Weekly Poem

Love and Harmony

Love and harmony combine,
And round our souls entwine
While thy branches mix with mine,
And our roots together join.

Joys upon our branches sit,
Chirping loud and singing sweet;
Like gentle streams beneath our feet
Innocence and virtue meet.

Thou the golden fruit dost bear,
I am clad in flowers fair;
Thy sweet boughs perfume the air,
And the turtle buildeth there.

There she sits and feeds her young,
Sweet I hear her mournful song;
And thy lovely leaves among,
There is love, I hear his tongue.

There his charming nest doth lay,
There he sleeps the night away;
There he sports along the day,
And doth among our branches play.

William Blake

Bed Predator

A wiggler of insomniac nights

Crimson juice is its exclusive feast

Pull sheets tight we forget the mites

Dreams overcome, eats this bed beast

In battle with this secret predator bites

Freeze for tomorrow as luncheon treats

Eat – Drink – Write - Love – Travel

Here’s how things have come along in my life. I quit my great paying job of 13-years to move for about 9 months (not pregnant) to Germany with the love of my life. My last day of work was last Friday, and it was a bittersweet moment. I don’t know if I made the right decision, but I won’t know unless I make it. In my heart, I believe I’d regret not going then going. It’s an opportunity of a lifetime, and I’m one open to opportunity. I made the decision back in June, so it wasn’t made in haste or unplanned.

While I’m taking care of things in the States, my love is getting our flat all cozy and ready for our return. I’m excited about our adventures together through Europe although I do plan on bringing a few American items. A few traveling coffee mugs so we can use while walking around town. My favorite mascara made by Maybelline Full & Soft. Zumba to keep my hips, abs and body moving to drop the extra poundage I’ve put on over the year(s). We’ll see how that goes after all the eating and drinking I’ll be doing. And last but not least—my German-English books and Writer’s Markets. I hope to achieve a career in creative and/or freelance writing. Even though I’ll be in Germany, I will have the technology to keep in touch with the States. This trip is a writing experience and opportunity to make a writing career, so wish me luck.

My love and I have talked about things we plan on doing. He describes the foods he wants to cook for me and I’m looking forward to mulled wine at the Christkindl markets in Germany. 

 

In between his work and my writing, revisions, and edits, we plan to travel and take in the sites. I’ll be there for a week before we swoop off to Spain to visit his parents and Barcelona for a day. We also have a planned trip to Edinburgh Scotland. I’m very excited about both trips, and especially for the Literature Pub Tour we will take in Edinburgh. There are some other trips we’d like to do by car—Monschau and Luxembourg.

So from this decision, I hope to eat great European food, drink lots of mulled wine, beer and Sangrias, find a home for my writings, love my Sweets and keep him happy, and travel to cities to experience the European life. I will still blog, send emails…well…basically do all the things I do now.

Take care.

P.S. Haven't left yet.

Weekly Poem

Pleasure

True pleasure breathes not city air,
Nor in Art's temples dwells,
In palaces and towers where
The voice of Grandeur dwells.

No! Seek it where high Nature holds
Her court 'mid stately groves,
Where she her majesty unfolds,
And in fresh beauty moves;

Where thousand birds of sweetest song,
The wildly rushing storm
And hundred streams which glide along,
Her mighty concert form!

Go where the woods in beauty sleep
Bathed in pale Luna's light,
Or where among their branches sweep
The hollow sounds of night.

Go where the warbling nightingale
In gushes rich doth sing,
Till all the lonely, quiet vale
With melody doth ring.

Go, sit upon a mountain steep,
And view the prospect round;
The hills and vales, the valley's sweep,
The far horizon bound.

Then view the wide sky overhead,
The still, deep vault of blue,
The sun which golden light doth shed,
The clouds of pearly hue.

And as you gaze on this vast scene
Your thoughts will journey far,
Though hundred years should roll between
On Time's swift-passing car.

To ages when the earth was yound,
When patriarchs, grey and old,
The praises of their god oft sung,
And oft his mercies told.

