Sinus Infection

That's what I've got! And why I haven't been blogging or online much. Plus the novel is due tomorrow at midnight! And... my dad is driving me boinkers.

I promise to return soon.

Survivor

Kicked ass last night! I was glad to see a shake-up. Amy and LeighAnne were running the show and it would have been stupid if Twilia, Scout and Eliza had of sat back like those idiots did in the all-star Survivor, letting The Godfather "Rob" call the shots.

I think they should have turned the tides sooner when Sarge and Chad were around. But at least they finally did something. I really don't care who wins...as long as its not Amy. I'm kinda rooting for Chris.

Yesterday was a fun day. Though it was very windy and I was out in it almost all day.
William and I played for a few hours, yesterday morning. We pretended the wind was blowing us away. I went inside and got an old bedsheet and we 'sailed' it. I sent him inside after a few hours. The wild thing about the wind was how warm it was at first...and as the day proceeded the wind got chillier.

Mom's John came over at around noon. I was assigned to help him with turkey fryer. So we were in the wind for another 3 hours. And it got colder and colder. William kept coming outside to hug me. I think he wanted me to go inside and play but I knew John would need me to help him with the cooking. By 3, I was worn out for the wind beating my head.

Grandmother, Lisa and the boys, her husband and his son, my brother, Mom, her John and me were the only ones eating. My great-uncle didn't feel like coming over.

We ate at 3:30 and man it was sooo good. Everyone was gone by 5. I was a happy girl, to finally get some quiet time.

Mom and Granny stayed with me last night. We watched "Cheaper by the Dozen" and laughed. At around, 7:30 I decided I needed to free a slice of pumpkin pie. I jokingly told mom the whole pie was mine. She said she didn't recall putting my name on it. So... I get a toothpick and carve my name across it, which cracked Grandmother up. She said, "Where does Sherrie get her humor from?"

My brother piped up from his room, "K-mart."

yea... it was a good day. The Christmas Tree's in a corner of the Kitchen. Its one of those that has the lights already on it, but I don't have it decorated which is driving the youngest nephew nuts. Ben keeps running up to me and saying "Star... Sher-die... get a star." He means he wants a star on the top of it. I told him I was the star. Can you believe he disagreed?????

This morning as I was opening the blinds in the kitchen I saw that Ben had added some 'ornaments' to the tree... two whistles on ropes. They're hanging off the lower branches. Now I don't have to decorate it.

An Article From my Local Paper

Nothing pointless about this death

As a journalist, I've had the sad duty of covering several military funerals.
Believe me, one is too many for even the most hardened and cynical of scribes.
Military funerals follow the same, sad formula: A flag-draped coffin is transported to the gravesite; words honoring the departed soldier fill the air like a covey of quail startled in a cornfield; an honor guard fires off several volleys that makes you jump, no matter that you know it's coming; a version of "Taps" as plaintive as an old woman weeping issues from a bugle; the flag that draped the coffin is carefully, lovingly folded and presented to a relative of the departed; everyone, even the aforementioned cynical newspaperman, cries.

On the melancholy scale, military funerals are in a dead heat with police and fireman funerals. The difference is I've never heard anyone ever call the loss of life suffered by a fireman or policeman in the line of duty "pointless." When those who protect and serve lose their lives on the job, they are invariably and rightly feted for having made the ultimate sacrifice for the common good. Words and terms such as "valiant" and "courageous" and "doing their duty" are used to describe the men and women who took a bullet on the beat or kicked in the door of a flaming tenement. But whenever a soldier loses his or her life on the front lines, the words "pointless" and "senseless" and "wasteful" are almost always tossed about like so many grenades by a certain segment of our society that believes any and all wars are unnecessary.

Get this straight - war is nasty. War is horrible. War is hell. Anyone in their right mind is anti-war. But in this world that still has barbarians hanging around the gates, war is sometimes the most necessary of necessary evils.

And the first lesson of war is that young men and women die. But to call the loss of these youthful warriors a "waste" denigrates the contribution that person has made to preserving freedom.

And I challenge any anti-war zealot to tell Danny Bryan to his face that his son's death was anything remotely resembling a waste.

