I started reading this book my family got me for Christmas. There are three different parts of the book, but in reading the first tidbits, I'm looking forward to it. The whole thing is about the journey to find our creativity. Like most self help books, the introduction is full of promises of how much this book will change my life and as much as I like to believe it, I understand it largely rests in my hands.
As we have all seen, I'm really good at fizzling out after I start something. However, I like to think that 2011 will be a year of discovery and change for me.
I chose this picture for a specific reason. It reminds me of my Aunt and Uncle. They remain two people that have dramatically changed and inspired my life. When I get frustrated about my financial situation, I think of them. When they started out, they lived in a trailer and now, they live in a place as beautiful as this garden.
I am proud to be their niece. Im proud to know them at all. And tho they may never know it, I often wish I would get in the habit of calling them more often. Like I feel with my writing, I hunger to know them better, be a part of their every day lives.
This picture reminds me of patience and of hard work. It reminds me to push thru and in time, I will get there just like they did. So thank you for being a part of my life. I may not show my affection, respect or appreciation as well as I should, but my life would not be the same without you.
Wednesday, December 29, 2010
Friday, December 17, 2010
I Finished It!
Its official my lovely friends. On my birthday, I set out three goals for myself. 1) to run a marathon 2) to finish a book and 3) to get a promotion at work.
Well, I have one down two in the works!
Today the email announcement was sent out to my entire division that I have officially gotten my promotion. My raise will take effect in the end of December, but for now, I am enjoying the fact that I finished it. I did it.
What makes it so sweet is that it was not easy. I had to work hard for my promotion. I had to earn it and account for every action and instead of giving up or getting discouraged, I put in the work to get it done.
Im proud of myself. I feel on top of the world! Every day we get a chance to prove to the world and ourselves that we can be better then what we think we are.
Dramatic for just a promotion you may say. To you, I would say you must not know me. Dramatic is what I do best!
Well, I have one down two in the works!
Today the email announcement was sent out to my entire division that I have officially gotten my promotion. My raise will take effect in the end of December, but for now, I am enjoying the fact that I finished it. I did it.
What makes it so sweet is that it was not easy. I had to work hard for my promotion. I had to earn it and account for every action and instead of giving up or getting discouraged, I put in the work to get it done.
Im proud of myself. I feel on top of the world! Every day we get a chance to prove to the world and ourselves that we can be better then what we think we are.
Dramatic for just a promotion you may say. To you, I would say you must not know me. Dramatic is what I do best!
Tuesday, December 14, 2010
Finish it
My high school years were designed rather cognitively by my parents. They were adamant my brother and I did at least two extra curricular activities a year. Their reasoning was simple. They remembered the fun things more then the classwork and I would agree. Most of the things about high school that make me smile are the things I did outside of class. The friends I keep are not the ones I took classes with but those I spent outside time with.
Most of my pride is tucked into two activities. Marching band and water polo. Both of them marked by powerful teachers. Each of those teachers taught me one thing... to finish it. No matter the task, they called for my best until the very end.
No matter how long the race is, finish it. No matter how high the mountain, finish climbing it. No matter how hard the task, finish it at your very best. Its a life lesson we do not always remember. its a personal ethic that we do not always hold ourselves to.
But at the end of the day, finish it. You stand taller when you do.
On an alternate note, my bother, as always, is the mastermind behind the pictures I use to illustrate my points. And obviously, I'm needing new pics Boogie Boo!
Most of my pride is tucked into two activities. Marching band and water polo. Both of them marked by powerful teachers. Each of those teachers taught me one thing... to finish it. No matter the task, they called for my best until the very end.
No matter how long the race is, finish it. No matter how high the mountain, finish climbing it. No matter how hard the task, finish it at your very best. Its a life lesson we do not always remember. its a personal ethic that we do not always hold ourselves to.
But at the end of the day, finish it. You stand taller when you do.
On an alternate note, my bother, as always, is the mastermind behind the pictures I use to illustrate my points. And obviously, I'm needing new pics Boogie Boo!
Saturday, December 11, 2010
My Dog Duke
He fell in love with himself the other day. Quite literally. I decided to read a little before bed, this vampire novel my coworker started me on. Love stories are usually so blah to me, but hey, it passes the time. So he sat on the bed and when I turned the light on in my room, it caused a reflection in my window. Typically I keep my blinds up so that in the morning, I can see the vine covered fence that reminds me each day of the greatest morning I ever woke up to. Ill tell you about that another time.
So this reflection in the window immediately caught my dog's attention. His ears perked, he said up straight as a basset hound can and studied himself. Well I could not stop giggling and what made it worse was when he started to lean forward, trying to get closer to this mysterious dog in the window.
For the better part of an hour he sat there, longing to reach out and sniff such beauty and only when I turned out the light did he finally stop watching. He fell asleep that night facing the window, perhaps waiting for himself to come back.
Isn't that how it always goes? We do not want the companionship of whats right next to us because Jaz was there, trying to bug him for attention and he had no time for her. Instead we look to whats just beyond our reach, seeking to catch the unicorn.
At this point, I am not sure what to do. I could enable him for my own entertainment and get a full length mirror. But I feel like it would be silent torture to always have what he longs for right there just past the glass. I suppose the good news is that my dog has a healthy self love. It's more then some of us have. Self love, vanity, its all the same really.
So this reflection in the window immediately caught my dog's attention. His ears perked, he said up straight as a basset hound can and studied himself. Well I could not stop giggling and what made it worse was when he started to lean forward, trying to get closer to this mysterious dog in the window.
For the better part of an hour he sat there, longing to reach out and sniff such beauty and only when I turned out the light did he finally stop watching. He fell asleep that night facing the window, perhaps waiting for himself to come back.
Isn't that how it always goes? We do not want the companionship of whats right next to us because Jaz was there, trying to bug him for attention and he had no time for her. Instead we look to whats just beyond our reach, seeking to catch the unicorn.
At this point, I am not sure what to do. I could enable him for my own entertainment and get a full length mirror. But I feel like it would be silent torture to always have what he longs for right there just past the glass. I suppose the good news is that my dog has a healthy self love. It's more then some of us have. Self love, vanity, its all the same really.
Friday, December 3, 2010
Happy Turkey Day!
Alright, use your imagination a bit. If you keep up with this blog, or have any observatory powers at all, you will see that I made a blog post from my phone! Its seriously easier to type with all my fingers and not my thumbs.
I was going to let you all know about the Great Brownie Thief of Thanksgiving 2010.
There I was, relaxing on my little plane flight, enjoying my book and my first class dinner. Interesting, isnt it that those dinners are nothing more then a tv dinner and yet they are considered first class. Or perhaps I am just bitter.
The plane lady (names have been changed due to my inability to spell) came walking up and offered me my choice of either fruit and cheese or a brownie sunday. Naturally I informed her I could not eat dairy. In all my brilliance, I paused for a half breath to let the horror of the situation sink in before I was about to continue on and let her know that I could eat the brownie without the ice cream.
However! Before I could even begin to turn our attention to the brownie, she gave me a sympathetic, insincere smile and said 'oh thats just aweful' before she flounced away with MY BROWNIE!
I was livid! My first reaction was to throw my shoe at her, then I thought about throwing the water bottle. Finally I was prepared to leap over the man next to me, rush down the isle and tackle her, subsequently stealing my gosh darn brownie back, but lets face it, I was on a plane and they shoot people that throw shoes on planes.
Well maybe they dont shoot them and as much as I was willing to go down for a brownie, mom had a whole chocolate cake waiting for me at home so I pouted until I got there.
I hope your Thanksgiving was less eventful then mine. I hope you ate lots and laughed even more. And I hope you leave me a comment letting me know what your favorite part of Thanksgiving was.
I was going to let you all know about the Great Brownie Thief of Thanksgiving 2010.
There I was, relaxing on my little plane flight, enjoying my book and my first class dinner. Interesting, isnt it that those dinners are nothing more then a tv dinner and yet they are considered first class. Or perhaps I am just bitter.
The plane lady (names have been changed due to my inability to spell) came walking up and offered me my choice of either fruit and cheese or a brownie sunday. Naturally I informed her I could not eat dairy. In all my brilliance, I paused for a half breath to let the horror of the situation sink in before I was about to continue on and let her know that I could eat the brownie without the ice cream.
However! Before I could even begin to turn our attention to the brownie, she gave me a sympathetic, insincere smile and said 'oh thats just aweful' before she flounced away with MY BROWNIE!
I was livid! My first reaction was to throw my shoe at her, then I thought about throwing the water bottle. Finally I was prepared to leap over the man next to me, rush down the isle and tackle her, subsequently stealing my gosh darn brownie back, but lets face it, I was on a plane and they shoot people that throw shoes on planes.
Well maybe they dont shoot them and as much as I was willing to go down for a brownie, mom had a whole chocolate cake waiting for me at home so I pouted until I got there.
I hope your Thanksgiving was less eventful then mine. I hope you ate lots and laughed even more. And I hope you leave me a comment letting me know what your favorite part of Thanksgiving was.
i has an android!
Its seriously time consuming to type a whole blog post from my phone. Not to mention I will cringe when I look at the spelling and grammer later.
Yep... my fingers are tired by now... and everything I want to say just feels like too many buttons to push... someone remind me again why I wanted this app please?
Yep... my fingers are tired by now... and everything I want to say just feels like too many buttons to push... someone remind me again why I wanted this app please?
Published with Blogger-droid v1.6.5
Thursday, November 18, 2010
I miss you Gma
I drink my coffee cold. It's a habit since I was a child. I know this sounds odd, but I remember lazy mornings when I was visiting my grandparents, my grandma would always drink her coffee until the dregs of it were cold. She would wrinkle her nose and set that little coffee mug down.
Usually she would sit at the little table in her motor home drinking her coffee and I would sit in the drivers seat. These mornings were something I will remember forever with her. She seemed so relaxed as I would imagine getting ready to drive her wherever she wanted to go. Naturally though, with that motor home facing my grandfather's garden, she would ask me how we were going to get there without running it over.
My response was always the same. It was as sure as the changing of the seasons. In fact, my entire childhood was about flying. I used to have such dreams about being able to fly wherever I wanted to go. I would point out to her, as I took her for her flights, all the features of my hometown I could think of.
Later, when working on forest fires, I used to adore rides in a helicopter. It was much like those times with my grandmother and I quickly started to dream of becoming a pilot. This dream, like many of Mr. Darling's dreams that have to be put away for now. Someday, I will fly.
But back to the coffee. When fire fighting, I worked sixteen hour shifts and I remember for the first time in my life, really understanding what sleep deprivation really was. I was tired constantly and with no days off, I had to cope somehow.
I learned in my camp, the difference between good coffee and bad coffee. I learned that once you pour enough cream in it to kill the bitterness, coffee becomes one of the best things in the world. And each time, I drink it really slow, finding it more enjoyable as it gets colder.
Every time I finished flying grandma around, she would scoff at the nasty cold coffee and let me drink the rest. And I would sip at it like an adult. She was always so surprised that I would drink it like that, but even up to this day, I drink it cold and remember what it was like to fly.
Usually she would sit at the little table in her motor home drinking her coffee and I would sit in the drivers seat. These mornings were something I will remember forever with her. She seemed so relaxed as I would imagine getting ready to drive her wherever she wanted to go. Naturally though, with that motor home facing my grandfather's garden, she would ask me how we were going to get there without running it over.
My response was always the same. It was as sure as the changing of the seasons. In fact, my entire childhood was about flying. I used to have such dreams about being able to fly wherever I wanted to go. I would point out to her, as I took her for her flights, all the features of my hometown I could think of.
Later, when working on forest fires, I used to adore rides in a helicopter. It was much like those times with my grandmother and I quickly started to dream of becoming a pilot. This dream, like many of Mr. Darling's dreams that have to be put away for now. Someday, I will fly.
But back to the coffee. When fire fighting, I worked sixteen hour shifts and I remember for the first time in my life, really understanding what sleep deprivation really was. I was tired constantly and with no days off, I had to cope somehow.
I learned in my camp, the difference between good coffee and bad coffee. I learned that once you pour enough cream in it to kill the bitterness, coffee becomes one of the best things in the world. And each time, I drink it really slow, finding it more enjoyable as it gets colder.
Every time I finished flying grandma around, she would scoff at the nasty cold coffee and let me drink the rest. And I would sip at it like an adult. She was always so surprised that I would drink it like that, but even up to this day, I drink it cold and remember what it was like to fly.
Monday, November 1, 2010
Siblings
Every November is National Novel Writing Month and every November, someone sends me something about it thinking I may be interested. Obviously, every November I think about how awesome it would be and how I simply could not do it.
But this November, my brother sent me the link.
My brother used to be the kid that would say things like, "Hey, go eat that berry and see if it makes you puke." Naturally, I would be the kid that responded with, "Ok!" So maybe its this month. Maybe this time, something gets done.
