Feedback is a beautiful thing

I have lots of views for my stories and yet I hear very little about them. I am very open to feedback and constructive criticism. By that I mean, tell me what you like, what you don't like, spell check, grammar check, give me ideas on what you would like to read next anything you would like to say I will take it gracefully just don't be a jerk :)

Now before you read this story here are some wise words from Beethoven: 

28 June 2014

The Birth of Henry VIII

Today my third grandchild was born. My dear son has his coveted second son. Arthur was born first but in these times you must always have a back up. This new son will be named Henry, like his father. I have much faith in this sweet child. He has rosy hair and great strong lungs. He is a very robust infant, sure to survive to adulthood. He is certainly much stronger than his brother was when he was born. The young prince was a sickly baby and has never been much more than a weak child. I have many hopes for this babe Henry. He will make a brilliant duke and he will certainly be of great help to his brother when Arthur becomes king. He will likely marry a beautiful princess and have some great land of his own and other titles. For now he is just a sweet baby born on this day 28 June 1491.

29 June 2014

Blue Bird

The blue bird flew through the trees, singing and soaring through leaves freshly green. She landed on a branch and looked at a moth. The moth was blended well into the bark and seemed content to just sit as if frozen.

“Hello moth! This day is gorgeous! The sky is blue, the grass is green and the flowers are brilliantly virbarant! Wouldn't you say dear moth?” announced the blue bird.

“Hello blue bird. I do not understand what you mean by all this, the world is brown. You are brown, the sky is brown, the grass is brown and the flowers are a darker brown. It is all brown like me and this tree,” scoffed the moth.

“You do not see all this beauty! That is a shame sad moth. Please stay on this tree for a fear if you move you shall be consumed by this exhilerating world! Adieu brown moth! Adieu!” the blue bird flew off and dazzled the world with his flight and color while moth stayed on the tree.

That night, Scott turned on the porch light. Moth was instantly attracted to the sudden bright light and flew towards the door. The moth made it inside and was instantly caught by the black cat. Because he could not see or appreciate the color of the world, moth was quickly devoured by the maniacal house cat. He was not bright and vibrant which gives hints of danger, he was boring and brown and an easy target.

Goodbye Uncle Jake

On Thursday I received news that my great uncle Jake had passed away. He had not been well for some time but loss is never easy. When I was little, my mom's family always went to my great oma's for dinner. She was an incredible woman and always made the best food. Darren and I always promptly got a candy the second we walked in the door. Great Oma would open the china cabinet, pull out a tub and hand us a candy. Everyone would go in the kitchen and Darren and I would play. The best part of being there was when uncle Jake and uncle George would sneak us candies. I don't know or remember if they did it as a combined effort or if both did solo candy stealing but I will never forget how much fun my great uncles were. I saw my uncle Jake for the first time in many years at my wedding. He gave me his memorably wide smile and said, "Hello Javaneh! Do you remember me?" I couldn't help but giggle like a little girl and say "Of course uncle Jake!" and gave him a great big hug. He was a very sweet man to me and he will be greatly missed from this world. R.I.P. uncle Jake!

26 June 2014

Adventures Into Manholes

As children we were always into exploring. We had wild imaginations and could play and play until the sun went down. Darren and I, one day as pre-teens, got the brilliant idea to grab skateboards and hope into a manhole with our two cousins, Andrew and Dominic. With helmets on our heads and lights strapped on top, we got in the manhole. Laying on our bellies on our boards we followed the pipes down holding each others feet. Darren was in front, Andrew was behind him, I was behind Andrew and Dominic was in the back. We made Dom be in the back, despite him being the youngest, because he was the biggest of us all and Darren was in front because he was second biggest. We went down the tunnels for one reason and one reason only. We dared each other. We wanted to be scared. We wanted to find a creature or a bum below the manholes. The whole way down we giggled and occasionally screamed as we worked our way down to the next manhole. We finally made it to a big open area with a couple of directions we could go. We chose to go out of the tunnel and see where we were on the hill that the initial manhole started at. We were at the very bottom of the hill. We found no vagrants, no creatures, nothing scary just a good time and maybe a few mice.

27 June 2014

And The Survivor Is...

She sat in silence, hands bound and gag in her mouth, just listening to the car ride. She was in the trunk and could not see what was going on. She had been walking home by herself when something hit her in the back of her head and she woke up in the trunk. She had managed to get her hands untied just as the car rolled to a stop. She could hear the door open and shut and footsteps crunching on dirt and rocks. She positioned herself so she could jump out when the trunk opened. She knew she only had a second and she hoped whoever took her didn't have a weapon in hand. She listened as the key turned in the trunk and popped open. As soon as the trunk was fully open she jumped with a force that she never knew she had. She kicked the man who opened it square in the chest, knocking him down.

“You bitch!” he screamed as she took off running, “get back here!”

