tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-367539862024-03-06T20:31:59.308-08:00The BeginningTales from the Suburban Fencelinegorlox5http://www.blogger.com/profile/00690235119191709683noreply@blogger.comBlogger28125truetag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36753986.post-43552956742789336672011-03-18T02:05:00.000-07:002011-03-18T02:36:14.059-07:00Better Left a Memory<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1IhsWYRcyMl-2Kp1sPerp53gYKhgtAWStPe9blBECEfzQzdq6zf4lygGCZY8ELTLOErPTiDMuyp9vm0rsXIV8pZQDE6YvrCufsaPpsAJBTsa8mNO5_mD1vaIQLoC8Cg-HfBJO/s1600/baseball_parker_32308.jpg"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 183px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1IhsWYRcyMl-2Kp1sPerp53gYKhgtAWStPe9blBECEfzQzdq6zf4lygGCZY8ELTLOErPTiDMuyp9vm0rsXIV8pZQDE6YvrCufsaPpsAJBTsa8mNO5_mD1vaIQLoC8Cg-HfBJO/s200/baseball_parker_32308.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5585351390184632834" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(51, 102, 255);" class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">Facebook</span><span style="color: rgb(51, 102, 255);">. Ah </span><span style="color: rgb(51, 102, 255);" class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">Facebook</span><span style="color: rgb(51, 102, 255);">. The new communication conglomerate. Does anyone even email anymore? I </span><span style="color: rgb(51, 102, 255);" class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">facebook</span><span style="color: rgb(51, 102, 255);"> often, it certainly has it advantages: it creates conversations, it helps you keep in touch, it's fun, creative, can be used for social events. Let's face it: if you don't use </span><span style="color: rgb(51, 102, 255);" class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">facebook</span><span style="color: rgb(51, 102, 255);">, you're "out of it." </span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(51, 102, 255);">One of the many benefits of </span><span style="color: rgb(51, 102, 255);" class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">facebook</span><span style="color: rgb(51, 102, 255);"> is that users can connect with long </span><span style="color: rgb(51, 102, 255);" class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">ag</span><span style="color: rgb(51, 102, 255);">0 school chums. Remember your best friend in Ms. Hampton's second grade class? Remember the boy you had a crush on in fourth grade? They are there, waiting to be befriended in </span><span style="color: rgb(51, 102, 255);" class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">facebook</span><span style="color: rgb(51, 102, 255);"> world. </span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(51, 102, 255);">Once in awhile, I will search </span><span style="color: rgb(51, 102, 255);" class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7">facebook</span><span style="color: rgb(51, 102, 255);"> for long lost friends and acquaintances. I think of the co-worker I had at Border's ten years ago, or a friend who moved away in the sixth grade. About six weeks ago, I found a elementary school classmate from about 38 years ago. He, along with just another guy, were sort of childhood boy heroes of mine. I recall them being, not the studs, but the "big boys on campus." I suppose I always thought that they were both really cute and had girlish crushes on both of them. I even struck up a chat with him one evening. Innocent, really, just to say hello. </span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(51, 102, 255);">I soon discovered, through questions, that this particular guy is now a heating and cooling contractor. And, apparently, really like us all I suppose, he has some difficulty getting along with his daughter. And, worst of all, sin above sins, he is a terrible speller. I mentioned an elementary school best friend, Karen, and he called her "a pane in the ass." And, mentioned that in the fifth grade, they were an "</span><span style="color: rgb(51, 102, 255);" class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_8">idum</span><span style="color: rgb(51, 102, 255);">." </span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(51, 102, 255);">Really, I think now, that is better sometimes just to retain memories of people and your memories as they were. I think I'd rather just recall Brent hitting a home run in the daily pick-up game of baseball on the big playground, than finding out that he now argues with his daughter, installs furnaces, and was "an </span><span style="color: rgb(51, 102, 255);" class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_9">idum</span><span style="color: rgb(51, 102, 255);">" with Karen in the fifth grade. </span>gorlox5http://www.blogger.com/profile/00690235119191709683noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36753986.post-22074596957999020902010-01-08T16:20:00.001-08:002010-01-08T16:30:50.459-08:00New Site!A new, no not just a website, but .... ... drum roll paleeeeze... social networking site... janetlawless.info has been launched by myself and Webtekee. You can review the site by clicking on the link above. Primarily, the site is for students associated with Macomb Community College, Indus Center for Academic Excellence, and Lawless Language Arts. In general, also, enrolled members should be at mature, respectful, fun, creative, supportive, and... very original. <br /><br />The network allows you to build a profile, add friends, post writing, blogs, videos, updates, pics, and any other creative work you'd like. Your friends can give you constructive feedback, and you can better stay in touch with your school buds. Free learning resources, teacher feedback, and related information will also be available for registered members.<br /><br />All-in-all, the site is meant to be positive, not too too perky, but nice and healthy; informative and collaborative. We wanna see you shine !gorlox5http://www.blogger.com/profile/00690235119191709683noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36753986.post-7909701721072454492009-08-14T08:13:00.000-07:002009-08-14T08:19:03.195-07:00Women & Football<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcZ-NIhg6kERuDPH6gbzFvz9rRS4oLMochgNq7_oUs2mde2d1a_hc0SOUvSnlDvpxViVddOsDmcbeMNyXH0l1jT4ersT2UiJ0noh4gNXK-jPbQ0adSnXEROYCLboIpWMK8VpTG/s1600-h/blog+pics.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5369838768951511202" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 213px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcZ-NIhg6kERuDPH6gbzFvz9rRS4oLMochgNq7_oUs2mde2d1a_hc0SOUvSnlDvpxViVddOsDmcbeMNyXH0l1jT4ersT2UiJ0noh4gNXK-jPbQ0adSnXEROYCLboIpWMK8VpTG/s320/blog+pics.