Dear Diary – CricketSong – SeaDate 260811
To work is good, to eat is better!
This is harder to do than I anticipated... writing is one thing.. but to keep a daily schedule... oof!
Listening to a dumb sci fi book about people vs spiders vs ants.
So basically, Children of Time is about humans trying to escape a dying Earth and find somewhere else to live. A scientist named Avrana Kern sets up an experiment on a planet where she’s supposed to genetically enhance monkeys so they can eventually become intelligent. The problem is that things go very wrong, Kern gets stuck in space, and the experiment doesn’t exactly go according to plan.
Fast-forward a ridiculously long time, and the species that ends up becoming intelligent is spiders, not monkeys. Meanwhile, a group of human colonists on the a spaceship named Gilgamesh is traveling through space looking for a new home. So far, I’m basically following two timelines: humans trying not to go extinct and spiders accidentally becoming the next big civilization. And apparently I’m supposed to just accept that giant sentient spiders are the protagonists now.
Sometimes it's engaging. Sometimes it drones me to sleep.
Dream.
I dozed at work. just sitting at my desk and nodded.
Had strange dream about going somewhere in a trailer.
then I had to leave the hospital and so rode a motorcycle. I do love riding a motorcycle.
I was giving a news interview to a woman in a van as I rode.
I got cocky an telling her how you ride a motorbyke, then my sleeve hung on the throttle and I started speeding out of control.
AWAKE!
GET TO WORK!
PRAISE BE!!!
We're not approved! But making GREAT PROGRESS! 8 of the 9 are done and ready to show, never mind 6 of the nine are done. Client wants to tweak before we show. 🙄
Okay, okay! Keep forging ahead keeper! The light spins on its own, no need to worry your big fat head.
5:30 and doing just fine!
Today's actually a pretty solid day. Could have used a little more sleep. Listened to a podcast on The importance and benefit of good sleep.
Not just mortality, it's about memory, emotional stability, etc etc.
https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-rich-roll-podcast/id582272991?i=1000521073910
So, eat food, not too much, mostly vegetables, drink water, sleep.
The best things in life really are free (or at least affordable).
Visiting Mack
I didn't have time, but I'm SOOO Glad I went to see the Micks. Ng knew she was sick and built a little care package. What a lovely visit. He's a big hulking quiet guy who just turned 70. So their in that phase of life where everything is breaking.
No one knows WHAT is wrong with his wife. after pandemic, she just started losing weight. Likely: too many meds. Over doctored. The place where we currently live is mostly retirees and the doctor to human ratio is ridiculously high, while the quality of care is ridiculously low.
😕
Mick was a truck deriver his whole life. When I knew him he drove a cement mixer truck. He sweats profusely when he is nervous. And LOVES working out. That means lifting weights. he's been trying to get me to come over and lift with him for the last 4 years. There's really no reason I shouldn't!
Except, weights! There's something about cardio and jumping rope, pushups and crunches that i like. I associate weightlifting with high school. And highschool was not peak Keeper.
I was awkward, an artist and a Bible lover. Friend-zoned by all the girls. Which, in hind sight, was probably for the best. I liked the attention even if it wasn't the kind that the average high school boy dreams of. In fact, I'd argue it was better. Being friends with someone lasts and lasts. you never stop being friends. But romantic relationships have a way of getting complicated.
Amazing. Earth shattering. Knee-quavering. In fact, the outrageous wonder of a truly soul-mate-on-soul-mate relationship is just the sort of power that makes it untenable. Something always breaks. You do something wrong, or they do. It's usually you. Because you can't keep your fat mouth shut, you're just lost in this maelstrom of emotion and no one ever taught you that restraint is sexy. You just dive right in without checking the depth.
Sigh.
Am I still talking about high school?
know what I ALWAYS despised? Mike Demone and guys like him. Yes, Fast Times at Ridgemont High. Yes, in fact there was a whole film outside of Phoebe Cates' famous swimsuit moment. Sometimes hilarious, often sadly true. But, I never could stomach the opportunism and casting aside of Stacy Hamilton. Poor Rat. I was a Rat.
