Finally Friday is here

I feel as if I've lived Friday three times over this week.
Am I in a time warp, destined to feel the same day... over and over?

Today is not such a bad day. I've got my orders ready for tomorrow finished. And am ahead of the incoming week. Good for ole SherBear!

That's what my brother calls me. SherBear
Al used to call me that too. But my brother's called me that the longest.

Al...his birthday is June 11. A part of me keeps saying to send him a card or note, but I know if I do, he'll think I want him back and it will only hurt him in the end.

Even though it's been 5 years, I still have things to resolve about him. But they are things I can do alone. So if I mention him here, just realize that its beause he's on my mind...not because he's in my heart. He's not anymore...at least not in a room with an open door.

I stuck him and the clutter from our past together into a cigarbox. He's on a shelf somewhere, gathering dust and mildew.

Enough of the past... it's a holiday weekend here. I'll work tomorrow but plan to be lazy Sunday and Monday. I'm sure I'll find time to slip in here and dribble a thought across the pages.

Thirstday

...so I'm having a drink of water and a smile.

Today is Thursday but it feels like Friday.

Since Mom's been at my house on 'off' days, my week has been turned upside down. Her fiance, John had hip replacement surgery last week and has been in a rehab center in Fayetteville. He's due back home tomorrow. Mom will stay with him then.

I've got to work Saturday, so there goes a trip to the beach. A friend of mine asked if I wanted to go to Wilmington. The down-side is that she's leaving Friday afternoon late and staying until Monday afternoon. Sorry but I don't want to be there that long. I need my quiet time on Sunday. I'm used to having a quiet afternoon then.

Let's see...what's up with me...

I'm reading Stephen King's book On Writing. Excellent read. I recommend it to all writers. I think that man can take any topic and make it entertaining.

My poetry book's edited and ready to slip back to the publisher. Someone asked me why PA? Why go with a print-on-demand company? Why? Well for one thing, its easy to do. And it puts my favorite poems in a book, one that family and friends can enjoy. One that I can show off. And another reason is that having a published book might make it easier to get a better publishing deal, if I decide to pursue it. I look at it as adding a knotch on my resume.
(Grin)


I watched the final Lord of The Rings Movie--Return of the King last night. Greatness! Complete perfection! I've ordered the books from half.com and they're on the way here. I had a complete set but gave them to Allen. He read them over and over during the 4 years we were together.

The Captain's Verses by Pablo Neruda came today. I can't wait to take a long drink of his poems. It is Thirstday and if anyone can quench a thirst, it is Pablo Neruda.

:)

Hat Day

Dad dared me to do something today. We actually had a good laugh over it. He was sitting at the front, watching people park their cars--which can be entertaining because downtown Lumberton has parallel parking. Three elderly ladies got out of a car. All had on straw hats. Two of the hats looked great. But the other one...she had on a gold and rust dress with a magenta straw hat. It was ghastly.

Dad said, "Sherrie, put on one of your hats and walk down the street with them."

I laughed and said, "Ok."

He looked surprised, "You're gonna do it??"

As an answer, I grabbed a black bowler type felt hat with a huge yellow sunflower on it. Walked outside and mingled with them. They were looking at the pictures in our window. Then we strolled down the street. One kept looking at me, as if I were strange. I think it was my outfit. I have on a brightly colored tie-dye shirt of yellow, orange, red, blue and purple with mesh nylon pants--black with a white pin stripe and black loafer type moccassins on. I definitely looked like a hippy. Groovy Baby! I walked with them into the men's store right beside us and I wish you could have seen Wes's (the son of the owners) face. It was priceless. I turned around and came back to the studio. Dad was howling with laughter.

When the ladies drove off, I put on the hat and went next-door. I asked Wes which of us won the best hat contest.

He said, "You did."

"But what about the magenta hat? Didn't she look prettier."

"The pink hat was cool. But you still win the best hat contest. The yellow flower gives you an edge."

I smiled. "Don't you mean my tie-dye shirt?"

He grinned, "Yeah, I do."

So it's official folks, I won the Best Hat Award on Hat Day.

