When I had words
My focus on the future digresses into nostalgia. And, so, I post “poems” that I wrote back when. Lovely Loneliness.
there are little jars on the windowsill that i fill with anticipation for the coming spring. instead the snow falls behind them and they accumulate nothing.
chapped lips, popping corn, chopsticks, socks on linoleum
the clouds sit for so long like the wind cant reach them. Inside walls we hide inside our skin
we see our hands
reach out like the branches of a locust tree, and let the wind take your leaves away to where they will, fill your leaves with the way the world may be.
Springy
Swimsuit season is on its way. Ladies are trading in their scarves for skin, and men are showing off a little more back hair. The birds will begin nesting, and humans will sweep out their homes and offer unwanted belongings to one another in their driveways and sidewalks. I have, therefore, recently acquired a beautiful 4.5 quart KitchenAid mixer, and a Black and Decker blender.
I have been going through about four sticks of butter every week, making cookies and pies. Last night I made cinnamon rolls for the first time, and was pleasantly surprised at their simplicity. Unable to follow directions perfectly, I experimented with the dough by rinsing the bran and starch from a few cups of wheat flour, resulting in a ball of wheat gluten. This is the substance, spiced properly, known as seitan: a versatile and protein packed meat substitute. Though without spicing it is an entirely bland material and can be used, usually in flour form, for baking. Wheat gluten flour is available in grocery stores, but the fresh homemade version sufficed in my cinnamon roll experiment. It added moisture and elasticity to the rolls, and presumably aided in the rising process. Brown sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg, a touch of allspice, pecans, and raisins mingle with one another between the layers of soft, chewy roll. The rolls are topped with a simple vanilla, powdered sugar and soymilk glaze. Most importantly, I got to use Mister Mixer and his dough hook.
I am not sure if I can trust Max the Mixer to make a pie crust. One has to earn the privilege of even attempting. Test #2: Pate a choux.
I’ll let you know if the Blender earns its keep.
be twelve
be twelve: Last night I watched Stand By Me for the second time. These kids had an amazing openness with one another that you rarely see shared between adults. They were able to be gravely serious with one another one moment, and in the next squeal with childish delight at a dirty joke.
bee. twelve? : i hope the bees are doing okay.
B12: Human feces can contain a significant amount of vitamin B12. According to an internet webpage I just read, vegan communities in areas with low hygene standards are surprisingly not found to be deficent in B12. Yes, you guessed it, vegetables fertilized with human manure. “ Faecal contamination of vegetables and other plant foods can make a significant contribution to dietary needs”
Wind Blows Through Doorframe, Annie Fayeble Haiku Day, Maybe Soup and Bread
Crooked tailed doggie
She came with a uterus
and she stole my heart
The art of walking
As a professional dog walker, I spend between four and six hours a day outdoors. It is a refreshing source of income in many ways; though it can be exhausting, and bad weather hits me hard. Luckily, being exposed to the outside world has several perks. I have a chance to admire murals and graffiti, peek inside galleries and coffee shops, and enjoy the ambient smells of Chicago. (I am referring to toast, chocolate, and butter-not the more unpleasant smells that people may associate with the city) In my strollings, I have developed a handful of methods to bring out the best in the old left right left right. So next time you are walking your dog, cat, child, or self, keep the following in mind:
- olfactory exploration: as I mentioned, there are some wonderful smells floating around this world. Of course, there are specific flowers and plants that smell good, but keep those nostrils open for more subtle scents. The soil/concrete after the rain is a good choice, and the bread factory on Chicago avenue is a personal favorite of mine. Concentrate occasionally on this, the forgotten sense.
-look up, look down: When the sky is at its best, you can spend many hours enjoying the shapes and textures of clouds or the contrast of colors of the sky juxtaposed against a concrete bridge or post-fire factory. However, there is a lot to be had by looking down as well. (Just don’t let it have a self-fulfilling prophecy effect and make you sad) I recently constructed an entire robot out of metal objects that I have found on the ground while dog waking. I have also acquired one scarf, two hats (one of which is my absolute favorite color) and one umbrella.
-how does this work: Think about the movement of your feet, legs, arms, body. Simply being aware of the complexity of this natural movement can increase your appreciation of your walk. Each step is in some ways like falling, you just catch yourself right away. But also it is nice to consider the balance of weight and movement, the coordination of angles in your ankles, knees, and hips: imagine if any one joint not in sync-our stroll would not be so smooth.
-mix it up: Now that you are thinking about movement, it is a good time to mix it up a little bit. Take longer strides, push off with your toes a little bit (even walk on your toes), power walk, lunge, do the grapevine, stretch your arms while walking. Increasing your range of movement is not only refreshing, but it is good for your sense of awareness of your body.
-eye chicken: stranger games* When approaching another walker, jogger, or stander, make eye contact! Look at them from a distance. In many cases I could guarantee that they have noticed you as well. Just keep looking at them. Most people will suddenly need to fix a hangnail or have a insatiable curiosity about what is down and to the right of them. They lose. You win. eye chicken. Sometimes, though, you will find yourselves looking at each other in close range. If you like you can give a little nod, raise your hand, or say hello. It depends on the context and I trust that you’ll know what to do.
*more to come
Coming soon: Autism, the new black
The beginning
I enter this world of blogging, one which I have not explored until Amanda introduced me to her blogs, without any foresight or inspiration. That seems to be the way I lead my life: blindly stepping forward. Every moment is both the beginning and the end of the rest of my life, and it is frightening to consciously commit to the birth of (for example) blog me, and the suicide of nonblog me. And so, without overthinking, or thinking at all, I start a blog.
Expect blogs about cooking, baking, animals, academia, poverty, the environment, arts and crafts, nostalgia, social interactions, and whatever else comes to mind.
Hopefully some theme will emerge. It is better that way.
