2011 Project 365 – Week Thirteen

This is the two year anniversary of my blog. If you’d like to read my first post, go here. It’s about Lent. At the time I had assumed that I’d come up with a “voice” for my blog eventually, and I guess I have – it’s my voice, in all its scattered glory.

What a crazy week this has been. Dr. M has worked late most nights & only took two of the pictures below (I know! It’s usually the other way around). I’m very proud of him – he was named Advisor of the Year at school for the great work he’s done with the history club. Go Dr. M!

Sunday, March 20^th      

Here’s the weekly squirrel. Just getting him out of the way early this week.

Here’s my terribly cute rental car – a Ford Focus. It looks right at home there beside the Bugly.

There’s a moon in the sky! It’s called, the moon!

Monday, March 21^st  

My poor beleaguered car getting towed to the Chevy dealership. This tow guy wasn’t as cute the one from Saturday – and he was one of those infuriating people who thought he knew what was wrong with the car from looking at it & obviously didn’t need to hear what “the little lady” had to say about it. Grrr.

Tuesday, March 22^nd

OK, so I think the Tax Time Pig is a girl now. Or a transvestite. It’s just so hard to tell with a pig! I guess she’s ready for spring with her grass skirt thing going on.

Here’s the State of the Bug. I thought I was terribly clever with my red lips & red shirt matching the red car, but then I looked at the picture & YOWZA! My hair sure clashes with all that red something FIERCE. {Shudder}

Wednesday, March 23^rd

It was a Simpson’s sky on Wednesday – gorgeous!

I finally remembered to start my tomato seeds. First of all, Dr. M had gotten me this starter kit.

Then I totally drowned it in water & the little pod things got really unruly.

Here they are after I corralled them & planted the seeds. Mostly tomatoes & a little basil. Um – last year we ended up with four really healthy tomato plants & had almost more tomatoes than we could manage. I think that perhaps I didn’t really need to plant seeds in ALL the pods. Oh well, with any luck I can run a little tomato stand in the front yard come June or July.

Thursday, March 24^th      

We got the car back on Tuesday, but I was still driving the rental (we got a cheaper rate for a week). I loved the instrument panel. I felt all James Bond when I drove it. And I LOVE that it told me how many miles I had to go before I ran out of gas (it started at 50 miles to go).

Doesn’t this look like an apocalyptic sky? Especially, if you click on the picture to make it larger, you can see a jet tail in there – makes me think of a missile or something.

Friday, March 25^th

I stopped to check out the sheep & donkeys on my way home. I love this picture best for some reason.

Dr. M had a late gig at school, for the third night in a row, and I decided that I’d had enough fast food. So I actually prepared a meal for myself – teriyaki chicken, pierogies & my dad’s green beans. I know that looks like a lot of pierogies for one person – but that’s all I really wanted to eat – the chicken & green beans are just the beard* to make it look like a real meal. Except I ate them too. Glutton!

Saturday, March 26^th

Today I went to Columbus to have lunch with a friend & then check out the Ohio Craft Museum because it’s the last weekend of the Texas Chair Project – which contains a chair made by Ellen Abbott & her husband Marc Leva. The whole exhibit was really cool & Ellen & Marc’s chair is pretty fabulous. I took a picture with it to prove I was there, but my arm isn’t really long enough to get a good picture with our Nikon. I’m posting it anyway!

Here are a couple of the other little chairs.

And here are a couple of the Artful Chairs – the larger ones made by mostly Ohio artists.

I enjoyed my visit to the museum – and I must say that this Saturday has been much better than the last one!

Go to Sara’s blog here to see the blogs of all the other Project 365 participants.

* A "beard" is a person of the opposite sex who marries or dates a closeted lesbian or gay person to cover up their homosexuality. In the past, often lesbians married gay men so that both could "pass" as straight, either for work or for their families. From About.Com.

The Poetry Bus - Hanging by a Vowel

MuseSwings is the bus driver this week & gave us three different prompts. I'm not sure I'm following the first one exactly correctly, but if you've followed the bus at all you'll see that not following the directions is, in fact, an important quality in a bus passenger. Here's what she asked:

Write a poem with illustration. Write and draw to your heart's content, and bring it along.

And here's what she got. 

E M P    T H Y

 

The gallows await for want of an A

(or is it an O?). Oh if I knew I

wouldn’t feel that noose

trapping the words in my head

(you expect me to talk with this thing on?).

You think I’m good with those words

but I’m not.

I watch your wretched face

and consider my verbal options

“Let’s go kick their teeth in,”

feels right, but is probably not

what you’re looking for.

Sigh. Will “I love you,” do?

Please note - these are original Bug drawings. Try to not be jealous. Now, go here to read other poems! That second prompt looked really interesting - go see who might use it!

Thankful Thursday

The things that make life worth living this week:

·         After a number of years of not trying to not get pregnant, my cousin H is pregnant! We are all very thrilled for her & her husband – they’ll be great parents. (P.S. Go here to see a picture from their wedding).

