86. sirens.

today was a funny day.

i woke at 6:00 am to the voices of men shouting, urgently. my windows were open and the neighbor in the house next door was being taken away via stretcher down their outside steps. he must not have been responding favorably (we're not going to hurt you. we're not going to hurt  you. we're almost to the bottom). i slept a little more, the sounds of storms and rain twisting their way into my dreams. i made a late breakfast by lamplight- the sky so dark it felt like evening, but in a comforting way, in a way that's like a blanket tucked tight around your toes.

at work, the overhead lights weren't working. we have an extra book cart in our workspace right now, so tightly packed into the desk area that scooting one's chair requires shifting of walls. a play pen of old books on rusty wheels. dim, dusty. some items wrapped in paper and tied with supportive strings. i used the desk lamp until the clouds cleared, making me wonder how i'll feel when the flourescents are repaired.

tonight the tornado sirens went off and i debated traveling to the basement. you have to go outside to get down there, past the overflowing gutter and sinking mud. i watched the trees out my window and thought about how quickly they could crash through, how much they were moving already. i placed a stool in my closet and then thought better. i've never been in the basement before but it's about what you'd expect: dirty, full of stuff no one owns, and former home to an opossum who sneaked in through the window. i talked to one of my neighbors whom i've never met. she had her child, a laundry basket, and the same name as me.

85. codes and keys.

a spring afternoon:

eatin' berries, shreddin' papers, smashin' bugs.

83. places.

what jc has been up to the past few weeks:

1. graduating from library school with a lot of cupcakes

2. going to las vegas for the wedding of good folks keith & ashley

3. visiting the grand canyon with friend maggie

4. seeing abe lincoln with best dude jj

i have a pile of new books to enjoy, futures to scheme, and no school work to distract me.

let's make it a good week.

82. lady things.

went north this weekend for a few pre-wedding friend activities.

i know my lisa loeb.

i was not, however, so good at the smoochin'.

81. on dinner.

 i burned my dinner tonight and set off the smoke alarm.
i then put some substitute food in the microwave and burned that too.
it made me think of when i was a kid and my dad would grill chicken a few times a week.
i wanted my serving covered in cajun spice and burnt. not just crisp, black.
he'd bring in everyone's food and have me check mine for approval.
he always had to go back outside.
i got away with a lot of fussiness then.
it's a wonder i ever came to eat plants.

assembling stories today.

maybe you want a copy?
(that is a hint to tell me such, and i will make you one)