Friday, April 29, 2005
Writing a Novel
For me, writing a novel is like doing a jigsaw puzzle.
I start, seeing the picture, on the cover of the box.
Then the long process of sorting all the little pieces begins.
I create the framework around the edges, and fill in the gaps.
There are times when the work is frustratingly slow,
when I cant get even one little piece to fit.
Yet each piece offers the thrill of achievment.
I can get so absorbed in a puzzle.
When the effort means nothing, to anyone but me.
Thursday, April 28, 2005
Take your child to work day
Yesterday was take your child to work day.
My son (7) idolizes his Dad.
He went to bed crying, crying, crying...
"Whats the matter baby?"
"I want to sleep in YOUR BED, where Daddy Sleeps." (sniffle)
I offered to put him in the middle, where he sleeps after nightmares, or thunderstorms.
But that was not good enough
The crying continued.
"Whats the matter now baby?"
"I want to be on Daddy's side, by his alarm clock, so I can wake up and go to work."
How sweet.
My little guy was taking this event SO SERIOUSLY.
The next moring he mimicked his fathers every move.
Getting up early, showering, doing his hair, dressing professionally.
Adorable.
Absolutly Adorable.
When they came home, my daughter explained that she attended four "breakout Sessions" and learned about "The World of Work", "Dress for Success", "How to write checks and balance a checkbook" and "A lesson in Diversity."
She proudly said,
"Diversity is:
First we are Different
Then we are the same
Then we come together."
I liked that.
Perfect?
">Link http://www.wellnessforum.com/kidshealth.html
Large Audience. Nice Crowd.
The topic was "Changing old habits and creating new ones."
I covered all the steps, but put the focus on Loving Yourself.
The way I see it is:
You are not going to put effort into improving yourself if you dont love yourself first.
I told the audience to chase away that little voice: the one that self critisizes.
I said:
Remember The Andy Griffith Show?
I loved Aunt Bea.
What if Aunt Bea was recast, and they put Julia Roberts in the role?
Andy might like that (LOL)
But it would not be the same.
So dont look in the mirror and beat yourself up. Love yourself for who you are.
Aunt Bea was not perfect.
Neither are you.
But Aunt Bea WAS the perfect Aunt Bea.
Often, it was her flaws that revealed her charm.
You too, are loved because of who you are, flaws included.
So love yourself.
Honor yourself.
Know that you are here for a reason,
and that the world needs you to be exactly who you are,
Not who you are not.
Tuesday, April 26, 2005
Our Pal Petey
It's been a year since I had him put down.
Best dog I EVER had.
Sweet, quiet, tolerant...
Just like Lassie.
But the neighbors were fear stricken.
Filled with media hype.
Ohio law labels him "Dangerous and Viscious"
just because of his looks.
So sad.
Some are dangerous, I know.
But can we say that all Black men are dangerous because they represent the highest violent crime rates and statistics?
NO!
In the 40's The Sheperds were feared.
They represented the Nazi SS Police dogs.
Then it was the Dobermans
crazed by inbreeding...they said
Next it was the Rottweillers
The devil dog from The Omen Movies
Now its the Bully Breeds
Any mutt that is part of any of the ten bull dog breeds, is called a Pitt Bull.
and lumped into one statistical group.
It makes the numbers look bad,
until you seperate them in the same way we do for other breeds.
Society wants to exterminate them all.
Good ol' Petey.
Our Friend and family pet
We miss you much.
Look out folks...
Your dog might be next.
Fun with...
It don't cost a dime.
May the following pictures inspire you to make the most of every moment!
Carpe Diem!!!!!!
My Pacifica
Monday, April 25, 2005
Sunday, April 24, 2005
A Great Teacher is a Rare and Extaordinary Gift
Oh mortal son of valor and grace
I wept at your passing.
Nine feet tall with a granite base
You were an Idol to us all.
“Reach Out! Climb High!
Push Beyond all Limitation!”
The cry from your schoolroom pulpit
Nurtured hope in a thousand faces.
Dignity with purpose
Beauty found through Love
Strength honed beyond the veil of fear
Were the lessons you spoke of.
You opened the door and bid us all
To pass beyond the veil.
To go beyond our limits.
And reach for the Holy Grail.
Handy Latin Phrases
Whatever is said in Latin sounds profound
Canis meus id comedit
My dog ate it
Cogito ergo sum
I think, therefore I am
Cogito ergo doleo
I think, therefore I am depressed
Vah! Denuone latine loquebar? Me ineptum. Interdum modo elabitur.
Oh! Was I speaking Latin again? Silly me. Sometimes it just sort of slips out.