Lance Cpl. Benjamin Saxon Bryan, 23, died in Fallujah, Iraq, on Nov. 13, felled by small arms fire. He was Robeson County's first casualty in the war on terrorism.

After the funeral on Sunday, Danny Bryan did not spit vitriol at the powers that be that have pulled this nation into a "war for oil." He did not criticize our Middle Eastern policy. He did not have harsh words for the commander in chief. He simply said he was proud of his son. Proud that Benjamin Saxon Bryan died doing what he loved - protecting and preserving the freedom of not only you and me, but the same folks living inside these very borders who burn the flag and give comfort and aid to the enemy by undermining the war on terror with words of empathy for the barbarians, and words of hate for our "imperialistic, aggressive, war-mongering" nation. Yeah ... especially those people.

Taking a stance against the war on terrorism is not unpatriotic. This nation was built on dissent. Disagreeing with your neighbor about an issue of national importance is as American as being born on the Fourth of July.

But belittling the lives lost in the protection of our freedom and liberty is something indescribably worse than being unpatriotic. Belittling the life of Benjamin Saxon Bryan by calling it a waste or a pointless exercise in a geopolitical game of capture the flag is a crime against Bryan, against his family and against the family of man.

Bryan died a hero protecting your right to be critical of the war in Iraq. He did not die for your right to be critical of his life's work and the ultimate sacrifice that work has wrought for everyone who knew, loved and admired the young lance corporal from Lumberton.

Bryan's life and death meant something, even if you don't believe his cause did.

Tim Wilkins can be reached at 739-4322, Ext. 122, or by e-mail at timwilkins@bellsouth.net


Copyright © 2004The Robesonian

~ ~ ~ ~ ~
All I can add is AMEN.

Novel Chapters.........

.................................I've found some time to type and have posted two more chapters. I hope to type up more later today or tonight.

Its been a semi-slow day but that's the way it usually is the day before Turkey Day. All hell breaks loose the day after and I'll be swamped until Dec 24 at 6 pm.

But I'll do my darnest to get here and at least write, rant or even do some poeteering.

I hope everyone has happy Turkey Day and those that don't celebrate, well have a great day too.

Finally

I've got the next chapter up at my novel blog.

http://thelamplighter.blogspot.com

I hope to have more typed up later. I've got 15 handwritten pages and little time due to a surge in work this week. Be patient with me, please.

Thanks,
~S

November Steals

November has wrapped itself around me,
chilly shades of burnt orange and rust.
The death of autumn clings to my feet.
I wade through the piles of yesterday,
laying on the road before me.
How will I ever find my tomorrow
in the rotting leaves of a memory?
December holds false hope
with its beauty of a frost pattern
that promises to redecorate my world
in sapphire and crystals.
Maybe in the glittering jewels,
I'll find the part of me that November stole,
the caress of you living in my soul.

~ ~ ~ ~
It's a rainy yukky day and I can't find beauty in the dampness of rotting leaves.

arm and leg

A lady brought a photo for me to repair. It's her son's prom photo. Was stuck to the glass and she tore it off. I wanted to thump her head because that's a no-no...any good photographer can photograph the picture through the glass... if you tear it off, guess what happens? The parts that are stuck to the glass stay with the glass. You end up with gaping holes.

Naturally she threw the glass away. If she had of kept it, I could have put the picture back with it and copied all of it. But what could I do...nothing...

When she tore the picture off the glass, part his arm and leg tore off too. It really isn't hard to fix. But when she asked how much it would cost I couldn't help but say, "An arm and a leg."
So many come in and tell me that they have pictures that need repairing but don't want to pay an arm and a leg...and now here was one before me... that needed to pay 'an arm and a leg' so to speak... and the beauty of the moment was that my joke went right over her head.

Ah... another witty moment lost.

A Thousand Years

It feels as if a thousand years have passed,
since the last time I looked into your eyes,
dark disks that know the color of my soul.
I keep praying that you'll find me again,
somewhere in the layers of chiffon I cling to.
This time I hope that instead of watching me
dance alone in the frail light of the moon,
that you'll dance with me in the shadows.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Sometimes a poem struggles to be born, to serve the purpose of a poet...but there are times when it is born with an ease that has no purpose, other than to live quietly in moonlight.

