Fallen Figments

fallen figments



It was like experiencing a sunset that was so moving that it carved a memory into that place where I stored my favorite memories.

You have those days?

I have my favorites. Those special ones that confirmed the magic of life, like the time when the rain began to fall during a steamy summer afternoon while walking through the park with an ice cream cone in my hand. I remember how the sky crackled with electricity and the thunder rumbled from a distance...

Or an autumn at a New England lake collecting leaves of brilliant shades of red, orange and yellow. They looked so perfect; so beautiful that I filled a large envelop with them and mailed them to my mother.

Or that delicate morning walk that I breathed in the crisp winter air, marveling at the line of bare beautiful magnolia trees covered with a clear crystalline layer of ice. How I loved listening to the sound of snow under my feet and feel a snowflake land on my cheek.

Or the evening when the moon was so big and bright that I hiked a mile without a flashlight.

It's nice to have these memories live inside of me. I experienced all these magical moments (with the exception of the hike) alone.

It is rare that I have a moment like this with someone else. I usually find myself annoyed because the moment would be stolen away from the moon, the snowflakes or crunching of autumn leaves by the other person wanting to fill the silence with a joke, an impatient sigh of boredom or some word to disregard being present to the possibility of being filled with awe.

So imagine what it must have been like to actually feel awe and magic when its not the sunset, the moon or the trees that filled me with poetry but rather a person. And then imagine that poem getting filtered so that the ink to say the words was diluted that you couldn't put the words outside of you.

And that is what had become of a sunset that now fits between leaves and snowflakes where I have my favorite memories.

JNET

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Complex Meet Complicated

complex meet complicated


SEMANTICS: the language used to achieve a desired effect through the use of words with novel or dual meanings.

I don't mind a good brain workout toward winning a game, mastering a piano piece, or even taking on the extra mindfulness of handling a delicate conversation. To me something complex or intricate is also interesting and elegant and I would experience complex as I would a rollercoaster.

You ought to know that I ADORE rollercoasters... a masterful engineering of steel and hydraulics that uses physics for a calculated thrill equation. Complex is a good ride... sometimes fast with quick corners and sometimes climbing, building anticipation. Complex can be enjoyed on a sunny day and a serious aficionado will ride out on a rainy day.

COMPLEX: (biochemistry) an entity composed of molecules in which the constituents maintain much of their chemical identity

Complex creates an emotion in me that is of awe and curiosity. Complex has a certain fascinating slant; several. Edgey and complexy sexy....

Complex meet Complicated....

Complicated is not sexy or edgey at all. It snarls at Complex and promises a good fight. Complicated is not fun to sit through. Lacking the charisma and fascinating lure of Complexity, Complicated gains attentions by complaints and emotional hijackings that create a thrill of a different and darker sort.

I bring these two words up because so many people choose "complicated." I tend to choose complex. What you choose colors how you walk the path.

I decided to un-choose "complicated" people recently. The ride guaranteed frustration, disappointment and unsettling predictability. Complicated people also seem to have an unearned sense of entitlement over other people's time and patience as well as a lack of graciousness, autonomy and initiative to create balance.

One such person had a knack for needing to spew the miseries of her life on me ad nauseum. I found myself feeling ill - interrupted several times during a clockwork of desperation from her needing an audience. Just trying to be a sympathetic ear was challenging...

In the end, I find that a life liberally labeled as complicated is code for "don't question my life" just let me dump it on you.

Not to expect Life to be a ride on the teacups.... I just like it challenging enough to make me think and be creative... look forward to intricacies and enjoy fast corners.

Which would you choose? I have a gorgeous Bach piece that you may enjoy getting your hands on. One is complex. The other is complicated.

How do you color your world with your words?

Jnetsworld... clearing away complication.

JNET

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SPEECH (lightly roasting): Resident Alien - The Great Gordini

It's been a dream of mine to travel into outer space and explore the stars and galaxies.... and perhaps meet intelligent life... out there. Mind you that alien may be three feet tall with wide almond shaped eyes and pale clammy looking skin.

