The Journal of Michael Merriam

Man, Vancouver is just mauling the Wild tonight.

There's been a first car meme going around. Here is mine:



This is a 1973 Mercury Monterey. Mine was a faded gold color. It was big old tank of a car that could take out small trees (or mailboxes) and came equipped with the 429 interceptor engine. The speedometer went up to 140mph, and after I replaced the points, I discovered it would indeed go that fast. I once lost control of it on a gravel road (yes, I was going too fast. Like 65mph or something dumb like that), skidded off the road and smashed into the ditch. It knocked me out for a second, and when I came to, my windshield was covered in Oklahoma red-dirt. My first thought was that I'd died and they'd just dumped me into a grave, car and all, because I was obviously too stupid for a real funeral. The only damage was a slightly crumpled quarter-panel. It was a helluva car, and I have fond memories of it.

The short story collection is coming along. I'm going to pick the final stories in the next day or two and start putting the pages together. It's been a lot of work, and there's still plenty of work to go, but I'm having fun doing the prep work.

A piece of art that you love:

http://collections.walkerart.org/item/enlarge_fs.html?type=object&id=587&image_num=1
Go stand under it at night for the full effect.

A line in a song or line of poetry that reaches your core:

From "The Guardian Angel" by Stephen Dunn:
...though now,
in for the long haul, trying to live
beyond despair, he believes, he needs
to believe
everything he does takes root, hums
beneath the surfaces of the world.

An experience in nature that was really special and/or spiritual:

After my first marriage came unglued, I moved to Weatherford, Oklahoma. I was a damaged mess and pretty much had lost faith in the world, my fellow man, and myself. I went to work, cashed my paychecks, then went home and firmly closed my door on the world. I did this for a long time.

I ended up an assistant manager at a 24-hour convenience store. During the summer months it was more than just a little slow. Sometimes during the week I wouldn't see a soul except the police on patrol from about 1 am until about 5 am. I liked it that way.

One night I'm sitting there in the wee hours of the morning. I haven't seen anyone for a good three hours and I've restocked, ordered more groceries and gas, and done all my cleaning. I'm sitting in front of the window where I can keep one eye on the intersection while I read from whatever magazine I'd pulled off the rack. I get the feeling I'm being watched, so I glance up.

Sitting between my gas pumps is the biggest, ugliest old coyote I've ever seem, right there in the middle of town. So we stare at each other for the longest time, then he stands up, gives me a little yip, kind of jumps up and down, gives me a toothy, tongue-rolling bark, and bounds off into the darkness.

And I realized what he was trying to say to me was, "Yeah, well, this isn't the world I wanted or expect to get either, buddy. But we hafta make the best of what we've got, you know?"

That was when I decided to begin the slow and sometimes painful process of re-engaging with the world around me.

The movie that changed the way you saw the world:
Unfortunately, movies do not seem to affect me in that way. I might be touched by a movie, or made more thoughtful, but I cannot in truth tell you that any movie has ever fundamentally changed the way I look at the world.

A piece of music that makes you cry:
"Arran Boat Song" in the hands of a skilled harp player will get me every time.

Four jobs that I have done:
Freight Logistics Manager
Waiter
Packaging Machine Operator
Buffet Manager

Four Movies I could watch again:
Princess Bride
The Lord of the Rings Set
The Original Star Wars Movie
The Big Red One

Four places I've lived:
Weatherford, OK
Rhome, TX
Owasso, MI
Oney, OK

Four TV shows I watch:
Dr. Who
Battlestar Galactica
Ghost Hunters
CNN News

Four places I've been on vacation:
The French Quarter -- New Orleans, LA
Tofty, MN (The North Shore)
Hiking in New Mexico
Sulpher Springs – Davis, OK

Four websites I visit:
Live Journal
OWW
PVP
CNN.com

Four favorite foods:
Cheeseburgers
Tacos
Garlic Mashed Potatos
Pie

Four places I'd rather be:
Pretty Happy Right Here!

Restaurants I remember:
Fat Lorenzo's – Minneapolis, MN
Café du Monde – New Orleans, LA
The Deckboat – Nowhere, OK
Jake's Ribs – Chickasha, OK

Four friends I must tag and annoy:
You,You, You, and You!

As you can tell, I'm a pretty simple man with simple tastes.

Because aliettedb tagged me, six random things about myself.

