08.30.04

It's good to take a day off. I've been feeling a wee bit obsessive (damn this spending too much time by myself), so I told myself (quite firmly) that I was not to turn on Nadine yesterday.

It mostly worked. I only checked e-mail once. I'm going to be the crazy, 90-cat lady who yells at the neighbourhood children.

Note to self: do not spend three days never leaving the house.

Went out into the big room and had adventures. Episodes.

Xat Goes to the Library

Had to return all of the TRNs I read last week, and stock up on more. Somehow The Best American Poetry 2003 leapt into my bag. My brain must be struggling to remain viable. A new and dreadful pestilence stalks the land. A horrible spongiform encephalitis, akin to mad cow, spongiform rifiuti romanza romanzesco. Aaaaaa!

*koff* The library was hopping. The cataloguing and placement of books at this library is haphazard at best. It arouses my latent gathering instincts. There is a separate TRN section, but that's not where all of them are. Looking for graphic novels is an exercise in futility. It's why I've only read half of the Sandman series. They were found in the young adult section (does anyone besides me get a picture of nascent strippers learning how to walk in acrylic platform sandals, pole dance, and pluck their eyebrows into oblivion?), the science fiction section, and the fine arts section. Oy.

As I wandered the stacks, looking for more TRNs I saw all kinds of people. A Native American grandma discussed Pokemon movies with two of her grandsons. A Japanese woman loaded up on Nihon no TRNs. When I got to the check-out line, a man with amazing, Kenny Rogers hair, wearing a dark grey, pinstripe, double-vented suit, black silk t-shirt, a gold chain, and sneakers stood in front of me. The suit was too small. The flap of the vent fabric pooched out, like the split skin of an over-cooked sausage.

Xat Surprises Herself and Goes to the Eye Doctor

After the library, what heights of excitement could be reached? Rather than going back to the house, it was off to Powell's. Yeah. I need more books. Got distracted by the eyeglass shop. Well, hell. I'm down to my last pair of disposable contacts and it's been a year since a check-up. Figured I'd go in, look at some new glasses and make an appointment.

Next thing I know, I'm sitting in the chair, getting puffs of air blown into my eyes, and discussing TRNs with the technician. Decided that, hell, I'm in this far--might as well do the whole pupil-dilating thing for full enjoyment of the experience.

"You'll feel some sensation," the doc said as he dropped H2SO4 into my eyes. Okay, so it wasn't hydrochloric acid, but it did sting a bit. It didn't help that I snorted in disbelief as he said it and got a big bubble of snot blow out of my nose. Oh yeah, I'm a charmer.

As I paid up, blindly signing whatever they flung at me, the tech and I talked about books. She loves TRNs...and Harry Potter. . .

*koff* She looked around, lowered her voice and said, "I shouldn't tell you this, it's unprofessional, but..."

"My lips are sealed!"

"My old man's in prison and I can write some porn."

We discussed writing "the dirty bits" for a while. Got some good ideas, too.

Off to look at new glasses. The clerk helping me leaned back and said,

"You look like a science fiction fan."

"Oh damn, does it show?" I said. She laughed.

"You're going to OryCon, aren't you?"

"When is it?"

"November."

"Does it interfere with the Farscape Con?"

"No, that's at the end of the month, I think."

"Oh," I said.

"Here's the web site."

Science fiction and trashy romance novel fixes? New contacts, two pairs of sexy librarian chic eyeglasses (they were having a special)? A couple of amusing hours? How did I get so lucky?

Xat Gets Interviewed for CNN Article

When I got back to the house, a message waited for me. A friend, who's part of CNN online's college journalists, had called. She needed some material for an article. Called her back, she got her interview, I got to rant.

Then we talked about the tattoo/piercing shop that she and a friend are working to open. Sounds cool. I asked if she'd ask around for jobs for me. She said that she would, and that she's also got a consignment section in her shop. Did I want to maybe sell some knitting?

Knitting? Tattoos? Piercing? Well, they all use needles. There might be some weird congruence there. Mind's racing, why not try to make a little for something that I'm doing anyway? Wonder if my speed is up to the task.

*laugh*

Xat Goes to the Hole

Got down to the Hole for the Subterranean Beat Revival about 9PM. EmCeeCeeCee, kiltless, but not pants-less, asked if I wanted to read. Surprising myself, because I've been such a weird bundle of insecurity and look-at-me lately, I said,

"Nope. I'm sick of me and am gonna shut the fuck up tonight."

Got into a conversation with a disreputable poet friend who's trying to get a Warholian Factory space set up in Stumptown. Agreed to do some boring legal research for him. Yippee! Something to do that's not all about me. I can do some legal research, uhm-hmm.

It was a day like all days, filled with those events that alter and illuminate out lives.

Yay!

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