tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23196639694974321852024-03-05T00:36:07.481-07:00Joaquin the ChihuahuaJoaquin the Chihuahuahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10472256975128696209noreply@blogger.comBlogger845125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2319663969497432185.post-89216000207988757932015-04-07T22:45:00.000-06:002015-04-28T22:46:14.244-06:00National Poetry Month 7: Playing Games
<span style="line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Playing
Games</span></span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><em>Jack Garcia<o:p></o:p></em></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">My mouth
says, “Play with me,”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">a sentence
composed</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">of consonants
and vowels</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">and the
whoosh of air in between</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">the ticking
of my tongue and teeth,</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">affected by
the round of<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; tab-stops: center 3.25in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">my mouth. Lips that are good<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">at kissing
or giving head,</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">but not so
great at whistling;</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">nothing comes
out my lips</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">but air,
cold and biting like winter</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">winds that rip</span><o:p><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span></o:p></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">my
lips.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Lips that get too chapped,</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">no matter
how much Vaseline I rub</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">on them in the
mornings,</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">sticking
like the peanut butter</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I lick and
suck off the spoon,</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">my little
skin flakes like a frilly fringe framing<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">my
teeth.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Teeth filled now with metal</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">dots (like dice
showing snake eyes)</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">where once
were cavities,</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">where once
were metal</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">braces, for
two years and two months,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">the brackets
snagging on</span><o:p><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span></o:p><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">my lips when
I smiled.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I smile</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">even when
you hurt me, or worse,</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">when I hurt
you.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I praise, I wound,</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I profess
many truths I don’t believe</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">anymore,
giving lip service to prophets,</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">lovers, and
gods like vomit from<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">my mouth,
swilling in the toilet</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">when I’ve had
too much to drink.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Greedy and
deceitful, mine is a mouth</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">which has
often lied… lies so comforting</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I wrap them
around me</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">like a
fringed blanket to keep<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">my mouth
from quivering in the cold</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">as you roll snake
eyes and land on Park Place.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">“Yow owe me
1500 dollars,” I say, chewing coyly</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">on my hotel.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You shove rainbow money into my grinning
mouth,<br />
choking me with my own hidden agendas like the tongue I can’t roll</span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">into a taco but, boy, can I roll it over you.</span></span>Joaquin the Chihuahuahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10472256975128696209noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2319663969497432185.post-78089041901776005942015-04-06T13:00:00.000-06:002015-04-28T22:38:00.911-06:00National Poetry Month 6: Exuvia
<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: large;">Exuvia</span></span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><em>Jack Garcia</em></span></span><o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">A frantic
woman wailing in the night,</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">for help,
she begs, and answers to her plight.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Four teens
come running out the door to see</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">a hanging
man like cobwebs in the tree.</span><o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">My son, my son</i>, she screeches at the
moon,</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">with fists
like rocks slung at his warm cocoon.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">No flying
butterfly, but fetid flies</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">that swarm
severely ‘round the thing that dies.</span><o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">At just
sixteen, the smallest girl steps up</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">and like a
spider climbs the web to cup</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">her hands
around the noose to free the prey.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">A thud, a
shriek, the others look away.</span><o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">One sad
cicada fallen from his shell,</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">for no one
heard the buzzing he knew well.</span></div>
Joaquin the Chihuahuahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10472256975128696209noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2319663969497432185.post-22692078174631912602015-04-05T09:30:00.000-06:002015-04-28T22:30:49.576-06:00National Poetry Month 5: Peter
<span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Peter</span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">(A found
poem from a page of J. M. Barrie’s <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Peter
Pan</i>)</span><o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">I am</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">sharp</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">silence</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">listening for</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">quiet</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">adventure.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
Joaquin the Chihuahuahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10472256975128696209noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2319663969497432185.post-26687043226787629412015-04-04T10:27:00.000-06:002015-04-28T22:31:06.285-06:00National Poetry Month 4: Religion<span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Religion</span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">(A found
poem from a page of Nathaniel Hawthorne’s <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">The
Scarlet Letter</i>)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Antique</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">angels</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">lifting</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">the</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">mystic</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">sanctified</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">tongues.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Faith is</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">proof</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">of<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>frailty.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
Joaquin the Chihuahuahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10472256975128696209noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2319663969497432185.post-82375886171218256312015-04-03T10:09:00.000-06:002015-04-28T22:10:31.537-06:00National Poetry Month 3: Dirt<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Dirt</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><em>Jack Garcia</em></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The rich
soil between my fingers.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The smell of
the earth.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The way </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">it supports
me, pushes me up</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">like a
dandelion. One minute,</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">all yellow-petaled
and cheery.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Rooted and
strong.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Then
suddenly all fluffy-headed,</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">scattered about
