zim's new thing.

zim's new thing, since he's feeling miles and miles better than he used to, is to come to wherever i am (sitting on the couch, working in the kitchen, laying on the bed, sitting on the toilet, etc), sit down approximately three feet from me, stare at me for approximately 10 seconds with BIG green eyes, and then do the naughtiest things he can muster, like attacking a magazine, drinking from the snail bowl, tipping over cactus, attacking the bath tub, jumping in the sink, attacking my feet.

he's a naughty, swatty coati.

a trip to the center of the americas

does not feel real now.

the penetrating gaze of a squid at 15 meters is hard to believe real when i'm barricaded in by snow and wearing 4 layers.

to love the west

i've created another internet diversion!

this time, it highlights things to be loved about the west, especially my home state, utah.

here it is:

heartwest

dust bunnies and pollen pee-wees

allergies are killing me.

fortunately i can go to intermountain allergy to see what is driving my histamines crazy.

unfortunately i can't do anything about it, except surrender more of my sense of smell to 6-hour (24-hour? yeah right?) allergy relief medication.

homegrown tomatoes

the jaune flammes are rapturously good.

jord and i are volunteering at the annual tomato sandwich party and plant sale at the grateful tomato garden (800 south 600 east, slc) for wasatch community gardens, september 10, 11am-2pm.

it is FREE, and you should COME.

more info:
http://wasatchgardens.org/event/tomato-sandwich-party-and-fall-plant-sale/9/10/11

hummingbirds make zim tired.

moments ago, there was a veritable cloud of hummingbirds outside this fifth-story window.

maybe not a cloud. maybe more like 10 birds or so, but.

i stuck my head out the window to de-brownleaf the basil plant on the fire escape. this plant is finally doing a little better.

as i was doing this, a hummingbird flitted around the feeder, which was roughly ten inches or so from my head. i held still to see if he would land for a sip. land, he did. i got to see his tiny green head up close, his thin little tongue lick the last droplet of sugar water from his thin little beak, his beak open to make a peep, the vibration of his wings.

very pretty at dusk this late summer night.

surprises are best.

don't want to jinx it, but every day in september has been a lovely surprise.

everyday i'm away from you shakes

birthday celebration at the museum
followed by mrowing zim
followed by yoga with friends
followed by feeding dickie
followed by a run
followed by friends
and now a firework show.

but one someone is missing.

running this time of day

my muscles are warm and pliant from yoga
the air is cool and energizing
someone is barbecuing chicken and it smells like maupiti
all the dogs are taking their owners for walks
olympus is inviting
the golden spruce shines in the alpenglow
the stench of brakes rises off of i-80
my kitten greets me on the front lawn
mosquitoes attempt to bite my shoulders

i belong as a black atom

No sólo son míos la piel venenosa del cobre
o el salitre extendido como estatua yacente y nevada,
sino la viña, el cerezo premiado por la primavera,

son míos, y yo pertenezco como átomo negro
a las áridas tierras y a la luz del otoño en las uvas,
a esta patria metálica elevada por torres de nieve.

from Cien sonetos de amor, LXIII, Pablo Neruda
full poem here