Poem #31

Memorial Day
Remembering those
Who made the ultimate sacrifice
Is it possible to have
An original thought about this?
Probably not
But the emotions are still
Sincere
Thank you

Poem #30

It isn't complex
I've been waiting to be claimed
Just ask.  I'll say yes.

This Musical Message is For Feelin' So Alone

Poem #29

I know next to nothing
About the city of my birth
It is a sprawling oasis
In the middle of a desert
I have relatives there
That I never (or rarely) see
I can't imagine ever wanting
To go and live there
It is too far away
From who I am now
In this different oasis

Friday 5: Oops

I thought I'd go ahead and get the Friday 5 in.  If you haven't already, be sure to check out Tara's @ Eclectic Spaghetti too!

1.In the past month, what was your biggest OOPS?  It wasn't quite my OOPS, but one of my publications, the SRP brochure, came back from the print shop missing a corporate sponsor's logo.  We were looking at 3,000 copies of the brochure missing something apparently essential. My bosses didn't blame me and the situation was rectified, but I still felt...OOPS.

2.In the past month, what inspired you to let out your most heartfelt WHEW?  Ha!  Well, see above, I guess.  That a bad situation was easily resolved with no fuss.

3.In the past month, what caused you to say, “HUH?”  So many things....there is always something puzzling me, flummoxing me, catching me with that "duh" look on my face. 

4.In the past month, what influenced the most ZZZZZZZZs?  I sleep best all pushed up against DR.  Now I have to settle for my pillows and be glad that I tend to be a good sleeper under most circumstances.

5.In the past month, what was most GRRRRRRRRR-worthy?  My bear-like nature leads me to GRRRRRR regularly.  Beware my flashing jaws and claws!

I like the line she used over at Friday 5 to end her post...she said, "have a MMMMMMMMMMM kind of weekend."   Yes, please do.  Let the long weekend commence!!!

Poem #28

Preparations for summer are afoot
At home that means
Lots of end of the school year events
Thinking about sleeping in
Eyeing the pool
At work that means
Lots of reading program events
Thinking about the crowds
Eyeing display cases
Yeah...I wanna go home.

Poem #27

Best photo comment
"You both have that "hey look what
I got" grin."  We do. 

Them Good Ol' Boys

Welcome to another delicious Choose and Defend Wednesday.  I'll admit it, due to hormonal considerations I have food on the brain.  Deal with it.  How do I deal with it?  By asking a bitchin' food based Choose and Defend question!  Today, we are talking pie. Not pi, which is sometimes interesting, but not today, but pie.   Tell us your preference and then defend said preference with joyful or grim determination...whatever works for you, man...I'm just the facilitator.   Feel free to get very, very specific.  Details provide the thrill.  So, what will it be...

Fruit Pie

OR

Cream Pie

Choose and Defend!  The honor of all pie is at stake!  Thank you.

PS- This may seem marginally familiar, but although I have done a CAKE vs pie challenge, this is the first straight up PIE face-off.  Thank you again :-)

Poem #26

I remember how it felt as a kid
Anticipating summer vacation
It seemed almost magical
And almost endless
Even now, as a grown person
Summer can seem magical
If not endless
The smell of coconut suntan lotion
(Which is what we called it
Before it was sunblock)
Can put me right there
On a warm, sandy beach
Perfectly relaxed
Perfectly alive

Poem #25

Pencils, pens, paper flowers
Cups and bowls stacked in towers
Blue sheep, blue haired troll
Teddy bear
Extraordinaire

I see cans, bottles, lotions
I see stars and I see oceans
Green frog, green race car
And a glass seahorse
Of course

You Wanna Play Me?

I must be feeling very late 80s...or it must be that I watched Napoleon Dynamite again a couple of weeks ago, because for this week's Talk Talk Tuesday I am compelled to feature some radi-cool song lyrics.   Just my favorites, plucked from the song, The Promise by When in Rome.  I ♥ the 80s  ☺  (and English New Wave bands).

If you need a friend,

don't look to a stranger,

You know in the end,

I'll always be there.

-When in Rome

Sing me some of your favorite lyrics, would you?  Don't be shy.  We share here!  We Talk Talk. 