Dic mihi solum facta, domina
Just the facts, ma'am
Certe, toto, sentio nos in kansate non iam adesse
You know, Toto, I have a feeling we're not in Kansas anymore
Me transmitte sursum, caledoni
Beam me up, Scotty
Wednesday, April 20, 2005
The Divine Message from Burbon Street
In real life, I'm pretty happy go lucky, and I dont even think about this stuff too much.
I guess I have just been effected by the media.
The Terri Schaivo case,
The Election of the Pope,
The DaVinci code hype, and
The Red State / Blue State religious debates that have all been saturating the American press.
On top of that, I am constantly being confronted by Christians.
I live in a country that is dominated by this group. They are Everywhere. Their churches are on every corner, they are the teachers in our schools, they saturate the political scene, they send flyers in the mail, and they even have the audacity to knock on my door!
Not that I mind what they worship. For the most part, they are all really nice people. Heck, I even married one! (He's a GREAT guy, by the way.)
It's just that thing about their "duty" to convert everybody else that bothers me.
I'm offended by this. I mean, its not like they want to objectivly discuss religion, or seek truth, They just want me to shut up and conform to THEIR view.
For example:
When I was on vacation last month, I went to New Orleans.
I was walking through the French Quarter and stopped to listen to a group of street musicians playing some really good jazz.
I donated a dollar, and the sax player asked me to buy their CD.
"Thanks, but not today."
He replied that the profits were for a Christian childrens fund. He said "You do want to support the church and help the children, DON'T YOU??? You ARE a Christian, ARNT YOU???"
"No. I'm not a member of any religion, but I'm more of a Taoist than a Christian."
"Taoist? I aint never heard of that."
"It's an Eastern philosophy that finds wisdom in nature, and values simplicity." I said, without going into detail.
He looked at me as if I had just landed from Mars.
"When it comes to the teachings of Jesus, You better learn or you gonna Burn, Honey. Dat be all I know. You hear me girl? You better learn or you gonna burn."
Hmmm. Yea, I hear ya.
Blind faith and fear based doctrine.
The divine message from Burbon Street.
Got that, loud and clear.
Tuesday, April 19, 2005
Ten
This weekend, my daughter turned Ten.
We held a party that just would not end.
Eight little girls full of sugar and color,
Testing the patience of an old tired mother.
The night grew late as I tucked them in bed,
Knowing whispers and giggles would soon lay ahead.
Every so often I would peek in the room
Thinking “Surely they will all fall asleep soon.”
I dozed on the couch until well after One
Listening to them, and enjoying their fun.
By two I told them in a motherly voice
“Play time is over, you don’t have a choice.”
At three I was rousted when the dog jumped on my face
Leading me down to the kitchen, the girls were raiding the place.
Four O’Clock came with my sweet little Zach,
Who kicks in his sleep like mule who attacks.
At five, I woke up to five little girl faces,
Screaming “Alex threw up…In two different places!”
At six I was ready to go back to bed
Feeling quite certain that I was already dead
When I passed through the kitchen, and looked at the cake
That I had so happily and lovingly baked,
It summed up my feelings
And made my heart ache.
This vision before me was a true work of art
Sweet sugary goodness that was falling apart!
The Rejection Letter
I spent the day in a wonderfully musty, creaky floored, rare books store. It was a comfy womb of wonderment and treasures.
I came across an old handbook for writers, and read a few lines. The author instructed that writers must expect rejection letters, but that there is a difference between the pink slip rejection and the hand written rejection.
He said that pink slips infer that the writing is not good, but hand written rejections are a sign that the writing is solid, and that the work should be submitted to other publishers and agents.
Well, today’s little miracle is that I came home to a hand written rejection letter.
How cool is that! I read just what I needed to read exactly at the moment I needed it.
Coincidence? I think not.
The dreaded Query letter
I have written a story for you to peruse, while you sit on
the loo.
I hope it moves you, but if not, consider it a replacement for
charmin.
Sincerely,
Kelley Bell
Political Affilation
I support the notion of small government and capitalism, but I am venomously against any organization that attempts to legislate morality.
As an educated, responsible, thinking, voting age adult, I resent any attempts by government, industry or religious institutions to parent me.
I will make those decisions myself, with careful consideration to all relevant issues, in a manner far superior to that which any cookie cutter legislation could ever attempt to offer, thank you very much.
Monday, April 18, 2005
The Woman in Red
Strange how the symbolism has been changed.
Thinking about it makes me see red!
A question for Catholic Women:
With all due respect, how long are you going to continue putting your support behind an organization that does not allow women to vote?
Come on girls, The Cardinals are all voting and maneuvering for political power right now in the conclave.
Why not follow their example and use your power to boycot this inequity.
Band together and demand a voice!
Mary would.
Thursday, April 14, 2005
Thought for today
-Margaret Sanger