The Daily News
1 "You're perfectly mad!"
2 I'm into the 4 a.m. once again, and some old film or other is flickering in front of me. I was setting up for the writing of this nonsense, heard that line, and lifted a smile.
3 I swear on a stack of bibles that I have no idea what movie it is, or anything about it.
4 Frankly, I don't really wish to find out. It is one of about a million I watch each night/morning.
5 I don't really watch them. They are sort of like night lights with black-and-white visuals and sound that sometimes cracks.
6 I wake up to 2013, when nobody says things like "You're perfectly mad!"
7 Or "Oh, my darling, I love you!"
8 I enjoy my night lights.
9 I enjoy going to sleep early, and then awakening to a heater, a blanket, and an old movie.
10 I enjoy movies with people moving swiftly along rainy streets.
11 I enjoy umbrellas.
12 I enjoy my time of day. Somewhere in the middle of the night, I imagine. It's as though I have taken my hand and stopped the world.
13 "I can't marry you. I don't know your name!"
14 Only deep into the 4 a.m. would you hear an almost tag line like that coming off the screen. That was the second-to-the-last line in said unknown film. I didn't catch the tag line. But that was the line going into the tag line. It doesn't get any better than that.
15 Ah, the joys of insomnia.
16 Who knew it would come to this?
17 What most people don't understand about insomnia is that it can not only be controlled, it can be engaging.
18 It feels as though I have slipped through the cracks of the insanity through which we all live, and given sweet, precious moments for myself.
19 If that sounds a bit selfish, so be it.
20 I have these scant wee hours to relax. Most people have no concept of relaxation.
21 They get flustered, and try to force it with weekends that often don't go the way they would like. Or with stressing the entire time they try to relax.
22 I used to laugh at that. I would see people who would be ridiculously impatient on vacations.
23 Ever see people on the freeways during the summer?
24 They are more nervous trying to escape the madness than when they are when working.
25 They tailgate other drivers. They roll down their windows and shout at the car in front of them, "Come on you idiot! Can't you see that I'm in a hurry to relax????" It is almost comical, were it not so dangerous. Morons. No escaping them.
26 I'm awake for the day.
27 I had an extremely stressful weekend. I had to go under the hood of the DN and do a repair job.
28 I had tons of grading to do. That's always a pleasure.
29 I had to plan lessons for what is going to be a stressful week.
30 I had people at work barking at me for things I didn't do to make their lives easier.
31 I had to help family.
32 I watched my own work stack up.
33 And I fought it all.
34 By the time I went to sleep, I had conquered all of that boushit.
35 I went to sleep early, and I am now completely awake, refreshed, and ready for the day.
36 Healthy, not wealthy, but quite wise still.
37 I look around my cozy living room, see that everything is organized and ready for the coming week, and smile, like Joe-the-Bear, who sits in peace on a whatnot.
38 A whatnot is a piece of furniture that has a system of shelves that holds figurines, pictures, and whatnot.
39 Last week I gave that as a vocabulary word.
40 It was from some extinct short story by Mark Twain.
41 I had never really read it until last week. It's this charming little piece called The Californian's Tale. Most people have never heard of it.
42 It's about a gold miner still hanging around California some years after the gold rush. He comes upon a former miner named Henry, whose house, unlike all the abandoned ones, looks pretty, and has flowers and paint, and is absolutely beautiful. Henry is waiting for his lovingly gorgeous wife to return from visiting relatives.
43 The narrator becomes engaged when he sees a picture of Henry's wife, who looks absolutely charming.
44 I won't give the plot away, as I know there are readers out there who might enjoy this remarkable gem.
45 If a guy like me uses the word "charming" twice in the four a.m. you know the story has charm.
46 I teach seasonally.
47 This story is truly about the real forty-niners.
48 And Twain uses the term "whatnot" as a piece of furniture that holds knick-knacks.
49 I am convinced that very few people in 2013 would know that.
50 We have a couple of whatnots in the very room from where I am writing at this moment.
51 They hold small figurines, beautiful pictures of all things past, and the venerable Joe-the-Bear.
52 I just tried taking a picture of Joe-the-Bear but it was too dark, and he looked ghastly. When I have a bit more time, I'll share him. He is gallant, and quite the gentleman. He just hangs out with this look that is a replicates me.
53 He is the gentleman I always hope to be. I look up to Joe-the-Bear.
52 Well, some other movie is on, and is winding down. I've heard the word "darling" more than I have perhaps ever. It must be darling night on TCM.
53 It is now approaching the five a.m. when the clock radio blares at me with unimportant suddenness, reminding me of 2013. I push this ten-minute button that hushes all the trash out there, and I close my eyes and think about more pleasurable things, like Mark Twain, whatnots, and Joe-the-Bear. It will pop on in ten more minutes with massive news of still more misery,and I will again pop it on the head, silence it, and I will attempt to think of niceties.
54 By the second or third pop, they will have reached sports news, and I will rest my eyes 'til it is time to jump back into all the madness that is 2013.
55 I will then have coffee, edit this nonsense, and walk into my week tanned, rested, and ready. The art of insomnia, beautifully orchestrated.
