Overheard at Borders

Writers are compelled to take notes. Commit to paper every detail that might one day serve a story. I've often pilfered the conversations of others and incorporated them into my stories. I recently transcribed a scene between a father and son at Borders, while drinking a cup of coffee. The dad, who looked to be in his late fifties, sat a table with his son, who was in his early-to-mid thirties. The dad did all the talking. This is what he said:

"Your mom's had a couple of little episodes. She gets that vertigo thing you have. No. Not what you have -- she goes to absolute zero, flat down on her back. She lost ten pounds in two and a half days. She looked like a walking corpse. She starts feeling bad and has to sit down -- she can get up with help and make it to the bathroom. Then she vomits. She's got crystals in her inner ear canal and it kills her balance."

Here, the father paused. The son didn't say a word, and then after a moment, asked, "Want to go?" And just like that, they were gone.

I've often wondered about that son -- why he had no comment to make about his sick mother. There's a story there, and I may tell it. But I know it won't end well.

Hummingbird Babe

Steve stumbled upon this hummingbird nest a few days ago, and returned this morning to snap a pic. We think the female began nesting around the first of March. Mom returns every 15 minutes or so to feed Itty Bitty.

March Madness

March Madness means something different to birdwatchers -- it's the time of year when hummingbirds (as in the Anna's, above), finches and doves pair up and become quite territorial. Downy woodpeckers, however, are simply looking for a pre-game snack, as demonstrated by the fellow below.

Another Manhattan

Donald Antrim's "Another Manhattan" is a short story I know I'll read again and again, just as I've repeatedly read William Gay's "The Paperhanger." Antrim's story was my introduction to his work, and because I so enjoyed it, I requested his memoir THE AFTERLIFE from the library. This book deals primarily with Antrim's relationship with his toxically alcoholic mother, and while it showcases his admirable skills as a writer, I just didn't dig it.

Having said that, I'm still very interested in reading more of his work, and plan to request THE HUNDRED BROTHERS next. Reviews sound exceptionally good.

Shrinking Bread Inspires Witty Retort

So Steve and I were at Macaroni Grill a few days ago, ordering our usual -- halibut for me and scampi for Steve -- and while we were waiting for our entrees to arrive, the waiter brought the traditional little loaf of bread and filled the tiny saucer with oil.

And when I say "little," I mean "dinky," because the size of the loaf the waiter set down was easily half the normal portion.

Me (upon waiter's departure): What? What!? Look at how small this thing is, will you? What are they trying to do? Downsize?

Steve: Maybe they're trying to save some dough.

I don't care who you are...that's funny.

Hard Times, Less Trash

I remember reading not too long ago that shoe repairmen are seeing a surge in business since the onset of the recession -- that people who once gave no thought at all to tossing slightly used shoes now take them to the local cobbler to have soles and heels replaced.

The EPA says Americans discarded 7 million tons of clothing and footwear in 2007, but with the souring of the economy came news that we were finally heeding the environmentalists' mantra to reduce, reuse, recycle and repair.

The Washington Post reported that landfill managers knew something was amiss in the economy when trash levels began dropping last year.

"The trash man is the first one to know about a recession because we see it first," said Richard S. Weber, manager of the Loudoun County, Va., landfill. "Circuit City's closing, so people aren't going there and buying those big boxes of stuff and throwing away all the Styrofoam and shrink wrap...and whatever they were replacing."

And we must have been replacing a boatload, as Americans tossed 254 million tons of unwanted stuff last year.

Now, says the Post, some landfills are reporting declines as sharp as 30 percent.

Breakfast in the Suburbs

Steve captured this female lesser goldfinch as she waited her turn at the feeder. She's sitting in a redbud tree in the back yard, watching Steve and her little finch friends, and keeping an eye on the thistle.

A Day at Crocker Art Museum

Steve and I spent a few hours this afternoon at the Crocker Art Museum in downtown Sacramento. We'd read about Mari Kloeppel's exhibit, "Animals in the Drawing Room: Portraits by Mari Kloeppel," and knew it was a show we didn't want to miss. The painting above was on display, as were pieces showcasing her knowledge of brown pelicans, peregrine falcons, horses, dogs and rabbits. A truly gifted artist.

Afterward, we toured the rest of the museum -- it's been years since we've had a chance to visit. Steve loved all of the California paintings, and my favorite was "Invasion of Persia by the Russians, 1829" by German artist Karl August Aerttinger (1803-1876). Click on the link above, and when the full illustration appears, click on the painting to enlarge, then scroll left/right for all the glorious details.

Bad Dog

Jena said, "I'm freaking home, for goodness' sake. She's not even sneaky anymore!"

Exercise in Futility

• Go to your local Borders with your 30% off coupon and look for books by Antonya Nelson, Mary Gaitskill and Donald Antrim.

• When you can't find these authors in the alphabetical listings, squint, look around for a stool and drag it over. Step on stool and feel around on top shelf to ensure you haven't missed anything. Sigh. Step down.

• Schlep to Customer Service area. Perform a search on the Borders computer system to ensure you haven't somehow overlooked the obvious.

• Note that NOT ONE of these authors has a single book in the store.

• Curse under breath.

• Go home and order from Amazon.

Antonya Nelson

Speaking of subscriptions (see yesterday's post), I also regularly receive Writers Ask, a Glimmer Train publication, wherein various writers interview other writers on topics ranging from point of view; editing; endings; publishing; and the writing life.

Andrew Scott, of Ball State University, interviewed Antonya Nelson, a professor at the University of Houston and author of several novels and short-story collections. "What do you find most difficult about teaching?" he asked. "Is there anything you find yourself stressing over...that students don't seem to grasp?"

Antonya said, "The commitment to the first draft, that's the most tiresome thing about teaching students. When they say, 'I want it to be confusing. I want it to be ungrammatical. I want it to be a big freaking mess.' Well, I don't. You get an F."

I laughed out loud over this, loving her sensibility. And because I appreciated her straightforwardness, I wanted to read her work -- something I've not done before -- so I ordered her short-story collection NOTHING RIGHT from the library. Alas, there's a waiting list, so I may run to Borders, see what's on the shelf (taking advantage of my 30% off coupon. Woo-woo!).

If you've read Antonya, let me know what you think.