Thursday, July 19, 2007

Upside down and backwards.....

I don't believe in clocks.

I mean I have them, and they work. They tick. But they're all set on different times. The bedroom clock is on Saturday time. One hour and forty minutes faster than the DJ on the radio says it is....That's because, Monday through Friday, I want dozens of opportunities to hit the snooze button and not be interrupted by that bolting, panicked fear, that I actually have overslept. And when I finally roll over, crawl across the sheets, and swat it for the last time, I want enough time left over to drink two cups of coffee, stare out into space, color on the porch if I'm so inclined, and wait until the very, very last moment to get in the shower and fly out the door. On the week-ends I want to wake up to the sun beating through the windows, and at least "think" I slept in.

The kitchen clock is one hour fast. Just because. I don't believe in giving away hours or getting them free. I've never understood daylight savings time, and I sure as hell don't want to give it back. The clock on the microwave is right. He set it that way. I don't cook. So I never look at it. The digital baby in the car has been resetting itself back to midnight since the beach. I get in the car at midnight every morning. It ticks right along throughout the day and then jumps back to midnight every evening. Of course, I'm sure that "means something"......

Anyhow, really short story getting long, I had one of those mornings, when I really didn't care to guess what time it was, and I rolled out of the drive-way at midnight, nonetheless. The traffic was glorious. No bumping and beeping, no arms flailing out of dirty windows. Everyone just meandering down the road, listening to the Rolling Stones concert drifting from my windows.

Of course, I was really, really late for work. And all day I was off. I dropped things and smiled. I caught a mirror once and saw the reflection of Rod Stewart's earlier days in my bangs. I smiled and said "Good afternoon" all morning, and when I finally got it right, the sun was starting to tilt. I forgot to get gas. The car gurgled, but I didn't hear it.... Rolling Stones and all.....

I finally made it home.....
And no-one, not the first patient, not Chey, not the good Doctor himself had said a word to me all day. Not about my scrubs.....

The tags....

Inside out and backwards.....

40 comments:

skinnylittleblonde said...

ROTFLMAO Sister! ILYSVFM
Your britches just wanted to go with flow & match the rest of the world for a change! ;)

singleton said...

slb...Ha! I lost three lighters, a bic pen, and a pair of scissors from the Emperor's new back pockets..... and no one said a word!
ILYSVVFM

Scott from Oregon said...

I had the same day, only mine included smashing a finger with a hammer and shoving a half inch sliver up the same fingernail...

savannah said...

damn, sugar...all i had were MAC problems!

eric1313 said...

What a day! It was rainy, too, wasn't it? That's what it was: sister sun was showering late and it threw you for a loop.

btw, Are you a nurse, Sing? I've never asked you about yourself once, I think. I just read and read. But that would be fitting with your personality. I can only imagine that you aren't too different than what we see here.

You are probably a trip to sit and drink with...

...Actually, you are! Where's my head at? I've been off all day, too.

Talk to you soon.
clink! tink!

drips of paint said...

sound like a great day to remember by because probably not going to happen that much, right?.....it is precious.

I often wear my shirt inside out when I go out to paint so that I do not get the front side dirty....occasionally people came up to let me know but mostly they don't.....may be next time I'll try that with my pant too.

singleton said...

scott......oh,nooooo, you had a terrible day.....I didn't have a bad one at all, I was just out of sync....which is cool. Smashing your finger and getting slivered is not cool! hope you are feeling ok today!

savannah....Ohhhhh, I wouldn't have wanted those Mac problems for anything, that makes me grit my teeth, say things like arrrrrrrrgggghhhh! out loud. This day just made me laugh!

singleton said...

eric....yup! And the thunder rolled and bellowed and hiccuped all day, which I actually loved....i sort of just got lost in the day, my own pace, my own world..... And no one bothered to bring me back to reality. It's good like that sometimes.....

drips....Isn't it funny, the way artist's dress? And usually no one says a word.....
I used acrylics for years, and found myself forever painting in the same two pair of jeans, I gave up my painter's cloth, for swiping the brush clean, and used the legs.....they were swathed in subtle colors of every mural I ever painted.....

It's Friday, my friends, peace, and finally, time......

Lola Starr said...

Oh sounds like my last two days. Everything went crazy on Wednesday and then they didn't improve on Thursday. So here's to a happy Friday! :)

kj said...

well....so who took that photo of your back pant tag?

like you i must have advance time before i get out of bed and my clock objects if i don't leave time for coffee and thinking. i move in slow(er) motion most of the time, i'm always the last one out the door. this used to bother me (and others) but now i kind of like what it means..

your arrangement with clocks is a riot! and i'm thinking to myself something i occasionally say outloud, "time is not linear"

have a good weekend singleton. saturday's next on your morning time..

:)

SHE said...

great post! -and how fun, that no one said a word

and you didn't notice...

until you did. and then smiled and wrote about it

your priorities are always in the write place at the write time

Beerspitnight said...

...timeless

eric1313 said...

singleton, you gonna be there at five thiry? I have work to do at my Grandma's house until then, but I want to write as well. Be here a little later and I'm there.

I hope you're doing something with these ideas you print up! I know you probably are. Talk to you soon. I have to weed the gardens for a bit.

Anonymous said...

You know, it's funny, my bedroom clock is a half hour late as well. The idea is I will find out it is 9:30 and freak out, get out of bed, and rush to work.

But I've learned to always mentally adjust for the real time. What a bunch of nonsense, why did I change the time in the first place?