My uncle used to say to never marry a dreamer. He said dreamers will always be the ones to think up brilliant things and never do anything to accomplish them.
So I find myself torn between being a dreamer and being a doer. Of course, I hesitate to tell you if I actually try since that would just make me feel like I was setting myself up for failure on a very public level.
But maybe... just maybe.
But this November, my brother sent me the link.
My brother used to be the kid that would say things like, "Hey, go eat that berry and see if it makes you puke." Naturally, I would be the kid that responded with, "Ok!" So maybe its this month. Maybe this time, something gets done.
My uncle used to say to never marry a dreamer. He said dreamers will always be the ones to think up brilliant things and never do anything to accomplish them.
So I find myself torn between being a dreamer and being a doer. Of course, I hesitate to tell you if I actually try since that would just make me feel like I was setting myself up for failure on a very public level.
But maybe... just maybe.
Happy Samhein!
This is a letter to the man in the field. So everyone else can disregard.
Dear Man in the Field,
You know, I like the new year too; with all the kids running from door to door. Had I known I needed a light on and a pumpkin in order for kids to stop, then I may not be enjoying chocolate for lunch! But after the bitter disappointment of my mistake last night, I must say you turned my day around.
First of all, driving to work in the dark is pretty depressing, I will agree with you there. The chocolate I had kept safe from the marauding children definatly helped or else I may have really been hurting today. Anywho, so early in the morning, before the sun comes up, I met you.
Im not a wiccan. Ive been to a wiccan event and I have friends. I am curious about it really. From what Ive seen so far, they are party people, but sitting cross legged in a field at 6:30 am singing kumbayah has got to beat two bags of chocolate any day.
Seriously, props my friend. When everyone else worships for two hours and decides to go home, there you are scaring the spastic colon out of some sugar hyped woman driving to work.
Anyways, happy Samhein (Halloween for all you other people) my friend. May we all celibrate with as much gusto as you. (the flowers are for you since its fall and there probably werent any in that field)
Oh, and PS. If you are looking for some chocolate, Im not telling you where I live.
Love Kiki
Dear Man in the Field,
You know, I like the new year too; with all the kids running from door to door. Had I known I needed a light on and a pumpkin in order for kids to stop, then I may not be enjoying chocolate for lunch! But after the bitter disappointment of my mistake last night, I must say you turned my day around.
First of all, driving to work in the dark is pretty depressing, I will agree with you there. The chocolate I had kept safe from the marauding children definatly helped or else I may have really been hurting today. Anywho, so early in the morning, before the sun comes up, I met you.
Im not a wiccan. Ive been to a wiccan event and I have friends. I am curious about it really. From what Ive seen so far, they are party people, but sitting cross legged in a field at 6:30 am singing kumbayah has got to beat two bags of chocolate any day.
Seriously, props my friend. When everyone else worships for two hours and decides to go home, there you are scaring the spastic colon out of some sugar hyped woman driving to work.
Anyways, happy Samhein (Halloween for all you other people) my friend. May we all celibrate with as much gusto as you. (the flowers are for you since its fall and there probably werent any in that field)
Oh, and PS. If you are looking for some chocolate, Im not telling you where I live.
Love Kiki
Tuesday, October 26, 2010
Shushing Chickens
Californian
Originally uploaded by blue.shark
So much to tell you today! First of all, I heard a very interesting commercial yesterday. They said 'there lies a princess and a pirate in everyone.' Now naturally, they were just selling Halloween costumes, but I still like the philosophy. Imagine the things our minds could creative if we believed there was a princess and a priate in everyone. I want to live with an attitude like this, like maybe there is the best and worst in all of us and everyone has the ability to imagine themselves into anything; princess or pirate.
I was taught today that 'shushing chickens' is like hearding cows. I thought this was important for you all to know. I mean... lets face it, there will be a time in your life when you will need to know the correct term for shushing chickens. There may be a time when I will need to know also, so someone please check my facts. I guess if you are going to make a noise at a chicken, 'shush' is just as good as any other.
I guess the last thing I want to tell you is that life is good. Even with its worries and its stressers, life is messy and fun and good and bad and none of it is perfect, but I think the imperfections are what make it so worth living. Today, I am thankful for good friends. Im thankful for people that make me laugh or make me better.
Friday, October 22, 2010
Love Story
Thanks for the name suggestions yall! :)
As promised, here is a sneak peek at what I am working on.
"The night was quiet, teetering on the cool side and as always, the windows were opened. She didnt mind her hospital bed so much when the windows stayed open. Tonight she could smell the metallic dusty smell of rain that was hovering in the clouds, sagging with the weight of itself. Slowly the drops began to fall, growing momentum to slowly douse the ground in a blanket of wetness. Her brown hair was pulled back behind her, her tanktop was red and, as always, the blankets covered her aching legs. Rain always made her weary joints hurt, but oh how the sound of it pitter pattering made it so worth the trouble.
Treatment would take days and honestly, if every night was this peaceful, she wouldn't mind the peace and quiet. Teddy was off to work again, he made it so easy to be sick without notice. The thought pulled a saddened smile to her features. For a long moment, while her beloved journal lay in her lap, she thought on it. Would he ever notice? Would he ever just look her in the eyes? Is this how marriage was supposed to be? Before her thoughts could wander to anywhere else, she pulled open the journal to the last page written in, but the last page wasnt written in her script. In fact the last few pages were not of her hand. As her features danced into a curious expression, she began to read.
My Olivia,
I have written this letter ten times before I found it good enough to be in your journal. You write beautifully. I am starting to wonder if it should be you that is the professional writer. I know it is private, but the words, they are all so beautiful that I had to keep reading. I had to know what else came out of that mind of yours...."
Im not sure, we will see how it goes!
As promised, here is a sneak peek at what I am working on.
"The night was quiet, teetering on the cool side and as always, the windows were opened. She didnt mind her hospital bed so much when the windows stayed open. Tonight she could smell the metallic dusty smell of rain that was hovering in the clouds, sagging with the weight of itself. Slowly the drops began to fall, growing momentum to slowly douse the ground in a blanket of wetness. Her brown hair was pulled back behind her, her tanktop was red and, as always, the blankets covered her aching legs. Rain always made her weary joints hurt, but oh how the sound of it pitter pattering made it so worth the trouble.
Treatment would take days and honestly, if every night was this peaceful, she wouldn't mind the peace and quiet. Teddy was off to work again, he made it so easy to be sick without notice. The thought pulled a saddened smile to her features. For a long moment, while her beloved journal lay in her lap, she thought on it. Would he ever notice? Would he ever just look her in the eyes? Is this how marriage was supposed to be? Before her thoughts could wander to anywhere else, she pulled open the journal to the last page written in, but the last page wasnt written in her script. In fact the last few pages were not of her hand. As her features danced into a curious expression, she began to read.
My Olivia,
I have written this letter ten times before I found it good enough to be in your journal. You write beautifully. I am starting to wonder if it should be you that is the professional writer. I know it is private, but the words, they are all so beautiful that I had to keep reading. I had to know what else came out of that mind of yours...."
Im not sure, we will see how it goes!
Tuesday, October 19, 2010
The Muffin Man
I think everyone has those places they would like to live. Most of the time you dont think of how awesome it would be to live in these secret little places until we run across them and then BAM like a ton of bricks the world makes sense!
Let me explain... This is the conversation I had with someone this week.
Me: "Address please?"
Awesome person: "Drury Lane"
Me: "OH! So you know the muffin man!"
Awesome person: {laugh} No... no I dont know any muffin man.
Me: {Completely behind said awesome persons back} When you live on Drury Lane, you have a responsibility to be awesome. You could have at least lied to me!
So now I have a new goal in life which is, of course, to live on a street like Drury lane someday so I can totally accept the great responisbility that comes with that power. {Mom, this is a nerdy refrence to the Spiderman movies... you need to watch them}
In other news, I think I found it. I found the love story that has been itching at my fingers to be written. I found the keys, the sequence, the cadence. I found it and its just a baby now, but oh the story it will grow to be.
For those of you interactive types, I need the some names for characters. The main characters are mid thirties and married. Average really. So leave me a comment with the names you think they should have. Maybe next post I will have a snippet for you! :)
Let me explain... This is the conversation I had with someone this week.
Me: "Address please?"
Awesome person: "Drury Lane"
Me: "OH! So you know the muffin man!"
Awesome person: {laugh} No... no I dont know any muffin man.
Me: {Completely behind said awesome persons back} When you live on Drury Lane, you have a responsibility to be awesome. You could have at least lied to me!
So now I have a new goal in life which is, of course, to live on a street like Drury lane someday so I can totally accept the great responisbility that comes with that power. {Mom, this is a nerdy refrence to the Spiderman movies... you need to watch them}
In other news, I think I found it. I found the love story that has been itching at my fingers to be written. I found the keys, the sequence, the cadence. I found it and its just a baby now, but oh the story it will grow to be.
For those of you interactive types, I need the some names for characters. The main characters are mid thirties and married. Average really. So leave me a comment with the names you think they should have. Maybe next post I will have a snippet for you! :)
Tuesday, October 12, 2010
We Left the Light On
I know you are tired. I know you miss the laughter of your children and the comfort of your own bed. I know you miss hugs and friends and good food. Im sure air conditioning and California sunshine will be welcomed changes for you Mikey, so you come on home. Bring your boys, pick up your guns, dust off your boots and you come on home. We left the lights on for you.
Monday, October 11, 2010
Breathe!
Do you remember that time? When you were a child and it was all you could do to keep from drowning? I remember it multiple times. My brother and I spent so much time swimming in the summers that we started to grow gills, but sadly they didnt work. I know because of those big pull parties. We would have with more floating chairs then one pool should ever have. And you go swimming under water for the love of a handstand and bam, all of a sudden your cousin is surfing on a pool raft over your head and you only realize how big it is because you cant breath and its between you and life giving breath.
Thats how I feel today. I was counting down the days to a promotion and she informed me that I have not met one of my goals the entire time I thought I was. So now, the promotion I have to get after nine consecutive months of meeting my goals is a heartstopping eight months away. I want to say how its not fair and life isnt fair. I want to point out all the reasons my boss did this too me and that its not actually my fault. But the reality is the raft is now a lot bigger then I thought it was and I was the one to make the decision to duck under the water in the first place. So panic, tears or fear of failure dont matter anymore I suppose. All that matters is the need to breathe.
When I was a child, I was always so impressed with my own ability to get over the fear, hunker down and do what needed to be done to survive. I like to think when the aliens come, Ill be one of those fast thinkers. I am not sure pool floaties and seven year olds are really the best judgement of that... unless the aliens are allergic to water. Then Im totally good. :)
Thats how I feel today. I was counting down the days to a promotion and she informed me that I have not met one of my goals the entire time I thought I was. So now, the promotion I have to get after nine consecutive months of meeting my goals is a heartstopping eight months away. I want to say how its not fair and life isnt fair. I want to point out all the reasons my boss did this too me and that its not actually my fault. But the reality is the raft is now a lot bigger then I thought it was and I was the one to make the decision to duck under the water in the first place. So panic, tears or fear of failure dont matter anymore I suppose. All that matters is the need to breathe.
When I was a child, I was always so impressed with my own ability to get over the fear, hunker down and do what needed to be done to survive. I like to think when the aliens come, Ill be one of those fast thinkers. I am not sure pool floaties and seven year olds are really the best judgement of that... unless the aliens are allergic to water. Then Im totally good. :)
Tuesday, October 5, 2010
Warning: Beware the sleepies!
In college, I had this friend that always talked about sleep as being attacked by the sleepies. He always seemed to be so adamant that he was perpetually the victim in the situation and should he get attacked by the sleepies in class or while you were speaking, it was nothing to be mad at him about, it was simply the sleepies and he couldnt really stop it.
So basically, the man is brilliant! He could blame anything on these sleepies. Frankly, in this society we have where people dont like to accept responsibility for their shortcomings, we need to find more things to blame on the stuff like the sleepies. Just think: the sleepies, the hungries, the grumpies... Literally we could never own up for anything ever again!
So, in a rather brilliant transition, the attention defecities have attacked and Im totally changing the subject.
I need to call my mother.
But that wasnt the subject I was changing to! This week where I work is a week of celibrating the people that work here. Its called Customer Service week and our bosses give away prizes, by us meals and take a week to appreciate us. Its like christmas for a week. The CEO comes by, our division manager passes out ice cream that other departments buy us.
I love it. I love being able to walk into work and knowing that for this week, not only do I matter, but I am celibrated. My work is appreciated and I am special for this week. Im not sure who thought this thing up, but for sure they have been bitten by the awesomeies!
So basically, the man is brilliant! He could blame anything on these sleepies. Frankly, in this society we have where people dont like to accept responsibility for their shortcomings, we need to find more things to blame on the stuff like the sleepies. Just think: the sleepies, the hungries, the grumpies... Literally we could never own up for anything ever again!
