Back in the fall of 1993, I spent a week with my grandfather, who was in his late 80s. I was engrossed in poetry then, and frequently had a certain young lady on my mind. She was pretty and sweet, and I loved spending time with her. We were just friends. Do you know what I mean?

Thanksgiving was over, and it was just the two of us in the house. Grandma was visiting my folks on the coast. Just me and Papa, the crows, and my thoughts about that girl.

What’s bringing all this to mind after 10 years? Well, last week was the anniversary of my Papa’s death. He held out to 97 years of age. I miss him. Grandma’s not feeling too well at 92. And my friend Kim? Well, I haven’t talked to her in four years, and I don’t know where she went. She was from Lake Arrowhead. Maybe she went home. God have mercy.

THE CROWS

Having breakfast with Papa

as the morning slowly warms

from freezing, thinking of animals.

The coyote cultivates his heart

to sadness, moves alone for food,

dies on the road.

Out in the almond orchards and grapes

from electric wires and trees

a flock of crows is lifted up.

By noon I’ve seen a few

perched in the old mulberry

cut back for winter.

The crows speak of my unspeakable

solitude, and though I struggle

and pray against such thoughts,

I think of your body: your throat,

breasts, delicate hands.

Your hands. I know that a man

must die of such thoughts, or

die of how distant you are.

Like the distance

from this quiet house in a flat town

to the silent encircling hills,

with clouds pretending to be snow.

© 1993 Kyle Kimberlin

from the chapbook Signal Fires

Read more about me on Cartman’s blog: Eric Cartman, South Park, Colorado

I really wish I’d slept in a little later this morning. If I had, I wouldn’t be so sleepy now, right? But the bedroom TV was set to come on at 8am pst on CNN, so I got to wake up gradually to the press conference of President Bush.

There were so many sumblime moments in those roughly 45 minutes that my little GE conveyed the personage of power into my hermitage. But my favorite was this:

QUESTION: “You recently put Condoleezza Rice, your national security adviser, in charge of the management of the administration’s Iraq policy. What has effectively changed since she’s been in charge?

And a second question: Can you promise a year from now that you will have reduced the number of troops in Iraq?”

BUSH: “The second question is a trick question, so I won’t answer it.

The first question was Condoleezza Rice. Her job is to coordinate inter-agency. She’s doing a fine job of coordinating inter-agency. She’s doing what her — I mean, the role of the national security adviser is to not only provide good advice to the president, which she does on a regular basis — I value her judgment and her intelligence — but her job is also to deal inter-agency and to help unstick things that may get stuck. That’s the best way to put it. She’s an unsticker… “

What a hoot. For laughs, this guy has Clinton’s sax beat, hands down. But to me, a trick question is something like, “Are you still beating your wife?” Can anyone explain how the question about the troops was a trick? The Pres needs to hire me as a speechwriter. I have the perfect answer: “I’m not reducing the number of troops, the Ba’athist insurgents are.”

This former Chinese citizen sees a troubling authoritarianism growing in the US. Dissing Dissent

The last twenty jews in Baghdad quietly fade away, outside the myopic scrutiny of western media. Aljazeera.Net – Baghdad Jews: Exodus or extinction?

I was sitting on my parents’ deck this afternoon, drinking a diet coke and hanging out with my dog, and trying to work out some dialog for the end of a chapter. Woolgathering. My Mom appeared in the doorway and hollered at my Dad, in a great redneck drawl, “Pa! Do ya think maybe we raised us a lazy ‘un? He’s still sittin’ out yonder with that old hound dog.”

I thought that was a hoot. Mom, this one’s for you:

procrastination

My Dad was a lineman for Southern California Edison for over 30 years, a very dangerous job. Number 7 on Money’s top 10 list. Here’s to all the Dads who do dangerous work to bring home a paycheck for their families. Thanks Dad.

Money: hazardous jobs – Oct. 13, 2003

Well, this should just be wonderful news for the stock price. As if my portfolio wasn’t Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea as it is. Dang.

Yahoo! News – Wal-Mart Raids Catch 300 Illegal Workers

World class stupid. I’ve heard that God looks out for the truly stupid among us, and cuts them a little extra slack. This guy deserved a Darwin Award for this, and got cheated by that slack he was working with. But I have no doubt he’ll get his award before long.

It’s kind of annoying, though, because not everybody gets the same break. You can’t open a newspaper without reading about someone who loved life, cherished family, tried to be careful, and got hit by a car. A few years ago, here in Santa Barbara, we had a terrible storm. A creek flooded in a canyon, and the wave of water crashed through a man’s home and swept him away.

Yeah, I’ve decided that it’s metaphysically untenable that this moron went over the waterfall and lived. He’s lucky that God is infinitely, though inscrutably, more merciful than me.

Yahoo! News – Niagara Falls Man to Be Charged for Stunt

Earlier this year, I posted an entry about a car I saw in my condo complex, which had the phrase “Brown Power” stenciled across the hood. I wondered what reaction there might be if I painted “White Power” on my pickup truck. I don’t think it would be well received.

I support this young woman’s efforts to start a Caucasian Club at her high school, on the non-racist terms she has expressed. Not because I’m arrogant about my race, or have disrespect for those of other races, but because understanding fosters tolerance, and tolerance fosters peace and equality.

Power to Everybody.

Mercury News | 09/19/2003 | Caucasian Club on hold until student completes application

McSweeney’s Internet Tendency

A cool site for stuff to read. Dave Eggers, author of A Heartbreaking Work of Staggering Genius, is behind this site. That’s a great book.

Look, I’m just passing this along, like a good blogger. And please note I’m refraining from any jokes to the effect that drumsticks are not my favorite part of the chicken.

Yahoo! News – Actress Pamela Anderson Urges KFC Boycott

But man, proud man,

Drest in a little brief authority,

Most ignorant of what he’s most assured,

His glassy essence, like an angry ape,

Plays such fantastic tricks before high heaven

As make the angels weep.

–Shakespeare