Chris Benjamin said...

some days everything can go right and seem wrong
other days everything goes wrong and feels right
the latter is better, 9 out of 10 times

singleton said...

karma....well, Here's to Friday! The snotty little bank-teller told me to have a "great one"! Which I take as a sure as hell sign, it's gonna be a good one! Hope your is too!

kj....Someone took my picture? LOL! I know, who invented time anyway? And why? What's wrong with just leaving it up to the sun and the moon?

She....Now mind you, they couldn't wait to tell me "today" what they "forgot" to mention "yesterday"! Yeah, baby, we all stick together!

singleton said...

beerspit..... clink!

eric...A little weedin', huh? :) Awww, I wish my Nana and Mamaw were still around.....

trevor....you changed it because you could! So you should! And because....we live in our own little worlds?

benji....hands down, 9 times outa 10!

kj said...

snotty little bankteller?

now, singleton, no need for name calling......

:)

eric1313 said...

sing, are you home? I'm at sister's. You still there?

singleton said...

kj....but, she is snotty! :) well, except for today.......

eric...must be a sister-love moment, I've been on the line with skinny.... gonna bop in the shower and then maybe we can all meet at Skinnys chatterbox patio for a Cheers! dear!

eric1313 said...

sounds fine to me,
backwards and inside out...
how appropriate--
That's the way we all wake up, one day in or out.


Sisters. Gotta love'em.
clink!

singleton said...

And we do! clink!

skinnylittleblonde said...

Sorry guys, I was out for the night ;)...but the party on the porch is always open...whether I am there or not!

singleton said...

slb.....:) But, it's you that makes your porch a party! LOL! Last night turned out to be a like an endless trip on Mr. Toad's Wild Ride! Clink! To Coffee Cups!

Shrink Wrapped Scream said...

Oh honey, I just love the way your mind works! Cheers, bonny lass.

eric1313 said...

off to work with the good people of the world...
I'll try to clean up a little of this poetry


Just as Likely as Publication


take this poetry--
print it to life
and make little airplanes out of
it
that's what you should do,
said the prophet.

land
in Orlando
for spanish coffee
served by a princess
in glass slippers
who poses as an alligator
at midnight
Devour and smile;
They'll be watching you
in the mirror
as you walk away

Sleep on Daytona's beach
covered by wreckage and empty bottles,
the broken spring winds turned to
hot summer pain and evening storms,
fluting a pure lullaby
across the empty glass mouths
that kissed you like they
knew how star light was born
once upon
the night before

And when the sand crabs
or jackboot beach patrol
prod you awake
before the best part
of the dream whose name you won't remember, but still taste--
unfold this airplane
and now it's a postcard,
stamp it,
scribble your name
in ink, big red crayon,
lead, charcoal, india ink
or blood on the back,
and maybe the prophet
will send return fare

hold on--
I'll ask him right now.





Clink! my orange Mountain Dew
to the coffee cups
a circle...
once set,
it is said...

the legend continues...

singleton said...

Eric! Damn! Tink! I just walked in from the coloring porch, and you blow me away!
Unbelievable!
peace~love~ gotta love the dreams you don't remember, but rock you in the wake.....

eric1313 said...

how are you?
I'm at the community college. Just chain smoked three cigarettes and now I'm back. They close at two thirty, so I'm here for a bit writing my but off before weeding granny's front yard flowerbeds.

How are you feeling?

Oceanshaman said...

Learning to deal with time, which along with space, forms the confines of this illusion we call life here in the third dimension . . .

Sometimes it moves slow, sometimes fast, always there . . .

These days, I find myself working to keep myself here and now, away from fears of the future or despair about the past, and also away from idealized past moments and fantasy future potentials . . .

Here and now, in the moment, right where I need to be . . .

singleton said...

eric...Good! Runnin' to share the love and peace with Kimbies and her crew....Porch party later! BYO7 or OMD!

oceans...."Here and now, in the moment, right where I need to be . . ." Sage words, my friend.

eric1313 said...

later? Cool! I just shared some great words at Skinny's. Bet you'd like them!!! It's nice to write for good reasons. And skinny was inspiring today, as you could also tell. Talk to you soon.

Clink!

singleton said...

eric...She inspires me every day! And that was beautiful , a henna crown for the natural girl! Your gifts are like rain.....

eric1313 said...

You're a great sister to her. You all partying anytime soon?

Anonymous said...

Honesty. I crave it.
Tell me I have stuff in my teeth.
Tell me I look like a dork.
Whatever-Tell Me!

In a funny way, just think of all the laughter that you created for all the people who did notice. :)

singleton said...

Eric...welp, I missed the party! Lightening bolts and strobe lights blasting my living room! I'll be back on soon! Party in the wind!

wreckless....Me too! And I do that! I tell! I always tell! They didn't fess until Friday, giggling to themselves...Payback is hell! And I'm sure I deserved it! :)

Me said...

Attempting to explain to a person that time doesn't actually exist is like telling them air is actually a liquid; suffice to say it is never fun.

Something tells me the clock is waiting for Orhan to pass a Florida midnight before it continues to tick ;)

justacoolcat said...

I've often wondered about the habits of clocks. All of the clocks in my house are on different times too, and I swear it doesn't start out like that . . .

david mcmahon said...

G'day from Australia,

I'm so glad I followed the links to your site from skinnylittleblonde and carol cooper's shrinkwrappedscream sites.

Having lived in many time zones I see your point of view. My travelling clock now is my cell phone - which is my alarm clock as well.

Would you have any objections if I added you to my blogroll?

Cheers

David

singleton said...

Orhan....We'll set the clocks to whatever time we wana fly by.....get a passport friend!

Justacoolcat....Clocks! They can't help it! They don't have a soul to sell to their boss, so they can still do as they please!

singleton said...

David...I'd be delighted! And I'll be over to visit just as soon as I can travel on my own keyboard!