Remembrance of things past

I'm missing my BFF. But one day in December we had a quiet stolen moment. The sun was out, and we sat on the corner as if we always had, looking out at the world we had once inhabited.

Friday night, always a good night for some Sabbath

Ian McEwan, in this week's New Yorker:
"McEwan said that he never rushes from notebook to novel. 'You've got to feel that it's not just some conceit,' he said. 'It's got to be inside you. I'm very cautious about starting anything without letting time go, and feeling it's got to come out. I'm quite good at not writing. Some people are tied to five hundred words a day, six days a week. I'm a hesitater.'"

My stuff: Lynette

Also, check out Lynette's blog, which she says has helped her stay connected to her friends in Mississippi, so she's not too homesick.

Click a thumbnail to see a larger image.









Lynette explains:

The items start at the top, go l-r, then down a line, etc

1. Rolling bag -- I like to have my stuff with me, but I don't want to lug it around, so I roll it. Everybody at work laughs at me.

2. Ruby Pearl, the yes dear girl -- When my husband and I went out to dinner, I'd ask him to do something, and he would say, 'Yes, dear.' So this is a tribute to him. It says 'Yes, dear' in a lot of different languages.

3. My camera -- I'm addicted to taking pictures.

4. Backscratcher -- I'm a widow, and I need something to scratch my back.

5. Bus pass -- This is untaxed income! I can use it seven days a week, if I don't forget it. It represents the best public transportation system I've ever experienced.

6. Computer -- When I have my hands on it, I'm not eating anything I don't need to be eating.

7. Picture of Leroy, my late husband -- This picture shows his long ponytail, and it shows him being creative. I couldn't believe he was interested in me. He was so exotic. I was just tickled pink.

8. H necklace -- This is the most expensive piece of jewelry I've ever owned. The H represents my maiden name and my married name, so it ties in my whole family.

9. Cowdog and Turq -- These are two pieces I got from Serendipity, a silent auction at the Mississippi State Hospital. I hovered till I got them.

10. Picture of Willie Morris and Eudora Welty -- I love words, these two Mississippi authors loved words. I couldn't believe it when I had the chance to buy this numbered photo taken by Willie's son, David Rae Morris. It was at the Attic Gallery in Vicksburg. I had to put it on layaway in order to do it.

Plunge!

Randi, Catie and I had a great Saturday morning down at the Columbia River. Catie raised more than $300 for Special Olympics by pledging to do the polar plunge (i.e. you jump in that cold, dirty river). Catie didn't wear a costume, but plenty of other people did, including this group of Tetris pieces:

EP for winter's end

Three straight days of sunshine in Portland, and we're only a month away from spring. Here are five songs I'm liking to close the season with:

1. Neko Case - This Tornado Loves You
2. The Thermals - Now We Can See
3. The Welcome Wagon - But for Those who Fear My Name
4. Hospitality - Argonauts
5. Vivian Girls - Lake House


Almost all of these tracks were originally free on Stereogum

TGIF

Randi and Ryan on Friday night:

Air blown through brass

An artifact I found, circa Los Angeles near Labor Day, 2008:




theTRUMPET from Casey Parks on Vimeo.

Remnants VI

Jess, carrying a baby inside:

Light Test (2/?)

Ryan:

Light Test (1/?)

I'm trying to learn about lights. Taking pictures of myself was hard. More to come (other experiments with other people)

Le Chevre

The night a goat knocked on her door in Cameroon is a funny little memory six years later, but behind the laughter, Cathy Harmon remembers some very real struggles.




Or click here to download.

TK

Test shot of what's to come:

Restroom Gallery

How many types of restrooms are there?

Volcanic Rock

Volcano

Ev and I hiked to and through the Kilauea Iki Crater in Hawaii Volcanoes National Park. They let you romp wherever you want to, basically. We ate lunch on top of a steam vent.












And finally, back on the black sand beach, my reaction to being done with the five-mile hike:

Hawaii, Day Two

We traveled 30 miles north to Conde Naste's best beach in the nation -- Hapuna Beach -- for boogie boarding and relaxing. On the way there, we had seen all these messages written in white rocks against the dark lava. On the way back, I stopped to leave a shot-out to my favorite girl in the world. From Hawaii to Mississippi, I miss you, girl:

Fruit and snorkel

Hawaii, day 1




(my reaction to a mango)

First person: Troyce

My grandfather, Troyce Carter, talks about running a talent agency. He booked the Platters and even a young Willie Nelson:


First person: Troyce from Casey Parks on Vimeo.

Remnants V

Ryan, age 23: