So much industry today, helping Laura with various projects, such as moving stuff off the front porch into the new shed, and putting shelves up in the bedroom bathroom, and later sewing. But no words. The muse is lazy.

October 12, 1999

"Up Sleepless With Laura"

Laura's up, can't sleep. She's having trouble breathing. I opened the windows, which should bring more air in, but she has to sit up until her lungs clear. I'm worried about her, so I'll sit up with her, side by side at the computers.

there are no words, no words. I tell you no words. i can't scrape the damn things out of nowhere. vacuous space here, with no words swimming about. hard to tell you no words. in this oxygen starved, word starved vacuity, what can I do? where did they go? can I open a window somewhere and let them in? Is that all I need, a open window and a fan?

October 13, 1999

"Digging Deep"

So am I going to find riches here?

Or will the effort not be worth my bother?

October 14, 1999

"The Results of my Digging"

October 15, 1999

"More Results of Digging"

So I peered deeply within, and found my reactions to some hurtful incidents not as horrible as I'd feared they'd be. There's a lot one can learn from painful situations. If I can hold that close, instead of letting unchecked resentment turn ugly, I won't become a skanky pit of inner muck. And, oh yes, I've learned. There's nothing like a new perspective to rip us out of the complacency into which we sometimes settle. And I am so grateful for that knowledge, for it's been Worth The Pain.

(Are all these references too oblique for anyone else but me to get the gist of what I'm saying? Does the veil covering the specific details obscure the greater truth? For I want the greater truth to shine out through that veil. Does it?

Oh, and !!!EXTRA POINTS!!! if you can figure out who 'Mischa' is. HINT: there's a link under the 'stone to flesh' picture that should give a clue.)

 

October 16, 1999

"Time For Silly Stuff"

I've had enough of all this soul searching stuff. Haven't you as well? It's time for some fun!

WHAT'S this?

Think hard!

THIS is a doorstop. Oh, it was something else in its former life. But for now, it is a doorstop. It's no ordinary doorstop. If you went to the fanciest shop in the most exclusive neighborhood, you'd not find such a doorstop. Oh, no doubt, perhaps some PRETTIER, but none so expensive! Yes, I said expensive. Feast your eyes on the FIVE HUNDRED BUCK doorstop.

Don't choke on your coffee or 7-up, there. Its past life is the reason for its great cost. This lovely, oddly formed heavy piece of black plastic contains computer chips that are supposed to start a car. Most magical, that! Only those chips could no longer do the job, whereby its reincarnated life.

The sad thing is the new oddly formed heavy piece of black plastic that's in our car now doesn't seem to be enough to perform that magical act. But I wasn't going to talk about sad things today. I'll just drop that subject. <PLONK> And we'll move on to other silliness.

Birthday girl was happy, as you can see

Why wouldn't she be? She was well gifted, and Nunzilla (below), was just one of the many presents. She got a vampire doll dancing and singing "It's Halloween" to the disco tune of 'Staying Alive', she got videos, she got clothes, she got jewelry, she got inline skates. But this fire breathing doll got the most chuckles. "You have to photograph it for the web!" She begged. And here it is:

Nunzilla. . . .

October 17, 1999

"Nothin' Much Shakin'"

JOSHUA TREE, Calif. (AP) - A 7.0-magnitude earthquake in the Mojave Desert shook millions awake in three Western states including Arizona early yesterday, derailing an Amtrak train and knocking out power to thousands, but causing no serious damage or injuries.

That's what the Starnet article said this morning. But I didn't have to wait until today to learn this bit of news, for I got a lively LIVE account from Nancy Birnes of Perforated Lines.

Living in Venice, she was close enough for 'Hector's' discomfort. Power transformers blew and fragile keepsakes needed protecting. It was a 'shake and bake' for sure. Even a couple in Tucson says their room starting shaking and their septic tank was damaged.

Casa Grande is just a few miles nearer to Joshua Tree, than Tucson is, if I have my mental map right. But I don't recall anything unusual yesterday morning. And I've never been a deep sleeper. Oh, yes, I've become used to the up and down of my roommates erratic sleep habits. Maybe it did shake me, but my little night time wake up sentry just figured it was Laura up early.

October 18, 1999

"The Passing of Time"

Happy Birthday, Julia!

On this, Julia's 47th anniversary of her birth, we each are reminded of the advancing years.. Laura's breathing troubles her, while I note with reluctance, my weakening joints. After a day of doing dishes and three loads of laundry, my fingers could hardly move to sew. I would have tackled that teal ladies jacket, but gave up and put it back on its hanger, finding it painfully wrist pullingly heavy as I hung it back up for another day.