Friday, April 30, 2010

Friday 5 - Red

Today's Friday 5 is a fun and simple one.  You should give it a go and live the dream.  haha! 

1.What is your favorite red food?  For some reason it took me awhile to catalog "red food" in my mind :-)  Then I kicked into gear and came up with strawberries.  Mmmmmm...strawberries.


2.When were you last caught red-handed?  Yesterday, I was sort of hovering around my new co-worker's desk looking at this cart of donations.  When we were between librarians, I was assigned to sort through donations, but it is really not mi trabajo.  Anyway, she was kind of defensive when she saw me looking, like, "Oh, I was getting to those."  And even though I wasn't doing anything wrong, I felt sort of caught at something.

3.What’s your nicest red article of clothing?  I don't really have "nice" clothing.  I do like my long, stripey socks with red, orange, and pink stripes.  I've been feeling knee sock-ish lately and those are my faves.

4.Who’s got the loveliest red hair?  Aw, my son Social Animal.  Don't call him a ginger...they hate that!  haha! 
My redhead in the middle...they all have very short hair though, as I believe this was from last summer.

5.What are your thoughts on the 2002 Baz Luhrmann film Moulin Rouge!  My thoughts are that I was never that interested in seeing it, so I haven't.  I like Ewan MacGregor though....
 
Hope you guys are RED-y for a fab weekend, doing whatever your little hearts' desire. 
 
***By the way, for the next three months I will be attempting to meet the challenge set forth at Swamp Gas & Moonlit Reflections by AlienCG via AlienGF....or the other way around.  Whatever.  It is simply this: Write a poem everyday for the next three months.   It doesn't have to be long, or perfect...it doesn't have to be anything...it just has to be written!  So, of course I'm in.  I'll start tomorrow, May 1, and keep on writing a poem a day until Saturday, July 31.   Poetry rocks!***

Thursday, April 29, 2010

Sometimes I Forget

I forget how good poetry makes me feel.  I went to a poetry workshop last night, more or less as a favor to a friend.  My friend Ceku works at a library nearby and was organzing her first program...this poetry workshop.  She was so nervous that no one would show up.  I was free and I love poetry and I try to support my friends when I can. 

The poet was a woman named Traci Kato-Kiriyama.  She is a working poet and she also does theater and teaching.  There was a really good sized crowd after all.  People of all ages, but a good many were high school students.  I wondered if one of the teachers in the area made going there an extra credit assignment.  (Libraries love when teachers do that, by the way!)  Anyway, Traci read some of her poems, then she directed us in some writing exercises.   Then, we were given a writing prompt...our name and the phrase "you have no idea".  We wrote a three stanza, three line per stanza poem in about two minutes, which we were asked to share if we felt comfortable to do so.  It was funny, the older people were raising their hands, all ready to share.  The students were much more reticent and needed to be called upon.  Here is mine:
When I was a child
I didn't appreciate
The beauty of my name

I wanted to be a flower.
A Rose, oh how perfect!
Me, a beautiful Rose...

Now I love my name.
Laura, the laurels go to the winner.
And you have no idea.

Yeah, of course I read it aloud and felt all proud and stuff.  It really was very fun, and I loved hearing so many other different ways that people had taken this very basic idea.  It was quite amazing.  I also bought a copy of Traci's book, called Signaling, because I enjoyed what she read so much...and you can never have too much poetry. 

If you'd like to do the assignment too, that'd be superb!  The key would be to just pound it out quickly.  It's fun!  And for those of you out there who are interested in doing more writing you should check out this sort of online writer's workshop called The Undeniables.  

I'm really glad I got to be reminded of how much I love poetry.

Wednesday, April 28, 2010

Ever Lazy, Never Free

It's been heavy round these here parts, I know.  So let us take this Choose and Defend Wednesday to relax a bit.   Choose...ONE.  Defend your choice with every fiber of your being.  Or, you know, whatever.  What will it be?

