measured_words (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
measured_words) wrote2006-05-06 07:25 pm
measured_words) wrote2006-05-06 07:25 pm
Entry tags:
Pieces Part Twenty
And if I can get the next part written tomorrow, I'll be back on track! I don't know if that will happen or not, but I know exacty what it is going to be, so it shouldn't be too hard to write, at least! For anyone who is curious about these tings, this one once again went a little long, and brings my total Pieces wordcount up to 30494.
Other Pieces
"Hey Daniel, you want to go on a date with me?"
Her question catches me completely off guard, and I stop. I'd seen her leaning on her porch as I walked up the driveway, and nodded hello, but I wasn't expecting much more of an exchange. Alita smiles, amused at my discomfort and surprise.
"Not a real date, I'm just teasing. But my friend Trina is leading a Tai Chi demonstration at the martial arts expo later this morning. I told her I'd go and watch, plus I know you've been thinking of taking up some kind of class and I thought it would be a good opportunity to check out some of the local clubs."
I know Trina. She also teaches Tai Chi and meditation at the gym. I tried one of her classes, but my reaction was the same as when I tried yoga: I'm not comfortable with the spirituality. The movements themselves were interesting, but she didn't dwell on any practical application. Some were evident to be from other training I've had, but she preferred to focus on the stillness of the mind, and the flow of spiritual energy through the body. It was distracting, and it made me feel somewhat foolish. Nevertheless, I could tell that she was very adept at her forms. This would be a good opportunity, on various fronts. Alita looks at me expectantly.
"That could be interesting."
"Great! I'm planning to head out around ten or so. I'll just give a knock downstairs to see if you want to tag along."
"Thank you."
"See you later, then." She smiles again, and slips back inside her screen door. I proceed around to the side of the house, and downstairs into the basement. Leaving around 10h00 gives me almost two hours to clean up and look through the papers I purchased on the way back here. I finish off the water I brought running with me first, and head toward my bedroom to get ready for my shower.
I had seen signs about the expo posted at the gym, but I was uncommitted to attending. I have had so many other things to think about lately that it had ceased to be a priority. I have been continuing to examine the files sent by Brown, but I can only stomach them in small doses. I have not yet mentioned them to Anna, either. Some of the material, especially the analyses and reports from various Progenitors, is just too detailed for me to understand. It might mean more to Anna, with her training and experience, but I'm not ready yet. Besides which, I'm not sure how I would pass it on to her. I don't think I'm prepared to give her, and her family contacts, access to the code Brown used to crack the files open, and I can't transfer them to another format. I may just make paper copies of anything pertinent, as long as I retain control of them.
Such are the thoughts that have been occupying my mind. At least, there are summaries of the findings accompanying the reports, as long as these can be trusted. Communication and information sharing between the Conventions has never been optimal, however, even on cooperative projects like this. I would not be surprised to find that the left important details out of their summaries, or buried crucial facts in their incomprehensible reports.
The personal importance of this investigation, however, has made me push back any of my other social experiments. I have still not read my magazine, or returned to the store, or to any other historically important location. I have hardly gone out at all in the past few days, except to go running. I even cut back my time at the gym. I spoke to Anna last night, and she told me I sounded more withdrawn again. I don't think she was satisfied with the evasive answer I gave her. She told me that I should be trying more, not less, and made me promise that I would try harder to push my own barriers with other people. Accompanying Alita on this excursion will satisfy that commitment. If I can find a school that I would be interested in working with, so much the better.
I shower quickly, and select some casual clothing from my small wardrobe. This is mostly simple for me now – much more so than even a month ago. Today I pull out a pair of jeans which are finally starting to look somewhat less than brand new, along with a navy Tommy Hilfiger polo shirt with red white and stripes of various widths. Plain black briefs, socks, and shoes. Perfectly acceptable, and perfectly unremarkable. Now that I have a better grasp of basic fashion, I hope that I can become less anxious about finding new clothes as it becomes an issue. I could just order everything off the internet, but that would leave too easy a trail for Xi or others.
Once dressed, I collect today's editions of the local and state papers and settle down on the couch. My picture of Danny and Anna on the swings is just on the inside of my peripheral vision here, reminding me of my goals and motivations. It helps me engage a different part of my consciousness as I read through the reports of local politics and human interest stories, lists of crimes, stock information, world events, and so on. Nothing stands out to me today. I am into the sports section of the Portland tribune when I hear the door knock. It is now 10h07. I rise and make my way to the door, scanning the room as I do.
There is nothing here out of the ordinary for her to remark on. I keep this place very neat, and save for the handful of pictures, have not done much to personalize the place. In the kitchen, there is a small pile of dishes near the sink that need washing, and a half full pot of coffee in the percolator. There are two piles of news papers on the coffee table – those I have read, and those I have not. Between them sits my laptop in its slim case. Closer to the entrance is a bag of old papers to be recycled, and my running shoes. I proceed up the stairs and open the door.