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div><br /><span style="color:#990000;">I have a small, abiding sense of loss occurring lately. The summer winds down, and fall is next. </span></div><div><br /><span style="color:#990000;">Fall, in this relationship, means a good deal of football. What is it about football? Baseball, basketball, I can relate to, but football - not so much. This pensiveness leads me to wonder why I have a slight aversion to football. Perhaps because it it uber-masculine. Although, in the Detroit area there is a women's football team (one of my students was on the team), I think women are clearly left on the sidelines with this sport. The players are big, burly, and look like they could easily wring your neck. The play is rough and crushing. </span></div><br /><div><br /><span style="color:#990000;">Another reason I feel outside the game on this one is that the sport itself seems a little slow. Baseball, yes, can be a bit slow, but it is suspenseful, I think. There is a certain anticipation in watching the pitcher get ready to throw, and in watching the hit on the pitch. With football, it's just a matter of watching guys lumber around and get back into position. Boring. And, those time-outs! Ugh. </span></div><br /><div><br /><span style="color:#990000;">Another reason is that football seems overly-complicated. I am not completely ignorant about the sport, but the rules seem very elaborate. Maybe it's because I am not a big fan. Maybe the Lions have made me that way. Even though we all crave a great team, the Lions are the Lions. Perennially at the bottom of the pile. </span></div><br /><div><br /><span style="color:#990000;">During the winter, spring, and summer, we have the Tigers and the Red Wings to enjoy. The Pistons are fun too. But in the fall, the Lions return once again to distract my man, and disappoint us all. Maybe if the Lions could, somehow, turn it around, I could be back on the couch, next to the Admin and a beer, enjoying a good game of football. </span></div><div> </div><div><a href="http://www.fantasycrowd.com/"><span style="color:#ff9900;">www.fantasycrowd.com</span></a></div>gorlox5http://www.blogger.com/profile/00690235119191709683noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36753986.post-72623292684110857202009-07-26T09:44:00.000-07:002009-07-26T09:51:49.398-07:00fantasycrowd.com<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://fantasycrowd.com"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 208px; height: 108px;" src="http://fantasycrowd.com/mod/web1/graphics/yog_logo.png" alt="" border="0" /></a><br /><br />I've been using a fun site lately for sports social networking. You can be interested in any sport from fishing to Nascar, meet other sports lovers, make comments, add a blog, post discussions, that sort of thing. Also, if you are a fantasy football lover, this site is ideal. It was created and designed in the Detroit area by some local e-entrepreneurs. If you are a sports fan, and like to talk sports, join up. We'd love to see you there!<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div>gorlox5http://www.blogger.com/profile/00690235119191709683noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36753986.post-6412559786123927002009-05-02T08:54:00.000-07:002009-05-02T09:44:07.883-07:00Becoming a Dinosaur<span style="color:#009900;">The other day as I walked across campus a startling thought occurred to me: what if the analysis of literature soon becomes archaic? I was contemplating the challenge of bookstores lately, thinking of the heavy promotion of Borders books in the movie, Confessions of a Shopaholic and Borders’s current struggle to survive. So, if books are no longer a viable product, how will the analysis of literature be viable or relevant? Well, of course, there are many reasons why the analysis of literature is relevant. It helps students develop critical thinking, and also exposes them to the canon of literature, works that form our culture. Eventually, though, studying literature might only include the study of ancient literature. It does indeed seem very likely.<br /><br />Where then, I wonder, will that leave me, an English major and an English instructor? I guess we will be like Latin teachers that still teach a dead language that has limited relevance to the real word and limited connection to other studies? Do students learn Latin to help their English skills? Possibly. What will be the worth of studying literature? It already seems like I have to convince students of the value of reading and studying literature. In many ways, also, studying literature is like studying art; readers analyze how and why a writer constructed a story. Perhaps that’s how the study of literature will be used. Either way, I think literature becomes more obsolete by the minute.</span>gorlox5http://www.blogger.com/profile/00690235119191709683noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36753986.post-2346442139133993282009-03-31T12:17:00.001-07:002009-03-31T12:38:07.121-07:00For the Sake of Blogging<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipBcH5i4aI69kNs8ZCak9xZOuHb271vipeG22ZVO1YLZye_XuNaaz-bRBxSZ4CLQfaaXS0basb5FiyaDLBwGYQ3XF2t30Q29CZqwjTsJubNnjdO8w63aXcUABuAIUSl2mROJkP/s1600-h/WritersBlock.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5319438388169827762" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 310px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipBcH5i4aI69kNs8ZCak9xZOuHb271vipeG22ZVO1YLZye_XuNaaz-bRBxSZ4CLQfaaXS0basb5FiyaDLBwGYQ3XF2t30Q29CZqwjTsJubNnjdO8w63aXcUABuAIUSl2mROJkP/s320/WritersBlock.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div><span style="color:#009900;">Taking a moment to do a bit of writing. I haven’t been doing as much lately. Why? I do not know. Possibly it’s because I have been spending less time on MySpace. It’s funny about writing and me. It’s a love –hate relationship. I think that I am fairly good at it, and once I start it, I enjoy it, but it’s just the getting to it that’s difficult. Sometimes I have to wonder if anyone really enjoys writing. It just seems like something that is important, that you should do. Like exercise. Like eating broccoli. I wonder if people like Stephen King, or Ernest Hemingway (an unlikely coupling) really enjoyed writing. Hmmm….. And, I used to write so much more often! I suppose my earlier output had much to do with the fact that I was in graduate school and doing so much more reading of literature and poetry. </span><br /><br /><span style="color:#009900;">Sometimes I think that I should try photography or increase my jewelry-making skills; work in some other artistic medium. Yes, perhaps. </span><br /><br /><span style="color:#009900;">So, there you go. I have written.</span></div>gorlox5http://www.blogger.com/profile/00690235119191709683noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36753986.post-39932063094535619012009-01-20T10:17:00.000-08:002009-01-20T10:28:52.739-08:00The Fever has Finally Taken<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuOjUvTqDhiD7nOWslPD3yHu4Qko33-bufDjBhQARSndV1CASswbbBvK61-Q0mEevNUAawE1IPuygxXo-Xw9atubMtcUwdjV19gGpNrPO4EomiDKxl_jyjlxo9fPdvx9rHm6zd/s1600-h/jj_flag_detail1.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuOjUvTqDhiD7nOWslPD3yHu4Qko33-bufDjBhQARSndV1CASswbbBvK61-Q0mEevNUAawE1IPuygxXo-Xw9atubMtcUwdjV19gGpNrPO4EomiDKxl_jyjlxo9fPdvx9rHm6zd/s320/jj_flag_detail1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5293444388737881138" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="color: rgb(255, 102, 102);">Just a note because I am so pumped about the new Presidency!!! Who doesn't like this man? Who doesn't want to see this country confident, stabilized, and reinvented?! I think this could mean so much to this nation, and the world. We don't have to be the cowboy hero anymore; the world doesn't need that. We need cooperation, compromise, and connection. </span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(255, 102, 102);">A most hopeful day. From here, it seems, you can see a better forever. </span>gorlox5http://www.blogger.com/profile/00690235119191709683noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36753986.post-52764092458463267442008-11-16T10:41:00.000-08:002008-11-16T10:55:21.154-08:00Launched Lawless Language Arts Website!Hey Sports Fans!