Dress Shopping!

Today my words will be short as I am writing this very quickly! I am going dress shopping for +Kristen Long's wedding! She already got her dress but the bridesmaids need theirs! I am very grateful to be a part of this wonderful event! Hope you guys have a good weekend and GO BRONCOS!!!!! Enjoy my stories and I will see you all on Monday!

  

9 January 2014

An Unlikely Friendship

Patricia had had a happy childhood but at the age of 17 tragedy struck her family and her happy life had come to a very quick end. Now she spent her days in her childhood home watching family after family enjoying all that she had enjoyed. This never made her sad, she was just ever so bored at being stuck 17.

A new family had moved in. This was the 6^th one since her death. To Patricia's joy a girl her age was moving into her old room. I wish I could talk to her. Thought Patricia. To her dismay she had never found anyone who was like her when she was alive. She had always been sensitive to “the other side” as they called it in her family. They always thought she was silly for making up such stories. They never believed her but she noticed that throughout the years seeing ghosts became more acceptable.

The new occupier of her room was pretty and looked oddly similar to herself but that wasn't too difficult since Patricia was blond with blue eyes. They were both classic American looking girls. Emma. What a classy name. Patricia loved to spy on her new roommates but she always stayed in the shadows. She really had nothing better to do. The family finished moving very late and Emma finally came to bed where Patricia could observe her by herself.

“Oh Emma if only we could talk to each other,” said Patricia, sad that she had a new friend who couldn't really be her friend.

“Who's here? Who are you? How do you know my name?” Emma said frightened that there was a person in her new room.

“You can hear me? How can you hear me?” Patricia was so surprised! After years she finally could talk to someone.

“Of course I can hear you! You're in my room. Please don't hurt me. I...”

“Hurt you? Why would I hurt you? I couldn't really even if I had wanted to. I am dead. My name is Patricia, but I suppose you can call me Patty if that makes you more comfortable,” Patricia was trying very hard not to scare her new friend. “No one has ever heard me before so I think I am just as shocked as you. I know your name because I have been watching your family move in.”

“Crap. Another house we are going to have to move from thanks to me,” said Emma in a less surprised tone.

“Whoa! You just moved in!” Patricia was nearly devastated that Emma wanted to move. “Why do you have to move?”

Emma explained that since she was little she had seen ghosts. They would keep her up all night long and often times terrified her so bad that they would have to move. She saw evil demons and they would throw her stuff around. No one else in her family saw anything but they believed her because of how fearful she was.

“Let me tell you about those of us that get left here,” started off Patricia, “we really aren't that scary. What happens is some of us get bored. None of your past terrifiers were actually demons. Those follow you and nothing followed you. When we get bored we get creative. We can't actually physically hurt you. Yes we can move stuff but the Big Guy upstairs won't let us throw it at you or touch you.”

“I put my family through all of this for years over bored ghosts? You're kidding, right?” said Emma in her typical teenage tone.

“Ya unfortunately. We can change the way we look. Here let me show you but don't get scared okay” Emma shook her head yes and Patricia began to change into different looks. A cat, a demon, a man and a fat blob ghost.

“Well,” yawned Emma, “That's just unfair. So, Patty, why can I see you and how did you die?”

“You can see me because you have the gift of sight like I had. You'll probably be a ghost when you die too unless you die naturally of old age. As for how I died... that's a long story for another day. You are too tired to stay up for that. Here I will sing you to sleep.”

Patrica sang Emma to sleep with a lovely song and thought about Emma's question on how she died. She should tell her but not yet. She would wait to tell her until this new place felt more like home for Emma. Until then, Patrica would be sure to make sure no teenage boys would sneak into Emma's room so Emma wouldn't face the same fate that Patricia had.

10 January 2014

The Book

I am filled with lots of words and a story that will entertain at least one person. I am full of twists and turns, drama and intrigue, happiness and sadness. Sometimes I sit on tables, sometimes I sit in purses, most of the time I am on a bookshelf observing a room with my comrades. My favorite place to be is in the hands of someone who will love me and remember me even when I am spending my days on a shelf. I start out new and crisp but the more I am loved the more tattered I become. My life isn't always exciting but I bring excitement to the lives of others. This is my story. What is yours?

My love of Paris continues...

I have been fascinated with Europe since I was a very young child. My obsession with Paris began the day I stepped foot onto Parisian soil. I was completely encapsulated with how stunning everything looked. The fashion, the food, even the snobby people made me gush over how French it all was. I ate as many crepes as my little 13 year old body could contain and had the sugar topping of creme brulee toasted right before my eyes by a very proper waiter at an expensive restaurant. Seeing the Eiffel Tower in person is beyond what words can express. It is a symbol of the Iron Age. It is strong and bold yet graceful and beautiful. Everything about Paris is romantic and lovely especially the language. French can make anyone weak in the knees and learning it makes you feel like a class above the rest. I could sit here and talk about Paris all day long but I will save that for another post! for now, fall in love with the city on your own and read my stories to pass your time! Au revoir mon amis!

7 January 2014

A Dream Come True

Amelia loved to travel. She lived to travel. Her parents engrained the tradition of exploring the world from the day she was born. Her family went all over the states and all over the world. She had a wanderlust that just could not be quenched. Since she was a little girl her mother taught her to love Paris just like her mother had. They had traveled there before on a mother daughter trip but Amelia was an adult now and wanted a new experience in Paris.

She made plans and gathered her friends. Off they flew from Denver to New York to start their trip. The girls walked Fifth Avenue, they visited Little Italy and Chinatown. The friends took a ride through Central Park and just before they left, they took a tour of the Statue of Liberty that Gustav Eiffel helped built. The next morning they took the long flight to Paris.