Bath
OR

Shower

Choose and Defend!  Thanks for playing :-)

Tuesday, April 27, 2010

It's Still in My Nature to Look for What I Can't Find

 Time, time, time for Talk Talk Tuesday!   All my personal folderol lately has caused me to reflect upon the importance of intention.  The meaning behind things done...or not done.  Sometimes what is inferred comes through more strongly than what is actually said.   So, I found you a Talk Talk that seemed about that very thing...
 Strephon kissed me in the spring,
Robin in the fall,
But Colin only looked at me
And never kissed at all.

Strephon's kiss was lost in jest,
Robin's lost in play,
But the kiss in Colin's eyes
Haunts me night and day.
     -Sara Teasdale

Is there anything in your life that remains incomplete, but beautiful in it's intention?  Talk Talk about it.  I'm all ears...eyes, I mean.

Saturday, April 24, 2010

The Thing with DR

I feel better after a good talk yesterday evening.  I love him, he loves me, and we want to try.  Seems like it is going to be about a year, but I can do that for the long run.  We have about another month until he goes.  I want to just enjoy it, get through the next few months, and then get on with our life together.  Thanks so much for all you've said over the past couple of days as I agonized over this...and I don't kid myself, I know there is agony to come.  But I do have you guys :-) 

Friday, April 23, 2010

Friday 5 - The Bard

From Friday 5, I bring you this: In honor of William Shakespeare’s birthday, here are this week’s questions!

1.  In A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Lysander says,
“Ay me! for aught that I could ever read,
Could ever hear by tale or history,
The course of true love never did run smooth…”
How has this proven (or not proven) to be the case in your life?  Ha! (she laughed bitterly)  Yes, this has proven to be the case in my life.  Or at least what I thought was true love turned out to not be running as smoothly as it seemed to be.  There are lots of Shakespearian quotes about fools I imagine...


2.  In Hamlet, the title character says, “Frailty, thy name is woman!” Who in your life has proven this not to be true? And if you’re willing to share, who in your life has proven this to be completely true?  I know many strong women...my life is full of them.  My mom, my sister, my girlfriends, the women I work with.  They are not frail or if they are they are strong enough to protect themselves from being destroyed by it.  At this moment in time, as I write this, I feel weak and down.  But I have faith that it isn't a permanent state of frailty. 

 3.  In The Merry Wives of Windsor, Pistol says,
“Why then the world’s mine oyster,
Which I with sword will open.”

Ignoring the possible sexual meaning here, how do you feel about oysters?   The possible sexual meaning?  Um, okay ignoring that I am not a big fan of the oyster. 



4.  In The Merchant of Venice, Lorenzo says,
“The man that hath no music in himself,
Nor is not mov’d with concord of sweet sounds,
Is fit for treasons, stratagems, and spoils.”

Do you agree, and have you known anyone who seemed to be completely unmoved by any kind of music?  I would have to say that I do agree.  I am not sure I can think of a single person I've known who seemed completely unmoved by any kind of music.  I've known a few people with extraordinarily narrow tastes in what moved them, but at least something did!


5.  Is Shakespeare overrated, or is he truly the western world’s greatest writer?  Is there something in-between?  I don't think he's been overrated and I don't think his influence should be understated.  Is he the western world's greatest writer?  I feel less certain I could back that up with much besides the fact that, you know, it's Shakespeare, and it's bawdy, and brilliant, and beautiful.


 May the light that breaks through yonder window be the dawn of a happy weekend! < That was the closing line on the site and it's perfect. What more could I possibly say?  :-/

Thursday, April 22, 2010

Feeling Like Woody Allen

Not just any Woody Allen, but his character in Hannah and Her Sisters.  When his character goes through a crisis of faith and everything seems dark, he is not saved by any of the religions that he explores.  Instead, Mickey find redemption while sitting in a theater watching a screening of Duck Soup. 

 My feet hurt, my head was pounding, and I had to sit down I went into a movie house. I didn't know what was playing or anything I just needed a moment to gather my thoughts and be logical and put the world back into rational perspective. And I went upstairs to the balcony, and I sat down, and the movie was a film that I'd seen many times in my life since I was a kid, and I always loved it. I'm watching these people up on the screen and I started getting hooked on the film. I started to feel, how can you even think of killing yourself, I mean isn't it so stupid. Look at all the people up there on the screen, they're real funny, and what if the worst is true. What if there is no God and you only go around once and that's it. Well, ya know, don't you wanna be part of the experience? You know, what the hell it's not all a drag. And I'm thinking to myself, Jeez, I should stop ruining my life searching for answers I'm never gonna get, and just enjoy it while it lasts. And after who knows, I mean maybe there is something, nobody really knows. I know maybe is a very slim reed to hang your whole life on, but that's the best we have. And then I started to sit back, and I actually began to enjoy myself.