She ran as fast as her feet could carry her. When she thought she was far enough ahead she stopped and looked around, catching her breath. She found a thick branch and waited.

“Come here girl! Come out and I won't hurt you... badly,” the man angrily chuckled as he walked the woods looking for her.

When she thought she could hear him on the other side of the tree she swung around and hit him in the side of the head with the branch. He fell to the ground but grabbed her as he fell. The two wrestled on the ground grunting and screaming. He had a gun in his hand and both were trying to gain control of it. One of them got control and shot. POP! POP! POP!

 

Happy 25th birthday to my brother Darren!

25 years ago today the world decided to give me a new baby brother. I assume I was only a little bit unhappy about that because, as my mom tells me, he was breastfeeding and I decided to shove him out of my mom's arms and he wound up getting stitches by his eye. I was only about a year and a half old so you can't hold it against me. 

He turned out to be a pretty awesome addition to my life. We Spent almost 8 years being the best buddies, then we spent the next 18 years picking on our littlest brother. He is a brilliant young man and even though he is younger than me he has always been protective of me (it helps that he is way taller and bigger than me). He has come so far in his life and I am very proud of him for accomplishing so much with his life. Happy birthday brother!

24 June 2014

The Invited Guest

When the Zombie Conflict began there was mass chaos everywhere. It was made all the more worse when people started blaming vampires for all of the zombies. Thanks to shows like True Blood and Being Human, vampires felt very comfortable being open and understood. We helped people see that we weren't the ravenous blood thirsty fools you see on screen. We were more like alligators and snakes, one simple feeding on any human or animal kept us going for weeks. We also could be out in the daylight and no, we do not glitter. All of the nonsense about vampires that Dracula and Lestat helped create was explained away very quickly when we exposed ourselves to humans. It all washed away very quickly too when the initial zombie outbreak occurred in Los Angeles.

To be fair, I completely understood why people blamed us. One monster comes out of the shadows and a year later so does another. Hysteria makes all creatures lose sensibility. Because humans were so afraid of us now, we were not able to properly help them. Sadly zombie bites, blood and other bodily fluids affect us as much as it affects humans but we die much quicker. Lucky for humans we do not return as one of the zombies. We are already dead so how could we? Only our souls live within us, not a beating heart. We have an incredible amount of strength and our skin is as tough as a crocodile but it still can break and frankly when you rip off a head of a zombie fluids go everywhere. I learned the easy way to be careful around zombies because I watched my mentor and maker die from one. I watched as he jumped from zombie to zombie with his lightening speed and grace of a gazelle. Within moments he began to slow. His eyes were bright red and blood began pouring from his mouth. It took ten minutes for that to happen. I never saw him actually die because the zombies got to him before he could die.

The struggle to survive for vampires was far worse than that of the humans. The humans thought we started the virus (which was untrue and unfounded but like I said, no sensibility in hysteria)

and they would carry stakes with them wherever they went. As if staying away from frightened humans wasn't enough, we also had to make sure not to drink from an infected human. Humans can be bit or get fluids in their mouths and eyes and not show signs for days. They may just seem malnourished or tired to most. Vampires can smell the infection but lots of vampires throw caution to the wind when they are too hungry to care. Then in a flash, fountains of blood gush from their mouth, nose, ears and eyes and the infected vampire would fall to the ground, becoming just another body like the fearful humans.

I think eventually humans stopped fearing the vampires as much, at least that was my experience with them. With zombies increasing in numbers with every major city that fell, vampires were far from a problem to humans. I spent much of my time alone when my maker died. It wasn't too difficult for me because I am a 2000 year old vampire. I am used to watching everyone die and I have survived many wars, diseases and plagues. My body is very adapt at going months without nourishment and even years with out a proper feeding. In my months of traveling alone I had come across military grade riot gear which immensely helped me stay dry as I tore the zombies heads off and smashed them beneath my foot. I was a survivor, a lucky one, but a survivor nonetheless.

One evening, I could hear a small group of zombies banging on wood. There had to of been at least five and they must have found something good because they were in a frenzy. As I walked up to a house in a clearing I could see why there were in such a frenzy, they were thrashing at a door that definitely had a few humans behind it. To my dismay there were ten zombies. I knew I needed to get in and help the humans but that would not be easy. At times like these humans tend to trust nothing that moves. I dashed up the side of the house to a window. I ran from window to window until I saw children in a room. None of them were infected but they were certainly terrified. I begged them to let me in.

“Please open the window and invite me in! I can help your family with the zombies!” I announced to the children and yes the old rule is true, we must be invited in to a home. So long as someone takes ownership of a home we must be invited.

The children were extremely frightened now and who can blame them? If a vampire appeared at your window as your parents were fighting zombies downstairs wouldn't you be a bit scared? I asked again.

“Please children I promise I will help you. I will not hurt you I swear!” the oldest child looked around at her siblings and back at me. She ran to the window, unlocked it and let me in.