Amelia was just in heaven in Paris. She floated in joy along the streets visiting the Latin Quarter, drinking coffee in the cafes that Hemingway wrote in and shopping at the fanciest stores. Her and her friends spent days touring the Louvre and even made a day trip to the Palace at Versailles. Amelia walked along the same corridors that Marie Antoinette walked and imagined the elegant wedding the tragic queen had in the Hall of Mirrors.

On the last warm evening the girls decided to climb to the top of the Eiffel Tower. What a sight they saw. All of Paris was lit up in all of its glorious splendor! Amelia was in complete awe of what she saw. She knew why her mother loved this city so much. Amelia leaned over the edge of the railing, closed her eyes and took a deep breath to absorbed all that she could of the moment.

Suddenly the railing disappeared. The tower was disintegrating around Amelia. Shocked and confused she grabbed for her friends but they evaporated into think air. The city lights were gone and she was spinning into a black abyss.

“Amelia. Amelia honey wake up!” Her mother was shaking her awake, “do you know where you are? You were so sick I was letting you rest but you started talking about Paris and you said you were falling? What were you dreaming about?”

“Nothing mom,” She said with a slight smile, “just dreaming is all. I am feeling better I must have been really sick I don't even remember falling ill.”

“You've been in the hospital for a couple days,” said her mother. That is when Amelia realized she was hooked up to an IV and there were flowers all around her. She was so disappointed that the trip wasn't real.

“Thanks for waking me mom. Who are those from?” she pointed at a very large bouquet of multicolored calla lilies, her favorite flower.

“I'm not sure sweetheart. They were just delivered to you today. A few minutes before I woke you up actually. I didn't get to read the name card.”

Amelia's mother handed her the very full envelope to her and she opened it up. There was no name on it anywhere. It only read: It wasn't a dream Amelia, it was a vision. Her are the tickets for the flights and hotels you stayed at. Even the places you visited are in here. Enjoy your real trip to Paris and this time I promise you won't fall off the top of the tower! Au revoir Amelia!

Was she still dreaming? Who in their right mind would pay for this trip? Who made her dream of it? She wasn't dreaming. One thing in her dream she never thought of was how she afforded such an expensive trip. She pinched herself. It hurt. She wasn't dreaming but some power of the universe made it happen.

“What's in the card sweetheart?”

“Mom we are going back to Paris with Auntie Robbi and Auntie Nikki,” Amelia explained her dream and showed her mother the note with the flowers. She realized her friends in her dream were her mother and her mother's best friends, whom she called her aunts. They were her greatest supporters and best friends. Amelia and her mother could not believe their gift from a stranger. They always wondered where it came from but never found out. Nevertheless, they were New York and Paris bound! For real this time.

8 January 2014

Petit Cochon

He did not like his name. It was given to him by his siblings and the other piglets on the farm. Why was he called Petit Cochon? Well, he was the runt of all the piglets and the smallest runt they had ever seen. He really should not have lived. His mother did not so much reject him, she just didn't keep him warm and he wasn't allowed to eat until everyone else had. His sister, who was born at the same time as him, was the only one who loved him and kept him warm.

“I will be a big great pig! I will have lots of little piglets and make our farmer very happy!” said one piglet.

“I will sire many pigs because I am so big and fat. What will you do Petit Cochon? Be tiny and useless? Haha!” squealed another piglet. They were so mean to him and often reminded him that the farmer would eventually put him out of his misery.

One day Petite Cochon and his sister went out to walk the great green pasture. The sun was high in the sky and there were only a couple of pretty clouds on the horizon. A warm breeze rolled through and the two little piggies just loved watching the grass blow in the breeze.

“Petit, why are you crying? It is so pleasant out here and this grass is so soft. What could possibly be causing you enough sadness that you shed tears?” asked his sister. She hated how sad he was and how much the other piglets hurt him with their cruel words.

“Oh sister, I just know that I am not worthy of this beautiful farm. I am a runt and an extra small one at that. They all hate me and I feel such great joy that at least I will have you in my last few days here before the farmer takes me away. I wish I could be one of those beautiful birds on the sky. I wish to fly all over the world and see all the places that are as beautiful as this day. I wish I was colorful and happy. I don't want to be weak and useless anymore I want to be...”

Petit Cochon was about to continue on through tears but suddenly the winds picked up around them. The loose grass and petals from flowers nearby swirled up and about until suddenly a tiny little fairy appeared. She was green at first but kept changing colors. She had enormous iridescent eyes, pointy ears, pointy teeth and a set of wings that fluttered like a hummingbird's. She was wearing an outfit that changed color as well and seemed to sprinkle sparkling dust below her which perked up the grass and everything it touched.

“Sweet piglet, your tears and wishes have called me here,” said the fairy.

“Who are you?” replied both the piglets at once. They were surprised to see such a magnificent tiny creature in their presence.

“I am the wish fairy but you can call me Tana. I am the Fairy Queen and I get the privilege of making things better in the world. I can only do so if someone or something makes a powerful wish and seals it with honest tears of pain and sadness. Sweet piglet, your life is unhappy. The other piglets are unjust and cruel to you, with the exception of your sweet sister,” Tana the Fairy Queen smiled at the piglets after her explanation.

“But I am just a tiny runt. No one wants me not even the farmer who loves his pigs,” cried Petit Cochon.

“Ah yes, a tiny runt you are but it seems a tiny runt you don't want to be? Am I correct that you do not want to be this tiny runt you say you are?” asked Tana.

“No I certainly do not! I want to be a colorful and happy bird! I want to fly!” Petit Cochon was so happy thinking of the birds he so adored that day that he was squeaking and hopping around. Just then Tana spun around him so quickly he didn't even realize what was happening.

