A Day by Any Other Name.....

So to break from tradition, I'm writing a more common blog entry because my muse has taken leave (at least for two weeks! I found the ticket stub to Hawaii on my dresser...and she didn't even invite me..the nerve!) and my inspiration seems to have dried up into a sickly purple-brown prune. And I can't stand the thought of someone stumbling onto my blog only to be greeted by that painting of my crabs. Crabs! That's no welcome mat!

I'm not even going to mention the fact that today is the day that will not be mentioned (wink wink you know what I'm talking about). Nothing special for me. Not this year. How sad. But that's life and I'm not going to worry about it. If it wasn't fated for me to be spoiled with rose petals, cheap red wine, and calorific Swiss chocolates, than I'm better for it. (And I can drink red wine 365 days a year! Thank you very much!) The world has brainwashed us into thinking that the amount of love we feel should be measured by how large that stuffed bear on your bed is, or how many roses your boyfriend was able to afford. That's twisted and delusional. That bear will end up dirty and tattered at the Goodwill store by next year and those roses began wilting the very second the florist cut their roots off....Pleasure and happiness is constantly fleeting.

On the other hand, the weather was real nice today, I tell ya what. One of those days where you want to go splash around in the creek and get all bronzed from the sun's kisses. Or sit on a rock and see if an unknowing fish will bite that shiny hook disguised in the slimy blood of a worm bait. Or sit in the middle of a meadow of sunflowers and contemplate why doing nothing can bring such contentment...

I on the other hand was not splashing around, or baiting a hook, or amongst any sunflowers of any sort. I was helping mom out at the old shop and it was like any other day except for the fact that instead of my customary "Have a nice day!" at the end of a transaction, I wrapped up with "Happy (day that will not be mentioned wink wink)!" Some of the highlights of today was when:

1. A man bought $5 worth of ginseng candy. Who buys that much ginseng candy? (BTW gross!)

2. A woman buys 8 cans of tuna fish. That's alot of dolphin safe cans. And she referred to saltine crackers as "cookies you eat the fish with."

3. A man came in looking awfully nervous because he didn't have a gift for his girlfriend for (the day that won't be mentioned) but I helped him pick something out nice and his nervous disposition melted away.

4. Four different customers came in and told me what a nice lady my mom was and that I was lucky to have such a kind lady as my mother. I already knew that :)

5. I finished my Su Tong novel and was disgusted at how he depicted women in it.

6. Learned that my mother lived in a big house with marble floors when she was in Vietnam but when she came to America, she was sewing sombreros for $2.75 an hour.

Later on in the day...

I got another rejection email from one of the places where I sent in one of my short story submissions. Boo-hoo. I feel like a dope. Like they don't get me. Come on, am I that complex? Maybe, maybe not. There's not enough petals on a daisy to play that game. I guess the market for short 'short stories' hasn't gotten it's spotlight yet. But the other day at Barnes & Nobles, I saw an anthology for the shortest short stories in the world and they were pretty much one-liners! Now if those got a real publishing deal, than surely....no, I'm not gonna jinx myself. The clammy veil of rejection easily wears away and only makes your eminent success that much sweeter. I guess all I can do is keep submitting...until my fingers break.