You see them with their beards of snow,
Their robes of ample form,
Their lives whose peaceful, gentle flow,
Felt seldom passion's storm.

Then a calm, solemn pleasure steals
Into your inmost mind;
A quiet aura your spirit feels,
A softened stillness kind.

Charlotte Bronte

Why I Love the Seasons

I wrote the below for Helium in August 2009. The main theme is about change, which is fitting with this time in my life.

A sprinkle of angel dust, a tearful night, kissed by the sun, or a crispy delight, these are the reasons why I love each season. They represent change along with letting me experience a new chapter of the year. I am one who embraces change, so I can anticipate and experience something new. The seasons are not any different. Winter, spring, summer, and autumn are my life’s clocks; as each one changes to the next, my life changes with them.

Winter is a time for hibernation. As I watch the angel dust coat the world, I think about the New Year and lay out my future plans. It is a time for self-evaluation—what I need to change in myself or which path to take. My eyes light up like a child’s with the first snowfall. The smell of snow as it blankets the ground symbolizes to me the end of an old life and the beginning of a new. Winter is a time to discard waste and old habits.

When the tearful days and nights arrive, I watch the blankets come off and smell the anticipated change. Spring motivates me into venturing out and pursuing the things I thought about during winter. When the flowers begin to blossom and the rain starts to slow down, a new me has begun my soul searching. Things come to life in spring, kind of how I feel about myself.

My summer sun-kissed skin is a reminder that I will be turning another year older. The rain washed the dirt away, everything is in bloom, and the outdoors is full of people enjoying the weather. It is a time for people to introduce themselves to old neighbors, try a new sport, have a picnic, or take a walk along the lake. During the summer, people become more social, willing to drive to a new destination and ready to relax and take time off. This season is a break from the prior and future days of work while my face soaks up the warmth of the sun.

To complete the year with its crisp air, autumn blows in preparing me for another winter. It is football and tailgate season. A time to cheer for my favorite football teams while the beer chills and the popcorn pops. On Saturdays and Sundays, you can hear the football whoops drowning out the sound of rustling leaves. Burnt leaves fragrant the air while I drive with my windows rolled down.

I love each season for what it offers me: the beauty of Mother Nature and a change from the last season. With each season, I appreciate the holidays and the way the world celebrates, but most of all, I love knowing I woke to see another season—my life’s ticking hand.

Stay Out of the Locker Room!

I’m a huge football fan; unfortunately it’s difficult to admit that after the emBEARassing way the Chicago Bears played yesterday. The touchdown belonged to the Detroit Lions whether the referees interpreted the rule correctly or not, common sense should come into play. Sports rules are to provide order throughout the organization and keep things fair. It’s at the discretion of the referee as to whether a player is penalized by a rule written to help in rulings. Johnson had a completed catch, and therefore, Detroit Lions in truth won the game. Winning on a poor judgment call doesn’t sit well with me. I feel dirty. The Chicago Bears played horribly, defense and offense, and the calls made on the sidelines a disgrace. After this season, the Bears organization better not renew Lovie Smith’s contract. We need a coach who knows what he’s doing, instead of being fed information and one who has emotion. Lovie’s bland coaching style is how the team plays--bland. Chicago is of substance, so show it!

Now that I’ve given my personal journalistic view on yesterday’s game, I come to another issue regarding women sport’s journalists. This comes from the story regarding the Mexican TV network reporter who felt uncomfortable in the Jets locker room. Let me tell you something ladies, you can be journalists but you have NO BUSINESS IN THE MEN’S LOCKER ROOM! As Ines Sainz tweeted, “"I feel very uncomfortable! I'm at the lockers of the Jets waiting for Mark Sanchez while trying not to look anywhere!!" If you have to avoid looking in certain directions, then that’s a sign you shouldn’t be there.

