Phrases are not stories

A hint of white cotton hiding in the shadows of her thighs.

 I wish I could write like that. Well, I did write that, but it's just a sentence hanging in the void. There is no context. It's just an image in search of a scene in search of a story. A non sequitur longing for a sequence. An orphan dreaming of a parent's hug.

 Seeing the words of an image, turning a phrase, this isn't writing. Writing is taking these bits and pieces that come your way and weaving them together to form the whole. This is where I am currently failing. The images come fast and furious. They overwhelm and some of them are good and beautiful but they are images and phrases living on virtual 3x5 cards in my mind lacking the thumbtacks and twine to give them life.

Bike Rage

It happened to me. Again. This van on Stanyan street decided that I shouldn't be able to take up a whole lane, even though I was going above the speed limit and there was another, completely empty lane right next to me. He pulled up next to me, not past me, and pulled over on me. I had to brake hard to avoid being pushed into the parked cars. This has happened before and will happen again.

It's funny because when I'm behind the wheel of a car I take offense at nothing. It all just rolls off my back, or perhaps wheels. When I'm riding my bike however I take every offense as personal and I yell and bang on fenders and act pretty much like a total ass. Maybe it's the adrenaline and heart pumping away. Maybe it's because on the bike I'm much more exposed to the dangers going on around me.

Whatever the reason, I need to learn to let it go. Reacting the way I do does nobody any good. The people who do these things are either completely clueless or total assholes. Yelling at them will not help. As for me, why let these jerks ruin my day? I ride for exercise and relaxation. Anger assists neither.

No promises, but I'll try.

100 Words - Butter

"Yeah, that's right, butter!" Marvin was not happy with the service his waitress was providing. This was not an unusual situation. Marvin was unhappy with almost everything in his life. If it wasn't for the reruns of The Wonder Years his life would be completely unbearable.

"Yeah, that's right, butter!" Carol had to summon all her discipline not to break her look of disinterest. First to restrain the urge to laugh out loud then to suppress the guilt of deriving so much joy from torturing the angry man.

Marvin left no tip. Carol retrieved the butter from its hiding place.

100 Words - Unknown

Piles of music unfolding in sheets of rhythm. Memories spent tree-lined drives at colleges of envy. Sitting in the jeep not wanting to go, not wanting to stay. Afraid of another late night rejection. Need meets fear torn by silence. A long ride home on roads built for dogs. Children throwing flowers and cookies in the path of the heroes they'll never know. The famous unknown, an unknown legend, famed in song, story and fable, passing through the shadows, never the spotlight. The trees give way to fields of brown grass, then a lake, then a hill, finally the ocean.

Random thoughts for a new age

Embrace the crossroads.

Every ocean exists in every rain drop but that won't save the rhubarb – Alfred Saint Jerome

Those are waves. These are babies. That is hair. This is sand. - Myunee Buscheck "12/17"

Wandering the woods in search of metal tents, warm beer and dark lullabies.

Welcome to my soul. Please deposit 35 cents for another four minutes.

Bike Project Updates - 4/29/12

eBaby - Took the first successful longer ride. Eleven miles in under an hour with only minor technical issues. It won't stay in the two lowest rear gears without me holding the shifter level. Should be an easy fix. The good news is that those two low gears make steep hills much easier. The only other issue was my aching back. Apparently the handlebars are just too low. Fortunately I was able to find a high-rise stem for cheap on eBay. It should be here next week.

Twins - So it seems that the twins will be more work than expected. I thought it odd the way that the paint came off in big chips. A little research revealed that they are probably covered in lead paint. Now I have to build a virtual hazmat suit to work on the things. I'll strip off the old paint an cover them with something safer.


Collie - I found a Columbia 10-speed frame and fork on the sidewalk. I don't need another project but I had a columbia when I was a kid so I have a soft spot.

100 Words - Adab

Adab ruled the darkness. They say that in the land of the blind the one-eyed man is king, but that argument falls apart when the sun goes down. Adab moved swiftly and fearlessly through the familiar landscape. The one-eyed man stumbled and fell and was dispatched with a silent stroke of Adab's blade. She tasted his blood and laughed into the night. The travelers found the headless corpse propped up against the tree at the crossroads. Even the dullest among them understood and wished to head the warning. After much discussion they went back the way they came. Wise move.