Too many to count

10 November 2010 10:12 AM Categories: Quotidian existence | Writing prompts

On the coffee table this morning:

*A sampler CD from Absolutely Kosher records. I think I should know the guy on the sleeve, but I was never goth and I can’t say I was ever really punk, since I lack some of the necessary darkness. I’m my mother’s daughter, a goody-goody who lives on the dark side in my mind only. Favorite song at the moment? The very catchy Fireflies by Chris Garneau (see below).

*A platform for a Yoda figurine where my son (who can’t read yet) has pasted the thought bubble: A Jedi must have the deepest commitment, the most serious mind. The Yoda figurine was a Halloween present to my son from my father and stepmother. Yoda's right ear broke off almost immediately and he's missing a few toes. When 900 years old you reach, look as good you will not.

*A human skull. Short (dull) story that reaffirms my desire to be cremated.

*An ear of Indian corn, with multicolored kernels. Outdated American narrative embodied in decorative dried corn. The kid loves this stuff.

*A penholder made out of a baking powder can decorated by the boy, a useless old-fashioned dial timer, a zombie finger puppet, bright green vampire teeth, the empty shell of a silly putty egg, a glob of silly putty, a dessicated zested lemon half, a sign that says “Free Cookies” from a cookie jar out of my husband's childhood, a cut-out figure of the children’s book character Art Dog that my husband made out of thin foam rubber, a rubber door stop, a 1956 rupee, a pile of Sunday's New York Times, a flaccid balloon, a small griffin toy, a glass lizard, miniature fruits and vegetables made out of clay, a lump of coal, pennies marked with green ink, a "blow-out," aka noisemaker or (in our house) lizard tongue. Oh, and cup of hot water, since I don't drink coffee after 8 a.m.

Just like your coffee table, right?

Time to start cleaning . . .