“You may come in. Please don't hurt us!” she whispered to me.

I patted her head and ran down the stairs. I slammed myself against the door and all the humans stopped moving for a second. I think they wanted to be angry but I just wouldn't let them.

“Go grab anything sharp! Grab something to cover your face! I will hold the door open just a crack and I want all of you to starting stabbing them in the head. There are ten of them so be careful and don't fall. Please find something long if you can to stab them so they can't grab you. NOW GO! I will distract them here!” without hesitation the humans ran. There were five adults and they wouldn't have lasted much longer.

Within minutes we had secured the door. That's when the questions came.

“Who are you?”

“My name is Annia. I saw your family needed help. I am not here to harm you,” I explained. I let them speak privately for a moment, as if I couldn't hear them.

“How old are you?”

“I do not know exactly but over 2000 years old,” again they whispered to each other.

“You may stay but you must help and you must prove you are worthy of your stay,” responded the gentleman that looked like he was in charge, “we will take shifts sleeping and watch you.”

“Here,” a woman who looked the same age as my former living self handed me a glass. It was filled with blood and she had a bandage over her hand. I guess in the questioning process I was too concerned with answers than my senses.

“This is wonderfully kind of you. Thank you so incredibly much! I won't need this often, with this much I could go a year without feeding!” They must have trusted that I wasn't going to hurt them since I hadn't already.

“I am Anne and this is my husband Henry. That is Liz and Charlie and over there is Max. You can meet the children tomorrow, they need to rest,” the donor to my thirst replied.

Over the next week, I spent every waking hour securing the home in the open field. I dug a trench around the entire perimeter with a draw bridge in case the household needed to get out. In the trench I stuck countless sharpened posts for the zombies to fall on. I attached a string to the gate that rang a bell if someone outside needed help. I planted all of the seeds the family had been holding onto. I hunted and got supplies when they needed them. I was motivated, strong and I didn't need sleep. Eventually I gained their trust. No one knows when the zombies will be taken care of. No one knows if the zombies will be taken care of. All I know is that I was a lone vampire just trying to survive the chaos of the Zombie Conflict and a group of kind people invited me in. We helped each other and we are building more homes onto our land. I suppose I can say that being alone isn't all it's cracked up to be.

25 June 2014

Une Feuille Tombe

A leaf is falling

Spinning from it's home

Tucked high a top a tree.

Swirling past blue robin's eggs

And fluttering like a butterfly

The wind tore it from safety

Ripping it off fresh bark.

The glistening green leaf,

So lush and youthful

Falling dizzily

An emerald kiss from the sky.

Quickly spiraling

Lightly landing

On fresh cut grass.

Its journey has ended,

The leaf's life is over,

No longer falling

Just waiting for the green to fade.

My dreams have taken over my post

I like to imagine life to be quite interesting as we sleep. We have so much going on in our minds once we close our eyes that we miss the world we live in. Sometimes I wish we never needed sleep.

Oh well...

15 DAYS UNTIL PARIS!!!!

22 June 2014

The Sleep

I went to bed last night and had many pleasant dreams but one was quite dreadful. I dreamt of fairies and wonderful lands. I dreamt of travels to far off distant lands. I dreamt of love, true love with so much passion my sleeping heart was racing. I dreamt of swimming in the wide and open ocean. Then my dreams turned turbulent. I dreamt the ocean opened and swallowed me. I was sucked through to a fiery sea. Vultures were flying over me waiting for me to die. Squawking and lurking, they gave up and dove down to me. They ripped me to pieces and as I screamed fire engulfed my entire being. I woke up but not in a fright. My eyes opened up and the room was dark. Clearly I was awake and I took a deep breath. I wasn't on fire and being eaten, what a relief! At least it was a relief until I heard the dirt shoveling over me. As I screamed I realized there was tape over my mouth. I guess my dream wasn't over yet but how could I tell what was real at this point? Even if I do wake up will I know what is real? I guess I will continue to scream until I find out.

23 June 2014

The Birds on My Wall

My wall is filled with little birds, frozen in time singing me to sleep each night. A top branches and flowers they look over my room as if they are stuck mid tweet. Some are a fiery orange and black, some are blue and green, others a variations of red and pink. All of them are happily sitting along my wall waiting for night to fall. When the sun dips below the horizon and the stars begin to twinkle the birds grow restless in their fastened state along the wall. They wiggle their wings and roll their heads side to side. Once I lay in bed and fall into a pleasant slumber all the birds shake free from their daylight prison and dash about the room. They sprinkle dream dust from their wings and sing sweet melodies to aide my ventures in a dozing wonderland. As the sun begins to waken and the real birds outside begin to sing the sun's praises the birds go back to their still home along the wall. Sitting and waiting, they too slumber, dreaming of the next eve's brilliant dance above my sleeping head.

Pregnant girls everywhere!