And Here We Go

Me and DR at his "Farewell for Now Dinner" w/ the kids.

Well.  The weekend.  Let me try and summarize if I can:

♦  Thursday - Handsome Lad's 13th birthday.  The whole family went out to dinner the night before at Golden Dragon, then back to WTG's house for cake and ice cream.  That morning we had a conference with Handsome Lad's resource team.  He's been in the resource program since the end of 4th grade, so this was his three year check-up.  He's been doing so well that he no longer qualifies!  Yay HL!    In more birthday news, I got him a bike, which he has converted from a 14-speed to a fixed gear.  Also, he and his dad went to the circus.  I was a little hesitant at first, because of the animal rights aspect, but I found out that Circus Vargas doesn't use animals anymore.  They had a great time and I didn't have to feel bad about exposing HL to animal cruelty :-)

♦ Friday - Spent the day with DR.  He had come over the night before and I really wanted to just spend time with him.  Of course there were calls of duty, because moms are never unavailable, but we did manage to have an awesome day together.  We hadn't intended to go out, really, but we did end up having dinner with Kick Back Dude and his posse.  They all care for DR very much and wanted to see him before he left town.  It was a nice dinner (the company, more than the food) and KBD took the above picture...one of the few in existance that we have together.

♦ Saturday - I worked.  Bah.  It was fine, but if I had planned more ahead I might have taken the day off.  Well, DR had to do some last minute packing chores anyway.  We were still able to spend one last evening together, in our favorite spot.

♦ Sunday - Our last day, for now.  DR made it perfect.  I have had many bad moments since I found out he was leaving, but I didn't want any of that to interfer with just enjoying our last bit of time together for a while.  I've been trying to sort of store up sensory memories to get me through this next year or so.  There is so much between us, and in some ways I am now on the right side of the clock...not counting the moments until he leaves, but counting down to his return.  And of course, I will try to make good use of my time while he's away.  What I feel now...and what I will try to remember...is that in the big picture of our life together, this will just be a small moment.  And of course, we have relied on technology to bring us together in the past and we are so much closer, emotionally, than we were a year ago.   I have all this to comfort me.

And so here I am, starting another week.  That's how I am looking at it...just starting another week.  Hope yours is great!

Poem #24

If I tried to guess the personality
Of the person working at my desk
I would be torn between saying
Colorfully creative
Or clearly insane

Poem #23

Day by day we encounter
The puzzles of time and existence
The original answers are lost
Somewhere we grew careless
We lie awake and staring
In the silent womb of the night
Hoping that these long lost answers
Will present themselves boldly or quietly
It doesn't matter how...
But in the end
Each of us -
Ultimately alone
- Learns to supply our own answers
Or to accept the unanswerable

This Musical Message is For Still Craving Your Kiss

Poem #22

I have this defensive urge to pick a fight
Or at least get an argument going on
Must
Resist

Poem #21

The warmth of the sun
The warmth of emotions filling me up
I am inordinately happy today
Everything
From the lizards doing their little push up
On the hot sidewalk
To the sound of the little girls
Asking for kisses coyly
Fills me with joy

Poem #20

I can't believe it's been 13 years since the day you were born

My memories of that day are so clear

Although many of the ones in between then and now are muddled

In my overstuffed mother's mind

I can still see the glorious panoramic view

Of your life glowing behind you and shining in front of you

My baby, my Handsome Lad, I couldn't be more proud

What a little man you've become

This past year has been a revelation as you've matured

Always a treasure to me, always my greedy delight

I think the world is starting to see what I've always known

You're a wonder

You can break my heart with a single word

But you can mend it just the same

Happy Birthday, Daniel

I love you more than my poor words can say

They Do Whatever They Please

Choose and Defend Wednesday has arrived!  It has been a weird, stressy week, so I am just as glad to be at the halfway mark.  Mark....what does that remind me of?  Oh yes!  dmarks commented on my last Choose and Defend that I should do Ninja vs Sumo this week.  I think he was noticing that in doing Vampire vs Zombie, I was duplicating one of his Polls and encouraging me to go ahead and mine that lode :-)  Thanks dmarks, very cool of you.  So, I thought, sure, why not?  But I am going to switch it up just a little.  And apparently, this particular face-off is an internet sensation...or maybe it was a one point, I am not all that up on internet sensations.  Ahem...anyway, someone is on the move, heading your direction, wants your stuff, wants you mehbeh...who is it?  Alternatively, you can think of it in terms of how you see yourself.  Just include your thoughts in your defense!  Let me know what is going on in that noggin of yours.  Will it be....
Ninjas