by whatever</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">wind the
world wishes to dismiss</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">me with.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A small child with dirt</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">under her
fingernails grabs me</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">by the neck
and exhales,</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">using me to
get her wish.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It’s either
she or me, I see.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This soil
isn’t rich enough</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">for the both
of us.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
Joaquin the Chihuahuahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10472256975128696209noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2319663969497432185.post-69973512056890248582015-04-02T15:00:00.000-06:002015-04-15T16:54:38.132-06:00National Poetry Month 2: "Tell Us a Little About Yourself"
<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">“Tell Us a
Little About Yourself”</span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Jack Garcia</span></i><o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">What do I
say?</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Do I tell
the room that I’m afraid of matches,</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">or that I
get uncomfortable around big dogs</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">that like to
jump on me, or that my favorite cocktail</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">switches
between a Coke and Rum or a Margarita</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">or a Long
Island Iced Tea depending on the night?</span><o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Do I tell
them that I’ve made out in a baseball dugout</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">or that I’ve
had four teeth pulled</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">or that my
biggest fear in life is that I’ll amount to nothing,</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">or worse,
that I’ll amount to the wrong thing?</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Do I tell
them I watched every season of <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Glee</i>,</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">even when
everyone hated it? That I can’t whistle?</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">That I don’t
care?</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">That I
sometimes talk to myself when I’m alone?</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">That I stand
in the mirror, pinching my stomach rolls in disgust?</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Do I tell
them that I’m not sure about God anymore</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">because if
He exists, then He’s just one more person I’ve disappointed?</span><o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Do I tell
them I once saw a little girl</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">get run over
by a produce truck in Chile?</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Watermelons
fell out of the back</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">when the
driver hit the brakes,</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">breaking into
pieces—smashed</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">red pulp
like the little girl’s head.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">The neighbors
sprayed the streets down</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">with their
garden hoses and the water flowed</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">like pink
lemonade around my shoes.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Do I tell
them how I wanted to cry?</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">How I wanted
to go to her</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">and with the
power of the Spirit</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">raise her
from the dead?</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Heal her?</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Anything?</span><o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">No.</span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">I say I’m
from Colorado and sit down.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
Joaquin the Chihuahuahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10472256975128696209noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2319663969497432185.post-47989560155986607742015-04-01T08:00:00.000-06:002015-04-15T15:44:51.450-06:00National Poetry Month 1: Moving Pictures
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Moving
Pictures</span><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
<em>Jack Garcia</em></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<o:p><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span></o:p></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">“You’re not
doing it right,” he said,</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">packing the
powdered herbs more tightly,</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">lighting the
fire that will start</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">the moving
picture show.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">“You need to
inhale deeper.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">With your
stomach, not just your chest.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I try again,
coughing, laughing a little.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The smoke scratches
at my throat</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">with its
vaporish claws.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Dust-smeared
images flicker</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">on the torn
screen. Faded</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Technicolor
slows down</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">and slows
down</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">until it
stops with a rip</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">in the film
and a cigarette burn.</span><o:p><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span></o:p></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">All life is
on pause. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Then,
slowly, the colored lights return</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">and in
slow-motion I unwrap him,</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">his clothes
like rolling papers,</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">and we laugh
at how funny our movie is.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I inhale all
of him, not just with my chest,</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">but with my
whole being</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">and he
tickles my throat.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
Joaquin the Chihuahuahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10472256975128696209noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2319663969497432185.post-83324885481563173762014-12-25T10:30:00.000-07:002014-12-28T11:47:18.518-07:00God Rest Ye, Merry Gentlemen<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEio3cR7cESClfqu6r4vX0siwxUSnBViyHLa5Vii1w27gqPMfl3dD81e24-Z4nUIEi8VtNyi7p8l5GgMdIkOupLaIpfPLEPFSMy_8e-uPhb5yPAQynzwjiVQtmTMSSMneQO96-1qirf4_IA/s1600/e219755981faa9bca9bcf5bf3e5dfa7f.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEio3cR7cESClfqu6r4vX0siwxUSnBViyHLa5Vii1w27gqPMfl3dD81e24-Z4nUIEi8VtNyi7p8l5GgMdIkOupLaIpfPLEPFSMy_8e-uPhb5yPAQynzwjiVQtmTMSSMneQO96-1qirf4_IA/s1600/e219755981faa9bca9bcf5bf3e5dfa7f.jpg" height="400" width="295" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"Gentlemen and Birds" by Patric Bates</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Who are these merry gentlemen?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">In the poem “Lone Gentlemen” (or “Gentlemen Alone” depending
on the translation), Pablo Neruda writes of the “gay young men” who, like
everyone else it seems, spend the night like “<span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;">raucous cats that cruise my garden in the shadows,/ like a necklace of
pulsating oysters of sex/ surround my lonely residence,/ like enemies lined up
against my soul,/ like conspirators in bedroom clothes/who exchange long deep
kisses to order.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>By the light of the
moon there is “an endless movement of trousers” and in the movie theaters “the
heroes are studs or princes mad with passion.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Are these the
gentlemen?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>These gay young men?<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Under the
flashing colored lights pulsating with the rhythm coursing through our bodies
from the baseline in our foot soles to the vibrating fingers to the buzzing of
our teeth, we dance.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Brian and I.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Two gay men in the middle of a straight night
club in downtown Provo.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We laugh, we
sweat, we live.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Tired, I lean against
the stage and Brian, tired too, rests his head on my shoulder.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The blue and green lights move about the
dance floor in the shapes of stars—restless constellations refusing to be
charted.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A pair of boots, jeans, a belt
buckle and finally a scruffy-faced man in a cowboy hat has fully approached us
