Seattle is having a heat wave and it is awesome, 85 degrees today. A few months back I went to Florida and it was 92 degrees on the coldest day. Arriving back in Seattle I realized I had this low grade anger or irritation going on. I finally took some time to think about why I was so cranky and I realized I was bitter that I had lived in this nasty Seattle rain for 50 plus years and there are places where it is warm and it is warm almost all the time.
So I am pretty, pretty, happy about this warm weather. Right this minute I am in my bedroom sitting in my underwear. It is just me and my still kind of fat soft belly. No one is bothering me. There are no bugs flying around bugging me. It is 11:30 pm and it is still 78 degrees outside – Yes!! I should probably go to sleep, but I am too excited. I once heard a friend say, ‘If it gets any better than this, I will probably be in heaven.’ Right at this minute, I am feeling it.
I had to write this tonight because tomorrow it will no longer be nice but it will be hot. It is supposed to be 93 degrees tomorrow. So, I will probably be cranky by the time I get to sit and do some writing and by then I will be wishing for some good old mild Seattle rainy drizzle.
That reminds me, have I ever talked to you about the crazy phenomena, when things are ‘just right?’ I may be bringing something up that you have already figured out, but for me it is still a conundrum.
My weekends always have a couple of those just right moments. I am usually up before the rest of the household. I start a pot of coffee, while the coffee is brewing I may do some simple task and then I get that first cup of coffee. That just right moment usually happens on the walk to my chair where my laptop or book is waiting for me. It is that first sip of coffee. It is the only one that day but there it is, a just right moment. Are you feeling it? – I heard someone use that term the other day so I am trying it out. Let me know if it works for you, I mean if you’re feeling it.
Another just right moment is after I come home from work, have a little dinner, sit down with my laptop on my lap. First I check my email. Then I check if there are any comments on my blog. And then comes the part where I get to start writing. Here comes a just right moment. The laptop by now is warming up. The food in my stomach has taken away that grumbling feeling, and the warmth from my laptop sitting on my lap in the midst of typing or reading, slips me into my evening nap. That moment, right before it is full sleep. that is a just right moment. Tricked you didn’t I? You probably thought I was going to describe some mushy description of writing pleasure. I suppose now and then I write some string of words that are pretty good but I would never say they are just right.
Do you have any just about right moments?
I have a new picture on the background of my computer. The picture is of my oldest daughter and it was taken during my father’s day gift on father’s day. She is the oldest of my small tribe. Being the oldest, of course she is a good leader, thus she planned this little affair. This day was a throw back down memory lane and it was almost perfect.
My son brought the boat for this scheduled day of fishing. We didn’t start early and almost nixed the trip because of the rain but we were all there and all managed to find some sort of rain gear. So, off we went to the local lake for a day of fishing. My niece took the place of my youngest daughter and I have a great picture of her getting fish slime splatter across her face. Imagine being slimed with delight. Only fishing can do that.
Today was trout fishing but in days past when the kidlets were small it was usually perch or bass, both which are in abundance. When little ones are in the boat one is wise to find a way to keep the action steady and regular. Perch usually are more than happy to fit the bill by literally jumping onto the hooks.
A couple of traditions were developed during those early years of fishing excursions. But first let me back up for just one moment and run down memory lane to the first time I took my kids fishing. This trip of course included only my oldest daughter, you see the other two had not yet been thought of, let alone conceived. It was me and my friend Al and of course B at the age of 18 months maybe 24 months. I don’t really remember, it was over 20 years ago. You don’t really expect me to remember everything do you?
Across the railroad tracks Al and I carried the boat. The gear came across next and then B donned in her tiny orange life preserver along with her blue blankie. I am pretty sure she had her thumb in her mouth and it was always best if it was her left thumb. B is left handed. For the first hour she was excited leaning over the edge while I had a hold of the back of her life preserver. She was unable to reach the water without falling in but her little hand splashed the water back and forth as I held her tight. It wasn’t that long before the newness had worn off and B was asleep on the floor of the 10 ft Livingston. Thumb in mouth, a firm grip on her blanket with it pressed tight to her cheek, B slept. Al and I fished for several hours catching true cod and bringing home a mess of fish for fish and chips.