·         Our car did not cost $900 to get fixed. It was only a little over $600. Still a chunk of change, but much better than we had expected.

·         I am in the middle of four books (well, seven if you count devotionals & self-help books). All four of the non-helpful books are mysteries. I’m pretty amazed that when I pick each one up I just fall right into that world with no trouble remembering the plot & the major players. It does, however, make for some interesting dreams. I’m thankful for interesting things to read.

·         After I wrote about my restless nights I’ve had a couple of nights of uninterrupted sleep. And now I’m wondering if my subconscious was waiting for the anniversary of my mom’s death – I needed to keep vigil for the days leading up to that day. It’s an interesting idea, although it’s more likely that I was just adjusting to the time change.

·         I’m looking out the window at storm clouds billowing by, flags whipping in the wind, trees with small signs of life doing some sort of ecstatic dance in the breeze, and I feel amazement that there are people who think all this just happened. I’m a skeptic mostly, but when I consider the vast amazing organism that is the world my skepticism falls away. Let’s try to take care of this gift why don’t we? I’m including the people too. Love your neighbor (even if the neighbor’s dog thinks your driveway is his bathroom) – really!

It’s your turn! What are you thankful for today?

Clan Wallace

Clan Wallace

I have a warrior’s name,
if not his heart.
I am waging a war
of mediocrity
and middle class
abandon.
If I make one
more dollar
will I finally
reach the land
of Jones?
I am scaling
a hillock and
am persuaded
that William
would not want
to call me
daughter.

This is a Magpie Tale, and a One Shot Wednesday Poem. Please go to those sites to check out more stories & poems.

Monday Miscellany

I feel extra miscellaneous today, so let’s have at it!

·         For the second time in two days I’ve used my night facial moisturizer in the morning. I think this reveals a deep seated confusion as to why I have to be up at that hour.

·         I’ve arranged for the towing of my trusty steed to the nearest dealer. After they’ve looked at it we’ll see what the damage will be (by damage, I mean $).

·         I’m distressed over the fact that newer cars don’t seem to have cassette players. I don’t need it for cassettes – I need it for the cassette adapter I use so that I can listen to audio books on my mp3 player. The cute little rental has a USB plug, but apparently my device isn’t compatible. So I burned a book onto 9 CDs (perfectly legal) because heaven forbid I should be without a book for a week! But it just seems like such a waste…

·         I really hope that my current nighttime restlessness is just related to the earth’s seasonal change and not mine. Sigh. Dr. M has also been really restless and although I used to think that he had cycles too (he seemed EXTRA annoying at certain times of the month – or was that just me?), I don’t really think we’ll travel this particular one together. So I’m crossing my fingers for time change distress.

·         Today is the 6^th anniversary of my mother’s flying away. I wrote about it here last year. Rest in peace you crazy woman. Love you.

Laughing until she cried...

Poetry Bus - Prime Fail

Uiscebots is the poetry bus driver this week & gave us an excellent task: 1. Go somewhere new. 2. Experience it. 3. Write about it. I was planning on going to the Columbus Arts & Crafts Museum to check out an exhibit that contains some of Ellen’s work, but Dr. M & I decided to save that for next week. Instead, I did something very different* than going to a museum.

After you’ve read my poem please go to Uiscebot’s blog to check out the other poets. We have a great bunch on the bus. Why, there’s practically no punching or taking of pictures while a person is asleep and their fly is unzipped (oh, wait – that was my 8^th grade field trip).

Prime Fail

An assault was planned.

Provisions laid by.

Route mapped.

It was in and out

precision at

its finest.

Within an hour

the troop withdrew

the field

only to find

its trusty steed

had gone lame.

The troop ate

a sandwich

and bought

some socks

while waiting

for the

cavalry.

*I went to a local outlet center to purchase some shoes. And ended up having the day from heck. My car died & I waited about 5 hours before it was towed home. If I liked to shop it might have been kind of fun, but I don’t. And there was the issue of many dollars being needed to fix the car. So my poem is just slightly different than I had planned for it to be. Sigh.

2011 Project 365 – Week Twelve

The moon is the star of this week’s show (& why I’ve waited so long today to post this).

Sunday, March 13^th      

Here are some pictures from our drive home from NC on Sunday. The first one is a mode of travel that looks like fun – unless it’s cold, or hot – or if your hips are wider than the wheels. I jest, mine aren’t QUITE that wide.

Here are just some shots of the drive – we love this commute so much more than the one we used to take from Cincinnati on I-75.

Monday, March 14^th  

We have greenery in our raised bed! It’s one of the daylilies I got from Ellen last fall.

I went over to our church to take some pictures of our homeless shelter – basically it’s inflatable mattresses in the fellowship hall.

Tuesday, March 15^th

The State of the Bug. I’ve been having some restless nights – and going to bed later courtesy of the time change – so I was feeling pretty sleepy on my way to work. Fortunately my audio book (The Girl Who Kicked the Hornet’s Nest) keeps me awake on the journey, but once I turned the car engine off I was ready to head to dreamland. So of course I took a picture.

