Skip to main content

Emotion 365: The Land of Bored, the Capitol Irritated

A river flows through Bored’s open meadow where deer graze. Visitors cross the smallish desert with ease. Sparrows and minnows flit. The people go about their professions: farmer, builder, chef, and petty thief. Visitors walk along the grey sand beaches carrying thin towels and licking cones of vanilla ice. 

Some paperwork is required for entry. Signs tell visitors where not to walk and where to put their trash. 

“Always ask permission,” says the Guide. 

 There’s some traffic, but not much. 

“The best part was the potato chips. Bored makes great potato chips,” says Miss Emeline Traveler. 

Everyone eventually visits the seaside capitol Irritated. Staff work to pick up trash which was dropped on the ground and not in the proper receptacles and to sweep up the sand. 

“It gets everywhere into everything!” says Amma-Pom

They take long lunch breaks and suck saltwater taffy which is too salty and sticky. Tourists waddle with dripping ice cones. At dusk a band plays tinny music of popular tunes. 

 “I couldn’t get them out of my head,” says Miss Doe Friend. 

A ferry leaves on the hour from the Irritated Pier, but its long walk from the ice stands and the taffy shops. Miss Emeline, at least, enjoyed the wildflowers and the shapes of low hanging clouds as she made the walk to the dock.

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

Thoughts on "Depression Hates a Moving Target": What I Mean by Relatable

Relatable — I used this word in my reviews of Depression Hates a Moving Target   by Nita Sweeney on Goodreads and Amazon . It's a nice word, but overused of late. So, it feels lazy. What do I mean? I connected with this book. It made me reflect more on my own first marathon experience. It made me want to put on my running shoes and head out the door again. In fact, I did. Now, typically, my mental health doesn't hinder my ability to do the stuff I want to do and my body flies under the radar. Still, I also felt goofy stepping out in my running gear a lot of the time. I didn't see myself as a "runner" or an athlete. And, I had no idea if I could run 13 miles let alone 26.2 when I started. More to the point, could I stay moving for the 4+ hours straight it would take to complete the marathon? To do the training mileage, I knew I'd have to run through streets and trails on my own and that made me nervous, too. Waves of grief wash us to strange shores. Whe...

What is Solarpunk? Good question, great answers from our community

What is solarpunk? My fellow Glass and Gardens: Solarpunk Summers authors Commando Jugendstil and Tales from The EV Studio put together this video for the Turin International Book Fair . It features editors and authors from the solarpunk community sharing their thoughts. Together we're imagining optimistic futures based on renewable energy. My soundbite was: "Solarpunk futures are — green spaces with clean water that are pedestrian, collective, feminist, creative communities. And they include non-human animals. " Mary "solarpunk" Shelley cat did a great job (at 6:15) helping from her rather ridiculous cat tree which she absolutely loves. And what better time to wear this solar-colored "Veganism is Feminism" tee from The Herbivore Clothing Company . Seriously. I'm holding a stack of solarpunk books: Glass and Gardens: Solarpunk Summers  edited by Sarena Ulibarri which includes my story "Watch Out, Red Crusher!".  Wings of R...

Springy Story Review: "Gestella" by Susan Palwick

Why it springs to mind: A hauntingly beautiful horror story about what happens when a woman relinquishes her power. A unique werewolf story with commentary on aging. Where read: First in Sisters of the Revolution: A Feminist Speculative Fiction Anthology  ( 2015, PM Press edited by Ann and Jeff Vandermeer) and then in Palwick's collection The Fate of Mice ( 2007, Tachyon Publications ) — both outstanding! These presses won't steer you wrong. Summary: A young woman werewolf allows herself to be dominated by a lover who takes control of her fate. Memorable: The powerful ending! The word: sportfuck. A new take on lycanthropy. Written in second person — you. Quote:  "You know that your growing wisdom is the benefit of aging, the compensation for your wrinkles and your fading—although fading slowly as yet—beauty. You also know that Jonathan didn't marry you for wisdom."  Personal connection: Some of my favorite stories seem to be the ones that address t...