So, in a rather brilliant transition, the attention defecities have attacked and Im totally changing the subject.
I need to call my mother.
But that wasnt the subject I was changing to! This week where I work is a week of celibrating the people that work here. Its called Customer Service week and our bosses give away prizes, by us meals and take a week to appreciate us. Its like christmas for a week. The CEO comes by, our division manager passes out ice cream that other departments buy us.
I love it. I love being able to walk into work and knowing that for this week, not only do I matter, but I am celibrated. My work is appreciated and I am special for this week. Im not sure who thought this thing up, but for sure they have been bitten by the awesomeies!
Thursday, September 30, 2010
Rafts and Harems
Alert Sea Lions
Originally uploaded by blue.shark
I found this pic my brother took and it sparked a train of thoughts in my mind. I think all of us surround ourselves with a group of people and even if we see them all day everyday or once a month, they are our group. In the case of sea lions, they are our raft apparently. I almost choked when I first researched what a group of sea lions is called. Silly me thought they were seals and a group of seals is called a harem...
Im almost sure my little raft would not be pleased to be called my harem. Soooo thanks Bro for taking this awesome picture of sea lions and not seals. My friends appreciate you.
Now on to my thoughts on my raft. Sometimes I find myself counting down to the weekend so I can find some reasons to bug them or for us to do something. Last weekend, after the Razorback game, we sat and watched tv together. It was brilliant. We didnt do anything really special for hours but just spend time together. I adore my raft. I just love them and the people they introduce me to. I am so thankful of my raft, Cupcake ninjas and all. Honestly I would be ok if they were my harem. Either way, I have a good group around me. I am lucky.
So who comprises your raft? What is it that makes you tether them to you?
Monday, September 27, 2010
Coffee
Santa Cruz Sunset 2
Originally uploaded by blue.shark
I remember the summer after high school I worked on a forest fire that painted the sky and the mountains into colors I had never seen before. Ash rained across the valley I called home. There were so many parts of that summer that significantly affected my life. When I look back on it, I have to laugh. It was a summer full of youth. How I wish I could go back and do it again with what I know about life now. To this day, those adventures are some of my favorite memories ever.
So that summer, we worked that fire that blazed through the mountains in our backyard. We were firefighters. In my mind, we were adults. I started drinking coffee regularly up there. Part of it was the long hours that led to a massive lack of sleep. The other part was that I feel in love with the taste. When it has just enough creme to melt the bitterness and just enough sugar to make you smile its absolutely divine. Now, I do not drink so much coffee. But when I do, its the same every time.
I met a man that summer. This name was Gareth and he was tall. He had a bunch of sisters and he was the youngest. I remember him being silly and making me laugh the entire day. I was instantly smitten and his eyes were the color of my coffee. It amazes me how some people stick to a little spot in your memory long after you ever expect them to. He is still there and though I will probably never see him again, he will remain there in my memory and every time I choose to drink coffee, I remember his eyes.
P.S. The photo above is from my brother. He is an amazing photographer and with his permission, I plan to share some more of his pictures with you while I blog. Maybe they will be related to whatever I am talking about, but knowing me and my epic randomness, dont count on it! :)
Friday, August 20, 2010
Ive Been Lost
I get so impatient. I want to create and be relevant and I want to produce things and when one thing doesnt get me there fast enough, I want to move to another and then another. And I stick myself in this cycle of frustration where I set my goals too high and then don't give myself enough time to bring them to fruition.
I want to be relevant. I want to be a leader of a movement and I want to do something that effects the world in a significant way. And each day I dont, I beat myself up for failing again. I know! Such mood swings! Someone please give me some patience!
So safe to say, I havent been writing. I have been working really hard at work to get the promotion. I have also been weaning myself off any foods besides groceries so writing hasnt been at the forefront of my mind. Sorry guys!
Sadly, Im still pretty lost. I dunno what I want. And I just feel so sick today. Maybe I should just keep being creative in -a- direction and then my path will find me. What do you think?
I want to be relevant. I want to be a leader of a movement and I want to do something that effects the world in a significant way. And each day I dont, I beat myself up for failing again. I know! Such mood swings! Someone please give me some patience!
So safe to say, I havent been writing. I have been working really hard at work to get the promotion. I have also been weaning myself off any foods besides groceries so writing hasnt been at the forefront of my mind. Sorry guys!
Sadly, Im still pretty lost. I dunno what I want. And I just feel so sick today. Maybe I should just keep being creative in -a- direction and then my path will find me. What do you think?
Tuesday, August 10, 2010
Maybe Im doing this wrong.
Maybe I am going about this all wrong.
As a child, when someone would suggest we make milkshakes, I was the kid that wanted to build the farm, buy some cows, milk em and use that milk to make some ice cream and make some milkshakes. Then, once everyone shot me down on that idea, I would want to make a little milkshake place and would start gathering wood from the... well the trees usually.
In essence, I was always the one that wanted to do WAY more then was necessary. I wanted a massive journey and even if someone let me get started, I would easily find myself overwhelmed and discouraged... eventually giving up and jumping head first into the self pity pit to wallow in my grand failure.
So perhaps, when writing my very first novel, I should take on something perhaps a little less strenuous then creating my own world. Don't get me wrong, I fully intend to finish that novel, but perhaps I should be starting with just a story first... Just to write something and maybe not make it as massive as this one.
Simplification my friends! Maybe my first novel will just be a story about one person. Who just lives. I am still mulling it over in my head, but I am working on creating a new outline. Im hopeful about this one also.
Sunday, August 8, 2010
Internets Abridged... again!
(Note to Reader: This is a re-posting of a previous blog with the video actually -in- the post. For your viewing pleasure!)
Dear Mama!
Since you now have an online store and are now an online money maker like I am. (yeah... you are probably making more then me. heh) I wanted to let you know something that may help you understand some online lingo.
Today's lesson is on "double rainbow goodness". I know, it is self explanatory, but let me tell you where it stems from. You see there is this man on youtube that has made a video about a discovery in his front yard. I suggest you watch it.
Since you now have an online store and are now an online money maker like I am. (yeah... you are probably making more then me. heh) I wanted to let you know something that may help you understand some online lingo.
Today's lesson is on "double rainbow goodness". I know, it is self explanatory, but let me tell you where it stems from. You see there is this man on youtube that has made a video about a discovery in his front yard. I suggest you watch it.
Special thanks to Hungrybear9562 for the lovely video!
I know! It is an epic video! Now everyone else in the world pretty much knows about this double rainbow goodness, but I need you to know so you can reference it in your store and look totally awesome. Also, keep in mind that there are a lot of people around that are turning this into art... also something Im sure is relevant to your store. (I'm sure.)
This concludes today's lesson Mama. Good luck with your store and congrats!
This concludes today's lesson Mama. Good luck with your store and congrats!
Old Family Jokes
Warning: Today's post may contain images... That may be a bit racy for the faint hearted. heh *innocent smile*
Something Jenn told me in that infamous letter she sent me was to write because I love to. That success, popularity, none of that -actually- matters when Im doing something I love. So I am trying my best to take her up on that. I have been paid my $.01 for writing which means, to me, that I am in essence, a professional paid writer. Sure its a liberal sense of the word, but hey, Im the blogger here so I shall define my own sucess! Yay me!
In other news, before we get to the actually subject of this blog, Mr Uruguay is back. *waves to Mr Uruguay* And no, I still have no clue who he is... but he has been here twice!
You know how everyone has those jokes in their family that are always referenced no matter how long ago it was that they were created? One of ours is that anytime anyone went to the store and asked if we wanted anything, my response was eternally a cabana boy and a milkshake. I never got either until now. My brother sent me my cabana boy.
(Image found here: http://i590.photobucket.com/albums/ss343/mikes2000/misc_images/scubaboard2/SB_People/automotivator10.jpg)
Something Jenn told me in that infamous letter she sent me was to write because I love to. That success, popularity, none of that -actually- matters when Im doing something I love. So I am trying my best to take her up on that. I have been paid my $.01 for writing which means, to me, that I am in essence, a professional paid writer. Sure its a liberal sense of the word, but hey, Im the blogger here so I shall define my own sucess! Yay me!
In other news, before we get to the actually subject of this blog, Mr Uruguay is back. *waves to Mr Uruguay* And no, I still have no clue who he is... but he has been here twice!
You know how everyone has those jokes in their family that are always referenced no matter how long ago it was that they were created? One of ours is that anytime anyone went to the store and asked if we wanted anything, my response was eternally a cabana boy and a milkshake. I never got either until now. My brother sent me my cabana boy.
(Image found here: http://i590.photobucket.com/albums/ss343/mikes2000/misc_images/scubaboard2/SB_People/automotivator10.jpg)
Why thank you Bro.. I would like a slice of awesome to go with my Pina Colada... How did you know?!
Friday, August 6, 2010
Interwebs Abridged
Dear Mama!
Since you now have an online store and are now an online money maker like I am. (yeah... you are probably making more then me. heh) I wanted to let you know something that may help you understand some online lingo.
Todays lesson is on "double rainbow goodness". I know, it is self explanatory, but let me tell you where it stems from. You see there is this man on youtube that has made a video about a discovery in his front yard. I suggest you watch it.
lols link fixed... seriously check out this vid
I know! It is an epic video! Now everyone else in the world pretty much knows about this double rainbow goodness, but I need you to know so you can refrence it in your store and look totally awesome. Also, keep in mind that there are a lot of people around that are turning this into art... also something Im sure is relevant to your store. (Im sure.)
This concludes todays lesson Mama. Good luck with your store and congrats!
Special thanks to Hungrybear9562 for the lovely video!
Since you now have an online store and are now an online money maker like I am. (yeah... you are probably making more then me. heh) I wanted to let you know something that may help you understand some online lingo.
Todays lesson is on "double rainbow goodness". I know, it is self explanatory, but let me tell you where it stems from. You see there is this man on youtube that has made a video about a discovery in his front yard. I suggest you watch it.
lols link fixed... seriously check out this vid
I know! It is an epic video! Now everyone else in the world pretty much knows about this double rainbow goodness, but I need you to know so you can refrence it in your store and look totally awesome. Also, keep in mind that there are a lot of people around that are turning this into art... also something Im sure is relevant to your store. (Im sure.)
This concludes todays lesson Mama. Good luck with your store and congrats!
Special thanks to Hungrybear9562 for the lovely video!
200 Hits!
I know you all are looking for reasons why this is a wonderful day and I has it for yous! Now despite the fact that I just got really yelled at on the phone, I have mutiple reasons today is awesome.
First of all, worry not! I am listening to some soothing music on this short break from work so I can take a deep breath and not yell at yall. But it keeps stopping becuase its taking so long to load! AHHH!
Secondly, a few days ago, I finally got up the guts to email a blogger that I find to be one of the best. I look up to her. There have been many writers Ive wanted to write to, but she is the first I have had the courage to express my feelings to. For some reason, I simply knew she would respond. And she did. Today not only did she send me an email encouraging my blog, but she also sent me some tips on how to not only make it better but to geer my writing to an audience slightly bigger then my friends and family. Heh.
There was another reason today is awesome and I forgot... Oh! I am going to be going out to dinner with some friends and I am excited! Also, its friday! Whooo! Awesome day.
And the biggest reason that I think I forgot until now, we, my friends, are standing on the cusp on 200 hits! 200 times someone has come to my website to read something that Ive written. Thats exciting.
I am going to be working on ways to use Jen's advice in my work here soon. Now... Im a little torn on how to go about it. Im trying to decide on making new categories under this blog or if I should make a whole new blog for some of my ideas. So this can be for my writing and for people that know me to come read about my life while the other can be about the random things I find on the internet and making them entertaining.
The more I think on it, the more I like the idea of keeping everything under this one and just having different things on different days. So we will try to branch out.
As a final thought, I wanted to share this with you guys. I know I am big on reaching my goals and working towards them every day, but I think I realized something on wednesday... I think working hard towards goals is awesome, but I also think that if thats what we focus on, then maybe we miss the most important part of our journeys which is the acutal journey itself. Cliche yes, but seriously. I have been checking things off so many lists that I forgot how nice the summer rain is. Or how good it is to sit back and just laugh with someone. Maybe, this should be something else we put on our lists?
First of all, worry not! I am listening to some soothing music on this short break from work so I can take a deep breath and not yell at yall. But it keeps stopping becuase its taking so long to load! AHHH!
Secondly, a few days ago, I finally got up the guts to email a blogger that I find to be one of the best. I look up to her. There have been many writers Ive wanted to write to, but she is the first I have had the courage to express my feelings to. For some reason, I simply knew she would respond. And she did. Today not only did she send me an email encouraging my blog, but she also sent me some tips on how to not only make it better but to geer my writing to an audience slightly bigger then my friends and family. Heh.