This past week I have spent a considerable amount of time with pregnant girls and I just love it! I painted pottery with my friend Kelley on Tuesday. She is roughly 3 weeks from her due date. Yesterday I spent the whole entire day with my sister from another mister, Nikki. Nikki is roughly 18 weeks along. I just love how cute and round both of them are! They will both make amazing mothers and I can't wait to join them in the pregnant club.

Speaking of pregnant...


We go to Paris in 17 days!!!!!!!!!!

In just over 2 weeks I will be in my favorite city!! I can't believe this is happening so fast! I am afraid the trip will go by too fast but I will savor all of it! I decided I want to take pictures there but not too many. I want to remember the trip in front of the camera not behind it. 

Well I hope everyone is having a pleasant Sunday!

20 June 2014

“Take care of mommy for me.”

We were never late for school but today would be a first. Daddy had already left for work. He loved to get in early and “get stuff done” as he said to us so he could come home early and spend time with us. This morning mommy was in a rush. She had to work, I had school and the baby sitter for my little sister was not here yet. Janie was never late. She loved our family and I remember mommy was very worried that she may not be okay. At around 9 am Janie ran into the front door. She was pale and had tears in her eyes and she was drenched in sweat from running.

“Alice! Is Bill here? Please tell me Bill didn't already leave! Where is he?” Janie was frantic, panting and running towards my parents bedroom. She knew Daddy was gone but she was just hoping today was an off day. We all did.

“Janie, calm down! What happened?” asked mommy.

Janie looked at Marie and I and Mommy knew we shouldn't be in the room for this. I was very unhappy. I was 10. I can be around adults for adult conversations. Mommy told me to take my little sister to her room but I didn't stay there, I went back out to the living room. Mommy and Janie were too busy to even notice me.

“Have you turned on the TV or a radio in the last half hour? Turn it on I can't even explain to you what happened,” cried Janie.

A second plane has crashed into the South Tower of the World Trade Center. This is no longer being seen as an accidental crash...

The room was silent. No one spoke. Even Marie was exceptionally quiet for a 4 year old. My daddy works in the World Trade Center. He works in one of those buildings, the tall ones that look alike. What did they mean that planes were crashing into the buildings?

“Mom where is dad? Where is daddy? When did he leave?” I asked, practically begging that the world had opened up and swallowed him on his way to work and he would end up popping out in the subway system safe and sound. Mommy just stared at me with the same pale and tearful expression Janie had when she walked in. Nobody answered me. Nobody moved. That's when the phone rang. I ran to the phone as fast as I could, faster than anyone else. I needed answers.

“Hello!” I exclaimed to the caller.

“Abby,” sighed a voice on the other end, “Abby it's me. It's daddy.”

“MOM! MOM! IT'S DADDY!” I screamed. She tried to take the phone from me and I wouldn't let her, “Daddy when will you be home? It is not safe out there. Where are you?”

“Abby you need to listen to me okay? You are the big girl of the house now honey. I need you to do all your homework and be a good girl for me okay? Can you promise me that please?”

“Daddy why? You're coming home! Tell me you're coming home!” I was shaking at this point. Why does he want these things from me?

“Please honey just promise me. Take care of mommy for me. She is really going to need you to be a big girl and help out.”

“Okay I promise. You'll be okay daddy. Promise me you'll be okay? PROMISE ME YOU'LL BE OKAY!” I demanded into the phone and daddy coughed and coughed.

“I will be okay Abby. I love you.”

“I love you too Daddy.”

I dropped the phone. The rest was a blur. Marie talked to Daddy next. Her tiny little hands stole the phone from mommy. Mommy was last. I don't know that she said much but she stayed on the phone with daddy until the line went dead. As we sat in the comfort of our nice New York apartment, our world was falling out from beneath us. Our view was in the opposite direction of the towers and all the chaos. We saw bright blue skies and nothing but beauty from our window as the news announced a plane hit the Pentagon and another plane crashed. The news was somber and uninformed in all the wreckage. At around 10 am we watched one tower fall followed by the other a half hour later. Janie, mommy, Marie and myself were clutching each other as we watched our world crumbling on the television. Days, weeks, months, years went by. Life went on. Daddy never came home. They never found him. Many people never found their loved ones.

One day, mommy was crying alone at home. I had come home and heard her. She never heard me come in. I almost forgot that today was her and daddy's anniversary and that is why she was crying. She always cried on this day now. I had a part time job my senior year and daddy made me promise to take care of mommy. I walked back down to the market and bought us all dinner. I bought mommy her favorite flowers and I called Janie to come over and have dinner with us. Janie was family now that we all experienced such a horrible day. When I came home mommy was in the kitchen looking at her cookbook.

“Don't worry mommy I am taking care of dinner,” I said as I handed her the same flowers daddy got her every year.

“Oh honey thank you. You didn't have to do all of this,” she said as a tear rolled down her cheek.

