Tag Archives: creativity

Mystery Blogger Award

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mystery-blog-award

Yippee! I was nominated for something! Thank you Andrei for giving me this challenge!

Okay, three things about me – I’m not much of a mystery. Since I wear my heart on my sleeve, what you see is what you get (for better or worse). I have published two novels, No Hill for a Stepper in 2011 and The Last Bordello in 2016. I have a third novel, The Moonshine Thicket, that is ready to be sent out to an agent but, so far, my finger can’t seem to press the “send” button. Another thing about me – I’m a pacifist but when I get to the gym, I plunk on my boxing gloves and pound the crap out of the pads the trainer holds for me.

Favorite blog posts?  A Gift to Frame is one of my favorites. It’s awesome knowing that someone enjoyed my novel so much, they wrote me a hand-written letter. My very favorite was/is Remembering Who You Are. It includes a letter written by my sister for my milestone birthday. I also have a lot of fun going through my old journals, scanning various pages, and posting them in Raw Journal Kernels.

Okay, now on to answering Andrei’s questions:

  1. What makes you bored?

I don’t really get bored. If I do it’s because my creative juices have either been used up or are on short supply. Might mean I need an adult beverage or a nap.

2. What is my favorite pastime and why?

Spending time with my children and grandchildren. Why? Because I love them with every once of my being.

3. What is that one thing you would happily do again?

Helicopter rides are out. Hot air ballon ride? Nope. But I would happily return to Italy. I love the culture —  the art, the artitechure, the food and mostly the people (who say what they mean and mean what they say). I studied Italian for over 4 years but I have forgotten SO much.

4. What is your favorite body part of the human body and why?

I could be snarky and ask for which gender. But I realize it doesn’t matter. Eyes. The eyes tell me all.

5. (Weird Question) If you were a bird, who would you sh*t on?

That’s a tough one. I’ve heard that it’s good luck to have a bird poop on your head . So if that’s true, the red cardinal would poop on the head of my kids and grandkids.

But, if it’s NOT good luck,  I would gladly take a mighty Turkey Vulture dump on any politician that does NOT speak out against racism.

 

Now, for my nominations: It was hard to choose since I have so many cyber friends. For now, I nominate:

 Cindy       GC     PuppyDoc

Here are my questions:

  1. If you could go back to one of your favorite pastimes in your childhood, what would it be?
  2. When you close your eyes, which of your favorite landscapes do you see? Describe.
  3. If you could make peace with someone in from your past, who would it be and why? (no need for a name)
  4. If someone wanted to recreate you from a recipe, what ingredients would they need?
  5. (Weird question) Can you tie a cherry stem using only your tongue?

 

WHAT IS MYSTERY BLOGGER AWARD?

“Mystery Blogger Award” is an award for amazing bloggers with ingenious posts. Their blog not only captivates; it inspires and motivates. They are one of the best out there, and they deserve every recognition they get. This award is also for bloggers who find fun and inspiration in blogging; and they do it with so much love and passion.– Okoto Enigma

RULES

  1. Put the award logo/image on your blog
  2. List the rules.
  3. Thank whoever nominated you and provide a link to their blog.
  4. Mention the creator of the award and provide a link as well
  5. Tell your readers 3 things about yourself
  6. You have to nominate people
  7. Notify your nominees by commenting on their blog
  8. Ask your nominees any 5 questions of your choice; with one weird or funny question (specify)
  9. Share a link to your best post(s)

The Magic In-Between

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You know that state when you’re laying in bed? When you’re not asleep but not awake, and thoughts or images pop up from seemingly no where? Do you try to grab them before they slip away and make yourself remember?

I had one last night. But before I tell you this one, I’ll tell you one from the past.

During one– in particular– in-between, I caught a word, a name. “O. R. -something”, last name “Ryan.” So, of course, the next day, I made a search of O.R. Ryan. I kept looking until Orion appeared. Orion’s belt? I’d heard of it.

I didn’t know anything about stars except to look at them! Like I did that night before.

The next day, after telling my friend about what I found in my in-between, he said, “Yes, you can see Orion’s Belt clearly now from your backyard.”

I had been staring at Orion’s belt thinking about anything but the constellation.

But Orion had thought of me.

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Last night, I saw an arched light blue wooden door. From my perspective, it appeared about five feet away from me. Like Mr. O. Ryan, there was no feeling attached to this door. Since I’m terribly interested in my in-between, I searched for a photo.  It looked sort of like this, same color, same perspective, but without the ivy.

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This door lives in Ireland, not the top of my bucket list of places to visit, nor the bottom.

So now I’m thinking. Did I write a poem, some analogy about a door? If I did, I’ll find it.

When you hear the whisper of magic in your in-between, grab it. It will tell you something. You just have to pay attention.

 

I looked, but found something better

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I found a treasure instead. My piano, “Three-Legged Dog”, a 1917 parlor-grand Steinway piano, helped me write this poem for her coming-out, coming home party in 2000.

We celebrated her arrival in 1920’s costume and music.

She was born in Chicago in 1917, went to New York, was renovated, and settled in my living room many decades later.

So, here she is, my Three-Legged Dog, sharing her poem.

(I would scan the original  poem but, I’m happy to say, red wine stains cover some of the words. So I’ve retyped.)

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Well, I’ve seen a lot of changes 

many looks on many faces

But I’m wondering what you think of me tonight.

So I stand here in my glory

many years and many stories

And I hope to shed for you a little light.

So looking back, we’re sorting

we begin the process courting

of a kinship to discover varied pasts

And I hope that you will find me

just a little more enlightening

than the accumulation of years gone by too fast.

My insides renovated

many hands participated

in the making of this body – Parlor Grand

I’ve been sheltered, I’ve been trampled

left behind and gently sampled

But I’m balanced on these three legs where I stand.

Have you seen me at my low times

or my even just-for-show times?

Can you tell when I need company by sight?

Let me do some rearranging 

’cause the times, they keep on changing

So I’m wondering what you think of me tonight.

In front of you I’m standing

so proud of parlor granding

and though it seems you haven’t known me very long

I’ll keep us entertaining 

for the years that are remaining

’cause the bond I have with you is very strong.

So, I’ll be here ready for you

and I’ll try hard not to bore you

I’m  lucky and I thank the stars above

And I’ll be open, you will hear me

it’s my fortune if you’re near me —

CD-W, 10-24-2000

(or is this me I’m really speaking of?)

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