There was another reason today is awesome and I forgot... Oh! I am going to be going out to dinner with some friends and I am excited! Also, its friday! Whooo! Awesome day.
And the biggest reason that I think I forgot until now, we, my friends, are standing on the cusp on 200 hits! 200 times someone has come to my website to read something that Ive written. Thats exciting.
I am going to be working on ways to use Jen's advice in my work here soon. Now... Im a little torn on how to go about it. Im trying to decide on making new categories under this blog or if I should make a whole new blog for some of my ideas. So this can be for my writing and for people that know me to come read about my life while the other can be about the random things I find on the internet and making them entertaining.
The more I think on it, the more I like the idea of keeping everything under this one and just having different things on different days. So we will try to branch out.
As a final thought, I wanted to share this with you guys. I know I am big on reaching my goals and working towards them every day, but I think I realized something on wednesday... I think working hard towards goals is awesome, but I also think that if thats what we focus on, then maybe we miss the most important part of our journeys which is the acutal journey itself. Cliche yes, but seriously. I have been checking things off so many lists that I forgot how nice the summer rain is. Or how good it is to sit back and just laugh with someone. Maybe, this should be something else we put on our lists?
Monday, August 2, 2010
YES!!!
You know what I love most about journeys? I love when you walk through a journey with someone and you get to watch it become something it didnt start as. For example: The vlog brothers I refrenced in a previous post was initially a new way to be brothers and it slowly morphed into this movements of self proclaimed nerd fighters. When I took the first steps of this journey, it was simply a way for me to write, a chance for me to close my eyes and in small blissful moments, dance with my biggest dreams. There are these rolling hills in my home town. I like to go back and visit and imagine all the people Ive loved and lost waltzing across the hills just waiting for me. Sometimes I dream of waltzing with them. But when I write this blog, I waltz with my dreams; moving them as they move me. You all have been a fantastic group of people who so endlessly support me and sometimes I wonder if you are actually out there reading these until I get a message like I got this last week.
Its from a friend I met here in Little Rock. Someone that has always been there for me when I needed her. In this message she sent me, it was written to more then just me and it starts like this "I was inspired recently by a friend to start a list of things I wanted to do. So, I have done that and it has also inspired me to write a blog to go along with it. The things on the list may not seem huge or life changing but they are things that I have thought about doing and want to do. The List will change and grow as I do." When I read this, I could not sit still. This to me is pure victory.
This is waking up in the morning and taking a deep breath of air, knowing that today I am alive and today is the first day of the new life that I will live; free and vibrant. I am a woman that runs with wolves and I am picking up other women to run with me. I never meant to start a movement of lists and goals and journeys. I didnt intend anything beyond my own selfish needs, but I am blessed with people in my life that, rather then beat down a fire, choose to dance around it.
This blog is scattered. Today is my first day off any soda of any kind and let me tell you, im hurting. But I wanted you, my minions to know about this blog that she writes. Her name for the sake of this blog will be Miss Mcgee. And her journey is here: http://lulu1983.wordpress.com/
My list for now is only three things, she has many more and I fully intend to help her get to the end of it. Maybe, in the process our sisterhood of waltzing with our dreams will grow and perhaps people will find their lives better because of what we are doing, believing or accomplishing.
Do you have a list? If you were to make one, what would it be?
As for my list, I am now officially three months from my promotion as long as I keep doing this well or better. I start my jogging this week for that marathon. Every day I write is one day better then I have ever done before. So heres to tomorrow and the adventures, lists and journeys it brings with it.
Its from a friend I met here in Little Rock. Someone that has always been there for me when I needed her. In this message she sent me, it was written to more then just me and it starts like this "I was inspired recently by a friend to start a list of things I wanted to do. So, I have done that and it has also inspired me to write a blog to go along with it. The things on the list may not seem huge or life changing but they are things that I have thought about doing and want to do. The List will change and grow as I do." When I read this, I could not sit still. This to me is pure victory.
This is waking up in the morning and taking a deep breath of air, knowing that today I am alive and today is the first day of the new life that I will live; free and vibrant. I am a woman that runs with wolves and I am picking up other women to run with me. I never meant to start a movement of lists and goals and journeys. I didnt intend anything beyond my own selfish needs, but I am blessed with people in my life that, rather then beat down a fire, choose to dance around it.
This blog is scattered. Today is my first day off any soda of any kind and let me tell you, im hurting. But I wanted you, my minions to know about this blog that she writes. Her name for the sake of this blog will be Miss Mcgee. And her journey is here: http://lulu1983.wordpress.com/
My list for now is only three things, she has many more and I fully intend to help her get to the end of it. Maybe, in the process our sisterhood of waltzing with our dreams will grow and perhaps people will find their lives better because of what we are doing, believing or accomplishing.
Do you have a list? If you were to make one, what would it be?
As for my list, I am now officially three months from my promotion as long as I keep doing this well or better. I start my jogging this week for that marathon. Every day I write is one day better then I have ever done before. So heres to tomorrow and the adventures, lists and journeys it brings with it.
Sunday, August 1, 2010
Irony
I feel at a loss of words, which is pretty ironic since I'm typing some anyway. heh.
I have spent a year living alone and having a home devoid of other human voices and after a week of my parents staying in the same house, I found myself so full of human contact and interaction. At the same time, though, I miss them. Like, really miss them. Truthfully, last week I broke up with someone I felt very close to, someone I really cared for and a house full of people kept me from being alone with my thoughts. So now that they are gone, I am stuck with the thoughts that I have been avoiding.
Whether my emotions are rational, valid or even long term remains to be seen. I feel as if I have lost time. Like this lesson was already learned and now I am just a year older then I was when I learned this heartbreak last time. I feel like Im running out of time and pretty soon, I will be that crazy old dog lady that has a million and no friends to speak up. I have these wild fears that the life I have in my head that I have been working towards for a decade is so much of a good life that I will never actually get there and someday, I will have to stare my failed life in the mirror and it will have wrinkles.
The fear makes me unable to breath and I think its probably the most raw emotion Ive ever put on this blog, but that is where I am. Maybe I am a lost cause. Maybe that 'someone wonderful' my mother always speaks about is just a mirage and I will spend my life crashing my head against a brick wall just in hopes of catching a glimpse of him.
*deep breath* Now that the rant is gone, I have some very exciting things to tell you all about, but I have to wait until I have permission to share them. However, in the mean time, is it just me or does anyone else fear dying alone? Do you ever fear you are the only one doing it to yourself?
I have spent a year living alone and having a home devoid of other human voices and after a week of my parents staying in the same house, I found myself so full of human contact and interaction. At the same time, though, I miss them. Like, really miss them. Truthfully, last week I broke up with someone I felt very close to, someone I really cared for and a house full of people kept me from being alone with my thoughts. So now that they are gone, I am stuck with the thoughts that I have been avoiding.
Whether my emotions are rational, valid or even long term remains to be seen. I feel as if I have lost time. Like this lesson was already learned and now I am just a year older then I was when I learned this heartbreak last time. I feel like Im running out of time and pretty soon, I will be that crazy old dog lady that has a million and no friends to speak up. I have these wild fears that the life I have in my head that I have been working towards for a decade is so much of a good life that I will never actually get there and someday, I will have to stare my failed life in the mirror and it will have wrinkles.
The fear makes me unable to breath and I think its probably the most raw emotion Ive ever put on this blog, but that is where I am. Maybe I am a lost cause. Maybe that 'someone wonderful' my mother always speaks about is just a mirage and I will spend my life crashing my head against a brick wall just in hopes of catching a glimpse of him.
*deep breath* Now that the rant is gone, I have some very exciting things to tell you all about, but I have to wait until I have permission to share them. However, in the mean time, is it just me or does anyone else fear dying alone? Do you ever fear you are the only one doing it to yourself?
Thursday, July 29, 2010
Did Anyone Notice?
That I am now following myself? Not only do I not remember doing so, but I have no idea how to take it off either! :(
Wednesday, July 28, 2010
Yep, two new blogs in one day!
I just had so much to tell y'all that I had to make two posts. Aren't y'all lucky!
So there is this woman that is a professional blogger and I do so adore her writing. She writes a blog called Cake Wrecks that has become wildly successful. Check it out sometime, it's awesome. She also has a second blog called Epbot which is filled with all her silliness, nerdiness and craftiness. Today's post is about how to make steam punk jewelery out of pressed pennies you can get at Disneyland and other fun, touristy places. Anyway, a coworker who reads my blog saw me looking at these big pictures of pressed pennies and could not stop laughing about it. This is about how our convo went:
"Um... Kiki?"
"Yesss?"
"Are you looking for ways to use that penny you made?"
(glare) "No... I was... just reading..." (glare melts into a mild pout)
"Well how much does it cost to press a penny like that?"
"Well the penny, and then two quarters for the machine to make it."
"So... you would be spending all the extra money you earned this week?"
(pause)
"SHADDUP DUDE! I'LL MAKE MORE!"
On a completely unrelated thought, I have now officially reached over 100 hits to my blog. I'm very excited. I may not seem like it since its almost midnight and I'm trying to not sing too loudly so my parents can sleep. Seriously tho, my blog has been visited 100 times. (Technically 119) I'm stoked! Thank you all for your support and I hope this is just one milestone on a journey with many more to come. The dream, already in its smallest ways of coming to fruition is so so good!
So tell me, whats your biggest dream?
So there is this woman that is a professional blogger and I do so adore her writing. She writes a blog called Cake Wrecks that has become wildly successful. Check it out sometime, it's awesome. She also has a second blog called Epbot which is filled with all her silliness, nerdiness and craftiness. Today's post is about how to make steam punk jewelery out of pressed pennies you can get at Disneyland and other fun, touristy places. Anyway, a coworker who reads my blog saw me looking at these big pictures of pressed pennies and could not stop laughing about it. This is about how our convo went:
"Um... Kiki?"
"Yesss?"
"Are you looking for ways to use that penny you made?"
(glare) "No... I was... just reading..." (glare melts into a mild pout)
"Well how much does it cost to press a penny like that?"
"Well the penny, and then two quarters for the machine to make it."
"So... you would be spending all the extra money you earned this week?"
(pause)
"SHADDUP DUDE! I'LL MAKE MORE!"
On a completely unrelated thought, I have now officially reached over 100 hits to my blog. I'm very excited. I may not seem like it since its almost midnight and I'm trying to not sing too loudly so my parents can sleep. Seriously tho, my blog has been visited 100 times. (Technically 119) I'm stoked! Thank you all for your support and I hope this is just one milestone on a journey with many more to come. The dream, already in its smallest ways of coming to fruition is so so good!
So tell me, whats your biggest dream?
Tuesday, July 27, 2010
Happies!
Miss O'Hara: you may want to skip this one at work. I'm partially writing about my bro and I'm listening to sappy music so no crying in public please. You embarrass us all with that. *smiles sweetly*
I think I'm learning that the more often I write, the more it becomes a habit I feel the ache to keep up. So I'm switching it up a bit on this one. There are some people I need to notice here.
At some point in this week or the last or the next (yes I am always this specific) my friend Bake has a birthday. I know what you are all thinking; all of you jealous little minions are wondering why you don't get your own special post. Well, Ill get to you. But for now, its Bake's day. The woman has put up with me and my inability to keep in contact for years, probably a decade by now. I would tell you for sure but again, I'm not very specific and I'm not a mathy person. Luckily I stayed away from that disease! Anyway, Bake happy birthday. I know I never remember the specific day and while you are such a faithful friend that never forgets mine, I just remember the area just before July melts into August as your birth 'season'. Well happy birthday Bake. You have been an unending friend, eternally vulnerable to experience life with me and for that I am grateful. You have made me an infinitely better person than I would have been without you. Much love.
Also, tomorrow is a special day in my family. Its my brother's anniversary. Props to the only spawn of my parents that is able to handle a long term relationship! :) I love that every anniversary is something special, a different gift of something to give the person you have to stare at daily. (Thankfully I have no idea what that's like!) So I have been educated; the 3rd anniversary is leather! Nope, I'm not kidding. Of all the things in the world, they want people to give their spouses leather on their 3rd anniversary! Let me just say now, all the jokes I can think to put right here are not suitable for a blog that anyone and everyone can read. Email me if you want to hear them. Let me tell you, they are cracking my stuff up!
So Boogie Boo, get your woman a... wow I cant think of anything family friendly that has to do with leather! My goodness! Hang on, let me think...
Please wait...
Loading...
...
OK I give up, the only thing I can think of is what you already suggested; get her a cow and be done with it. Here's to 4th year fruit!
P.S. So tell me Oh Wise Ones, whats your crazy but clean leather gift idea? Leave a comment and let me know!