“I know mommy but I promised daddy I would take care of you when he called us that day and I don't ever intend to break his last promise.”

I learned a very hard lesson on September 11, 2001. Life is so fragile. It only takes one second for chaos to shatter everything we knew and loved but it also takes only one second to build strength and courage to face insurmountable conditions from the chaos we are given.

21 June 2014

Far Away Friends

Phones calls and texts,

Chats and pictures,

We trade these like baseball cards

And hold them dear to our hearts.

We once all lived in one place,

Now we spread out across the states,

Growing up and growing old

But never growing apart.

We catch up on our lives,

Sharing stories of weddings,

Babies and new homes.

Reminiscing of old times,

Breakfast at Tiffany's,

Sunny, car rides and dive bars,

Scrubs, stealing Rowdy,

Don't forget yelling at the dancing tree,

KITTY and annoying poor Scott,

Life never seemed so sweet.

We may not always live close

But our hearts remain as one.

Sisters from other misters

We have all been through so much,

Never wavering in love,

Never tiring of friendship.

With me you shall always be,

Far away we may end up

We are never really that far apart.

A follow up to my first story.

I have been thinking a lot lately as to what I am going to do once my personal challenge is over. If you need a refresher let me fill you in. I am writing one story a day, everyday, for one whole year. I started this personal challenge on 15 November 2013 (if you don't like the way I write my dates just get over it because it flows much better to do day month year format) and it has been the most amazing thing I could have done for myself. I feel I have really grown as a writer and I know my friends have noticed my storytelling ways break through in our conversations. I remember one time my cousin Nikki and I were having a conversation about the movie The Purge: Anarchy and she was saying that she wished Anarchy had come out before the original The Purge because Anarchy described more of the story and The Purge detailed one family. I told her that I loved the original one being first because it introduces you to this idea that there is a purge going on and shows you how awful it is then the second one can really open up the story and expand on what is going on across the country. Her words back to me were "Yup, you are definitely a writer!" That was a shining moment for me. A time when someone recognized my talent. I was so proud to be recognized as a writer!

By the end of this year long journey for me I will have written more short stories than Ernest Hemingway and F. Scott Fitzgerald. My quality of writing may not be up to par with these writers that I look up to but I take pride in knowing I did more in my short 26 years so far than they did in their lives. Now i just have to figure out what to do next. That seems to be a constant problem for a writer and typically it is a good problem to have. It means you are moving forward and not stuck in the moment. I have toyed with the idea of making this blog one big book. I have seen so many other sites do the same and I want to be a part of that movement. My blog has been read in many countries around the world from Brazil to Malaysia to Germany and Russia. I have South African, Australian, Japanese and Italian followers. I can't even express to you the humbleness of knowing that I am reaching people around the world. My ultimate goal in life is to have one work published, whether it be this blog into a book or the series I am working on currently (I am very busy with a lot of unpaid work, such is the life of a writer) I just want to call myself a published author and not just a writer. After this year is up I will continue writing stories but now I can write more elaborately on a topic or even take a few days to think about a topic before I write it. Whatever I do from that day on I know will be great because I have truly found my calling in life! 

I hope you are all having a wonderful Friday and I will see you all on Sunday. Please enjoy The Butterfly story. It is a follow up to my very first story The Caterpillar. Both stories are so very dear to my heart.

18 June 2014

The Butterfly

Caterpillar had loved his adventures around the world and spent the whole year traveling around meeting new creatures and seeing new lands. By the next spring he was ready to come home and be back with his friends the bees. As glorious as the world had been, his heart ached for the comfort of his home. He even slightly missed the chill but at least now he could fly away from it! His wings were still awkward and uncomfortable so he felt like home and his friends would be a good place to fix that. He flew back to his big, leafy tree and waited to surprise the bees and oh how happily surprised they were!

“Caterpillar! You are back!” announced one bee.

“You are even more handsome than when you left!” gushed another bee.

“Where did you go? What did you see?” they all asked at once.

“Oh my friends the places I saw and the things I learned! They call me a butterfly now but I prefer my caterpillar name. As pleasant as these wings are I still am finding it difficult to be comfortable in them. I learned to make friends with beetles and ants on the ground so I never lost touch with who I was in the beginning,” explained the caterpillar, “ I flew so many places I don't even know where to begin. I flew all over the great mountains and I was just in awe that there was such beauty! Mountains kissed the clouds. Moose played in lakes in the most remote parts of the mountains! Next I flew to the ocean! Oh the ocean! It smelled like salt and the air was so moist. Dolphins played near people boating and seals lounged on rocky coasts. The baby seals loved chasing after me!

