Man v. Nature

So I'm sitting on my bed eating a recently frozen go-gurt and I see a gray movement at the top left corner of my bed.  It takes a second to register exactly what it is...

It's a rat.  Or a mouse.  Some sort of small, semi-cute, mostly gross rodent...I'm no scientist, don't judge me for not knowing.  Anyway, it's not important.  

So I start farting in panic not really sure what to do.  This is after I've stood up on my bed as rigid as a tree.  I have no idea where this rodent came from.  I wake up my brother and he seems generally unphased by the situation. Maybe he thinks this is all a dream though I was persistent in telling him that this was reality, this was happening.  My brother says, in half-drunk sleep talk: "I trust you to take care of this tricky predicament, rilessss". He quickly falls back asleep with a loud snore.  Damn.

I am left alone in the dead of the night with this rodent.  I think of calling my landlord but its late and I don't wanna be "that guy."  So I make an AWESOME trap, put some food in it and wait silently though every time I see the little guy I get way too excited and chase it, which I realize, from his perspective, is probably one of the most terrifying things that has ever happened to him in his life. Sorry I'm not sorry, lil guy.

Armed with only my fruit of the loom boxer briefs, a flashlight and my wits, I start to think about that classic cartoon "Tom & Jerry" where a cat tries to kill a mouse and vice versa...it was a kids show, very wholesome. I think "what would Tom and Jerry do?  Or WWTJD, for the purists.  I thought "well...this looks like a small rodent...maybe not that smart so he'll think my trap is not a trap but a peace offering.  Little does he know I'm trying to capture him.  

I start talking to the rat saying: "get out". "You may be a creature of God but you're in my house now and I am NOT afraid to kill you!"  "Please leave you stupid $@"&!!"  

You know...the usual...

Everytime I feel a scratch or an itch on my body, I think it's Rufus pushing my buttons...what?  Oh, what?  Come on!!!  ...I HAVE to name the lil rodent dude!  Apparently he's living with us now!!!  

Oh did I forget to mention that this whole debauqle is still going on right now?  Ya this story is unresolved.  See what's happening is I'm trying a new tactic: pretend I'm not paying attention to mouse because I'm on phone blogging.  Good plan, right?  

So, in short, this whole post was a ploy to catch this mouse and--

Oh!  He's close!!!  Time to go in for the kill!  

Until next time, peace!!!

Flying to CT

Waking up in Seattle, silently packing.
Over an omlette in Chicago, watching the sun rise.

Clouds are a less expensive, more private, kinder version of a Rorschach test.

Dear tips of the wing, meet my wing tip shoes...

From the sky, Connecticut looks like one giant piece of broccoli.  
On the ground, the trees are a reminder that the place is, indeed, a different one.

The houses, remarkable.
The attitudes, different.
The love, the same.

What is America?

A currency?
A language?
An architecture?
An army?
A feeling?
A judgement?
Freedom?

Are we, by definition, a jumbulia, a melting pot that keeps chanting: "WE TASTE GREAT!"

Does national pride matter?
Or is that too "redneck" for poetry?

This is ground.

I took a train to the airport and looking out the window in South Seattle or so, I saw a plastic sign on a church with large, red letters stating "THIS IS HOLY GROUND." 

I got pissed by this comment.

My blood started to boil and my fists were mid-clench when I said to my self:

"Whoa, Riles, before you turn into the Hulk on us, why don't you think about and analyze why that comment made you so angry?"

So I did...

Besides the fact that I was probably hungry and tired...

The comment on the church implies that there is such a thing as unholy ground. 
What ground is not holy?
Does unholy ground exist?
Why do I care?
Does it matter?
What was their intent?

My Jesuit-influenced education has trained me to try and see God in all things and therefore holiness or awesome-ness (ie something worth revering) exists in every part of this holy planet, right?


Per usual, I'm full of questions with no answers. 
Type "Rilke on questions" in Google if the lack of answers makes you as uneasy as it does me. 
Until next time, take care.