Countdown to T-day

I can't believe its this Thursday!!!!!!!!!!!!

My neighbor brought me some fresh collards and turnips this morning. Someone he works with has a garden and gives him lots of fresh produce. They look really nice too. I like collards ok, but its turnips I go crazy over. My Mom's John wants to 'deep fried' a turkey for T-day. He got a turkey fryer for Christmas last year. I'm not all that crazy about turkey. We'll see if he can do a good job with it.

I had the best Saturday night. I think I missed my calling... I should have been a masseuse.

Sunday was a good day too. Saw an old college roomy. We visited her parents, who haven't changed much at all... they still live and breathe Golf!!!

When I got home Sunday, my brother informed me that he had problems with the computer all weekend. SO I did some investigative spyware hunting... meaning a spyware scan... and low, he had picked up 105 suspicious files. I got rid of them. He told me, "You know Sher Bear, you're the most important person of this family. You help me out, you do lots of stuff for Mom and Dad, you keep the nephews for Lisa...what would we do without you?"

I had to laugh... they would do whatever I do themselves lol

Blue Lights, Christmas Parades and Harem pants

Our X-mas Parade was today. I caught the tail end of it. Right before Santa Claus rode by on his float, one of the local high school marching bands waltzed by. The drum section sounded off and man, they jammed. I wanted to toss down my stuff and go wild with some belly dance hip moves. A perfect shimmy shake sound! Made me wish I had my harem pants and coined scarf on!

My Dad is such a procrastinator. We were suppose to have our windows decorated by Thurs. The Downtown Merchant Ass. wanted white lights in the windows...for the 'White Light Festival' that we have every year. Guess what color lights we have.. "Ice Blue." lol.. so far no one's said a thing. I drove by last night and I'll say this... our window is the first thing you see... so maybe Dad's on to something.

During the fierce battles last weekend in Iraq, this area had its first casualty--a young soldier of 22... He was due to get out in Jan. Its sad. Well, any loss is sad. He was an only child. His mom died when he was a teen and he was all his father had. I know his aunt and she told me his body would be back in the state on Friday (yesterday). I was on Fayetteville Road, which leads to I-95 at around 7:00 last night. I saw blue lights flashing... turned out to be 4 police cars with their lights on, escorting a hearse. The hearse was followed by a Red SUV with USA Flags streaming from it. I realized it was the young soldier, so I pulled over and turned off the radio. No one else stopped. It made me wonder just how many people realized what was happening... that one of our Heros was coming home to rest! It was a somber moment for me... but I did feel pride in knowing that I witnessed his arrival, even if it was in the dark... I still saw the light of a Hero.

Hotmail

wow... hotmail now has 250 MB storage... Wonder what Yahell will do to top that?

A joke I head and a joke I told

Julia, a friend of ours came by the studio to drop off some pictures of her children. She wants me to do an 8 x 10, 3 1/2 x 5 and a sheet of wallets on each kid.

"Can you remember that? Don't you need to write it down?" She asked me.

"Nope, I can remember."

"Did I ever tell you my 'write it down' joke?" Julia has a very dry voice--nothing girly about it. She's a 'don't-fuck-with-me-or-I'll-shoot-you' kind of woman. Not a trailer trash type ...more on the lines of those Femme Fatale women of the James Bond movies. lol Sexy but with no nonsense. I was interested in the kind of joke she would tell.

"No, tell me."

She rolls her eyes. Probably because its long and she doesn't want to 'fuck' with telling it. "There was an old woman who couldn't remember shit. So she goes to her doctor and he tells her she's fine but it's a good idea to write whatever she wants to remember down.

So she does. One night her and her husband were watching tv and he announced that he wanted some ice cream. She says she'll go get it.
He said," You better write it down."
She said,"I'll remember that."
He said, "Well I want whipped cream and chocolate, so you better write it down."
"No I can remember it."
"I also want nuts... aren't you going to write this down? And I want a banana...you better write it down."
She said, "I can remember that."

She goes to the kitchen and she's in there a long time. He starts to get worried. Just as he was about to go check on her, she comes into the room with a plate with two fried eggs on it. The husband goes fucking ballistic.
"See, you should have written it down. You forgot my bacon."

