Radio Silence, and the end of September

Radio waves
hello goodbye
waves crash
radio laugh
hello goodbye
radio cry

radio silence
off or volume down
nothing to broadcast
nothing in the evening
radio sleeping
not touching the dial

There are times in my life--and I've been faced with by this lately--when I cannot listen to the radio in the car--or to music, audiobooks, or anything.  My mind needs quiet. Certainly yours does too.

I read a biology article a few weeks ago called, "This is Your Brain on Silence."  It says that "two hours of silence per day prompted cell development in the hippocampus region of the brain" (Daniel A. Gross). This part of the brain helps turn your short-term memory into long-term memory.

I haven't been cultivating quiet time in my life because of that article, but reading it helped me feel better about my brief inability to soak up anything else.  I suppose I was feeling overstimulated, or that I, as a sponge, was full. I had to accelerate, had to change momentum, to step up into Fall mode (very busy! homework!) from Summer mode (you know).

I think that changed this weekend.  I had fun! Also, I don't think I went to bed any later than 9:30 for the past few days. Ahhhhhhhh.

On Friday, Ryan and I saw Chickspeare, and we loved it!  We also watched the new episodes of Scandal and Modern Family.  On Saturday I met my dear friend Rachel for breakfast, which was soooo good since I hadn't seen her since she moved to Florida in early 2013.  I cleaned my house, bought groceries, made enchiladas.... tasks all very overdue! On Sunday, Ryan and I saw The Importance of Being Earnest--loved it. I'd read it a couple times, but had never seen it. I was so happy that I could do that.

AND on Thursday my class is seeing a play by Samuel Beckett, so that makes three stage performances in seven days for me! How very strange it is! How very lucky I am! I also feel lucky that we only have to read one play (the one we're seeing) for class this week.  Usually we read about 3 plays and 2 academic articles per week, so this feels like time off.

I should be off to work in a few minutes.  I'll clean up my French toast and cuddle my cats first, though. Okay, see you!

Katie

Supernatural

I have to write a paper. I am avoiding it a little bit.  It's okay.  It's nothing. 2-3 pages.  That is like taking a shower (...right?) No big deal, I say.

But you know what I'm liking right now? I'm liking this song called "Supernatural" by King. Oh yes I am.

Maybe I can be supernatural.

Maybe I can write about how Harold Pinter is such a Modernist. Maybe I should write about the intersection of politics and art. But honestly... 

In other news....

Last week I went to the bank to change my name on my account, and today I got my new ATM card and it has my old/wrong name on it. Silly bankers. No thankers. It's okay, I'm groaning for you, reader. I know that rhyme was bad.

But it might just be better than this paper I'm about to write.  Nah. This will be okay.

Everything is gonna be

oh

k

Pep Talk

Take charge!

You can do it!

Know your power!

Fight on!

Do your best!

It will be okay!

Taking Heart

When Rachel is in my dreams, I take it for granted that she is alive in my dreamscape.  Last night in my dream I went to pick up Rachel at her newish address on Jeff Street. She had lived there for a while, actually, but I hadn't been there before. Clement, O'Farrell, Bush, Jeff.  My mom and I walked through the surrounding neighborhood. One house had a Spanish-style courtyard out front, with a wrought-iron chandelierish thing hanging, and lots of wisteria-like purple flowers draping across in all directions.

In my dreams of Rachel, she and Hannah and I have sat on the floor, in front of long mirrors, putting on makeup and talking.  She's sat at the table among us.

The other day, I saw "SK" in large letters on some junk mail, and it triggered memories of when we'd go to get donuts. Rachel liked maple bars and I never did. It's nice to have someone to eat your maple candies. Or whatever candies aren't your favorite.

I still have lip balm from her and the perfume she used to wear. 

Rachel was my original strong female role model.  Maybe I was thinking of her in my dream to help myself take heart and keep my wits about me.  Life is good (thank goodness), but a little busier lately that the past few weeks have been.  Some extra heart and strength would be good right now.

The Sillies

I use swipe-style typing on my mobile. This means strange errors. Excuse them/me plz/please. Do you like peas? Did you just sneeze? Coming into Los Angeleez?

It was a morning of cats. Vet appointment, vaccinations, and I've got two little fiddles. Cats as fat--I mean kits as fit as  fiddles. I asked if Sola is overweight wince she is much bigger than Lady Lu, but Dr Vet said she is fine, maybe just part Maine coon.

I rearranged my apartment.
Got a chiropractic adjustment.
Thought about words that end in -ment like that.
Recruitment
Refreshment
Resplendent
Jk

Also thought
Of an
Extraordinary
Vocabulary
Of solitary
_____ ?!

Ummm okay

When the sillies or giggles come over me
And its already later than 10:23
It probably means I am overtired
Loopy
About to sleep deeply freely creepy sleepy droopy weary bleary coolly silly
sorry
wordy
but pretty fun
For late night typing

Oh

When I was at the chiropractor, that song "soak up the sun" came on the radio and she said, I think, "I don't have digital" and I couldn't remember what that had meant at the time... Digital cable? I was

I wonder how long it will be until the phrase "digital cable" will cause reasonably savvy kids to wonder what it means. Isn't all cable TV digital now? Will people be confused about the meaning of "cable" as a cord versus a content platform?

I can't let this thought keep me up at night. That would just be ridiculous. It might be nonsensicalifornia, actually.

Okay, bye.
Katie

A couple thoughts that are not about cats

Labor Day was good.  Part of me was like, HOMEWORK but the other part was like, popsicles and TV. So I did both. Ate a popsicle and read Cloud Nine, and ate a popsicle and watched Family Tree.   

Family Tree is a funny show, and the protagonist has an Irish accent, which made me want to speak in an Irish accent. Imagine me goin' around tinkin' me toughts all Oirish. Not all of them, but enough to amuse meself. I've learned that this show will not have a second season, which saddens me a bit but it's for the best in terms of minimizing my distractions in life.

I want to be a good scholar, but this is a full time job, and I already have a full-time job.  Thus, I am a part-time scholar.

Well, I better get back to it.

Love,

Katie

 

Lunita

Sola, do you like the stick? She's chewing on a stick.

Luna, do you love humanity? She is meowing, begging like a dog, wanting my spaghetti. She is obsessed with trying to smell my dinner. Whatever, cat.

Here is a glamour shot of my girl, Lady Lu:

And her mid-yawn snarl (with photo credit to Ryan):