My observations 1 (Journal)

These are my observations of interesting things sent to my dear friend via iPhone text messaging since Aug 2010. I will add more in time.

Author: ©Shaun Rudie

1

(this was in response to a question about creativity and trying to sleep when something radiant pops in my mind)

Sent on Aug 31, 2010 11:33:27 AM

You ain't kidding. I was so content to just lay there, that I would get up later and attend them, but as soon as I closed my eyes I was seeing full scenes developing before my eyes! Not only that, I was immersed in them and them my mind stirred creative and explored so many different possibilities there was no way I was going to sleep. When it kicks in like that I get a second wind and sleep becomes a word I remembered once.

Sent on Aug 31, 2010 12:54:14 PM

Yeah, vivid is what's up here (pointing to head). It most always comes as a flash kind of like being immediately plugged into a live wire. Sometimes, as in my nap scenario, it is an undercurrent of imagery that I close my eyes and sink down into, like immersing in creative water. It's actually a wonderful feeling, just doesn't care for my sleep needs. It is always accompanied by the need to express it, as in writing. But there are times I have just that need for expression and I have to go write or do something creative, get antsy or stressed if I don't attend it

2

On Oct 4, 2010, at 8:55 wrote:

This is my account sitting and waiting for jury duty.

Hard seats

Expectant faces

Mood of the group

General "I'd rather be somewhere else"

Fatigue

Personality types

Overall, 4 or 5 fidgeters

Talkers, there are several who seem to need to chat, fill the space with their verbal presence

12+readers, a couple of them seem to have brought the newspaper, just in case, and aren't actively using them.

A couple of them using pens, word search, and one lady who is keeping her pad held below the table out of everyones view

3 of us on cell phones, texting away or checking schedules or playing games

A couple of coughers doing just enough to make others' throats itchy

Some aware and present, others immersed in their papers, thoughts, sleeping

Lady next to me is interested in what I'm doing, taking quick glances downward at my iPhone, fairly sure she can't make out the small text

There's a man who looks like he could easily be on the deck of a pirate ship barking orders in a raspy voice. Squinty eyes and general leftward scrunch to his face, scruffy face, pursed lips that might indicate lack of teeth. Paunchy.

One has a Glenn Beck hairdo, reddened face and is tired.

Misc: The small group near the open door chuckles and makes comments on hearing people in the hall give excuses for not wanting to be here. Recent one was a man who said he does all the cleaning of the house and cooking for the kids and washing the dishes. The lady said "ok, lets just go ahead and excuse you"

3

Sent on Jan 23, 2011 8:14:10 PM

Omg, I recorded typing my novel today (screen recording program snaps pro) and I had no idea how frequently I reversed letters. Cuased, instead of caused, hte:the, ahve:have, sopproted:supported, struggeld:struggled, and on and on. Had no conscious recall of it, just so used to re-reversing them that it was automatic. Just an interesting thing I thought I'd share

Sent on Jan 23, 2011 8:24:33 PM

the shock came when I played back the movie and saw the words being typed on screen like that. I expected simple spelling problems when rushing to get thought down, but not that. It was like noticing you have a third eye or something

(note to readers: I have dyslexia, wasn't aware at all of it extending to my typing)

4

Sent on Jan 25, 2011 10:19:00 AM

Guess I had it coming, haven't written a poem in a couple of weeks. Should have seen me in the truck during work writing on a torn scrap of paper, secluded in the semi-dark and writing on a shelf doing my best to project an air of "don't disturb me" and hoping I'd get enough down before the packages made it down the belt. Guy that usually talks up a storm passed and saw my focus and didn't bug me for at least 6 min

5

Sent on Feb 3, 2011 10:10:46 AM

She came around the corner, early 20s, attractive and dark hair. Myself cooled by the cheese refrigerator of all things as I texted a special friend. She cast the quickest look at me, then away, somewhat listless walk as her "other" came up behind her, saw me (quick assessing glance) and then placed his arm over her shoulder. She seemed indifferent to the gesture. He put the arm down. I shook my head and chuckle slightly, my mind returned to "another"

6

Sent on Feb 3, 2011 10:05:49 AM

Soft pink head under white netting, his hair thin white, almost netting itself, age felled most of it. So pleasant though, happy smile, bordering on senility as he made the sub. Careful hand movements, tomatoes evenly spaced, single placing of pickles, surprised him when I said I'd take all in his hands. "like the pickles, huh?" then olives. He wrapped it all up, his time in that life moment complete; did his job well, methodically. Brought me to smile.