“Petit!” exclaimed his sister, “You have wings! You're... you're... A BIRD!” She was in happy hysterics at how beautiful and regal he looked.

“There you go sweet piglet, you are what you so deeply desired. Now go and enjoy the world! Be happy and forget all the mean little piggies you lived with before,” Tana looked on in joy at Petit Cochon, “please do me a favor though and change your name as it no longer suits you, goodbye my dears!”

“WAIT!” Tana the Fairy Queen was about to disappear when Petit Cochon called on her,” What about my sister? Why does she have to stay here with these mean piglets? Can she too be a bird with me?”

“You know little one, I do not often grant wishes for those who have not sealed them with tears but I suppose I will grant your sister her wish she hasn't wished for since she does shed the tears I need,” said the Fairy Queen.

Tana and Petit Cochon looked at his sister who was walking away. A tiny tear rolled down her cheek. It was a goodbye tear but a tear nonetheless. Tana performed her magic to the joy of Petit Cochon and made his sister a similar looking bird to him. The only difference was on her chest. Her coloring looked like a heart to symbolize her kindness with Petit Cochon.

With that Tana disappeared from the piglets turned birds. She had granted their wishes and had to go on to save other sad souls. The siblings danced around and chirped at each other in joy. How glorious they looked. How colorful and beautiful. They were small still but so agile and so mobile!

“Sister I think we need new names what shall we call ourselves?” asked Petit Cochon.

“I will call you Petit Bleu! Then you are still my Petit,” said his sister with a sweet smile, “and what will you call me?”

“Bon Coeur for you are the kind hearted sibling who saved me.”

The siblings embraced in a new way that they had never been able to. They wrapped their wings around each other for a sweet embrace. They smiled at each other and flew off without looking back at the farm. Petit Bleu and Bon Coeur had the adventures they had only dreamed of and found birds similar to them who welcomed them with open wings. They were happy and loved, just as Petit had desired.

A Book Review and Some Stories

A while ago I bought the book "Paris" by Edward Rutherfurd. Now I will be honest, I bought the giant book (it's almost 900 pages) solely because it was called Paris and I am just a little bit obsessed with the city of love (okay I am VERY obsessed). The description sounded interesting enough and it was only $20 at Costco so I bought it. Let me just tell you, the surprise and joy I found in that book was beyond belief. Without giving anything away, because you have to read it no matter how long it is, "Paris" is a 5 star book that anyone could enjoy. It follows the stories of several families over several hundred years and how they cross and uncross paths. From feudal lands of France to the bloody Revolution to the building of the famed Eiffel Tower, the rich history of these families is clearly evident chapter to chapter with everything coming together with WWII. Each chapter is labeled as a year, telling the stories of the French families and brings everything to a finality tying all the stories and families together. In many cases, only the readers know how the families are interlaced. Some of the stories of the families are tragic, some are hopeful but all of it is beautifully written. I cannot wait to read the other books of  similar style written by Edward Rutherfurd and I almost have his complete collection of written works! I really loved this book from start to finish and I really hope the rest of you enjoy it as well. Please consider this wonderful read!

Now that this book review is over the you may read some stories! I hope you enjoy these as well!

5 January 2014

Heartache

His words enter her ears but her heart won't let them penetrate into her thoughts. I just don't love you anymore, I don't know if I ever did, he said to her that warm summer day. She so badly wanted a hug, a touch, anything to prove to him his words were false but he gave her nothing. He was correct, she knew it, he did not love her anymore.

He walked away and her heart shattered into a million pieces. They shared an apartment. He said he already moved his stuff out and would pay his portion of the lease until she could find a roommate. How cavalier of him. She didn't care. She couldn't live there anymore. Not now that her fantasy was gone. She gave him everything, so why did he leave? She could not resolve her pain and lack of an explanation.

She sat on the bench he left her at near their apartment and cried. When she had no more tears she sat some more. Her stomach groaned but she could not eat. He never loved her, she officially concluded, he wasted her time. Her pain grew to anger. What was wrong with her? She was pretty, every told her so. She was well off, she was kind, independent, had a good family and had a great job. He had seemed distant for a while, she often felt like a convenience to him and not a partner. He probably had another girl she thought.

She was never an angry person and she didn't like that him not loving her made her angry. She needed a fresh start. She always wanted to travel but he never wanted to go. Her best friend would beg her 'please just come with me. I'm going to Egypt this spring. You need to see the world.' This was her chance. She had already wasted a good couple years of her early 20's she couldn't waste anymore.

She called her best friend and booked 2 tickets to India. She had always wanted to see the Taj Mahal and nothing would stop her now. Her heart was still broken but now she dreamed of princes of India and Bollywood glamor. She contended that no one would hold her back again from doing everything her heart desired.

6 January 2014

Message In A Bottle

Bailey walked along the beach. She loved the sandy beaches in Florida along the Gulf of Mexico because she could always find beautiful shells there. As she wandered the picturesque white sands something hit her foot. She looked down and realized it was corked bottle with a message inside of it!

“My bounty is as boundless as the sea, My love as deep. The more I give to thee, The more I have, for both are infinite.” -Romeo and Juliet

Live honestly, love deeply and spread joy and happiness to all who cross your path. Smile and say hi to the next person you meet, you never know what may change their life.

There was no name attached to this message in a bottle. No identifier of where it came from, only that it was written in English. She walked back home thinking of what to do with this beautiful note. She wanted to pass it forward and decided to head home. When she got to her car she noticed a woman sitting on the bench nearby. She looked sad so Bailey waved at her and said, “Good afternoon!'” with the lovely smile she was known for. The woman smiled back and seemed to perk up.