I laughed. "Hey has anyone told you a Christmas joke yet?"
"No, do you know one?"
"Yea, I'll tell you the first Christmas joke of the season."
"Fucking A, go for it."

"Three men die on Christmas Eve and St. Peter greets them at the Pearly Gates. He tells them, "In honor of this Special Night, you must show me something that symbolizes Christmas before you can gain entrance into Heaven."
The first guy pulls out some keys from his pants pocket and shakes them. 'These are bells.'
The second guy pulls out... damn, what did he pull out.. oh man I forgot... hey, let's say 2 men die, not three."
(At this point Julia laughs... not at the joke but at me for messing it up. But I don't waiver, I continue on.)
"So the last guy searches his pockets and all he can find is a pair of women's panties. St Peter raises an eyebrow and asks, 'What do those symbolize?'
The man smiles and says 'Oh they're Carols.'"

Julia laughs. "You forgot part of the joke, didn't you?"
"Yea, I can't believe I forgot it."
"Well, Sher you should have written it down."

My Dad is driving me NUTS today.. Nuts I say ... NutsNUTSNutsnuts and... nuts.

He keeps losing stuff... and I'm no where near the objects when they disappear. When he finds them... he doesn't apologize for giving me grief over it.

Here's a sample of our day:

Dad was gone for an hour and half to get lottery tickets in Dillion SC. When he came back to the Studio, I gave him a list of who called for him.

"Rose called. She's in her office now until 5. Oh and Tammy Kerns returned your call. Her number's stuck to the phone. It has a 919 area code."

"I called her?"

"Yes I guess so. That's what she said. She told me you called her earlier and left a message on her voice mail to call you back."

"What did I call her about?"

"I don't know. Alls she said was that she was returning your call."

"You don't know why I called her?"

"No Dad. Think over who you've called today and why. I don't know who you've talked too. I've been busy restoring photos."

"Was it about pictures?"

I sighed, "It has to be about one of 4 things...either her photo order, studio proofs, copy order or wedding photos are ready. She probably owes money or you wouldn't be calling her long distant. Does any of that ring a bell?"

"Yeah, I think I called her." Long pause..."But I don't know what about."