I loved sitting in palm trees watching people from all over the world play on the sandy beaches. They wold frolic and pick up shells. They wrote their names in the sand and watched the waves erase their work. I got to fly in the sky with kites that children flew! It was like having an expert dance partner in the sky. I flew to the fish mongers in Japan and watched people in China work in smoggy cities while others worked rice fields. All of Europe was lovely. I flew from castle to castle in Germany then sat atop the Eiffel Tower while lovers kissed and soaked in the amazing view. I flew to Ireland and saw more green land than you could ever imagine! Everything was green! The hills just rolled and rolled with green like someone had painted all the land!

I then flew back over the ocean with the help of some ships. I would take breaks with people cruising over the ocean. They had wild parties with pools on top of the ships to play in! Other ships had containers to take to America from all over the world. I stopped in New York and saw buildings that soared high in the sky like the mountains. People were busy working in the tall buildings and on the ground people rushed around. They seemed busier than you bees! They were more like the ants who don't like to be bothered. It was about this time I missed home. I had to see all of you again!” the caterpillar fluffed his wings smiled at his friends.

All the bees buzzed around him in delight of his adventures. Many of them had traveled far and wide for pollen but never as far as caterpillar had! The caterpillar, not wanting to interrupt the bees and their work, decided to fly with the bees to the flower fields. The bees were awestruck at how incredible the caterpillar looked amongst the flowers.

“Your blue and green iridescent wings make the red and purple flowers look like a heavenly rainbow caterpillar!” they gasped.

Life could not be better for caterpillar. He sat in the shade of a leaf and watched the busy bees buzz around and work. He smiled as they filled themselves up with yellow pollen and laughed when a dog came by and sneezed at all the activity. The sky was crystal blue, the breeze was refreshing and the sun warmed their souls as the sounds of bees darted around caterpillar. Caterpillar may not have been fully comfortable in his new winged body but being home certainly helped.

19 June 2014

A Lyrical Love Story

I tell you all the time, heaven is a place on earth with you. Tell me all the things you wanna do. I want to know your plans, and how involved in them I am. When I look into your eyes it's like watching the night sky or a beautiful sunrise. You can be my one if you wanna go. You can be my Juliet then and we can drift asleep in a lover's pose but never go away. No poison here we're safe. I have the sketchy past, yet I have shed my wings cold turkey now hanging by a heart-string. Dangle over her, above the pulsing bar. She tries to catch my eye, her gaze is deafening. The book of love is long and boring, and written very long ago. It's full of flowers and heart-shaped boxes, and things we're all too young to know. That may be all I need. In darkness she is all I see. Come and rest your bones with me, driving slow on Sunday morning and I never want to leave. Yes, you're lovely, with your smile so warm and your cheeks so soft. There is nothing for me but to love you and the way you look tonight.

Songs in this last story are: Video Games by Lana Del Rey, I Want To Know Your Plans by Say Anything, I Won't Give Up by Jason Mraz, Juliet by Royal Wood, So Good by Say Anything, The Book of Love by Peter Gabriel, Sunday Morning by Maroon 5 and The Way You Look Tonight by Frank Sinatra.

  

Three weeks to Paris and my review of The Creation of Anne Boleyn

I can't even believe that we are only three weeks away from hopping on a plane and jetting off to the magical city of love! I was able to get an actual response from my favorite author, Michelle Moran, on places to visit in Paris. She told me to visit a couple of cafes that were very popular for writers during the 20's through the 50's. A couple of the cafes are places Hemingway wrote at! It will be such an amazing trip and I cannot wait!

This morning I finished the book The Creation of Anne Boleyn by Susan Bordo. I loved this book but for me it felt repetitive simply simply because I am pretty sure I have written all of that down in my notes for my book and in my journal. So I give this book 5 stars if you are looking for a very accurate and, I would say, unbiased look at the facts of Anne Boleyn. A lot of the book focuses on how society has viewed the long dead queen. She was the first queen to be executed and her husband, Henry VII, also put the death the second queen as well. Funny enough, his daughter Mary put the death the (arguably) third queen in British history. Anyway, the book reads like my brain works. It is kind of a very long, well structured rant about how people have villainized or sainted Anne Boleyn. The truth is Anne Boleyn was not a woman of her time. She was strong and "different" from the normal blond angel that was popular in Henry's court. She was strong in the Reformation which really made Catholics angry. Everything about her made her a target from day one. The book discusses how various actors, authors, poets, religious people and just plain old people of different eras have viewed this fallen queen. I think my obsession with Anne began when I just could not figure out how a man who change the entire land of England, pushed for a divorce of his first wife, wrote many love letters and waited seven years to marry in secret could possibly have her executed. How could a loving and doting husband condemn not one but two wives to such a fate? After realizing her death was decided on VERY false charges (in today's courts she would hardly have been given a glance in court before all charges would have been dismissed) I just had to know everything about her. Luckily the book was exactly that. It was very helpful in straightening out some of my thoughts and gave me lots of great places to do some research. I don't expect any one of you to read this book but if you like British history or any history, this would be a good one to pick up and start with.

