Author Archives: Jaclynn Loibl

There’s a green sludge-like salsa a taqueria up the hill makes. It’s delicious. To my surprise while in the grocery store owned by said restaurant, I found that same green goo in an unmarked container in the refrigerated section. And like Pavlov’s pups hearing a bell, my mouth watered. After taking it home and swishingContinue reading “A Mystery to Solve”

The wanted poster, the constantly hunting the bad guys, is wearing on me. Through swinging tavern doors, I’m forever holding posters to large-handled ale drinkers. And however real I believe the madman to be, was he ever real blows in the shadows, shaking me to the core. But what if this pushing, the expectations ofContinue reading “The Careless Counselor”

The shock came from a text reminder, “Remember, your rent has gone up to $505 this month, thanks.” Really, I thought, since when? Despite the landlord later calling the conversation with me a hassle, I stayed the course. Unrelenting and focused on the goal: of negotiating a fair and legal rent. After venting to aContinue reading “Ninja Negotiations”

In preparation for a move of a lifetime, I’d gone down the list, of people to tell, and last was my neighbor Chuck. And my Facebook friends, but I’m not concerned about them. Chuck is someone you want on your side. He is on mine. A felt and spoken fondness for the neighborly closeness wasContinue reading “Embracing Imperfection”

whoosis [ hoo-zis ]  nounan object or person whose name is not known or cannot be recalled. Whoosis is like whodunit, and yet it’s a oohs is. He is and she is. And more importantly, who is. Whoosis is that which escapes us. Houdini, a flash of a sparkler, backlighting the smoke. Was she ever even there?Continue reading “Pick a Word Poetry”

I don’t have a pen and paper. I wanted to wait until I did, but then that’s time I could use for something, someone else. Time at times is a commodity, a precious shell fragile and porcelain that I must coddle and value. I am writing now on a laptop, my fingers moving consistently withoutContinue reading “Free Write: A Writing Exercise”

I guiltily drove my dad’s gas-guzzling pickup truck a handful of blocks to Fred Meyer. I thought about walking but it was cold and I didn’t bring my coat. Once there, the oddity of a fully dressed fireman, fitted with a helmet, heavy pants, and coat appeared to be climbing up the side of theContinue reading “Don’t Care”

I almost pulled the trigger on this https://seattle.craigslist.org/see/rvs/d/silverdale-1989-chevy-g20-get-away/7717025104.html conversion camper van. In July, I’ll need a home on wheels to jet me and my plants across the country. Thankfully, I have a level-headed partner whose scrunched face, in response to my “Yes, it’ll also be my daily,” was all that was needed to make meContinue reading “Running Down a Dream”

It’s never a three handfuls of conditioner shower—well, until tonight. With every tug, I took the large-toothed comb to my knots. The snarls snarled back, and I, like a lion tamer, held the line. My thoughts were equally gnarly, filled with hard-hitting questions. As each knot loosened itself, so did I. My final answer: IContinue reading “Talking Trash”

Still in the process of clearing eye gunk, I shuffled to the bathroom for my morning sit down. At first, the brown floater looked like an unflushed remnant from the night before. Only with a wiry tail and whiskers, my mind shifted to Sherlock mode. Not unlike the Buckley Log Show where I’d watch loggersContinue reading “Toilet Tales”