stories

People, places, and and the uncommonplace telling stories as they travel with Morganica (Cynthia Morgan) in mind and memory; neighbors, friends, and findings

10 05, 2011

Cluck cluck

2024-02-07T10:20:11-08:00

"You're going to raise WHAT????" Tami sputtered, laughing so hard I thought about getting out the defibrillator. "Chickens," I said, with a great deal of dignity, "What's so funny about a few chickens in the backyard?" "Maybe the fact that I'm not even sure you know where your backyard IS?" she asked. I blame Brenda. Ernie's mom Brenda, out in [...]

Cluck cluck2024-02-07T10:20:11-08:00
4 04, 2011

What’s in a name?

2020-05-06T07:56:33-07:00

"YOU're Cynthia?" she asked, obviously aghast. "You're really not what I pictured Cynthia would look like." I know exactly what she means. People are supposed to look like their names, and it's awfully disconcerting when they don't. Me, I've always thought a Cynthia should be a tall, willowy brunette with very long fingers, huge eyes, graceful arms and extremely prominent [...]

What’s in a name?2020-05-06T07:56:33-07:00
4 04, 2011

The painter

2015-11-07T16:30:37-08:00

"Would you like to sit here?" a quavering voice asked. I'd planned to grab a fast breakfast while I waited for the paint store next door to open, but the clog-your-arteries breakfast place was jammed to the gills. A grey-haired lady gestured to the empty seat beside her, inviting me to sit down. I accepted eagerly and joined her and her daughter, a plump woman in her 20s. And that was how I hired the singing housepainter.

The painter2015-11-07T16:30:37-08:00
22 03, 2011

Mythomatic

2020-05-05T13:49:22-07:00

"You need to invent," she said, "a mythology." "A who?" "A mythology. For your pendants," and she tapped one authoritatively, "You need to involve your customers in the story behind these faces." "Ahhhhhh, you want the backstory," I said, "Sure. See, I always seem to put faces in everything I sculpt, no matter what..." "No," she said impatiently, "MYTH-OL-O-GY. What [...]

Mythomatic2020-05-05T13:49:22-07:00
14 03, 2011

Cookie monstrous

2020-05-05T13:49:46-07:00

"Wanna buy some cookies?" She's standing with her mom at the entrance to the grocery store, snugly bundled against the rain, reminding me that it's Girl Scout cookie season. Stacks and stacks of cookie boxes weigh down her table and an artfully handmade sign--COOKEZ 4 SAIL!--proclaims that she's open for business. I gulp and stiffen the ol' backbone. I don't need ANY cookies, not even those peanut-buttery ones, or the sweetly tangy lemon--STOP IT CYNTHIA! Besides, my neighborhood scout-lettes will eagerly sell me a box or dozen. Buying cookies from the neighborhood is a given where I live; I'd probably have to sneak strangers' cookies in under cover of darkness.

Cookie monstrous2020-05-05T13:49:46-07:00
10 03, 2011

Zombie ants and the diet peanut butter of death

2020-05-05T13:56:04-07:00

Last weekend the antmind temporarily took over my master bathroom. Thanks to perseverance and enough bugspray to float a battleship, I retook the disputed territory about fifteen minutes after they planted the flag. Yet spring is coming; this is only round 1. I'm thinking about tenting the house and letting off the formicidean equivalent of a nuclear warhead inside. Take [...]

Zombie ants and the diet peanut butter of death2020-05-05T13:56:04-07:00
20 02, 2011

Uwajimaying

2016-05-18T00:28:27-07:00

Saturday. A dragon's flying over the cash register and out in the parking lot the drivers are totally bloody nuts. Must be Uwajimaya. Uwajimaya is the local Japanese grocery chain, but it's more like an Asian Costco; inside, there's a bookstore, homewares, appliances, all sorts of things. I'm on a mission, seeking handmade Japanese papers for various projects, a few assorted goodies from the produce aisles, and one of Miyazaki's non-English animes. Cherrybaby and I pull into the parking lot, narrowly avoiding a homicidal septuagenarian bent on achieving a prime parking space.

Uwajimaying2016-05-18T00:28:27-07:00
7 02, 2011

Bird flue

2020-05-05T13:50:00-07:00

DISCLAIMER: I swear I am NOT making this up. Swear. "Did you know," said Tami, "That your bird just set off the burglar alarm?" Tami is a friend who also happens to clean my house every couple of weeks. We've known each other for years, we trade arttalk (she's a skilled painter and concrete sculptor), and occasionally we grab lunch or share farmer's market stuff or something. I think she believes that I come from another planet, but in her view that just makes things more interesting.

Bird flue2020-05-05T13:50:00-07:00
7 02, 2011

Nate, still

2020-05-05T13:54:12-07:00

Saturday morning I get up, yawn my way down to the living room to play yoga on the Wii and notice that the trap looks a bit odd. This is the Kness TipTrap I'm talking about, I got it as part of my eviction plans for Nate, and it's been lying in wait for the furry little nuisance for a solid week, untouched. But now the trap's a bit off-kilter and the door is down... OMG!!!!! I CAUGHT NATE!!!!!!!!

Nate, still2020-05-05T13:54:12-07:00
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Or, to put it in plain English, folks: Ask first. This blog is first and foremost a personal journal, a chronicle of my work with a fairly difficult technical medium. I'm happy (thrilled, even) to share what I know, and I'll help you with your own journey all I can... as long as you respect my groundrules.

I don't sell ads, products or services, and unless disclosed I buy all products/services mentioned in this blog, with my own money. I don't claim to have invented processes, tools, new artforms, or techniques (unless I specifically say so). HOWEVER, my writing and art (and any errors of fact or fiction) are my very own, original work. Don't blame anyone but me if I get it wrong.
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