<br /><br />My significant other just launched a new website for me; it can be found at <a href="http://www.lawlesslanguagearts.adeshub.com/">lawlesslanguagearts.adeshub.com</a>. The site is pretty nifty,and has wiki, blog, forum, image and other functionalities that are an extension of my English and language arts coaching and copywriting biz. There are few members already registered, and I encourage visits and feedback.<br /><br />The wiki is especially intriguing, as we have used some funny words during my concommitant class at ICAE and classes at Wayne State and Macomb. I will be adding more as time progesses.<br /><br />It will be a challenge, I think to get pics and vids on the site, as I will have to supplement my existing contract to include a provision for image copyrighting and/or usage. People always get nervous signing the "agreement" as it is, so the new clause might cause further hestitation. The photos or videos will only be used for contest development or the website as it is with no additional commercial applications. A few vids, pics, and maybe some scanned in drawings and such should not be a big deal.<br /><br />It's fun, exciting, and fulfilling to add this new face.<br /><br /><br /> Check out the site and let me know what you think!<br /><br /><a href="http://www.lawlesslanguagearts.adeshub.com/">www.lawlesslanguagearts.adeshub.com</a>gorlox5http://www.blogger.com/profile/00690235119191709683noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36753986.post-35323562857950730342008-08-19T06:36:00.001-07:002008-08-19T20:05:44.699-07:00Things * NOT* to Say on a Second Date - Excerpts from the Dating Chronicles<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLRiMT4p_BIvSJYBACfdOeA6Gkrz5amHdVBPcFZbUSuAGg1OKwd_RvdIYVXX0_plRjdiO-Ki96akhoX3JVKD7fqZ19NMl9aWLyUV-DDz4-zLbdgLN9733APb8ArA-1DA2gOcYN/s1600-h/Give_20me_20a_20French_20Kiss.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5236430723152596242" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLRiMT4p_BIvSJYBACfdOeA6Gkrz5amHdVBPcFZbUSuAGg1OKwd_RvdIYVXX0_plRjdiO-Ki96akhoX3JVKD7fqZ19NMl9aWLyUV-DDz4-zLbdgLN9733APb8ArA-1DA2gOcYN/s320/Give_20me_20a_20French_20Kiss.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div><span style="color:#336666;">My friend Carrie had another fix-up date(s) over the last few weeks. She went out with the guy two or three times. A close friend fixed her up with this fellow teacher guy that she had worked with at an elementary school. Why do people still try to fix up their friends? Dangerous, doomed territory, it seems. But, we try to be helpful and encouraging, and wouldn't it be nice if it actually worked?! I suppose it does work sometimes; that's why we keep trying. </span><br /><br /><span style="color:#336666;">Well, the first date was okay, as first dates go, but she wasn't super attracted to him. He showed up in a wrinkled shirt, and talked a lot about his intestinal problems. Not too appealing, yes. He invited her for a second date to see Eddie Money at the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">DTE</span>. She wasn't too keen on the whole thing, but she thought she would give it a try. In between dates, he had emailed her, according to Carrie, about 30 times. Big "red flag" according to her. The night of the date, he picked her up, again wearing a very wrinkled shirt, and very casual shorts, and they chatted on their way. When they pulled in to park the car, she offered to pay for the 8 bucks for parking, and he readily took her money. She didn't like that either.<br /><br />Later, after the concert, they stopped to get something to eat before heading home from <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">Clarkston</span>. They were sitting at a table in <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">TGI</span> Friday's and talked. She said something to the effect of, "Well, what about you... I should find out more about you," to which he wholeheartedly agreed, saying, "Yeah, I have been listening, and believe me, it's hard to get a word in edgewise!" She just nodded her head.<br /><br />Needing to find conversation starters, and actually curious, she asked him what had happened in this marriage. She is divorced too, and was prepared to answer the same question. "She thought that my penis was too small," was his reply in the midst of a more explanation. Carrie, never at a loss for words, didn't have too much to say to that either.<br /><br />They drove home and he dropped her off. Both of them got out of his car, and he followed her to her van. She promptly put the keys in the door and turned briefly to say goodnight, and he kissed her. She really didn't like that, and was actually trying to avoid anything that resembled physical contact.<br /><br />The emails kept coming after that night, and he bugged her to tell him what was wrong. She told him that she wasn't interested.</span></div>gorlox5http://www.blogger.com/profile/00690235119191709683noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36753986.post-33472130950640974742007-12-15T17:57:00.000-08:002007-12-15T18:00:11.675-08:00Sounds Seem Insufficient<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEici1Li6eyRLiFlyY6RQW0RbvO6St8QdJAL-bSo0NXsW19LfPNeEYyczjQ9DonSTCeCh57FHjsMcA0zxzJ5v17boZ2XGno8LuuFzQiBUImC3THIzeYsgL7bexsWqF_RkBr8rAmB/s1600-h/psoundgarden2.jpg"><span style="color:#cc9933;"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5144384578481825714" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEici1Li6eyRLiFlyY6RQW0RbvO6St8QdJAL-bSo0NXsW19LfPNeEYyczjQ9DonSTCeCh57FHjsMcA0zxzJ5v17boZ2XGno8LuuFzQiBUImC3THIzeYsgL7bexsWqF_RkBr8rAmB/s320/psoundgarden2.jpg" border="0" /></span></a><span style="color:#cc9933;"><br /></span><div><br /><br /><br /><span style="color:#ff9966;"><span style="color:#cc9933;">These are the sounds of my day<br />I try to recreate in letters<br />the sounds waves curling into<br />shapes of each character<br /><br />the character of the sound<br />attempted to be mimicked<br /><br />walking across the snow<br /><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">keeek</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">keeek</span><br /><br />the wind blows across the sloping hill<br />catching dried leaves and <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">whisps</span> of snow<br /><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">sssheeeewww</span>….