I get that.  When Milly and I watched part of Monkey Business at lunch yesterday, I did feel how that potential for joy and laugher isn't gone forever.  It is just on hiatus at the moment.  But I can get through this.

Wednesday, April 21, 2010

I Wish You Could See It From Over There

My question for this week's Choose and Defend Wednesday is simple, and probably predictable.  Tell me straight. 

Long distance relationships:

Possible
OR

Not So Much

Choose and Defend.  Thanks.

Tuesday, April 20, 2010

1,500 and Counting

This Talk Talk Tuesday post marks my 1,500th at this blog.  That is a lot of talk talking, isn't it.  Unfortunately, my heart is breaking today, so I am not a happy talk talker.  DR told me that he is going to have to go back to North Carolina in a couple of weeks.  There are good reasons, and it isn't forever (he believes), but I am still feeling....stunned and sort of sick with grief.   So...here is my Talk Talk for this Tuesday ---

The art of losing isn't hard to master;
so many things seem filled with the intent
to be lost that their loss is no disaster.
-Elizabeth Bishop

Hope you all are much happier than I am feeling right now.  But I know, I know, I know I can be alright again.  What choice is there, after all?

Monday, April 19, 2010

Wow! How Awesome! It's Monday!

Me on Sunday.

Are you buying the enthusiasm located in the post title?  Ah well....I tried :-)  It was a fine weekend and I'm sure it will be a fine week to match. 

I had Friday off, so that I could do my grocery shopping, and extra laundry, and bill paying.  I hate being broke afterward, but I love paying bills.  I feel so efficient and relieved to have it done for another month.  DR came over in the evening and we just hung out.  We almost came to blows over Jaime Oliver's Food Revolution, but other than that it was a nice night. 

Saturday I worked and it was super busy.  In the morning we had Barks & Books.  Once a month, this lovely woman brings in her Great Pyranees, Bernie, so that the kids can read to him. 
Bernie!
He is so huge and sweet, the kids go crazy for him.  We put out a bunch of dog themed easy readers and the kids read to him one by one.  A perenially popular program.
In the afternoon, my co-worker, Camper, had her Mad Hatter's Tea Party.  She does the funnest programs and always puts a lot of thought into decorating the room and dressing up.  She was the Mad Hatter himself and her partner, A, was Alice.  They had a HUGE crowd.

Sunday was a super quiet and restful day, mostly.  DR was at work, and Girlie Girl and Handsome Lad were mellow.  Thus, the top photo represents my activities for the day!  In the evening we went out to dinner with Kick Back Dude and his funky bunch.  They all picked Sizzler.  To me, that place is over priced for the quality of food that they serve.  That may be just me though.  Aside from our disappointment that the ice cream machine wasn't working, we had a good time.

Now I am going to take a tip from Tara and end my post with some flair.  No, no zombies.  In my family, when we launch into a story and realize at some point that it is lame, we have an ending that we can rely on...and then I found $20!  And there!  The story is saved and everyone can cheer!  Thank you!

Friday, April 16, 2010

Friday 5 - Face Dance Tonight

                       I was all, huh?, when I saw the title of this week's Friday 5.  Does this mean we don't find Pete Townsend a little creepy anymore?  Okay!  Um.  Anyway, here we go.  As always, playing along is encouraged, as are comments of any sort. 

                      1. How’s your poker face?  Disgraceful.  I have no poker face and people can always seem to tell when I am trying to hide something.  Dagnabit.

                      2. When were you last red-faced?  Yesterday when one of my co-workers joked that I seemed so happy lately that I must be, uh...well, I am too red-faced to quote her exactly.  But I was amused to be accused of being, let us say, well cared for.

