Tuesday, November 24, 2009

Random thoughts and Octavio Paz

Sometimes I think my character flaws are most effectively mirrored in the words of those close to me. It isn't easy to see...kind of like the proverbial trees in that forest I just smacked into - painful, but necessary to enjoy the journey into the woods. So hiking baby steps toward becoming a better me...

I recently submitted my application to The Ohio State University for the Hispanic Linguistics graduate program. This an exciting event for me and I'm looking forward to re-entering the world of academia! It is also daunting to think of finances (more loans) and working....I'm not sure how I will juggle it all, but I'm counting on my friends for some hermit-prevention to offset my obsessive study habits....

Some days are better than others...I'm not sure where the fall went...the trees are so naked now, the branches seem so black and disappear so quickly with the sun at 5 pm. I read this poem today by Octavio Paz, one of my favorite author-poets from Mexico and thought I would share it in its entirety here...enjoy

Between going and staying the day wavers, by Octavio Paz

Between going and staying the day wavers,
in love with its own transparency.
The circular afternoon is now a bay
where the world in stillness rocks.

All is visible and all elusive,
all is near and can't be touched.

Paper, book, pencil, glass,
rest in the shade of their names.

Time throbbing in my temples repeats
the same unchanging syllable of blood.

The light turns the indifferent wall
into a ghostly theater of reflections.

I find myself in the middle of an eye,
watching myself in its blank stare.

The moment scatters. Motionless,
I stay and go: I am a pause.

Thursday, November 5, 2009

Occupational Hazards of a Help Me Grow Service Coordinator...

10. Germs (hello h1n1)
9. Paper Cuts/carpal tunnel (from hours of stimulating paperwork)
8. Poor eyesight (from hours of staring at a computer screen entering ET data)
7. Second hand smoke
6. Roaches
5. Scabies (don't ask)
4. Lice
3. Pitbulls (no offense to Moose)
2. Psycho parents
1. Insanity (from all of the above)