56 It might not be for everybody, but it works for me.
57 Enjoy your Monday. Fly low.
58 See you again.
59 Peace.
~H~
www.xanga.com/bharrington
The Daily News1 "You're perfectly mad!"2 I'm into the 4 a.m. once again, and some old film or other is flickering in front of me. I was setting up for the writing of this nonsense, heard that line, and lifted a smile.3 I swear on a stack of bibles that I have no idea what movie it is, or anything about it.4 Frankly, I don't really wish to find out. It is one of about a million I watch each night/morning.5 I don't really watch them. They are sort of like night lights with black-and-white visuals and sound that sometimes cracks.6 I wake up to 2013, when nobody says things like "You're perfectly mad!"7 Or "Oh, my darling, I love you!"8 I enjoy my night lights.9 I enjoy going to sleep early, and then awakening to a heater, a blanket, and an old movie.10 I enjoy movies with people moving swiftly along rainy streets.11 I enjoy umbrellas.12 I enjoy my time of day. Somewhere in the middle of the night, I imagine. It's as though I have taken my hand and stopped the world.13 "I can't marry you. I don't know your name!"14 Only deep into the 4 a.m. would you hear an almost tag line like that coming off the screen. That was the second-to-the-last line in said unknown film. I didn't catch the tag line. But that was the line going into the tag line. It doesn't get any better than that.15 Ah, the joys of insomnia.16 Who knew it would come to this?17 What most people don't understand about insomnia is that it can not only be controlled, it can be engaging.18 It feels as though I have slipped through the cracks of the insanity through which we all live, and given sweet, precious moments for myself.19 If that sounds a bit selfish, so be it.20 I have these scant wee hours to relax. Most people have no concept of relaxation.21 They get flustered, and try to force it with weekends that often don't go the way they would like. Or with stressing the entire time they try to relax.22 I used to laugh at that. I would see people who would be ridiculously impatient on vacations.23 Ever see people on the freeways during the summer?24 They are more nervous trying to escape the madness than when they are when working.25 They tailgate other drivers. They roll down their windows and shout at the car in front of them, "Come on you idiot! Can't you see that I'm in a hurry to relax????" It is almost comical, were it not so dangerous. Morons. No escaping them.26 I'm awake for the day.27 I had an extremely stressful weekend. I had to go under the hood of the DN and do a repair job.28 I had tons of grading to do. That's always a pleasure.29 I had to plan lessons for what is going to be a stressful week.30 I had people at work barking at me for things I didn't do to make their lives easier.31 I had to help family.32 I watched my own work stack up.33 And I fought it all.34 By the time I went to sleep, I had conquered all of that boushit.35 I went to sleep early, and I am now completely awake, refreshed, and ready for the day.36 Healthy, not wealthy, but quite wise still.37 I look around my cozy living room, see that everything is organized and ready for the coming week, and smile, like Joe-the-Bear, who sits in peace on a whatnot.38 A whatnot is a piece of furniture that has a system of shelves that holds figurines, pictures, and whatnot.39 Last week I gave that as a vocabulary word.40 It was from some extinct short story by Mark Twain.41 I had never really read it until last week. It's this charming little piece called The Californian's Tale. Most people have never heard of it.42 It's about a gold miner still hanging around California some years after the gold rush. He comes upon a former miner named Henry, whose house, unlike all the abandoned ones, looks pretty, and has flowers and paint, and is absolutely beautiful. Henry is waiting for his lovingly gorgeous wife to return from visiting relatives.43 The narrator becomes engaged when he sees a picture of Henry's wife, who looks absolutely charming.44 I won't give the plot away, as I know there are readers out there who might enjoy this remarkable gem.45 If a guy like me uses the word "charming" twice in the four a.m. you know the story has charm.46 I teach seasonally.47 This story is truly about the real forty-niners.48 And Twain uses the term "whatnot" as a piece of furniture that holds knick-knacks.49 I am convinced that very few people in 2013 would know that.50 We have a couple of whatnots in the very room from where I am writing at this moment.51 They hold small figurines, beautiful pictures of all things past, and the venerable Joe-the-Bear.52 I just tried taking a picture of Joe-the-Bear but it was too dark, and he looked ghastly. When I have a bit more time, I'll share him. He is gallant, and quite the gentleman. He just hangs out with this look that is a replicates me.53 He is the gentleman I always hope to be. I look up to Joe-the-Bear.52 Well, some other movie is on, and is winding down. I've heard the word "darling" more than I have perhaps ever. It must be darling night on TCM.53 It is now approaching the five a.m. when the clock radio blares at me with unimportant suddenness, reminding me of 2013. I push this ten-minute button that hushes all the trash out there, and I close my eyes and think about more pleasurable things, like Mark Twain, whatnots, and Joe-the-Bear. It will pop on in ten more minutes with massive news of still more misery,and I will again pop it on the head, silence it, and I will attempt to think of niceties.54 By the second or third pop, they will have reached sports news, and I will rest my eyes 'til it is time to jump back into all the madness that is 2013.55 I will then have coffee, edit this nonsense, and walk into my week tanned, rested, and ready. The art of insomnia, beautifully orchestrated.56 It might not be for everybody, but it works for me.57 Enjoy your Monday. Fly low.58 See you again.59 Peace.~H~www.xanga.com/bharrington
