Tuesday, September 24, 2013

Poetry


A Fight in the Car
I engage in behavior - destructive and immoral.
Behavior that simultaneously
Fascinates and electrifies.
The proud owner of breathtaking stories.

The Guide in my brain, Responsible 
for right from wrong
 Violently opposes me
The rest desperately
Want to see what will happen.

The Creative Process
First, make-believe
The plot is fine.
Convince others too
Corroborate my story.
Change reality.
Color and light shift,
The old view
Distorted and lost.
Finally, I write.

A Happy Tune
I walk down an ominous road.
Spending hours staring at, imagining and reimagining
Sinister shadows.
Through strength their malicious powers away;
I defeat their fear.
Pain is a funny joke.

Constant vigilance
Of getting lost.

Monday, September 2, 2013

Dear Friend - I have bought a bicycle and a chair. And some whiskey.


Dear Friend

I’m still loving LA. A lot of great stuff happening. 

Mainly that I have a bicycle that I ride all around. I bought it at a used bike shop and yesterday bought a used helmet to go with it.

When I talked to Harland Williams about my used bike he said, “We’ve all been there. We all had our used bike days. Don’t worry, you’ll make your trillions.” 

It’s always comforting when someone who has found a way to live off of his or her passion believes in me.

It’s a really nice bike and the first one I’ve had in three years.

When I was in Vegas, I made a list of things that I wanted in my life that I believed would make me happier. Above such luxuries as financial stability, a TV writer’s job and health insurance, I wrote:

1) A bicycle I can ride to yoga and to coffee shops to write

2) Leave my house and be able to walk to places. Not need to drive everywhere.

3) A place where I feel safe walking

4) No bars on my windows

I didn’t have any of those things in Las Vegas, and now I have them all.

I ride my bike along Silver Lake reservoir to a yoga studio where I have a first month Groupon. The studio definitely isn’t my favorite – not a great class selection and not always as challenging as I’d like - but it’s a really beautiful ride over and a good workout with 1 ½ hours of yoga and a 5-mile bike trip.

I just bought a chair for my room too! I now own a fancy 2-person chair. It’s blue, and once I buy a nice reading lamp, I’ll be able to sit in my chair late at night reading and writing.

I got locked out of my house the other day and had to break my roommate’s screen to get back inside. Tomorrow I have to go to a place to get it rescreened. 

Also, I need to buy a bottle of whiskey to replace the one I drank. Totally worth it. That was some really nice whiskey.

Anyways… write and tell me what you’ve bought recently. theyogastripper@gmail.com

To reiterate, I have recently bought (or am about to buy) a bicycle, bicycle accessories, a chair, a screen and a nice bottle of whiskey. Look at me settling into a location! It’s such a great feeling to finally be where I want to be… location-wise at least.

I don’t even mind traffic because it gives me an opportunity to listen to NPR and learn some Spanish. Over half the radio stations are Spanish speaking, and I listen to 96.3, which has Mexican and American club hits and talks in both Spanish and English. I understand most of everything thanks to my Portuguese, but I’m still far from being able to speak confidently.

I miss you and I think of you often. Come visit me soon.

Leah