Thursday, January 28, 2010

"Because I really love pockets, you know. And velcro."

never to be outdone by kid quotes, here's a little adult quote interlude. not that you could tell the difference, in most cases.

"No more potatoes down the drain." -random dude in T & M's parking lot

"All these girls are wearing peacoats....we gotta get outta here!" -random dude outside the Wicked Garden

"No one ever died from being overdramatic." -Joyce Sutton on the obvs

"I don't like outer space. It's too big." -Andy Cumpton Junior on Avatar

"This is not the same!" -Micah on disappointing backyard shenanigans

"Put a couple of drinks in that kid and see what happens. Like a gremlin."
"Classiest bar in Arvada. In a strip mall. Happy Birthday, Kevin! Smells like gasoline and diarrhea." -Erin on the Red Lion

"Put your hand on the wall and shake it!" -Charlie on Kevin

"So then people will think I'm furry like Esau." -JRe

"Arts and crafts, arts and crafts they fade....fade away."

"You have a cowboy voice." -Haley, kindergarten

"I don't want to deal with all that paperwork." -Jacob, 2nd grade
"You're lucky. Most people don't even have their own Bible. They have to go to church to read it."

"Do you even know math?" -Leo, 3rd grade

"You're talking like a Star Wars Jedi Master." -Michael, 2nd grade

"You know, you don't have to say 'Not OK' three times." -Maria, age 4
"I think I'm slightly allergic to stinky water."

"You are the weirdest person I've ever met." -Angel, 5th grade

"Do the Hellen Keller and talk to your hips." -Gabriel, 2nd grade
"One day she just figured it out with her big ole giant brain."
"Then the baby smelled it with its big old giant nose."
"You lucky little rascal."
(I'm editing a piece written by Gabriel....'They got married. Then they got 3 kids.'
I read the sentences aloud and ask, 'Gabe, does that sound right? Did they go to the store and get 3 kids?')
"No. They went to Haiti and got 3 kids. Just kidding."

Sunday, January 17, 2010

"I don't have time to maintain these regrets...."

He is jealous for me
Loves like a hurricane
I am a tree

Bending beneath the weight of his wind and mercy.
When all of a sudden,
I am unaware of these afflictions eclipsed by glory
And I realise just how beautiful You are
And how great Your affections are for me

And oh, how He loves us so
Oh how He loves us
How He loves us all

We are His portion and He is our prize
Drawn to redemption by the grace in His eyes
If grace is an ocean, we're all sinking
So Heaven meets earth like a sloppy wet kiss
And my heart turns violently inside of my chest
I don't have time to maintain these regrets
When I think about the way...

Oh, how He loves us.



(original by John Mark McMillan)
David Crowder Band cover version here:

Wednesday, January 6, 2010

"They are idiot mantras that exist in a prearranged cycle."

"To begin...to begin...how to start? I'm hungry. I should get coffee. Coffee would help me think. I should write something first and then reward myself with coffee. Coffee and a muffin."

I've ever used other peoples' words to communicate. I attribute it to being an actress for so many years (and quite emotionally stunted for many, as well). In lieu of naming my own feelings and sentiments, I've used those of others. I've also long been attracted to stories of crazy girls. I love a character study, I love connecting with idiosyncrasies...even if I don't understand them, I am forever fascinated. I also find much comfort in re-reading books and re-watching films. At a loss? A standstill? Looking for direction? Always go to that which inspired and sparked creativity previously. It's been a couple of those kind of weeks for me.

I just yesterday read my favorite chapter of a favorite book, Girl, Interrupted. And watching Adaptation (by the screenwriting genius of Charlie Kaufman) again tonight was the perfect illustration of Velocity vs. Viscosity. Terrific. Makes me want to go back to The Bell Jar and Borderlines next.

"Do I have an original thought in my head? My bald head? Maybe if I were happier my hair wouldn't be falling out. Life is short. I need to make the most of it. Today is the first day of the rest of my life. I'm a walking cliche. I need to go to the doctor and have my leg checked. There's something wrong. A bump. I need to stop putting things off. The dentist called again. I'm way overdue. If I stopped putting things off I'd be happier. All I do is sit around on my fat ass. If my ass wasn't fat, I'd be happier. I wouldn't have to wear these shirts with the tails out all the time. Like that's fooling anyone. Fat ass. I should start jogging again. Five miles a day. Really do it this time. Maybe rock climbing. I need to turn my life around. What do I need to do? I need to fall in love. I need to have a girlfriend. I need to read more. Improve myself. What if I learned Russian or something? Or took up an instrument? I could speak Chinese. I would be the screenwriter who speaks Chinese. And plays the oboe. That would be cool. I need to get my hair cut short. Stop trying to fool everyone into thinking I have a full head of hair. How pathetic is that? Just be real. Confident. Isn't that what women are attracted to? Men don't have to be attractive. But that's not true, especially these days. Almost as much pressure on men as there is on women these days. Why should I be made to feel I have to apologize for my existence? Maybe it's my brain chemistry. Maybe that's what's wrong with me: bad chemistry. All my troubles and anxiety can be reduced to a chemical imbalance or misfiring synapses or something. I need to get help for that. But I'll still be ugly, though. Nothing's gonna change that."

"Insanity comes in two basic varieties: slow and fast. I'm not talking about onset or duration, I mean the quality of the insanity, the day-to-day business of being nuts. There are a lot of names: depression, catatonia, mania, anxiety, agitation. They don't tell you much. ...Viscosity and velocity are opposites, yet they can look the same. Viscosity causes the stillness of disinclination, velocity causes the stillness of fascination. An observer cannot tell if a person is silent and still because inner life has stalled or because inner life is transfixingly busy."


"Ok, so I need to establish the theme. Maybe banana nut. That's a good muffin."


-Charile Kaufman, Adaptation
-Susanna Kaysen, Girl, Interrupted