Happy Birthday Dr. M!

It's Dr. M's birthday! Today he's doing what he does best – giving a talk at the National Underground Railroad Freedom Center in Cincinnati. Here's the blurb:

Before and After: Domestic Terrorism in America

November 13, 2010 02:00 PM

Terrorism in American didn't begin with the events of September 11. Join Dr. M for a discussion focused on the connections between the terrorism experienced by Americans and in America today and the legacy of terrorism experienced throughout our country's history. Focusing particularly on events before and after the Civil War, this program is a case study through which we can understand domestic terrorism and its effects on Americans. Presented in conjunction with The Enemy Within. Reservations preferred, but not required, to 513-333-7705. Free with admission.

As usual, I'm pretty proud of him.

I was going to write a poem about him, but I've written too many poems this week already (besides, there's a very important event happening next month which will require a poem). So, instead, a little photo gallery. Enjoy!

A Dissertation Avoidance Tool? No! A Sanity Restorer!



At a history conference (imagine that!)



A picture at a historical site - we might have one or two of these (I'm amazed I didn't pick one with a cannon in it!)

Halloween last year

Being goofy at my dad's house last Christmas

Love you, dear heart!

The Poetry Bus - Considering the Road Untraveled

The Poetry Bus is being driven by the amazing Karen at Keeping Secrets (really, you should check out her poetry). She has us thinking of Robert Frost and forks in the road. She says:

The challenge for passengers this week will be to write about one of the following:

(1) a time you had to choose between two clearly divergent paths; (2) a time you were called to walk a path you didn't choose for yourself; or (3) a time you refused to travel the path you were called to follow. If these won't work for you, write anything about a choice you made.

I chose option 1, about a decision made a long time ago…

The tree outside my window

flings its leaves to the wind –

sunset colors flying.

How can I mourn that beauty?

On the cusp

of autumn in my life

I examine the choice

made by a girl in the spring.

I am leaving no legacy

with my blood in this world.

I search for an empty place,

but my heart is filled with

sunset colors,

flying.

Go here to read some other fine responses to Karen's prompt  by (at the risk of getting beaned by someone) some real poets!

Veterans Day

Today is Veterans Day here in the U.S. As much as I think we should support our active troops, I feel like our veterans, especially those who have seen action, need even more support. And apparently the Tax Time Pig agrees! I love how the camouflage actually works – it's kind of hard to see his outfit against the bush.

 

P.S. If you'd like to read an inspiring story about a World War II prisoner of war (written by my father's wife Amy about her first husband) go here. As an update to that post – she won a gold medal in the state competition for her essay.

A Psalm

I.
Unsayable and unformed prayers
Carom off of hope and dread
Until there is no part of my being
That doesn't commune with God


II.
By day I see your face
In the crowd around me
By night I am wracked
By doubt and insignificance


III.
The dark swallows
Communion and joy
But in the morning hope
Perches by my bedroom door


IV.
I will close my eyes
And dream of the ones
Who love me and
The One who loves me


V.
Come morning I will
Take hope's hand
Once more.


This is a One Shot Wednesday poem.

Low Level Freak Out

If you’ve read my blog for very long you know that I don’t really like to keep my troubles to myself. My friends would tell you the same. As soon as I got the letter on Saturday saying that my mammogram on October 28th required a follow-up scan I started sending emails. And today after I called the doctor’s office to discover that they had seen two “nodules” that needed checking out I sent further emails. I fully expect that these nodules will end up being nothing, but my physical response doesn’t really reflect that. I am low level freaked out is what I am. At least my appetite has been suppressed.

Anyway, I don’t really do introspection very well – what I do is write. So of course I wrote a villanelle. Sort of. It has form problems. But apparently I’m imperfect right this minute too – so we match!

The double knots of fate -
adrenaline coursing quickly through.
My fingertips are numb.

My heartbeat doubles up its rate.
A fog descends – what can I do
with these double knots of fate?

A distant friend sends me these crumbs:
It could be nothing. Could be, true.
But my fingertips are numb.

My inner voices start to grate
logic takes a back seat to
these double knots of fate.

Breathing deep I try to plumb
my inner Zen – it’s flown the coop
and my fingertips are numb.

In and out my breath flows through.
I take the crumbs and will them true.
Meaningless double knots of fate.

And, still, my fingertips are numb.

My follow-up appointment is next week. Of course I’ll let you know the results!

Weekly Wordzzle

One of these days I'll write stories that take whole pages. Really! Please go to Raven's site to check out the other stories!

Words for the mini: just like you, leaves, everything in the store, continuing, dramatic

I am just like you. I'm not being dramatic, just stating the truth. When you look in the mirror you might see my face just as well as your own. It's the continuing story of the world. Leaves bud and grow and fall to the ground – and yet we stay the same. Everything in the store of our memories reaches across this space between us. Can you see me? I am just like you.

Words for this week's 10-word challenge were: charity, clouds, empty bottle, Give me liberty or give me death, medicine, shrimp, clear as a bell, credible, hole, Aunt Sally 

The empty bottle told the story. I could hear Aunt Sally shouting from her front steps, "Give me liberty or give me death!" The words were clear as a bell, clear as the night sky above me. Some people might consider it to be charity on my part that I looked after this crazy old aunt. But when she took her medicine she was really fascinating, an actual credible person. Running out of medicine caused the clouds to come rolling in so that her mind became a black hole. Pulling her out of that gravity field was difficult and time consuming. I trotted up the steps & took her arm, pulling the refill out of my pocket. If I could get the first dose into her before she started quoting Forrest Gump I was golden. But, no, I could hear the muttered word, "shrimp." Oh well, this was going to be a long night.