1. I once got a car airborne and stuck it between two trees. Be thankful I'm too blind to drive anymore.

2. I've played Mercutio multiple times, though the last time was about twenty years ago.

3. When I was about eight, I was sick after eating a bowl of Captain Crunch cereal. Just looking at a box of it on the shelf still makes me start to gag.

4. I spent years working as everything from a line cook to a sous-chef to a kitchen manager, but I'm still afraid of sharp objects, including knives.

5. I like to eat peanut butter straight from the jar.

6. I am a beer snob.

Consider yourself tagged. Yes, you!

wordswoman posted a series of her opening lines in her live journal, and wanted other writers to do the same. The difference this time is that it does not have to be from a new work-in-progress, it can be from anything you've written. I told her I would, so I did. Without further ado, some of my opening lines.

• Charles downloaded the ghost by accident.

• The high, insistent wailing brought Rija back to her senses.

• "Sir, Theodore's in this mess because he's an idiot."

• When the spider spoke, Cassie McGowen knew she had lost what little of her mind was left.

• Tomorrow, I will walk into the flames.

• Rija stood ankle deep in cold sewage.

• The rain missed her.

Because I was tagged by redheadedali:

Five quirky habits.

I need white noise or I can't sleep. I fact, I really prefer to have some kind of white noise (usually a fan) at all times.

I take my first cup of coffee in the morning with sugar. All the rest after that are black.

I do not like socks and only wear them when I must. I think socks are the devil's playthings. Feet should be free.

When I roll off my side and onto my stomach, I roll all the way over onto my back first.

I am left-handed, but I swing baseball bats, golf clubs, and two-handed weapons right-handed. I can generate more speed and power right-handed for some reason. Everything else I do left-handed.

Consider yourself tagged if you want to be.

In Peace
Michael

We finished the last of our family and friends holiday get togethers last night, visiting and exchanging gifts with my aunt and uncle in Coon Rapids. We had our traditional holiday lasagna, watched some football, showed each other pictures from our other holiday season events, and engaged in family gossip. It was a lovely evening.

I stayed away from the novel over the weekend, but as soon as I finish this post (and do dishes and start laundry) I plan to jump back into rewrites. I did start a new short story this weekend. Lately I feel like I'm not writing as well as I can. I don't know if the long slow-down over last semester took some edge off me or what, but I have not been really happy with any of my efforts lately. I am very deliberately writing my current short story using Algis Budry's seven-point plot style. Yes, it is a bit mechanical, but I feel like I need to do this to resettle myself, and if the story comes across as hack work because of it, oh well. Sometimes, when things are not working, you need to return to the basics.

And because I was tagged by retrobabble

The Seven Quirks About Me Meme

1. I need white noise or I can't sleep. I fact, I really prefer to have some kind of white noise (usually a fan) at all times.

2. Even if I decide to wait and shower later in the day, I must wash my hair first thing in the morning, or I can't think.

3. I do not like socks and only wear them when I must. I think socks are the devil's playthings. Feet should be free.

4. I am left-handed, but I swing baseball bats, golf clubs, and two-handed weapons right-handed. I can generate more speed and power right-handed for some reason. Everything else I do left-handed.

5. I cannot write, read, or focus on a conversation if the television is on. The flickering light, sudden movements, and noise are too great a distraction. This is probably why I don't care for the TV very much. I can, however, work at the computer, reading email and LJ when the TV is on.

6. I take my first cup of coffee in the morning with sugar. All the rest after that are black.

7. I cannot sit down to write unless I have finished the basic housework, such as dishes, laundry, and general straightening up of the house.

Now, I need to go clean house so I can get started on my rewrite!

In Peace
Michael

Opening Lines meme, for the curious among you (all what, two of you?).

Far From The Fields:
Becker pulled the small box of cards from his trouser pocket and settled at the kitchen table.

The Foundling:
"I believe," Gopher said, whiskers twitching thoughtfully, "you are infected with some kind of mortal spirit."

In The Wires:
Charles downloaded the ghost by accident.

Serve And Protect:
"John, there's no need for anyone to get hurt. I want you to just settle down."

Stopping By:
Todd Cochrane loved the 1934 Dodge sedan. He loved the classic lines and the extended hood. He loved the large box-like interior, with its antiquated gauges, over-long stick shift, and vaguely earthy smell. He loved the slightly tattered seats, seats wide enough in the back for two people to sit apart if they wished, seats comfortable enough for two people to sit close together if they desired.

Untitled #26
Donel had not meant to kidnap the Hag of Kilmarra. No, he had not meant to kidnap her at all.