<br /><br />my lips and tongue perform gymnastics<br />trying out the different combinations<br />the sound of sh and <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">chu</span> together<br />a k and <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">kckkk</span> in quick succession<br />my tongue rolls together and clicks at the roof<br />of my mouth to make<br />the sounds of these everyday things<br />dry leaves<br />red boots on new snow<br />cool wind<br />brown paper bags crunching in your grasp<br /><br />the sounds are translatable<br />but what of visions<br />so lovely<br />they want more<br />expression than apprehension<br />from the eyes<br />and the beauty of their looks<br /><br />twinkling golden tiny white lights<br />that frame your simple porch and iron work<br />make my heart hurt<br />glimmering in a snowy cold night<br />tiny lights burst to be released from the<br />silence of my rib cage<br /><br />what sound do they make?<br />silent appreciation and a wordless gaze<br />are not sufficient<br />a soft gentle sweet <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">hmmmm</span><br />perhaps<br /><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7">mmmmm</span>….<br />held as long as the memory<br />lasts</span> </span></div>gorlox5http://www.blogger.com/profile/00690235119191709683noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36753986.post-23575465811758087402007-11-21T18:13:00.001-08:002007-11-21T19:04:49.971-08:00Pumpkin Head - Excerpts from the Dating Chronicles<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzJusVtadnEnB2nldVhxrJj-qrFbGpaS9Ns_4u2H54biB80vxN0YQGfw0r1cwDdlZ0HVp-MRMKVG479Q0dGTUmdwfjDbhjBTr9mUjdNM7MQ9XnWPnJUDxPqifPmJcOr3E50lKQ/s1600-h/halloween8_470x368.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5135483797605394130" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzJusVtadnEnB2nldVhxrJj-qrFbGpaS9Ns_4u2H54biB80vxN0YQGfw0r1cwDdlZ0HVp-MRMKVG479Q0dGTUmdwfjDbhjBTr9mUjdNM7MQ9XnWPnJUDxPqifPmJcOr3E50lKQ/s320/halloween8_470x368.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div><span style="color:#cc6600;">He seemed like a nice guy at work, so she said yes when he asked her out for a dinner and a trip to a local haunted house. Looking forward to the date that Saturday night, she deliberated carefully over a cute, but casual outfit, comparing a couple of clothing combinations on hangers before her extended arms.<br /><br />The call came at 6:00 p.m. His truck had broken down and he wondered if she would mind picking him up and driving. It seemed rather odd, and she was a little disappointed, but she finally, said, “Okay, I’ll be there at 7:30,” thinking that things like this happen sometimes.<br /><br />She picked him up at about 7:35, and they proceeded to the Michelle’s restaurant, a local diner, for dinner. Just as he was in the car, he was unusually quiet during dinner. She asked him questions about school, about the gym, about his family, but none of the questions spurred more than one sentence replies. She picked at her salad with the fork.<br />The bill came and he reached for his wallet, and stared twice inside it. He finally looked up at her and said, “Ummmm, would you mind going dutch this time? All I have is a five.” She stared at him angrily, but silently, and turned aside sharply for her wallet in her bag on the bench seat next to her.<br /><br />The drive to the haunted house was quiet, too, and the wait in the rather long line could have been much more fun, considering the boisterous, and funny frightening atmosphere. It was cool outside, the air was damp, and it would have been nice to hold hands, or have an arm around her. Instead, they made stilted small talk and looked in opposite directions at the people stumbling out of the house and the crowd around them. Once they were inside, at the first big scare from a bellowing monster in green rubber mask and black cape, he grabbed a hold of her like a spooked child. He clutched to her several times like this during the trip through. He even tripped once and almost pushed her off the path.<br /><br />She dropped him off just after the house, after a nearly silent trip home. There was a brief pause as she parked on the curb outside his house, and he turned to her and sincerely told her that he had a really nice time. When she got home there was email from him waiting for her in her inbox, again, gushing that he had a wonderful time, and looked forward to seeing her again sometime very soon. She didn’t reply.<br /><br />When she saw him at work next, she didn’t talk to him anymore.<br /></span></div>gorlox5http://www.blogger.com/profile/00690235119191709683noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36753986.post-38383509459558799442007-10-19T06:47:00.000-07:002007-10-19T08:07:04.712-07:00Kid's Advice on Love - Excerpts from the Dating Chronicles<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTcf26mhphD8v5YyNyafQazHT_xrEm9gJW30-enKXn4G2bpT9DY5IpI9nqBKNxhSGCmyQJfKkuLXRgXMyb9H2f9dsGsq1vANgDxuAh8HcvcW6fB1cB-Df1dQ_4367nBtGkQMI0/s1600-h/valentines_children.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5123064543721717922" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTcf26mhphD8v5YyNyafQazHT_xrEm9gJW30-enKXn4G2bpT9DY5IpI9nqBKNxhSGCmyQJfKkuLXRgXMyb9H2f9dsGsq1vANgDxuAh8HcvcW6fB1cB-Df1dQ_4367nBtGkQMI0/s320/valentines_children.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div><span style="font-size:130%;"><strong>Tips on Love</strong></span><br />(by kids, 5-10 years of age)<br /><br />WHAT IS THE PROPER AGE TO GET MARRIED?<br /><br />"Eighty-four, because at that age you don't have to work anymore, and you can spend all your time loving each other in your bedroom."(Judy, 8)<br /><br />"Once I'm done with kindergarten, I'm going to find me a wife."(Tom, 5)<br /><br />WHAT DO MOST PEOPLE DO ON A DATE?<br /><br />"On the first date they just tell each other lies, and that usually gets them interested enough to go on a second date." (Mike 10)<br /><br />WHEN IS IT OKAY TO KISS SOMEONE?<br /><br />"You should never kiss a girl unless you have enough bucks to buy her a big ring and her own VCR, because she'll want to have videos of the wedding." (Jim, 10)<br /><br />"Never kiss in front of other people. It's a big embarrassing thing if anybody sees you. But if nobody sees youo, I might be willing to try it with a handsome boy, but just for a few hours." (Kally, 9)<br /><br />THE GREAT DEBATE: IS IT BETTER TO BE MARRIED OR SINGLE?<br /><br />"It's better for girls to be single, but not for boys. Boys need someone to clean up after them." (Lynette, 9)<br /><br />"It gives me aheadache to think about that stuff. I'm just a kid. I don't need that kind of trouble." (Kenny, 7)<br /><br />WHY LOVE HAPPENS BETWEEN TWO PARTICULAR PEOPLE<br /><br />No one is sure why it happens, but I heard it has to do something with how you smell. That's why perfume and deoderant are so popular." (Jan, 9)<br /><br />"I think you're supposed to get shot with an arrow or something, but the rest of it isn't supposed to be so painful." (Harlen, 8).<br /><br />WHAT FALLING IN LOVE IS LIKE<br /><br />"It's like an avalanche where you have to run for your life." (Roger, 9)<br /><br />"If falling in love is anything like learning how to spell, I don't want to do it." It takes too long." (Leo, 7)<br /><br />THE ROLE OF GOOD LOOKS IN LOVE<br /><br />"If you want to be loved by someone who isn't already in your family, it doesn't hurt to be beautiful." (Diane, 9)<br /><br />"It isn't always just how you look. Look at me - handsome like anything and I haven't got anyone to marry me yet." (Gary, 7)<br /><br />Beauty is skin deep. But how rich you are can last a long time." (Christine, 9)<br /><br />WHY LOVERS OFTEN HOLD HANDS<br /><br />"They want to make sure their rings don't fall off because they paid good money for them."