revisiting the man

yesterday it was nice to have extra time to go into the library and check out books, read. and of all the titles there, there was only my go to section in the Classic Literature aisle that i always feel is specially reserved for me: the Steinbecks.

i read Tortilla Flat for the first time, and it was pretty fantastic. the paisanos of Monterey really do exemplify that the best things in life are always there, in wine, friendship, and the idea of goodness-- even when the goodness falls short in the results. here is another piece by my guiding light, my favorite author since i first read The Grapes of Wrath in high school and saw the Steinbeck Museum for myself. in finding your favorite writer, that one muse to jumpstart your EVERYTHING in life, you really do change. you reevaluate what you want and how to get it, and the road to your personal success seems clearer. every time i dive into Steinbeck literature i find myself uplifted about anything and disappointed that i'm nothing like this yet:

pure gangsta.

but i've got a long way to go; Steinbeck didn't get mass-marketed until after his 30's. and that means that there's still time, excitingly still enough time to hone my skills and craft my words into being just what i want to say.

 ME AND ROCINANTE. ROCINANTE.

Steinbeck was teleological in his stories and mistook everything to be based in human goodness. we'll just have to see with me.

dead phone, dead computer, and old diaries: don't let them bring you down

phone has been dead due to a broken charger which i cannot buy a new one just at the moment. same with my laptop-- but that's another story, it's always been horrible since last summer :(

being cut off from the world isn't that bad though. i've come to finally embrace this Dickinson-esque way of life, being broke and having broken technology is your own personal and free retreat, away from all the things that worry and distract you (as a writer).

it's good to go back to simple things and write from scratch-- literally.  if you're lost with something, go and try just writing, writing anything, with paper and pen. i don't know, i felt more constrained trying to accomplish a first draft of a piece when typing it up instantly on a computer. you're not impressing anyone with writing in pen and paper, you're apt to mess up and that's fine, just scratch that mother out! it never fails, and you'll always end up with something good.

it's also a good way to improve handwriting over a period of time-- which sadly will never happen for me. at least my hand is better than it was in seventh grade- high school. yes, i know because i found my old diaries, funny old things! but i don't care to really discuss the contents of them without looking like Andy Samberg jizzing in his pants :P the one person to embarrass you without fail is your younger self.