I LOVE a good TEACHER!

It's after hours, so I can post something! (Ahhh- a LOOP-HOLE! Yeahhhh!!!) (heaven help me if I become a mid-night blogger!)
In truth I can post whenever I want, but I am trying to be disciplined during the day. Nights are set aside for family but tonight I'm kind of on my own.

Here's what my teacher taught me today-

"A genuine work of art must mean many things; the truer the art, the more things it will mean... It is there NOT so much to convey a meaning as to wake a meaning."

-George MacDonald, writer

Then he said about children, in regards to stories that were imaginative and difficult for adults to get their minds around...but kids-
"They find what they are capable of finding, and more would be too much."

Brilliant!!!

Wishing I was at the ocean!

George MacDonald has written many fairy tales, and some of those I would like to re-write and publish because they are almost lost to the general public. I had to look hard to find a book of his stories, and they are so outdated, yet still wonderful, that I feel sure the up and coming kids of today, as well as their parents, would enjoy a new telling of these tales.

My name in Chinese...actually, I think it means "Cola"-

sweet and bubbly? Hmmm- my friend should have translated

my name into "Vodka"- LOL :) (looks innocent enough to be water,

but not innocent at all! :)

So...I found my muse/inspiration today in one of my favorite authors. It's amazing after the many years since his death- he still speaks clearly. Yesterday I felt defeated. Today I felt empowered. I read in bed, took notes, and drank hot tea. (I also did laundry, cleaned the kitchen, went to kroger, cooked dinner, and did the school pick-up thing-)

Tomorrow will prove to be an even better day! I simply feel it. I feel free. I feel alive. I feel touched by something... I hope I'm not sick! LOL :)

Happy weekend everyone- I hope to catch up with each of you this weekend!

A grumble...but maybe Chesterson was trying to tell me something???

On second thought...nevermind~
Thanks /t for the wonderful laugh-
and Phos- I promise from here on out I will do my best to
never leave that "look" on my blog again!
:)

Home Alone~ ♥

At 7:40 am- everyone left for school/work.
I made scrambled eggs and sausage with toast and orange juice.
My house is empty.
Time to write :)

Hugs everyone- hope you have a great week :D

*♥~♥~♥~♥~♥*

"An adventure is only an inconvenience rightly considered.
An inconvenience is an adventure wrongly considered."
- GK Chesterton

Asher and I

My nephew :)
Just thought you'd enjoy a tiny glimpse into my life :)

An Explaination

She/K9 and I had a good conversation 2 weeks ago about my writing, and I promised her that I would get serious about it.

The first thing I had to do was clean my desk and organize my office.

It's nearly done. I will be ready next Monday to begin in earnest. Actually, I might start before then.
She/K9 also said a profound thing to me in regards to my looking for a job this fall..."You are avoiding your calling!" It was one of those statements that goes all the way through- like a spear- piercing the heart of the matter- piercing me. It hurt in a good way...the best of ways actually.

My friend knows me, and she understands, she's "been there, done that."

In truth I am both excited and apprehensive.

Looking at this cleared off space and surrounded by everything I need to be productive reminds me that now I have to look inward, sow seeds, be faithful in nurturing the work, and reap the harvest. And most of this I must do alone.
She/K9 also said, "Time I spend on the blog writing is time I'm not painting."Again, she's right.

The disaster behind me in the above photo was my desk 2 weeks ago~ I just wish I could get my hair to look the same way my stylist did! I loved it :)

I've also decided I need to write down my near-death experience, and I might post that. I'll try to publish it first in a magazine or something, but I'd also like to share it with some of you. When I have it finished I'll let you know. I would love some of you to read it for content (like X and She) and some to read it for errors (like Susan/EOR). Libby, I think you would simply enjoy the story.