There is NO WAY a male journalist would be allowed in a woman’s locker room, so why is it all right for a woman journalist to be in a men’s locker room? Why create a situation that can leave the woman, or the men opened to controversy? There are situations where men do harass women, but sadly nowadays some women falsely accuse men. Being a woman, I wouldn’t want to be in a vulnerable environment. Women need to stop pushing the threshold and use common sense. I’m not condoning men’s harassing actions, but why be there in the first place. If you want to be a sports journalist, then wait until they come out of the locker rooms to have an interview.

What’s your opinion about the game, locker room, or both?

I’m Stranger than Fiction...By Association

Two of my writerly friends were kind enough to bless me with an award – “Strange Men in Pinstripe Suits Blog Award.” I know. *bows* Stop, you’re making me blush. *listens to the gasps* Jealousy really is unbecoming. This award is given to strange people or those strange by association.

While my laptop got a makeover, two friends sent notices that they were giving me this award. The first notice came from my good ole’ pooch Haggis. “What do you mean, I should start a blog?” Don’t let the name scare you, he’s as sweet as apple pie with razor blades sticking out. I have to give him HUGE KUDOS for his publication, Blob and the Sous-Chef and Other Stories by Steve Barber. If you like great writing, horror and dark humor, get this man’s book of short stories. Since I just found out about his publication, I will be purchasing my own copy.

The second notice came from June “Bug” Kramin, or as most of us call her, AuntyBug. June “Bug” Kramin Waiter, there’s a Bug in my Blog. You’ll definitely know if you swing on over to her blog that I received this award for her strangeness. The crappy part about this is that I received a strange award by association, not injection. I would have enjoyed the latter much better. I send another HUGE KUDOS for her publication, Dustin Time by June Kramin. Her e-book is out, but I’m waiting for the paper version. Sometimes I like destroying nature. If you want a romance to sweep you off your feet, get this woman’s book.

Now I am blessed with this award and I’m supposed to nominate seven other blogs who deserve this award. Seven times seven equals fourteen and the only strange bloggers I know gave me this award. I’ll have to limit it to five and award the “Strange Men in Pinstripe Suits Blog Award” through seven degrees of separation, or complete strangers. Give a hearty welcome to the below and stop by their blogs for some strangeness.

1) Experimental Stew – I know Stew and I can vouch that she is strange. Not as strange as auntybug, but she has her moments. Those moments are really heightened when she’s in the comedy cabaret. She’ll probably hate me for the nomination; however I’m used to it. People either love me or hate me, there’s no in between.

2) It Boggles my Mind – It’s been awhile, but I know rhymegirl too. She’s strange by association too. Hop on over to her blog and read about her take on this crazy world. She’s another one who will probably hate me for the nomination. Get in line.

3) Expressiveworld – Ana’s blog is inspiring, not strange. Because she knows some comedy cabaret characters, there’s no way she can disassociate herself from strange.

4) Wait in the Van – I just came across Kristine’s blog, so I don’t know her and haven’t read much of it. With the little bit I have read, I feel Kristine deserves this honorary award. Shoot on over to Kristine’s blog before she finds and shoots me.

5) Sleep Talkin’ Man – Here’s another blogger I never met, talked to, and only stumbled upon the blog recently. This blog is definitely on a strange subject and deserves the award. I hope she isn’t mad about the award because I’d hate my recordings to show up on her blog.

To all my bloggers, and the strange ones, I’m glad you’re back. Have a great night!

Guess What I Got?

My Computer.  But I also got something I haven’t had in 42-years. A gray hair-- long gray hair on top of my head in front just flapping to get my attention. I paraded and bragged my entire life about not having gray hair—proud of keeping some youthful appearance. Things have changed now. The days of gray arrived to haunt me in the mirror. There will be no more smiles from people guessing I’m younger than my age. From this point forward, I will have constant dye jobs and search out homeopathic remedies to fix the age appearance.

Even though this is a day of celebration for getting my laptop back, it’s also a turning point in my life where I cautiously wave good-bye to the younger me. Men are lucky, they can shave their head.

*looks in the mirror, dries my eyes and waves as I pluck out the lonely gray hair*

P.S. I’ll be back to claim my “Strange Men in Pinstripe Suits Blog Award.”