"Dad, call her and find out!"

~~~~~

I need more than a day away from this place. The problem is that we're just getting started with our Holiday rush... this is only going to get worse. Heaven Help ME.

Beauty Lives

Some nights an opal moon hangs from a lapis sky.
At dawn, the sun shines off frost like diamonds.
In the quietness of midnight, an angel sings purely.
Do you see how beauty lives around you?

I try to be content with the balance of my life,
the shifting of plain objects so that beauty is admired.
My hope is that one day...one sweet day
you'll find the beauty shifting in this plain object.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
I think we all feel taken for granted at times.

Today hasn't been so bad... nor was yesterday. I spent all of Monday working my butt off, restoring some photos. Today had been a lighter day. I've done some goofing online and posted Chapter 8 of my novel in its appropriate weblog. I've been writing it first by hand and then typing it, which is a slow process because I scribble in an unknown language. I've got experts trying to decipher the code now. So bare with me folks.

Some Believe

Some believe heaven exists for fools,
believers of love eternal.
Ecstatic fevers sweep their minds,
making them see visions of rapture and glory.

It’s a simple belief that the cynical bash
so they can feel better about their closed hearts.
When one is bitter about love,
how can one seek the fruits of heaven?

I see you clothed by the crescent moon,
a sculptured man of shadows and angles,
casting velvet-like caresses across my breasts.
We fight the cynical demons lurking within.

You fill me with your sharp shadows,
as I meld around you, a misty cloud.
The sky is a deep blue with dotted diamonds.
As we move, swinging on stars so does the earth.

In the foundations of lust, sweat and kisses,
we let our demons merge, a primal entity
that somehow finds a way to create
our own heavenly rapture within cynical hearts.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
I tend to be very cynical. But I know that at times, with the right person...heaven can appear...briefly.

S.A.T.U.R.D.A.Y...Night

Ok, its not night.......... yet.

Here's a little known fact...I had a crush on the Bay City Rollers...don't tell anyone, especially Donny Osmond. Yeppers, back then I wanted a little bit of Scottish in me.

I was a very tired girl last night. We had some heavy rain yesterday. It took all my energy to drive home in it. When I reached my house, I wanted to fall into bed immediately...but I waited until 10. Fell asleep listening to my Middle Eastern music CD. It jams.

Kept the boys this morning for a few hours. They cracked me up today. While blowdrying my hair, they got behind me and pretended I was blowing them over. It was funny... William kept saying "Whoaaaaaaaaa whoaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa, Aunt Sherrie, you're blowing me ooooOoveeeeeer." and Ben would try to copy him with "Oooooo Ooooooooooooo Ooooooooooooooo Shed-rie...ooooooooveeeeeerrrrrrr."

Dance was fun...learned how to do some new turns.. but I need to do some practicing..kept getting turned around the wrong way.

The sun's out now and since I just finished printing an order up, I think I'll slip out of here early today...

Suvivor Meanderings

Feel like taking a mental meandering over nothing. lol

Survivor...haven't commented on it much lately. I really think its jumped the shark. Just doesn't hold my interest. I flipped over to an old re-run of CSI and forgot to flip back and see scenes for next week.

When they got rid of Rory...I was sad. He was fun to watch. At first I wanted to dump him but when he went over the the women's tribe and gave it his 100%, even though he knew he they weren't going to keep him around once Leisa was gone... I was impressed. But he's gone...

And now so is Sarge. What has amazed me the most it the way these guys have thought this time...getting rid of the younger guys who may pose as potential threats in the later stages of the game, while the game was just getting started. Even last night's show reflected their fragmented thinking... instead of pulling Eliza over to their side, they tried to convince the women that she should be voted off instead of one of them... and what happens...Sarge gets booted out. Even the votes of the guys were all fucked up. Sarge voted again Eliza, Chad against Julie and Chris jumped ship by voting against Sarge--while saying "this isn't a vote against you, its a vote for you." What the hell??!!

My predictions are thus: Scout, who reminds me of Granny Jan from the Thailand Survivor but smarter is going to pull the guys into her corner and Eliza though there is no good will between those two..Scout's a smart cookie and knows she has to break up the Ami-Leanne rule. If she doesn't those two will be the final 2 survivors.

Lorraine's Birthday Week

Well... I thought today was Lorraine's birthday. Mailed her a card with a yummy guy on it... sent her a crazy kiny card and guess what... its not until the 20th!!!!

And... I did this last year!!

We've had a good laugh over it. She said that it was kind of like the holiday season... people start early to beat the rush.

The ironic part of all this is that My maternal Grandmother's birthday is March 19...and all through the 80's and part of the 90's, I thought her birthday was March 12..and would send a card and also call her. Every year I did this... until the mid 90's.

"If you live your life out of memory, you live out of your history. That's what once was. If you live out of your imagination, you live out of your potential. That's what can be."