OR

Pirates

Some baddies with colorful reputations and our endless fascination.  Choose and Defend!  Thanks :-)

Poem #19

Writing poetry keeps me vigilant

At any given moment I can tell you
Exactly what I am thinking and feeling
And the physical manifestations
Of those thoughts and feelings

This can be good or bad

This can be...and it is.

Poem #18

Grrrrr.  Blah.  Sigh.
I can no longer articulate
I'm just going to sit around
Making random noises
Scaring away passers-by
With my awful visage
And my hands tensed
Until they resemble claws
Really, you shouldn't look
You may just turn to stone

How Do You Do?

It is a rather gloomy Talk Talk Tuesday, here in Southern California.  After an absolutely gorgeous weekend, I woke up Monday morning to a steady damp mist that has carried over into today.  I hear it is supposed to be nice again by tomorrow, so hallelujah.  But meanwhile, I have had this old Nursery Rhyme running through my head.

One misty, moisty morning

When cloudy was the weather

I met an old man

Clothed all in leather

He begain to compliment

And I began to grin

How do you do,

and how do you do,

and how do you do again

-Tradional English nursery song

It seems a weird thing to recall, perhaps, but the weather fits so perfectly...misty, moisty.  And as with most nursery rhymes that you reconsider upon adulthood, it has that vaguely creepy ring to it.  Who is this old guy decked out in leather, accosting people and laying on the compliments?  haha!

Hope it is not too misty, moisty where you are...or maybe I don't hope that!  Heck, I won't begrudge you your moistness!   Um, anyway, talk talk back...any nursery rhymes stuck in your head?  Or anything else?  Talk.  Talk. 

What is Wrong With Me?

There is something wrong with me, I swear.  I need to learn to talk to people about things that matter.  I can chat up just about anyone casually should the occasion arise.  I can trade quips if I am in the right mood and my brain is firing on all cylinders.  I can listen and commiserate like no one else.  But for some reason, when something really matters, I seem to prefer to simply torture myself over it.  I will spend copious amounts of time running phrases through my brain, as though if I don't say the EXACT right thing the first time, all is lost.  When something matters a lot to me...it matters too much to me.  It is hard for me to tell someone what I need from them...when it is something that matters.  I don't understand myself.  But I do see what I do and how is hurts me FOR NO GOOD REASON.   So, what is wrong with me?

On the lighter side of laura b., when I wasn't fermenting in my own sick brain juice it was a fine weekend.  DR spent the whole weekend.  We had lunch with Kick Back Dude and the three kids, and Handsome Lad even dropped in.  It was fun afterward to watch the kids make messes with their frozen yogurt.  We had that portion of the meal outdoors, which was genius.  DR and I went to the movies both days.  On Saturday we saw City Island, which I really, really liked.  On Sunday we saw Death at a Funeral, which I thought was pretty funny.  It has been unfavorably compared with the original, released only three years ago, but since neither of us had seen the original we figured that wouldn't affect our enjoyment.  Of course, now I am going to Netflix the original and compare. 

I have been checking out everyone else's blog and I saw lots going on over the weekend!  Seems like it was, almost universally, a good one.  Good for us! 

My sweetie babies.

Poem #17

Up too late my head is wrapped in cotton
The weather outside commiserates
With its wooly wet grayness pressing in

Inside the hum of lights, computers, people
Are muted, but persistant
Some days coffee is not enough

This Musical Message is For Sabotage

Poem # 16

I think in the end
It's going to be silence
That does me in...shhhhhh

Poem #15

Last night was the moon
Today is the sun
We're all under pressure
We're all under the gun

Can't you stop for a minute?
Remember who you are
Sometimes we take things
A little too far

You seem to have choosen
Your own way to go
There's no room for the moon
The sun doesn't dare show

I hope you're not too lonely
But someday you'll see
The pressure was no excuse
For saying good-bye to me

Poem #14

We're going to talk
My peace of mind requires
Much more clarity.