                      3. When will it be time for you to face the music?  I guess after I once again do something I could be called out on.  Right now, nothing pending that I am aware of.

                      4. What’s an issue about which you’ve done an about-face?   I tend not to do about-faces on issues once I form an opinion.  That isn't to say I am inflexible, or can't be persuaded to see things another way.  It is just that I would probably come around to a smaller degree than a complete 180°.

                      5. Who’s overdue for some face-time with you?  I'd have to go with my second oldest son, Secret Agent Man.  He wasn't given that name casually, believe me.  He's a hard man to pin down.

                      Here's a cutie face for you :-) 

                       Stand in the place where you live..now face North.  Hope you are all facing your weekend with thoughts of fun and relaxation!

                      Thursday, April 15, 2010

                      Her Only Guide is Desire

                      Bizarro rules :-)  Don't you love the idea of Baby Bear and Goldilocks running into each other randomly, years later?

                      Just a random sort of Thursday here.  Work has been pretty calm, as has home.  At work, I think I can thank having another person on board, along with the natural ebb and flow of tension that seems to occur.  Same thing at home,  I suspect.

                      Looking forward to a day off tomorrow.  Not that I have anything thrilling planned...unless you consider laundry, grocery shopping, and bill paying to be thrilling.  No, I didn't think so.  I do plan to try and catch AlienCG's moment of glory tomorrow (Friday) afternoon.  I'm hoping to have some hang out time with Handsome Lad after school.  That is, if his dad isn't planning a helicopter ride or something *snerk*
                      Then, after DR gets off work, he can come over and keep me company!  Yay!  There is that thrill I was looking for :-)

                      Have you found your Blueberry Hill thrill?  Tell me about it.  Purely for the sake of my research.  Also, don't forget to Choose and Defend your spending/saving habits, if you haven't gotten round to it yet.  Thx.  Bear hug.  Out.  


                      Wednesday, April 14, 2010

                      There's One For You, Nineteen for Me

                      Welcome to Choose and Defend Wednesday, your chance to tell it like it is.  Tomorrow is tax day, so I've had my mind on my money, money on my mind, and all that.  This question works for income tax refunds or really any "extra" money that you should come upon.  Or maybe it is even a more general question about the nature of your relationship with money.  So what are you going to do with that cash?

                      Spend It
                      OR

                      Save It


                      Now, I do understand that your answer is probably, most realistically, BOTH.  However, get past that and tell me what would really happen to money in your hands if your true nature got to take charge.  Choose and then Defend!  Simple as that.  Just because it's Wednesday. 

                      Tuesday, April 13, 2010

                      Veni Vedi Vici

                      Up until now, that  ^ right^ up there has been the extent of my knowlege of Latin.  Well, pretty much.  But on this fine Talk Talk Tuesday, I have decided to begin learning a few new Latin phrases.  Sure it is a dead language, but that doesn't mean it isn't useful.  ANY other language, spoken with authority, can make you sound smart and even sexy...and I need all the help I can get.

                      Latin: Servus ille fortis sastis portare me non apperet.
                      English: That slave doesn't look strong enough to carry me.

                      There now.  A nice phrase to get us all started on our quest for smart sexiness!  Brought to you by Talk Talk Tuesday and  Which way to the vomitorium? : vernacular Latin for all occasions :-)

                      Monday, April 12, 2010

                      Yeah, I Needed That

                      Yes, I was due and it felt good.  I took off a couple of extra days this past week to give myself a four day weekend.  I have traditionally done this for a chance to spend some extra time with the kids during their Spring break.  I did get a bit of that, but of course they are so busy now...the big boys all grown, Girlie Girl an extreme social butterfly, and Handsome Lad, currently busy being Dad's Lad :-)  [Side note here: since WTG's been out of work, he has been the most attentive and fun dad in the world to Handsome Lad.  Honestly, the fun never stops over there.  It is nice for Handsome Lad, but I can't compete.]

                      Fishing with dad!