Tarot

I've studied Tarot cards for over two years now.
And I'm still learning about the card daily.
My favorite deck is the Universal Rider-Waite-Smith Deck.
The images are more colorful and not so orangy as the regular RWS deck.

Below is a sample reading I did for my friend Sam on May 12. He said I could post it and his remarks.
~ ~ ~~ ~
Card pulled for Reading: The Six of Wands—This is a victory card! Very positive.

Your Past—The Page of Cups: He brings messages of new love or rekindling an old love.
Your Now—The Empress: A seed planted sprouts and will bear fruit.
The King of Wands crosses the Empress. (He is a married man, kind and full of ideas. A man of power who delegates duties—maybe your boss? He could be the man behind your success. Or… he’s pregnant. The Empress is fertile.)
Your future—The Two of Pentacles: Trying to juggle more than one thing, trying to find a balance. Though this is difficult, you do it with jovially.
The environment of the Future—The Chariot: Sheer force of will drives your destiny. You are in control of your path. This is an action card and it tells me that you have control of your destiny.
Your outcome card—The Three of Pentacles: This card is about planning, working together as a group. It can also mean that you are applying what you’ve learned and venturing on your own in a new enterprise.
(my note to him: Sam, how's this reading? I'm in doubt tonight.)
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
His Reply:
DO NOT DOUBT!

That said, the reading was absolutely frickin' perfect.
to whit; I have just spent 1000 dollars to get some comics graded so I can begin to sell some on ebay. I got this idea from the guy I have been working for. He's having a little difficulty because he went a little overboard so he's used me very sparingly over the last couple of months, and he not only suggested that in essence I become his competition, he actually got me a deal worked out with the grading company that is exactly the same
as his. I am trying to do more than one thing at this time. I'm doing that, working the shops like normal but have also begun selling some regular comics online at this point to start the re-couping of the monies already put out. I'm excited so I am happy. :)

Shrek 2

JS,a friend of mine stopped by to chat for a few mins today.
He took his son to see Shrek 2 and said that

"there are jokes especially for you... I won't ruin it for you...but you'll know...the line...'I don't have anything to rub'...I couldn't help but think of you when I heard it. ;)"

Guess I'll have to go see it now. Thanks J for the heads up!

Tired Girl

The reunion was fun. Everything went smoothly and...
Mom and I are in charge of it again next year. No one would volunteer to take over for next year.

I don't mind, in a way. I've got the addresses and the forms saved to a file in my PC at home.

This year, Granny and I didn't drive over to the old cemetery to check on the graves there. Several of her newborn babies are buried there, along with my Grandfather. It's a small cemetery on a little hill.

I'm very tired today. As usual, I was elected to take all the kids outside for a game of dodge ball. I was the one who was tossing the beach ball at them. William and one of the other boys, Eric I think, wanted to go into the wooded area. But I told them it had snakes, spiders and tigers in it. That kept them away but... it scared Ben and little Avery, a boy that ironically is in Ben's class. While William and Eric played tag, the little ones and I stood before the wooded area and shouted, "We aren't afraid of tigers." Then we would growl.

It was really hot out, even in the shaded area we were playing in. I wore sandals with 2 inch inches... not good for playing in. Today my feet are sore. And I feel washed out. I probably got too hot.

A part of me whispers that I'm tired from the aftermath of being stressed out all month. That could be true. I think I need a good 9 hours of solid sleep.

An interesting side note--outside the church in two different areas were dragonflies. One group was at the side entrance. They were blue and swarming around. Ben and I counted 10. Then at a tree close to the highway was a huge swarm of green dragonflies. We couldn't count them all. I'm assuming it's mating season. I've never seen so many in one place. I took some pictures. I'll have to make a photo album on my website.

I have a few other things to write about if I don't forget. I'll try to get to them by tomorrow.

Poet Vs Writer

Duality is something I fight daily.
I am a Libra/Scorpio--my head and my heart are always in conflict.
So is the poet and writer inside of me.
I've worn my poetry hat for the last 5 months
and now my writer's hat is dying to slip on my head.
Maybe that's why I've been struggling to write poetry of late.
Because I have stories inside, fighting to get on paper.