through the stars.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Brian removes his
head from my shoulder.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I tense as I’m
suddenly face-to-face with this stranger.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>His hand moves forward; I flinch.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>“Keep being true to you,” he mumbles quietly.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I shake his hand.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He tips his hat.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And just like that he’s disappeared in the
shadows of the endless movement of the night.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Surely this man
was a gentleman. So are my male friends who tell me the strange symbol on my dashboard means my tire pressure is low and then offer to fill them up for me. Gentlemen like my friend Austin who tries so hard to schedule double dates with me and Brian and he and his wife. Or Dink who helps me with difficult watch repairs, even though he works at the jewelry store across the hall. Or guys like Jordan who go out of their way to tell me that I'm a good writer, even though I don't know him that well. Gentlemen like my father who ministers to the poor and the needy, telling them that God loves them no matter what... even if they are gay.</span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">In the Patric
Bates print “Gentlemen and Birds” which hangs on my wall at home—the one I
bought from the artist himself at the Provo Farmers Market this summer—the
central figure is dressed in a top hat and scarves that wrap around his neck
and shoulders and arms like a straightjacket.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Others in the crowd face him.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>They seem to suffocate him with their stares and their bird beaks and
their hands like claws.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The man’s eyes
are full of sorrow.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The sorrow of the
world, it seems.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">God rest ye, merry
gentlemen<br />
Let nothing you dismay<br />
Remember Christ, our Savior,<br />
Was born on Christmas day<br />
To save us all from Satan's power<br />
When we were gone astray<br />
O tidings of comfort and joy,<br />
Comfort and joy<br />
O tidings of comfort and joy.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Two nights before Christmas, Rusty and Maxwell, two gay men
in Salt Lake City, experience a similar night of dancing under the pulsating
neon lights of the club.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Only this club
is a gay club—Club Jam.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Tired and sweaty,
they leave the club, like raucous cats, and cruise the streets in the shadows.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Hey, faggots!” they hear.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They continue to walk home, which is just
across the street, ignoring the childlike taunts of their tormentors—the jabs
of the beaks.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They arrive at their own
driveway.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Get out of here, faggots,”
one pursuer shouts.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“We live here,” they
say, voices trembling cold under the stars.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>A punch to the head and Rusty falls to the ground.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Another man jumps on Maxwell, hitting him
repeatedly with his fists—a steady baseline to the furious rhythm of his hate.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Only sadness in the eyes of the gay young
gentlemen now.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Their arms are strapped
down, not by scarves but by other hands—hands like claws—hands of their enemies
mad with passion.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">O tidings of comfort
and joy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">When can we ever find rest?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> Or merriment? </span>We were promised it long ago. Must we forever be gentlemen alone?</span></div>
Joaquin the Chihuahuahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10472256975128696209noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2319663969497432185.post-17238211841880767882014-09-12T02:12:00.000-06:002014-09-12T10:23:07.865-06:00Thoughts on Being the Class Queer<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjA18-QO-XMQY5sHXLhT1uWqed4YTxcDkUwdM6qF6W-FPVAA_5CR8GMKFO1-NMU_o7ClDEwKt1GQluoxegqc8rFl6cL6z_EEU06TiMzD6jCUvr-lgAeN0XRE8L6WqmubUsk4A7Px0G6kcU/s1600/2014-07-26+16.48.57.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjA18-QO-XMQY5sHXLhT1uWqed4YTxcDkUwdM6qF6W-FPVAA_5CR8GMKFO1-NMU_o7ClDEwKt1GQluoxegqc8rFl6cL6z_EEU06TiMzD6jCUvr-lgAeN0XRE8L6WqmubUsk4A7Px0G6kcU/s1600/2014-07-26+16.48.57.jpg" height="480" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Brian, Mia, Tiffany and I watching the Crowley County Days Mud Races.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
In case you are unawares, I've been feeling older than dirt lately (assuming, of course, that dirt is only 27 years old). This fact was highlighted for me when I attended my ten-year high school reunion. Class reunions are decidedly for old people only. How on earth did I graduate a decade ago? And what have I done since then? Yikes.<br />
<br />
I can't remember who it was, but somebody asked me, upon returning, if any of my classmates had problems with me being gay. I wasn't "out" in high school so, to be perfectly honest, I was a little afraid of that as well. Of course many of them are friends with me on Facebook so it wasn't a new thing. But still, seeing that an old acquaintance is gay via social media is not the same as hanging out with him and his gay husband for a weekend. People might be stand-offish, right?<br />
<br />
Wrong. Nobody gave a shit. Obviously my more liberal, Denver-living, pot-smoking, Obama-voting classmates didn't care. Not surprising there. But neither did my "I listen to Christian rock stations every morning as I drive to work" classmates. Or my "I'm still living down here, working the farm" classmates. Not even my "I stabbed a guy once, served some time, and now I work at a gas station" classmates. Seriously, nobody cared.<br />
<br />
This made me happy. And I truly had a fantastic time at my reunion. We gathered together on a Friday night out at Mia's family home near the lake where we grilled hamburgers and hotdogs, reminisced over old yearbooks, met people's significant others and children, got reacquainted, drank beers, built a float and danced a little out in the barn. That's how small towns do reunions.<br />
<br />
The next day was Crowley County Days, a big celebration in my little hometown of Ordway with a parade and everything. Our class won "Best Class Reunion float." Suck it, Class of '64! And later on, watching the good ol' boys race each other in beefed up trucks through pits of mud, me and my gay husband sat in the back of a pickup truck amongst Confederate flags and the most hillbilly of hillbillies, feeling absolutely content with the world. At least I did. Brian was probably wishing he were back in Utah and far away from Confederate flags ("We're not even in the South!" he exclaimed in astonishment). But yeah. It felt pretty good to be home.<br />
<br />
Would I ever move back? Hell no! But still... it felt nice.<br />
<br />
Not long after that, back in Provo, some friends and I took a night drive in a yellow convertible. Cruising down 500 West, laughing and feeling free, singing along to the radio we heard the unmistakable shout of "Faggots!" from the vehicle in the lane beside us. It looked like a man was driving with his wife beside him. In the backseat, a high-school-aged boy had the window rolled down and yelled at us again. His parents laughed.<br />
<br />
My friend shouted "I love you!" as we sped ahead. We blasted Lady Gaga's "Born This Way" for the rest of the drive back to my house. Of course we just laughed about it. The whole thing was pretty ridiculous.<br />
<br />
But I'm still a little shocked and a little saddened that hatred like this still exists. That parents would encourage that kind of behavior. That bullying is seen as okay. I'm reminded of how much work needs to be done to make Provo a safe place for the LGBTQ community. I'm reminded why I ever got involved with the Provo Pride Council to begin with.<br />
<br />
Next weekend is our Second Annual Provo Pride Festival and this year I'm festival director. That means I've met with the mayor and various city officials to get permits, shot off emails to the police department in terms of security and barricades, drawn up the festival map, met with a guy who can get us food trucks, contracted port-o-potties, and met with the rest of the amazingly dedicated council week after week to insure that this year is even better than last. All this I try to do between college classes and full-time hours at work.<br />
<br />
Why? Because Provo needs it.<br />
<br />
Last Sunday I watched a high school kid win a youth drag show that we put on. He's a kid who regularly gets bullied for his fashion choices or his actions. Who gets bullied for being gay. And in that moment of coronation--of recognition and respect instead of judgment and ridicule--I saw his happiness. I felt his tears. I wore his smile.<br />
<br />
It felt nice.Joaquin the Chihuahuahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10472256975128696209noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2319663969497432185.post-22343064425167645822014-09-03T02:20:00.000-06:002014-09-03T02:20:00.705-06:00Swallowing It<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxBurgpe__gocHcXyhTUnvdSsUlkVXA2_UXFrOWJcizRC33jm0Ttovatk0SP0mCF8HgzBioREhqLC4OOWE8dS8MVmaUIbY_twM9MWyjKOfPpaGpp17DMf7dAjyxeUPXUV6zFIHjB81_FY/s1600/1409659531000-T7fJp3X7F5Qz979I-13481.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxBurgpe__gocHcXyhTUnvdSsUlkVXA2_UXFrOWJcizRC33jm0Ttovatk0SP0mCF8HgzBioREhqLC4OOWE8dS8MVmaUIbY_twM9MWyjKOfPpaGpp17DMf7dAjyxeUPXUV6zFIHjB81_FY/s1600/1409659531000-T7fJp3X7F5Qz979I-13481.jpg" height="400" width="300" /></a></div>
