Do My Eyes Deceive Me?

The story begins well, it has me hooked. Murder, mayhem, and madams. Everything a reader could want. I’m engrossed in the first paragraph, words flow seamlessly, evoke visions both good and bad. I am reading as fast as I can, and still understand what it is I am devouring. Then it happens, the quirk. Is it really there? Do my aging eyes deceive me? I go back and begin again. The difference is subtle, almost imperceptible. The question hanging out in my mind, pestering to be answered, is why? What purpose does this change serve? Space saver, ink saver, format?

I return once more to the break, the change that has taken me away from the story, and put me in editor mode; something I’d rather not do when I am reading for pleasure. I have picked up this book because I wanted a journey, an escape, not work!

There. Right in the middle of the page. The font changes size from 12 to 11.5.

Oh, The Places I’ll Go

Dr.Seuss has a birthday coming up, this is in his honor. Titles to almost all of his books are included in this poem. Happy Birthday Dr. Seuss, you have given the world a tremendous gift.


Dear Dr. Seuss, You are such a goose, and I love how you make things rhyme.

I pull out a book, and take a quick look, and hope I have enough time.

Time for:

Colorful fish, and green eggs and ham, which all can be seen at the zoo.

A quick trip to the circus will only endear us to Horton, the Grinch and Bartholomew.

McElligot has a fox, and a King with old socks, that the Sneetches and Yertles deplore.

There’s Thidwick and Daisy, who’ve gone quite crazy for Oobleck, and Wockets, and more.

Marvin K. Mooney and the Lorax too have scrambled eggs for supper.

They ponder and think, and make duck feet wishes for Hooper Humperdinck.

People in houses and Lady Godivas  ride Zebras to hop on pop.

 They each have ten apples to place on their heads, a fine thing to put on one’s top.

On wacky Wednesday, the eye and the tooth are found in a booth, with the mice and a bullfrog or two. They sit with the Zax and Too Many Daves and celebrate Diffendoofer – who?

The butter battle raged on for days till the vet had had enough. He sat in his jet and refused to let the little bug go ka-choo!

Then Gerald, on his great big stilts found the lost Mr. Brown. He tried  to remember that it was Octember, and time to come to my house down town.

Oh, Dr. Seuss, my mind is loose, with everything spinning around.

The Cat in the Hat, might just return with more books!

For there are never enough to be found.

Tips on How to Stay Youthful

I went to see my chiropractor the other day. He is a great guy, has a wonderful sense of humor, and always makes me feel good. I was in for my free birthday back crack and the office gals wished me a happy birthday. Then the Dr. wished me a great day, and asked me how I kept my beauty, and youthful vitality. I told him I owed it all to my chiropractor! He laughed, I thanked him for the compliment and said that I just feel young.

Then I thought about it. My body may be fifty-five, but in my mind, I am still in my thirties. I don’t feel as though I am ready for the senior discount. However, I will take it. I may creak a little bit, and have white hair, but I am not old!

Continuing to ponder the “how do you stay so young” question I came up with a few answers.

First, don’t think about being old. I think I’m in my thirties, probably act like I’m in my twenties so I don’t feel old.

Second, do hard to recover from things when you are young. I did all the stupid things like smoking, drinking too hard, and just doing the wrong thing at the wrong time when I was young. I had plenty of vitality to overcome the hangover, recover from the 2 pack a day weekends. Over doing it was OK, I was young and could bounce right back.

Now that I am older, one or two drinks and I’m good. I don’t smoke any more, although a good cigar every once in a while is fine. I do eat too much, but am working on cutting down. Not something to try when older,  but I’m slogging through it.

Third, and I think the  most important is laughter. I laugh all the time, and try to make others laugh too, if I can make someone laugh, it makes my day. I laugh at myself – all the time, and have no problem laughing at myself if I do some dumb or foolish thing. I never take myself too seriously. I’ve seen people that do, and I feel sorry for them. You have to have joy in your life, and that includes laughing.

So there are my how to stay young tips. Oh, I almost forgot the fourth and most important  thing – have a great chiropractor.

Keeping in Touch

Desk top, lap top, Netbook, Notebook,cell phone, technology for every occasion. I stay connected to family and friends with email, IM's, and chat. Facebook, My Space, LinkedIn, and blogs allow me to connect to the world.

Public presence on Facebook, etc. is supposed to urge others into reading my book of poems. It hopefully entices people with my wit, and wonderful writing to visit my blog, or Amazon page to buy Skewed, My Take on the World.

All the above is fine, however, do I really need to be in touch with so many? I enjoy a brief chat with old high school friends, now adult friends of my now adult children (that is a topic for another blog), and Lions Club members. I like that I don't necessarily have to one on one talk to folks, just a quick post, and I've shared my thoughts for the day.

I am on Pintrest, a wonderful sight - I think. I love seeing all the different styles of bookcases, clothes, felting projects, and writing information. I like to "pin" something I am interested in, so I can remember it at a later date. However, I get emails when others re-pin my pin. I don't care! Seriously, I pinned a particular interest for me. I'm sure there is a way to not have emails sent when my pin is re-pinned, but I'm not sure I want to take the time to find it. Then other side of that coin - there is that little bit of ego that enjoys the knowledge that someone else liked what I pinned. Silly I know.

