Saturday, November 19, 2005
An uneventful day
I woke up an hour before my alarm. The sun was coming through the a gap in the curtains. 15 minutes later my flatmate's alarm went off. It sounds like a military bugle. He went into the bathroom. I heard the air circulator click on. The lightswitch for the sitting room flicked and the fridge door opened. The milk carton swished. He blew his nose loudly. His keys rattled against the door and I heard footsteps clomping on the steps above my head.
I left the house an hour later. I crossed the bridge and went into the newsagent to get the paper. I like the chunky weekend supplements. There must have been a frost last night, the cars still had shiny bits of ice on their boots. The sky was clear and blue, it was cold but I warmed up quickly.
Too much.
I had to stop at Christchurch and take off my jacket. My headphone cable wrapped itself around my neck. I fumbled with the change in my pocket and a tissue. I walked on. A man with black hair and a red streak through the middle said "Aren't you cold?" I didn't hear him the first time. I took one earphone out. "Aren't you cold?" he repeated. By now we had passed each other. I turned and said "walking is warm". He shook his head.
I walked by the canal and looked down at the water. It was perfectly still and clear. The bridge up ahead was reflected perfectly, like the architect a 100 years ago had planned it all.
I went to see a film. I was surprised at how many other people were at the 1030 showing with me. The film was good.
I walked up Henry Street, smiling at all the people wrapped up in their scarves, gloves and coats. I went into Eason's on O' Connell St, looking for some cards. My friend graduated today. It's my Gran's birthday tomorrow. Both cards happened to be purple.
I walked down Abbey Street and turned onto Liffey Street to buy a bag of chips for lunch. The two people ahead of me were buskers I had seen a few times on Grafton Street. The guy had a guitar case balanced on his shoulder. There was a pink keyring dangling off it, in the shape of a lipstick tube. He made a face at the girl, who had pink hair.
I walked up George's Street, noticing all the people who were dressed up in suit jackets and heels. People are graduating in college today. Some huddle outside the entrance, smoking and fiddling with digital cameras. It's noisy inside. People are calling to each other and waving. Girls are stepping carefully and holding onto their hats. A cheer goes up from the central square. A man walks out of the bathroom, adjusting his cuffs.
All of this happened today, but none of it is news.
I left the house an hour later. I crossed the bridge and went into the newsagent to get the paper. I like the chunky weekend supplements. There must have been a frost last night, the cars still had shiny bits of ice on their boots. The sky was clear and blue, it was cold but I warmed up quickly.
Too much.
I had to stop at Christchurch and take off my jacket. My headphone cable wrapped itself around my neck. I fumbled with the change in my pocket and a tissue. I walked on. A man with black hair and a red streak through the middle said "Aren't you cold?" I didn't hear him the first time. I took one earphone out. "Aren't you cold?" he repeated. By now we had passed each other. I turned and said "walking is warm". He shook his head.
I walked by the canal and looked down at the water. It was perfectly still and clear. The bridge up ahead was reflected perfectly, like the architect a 100 years ago had planned it all.
I went to see a film. I was surprised at how many other people were at the 1030 showing with me. The film was good.
I walked up Henry Street, smiling at all the people wrapped up in their scarves, gloves and coats. I went into Eason's on O' Connell St, looking for some cards. My friend graduated today. It's my Gran's birthday tomorrow. Both cards happened to be purple.
I walked down Abbey Street and turned onto Liffey Street to buy a bag of chips for lunch. The two people ahead of me were buskers I had seen a few times on Grafton Street. The guy had a guitar case balanced on his shoulder. There was a pink keyring dangling off it, in the shape of a lipstick tube. He made a face at the girl, who had pink hair.
I walked up George's Street, noticing all the people who were dressed up in suit jackets and heels. People are graduating in college today. Some huddle outside the entrance, smoking and fiddling with digital cameras. It's noisy inside. People are calling to each other and waving. Girls are stepping carefully and holding onto their hats. A cheer goes up from the central square. A man walks out of the bathroom, adjusting his cuffs.
All of this happened today, but none of it is news.
# posted by Name @ 1:15 p.m. 
