Shel Graves' Sensorium

Taste: corn tortillas Sight: snow leopard tail, ocelot neck-a trip to the zoo; Tanzanite; forest ponies   Sound: elephants in Tanzania ; QOTD: "Do you like gold dildoes?"; prusten   Touch: oil between fingertips; breast bone   Smell: cumin, tumeric, madras curry   Extra: possible words of the year: savor, jubilation Grateful for: food in all its varieties and easy availability and my ability to get to the store, reach the shelves, make a selection amongst various kinds, and shop for it myself

Taste: roasted pumpkin seeds; Mighty-O French Toast doughnuts Sight: red maple leaves, red bricks, red bloody urine; pink manicured nails and a large diamond ring sparkling   Sound: Morticia, "And our credo: 'Sic gorgiamus allos subjectatos nunc.' We gladly feast on those who would subdue us. Not just pretty words." Touch: fluffy cat belly, soft cat paw Smell: cooking tortillas; the sour stench of fungal feet and stress of sweaty palms-cancer Extra: Global food security: Feed the Future has helped 9 million children with nutrition; Jane Chord ; Soviet space dogs, Laika Grateful for: government; Farm Sanctuary

Taste: pumpkin lasagna with kale and cashew ricotta   Sight: a pile of red, yellow, and brown leaves in a pile in a corner on the front porch Sound: The Addams Family, "Let's Live Before We Die; " Assemblage 23, Bruise , "Otherness" — "To give completely | From within yourself | To treat compassion | As the truest form of wealth ||| It isn't weakness | It isn't frailty | It's being human | And it's sustaining" Touch: thigh crease; fearlessly flinging dog jumps in lap   Smell: sour breath Extra: playfulness Grateful for: thoughtful lyrics; interesting vocabulary