Reading: Russell Banks’s Affliction Poem of the day! Eating Poetry

Ink runs from the corners of my mouth. There is no happiness like mine. I have been eating poetry. The librarian does not believe what she sees. Her eyes are sad and she walks with her hands in her dress. The poems are gone. The light is dim. The dogs are on the basement stairs and coming up. Their eyeballs roll, their blond legs burn like brush. The poor librarian begins to stamp her feet and weep. She does not understand. When I get on my knees and lick her hand, she screams. I am a new man. I snarl at her and bark. I romp with joy in the bookish dark. –Mark Strand

Do you ever have overwhelming urges to do strange things? Walking over to the 7-11 to get some SpaghettiOs for lunch (what, you think because I’m vegetarian I’m concerned about my health or something?), I saw a brand new shiny silver VW bug and suddenly just wanted to go over and lean on it face first. Just give it a big old hug. Luckily I managed to control myself. (Not sure what the owner would’ve done, seeing a hairy hippie guy snuggling with his car. (A cohort has a blue beetle… maybe he’ll let me hug it.) I did freak some guy out a few nights ago. I was walking home and was engaged in a lively conversation in my head about why I hate the movie Vertigo. Right as this guy was walking in front of me I just said “Vertigo” out loud. He kind of flinched, looked at me and then away quickly, and hurried off. Hi. My name’s Scott and I’m a freak.

Argh… I just discovered that typing online into a form gets wiped if you refresh on my system. bah. brief recap of what was originally long. Had a lot of fun last night, watched movies, Mummy, Indy 1 -&- 2 with RC,HI,RI,BG -&- the Kitties. Lots of sugary snacks, fun gabbing, and first time RC had seen Mummy. Newt came with me, and played with his sister for about 26 hours, give or take naps, made schedules for future playdates. I have to get Xmas stocking stuff for everyone…. plus the big gifts, plus B-day stuff for DC and BG. I’ll be so happy when February comes… start recharging my bank account. Main upside of last night, much Kitty-fun, hanging out. Downside, chronic cough, trouble breathing, RC thinks I may have chronic bronchitis. I need to go to the doc Monday, and have it checked out. I hugged RC’s Bug, and had tasty cheese enchiladas for dinner! Qute of the moment… reflecting on coming elections: “Television preacher Pat Robertson, who plans to officially announce his candidacy for the Republican presidential nomination next month, said he would not tolerate atheists in his administration, Time Magazine reported yesterday. …Although Robertson firmly denied a quote attributed to him that only born-again Christians and Jews should hold government jobs, he told Time that nonbelievers would have no place in his administration if he were elected.” [San Francisco Chronicle, 21 September 1987 (UPI)] (Right around the first time I voted, For Bush no less. Remember I’m from Massachusetts…Dukakis was not going to be on my list.) I can’t believe I’ve been voting for over 10 years, now… an Adult. Make me feel old, when I talk to some of the young folks where I work… (18-24 range). Now, I’m only 30, but these guys don’t know anything about The significance of the Berlin Wall coming down, or who G. Gordon Liddy is, or even what Reagan was like as a president. Pop Culture seems to have overwritten recent history. Even most of my fellow EMAGErs don’t have a terribly strong grasp of recent history, when it comes to the last century. I don’t know if it’s the educational system, or a question of who’s priorities are more right… but I agree with the cliche’ “Those who do not remember the past are doomed to repeat it.” Not only that, but of the people I hang out with, only 3 of us vote. (including myself) Why don’t people take more interest in the world around them?

It’s questionable just how philosophic one should get on December eleventh. It’s too early for any sweeping statements about the end of the millenium or even the end of the year. I don’t even know what kind of month it’s going to be. Still, it’s December, a month loaded with the spore of philosophical thoughts. Being the last month of the year gives it a weight that September, say, never has, (although September does have Back To School going for it). You are inclined to think about what you’ve done over the last year, or, far more likely, what you haven’t done. I actually feel as though I’ve made some significant accomplishments this year. But this feeling is dampened knowing that my pal S feels exactly the opposite. Different outlooks, different milestones. The ultimate goal is the same, though, in that neither of us really know what the ultimate goal is. There is unity in ignorance. All the same, it’s only the 11th. Time to accomplish more. Time to stop worrying about it. Time to figure out how I’m going to pay for Christmas. Wacky new girl at work, G. Nobody else seems too fond of her. P especially, but F and R are kind of negative about her too. I think P’s problem is that there’s another hen in the henhouse, and she won’t be the only one fawned over in there anymore (like that’s going to happen.) G’s from mixed stock, mother is from Trinidad, and father is Chinese Jamacian. It comes together in a really appealing package, looks quite asian, with slightly darker than gold skin. Hyperkinetic to the extreme, it will come in handy when she learns to focus. (right now she hops from machine to machine, feuled on starburst, twix, and soda coursing through her veins at about the speed of light.) with the right knowledge, she’ll be all over any jobs that come her way. Still a little scattered, but quite a little flirt, too. (probably why I’m more forgiving than the rest, I’ve always been a sucker for an unmarried pretty face.) Now that my time with S is coming to an end, I’d be happy to chase G for a bit, at least until she makes a point of saying “No, I don’t think so” . Still waiting on my raise… only been due since june, and I know there won’t be any retro pay. bah.

52 oz

4th vet trip

$62

broke 3 lbs.

36 oz

3rd vet trip

$120

32 oz

two pounds!

26.5 oz

limited growth, eyes going from green to gold.

19.2 oz

mostly on solid food now.

18.24 oz

16.94 oz

newt’s getting more comfy with the litter box… *phew*

and he’s getting a little belly!!