well, maybe not the day, but at least a few hours.
We had a nice rain yesterday evening. Hopefully we can get more this week, we sure do need it.
Summer is great here, gorgeous. I love it.
Monday, July 7, 2008
Tuesday, July 1, 2008
July 1
Snap.
three am I sit up, staring at the closet's open doors
sleep eludes me, and after forty-five minutes I give up
came down and say hi to Daphne
she purrs a bit and hunkers down
to the serious business of eating
I was thinking of taking a trip somewhere today
but I have no desire this morning
my sleep has been rather broken the last few nights
party types on the weekend, and now this accidental waking
must be the unsettled weather
Happy Birthday Canada
and happy celebration to all my Canadian relatives and friends
three am I sit up, staring at the closet's open doors
sleep eludes me, and after forty-five minutes I give up
came down and say hi to Daphne
she purrs a bit and hunkers down
to the serious business of eating
I was thinking of taking a trip somewhere today
but I have no desire this morning
my sleep has been rather broken the last few nights
party types on the weekend, and now this accidental waking
must be the unsettled weather
Happy Birthday Canada
and happy celebration to all my Canadian relatives and friends
Sunday, June 29, 2008
June 29
One year in Raleigh as of today. A year ago today I was busy throwing the last few things into the pod and chasing the kitty round the yard. Though there was a few minutes of panic that morning, the move went well, and smoothly.I am not looking forward to next year when a move is likely inevitable.
The temp when I came down this morning was 78 (it is 5:31), and we expect a high of 90. Real summer weather, the only down side is the drought is apparently building once more, and we are likely going to have to engage in major water saving practices soon.
A mourning dove who's
song birds are warming up in the woods
The sun is close enough to risen that I can see the jet's vapor trail, though the rest of the sky is featureless, to bright for stars, to dark for features.
I had planned on staying in bed a bit longer this morning, but the neighbors decided to come outside and discuss the wonderful party, they yell and chatter waking me up. I finally gave up, turned my light on and got up. Of course as soon as I did, they shut up. Next Friday I will need to consider not doing any sleeping.
I have been happy enough through much of my time here. The ac and heating were funky, we never did get screens for the windows or a new front door, but it is a nice place. Large, airy, and comfortable. I am sitting on the back deck enjoying the morning, and that is enough to make the place feel like home.
The temp when I came down this morning was 78 (it is 5:31), and we expect a high of 90. Real summer weather, the only down side is the drought is apparently building once more, and we are likely going to have to engage in major water saving practices soon.
A mourning dove who's
song birds are warming up in the woods
The sun is close enough to risen that I can see the jet's vapor trail, though the rest of the sky is featureless, to bright for stars, to dark for features.
I had planned on staying in bed a bit longer this morning, but the neighbors decided to come outside and discuss the wonderful party, they yell and chatter waking me up. I finally gave up, turned my light on and got up. Of course as soon as I did, they shut up. Next Friday I will need to consider not doing any sleeping.
I have been happy enough through much of my time here. The ac and heating were funky, we never did get screens for the windows or a new front door, but it is a nice place. Large, airy, and comfortable. I am sitting on the back deck enjoying the morning, and that is enough to make the place feel like home.
Tuesday, June 24, 2008
June 24
Morning pleasures
strawberry/rhubarb jam on multigrain toast
stepping inside to a house full of fresh brewed coffee aroma
post thundershower air outside
brightening blue as the sun rises
crows continuing yesterday's argument on rising
wet slippers from a damp deck
the first slurp of coffee
song birds singing above the crickets and frogs, or is that harmony?
photoshop disasters: http://photoshopdisasters.blogspot.com/2008/06/sears-lets-have-big-hand-for-model.html
train whistles
strawberry/rhubarb jam on multigrain toast
stepping inside to a house full of fresh brewed coffee aroma
post thundershower air outside
brightening blue as the sun rises
crows continuing yesterday's argument on rising
wet slippers from a damp deck
the first slurp of coffee
song birds singing above the crickets and frogs, or is that harmony?
photoshop disasters: http://photoshopdisasters.blogspot.com/2008/06/sears-lets-have-big-hand-for-model.html
train whistles
Monday, June 23, 2008
June 23
It has been very quiet here the past few days. Nothing has happened. Well, not very much anyway. I made a trip to the farmers market last week though I may have mentioned that in the last post? The weather has been cooler, but I have not really been out enjoying it until this morning. I walked to school today and spent the morning on the ninth floor of DH Hill Library doing some writing. I hope to have a photo up on my Picassa site, or maybe even the Photo a Day site later.
My photo a day project is actually over. I wanted to do it for awhile earlier in the year, but had no intention of continuing for the full year. Now I am taking photos at a lower frequency, though I still would like to take a photo a day. I was thinking about writing today, and wondering how many f stops one can fit into a poem. Depth of focus is useful in poetry as well as photography. One can try to bring the entire image into view, or one can make the object of the poem/photograph in focus and the rest out of focus. Even in poems one needs to be aware of specular highlights and how to use them. Of course there are differences between the two art forms, but they are not so separate either.
My walk to school this morning (roughly two miles) was pleasant. My only complaint is that I was soaked by the time I arrived due to a high humidity. The air was moist, but the sun was shining, no clouds were interfering with the blueness, and it was perfectly calm.
My writing went well, I managed to get around six pages (handwritten), which might be squeezed down to half a page, so I am pleased with the effort. I also managed to get some work done on my syllabus for the fall course. I don't have long until I will be in full fall panic mode.
My photo a day project is actually over. I wanted to do it for awhile earlier in the year, but had no intention of continuing for the full year. Now I am taking photos at a lower frequency, though I still would like to take a photo a day. I was thinking about writing today, and wondering how many f stops one can fit into a poem. Depth of focus is useful in poetry as well as photography. One can try to bring the entire image into view, or one can make the object of the poem/photograph in focus and the rest out of focus. Even in poems one needs to be aware of specular highlights and how to use them. Of course there are differences between the two art forms, but they are not so separate either.
My walk to school this morning (roughly two miles) was pleasant. My only complaint is that I was soaked by the time I arrived due to a high humidity. The air was moist, but the sun was shining, no clouds were interfering with the blueness, and it was perfectly calm.
My writing went well, I managed to get around six pages (handwritten), which might be squeezed down to half a page, so I am pleased with the effort. I also managed to get some work done on my syllabus for the fall course. I don't have long until I will be in full fall panic mode.
Wednesday, June 18, 2008
June 18
The weather is wonderful this morning. Clear, cool, dry, sunny, and calm. I went for a short walk this morning, and was amazed at how green it is. All the trees and all the undergrowth are full of green. I had a great walk.
I went to school Monday and picked up the text I will be teaching from this fall. I am going to have to spend some time looking at it and designing a course/assignments over the next month or so.
The weather is supposed to be nice for the next few days. I am thinking about making a trip somewhere while it remains great...Maybe tomorrow?
I went to school Monday and picked up the text I will be teaching from this fall. I am going to have to spend some time looking at it and designing a course/assignments over the next month or so.
The weather is supposed to be nice for the next few days. I am thinking about making a trip somewhere while it remains great...Maybe tomorrow?
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