A Life For Itself

Category: thoughts

  • Old Cookies – 28 March 2021

    Today’s Inspiration:

    all trauma and healing is storytelling

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

    Today’s joy:

    Reminiscing on Old Baltimore.  In my Twitter profile, that’s where I say I’m from.  For me, that’s 1980’s-1990’s Baltimore.  A lot similar to now.  Still, quite a bit different. 

    A past joy:

    Going to Mondawmin to The Great Cookie, when I was really young.  Even now, when I walk into Mondawmin, I smell cookies from the Great Cookie.  I always had to get a cookie from there when I was little, usually chocolate chip.   Snickerdoodles are their thing, but I didn’t really care for snickerdoodles until I got much older.  

     

  • Breathing Room – 27 March 2021

    Today’s inspiration:

    breathing room

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

    Today’s joy:

    I cleaned and rearranged my desk. It needed it and I ended up enjoying what I did. Freed up some space. I haven’t been writing at my desk with a notebook for a while and now, I’ll be able to when I want to. Admittedly, I feel comfortable on the sofa, still, using my lapdesk. But we’ll see.

    A past joy:

    I really like looking at the Inner Harbor cam on Earthcam. I wish they had another cam or two there like they do Times Square. We might get a couple of storms through here tomorrow and if so, I bet they’ll look good on the camera.

  • the summer day and the tv show – 26 march 2021

    Today’s inspiration:

    don't die. disappear for a while - austin kleon

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

    Today’s joy:

    “The Falcon and the Winter Soldier” episode 2 was really good.  I’m glad they made the choice to wrap up the state of the world as it exists after “The Blip” into the main conflict, whatever that is unfolding to be.  Plus, I got some reading done.  Plus it had a good, summer feel around here today.

    A past joy:

    I really enjoyed talking theatre last Friday evening.  I didn’t get to join the room if it took place this evening, but I had fun the week before.

     

  • the water makes it good – 25 march 2021

    Today’s inspiration:

    rev lola - the love of the work

     

     

     

     

     

     

    Today’s joy:

    Eating homemade pizza.  Watching more driving videos on YouTube, especially the one where the person driving was crossing the Chesapeake Bay Bridge in the contraflow lane on the newer, 3-lane bridge.  It’s a very strange perspective, given that you’re travelling eastbound and yet, watching eastbound traffic on the other bridge.  And it feels like you’re supposed to be over there, not in a single lane on the other bridge, with no separation between you and traffic moving in the other direction.

    A past joy:

    Jersey pizza.  It’s the best.

     

  • Writing at the Waterfront – 24 March 2021

    Today’s inspiration:

    gentle writing advice from chuck wending - 9 february 2021

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

    Today’s joy:

    Reading poems.  Reading maps.  Watching some storm chasing.

    A past joy:

    A bunch of times, I’d take my notebooks with me and sit outside of the Maryland Science Center and write for hours.  Take some food with me down there, eat, and get busy.  That one, I need to do again.

     

  • On the B Side – 23 March 2021

    Today’s inspiration:

    do not apologize for vulnerability

     

     

     

     

     

     

    Today’s joy:

    Watched today’s O’s game.  It’s just Spring Training, but it is baseball.  And started a poem.  One I don’t ever really intend  to share and I think I needed the intention not to share to really feel good about starting it.  And listened to 70’s R&B and Soul.

    A past joy:

    Hanging with my big cousin on Saturdays, listening to this on vinyl (“Rappers Delight” was on the A side, this was on the B side):

     

     

  • On Board with Books – 22 March 2021

    Today’s inspiration:

    boundaries

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

    Today’s joy:

    Indulging myself on some videos about construction for Brightline and its line to Orlando.  They’re box jacking a tunnel into place under Route 1 in one of the videos, which was tweeted out by Brightline themselves.  A YouTuber has their own video up about the same process.

    A past joy:

    Going to the library.  I should do a list of my favorite libraries one of these days.  One of these days, I need to go the Pratt Library main branch again. 

     

  • Crossing Over – 20 March 2021

    Today’s inspiration:

    Watching a bunch of videos of people driving across the Chesapeake Bay Bridge and of people driving around Ocean City.  Looking forward to going back down there again soon.  Already been down to Kent Island for a day a couple of months ago, but it was cold and there wasn’t that much to do, so another trip across is in order soon.

    Today’s joy:

    Watching other videos of train trips.  I’m also looking forward to finally going up to see the Moynihan Train Hall and some other stuff in New York.  I think I’m going to take the Acela Express since I never have in the entire time Amtrak’s been running those trainsets.

    A past joy:

    The day Amtrak rolled out the Acela Express trainsets, I was working in D.C.  Since I was commuting, I had to go through Union Station.  I made up in my mind that I was going to try to go find an Acela trainset and at least see it.

    When I got out to the platform where my MARC express train was sitting, I got something even better.  There was an Acela trainset sitting on the track across the platform from the MARC.  And it was open.  All of the doors were open.  So, peeked in a couple of the cars.  It was every bit as nice as they had made it out to be online.

     

  • hanging at home – 19 march 2021

    Today’s inspiration:

    today's inspiration

     

     

     

     

     

     

    Today’s joy:

    I spent almost 3 1/2 hours talking playwriting and theatre with other Black playwrights on Clubhouse. First time I ever participated in a room on there. Most of the time, I just get on there and sit in the back and listen. But I went up to the stage this time and talked and it was good. I enjoyed talking conflict and Lorraine Hansberry and stagecraft and Afrofuturism. Definitely what I needed.

    A past joy:

    Just over a year ago when we were finishing up The Unexpected Guest. How much fun I had. How gratifying it was, especially that last night. Full house. There was a kid in the first row making noise, but it’s all good. It’s live theatre. I thought a lot about it tonight.

  • Catching Something Good – 18 March 2021

    Today’s inspiration:

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

    Today’s joy:

    A past joy: