Thursday, June 14, 2012

A few quotes from the child playing underneath the Japanese maple tree, outside my open window:

"Okay.  I'll turn myself into a slug while I wait."

"No fear.  I will pretend today is my birthday."

"This is my little brother, but he's a rock.  And he just goes all the time jumping on the very top of trees," -- said while holding up a small rock she found under the Japanese maple.

"And this is his horse," -- said moments later, holding up another small rock.

She then proceeded to wobble dangerously between the small tree and the window screen while describing the adventures of her brother and his horse over the rainbow, illustrating all the while with the two rocks.

Wednesday, June 6, 2012

There's a line in the movie As Good As It Gets... Jack Nicholson is supposed to give Helen Hunt a compliment.  He's aiming for one that's good enough to keep her from leaving the restaurant, but he overshoots and gives her a compliment that she claims is the best one she's ever received:  "You make me want to be a better man."

Well, the Beach Boys' put out a new album.  The last time they put out a new album...  Let's just say, I hadn't noticed that the Beach Boys existed yet.  I was in fifth grade.

I don't think anyone expected them to put out another new album ever again.  I know I didn't.  In fact, when I heard about the single, it didn't even occur to me that it was the harbinger of a whole Beach Boys' album.  The idea was that unthinkable.

But, nonetheless, a new Beach Boys' album came out yesterday.  It's their thirtieth studio album, the first new one in two decades, and... it's good.  It may be their best album since Pet Sounds.  It's...  so good that...  it makes me want to write.  It fills my head with stars and stories and life filling a whole other universe.

Friday, June 1, 2012

"I'm pretending I'm a pogo stick." -- Elaine, jumping on one foot

"I'm all gone!  I'm all gone!" -- Elaine, with her hood pulled down over her head

"My brother is a skipping fairy, so all he eats is flowers, grass, mint, and chocolate.  That's all he eats!" -- Elaine, introducing her latest imaginary sibling

"I wish we lived in an igloo where it's very cold, and slippery, and wet, and soggy." -- Elaine, with no further explanation