7

Sent on Feb 10, 2011 9:12:57 AM

Interesting how I start floating in and out humming when I'm very tired. Caught myself and smiled. Was nearly singing last night during drawing, got into an "I don't care" mode when certain songs came only iPhone.

This is a day for poems I think, soft rain and thoughts of ...

8

Sent on Feb 22, 2011 10:36:16 AM

She actually froze, her hand on the lettuce as her mind struggled making sense that I did not ask for lettuce. Repetitive pattern held her clenching a handful of green, while her brain replayed specifically what I had said. Literally 5 seconds of lockup. "you didn't say lettuce did you?" no, I said. She chuckled, "then get my damn hand off the lettuce, jeesh."

later 40s, overweight, cheerful sarcasm, especially at herself, not robustly healthy, somewhat young grandmotherly, soft spoken, would NOT want to get on her bad side. Surprised me with her cheerful intellect too, patient, laughed at herself easily. Pleasant woman

9

Sent on Feb 24, 2011 3:03:59 PM

It was a big stick, caught her hard on her lower hamstring "wack". She buckled, but held her position. Then again, "wack" the other hamstring this time. She went down , her head hung low, hands futilely trying to support herself from collapsing to the floor completely. And before she could collect for thoughts, summon her reserves, "wack" she was hit on the head. The sleep stick did its job and she fell into a deep slumber at her desk.

10

Sent on Feb 26, 2011 6:33:12 PM

Space clothing pulled right from a michael Jackson scream video, cellulite-highlighting spandex, a wash of hair color nature never created, people shapes, many shoulder-slumped, teasing looks, shy, intense, drama filled, egos and the posture to match... Love people watching at the food court

11

Sent on Feb 27, 2011 5:08:28 PM

Drawing word letters such a struggle today, poem thought wanting to reach paper gets caught up in skips in signal to my fingers. The words come, but such ugly crossing out on that white, such mangled string threads as fingers and mind struggle to sync

Good thing I have so much in me, mere brute force will overcome...so much for subtlety

Sent on Feb 27, 2011 6:13:36 PM

(4 poems made it)

12

Sent on Mar 9, 2011 6:25:46 PM

He opens his drawing tablet, feeling and pressing each page, sliding his palm down it's center in predrawing ritual, his gentle aged hands readying for the work ahead.

He sits like a calm child, expectation in his manner, eagerness in the way he wrings his fingers, adjusts his glasses

13

3/12/11

Child, mouth full of braces, working her words past all that metal, bursts out laughter after some struggle. Parents kind, calm, relaxed attend her expression with understanding smiles.

14

3/13/11

Thin skateboarders, stringy hair reflects, pendulum amid the chatter and rapt gaze of young admirers

15

Sent on Mar 23, 2011 2:34:28 PM

Love watching people. Trying to eat w my right hand was interesting, had to navigate iPhone w my left. All sorts of awkward and I'm sure it looked that way.

People so immerse themselves in acting above their truth. Precise, delicate, calculated movements around me, while I chomp awkward on my rice-speckled-on-green chicken wrap. Still love watching them be other than their truth.

She in her white dress shirt, blonde hair pulled loosely back, cautiously phrasing her words because she feels he's more intelligent than her, wants to present herself as competent, though hangs on his words for direction in hers. He in dark grey polo style shirt, dress slacks, cautious about his manners, eating fries delicately, precisely so as not to spill the merest drop of ketchup on the table, the napkin. He finds her competent, thought slightly under his accomplishments, and an attractive woman. She hasn't eaten anything in front of him.