"Ready to go?" Alita is also wearing jeans, with navy sandals and a long sleeved fitted green blouse. Her hair is pulled back away from her face with a barrette, and hangs down just below her shoulders. She seems relaxed enough, but I suddenly feel awkward. What does she expect of me, precisely? What kind of conversation can we really hold? Our interactions to date have been fairly frequent, but generally short. The drive downtown to the mall where the expo is taking place will take approximately fifteen minutes. Will that be enough time for her to notice my general discomfort? Or am I fooling myself to think that she is unaware of it? I have promised Anna, however, and I won't back out.
"I am."
"Great. I figured we could just take my car. It's got more legroom than it looks, I promise."
"That should be fine." I smile, I hope pleasantly. This should not be a challenge. Alita is one of the few new people that I have successfully accepted as a presence in my life. We have some common interests. She has respected my privacy to date, and I am sure that she has no desire to make me uncomfortable with unreasonable prying.
Alita drives a silver 1999 Honda Civic when she isn't biking. It appears to be in quite good condition, save for a small dent in the front passenger side door. She has told me before that she actually quite enjoys driving, especially on longer trips, but would rather sacrifice her enjoyment for the sake of her health and that of the environment. I wonder what she would think of Brown. She unlocks the doors, and I climb in and adjust the seat. The last person to be her front passenger was apparently quite short, but she is correct – there is quite a lot of room inside the vehicle.
"So, when is Trina's demo?" If I start the conversation out now and it reaches a natural lull, perhaps any subsequent silence will seem more natural.
"She's been doing them all morning, I think, on the half hour or so. There are a few other people from her school there as well, and I think they are taking turns with demos and mini classes. I think there were going to be some schools doing sparring matches as well."
I nod. "How long were you planning to stay?"
She smiles, glancing sidelong at me briefly, and almost slyly. "Oh, however long. Don't worry about it if you want to have more of a look around. Part of my mission here is to distract Trina by dragging her out for lunch, or at least some tea. You're welcome to come, of course, but don't feel obliged if you'd rather wander."
"I see." Is she sincere? She is distracted enough with driving that it is hard to gauge. She still seems relaxed, however, so I doubt she is too concerned about what I may decide. "I suppose it will depend on how much there is to see."
"Well, I know there are a lot of local clubs around, plus Trina says the show usually pulls in some out of towners from other cities who just want an excuse to come hang out and drink with some like minded individuals, plus some of the groups are more competitive and use it more to show off inside the community, rather than trying to attract new students or just promote awareness of their sport."
"Interesting." Competition is everywhere.
"Ahh, yes, the seedy underbelly of the martial arts world. Trina could tell you more about it, I'm sure." She gives me another sidelong glance, trying to gauge my reaction. What is she looking for? Interest in Trina, perhaps?
"Well there should be lots to see, then."
"Should be!"
I nod, and turn to look out the window as she continues towards downtown.
Other Pieces
"Hey Daniel, you want to go on a date with me?"
Her question catches me completely off guard, and I stop. I'd seen her leaning on her porch as I walked up the driveway, and nodded hello, but I wasn't expecting much more of an exchange. Alita smiles, amused at my discomfort and surprise.
"Not a real date, I'm just teasing. But my friend Trina is leading a Tai Chi demonstration at the martial arts expo later this morning. I told her I'd go and watch, plus I know you've been thinking of taking up some kind of class and I thought it would be a good opportunity to check out some of the local clubs."
I know Trina. She also teaches Tai Chi and meditation at the gym. I tried one of her classes, but my reaction was the same as when I tried yoga: I'm not comfortable with the spirituality. The movements themselves were interesting, but she didn't dwell on any practical application. Some were evident to be from other training I've had, but she preferred to focus on the stillness of the mind, and the flow of spiritual energy through the body. It was distracting, and it made me feel somewhat foolish. Nevertheless, I could tell that she was very adept at her forms. This would be a good opportunity, on various fronts. Alita looks at me expectantly.
"That could be interesting."
"Great! I'm planning to head out around ten or so. I'll just give a knock downstairs to see if you want to tag along."
"Thank you."
"See you later, then." She smiles again, and slips back inside her screen door. I proceed around to the side of the house, and downstairs into the basement. Leaving around 10h00 gives me almost two hours to clean up and look through the papers I purchased on the way back here. I finish off the water I brought running with me first, and head toward my bedroom to get ready for my shower.
I had seen signs about the expo posted at the gym, but I was uncommitted to attending. I have had so many other things to think about lately that it had ceased to be a priority. I have been continuing to examine the files sent by Brown, but I can only stomach them in small doses. I have not yet mentioned them to Anna, either. Some of the material, especially the analyses and reports from various Progenitors, is just too detailed for me to understand. It might mean more to Anna, with her training and experience, but I'm not ready yet. Besides which, I'm not sure how I would pass it on to her. I don't think I'm prepared to give her, and her family contacts, access to the code Brown used to crack the files open, and I can't transfer them to another format. I may just make paper copies of anything pertinent, as long as I retain control of them.
Such are the thoughts that have been occupying my mind. At least, there are summaries of the findings accompanying the reports, as long as these can be trusted. Communication and information sharing between the Conventions has never been optimal, however, even on cooperative projects like this. I would not be surprised to find that the left important details out of their summaries, or buried crucial facts in their incomprehensible reports.