Ok everyone, that's what's going on. I'll still be here, but I'll be working. You know exactly where I'll be...sitting behind that desk and getting it all messed up again! ;)
*♥~♥~♥~♥~♥*

*♥~♥~♥~♥~♥*

Just one more...I love it too-

"An act of love that fails is just as much a part of the divine life as an act of love that succeeds, for love is measured by fullness, not by reception."

-Harold Loukes

I'm sorry...I just couldn't help myself.
My blogging days are quickly slipping away as I prepare to spend more time writing other things when school starts next week.

I promised She/K9 that I would get serious about it- and I am.
Tomorrow I am not going to post anything at MV! I promise :D

"Sigh"...love this~

"A man falls in love through his eyes, a woman through her ears."

-Leo Tolstoy

Have you ever loved someone who shut you out or stopped speaking to you?
Ever shed tears over silence?
Ever wept over words not said?

Sometimes words are all we have. Sometimes we don't need anything more.

I appreciate you when you speak/write to me.
I'm not in love, but I love what you say.

I just wanted to say "thank you"~ and forgive me when I blip out.

-me :)

Trouble

Anyone besides me having trouble with Blogger today?

I know, I know...we get what we pay for- right?
:)

Weather Channel...UGH!!!

This is priceless! (and totally a spoof on the WC- to be clear)



An illustration of absurdity- by being absurd.

ab·surd
–adjective 1. utterly or obviously senseless, illogical, or untrue; contrary to all reason or common sense; laughably foolish or false: an absurd explanation.
–noun

Mute Monday~ "Food and Drink"

For "She":
Food and Drink in my life...
The carved Ostrich egg came from South Africa~
The weird food halfway down was in China.
The "Corazon" has not been opened, I bought it because it had my name on it! LOL

Storms...

Summer was finally broken this morning.

A violent sounding CRACK split open the sky around 9 am and thunder trampled with heavy feet above us in the clouds. I thought, as I was waking, that a fleet of trash trucks from city were invading the neighborhood, but then the rains came.

I breathed a contented "SIGH",opened my curtains, parted the blinds, and decadently reveled in the the brilliant flashes of light, the loud rumbles of thunder, and the glorious rain which fell on parched earth. The seal of summer was torn asunder. The promise of rain and cooler weather was uttered; and the exhausted landscape of my little world rejoiced with me this morning.

I was actually having a bad dream when the storms came through. I was trying to get somewhere, trying to catch a plane, trying to find my wallet and tickets, trying to understand why I had so many pairs of shoes in my bag! (and I am not a shoe freak at all- I have maybe 5 pairs?) My sister was with me- trying to help but slowing me down....

And then the thunder came. Time to get up. Time to welcome the day, the day that hopefully signals the beginning of the end of this drought, the day that summer began to surrender.

I wish you rain, unless you live in Texas, and the promise of cooler breezes around the corner.
Thanksgiving is just over 3 months away! :)

Lux, I wish you dry weather and safety from all storms... Hugs :)
She/K9...a big hug and kiss on the nose :) for you friend- I know you are in the same kind of hot and weary place I am <3

From my childhood...one of my favorites

Found this today by accident~
Isn't it funny when you find something from your past- specifically from your childhood like an old toy, or favorite book, or in my case- an long forgotten video clip from Sesame Street...how it takes you back to those formitive years with so much clarity?
I swear, as I watched this video, I felt as if I was transported back to my parents bedroom (where the only tv was) around 1974...sitting on the hardwood floor- with the old kitchen in view through the door way. It was summer, the back door was open and so were the windows. I was wearing shorts and my hair was in a pony tail. My sister Naomi was next to me- and from this point on in history- "Manamana" became a beloved song that I still hum when I'm in an exceptionally good mood :)
Enjoy :)

Hope you'll see...

The real voyage of discovery consists not in seeking new landscapes but in having new eyes.

Marcel Proust (1871 - 1922)

I needed that today. I'm away for the next several hours, but will be back soon~
:)

UH-Ho...New Do :)

I went and got my hair cut...
I think I look like Kate now! (except I don't have her dimples!)