                      Anyway, I had that time off in any event and I was happy to get to spend a good part of it with DR.  He came over Wednesday evening and we spent Thursday together.  He had to go to work Friday, but he came back that evening.  I even cooked dinner, which for me has become a bit rare.  Like, I heat things up and I defrost, but actual cooking...not so much.  Saturday we went out to a screening of A Day at the Races.  I now have a crush on the Marx Brothers, circa 1937. 

                      Sunday was quiet.  DR had to work, but Girlie Girl was back from her little San Diego trip, so she and I got to catch up a bit.  Also, I took Handsome Lad to get a couple of used video games.  Of course his dad took him to a premiere of Kick-Ass, featuring the stars of the movie, live and in person.  As I said, I can't compete.  *sigh*  Handsome Lad is happy, though, and that is what counts.  And mostly, I am happy too.  I feel as good as I can about the family stuff .  Plus, I feel loved in a way that I really never have, with DR in my life.

                      I hope you all had good weekends too.  Now, let's go show this week who's who and what's what!

                      Friday, April 9, 2010

                      Friday 5 - Multimedia

                      Coming to you live from the second day of my long weekend.  It has been great...sooooo relaxing!  I am enjoying having nothing in particular that I have to do  And having some extra time with DR feels good too.
                       So, why am I here, writing in my blog?  Because I love this too!  And Friday 5 is always fun for me, especially when you guys participate or just talk back to me :-) 

                      1.  What Rolling Stones song best summarizes the week you just had?  Tough call, but I am going to go with "Let's Spend the Night Together".  Enough said.

                      2.  What movie reminds you most of your childhood?  Hm.  Another tough call.  I am trying to think of some "coming of age in the 70s" movies.  Yes, yes, I am old.  That has been established.  Maybe it was kind of "Roll Bounce", but whiter.


                      3.  What part of the newspaper do you never (or almost never) read? I almost never read ANY part of the newspaper anymore.  Where you been?  haha!  But back in the day, I totally ignored the Business/Finance section.  Now look at me.  *sigh*
                       
                      4. What television show is a lot better than you thought it would be? The first time I caught a glimpse of "The Marriage Ref" I was stunned by how bad it was.  It looked like a phony show that would be on another show, if you know what I mean.  But DR was tickled by it and so I watched it with him a couple of times and, okay, it isn't THAT bad.  It has it's moments when the celebrity panel gets each other going.

                      5.  What station is the radio nearest you set on at this moment?  I guess I most often listen to Jack FM (93.1) in my car.  I get Sirius through DirecTV and I seem to mostly listen to a station called "Alternative".  It used to have a cute name when it was XM - "Ethel"...there was also a "Fred" and a "Lucy".  I guess it was harder to tell what kind of music they were playing, but who cares? 

                      Alright!  Hope y'all have a great weekend multitasking or ignoring all media, whatever you want.  

                      Thursday, April 8, 2010

                      Written Word Blogathon

                      Here is our story thus far. My contribution at the end is in bold type.


                      The sun was edging on the horizon, peaking through silver slits of clouds. She sat there watching, waiting for the end of days. On this day she had wished for a fresh new start. Oblivious to what was really happening to her. She couldn’t shake that feeling of being watched. She didn’t know who or why, but she felt it.

                      She looked over her shoulder, but saw nobody there. The feeling stayed with her as she got up and start to walk back toward the house. A rustling in the bushes caught her attention as she nervously peered in, squinting to see who or what was there. A squirrel ran out and toward the large oak tree. She jumped, but knew that wasn’t what made the noise. She looked in again and said in a low-pitched squeak, ‘Hello?’

                      There was no reply. She didn’t really think she’d get one, but it was worth a shot. The only way to really know what was back there, was to suck it up and take a second, better look. This time, she carefully separated the branches to be able to see better in the back of the bushes. At first it just looked like a large rock, but then she saw the two thin arms, bent and reaching up to cover his head. It was a young boy, curled up in the fetal position, and trying to make himself disappear.

                      During such strange times, she expected to wake up and realize she was just dreaming. At this moment, however, she realized this was all too real. Her head started to get tight, her heart hammered threateningly. She couldn’t run away from this scene, not with a child lying helplessly at her feet. She carefully knelt down, took the wool scarf from around her neck and quickly wrapped up the child, sheltering him from the cold, bitter wind that had suddenly whipped through the trees. She cradled and comforted the boy in her arms and stood up. Just inches behind where she stood, a thick branch snapped.

