I’m back to blogging after a short hiatus for most of December. Between a webhost move and a general lack of inspiration, not much came out of me to blog about. Anyway, a little of what has been going on with me over the past month or so.
On Nov. 27th, I became official at my job (I had been a temp employee since July). For now I’m only working half time there, but its more than enough to live comfortably. My boss is trying to find more budget, because she’d like me there full time. Ideally, I think I’d like to get to .75 (or 30 hours per week).
I picked up a pretty nasty bug a couple weekends ago that had me pretty well whipped for my entire 4 day weekend. Though I suppose its good that I didn’t have to take any sick days for it.
Last weekend was the annual Eugene Santa Pub Crawl, so I went down for that. By the time Saturday night rolled around, my heart wasn’t quite in it, but I still had a good time. Some pics are here.
Saturday morning my grandmother (dad’s side) had a stroke. I’m pretty close to my grandparents as I lived in their mother-in-law’s suite for almost 8 years. Anyway, I got to see her on Sunday afternoon for a little bit. She recognized my dad and I and was able to talk to us. I talked to my dad last night and she’s out of ICU and the bleeding in/on her brain has stopped. So medically she’s doing pretty good. The doctors think she’ll be in the hospital for a week, but that means she may be home before Christmas as long as things continue to go well.
Permanent link to this article: https://www.rhinoblues.com/thoughts/2006/12/december-update/
A different kind of storm for my take on this weeks prompt from one deep breath. Saturday my grandmother had a stroke. As of now the doctors think she’ll be fine, but she’ll be in the hospital for at least a week for observation/recovery. When my dad and I visited with her Sunday afternoon, she recognized us and was able to ask us questions and follow the conversation. I’ll take that as a good sign.
a gust topples
the body without notice
unforgiving
My grandparents and I at my college graduation.
more stormy breaths from the poets at one deep breath
Permanent link to this article: https://www.rhinoblues.com/thoughts/2006/12/one-deep-breath-storms/
For as long as I can remember, my grandmother was afflicted with Parkinson’s disease. As her mind got worse, it was eventually necessary for her to live in a foster care home. This was back when I was in middle school. My grandfather at this time lived in a retirement home, because though he suffered from bone cancer and was wheelchair bound, he was largely self sufficient. My grandfather’s retirement home was directly across the street from the middle school I attended. Often, after school I would go and visit my grandfather. On occasion we would take the city bus across town to go and visit my grandmother. It was during these trips that I first understood what it meant to truly love someone.
her mind riddled
even love is obscured
but eyes remember
more breaths of legacy at one deep breath
the prose section of this haibun is inspired by a story i am working on for a site a good friend of mine is a part of. the site is called common ties and publishes (and pays for) personal stories in the mold of something you might hear on this american life or the storycorps project. i encourage you all to check out the site.
Permanent link to this article: https://www.rhinoblues.com/thoughts/2006/11/one-deep-breath-legacy/
grey fury kissed
beaded saltiness becomes
private earthquakes
Permanent link to this article: https://www.rhinoblues.com/thoughts/2006/11/one-deep-breath-come-to-your-senses/
Overheard at a forum at Powell’s with Philip Gourevitch, Editor of the Paris Review:
“Every thing you’ve ever read is a gross reduction of reality”
-Philip Gourevitch
Permanent link to this article: https://www.rhinoblues.com/thoughts/2006/11/literature/
pale fingers of aspen
pin-pricked bubble of blood
after October leaves
chills seep into thoughts leaving
bare skin craving winter’s embrace
-a collaboration between Carolyn and myself
Permanent link to this article: https://www.rhinoblues.com/thoughts/2006/11/more-renga/
This weeks prompt at one deep breath is friends & companions. As an added exercise we were encouraged to write a renga, which is traditionally written in collaboration with someone else. The form consists of a haiku followed by a couplet of two seven syllable lines. My good friend Elizabeth collaborated with me on the following renga.
songs speak to hearts
words that could have been rain
if shy lips had spoke
they gaped, drenched, at the rainbows
steam rising from the space between
more haiku and renga from the poets at one deep breath.
Permanent link to this article: https://www.rhinoblues.com/thoughts/2006/11/one-deep-breath-renga/
The “Pineapple Express” relentlessly attacks with warm rain. Rivers swell and overflow, taking with them trees, rocks and houses. The collective mood of the city becomes one of depressed slumber. All the while we are inundated with negative political ads. We wonder if we will ever regain hope. If things can really change. If our vote really matters.
rain falls with darkness
unapologetic to
the daylight it hides
Change does happen. Sometimes it sneaks up on us. Sometimes it is sudden and violent. Always afterwards we have a choice in how we respond. This election has brought us change. I hope and pray that this time we respond to that change in a better way.
—
more haibun from the poets at one deep breath
*haibun is a combination of brief prose and haiku.
Permanent link to this article: https://www.rhinoblues.com/thoughts/2006/11/one-deep-breath-haibun/
Today I hope is a new beginning for the United States. Voters have made a loud and clear statement of unhappiness with the direction of our country. The balance of power has clearly shifted in the House of Representatives and currently looks to swing in the Senate as well. However, we will not know the results of the final Senate race for probably a month.
The results of the elections were good news in its own right. However even better news came this morning. Donald Rumsfeld is stepping down as the Secretary of Defense. Perhaps now, the military leaders can actually implement strategies that will help end the conflict in Iraq instead of inciting conflict.
Permanent link to this article: https://www.rhinoblues.com/thoughts/2006/11/a-new-beginning/
continued from the previous entry…
After my hike on Friday afternoon, the rest of the weekend was filled with pretty much the same stuff. I did some reading, worked on a couple poems and reflected in silence. All the while keeping the monastic hours.
The monastic day officially starts at 4:15am with Vigils and ends at approximately 8pm with Compline. It was surprisingly easy to adjust to this schedule with the relaxed nature of the weekend. Despite getting up at 4am each day, I woke up refreshed.
I didn’t really come out of the weekend with any answers (though I didn’t really expect to either). I’m fairly certain that the trappist ideal is not a possible vocation for me. While I am perfectly comfortable in the silence, I think part of me needs to have a connection to the community at large. I identified one of the major reasons that it would be difficult for me to ever consider converting to the Roman Catholic church. It is my belief that mass should be shared with everyone, whether they of a different denomination or even if they aren’t Christians. If someone wants to come to the table, they should be able to participate fully.
I’ll definitely do something like this again, it was a great way to recharge.
Permanent link to this article: https://www.rhinoblues.com/thoughts/2006/10/a-weekend-in-silencecont/