The trip turned out to be a bit hard on little B. It might have had something to do with her thumb sucking and the polluted water in Puget Sound, we were anchored about 200 yards off the local treatment plant, which I can’t believe I did. The fishing was always good there but seriously what was I thinking?
I could give you the play by play results of the aftermath, but I will just leave it with, I had to clean up more than B. It was a definite mistake to leave B naked unattended in the bathroom while I ran for clean clothes. All I can say I am glad we did not have carpet on the bathroom floor and that the door was painted with a strong enamel based paint.
This transition is going to be a bit tough so I am not even going to try for grace or smoothness. A tradition we developed on our fishing trips regardless of how good and healthy a lunch my sweet wife had packed for us was to stop at the local mini mart and I would pick up a box of those nasty mini chocolate Hostess donuts – yum.
So here we are on the lake fishing, on Father’s Day now 20 plus years later and B pulled out a box of mini-chocolate Hostess donuts. We passed them around and everyone partook of a traditional rite of passage. I got to bait hooks for my niece and daughter, just like old times. My son drove the boat and I did my best biting my tongue more than once because I kept forgetting I was in the presence of adults not children. Once I totally forgot my daughter was completely grown and as I jumped across the seat to help her with her fishing pole. My son laughed at me which of course made it all feel normal. My niece caught her first trout, B caught two rainbows, and my son and I were skunked. I forgot to ask him how it felt to be the captain and fulfill the duly appropriate honor of getting skunked, which is par for the course when insuring all his guest’s lines are not tangled. It felt wrong being the one cared for but the chocolate donuts tasted right and made it all seem normal.That was a great father’s day present! Thanks all you little Quills.
My night stand is a mess. My stack of books is getting pretty high and beginning to lean. Soon there will be a fall. When that happens maybe I will be fortunate, and the cat will be nearby, scaring it into a much desired heart attack. Who knows something good could come from this colossal mess.
At the top of the stack and the book having the best chance of hitting the cat will be Frank McCourt’s book, The Teacher Man. This is the first book of his I have read and it is becoming a personal favorite. Under it is a book written by Ralph Palmen, 8 Critical Lifetime Decisions. Anything Ralph writes is worth reading, he has wisdom worth passing on. Next is Trusting God by Jerry Bridges, I am not really reading this book but I pulled it off the shelf looking for some answer to some question. I don't really remember what that was about. Regardless here it sits waiting for the cat to walk by. Next comes a garage sale find, a used New American Standard Version of the Bible. What does that say about me when my Bible is buried four books deep, hmmm…. Next is a book on writing called Characters, Emotion and Viewpoint, by Kress. Under that is a novel I have tried three times to read called, The Gold of Exodus. Oh, look another Thrift Store find, Writing Fiction by Cassill. Oh, I can’t believe it; under this book is another Bible. I wonder how long it’s been since that one was read, let me blow the dust off it. Next is a book called, Three Mennonite Poets. Poetry is not my thing but I did read one of the poems. Next is a grammar book called Write Right. I guess it is a nice thought thinking I can learn some grammar at this time of my life. I have made little progress. The main problem to be quite frank is that the book is a bit boring – surprise! And at the very bottom is a book called, Blest Atheist, by Elizabeth Mahlou, written by a fellow blogger. It is her life story and a very interesting read. Elizabeth takes the reader through her depths of tragedy and back to the heights of human achievement. If you choose to read this book, get ready to laugh and cry within the same page and sometimes both at the same time. This book is not for the emotional weakling. I had to put it aside several times before I could pick it back up.