                      She gasped and instinctively clutched at the child more tightly. She froze, waiting. She could feel the boy trembling in her arms, his eyes still shut tightly against whatever was happening to him. Finally, when no other sounds disturbed the uneasy peace of the morning , she stepped quickly onto her porch and opened her front door awkwardly. She had been raised in a group home and had helped to care for many, many younger children over the years. Thinking back to what had been comforting, she settled herself in the old wooden rocker she'd found set out at someone's curb and began to rock slowly and steadily, humming almost under her breath to the small boy huddled miserably against her.

                      Humming turned to singing. Because she held him tightly and he seemed like a baby in her arms, instinctively she sang "Rock a bye baby, on the tree top, when the wind blows, the..." She stopped suddenly - common sense prevailed. The poor boy was too old for that song - and he didn't need to hear that "the cradle will fall." Neither did she. She started in again, slowly singing "you are my sunshine, my only sunshine..", falling into a reverie, taken away to arms that once held her. The boy slowly settled down. Even the wind was calmed by the singing of her song.

                      She allowed her rocking to slow and her song to turn to hum. Keeping in rhythm with the chair, she rose to her feet and carried the sleeping boy to the sofa. Head now cradled on the velveteen pillow, the boy sighed and rolled to his side, face passive in the soft light. She pulled a throw over him, and reached out to pick a twig from his hair. Her touch caused him to move his head back. Even in sleep, the boy was cautious. It was then that she noticed the key strung about his neck on a simple leather lace. Careful not to wake him, her fingers spider light, she lifted the key for a better look. It was small, delicate and possibly made of silver, an odd key with two shafts. She could not help but wonder what such a key would open and why it would be strung around this boy’s neck.

                      His clothes were tattered and well worn. She thought that he must have been out there all alone struggling to survive for all that time. Still she was curious as to why he was alone. He was one of the few lucky ones. Other's before him had tried in vain to escape. As she turned to the kitchen, she caught out of the corner of her eye this small box laying just under the table. It wasn't there before she thought. Or was it? Maybe the little boy had it in his few belongings? She bent down to retrieve it and as she did, in this strained and yet a quiet voice he says "don't touch it!" She turned back to the boy and he was sitting up. Unsure of his surroundings, he asks "where am I?" She says, "you're in my house". "How long have I been here?" She wasn't sure how to respond because she didn't know. "I think it has been a few days, maybe a week." "I found you just outside curled up in the bushes". "You are very lucky that I found you when I did", she tells him. "I'm not sure if you would've survived out there much longer". She was wanting to ask him about the key. But it was too soon. First, she would get some food and fresh water into him and another night's rest before inquiring about it.

                      She started to prepare the boy a bowl of her homemade oatmeal recipe, a recipe that had so lovingly been passed down from generation to generation in her family. It was actually the stuff of legends in this small town; a winner of many county fairs. She knew it would just warm the boy up, not just in body, but in spirit as well. She filled the bowl and walked towards the boy, but her smile quickly dissipated into a face of pure terror. She couldn’t quite make out what it was, but the boy was now on the floor, carving something into her floor. She tried to peek at the design, but he turned around swiftly and screamed at the top of his lungs, “You are the one they warned me about! They told me you would try to take my box!” An then her came towards her with his makeshift blade…

                      He slashed her and cut her left forearm clean. She clutched her wound towards her chest and fell backwards next to the kitchen table. With the boy fast approaching with murder in his eyes and fresh blood on his blade, she did the only thing she could to survive. She grabbed the box. She swung around and faced him. The pure terror drained from his eyes and turned into panic. He dropped his blade and fell to his knees. He held his hands out toward the box as his fears came to a realization. The blood from her arm had dripped onto the box and what was once aged and rotten had become finished and pristine. The state of shock she was in prevented her from noticing the transformation. He could only bow at witnessing the far reaching powers of the LLC, but he could not fail at his mission. Quicker than a hiccup, he lunged at her and knocked the box from her grasp. He shoved her aside and took the box as his own once again. The box took on it's original form and the boy spoke once again.....

