Claire's Tumblr
This tumblr is a mad collection of my art, my life, my hopeful-travels, and all of the wonderfully nerdy things therein!
Say hello! I promise, I don't bite, and I enjoy making new friends whenever I can!
(I don't automatically follow back, but I think you're all fantastic!)
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My wish for you, is the fantastic.
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On display today at the Musee des Lettres et Manuscrits: An 1830 miniature manuscript written by 14-year-old Charlotte Bronte containing over...
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just looking at Valentine’s and I thought I saw one that said
I <3 Creepy
it did not.
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S(d)eduction
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GAH. Tears…
The reason I posted “Don’t Fence Me In” earlier today is because my mother played a recording of that for Grandmother yesterday, before she died. I’ve been belting out randomly, while in the car or walking around the house. It might sound silly, but in my head, maybe if I can sing it with enough (enough of what, I don’t know) I can wrap my head around the fact that she’s gone.
Some of you have probably already read my sister Sarah’s post, about how my mother found my grandma had slipped away, peacefully in her sleep, with a smile on her face, and on my grandma’s dream, that her and my grandpa (who passed away thirty years ago) simply swam off into the sea together.
I really hope that’s how it happened too. Thirty years is far too long to be without your best friend and love.
I found myself today at Alki beach in Seattle. I went and sat and watched the waves for a while, and then played my ukulele. Even managed to sing in between joggers passing by. I’m not done processing, not by half, but there was something good about watching the sun burst occasionally over the water. There was something good in thinking about the fact that she’s happy, and she’s whole again. Only those of us who’ve lost her hold heavy hearts.
As Dumbledore said, “Do not pity the dead, Harry. Pity the living…”
[Flash 9 is required to listen to audio.]
Don’t Fence Me In -
I came back on tumblr, and saw all of your messages full of love, concern, pancakes, cookies, elves, Princess Bride references, and hugs, and it was just too wonderful to bear. How are you all so lovely, so kind, so sweet? I’m tearing up again just typing this.
I was having a little bit of a breakdown earlier, thinking about all the things I have to do, how I can’t do them if I feel terrible, and about several things I just can’t control. And now, I’m sitting here with a bag of popcorn and a cup of delicious jasmine tea from Sarah the Splendid (I asked for help, so she sent help!), and all I can think about is how damn lucky I am to have you all as my friends. Thank God for the internet, and the chances I’ve had to get to know you all.
x
fortunaforme replied to your post: Not Good
submitting cyber pancakecakes into our internetportation device right away
YESSS! You just rock, you really do! I think I want to do some combination of a high-five and hug right now.
helms-deep replied to your post: Not Good
:( Hope you feel better buddy. Wish I had some help to send. If I had the means, I would send Glorfindel to carry you directly to Rivendell and Elrond.
Thanks so much Ralph!! You know, that kind of works—since Sarah calls her house Rivendell and my house Loth Lorien, and she sent me help in the form of tea and popcorn. (All that was missing was Glorfindel!)
my-girl-friday replied to your post: Not Good
OH NOES. Should I send cookies? Hope you feel better soon, Claireness!
I will NEVER say no to cookies, you adorable person you! By the way, have I told you how much I love your nickname for me??
kiashyel replied to your post: Not Good
A Help Squadron on the way. ETA is unconfirmed at this time as the team was forced to reroute through the Fire Swamp and R.O.U.S.’s are problematic this time of year. In the meantime, I’ll check with Miracle Max about something for your back.
AHHH! *mostly dies* This. Is. Brilliant. YOU are brilliant!
brensandoval replied to your post: Not Good
Oh no! Spasms are awful. Feel better!!
Aw, thanks Bren!!
adnauseam replied to your post: Not Good
if you’re dizzy, you should really stop reading/writing because that’s only going to make it worse, my dear claire! self-care first!
You are so sweet! I wish I could, I’ve just got so much to do :( I am feeling a little better now though!
sarahsamudre replied to your post: Not Good
What can I do?