- Author Unknown -

This speaks to me. I am reminded of Allen and how he could never get beyond his past. He spent all his time talking of his glory days, reveling in the old feelings of happiness he felt during them--mainly about sports and his old prestigious jobs (he lost them due to his drinking) and when he wasn't on the high he got from telling those stories, he was mourning his mistakes and the things that went on at his house--a hint...His father was like the Great Santini...I'm sure most of you have seen that movie.

I could never get him to see beyond his past.

And me... Well, I live out of my imagination. I revisit my past often but I don't live there... Its more like being on the outside looking into it. I take a sip of it once in a while but I don't make the past my nourishment.

Instead I wonder what could be and go from there... Its why I am a poet and why I can bring words to life so that you can touch them, taste them on your tongue and feel them face on your fall like snow flakes or a soft summer salty breeze.

A Rainy Friday

What is it about rainy days that make me feel so unsettled?
I could be the happiest woman in the whole world and still feel unsettled on rainy days!

Chptr 7 is up

I finally was able to type up 3 pages. I had fun with Roman Ouellette...man I love the names the Spammers come up with.

I'm amazed at how fast the lumber company is tearing down the woods at my house. I feel sorry for the wild cats because they haven't got many places left to hide now. The new generation is gorgeous! Persian mix...calico with long hair. I can tell they think they've got royal blood because they won't move out of the street and I have to drive around them. Cats! I won't be surprised it the Cat lady doesn't get them a red carpet. lol

I'm tripping on the headlines on yahoo. Liza Minnelli accused of Sexual Harrassment--forcing her body guard to have sex with her...was he that hard up for a job???

My Novel

I've handwritten about 5 pages and haven't had time to type them up. I'll try to do so tonight if my right hand isn't achy. The cold makes it stiff and last night I slept in my splint--first time since Feb.

Today I've been working on some tough orders and fighting my silly printer...singing "Son of a Preacher Man...ohohohOOhhhh" (if you went to the site I posted earlier, you'll know what I mean).

Its been a somber day for some reason. Maybe because my HP printer is the Devil and I'm not winning the battle.

Today's Winner

of the silly website contest is...(courtesy of Lorraine)

http://www.eugenemirman.com/

Be sure to click on each song title...my favorite is Cats in the Cradle and for Pete's Sake watch the lips on the photo move ...or its not half as funny.

I think my dad's a parrot.

For example:

"Dad, telephone."

"Telephone?"

"Yes, it's the downtown coordinator."

"Coordinator?"

"Pick up the phone. Its about the Tree lighting ceremony on Dec. 6. She wants you to take pictures."

"Take pictures?"

"PICK UP THE PHONE AND TALK TO HER!"

I think I can make it

...through this day. Its sunny and though there's a nip in the air, its still a lovely day.
I've had a few laughs today...silly ones that break my heart but still... they're laughs.
There's a breeze blowing. Usually its elusive, touching me at will, teasing my hair...but today I touched it. I find comfort with that simple touch.

Help.... I'm being held captive...

by the studio! ha.. just kidding. I had to work late tonight because dad is photographing the RCC Board of Directors. So I had to mind the store while he is out. I'm leaving in a few mins. I hate this place at night... the ghost likes to move stuff around and make me think someone's in the back when I know for a fact no one is.

Anyway... I'll be back later to post my next few chapters of my novel...

Most recent watercolor.  

Sheriff Ben

Halloween night. No.. William's not that tall.

Taken on the Night of the Eclipse...it was about all I saw. When I took the photo, a million birds flew out of the Magnolia tree. Useless trivia....one of my bedroom windows is on the left side of the tree.

well...

.......Dad's extra quiet today...could it be because he can't gloat... because his golden boy Kerry conceded?

 

 

Why by the hair on Kerry's chin, I think that's it!

I Miss the Sea

I miss the sea,
the rolling sand at the surf's mercy.
Blue skies so pale reflecting lights
in the blues of my eyes..
I could touch it...
the sky a veil I wore
as the sun burned my eyes.
Salt mingled with the scent of sandalwood.
The taste of tears on my lips...
the sea weeps eternally, did you know that?
In its depth, my soul lives
never resting, a continuous tide
that touches many yet, few notice.
I am salt born of the earth,
yet stolen by the sea.
My mission is unclear,
as the dark murky tides
that creep to shore at night.
I toil and boil against rock,
its resistance steadfast.
But even rock feels the burn
of my salty touch, my kiss of tears.
I miss the sea, the salt on my lashes.
Soon I will return to claim myself again.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~
I love the sea. As a water sign, it calls me.

A quiz

I'm Blue.

Trees Fall

The trees fall, one by one
in the place you and I loved.
Our path has been marred
by the tires of lumber trucks,
tearing down the magical forest
where we danced under moonlight.
Was our tree the first to go?
The bent pine that you carved
our initials onto with your pocket knife,
after we made love underneath it for the first time.
Our afterglow made the moon jealous
