Im at home sitting on my back steps, barefoot in oversized faded jeans, letting my hair dry in late afternoon sun. I cant help but smile, the weekends images flashing across my lazy mind. Ive never been good at keeping a travelogue, I record things come to my mind rather than I did this and then I did this, so here is the culling from my written journal of the weekend.
I finally got to meet Taoshen on Thursday for a really nice dinner. Even though he may feel shy and recently said in his journal that he was boring, he was neither. He is a great addition to Portland, even if only part time.
Driving to Seattle on a perfect Northwest summer day where each mountain I pass stripteases for me, showing a flash of a peak over the trees, or an entire flank across open fields. I try to describe what a day like this makes me feel like. I come up with images of strawberries in the morning, glistening red and sweet among fresh green leaves, while I stand with dew under my feet and the whole world holds promise. I feel buoyant. Looking into the blue sky I feel myself swimming, the water still chilled around me as it carries me. I feel myself floating down the stairs, spreading my arms, and taking off into the sky in my childhood flying dreams. Im flying now supported in the blue sky rushing past my windshield.
I dont understand why everyone doesnt see this as the most perfect place to live, but Im glad they dont.
The best way to get kids smile for pictures is to have them say "Underwear" . Works everytime..
I have to brag about what wonderful friends I have. There are people in the world that will always understand me and open their homes and lives to me. These people will hold my hand when Im happy, shake their heads at me when Im foolish, give me a shove when I need it most, and after it all, laugh with me until my tears are dried. I am blessed. Ive had a small real family but the network of my made family has deep roots and stretches around the world.
One of the best stories of the weekend came from Scooter. His first wife and he never agreed on anything. They fought, and then compromised. When they divorced, they were left with a household of furniture that neither of them wanted, because each piece not only was a compromise but a remembrance of what they wanted but never got.
And luckily the Toothfairy can find any house any time.
Sometimes our Toothfairy is a bit erratic at our house, but if I didn't know it was from exhaustion, I would think she had a substance abuse problem.
I went out on Saturday night with StrongMad. Even though he threatened to buy me a corsage and to make me wear it, instead he bought me these.
They are as fun as the evening was though Im not sure of his reaction to me.
But at least both being vain, we tried to look nice and straight into our own cameras when the time came.
Driving down the 5, I realize I have lived my entire adult life within five miles of this freeway. Most of my friends live a few road turns off of it and then however many hours on it until they get to my exit. I have driven its entire length both ways. It has taken me into Canada and Mexico. Ive run away from home on it, Ive driven in cars with everything I own on it, Ive cursed the traffic on it, Ive played Frisbee in the middle of it instead of cursing, Ive driven to weddings, births, and funerals, and sometimes, Ive just driven on it with no where to go. I've got that itch again, this summer may just be filled with days in the car with my music loud and the pavement stretching out in front of me, with all I need in the back and no particular place to be.
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I just realized that johnsonboy went black. I hate it I HATE IT when that happens- so if you're lurking around - I miss you and come back.
I finally got to meet Taoshen on Thursday for a really nice dinner. Even though he may feel shy and recently said in his journal that he was boring, he was neither. He is a great addition to Portland, even if only part time.
Driving to Seattle on a perfect Northwest summer day where each mountain I pass stripteases for me, showing a flash of a peak over the trees, or an entire flank across open fields. I try to describe what a day like this makes me feel like. I come up with images of strawberries in the morning, glistening red and sweet among fresh green leaves, while I stand with dew under my feet and the whole world holds promise. I feel buoyant. Looking into the blue sky I feel myself swimming, the water still chilled around me as it carries me. I feel myself floating down the stairs, spreading my arms, and taking off into the sky in my childhood flying dreams. Im flying now supported in the blue sky rushing past my windshield.
I dont understand why everyone doesnt see this as the most perfect place to live, but Im glad they dont.
The best way to get kids smile for pictures is to have them say "Underwear" . Works everytime..
I have to brag about what wonderful friends I have. There are people in the world that will always understand me and open their homes and lives to me. These people will hold my hand when Im happy, shake their heads at me when Im foolish, give me a shove when I need it most, and after it all, laugh with me until my tears are dried. I am blessed. Ive had a small real family but the network of my made family has deep roots and stretches around the world.
One of the best stories of the weekend came from Scooter. His first wife and he never agreed on anything. They fought, and then compromised. When they divorced, they were left with a household of furniture that neither of them wanted, because each piece not only was a compromise but a remembrance of what they wanted but never got.
And luckily the Toothfairy can find any house any time.
Sometimes our Toothfairy is a bit erratic at our house, but if I didn't know it was from exhaustion, I would think she had a substance abuse problem.
I went out on Saturday night with StrongMad. Even though he threatened to buy me a corsage and to make me wear it, instead he bought me these.
They are as fun as the evening was though Im not sure of his reaction to me.
But at least both being vain, we tried to look nice and straight into our own cameras when the time came.
Driving down the 5, I realize I have lived my entire adult life within five miles of this freeway. Most of my friends live a few road turns off of it and then however many hours on it until they get to my exit. I have driven its entire length both ways. It has taken me into Canada and Mexico. Ive run away from home on it, Ive driven in cars with everything I own on it, Ive cursed the traffic on it, Ive played Frisbee in the middle of it instead of cursing, Ive driven to weddings, births, and funerals, and sometimes, Ive just driven on it with no where to go. I've got that itch again, this summer may just be filled with days in the car with my music loud and the pavement stretching out in front of me, with all I need in the back and no particular place to be.
__________________________________________________
I just realized that johnsonboy went black. I hate it I HATE IT when that happens- so if you're lurking around - I miss you and come back.
VIEW 25 of 38 COMMENTS
I think Mr. Aristotle would say that joy is a feeling that can bring us closer to happiness. He seems to be using the word "happiness" in a very specific way, not in the way you or I would in normal conversation. If you said "flowers make me happy" he would say "no they don't, they give you pleasure." Philosiphers are always redefining words. They annoy me.
I've started reading his Nicomachean Ethics, the book where he puts out all his ideas on happiness. His style is annoying, but the ideas are interesting.