100,000 Temptations

Xine goes places, stresses, bleeds, panic-picks meals, tags along, grasps at her own free will, looks for train tracks to lie down on, and maybe sometimes, but honestly, rarely, enjoys herself.

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  Temptation #27 – United Kingdom
  I get my wisdom teeth removed. I work a week from hell. I go to London, Scotland, and consider how wise I ever was.
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  Temptation #26 – Banff
  I decide to work very hard for a week, to get a week off. My first trip is to Banff, Canada and I am excited. When I return home, I’ll have Wisdom Teeth extracted.
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  Temptation #25 – Japan
  I fly standby to Japan, experience fortune in a variety of ways, and return home wishing I had more chill.
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  Temptation #24- Netherlands
  I fly standby internationally. I spend way too much time in PHL airport. Not near enough time in Amsterdam, and I make a list of things I’ll forever pine over, the election results not-included.
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  Temptation # 23 – Maine
  I fly standby, take my mother to Maine. We see Acadia, Tyler Childers, and Purgatory. Which is a specific inside joke, if you know Childer’s break out album.
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  Interjection #12 – Hot Springs
  I am asked what my dream job is, I defend flying standby, I eat ice cream with my grandmother.
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  Interjection #11
  Two Truths & a Lie. Read about the time I went Skydiving.
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  Interjection #10
  I get stuck at my kitchen counter laughing at a single instagram reel, write a poem about it on the way to work.
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  Interjection #9 – Epilogue
  The epilogue, ripped out from They Won’t Apologize for the Mess by Xine Rose
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  Interjection #8
  Buying a house, prepping bowels, and the airline industry: gold stars all around.
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  Temptation #22
  I am invited to Pascha. I am promised a great time. All expectations have been exceeded.
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  Interjection #7
  Standing up, means standing alone. The validation isn’t coming, honey. Life’s a shit show, folks.
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  Interjection #6
  A Poem.
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  Temptation #21
  I talk about New Years, about being tired and staying up late regardless. I talk about resolutions, even though I wouldn’t call them resolutions. But that’s not because I have anything against resolutions. And I share a poem.
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  Interjection #5
  For my birthday, my mother-in-law surprises me with a really great gift. She gives me a book binding machine. This isn’t a fancy machine. It’s basically a glorified (low-heat) cooking griddle, with “flanges” that squeeze a stack of papers upright, on its back so to speak. Then the flat surface melts a strip of glue… Read more: Interjection #5
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  Temptation #20
  The ladies of The Local Honeys invited me to “Canard County”. If you know, you know. If you don’t, go read Trampoline right now.
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  Interjection #4
  Since I am of age, here’s my campaign speech. Gawd, bless our country’s heart.
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  Temptation #19
  Four months of catch up. Lots of vet visits, road kill, famous people who don’t care about me, and tomorrow I will be old enough to run for president. I guess I should work on my campaign speech.
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  Temptation #18
  I am a plus one for a 3 day wedding that keeps saying “diy” like this mountain top resort event doesn’t cost more than my home back in Kentucky. Also, I am folding napkins for editors at Lucas Films.
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  Temptation #17 – Santa Cruz
  Day 2 and 3 of my trip to California: There is fog, redwoods, seals, rollercoasters and kids with big sticks. The hunt for banana slugs begins.
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  Temptation #16 – San Francisco
  When two friends plan for some place exotic, but life happens and we settle for the 17 mile tour.
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  Temtpation #15
  Is it better to lie awake and worry about your dog shitting in the middle of the night? or to just carry on and clean it up when it lands at your feet? Trust me, this is a story about shame and self-esteem.
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  Temptation #14
  I accomplish a goal, deflect compliments, survive a festival, and convince everyone I am not a kidnapper.
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  Temptation #13
  I’m home from Florida. I’ve survived a deserted island and the ferry ride from hell. Surely, it can’t get more exciting than that. Right? Right?!
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  Temptation #12 – Florida
  In a real life sample of Triangle of Sadness, my mother and I tackle Miami, ‘gaters, and a deserted island 120 miles off the Florida keys.
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  Temptation #11
  Part 1 of 6-7 weeks MIA. Why are those weeks filled with more guns, floridians, tattoos and also a publication. How was there time for all that?
• Temptation #11
  I was thinking about guns recently. Who isn’t, amirite? In my town, a man was arrested after wandering through the aisles of Walmart, on his phone, talking about “popping people”. When police apprehended him in the lawn and garden area, they found he had guns in his backpack. Okay, so he was armed, but it… Read more: Temptation #11
• Interjection #3
  No big revelations this week. In fact, I’m a little swamped with catching up after taking some impromptu chill out days. So just some banter and musings to share with you, my dear readers. In true me-fashion, I’ll sneak in some self-deprecating criticism in hopes that tomorrow I wake up a slightly different person. Let’s… Read more: Interjection #3
• Interjection #2
  [Insert generic gig at a small dive bar] It’s around Midnight, I have a beer in my hand and I’m standing outside smoking a cigarette. Maybe I know the person I’m talking to, maybe not. Maybe there are a half dozen humans in a circle. We might all be talking about music, or work, or… Read more: Interjection #2
• Temptation #10
  At the beginning of the year, I house-sat for a friend. I had grand plans to begin screenwriting class, and make progress on my novel. Finally, I’d have a house to myself and no one to interrupt me. What actually occurred was a sad sack of a body wallowing in a strange building. I was… Read more: Temptation #10
• Interjection #1
  If you read my last blog, then you know that I had a spurt of confidence and rebellion. I was all like, “I don’t need them, I’m going to do this all on my own!” There were practically little army soldiers charging out my fingertips, trampling over the keys, hungry for victory. I appreciate their… Read more: Interjection #1
• Temptation #5
  Chapter 5
• Temptation #4 – New Mexico
  Chapter 4
• Temptation #3
• Temptation #2
  Chapter 2
• Temptation #1
  Chapter 1
• Temptation #0 – Gas Station Coffee
  Confession: I am not a coffee snob. I think the first time I enjoyed coffee is a story you might enjoy. I snuck out of my window, on a weeknight in high school. I walked past my parents’ bedroom window, down the long gravel driveway, and hopped in a 1992 Ford Thunderbird Turbo. To quote… Read more: Temptation #0 – Gas Station Coffee