Huh, maybe the note was right, she thought and drove off to her home. She decided to keep the message in a bottle on her desk to remind her everyday to be a better person. She sat at her desk and rewrote the note with a little addition, This note is rewritten with great joy. It changed my day and my life so I hope it changes yours too. Pass it forward. She popped the new message into a new bottle. She was supposed to visit her cousins in Maryland next week and decided she would toss the bottle out to sea then so it could land in a new place for a new wanderer.

Her and her cousins took a boat out to sea to whale watch and on their way out she threw the bottle into the ocean. With all her hope and desire she dreamed of it having the same affect on someone else as it had on her. The world got to enjoy her lovely smile just a little bit more thanks to the original message in a bottle.

Birthday Ode To Robbi and Other Memories

2 January 2014

The Time I Had the Cops Called On Me Over The Broncos

Now this is all from the mouths of others and not by my memory at all. This is not because I was intoxicated, rather I was only a toddler and unable to remember this event actually happening. I believe I was almost 2 years old and loved watching the Broncos with my dad. He would sit on the couch and I sat on the table in my Bronco outfit.

At this time I did not really know the game but I knew that when my dad was getting excited and yelling that I should too. I would slam my hands and feet on the table and scream, “Elway! Elway!” because I thought that John Elway and the Broncos were one in the same. Suddenly we heard a knock at the door. It was a police officer. He took one look into our apartment and saw me on the table.

“I am sorry sir, a neighbor called and reported a domestic dispute in this apartment. Sorry to interrupt you,” said the officer in my unclear memory.

We later found out the officer went downstairs to the complainant, lectured him about when to properly call police and gave him a ticket. It seemed apparent to the officer that it was a child watching a football game and not a domestic issue. This was the beginning of my undying love for the greatest team in America and I stand by that statement.

3 January 2014

Happy Birthday Robbi

I have many fond memories of one of my best friends but I think my favorite of all time is the day we decided to be boys with Megan Jones at a very slow shift at Elvis. There were days at the theater when the mangers would toss Megan, Robbi and myself together, I think because we worked well together but mostly to punish themselves. They may also have put us all together because Leah Delong was working and they knew we would listen to her as manager and we gave everyone else a significant amount of hell.

Often times, when working during the day shift during the week, it would be snail pace slow. Rushes would be easy enough that we could keep things clean and in between shifts we would be teenagers with nothing better to do but invent fun. One afternoon Megan wanted to be a boy. Without skipping a beat we all got duct tape, probably from Leah, and Robbi and I proceeded to tape down Megan's chest in the woman's bathroom.

This was so much fun that we then taped down Robbi's chest and then mine. We put our work shirts back on and went back behind the counter to check ourselves out as “boys”. Megan looked the best. Tapping her chest down made her broad shoulders even more broad and she had that distinct triangle shape you find on cartoon men. Robbi and I looked lumpy and ridiculous. We laughed a lot at each others expense then realized it did not feel good to tape down our chests with duct tape.

We immediately tore off the tape upon this realization and discussed some serious topic with Megan like being vegan or how much she loved Gerard Butler. For Megan it was some feminist thing, for Robbi and me it was a fun reason to play with tape and screw around. It is one of my fondest memories of my dear friend and sister from another mister. Megan did not remain friends with us but we still enjoy a few giggles in her name.

4 January 2014

The Sky Is Falling

The sky is falling,

The sky is falling,

All over Colorado,

People are screaming

And swerving around the roads.

White, pretty snow is falling

But all over town people keep crawling

Because God forbid,

The sky is falling.

New Year, New Post

So I have been finding that writing a story a day, everyday, is not as easy as it seems. I find myself to be an incredibly creative person the only problem is that skips days every once in a while. I have been loving this creative process so much that I decided to make songs into stories and to start writing more personal things like stories I know about my past or have been told about my past. This has certainly gotten the juices flowing again! Hope you all enjoy! I am behind a bit on posting so I will post updated stories over the next couples days in shorter bits. Thanks everyone for your support!

P.S. If you don't get my Run DMC and Beastie Boys reference then I am very sorry for you. If you can name the songs then we are best friends.

29 December 2013

The Frog in the Bog

There once was a frog

Who sat in a bog.

He ate all the fleas

That came from the seas.

His skin was green,

It gave off a nice sheen,

And he loved to hop

Even when he was wet as a mop.

His home was a lily pad,

Life was never really bad.

Frog was friends with the fish,

There was nothing left to wish,

For frog had such great joy

And that wasn't a ploy.

30 December 2013

Run Boys

Now here's a little story I've got to tell so listen in my head I just want to take 'em down.
Imagination set loose and I'm gonna shake 'em down. Back in the day there was this girl around the way. Well this girl came up to me - she says she's new in town. Went to her house and bust her out, I had to leave real early, you be illin'. Foot on the pedal never ever false metal. Engine running hotter than a boiling kettle. Now... This girl Mary I knew so well, I met her on the road in a fly hotel. This girl walked by she gave me the eye when she told me how to walk this way.

31 December 2013

Memories

One afternoon, my brother Darren and I were playing in the basement. Mom hadn't had Christian yet and Darren and I were all we had for entertainment. Our favorite pastime was rollerblading around in the basement and playing bonehead dinosaurs (that is a story for another day). This particular day we grew tired of rolling around and decided to challenge each other to a jumping rope contest. Mom had told us not to jump rope in the basement so we wouldn't break anything. Being 6 and 7 we decided that we would be extra careful.

It took one jump of the rope and CRASH I broke the light cover on the ceiling. Our initial reaction was to freeze. Miraculously, mom had not heard the glass breaking so we ran around the basement looking for a broom and a dust pan. In our cute little brains we thought that if we just swept it up that mom would never notice. The problem was we left tiny, bloody footprints all over the basement trying to cover up our crime.