                      "Keep away from this box! You cannot handle the secrets which it possesses." He retreated toward the door.
                      She said, trying not to reveal her fear, "What just happened? What did I see?" She took a step toward him as he cradled the box tighter to him.
                      "You didn't see anything and you wouldn't understand if you had!" He was clutching the box tighter now and inching toward the door. "Get away from me."
                      She stopped moving for fear he would run back to the woods. It was dark outside now and she was afraid to chase him out there so she backed off some. "Who are you?"
                      The boy stood there, showing signs of easing up, but still cautious and gripping the box in his arms. He stared at her warily, wondering if she was going to make a move.
                      "Who warned you about me? Why would I take your box? I don't even know what's in it." She talked softly and slowly as she tried to calm him down and put him at ease.
                      "I'm not falling for your tricks, you're the one!" He slid along the wall looking for the door while not taking his eyes off of her. "They warned me that you would say these things." He found the doorknob and turned it slowly waiting for the door to open. At that same moment she lunged straight toward him.

                      "Stop, Nolan!" The words escaped her mouth unbidden as she shot towards the boy. Hearing his name, the boy froze just long enough for her to move between him and the door. "H-h-how did you know my name?" Nolan stuttered. She faced him, breathing a bit heavily, her body thrumming with adrenaline. "I don't know," she admitted. "It just...came to me. I'm Johanna," she added, "And I know we've frightened each other, but I don't think we are enemies here. Someone or something might like us to think so, but I think you ended up at my house for a reason. Let me help you." Nolan looked into her face, then down at the box still clutched tightly in his arms. He tipped his head a bit, almost as though listening to a distant voice, and finally he nodded and stepped back into the kitchen. With something approaching reverence, he placed the box on Johanna's kitchen table and bowed his head to remove the odd key strung there. Johanna watched silently, almost not daring to breathe. Nolan, too, held his breath and inserted the delicate two pronged key into the worn locking mechanism adorning the front of the box.

                      ###

                      Alright! Now, who to tag? Secret Agent Woman, would you be willing to do a paragraph? If you aren't into it, let me know and I will try another tagee :-)

                      Wednesday, April 7, 2010

                      A Language I Don't Speak and They're Talking It to Me

                      Time, time, time to Choose and Defend.  Wednesday.  AND my last day at work before my little vacation...which is really more of a long weekend, but STILL!  I was trying to think of what we could possibly Choose and Defend this week and I found this particular scenario being discussed.  Seemed perfect for us, so I am going to ask you...Would you rather....

                      Always Have to Say What's On Your Mind
                      OR

                      Never Say Anything at All

                      So, what'll it be, chickadee?  Choose one or choose the other.  Defend your choice using all your best powers of persuasion.  Ready, steady, GO!

                      Tuesday, April 6, 2010

                      A New Fresh Hell Feature

                      I decided to make Tuesday into Talk Talk Tuesday.  I will use it as a chance to share some of my favorite poetry, lyrics, and general quotations.  There is so many interesting words out there and so few of them have been strung together by me
                      :-) 

                      Home is the place where, when you go there,
                      They have to take you in.
                      -Robert Frost

                      See?  Isn't that cool?  Well, we'll see :-)  Anyway, come play Choose and Defend tomorrow.  And Thursday, you can expect my next contribution the the Written Word Blogathon, as I have been tagged by AlienCG.

                      Monday, April 5, 2010

                      The Usual Monday Scraps

                      I hope everybunny had a nice Easter yesterday.  I approve of Easter, as it is a fairly low key holiday.  Also, I enjoy candy, hard boiled eggs (well, the whites), and hunting or watching others hunt for small objects.  Me, Social Animal, Girlie Girl, and the Kick Back Dude crew all went up to my dad and stepmom's place.  Secret Agent Man worked and Handsome Lad went to dinner with his dad at his grandma's house.  It was kind of a cool, cloudy day, so our celebration was mostly indoors.  The kids did do their little hunt out in the yard, though.  It was a fun day and a very nice feast was provided as well
                      :-)                                           

                      Even though I worked on Saturday, I was able to spend time with DR on both Friday and Saturday night.  He had to work on Sunday.  Since I am taking the end of this week off from work, I am going to get to see him on Thursday, too.  It is this bonus day with neither of us working and I'm so glad he wants to come over after work on Wednesday and then make a day of it. 