I love Kate- so...
all is well :)

A TALE of TAILS in Myrtle Beach~

First I want to thank Chesca for honoring me with the "Thoughtful BLogger" award :)

It's nice when someone pays you a compliment, but moreso when that someone is a person you admire and connect with on many levels. It bewilders me at times when I consider how many people I have come to cherish on my blog...and that I would have never met them if not for the power of the internet. Thank you Chesca- for your kind words...and more importantly- your friendship :)

Now for the Myrtle Beach Mis-Adventure...

My best friend, C, is dealing with a family crisis at the moment. She was going to be in Myrtle Beach and I was at Emerald Isle, 3 hours away, and she asked me if I would join her for a few days. I said yes.

Trying to save some money I decided not to say on the beach, but I would stay a few miles inland and drive to her ocean-front hotel. Good idea- right?

(This pic made me think of Foam :)

I chose a place about 7 miles away, inland, on Hwy 501 which intersects with Hwy 17...the main drag of Myrtle Beach. I chose a Country Inn and Suites because these are always nice places to stay. However, I got a raised eyebrow from a lady at a local restaurant when I told her where I was staying. It puzzled me, but I let it go-

I checked in, went to my room, unpacked the car (will I ever learn to pack LESS???), sat on my bed, opened my laptop, and then looked out my window. From my bed I could see the place next door to my hotel..."Fantails" Adult Enterainment.

"Great" I sarcastically thought. "Just great!" Then I wondered about the men (and women?)who would go to there...and would I be able to see them in the parking lot from my window? I wondered if they were old, or young, married, single, lonely, happy? Most of the men in my life (husband, brother, peers, etc) have either never been to an Adult Entertaiment place, or have been- but didn't think much of it (and perhaps they are lying to me, but I don't think so).

I haven't been to one either...though I did have a fleeting thought about going next door to see what it was all about.

I didn't go though.

Later, after dinner and finding a bottle of Firefly Vodka (produced ONLY by the Irvin Winery in SC!)- I went back to the hotel. As I was getting out of the car I looked across the highway- and guess what I saw?!!!

AGHHHHH! Have mercy! THERE was another Adult Entertaiment place! "Nuttin' BUTT Horseplay" Sigh.

I went to my room, made a Cosmo and put on my bathing suit. I headed to the pool/hot tub with my book and my drink, and had a good long soak, and then a swim. For most of the evening I was alone. (some kids came to play later).

I returned to my room to get ready for bed and to check my email and stuff...I looked in the mirror and my hair was curly from the steam of the hot tub. I took my picture, and then went outside and took shots of the "Entertainment" places around me.

My "Adult Non-Entertainment" Myrtle Beach photo! LOL!

Turns out there was at least one more place- about 1/4 of mile down the road. I was smack-dab in the middle of more Adult Entertainment than I've ever seen in my whole life!

The most entertainment I had (or wanted!) was swimming in the pool, sitting on the beach with my best friend, and unwinding with a good drink before bed. I also watched the Discovery channel- which was showing a special about Pythons. I live a very exciting life, don't I? ;)

The Hotel was fine, the staff was great, the price was right, and the location was ok. Had I known about all the gentleman clubs within walking distance of my hotel- I would have probably paid the extra $50 and stayed closer to the water :)

I'm sure the "Fantails" place is fine for some, but I really prefer see the tails of dolphins and such when I look out the window of my hotel room :) Next time, if there is such a thing, I'll know better!

:)

On my way home~

I left my camera cable at home and I am bursting to tell you about my Myrtle Beach trip...where I found myself nestled right in the middle of South Carolina's Gentlemens's Sex Club district...UGHHH!


It's crazy. One side of the road has all the shopping a woman could ever hope for.
The other side of the road has all the women a man could ever shop for!

Ick-


I'm not tall or lean enough to be mistaken for one of the exotic chicks- so no one's hit on me, of course, then again, when I realized where I was--- I kept to my room!


