Happy Halloween

Mindful Writing Day, 11-1-12

This Thursday the 1st of November is the first ever Mindful Writing Day, organised by Kaspa & Fiona at Writing Our Way Home. To join in simply slow down, pay attention to one thing and write it down (making a small stone). Read all about it here. small stones are easy to write, and they will help you connect to the world. Once you've started, you might not want to stop... You can read more about small stones and find out about Lorrie with pea-green eyes in Fiona's free ebook, Write Your Way Home.

Played

Photo by L. Kolp

Think. The way we once thread ourselves
to a wish for something more
a silent door
peace within, single men
women, rich or poor
power played, gagged and bound;
damaged, then unwound.


*

Prompt inspirations~
Imaginary Gardens (Sunday mini-challenge): 7-line stanza created by Paul Laurence Dunbar
The Sunday Whirl 80: women, men, power, wish, damaged, way, think, single, thread, bound, within, we

When's Recess?

It's nearly slanderous
the things I read
on Facebook
hear and see on TV;
one side vs. the other,
who's better?
Did you know
when such and such
was in kindergarten
he blah, blah, blah?
Insignificant,
this childish rant
that has two opposing sides
on a seesaw;
up, score one
down, score two
don't you dare
stay in the middle.
I won't be your friend
if you blah, blah, blah.
Fighting over Fruit Loops
or whose dessert is better?
A playground clique
that clacks my nerves,
nearly drives me insane.
Didn't you pay attention
in kindergarten, people?








Prompt inspiration: Imaginary Garden's Mary's Mixed bag: Pet Peeves

Focus

 

~~

Capture the white light inside you.

Focus on its brilliance.

Snap the moment in time.

Store it in a peaceful memory.

~~~

Prompt inspiration: Imaginary Gardens A Word with Laurie

*

 

Yellow or Red, It's All the Same

I have a confession to make. I've been spending time with yellow butterflies. Don't get me wrong. I love my red cardinals. They are my #1 sign from above. Yet many people draw upon varying symbols as forms of comfort from their loved ones after death, and they are not always cardinals. These symbols might be blue jays, eagles, doves, ladybugs or butterflies. What do they all have in common? They are beautiful creatures. They are visible affirmations that loved ones are OK. They offer hope to grieving souls.

The reason I've been spending time with butterflies is because I'm editing a wonderful, spiritual book in which they are symbolic. The project I first told you about here has finally come to fruition. Cathy Taylor's Believe It's Possible is a line of merchandise celebrating the Lord. The book is the heartwarming story of Cathy's journey starting back in high school up until now. It speaks of faith, friendship and forgiveness as well as the many struggles she endured along the way. She has products available in the form of jewelry, t-shirts, artwork, and with lots more in the making. On the Believe It's Possible website, you can learn more as well as watch videos of her dear friend Myra's testimony before she passed away and God's glorious night.

This project is extra special to me because Cathy and I have so many similarities and have endured many of the same challenges. She has given me the courage to speak out about some of mine, too. I know it's no accident we were placed together for this; whenever I am on the phone with her about various things pertaining to the book, I spot a yellow butterfly.

***

Along with this huge project, I've been busy with the kids. Pete's last semester is upon us and come December he will have obtained his MBA. Wasn't it just yesterday I told you about it? He has also been extremely busy at work, so I've been flying solo much of the time.

***

I also have several announcements on recent awards and publications.

First and foremost is my inclusion in Writer's Digest for the second time. In the November/December issue, my nonet When Testosterone Starts Kicking In was published in Robert Lee Brewer's Poetic Asides column.

Second, I won runner's up in a non-contest contest The Missouri Review puts on and had my Barbie sonnet, No One's Perfect, published on their blog!

I have a story about how Pete and I first met published in a book of love stories, Falling in Love with You.

My creative art piece won recognition for New World Creative Union's (NWCU) Wednesday Wake-Up Call mystery challenge. This is an extra special honor because drawing and painting have never really been my thing, but because of the challenge I branched out. I'm very proud of this piece.

Along the same lines, I was invited to be the NWCU's first guest on the premiere of their radio show, The Creative Nexus. I really enjoyed the discussion with Roger and Natasha. In fact, I felt so comfortable that I even opened up about some things in my life.

I also have several poems that have been published. Click here to find a list and where to read them.

***

Oh, and when I'm not doing all this? I'm sitting out in the sun trying to get some of my blonde back (just kidding). Read this and you'll know what I'm talking about.

Why Wait?

There you are
with that look
of rapture
in your eye.

I know
the calm comes
before you
throw me on the bed
and rattle my appetite.

Why wait?

*

Prompt inspirations:
 3WW- calm, know, rattle
Poetic Asides- Question poem

Become...

Midnight Snack, 1984, by Curtis Wilson Cost

 

Become the thunder you want to hear

The light when all around is dark,
A throttlehold of fear

Dig deeper than your childhood dreams

When you vowed to reach your goals
Before excuses joined as one
Umbrella meshed with coal

Let the shifts shape you

Away from inherited beliefs
Stand still as wings lift you,
A destination unique

Become the thunder you want to hear

The light when all around is dark,
An upward channel, clear

 

*
Picture prompt courtesy of The Mag 139
Prompt inpisration: The Sunday Whirl 78- umbrella, deeper, inherit, excuses, stand, become, thunder, childhood, joined, vowed, shifts, light

 

Apparition ART

This is the picture prompt provided by Moondustwriter:

This is what I painted:

I played around with it on Ribbet until voila! my final product:

What do you think?

NWCU Wednesday Wake-Up Call

Exciting News

Tonight I will be a guest on the premiere of New World Creative Union's new radio show, The Creative Nexus. Please join us, but on one condition... no jokes about my Texas twang, y'all. Call (619) 924-0981 if you would like to join in the conversation. (5:00- 6:30 p.m. CDT)

Click here for more info.

On the Outside

You thought a brisk walk might help
leave the miserable feelings behind. . .

. . .around and around you skimmed

detached circles, a Venn diagram.

 

From the middle I watched you, a

maze of mass confusion

 

.

.

.

as
each

step 

spiralled

down 

to

your

grave.

*

Prompt inspiration- 3WW- brisk, detached, miserable

Clandestine Excuses

Sick Woman, 1665, by Jan Steen
Photo prompt courtesy of The Mag 138

the same old story every week
headaches, chills, lethargy

he thought she might be terminal
so he gathered docs and clergy

unaware a secret kept
stuffed within her pillow

made her ill, recondite truth;
she'd rather be with Willow

*

Also sahred with Imaginary Gardens with Real Toads Open Link Monday

Dancing with a Bird

A peck at the keyboard,
one letter at a time
all day she sat brainstorming
for words and perfect rhyme.

A special project in her lap
needed lyrical finesse
enough to make you tap it out
with poetical prowess.

At five, she decided to
take a break and surf.
She headed to the union's
creative Wednesday turf.

A prompt she saw of dancing,
she gladly joined right in;
got caught up in the music
recalled a stage full of sin--

Billy Idol, (her teenage idol),
was dancing with himself;
his voice, a vision, took her back
to hidden bottles on a shelf

sneaking into concerts
with a bag of dear Jim Beam
banging to the blasted beat,
a wild side she'd never seen.

And while she sat reflecting
at her desk, with Idol on
a sweet bird started chirping
to the rhythm of the song.

Right outside her window
she could have pet him like a dog,
he sung along with Idol
smashed romancing with his fog.

And then she knew exactly what
her poem would be about;
the day she danced beside a bird,
while Billy Idol sang and shout.



Prompt inspiration~ NWCU- Wednesday Wake-Up Call