Thursday, July 28, 2011

Delightful, for lack of a better word.

 

Last week I was supposed to write about feet.  I was too tired, too dead on the aforementioned, to do it.  This week’s prompt is to think about the things that irritate me.  Ponder them.  List them.  Know them.  Then write about what delights me. 

For starters, can I just say how much I hate Cyn for coming up with that prompt?  Far, far too apt this week.  Aptness is a finely edged weapon.  I have a stack of irritating things to ponder lately, most of them work related.  A tall, crooked, top-heavy stack of heaving irritations, just waiting for the most inopportune moment to crash down on my head. 

Think about it, she said.  Wallow in them.  Then see what you’re really made of and write about the things that delight you.

  • I left the house a little after 6:30 yesterday morning.  A hawk followed alongside my car for the briefest of moments before taking up his morning roost on one of the telephone poles.  There are few things on this planet more majestic than a bird of prey.  Even the scraggly, underfed hawks that we have here are just glorious to see. 

This hawk was watching a heard of pigmy donkeys grazing on a field terrace along side the highway.  I’d never seen donkeys there before.  Kinda cool. 

  • I finished up a teaching a class to drug offenders last night.  They were actually sort of engaging for once.  I enjoy stoners immensely one on one, but their group-think has been twanging my last nerve when I’ve taught this class recently.  This group was better.  Last night I taught about values, attitudes and behaviors.  Two of ‘em actually teared up.  Teared up!  Hell, if I’d had a plate I would have passed it and offered an invitation.  I couldda gotten at least one of ‘em to rededicate their life and the two guys in the back might’ve volunteered for foreign missions. 

Or, maybe not. 

  • I made a decision last week to pursue something I’ve needed to for a long time.  I have a building I want to someday rent/lease/own and put in an art studio.  I’m going to do it.  I’m even thinking about hanging out my shingle and doing a few photography jobs.  I’ll specialize in weddings of orphans.  I refuse to do weddings for people with mothers.  Mothers of brides have no place on a list of things that delight me.

I decided on a few small steps to begin with.  I’m actually going to try to sell some of my art.  Next weekend I am undertaking a very, very small beginning step and setting up a booth (card table and maybe a couple of easels) at a tiny town summer festival.  Just gonna wait and see what happens.  I can’t imagine there is a single person in the tiny town that needs/wants photos of graves or abandoned places.  And certainly not childish paintings of comic book themes, but who knows?  It’s a delightfully small first step. 

  • Jackson found me a new cemetery and Saturday we will take a little road trip and see how well it photographs.  That’s always delightful, even though he’s developed this new fascination with “Ghost Adventures” and now wanders the cemetery doing faux “EVP work”. 
  • I’m delighted that I live with a teenager who makes me laugh much more often than she makes me want to whack her upside the head with a heavy blunt instrument.  I’m delighted that we recently had this argument:

Kate:  “But!  I prayed in the shower!  I always pray while I’m taking a shower!”

Me:    “I don’t care.  You can pray again, out loud, with us.  It’s good for you!”

Kate:  “Argh! I don’t WANT to!  I don’t LIKE praying out loud!”

Me:    “What the hell is wrong with praying out loud?  Just quit whining a say a damn prayer, already.”

First she laughed.  Then she prayed. 

It was a crappy prayer.  But, what the hell, you can’t win ‘em all.

 

That’s it for now.  I’m kicking that list of irritations.  Kicking it hard, just to watch it fall.  I’ve got a lot of other things – more important things – to enjoy.  Who needs ya? 

11 comments:

Lois said...

Oh, I love this! And I want you to know that I thought to myself when I saw your notice that you had posted, "Oh, but I'm so tired tonight! I don't know if I have anything to give! I don't know if I can read it carefully and responsibly" and then I read the first line as seen on the page and remembered - when it comes to your writing, I get more than I give. Thank you for the gift! I absolutely love it - and I cannot believe it's taken you this long to start selling your art! I'm going to come buy some! Well, no, it's too long a drive, but I'll buy some soon!

Cyn Huddleston said...

I hate you just as much as you hate me. And I am delighted to list that you are offering up your services for pay. Your parenting skills are no doubt honed in the halls of justice. And your daddy must be proud. Almost an altar call, huh? <3

spookyrach said...

Aw, geeze, Lois. haha! (I finally figured out how to fix the shoes I'm makin' for ya. It's not great, but it will work. Eventually, you'll get 'em.)

Yeah, Cyn. You suck. :P I so shouldda tried the altar call trick. "Just come right up here to the podium - take my hand and lets just tell the judge that you are throwing yourself on his mercy. The judge wants only the best for you, but you gotta believe and you gotta trust and you gotta follow." It could so work.

Lori said...

I love it too.... and I love that you are going to open that studio. Your photos are awesome... I'd buy them! I think it's a huge leap and takes courage to step out of our box sometimes.... I like it.

I stand with Kate, I hate praying out loud too.... even the damn prayers.... lol

See, now I was thinking a good laying on of hands would have been good... you'd have had them falling out... truth too, you never know what one word you might say that is going to hit that one person and maybe, just maybe they'll wake up. I couldn't have your job, I don't do well with addicts and drunks.... I have a low threshold for that stuff... I'll save that one for some blog post.

I loved this Rach.... way better than feet

spookyrach said...

Glad you liked it, Lori! Mindy introduced me to a great quote from Ghandi - I can't quote it exactly, but he said, basically, it's the action, not the fruit of the action that's important. You never know the ultimate results of what you do [or say] but if you do nothing, your result will be nothing.

Anonymous said...

Your writing rocks. Your art will sell. I'd not worry so much about Katy praying. It's her choice. And she's yet to learn her place in the hierarchy. And my gut still hurts like a sumabitch. That's all I got. Oh, and Ghandi quotes? That one came from a baseball quote: if you don't get up to bat you'll never get a chance to hit the ball. Or was that a vampire man thing. I forget.

XXXOOO,
LJ

annie said...

Gosh, Spooky-poo, this one almost made me cry. I love your writing. And I'm glad to hear you are going to try and sell your art, and maybe a bit envious about the studio part! Exciting stuff!

You have such a way with words and stories. I love that Ghandi quote too.

Good luck with the booth next weekend! You do good work, someone will be drawn to it! We all like it, other people will too!

spookyrach said...

Thanks, Diane! I have a long way to go before I'm ready for the expense of a building, but it has set empty for years and years, so I don't imagine it's going anywhere anytime soon.

spookyrach said...

LJ -

I like vampire dudes. Just for the record. I hope you're feeling better!!!

Princess of Everything (and then some) said...

I am so glad you are finally doing something about your dream. I have kept all of your art work that you have given to me. Someday I will be able to point and say....yes, I have one of her earlier pieces.

You rock. Well, except for that mother of the bride part. I was a great mother of the bride. Hell, the mother in law of the bride kinda pushed me out of the way. ~grins~

spookyrach said...

Thanks, Mindy! I'm sure you'll be able to finance your lavish retirement by selling those "early pieces". heh.

You were a pretty decent mother-of-the-bride, but my prejudice stands firm! No muthas!!