The Daily (W)Rite February WK o4

 

wk 04

Well into the 4th week of February and I haven't produced much in the way of creative writing or creative thought. But it's snowing on and off and the sky is mostly white with thick shades of cloudy gray to remind us that it's winter. Foreboding sweeps over me whenever I hear nature's voice. She's not so scary in the spring or in the fall, but her winter voice speaks straight to my old bones and they shake in fear as her brutal, cold words engulf them. My spine is particularly venerable to her touch, and when the spine goes so does the mind; it's only defense is to go to sleep and dream of summer deserts and warm coffee and a blazing sun that can sear the freezing out of me, melt away any thoughts of winter.

10:2opm

Extremely lethargic all day. Trying to stay awake . . . but the body wants what the body wants and if it's sleep . . . my head can't say no. I'm hoping tomorrow I'll be up and about early. DWTS announces their new season around 7am tomorrow morning on Good Morning America and I don't want to miss that! Yes, I know, I can feel you looking askew at me. What's an old geezer doing watching Dancing with the Stars? Can't help it. I enjoy the "stars" learning how to dance, working hard at trying not to be eliminated. It's fun, and I get to vote for who I think has worked the hardest. Yeah, weirdly, I find it fun!

 

Tuesday, February 24, 2o15

We were at the  Old School Bagel Café  when this conversation started:

Woodie: (to David) You're not the best friend in the world but you're my only friend . . .
David: (laughing) Sorry.

Woodie: (laughing also) Yeah, I should get you a Friend Whisper to teach you how to be a better buddy.

(Woodie and David laugh uncontrollably)

 

There was more to the dialogue, but I forgot what else was said. I was just too busy laughing and watching the other people in the café silently turn their heads towards us as if to say, "Why are you laughing so loud! You're in a public place!"





Friday, February 27, 2o15

Spock died today. Actually, his Earthly persona Leonard Nimoy died. Mr. Spock, of course, continues on. I first met Spock back in 1969. I was 21 years old and just back from Vietnam. I was entering the barracks at twenty-nine Palms Marine Corps Base for the first time. There was an old portable, black & white TV and there was Spock and Kirk and Bones arguing over something or other. I hate to say it, but I was drawn to Spock right off. Bones and Kirk were all up in each others face about  . . .  something . . .  and Spock stood there and watched, and when the finally ran out of emotional steam, Spock quietly said something or other that was totally logical. And Kirk and Bones settled down and went along with whatever Spock said. And I decided in the moment I wanted to be a Spock. Sure, I knew I was more like Bones or Kirk. My emotions ran away with me all the time. But it wasn't what I wanted to be. I wanted to be strong, logical, level headed when it came to my emotions. Oh, Spock, Leonard Nimoy, I'm gonna miss you.

Saturday, February 28, 2o15

A very cold snow day today. The world just outside my window looks frozen to death. Makes one feel as if there's no hope for spring and summer to live. But there are a few crazy-brave souls out there bundled up in thick coats, stocking caps and winter gloves laughing at this white death, throwing snowballs at each other . . . none of them would make it in the big leagues.

I use to love going out in the snow to take pics. I'd on three layers (1 t-shirt, 1 long sleeve wool shirt, and a sweater), my heavy-duty winter
coat with padded hoodie, the I Heart NY stocking cap I bought that time I visited Nathan Perez, a pair of really thick, "manly" gloves warm, very warm socks, and my water proof winter boots . . . and of course my jeans.  Yeah, I was all for roaming around in the snow, facing the elements without fear . . . until I slipped on some ice one year and broke my arm. After that . . . well, I sort of lost my wanderlust spirit after that.
 

 

 

 

 

 

The Daily (W)Rite February WK o3

The Daily (W)Rite

wk o3

Thursday

So, I have this west window in my apartment. Not a big a gigantic window, but big enough that IF I could open it, which I can't, I could crawl out on the A shaped roof that covers the front porch. Anyway, I get the most spectacular view of sunsets from it. And that the sun is setting always takes me by surprise. I'm never ready for it. I'll walk over to do something on the computer and bam, there it is! For me it always makes me smile to see the light dying . . . and it always tries its best to let us humans know that it's passing away. And we mourn it, I guess, even though we know it won't be the last sunset . . . or, I'm guessing again, we hope it won't be the last sunset. But what a way to go if we got to go. Let everybody know that we were here; we lived and then we left.