Always a bridesmaid and all. We even had a restaurant like the one Rat takes Stacy too on their big date. What a nerd.
Mick was worried that a friend of ours had started smoking cigars. I know, for a lot of ppl, it's not that big of a deal. But for our little family, no one smokes.
Mike wants to confront Per about it. But I encourage him to just have a friendly conversation, that often things aren't what they look like. And since Mick is relaying this story based on an image he saw on facebook, I definitely encourage confirming he saw what he thinks he saw.
Later this evening, sure enough, I get a call that it was an old photo.
Do not judge, lest ye be judged.
Mike went on to tel me that he's got 8 grandchildren, the youngest is 28. None of them have ever had drivers licenses. HOW do you do you do that?
I mean? WHAT? Really? Holy cow! And the 28 year old has owned three vehicles. IDK, it's nuts. I got my DL at 15, hardship. Both parents worked—I forget what the exact hardship was except that it was hard not having a DL.
Before I got it, my dad helped me build a care from a wrecked 1983 cutlass Supreme. I was so proud of that car. Powder blue, with dark tinted windows. the power plant wasn't anemic, but it wouldn't win any races. The Cutlass Supreme was a luxury sedan in a couples body. it just rolled and floated around.
So by 16, I was employed, licensed and had wheels.
Today, I guess they just do it all electronically.
I comment on the 3 cats playing in his shady front yard. He tells me that two fo them are ferrel, that ferrel cats CANNOT be captured/caught. I'm dubious on the point, but enjoy the silly anecdote-ed-ness of the concept. I'm sure they are very hard to catch. But anything can be caught.
Except the dumb cricket that was so charming 5 hours ago. Not it's driving me nuts. It should at three am.
Before leaving, Mick has some suggestions on where to buy meat. We both agree that the grocers and the big box stores have the worst steaks and burgers. I offer to go in ½ or 1/3 on a whole butchered cow if he wants to do the legwork of finding one and a butcher.
The last few steaks I bought here in Dust Merdian reminded me of what I could find in Spain and France. Unimpressive. Overpriced.
Ireland though... Ireland knows how to cut a steak.
Corner Store Flora and Fauna
After visiting Mick and Im, we stopped at the local corner store for a cold drink. It was worth the stop. The place was overrun with interesting characters.
Leaned against the counter was an old coot-of-a-man. Not poorly dresed but not well costumed either. Typical Texan attire: boots, blue jeans and a plaid button up shirt.
I decide it's possible I may be able to start a Bible discussion with him. So I comment on his posture.
“You, look like a man who's been out enduring the heat. You've got that lean of exhaustion!” I smile at him, thinking of my father, who I've seen countless times sweaty and exhausted and using whatever solid object is closest to to stabilize himself from weariness.
“Yee-ah, ahm deng nar' dun beatn intuh tha grownd” His accent is SO thick I have trouble deciphering what he is saying.
I smile and we trade light commentary while I realize he is almost not speaking English.
Cast of King of the Hill (bookout) Guy dressed like Rocket Icecream Moorlocks escaping heat Mexican kid with bandana AND a hat, but pants falling off. Black girl with freckles full of energy Tired and hot worker with beard that twirled like goat horns starting conversations about the heat already worried about the cold Broken soda machine Slow slide of
My Friend the Cricket
11:30 – A cricket has made his way into my studio. He starts his concert slow and creaky... like violinist tuning her instrument. But he is in full song-mode now. I'd stop him and ask for his advice, but I don't want to interrupt the flow.
Perhaps we can speak after the concert.
3:30... exhausted. Cant' stop thinking... too long chained to your computer
I'm going to sleep to dream dreams of worlds and doorways to other worlds and strange creatures warping reality.
At least I got to screen Castaway and The Firm during my hours of retouching.
Home | About | Full of Stars | Contact | HeartCartography
“May your seas be wide enough for wonder, your harbor always waiting, and your light never fail when another soul is searching.” – The Lantern Keeper