What doesn’t kill you makes you stranger and other mostly incorrect idioms
Hop on the Bandwidth
Maybe a month ago I was one of those who proudly stated I’ve never seen a single GoT episode, but then I did, and last night we finally finished it. I don’t know how those of you who’ve been watching it since you were eight aren’t all damaged-up. OmG. Earlier today I drew up some plans for a squirrel-proof bird feeder I’ve been thinking about, and they turned out more like plans for a squirrel slaying bird feeder and, aye, YkW I’m blaming my lack of sensitivity on.
It Doesn’t Hurt When I Laugh
My new chiropractor plays in a Grateful Dead cover band. What does yours do (and don’t say crack). And by new I mean first. There was a health history form I had to fill out and in the space after list other complaints, I wrote only one: I’m hungry. And then it was his turn to be funny. First he folded me up and then he said take a deep breath and when he said exhale he pushed me and I reacted with rapid-fire cracking, hard laughter and shock/surprise/glee. He said my reaction was common, but I think he was just being nice. He did it again and again, as did I. My back feels great but I’m going to make another appointment anyway.
By Allergies Are Aktig Ubp
I have no real experience with allergies, except once or twice people mentioned I may have an allergy to alcohol, which might have explained some perceived squirreliness (autocorrect doesn’t know what to do about that one so it just underlined it which might be the equivalent of an eyeroll), but I disagreed, about the squirreliness I mean, and heartily, too, if I remember correctly. Point is I think maybe my breathing problem is due to allergies?
My Genes Are In Those Drawers
It’s father’s day and something caught my eye just now while I was out in the greenhouse. My dad was a fisherman, fly mostly, and here’s something. My novel takes place in New Brunswick, specifically around the Miramichi River. I have been told that my sense of place is cinematic in description and I know it’s because I built it in my head all those summers my dad was gone fishin’ there, and when I went to write about it, it was as if I was recalling a memory. This is what makes writing so deeply thrilling. But back to what caught my eye. A little metal box with tiny drawers. My dad’s fly tying kit. I opened each drawer, slowly, one at a time, and inside, all awry, were glistening spools and/or scribbles of thread, shocks of colour from felt and fabric and flecks of the unknown, assorted clippers and strange miniature tools. The bottom drawer contained feathers, and when I touched one, it disintegrated. Powdered feathers don’t look like much but they sure are powerful. And then one word popped into my head about the fragility of life: Poof.
I Know Something You Don’t Know
When you’ve finished GoT, even if you didn’t love it or even like it that much, there’s nothing on. We tried The Handmaid’s Tale but that seemed a dark little rabbit hole, and same with Chernobyl, surprise surprise, but we landed on an interview with Mike Nichols, the director, talking about The Graduate and Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf, and it was beautiful. Here’s what I learned about the song, Mrs. Robinson. Mike Nichols was a new Simon and Garfunkel fan and he asked them to write a song for The Graduate which they did but he didn’t like it one bit. Simon and Garfunkel went off for a short chat, came back a few minutes later, and sang Mrs. Robinson and it was perfect and Mike Nichols was amazed and asked HOW? Well. They had been working on a song about a former first lady, and all they had to do was change the name from Mrs. Roosevelt to Mrs. Robinson. You know the de-de-dede-det-de part in that song? That’s because they hadn’t finished the lyrics yet but Mike Nichols said leave it, it’s perfect, and it was. He also talked about the thrill of getting it. Also, now I want to be a movie-maker.
The World Needs more Authenticity, more Vulnerability, and more Truth
Well there’s certainly a vulnerability involved when you can’t breathe. And how. Sometimes I get a good breath and it feels amazing and I proudly announce my accomplishment no matter where I am or in whose company, so I get some pretty weird looks, especially from Daisy, who quickly makes eye contact with the cat, and then they both do their best to hide their (ca)hoots. (I didn’t have the heart to change the title of this one so that it said Tooth instead of Truth, because it wouldn’t have been funny enough to warrant cancelling such a necessary statement.)
Opposites Distract
Nobody on this very crowded GO train platform, Monday morning at 6:57, is giving me weird looks though. They are too busy being weird sports fans. We have the early hour in common but that’s all. They are going to the Raptors’ Victory Parade which starts at the Ex at ten. I am going to work which starts next to the Ex at ten. I was trying to avoid them and although the train will undoubtedly be full to the point of squishy, I think it will work out, as in I’ll get to work today which is especially important and I’ll tell you why.
Shout of My League
This is ideacity week. ideacity is Moses Znaimer’s three day conference (this one’s the twentieth anniversary) during which some very smart/inspired/unique/fascinating people talk for 20 minutes and really screw with your head, in a superb way. One of the speakers is photographer Asa Mathat and during breaks he will be photographing the likes of Conrad Black, Ric Mercer, assorted brilliant scientists, doctors, thinkers, doers – all of whom are speakers at this conference – and I will be his assistant. I’ve been art directing and styling for a long time and it’s always great. I expect this assistant gig to be even greater because the people I’ll be dealing with are just nicely out of my league.
Thrill Tweaking
Remember the feeling of finally getting the hang of a bicycle? Between when you could barely do it and when you were actually secure, there was a delightful and thrilling brink-of-disaster period. That’s how writing is sometimes. You keep on going in spite of the tingles, or maybe because of them, and then the perfect structure shows itself and that’s the most thrilling thing of all. That’s what Mike Nichols means by getting it.
The Send
That’s when you save & publish your new post and also when the typos stand up and the stupid bits glow and your links aren’t linked.
See ya!
