Xine Rose

I get stuck at my kitchen counter laughing at a single instagram reel, write a poem about it on the way to work. Link in bio.

She is holding too much, of course, and the door is closing on her. The box on top falls, its contents shatter. She does the right thing. She cries for help. And he comes running. But he trips over the truck hitch. Blind and frozen by the pain in his shin and shame, most likely, he is unable—she does the right thing, yells, help! What are you doing? She holds her curse words in the back of her…

The last few months have flown by, which is a mediocre pun if you know I work for the airlines. Read to find out what all has happened since the new job, new home, and new city. Link in Bio or Copy & Paste:

I had at least two friends commend me on my ability to make things happen. In full crisis mode, I said to them both, I’m gonna buy a house in Lexington. A month later, we were preparing for the closing: a record for us. I, for one, am constantly developing fantastic ideas. Rarely are we executing them to completion. I give us gold stars. Josh and I really did pull off some magic in the first…

I spend May 4th not at a Star Wars event, but at a funeral for Christ our Lord (and there are rock & roll bells, and most likely noise complaints.)

I am told to arrive thirty minutes early because it gets crowded. I am old to wear comfortable shoes and dress classy but festive. It is 11 pm and we are hoping to get a good spot in the church. I put my phone in Jenny’s cubby hole at St. Athanasius. It is Easter for those who practice the Greek Orthodox religion. Father Justin is pointed out to me, coming down the stairs, with a handful of…

This is an update on life so far. I am cagey but sassy. It's my best character yet.

There is a part of me that almost escaped for the hills. It was January 8th and she was feeling brave–not invincible, just brave-little-toaster style. That part of me was a gift of 2024. It was new years eve and the whole of me said to this part of me, “Okay. This is the year. We’ve been thinking about it and we think it’s time to let you go. Let you free, little one. The world is your oyster, or…

You could say the first temptation was to run. Xine and Josh sat in a parking lot between an off-road vehicle store, a “Freedom Church,” a Waffle house, Applebee’s, and an Advanced Auto. Which is to say, with windows down, they smoked cheap cigarettes and let the cool winter air into the car. Exhaust, grease, and prayers wafted into the car as Xine said with almost certainty, “We could probably…

A Poem titled "PVC Heart". Link in Bio.

No one asked, if it mightbe a good time, to ziptie a PVC heart acrossmy only window. It is a flimsy, pliable thing, strangled by glittered tulle, stringed light-bulbs,forced by cold handsinto the best, symmetricalshape. Good for business. Valentine’s Day is coming up. It wasn’t a good time.But no one asked.

I feel many feelings in my gut that I’ve never felt before. There is a sharp but tolerable pain in my side that reminds me a little bit of drinking too much water before working out, or of when I am driving and I think I can make it home to pee, but my bladder tells me otherwise and when I finally pee at a gas station, it is so painful, I promise I’ll never try to be a hero again. I also feel…

I used to go all out for New Years. I wanted to spend every New Years in a new place—some far off and magical place. I started this in England. I spent New Years with a boyfriend, new friends, and strangers, watching Big Ben strike midnight. The next year, I filled up a car with old and new friends and drove to New York City. We managed to find a spot where we could see half the ball drop.  When…

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 and binds a cardstock cover to the edges of the pages.  When I get it set up in my…

"Early Times with Meemaw: an evening with Robert Gipe." If you don't know, go read Trampoline right now! Then, come back & read how a fellow writer met the man who captured Appalachia with the grace & beauty it deserves. xinerose.com or link in bio.

Smitten. I am Smitten with all things Harlan and Canard County. Robert Gipe was a pleasure and a riot. It wasn’t a birthday present but it was. Let me back up. Before one of our dogs ate raisins, the Big Ideas Festival occurred in Hazard, Kentucky. I was sick and there were rumors that the conference sold-out. So I missed Gipe, and Andi Marie, Silas House, and the premiere of “We Will Speak”.…

Happy birthday to meI’m finally 35I figure it’s timeTo write mycampaign speech “Like it or notthis is your countryYour gardenYour rows ofForget me knots But you forgotYou don’t get to pickThe assholes in yourFamily, the racist unclesthe Debbies, the KarensThe Dicks. The Mr. BlistersAt least you got aThanksgiving. You don’t get to pick which genes makeup your physiology. Or yourAstrology or…

It’s almost Halloween and I haven’t written about anything since June? If you predicted, either nothing has happened or a lot has happened, you’d be right on both accounts. Lets get into to the high and low points. July was for surviving without Josh while he traveled with the Local Honeys on their month long Mid-West tour. Thinking that I’d have tons of free time and would need the distraction…

If you get the chanceGo to an Indian weddingBe a plus oneI don’t care how badyour date is.You’re not therefor them You’re therefor the celebrationof strangers. Eatat their table. Dance with their lovedones. Lift theminto the air. Withyour bare hands. Toast to their story—Their arrival (Your arrival)Your new friends Then send themoff with well wishesbut, save a fewfor yourself Plus…

We have a charming, old sea-side hotel room in Santa Cruz. The balcony faces the boardwalk, which is comprised of amusement rides running at full speed. It’s all we can do not to linger between the dark ocean and bright lights. Despite jet-lag, Chasity and I walk through the empty but still illuminated boardwalk. Secretly, I’m considering something. I started a book about this boardwalk.–about a…

My friend and I go to California, and in our classic vacation-deprived selves, we maybe over do it the first day.

Chasity texts me and tells me, “Do you realize we’ve never taken a plane ride together?” This doesn’t mean anything except, I’ve known her since 8th grade. I flew to Ireland to see her while she was in school. We went to Europe together. Except, I went with my [miserable] ex-husband, and she went with her Irish flatmate at the time. I met her everywhere across Europe. We’ve taken car rides…

RECAP: There’s 6 toed cats, The Office trivia, my friends’ loss, pain, and fear. The solution to all problems is a 6 figure book deal. DUH. What lasts 2 hours too long, is boring and hot but made better with the occasional ping pong ball and a half dozen confetti canons? Not a night of beer pong, but close. The Powell county high school graduation ceremony before the night of underage beer…