After some time, mom realized she hadn't heard us for a while and quite children are never a good thing. She came downstairs and like deer in headlights we stopped moving as she turned the corner. We were caught red handed, or red footed, and just froze. Mom wasn't even mad because we had cut our feet up so much trying to clean up. She took us into the bathroom, cleaned us up and sent us upstairs to play while she cleaned up the basement. This wasn't the first bloody accident Darren and I had and it certainly would not be the last but at least we had fun playing!

1 January 2014

Past, Present and Future

Three friends sat at a bar together talking. They were Past, Present and Future and they were celebrating the first day of the year. Past discussed the previous year. There was a lot of bad but a few good things happened too. Past mentioned losses of life, vacations, sporting events and graduations. Future chimed in and scoffed at Past for dwelling in the previous year. There were so many days ahead to fill with hope and joy and many new things to do. Future dreamed of reaching new lands and meeting new people. This is when Present spoke.

“You both speak but you don't understand what you speak of. You are stuck on things that have and have not happened and yet you are completely missing the time that is current. Remember the old, hope for the new but live for the now,” said Present. “This is my gift to you, living for today.”

Past, Present and Future sat together and thought for a minute. They realized that they were not living for now and enjoying each other at this moment. They decided then to talk to each other and enjoy the good company. It is a lesson we all could learn.

Rain Drops and Roly Poly, I Wish It Was Spring

+Scott Fennell  said I don't post my stories often enough so I am going to try to start doing that. Currently I have written more short stories than F. Scott Fitzgerald has published! That is such a grand feeling. Now, in honor of my love of warm weather (or great disdain for winter) here are some cute shorties for you to enjoy! I am trying to keep my stories extra short so it is easier to enjoy them. It is a challenge for me to not over describe things so I am challenging myself. Don't fret though, I will toss in the occasional long adventure every now and then. Thanks everyone who reads my stories! I love you all!

26 December 2013

Lessons Learned

Every morning that Alfie and May woke up they stretched and yawned and headed downstairs for breakfast. On the way down Alfie would always hit his head on the archway of the kitchen. This happened like clockwork every single morning. Every single morning he yelped in pain and every morning he rubbed the hurt spot and cursed the archway.

“Alfie, why do you hit your head every single morning. Don't you remember each day that it hurts” asks May to a grumpy Alfie.

“Of course I remember it hurts May but it is so low that I always end up hitting it. I ought to just rip out the archway and make room for my large head!”

May thought this was incredibly illogical and aimed to fix the Alfie Archway Incident the next morning. The next day, as routine, they awoke only this time May was ready. As Alfie groggily waltzed to the kitchen and headed straight for a painful head bump, May pushed Alfie's shoulders down just in time for him to miss hitting his head!

“May what in the world are you... hey! I didn't bump my head!” Alfie rubbed where he normally hit his head and was so delighted that for once he missed the archway.

And so this continued, Alfie went downstairs and May pushed his shoulders down so he wouldn't hit his head. They lived in humorous harmony except for when May went out of town.

27 December 2013

The Roly Poly

Roly Poly had a home across from the large lake at Clement Park. He sat in the grass everyday and munched on various types of delights with his family. He always dreamed of going to live by the great lake but he lived on the opposite side of the great cement walkway the people used.

One day Roly Poly decided he was grown up enough and packed his things. He kissed his mother and father and said goodbye to all his siblings. Once he said his goodbyes he began his journey. He crossed the anthill where he played as a kid. The ants there were nice because the people and other animals left plenty of food for them so they never tried to eat Roly Poly. The ants kindly gave him a piece of pretzel for his journey.

He soon came to the great cement walkway. He looked both ways and began to cross. As he was midway across he heard a loud whirring sound. There was only a jogger to the left, as long as he paid attention he could avoid the jogger. When he looked to the right he saw a gaggle of children the length of the sidewalk all of rollerblades. Roly Poly was terrified! The wheels would surely crush him! With quick wit, Roly Poly did his duty and rolled into a little ball and rolled into the crack of the sidewalk.

Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh! The children raced by, narrowly missing Roly Poly and really irritating the jogger. “Phew that was close!” he thought as he climbed out of the crack. The rest of his journey was without incident. He said hello to spider who let him pass as spider was waiting for his dinner to stop moving. He asked baby duck where the best water front property was that wouldn't flood and he sat with turtle for a minute while turtle decided when to run towards the lake.

Finally he was there. With his pretzel in hand, Roly Poly set up his bug chateau or cozy hole in the ground. He watched the sunset and dreamed of meeting his perfect multilegged girlfriend and the life they would share. He was in paradise!

28 December 2013

The Drop

“Okay men, it is time for our decent. In just 60 seconds you are each going to burst through that cloud and fall with as much as you can muster!” yelled the commander to his very chubby fleet.

“Sir yes sir!” yelled the chubsters in unison.

The cloud was swelling. The sky grew darker and darker with only bursts of lightening to fill the air and the drum of thunder rolling by. Any moment now and it would be time. Each one would be released through the cloud and their girth would surely make an impact. This wasn't a normal drop. No, this one was more extreme, there were more of them, the clouds were bigger and the static of lightening made the earth stand on edge.

“Okay guys now is the time! Go! Go! Go! MOVE! MOVE! MOVE!” the cloud opened up and each fat rain drop burst through the sky like the clouds themselves were falling. Mission complete, they saturated the dry and scorched earth for the beasts below.

Merry Christmas

As you take the next day to recover from the holidays and prepare for a new year, here are some stories to tide you over and keep you from being bored. I hope everyone had a wonderful Christmas and if you don't celebrate that then I hope you had a wonderful season!

