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Codename: Wanderlust ([personal profile] codenamewanderlust) wrote2014-03-09 04:25 pm
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LJ Idol Week 0: Introduction

It’s laundry day. I’m wearing an old pair of blue scrub pants and a black tank top with a hole down one side. Underneath I’m wearing an overly fancy lacy purple bra that squishes my double D sized boobs together; my left one rather irritatingly overflows over the top more than it should. It’s uncomfortable and I have to keep adjusting it. This is why I never wear it.

I let my tea steep while I brought the wash down to the basement. I realize I will need to buy more honey soon as I squeeze an estimated teaspoon directly into the cup. I pour in the last of the milk before fishing out the tea bag and stirring the whole thing. It’s bitter and just this side of warm enough to still be drinkable without being disgusting.

I contemplate going downstairs to the dining room for breakfast. That is where I normally work but Sunday is my one day off. I don’t want to go dressed like this but my laundry won’t be finished before it closes. I could go in through the back door to the kitchen. My coworkers might tease me but I won’t shock the guests/residents/weekend tourists.

I live and work in a boarding house, residence, hotel type place. There are people who have lived here for more than seven years and there are people who will only stay for a week. There are a few students who go to the art school up the block. There are a lot of young international visitors to San Francisco who will stay for only two or three months before moving on to other adventures or going home to Brazil, Germany, The Netherlands….

I once wore my painted latex elf ears during an entire dinner service. No one said anything but one of the older longtime residents started calling me Willow the next day which was cute but Willow didn't have pointy ears.

I finish my tea in a last too sweet sip from all the honey that had settled on the bottom and start another episode of Farscape. I've been sort of watching it with my father who lives on the other side of the country. I in fact have recently gotten to know him. We have a lot in common (like being sci-fi geeks) and it’s bittersweet; just the way I like my tea. I never got to know him as a child but now I get to be friends with him as an adult.

I’ve become estranged from my mother’s side of my family. They had a lot of expectations of me and I couldn't live up to any of it. I was my mother’s first child. The first granddaughter. The first to get a college degree. The first to walk away. I needed to live my life on my own terms. When I was 23 I packed one suitcase and bought a one way ticket to from New York to San Francisco. I am now one month into my 30th year. I have lost everything more than once and still I have made it here. I am self-reliant and adaptable. I have learned to trust my instincts. Like when they tell me to sign up for crazy sounding writing competitions.

The timer goes off to remind me to move my laundry from the washer to the dryer. I set the electric kettle for another cup of tea and search for my slippers. The crazy part is I have written every day since I signed up for LJ Idol. I am already glad I did.


(*Edited for typos)

[identity profile] penpusher.livejournal.com 2014-03-10 01:44 am (UTC)(link)
That's the relationship I have with my dad. So there's certainly some simpatico. And good for you for bumping up the writing! I definitely look forward to what you have to say!

[identity profile] rswndrlst.livejournal.com 2014-03-10 04:45 pm (UTC)(link)
Thank you! I am excited to see where this journey takes me(and all of us).

It's just so hard that my dad lives so far away now that I've gotten to know him. I spent a few months with him on the east coast last year before moving back to california.
Edited 2014-03-10 16:47 (UTC)

[identity profile] muchtooarrogant.livejournal.com 2014-03-10 03:04 am (UTC)(link)
Thank you for sharing a bit of your life with us, and good luck this season in LJI. I look forward to reading your entries.

Dan

[identity profile] rswndrlst.livejournal.com 2014-03-10 04:51 pm (UTC)(link)
Thank you and same to you!

[identity profile] witchwife.livejournal.com 2014-03-10 04:54 am (UTC)(link)
Losing everything more than once.. I can definitely relate to this. Sounds like we're on fairly similar life paths at the moment!

(Not counting the fact that you have fancy elf ears and I don't. Still biting back jealousy.)

Looking forward to your entries - I found this entry to be very musing and dreamy. Curious to see if the rest of your writing follows suit!

[identity profile] rswndrlst.livejournal.com 2014-03-10 05:30 pm (UTC)(link)
I've learned from experience that it is true that what doesn't kill you indeed makes you stronger.

(psst: aradanicostumes.com)

What a lovely comment thank you! I look forward to reading your entries as well.

[identity profile] tigrkittn.livejournal.com 2014-03-10 05:24 pm (UTC)(link)
I too am the first child, first grandchild, first college graduate - and first to leave the state and cut ties. We've since mended some of the damage, and that's been a good thing, but I can definitely relate. Your life and job sound rife with story fodder. I'm looking forward to your posts!

[identity profile] rswndrlst.livejournal.com 2014-03-12 02:53 am (UTC)(link)
Oh wow yeah. It's interesting to meet someone else who can understand the pressure and to feel like you've disappointed people who don't understand that you are happy with the life you chose.

Also, what an adorable kitten! The only thing difficult about where I live is no pets allowed and I love animals so much.

[identity profile] sarcasmoqueen.livejournal.com 2014-03-10 05:38 pm (UTC)(link)
I look forward to reading more from you!

[identity profile] rswndrlst.livejournal.com 2014-03-12 02:53 am (UTC)(link)
thank you for the encouragement!
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[identity profile] goldmourn.livejournal.com 2014-03-11 04:27 pm (UTC)(link)
"I live and work in a boarding house, residence, hotel type place."

That sounds like a fascinating place to live!


Loved the way you shared a glimpse into your life and other details so well.

[identity profile] rswndrlst.livejournal.com 2014-03-12 11:28 pm (UTC)(link)
I get to meet a lot of interesting people for sure and thank you!
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[identity profile] shay-writes.livejournal.com 2014-03-11 11:03 pm (UTC)(link)
I've always wondered what it would like to live in a place like that. Sounds very interesting.

