Jaclynn Loibl

Flexing Down Below

At the start of writing, the value of a piece is unknown and undefined. It’s as if a door knob turns and a crack appears but with nothing in the house visible, there’s no telling what it will be like when you enter. If you ever need a pick-me-up, search for used mirrors or weddingContinue reading “Flexing Down Below”

Potato Bug Head

You can’t unsee a rooster mounting a duck. From its hop up, to the beak tugging on the duck’s neck feathers, to the gyration and the duck’s sad passiveness; it’s a display I’d prefer to erase from my mind. It’s the 14th of January, my birthday, and what a nice 41st it’s been. A dayContinue reading “Potato Bug Head”

Sunday Morning Coming Down

I wish I lived in a world where courtesy was dialed back to none, and a blunt, “Get away from me, you gross ashtray butt breath,” was acceptable. But it’s not, so I’m polite, bite my tongue, and hold my breath until the air freshens. Back when smoking was allowed in buildings, at the startContinue reading “Sunday Morning Coming Down”

Shock To the Heart

My excitement at being chosen out of ten others for the cutest Pottery Barn magazine rack on Buy Nothing means my attention was split. Looking at my phone, I unlocked the car door and got in, but at seeing the dim dash light and too-dark seats, I felt disoriented. Seeing my mug, I reassured myselfContinue reading “Shock To the Heart”

Eff Off Fear

I center myself, take a breath, look around the room, and think, Is there anything I need? Music, I need music. So I say, “Hey, Google. Play Music.” The response comes, “Sure, music on YouTube Music. Here you go.” And it plays. And I breathe in and then out, another purposeful breath. I had aContinue reading “Eff Off Fear”

Every Dog Has Its Day

I wrote down three ideas for this post, then deleted them all. I don’t want to write about how you should have a good relationship with yourself, or tell you that I received a butt load of new clients today, or that I’m impressed with how I navigate other people’s defenses. I hate when IContinue reading “Every Dog Has Its Day”

Existential Sock Talk

Holy cow, there are fantastic corner wooden plant stands on Amazon. I’m a fastidious perfectionist, so I’ll scour every review and photo of them, take tape measurements of the wall and maybe even use blue painter’s tape to map the location. I told Dave my birthday wish of having an Airbnb-level clean house this week.Continue reading “Existential Sock Talk”

Moth Testicles

I’m stalling. Or rather, cleaning, adjusting blinds, and turning up and down the heat. In 22 minutes, the virtual conversational Spanish class I enrolled in starts, and I’m in nervous. Would it really matter if I didn’t show? Nah. Except… I’d know. Since I want to speak Spanish fluently, I need to talk to people.Continue reading “Moth Testicles”

Houseplant Arousal

I’d love to write long-form; informative, entertaining, and creative pieces. Tapestries that interweave and intersect cleverly and stimulatingly. I want the reader to walk away from the piece more educated and empowered or with a smile. I want to draw upon personal lessons, my education, and my experiences in counseling others to create pieces thatContinue reading “Houseplant Arousal”

Magnetic Zombie

I shoot up my hand but before the words touch the air, I’m shhhh’d. At the pulpit is the critic rambling and spitting dribble. What am I doing here anyway, I ask? Standing, I unfurl my favorite finger of the bunch, and enjoy the slam of the door behind me. I’m bumbling through sentences constructingContinue reading “Magnetic Zombie”