Stack number two – the short stack – the active stack, first is ‘Finding God’, by Larry Crabb. This is one of those books that you can read, pick it up a couple years later and get something new from it. This is probably at least the third time it has taken space on my night stand and I am sure it will be back for several more visits before my days have ended, Lord willing. Next is a Bible I actually read now and then, who woulda’ thunk?
Lastly is a novel by Susan Howatch, a favorite author of my wife’s. Ms. Howatch has yet to draw me into her vortex of fans. My first attempt at Howatch was a few years back, after reading four pages and having to go to the dictionary eight times in four pages, our dear Susan, kinda’ ticked me off – write a set or two lower please. So, I just put her back on the shelf and decided she did not intend for me to be included in her key demographic audience. I am going to give Howatch one more try – I don’t want to hold a grudge.
Well that’s pretty much it. My night stand is now cleaned off and ready for some new additions. The cat is safe, don’t worry Choco.
Thank you for your help, I will always take help with tidying up. As usual you are the best.
Thanks for reading all the way to the end.
They say, a good blogger self markets his blog by linking back to other posts when appropriate. I thought I would give it a whirl and see if I could be appropriate.
It was after A Father’s Day when I Got This Pain in my Stomach. I was minding my own business, just Me being Me, when it happened.
My name is Alex, and this pain started on my Bow and Arrow Adventure. I was Traveling Along when I had a series of 17 Accidents, I know that’s a lot and quiet a Conundrum. Since then I have had time to reflect on this Tragedy. I am pretty sure all of the accidents were the result of my Mid Life Crisis.
I know you are thinking, Tell me Everything. So here goes. This little crisis all happened on the weekend that the Animal Death Policy was announced at the Super Bowl by a bunch of Lazy Bad Men who thought they had Really Big Weighty News.
When my Aunt Ruth and Uncle Carl heard about the accidents and they started Thinking and saying it was A Sign from God and that It was a Miracle, but that was a Tactical Error on their part. You see a Rat Attack rarely happens except when An Angel with Wrinkles stops by. But, it was no angel, it was just one of my Blogger Buddies who BTW is The Cool Optimist, from the reality TV show, Milk those Cows, who had recently come back from hearing a lecture where Max Aswell Speaks regularly on “Happy Marriage – Top 10 Male Traits Needed.”
If I had been more Faithful and Consistent and not been Checking Out, along with The Foolish Atheist, the hip hop group Boy’s Water and Mud, I probably wouldn’t have tripped over Bad Grayquill Working Step 5 (accident #2) that resulted in a Hole in My Sock, where my Toe Nails stuck out, and I ended up with a few more Dead Brain Cells.
Mr E who happened along about then had the nerve to ask me, “Son, Is That Shirt Dirty?”
“Well, of course it’s dirty! I just fell and landed on a Depraved Troll (accident #6). I understand Young Folks at Times Need Old Folks but seriously did he not know this was not one of those times? Did he not see this was a time when a person should be quiet, and Mow Your Own Grass? That reminds me Goldie liked rolling in the grass along with My Neighbor Jerry who was one of those Smart People – sorry for the tangent.
The way Mr. E looked at me you would have thought Uncle Thoughtful – Jujitsu Warrior, who is Crazier Than Scaditch, had just told A Pig Story. But, after a long stare down, Mr. E returned to his Homemade Ice Cream at Seat 13D. By then it was 12:10 AM and I saw that Mr. E’s Giant Ears had scraped the Refrigerator Doors as he looked closely at A Child’s Christmas List taped to the door facing. The list was written after A Child’s Prayer. One might ask, Why We Write such lists but that is kind of like the question, Why Fish? I know this is all beginning to sound like Random Ramblings and I am pretty sure My Great Liberal Brother is the only one who cares. So I am trying to be careful and avoid a 28 Story Misspeak and as you all know that is hard for me to avoid without my Nose Spray.
