I had my opening line when I woke up this morning, which was going to direct my whole outline, and how many main characters, and probably my title... which is all I wanted to do til 23:59 on Oct 31: outline, title, a few characters, the opening line...but

I forgot it.

I can only remember that it was two lines of dialogue between the main romantic leads.  She said something; he responded.  It was poignant and evocative.

And it was the kind of opening that could serve as foreshadowing for the ending.  The kind of opening that would generate a closing.  All I'd have to do was fill in the middle.  The kind of half-dreamed perfection that only exists before dawn, so you know you must write it down, because pre-dawn perfection is fleeting.

But it seemed so memorable... so I didn't.

And it wasn't.

Which makes me want to go back to bed immediately and try to simulate the environment of last night into this morning.  Which would require going home. And wine.  And reading until I fell asleep.  But I'm okay with that.  It's for art.

Sigh.

I just found this note to myself from March 2010.  I probably put it on FB at the time.  Are all these sweet memories archived on FB, like they are on Xanga?  I mean, archived for me, not the NSA?  Here we go:

Is seeing red.  Literally.

The 4 year old locked himself in the bathroom last night.

Anytime Norway goes into hiding, the outcome is not good, but it’s usually related to food or his brother’s Nintendo.  (He created a new version of “pancake mix” last week under the kitchen table, with raw eggs, colored cookie sugar, and applesauce.)

Last night?  I jimmied open the door to see a bath towel with two red legs sticking out.

Red?  Red.  Red legs, red.. everything.  Norway, completely naked except for red marker.  From his hairline to his toes:  solid, bright, cherry red.  Just the front of him, of course, his whole back side was untouched.

My scream probably frightened the neighbors.  In Canada.

Then I asked the stupidest question all parents ask:  NORWAY!  WHY DID YOU DO THIS?!

He had a meek little answer:  Mommy, I wanted to be Hellboy.