(Dave, 8)<br /><br />CONFIDENTIAL OPINIONS ABOUT LOVE<br /><br />"I'm in favor of love as long as it doesn't happen when 'Sesame Street' is on television."(Anita,6)<br /><br />"Love will find you even if you are trying to hide from it. I have been hiding from it since I was 5, but the girls keep finding me."<br /><br />(Bobby, 8)<br /><br />"I'm not rushing into being in love. I'm finding fourth grade hard enough." (Regina, 10)<br /><br />QUALITIES NECESSARY TO BE A GOOD LOVER<br /><br />One of you should know how to write a check because there's going to be a lot of bills." (Ava, 8)<br /><br />SUREFIRE WAYS TO MAKE A PERSON FALL IN LOVE WITH YOU<br /><br />"Tell them that you own a whole bunch of candy stores." (Del, 6)<br /><br />"Don't do things like have smelly, green sneakers. You might get attention, but attention ain't the same thing as love." (Alonzo, 9)<br /><br />"One way is to take the girl out to eat. Make sure it's something she likes to eat. French fries usually works for me."(Bart, 9)<br /><br />HOW YOU TELL IF 2 ADULTS EATING DINNER IN A RESTAURANT ARE IN LOVE<br /><br />"Just see if the man picks up the check. That's how you can tell if he's in love."(John, 9)<br /><br />"Lovers will just be staring at each other and their food will get cold. Other people care more about the food."(Dave 8)<br /><br />"It's love if they order one of those desserts that are on fire. They like to order those because it's just like how their hearts are... on fire." (Christine, 9)<br /><br />WHAT MOST PEOPLE ARE THINKING WHEN THEY SAY 'I LOVE YOU<br /><br />'"The person is thinking, 'Yeah, I really do love him, but I hope he showers at least once a day." (Michelle, 9)<br /><br />WHEN A PERSON LEARNS TO KISS<br /><br />"You learn it right on the spot when the gooshy feelings get the best of you."(Doug, 7)<br /><br />"It might help to watch soap operas all day." (Carin, 9)<br /><br />WHEN IS IT OKAY TO KISS SOMEONE?<br /><br />"It's never OK to kiss a boy. They always slobber all over you. That's why I stopped doing it."(Jean, 10)<br /><br />WHAT MAKES LOVE ENDURE<br /><br />"Don't forget your wife's name. That will mess up the love." (Roger, 8)<br /><br />"Spend most of your time loving instead of going to work." (Tom, 7)<br /><br />"Be a good kisser. It might make your wife forget that you never take out the trash."(Randy, 8)</div>gorlox5http://www.blogger.com/profile/00690235119191709683noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36753986.post-72053732583365846142007-10-12T09:31:00.001-07:002007-10-12T09:32:33.751-07:00Al Gore Awarded the 2007 Nobel Peace Prize!<span style="color:#009900;">Al Gore awarded the Nobel Peace Prize! Amazing! Stupendous! Much Deserved! <br />The man most definitely deserves this tremendous recognition. Who, in our world society, has more contributed to the shift in consciousness, and real world change backed with facts and examples than this man?!! </span><br /><br /><span style="color:#009900;">We will assuredly hear more cries that he enter the Democratic race for the presidency, and his supposed loss to George W. Bush will be all the more lamentable. Clearly, this does not shine any light on the performance of our current Pres, in fact, it makes it looks like we are all denied a truly visionary, brilliant, world-conscious, moral, man as a leader, and duped into a second term of serfdom and national loss as result of Bush’s highly questionable sphere of misguided monetary power and influence.<br /><br />A well-deserved, incredible, amazing honor for a hero! A beautiful event to witness.</span>gorlox5http://www.blogger.com/profile/00690235119191709683noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36753986.post-88268526806195800682007-09-11T14:46:00.000-07:002007-09-11T15:05:02.624-07:00Miss Spellings - Excerpts from the Dating Chronicles<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAtwwyWl_dY0A41axlV0npCfmMFRsbFuCJ7tAdyw2qvSQn9MbaeHmkfrEURdic0gASWHb31nJbZwAo7_ubu27TNRiJgTR83NY6Qp_KaNyk7qGTpdo-EVeq3KK4RPgLGsBgMkD6/s1600-h/i+luv+spelling.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5109070837009091570" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAtwwyWl_dY0A41axlV0npCfmMFRsbFuCJ7tAdyw2qvSQn9MbaeHmkfrEURdic0gASWHb31nJbZwAo7_ubu27TNRiJgTR83NY6Qp_KaNyk7qGTpdo-EVeq3KK4RPgLGsBgMkD6/s320/i+luv+spelling.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div><span style="color:#009900;"></span><br /><span style="color:#009900;"></span><br /><span style="color:#009900;"></span><br /><span style="color:#009900;">Miss Spellings<br /><br /><br />One of my girlfriends, whom I have actually referenced before in my blogs, recently went out a couple of times with a fellow that she met on Match.com. They conversed via email a few times before they dated. After their third date, a night at his house watching a movie on his big screen TV, he didn’t kiss her goodnight. He gave her a hug.<br /><br />They were emailing after this date, and he said, in his email, that she should use spell-check on her emails, as there were several spellings errors. He also added that she typed like a maniac. When she told me this, she laughed, saying she should send him back a derogatory email, with all misspelled, but easily identifiable insults. Granted, the woman does misspell a few words, and sometimes her words are jammed together in her messages. She’s my friend though, and as friends do, I overlook these things because I like the woman. She’s my pal.<br /><br />He broke it off with her fairly soon after all this, via email. I tell my students this story as a cautionary tale. Misspellings, can, evidently, thwart your love life. </span></div>gorlox5http://www.blogger.com/profile/00690235119191709683noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36753986.post-82069371651955095022007-08-12T13:31:00.001-07:002007-08-12T18:55:54.131-07:00boxingmatch.com - Excerpts from the Dating Chronicles<span style="COLOR: rgb(51,102,255)"></span><img alt="Image Hosted by ImageShack.us" src="http://img88.imageshack.us/img88/5186/girlfightsri6.jpg" /><br />By <a href="http://profile.imageshack.us/user/gorlox5" target="_new">gorlox5</a> at 2007-08-12<br /><br /><span style="COLOR: rgb(51,102,255)">Just this morning my gfriend called me to tell me about a big falling out that she had had with a close member of her group of friends. Both women have been scoping out the guys on Match.com. My friend S____ has recently noted on her profile that she soon she will be leaving match.com, and thus, it is everybody’s last chance to get in on some dating action with her. This strategy, though, seems to work because she has had a deluge of fellows sending their email addresses and phone numbers. Kinda like a going out of business sale, eh? Hmmm… maybe I should keep this approach in mind if ever needed.<br /><br />Anyway, due to this deluge of interest, she was contacted by this guy named D____ whom she later met for coffee. Before the coffee, she informed several of the girl squad that she would be there with the new prospect, and they, indeed, showed up to check out the new guy. Her friend M____ was one of the girl squad stationed in the café, sizing up the new person.