Poems from 2010

Here are a few poems from this past year, enjoy!


Headache, heartbreak

My head is sloppy percussion

corn-fed toddlers armed with metal spoons

chastising pots and pans on kitchen tile

unrhythmic beats immune to Advil and sleep

All due to paradigm shifts stretching through

this mind snapping the commonplace with artistry

disheartenment pioneering like the pilgrim I never knew

while the rest of me folds into itself at the crusade I never wanted

Still

bare days;

nothing can reach

but the hues and

tints of light busy

swimming backwards

and forwards across

grainy walls while i wait

for my backbone to click

back into place

i never wanted you

to love me for my

posture

anyways.

Help Wanted

I watch upper lips plunge into thin horizontal lines with

no curve to call themselves a smile, when dimples no longer

come out to play on the apples of cheeks but instead desolately

flatten themselves into vacant faces as the street lamps flicker on.

This regard, this vinegary observance, leads my jeopardized smile

on a rampage checking rusted tin boxes and bottom drawers for

any left over hopes waiting to be spent on an emergency like the

possibility of unemployment for a glittering little expression.

Dearest self

you balance no light like

lamp stands, your eyes

are no sun dials for his

afternoons

and

brave these barbed realities

with your pillowcase courage

if that's where you lay your

head

but

your intentions turned anemic

no warmth, no poise for radiance

renounce this gapping love greased

vocation

please

Slip, slip

I let go because

my grip is made

of sticks of butter

and engine grease

I let go because

moving with you

was ice skating

carving new paths

with bladed feet

Until our rink thawed

into everyone else's

pond.

Things I find: Drawer

DIY Christmas

This holiday season, I decided to have a do-it-yourself Christmas. All my gifts were homemade, from home decor to jewelry. And man, was it work. My friend Andie decided to go DIY this holiday season too and you can check out her experience here.

Although I had to stop frequently for breaks over the weeks (which usually entailed a cup of white berry tea and an episode of Modern Family), it was a bundle of fun. I highly suggest it for anyone wanting to explore their creative side (and save a little moola).

Here are a few of the gifts I made this holiday season:

It says "My heart belongs where I belong"

Materials used: Canvas, paint, letter stencils

Materials used: Fabric, embroidery thread, stuffing, sewing machine

Materials used: Canvas, paint, crackle finish, newspaper pages

Materials used: Fabric, embroidery thread, stuffing, sewing machine

Materials used: Beads, hemp string, charms

It says "Glittercat loves his glitterbow"

Materials used: Fabric, stuffing, embroidery thread, sewing machine

"I love you to the moon and back"

Materials used: Fabric, stuffing, embroidery thread, sewing machine

Seven 'worth it' movies

I've been watching a lot of movies lately. And after hitting a couple dozen movies that left me slightly frowning and thinking "You know, that just really wasn't worth it." I decided I'd share a few movies that I really do think are worth it. These are basically just 7 rockin' movies that I highly recommend. So if you get a chance this chilly January, check a few of these bad boys out.

1) Amelie. 
This movie may or may not be my favorite one out there. A darling little french film, a perfect match for quirky romantics who make eye contact too often. I have dear memories of watching this movie with old friends and then saying things like "That's so Amelie of you!" If you've ever heard the saying "Even artichokes have hearts." and didn't know what they meant, if you watch this movie, you'll be dropping it in conversations before you even know it. Check out this little gem. It's beautiful and worth the subtitle reading.

2. The Shawshank Redemption
I watched this movie recently for the first time after having someone I knew stop me in a Best Buy and say "Wait. You've never seen The Shawshank Redemption? And you call yourself a movie fan." I was slightly embarrassed and a little annoyed due to the fact that I could hardly compete with his impressive knowledge of movies. But, I swallowed my pride and saw this movie. And man, was it worth it. I know, I know. It's been a top movie for a long time. But this is such a wonderful classic. Look for "Brooks was here." I know it's a little morbid, but it's one of my favorite parts of the movie.

3. Frida
This is such a beautiful film. Salma Hayek is wild and bold, wonderfully portraying dear Frida with just as much as color as one of her paintings. Visually, this is one of my favorite movies. It will inspire you from beginning to end, that's for sure. Inspire you to paint murals, visit mexico, get drunk, fight hard, love harder, be extraordinary and maybe even have a love affair with someone "no good". And it will definitely make you want to crack open some history books.

4. Chocolat
Oh my, what a movie. This is a lovely movie about a brave woman who moves to a french village with her daughter. In the middle of Lent. To open a chocolate shop. And of course, there's Johnny Depp as a gypsy. There's a lot of love in this film. And a little bit of kick.