Friday 5 - Coooookiiiieeee

Finally, Friday!  And time for Friday 5 for a sweet end to the working week.  This one is delicious, so I hope you'll join me in talking about the best thing that ever happened to a glass of milk.

1.What is absolutely the best cookie you’ve ever had?  Almost any cookie that I am eating right off of the baking sheet, especially if there are chocolate chips involved, fits the bill here.  To narrow it down to one particular cookie?  That's crazy talk.

2.What is a cookie you really don’t care for?  Anything that has coconut can be taken off the table.  Go on, take it away.

3.What are some other cookies you are rather fond of?  I like Nutter Butters, those chocolate covered marshmallow things,  Milanos.... *drool*.......What was I saying?

4.Grocery-store cookies are, of course, never as good as anything that comes out of someone’s kitchen, but what’s a packaged cookie that’s still pretty good?  See above.  I guess I tend to think mainly in terms of store bought cookies, since I don't bake so much...or if I do, it is like, slice and bake :-)

5.In general, do you think cookies should be chewy and gooey, or should they be crispy and crunchy?  Look, this is not something you are going to want to generalize about.  This is an individual cookie issue!  For example, in the chocolate chip area, I would say I prefer chewy and gooey.  Mint Milanos, however, should be crisp and crunchy.  Don't fence me in, man.

I hope you enjoyed reading my deepest thoughts about this important issue :-)  Have a yummy weekend!!!

Poem #13

I have time on my mind
Right now, it is my enemy
Moving me toward pain
Not wanted or needed or even understood
But in an instant
In a single moment
Time will turn and befriend me
I will be moving toward something
Wanted and needed, but still not understood

Straight Through the Fire, Into the Unknown

Choose and Defend Wednesday is here and as promised I am back with a better attitude.  Let's have some supernatural Choose and Defend fun, shall we?  You know that the undead are all the rage these days.  In what form do you prefer your corporeal undead?

Vampire

OR

Zombie

You can see that either way, a pretty vigorous defense is going to be called for, but I know that you are up to the challenge!   Choose and Defend Wednesday, extra legendary for your pleasure.

Poem #12

I bought a parking pass last night
From a vending machine
It gave me change in dollar coins
Shiny gold Sacagaweas and Harrisons
Taylors and Tylers jingling in my palm
It made me feel like a pirate
And I gloated a bit over my treasure
Until this morning
When I bartered with 7-Eleven
For an iced coffee and a Cocoa Puffs bar

I Think of You and I Wonder...

Happy Talk Talk Tuesday to you.  Another day is quickly flying by.  I'm feeling tired and nervous and, in spite of my efforts, it is hard not to think about the fact that DR will be driving away from here in less than two weeks.  Sometimes I feel calmly certain that the time will fly and he will come back and we will pick up where we never even left off.  Sometimes I feel something like despair.  I know that sounds melodramatic, but that is how I am...I waste a lot of mental and emotional energy on things that no one can control.  What is going to happen is going to happen, right?  Anyway, here is my thought for today:

I don't wish to be everything to everyone, but I would like to be something to someone.

~Steven Javan Jones

Sigh.  I am going to get myself in a better mood and come back tomorrow with a fun Choose and Defend, I promise.  Thanks for your patience.

Poem #11

It would be more interesting
If I wore black like Johnny Cash
To honor those men in prison
Or the death of innocence
Or something else vaguely romantic
Instead I wear black as a shield
Protecting me from spills and size
Making me feel (eyes closed - you can't see me!)
Invisible.

Monday Means I Have Lots To Say. Sorry.

Here is that Saturday Mother's Day program in progress...

Saturday turned out fine.  My program was well attended, but not too crazy for the smaller room.  And a good time was had by all.  I will admit, though, that the best part of that day was probably going home to DR.  