The personal importance of this investigation, however, has made me push back any of my other social experiments. I have still not read my magazine, or returned to the store, or to any other historically important location. I have hardly gone out at all in the past few days, except to go running. I even cut back my time at the gym. I spoke to Anna last night, and she told me I sounded more withdrawn again. I don't think she was satisfied with the evasive answer I gave her. She told me that I should be trying more, not less, and made me promise that I would try harder to push my own barriers with other people. Accompanying Alita on this excursion will satisfy that commitment. If I can find a school that I would be interested in working with, so much the better.
I shower quickly, and select some casual clothing from my small wardrobe. This is mostly simple for me now – much more so than even a month ago. Today I pull out a pair of jeans which are finally starting to look somewhat less than brand new, along with a navy Tommy Hilfiger polo shirt with red white and stripes of various widths. Plain black briefs, socks, and shoes. Perfectly acceptable, and perfectly unremarkable. Now that I have a better grasp of basic fashion, I hope that I can become less anxious about finding new clothes as it becomes an issue. I could just order everything off the internet, but that would leave too easy a trail for Xi or others.
Once dressed, I collect today's editions of the local and state papers and settle down on the couch. My picture of Danny and Anna on the swings is just on the inside of my peripheral vision here, reminding me of my goals and motivations. It helps me engage a different part of my consciousness as I read through the reports of local politics and human interest stories, lists of crimes, stock information, world events, and so on. Nothing stands out to me today. I am into the sports section of the Portland tribune when I hear the door knock. It is now 10h07. I rise and make my way to the door, scanning the room as I do.
There is nothing here out of the ordinary for her to remark on. I keep this place very neat, and save for the handful of pictures, have not done much to personalize the place. In the kitchen, there is a small pile of dishes near the sink that need washing, and a half full pot of coffee in the percolator. There are two piles of news papers on the coffee table – those I have read, and those I have not. Between them sits my laptop in its slim case. Closer to the entrance is a bag of old papers to be recycled, and my running shoes. I proceed up the stairs and open the door.
"Ready to go?" Alita is also wearing jeans, with navy sandals and a long sleeved fitted green blouse. Her hair is pulled back away from her face with a barrette, and hangs down just below her shoulders. She seems relaxed enough, but I suddenly feel awkward. What does she expect of me, precisely? What kind of conversation can we really hold? Our interactions to date have been fairly frequent, but generally short. The drive downtown to the mall where the expo is taking place will take approximately fifteen minutes. Will that be enough time for her to notice my general discomfort? Or am I fooling myself to think that she is unaware of it? I have promised Anna, however, and I won't back out.
"I am."
"Great. I figured we could just take my car. It's got more legroom than it looks, I promise."
"That should be fine." I smile, I hope pleasantly. This should not be a challenge. Alita is one of the few new people that I have successfully accepted as a presence in my life. We have some common interests. She has respected my privacy to date, and I am sure that she has no desire to make me uncomfortable with unreasonable prying.
Alita drives a silver 1999 Honda Civic when she isn't biking. It appears to be in quite good condition, save for a small dent in the front passenger side door. She has told me before that she actually quite enjoys driving, especially on longer trips, but would rather sacrifice her enjoyment for the sake of her health and that of the environment. I wonder what she would think of Brown. She unlocks the doors, and I climb in and adjust the seat. The last person to be her front passenger was apparently quite short, but she is correct – there is quite a lot of room inside the vehicle.
"So, when is Trina's demo?" If I start the conversation out now and it reaches a natural lull, perhaps any subsequent silence will seem more natural.
"She's been doing them all morning, I think, on the half hour or so. There are a few other people from her school there as well, and I think they are taking turns with demos and mini classes. I think there were going to be some schools doing sparring matches as well."
I nod. "How long were you planning to stay?"
She smiles, glancing sidelong at me briefly, and almost slyly. "Oh, however long. Don't worry about it if you want to have more of a look around. Part of my mission here is to distract Trina by dragging her out for lunch, or at least some tea. You're welcome to come, of course, but don't feel obliged if you'd rather wander."
"I see." Is she sincere? She is distracted enough with driving that it is hard to gauge. She still seems relaxed, however, so I doubt she is too concerned about what I may decide. "I suppose it will depend on how much there is to see."
"Well, I know there are a lot of local clubs around, plus Trina says the show usually pulls in some out of towners from other cities who just want an excuse to come hang out and drink with some like minded individuals, plus some of the groups are more competitive and use it more to show off inside the community, rather than trying to attract new students or just promote awareness of their sport."
"Interesting." Competition is everywhere.
"Ahh, yes, the seedy underbelly of the martial arts world. Trina could tell you more about it, I'm sure." She gives me another sidelong glance, trying to gauge my reaction. What is she looking for? Interest in Trina, perhaps?
"Well there should be lots to see, then."
"Should be!"
I nod, and turn to look out the window as she continues towards downtown.
no subject
Also, /me senses this is not a simple martial arts demo ;)
no subject