21 December 2013

Winter Days Summer Dreams

Chilly feet and freezing breath,

Wood in the fireplace

And lots of warm sweaters,

These are signs of winter.

Snow falls and water freezes,

Christmas lights fill streets and shops,

Children sledding and husbands shoveling,

Surely winter is here.

The cold nips my ears and nose,

I bundle up so tight

And dream warm dreams

Of ocean breezes and sandy beaches.

My thoughts fill with summer

As my world is stuck in winter.

One more season to go

And summer will be at my door.

Oh how I can dream

And dream I will do

Until my thoughts are happy

And winter is over.

22 December 2013

The Girl

She sat at her window and looked out at the falling snow. The sight was beautiful as the heater roared and the fireplace crackled. As each flake fell she imagined it being a different thing. One group was football players wrestling a ball, she saw a cat playing with a tinsel toy and even ballerinas having the performance of their lives.

The cat and its tinsel rolled between football players. The ballerinas leaped between catches. The football players mingled with crowd. A snowy spectacle became an adventure. The football got thrown, a ballerina tipped it with her foot, the cat spun it to a score. Harmony in falling flakes.

“What are you doing my dear?” asked the mother to the girl.

“Oh nothing mommy, just watching the snow tell a tale only I can understand,” She replied as she began to imagine giants and toads and princes and giraffes all join in on the ballet football game of the falling snow.

23 December 2013

Words

Tools designed for minds.

Kind ones play notes in our ears,

Mean ones slice through us like ice.

Romantic words cast love,

Like little doves around our hearts.

Spirals of sentences surge through our brains

And spill out our mouths.

Mostly these words are meaningless,

Occasionally they are ruthless,

Often they can be thoughtful.

Our song is our power,

Our words are our sword.

We must use them well

For they are all we leave behind that is remembered.

24 December 2013

The Mouse and Sage

It was definitely the night before Christmas and all through the house not a creature was stirring except for the mouse and Sage. As her humans slept, Sage sat atop the stairs waiting for breakfast in the morning. It was the only time she was fed but she maybe could agree she had more spunk because of it. As she sat and waited she saw a flash of a shadow race across the room.

A toy maybe? Probably nothing but Sage was bored and she had better investigate before she fell asleep and dreamed of chicken flavored medallions. So down the steps she trotted to find this quick shadow. From one corner to the next, Sage found that this shadow was no toy, rather it was a mouse. Her humans would not be happy about there being a mouse and she delighted in hunting little beasts.

Her strong purr frightened the mouse yet it continued to race through the front room. Inch by inch she closed in on the mouse. What a fun toy it would be and what a tasty cheat of a treat it would be. The mouse was more cautious now as Sage grew closer. It ran faster, stayed still like a statue on occasion but Sage had time to plot an attack.

She waited, her giant green eyes trained on the mouse's every movement. Each flick of her tail was a dash of the mouse. She sat on her chubby belly and licked her lips. The moment was coming, the mouse was running past the box, Sage had finally positioned herself near the corner. Swoosh! Bam! One fine swipe of her paw and the mouse was gone. Sage pranced away with her prize in her teeth. She would play for a while then devour her treat. And to think, she didn't even have to put on a great chase.

25 December 2013

What Is Color?

It was Christmas and the children played with their gifts. Amy had gotten a slew of gifts but her favorite was the stain glass ornament her grandmother had made. It sparkled so brightly in the bright winter sun and cast color all around the room. She was so excited to share her gift and ran to tell her cousin Kolby.

Kolby was born blind. He had never seen anything in his life. Amy knew this and Kolby was her favorite cousin because of this. She told him what the word looked like and he loved her silly descriptions. With a great leap, Amy jumped on Kolby and welcomed him to her house for Christmas.

“Look Kolby! Grammy made me a pretty stain glass ornament! It is so pretty and shines all the colors of the rainbow all around the house when I hold it up to the window,” Amy was so excited about her new gift she forgot Kolby could not see it and frankly had no clue what a rainbow was.

“Amy, what is color?” asked Kolby to his suddenly dumbstruck cousin.

“Well...” Amy had to think. What was color? She can't just say blue or purple. She can't tell him it is what makes black and white more interesting. Finally she came up with an answer, “color is what my eyes make to fill in the space of things around us. It makes the warmth of the sun warmer. It makes the chill of the ice colder. It is passion and pain. Color is love and royalty. Color is how my brain makes sense of the world. You see cousin, color is for those of us with eye sight but you have mind sight. When you feel that soft sweater, I see the striking color it brings out in Aunt Lilian's eyes. When you smell the flowers in my mommy's vase I see the flush that fills your cheeks. Color is everything and yet nothing at all because those of us who see, see it differently. Color is what we make it.”

“That was beautiful cousin. I may not understand what color is but I understand your joy and spirit in enjoying that vision. Your warmth and brilliance fill my mind with what I 'see' as color,” replied Kolby. He was thrilled to share a misunderstanding with his dear cousin. They played all day. Amy described every gift she received and Kolby imagined what each one was. He even thought that maybe he could think of the colors.

Winter is coming...

No really it is. This weekend. Hope my stories keep you warm! They are a little quirky this post.

15 December 2015

Brax the Troublemaker

Brax was an elf that loved Christmas. He loved Christmas so much that he he often got into trouble while trying to make others enjoy it. He made an ice rink in the front yard of grumpy old Mr. Thompson's yard to make him smile, except Mr. Thompson slipped and twisted his ankle. Brax left glass ornaments at cranky Mrs. Smith's door. She walked out her door and slid around on the round ornaments, breaking them all. Brax even filled shy Aria's house with ribbon getting her tangled and trapped in her house all day!