Monday, July 26, 2010
Career Choices and Uruguay
So...most important thing we have learned from this title? I apparently know how to spell Uruguay now. Its pretty easy. You start with a 'U' and then as you sound it out, just put a 'u' between everything... well until you get tired of the 'u' and then you hurry and finish it before the 'u's complain. I bet you did not think I could put so many 'u's in one sentence now didja? ha! Never underestimate the genius of the Kiki! (Ahhh see that? Another misspelling gone right!)
All kidding aside though, I have some serious soul searching to do with y'all today. I am now sitting at one hundred and twelve page impressions. The first twenty-five earned me one penny. And so I know you are all thinking I am up to a whopping four pennies now! Sadly my friends, I am still at one.... blasted.... penny. This getting rich quick thing is just silly. What were you all thinking to talk me into this!
And yesterday, upon cleaning up some of my house, I found fifty cents. I am sad to say my cleaning business is booming compared to my writing career. Which makes things pretty tough. I mean, my brother is already asking for handouts from my lucrative writing career and I made fifty times more in my cleaning career. So now, what does one do? Your comment challenge for today is to tell me what you think, writing which has been my life long dream, or cleaning, which I am apparently more successful in.
Dear Mr. Uruguay, I see you are checking on my site. I see that either you have visited four times or you have invited three friends. I must know who you are. The mystery is killing me! WHO ARE YOU MR. URUGUAY?!
And lastly, an update on the book. The outline is coming along nicely. My main characters and my villains are all taking shape and it's exciting to see. Also, I have a friend who enjoys making layouts of cities so he and I are currently collaborating to create the layout of the land as well as the different cities you will be seeing in the novel(s). So maybe, if you all behave I will post one when it's finished so you can see.
I had some questions on what my book is about so let me just tell you; it's a fantasy novel about different races of creatures overcoming prejudice and culture barriers to stop a big bad evil dude from taking over the world... I know, sounds familiar. Maybe I will give you another teaser later!
Dont forget! Let me know which you vote for, writing or cleaning!
All kidding aside though, I have some serious soul searching to do with y'all today. I am now sitting at one hundred and twelve page impressions. The first twenty-five earned me one penny. And so I know you are all thinking I am up to a whopping four pennies now! Sadly my friends, I am still at one.... blasted.... penny. This getting rich quick thing is just silly. What were you all thinking to talk me into this!
And yesterday, upon cleaning up some of my house, I found fifty cents. I am sad to say my cleaning business is booming compared to my writing career. Which makes things pretty tough. I mean, my brother is already asking for handouts from my lucrative writing career and I made fifty times more in my cleaning career. So now, what does one do? Your comment challenge for today is to tell me what you think, writing which has been my life long dream, or cleaning, which I am apparently more successful in.
Dear Mr. Uruguay, I see you are checking on my site. I see that either you have visited four times or you have invited three friends. I must know who you are. The mystery is killing me! WHO ARE YOU MR. URUGUAY?!
And lastly, an update on the book. The outline is coming along nicely. My main characters and my villains are all taking shape and it's exciting to see. Also, I have a friend who enjoys making layouts of cities so he and I are currently collaborating to create the layout of the land as well as the different cities you will be seeing in the novel(s). So maybe, if you all behave I will post one when it's finished so you can see.
I had some questions on what my book is about so let me just tell you; it's a fantasy novel about different races of creatures overcoming prejudice and culture barriers to stop a big bad evil dude from taking over the world... I know, sounds familiar. Maybe I will give you another teaser later!
Dont forget! Let me know which you vote for, writing or cleaning!
Sunday, July 25, 2010
Bursted Bubbles
So most of the world is looking for that 'get rich quick' scheme, right?
So there I was, monitoring the five people that visit my blog and thinking pretty highly of myself. Granted I could most likely name them all, but I was thinking I am getting better at posting regularly so perhaps it was time to monetize my blog. Now what this means is I allow someone to spam you with ads on my blog and then I get paid for them. I figured since you are regular readers and I love you, you wouldn't mind at all!
So I did the deed and put the adds up just before my last blog. And I sat there for an hour watching to see if or when the money would start rolling in. After ten visitors, nothing... then twenty. Still it said I had earned nothing. So I was thinking, perhaps twenty-five is the magic number... and I bugged people to go to my blog until I could see what twenty-five people did and sure enough! I earned money!
However, my elation was rather short lived because as soon as I saw a number there, it registered that I had earned a penny. Thats right, all the friends I have in the world visiting my blog makes me one penny. So very sad. I apparently was not going to become a genius millionaire overnight with this one.
On a side note, you wont be able to see this because I corrected it, but I just totally spelled genius and millionaire completely wrong. So I guess the genius part is out the window.
In other news, I do have someone visiting my blog from Uruguay which is pretty cool. And dont worry, thanks to spell check, I spelled Uruguay wrong also. At least I'm consistent!
I would like to start getting to know some of the people that read this blog so 1) comment and let me know if you are from Uruguay so I know who you are and 2) let me know if you have ever tried a 'get rich quick' scheme. I'm interested to see if anyone else is a big dreamer like me.
P.S. I'm not sure if comments get me more money... its a test! We shall find out!
So there I was, monitoring the five people that visit my blog and thinking pretty highly of myself. Granted I could most likely name them all, but I was thinking I am getting better at posting regularly so perhaps it was time to monetize my blog. Now what this means is I allow someone to spam you with ads on my blog and then I get paid for them. I figured since you are regular readers and I love you, you wouldn't mind at all!
So I did the deed and put the adds up just before my last blog. And I sat there for an hour watching to see if or when the money would start rolling in. After ten visitors, nothing... then twenty. Still it said I had earned nothing. So I was thinking, perhaps twenty-five is the magic number... and I bugged people to go to my blog until I could see what twenty-five people did and sure enough! I earned money!
However, my elation was rather short lived because as soon as I saw a number there, it registered that I had earned a penny. Thats right, all the friends I have in the world visiting my blog makes me one penny. So very sad. I apparently was not going to become a genius millionaire overnight with this one.
On a side note, you wont be able to see this because I corrected it, but I just totally spelled genius and millionaire completely wrong. So I guess the genius part is out the window.
In other news, I do have someone visiting my blog from Uruguay which is pretty cool. And dont worry, thanks to spell check, I spelled Uruguay wrong also. At least I'm consistent!
I would like to start getting to know some of the people that read this blog so 1) comment and let me know if you are from Uruguay so I know who you are and 2) let me know if you have ever tried a 'get rich quick' scheme. I'm interested to see if anyone else is a big dreamer like me.
P.S. I'm not sure if comments get me more money... its a test! We shall find out!
Friday, July 23, 2010
Nerd Fighters!
So the chickens have really nothing to do with this post. They are just there because I find the word to be full of possibilities. Love it!
First off, I had an idea of doing a blog about things I find on the internet that I would like to share with the world. So we are going to try to incorporate them in this blog while I tell you about how my writing is going. 1) To make this more interesting and B) This is still, quite simply, a practice thingie.
So I have been spending a lot of time on You Tube lately. And I know you are all probably thinking this may be why I struggle with writing... if I would stop procrastinating then life may get easier. I hear you and I agree with you and yet its so entertaining!
So there are these brothers on You Tube and I absolutely love their blog idea. Essentially, every day they make a video blog to each other and this is how they keep in contact. Theyve been doing this for three years now. If you want to check them out, this is their blog. I love them, I love their brotherhood and their ideas.
Also, another reason to tell you peeps about them is that one of them, John Green, is a writer! John's website I sit and watch his videos about the conferences he goes to and the struggles he faces and its refreshing to see it... like maybe I will know that life someday. It sounds lovely.
They also have this idea they launched three years ago, a few months into their daily blogging. Its called Nerd Fighters and they unite with nerds around the world to not only accept each other, but to 'make the world less suck' as John puts it. Its such a welcoming group of people. All nerds are welcome to be nerds with them. This is their nerd fighting website.
By the way, can we all tell that someone (me) learned how to use the hot linking? heh. As far as writing goes, Im still working on the dumb parts. I hate outlines and while thinking about my story is nice, tedious things I consider not only busy work but also below me, are not my definition of writing. I consider this just down right annoying. But it is coming along and perhaps this time, when I start writing in one direction, I wont forget where I'm going half way through!
First off, I had an idea of doing a blog about things I find on the internet that I would like to share with the world. So we are going to try to incorporate them in this blog while I tell you about how my writing is going. 1) To make this more interesting and B) This is still, quite simply, a practice thingie.
So I have been spending a lot of time on You Tube lately. And I know you are all probably thinking this may be why I struggle with writing... if I would stop procrastinating then life may get easier. I hear you and I agree with you and yet its so entertaining!
So there are these brothers on You Tube and I absolutely love their blog idea. Essentially, every day they make a video blog to each other and this is how they keep in contact. Theyve been doing this for three years now. If you want to check them out, this is their blog. I love them, I love their brotherhood and their ideas.
Also, another reason to tell you peeps about them is that one of them, John Green, is a writer! John's website I sit and watch his videos about the conferences he goes to and the struggles he faces and its refreshing to see it... like maybe I will know that life someday. It sounds lovely.
They also have this idea they launched three years ago, a few months into their daily blogging. Its called Nerd Fighters and they unite with nerds around the world to not only accept each other, but to 'make the world less suck' as John puts it. Its such a welcoming group of people. All nerds are welcome to be nerds with them. This is their nerd fighting website.
By the way, can we all tell that someone (me) learned how to use the hot linking? heh. As far as writing goes, Im still working on the dumb parts. I hate outlines and while thinking about my story is nice, tedious things I consider not only busy work but also below me, are not my definition of writing. I consider this just down right annoying. But it is coming along and perhaps this time, when I start writing in one direction, I wont forget where I'm going half way through!
Wednesday, July 21, 2010
Refocus
I have spent days and days doing research online. I have found that there are plenty of people that make money by blogging. And each time I learn about one more person who has made something brilliant and gotten paid for it, I rethink my plan to settle by working at my current job forever. The truth is, I want to sleep in. I want to be creative daily and spend time doing what I love.
However, I have also researched enough to realize that these people did not get there over night. In fact, it took them years! It took them years of work every day to get where they wanted and so guess what, its my turn. I am going to be going at this with a plan from now on. This blog will remain the process of me writing with more focus on blogging about the struggles I find while trying to write.
In that light, I must tell you that my journey has changed a bit. I met a friend online that is a published novelist. He has been my friend for years and I just now realized what a treasure trove of knowledge he is! So I picked his brain and he told me to write daily and he told me to make an outline so I could intermingle (Yha, sleepy.) the story lines and know where I'm going.
I have literally been spending so long ignoring the idea of an outline because I would 1) Keep it all memorized and 2) I dislike making them. But the man convinced me and since I'm so obedient (ha) I made myself an outline. In fact, I am currently working on making a spreadsheet for said outline because its elaborate. Each character has their own outline and some things all happen at the same time, others are separated by years.
Anywho, it feels good making this outline. I worked on it for an hour and a half today! I love it! I think the story is brilliant and I'm really enjoying what feels like the privilege of hand placing events that make the story great. From what I can see, it would be an injustice to this particular story to try to cram it all into one book and what it starts out as is not at all what it becomes in the end and I think that is what has me so pumped!
However, I have also researched enough to realize that these people did not get there over night. In fact, it took them years! It took them years of work every day to get where they wanted and so guess what, its my turn. I am going to be going at this with a plan from now on. This blog will remain the process of me writing with more focus on blogging about the struggles I find while trying to write.
In that light, I must tell you that my journey has changed a bit. I met a friend online that is a published novelist. He has been my friend for years and I just now realized what a treasure trove of knowledge he is! So I picked his brain and he told me to write daily and he told me to make an outline so I could intermingle (Yha, sleepy.) the story lines and know where I'm going.
I have literally been spending so long ignoring the idea of an outline because I would 1) Keep it all memorized and 2) I dislike making them. But the man convinced me and since I'm so obedient (ha) I made myself an outline. In fact, I am currently working on making a spreadsheet for said outline because its elaborate. Each character has their own outline and some things all happen at the same time, others are separated by years.
Anywho, it feels good making this outline. I worked on it for an hour and a half today! I love it! I think the story is brilliant and I'm really enjoying what feels like the privilege of hand placing events that make the story great. From what I can see, it would be an injustice to this particular story to try to cram it all into one book and what it starts out as is not at all what it becomes in the end and I think that is what has me so pumped!
Tuesday, July 13, 2010
Ohmigosh!
Sometimes, when I think of starting this story, I have no idea where to start. I think I found that family is there to push you where you dont think you can go. I think thats what I learned last night. I learned that sometimes love is more important then clear thinking and one has to be willing to save themselves, but sometimes they need more then you think you can give.
It was a dark and stormy night last night... seriously. It poured hard and fast. Drainage ditches and runoff pipes were heavy with the water they carried. I thought nothing more of it then just a monsoon type rain. Even after I got home, it was still just rain. It didnt become more then just rain until I called the dogs in for dinner. Only one came.