<br /><br />Well, my friend S____ kinda likes this guy, and they have been talking and are planning on going out again. I think they even kissed goodbye on one of their recent casual meet-ups. She likes him, and is interested in getting to know him more. Her friend M____ knows all of this.<br /><br />This weekend on Saturday, the new guy prospect mentioned to my friend that M___ had contacted him online, and in her email to him, she said that he seemed like a nice guy, and seemed eager to strike up a conversation with him. The new guy is also an elementary or middle school principal, and M____ is a teacher, looking for a job. Her email, however, seemed just flirty, and eager to talk to him more. So, understandably, my pal S___ was quite upset that her friend had contacted this guy, having been in the coffee shop when S_____ and D_____ met, and knowing that’s S______ was interested in the guy.<br /><br />Not a very smooth move, eh? My friend, understandably, feels a bit betrayed, and embarrassed that her friend is trying to make some time with this guy, and also, trying to use him to land a job. Not very prudent moves on either front. I have more than one friend on match.com (I am, fortunately, not in this ring), so they have to carefully stake out their territories and be careful not to date the same guys. They have even met up on occasion to be sure that they were treading on each other’s supposed turf. However, this latest transgression on M____’s part was not an accident.<br /><br />Quite the mess, eh? ding ding! The match continues. </span>gorlox5http://www.blogger.com/profile/00690235119191709683noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36753986.post-39589896691837024432007-07-29T20:58:00.000-07:002007-07-29T21:00:16.481-07:00Is There a Haberdasher in the House?!<span style="color:#006600;">Last Monday morning as I strode into the hive, I was walking a couple of yards behind this young fellow who I happened to notice was wearing a pretty slick suit. He was tall guy, clean cut, and I was sorta surveying the suit as I walked behind him into the halls of the hive. As I watched him walk in, wondering what job he had such that he was dressing so sharp, I noticed that his back right pant leg was stuck inside his black shoe. Otherwise, he was looking good - Monday morning into the office. But, that bit of cuff in the pant leg – arrrggh! </span><br /><br /><span style="color:#006600;">Then, as I buzzed myself in with the hive card, I was walking behind a woman, and because I was still in that "oh, God its Monday morning and I'm dressed and walking, but not really awake yet" mode, I was also staring at her get-up. She looked fine, but the collar of her white dress shirt was turned out. My very slight obsessive-compulsive impulses must be magnified by the Monday malaise, because I really wanted to straighten her collar for her! </span><br /><br /><span style="color:#006600;">You are probably wondering, "Who promoted you to officer on the fashion police squad, or, did you look over your looks before you left home, lady? " Well, who the heck knows, maybe my pants were unzipped or something. But, that day, and I swear, as I left the elevator, I was walking behind another woman, whose shirt, on the left lower side of her back, was untucked, puckering out of her pants above her belt. We all need personal attendants, don't we? Especially for Monday morning in the hive.<br /></span>gorlox5http://www.blogger.com/profile/00690235119191709683noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36753986.post-40436603178909418172007-07-14T15:37:00.000-07:002007-07-14T15:40:49.243-07:00Excerpts from the Dating Chronicles<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHtOiXI-RaqY8wb_lrvY2OnQ-_uFKlgN7dt4hI5hcd221EYIpl-kMDebYQ-9fvkslu3L_blefJ6BUKiGb8G9KV72io8OxADl6lfJEldGCBMabyxkRsuLX0_Tvundshst-tC6PD/s1600-h/christian+dating.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5087186064281206962" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHtOiXI-RaqY8wb_lrvY2OnQ-_uFKlgN7dt4hI5hcd221EYIpl-kMDebYQ-9fvkslu3L_blefJ6BUKiGb8G9KV72io8OxADl6lfJEldGCBMabyxkRsuLX0_Tvundshst-tC6PD/s320/christian+dating.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div><br /><span style="color:#009900;">Rapping with my gfriend the other day and, as we often do, we were talking about dating and men. She's in the midst of a troubling "friends with benefits" relationship with a guy that takes her up north to his cabin for a week, and then cancels dinner dates the next week. So, she is "keeping her eye out" for other prospects, or trying to. She is also a big workout person, and runs too. She was recently in 5k in Northville, and ran into this runner guy, who, I think, goes to her church in Livonia. A good, marathon running, god-fearing man. After the race, he was talking to her, and asked her for her email address, and asked her if she would like to get together sometime. She gave him her email address, and he did contact her. </span></div><br /><div><br /><span style="color:#009900;">They were rapping back and forth later the next week, and he asked her to get together for ice cream on a Tuesday night – the same night that they had been talking online. Later that afternoon, however, she got an email from his address with the message, " I like the yellow dress on you better, and you definitely should wear the bikini in the next picture." My pal and this guy had not been talking about their preferred attires at that point. She was surprised, as you would expect, and wrote the guy back, asking what was up?! He just responded that he had sent that message to the wrong woman, and he apologized, saying that he was really sorry and embarrassed. I don't think that they got ice cream that night. Perfect! Just what the woman needs.<br /><br /></span><span style="color:#333333;"><em>* Hey! Do you have any worthwhile/funny dating stories? Send the story to me so that I can write them in my blog and get all the attention!</em> </span></div>gorlox5http://www.blogger.com/profile/00690235119191709683noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36753986.post-88768101482868688822007-06-04T17:47:00.000-07:002007-06-04T17:53:04.598-07:00Back in the Hive<span style="color:#009900;">Aye Carumba! My first day of office work in two years. I had nearly forgotten what it’s<br />like, and then, because I need to make the green stuff, I am back in the cells of the worker bees. I am working at a certain very big bank headquarters in Troy. As I drove up toward the building this morning, my first thought, was gosh, “how on earth did I miss this thing?” as I approached the huge steel and glass colossus. I parked my small car in the lot, fairly easily, and joined the clip of women’s high heel shoes in the small trickle of women marching into the many layers of ominous concrete and all-seeing glass. It seemed like people kinda had that work hump, ya’ know, that kind bent head gait that people get as head toward work? I looked at the building that I will likely be spending most of the summer in every day and I felt, yes, like a worker bee resignedly returning to my cell in the hive.