I finally went to the doctor for an xray about the pain in my side and the doc told me that Broken Ribs are Such a Pain and that I needed to cancel my Bare Stomach Volleyball tournament. The Very Bad Scary News is now I will be Sitting Around in My Underwear and that sight will make grown Men Cry.
I could tell you more about this pain in my side but I only have So Many Stories and besides Mr. Blunt Edges - I think I Hate You. Did you see and hear that Lighting Flash and Thunder Roll? It was probably caused from some Blissful Mountain Love by a couple of Christians That Are Just Plain Irritating wearing My Hat. Hmmm…. I think It’s a Miracle and their First Kiss.
I guess this story was light on plot, so we will end strong with a great lesson. Always remember, When The Bright Side of Blogging fades and When The Path is Dark and the ladies don’t find you Handsome and Handy try some Self Dentistry and if that doesn’t work Paint the Fence.
Signing off for now but I will be back with more This and That. Hey…Where are GQ’s Glasses?
I am so embarrassed.
You should do that first! You shouldn’t think like that! You should eat better! You shouldn’t talk like that. You should, you shouldn’t, you should, you shouldn’t…are you seeing a pattern yet? It seems all my life, if I am not shoulding on myself, someone else is.
I wonder if most human beings across this planet think like this middle class American does. Do they think they should be able to do what they want, when they want, where they want, and how they want, with who they want, and do they think, others should not be telling us what we should do, or how we should do it, or when we should do it?
When I was younger it was my elders who were shoulding on me mostly but as I grew older and became the elder, I began to take over more and more of the shoulding responsibilities. This morning is a pretty good example of this shoulding. First off let me preface my words with it was my desire this morning to either go fishing or to sit and do some writing since I haven’t made a new blog post since last Saturday nor have I gone fishing for weeks and, heck, it is not raining! Secondly, I fish best and write best in the morning, even though I usually end up writing mostly at night between naps. The mornings are my most creative times. A cup of coffee or maybe two cups of coffee does help.
This morning, even before I got the coffee started my should messages started firing at me. You should take out the garbage, you should get a load of white’s started, you should sweep – look at this dirt! You should shoot that irritating wood pecker who is not pecking wood but is in a constant screeching mode. I do need a cup of coffee, I should make my coffee first. Oh, but that is impossible because a couple of shoulds have already grown into action and I finally can see that pesky wood pecker on my second return trip from the garbage tote. I can hear that the water is now finished filling the washing machine and I should add the whites so it can be washing while I make my coffee. NO! The coffee should be making while I load the washing machine, then my coffee will be ready when I am finished loading the washing machine. What is this? Dirty dishes in the sink? Oh yeah, I ran the dishwasher last night. I should empty the dishwasher next. No, I should start my computer so it is booted up, so when the coffee is done I can start writing.
Well, here I sit writing. The woodpecker gave up its screeching to peck wood, I have a cup of coffee to my right, the whites have finished washing. I should go start them drying, the garbage is taken out, but I should really get up and unload that dishwasher. The crock pot has begun its six hour chicken cook, and I have a pile of dirt in the corner where I started the sweeping. I should stop being so lazy and get up and do a proper job of sweeping – or maybe I should just go fishing where there is no dishes, no laundry, and no floor to sweep and I could feel the sun soak into my back, and maybe, feel the strike and see my pole tip do a little splash breaking the the lake surface.
Years ago I saw a sign hanging in a friends office that said, “Don’t should on yourself.” Yeah, maybe we shouldn’t should on ourselves but if we didn’t would we ever get anything done? Maybe you would, but I am not so sure those shoulds are not my best friends.
Now I should go get that second cup of coffee.
Go ahead should on yourself if you must.
I am basically an optimist. I tell people that all the time. I might quip, ”You know, I sure am one positive fellow. Don’t you agree?” Hmmm…that single raised eyebrow, how do people do that? I think it looks really cool and I have stood in front the mirror for hours working on that raised eyebrow thing.