And your link text is one of my favorite poems. I named my daughter Emily. :)

[identity profile] rswndrlst.livejournal.com 2014-03-12 12:50 am (UTC)(link)
I've always wondered what it would like to live in a place like that.
It feels a little like working on a cruise ship since there are days I end up not having to actually leave the building.

What a great namesake for your daughter to have! I love Emily Dickinson and I love how that poem is a bit of a snarky critique on celebrity that is still relevant today and it seemed appropriate somehow for this competition.
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[identity profile] shay-writes.livejournal.com 2014-03-12 01:03 am (UTC)(link)
Emily Dickinson is my favorite poet. :)

[identity profile] p-m-cryan.livejournal.com 2014-03-12 01:36 am (UTC)(link)
An interesting slice of life.

[Coincidentally, my household just finished FARSCAPE. We do a lot of rewatches of things together.]

[identity profile] rswndrlst.livejournal.com 2014-03-12 02:57 am (UTC)(link)
Thank You.

[I can't believe I hadn't watched it before because I have such a strong a love for all things Henson and Froud.]

[identity profile] sweeny-todd.livejournal.com 2014-03-12 01:45 am (UTC)(link)
Wow. I really enjoyed reading this.

[identity profile] rswndrlst.livejournal.com 2014-03-12 11:25 pm (UTC)(link)
Thank you!

[identity profile] kickthehobbit.livejournal.com 2014-03-12 03:17 am (UTC)(link)
I really like this. :D

[identity profile] rswndrlst.livejournal.com 2014-03-12 11:25 pm (UTC)(link)
Awww Calcifer! and thank you!

LJ Idol Week 0: Recommendations!

[identity profile] livejournal.livejournal.com 2014-03-12 04:16 am (UTC)(link)
User [livejournal.com profile] kickthehobbit referenced to your post from LJ Idol Week 0: Recommendations! (http://kickthehobbit.livejournal.com/615552.html) saying: [...] : great imagery [...]

[identity profile] roina-arwen.livejournal.com 2014-03-12 04:57 am (UTC)(link)
Nice to meet you! I like all the little details you've added in, like the uneven boob-squishing and such. :)

[identity profile] rswndrlst.livejournal.com 2014-03-12 11:35 pm (UTC)(link)
Nice to meet you too. Haha thank you! I really enjoyed writing this.

[identity profile] alycewilson.livejournal.com 2014-03-12 04:59 am (UTC)(link)
Nice to meet you! I didn't know that boarding houses still existed in this country, but I find the idea of living in one intriguing. What sort of work do you do? Writing?

[identity profile] rswndrlst.livejournal.com 2014-03-12 11:23 pm (UTC)(link)
Hello, nice to meet you too. It's been so great making new connections on here.

I work as a hostess/server in the dining room for breakfast and dinner. It does seem to be a pretty unique place.

As for writing I enjoy writing short stories and prose-y things but I've never had the confidence to submit anything for publication or share them with anyone really. I stumbled into writing fan fiction for awhile just for fun but even much of that stayed hidden away on my hard drive.

[identity profile] jem0000000.livejournal.com 2014-03-12 06:58 pm (UTC)(link)
I'm glad you did, too. :)

[identity profile] jem0000000.livejournal.com 2014-03-15 05:27 pm (UTC)(link)
You're welcome.

[identity profile] cheshire23.livejournal.com 2014-03-12 10:27 pm (UTC)(link)
I totally hear you on the laundry-day bras thing, and I like the idea of living in a boardinghouse though it doesn't work with my current reality. This was a great intro!

[identity profile] rswndrlst.livejournal.com 2014-03-12 11:45 pm (UTC)(link)
And I seriously can't just go around in public without one or I get rude comments (even from other women!) like I'm being indecent when it's just a double standard.

Thank you for reading and I'm glad you enjoyed it.
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[identity profile] rswndrlst.livejournal.com 2014-03-13 04:52 pm (UTC)(link)
I have lived all over the Bay Are in the last seven years, I've even left and come back. At the moment I live in SF.

I knew one person out here I could stay with and and it seemed like an incredible opportunity to pass up at the time so no real reason than being young and impulsive and knowing I wanted to experience more of the world.

Thank you for reading!




[identity profile] tonithegreat.livejournal.com 2014-03-13 02:23 am (UTC)(link)
Intriguing! Looking forward to reading you.

[identity profile] rswndrlst.livejournal.com 2014-03-13 05:04 pm (UTC)(link)
Why thank you.

[identity profile] jenandbronze.livejournal.com 2014-03-13 09:03 pm (UTC)(link)
I have been to SF (more like closer to San Rafael area) three times, once for alumni reunion, second for a board meeting, third time (recently 2012) to train with my third guide dog. Although it is nice and warm and beautiful area, sadly, my head disliked it, darned sinuses and allergies LOL!

Look forward to reading more posts from you in Idol!

[identity profile] rswndrlst.livejournal.com 2014-03-14 04:29 am (UTC)(link)
The wind has been pretty bad this week and messing with my allergies too.

Thank you!

[identity profile] kagomeshuko.livejournal.com 2014-03-13 11:30 pm (UTC)(link)
Glad you've joined idol! Looking forward to more of your entries as I loved this little story!

[identity profile] kajel.livejournal.com 2014-03-13 11:33 pm (UTC)(link)
Nicely done!

[identity profile] rswndrlst.livejournal.com 2014-03-14 04:31 am (UTC)(link)
Merry meet and thank you!

[identity profile] talon.livejournal.com 2014-03-14 04:20 am (UTC)(link)
Oh, hey, someone else from San Francisco! Hi, and welcome to idol!

[identity profile] rswndrlst.livejournal.com 2014-03-14 04:30 am (UTC)(link)
Yay!