Anyway- I'll be home this afternoon, reunited with my camera cable. Yeahhh!


X-Dell, if you noticed that I was at your place for--oh, 12 hours or so, it's because I was reading up on you and then fell asleep with your page open. And NOT because I was bored...I was exhausted! I promise to leave a comment soon- as soon as I re-read the X-Spot! :)


Hugs everyone :)

Is it just me...

Or does DAVID LEE ROTH look a lot like Draco Malfoy's father in Harry Potter?

Sigh...
I think I'm going to be sick now :(

"I'm Just a gigolo
everywhere I go
people know the part
I'm playing

Paid for every dance
selling each romance
Oh what their saying

There will come a day
And youth will pass away
What will they say about me

When the end comes I know
they'll say just a gigolo
Life goes on without me

I'm just a gigolo, everywhere I go
people know the part I'm playing
paid for every dance
starting each romance
oh what their saying

And there will come a day
And youth will pass away
What will they say about me

When the end comes I know
They'll say just a gigalo
Life goes on without me "

How to live,Chesca, Archetypes, Grunts tag :)

I liked this~

“Live this day as if it will be your last.
Remember that you will only find ''tomorrow'' on the calendars of fools. Forget yesterday's defeats and ignore the problems of tomorrow.
This is it. Doomsday. All you have. (not sure I agree with 'Doomsday', but I understand his point)

Make it the best day of your year.
The saddest words you can ever utter are, "If I had my life to live over again."
Take the baton, now. Run with it! This is your day!
Beginning today, treat everyone you meet, friend or foe, loved one or stranger, as if they were going to be dead at midnight. Extend to each person, no matter how trivial the contact, all the care and kindness and understanding and love that you can muster, and do it with no thought of any reward. Your life will never be the same again.”

-Og Mandino
***********************************
Today I had the great pleasure of talking to Chesca! :) (exskindiver)- and what a treat that was!
I think it was the first of many good conversations- I hope so!

I've been reading a book called "Sacred Contracts", about the Archetypes of our personality and why we respond to people and situations the way we do.
So far I identify with:

1) Saboteur- fear issues that cause one to block their own empowerment and success.
2) Wounded Healer/healer/caregiver- serving others in the form of repairing the body, mind, and spirit.
3) Networker- Making connections between vastly different groups of people
4) Lover- exhibits great passion and devotion (not confined to sexuality)- has a sense of unbridled and exaggeragted affection and appreciation for people/things.
5) Jester- Makes people laugh, makes them cry, wears a mask covering their real emotions (sigh!)
6) Creator- strong need to be creative or imaginitive.

There are supposed to be 12 of these things running around inside of me, but 6 is where I am right now. I know there's a child archetype in there too- but I've not studied that too deeply, and I know I should.

*******************
Lastly,
Grunt tagged me to tell about 8 facts/habits I have-
I'm only doing this because Mr. Grunt is a beloved blogger, but heck, you all are! :)

1) My favorite color in the world is the color of the sky mid September, in NC- kind of sapphire blue. Laura Ashley Saphire #3 comes close. My living room is that color.

2) I collected cow stuff for ages and have no less than 5 cow pictures/paintings in my home.

3) I met my husband for the first time when we were 5. I don't remember it, nor does he-

4) I am just over 5' tall...I mean a TAD over 5'- and I think I'm getting shorter!

5) My family names (grandparents) include Alverson, Boyce, Crill, and Runkle

6) Two great grandmothers were named Cora- I was named after them...
One was named Cora Dell (X and I had a good chuckle about that :)

7) I've kept a journal for 30 years (since I was 8 in 1977 :)

8) I am tatoo free...so far ;)

Ok, ok, ok- I have to sign off and go read To Kill A Mockingbird to the kids. They were mad when I stopped earlier :) I promised more before bed this evening.
It's funny- both of my children are fabulous readers, but there's still something about my reading to them that they love.
I'm lucky that way- for a little while longer at least :)