Sunday turned out to be lots of fun.  I hosted the Mother's Day luncheon and the whole family was there, minus Secret Agent Man.  His job in the deli at Albertsons pretty much requires him to work every Sunday, which tends to be a very busy deli day.  Still, that made it 14, counting me.  I wasn't feeling too daring, so I just made spaghetti.  Easy to make for a crowd and everyone likes it.  We ate and visited and it was really a good time.  After everyone went home, Girlie Girl, Handsome Lad and I rested up for awhile, then we went over to Kick Back Dude's house for our dinner.  So, I got lots of time in with the babies, which was very sweet.  I really couldn't have asked for a better Mother's Day.  

Today begins the first day of volunteer interviews for this summer's reading program.  We have 50 applicants and can probably not take more than 35 volunteers.  It is always hard when we can't take everyone who wants to help out, but believe me, you don't want to have too many teenagers hanging about with not enough work...not fun for anyone.  I still feel like I am picking up a lot of the slack in preparing for this summer, but it is just because the two people in the dept. who get paid more than me are too new to know all that needs to be done.  Don't worry, I am teaching them :-)  I'm more than happy to be the #3 in the dept., as long as I am not doing #1 and #2's work.  I'm sure by next summer it will be better.  

I hope you all had a good weekend and are looking towards a good week.  I also hope my daily poems aren't too distracting.  I have to say, I am really enjoying doing them.  Stop in tomorrow for Talk Talk Tuesday and please make sure to Choose and Defend on Wednesday!     

Poem #10

Listening to music on my poor quality car stereo
I am happy
Singing along even when I'm not sure of the words

I listen to my youth and everything leading to my now
I am happy
Even the bad memories have their place here

I am happy
Why not?
I am happy

Poem #9

I'll attempt an ode to motherhood
But I have a feeling it won't be so good
All those cliches spring to my mind
Original praise is harder to find

My own mom supports me like nobody else
If I am pants, she's suspenders and belts
My mom, small and strong, is like Mighty Mouse
She was the one holding up the whole house

My mom is goodness and faith and love
She's a genuine gift from heaven above
Okay, that's corny, but it is still true
Thank you , Mom.  I love you.

This Musical Message is For Moms

The Performing Bear Strikes Again

When things still look pretty and orderly...that is the time to take your pictures!

I have a Mother's Day program this afternoon, so I took a picture of the room before it is destroyed by all those small people.  If you lived nearby, you could come make a present for your mom! 

Hope your all having a great Saturday and that I am the only one working :-) 

Poem #8

This place is buzzing
Like a bee loaded flower
But way less attractive.

Friday 5 - More Colors

Hey all.  How about a little Friday 5?  Feeling colorful over there, which sounds good to me! 

1.  Who could be described as a nightmare in pink?  I'm not even entirely sure of what that means.  I think it might have something to do with hallucinations, but am not positive.  Anyway, I am trying to think of someone nightmarish and cannot.  Lucky, right?  I am sort of avoiding one of my co-workers now, because she has fallen into a pattern of WAY over sharing.  She is a nice woman, but there are some things about her personal life I just don't want to know.

2. How long does it take you to type “The quick red fox jumps over the lazy dog” on your cell phone or computer keyboard?  On my computer keyboard I am very wham bam thank you ma'am.  Even though my cell phone has the full keyboard I am slower, due to the teeny nature of the keys.  That red fox don't be so quick in miniature. 

3. What item in a plain brown wrapper did you most recently receive?  I ordered my mom House, MD - Season 3 from Amazon on Monday.  It was delivered on Wednesday in that plain brown Amazon envelop box thing.  But it wasn't the same illicit feeling as ordering something risque that would be guaranteed to arrive in plain brown wrapping to insure your privacy.  We promise, if anyone thinks you're a  perv, it won't be because of us and our mailing methods!  Um, anyway...isn't Amazon awesome?   

4. Who’s got the loveliest cinnamon skin?  My lovely Miss Personality has the loveliest cinnamon skin!

5. When did you last take a walk in the lonely silver rain?  Honestly, I can't think of the last time I took a walk in the lonely silver rain on purpose.  In times of rain, you will see me dashing to and from my car.  It is not a romantic picture, dagnabit.

I hope you all have a wonderful, colorful weekend.    Personally, I will be working tomorrow and hosting the family Mother's Day lunch on Sunday, so I am guaranteed color, if not wonder :-)

Poem #7

Today I asked someone on Facebook to "friend" me
He sent me a message saying, "Do I know you?"
That's when I realized he didn't!
Wow, how embarrassing....