Hopefully, my poetry book will be ready to send back to PA by Monday or Tuesday at the latest. Once its submitted, I can sit back and work on my prose, until I've written out the stories that need to find life and

breathe.

22nd Cox Family Reunion

...is tomorrow!
Since my Mom and I have been in charge of it this year,
I've had to devote much energy towards it this month.
Once it's over, I can hand the baton over to someone else
and not worry about it for another 3 years.

Firefly

I saw the first firefly of summer last night.
uh oh... I feel a poem coming. Should I run?

Find the Dogs

I've looked and looked but didn't find them.

If anyone can...please tell me where they are!!!!

FIND THE DOGS

A Stranger sent me a Quote

I have no idea who sent this quote to my 'junkmail acct.' The acct was from excite.com. When I replied, the email was returned with a notice that said, "user not Known." There wasn't any other context or any fishy looking links, only the quote.

Violet Winspear wrote many Harlequinn Romance Novels under various aliases. I started reading them at 15 and stopped at 17. I moved on to Stephen King. haha Anyway, here's the quote:

"To be the center of another person's existence is the perfect dream, and the romantic novel sets out to provide this dreamlike experience. The reader is no fool. She has the security of husband, lover, or career, but deep in most feminine (and masculine) hearts there is this dream of being loved until the end of time, with a great and caring passion that never falters."

-Violet Winspear

A Novel Romance

A Novel Romance

Breathlessly
I was drawn into
a dizzy passion-filled world

The Scoundrel and the Hellcat

As I read,
I felt my
bodice rip.

~ ~ ~ * ~ ~ ~
In 2002, I wrote this poem after walking by a romance novel display. The book that caught my eye was called The Scoundrel and The Hellcat. The cover had a man whose hair was more beautiful that the woman who was swooning in his arms. I think her bodice was held up by drool, because he was looking at her as if she were dessert.

I heard a rip and realized... my bodice was torn. See what happens when you get to close to those romance novels.

My Brother, John

My brother John had an ophthalmology appointment this morning at 11:45. He has glaucoma. It's ironic, how for years our ophthalmologist thought for sure I was going to develop glaucoma. But so far I haven't. Though I do have ocular hypertension (high pressure in my eyes).

After his appointment, we stopped for lunch at Jimmy's Seafood Restaurant. It was yum-icious!

Most of you know that my brother was born with cerebral palsy. It effects his motor skills but not his mind. He's always walked on crutches. It's all he knows. So... after the meal, I gave him his crutches and walked to the register. Once there I realized that I had left the check on the table and called to John to bring it to me.

As he was weaving through the tables, the girl at the register said, "He has a hard life."

I looked around to see who she was talking about. But there wasn't anyone around but me, so pointing to John, I asked, "Are you talking about him?"

She replied, looking at him with pity, "Yes, poor man. We don't realize how good we've got things."

I almost let it drop but knew that I couldn't. "Don't feel sorry for him. He's 38 and has cerebral palsy. He was born that way, in other words. He's always used crutches."

We both watched John step aside so an elderly lady on a walker could get by him. I smiled at the girl. "He's not handicapped. How can he mourn something he's never lost?"

About that time, John came up with the check and apologized for taking so long. The girl smiled at him. I thought to myself how she'll look differently at those who were born different. Maybe, she'll no longer have pity. My hopes is that she'll look at them with admiration, like she did John today.

Lazy Morning

I stayed up late working on my book, ordering the poems and making sure there were no silly misspellings and such.
So I slept until 11. Something I rarely do on Sundays.

Most people seem to like the choice #2 for my book cover.
I'm not sure which I'll do yet. The wise decision is to separate the two and look at them individually. See which strikes my fancy.


Sunday are my lazy day. I cook a late lunch (today it's NY strips) and then do laundry as I do Tarot readings. In fact, when I log on later, I'll write about my Tarot studies.

Now... the grill is calling and the steaks are marinated.


Time to cook. :)

A story about a Bald Frog with a Wig?

(...is a random questions asked on the profiles--my very brief answer)

Once upon a time, there was a frog. His name was Bald Freddy Frog and he had no friends. He was all alone on his lily pad, croaking a solo. One day a spider heard his song and decided to weave a cobweb wig for him, so the other frogs would croak with him. Magically, Fred became popular because his hair caught flies. The End

New Look

Wow.. Blogger's offering a wider variety of templates for the blogs. I even paritally completed my profile. I'll fill in the rest of the blanks later.