Now Clarence isnt one to sprint in for dinner, but eventually he comes in... except last night. My heart froze in my chest and fear choked at my throat. In my bare feet and house clothes I started running around the backyard calling for him, willing him to show up. And all I got in return were faint cries. The closer I got to the crawlspace doorway at the back of the house, the louder the cries. I was sobbing at this point, unable to see in the darkness to be able to see what exactly was wrong with him. I quickly learned that I have no flash lights at all in my home and my cell phone light was no help. I even turned on the car lights hoping it would help, but no dice...
Finally my digital camera was the only help I had... I kept taking pictures into the underbelly of my home until I found him, stranding on a small hill of dirt. It was the only soil left above water and the poor puppy who is scared of water stood perched there, begging me with the most frantic cries I had ever heard.
This isnt just any dog mind you. This is the parvo surviving, rat poison surviving wonderdog with crooked legs and a saggy face. He is my pride and joy, he is my best friend. He is the dog thats too lazy to actually jump up on someone so he just hops. He is the dog that used to have such trouble standing up because he tripped over his ears so often.
Finally, I knew there was no other choice, but to go in and get him myself. So I strapped on my boots and I started crawling thru the dark water, avoiding cobwebs as best I could. The ground was soft and muddy and oh so creepy. At this point, Clarence and I were both crying to beat the band. Me begging him to calm down and be strong and him begging me to hurry and save him. Then came Bertha, rushing in in her usual casual trot. She passed me right up in my struggle with the deep water and stayed on the high ground until she got to him. And to my amazement, she led him out, giving him the courage to make it to me.
The three of us, huddled there under the house were a bundle of waggy tails, excited licks and teary giggles. And slowly, as a family, we made our way back out into the fading light of day. Later, when the adrenaline faded and they still clung to me to relieve the stress of the situation, I found I clung to them just as much. They pushed me to overcome fears and pain. They made me stronger.
We camped in the spare room together. Them in their dogbeds and me on an airmattress. Its small or else they would have joined me on it. It was the only way any of us could sleep after such must stress and fear. It was an evening to remember forever.
It was a dark and stormy night last night... seriously. It poured hard and fast. Drainage ditches and runoff pipes were heavy with the water they carried. I thought nothing more of it then just a monsoon type rain. Even after I got home, it was still just rain. It didnt become more then just rain until I called the dogs in for dinner. Only one came.
Now Clarence isnt one to sprint in for dinner, but eventually he comes in... except last night. My heart froze in my chest and fear choked at my throat. In my bare feet and house clothes I started running around the backyard calling for him, willing him to show up. And all I got in return were faint cries. The closer I got to the crawlspace doorway at the back of the house, the louder the cries. I was sobbing at this point, unable to see in the darkness to be able to see what exactly was wrong with him. I quickly learned that I have no flash lights at all in my home and my cell phone light was no help. I even turned on the car lights hoping it would help, but no dice...
Finally my digital camera was the only help I had... I kept taking pictures into the underbelly of my home until I found him, stranding on a small hill of dirt. It was the only soil left above water and the poor puppy who is scared of water stood perched there, begging me with the most frantic cries I had ever heard.
This isnt just any dog mind you. This is the parvo surviving, rat poison surviving wonderdog with crooked legs and a saggy face. He is my pride and joy, he is my best friend. He is the dog thats too lazy to actually jump up on someone so he just hops. He is the dog that used to have such trouble standing up because he tripped over his ears so often.
Finally, I knew there was no other choice, but to go in and get him myself. So I strapped on my boots and I started crawling thru the dark water, avoiding cobwebs as best I could. The ground was soft and muddy and oh so creepy. At this point, Clarence and I were both crying to beat the band. Me begging him to calm down and be strong and him begging me to hurry and save him. Then came Bertha, rushing in in her usual casual trot. She passed me right up in my struggle with the deep water and stayed on the high ground until she got to him. And to my amazement, she led him out, giving him the courage to make it to me.
The three of us, huddled there under the house were a bundle of waggy tails, excited licks and teary giggles. And slowly, as a family, we made our way back out into the fading light of day. Later, when the adrenaline faded and they still clung to me to relieve the stress of the situation, I found I clung to them just as much. They pushed me to overcome fears and pain. They made me stronger.
We camped in the spare room together. Them in their dogbeds and me on an airmattress. Its small or else they would have joined me on it. It was the only way any of us could sleep after such must stress and fear. It was an evening to remember forever.
Friday, July 2, 2010
Happy Birthday to Me!
I'm not sure what to say today. I find such stress on my birthday, like I have this responsibility to be gracious since everything is focused on me today. I suppose that's a silly notion. Its really just another day, its just special to me. I have however, in the last few years learned how to relax and just let it be. So in that spirit, I have some things to say, not because any other reason then I want to say them.
I have a friend who, on this most special of days, is being admitted into the hospital. She is sick and if she makes it through this, she will hopefully be home in about a month. If she doesn't, then she will be free to dance on the wind and brighten the sun. I adore her really, in all the ways she selflessly gives and openly loves no matter the consequences. I'm exhausted today because I literally stayed up half the night spending time with her and you know, I wouldn't have written this week any differently. Last night was so very special to me. It is the epitome of what friends are.
She gave of herself, letting herself laugh and be silly because she knew I needed to see her joy. And I gave of my time because she needed a friend. For eternity, that night will be suspended in my mind, frozen to just be a slice of joy and silliness in the middle of all that life is. It was special and brilliant and my friends, I hope someday you all have a moment like that.
I cannot say if I will ever get to speak to her again, but its ok. I think we are both at peace of the journey that is to come. The next month is shrouded in darkness and the unknown. All I can really tell you is that she and I are at peace for the coming storm, we are ready for this battle.
She taught me so much in these precious moments and I feel compelled to change my stance on many things. A few posts ago, I stated that I believe this last year has been a failure for my lack of doing anything really and I change my mind. This last year I have let go of old demons, I have deepened relationships and I have lived.
Life, I know now, is not about progress. Its a journey and sometimes, its time for a picnic. This year was my picnic. It wasn't always happy or clean or picture perfect, but it was life and as Pastor Steve says, life in all its imperfections is perfect.
I live and the silly little health problems I have are just a small roadblock that makes for a great adventure. My fears, insecurities and struggles are all just roadblocks and something to give life a bit more flavor then just happy. Without gravity it would be nothing special to be an eagle.
So I suppose, my friends, the one thing I really hope for my birthday is that we all live. My hope for all of us is that we find the joy in all things. Lets find the light in the tunnel, the sunrise after the storm and the flowers that bloom after winter as faded... even if we are still in the middle of your winter, lets find them anyway.
I have a friend who, on this most special of days, is being admitted into the hospital. She is sick and if she makes it through this, she will hopefully be home in about a month. If she doesn't, then she will be free to dance on the wind and brighten the sun. I adore her really, in all the ways she selflessly gives and openly loves no matter the consequences. I'm exhausted today because I literally stayed up half the night spending time with her and you know, I wouldn't have written this week any differently. Last night was so very special to me. It is the epitome of what friends are.
She gave of herself, letting herself laugh and be silly because she knew I needed to see her joy. And I gave of my time because she needed a friend. For eternity, that night will be suspended in my mind, frozen to just be a slice of joy and silliness in the middle of all that life is. It was special and brilliant and my friends, I hope someday you all have a moment like that.
I cannot say if I will ever get to speak to her again, but its ok. I think we are both at peace of the journey that is to come. The next month is shrouded in darkness and the unknown. All I can really tell you is that she and I are at peace for the coming storm, we are ready for this battle.
She taught me so much in these precious moments and I feel compelled to change my stance on many things. A few posts ago, I stated that I believe this last year has been a failure for my lack of doing anything really and I change my mind. This last year I have let go of old demons, I have deepened relationships and I have lived.
Life, I know now, is not about progress. Its a journey and sometimes, its time for a picnic. This year was my picnic. It wasn't always happy or clean or picture perfect, but it was life and as Pastor Steve says, life in all its imperfections is perfect.
I live and the silly little health problems I have are just a small roadblock that makes for a great adventure. My fears, insecurities and struggles are all just roadblocks and something to give life a bit more flavor then just happy. Without gravity it would be nothing special to be an eagle.
So I suppose, my friends, the one thing I really hope for my birthday is that we all live. My hope for all of us is that we find the joy in all things. Lets find the light in the tunnel, the sunrise after the storm and the flowers that bloom after winter as faded... even if we are still in the middle of your winter, lets find them anyway.
Tuesday, June 29, 2010
Dear USA Soccer Players
Good morning! You have no idea who I am, but like many, I know who you are. I know your names and I know the way you run. I have some things to say to you about your recent South African adventures.
The things you have done in the last month bring tears to my eyes. I feel so often, that in the Olympics we dominate so many sports that sometimes, we as Americans, forget what it is to hope and worry and want so badly for our time to achieve what we have worked so hard for. The World Cup has that feeling for me. I feel united with the rest of the world in this single hope, cheering on a team of 11 men who are in fact, just men.
But in your humanity, you have become so much more. I'm not sure if you have seen this, but I would like you to watch it. This one! Its brilliant. In this moment, you took a nation with a million negative headlines and gave us something else to think about. We didn't ask you to be perfect. We didn't ask you to change the world or create policies. We simply asked you to do your best and let us applaud you.
I was working on this day, when you gave us such triumph. Sitting in my cubicle answering phones and waiting, hoping and believing. My coworker had a live feed of the game and in the middle of being on the phone, helping a customer, I heard him shout in victory and I knew. I knew that I had spent the last 90 minutes refusing to think that you wouldn't reach your goal. And his one shout brought an adrenaline rush from my very toes all the way up. I couldn't sit for 30 minutes I was so excited!
So well done! Thank you for being Americans and not giving up. Thank you for giving us something to believe in. On Saturday, when the World Cup journey ended, I was sitting in my living room where I live alone. My basset hounds were napping in the corner, disgruntled that I woke them up every minute or so to cheer you on. But then the game ended I did something I don't usually do. It was silly and something that meant nothing to anyone, but me. I stood and I applauded you. With tears in my eyes and a heart full of pride, I applauded the efforts of the men I so proudly call fellow Americans.
I am just a blogger; just a woman making a living; just a soccer fan; just a World Cup fan. However, there are millions of just fans out there and on behalf of them all, well done boys. Well done.
The things you have done in the last month bring tears to my eyes. I feel so often, that in the Olympics we dominate so many sports that sometimes, we as Americans, forget what it is to hope and worry and want so badly for our time to achieve what we have worked so hard for. The World Cup has that feeling for me. I feel united with the rest of the world in this single hope, cheering on a team of 11 men who are in fact, just men.
But in your humanity, you have become so much more. I'm not sure if you have seen this, but I would like you to watch it. This one! Its brilliant. In this moment, you took a nation with a million negative headlines and gave us something else to think about. We didn't ask you to be perfect. We didn't ask you to change the world or create policies. We simply asked you to do your best and let us applaud you.
I was working on this day, when you gave us such triumph. Sitting in my cubicle answering phones and waiting, hoping and believing. My coworker had a live feed of the game and in the middle of being on the phone, helping a customer, I heard him shout in victory and I knew. I knew that I had spent the last 90 minutes refusing to think that you wouldn't reach your goal. And his one shout brought an adrenaline rush from my very toes all the way up. I couldn't sit for 30 minutes I was so excited!
So well done! Thank you for being Americans and not giving up. Thank you for giving us something to believe in. On Saturday, when the World Cup journey ended, I was sitting in my living room where I live alone. My basset hounds were napping in the corner, disgruntled that I woke them up every minute or so to cheer you on. But then the game ended I did something I don't usually do. It was silly and something that meant nothing to anyone, but me. I stood and I applauded you. With tears in my eyes and a heart full of pride, I applauded the efforts of the men I so proudly call fellow Americans.
I am just a blogger; just a woman making a living; just a soccer fan; just a World Cup fan. However, there are millions of just fans out there and on behalf of them all, well done boys. Well done.
Thursday, June 24, 2010
Aliens, Feet and Sunburns
You know, my loverlies, one of my favorite movies is Independence Day. Not really for any other reason, but that the world becomes one team. We all start working together in this cohesive unit of human beings, moving as one, striking as one, reclaiming our lives all as one. Epic, no?
I love unity. I love people all coming together in any shape or form and I especially love it when things are on an even playing field. Like the World Cup. *angels singing* I love it for so many reasons, like for the unity of it all. But even more so for the fact that its doesnt feel like USA is doing something and letting some other kids come along too. Like the olympics, sometimes I feel would be so very triumphant if we didnt dominate everyone and their mother. So this World Cup, I love it. I feel unified with the entire world. Third world countries, former imperialist countries... everyone. And I love that I have a reason to watch and hope and hold my breath. I dont know already that USA has the best shot to win. We get to be underdogs and it gets my blood pumping! I wish we could have a World Cup every year! I think every summer should be dotted with swimming, sunburns and international sporting events blaring in the background of every country.
