I take the brunt of everyone’s weight ever day. What else am I supposed to do? It’s my job to be there for anyone that needs a respite. I’m cheerful, smooth, cool, and welcoming. Not everyone is comfortable with my color, but I try to be accommodating. It’s not easy being a chair at Starbucks.
PS I'm done packing and I can't stay away :)
Thursday, May 13, 2010
Tuesday, May 11, 2010
Ashland Here I Come!
Every year in May, six girlfriends and I leave behind our daily lives (husbands, jobs, kids, and pets) and travel to Ashland in southern Oregon for a week. (http://www.ashlandchamber.com/) I have been a part of this group for the past 20 years. A few of the friends have changed, but the core group remains in tact. What is the draw, you ask?
*The play’s the thing* Plays, plays, and more plays at the Oregon Shakespeare Festival. (http://www.orshakes.org/) If you only choose one link to look at, this should be the one. This year, I will be seeing Pride and Prejudice, Hamlet, Well (by Lisa Kron), and She Loves Me (by Joe Masteroff, music by Jerry Bock). This is the 75th season and it looks to be stunning. The plays are magnificent, the settings are truly a work of art, and we are always wonderfully entertained.
*A dish fit for the Gods* Great food! We pair up and share breakfast duties and our results outdo any of the local B&Bs (and Ashland has the most B&B’s per capita than any other city in the USA). We enjoy one of Ashland’s many and unique restaurant fares each evening. Our choices have included Amuse (http://www.amuserestaurant.com/), the Peerless Restaurant and Hotel (http://www.peerlessrestaurant.com/), and New Sammy’s Cowboy Bistro (http://razzlestravels.blogspot.com/2007/07/new-sammys-cowboy-bistro-ashland.html).
*Friends, Romans, countrymen, lend me your ears* Good friends and good company. We all look forward to this week. We discuss the plays, what has gone on in our lives since we saw each other last, wander the town looking in all the shops, tour a winery or two, read a book, go for a spa session, or just kick back and relax. It’s usually sunny, but we have been there in rain and once in snow. The house we rent has a covered porch along the front that affords us a view of the foot traffic headed to and from town. Two years ago we watched several beekeepers corral a swarm of honeybees that were moving in mass from tree to tree in the yard next to us.
*Chance may crown me* The Cork Queen competition. Each year there is a wine label theme. We all bring entries for the theme, vote on the best label, and the winner in crowned Cork Queen for the upcoming year. This title comes complete with crown, scepter, and the duty of selecting the wine label theme for the next year. It also comes with a lot of laughter, giggles, and outright guffaws.*Laugh oneself into stitches*
*Such stuff dreams are made on* Did I mention wine? Well, yes, all the bottles of wine that are brought for the CQ competition must be consumed, right??
*Brevity is the soul of wit* So, for the coming week, I will be absent from my blog page. I’m not taking my computer, but do plan to take my notebook and pentel pencils to write away on my goals for the month. I’ll also jot notes or write about anything else that catches my interest and report in when I return. And if I win the Cork Queen Crown for 2010, I’ll include a picture of me with the winning label!
*This above all: to thine own self be true*
*The play’s the thing* Plays, plays, and more plays at the Oregon Shakespeare Festival. (http://www.orshakes.org/) If you only choose one link to look at, this should be the one. This year, I will be seeing Pride and Prejudice, Hamlet, Well (by Lisa Kron), and She Loves Me (by Joe Masteroff, music by Jerry Bock). This is the 75th season and it looks to be stunning. The plays are magnificent, the settings are truly a work of art, and we are always wonderfully entertained.
*A dish fit for the Gods* Great food! We pair up and share breakfast duties and our results outdo any of the local B&Bs (and Ashland has the most B&B’s per capita than any other city in the USA). We enjoy one of Ashland’s many and unique restaurant fares each evening. Our choices have included Amuse (http://www.amuserestaurant.com/), the Peerless Restaurant and Hotel (http://www.peerlessrestaurant.com/), and New Sammy’s Cowboy Bistro (http://razzlestravels.blogspot.com/2007/07/new-sammys-cowboy-bistro-ashland.html).
*Friends, Romans, countrymen, lend me your ears* Good friends and good company. We all look forward to this week. We discuss the plays, what has gone on in our lives since we saw each other last, wander the town looking in all the shops, tour a winery or two, read a book, go for a spa session, or just kick back and relax. It’s usually sunny, but we have been there in rain and once in snow. The house we rent has a covered porch along the front that affords us a view of the foot traffic headed to and from town. Two years ago we watched several beekeepers corral a swarm of honeybees that were moving in mass from tree to tree in the yard next to us.
*Chance may crown me* The Cork Queen competition. Each year there is a wine label theme. We all bring entries for the theme, vote on the best label, and the winner in crowned Cork Queen for the upcoming year. This title comes complete with crown, scepter, and the duty of selecting the wine label theme for the next year. It also comes with a lot of laughter, giggles, and outright guffaws.*Laugh oneself into stitches*
*Such stuff dreams are made on* Did I mention wine? Well, yes, all the bottles of wine that are brought for the CQ competition must be consumed, right??