16

3/28/11

She grins, a little tilt to her head that says she is one-hundred percent mischievous in thought and will. She has an open honesty about her, sometimes direct and unabashed, though given to expression only to those she cares about, or doesn’t care about. Those in-between get a hesitance, an “I’m not sure where you ‘fit’ yet” stirring; externally it displays as a quick glance and thoughtful, almost “disinterested” poise. But internally, she’s working, filtering, analyzing in a way she may not even understand, but intuits accurately. Oh, she’s playful, a sputter of self-effacing laughter parts from her and then turns to cartoon curious, a light plaything to briefly rise above the stress she wholeheartedly put herself gleefully in.

17

sent on Apr 7, 2011 3:18:02 PM

Little breaks in focus, did I do that? Must have. Sections of road have passed by as well, staring at the wheels of a cement truck as it rides along side me, my head tilted against my fingers, back of my hand against the window. Typing now, a/c cooling me as my body floats just above restful sleep, my mind casually darting about to distractions. The scent of "N" still on me from giving her a hug goodbye earlier, friendship/ business meeting that makes one remember she's in the perfume trade long after you're away from her. Clouds poised for a immensely slow crawl across the sky, and a thought to " " completes. She's my friend

18

4/23/2011

Figuring this really heavy woman would sit still quite long enough or me to sketch, but I've simply not the inclination, her friend with the tattooed shoulder will keep her verbally active should I decide otherwise. A cute couple gave me under 2 min, did what I could while he dragged long on his cigarette. She was uncomfortable just sitting around, and after mentioning it three times, her finger pointing out a new location, he got up and they moved...in the opposite direction. Seems he compromised with his body. She slipped her hand in his as they walked.

Scampering children are far too fast for my talent as yet. Still, they can't outspeed my written word and my capturing mind.

Interesting and sad that the heavy mother has a heavy child, the thin tattoo, a thin child. 

19

4-23-11

Trees are quiet, brown stilts on the green. The sky is paused, clouds comfortable where they are. 

A loud belch from an unclean attention seeker behind me, sits across from a large late teen with bright orange hair, striking against her bright yellow shirt. Next to her a frazzled-mop wearing kid in a black "slipknot" shirt. His expressions are to show cool only. What little of him there is depends on those with him. No laughter changes his tone and topic. Talking about getting one past his mom, he's so clever. He's a white kid with his pants hanging well below his butt. Wonder if there's a military looking to recruit him somewhere. 

Children are little color granules skittering on the hotplate of playground. 

My sketchpad is near me, filled with another poem, a bit darker, life kind of thing. The air is warm. I am done here. My stomach speaks of wanting food. I will listen to it

20

(at a cafe)

Sent on Apr 30, 2011

His a shiny face, hard round head, hair scampering away, shaved down to stubble, black rich hair had it decided to stay. His teeth the color tobacco and coffee tinge, his cheeks are strong from holding smiles, some strained. He is short, of a build that makes him an assertive exclamation mark floating among the tables. I think he has the feeling I can see through him, his smile becomes less and he knows I don't have to have false glee...

...She nearly scared me, her deep set eyes framed by a skull of a face, skin tight and wrinkled in the right places. She has red lipstick on, somehow it works. Her hair isn't hers, at least that's what it's telling me, rich dark brown, close cropped at her shoulders, very nice. It's her bangs, they are an awning for those eyes. Then she smiles, it is a full body event, her upper torso jiggles with the energy of it; it is neat to see such contrasts. Her lunch companion, dressed in red with short blonde hair, is hunched over, talking across the small table to her. They enjoy each other, a generous give and take...those eyes though  

A table of gnome-women, grey and silver hair, heads bobbing, but not too hard, rest comfortably at their meal. I get the briefest impression of kind, gentle vultures picking gingerly with their forks

I smile and chuckle to myself, my thoughts playing off of what people bring to me. Such humor and touching moments this human experience.

An imposing woman with large eyes carries on a monotone drone that crawls under everyone else's conversations. She isn't happy about some experience she had relief in the week. The rest of her is unhappy too. The quiet manner of her companions say they fear her on some level. They are extensions of he will, her whim