Poem #6

Sometimes my mind is the trickster spider
Anansi
Trying to get the best of me through not so subtle
Manipulations
These are tricks I should be able to see right through
And mostly, I do
Yet I never forget that most Anasi stories end
With a warning ~
If you think Anansi stopped playing tricks 
You'd be wrong

I Love You For Your Pink Cadillac

Hola amigos!  Feliz Cinco de Mayo and welcome to Choose and Defend Wednesday...or as they might say South of the Border,  Elegir y Defender Miercoles.  Let's get to it.  I'll be honest, I have my car on my mind.  WTG is checking it out for me as it has been sounding weird.  Turns out it is the timing chain.  Still figuring out how I am going to handle it.  Luckily, he is letting me use his van while it is being worked out.  Anyway, so...cars!

If money, and basically everything else, were no object, what kind of car would you want? 

Giant Fancy SUV

OR

Small Fast Sports Car

This is a very general choice, but still, you can make it!    Then, in your defense, feel free to get more specific about your dream car.  Go crazy.  The sky is the limit!  Choose and Defend!  Gracias.

Poem #5

Cinco de Mayo
A chance to feel good about
Eating refried beans

"Do I Feel Lucky?" Well, Do You, Punk?

Howdy.  I will keep todays Talk Talk short, as my poem for today is a little longer.  All about the balance, right? 

Okay, when I was a kid, I had this little book that was just pages of funny or interesting things to say when signing something, like a yearbook...or I think people used to just collect autographs from their friends and things.  Anyway, I still remember which one was my favorite, although I'm not so sure why I liked it so much.  Just one of those kid things I guess. 

Here it is:

To my friend,

Luck to the end.

So, yeah, feel free to take that sentiment with you on this Talk Talk Tuesday :-)

Poem #4

I sat at the drive-thru window, tired after a day of work.
As I sat, I watched an elderly couple make their way across the parking lot.
The man seemed fairly able bodied, but the woman was slight
And used one of those aluminum canes with the four little feet at the end.
As I watched her negotiate a curb, slowly, carefully,
I was reminded of my grandson at the park
Slowly, carefully making his way over a little lip of cement to get to the playground.
So much extra effort for something that should be so simple!
The tiny little lady out for a meal and the tiny little boy out to play
With nothing in common, but the will to get there.

May Day. Mayday...

It's Monday again and we're into the lovely month of May.  After working two Saturdays in a row, it was nice to have this whole weekend off all at once.  DR came over Friday after work and we got to spend all of Saturday together.  We felt quite productive, managing to get him a haircut, have a nice lunch out, and go grocery shopping.  haha!  Yeah, we move at our own pace.  I had decided to fully enjoy the time we have before he leaves...and I am.  The trouble is days like Sunday.  DR had gone off to work.  Girlie Girl was sleeping way in, as she'd been at a sleepover the night before.  I jumped at the chance to take Handsome Lad to Game Stop and then again when Girlie Girl roused up and wanted to go to the mall for a bit.  Sundays are just too quiet.  I like quiet, but at the moment I am not really about the idea of too much time to think.  Thank goodness for reading, and television, and karuro I suppose.  Thinking only gets me into trouble. 

So, here's hoping for a good week.  The weather is beautiful, things at home and work are calm, my car is still running, and DR is still here.  Just call me Mr. Brightside...or any Killers' song, really.  Your choice :-) 

Poem #3

There is a fine line between
Optimism and foolishness.
I walk it so often that I've become quite skilled.
I choose to optmistically believe
That I am not being foolish.
Not this time.
Please.

Poem #2

To be is the only option for me
I won't shake off this mortal coil voluntarily
Nothing about my existence
Is as pure as I'd wish
But there is still sweetness
And sometimes the beauty I finally see
Is so much more than enough for me

This Musical Message is For New Words For Old Desires

Poem #1

Accepting a challenge feels good.
I feel competant and strong,
Ready to take on the world.
The starting flag is unfurled.

Go.

I watch the words form magically.
My fingers moving blindly,
Pecking at the keys like hens.
Three months from now, who wins?

Me.