Surreality, with a chance of Weird in today’s forecast…

Posted by Mark on April 28, 2012 | Short Link

It started with a cat licking my forehead.  Well, she started licking my fingers then moved to my forehead.  In a pattern as well, marching her freakishly gritty tongue across the expanse at the top of my face like she was on an exfoliating mission or something.  I sat up before she stared grooming my hair or something.  Hairballs are bad enough, skinballs and my hair puked up by a cat would be too much.

I dressed, kissed my wife goodbye and went to Steak ‘n Shake.  I go there most Saturday’s for breakfast.  I know the help, they know me, the place is seldom busy for breakfast which I’ve always found sort of strange because the food is really good and the prices are great.  Maybe it’s the help…(not really, they’re terrific to me and Elaine).

Today, one of the Grad Students that works in our office joined me.  He brought his wife, and I brought a couple of motorcycle helmets for him.  I’d not met his wife before, and she’s a nice lady.  Like Elaine, she’s too good for her husband.  I think most wives are too good for their husbands, come to that.  Anyhow, I had the helmets for him as he was buying them from me.  He gives me a check, and to top it off, bought by breakfast as well!

I packed up all my poetry books (save one) last night.  We get to move here in the coming weeks/months (more later, I promise) and it struck me this morning what a strange thing that is.  I now have enough poetry books to fill ONE Baker & Taylor box.  I know plenty of people who don’t have enough BOOKS total to fill a box.  I also feel oddly disconnected from them now.

The motorcycle I was riding when we had our accident in 2010 has been sitting in the garage, collecting dust (lots of it) and leaves that sneak under the fairly large gap where door meets sagging cement.  And bird decorations, I think.  I didn’t look that closely to be honest.  Well, today the guy who went to bring it home after the accident came back today and took it with him to see if he can get it started and running.  The body damage is fairly limited and could be fixed by somebody else, so I’m going to sell it when it runs.  My riding days are over.  So, the confluence of the helmet sales today and the bike going away on the same day were sort of strange to me.

Bike gets loaded, friends who helped thanked, hands washed, and we have some lunch.  Whilst I was otherwise occupied in the morning, Elaine DVR’d a movie for me.  ”The Brain Eaters”  It truly is as wretched as it sounds.  I loved it.  In a sick sort of way, I suppose.  I have a real soft spot for crappy B SciFi movies.  Still, this was a C movie at best.  But I watched it…so it falls into the Weird for today.

And to top the afternoon off, just before dinner, there was an ad on TV where some girl tried to video blow me into buying a pair of glasses at some retail eyeglass place with the Naughty Librarian routine.  I know sex sells, but glasses?  Really?  *sigh*

Just sort of a strange day for me…

 

Thanks for reading.

 

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  • http://www.storiesofconflictandlove.com Roxanne

    Wow, that IS a strange day, Mark. The style in which this is written almost feels like you were looking down at yourself from the ceiling, an omniscient narrator of surrealism. The part about wives and husbands made me chuckle and think — two things that always happen when I visit this space.

    • http://radio-nowhere.org/nb/ Mark

      There were times I sort of felt like a spectator in my own life that day.  It was sort of strange.  What sort of things did your thinking about husbands and wives did your thinking lead you to?

  • Randall Weiss

    I’m a sucker for the librarian routine. I would’ve bought 10 pairs of glasses.

    Surreality is a good title for this post. I’m sure that emotions are running high as you give up your motorcycle and related equipment and as you pack to move. Best wishes.

    • http://radio-nowhere.org/nb/ Mark

      I felt a bit violated by the librarian routine.  Especially as a way to sell glasses…maybe I’m just getting curmudgeonly as I age.  Or becoming my father.

      Thanks.  It’ll be strange but great when it’s done…

  • http://twitter.com/alotus_poetry Kathy Uyen Nguyen

    I think we all go through weird days, and at the end of the day, we’re still scratching our heads thinking why it was a weird day.  I wonder why that is?  Anyway, like Randall said, parting with your motorcycle and helmet is a significant change for you, but given some time, it will be bittersweet and you will think of fond memories.  I sense a poem coming out of this.  Best wishes to you, dear mark! 

    P.S.  I chuckled at the reference to husbands and wives and the cat. 

    • http://radio-nowhere.org/nb/ Mark

      Stupid cat….and yeah, well the Bike needs to go.  I would like it gone and the money would be nice.  And yeah, it’s all sorts of strange right now.  Thanks….

  • http://twitter.com/uncletypewriter Stereo.*

    I really like posts like this. Snippets (no matter how weird) of your life always make me feel just that little bit lucky; like you’ve opened a door and invited me in. Would it be wrong of me if I asked you to write more like this? I loved it.

    And I smiled at the husbands and wives reference :)

    • http://radio-nowhere.org/nb/ Mark

      I think I shall expand upon the Husbands and Wives thing at a later date.  It seems to have resonated, but I have reasons why I think this to be.

      And thanks, you’re always welcome.  

  • Tracy Mangold

    I thought this a fun post – a view into your day-to-day – your life and I loved it. More!

    • http://radio-nowhere.org/nb/ Mark

      Thanks, Tracy….

  • http://twitter.com/BrandeewineB Brandee Baltzell

    You know what?  I LIKE this post…I like seeing a bit more into your world.  It’s not really that you’re closed off; but, things like the fact that you’re moving…or that you were getting ready to sell the bike?  BIG things, my friend!  Things that we wouldn’t really get from Twitter-y converstations.

    • http://radio-nowhere.org/nb/ Mark

      I do tend to keep a fair amount to myself.  I so don’t want to be a burden to others…and I tend to think of my life as fairly mundane.  

  • http://jasonsbrain.net/ Jason

    Now I have to go IMDB The Brain Eaters, ho hum. Probably seen it. Fart sounds, watermelon–chicken scratch, chicken scratch. 

    • http://radio-nowhere.org/nb/ Mark

      I hope you do no more than IMDB The Brain Eaters….it was wretched….

  • Mrsmediocrity

    It sounds a bit like the end of an era… or a couple of them. nostalgia always kicks in, makes us feel out of sorts… but you made me smile, a couple of times. and some days it really does feel like weird is just following you around. i have two full shelves of poetry books, yours is among them… they would be the last thing i packed if i was moving ;-)

    • http://radio-nowhere.org/nb/ Mark

      There are so many books, it’s hard to know where to start and where to finish.

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  • connie (Anjuli)

    speaking of books- could I feature your Tender Mercies on my Feature Friday sometime this month?? I have it on my desk and love it dearly- would love for others to get to know about it.

    • http://radio-nowhere.org/nb/ Mark

      Of course, Connie.  I would be honored and thrilled if you wish to do that.  Thank You!

      • connie (Anjuli)

        sorry ignore my other comment on your moving post– for some reason I did not get this reply!!! I will post the review this Friday- thank you for the permission.

  • http://chrisgalvinwriter.wordpress.com/ Chris

    Love this! Of course, being a big fan of weird, I HAD to read it once I saw the title. Talk about a hook! ;)
    I’ll have to look into “The Brain Eaters” now. Selling the bike must be a major thing for you, even if you know you’ll never ride it again. It will probably be a good thing when it’s gone; closure and all that. Good luck with your move! Thanks for this little peek into your “weird” day.

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