 

Okay, I know better than to get pissed off at things people say on Facebook. I do know better. But every once in a great while someone decides to target me and like just about anybody else it does piss me off! Okay, maybe not a lot pissed off, but enough to make me want to get revenge!

So we got these wacked out state legislators in Oklahoma who just want to control everything in our lives. Recently they killed Common Core and now they've set their sights on Advanced Placement, in particular, they are going after US History because they believe that Advanced Placement curriculum focuses on what is "bad" about the USA, and doesn't emphasize how exceptional America is.  So, I get all riled about and write my state legislator, and I post one of my cartoons on Facebook to get my point across. Well, some Richard head that David knows took offense and wrote this in the comment section:

 

"Please don't Meme - that is such a red state sheep tactic.

Have a conversation, post your views,

but don't resort to petty images. pretty please!" -Ken

 

Okay, I know what you're thinking, "Don't do it, Woodie, don't let him bait you, stay away from the dark side of the Force!" And pretty much I followed your advice and didn't let it bother me . . . much. Yes, I did respond, but not with calling him names and jumping down his throat. Instead I just hit him with another Meme . . . whatever the hell a Meme is:

 

Heeeeeee! AND I made another one that I didn't put on Facebook because I didn't want to be redundant:

Okay? I felt better without drawing any psychological blood. Which brings me to my point: It's okay to fight back, butfight back with a bit of wit and with somewhat of a good nature.

Friday, February 21, 2o15

Hm. Didn't get much written this week or this month to be honest. I'm afraid that I'm losing m desire to write. It's scary to not be interested in creating my poetry. I have spent a bit of time rewriting some older stuff . . .  but haven't created anything new. It saddens me in a way. No desire to be the artist. Hell, being a bad artist was always better than not being an artist at all. But now? It doesn't seem to matter much to me. Feeling a bit beached, like a whale, or paper cup some kid sipped some rum and coke out of then crushing it flat when he finished . . . tossed into the ocean . . . adrift . . .  but only for a short time . . . not even the gigantic Pacific Ocean wants me. I just keep being pushed back onto the sandy shore. That's me. A sea shell filled with wet sand.  Drowning has never been a sure fire solution to anything. Suicide is a waste of time . . . and razor blades.

Lots of bills this week because of all the doctor appointments. All that worry about my heart. Not sure i's real or made up by the doctor. Old folks are always easy picking for doctors. We are all so painfully aware of our mortality especially when a bad case of flu could easily lead to pneumonia. A fall off the bike? When I was young, nothing to it. Take the fall, get up and ride off. Now a days a simple slip and tumble down the stairs could break something. "Help! I've fallen and I can't get up!"

I guess that's enough writing for tonight. What little bit I just wrote felt good. Maybe I'll get some more done in the morning.

 

 

 



 

The Daily (W)Rite, Valentine's Day!

The Daily (W)Rite



o3

 

Yes, it was Valentine's Day here in Norman Town on this just past Saturday. I never actually celebrate VD these days. Okay, I did do a few things for my Facebook friends, wrote a  new poem that didn't really come out right, at least, no one except David and Anna even looked at it. The one above was an old poem written back around 2oo8 or o9. I did some rewrites on it in '13 and a few more when Anna, my friend from Australia, asked me to repost it. I was surprised that she remembered it, I didn't. 

 

This is really the first year in a long while that I did Anything for VD. Always before, if I

wasn't "with" somebody I found the day rather emotionally draining. But this year I sort of . . . embraced it. I took myself to the movies. Yeah, that's right, I took myself out to the movies! I jump on the bike about 11:45am yesterday . . . I was proud of myself. I made a total of nine miles (round trip) without much difficulty.  Did have a run-in with a stupid ass kid that all most ran me over with his fucking car! He was trying to turn right on Main St. out of a parking lot, and there was a lot of traffic to his left and when he saw an opening he went for it and almost clipped me as I was traveling West. Man! I slammed on my breaks and cussed him out, just a young kid he was . . . and rather big! I regretted what I said as he began to roll down his window . . . I was sure he was going to pull a gun on me! But he didn't. He just said sorry and it was his fault and he was such a dumb-ass for not paying attention . . . and that made me feel bad, so bad that I apologized to him for cussing him out!

The movie I saw sucked. The most fun I had was afterwards when I stopped to watch all the people lining up for Fifty Shades of Grey. There were a LOT of 'em, but they were all women! Mostly in pairs and all dressed up, hair done nice, so excited to see this thing, and a bit embarrassed, I think, that everybody noticed them and knew what they were going to see. It was a laugh.
  

The Daily (W)Rite February WK o2

The Daily (W)Rite

wk o2

Wednesday, February 11, 2o15

Sorry that it took so long to get back to the blog. I know how my "readers" miss me when I'm not here . . . on the page. But I went out of Town for the weekend. Yep! Went out to Tulsa to visit my friend Kimm. It felt good to get away from Norman for awhile . . . well, not really away from Norman, but more like me getting away from the rut I've developed since I moved to my dear NT. In Tulsa I got to sleep just after midnight, AND I got to sleep in a real bed not on a couch like I'm use to at home. AND I was up and out of bed (bed! I love that word!) by 7:30AM!

 

Did a lot of fun things. Friday night we went downtown to the " Art Crawl" and met some friends. Well, Rick and his girlfriend and her best friend met us there.  Of course, I knew Rick but I hadn't met Sharon and Leah! And I finally met Clare who I had met on Facebook! It was a fun night of laughing and roaming around the streets of Tulsa and visiting all the different art galleries. This may sound sort of strange but I felt my life change. I know that's weird, but I felt a freedom in my soul, freedom from the old man attitude I've developed over the years. It was fun to get away from the day-in, day-out routine I had gotten into. I mean, all I've done for the last two years has been to wake up, watch TV, eat and go back to bed at some ungodly hour. Over and Over again. Spending time in Tulsa with Kimm and her friends made me realize . . . I got a lot more life to live. I just need to decide to live it. {smile}

5:14pm

There's a small pond by Kimm's house. The dog needed walking, and I was game. Though my COPD was acting up a bit, I made an effort to get around the pond without stopping, and I got a few good shots of the geese living there. The dog started limping when we were on are way home. Kimm picked him up carried  her home. And I was wishing there was someone who could carry me!

Friday, February  2015  

FRIDAY the 13TH

Yep! It's that day again, and this year we get two more! Jason must be very happy. I don't really celebrate Friday the 13th, and I really don't know anyone who does. Sure, there maybe someone, somewhere who goes all out on Fri-13, but I never met them. The most I have ever done to celebrate this day was to treat myself to a Friday the 13th movie festival . . . I got through three of them before I got tired of it. Sorry. I think I appreciate the idea of the movies more these days than the actual movies. I mean, het, Jason IS an iconic figure. Totally cool hockey mask wielding psycho . . . or is he supernatural! Woohhhhhha!

 

David just called! He slept in till 4:30pm! I worry that about that guy. But we are going to Art Walk so I gotta get a move on! Talk to you later.

 

 

 



 

The Daily (W)Rite February WK o1

The Daily (W)Rite

wk o1



Thursday,
I'm in one of my "bad attitude" days. I'm very grumpy . . . no, grumpy is too mild a word . . . angry, yeah, that's more like it. Angry at everything. Pissed off at the TV pundits, the commercials, the people I run into on the street . . . Hell I'm angry at the whole fucking world! Last night I started in on our waitress about how she shouldn't let anyone, not OU in particular where she works full time for very little pay, push her around. Damn it, stand up to them. She forced a smile on her face and walked away. Then it was David's son and his friend's turn when they started talking about actors and how to work with them . . . "I'll tell you all about acting," I said pointing an accusatory finger at them! And I went off on how everybody but me doesn't know a damn thing about acting! I went on with it for awhile . . . Too long a while.

Friday, o2-o6-15
There's more I need to write about this personal topic. However, I've got some other things going on this weekend. I mean, it's good to write about life as long as you take the time to also live it. So, more later, my friends. {BIG smile}