Written (after the fact) for the GloPoWriMo Day 10 prompt: write a poem that uses alliteration and punning. See if you can’t work in references to at least one word you have trouble spelling, and one that you’ve never quite been able to perfectly remember the meaning of.
I guess I didn’t really hit this prompt but this is the inspiration that arose from it. Somewhat a manifesto.
Pretty positive though my shoulder is giving me some gip. Something isn’t right in there and I can’t stretch or roll it out. I’ve done very little arm exercising for the last couple of months and may just try and push through the pain to get back to it.
Today I’m grateful for:
Amy and everything she does to make our house a home. I don’t want to take her for granted.
The best thing about today was:
My grade 10s not turning up for class allowing me time to organise another classes’ worksheets, staple them together and gift them back to the students. I felt good doing that, even if they just throw their work away. At least I made the effort to present their work back to them at the end of the semester.
What was out of your control today and how did you handle it?
I lost my cool with Amy when she got overexuberant whilst drunk. She was in a good mood and playful but I was tired and eating and when I didn’t know what she was doing as she tried to put her fingers in my mouth I pushed her arm away. Unfortunately that then set her off and blew up into a fight. Now we are both in a bad mood.
I will try to make her feel better but also just feel like going to bed and sleeping already. I don’t have much patience for drunken antics these days, I’m old and tired when it comes to that. It doesn’t fill me with excitement anymore.
Something I learned today?
2024 marks a special year for cicadas in the USA. It is the first time since 1803 that two specific broods of cicadas (one that emerges every 13 years, and one that emerges every 17) should be emerging together. This co-emergence won’t happen again for another 221 years.
Review your acts, and then for vile deeds chide yourself, for good be glad. — Discourses 3.10
My vile deed was pushing Amy’s arm away and initiating a tiff. I should have been (even) more patient or be more assertive in a different manner.
I bought some cream chup-a-chups to give to my grade 9 students for their graduation ceremony tomorrow.
I took this picture because I got home to melting cats (again!)
Let’s waste some time Kick a ball Forget our problems Forget it all Let’s watch TV Take a nap Rest your brain Don’t let it snap Breathe it in Nice and slow Fuck it all And let it go
Revolution starts within each of us – in the demands we take up against the world, in the daily fight against nihilism.
Hua Hsu article about bell hooks
Today I’m feeling: Pretty good by evening time. Today I’m grateful for: The psychiatrist at the hospital for not being upset with me for missing my appointment 3 months ago. The way they work here is just in the outpatient department, just get in line and wait your turn. I’m guessing most of us are just getting re-ups on prescriptions anyway. I’ve been lazy to go recently even though visits don’t usually take more than 30 minutes. If I’m feeling good again in the next few months I may cut down to half a tablet and see how it goes. The best thing about today was: Sitting at Daytripper, thinking about the morning, my students, my actions and my reactions. It’s a nice environment with tables of uni students around lazily studying. Usually, there will be interesting people to watch and invent stories for (only in my head). I always think about what other people’s lives consist of, even in their mundanity. I want to see and experience every boring corner of everywhere and everyone’s lives. Do we tick the same? Daily thought What is something that surprised you recently? I’m not much surprised these days, to be honest. I think I need to look out for it again, otherwise, life will just feel like an endless series of disappointments. Have you been skiing? I haven’t. I wouldn’t have minded to try when I was younger but the cost always felt prohibitive or not worth it in my mind. It probably would have been a better option than buying a skateboard when I was 40. I gave that up at the first fall landing on my hip.
I took this picture because I noticed the foliage around the stupa has been cut down making it more visible from below and obviously making the views more open from the top. I already have a few good pictures from here before but these are even better.
Nicky, you were right When you said you couldn’t do it You made so many mistakes Took your chances and blew it
You knew what was right But still chose to do what was wrong Now your houses are burning And the peasants hail rousing song
Consigned yourself to history The last of the clan to fall Your future will be repeated At the revolution’s final call
Gratitude Journal
I am so happy and grateful that all our cats are happy and well. Usually, there is one that is sick but let’s hope we can stay like this for a while.
Seems to be some problems with electricity around the city today but I managed to get some amazing coffees in before that. It’s fantastically and eerily quiet – no low hum – just the expected noises of cars going by, people talking and birds cooing.
Ah! It’s back – that low hum from the fans is good, now I’m getting that cool air.
I spoke to Hayden yesterday, he sounded neutral – no real negativity or enthusiasm. I think it’s tough for him during these lockdowns and I hope he doesn’t self-lockdown when things open up again. Like what happened to me when meeting Bronwyn, I hope he one day meets someone who can change his life and move him forward.
Amy and I started watching The Last Czar yesterday and it is impossible not to make comparisons with Thailand. Will there be a similar conclusion one day?
1994ever 