If you've somehow missed the <a href="http://www.sltrib.com/sltrib/news/58359205-78/ring-police-woman-release.html.csp">news</a>, the jewelry store I work at was the recent scene of a crime. A coworker was showing a diamond ring to a man who said he was waiting for his girlfriend to arrive in any minute. He kept looking towards the main mall entrance, until suddenly, ring in hand, he booked it outside.<br />
<br />
"Help!" my coworker screamed as she ran around the jewelry counter, chasing after him. "He stole a diamond from us! Call 911!"<br />
<br />
And do you know what? Several bystanders did just that. Someone else saw the guy get into a car--a white Pontiac G6 with pink sticky notes covering the license plate--driven by a woman. Within a half-hour they were found by police but the ring was not. At least not until after some questioning and an x-ray proved that the woman had indeed swallowed the ring. You heard me right. SWALLOWED.<br />
<br />
I, for one, struggle swallowing any pill that's bigger than an ibuprofen. It often takes me multiple attempts with plenty of water gulps before I achieve success. Sometimes the pill has already partially dissolved in my mouth and I can taste the awful medicine within. Sometimes I have to give up entirely and just stay sick. I honestly cannot imagine swallowing something of that size and shape. It boggles my mind.<br />
<br />
Yet she did it. She swallowed it. For whatever desperate reason, she swallowed it good. Police say they are now waiting for the ring to pass.<br />
<br />
This was not my only run-in with law enforcement this weekend, although I wish it was. One of our roommates broke a rule that for others in the house was a definite deal-breaker. When it was discovered, all hell broke loose. Through miscommunications and quick judgments, the situation snowballed into one of shouting and screaming and fear. Compromise seemed unreachable. A lifestyle change, impossible. Forgiveness, out of the question. My friend was left standing there broken and vulnerable and painfully aware of all the many times he had felt wronged, or cheated, or robbed of that thing called happiness he so desperately sought after.<br />
<br />
Depression is real, my friends. As is addiction. And sometimes life isn't anything more than a series of grab-and-runs.<br />
<br />
When he stormed out into the night, with the threat of suicide still hanging in the air, we were forced to call 911. In less than a half-hour, our friend was found by police. He was alive. He was safe. We held each other in the stairwell and cried. I couldn't hold onto him tight enough.<br />
<br />
"I thought this was my safe haven," he said through tears.<br />
<br />
"I wanted it to be."<br />
<br />
But now he's staying somewhere else, once again feeling betrayed. Once again reevaluating his future. Once again starting over.<br />
<br />
He's just swallowing it.Joaquin the Chihuahuahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10472256975128696209noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2319663969497432185.post-55397329753342646902014-08-25T13:58:00.000-06:002014-08-25T13:58:36.811-06:00I Should Be Something"I love reading your blog," my Aunt Laine mentions as we're chit-chatting in the park, waiting for Holman family photos to be taken.<br />
<br />
"I hardly ever write it," I admit, slightly embarrassed.<br />
<br />
"But when you do, it's awesome," she smiles.<br />
<br />
And then another month or more went by. Looking back, my last post was in May. No June. No July. Where have I been? What have I been doing all summer?<br />
<br />
The answer is nothing. Not a damn thing. I was going to read a lot over the summer. I'm two-thirds of the way through a memoir called <i>This Boy's Life</i> by Tobias Wolff. I've been reading bits and pieces of it for months. I was going to write a lot, with the ambition of finishing another draft of my ongoing novel. Nope. I was even going to participate in Camp NaNoWriMo (the summer version of November's National Novel Writing Month), but I didn't. I reworked the first few chapters for the umpteenth time and that's about it. Do I want to tell the thing in first person or third?? I can't decide! I was also going to draw another season of <i>Chihuahua Comics</i>, chronicling my relationship with Brian and our marriage (since the character versions of us haven't technically been married yet), but I roughly sketched out the first few panels and decided I didn't have time. And who reads it anyway?<br />
<br />
Maybe that's also why I haven't written on the ol' blog. Who the hell reads it anyway? And even if some of you do, does it matter? What's the point of documenting my life here on the interwebs? What's the point of sharing photos or anecdotes or comics or poetry? Maybe that's my problem. I just don't seem to get the point.<br />
<br />
I turned 28 last Wednesday. To some of you, 28 isn't very old. I still have my youth. My whole life before me. That's what some say. But to me, 28 feels very old. 28 feels like I'm holding onto the leash of some very large dog that comically takes off after a cat and drags me along behind scraping in the mud. The audience laughs. There's going to be a sequel. But I can't shake the feeling that I should have accomplished more in part one. I'm not ready for part two. I feel like I should <b><i>be</i></b> something by now.<br />
<br />
But what should I be? Or better yet, <i>who</i>?Joaquin the Chihuahuahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10472256975128696209noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2319663969497432185.post-31657560884799051342014-05-29T23:39:00.001-06:002014-05-29T23:39:33.381-06:00Mormon HousewifeThey jokingly refer to me as the Mormon housewife, and I'm not quite sure who should be more offended. The Mormon? The housewife? Regardless, it bugs me because it's true, except for the parts that aren't. I'm baby-hungry, but a horrible cook; I spend my free time doing laundry or sweeping the floors, but only to an extent. Only because I have to. I do, however, enjoy strolling the home goods aisle at Target, convincing myself we can afford one more end table. I can even make myself think it's a necessity. Yet when the home is complimented and praise directed to me, I defer. I understate my involvement. Why am I so bugged to be called housewife?<div><br></div><div>There are lots of bugs in this house. Spiders that crawl quickly out of sockets, flies that bang blind into window panes, and beetles that look bored as I paint or stain or whatever womanly project I've undertaken. Womanly. What happened to my feminism? My rejection of misogyny? A tiny black beetle crawls slowly over the throw pillows I've so carefully chosen, considering pattern and color, yearning for style yet restraining myself to what I consider a masculine color pallet or a bold pattern. Perhaps this is why I'm uncomfortable when my roommate dons red heels and boasts of his shapely legs. I want to crawl away and hide in the walls of my own do-it-yourself, follow-the-instructions gender norms.</div><div><br></div><div>I gently lead the bewildered beetle into a glass cup and carry him outside to the grass. And just like that, over time, I remove the unwanted parts of me from the presentable household I'm keeping.</div>Joaquin the Chihuahuahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10472256975128696209noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2319663969497432185.post-67038810573178662722014-05-07T12:07:00.004-06:002014-05-07T12:08:11.545-06:00Metal Meets Metal<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgi0_8SPR9MFnp9csK5G92VKAnA1tNsZxwgebjPsUgYT8Fj8p6dH3oI8ifRicfajT0hfcqRduUZ9GpfUKg9eyJX1wJdt6a_rTY6ZBNeuFXopCePmbhLWA9q4OT2QiDY1NBBFPyzD1bv74A/s1600/Wrecked+Car.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgi0_8SPR9MFnp9csK5G92VKAnA1tNsZxwgebjPsUgYT8Fj8p6dH3oI8ifRicfajT0hfcqRduUZ9GpfUKg9eyJX1wJdt6a_rTY6ZBNeuFXopCePmbhLWA9q4OT2QiDY1NBBFPyzD1bv74A/s1600/Wrecked+Car.png" height="640" width="640" /></a></div>
Lazy Sunday<br />
swaddled in blankets<br />
like baby Jesus,<br />
binge-watching <i>Glee</i><br />
(unlike baby Jesus)<br />
when Wes asks<br />
to borrow my car,<br />
the maroon one<br />
with the funny<br />
seatbelts. <i>Sure</i>,<br />
I say, <i>why the</i><br />
<i>hell not?</i><br />
<i><br /></i>
Mouth stuffed<br />
with chips and dip,<br />
fingers fumble<br />
for the controller:<br />
<i>Hulu is having trouble</i><br />
<i>playing this title right</i><br />
<i>now</i>. Stupid Hulu.<br />
Phone vibrates<br />
on faraway end<br />
table. <i>What the hell</i><br />
<i>does Wes want?</i><br />
I wonder.<br />
<br />
Just minutes before,<br />
(mere blocks away)<br />
metal meets metal,<br />
one car meets<br />
a second, and in<br />
seconds my lazy<br />
Sunday is no more.<br />
Hulu starts up as<br />
my car dies, and while<br />
Rachel melodramatically<br />
sings, Wes' voice<br />
comes in clear.<br />
<br />
<i>I wrecked your car</i>,<br />
he says, <i>I'm so sorry</i>.<br />
And I am, too.<br />
Sorry it happened<br />
to him; sorry<br />
it had to be me.<br />
<i>Don't blame </i><i>yourself</i>,<br />
I want to say,<br />
<i>It could happen to anyone</i>.<br />
But all I manage is<br />
a whispered<i> Jesus</i><br />