*Brevity is the soul of wit* So, for the coming week, I will be absent from my blog page. I’m not taking my computer, but do plan to take my notebook and pentel pencils to write away on my goals for the month. I’ll also jot notes or write about anything else that catches my interest and report in when I return. And if I win the Cork Queen Crown for 2010, I’ll include a picture of me with the winning label!
*This above all: to thine own self be true*
Thursday, May 6, 2010
Flash 55 - Market Furor of 5/6/10
What happened to the market today
Makes me want to take my 401K
And hide it in a box under the bed.
It may be safer there instead.
It's scary when a misplaced zero
Can create so much havoc and furor
Dropping 1000 points - well, it's just money.
Somehow, today it was not very funny.
Issues and Goals – for Merrilee’s Creativity Workshop
Several of my blogging friends have joined a 12 week Creativity Workshop and because I can’t commit (perhaps issue #1 but I’m not choosing it), I am auditing the workshop and completing the lessons when I can.
One of the first assignments was to review your issues and interests. A defining moment for me, as I am new to this writing process and have not written more than some short-short stories, a poem or ten, a bunch of blog posts, and a couple of family history essays. I have written an outline of a romance/mystery novel that I have receive positive feedback on, and that I like. Most of my friends have already written a draft of their novel and are into the revision stage. I’m so far behind already.
Looking at my issues, I can list many but will stick to the three I want to work on in parallel with the class:
Issue #1 – Staying focused
Issue #2 – Starting my novel (I have lots of research, ideas, an outline, but I can’t seem to start writing it)
Issue #3 - Writing something believable
Then there are my interests. Because I am still exploring this thing called writing, I have many. (This may contribute to the focus issue above.) I like writing:
• poetry
• family essays
• short stories
• funny snipets
• romance stories
• mystery / fantasy stories
• children’s stories (although I’m not very good at it)
Looking at my issues, challenges, and interests, I have a renewed comittment to my novel and have developed my goals around working on it.
Goal #1 – Learn about time travel and spells and how I can use them in my novel.
• Write 4 stories in the first month that deal with one or the other of these topics.
• Write for 60 minutes each day – attempting to be uninterruped.
• Use one of my characters as the lead in these stories, so that I may be able to use the outcome in the future.
• Give myself free reign to write out of my comfort zone (which I will need to do to write about time travel and spells).
Goal #2 -Delve into character development to strengthen my characters.
• Read, read, and read more about characted development. Learn from all the information available about how to develop
and define strong characters.
• Write a short story about each of 4 characters in my novel to learn more about them and their personalities/interaction skills.
• Make sure these four characters are “worthy” of being a part of the story.
Goal #3 – Learn how to develop and describe a setting.
• Read, read, and read more about setting development. Learn from all the information available about how to develop and describe a believable setting.
• Continue to do research on the planned setting of my novel.
• Write 4 stories, each from a specific place in the setting of my novel.
This is my start and I am making the commitment to follow through with my goals, one a month for the next 3 months. They are perhaps very basic goals, but I believe that is where I need to start.
One of the first assignments was to review your issues and interests. A defining moment for me, as I am new to this writing process and have not written more than some short-short stories, a poem or ten, a bunch of blog posts, and a couple of family history essays. I have written an outline of a romance/mystery novel that I have receive positive feedback on, and that I like. Most of my friends have already written a draft of their novel and are into the revision stage. I’m so far behind already.
Looking at my issues, I can list many but will stick to the three I want to work on in parallel with the class:
Issue #1 – Staying focused
Issue #2 – Starting my novel (I have lots of research, ideas, an outline, but I can’t seem to start writing it)
Issue #3 - Writing something believable
Then there are my interests. Because I am still exploring this thing called writing, I have many. (This may contribute to the focus issue above.) I like writing:
• poetry
• family essays
• short stories
• funny snipets
• romance stories
• mystery / fantasy stories
• children’s stories (although I’m not very good at it)
Looking at my issues, challenges, and interests, I have a renewed comittment to my novel and have developed my goals around working on it.
Goal #1 – Learn about time travel and spells and how I can use them in my novel.
• Write 4 stories in the first month that deal with one or the other of these topics.
• Write for 60 minutes each day – attempting to be uninterruped.
• Use one of my characters as the lead in these stories, so that I may be able to use the outcome in the future.
• Give myself free reign to write out of my comfort zone (which I will need to do to write about time travel and spells).
Goal #2 -Delve into character development to strengthen my characters.
• Read, read, and read more about characted development. Learn from all the information available about how to develop
and define strong characters.
• Write a short story about each of 4 characters in my novel to learn more about them and their personalities/interaction skills.
• Make sure these four characters are “worthy” of being a part of the story.
Goal #3 – Learn how to develop and describe a setting.
• Read, read, and read more about setting development. Learn from all the information available about how to develop and describe a believable setting.
• Continue to do research on the planned setting of my novel.
• Write 4 stories, each from a specific place in the setting of my novel.
This is my start and I am making the commitment to follow through with my goals, one a month for the next 3 months. They are perhaps very basic goals, but I believe that is where I need to start.
Friday, April 30, 2010
K.U.S. - Advice for Women Only
When this ol’ world starts getting you down
And things aren’t going your way.