that night so long ago.
Love made us magical, enchanted by stardust.
And now...
squirrels scurry away, birds fly into the sun
as the air is filled with angry saws buzzing,
cutting and destroying the woods.
Soon new homes will decorate the land,
instead of the deep rooted pines and oaks.
I wonder if on misty-tinted nights,
the new inhabitants will hear our laughter
and see us dance under moonlight?
Though they may erase the forest,
no one can take away the magic of love.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
More of the wooded area around my neighborhood is falling away. Lumber trucks arrived yesterday and I heard saws blasting today as I left for work. I remember the trails and how we used to walk them when I was a teen. But in recent years, the land has been sold and "No Trespassing" Signs have gone up.

Compliments, Quarters and Go-Go Boots

Today I'm complimenting people and then charging a quarter.. no one's paying up. Then I gave a compliment to the pawn shop owner a block away--he came in to talk to Dad and I charged him a quarter. He said he didn't have any change..so he gave me a buck and said I owed hime 3 compliments.. hell, it was hard coming up with one!!!!

Mr. Carl, the owner of one of the last 'old' businesses downtown came by an hour ago. He has a shoe store. Its been here over 50 years. He's very old--82 or so. Lives in Whiteville, drives here every day. The last few years, he's declined in age...he now has trouble getting words out. Resulting in saying the noun of his sentences and doing a lot of gesturing. Anyway, he came by and said 'Boots..boots...you...boots." Pointing to the door.

Dad said, 'go look...make him happy.'... so I did. And now am the proud mammy of a pair of glossy black platform go-go boots lol.. they rock, baby, they rock.

Mr. Carl gave 'em a thumbs up when I tried them on. I looked at the sales lady who works with him and said, "I bet he says that to all the women." lol

Anyway... since I got distracted by shiny objects, I'm behind on writing...again. Going to do so work and try to get in 2000 words on my novel or I'll be writing all night come Nov 30.

Yesterday I walked over to the post office at 4 and it was social hour. I saw the most people that knew me... some I couldn't remember their names but strangely I remembered their photos orders. There was a prayer service in the line to the window. Praying for America. I prayed the line would move faster. lol

As I was crossing the street from the post office heading back with my bundles of mail...why can't I ever get male... my ex-boyfriend Allen's dad drove by. He waved!!!!!! I almost dropped my mail. I bet he thought I looked familiar and waved... it will hit him hours later that it was me. I can hear him now..."I saw that Parnell girl that dated Allen David all those years..the one I warned that he wouldn't amount to anything. The one that didn't listen..." I think that's why I stayed with Al all those years...he needed someone...his father is harsh--an ex-Air Force General. He ran a house like the Great Santini... you know that movie I'm sure....its sad I think.

The events in our life that shape us and continue to do so... Sherrie's philosophical.

Stephen King, in his book “On Writing – A Memoir of the Craft” says, “If you don’t have the time to read, you don’t have the time or the tools to write.”

Writing

My head is not on my novel today. Its on other stuff. I really need to write though. Last night I had my pen and paper out. My plan was to write by hand the next two sections but got involved in the election.

I'll share a secret with you...some of my character names are coming from my bulk folder spam. I love the names these people come up with. There should be a spam name collector and a book printed of the names. Maybe I should let that be next year's novel.

Hump Day

........well really it's Tired day. I stayed up too late last night, watching the coverage. I found it intriguing...like a side show. CNN was so freaking cautious...it was like they didn't want to admit that Bush had won Ohio...at 95%. Then there was MSNBC... giving Bush Ohio and saying Kerry should concede. Such a mess, our election system. Drove me Nuts!

I only hope that Bush can somehow find a way to pull us all together again. I'll be praying for him and for our nation... I hope you will too.

Bush Won

.............................I'm not surprised. See I wore my 'lucky' panties in support of Bush...and he wins by a hair.

;)

Just a quick hello

Busy day going on... took in a few rush orders and haven't had time to get online much. Though I did manage to write Chapt 3. Remember this is first draft writing...so if there are errors, etc...I'll correct them later. I've got 50K words to spoon out and I'm behind already.

Another thing.. there's the Bagle Virus going around. I've had one person tell me they got a virus tainted email from my email address. Well I didn't send it...viruses copy files with email addresses and replicate them--spoof them. Then they send out email with the virus. Its not done intentionally on my part, so if you get an email that has "Re: HI" in the subject header and :)) in the body...its not from me. I don't usually say Hi and...I don't do smileys with double )'s. If I do send attachments, they usually are photos and you can view them without downloading. And most of the time I have my signature at the end of the email.

So my advice is to delete anything that doesn't look like a Sherrie email that may come from my address.

It Begins...

http://thelamplighter.blogspot.com

I've got the first Chapter up.