as Hulu pauses again<i>.</i><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />Joaquin the Chihuahuahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10472256975128696209noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2319663969497432185.post-90525211556372414102014-05-01T08:00:00.000-06:002014-05-01T08:00:06.926-06:00DIY: Modern Wood Wall ArtTruthfully, I haven't been nearly as crafty in this new house as I thought I would be. I envisioned myself finding old, used pieces of furniture and carefully refinishing them; I once even thought we'd build our own dining room table when I saw housewives on <a href="http://www.pinterest.com/pin/101190322848868124/">Pinterest</a> were doing it. But in reality, I ended up buying a ton of factory-made, assemble-it-yourself pieces from <a href="http://www.ikea.com/">Ikea</a> and <a href="http://www.target.com/">Target</a>. With the exception of staining a shelf from <a href="http://www.michaels.com/on/demandware.store/Sites-MichaelsUS-Site/default/Default-Start">Michaels</a>, I haven't been very DIY at all.<br />
<br />
Two new wing-backed dining chairs I purchased online from Target were delivered yesterday and they look pretty awesome if I do say so myself. I think the rustic old table (from <a href="https://www.facebook.com/groups/PaysonIndoorYardSale/?ref=br_tf">Payson Indoor Yardsale</a> on Facebook) and the industrial metal chairs (also from Target) look pretty cool combined with something so classically refined, don't you think?<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEH29FFgYGGOvrweQkQfP4csKO1n8ABaetGjFF_0n6R11YBT7sb2mAM12rjHbWskK5u203XpSspsPra9SFRP6Rh0mKHmxgnmPvk-KHdbsyvjTjoSWl77h_5IDJav1HyF-f2QDqoHjCu9M/s1600/2014-04-30+11.52.22.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEH29FFgYGGOvrweQkQfP4csKO1n8ABaetGjFF_0n6R11YBT7sb2mAM12rjHbWskK5u203XpSspsPra9SFRP6Rh0mKHmxgnmPvk-KHdbsyvjTjoSWl77h_5IDJav1HyF-f2QDqoHjCu9M/s1600/2014-04-30+11.52.22.jpg" height="640" width="474" /></a></div>
<br />
Anyway, the chairs came in a big box with lots of thick cardboard and two pieces of thin wood. The wood seemed like the perfect size for some wall art. Finally, it was time to get crafty!<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzw7v_XPeSXMNvaSS1KVWA4lOMCg_X2aivEDQPqe_qRCSLKLARVtfKMLRCXMOfpVPyb7f3igS7-ersrBGWwMZybLrcB16UClUbQfQZwEVSxFsAqjM06cd-hnYDrEHw9w9p5qk_lqyGrSY/s1600/DIY+Wood+Wall+Art.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzw7v_XPeSXMNvaSS1KVWA4lOMCg_X2aivEDQPqe_qRCSLKLARVtfKMLRCXMOfpVPyb7f3igS7-ersrBGWwMZybLrcB16UClUbQfQZwEVSxFsAqjM06cd-hnYDrEHw9w9p5qk_lqyGrSY/s1600/DIY+Wood+Wall+Art.jpg" height="640" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">1.</span> Get a sheet of plywood or something. I was pretty lucky getting mine for free.<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">2.</span> With painter's tape, tape off a funky grid.<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">3.</span> Stain it! A little can of wood stain is only like $5. I got our gray stain from <a href="http://www.homedepot.com/">Home Depot</a>, and decided to do a few random squares in a darker walnut. After it dries go ahead and peel away the tape. Ours bled a little, but we liked the effect.<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">4.</span> Hang it up! I just screwed it directly into the wall. I figured the screw heads were kinda rustic industrial.<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">5.</span> Now your modern wood wall art is ready to enjoy. Ours is in the dining room above the bar.Joaquin the Chihuahuahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10472256975128696209noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2319663969497432185.post-60852016700646640662014-04-30T12:07:00.000-06:002014-04-30T12:10:26.127-06:00To Borrow<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhC9LexhkAXP3DJrlODrgMwB4UXyh5ZzgheDUIW7xybZaV-LORy7BItG1HGM30fVnqbCau43Psuk9vT_Ge-2tgYXxjfIe0gCmgmYwRKae1LhxVkOns4TQrlCIc8nW6QdC4Db-F0aoEB6EM/s1600/2014-04-29+18.37.57.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhC9LexhkAXP3DJrlODrgMwB4UXyh5ZzgheDUIW7xybZaV-LORy7BItG1HGM30fVnqbCau43Psuk9vT_Ge-2tgYXxjfIe0gCmgmYwRKae1LhxVkOns4TQrlCIc8nW6QdC4Db-F0aoEB6EM/s1600/2014-04-29+18.37.57.jpg" height="640" width="472" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A "painting" of our new abode, using the Waterlogue app. Isn't it pretty?</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large; line-height: 115%;">To Borrow</span><span style="line-height: 115%;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 115%;">Houses
are rentable, yes,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 115%;">and
cars are too, I hear,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 115%;">although
I’ve never rented one.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 115%;">My
own car is so run-down <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 115%;">it's just
sad. What’s sadder<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 115%;">is
I bought it that way,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 115%;">with
a seatbelt that goes across<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 115%;">my
lap and a separate one<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 115%;">for
my upper body. I joke<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 115%;">I’m
buckling up to blast off<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 115%;">into
space where the house<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 115%;">I’m
renting looks like the ones<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 115%;">you
play Monopoly with,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 115%;">only
mine’s blue not red.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 115%;">It’s
also run-down, the house,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 115%;">but
in a beautiful kind of way—<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 115%;">the
way a mother looks<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 115%;">in
line at the supermarket<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 115%;">with
a cartful of diapers<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 115%;">and
Hamburger Helper,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 115%;">one
hand lovingly laced<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 115%;">around
the fudgy fingers<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 115%;">of
a messy child,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 115%;">clutching
clipped coupons<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 115%;">in
the other hand as if one<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 115%;">might
be Wonka’s golden<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 115%;">ticket
promising to whisk<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 115%;">her
away in The Great<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 115%;">Glass
Elevator up to a place<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 115%;">where
cars never break,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 115%;">roofs
never leak<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 115%;">and
run-down isn’t even</span><br />
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">a
possibility.</span></span></div>
Joaquin the Chihuahuahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10472256975128696209noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2319663969497432185.post-3506290680134906472014-04-28T19:33:00.000-06:002014-04-28T19:35:41.190-06:00Not-Quite-Paisley<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg99XYkazVmXBLb-QOw8-5xb8RZiWx5y2dBc2gPfoM_A7b6g6yMX_GsY2uNAFTANCMvZMGURgg3PGj19AI0bBciRdW-zmym1ML6ai-BMSnHej3AaNSFa_ykXntOofRFkHWCQ_VoRQ6cBnU/s1600/2014-04-28+18.44.56.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg99XYkazVmXBLb-QOw8-5xb8RZiWx5y2dBc2gPfoM_A7b6g6yMX_GsY2uNAFTANCMvZMGURgg3PGj19AI0bBciRdW-zmym1ML6ai-BMSnHej3AaNSFa_ykXntOofRFkHWCQ_VoRQ6cBnU/s1600/2014-04-28+18.44.56.jpg" height="474" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I realize I never fully updated everyone in regards to the job situation. I was eventually offered the job at American Eagle, but unfortunately the exact job title and responsibilities changed from when I first interviewed to when I was offered it weeks later. Meanwhile, Zales was able to give me full-time hours again, so it turned out that sticking with Zales would be more lucrative. So I stayed.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
In other news, our house is looking awesome as we get more settled. We've been here almost a month now and we absolutely love it. Brian and I are also in finals week for this semester at UVU, so we're only a few tests away from freedom! Oh, and I had two prose poems published in UVU's<i> <a href="http://research.uvu.edu/touchstones/">Touchstones</a></i>, one of which won Honorable Mention. Pretty cool, huh? It's quasi-autobiographical, documenting a less-than-awesome chapter in our relationship... but it sure made for a great piece of writing.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
Si<span style="line-height: 18.399999618530273px;">â</span>n Griffiths, the judge who critiqued my piece, said, "I was so taken by the way this poem turned. If ever I made the mistake of thinking I might know where the poem was headed, I soon saw my error. Yet each surprise felt utterly earned. In other words, the poem didn't surprise for the sake of surprise, but rather it surprised because life is surprising..."</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">She's right. My life surprises me all the time.</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Not-Quite-Paisley</span><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">You weren’t with me the day I picked the green-blue,
not-quite-paisley curtains which frame the not-so-great view of a dentist’s
office. But he was. He whispered his advice on accent colors and pulled me away
behind discounted duvets and we both know that I let him, his hands ticking
over me in slow, circular motions. Framed, near the window, is a photo of a
younger me pulling you back into an embrace, kissing your cheek. Other framed
photos, mostly from New York City, where we were wed, frame the
mirror—black-and-white images of trees, buildings and an abandoned
bicycle. “I’ll return the curtains,” I
suggest, replacing the batteries in our clock.