5. Waiting for Guffman

Okay, guys. If you haven't seen this bad boy, please. Go rent it. Netflix it. I'm giggling to myself just thinking about this movie. This gem is a clever mockumentary about (opens feathered fan like Cameron from Modern family)...the Theatre. Too funny and too ridiculous. Christopher Guest has a funky little taste of humor and you should check out some of his other works such as Best in Show (You'll never look at a Dog Show the same). Please see this movie. And then we can impersonate the characters together.

6. Moonstruck

I added this movie to the list due to the recent appearance of Cher in the talk of the town Burlesque. I added this movie because I wanted to prove to everyone that although Burlesque was a wonderfully, ridiculous mess...Cher was a star once. So, although Moonstruck is not one of my favorite all time movies, I have to tell you that Cher is absolutely brilliant in this. And hey, it's got Nicholas Cage too. He's a little scary. A little hairy. Meat cuter. Wife beater. But hey...does anyone remember City of Angels? Now he was alright in that. Playing an angel. Meg Ryan. Yeah. Anyway, if you're interested seeing Cher shine, see this movie.

7. American Splendor

I watched this one last night. So good. If you interested in comic books or Paul Giamatti habitually depressed, this is the movie for you! A very cool film about an obsessive compulsive comic book writer named Harvey Pekar who never gets a break. One of the best parts of this movie is that the actual Harvey Pekar is in it, as grumpy as ever! Hope Davis is really awesome in this movie as well. Makes you want to wear overalls and get straight-across bangs. Check this one out, very much worth it.

Things I find: Snow bank

Things I find: Attic

Angel Fire, New Mexico

This is where I am, guys.

But no woman can resist one

     A few months ago a friend of mine took me to a book shop and gave me a quarter. I was a bit confused due to the fact that it was around 11:00 at night and the shop was obviously closed. And then I saw the chorus line of books stacked and boxed on fold up tables outside the shop. 25 cent books! Dozens of them! Just laying out there waiting to be held and flipped through, desperately hoping not to be rejected because of their unappealing cover.

     All you had to do is just drop the quarter in a little mail slot on the door and take your pick. I liked it because there's just so much trust there. Anyone could easily just take a book and not pay. But they take the risk. Out of trust. Or maybe out of disconcern. Because in all honesty, although I was touched by their 25 cent selection, the books were pretty dreadful. My friend and I spent most of our time there making fun of the ridiculous selection of books. The bulk of the books were either ridiculously terrible romance novels, ridiculous terrible mystery novels, outdated encyclopedias or embarrassing Christian self-help books from the 1970's. I never know how much bad Christian literature came from the 1970's. Okay, now that I think about it, I'm not as touched as I was. Yeah. They were definitely trying to get rid of their worst books. And trying to make us pay for them! I feel manipulated.

     I digress. The only point of this blog was to share with you the spectacular gem I found (and actually paid a quarter for.) The book that will change my life:

     Tada! The Peter Pan Syndrome. And hey, you better not be laughing. This is serious business, guys. Actually, guys. I'm not talking to you. Ladies. This is serious. The Peter Pan Syndrome is contagious. Your man can pick it up at the bar. Or through a deck of cards. Or heaven forbid, he could've been born with it. But don't worry, Dr. Dan Kiley has our back. The best part is that I flipped through the book and it was filled with underlined sentences and pink highlighted paragraphs. It was like a gold mine. The former owner left little scribbles of reminders in the margins. They usually were things like "He does that too!" or "Use this line next time we fight". But my favorite one was "Pots and pans my ass."

     Pots and pans my ass. What could this mean? My imagination went wild. Pots and pans my ass. Does her husband refuse to do the pots and pans? Does he constantly use the excuse "What the hell are you talking about, Susan? I do too help out. I wash the pots and pans." Man. Susan, I'm on your side. Men always think just because they do one chore, they're exempt from all other work. POTS AND PANS MY ASS.

     Anyway, apparently there's a term called "The Wendy Syndrome." But I refuse to acknowledge it. Wendy was charming and cute and wore the cutest nightie. I should of titled this blog "Girls rule boys drool." But I'm mature and level headed and really really humble.

Ps. If anyone is interested, I'll sell this book for 50 cents. What? I'm a woman of profit.

"I guess what I'm trying to say is...we become who we were."

I want to stand as close to the edge as I can without going over. Out on the edge you see all the kinds of things you can't see from the center.

-Kurt Vonnegut

"New year, same goal."

Well beauts and blokes, it's 2011. What better to do than start a new blog? So I hope I can share some fun stuff with you this year. A few little poems, some homemade craftin's and of course some good times. My simple little dumplin' of a goal is this: stay creative and appreciate people more. Just like Joe King's quote in the title, it's a pretty annual goal. But I think it's a good goal to carry on through the years.

All of these New Years goodn's are in my belly, but you my friend are in my heart!