Project 365 – Week Forty-Five

Well, I'm showing my real photographic ability this week – two blurry photos that I had to use anyway. Oh well – Dr. M makes up for it with his excellent photography.

Sunday, October 31^st
Dr. M took this lovely picture of the moon. Appropriate for Halloween.

Monday, November 1^st
Dr. M took this picture of some more fall foliage.

And here is the "last flower of summer" – I wrote this poem after seeing this picture.

Tuesday, November 2^nd
This is another Dr. M day – love this picture of a buck!

We didn't vote for Mr. LaBotz, but Dr. M knows him. And a friend of ours dated his son in high school. Fascinating family. And the real deal – if you think that President Obama is a socialist, you should read Dan's platform.

Ohio farmland in the autumn.

I got this blurry photo of the tax time pig – on election day.

Wednesday, November 3^rd
The road less traveled, through Dr. M's eyes. Actually, it's a road he travels a lot.

Thursday, November 4^th
Another moon shot. I thought there was a UFO in the picture, but the next shot reveals it as a simple airplane. Darn!

Sunrise on the Little Miami River.

Friday, November 5^th
Blurry shot of Martha Goose. I had one in focus, but I think this one shows better just exactly how she feels about being a turkey for November.

Saturday, November 6^th
We decided to take a short road trip today – headed to Ripley Ohio again. Of course, once there we had to stop at the Rockin' Robin Soda Shoppe.

Love this giant pumpkin among the white petunias.

On the way home the sky was just so much fun that I had to take a picture.

Go here to see the blogs of all the other Project 365 participants.

The Poetry Bus Gets Wet

This week the Poetry Bus is being driven by Jessica Maybury. She has asked us to help her compile a "collection of poetry about bathing. Or the sea. Or swimming pools. Or the layout of your bathroom. I want senses and unwound feelings inside."

I'm cheating! I wrote this poem for the Magpie Tales in August (those are Willow's toes in the bath below) and as soon as I saw the Poetry Bus prompt I decided that I'd just trot it out again.

She's Gonna Wash That Man

At page one hundred twelve
she adds more hot
At page two hundred three
she decides it’s not
working anymore.
The plot is a mystery
and the characters,
strangers. Wistfully
she closes the book
and considers her dilemma.
Bubbles burst in empathy.
Hopes dashed are in a
lather of disappointment
She sinks beneath the surface
where her heart beat
is loud with purpose.
At last the bath is done.
As she dries off that shame
despair swirls down the drain.
She can’t even remember his name.

My Last Lament – I Promise!

Summer's Last Flower

My hand cupped

the last flower of summer,

its deep purple velvet

a bit bedraggled now.

I watched a raucous

squad of geese

heading away away

in ragged formation.

I heard the ululant

wind sweeping aside

the summer sun.

I tasted the sweetness

of a lingering tomato

nurtured by love.

I inhaled the aroma

of cinnamon and apples

and the coming season.

I heaved a tragic sigh.

 However…

the flower, the birds

the tomato and the sun

will come again.

For now, let's eat pie!

This is a One Shot Wednesday Poem.

Weekly Wordzzle

Well, here we are again with another Wordzzle. Enjoy!


Words for the mini:  gargoyle, flounder, screech, Saturday evening, locked up


Phyllis figured she'd be locked up by the end of the night. A beautiful crisp Saturday evening in October and apparently she thought it would be fun to flounce around in a graveyard. An ill-kept graveyard at that. Flounce was the wrong word – flounder was more like it. Dithering this way & that way trying to find that one particular gargoyle beneath which was buried the next clue. And in what way, exactly, did she think that geocaching was something she would enjoy? It was all Bill's fault. They could be sitting cozy in the pub wearing goofy costumes with their new Boston friends, but no. Sigh. Where was he anyway? He was tromping around right next to her just a few minutes ago. Just as she rounded another sarcophagus she heard a soul-splitting screech. It took a moment for her to realize that it had come from her own throat. Seriously, she was going to kill Bill this time. That thought made her start giggling hysterically as she realized that what she had taken to be a grave robber was just her erstwhile partner in crime. He had found the cache.


The 10-worder:  defensive, volume, masterpiece, category, momentarily, advisor, public radio, charter, eleven days, ostrich  


Geoff Beowulf (formerly Jeff Bednarski) was beside himself with glee. Momentarily – well, in eleven days – his masterpiece would be revealed to the world. For far too long he had hidden his talent just as an ostrich hides its head in the sand. Terrified of failure, terrified of success. Ah, but those timid days were well behind him now. To distract himself from his rising impatience he turned up the volume on the local public radio station. Dr. Charter (Advisor to the Stars!) was blathering about how celebrities were just ordinary people who had risen to the occasion. Why, he was talking about Geoff! In just eleven days his fabulous film, What Fresh Hell is This: Defensive Living in a Crazy World, would take the world by storm! He wondered in what category his prize at Cannes would be…

Go to Raven’s blog to read the other entries. And join in - it's a lot of fun, really!

Just as I feared...

Quote from an article in the Cincinnati Enquirer:

Snow is not out of question and could make its debut overnight Friday into Saturday, Lott said.


Then the article said:

Relax. It would be just a few snowflakes dusting here or there. No accumulation is expected.


Sure, maybe this time. But sooner or later the big S will leave its mark. Sigh.

P.S. If I have time I will work on the Wordzzle today. If I don't manage it then I'll just give up & wait for next week.