“No need,” you say, with injured eyes, pulling me back to bed, back to
you, all interlocking arms and legs, disturbing the duvet. I cry as you kiss my neck and out the window
I only see mountains and blue, limitless sky.
We both agree the view is better from the bed.</span><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 12pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
Joaquin the Chihuahuahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10472256975128696209noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2319663969497432185.post-60865365852817293662014-04-14T20:41:00.000-06:002014-04-28T19:04:25.971-06:00Poem for Jessie<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZKxQabcNkfXAzQlKbG5qTnVwmjbr5rDpwjmz99y23H3S_YWJq14Umhkv8toYr5rN_xuRVSv1Xonuz_Ys9n-eXitrtGEn_J7wxKaQ4b7g9szkuh0gpMs4h7o4opRotKZ_JsnvQICl4uc8/s1600/2014-04-12+16.26.03.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZKxQabcNkfXAzQlKbG5qTnVwmjbr5rDpwjmz99y23H3S_YWJq14Umhkv8toYr5rN_xuRVSv1Xonuz_Ys9n-eXitrtGEn_J7wxKaQ4b7g9szkuh0gpMs4h7o4opRotKZ_JsnvQICl4uc8/s1600/2014-04-12+16.26.03.jpg" height="640" width="474" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 18.399999618530273px;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 18.399999618530273px;">April has brought a lot of really fun and awesome things into my life, but it has also brought some terrible ones. Well, one terrible one in particular, and that is the death of a good friend of ours, Jessie. We met Jessie about a year ago when our friend Emily started dating her. The two of them seemed perfect for each other, which I know is </span></span><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">cliché</span></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 18.399999618530273px;"> to say, but it was the absolute truth in their case. They were both so happy, so in love, and when they asked us to be in their wedding this coming May, we were overjoyed. But then real life came in to remind us all that things aren't always so perfect. Things are often difficult. Things are often sad.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 18.399999618530273px;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 18.399999618530273px;">Jessie passed away to Gastric Cancer on April 3, 2014. I remember her laughter and her spontaneity the most. And boy, could that girl dance. Emily would text me almost every other weekend: "What are you boys doing? Let's go clubbing!" And we'd go out and Jessie was always the life of the party. I remember whenever "We Can't Stop" by Miley Cyrus came on she would get especially excited. People always told Jessie that she reminded them of Miley. A far more beautiful Miley in my opinion. The song still makes me think of her every time I hear it.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 18.399999618530273px;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 18.399999618530273px;">This one's for you, Jessie.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 18.399999618530273px;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 18.399999618530273px;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Stolen</span><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The
club lights<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">flutter
their aroused,<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">anxious
butterflies;<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">their
sweaty, shining<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">palms
leave stolen<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">kisses
of every hue<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">on
your dancing body,<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">blushing
timidly<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">as
they do, but only<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">for
a moment.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Only
on their turn.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">For
who could hope<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">to
keep you?<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">You,
an angelic<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">trickster,
taking<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">silky
drags from your<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">e-cig,
running long,<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">slender
fingers through <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">stylish,
cropped hair,<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">blowing
puffs<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">of
hefty exuberance<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">into
the air with every<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">laugh.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The
lights have found<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">new
you to kiss… your musical<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">eyes,
your glittery teeth.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">You
smile and sing along,<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">moving
your body to the beat.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<i><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We can’t stop<o:p></o:p></span></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<i><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">and we won’t stop.<o:p></o:p></span></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Constantly
in motion,<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">moving
and grooving<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">—a
solar system<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">in
tight, ripped jeans<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">and
boots. Feathers<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">dangle
from your earlobes.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">You
ignite the night<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">with
the lighter that<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">is
you. Hot and bright.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The
club’s lesser lights<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">enjoy
the chase, reaching<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">for
you always but only<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">catching smoke.</span></span></div>
Joaquin the Chihuahuahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10472256975128696209noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2319663969497432185.post-9115190304440547682014-03-25T19:39:00.004-06:002014-03-25T19:39:55.796-06:00The Blue House on the Corner<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmOQviJWwDj081yJq0YlDbMP8y976LPKyOTRb0zw3tqL3bbzgCZht-MOwBXBc7KuPlab0SEkm4MSftQmV777Qmwgq83u2cGrJy4aix6xNX8FAK8rbNj-zfzs66QvMwvqur5Jx4uCi5gWs/s1600/Provo+Blue+House+Collage.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmOQviJWwDj081yJq0YlDbMP8y976LPKyOTRb0zw3tqL3bbzgCZht-MOwBXBc7KuPlab0SEkm4MSftQmV777Qmwgq83u2cGrJy4aix6xNX8FAK8rbNj-zfzs66QvMwvqur5Jx4uCi5gWs/s1600/Provo+Blue+House+Collage.jpg" height="212" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This, dear readers, will be our new home for the next phase of our lives. (Photos taken from the KSL house listing.)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
My strategy the last few days has been to stall. While Brett was awaiting the word on whether he'd be Washington-bound or not, I didn't want the renting company to get worried that the four of us might not be as stable as we told them. I also didn't want to lose the place to other renters, so I stalled with questions.<br />
<br />
"Yes, we're still very interested, but what about this... or what about that...?"<br />
<br />
The leasing agent originally offered us the place at a higher rent, so I tried my very best to negotiate. Today she left me a voicemail while I was in class saying that the owners approved my final attempt at compromise: higher rent through the summer, back to the original in August if we prove to be good renters. Perfect! But I needed to stall again.<br />