Wednesday, March 16^th

When I got home from work it was still warm & DAYLIGHT so I checked out the front flower bed. There was some greenery buried under a bunch of dead stuff from last year so I worked on it a little bit with the gloves I won from Robin. Thanks Robin!

Just an update on the primrose I got for my birthday – still looking good!

The first moon shot of the week.

Thursday, March 17^th      

It’s the Tax Time Pig! Of course he’s dressed for St. Patrick’s Day… in a knitted bathing suit?

The squirrel picture of the week.

Friday, March 18^th

Today was the day. I had said I was leaving it up until the time changed, but as you can see above we weren’t home when the time changed. And I didn’t want to mess with it during the week. So, nearly three months after Christmas, the tree is gone. Ha!

Saturday, March 19^th

Well, today had a lot of potential to be good. Dr. M had things to do at school & I was going to make a trip to our local outlet center to check out Skechers. The shopping went fine – it was the part where I tried to start my car when I was finished that didn’t go so hot. I ended up having to call AAA & have it towed home. So, about 5 and a half hours after I finished shopping I made it home. Luckily the outlet center is only around 20 miles away – the tow cost $75.00. 

Dr. M wasn't too sure if this guy would be able to get the truck backed in.

But he did just fine. And was kind of cute too :)

Now to get a rental car for next week ($200) & then have my car towed to Saturn. If we can find a Saturn dealer (since they don’t make them anymore). Another $900 or so to have it fixed (Dr. M looked up what he thinks is wrong & that’s the estimate) & we’ll be good. I’m kind of depressed about it, actually.

But, look, it’s the moon! It does cheer a person up a bit, I think.

Go to Sara’s blog here to see the blogs of all the other Project 365 participants.

Weekly Wordzzle - a Story and a Poem - Score!

Well, I missed last week (and maybe the week before? I don't remember), but I'm back with some gems this week. Really! Well, maybe not, but I thoroughly enjoyed writing them, so that's the important thing. It's my blog - I can have fun if I want to!

Words for the mini: organism, energy, harmonica, calibration, spread your wings and fly

“Spread your wings and fly,” sang the man with the harmonica. He followed me with his eyes as I crossed the street. The energy of the moment was all wrong – I felt that he wasn’t really a street corner musician. He didn’t even once put his lips to the harmonica. Although he did have a lovely voice. Had the Organism recruited a balladeer to monitor my comings and goings? It didn’t matter – today was my last day in this Godforsaken city. The calibration of my equipment would be completed in a matter of hours.

Abruptly, the music ended. I turned to see that the corner was empty except for a harmonica in the street. And knew that I would not be leaving the city this day.


Word for the 10-worder: wanderlust, wisdom, popcorn, hearts and flowers, melting snow, bank account, chapter, painting, politics, imagination

I used to think I
had the wanderlust.
I thought I needed
to see the painting
and live the chapter -
and leave nothing
to my imagination.
No spectator, popping
popcorn into my
sedentary mouth,
I would live on
melting snow,
accepting
hearts and flowers
as my due.
But the politics
of a balanced
bank account
showed me the
wisdom of home
and the charm
of a library card.

Go to Raven's Nest to check out the other writers - and join us! Come on - it's good for your brain!

Thankful Thursday

Come ye thankful people come… Can you believe it’s Thursday again already? Let’s see what I’m thankful for this week.


·         We had a really good visit with our families in NC. At least the ones who weren’t in New Orleans (you know who you are). I’m just sorry that I was such a slug & didn’t visit more people while I was there (thinking of Aunt V & Mimi especially). But we’ll probably be back in a couple of months so I’ll try to do better next time.

·         Today was such a beautiful day! I didn’t go out at lunch because it was still gray & sputtery, but later in the afternoon all these fluffy clouds showed up in a bright blue sky. I had to wear my sunglasses on the way home!

·         I’m thankful that when I got home I wandered around our yard for just a bit, and even cleaned up the front flowerbed somewhat. I used the gloves that Robin sent me.

·         Dr. M is on his way home from school – he’s teaching a late class on Wednesdays now. I enjoy having some time to myself in the house, but I’m always so glad when he comes home.

·         The primrose still seems to be doing well, in case you were wondering. I’m glad Dr. M is taking care of it because I remember that I have a plant about every third day.

·         I have been so busy this week at work! I’m thankful that I have a job, and that it doesn’t look like it’s in danger of going away any time soon.

It’s your turn! What are you thankful for today?

Love Song for Japan

The rustle of silk

as it floats by listlessly.

A face turned away.

I don’t know that face,

but I know where

it came from and

I know where

it’s going.

Buddha, Allah

Lord God Jehovah –

take that face

into gentle hands.

Whisper your love song

as it turns toward home

one last time.

This is a Magpie Tale and a One Shot Wednesday poem. Please go to those sites to check out other writers.