Maybe then, every summer, heros could be made and dreams could be reached in a way that is so harmless, so intrisically true in every way. But... enough of my rants and generalizations about just a game. Lets move on to more important things.
The sun beat me up this last weekend at the lake and my friends want me to try round two this weekend at a different lake. I love the lakes. I love the fun to run around swimming with friends, expending energy and just having general summer fun, but here is my delima. Having been sick, I dislike being so far away from home. It makes me nervous to be an hour out of the way of my house living on nothing but a prayer and a change of clothes. Also, my other friends are going to watch Toy Story 3 the same day and if I stay at the lake, I wont make it back.
I... KNOW! Me, the nerd who was so white she got slammed with a sunburn on her first glimpse at the summer sun wants to hang out with two different groups of people in ONE day?! Who am I and what have I done with myself?!
I love unity. I love people all coming together in any shape or form and I especially love it when things are on an even playing field. Like the World Cup. *angels singing* I love it for so many reasons, like for the unity of it all. But even more so for the fact that its doesnt feel like USA is doing something and letting some other kids come along too. Like the olympics, sometimes I feel would be so very triumphant if we didnt dominate everyone and their mother. So this World Cup, I love it. I feel unified with the entire world. Third world countries, former imperialist countries... everyone. And I love that I have a reason to watch and hope and hold my breath. I dont know already that USA has the best shot to win. We get to be underdogs and it gets my blood pumping! I wish we could have a World Cup every year! I think every summer should be dotted with swimming, sunburns and international sporting events blaring in the background of every country.
Maybe then, every summer, heros could be made and dreams could be reached in a way that is so harmless, so intrisically true in every way. But... enough of my rants and generalizations about just a game. Lets move on to more important things.
The sun beat me up this last weekend at the lake and my friends want me to try round two this weekend at a different lake. I love the lakes. I love the fun to run around swimming with friends, expending energy and just having general summer fun, but here is my delima. Having been sick, I dislike being so far away from home. It makes me nervous to be an hour out of the way of my house living on nothing but a prayer and a change of clothes. Also, my other friends are going to watch Toy Story 3 the same day and if I stay at the lake, I wont make it back.
I... KNOW! Me, the nerd who was so white she got slammed with a sunburn on her first glimpse at the summer sun wants to hang out with two different groups of people in ONE day?! Who am I and what have I done with myself?!
Wednesday, June 23, 2010
Everything Under the SUN! WHOOO!
I quite literally started typing a title three times before I erased it, thinking on something else to say. Finally I just decided to find a title that may warn you of the multiple things to talk about. Its a full day really. I'm sitting here huddled close to my computer, headphones blasting a USA soccer game in my ear as I wait and hope. Its 32 minutes in and nothing but attempts yet. I love it really. I love alluding to some grand piece of history or some symbolic reference that makes me feel like I live and breathe humanity. So huddled by my little radio, listening, waiting... makes me feel like some piece of the greater majority of people that have done the exact same thing for decades upon decades.
Today is my brothers b day. Naturally, since I live two hours ahead of him, I take great joy in calling him early to bug him. I know he gets up much earlier then he used to, but the loving brother that he is, he pretends to be grumpy just to add to my joy. Truthfully, one of the least favorite things about my job is when I have to take calls where people inform me of a death. I'm sad for children who have lost parents. Sadder for parents who have lost children. However the one that seems to always get me the most is the siblings. My brother and I were not always close, but in the last five years, he has become one of my closest friends. My throat tightens with grief for those people, knowing that when I'm 80 and I cannot hear, I plan to be annoying customer service reps by calling in on behalf of my older and even more deaf brother. Hopefully by then, I will have found more clever ways to annoy him then just calling him very early in the morning.
So happy birthday Boogie Boo. Today, we celebrate you in our lives and as many ways that I want to be sarcastic, I'm being serious. Thanks for being born. Thanks for being my friend. And thanks for being my brother. I wouldn't want anyone else to be my bro. There is no one else that can hit a baked potato ball with a ranch bottle during kitchen baseball as well as you can and no one else that can think up such games to keep from doing the dishes. Also, I do believe you are the only person that could upset me enough to get me to pout in the pantry... which is really embarrassing now that I think about it.
New Topic!
I had something else to say and I don't remember, must be my old age. OH! So next week is my birthday. I always feel such dread when year marks come up and I don't feel Ive done anything of note that year. I feel like this year was a wasted year and for some reason there is always such a feeling of running out of time for me. Like I'm racing something and I'm not exactly sure what. Perhaps its that I have so many dreams and I want to reach them before I get wrinkly? No seriously, if I wait until I am wrinkly to write a book, then my picture on the back will be wrinkly. I decided that my resolutions would be more appropriate on my birthday so while we celebrate my life... or just call me to wish me a happy birthday. (cards and money welcome. >_>) I have decided we will make a plan.
Now Keith can tell you that anytime I feel like I'm slipping, I make a plan. Really I could be an adventure series with all the plans I make. I have plans for spending money, plans for saving money. I have plans to sleep, plans to eat, plans for socialization. Keith finds these plans so very entertaining. As do I really. They are plans, they remind me of what I -should- be doing.
Any who, my unhappiness towards what I have deemed an unproductive year leaves me no choice but to make a plan. My plan is to set three very important goals for myself this year. 1) Run a marathon (preferably in California with much of my family) 2) Write a novel 3) Get a promotion. All very achievable goals. So... let the games begin, this year will not be unproductive!
Today is my brothers b day. Naturally, since I live two hours ahead of him, I take great joy in calling him early to bug him. I know he gets up much earlier then he used to, but the loving brother that he is, he pretends to be grumpy just to add to my joy. Truthfully, one of the least favorite things about my job is when I have to take calls where people inform me of a death. I'm sad for children who have lost parents. Sadder for parents who have lost children. However the one that seems to always get me the most is the siblings. My brother and I were not always close, but in the last five years, he has become one of my closest friends. My throat tightens with grief for those people, knowing that when I'm 80 and I cannot hear, I plan to be annoying customer service reps by calling in on behalf of my older and even more deaf brother. Hopefully by then, I will have found more clever ways to annoy him then just calling him very early in the morning.
So happy birthday Boogie Boo. Today, we celebrate you in our lives and as many ways that I want to be sarcastic, I'm being serious. Thanks for being born. Thanks for being my friend. And thanks for being my brother. I wouldn't want anyone else to be my bro. There is no one else that can hit a baked potato ball with a ranch bottle during kitchen baseball as well as you can and no one else that can think up such games to keep from doing the dishes. Also, I do believe you are the only person that could upset me enough to get me to pout in the pantry... which is really embarrassing now that I think about it.
New Topic!
I had something else to say and I don't remember, must be my old age. OH! So next week is my birthday. I always feel such dread when year marks come up and I don't feel Ive done anything of note that year. I feel like this year was a wasted year and for some reason there is always such a feeling of running out of time for me. Like I'm racing something and I'm not exactly sure what. Perhaps its that I have so many dreams and I want to reach them before I get wrinkly? No seriously, if I wait until I am wrinkly to write a book, then my picture on the back will be wrinkly. I decided that my resolutions would be more appropriate on my birthday so while we celebrate my life... or just call me to wish me a happy birthday. (cards and money welcome. >_>) I have decided we will make a plan.
Now Keith can tell you that anytime I feel like I'm slipping, I make a plan. Really I could be an adventure series with all the plans I make. I have plans for spending money, plans for saving money. I have plans to sleep, plans to eat, plans for socialization. Keith finds these plans so very entertaining. As do I really. They are plans, they remind me of what I -should- be doing.
Any who, my unhappiness towards what I have deemed an unproductive year leaves me no choice but to make a plan. My plan is to set three very important goals for myself this year. 1) Run a marathon (preferably in California with much of my family) 2) Write a novel 3) Get a promotion. All very achievable goals. So... let the games begin, this year will not be unproductive!
Thursday, June 3, 2010
Good times... Great oldies
You know, I never understood the concept of oldies. I grew up wondering why people liked to listen to the same songs they had been listening to their entire lives. It always confused my little brain, but I do believe I have finally found some understanding. The good news: my mind is growing, my horizons broadening. The bad news: I'm old enough now to have some music be a nostalgic memory. That's right folks, I'm getting old! I suppose that could be the subject of a million other posts, so for today, we will simply focus on the music, shall we?
Right then... I was at work, just minding my own business and not harming anyone when all of a sudden, my coworker who enjoys playing music for all of us to suffer through started playing Enya. Now I know most of my reader base knows who Enya is because lets face it, most of you are family and dad used to play it all summer long. The other 5% of you may have no clue, but let me describe her for you. She sounds like how an ocean of smooth earthy tones would sound after eating five new age musicians and a elven princess.
So anyway, on comes Enya and for a moment, I was back in the library of my parents house. The windows were open with a summer breeze floating through. The dogs ran around, joyous in their youth and my dad was outside. I could see him walk by every now and again, working in the bright green grass. In the background you could hear a sewing machine as my mom worked on whatever project she had started. And me, I was wrapped up in Oregon Trail, listening to the music float around the house. Today, when I look back on those memories the simple song stirred, it almost feels like that song freezes time and wraps it up in a protective embrace where, for eternity, we all stay like that. All of us. In Enya's songs now, the dogs never grow old and die, the summer never ends, and I am lost, happy in my silly game where I always make a caravan full of all my 7th grade crushes and me. Luckily, the song doesn't bring back the memory that most all of said crushes died to some awful disease in the desert.
Right then... I was at work, just minding my own business and not harming anyone when all of a sudden, my coworker who enjoys playing music for all of us to suffer through started playing Enya. Now I know most of my reader base knows who Enya is because lets face it, most of you are family and dad used to play it all summer long. The other 5% of you may have no clue, but let me describe her for you. She sounds like how an ocean of smooth earthy tones would sound after eating five new age musicians and a elven princess.
So anyway, on comes Enya and for a moment, I was back in the library of my parents house. The windows were open with a summer breeze floating through. The dogs ran around, joyous in their youth and my dad was outside. I could see him walk by every now and again, working in the bright green grass. In the background you could hear a sewing machine as my mom worked on whatever project she had started. And me, I was wrapped up in Oregon Trail, listening to the music float around the house. Today, when I look back on those memories the simple song stirred, it almost feels like that song freezes time and wraps it up in a protective embrace where, for eternity, we all stay like that. All of us. In Enya's songs now, the dogs never grow old and die, the summer never ends, and I am lost, happy in my silly game where I always make a caravan full of all my 7th grade crushes and me. Luckily, the song doesn't bring back the memory that most all of said crushes died to some awful disease in the desert.
Sunday, January 24, 2010
Trina 2
I lingered on his porch lost in my own thoughts. I came to the country for some peace, for a slower life and I found it, but at the same time, I could not for the life of me remember why I worked so hard in New York. Im sure the two of us looked a pair too, sitting on the porch, each with a slow moving rocking chair. Neither of us said another word, just sat peacefully. That is until the screen door creaked open and a refrigerator of a man stepped out, letting it slam shut behind him. The sound caught my attention, but old man Daure seemed to not even notice. The younger man, a spitting image of his father with the dusty blonde hair and blue eyes offered me a smirk and a cocky nod with his words.
"Well well well. If it aint Trina Blacksby. Finally humbled yourself enough to come back to the sticks?" As he spoke with the sound of humor fresh in his voice, he moved to lean back against the railing and crossed his muscled arms over his chest, looking rather relaxed there.
"Ahh there is your problem Mr Daure. You had to kill the bull with the most meat because your son here probably eats a horse a day!" With a laugh I spoke to the old man, keeping my teasing eyes on his son, but my smile soon faded as I watched his reaction turn sour. With a glance to old man Daure, I realized I had hit quite a nerve with both of them. Joes father just looked at me with a scowl. Just as I thought I would need a snickers to get away, Joe saved me.
"Let me walk you to your car, Trina." It was not a request and he was most certianly not looking for my approval. It was a command and it took me all of two instants to jump up out of the rocking chair and head towards my truck. Once there, I hopped in and shut the door. Joe leaned his brawny arms in my window and gave me a sad look. "Careful what you say around here Trina. You aint an outsider, but you missed a whole lot. Steppin on toes aint gonna make you any new friends."
"I hear ya Joe. Tell your old man Im sorry." To say I flew down that drive was an understatement and my mind was reeling the entire time. What had I said that made them both react so? There had to be more to that bull then they were letting on. Now I just had to figure out what was going on under the surface of this sleepy old town.
"Well well well. If it aint Trina Blacksby. Finally humbled yourself enough to come back to the sticks?" As he spoke with the sound of humor fresh in his voice, he moved to lean back against the railing and crossed his muscled arms over his chest, looking rather relaxed there.