I like the color. It's almost the same shade of lipstick I wear in the summer. (wink)

Back in September I started a blog called the Poetry Goddess.
I posted maybe 5 or 6 times and never picked it up again. In fact, I deleted the blog when I started this one. I mainly posted a few thoughts on poetry and a poem or two.

When I got the idea to use the blog for 'promoting' myself,
I knew that the Poetry Goddess Blog wasn't the proper tool.
Thus a ..blog was born (A Sip of Sherrie).

I wasn't too keen on the look of the blog templates when I first joined. I think that's partly why I never could get into writing on this site. Since then I've learned a smidgen of html codes and have been able to change the look to fit me better...

I thank you Blogger.com for making this place a 'funner' place to write at.

Mr. PicassoHead

A while back Robert sent me a link to a site where you can create a self-portrait. I'm just now getting to it.

Here's the link to mine: A Sip of Sherrie

Give it a shot!

Music on the Plaza

Last week we started having "Lunch Time on the Plaza."
The featured band was the D.A.R.E. band. (our local police department has a band).

They sounded okay. I didn't winch as they played for over an hour like I have in the past. Our building is located close to the plaza area and from the back alley, the music drifts into our building and I can hear the band really good...even better than if I were standing in front of them.

Today's band was the Coastline Band and they are totally cool. They play oldies and beach music. My favorite song they performed today was "Mustang Sally."

Click on their name above to visit their website.

A Quote for Today

"Let your thoughts be positive for they will become your words. Let your words be positive for they will become your actions. Let your actions be positive for they will become your values. Let your values be positive for they will become your destiny."

- Mahatma Gandhi -

An update on my Poetry Book

Two days ago I received the author questionairre from Publish America. It's jammed with info on how to properly send my final edited version of my book, the cover image and other info that they need. I've been worked on the contents for a long time last night. I should have it all ready to send in by Monday. I've got 30 days.

I also worked on the cover art. Click here: Book Cover Options
to see what I've come up with and email me your opinions
to my fairy_0f_fyre@yahoo.com

My lovely DeskJet 1220C by Hewlett Packard

...is the devil.

I've said this often in my other journal.
Hewlett Packard and I have had a few fights over the quality of their printers. I'll save it for another day when I feel like ranting about them.

Today, I'll stand up to the plate and own up to my own mistake.
I was talked into trying a new photo paper. According to specifications, the thickness should work with HP printers. WRONG... I knew better. And kicked myself as the paper promptly became jammed as I tried to print an order this morning. I'm not used to working with paper jams, so it took a while for me to get it out. I had to go through the back and unjam it.

Then the printer wouldn't work. I was so distressed. Even came close to calling the repair shop around the corner. But I went with the trouble shooting feature on the toolbox in the printer program. Ta da! Found the problem...I didn't turn the knob on the back of the printer back to 'lock' after opening it. When I did, the printer lights popped on and trumpets blasted.

How does one repay the Goddess of Trouble Shooting? I mediated for a few minutes and the way was shown. I sacrificed upon the alter of troubleshooting an office supply clerk.

Inked

I watched the nephews for a few hours last night. Ben, the 2 & 1/2 yr old decided to write all over his legs and arms and face with an ink pen. I have no idea where he got the pen. He did it while I was making supper for his brother. Thank heavens it was an old cheap pen that washes off with soap. That little fellow is a mischief-maker. He thought if he hid his legs under his shirt, I wouldn't see what he did. I guess he thought the ink on his face and arms was invisible.

Goodnight Haiku

to moon goddess
sweet magnolia bud
~an offering

Questions? and I have the answers

Ah... Blogger has a new look on it's posting page.
Speaking of posting...er publishing... Publish America emailed me the author questionairre today. That means that I'll be busy putting the final touches on my poetry book, adding or subtracting poems, etc.

My main question is ....do I submit a photo for the back cover? Should I get Dad to take one of me or use something I've got?

Decisions, decisions.