I also love the wink, but hours of practicing the wink have produced almost zero fruit. If I hold my right eye open with my fingers and then attempt to close my eyes. That is about my best wink.
Not being able to wink has hurt me during negotiations. One wink - go lower, two winks - ask for more services, three winks…., I don’t really remember what three winks means, besides I could never wink anyway.
Not being able to wink and make a little child feel creeped out, has never been my worry. Although there was that one time I forgot I couldn’t wink and I tried to wink at that little kid in Macdonald’s. He started crying right off and ran to his mother. The mother and the little one talked in hushed tones and that day I learned a new look. I am not sure what it meant but I thought it looked cool. I went right into the bathroom and gave it a try. Press the lips tight, squint the eyes shut just a bit – dang! I will have to try this one at home, this mirror is making my face not look cool at all. I hate Macdonald’s mirrors!
There is one look I am getting down pretty gosh darn good. I am not sure where it is on the cool factor but I think in time, most people will think it makes me look really cool. I would tell you what it is but I am kind of afraid everyone will start doing it, and I really like the idea of having my own cool look. So, if you don’t mind I won’t share it. But, if you see a really cool guy in Seattle, it is probably me. Go up and say, “Are you that really cool guy, Grayquill?”
If you find out it’s me, we will get a chance to talk a bit. But, if he says, no, hand him a card with my blog address on it – I would like a few more readers.
Is there a lesson here? Absolutely! Why wouldn’t there be? “If you are cool, run with it, but be careful not to poke your eye out.”
Is it weird to feel connected to a person you have never met, and who uses a fake name? Of course it’s weird.
Connection in blogger world is not all that different than the real world. It usually comes when two people come together and share each other’s stories. They identifying with either each other’s laughter or their pain and as they walk along this path of life, they support the one who they now call friend. It is the way friendships have always been built and thus trust is formed between strangers.
In real life I gravitate toward people who are not to wordy. You know those people who in conversation are continually waiting for you to stop talking so they can talk? Those types of people I tend to keep a distance from. There are times when I am around such a talker, I will smile and listen, but in my mind I am saying to myself, do not say a word, not a single word in response, for if you do, that will send the talker down another rabbit trail and you will be here forever.
It is the same for me in blogger world. I gravitate toward bloggers, who know what they have to say and can say it concisely. My preference, I want them to say their peace in or around 500 and at the outside 1000 words. I know that makes me sound a bit ridged; I guess that is because maybe I am rigid. If a blogger touches me with their humanness in those few words, I will likely hang around. In my rigidness I have one more requirement. A fellow blogger must be willing to now and then come by Grayquill world and read my 500 to 1000 words and make a comment. Call me rude and selfish but it seems to me that is common blogger etiquette and respect.
When a connection has been formed with a blogger, we then consider them blogger buddies. So when the blogger buddy bows out of blogger world, it is a loss of a buddy. Sure we want to minimize the impact of these losses with logical thoughts like, ‘I don’t even know this person.’ In a sense that is a true statement, after all we only know what we have been told by our blogger friends – it could all be a lie. For sure, we do not know the whole truth. Heck, all one has to do is look at Grayquill’s blog and my own blogging tactics. I only share what makes me look good, right?
If you read the comments in my post, you will know right off that blogger buddies are much nicer than those in the real world. I think that is partly because there is no real responsibility with a blogger friend. The worse offense we can commit toward each other is to read their post and not leave a comment. Sure, we could leave a rude comment, but most of us humans have basic human relationship skills and know not to do that.
All this said, Arkansas Patti has chosen to bow out for a time. She will be missed! She seemed to me to be as human and flawed as the rest of us, which allowed me to identify with her and her journey. I feel at some level I learned to know her – thus a connection. Patti you will be missed. Your writing is always down to earth, and felt real – thank you for the many enjoyable reads.(594 words – just so you know) :)