<br />
"Yes, we'd love to sign the lease, but I don't think the four of us can get together until the weekend..."<br />
<br />
But less than an hour later, I got a text from Brett letting me know that he didn't get the Washington job and I immediately called the leasing agent up again and said, "Yes, we want it! When can we sign?"<br />
<br />
No more stalling. No more waiting. The blue house on the corner is ours. We sign the lease tomorrow and move in on the first!Joaquin the Chihuahuahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10472256975128696209noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2319663969497432185.post-15225345154548983452014-03-22T20:53:00.000-06:002014-03-22T20:56:00.324-06:00How To Put Air in Your Tires and Other NewsIf you were wanting some sort of update on my<a href="http://joaquinthechihuahua.blogspot.com/2014/03/waiting.html"> last post</a>, well, you're just out of luck. I'm so sorry. I'd give you one, but I'm still waiting. The house we wanted to rent in Provo is actually willing to rent to us... but there are new complications now so we're waiting on that. And as far as the other job goes, I'm still waiting to hear back from that as well. I did have a second interview since I last wrote, but yeah, still no job offer. Our friend Brett is also waiting for a job offer, one that might suddenly whisk him away to Washington, which is one of the "new complications" with the house. The other complication is that they want to up the rent because we're not a family. If I got the new job the rent increase wouldn't be so bad... but without Brett we can't get that house at all... and you see now why we're still waiting.<br />
<br />
We wait and we wait.<br />
<br />
Waiting.<br />
<br />
Do you know how waiting rooms have magazines in them? I read an issue of <i>Martha Stewart Living</i> cover-to-cover simply because Brian's dad bought it for him because there were macarons on the front cover. Martha Stewart claims you can make macarons for just 18 cents each! HOLY WOW! But then you read the article and they're like half the size of ours and she gets really skimpy on the almond flour and, well, I guess you learn all kinds of frugal tips when you serve a prison sentence. It's weird because I never once saw a character eating macarons on Netflix's <i>Orange is the New Black</i>. Season 2 starts on June 6th in case you were wondering. Just a little FYI.<br />
<br />
And when your front left tire is super low, resembling a stack of really burnt pancakes, you probably shouldn't wait a week or two or three to fix it. But, you know, since waiting is my new mantra in life I decided to wait until Brian finally said to me, "Listen, I'm not going to take care of it for you. You're a grown man, you can figure it out yourself."<br />
<br />
"But, I don't know how."<br />
<br />
"Google it."<br />
<br />
So I did. The internet really is a remarkable place. I found this helpful YouTube video in the blink of an eye (or maybe a little longer because the mall wifi was being slow):<br />
<br />
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/hk28u7NTlsE" width="560"></iframe><br />
<br />
Dave's not very exciting, but he taught me how to do it in only 54 seconds, so points for being succinct. I was embarrassed at how incredibly easy it was. Also embarrassed that I've never had to put air in my tires in almost 28 years of life. Crazy. I've also never had to survive in the wild or juggle chainsaws on a tightrope either. I guess I just ain't living.<br />
<br />
Also, I'm still waiting to borrow that <i>Waiting... </i>DVD. What the heck, Krystal?Joaquin the Chihuahuahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10472256975128696209noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2319663969497432185.post-71315141458037227732014-03-09T12:47:00.000-06:002014-03-09T12:47:55.127-06:00Waiting...<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhx-RvOi-4psawnFiTxeDfzdMUpEuQxAjc8LT90Nn6ZU-qLmw4pcbuY-a4ruWIrtqyv72JUDOmhNav07BwUL8RX7OmrdFikeIwKxuQzqtQWeAxOPt6TtWKH1GVuOSlwD_gShi4Z_iDkM00/s1600/Goodbye+Zales+and+314.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhx-RvOi-4psawnFiTxeDfzdMUpEuQxAjc8LT90Nn6ZU-qLmw4pcbuY-a4ruWIrtqyv72JUDOmhNav07BwUL8RX7OmrdFikeIwKxuQzqtQWeAxOPt6TtWKH1GVuOSlwD_gShi4Z_iDkM00/s1600/Goodbye+Zales+and+314.jpg" height="320" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My coworkers and I signed the wall of our Zales store on its last night. It's being turned into a T-Mobile.<br />
The final snapchat of our apartment before we turned in our keys.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
"Crap, I forgot to bring <i>Waiting...</i> for you. I'll bring it tomorrow."<br />
<br />
My friend and coworker Krystal has been saying that to me a couple times a month ever since Brian started working at Mimi's Cafe. Now that he's a server, she thinks he'll really appreciate the 2005 comedy starring Ryan Reynolds, Anna Faris and Justin Long. It's about waiters if you haven't figured it out. And yes, the ellipses is really part of the movie title. Look it up on <a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0348333/?ref_=nv_sr_1">IMDb</a> if you don't believe me.<br />
<br />
I just laughed and told her we couldn't be friends anymore. Waiting for <i>Waiting...</i> is the last straw of our friendship. That's it. I'm done. I've waited too long.<br />
<br />
And that's how I feel with life right now. Tired of waiting.<br />
<br />
Since I haven't blogged in over three months (I just now realized that all six of you in Cyberland who read this have been waiting anxiously for my next post... I'm so sorry! And if you didn't even notice my absence, just humor me), you probably don't know that lots has changed in the lives of Jack and Brian. Where to begin? Let's see. Christmas was fine and dandy, New Year's was great, and then BAM! "We're sorry to inform you that the Provo location is closing in two weeks. You can interview for a transfer to the Orem Zales."<br />
<br />
Yep. My Zales location shut down at the end of January. Thankfully, I was able to keep my job. And I really am very grateful. The only real downside is that the Orem location is already fully staffed, so they only had room for me and the other Provo workers to come in part-time. My hours got cut from 40 hours to a mere 25. That's a big deal. So with me not making as much money and <a href="http://www.macaronbybrian.com/">Macaron</a> hitting a slow patch in terms of sales, Brian and I are broke! Which leads me to the next big change for us...<br />
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We're now back to living with the in-laws. Brian and his mom got to talking and decided that the apartment we lived in was too pricey (they even wanted to raise the rent again this year) and it would be a good idea to move back home for a bit to save up some money and look for a cheaper place. In order to help make our living situation as cheap as possible, Brian and I have decided to get roommates. I know what you're thinking, "A married couple with roommates? That's lame." And you're right, it kinda is. But so is being 27 years old and living at home. Brian and I are learning to embrace our lameness.<br />
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I bet you're waiting to get to the part about us waiting, right? So here's the deal. Brian and I looked at a house for rent near downtown Provo that we absolutely love. It's an old home built in 1910, has tons of charm, tons of space, is walking distance from great restaurants and shops, and is generally just the bee's knees. Brian's cousin Brett and our friend Aaron will be living with us and between the four of us, the place is very affordable (for us, almost $300 less a month than we used to pay). We've filled out the application and now we are just waiting to hear back from them. We filled it out Friday morning and I've literally been a nervous wreck ever since. I cannot stop thinking about this house. I just want to live in it! PLEASE?<br />