“Brax!” everyone would yell at the kindhearted, troublesome elf.

“I just want to help all enjoy Christmas. Why can't I get it right?” Brax was so sad that he kept ruining the holidays for all the unhappy people of the world. He walked away kicking the snow and kicked it right into the face of tiny little Eloise.

“Hey! Watch where you're walking! I am building a snowman and you're kicking my snow... why do you look so sad?” She asked with a quizzical look on her face.

Now Brax felt even worse, “Oh I just can't stop ruining everyone's day! Now I ruined yours. I just want people to love Christmas as much as I do but they call me Brax the Troublemaker because I just cause accidents instead. I give up. I am going back to the North Pole. Santa can use me I suppose.”

“Oh silly elf don't go back up to the North Pole! You mean well you just have to learn how to not be so destructive. I have an idea. Let's make snowmen on everyone's yard! That will bring Christmas joy and not get in anyone's way,” Eloise was so excited to have a friend, she was always alone but not anymore.

“That is a great plan Eloise thank you for helping me be a nicer elf,” Brax and Eloise spent the entire day making snowmen for entire town. When everyone woke up Christmas morning they were overjoyed to see the pretty surprises on their lawn. From that day forward Brax and Eloise would spend the holidays bringing happiness and joy to everyone they met without causing any trouble.

16 December 2013

Paris My Love

The City of Love,

That is what they call you.

A cultural mecca,

The capital of fashion.

I fell in love with you

When my eyes rest on your tower.

My breath was forever taken

By the view from atop.

The gargoyles of Notre Dame,

The enormous Arc de Triomphe,

Your historic cafes,

Your museum holding the Venus.

My admiration for you grew fonder,

My dreams of visiting greater.

I will see you again

Paris, my love.

17 December 2013

The Very Short Story of a Cat and Her Box

The cat awoke from her deep slumber. She sauntered down the stairs to scheme as cats do. Near the door she found a box. A box just for her, it must be for cats adore cardboard, especially when it is upright as a box. She looked left. She looked right. No one was around. No one was in sight. The cat leaped into the box with little noise and gracious effort. Once inside, she circled once, she circled twice, she circled three times until the box felt just right. Into a ball she curled for a long cat nap. Comfort was key and comfortable she would be. The end.

18 December 2013

The Piglet and the Bee

Piglet was a happy little pink baby. He loved to roll in the mud each morning and sniffed the daisies each evening. His mother was often busy with his brothers and sisters. There were so many of them that once piglet was fed he would spend the day frolicking in the green meadow near his farm. It was his favorite part of the day!

One afternoon he heard a humming sound and decided to investigate. The sound came from his favorite patch of daisies. As he got closer he saw a single little bee. A busy bee who buzzed and buzzed. Piglet could not understand the little bee and its buzzing as the bee could not understand the piglet's oinking.

Piglet was fascinated with this tiny black and yellow flying insect. The bee was a busy creature. A very hard worker and piglet loved watching it. Everyday, piglet would return to his daisies and watch the little bee as it danced around the flowers. This bee was ambitious and inspired piglet to be so as well. And this was the friendship of the piglet and the bee. Though never understanding of each other, they always returned to keep the other company in the daisies of the meadow.

19 December 2013

The Circle

The sun brings light. The clouds bring rain. With the rain and sun comes life. The flowers blossom, feeding birds, insects and animals alike. They live in harmony with warm breezes and cool rains. This is the time of life. Animals have their babies and trees sprout new leaves. Everything is young and fresh.

With life there has to be death. The air cools to a chill. The rains stop and trees start to lose their leaves. The petals on flowers wilt and leave only stems. Soon the snow comes and freezes everything that has browned. This is a bleak time. All the animals hide and even the sun doesn't like to come out.

When the frost begins to melt, we start to see new life. One little bud bursts through the ground surrounded by snow and we feel the fainest touches of hope. With each beginning comes and ending but with each end we have new beginnings. No matter what there is always hope for as long as that little bud can overcome winter's chill, then life shall forge ahead.

20 December 2013

Boy Meets Girl

Boy meets girl. Boy hires girl. Boy does not like girl. Girl does not like boy. Both boy and girl quit and move on. A few years later boy meets girl again. Boy has become a man and sees girl has become a woman. Man takes woman out for sushi and man falls in love with woman.

Woman loves man and he buys her a little home. Woman goes to Florida with man. Man presents woman with a pretty ring and takes her to see the dolphins. Man marries woman and they devote theirs lives to each other with more affection than ever before.

Man and woman sell their little home and buy a new home together, a big home. Man and woman fall even more in love. Man takes woman to Paris, a dream she has always had. Soon, man and woman have babies. Little boys and girls that are visions of man and woman. Man and woman grow old together and love each other like they are still a young boy and girl. Man and woman live happily ever after always loving the story of how the boy had met the girl.

Fear Will Not Defeat Us For It Can Only Make Us Stronger

I thought very long and hard about my post to day and if I would even make a post today at all. I am an extremely sensitive person. You might hear about someone being hurt or dying and think "Wow that is sad" but for me emotional things, happy or sad, throw me into extremes. I feel overwhelming grief at sad things and overwhelming joy at happy things. I feel blessed to have these feelings but the past two days have been very rough for me emotionally.

On Thursday, 12 December 2013, I was informed by a childhood friend that the son of our girl scout leader had committed suicide. His name was Andy Aunkst and he had a form of autism called aspergers. I grew up with his family and my heart aches so badly for what they are going through. The Aunkst family are simply amazing people and so full of love. I pray for them to find peace and solace in such a difficult time.