The Maple Tree

Life was a maple tree and he was the nymph who lived there, a solitary man of poetic beauty. He gave birth to vibrant maple colors, within each leaf’s vein, etching visions of the world around him. From his great height, his interpretations of daily life were found layered in bark. The syrup that poured in steady streams was sweet from his poetic kiss, for the nymph loved his life on the maple.

golden leaf
solo journey
down life’s river

One day, the nymph learned that the maple tree was not truly his. It belonged to a higher force, which he had no control over. His grief was unbearable, for it was all he knew—the world around him, his kingdom. What was he to do? Where to go? The atmosphere around the maple was grave, for it had questions of its own. How would it survive without his nurturing poetic heart?

on rough bark
poetry and music
from his soul

The nymph began his packing with sorrow in his heart. Every leaf unturned to find a verse or a tear embellished by his aura. His imprint would last for eons, yet he would never know. Destiny played her game of wheel of fortune, but his odds of luck weren’t clear. He continued to find beauty in spite of the sadness.

in a tear~
crystal stars
his poetry

One day, as he looked around for another tree call home, he saw a fairy playing in a clear patch within a dandelion field, spring rain her laughter. How could she be happy when the world and moon has collided? He watched her, blowing on the fuzzy head of a dandelion and grabbing a winged seed, laughing as it gave her a short ride. Suddenly he realized that his world wasn’t so limited. He stood by a dandelion with possessions ready, waiting for a strong zephyr to take him exciting places, outside his maple-tinted world.

waiting
unborn poems
spawned by hope

the haibun that ate my mother's day letter

I've been doing some chores this morning. Nothing fun...but then are chores supposed to be fun. lol

We're taking Mom to a cool Chinese restaurant at around 3:30-4 this afternoon. Then its back home. Tonight's the Survivor finale. Yea, some people think its lame to watch..but jeez have you seen some of the programs on TV lately????? I wonder if the Thelma and Louise movie will ever get off the women's channels? Every time I surf, I hear that horrible southern accent that Susan S tries to pull off. Thanks but no thanks, I'll chose Survivor anytime...and having a crush on Jeff Probst really helps. ;)

I dreamt of him about every week during the last survivor. I would be afraid to get them analyzed. hehe

Damn, got off on a tangent!

I logged on here to write a little letter about my mom, but found instead that a haibun was born. I discovered haibun while looking for info on western haiku. There was a big debate a year or so back, about the proper way to write haiku. I'll go into that another day...today it's haibun day.

Haibun is supposed to be tighly written haiku essence prose about a journey, either physical or spiritual with a haiku at the end. Usually the haiku is related to the prose. There isn't a Haibun police, so you aren't committed to sticking to the traditional Basho haibun.

The one I wrote is for my wonderful friend, Robert. I've laced haiku between each small paragraph.

Some thoughts on a Saturday

I’m finding myself with a few moments of quiet time at work. Dad’s off taking wedding photos in Fayetteville. I’ve gotten out my Mother’s Day rush. Would you believe someone called and asked if I could do a photographic restoration job in less than 2 hours. My reply was rather sarcastic, though I didn’t mean to come off sounding that way. I said, “Sure, I’ve got fairy dust.” But when I told them the rush charge fee, they decided to go a different route with a present for dear old Mom.

~ ~ ~* ~ ~ ~

I haven’t written anything, except haiku all week. I know I should write or my quill will become rusted over. (I’m in the process of reading Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix for the 3 rd time). I’m seriously thinking of doing an erotic short story collection under a pen name. I’ve got plenty of short stories and a few not posted anywhere, too.

~ ~ ~ * ~ ~ ~

The other day, Uncle Red asked me what would I do if I won the SC lottery. I think the pot was up to $170 million. I said the first thing that came to mind.

“I would buy myself a Caribbean Island or…maybe a third world country and proclaim myself queen.”

He wasn’t too sure what to make of my comment. I guess he was expecting the usual sort of things people around here wish for. But I don’t play the lottery and really haven’t given it much thought.

~ ~ ~ * ~ ~ ~

A Hectic Week

I'm still alive! Just busy with work, the upcoming family reunion and other fun things. I'll try to get back later and write some things that are floating around in my noggin.