Monday December 7th, 2009

The exercise:

Decided I needed another day off - I really haven't been getting enough sleep the last few days. Had a better sleep last night, so I'm feeling better today. Lots of resting on the schedule, so I should be back at work tomorrow.

Let's get Monday started with this prompt: too much enthusiasm, not enough talent.

Mine:

The man logged off his computer and pushed himself away from his desk. In one smooth motion he spun in his chair, picked up his duffel bag from the floor, and rose to leave his cubicle at a brisk walk. He nodded to his coworkers as they headed for the lunch room, brown paper bags clutched in their hands as if they were nervous school children.

The man did not join them, however. Instead he took the elevator down to the lobby and exited the building. He paused to soak in the natural light before joining the flow of sidewalk traffic heading east down Tenth Avenue.

He arrived at the small park and was surprised to find that he was the first to make it there - yesterday he had been the last. He checked his gleaming silver watch to confirm the time and shrugged before taking a seat on the raised concrete that edged the flower garden. With another look around he bent to unzip his black bag.

Pulling the djembe drum from its black confines, he reverently placed the African mahogany beauty between his knees. He had paid top dollar for the drum at a specialty shop on the south side but he knew it was worth every penny. He had done his research.

Still finding no sign of the others he had played with the day before, he decided there was no need to wait. He closed his eyes and began to play.

His fingers beat against the goat skin drumhead for the rest of his lunch hour, his eyes remaining blissfully shut. When he stopped at last and glanced around, he was surprised to find that not only had his fellow players not shown up, but the sidewalk around him was quite devoid of onlookers.

He shrugged and returned his instrument to its bag and returned to his office, already making plans to seek out his fellow musicians at other locations in the neighborhood the following day.

Sunday December 6th, 2009

The exercise:

So around four o'clock yesterday afternoon I got up to take a break from writing and realized that I wasn't in any pain. Seeing as I haven't taken any painkillers since Thursday night, this was a rather exciting development.

There's still some swelling, and I can't really open my jaw all the way, but just sitting around there's no aching anymore. Today is also exciting because I get to start putting heat on my cheeks.

Anyway. Recovery is going better than expected. And your prompt today is: a night at the movies.

Mine:

As I watched the previews play
So many spoilers were on display
I glanced at my ticket and thought,
How many movies had I bought?

Because now that I knew
The villain is the man in blue,
And the city survived the attack,
Why should I ever come back?

Saturday December 5th, 2009

The exercise:

Your four line poem prompt today: slow motion.

I think I'll stick to the rules today.

Mine:

My brain has turned to molasses,
And the air has turned to honey;
Everyone's moving so slowly,
And I'm feeling kinda funny.

Friday December 4th, 2009

The exercise:

Your Four Line Friday Prose prompt this week: totally out of it.

I'm breaking my own rule today. Feel free to do the same or to play along.

Mine:

Talking with Kat over dinner last night, I learned that I missed out on quite a bit after they brought me out of sedation yesterday morning.

Apparently I kept trying to talk and she kept telling me to rest and that I should only talk if it was really important. She helped me to do some deep breathing for a bit and then I'd start talking again. Finally she handed me a piece of paper and a pencil and I wrote down what I was trying to say.

"You mean when we got home?" I interjected at this point.

"No, after the surgery... don't you remember?"

I shook my head no and she produced the paper. On it I had written, in a messy but legible hand, two words: 'backpack?' because I apparently needed to know where the bag I brought with me was, and one of my nicknames for Kat (which I'm not sharing, so don't bother asking).

Reading that provoked a very emotional response. I don't really understand why, but I ended up laughing and crying at the same time. I don't know if I've ever done that before.

Can I blame the drugs?

Okay, good. Thanks.

Thursday December 3rd, 2009

The exercise:

This year for my sister Sue's birthday, I got my wisdom teeth out. I hope she likes it, I went through a lot to get it done.

Happy birthday Sue!

Today's writing prompt: pain tolerance.

Mine:

It's probably too early to tell one way or another, but the pain seems manageable. Tylenol 3, oddly enough, appear to be out of the equation already - I got really nauseous after taking just one with lunch. I say 'oddly enough' because back when I got migraines all the time, T3s were my salvation. I guess I've outgrown them?

Anyway, the nurse said to try ibuprofen instead so I just downed some of those. We'll see how they do.

I've always had a pretty high tolerance for pain. When I was in grade 8 I broke my left wrist and didn't go get it x-rayed until a day or two later. I just got someone in the principal's office to bandage it up because I thought it was just sprained. They x-ray said otherwise, obviously.

Needless to say, being a guy, I'm quite proud of that.

So, right now? I'm rather uncomfortable but it's nothing too bad. I think the ibuprofen is starting to kick in as well. And I should probably get the ice back on my cheeks. So... catch you later.

Wednesday December 2nd, 2009

The exercise:

Just as life starts to return to normal... your prompt today is: losing wisdom.

Mine:

So tomorrow's the big day - all four of my wisdom teeth are coming out sometime around 10:30 in the morning. Wish me luck and a speedy recovery. Mostly the latter, please.

I'm taking Thursday and Friday off work and hoping to be recovered enough to go back in on Monday. If I look more like a chipmunk than a human being as the end of the weekend approaches, it's a safe be that I'll be staying home an extra day.

I had considered doing a couple of posts ahead of time but then I decided that it would be more interesting to see what I produced while doped up on painkillers. I apologize in advance for any excessive weirdness that might appear in this space in the coming days.

Bring on the soups and the smoothies!

Tuesday December 1st, 2009

The exercise:

Let us welcome the last month of the year with some haiku. Your Two Haiku Tuesday prompt this week: a complete 180.

Mine:

I thought you'd chosen,
I thought it was set in stone.
But stone turned to sand.

* * *

You said goodbye and
Headed for the door but a
Gun shot brought you back.