I hope everyone is having a great week so far and take pleasure in knowing that it is Wednesday, the week is halfway over! 

16 June 2014

The Bull Fight

The crowd cheers. The man prances around. I do not understand all of this. They seem to get excited when the man dances around me with his sharp tools. He wears a stupid hat and tight little pants. I so badly just want to run him over but the prancing little man dashes to the side and sticks me with a sharp tool. It hurts so badly and I am bleeding. The red blood is coursing down my shoulder but I will not go near him again or at least I think I won't until he gets out that stupid blanket and starts prancing around with that too. It is red like my blood as if he is mocking my bleeding. Just can't stand for this. With a great puff I charge at him but this time I am very unlucky. He stabs me in the back again and leaves the sharp tool in my back. I howl with pain and charge him again. How dare he stab me! He stabs again and I charge faster at him. This time he actually looked a little scared but he still has the upper hand for I am mortally injured. I try not to give up but he stabs me once more between my shoulders. As I lie in wait for death to overcome me I can see him still prancing around in his stupid little hat and little pants. He has dropped the blanket and the crowd is going wild. He has another sharp tool and with as much flare as he can muster he stabs me again in the back of my neck. I think I will sleep now and wander off into the dark abyss that is death all the while wishing I had been smarter and gored him.

17 June 2014

“What is it that you see?”

She lived in a large, bustling metropolis of a city. Her city was the heart of the country that was shaping the world. The girl had once loved her city but she was becoming discontent with all the noise and traffic of living in such a popular city. It seemed that everywhere she looked was another person scheming to find a husband for their daughter or someone bribing a city official for votes. Her happy town that was full of life, dancing and fun had turned into a city of marauders, drunks and fools. She wanted more. She needed more. She decided to leave. In the dark of night she packed up what few things she owned and needed and took her dowry. Her parents were in the process of marrying her to a cruel up and coming politician.

She prepared no note but rather crept out and walked to the mountain. She climbed and climbed until she reached the top. It took all night and was very difficult but not any lonelier than her city had been to her. She sat and looked around thinking to herself where she was going to go and what she was going to do.

“What is it that you see?” whispered the wind to the girl.

She thought about this for a second. At first the city seemed calm in the wee hours of the morning but very quickly people were up and busy. She saw chaos. People yelling at each other. Dogs running loose. A child almost getting run over by a man on a horse who was too busy to see of the child was fine. It was mean and chaotic in her city. From a top this mountain the girl realized she had to leave but now where would she go?

“Look around you. What do you see?” whispered the wind again.

The girl looked behind her and saw an old man and an old woman with a donkey traveling away from the city. They had an empty cart and she just knew she could help them. Down the mountain she went and caught up with the elderly couple. The couple were from a distant coastal village. They had a son but he was killed fighting in the city's army. They sold wool and other items to make money to eat since they were too old to fish and hunt much. The elderly couple let the girl go with them to their little village. The walk to the village was very peaceful. The air was fresh and smelt of dirt and moist, green earth. It was a far cry from the putrid stench of the city. Birds chirped as they passed and a soft breeze made the hot walk a bit more bearable. The trio finally reached the village the next morning and the girl was in awe. People were working but they were helping their neighbors. Children were happily playing about and some were even in outdoor classes. Men were fishing in the crystal blue waters and there were women weaving. Everyone was busy but very relaxed and happy about it.

The girl never went back to the city. Her family never came looking for her. She lived a quite life by the sea and when the elderly couple passed they gave her their home since they had no other family but her. She let the wind guide her that night on the mountain and since then she never looked back.

Baked Zucchini, Chicken, Salad and GoT

Tonight we are having a very pleasant and fairly healthy dinner! I  have been trying to stay very healthy so I can look good for Paris! Sometimes it is hard then there are times like today when its not so hard! It is all choice and I am choosing to be kinder to my body.

Speaking of choices...

Game of Thrones was on last night and WOW! Such a great episode! SO many people died! *If you haven't seen it yet don't honestly tell me you were surprised by me just saying that.* A lot of questions were answered, some were slightly vindicated and doors were opened for new stories. I ordered the books off Amazon and, if you don't know already, they are only about $30 for all 5 books if you are a prime member!  I can't wait to dive in and dice up the story even more! It will also help pass the time until the next season premiers next April.

I hope everyone had a great weekend! See you all on Wednesday!

14 June 2014

Buddy's Diary: Visitors

Today my lady person brought home two other dogs. I remember Boursin from many years ago but his new friend, Kona is a stranger. Kona is much larger than us and I can't quite sniff him properly or mount him to show him that this is my house. He seems to be sucking up to my lady person. That isn't really my matter though. She is Jack's person. The man is mine. The people gave us a big giant blue bowl and they are letting us get in it. Even they are getting in it. At one point Wesley was here but we all pretended to be too tired to play with him and eventually he left. The day is too hot. We beg to come in as soon as we are out and we sleep all day that we are in. I suppose these visitors aren't so bad. I just don't understand why Boursin is allowed on the couch and I am not. My people make no sense to me.

