Quote of the Day: I have cultivated my hysteria with joy and terror. – Charles Baudelaire
How fitting this quote is as I continue my search for a captivating story and an elusive mouse. I found it in a book called Writers on Writing, or W.O.W. in the section titled “Angst.”
I am now driving around in a van that smells like a peppermint patty on wheels. My pant legs are tucked securely into my socks as protection from a mouse suddenly appearing at the pedals of my car and crawling up my leg.
My eyes may or may not be burning from the strong dosage of peppermint extract splashed in the van. My boys may or may not have covered their faces and asked, “What is that smell?” They did their best to convince me that if they couldn’t stand to be in the van more than five minutes, neither could a mouse. And, a guest passenger might have been screwing up his face in wonder and finally asking, “Why does it smell so much like peppermint in here?”
I got to thinking, what if that little devil is hiding somewhere in the van. So, I asked my friend JeMA’s husband, Jon, if he’d look under my hood. (It’s okay, JeMA approved.) He checked everywhere! It wasn’t in the battery or tucked up under the hood. He shined his little light under each seat. He held up something by the tail…no wait…that’s not a tail, it’s a tea bag. (Remember, the mint tea bags I threw in there before I got the mint extract.) He also noticed several dryer sheets stuffed in there…and a few mouse turds on top of a piece of chocolate under the seat that he’s leaning on.
Thanks for checking things out, Jon!
I was in desperate need of a new look and place to relax, so I got my hair done this morning. JeMA’s daughter saw me and exclaimed, “Ooo, I like the raspberry stripes in your hair!” She’s so sweet. My boys, of course, barely noticed.
But, it put a smile on my face. And, look! here I am outside in November in Minnesota with just a t-shirt. It was a glorious day!
One of the characters in my play is based on my hair stylist, Aubrey. Whenever I’m with her, I’m motivated to finish the play and get a read-through set up.
Thanks, Aubrey, for lifting my spirits, calming my nerves, and giving me inspiration for my play Coffee Shop Confessions. I think we could collaborate on a sequel, Salon Chair Confessions. I’m sure you’ve heard it all!
Journaling Prompt: Where are you experiencing angst, and how is it coming out in your art?
Well…as you may remember, my angst cometh from my new jobeth that I have started yet. How is it coming out in my art? Not. It’s stiffling my writing but guess what? No really guess. Okay. I pulled out a half finished oil painting because I’m feeling it.
LOVE your hair. The only thing to make your look more perfect…big hoop earrings. Yes I love them and wear them, so don’t judge me too much.
T
Mary, I LOVE the hair!!!!!!!! And better yet, that you are outside in November! We are loving that too, even though we hear it’s going to get cold soon. Isn’t it absolutely glorious? I heard 65 degrees tomorrow. I’m going for a walk in the morning — yipee!
The saga of mouse and mint continues. Enjoying the ongoing drama. 🙂
Now, get to work on that script!
The hair is great! And I chuckled to think that you took my idea of tucking your pants in your socks:)
Begone, bad mouse!
Love the hair! I have heard much about the legedary Aubrey. I may have to pay her a visit!
Great new ‘do! There’s nothing like a fresh cut and style to snazz up our mood! And I like the idea of Salon Chair Confessions too. A lot of interesting storylines can develop from sitting in that chair while we’re in that haircut zone.
ANGST= no house sale
Coming out in my art with the color black perhaps?
Hmmm, you know if a mouse had gotten into a car here in Florida, he would be mice krispies by now, courtesy of our hot sun shine.
I love the hair. Very autumn.
Funny mouse story and lovely hair…. sounds like a busy week for you. :O)
I love the raspberry stripes in your hair too! What a neat way to have your hair described. I’ve been craving change too. Mine will just have to wait a bit longer, though.
Angst? Me? Never. Okay, maybe there’s this little thing called job stress, and life stress, and not wanting to be at said job and wanting a life stress, but who doesn’t have that type of angst?
Le sigh..
(HA! My word verification is ‘tiedist’ and I first read it as ‘tedious’. Perfect for how the life I just described has been feeling…)