<br /><br />For the past two years, I have taught college, and have enjoyed a rather unconventional work schedule, and a college environment. I can have classes in the am, or evenings, and, beyond that, my schedule is mine to set. I do not have to work from 8 or 9 to 5pm, although I do have prep to do constantly. I get to work with people, and use creativity and humor, intellectualism, discussion, and build relationships with students. Many of my classrooms have been stark and drag, but my work is on a campus with flyers for writing, gay pride, and animae clubs. I am often approached by those trying to ensure that I am registered to vote, and if I know about the Libertarian Party. I spend a sizable chunk of every day in the library, grading papers, or reviewing current literature or literary criticism.<br /><br />Glancing at the marble floors in this palatial building, I was thinking about how, when I was young, I was so readily impressed with this sort of place. It seemed so glamorous. Now it all seems so vacuous to me. I don’t mean to knock anyone ‘s livelihood or career, but I know now, that this 9 to 5, sit-at-your –desk-all-day-and-enter -numbers life is definitely not for me. No matter how lavish the surroundings. Is it for anyone? Apparently so. What keeps me going is, yes, the greenbacks, and the promise of teaching again in the fall. Until then, I suppose I will try to remember that I do work in a nice place, and it’s just for now. </span>gorlox5http://www.blogger.com/profile/00690235119191709683noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36753986.post-33688785763094806102007-05-30T09:55:00.000-07:002007-05-30T09:58:23.294-07:00Just Published in the detroiter<span style="color:#3366ff;">Just published in the detroiter! Wow, I feel more like a real writer! Check out the link, and see what you think. I haven't reposted the poem here, because it has been posted earlier. You'll have to click the link to read it. : ) </span><br /><span style="color:#3366ff;"></span><br /><span style="color:#3366ff;">Btw, the detroiter is a great source for publication and news about arts events in the D.</span><br /><br /><a href="http://www.thedetroiter.com/b_lit/">http://www.thedetroiter.com/b_lit/</a>gorlox5http://www.blogger.com/profile/00690235119191709683noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36753986.post-23408413089065164532007-05-23T12:03:00.000-07:002007-05-23T12:04:30.460-07:00A beautiful quoteknowing love,<br />I will allow all things to come and go<br />to be as supple as the wind<br />for life is right in any case and<br />my heart is as open as the skygorlox5http://www.blogger.com/profile/00690235119191709683noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36753986.post-12376996146146414872007-04-20T08:14:00.000-07:002007-04-20T08:17:33.689-07:00In the Wake of the Virginia Tech Shootings<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijFrTNQyeHnQ-LbeAYZMIibe9ds_M6ls36Wyhlq3fZyGZ_Ve__uNdHTuGfRAl7gpQTJSitzPagyxa7WHeCVqSxjcTGLxtHE8zJvhGAKS0fRwz8ze0R_UCakypU35wgyeVhAAym/s1600-h/959221829_m.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5055529745051553250" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijFrTNQyeHnQ-LbeAYZMIibe9ds_M6ls36Wyhlq3fZyGZ_Ve__uNdHTuGfRAl7gpQTJSitzPagyxa7WHeCVqSxjcTGLxtHE8zJvhGAKS0fRwz8ze0R_UCakypU35wgyeVhAAym/s320/959221829_m.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div><span style="color:#009900;"></span></div><br /><div><span style="color:#009900;">Does Blogging About This Really Help? </span></div><br /><div><br /><span style="color:#009900;">my response to my pal's (seriousprofessor's) recent myspace blog that just briefly mentioned the big news story lately (more on this later) :<br /><br />nice to see a discussion of the shooting at Virginia Tech... sorta.. it's definitely important to deal with outside events in these writings... but can one, or more, decide to push such events intentionally out of our consciousness(es)? My psyche doesn't wanna know about such things... how can this news be helpful? ... such coverage only seems to inspire more awful bloodshed... maybe the news can be helpful to show us all how important it is to readily treat individuals that need real psychiatric help. But, unfortunately, it seems for the news, that's not what it's about. It's about the drama. <em>Sigh</em>. What a terrible shame. There's much good in this world if you can see it. Really.</span> </div>gorlox5http://www.blogger.com/profile/00690235119191709683noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36753986.post-36331766269928525392007-04-13T11:04:00.000-07:002007-04-13T11:05:37.199-07:00Happy Rodent<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYUW6ORO-e3oi3E8Sk7A53FHs72hHpwXnrvYeKZkMqOizQ_XsUbq8Z05H7HMnUCzyANqvEFUv_7REUN_S8Begi-D2jCemT72ZrR-gfIg65-61kMW8Vj3iREtXHQLFkWubxLEhu/s1600-h/squirrel61406big.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5052975421894376514" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYUW6ORO-e3oi3E8Sk7A53FHs72hHpwXnrvYeKZkMqOizQ_XsUbq8Z05H7HMnUCzyANqvEFUv_7REUN_S8Begi-D2jCemT72ZrR-gfIg65-61kMW8Vj3iREtXHQLFkWubxLEhu/s320/squirrel61406big.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div></div><br /><div></div><br /><div></div><br /><div><span style="color:#009900;">It’s been gray and freezing now<br />for nearly two weeks.<br />& we’re well into spring<br /><br />we should be sitting on the grass<br />smiling in the sunshine<br />instead we’re ducking inside<br />hats & hoods<br /><br />“too cold,” everyone complains<br />and we try to muster through<br />prolonged winter<br /><br />is anyone happy anywhere<br />in this state<br />of eternal cold?<br /><br />until you see one<br />silly squirrel on campus<br />playing with the branch of<br />leave-less bush<br />rolling around in the cold wet<br />dirt<br /><br />and he looks so happy<br />playing with nothing<br />but a brown stick<br />the sky gray<br />the wind blowing<br />sleeting battering all<br />our hunched backs<br /><br />how could he be so<br />delighted?<br />and I notice him<br />and shake my head<br /><br />and he continues<br />to roll around<br />in the damp brush<br />giggling to himself<br /><br /><br />j. lawless<br />4/13/07<br />copyright reserved </span></div>gorlox5http://www.blogger.com/profile/00690235119191709683noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36753986.post-80799747578565288642007-04-05T17:45:00.000-07:002007-04-05T17:59:47.917-07:00<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBVTZExlvweYwVSpwKcbZroJYbhSopKOuBIn_rLMUtEOm4nmcF0qOctyLGcl1VBTEkQ_G26FoFNMY3nT_4rAHehlfPFxShNltbPF0mSJduzVLrGBZEjiyNtHQ8bIQFzoBCzl_q/s1600-h/Winter.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5050110398451383138" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBVTZExlvweYwVSpwKcbZroJYbhSopKOuBIn_rLMUtEOm4nmcF0qOctyLGcl1VBTEkQ_G26FoFNMY3nT_4rAHehlfPFxShNltbPF0mSJduzVLrGBZEjiyNtHQ8bIQFzoBCzl_q/s320/Winter.