There will be snacks!

Moon, moon, rise in the sky to be a reminder of comfort and the hour when I was brave

"Then days go by without even this much exchange of metaphor, and my tongue seems to wither in my throat from the unhappy silence, and the moons that rise and set unused, and the suns that melt the Pacific uselessly, drive me to tears and my cliff of vigil at the end of the peninsula. I do not beckon to the Beginning, whose advent will surely strew our world with blood, but I weep for such a waste of life lying under my thumb."

It's funny the times I lose my voice

In talking to a co-worker this afternoon about all things, I'm hit by a helpful comment: "You're normally so outspoken. I wouldn't think you'd act like that."

I am reminded by a quote that has haunted me for years: "She was not silent; she was unheard."

But there are times when I am silent. I'd like to think that I at least always speak up for my opinion, for the downtrodden, for the unconsidered perspective, for at the very least myself. Which leads me to ask:

Why don't we stick up for ourselves?

Why is agreement polite? Why is smiling and nodding top-notch? Is it residue from the olden days of quiet, supportive women? From silent children? From grinning and bearing it?

Or is it from fatigue? Anything in order to keep things peachy and sunny?

"You'd be so pretty if you would just smile."

'tis better to receive in the morning and to give in the evening

Today has turned out to be a very different day than I first envisioned upon waking this morning. When my alarm went off around 6:15 this morning, my first thought was, "E! You idiot! Why don't you ever go to bed earlier? Now today will be a wash!" I had a review session bright and early, about an hour before my class, and I was surprisingly awake (although not as much as I should be). Since I was tired and grumpy, I parked in the permit lot. After class I was so impressed at my alertness that I happily drove away, thinking, "Wow! I should park in this lot more often! This is twice with no ticket!"

Then I found my first gift of the day: a warning ticket blowing in the wind, held to my windshield by a sliver of wiper blade.

But no worries! Warning is the key. This means zero dollars owed. It's the zero allomorph to the more frequently occurring forty dollar ticket! What luck! Maybe because I am wearing an Ireland sweatshirt. You can't mess with roots, you know.

My second gift of the day: the previously empty chocolate tin in the other office is packed to the brim with half-priced Easter candy! And it's the good stuff too! After I write this blog, I'm heading back in there to help myself to another round of pastel-wrappers.

My third gift of the day: a silverly gel metallic rose-colored pen! For free! My co-worker bought a pack and gave us each one--and we could pick! and trade! This is providence since my ultra-fine point sharpies of every color have been lent and lost and left to the point of no return.

Glorious! And it's not even noon!

I suppose tonight I should give something so this luck will come to me another time.

no parts necessary

My desk at work is stashed with goodies to keep me going throughout the day. (You try sitting at a desk for eight hours a day without snacking--it's impossible.) The snacks that last the longest are little applesauces (just like the ones your mom packed for you when you were a kid), unsalted peanuts, and my newest addition--raisins! Goldfish, pudding, and apples go too fast to be economical or very healthy. Of course, the little chocolates I buy for my co-workers I strategically leave in the other office space so that it is a 'treat' and worthy of a visit.

All of these are traditionally finger foods, except for the applesauces. I am quite the pro at eating applesauce in those little cups without a spoon. Unnecessary! Use your tongue! Why the tongue has become such a faux-pas is beyond me. Why is it inappropriate to create less trash, less water waste, less stuff?! I call for a reinstitution of eating without utensils. So many other cultures do it, and they do it with style, flare, and grace. Whenever I spill some applesauce, I remind myself that in bucking my culture, there is a transition period. It is not always smooth and clean and streamlined eating without utensils, but this is only at first! And heck, at least I'm trying.

I'm just thinking of that weight right now.

I'll tell you why

You just haven't earned it yet, baby.