It’s the little things that come around
To cheer you and brighten your day.
This encouragement from a blogger friend
Sent to amuse you for a short while.
Sage advice from me, you can depend
Just K.U.S. - Knockers Up, and Smile!
(Dedicated to my friend Christiane)
Sunday, April 25, 2010
A Sad State of Affairs
I saw this disturbing story as a video clip on local tv tonight, but cannot find anything else about it, so I am writing an eulogy for Enrique, a hero for some very lucky girl in Queens, New York. I know nothing about him, except for a short time he was very brave.
I’m above my body now and can see all the people walking by, pretending I’m not laying on the sidewalk bleeding to death. My eyes are half open and I can see the flash as someone takes my picture. Why don’t they call for help? Can’t they see I can’t help myself?
My mind goes back to last week. “I can’t keep you on. Business is flat, and I have to let you go.” My employer knew I was down to my last dime. He hasn’t been able to pay me for the last two weeks. I got evicted from my apartment last week and am now on the street hoping to survive.
Wandering tonight, I ended up at the subway. There's no one around. Its early morning, maybe 2:00 AM. I’m not sure, I had to pawn my watch. That’s when I saw her. She was walking quickly towards the station, like she knew it was not safe to be out this late alone. The guy came out of nowhere and hurried after her. He grabbed her arm and wrestled with her for a moment. That’s when I knew there was no one else but me to help.
I ran towards them and as I reached to pull him away he turned towards me. I didn’t see the knife in his hand, but I felt it as it plunged into my gut two, or was it four times. I don’t know, it all happened so fast.
He took off, and I tried to give chase, but stumbled and collapsed to the sidewalk. Blood everywhere. What now? Footsteps. Maybe help. Pain. More footsteps. I drift off. Hope she got home safe. Thoughts come and go. Where’s help? Can’t stay awake.
I’m above myself again now, watching as person after person walks by me, ignoring my plight. I didn’t think, I just reacted. A good deed for a girl in trouble. It was second nature. Why did it go so wrong?
Losing track of time. Has it been minutes? Hours? Will anyone remember me? The good things I’ve done in my life? Why doesn’t anyone help?
Too late.
I’m gone.
The Subway station camera showed that 20 people walked by and didn' t stop to help this man laying bleeding on the sidewalk, and that it took one and one-half hours for the paramedics to arrive. I have never been in a situation this dire, but it makes me think - what would I do? It makes me wonder, especially watching the person that stopped long enought to take a picture, where the compassion is in this world. This citizen, Enrique, didn't deserve to die for his good deed. It also makes me wonder about the woman he saved. I truely hope she was the one who called for assistance.
I’m above my body now and can see all the people walking by, pretending I’m not laying on the sidewalk bleeding to death. My eyes are half open and I can see the flash as someone takes my picture. Why don’t they call for help? Can’t they see I can’t help myself?
My mind goes back to last week. “I can’t keep you on. Business is flat, and I have to let you go.” My employer knew I was down to my last dime. He hasn’t been able to pay me for the last two weeks. I got evicted from my apartment last week and am now on the street hoping to survive.
Wandering tonight, I ended up at the subway. There's no one around. Its early morning, maybe 2:00 AM. I’m not sure, I had to pawn my watch. That’s when I saw her. She was walking quickly towards the station, like she knew it was not safe to be out this late alone. The guy came out of nowhere and hurried after her. He grabbed her arm and wrestled with her for a moment. That’s when I knew there was no one else but me to help.
I ran towards them and as I reached to pull him away he turned towards me. I didn’t see the knife in his hand, but I felt it as it plunged into my gut two, or was it four times. I don’t know, it all happened so fast.
He took off, and I tried to give chase, but stumbled and collapsed to the sidewalk. Blood everywhere. What now? Footsteps. Maybe help. Pain. More footsteps. I drift off. Hope she got home safe. Thoughts come and go. Where’s help? Can’t stay awake.
I’m above myself again now, watching as person after person walks by me, ignoring my plight. I didn’t think, I just reacted. A good deed for a girl in trouble. It was second nature. Why did it go so wrong?
Losing track of time. Has it been minutes? Hours? Will anyone remember me? The good things I’ve done in my life? Why doesn’t anyone help?
Too late.
I’m gone.
The Subway station camera showed that 20 people walked by and didn' t stop to help this man laying bleeding on the sidewalk, and that it took one and one-half hours for the paramedics to arrive. I have never been in a situation this dire, but it makes me think - what would I do? It makes me wonder, especially watching the person that stopped long enought to take a picture, where the compassion is in this world. This citizen, Enrique, didn't deserve to die for his good deed. It also makes me wonder about the woman he saved. I truely hope she was the one who called for assistance.
Thursday, April 22, 2010
Flash 55 - Bird with Attitude
Tolerating you buddy
“Wheet-wheeo” to you
Sleepy now
"I'm a Pretty Bird”
Just go away
Don’t be absurd
Moving forward now
Don’t get too close
Just wannabe friends
Knew that, of course
Your’re really cute
You’re pretty green
Can I be your friend
And not your cuisine?
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