15 June 2014

Je rêve de mon mari

I love you my sweet

So be quick on your feet

To kiss me good morrow

And kiss me good night.

I dream of you as we sleep,

Our souls mingle in the stars,

Dancing behind closed eyes,

Visions that become real at dawn.

I crave to be your bones,

To hold you up as you travel

And support you through the day.

I envy your hands,

Touching your sweet face

And combing through your hair.

I wish to be your muse

To inspire your heart,

To encourage your mind

As you do mine my darling.

Oh dear husband

You are, above all, mine

And I am yours,

Our hearts are one

Our souls entwined

In all our days

Even as we sleep.

Boursin and Kona and Steak Niiight!

Sitting in front of me is Boursin, the cutest puggle you will ever meet, and Kona, my new best friend.

Our hands are only a little full but they are they best dogs to have over. I guess I could say it is good training for having a child. I have known Boursin for some time now but Kona is new to me. When you give him commands it is in German. He is very smart and he LOVES me. he does not love Myssa so much because Myssa does not like him so much. For being able to take care of these sweet pooches I got two, yes two, bottles of wine and one came with a peacock feather! Scott also got a 6 pack! 

To make the evening even better is steak night or, as it is said in Scrubs, STEAK NIIIGHT! Here is a video for reference:

To add to that I have started watching Scrubs again for the 13th time. I can't help it. It is my favorite show. This video is why:

If you didn't laugh at that you have some serious problems. Okay enough pictures and videos, here are some stories!

12 June 2014

The Wish

It was Amelia's birthday but this one wouldn't be the same as the last. Her last birthday was the last one with her boyfriend before he was deployed for a year to Afghanistan. She really thought he would propose to her but it just never happened. She would have to spend her birthday without him because he was not due home for another week. The day was actually a joyous one. Her family and her boyfriend's family were all there to help her celebrate. She was very lucky to have a great relationship with his family and they were very supportive of her while he was gone. She was really hoping that one of her presents would be him walking through the door but that just wasn't going to happen this day. Finally, it came time for cake. She knew wishing for his early return was a sad wish to make but she made it anyway. She was always the glass half full types.

Bring him back early to me and let me be his wife she said in her head. She closed her eyes and blew out the candles. She waited a second to open her eyes so she could savor the thought of him being there knowing he wouldn't be. She opened her eyes and turned to look at her mom but her mom was not there. Instead, kneeling in front of her was her marine in full dress just like a prince with a ring in hand. What he said was a blur she wasn't sure if he was real or not. She cried and pinched herself to the conclusion that it was all true. He was there and he was asking her to be his wife. Her wish had come true! Her whole family and his knew his plan. He had saved up money while on deployment, picked out a ring and had Amelia's sister pick it up for him. It was a fairy tale romance with a fairy tale proposal.

13 June 2014

The Village

Ana's family lived a small village near a large river. Her whole village was very poor but they all worked hard and took care of each other. Everyday, Ana would have to walk to a little pond to pick some berries and bring back some water since her family had no running water. One day she came home and saw a small bundle. After she brought in the water and berries, she opened the package. Inside were some of the river fish prepped and ready for cooking. She was delighted! Her family didn't have the time to fish because her father was very ill and her mother worked long days so Ana had to help care for the family. They hadn't had fish in a very long time! She made the fish and thanked whoever had left the fish.

This began to happen daily. Ana would come home and find a new package. There would be wool, eggs, meat, vegetables and so much more. Each day there was something new. Ana's family were beyond thankful but they never knew who was doing such a kind act for them. She decided one day before she left to prop her father up and asked him to watch the window to see who was helping them so she could thank them. She came home that evening and sure enough there was a new package, this time it was a bottle of milk. Her father then told her that the neighbor's son was leaving the stuff at their door. Ana was perplexed. The neighbor's son had to help his family so why was he also helping her. With berries in hand, Ana walked next door and gave them as a thank you to the neighbor's son.

“We are very grateful for all of your kindness, please accept our gift of some fresh picked berries. Why is it that you bring us these gifts everyday while I am out picking berries and getting water?” inquired Ana.

“My mother passed away when I was little and now my father is very sick. He does not each much and I collect more than enough food for the two of us. I see your mother leave for work before the sun comes up and gets home after it goes down. I see you go out and gather for your family everyday and I see that your father is also very ill. I was taught that if you have enough to help those around you. It is worth it to see your family happy everyday and it also brings some joy to my father to see me help others,” smiled the neighbor's son.

Ana and her family shared a very close relationship with the neighbor family after that day. Ana helped care for both ailing fathers, her mother cooked for everyone and the neighbor's son brought home gathered food and water for everyone. Through kindness and a simple gift the whole village came together to help each other. After that they never felt so poor again.