                      I took Thursday, Friday, and Saturday off work because the kids are having their Spring Break.  I found out, though, that Girlie Girl is going to San Diego with a friend's family those same days.  Hopefully, Handsome Lad will be available, but his dad does occasionally schedule things that deliberately keep him busy when I am at loose ends.  It is unkind of WTG, but I am not about to make an issue of it wth Handsome Lad.  That is one thing I can do for him...not make him choose between his dad and me. 

                      Today, the new Librarian started in our department.  I hadn't recognized her name, but I wasn't surprised to find that I had met her a couple of times before.  She seems really nice and I think she is going to fit right in here.  I now feel a bit freer to have high hopes for better times and less stress at work.

                      Reading this over, I see mostly good things.  Things to accept with gratitude and hope.  I hope you are all feeling the hopefullness of Spring too!  ALSO, if you haven't yet chosen who you want to support in my Dancing with the Stars sweepstakes, do it!  See your choices HERE.   Now, let's get on with this wild and wonderful week.

                      Friday, April 2, 2010

                      Friday 5 - Baskets

                      Stopped by Friday 5 this morning and this is what I found.  Please to enjoy it with me!
                       
                      This week’s questions are in honor of big goings-on in the United States this weekend (not only Easter, but the NCAA basketball tournaments too).



                      1. What is your laundry basket like?  It is blue and plastic and often full of actual laundry.  *sigh*

                      2. What in your life is threatening to go to hell in a handbasket? I am relieved to note there is really nothing in my life at the moment issuing that particular threat!  Nothing wrong with THAT!
                       
                      3. What was the occasion for your receiving your last gift basket, and what was in it?   Huh.  I honestly cannot remember the last time I received a gift basket.  I believe, though, that is must have been one of those ones they do at Christmas with bath products inside.  Maybe a couple of years ago?  I love those things!

                      4. When could you last have been described as a basket case?  Oh, almost every single day it feels like I have a moment or two or several where I could legitimately be described as a basket case.  It is mostly about being tired and/or particularly emotional about something.  The good thing is that so far there moments are relatively brief.

                      5. How’s your bread basket?  There is a bit too much of it, thank you very much.  haha!  Yet, I love bread...  *more sigh*

                      Are you feeling the basket of love coming at you?  Come on, now.  Send it back...talk to me!  Happy Friday!

                      Thursday, April 1, 2010

                      I'm a Fool, April or Not

                      Girlie Girl experimenting with a new look.

                      Girlie Girl and some other odd Juniors ready to compete in "Action" at GHS. 

                      Happy April, Fools!  I want to thank those of you who have made your picks in my 2nd Annual Dancing with the Stars Sweepstakes.  Those of you who have not...well, get on it!  Don't miss the fun and the possibility of gift card-y goodness :-)

                      The pictures above are from a fun event that the high school does every year.  It is called Action and seems to involve dressing goofy, doing class cheers, and creating the best performance to represent your class...from what I've seen on YouTube, usually a mildly inappropriate looking dance.   Some sort of judging takes place and the winner is declared.  Of course the Seniors win and the Freshmen finish dead last.  The kids seem to really enjoy it.  Class solidarity and all that. 

                      Um, lets see...what else is going on?  The first three days of each work week have felt so crazed lately.  By Thursday I feel like I'm running on fumes, but it does calm down and I can cruise a bit.  I think life is going to get a little easier after Monday when our new Librarian starts.  Not right away, because I know she'll need some adjustment time, but we're all so shot from the past few months that I really hope she's ready to hit the ground running.  Also, I am happy that I was able to take some time off at the end of next week while my kids are on their Spring Break.   I am also somewhat happy that I am off tomorrow, although it means I work Saturday.  Can't win for losing, eh?  

                      Anyway, did you play or get played today?  Were you the fool or the fooler?  As for me, I'm such a fool for you, as always.