Interview with a Monster~

The island waters lapped the golden shore with a serenity and peace hard to fathom after the frightening earthquake days before. A quiet restaurant with a thatched roof on bamboo poles was a few yards from the water, mostly undamaged, and 2 creatures sat inside at a candle lit table. One was a female human, the other a monster of sorts, male of course.
Both seemed a little nervous, as it was their first real encounter in "meat-space". It was hard to tell if the somewhat tense aura was due to chemistry, or the fear of aftershocks. However, after a shared bottle of sake, all tensions melted away. The 2 creatures revealed through dialog and physical gestures they were dear friends at heart- separated by time and space, yet joined in spirit in a way I can not explain.

(See Scary in the upper left corner of this pic?)

Clearly the human woman had traveled a long way to meet her monster friend. He had proposed an interview, she accepted, and since this is fiction- she thought, "Why not fly over and speak in person?"
So she did.
This is what I heard him ask the human woman, he called her Mayden-

Here are your questions:

Do you feel that your graciousness and charm are due in part to your southern upbringing?

"Scary- you are a DEAR! (she blushed a little) While my mother is a true southerner and did instruct her children to use their manners and to be considerate, I think the "Grace" aspect of my personality has been heightened by all the grace shown to me in my life. I am amazed, daily, by how stupid and selfish I can be- and by how quickly it is forgiven or overlooked by those who love me.

You are known to be a warm and loving individual by most of the people who visit your blog. Have you ever done something malicious to a person, if so, how did you feel afterwards?

"Honestly, No. I've done sneaky things to get someone in trouble (like spraying my perfume in his car so the other chick would know I was there), or played a questionable joke on someone, or left a pointed note on someone's car who had rude bumper stickers or parked badly...but I've never done something malicious or mean (at least not as an adult) to another person. I know I would feel so guilty and sick about it I would apologize. Being mean is just not part of my nature."

You seem to have a happy marriage. What is your secret to not letting molehills turn into mountains?

My husband and I have been friends for almost 25 years, which is over half of my life. We know each other well- and neither of us come from families who believe fighting is the way to solve personal issues.

I'm hot, and he's cool. I'm passionate, he's even tempered, but both of us know that we have to move to the edges of our personalities in order to meet in the middle. Sometimes we do this well, sometimes we don't. This is actually a difficult period in my marriage. One thing that I am learning is that my husband can not meet all of my needs. And it's wrong for me to expect him to. I am the only person who can truly make me happy...

and this is true for everyone. I've branched out more in the last 2 years than I have in my whole life- and it has been good for me.

Are you a happy, satisfied person?

Not fully, which makes me sad to say. The problem is I am half-way to a bunch of things, and the finish line is not quite in sight. My kids are half grown, I'm near the mid-point of my life- I have books written, but not published, and I'm in a place where my kids and husband need me less and less. I need to fill the void. I'm figuring out what that is presently.

Tell us about the Cora we’ll know 7 years from now?

Sweet Monster...In 7 years I will be 45, my kids will be almost 19 and 21. Several of my books will be published and I will either have a home on a lake, or near the ocean- where I write most of the day. I hope I will have been to Indonesia, and the Philipines by then...and perhaps a visit to the Middle East. I have a strong feeling about all 3 places- about people I am supposed to meet there, and not necessarily people I know.

With that, the interview was over, and the 2 creatures hugged and decided to go out for sushi and dancing. I'm not sure how the night ended but there were many rumors in the village the next day about a pair who matched their description.

One kept spraying perfume into strange men's cars and leaving lipstick smooches on the windows, and the other just laughed and kept pouring the vodka.

A fun time, to be sure, was had by all...until the next morning when I heard Mrs. Monster yelling at her spouse, "I don't care what that so-and-so American tart told you! If you want to "branch out" I'm leaving!"

But, I'm kind of thinking that after 25 years of hanging out with her beloved, she might change her mind~

;)

One of my favorites...

George Winston, "Thanksgving",

With love,
from me~