What does it say about me
as a writer
if instead of getting better
at writing
I choose to get better
at saying
get this tipsy and listen to
this song
while walking down this street?
Because who is ever gonna pay me for that?
I hate the things I need.
as a writer
if instead of getting better
at writing
I choose to get better
at saying
get this tipsy and listen to
this song
while walking down this street?
Because who is ever gonna pay me for that?
I hate the things I need.
Five Ideas for an Exciting Walk
5) Try to find five streets near your home you have never walked down.
Listen to an album you used to love, but haven’t listened to in years.
Write down anything interesting you found on your walk and any lyrics you forgot, but enjoyed again.
4) Pick something interesting in the distance. Try to walk there without any maps or directions.
As you set out, ask yourself a question. Think about it while you walk towards your chosen destination.
Listen to instrumental music so your thoughts can cut loose.
When you get to your destination, take a few minutes to explore your interesting destination and try to wrap up your hard thinking for the day.
Walking home, listen to whatever you will find the most comforting.
3) Wait until you feel fucking crazy.
Walk until you feel yourself getting tuckered out.
Walk until you feel your thoughts slowing down.
Walk until you feel yourself returning to the moment.
Keep going for another half hour.
Hydrate. Wear comfortable shoes.
Try to love yourself.
2) Have fun with it.
Find a place you feel safe on a day when you don’t have any time constraints.
Get as tipsy as will be fun for you. Listen to something you love.
Send pictures of anything that catches your attention to someone you care about. Send too many pictures. Only explain yourself if you want to.
Stop somewhere for a snack. Maybe a sweet treat.
Walk as long as you are having a good time. Stop whenever you want.
1) At every corner, think, “Where do I want to go next?”
After every song, think, “What do I want to hear next?”
Listen to yourself in every moment.
When you don’t know what you want to do, guess.
It will turn out great!
Listen to an album you used to love, but haven’t listened to in years.
Write down anything interesting you found on your walk and any lyrics you forgot, but enjoyed again.
4) Pick something interesting in the distance. Try to walk there without any maps or directions.
As you set out, ask yourself a question. Think about it while you walk towards your chosen destination.
Listen to instrumental music so your thoughts can cut loose.
When you get to your destination, take a few minutes to explore your interesting destination and try to wrap up your hard thinking for the day.
Walking home, listen to whatever you will find the most comforting.
3) Wait until you feel fucking crazy.
Walk until you feel yourself getting tuckered out.
Walk until you feel your thoughts slowing down.
Walk until you feel yourself returning to the moment.
Keep going for another half hour.
Hydrate. Wear comfortable shoes.
Try to love yourself.
2) Have fun with it.
Find a place you feel safe on a day when you don’t have any time constraints.
Get as tipsy as will be fun for you. Listen to something you love.
Send pictures of anything that catches your attention to someone you care about. Send too many pictures. Only explain yourself if you want to.
Stop somewhere for a snack. Maybe a sweet treat.
Walk as long as you are having a good time. Stop whenever you want.
1) At every corner, think, “Where do I want to go next?”
After every song, think, “What do I want to hear next?”
Listen to yourself in every moment.
When you don’t know what you want to do, guess.
It will turn out great!
Christmas 2024
Sometimes it does feel like
The difference between life and death
Is taking a stupid little walk around
My neighborhood at lunch
Hiding under my new winter coat
Watching tiny dogs piss into the rain
While my chili pepper Crocs
Fill with water
Today is one of those rains
That drown the grass and melt the mud
A fresh dead world for a scary new year
I pass the same stranger in a bright yellow jacket
Twice on my path, after the beginning and before the end
I'm glad I'm not the only one who has to walk today
The difference between life and death
Is taking a stupid little walk around
My neighborhood at lunch
Hiding under my new winter coat
Watching tiny dogs piss into the rain
While my chili pepper Crocs
Fill with water
Today is one of those rains
That drown the grass and melt the mud
A fresh dead world for a scary new year
I pass the same stranger in a bright yellow jacket
Twice on my path, after the beginning and before the end
I'm glad I'm not the only one who has to walk today
Community Postings
From: Evan B.
To: Anyone looking for an apartment in Wahoo
Bright blue room for rent. Lovely natural light. Lots of closet space and shelving. But the blue is a lot. It doesn't seem like it's going to be, but it really is. $800 a month.
***
From: Ester
To: Margot
After you left, I cried for a week. I ate pasta for a month. I ate ice cream for breakfast for a whole year. At some point, I started to have a really good time.
***
From: Lydia
To: The Football Boys
The Super Bowl may have been a pretty boring game, but at least there were still a lot of loud, wet sounds of body slapping into each other. It is a reminder that all clouds have a silver lining. Even if you threw away your chance at being considered one of the all time greats, you still got to slam into some coworkers.
***
From: You know
To: Don’t Pretend You Don’t Know
(T)hey say you shouldn't
(R)epeat the mistakes
(O)f your youth. But you?
(U)ntil last night, I never
(B)et I'd see the day you
(L)ose the respect of
(E)veryone in your life.
(That is an acrostic for trouble--which you are--and how I really feel about you throwing my daughter's cake on the ground because you "thought she would think it's funny.” Since when is funny more important than cake? Name one time!)
***
From: Nathan
To: Anybody nearby
For sale: I'm moving and it seems like I have five different copies of Oceans 11 from different thrift stores and garage sales. I probably only need two. As for the other three, I'm practically giving them away.