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To add to the waiting, I had an interview with American Eagle on Friday afternoon for an assistant manager position. It would be full-time hours and a pay raise, plus an opportunity to move upward in retail (an opportunity that Zales sadly doesn't seem to provide; always bringing in management from the outside). My interview seemed to go really well and afterwards my friend Kylee, who is the other assistant manager there, told me that her boss loved me. He said I was the "smartest applicant yet." So now I'm waiting to hear back from that as well.<br />
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So here I am. Waiting. The weekend seems to drag on and I just hope come Monday or Tuesday I will know about the house and know about the job. Please, if you're reading this, cross your fingers for me!Joaquin the Chihuahuahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10472256975128696209noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2319663969497432185.post-43025669816494758032013-11-25T22:00:00.000-07:002013-11-25T22:28:01.978-07:00THANKFUL: Day 25<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjeuwbKgDejOkJVPhba1W8HFFaOnjmZRD0xAdAYSKPg9j6Metf4BwqxosrQiHMkGr1_vvWEC3RMhVYPWygS9NeThGZhhcyjOb_RBZ1UyKKcDfWyBNj-808MJg7vH2JnP4FF49NSJF7Dm4/s1600/2013-11-25+22.03.21.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjeuwbKgDejOkJVPhba1W8HFFaOnjmZRD0xAdAYSKPg9j6Metf4BwqxosrQiHMkGr1_vvWEC3RMhVYPWygS9NeThGZhhcyjOb_RBZ1UyKKcDfWyBNj-808MJg7vH2JnP4FF49NSJF7Dm4/s640/2013-11-25+22.03.21.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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I'm thankful for good things that come in the mail! Usually it's just bills and credit card offers, but today we got this awesome Save-The-Date from our friends Emily and Jessie who are getting married next spring. We couldn't be happier for them. We're also going to be what they call "bridesmen" so we're pretty pumped about that as well. I'm thankful for love in the 21st Century. I'm thankful for the rise of marriage equality throughout our nation. I'm thankful for hot babes lying on the beach! Hubba hubba!</div>
Joaquin the Chihuahuahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10472256975128696209noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2319663969497432185.post-7739271973925970012013-11-24T23:00:00.000-07:002013-11-25T01:34:07.605-07:00THANKFUL: Day 24<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIxR2LD59pr8Objr5lUDyqnScY6IGL8dsKwpmk2_eW7P34SOZPoHURTV9pIj-usppDEMkaSgclRlovNs2zS8F4QjL2MiYg7DG_Vw4TD4GoHi8fP6I7BZsQNwOM2vykRsIz_wajWpimekY/s1600/2013-11-24+15.22.20.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIxR2LD59pr8Objr5lUDyqnScY6IGL8dsKwpmk2_eW7P34SOZPoHURTV9pIj-usppDEMkaSgclRlovNs2zS8F4QjL2MiYg7DG_Vw4TD4GoHi8fP6I7BZsQNwOM2vykRsIz_wajWpimekY/s640/2013-11-24+15.22.20.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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I'm thankful for time. Yes, time. I'm thankful that I've been granted time here on this planet. I'm grateful for my life. This life. Here and now as the clock ticks by, turning seconds into moments into memories. And as exciting as the 1920s might seem to be--with the jazz and the flappers and the style--I'm grateful to have been born in the era that I was born in. Most of the time. I'm thankful for the time I get to spend with Brian, even if it's squeezed between laundry and work and baking macarons. Even if it's only after 11:00 PM. I'm thankful that I've got hours to write in, hours to read, hours to play. I'm thankful that I live in a time when I can use my phone to chat with Chileans on Facebook, call my mom in Idaho, text my dad in Colorado and see a photo of my niece. All while emailing a professor as I walk to my car. I'm thankful that time comes in phases, with each new day or month or year bringing new challenges and new self-identities. I'm thankful I have the time to be thankful.</div>
Joaquin the Chihuahuahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10472256975128696209noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2319663969497432185.post-91731531078377395072013-11-18T22:30:00.000-07:002013-11-24T01:12:51.539-07:00THANKFUL: Day 18<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQny6GPoG36EQTQKnCIFmgy13UP4OfFc0HAqKfQYk_5zjdplMJ4HkRNuB2cBHmkJAtF2zTq_0CRxH2fLrfH7HhyphenhyphenPqvYJXCYtSqOhgbzDryvG-50QpEQYfyL2-eRtITz0Kwzy7DOR43nSQ/s1600/2013-11-18+23.26.35.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQny6GPoG36EQTQKnCIFmgy13UP4OfFc0HAqKfQYk_5zjdplMJ4HkRNuB2cBHmkJAtF2zTq_0CRxH2fLrfH7HhyphenhyphenPqvYJXCYtSqOhgbzDryvG-50QpEQYfyL2-eRtITz0Kwzy7DOR43nSQ/s640/2013-11-18+23.26.35.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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I'm thankful for The Madison, a local club in downtown Provo. As a member of the Provo Pride Council, I couldn't be more grateful for their unyielding support of the gay community. They've let us use their space for free during numerous fundraisers and even hosted the very first Righteous Miss Provo Pageant and the Official Pride After-Party. Since then, they've been hosting a monthly drag show every third Monday featuring the Divine Sister-Misters. Seriously, The Madison is amazing. I'm also thankful for the opportunity to see my friends perform, for sequins and high-heels and wigs... and we're all thankful for dim lighting!</div>
Joaquin the Chihuahuahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10472256975128696209noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2319663969497432185.post-57689817114278383002013-11-16T23:30:00.000-07:002013-11-24T01:04:53.910-07:00THANKFUL: Day 16<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi766bZBzEPyFRVvaj5YKRev_VPFApM0DgptnLCQ1YTr4stSIVfDpjv8MQMETvCor0KRK2640gt0CfrngE-Vy0D3Uv761yYpugDcKkwK0WgPcRZTF8sTpYmtkLnja_X4WSc1C9HEFzfpYc/s1600/2013-11-16+18.50.40+square.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi766bZBzEPyFRVvaj5YKRev_VPFApM0DgptnLCQ1YTr4stSIVfDpjv8MQMETvCor0KRK2640gt0CfrngE-Vy0D3Uv761yYpugDcKkwK0WgPcRZTF8sTpYmtkLnja_X4WSc1C9HEFzfpYc/s640/2013-11-16+18.50.40+square.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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I'm thankful for friends. One of our friends, Wes, had been going through a rough time. He lives in Salt Lake City now so we don't see him as much as we'd like. We saw him briefly today and it made my heart happy. He's so great. We also saw our friends Annette and Rebecca in the afternoon while delivering macarons and then saw a movie with Nick and Kyle. David joined us later for a bit of Cards Against Humanity. It was a great night, ending with a wild drive to McDonald's, weaving in and out of traffic while blasting <i>The Prince of Egypt</i> soundtrack. Dollar Menu for the win.</div>
Joaquin the Chihuahuahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10472256975128696209noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2319663969497432185.post-12778649151698161252013-11-15T23:00:00.000-07:002013-11-24T00:51:10.975-07:00THANKFUL: Day 15<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRVBfrnsmmOcsFfBBowGPo8E0ld5ln_HNaBkpSTJJpZmyuFiQmEgRrODn-UulgnZEcrw-GNPJd7Kq3GogkdBfT71MPvb1RiIGaKJYo9dGRqYYp2ZwfRR6aWne2HnQ9-Xr0CL_fYnaGxWk/s1600/2013-11-15+22.59.34.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRVBfrnsmmOcsFfBBowGPo8E0ld5ln_HNaBkpSTJJpZmyuFiQmEgRrODn-UulgnZEcrw-GNPJd7Kq3GogkdBfT71MPvb1RiIGaKJYo9dGRqYYp2ZwfRR6aWne2HnQ9-Xr0CL_fYnaGxWk/s640/2013-11-15+22.59.34.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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I'm thankful for margaritas. I'm also thankful for friends like Tara who buy me margaritas. I'm thankful for Brian and my coworkers and friends who join me for such a beverage from time to time. Just time to time, Mom. I promise I'm not an alcoholic! I'm thankful for the folks at La Casita in Springville who make such a delicious (and strong) margarita on the rocks. 1 = tipsy; 2 = falling face-first into the <i>calle</i>. We at Zales go so often that the waitress recognizes us. She knows what we want. We feel cool. It's kind of a hole-in-the-wall, but it's fun. We laugh, gossip, eat, and smile. Sometimes our La Casita antics are put down in history in the form of Instagram videos... <i>embarrassing</i> Instagram videos. Thanks, Tara. Thanks a lot.</div>
Joaquin the Chihuahuahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10472256975128696209noreply@blogger.com0