"Ahh there is your problem Mr Daure. You had to kill the bull with the most meat because your son here probably eats a horse a day!" With a laugh I spoke to the old man, keeping my teasing eyes on his son, but my smile soon faded as I watched his reaction turn sour. With a glance to old man Daure, I realized I had hit quite a nerve with both of them. Joes father just looked at me with a scowl. Just as I thought I would need a snickers to get away, Joe saved me.
"Let me walk you to your car, Trina." It was not a request and he was most certianly not looking for my approval. It was a command and it took me all of two instants to jump up out of the rocking chair and head towards my truck. Once there, I hopped in and shut the door. Joe leaned his brawny arms in my window and gave me a sad look. "Careful what you say around here Trina. You aint an outsider, but you missed a whole lot. Steppin on toes aint gonna make you any new friends."
"I hear ya Joe. Tell your old man Im sorry." To say I flew down that drive was an understatement and my mind was reeling the entire time. What had I said that made them both react so? There had to be more to that bull then they were letting on. Now I just had to figure out what was going on under the surface of this sleepy old town.
Friday, January 22, 2010
A Letter Home
Mornings are different here than anywhere else in the world. Tents have molded from something to use only in your back yard to something worth putting a picket fence around. Work is hard, play is hard and sleep is hard, but these moments in the morning, when the cool dew breaks the facad of summer, life is quiet, soft and slow. You can stand here and feel like there is not another person in the world experiencing life at this time, but truth is the entire camp is up. Some have been up for hours, others just minutes.
These are the moments, when a good stretch brings life to your limbs. Its a reason to smile for sure, but there will be many more thru the day. Next comes breakfast, mess hall style. Its loud and crazy and like most everything around here, its a haven built on unsolid ground. The rescues have been made, the bodies carried away and all that is left after the waters receeded is people in trailers trying to rebuild the lives a wild woman named Katrina washed away.
Breakfast, any meal really, is always loud. Free workers came from everywhere, far and wide. Very few had training, but those of us that were permanent decor for this landscape were there for training purposes. Today is a new crew to teach and help. A new group of people with bright smiles and no real concept of what they will see. These new groups were always everything we needed, however. Without them, the rest of us remained weary of the reality we fought against.
My new group was high school. A massive group of church kids desperate to do something. They took to the work well, Old Miss didnt find any respite from the summer for the poor northern kids, but they minded not. I even seemed to loose my need to curse the triple digits as they laughed and joked, like every kid on their summer vacation did the same.
Katrina could do what it wanted to the Gulf Coast, but the one thing she could never stop was the power of people to pick up and keep going. She couldnt change the fact that when people loose everything, they keep breathing and for that reason alone, they fight to get it back.
So mom, once again I send a letter to you that is infinatly more long winded then it needs to be. I know you dont understand my choice of lives, but I wake up every morning and I live.... for the entire day Im alive and I can feel it pulse thru my veins. We have our liscenses now, so the next time a disaster sweeps the nation, we are prepared to mobilize and be there as soon as the tires will take us. Fear not Mama and always know that whereever people are crying for help, I will be there with an answer.
Love always,
Cali
These are the moments, when a good stretch brings life to your limbs. Its a reason to smile for sure, but there will be many more thru the day. Next comes breakfast, mess hall style. Its loud and crazy and like most everything around here, its a haven built on unsolid ground. The rescues have been made, the bodies carried away and all that is left after the waters receeded is people in trailers trying to rebuild the lives a wild woman named Katrina washed away.
Breakfast, any meal really, is always loud. Free workers came from everywhere, far and wide. Very few had training, but those of us that were permanent decor for this landscape were there for training purposes. Today is a new crew to teach and help. A new group of people with bright smiles and no real concept of what they will see. These new groups were always everything we needed, however. Without them, the rest of us remained weary of the reality we fought against.
My new group was high school. A massive group of church kids desperate to do something. They took to the work well, Old Miss didnt find any respite from the summer for the poor northern kids, but they minded not. I even seemed to loose my need to curse the triple digits as they laughed and joked, like every kid on their summer vacation did the same.
Katrina could do what it wanted to the Gulf Coast, but the one thing she could never stop was the power of people to pick up and keep going. She couldnt change the fact that when people loose everything, they keep breathing and for that reason alone, they fight to get it back.
So mom, once again I send a letter to you that is infinatly more long winded then it needs to be. I know you dont understand my choice of lives, but I wake up every morning and I live.... for the entire day Im alive and I can feel it pulse thru my veins. We have our liscenses now, so the next time a disaster sweeps the nation, we are prepared to mobilize and be there as soon as the tires will take us. Fear not Mama and always know that whereever people are crying for help, I will be there with an answer.
Love always,
Cali
Tardiness and Business Matters!
I realize I havent been posting as often as before. I also realize my postings have not been as silly as before also. I would like to appologize for such, its been a wild month. I keep wracking my brain trying to find something to write thats funny and while humor follows me every day, its not what causes my fingertips to dance over the keys like tiny dancers on a piano. So then I avoid the blog and hope that something so funny will come to me that I just have to share it with the world.
The truth is, I dont want to write funny at the moment. I want to write serious, I want to write stories about people. I want to create something with substance, but naturally I never actually finish all of one thing before I start writing another. I thought maybe if I posted bits of stories and kept the same thread names, you would be able to follow them. Of course, if there is anyone ACTUALLY reading this, you most likely know me and could just call me and ask for help.
I dont know, Im a bit scatter brained with all the craziness at work so for the most part, Im just writing what my soul tells me. Sometime soon I will get back to the humor Im sure you all miss. :)
P.S. I just thought of something. How come when you nod your head to music, your brain doesnt squish against the front of your head? Cuz I just did and I dont think I lost any brain cells.
The truth is, I dont want to write funny at the moment. I want to write serious, I want to write stories about people. I want to create something with substance, but naturally I never actually finish all of one thing before I start writing another. I thought maybe if I posted bits of stories and kept the same thread names, you would be able to follow them. Of course, if there is anyone ACTUALLY reading this, you most likely know me and could just call me and ask for help.
I dont know, Im a bit scatter brained with all the craziness at work so for the most part, Im just writing what my soul tells me. Sometime soon I will get back to the humor Im sure you all miss. :)
P.S. I just thought of something. How come when you nod your head to music, your brain doesnt squish against the front of your head? Cuz I just did and I dont think I lost any brain cells.
Monday, January 18, 2010
My Dear One
I always knew this day would come. I feared it for many years. I feel such a need to say I am so very sorry that I left you home when I went on my adventures. Im sorry that I didnt get a chance to make you more of a priority, but I feel there are a few things you need to know.
1) The picture of us linked to the title of this blog post is one of my favs. Barefoot girls and sideways dogs are always peas in a pod. The painting that looks like us hangs in my hallway. I think of you each time I pass it by. You remember, the little blonde girl in the pink dress dipping her toes in the water while a white and brown, curly eared puppy sits by watching.
2) You always made me feel like a princess. You were desperatly loyal to me and each day you would give your all to come when I called was overwhelming. I would watch you and laugh but inside, I always wondered what it was that made you love me so much. Whatever it was, I thank you. I cherish those memories.
3) I think the only dreams I will ever hold dear and never accomplish were the ones I made when I was going to bring you to Arkansas with me. You and I were going to take on the world. We were going to brave new storms together. You were going to be my comfort, my piece of home that didnt make me scared. It was going to be awesome, but I failed you. I came alone and I was scared. You wouldnt have been comfortable here by any means, but still I think I should have brought you.
4) I really wish you didnt have to go. I keep thinking that maybe, if you would just come back for a day or two, I would fly home and spend the whole time with you. Lord only knows how long you lived, but I guess I will always just ache for that one more moment.
5) Bro was epic when I told him. I kid you not, these were his words. (I wrote them down to make sure I got them right) "Wow thats sad. He was a good dog, but I guess he was pretty old, wasnt he?" You know bro, always with the epic vocab.
Please forgive me for being so angry at you going away. I understand your need for the dramatic, when I die, I plan to wait until everyone is up and paying attention also. Ive been feeling icky for the last few days. I think, like with Moose, I knew it was coming. Say Hi to him for me. I will love you forever. Thank you for being a good dog and thank you for all the kisses. Goodnight my dear Dud.
1) The picture of us linked to the title of this blog post is one of my favs. Barefoot girls and sideways dogs are always peas in a pod. The painting that looks like us hangs in my hallway. I think of you each time I pass it by. You remember, the little blonde girl in the pink dress dipping her toes in the water while a white and brown, curly eared puppy sits by watching.
2) You always made me feel like a princess. You were desperatly loyal to me and each day you would give your all to come when I called was overwhelming. I would watch you and laugh but inside, I always wondered what it was that made you love me so much. Whatever it was, I thank you. I cherish those memories.
3) I think the only dreams I will ever hold dear and never accomplish were the ones I made when I was going to bring you to Arkansas with me. You and I were going to take on the world. We were going to brave new storms together. You were going to be my comfort, my piece of home that didnt make me scared. It was going to be awesome, but I failed you. I came alone and I was scared. You wouldnt have been comfortable here by any means, but still I think I should have brought you.
4) I really wish you didnt have to go. I keep thinking that maybe, if you would just come back for a day or two, I would fly home and spend the whole time with you. Lord only knows how long you lived, but I guess I will always just ache for that one more moment.
5) Bro was epic when I told him. I kid you not, these were his words. (I wrote them down to make sure I got them right) "Wow thats sad. He was a good dog, but I guess he was pretty old, wasnt he?" You know bro, always with the epic vocab.
Please forgive me for being so angry at you going away. I understand your need for the dramatic, when I die, I plan to wait until everyone is up and paying attention also. Ive been feeling icky for the last few days. I think, like with Moose, I knew it was coming. Say Hi to him for me. I will love you forever. Thank you for being a good dog and thank you for all the kisses. Goodnight my dear Dud.
Tuesday, January 12, 2010
Trina 1
His hair is that same sandy blonde as the wheat he watches over. If he walked thru the sea of wheat, he would be lost, just another golden head bending with the breeze. But I am not here to talk about his hair. Let me see here... The assignment is to write an article about his prize bull disappearing. I wonder if I could make this into some big mystery. Investigative journalism has to have a place in Tonki Arkansas. We may only have five thousand citizens, but how could there not be one!
"So Mr. Daure, its been going around that your prize bull isnt in the pasture anymore. Any idea of what happened?" I trying to sound professional and interested, but lets face it, its a story on a bull that went missing.
"Yup." Is all he offers me with a nod of his head. The reporter in me is ready to take the straw from his mouth and beat him over the head with it, but the photographer in me wants to simply move around him like the breeze and take the pictures that I can see there, hanging in the air about him. His weathered eyes on a black and white background would bring out the lines of his face. Even faded color could let his blue eyes sing and yet still bring the sense of peace the man carries with him.
A pause... "So... interested in telling me?" I cant even be irritated. Honestly all I want is some lemonaid and to just sit with the man, but I do need to keep my job... I suppose.
"We ate 'em." Is all he was offering. So I have an entire artical to write based on the phrase 'we ate 'em.' Brilliant. Well, I suppose I best make something of this conversation.
"Do ya miss 'em?" If you cant beat them, join them I suppose.
A nod. "I recon."
"Why not eat one of the others?" I have to take another moment to look at him, fingers itching to snap his picture.
His shoulders shrug, making the collar of his shirt brush against the whiskers of his scraggly beard. I cant help but smirk. "Not as much beef." The mans logic is astounding. Now how to make an article from that...
"So Mr. Daure, its been going around that your prize bull isnt in the pasture anymore. Any idea of what happened?" I trying to sound professional and interested, but lets face it, its a story on a bull that went missing.
"Yup." Is all he offers me with a nod of his head. The reporter in me is ready to take the straw from his mouth and beat him over the head with it, but the photographer in me wants to simply move around him like the breeze and take the pictures that I can see there, hanging in the air about him. His weathered eyes on a black and white background would bring out the lines of his face. Even faded color could let his blue eyes sing and yet still bring the sense of peace the man carries with him.
A pause... "So... interested in telling me?" I cant even be irritated. Honestly all I want is some lemonaid and to just sit with the man, but I do need to keep my job... I suppose.
"We ate 'em." Is all he was offering. So I have an entire artical to write based on the phrase 'we ate 'em.' Brilliant. Well, I suppose I best make something of this conversation.
"Do ya miss 'em?" If you cant beat them, join them I suppose.
A nod. "I recon."
"Why not eat one of the others?" I have to take another moment to look at him, fingers itching to snap his picture.
His shoulders shrug, making the collar of his shirt brush against the whiskers of his scraggly beard. I cant help but smirk. "Not as much beef." The mans logic is astounding. Now how to make an article from that...
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