***
From: John M. Shoes
To: Film Fans
I'm watching Casablanca and they really want to make sure you know that the song is called “As Time Goes By.” She's all like, "No one can play ‘As Time Goes By’ quite like Sam," and I'm like, "That is the twenty seventh time you've said the full phrase 'As Time Goes By.' Call it 'the song' already."
***
From: John M. Shoes
To: That Reminded Me of Something
I remember my dad used to watch this British show on PBS called As Time Goes By. My memory of it was that nothing ever happened and they call apartments flats.
***
From: John M. Shoes
To: Okay, you caught me! I’m having a movie marathon
One thing that I have to say about Mama Mia is that it has a very British view of Greek people.
***
From: The McCool Junction Good Vibes Club
To: All Living Creatures Sharing This Beautiful World
We welcome you to McCool Junction and wish you and your loved ones a jamming day.
***
From: Ashley D.
To: Anyone looking for shortalls
My cousin who always dresses like a cool toddler is having a garage sale next Saturday.
426 W Poplar Ave. over in Overdale. Feb. 22nd. 12-6pm.
If her dad is there, he will have something to say about what you're wearing. Maybe circle the block a couple times. He’ll go back inside soon. That’s where the TV is.
***
From: Rusty
To: Christian
To me, you are history.
The recorded past.
I wrote down the things you did.
I had to.
You were acting like a FREAK!
***
From: Something I saw on TV
To: Foodies
"All you gotta do is smash it, pick it up, and eat it."
*Jamie Oliver talking about eating your children alive*
***
From: Joan
To: Susan
Hay son or robot slaughter?
To: Anyone looking for an apartment in Wahoo
Bright blue room for rent. Lovely natural light. Lots of closet space and shelving. But the blue is a lot. It doesn't seem like it's going to be, but it really is. $800 a month.
***
From: Ester
To: Margot
After you left, I cried for a week. I ate pasta for a month. I ate ice cream for breakfast for a whole year. At some point, I started to have a really good time.
***
From: Lydia
To: The Football Boys
The Super Bowl may have been a pretty boring game, but at least there were still a lot of loud, wet sounds of body slapping into each other. It is a reminder that all clouds have a silver lining. Even if you threw away your chance at being considered one of the all time greats, you still got to slam into some coworkers.
***
From: You know
To: Don’t Pretend You Don’t Know
(T)hey say you shouldn't
(R)epeat the mistakes
(O)f your youth. But you?
(U)ntil last night, I never
(B)et I'd see the day you
(L)ose the respect of
(E)veryone in your life.
(That is an acrostic for trouble--which you are--and how I really feel about you throwing my daughter's cake on the ground because you "thought she would think it's funny.” Since when is funny more important than cake? Name one time!)
***
From: Nathan
To: Anybody nearby
For sale: I'm moving and it seems like I have five different copies of Oceans 11 from different thrift stores and garage sales. I probably only need two. As for the other three, I'm practically giving them away.
***
From: John M. Shoes
To: Film Fans
I'm watching Casablanca and they really want to make sure you know that the song is called “As Time Goes By.” She's all like, "No one can play ‘As Time Goes By’ quite like Sam," and I'm like, "That is the twenty seventh time you've said the full phrase 'As Time Goes By.' Call it 'the song' already."
***
From: John M. Shoes
To: That Reminded Me of Something
I remember my dad used to watch this British show on PBS called As Time Goes By. My memory of it was that nothing ever happened and they call apartments flats.
***
From: John M. Shoes
To: Okay, you caught me! I’m having a movie marathon
One thing that I have to say about Mama Mia is that it has a very British view of Greek people.
***
From: The McCool Junction Good Vibes Club
To: All Living Creatures Sharing This Beautiful World
We welcome you to McCool Junction and wish you and your loved ones a jamming day.
***
From: Ashley D.
To: Anyone looking for shortalls
My cousin who always dresses like a cool toddler is having a garage sale next Saturday.
426 W Poplar Ave. over in Overdale. Feb. 22nd. 12-6pm.
If her dad is there, he will have something to say about what you're wearing. Maybe circle the block a couple times. He’ll go back inside soon. That’s where the TV is.
***
From: Rusty
To: Christian
To me, you are history.
The recorded past.
I wrote down the things you did.
I had to.
You were acting like a FREAK!
***
From: Something I saw on TV
To: Foodies
"All you gotta do is smash it, pick it up, and eat it."
*Jamie Oliver talking about eating your children alive*
***
From: Joan
To: Susan
Hay son or robot slaughter?
When we woke up this morning
T said
They felt like they were dying
I made us bagels and covered them
With the
Weighted blanket -- a birthday present from P
Before the movie, we bought a bag of burgers
to split
with D in the back of the theater
How infuriating that the answer to suicidal thoughts is
Sometimes just
Food and water and caffeine and fresh air
After the movie, we parted ways and
T and I
Waded through the snow to the lake
Under a distant mountain range of clouds
Below the
Breaking sunset coloring the water
In a little world of our own. I hope that
I feel
Better after all of this is over.
T said
They felt like they were dying
I made us bagels and covered them
With the
Weighted blanket -- a birthday present from P
Before the movie, we bought a bag of burgers
to split
with D in the back of the theater
How infuriating that the answer to suicidal thoughts is
Sometimes just
Food and water and caffeine and fresh air
After the movie, we parted ways and
T and I
Waded through the snow to the lake
Under a distant mountain range of clouds
Below the
Breaking sunset coloring the water
In a little world of our own. I hope that
I feel
Better after all of this is over.