Author Archives: Jaclynn Loibl

For $50,000, we’ve got 4-foot outer walls, a porta potty, and exterminated termites for our new build. Not a bad deal, huh? It seems like a lot of money because it is a lot of money, but with all the checks we’ve been writing I’d have put that number much higher. I don’t see whyContinue reading “For the Fences”

The latest question from the contractor is whether we want barn doors or pocket doors between the kitchen and the living room. Barn doors are advised due to the thinness of the walls and the inability to hang things. But I’m pro-pocket doors. Specifically, ones with panes of glass so I can enjoy my morningContinue reading “A Home Invention”

An upside-down Big Dipper is directly overhead, shining through a dark bluish-black sky. I’m seated, legs out, at the end of a blacktop driveway, hoping for a second-night showing of the Northern Lights. Even though the very spot I am sitting had a view of a massive reddish-pink and purple-streaked sky, I wasn’t here. IContinue reading “Wishing and Hoping”

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”