The very next day, 13 December 2013, was the shooting at Arapahoe High School. My heart was so heavy all day over it. I remember the fear I had when Columbine happened. My school was on lock down. My substitute teacher that day had a daughter at Columbine who thankfully was one of the first out. My life was forever changed by that. Fear and schools are not two things that should go together but sadly we live in a world that makes them coexist. To hear about the shooting and remembering the Aurora Theater shooting, Columbine and the Deer Creek Middle School shooting have really left me wondering why we live this way and what can be done to change this.

Today, 14 December 2013, marks the one year anniversary of the Sandy Hook Elementary school shooting that took the lives of 6 brave adults and 20 innocent children. This was the first time in my life that I have ever questioned God. I couldn't work. I couldn't eat. I sat in bed for days and cried. I cry now thinking of so much tragedy, senseless tragedy at that. I no longer question my faith. I understand things happen we can't control and we cannot break ourselves over trying to understand the madness of another. we just can't those 26 people are in peace and will forever remain as a symbol of hope and love.

These horrible, horrible things have made me a stronger person. Most of this stuff hasn't personally affected me but it has been a learning tool for me. I make everyday count with those that I love now. I am thankfully everyday that I am breathing and can make a difference to someone. I get angry less, I smile more, I try new things. I live because to me it is selfish not to. We have the opportunity to make every second count. Those of us alive right now, no matter your situation, have to live because it is a slap in the face of those who had their lives tragically cut short and to those who have survived these horrors. We owe it to all of them to stand up to fear and soak up all the world and life has to offer.

I dedicate this post mostly to Sandy Hook but also to the victims of the other shootings. I would also like to give a shout out to +Kristen Long. She is truly an inspirational person. She survived Columbine and is by far one of the strongest and most incredible women I have ever met. Currently she is helping her boyfriends daughter,who attends Arapahoe High School as a freshman I believe, deal with the aftermath of the Arapahoe shooting. I have so much respect for her and I feel honored and blessed to call Kristen my friend. This post is for you Kristen.

11 December 2013

Cricket

Cricket dances in the evening light. He plays his jig and tells us the air is warm. The tune he plays with his legs invites us to enjoy the cool summer nights. He practices his sensational hits each morning and, lucky for us, he perfects them each night. Cricket is the grand master of the summer symphony but he is not alone.

Cricket is a Casanova. We hear his songs as melodies to remind us the long days are a joy but we are not who cricket plays for. The quick whistle of his stringy legs are a serenade for his mate. A dance he plays to entice a companion.

He sees her there across the grass. Elegant and graceful as she is, he takes his cue and dances along the cement. Each strum of his instrument is a calculated move. Left, right, forward, sideways, he mesmerizes her with his quickening pace, all the while delighting us as his tune gets faster.

Closer and closer they get until finally they meet. She inspires him now to play his greatest song. The melody of summer. Crickets song gives us joy. His greatest talent though is serenading the night but never giving away the secret that is inspired by his love.

12 December 2013

Friends

My mom, your mom,

They are not the same.

My dad, your dad,

Never have they even met.

Yet here we are,

The best of friends.

My sister in heart,

Not close to being blood,

But thicker each day,

A bond unlike any other.

Created by commonalities,

Strengthened by comraderie.

I have felt your bliss,

You have helped me grieve.

Our laughter brought us close,

But our tears solidified us.

Friends through it all,

Even the bad,

I am grateful to have you,

My friend, my sister.

13 December 2013

In Our Darkness Comes The Light

Our world can be so cold,

So dark,

So bleak.

Death within our reach,

Destruction around each turn.

We hate and murder.

We destroy all that is beautiful.

Hope is obsolete.

But in the dark our eyes adjust,

We can see the break of light,

The soldier for optimism,

The reminder that life is still there.

So steer your gaze from the dark,

And feel joy of light.

Tomorrow brings new beginnings

And a chance for a better day.

14 December 2013

Innocence

Long ago, when gods and beasts ruled the land, Innocence was born. She sprang from the barren earth through a crack of the land after one sad fairy cried. That tear created something new and naïve about the world that none had seen before.

Innocence gave new life and meaning to the otherwise brutal world. She saw beauty in the rarest of places and never judged the creatures of earth. No matter the situation, Innocence could always find a reason to smile. The world was ready for Innocence but Evil would ascend upon her and change the world.

Evil was a wretched beast who bred Hate and Revenge. Hate and Revenge caused chaos across the lands and destroyed everything in their paths. Innocence had championed many destructions but Hate and Revenge were too powerful. Confused and sad by Hate and Revenge, Innocence crumbled into ash. Evil then approached and lit the ash of fire creating Depravity.

Depravity, Hate, Revenge and Evil ruled the land now and Innocence was gone. The fairies were now devastated after finding new beauty in such a cruel world. Their tears were unstoppable. The beasts tried to stomp them out but the tears had flowed. Innocence came back but not alone. There were many of her. She could be destroyed all the same but never gone for good because for every bad thing the beasts brought the earth Innocence came back to remind everyone how good life could be.

R.I.P. To the victims of Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting. This story is in your honor. Gone but never forgotten: Charlotte Bacon, Daniel Barden, Rachel Davino, Olivia Engel, Josephine Gay, Ana M. Marquez-Greene, Dylan Hockley, Dawn Hochsprung, Madeleine F. Hsu, Catherine V. Hubbard, Chase Kowalski, Jesse Lewis, James Mattioli, Grace McDonnell, Anne Marie Murphy, Emilie Parker, Jack Pinto, Noah Pozner, Caroline Previdi, Jessica Rekos, Avielle Richman, Lauren Rousseau, Mary Sherlach, Victoria Soto, Benjamin Wheeler, Allison N. Wyatt.

 “Yesterday is history, tomorrow is a mystery, today is a gift of God, which is why we call it the present.”
― Bil Keane