Elizabeth Dutton's Blog, page 7

I remember when you were sweet to me

 

 

awesome:

sunshine

Mexican food

unexpected bird nests

cardigans

sage advice

being present

the freefall of existence

 

non-awesome:

humiliation

insomnia

lost car keys

lost memory

the freefall of existence

fresh starts

I love clean slates, fresh starts. I do not care for New Year’s Resolutions (or the manufactured opulence/romance/celebration/nostalgia of New Year’s Eve), as I feel if one wants to accomplish or change something the time is always NOW (not January 1, although that is technically “now”). To hell with calendars, basically.

I feel more in tune with winter solstice being a time for revision and change. Not in some witchy woman, crushed velvet, fairies spelled faeries way. More in a Yeats-esque flipping of the gyre as days go from shortening to lengthening (or the converse of nights expanding and then shrinking). It’s a natural construct. I like that sort if thing.

Ever since December 21, I’ve been thinking about the evolution and momentum and change I want around me as we go forward, as we play out our strange, tiny plot while spinning and whirling through the cosmos.

So here’s the thing: I don’t like New Year’s resolutions, but HOT DAMN do I love lists. That said, here are my lists as the year begins.

Here’s what I am working on:

• creating and expressing without hesitation

• acting with compassion

• telling people how much I love/value them

• relaxing my damned shoulders

• getting better at falling asleep

• letting the past recede (Frusciante shout out is a bonus here)

Here are some things I enjoyed doing today:

• watching giant vultures gather in the bare trees in my meadow

• brushing my dogs

• seeing pictures of my uncle, aunt, and cousins (whom I adore) cuddled together as they watched the NYE festivities on television

• reading

Here are some things I learned recently:

• Jason Bateman is married to Paul Anka’s daughter

• my great grandparents (maternal grandpa’s folks) did not speak the same language

• some people still don’t believe in evolution (this makes me sad)

Here are some lovely things:

• sitting outside

• plumbing and electricity and dishwashers and washing machines and showers and commodes and heat

• sign language

• caller ID

• the music of Blondie

• knowing how little we know

• sincerity

• wool

• Arcade Fire albums

• people’s signatures

• good cheeses

• Higglety Pigglety Pop

Here are some words for you:

ahoy

sylph

carmine

arboreal

blink

selkie

expansive

giddy

chifferobe

I love you all. I hope your present moment is full.

xo

winter rain, honey pot

non-awesome:

chapped lips

bad dog behavior

moral outrage overload

awesome:

silly jokes

heat

good bread

giving gifts

awesomest: 

two of my musical/lyrical heroes playing one of my favorite songs

 

xo

like a warrior shedding armor

REPETITIVE VISUALIZATION WITH AN EYE TO MANIFESTATION

whodunnit

 

 

 

I love mysteries. In fact, I am somewhat (fully) addicted to good mystery/detective novels. I appreciate a well-driven plot, but I also require well-developed characters and artful writing. When I find that perfect combination, I am a dedicated fan and eagerly await each new novel in the series. I mean, Ian Rankin? I worship at his altar. I regularly stopped in at the Oxford in Edinburgh when I was in town in hopes of seeing him. I never did, but my liver and I spent quality time at the celebrated author’s favorite haunt.

You know what else I love? Baseball. Especially my Oakland A’s. But baseball in general. I love the patience, the statistics, the skill. And no sport celebrates and elevates the underdog like baseball.

Mystery novel + baseball. This is about to get real. I am about the get you in on the ground floor of a REALLY good series. I was lucky enough to get a sneak preview of Max Everhart’s debut novel, Go Go Gato. Bottom line: when it comes out next year, you must read it.

For more information, go HERE.

under the influences

I have been tasked with assembling a list of authors from whom I draw inspiration and/or influence. Said authors must be living, as the publisher is looking for blurbs for Driftwood.

{Have I mentioned my novel comes out next year? Have I? Because it does. And it’s a good ‘un. And the one I am writing now is shaping up to be even better. Shazam, etc.}

I have a working list, but when I think of influence and inspiration, I think of musicians. Music drives me, saves me, challenges me. Can I have musicians read the book and extol its virtues in pithy sound bites? Is that something that is done? Have I ever done anything the “right” way, anyway? Bah and blargh and whatnot.

Rock on, my rascals.

xo

no rest

I have been feeling somewhat pregnant with words lately, brimming and ready to spill. I desperately need to get lost in a two or three day writing rabbit hole, but there’s just no time right now. Maybe in a couple weeks when my time will be my own. This is not comfortable. My brain is getting all clogged up. Everything runs in a loop in my head and crowds out the sleep. (Dear sleep, I miss you). Just too much to say and no time to get lost in it all.

Soon.

Owah Tagu Siam

 

 

My understanding of self changes like the weather. Is that normal? I’ve come back to peace after a spell of vigorous self-loathing. The stinging sleet has passed and now I am a cozy, foggy island once more.

At times when the world seems too much, I tend to heap that disappointment on myself. But then I remember there is too much good and beauty in the world for all the bullshit.

How about this deal? Let’s all let go of time frames and notions of what should be. I find those to be destructive and illusory. Instead, we’ll hold fast to those transcendent or commonplace pieces of true beauty around us and in us. Let’s remind each other to keep this up. We can do it, dudes.

Oh, and LET’S GO OAKLAND…CelebrateGoodTimesComeOn.

 

die, theory

The delightfully accidental imagery and juxtapositions of fall semester class listings during open registration at a technical/community college.

And sentence fragments.

in the pines

awesome:

projects finished ahead of schedule

finals graded and grades submitted

not having to attend a meeting

ripe figs

living where all passing cars wave hello

smart and interesting friends

non-awesome:

humidity

stress

email getting hacked

paperwork

travel envy