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div><span style="color:#3366ff;"></span></div><br /><div><span style="color:#3366ff;"></span></div><br /><div><span style="color:#3366ff;">If you read my blog regularly you might notice two things: </span></div><br /><div><br /><span style="color:#3366ff;">1) I usually don't write about everyday happenings. I try to write more 'substantial' blogs. Why? Maybe I take blogging too seriously, and </span></div><br /><div><br /><span style="color:#3366ff;">2) A few months back I wrote a blog entitled "Winter Wonderland" in which I extolled the virtues of a cold, snowy day in terms of the "global warming" phenomenon that has been noted by Al Gore and other important thinkers in the past few years. </span></div><br /><div><br /><span style="color:#3366ff;">Well, anyone that has been alive in Michigan for some time has noticed that it often snows in April. It might seem odd, but it does. It is actually relatively normal. Today, at the Institutional Development Day at the Center campus of Macomb Community College, I was talking to an older librarian about the weather. She said that one winter, some years ago, it rarely snowed one winter and was unseasonably warm. The winter was then followed by a snow storm in May - a snow which lingered on the ground. Now that seems bizarre. </span></div><br /><div><br /><span style="color:#3366ff;">What I am basically trying to communicate is that I am again pleased (albeit freezing) that it is cold one last time before spring. Doesn't it seem even colder in close proximity to the sun-drenched days that we have been enjoying? I think so. </span></div><br /><div><br /><span style="color:#3366ff;">Maybe I like routine. Maybe I am a glutton for punishment. Maybe I don't like the idea of polar bears and penguins cast away alone, forlorn on floating sheets of antarctic ice. Maybe I like wearing my long black faux fur hooded winter coat one last time. Maybe I can't afford spring clothes yet. Maybe I use the word "maybe' too much. </span></div><br /><div><br /><span style="color:#3333ff;"><span style="color:#3366ff;">Winter is a stubborn old man. And he won't go out without a struggle. Perhaps he likes to linger to see some of the early flowers, like daffodils and myrtle. Do you think he likes to harass us a little more before he leaves? Maybe.</span><br /></span></div>gorlox5http://www.blogger.com/profile/00690235119191709683noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36753986.post-21950721958160186402007-03-23T06:23:00.000-07:002007-03-23T06:26:34.638-07:00<span style="color:#000000;">Just Wednesday night an instructor friend and I attend a reading at Zeitgeist on Michigan Avenue in Detroit. Vievee Francis, Tommy Blount, and Matthew Olzmaan were featured. I might have spelled some of the poets’ names wrong. I can produce my poetic license to escape the punctuation police.<br /><br />The reading blew me away. As usual, Vievee’s poetry was fantastic. The most memorable was her first piece centered around two people, one being Idi Amin, the brutal dictator of Uganda. I recall that there is a movie out right now, starring Forrest Whittaker, The Last King of Scotland, that tells more about the man. He was, as Vievee’s poetry imaged, known to be a cannibal, and known also, to many, as a madman.<br /> </span><br /><span style="color:#000000;"> The references she included in her first poem to these acts, and Greek Mythology are stunning. In the story of Tantalus, an ancestor of Agamemnon, served humans to the gods at a great banquet. He and his family were then, understandably, tainted and cursed with the sins of the father. Agamemnon was, after his arduous return home from the Trojan War, slaughtered by his wife, Clytemnestra, and her lover. <br /><br />The sun imagery in her work was startling also. I had a “thing” for sun images for a long time, and would draw them everywhere – in journals, on register receipts, napkins, and flyers posted about town. I hope that she recalls this.<br /><br />I suppose that I felt most moved by this piece, and her overall presence because she touched on so many layers between her and I, the literary community in the city, namely, Rayfield Waller, who has always reminded me of Forrest Whittaker, the actor that play Amin in the movie, and Amin’s portrayal, in her poetry, as a sun figure. <br /><br />Both bright and blazing. Both life giving and all-consuming, and the influence the sun has on our psyche. The darker the skin the hotter it heats up. <br /><br />And, too, Forrest Whittaker and Rayfield are both big men. Forrest Whittaker, a fine actor though, has always seemed to carry an intriguing sense of vulnerability and mild monsterness in his bulky frame. An intriguing casting choice for the film, then. Have you seen the Crying Game?<br /><br />It was nice to meet Vie’s husband, Matthew Olzmaan, who is enrolling in the MFA program at Warren Wilson. He’s a talented poet, commands the stage, and projects his voice and word pictures strongly.<br /><br /> He’s Filipino-American, and wearing a tight soft gray MICHIGAN t-shirt, and sometimes collapsing his shoulder a bit in humility, he drew us in and sustained the audience at the makeshift art bar. What struck me most was his piece entitled something like 196 pictures of me looking at me.<br /><br />It made it seem more essential than ever now, to continue writing, and performing, and to stay connected with the literary and greater arts community for healing and growth. To let my own sun shine, to follow my curiosities, and inspirations, and even identify my won cultural origins even more in relation to my authorship. It was meaningful to get into the city 2. Now I have to enter tax receipts for awhile. </span>gorlox5http://www.blogger.com/profile/00690235119191709683noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36753986.post-1170648427856173752007-02-04T20:04:00.000-08:002007-02-04T20:14:02.226-08:00Blogging. The English instructor tendencies of my cranium have been pondering these questions lately. What does it mean to writing, in general? Do we now forego the more graceful forms of poetry, short story, play, and letter to tap out blog whenever some idea passes over our cerebellum? Is it the easy way out? Doesn't it seem much easier to take some intriguing (or mundane) notion and write it straight out instead of crafting it in to something more challenging (and artful) like these other forms of the writing craft?<br /><br />I think it makes me think of writing differently. Instead of writing, like I said, that poem, or what-have-you, I think of just blurting the ol' blog. Amira Baraka once said something like this – " I don't sit down and decide, oh, I am going to write a poem or a play, the idea indicates its own form." Well, now that blogging is a prevalent fashion, I think it is, at least for now, replacing some of those more traditional arts. It has now entered the popular consciousness as the dominant form of writing self-expression. It is now the ready alternative. Is this a bad thing? I suppose that communicating, self-expression, and relatively ready feedback, the idea of an instant, altho' mostly unknown, audience can be appealing and positive. But, what does this mean for literature and writing? Will students, in ten years, have to trudge to the campus bookstore to buy The Norton Anthology of Contemporary Blogging?<br /><br />When was the last time you read a novel or a play? When was the last time you read a blog? When was the last time you wrote a poem or a short story? When was the last time you wrote a blog? And, yes, here it is - bloggistyle.gorlox5http://www.blogger.com/profile/00690235119191709683noreply@blogger.com