Oh, I don’t know…..just be your FRICKIN’ AWESOME self! I love you!
glitterbubbles replied to your post: Not Good
hugs and help and love, my darling Claire. xoxoxoxo
I will take your hugs and help and love, and I will send hugs and love back!
paperminnow reblogged your post: Not Good
an internet care package for you in gif form. First… Hugs: Some Happy Dancing (complete with Cyberman!):
Your care packages Heather have meant so much—I can’t tell you how much I appreciate you checking up on me and sending me hugs. You are fantastic—FAN-TAS-TIC.
My back is spasming and I’m dizzy. And I have a lot of homework to do.
Send help.
Sarah, V, Mary, and I went and got some dinner from Whole Foods and then went into Seattle to see Hugo. We had a great night, and I really loved the movie.
I can’t believe it! I’ve never seen so many books in all my life!
(via kiashyel)
TU Delft Library - South Holland, Netherlands by Namijano
Brattle Book Shop by bill_comstock on Flickr.
I loved shopping here. What a cute place.
(via bookshelfporn)
[Flash 9 is required to listen to audio.]
Nina Simone - Feeling Good
This is on repeat tonight.
I’m in the middle of trying to finish a paper on Hellenistic and Republican warfare, I’ve tripped down the stairs and pulled out my back a little, I’m stressed and worried about things I can’t control and am nowhere near, but this, this….
Well, I just feel like I can get through a little more.
Mannahatta, a map of Manhattan in 1609, at the newly opened S. Street Seaport Museum
I’m too alone in the world, yet not alone enough
to make each hour holy.
I’m too small in the world, yet not small enough
to be simply in your presence, like a thing—
just as it is.
I want to know my own will
and to move with it.
And I want, in the hushed moments
when the nameless draws near,
to be among the wise ones—
or alone.
I want to mirror your immensity.
I want never to be too weak or too old
to bear the heavy lurching image of you.
I want to unfold.
Let no place in me hold itself closed,
for where I am closed, I am false.
I want to stay clear in your sight.
Tomorrow is #FridayFiction!
#FridayFiction is a flash fiction workshop that runs every week on Twitter from 3 - 6 p.m. PST, facilitated by Richard Hugo House. Each week, we pick a theme and create a story based off of that theme. We share it with the community of #fridayfiction writers by using the tag in our tweets. You can contribute more than one story. You can use the same character in every story, or multiple characters. The important thing is that your story, with the tag #FridayFiction, not exceed the 140 character limit that Twitter sets.
Why do we do this?
Flash fiction gives us a chance to re-examine our language in a way that we normally wouldn’t be able to do. The confines of the tweet force us to think of different ways of saying something, finding the word that communicates the biggest idea in the shortest way, and using Twitter allows us to find other writers on social media.
For more on why we write flash fiction and use Twitter to do it, read “Exercises in Brevity” on our website.
Last week’s #FridayFiction was canceled because, well, I had no power, no internet and was more occupied with the tragic purge of my warm refridgerator than I was with anything else.
The week before, however, was themed “Mystery” (I was watching the new Sherlock episodes, so yeah, little glimpse into how I choose these prompts).
Click on the pictures above to see an expanded view of the stories our amazing community of writers shared with us during our last #FridayFiction.
This week’s prompt is “Grief”.
Grieving centralizes on us losing something. It can be a person, but it can also be a way of life. A job. The loss of a hope or goal that you had. It can be the death of a family member or the loss of a friendship. There’s not a litmus test for what grief is the most powerful, because when we’re stuck in the midst of it, all grief feels the most powerful.
Write a story with your character standing at the edge of that black hole.
What has your character lost?
What will your character do now that he or she has experienced that loss?
Experiment with POV, different characters, and write more than one story! Writing within the confines of a tweet is difficult, but it gets you into an incredible mindset. Find the right words to create the mood, the plot and convey character in as short a way as you can.
Also, try and interact with the community! Every week, a lot of amazing writers gather together and share their stories. These people don’t just offer up great stories, they are great people to follow throughout the rest of the week as well. Being on Twitter is all about curating the conversation you want to be apart of and this is a great way to meet people who love being creative.
Hope to see you and your flash fiction on Friday afternoon!