All this instant contact is a little overwhelming. I don't know if I like it. I do turn off my computer and cell phone at night. I unplug as it were and I can, not answer my phone. I have voice mail, I'll catch it when it is convenient for me. I do enjoy talking to people face to face, despite my earlier rantings, and our cell phones all get set aside during meals.

Technology is certainly here to stay. Never in my wildest dreams would I have thought I'd be texting, pinning, Facebooking or IMing. I have vision, evidently not technology vision. I will stick to creating written pieces of art, and utilizing technology to keep in touch with folks, and to publicize my creations.

Writers Retreat

Retreat: Instead of facing tasks head-on, you flee.
Writers Retreat - to face writing head-on, and do nothing but write, wishing you could flee.

Our writing group went on a three day, retreat to Cathlamet, WA. Instead of fleeing, as I do at home to laundry, dusting, and just plain old anything except writing, I wrote and wrote. I only wrote eight poems, but I spent the majority of my time working on short stories for a book (of course an upcoming best seller). I got a lot written, met my goals for the retreat.

Everyone got things done. Handwritten notes typed into the computer, pages and pages organized into something resembling order, and a lot of research. We strayed from our goals only long enough to eat, and take an occasional walk outdoors while it was sunny (our usual rain stayed away), and of course sleep.

Five of the Cedar Creek Writers attended this three day retreat, all women. I'm sure most people could not  fathom the idea of five women in the same room for hours on end, and having the room quiet. But quiet it was. The only noise? The tapping of computer keys, and papers rustling.

Our writing retreats are always a joy for me. I always seem to get more accomplished when surrounded by other creative people. The air seems to change, swirling with ideas for my mind to grasp. I grasp and write, I grasp and think, I grasp and toss back. Writing at home I play soft, creative type music hoping to get those creative juices flowing, and it works, however a room filled with other writers has its own special nuances. Camaraderie perhaps, or an unspoken understanding that creativity is among us, and ours for the taking.

This writing retreat has become a yearly adventure. We stay at the Hotel Cathlamet, a refurbished old hotel, with creaky floors, small rooms with comfy beds, and is within walking distance of anything one could need in the small town. In January, the hotel has few customers, so we have the place to ourselves, which is good, since we take over the common room, and spread out snack goodies in the tiny kitchen. The owners are wonderful, allowing us to check in early, take over, and, as long as we clear out our rooms by check out time, they  let us use the common room until mid afternoon, when we leave.

We may try an early summer retreat to the beach, although for me, the beach may be too much of a distraction. But I will eagerly go, to spend time with my creative friends and fellow writers.

Where does the time go?

Comfy sweats, butter soft socks,

and “Write On” t-shirt donned.

Inspirational music – hit play.

Kids are at school, husband at work,

the perfect time to create.

Tea pot filled, “Write brained

people are creative” mug in hand.

Computer on; quick, check email.

Open a new document, blank page

waits for my words.

Quick, a load of laundry in while

I compose, multitasking to be sure.

Okay, tea hot, comfy in my chair,

Oh, the light bulb needs to be changed.

While I’m at it I might as well check the

others. Grocery list,

            Light bulbs

            Meat

            Veggies…

Dinner planning, lunches plotted.

Plotted like my book, all right,

settled in.

Phone rings, must find the file

and email it, help a friend,

pay some bills.

Back to the task at hand,

write something, anything, even

just one word.

“Honey, I’m home. What’s for

dinner?”

Where did the time go?

Maybe I’ll write something

tomorrow.

Hubris, Egotism, or Whatever You'd like to Call It

Being a writer of lax morals, I do not write as often as I should. I probably don't take myself too seriously. Perhaps I don't feel that I am a true writer. Whatever the reason, shame on me!

Sometimes I don't feel I have anything of value to post, so why just write a few lines and hit enter? Most of the time, I forget about the blog, and do laundry instead (somewhere my values are a little skewed).

So this morning I was thinking I needed to post a blog, keep my name out there, and not disappoint my five followers (I think I'll throw a party when I reach double digits!). I tried to come up with a good subject, has anything happened to me that was note worthy? Not so much. Then I thought about the reasons behind blogging.

Why do we blog? I blog, as a writer, to try to keep my name whirling around the internet, and hope to generate interest in books I publish (Skewed, My Take on the World - available on Amazon). Other bloggers I know, have much more interesting things to say. They blog to share knowledge, and also to create interest in books they have published. But many blogs I have stumbled upon are written by ordinary people, about ordinary things; their ideas about almost everything.

Is this hubris? Do bloggers think that what we have to say is so riveting, so important, that the world needs to read it? Pretty ballsy if you ask me! Why would I take heed of a strangers tale on how to - raise my children, diet, clean my pantry, or stay married? What makes them a reliable source? Most blogs never say why the blogger should be a trusted font of information. Many blogs ramble on and on, never getting to the point, or missing it altogether. Yet these bloggers have followers, not double digit followers (as is my goal), but triple, or quadruple followers.

I can only imagine the size of these bloggers egos. "I write, and people follow." What a scary thought. I write to share my quirky ideas with those that care to follow. I don't want to lead my followers anywhere but toward laughter, or toward the occasional deep thought. I wish to entertain, and perhaps enrich a life by something I have written.

My ego is well in check, any positive ego stroking I receive from my blog is heartily stomped down my rejections from editors. No big head for me, however I will continue to post a blog, however infrequently it may be.

So friends and followers, thank you for your interest, and I my goal is to post more often, and to keep you entertained.