Fortunately, we have an alien in our midst and the Men In Black have just okay'd his visa for the next millenium. Can we please give a big hand to Mr. Gordon Limtiaco, Mr. Out of This World Himself.

Don't tell me that you didn't notice that Gordon here was DIFFERENT. He's been begging for you to know within every speech he gives. They've all been confessionals.

Let's look at his family. They look normal. But hadn't you considered the strangeness of how many times they've moved? Â It's suspicious.

Born in Cincinnati.

Go to the internet tonight, Cincinnati has been a hot spot of UFO sightings since the 1800's.

Moved to Shreveport, LA at age 5.

Why Gordon? You are just starting school.

Moved to Baton Rouge, LA at age 6.

What the heck, Gordon? You scared the kids in kindergarten?

Moved to Boise, Idaho at age 7.

How many families up and move each year? Â You make the Cullen vampire family look tame. Â I suspect that you ate raw meat or licked a classmate and freaked someone out.

Yes... Gordon eats raw meat. But, be assured he's not a killer though has a diverse appetite that would gross out a vulture. Â The man's favorite publication is Guideposts a religious magazine which he's been devouring for years and he is an atheist.

If your family was atheist, reading Guideposts would be grounds for kicking you out of the house. Â Gordon, you are an embarrassment to atheists around the world.

Stand close enough to Gordon and he may take a sniff at you and maybe take a lick and growl like a puppy. But he won't break the skin. Â Just stay still... sort of like playing dead.

Gordon is harmless though. Â HARMLESS. Â How can you be afraid of this man when he has a formidable movie collection of chick flicks would make a gay man blush?

Moved to Anchorage, AK at 11.

That is far. Your family is on the lamb? You safely stay there for a while. Your brother says that you went everywhere wearing two back packs. Two. One on front and the other on the back filled to full capacity. Â With what Gordon?

Moved to Los Angeles at 18.

This is a good place to be  strange. The actors provide a good smoke screen.

Gordon's first car was a black Cadi hearse... The Men in Black agents drive black Cadis. Gordon's always wanted to be a special agent. Â Look at him right now, he's wearing a black suit keeping the dream alive. Â Black is one of his favorite colors but he always get distracted that he disqualifies himself from being an agent due to a particular idiosyncrasy...

Gordon has a distracting fascination with numbers and it makes him measure everything. He can eyeball your height and weight. Anyone over 6 foot 3 gets a wow factor and he wants to take a picture like pulling Goofy in Disneyland for a photo op. This is not a quality to maintain intergalactic security.

Gordon's impeccable eye for measuring makes him a top notch funeral director. Where the saleperson at the dress boutique can look at you and know your size or the shoe person can look at your feet and bring out the right fit, Gordon looks at you and pictures you in the perfect casket.

Why couldn't you be a wedding planner? Our talks on diamonds and jewelry are about turning my carbon matter into a gem. It's true.. it can be done. Gordon's given me brochures.

Gordon likes to say that he'll appear normal as long as he doesn't open his mouth.  It took a while to get to know him.  He's a bit private but eventually he was sharing some of his chick flicks with me and I got to know a bit of his thoughts and found them disturbing.

Gordon is obsessed over doughnuts and sweets. Â Obsessed. Â You think eating raw ground meat is strange? Â Sundays, Gordon like to treat himself to a meal out in the town. Â Several meals. Â In one seating, he'll eat enough to feed a football team. Â Gosh, I wish I took pictures because I know it sounds unbelievable. Â And he keeps 20 pints of ice cream in his freezer. Â 20 pints! Â Gordon lives ALONE. Â And he prefers to eat it when it is melted into an ice cream soup.

I've known Gordon for several years now. This is the most normal I've ever known Gordon to be. Frankly, I'm surprised that I've known him this long what with his licking and sniffing habits. But he's been working on being normal and hasn't offended any of my friends in quite a while. Toastmasters has really helped him shine. He even has a girlfriend now. I cannot even imagine.... I am afraid to. She seduced him with a song reciting the Fibonacci series.

Gordon's given excellent speeches and you'll have to listen closer next time just don't stand too close. Being a toastmaster has given him new life; a normal one... one where he can enjoy ironically... being a bit more human.

JNET

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