Wednesday Words: Claudia

Broccoli! Dana Carvey

When Claudia purchased an expensive franchise, she knew what to expect.  Money flowed from her investment account like Cola from a drink dispenser. 

Even though Claudia was a CPA, and had examined a thorough spread sheet, she was nervous about taking such a leap.

Claudia and her large family painted and created a restaurant that could never be called mundane.  Her mother held up a paint can, noticing the color label, and called out.

“Mija! Quien quiere comer en un restaurant estάn pintados con el color de broccoli?”**

Claudia smiled.  “Todos, Mama!  Todos!”***

**Sweet girl! Who would want to eat in a restaurant painted in the color of broccoli?"

***Everyone, Mama!  Everyone!"

These underlined and bold words, sentence phrases are provided by Delores from Under the Porch Light.  Each Wednesday,  Delores provides six daunting words for any who wishes to participate in this writing challenge. Please visit her site by clicking on the frozen cardinals in the sidebar; you will find other writers who have taken different slants on these words!  You should be intrigued...

In Search of....

Leonard Nimoy

Every person is in search of something, whether it is glasses, car keys, a library book.  Searching for something can be applied for such simple items as these, or for something much grander, elusive, possible or impossible. 

This leads to a television show narrated by Leonard Nimoy, “In Search of….” where Nimoy (with his recognizable voice) leads the viewers through history.

"Before we unlock the future we must find the keys to the past.  I am Leonard Nimoy. Join me and open the door to the Ancient Mysteries beginning now.  

Wandering Trader

Then he shares the histories of Pompeii, the Pyramids, Camelot, Astrology, the Vikings, Atlantis, Macchu Picchu, Blood and honor at the first Olympics, Blood and treasure in Peru...the list is long and engaging.

What amazed me is, of course the list of fascinating events and place, but also Leonard Nimor himself.  Where does an actor go or what does he do after being known for a SyFy show that establishes a genre new to viewers?

Nimoy did act on stage successfully and in various television shows, but it is his voice, so recognizable and enigmatic.  Just with his voice, viewers are grabbed to watch long (sometimes) episodes about the mysteries that captured others, including myself.

Live long and prosper!

Dream Cycle

Source: needanewname

Almost every morning we wake up, one of us will say “I had the weirdest dream last night…” and then talk about it.  Somehow as the day wanders by, the details of the dream fade away until the dream becomes a pale ghost of colors and people.

I always have “Teacher” dreams. The dream always includes having a huge number (60? 100?) of students with me as the only teacher.  The classroom is a crumbling building, bricks and rubble lying around.  We can hear the sounds of wild animals and shouting.  Other teachers I know are walking by with cups of coffee and laughing.  Then suddenly I revert to being a student-teacher, with no clue how to teach.

Everyone dreams, at least that is the accepted idea.  We dream to relieve stress…we dream to solve problems unsolved when going to sleep…we dream to face our fears… I guess those are all accurate.

My dreams seem to dredge up memories of events in my life, but twisted somehow.  All the anxiety of those times get magnified and blown up, increased to be beyond solving.

What about you?  Do you have a recurring dreams, one that the theme is always the same, the problems as well?  Is anything ever resolved?

Wednesday Words: Richard, the Robber

Richard huddled in his jail cell, pulling the retroactive duster closely around him.  His secretary Heather had given it to him yesterday during their latest tryst. Now he was watching his world disintegrate.

Where had it all gone wrong? He wondered.  Surely everyone in the investment business embezzled from his clients now and then.  It was part of the investment game.

With the untimely arrival of the arrest warrant, he was for a moment left spellbound.  Richard’s travel carry-on sat by the door, stuffed with one-million dollars and a change of underwear.

Five more minutes!

Five more minutes and he would have been out the door, heading to Jamaica.

Bummer.

These underlined and bold words, sentence phrases are provided by Delores from Under the Porch Light.  Each Wednesday,  Delores provides six daunting words for any who wishes to participate in this writing challenge. Please visit her site by clicking on the frozen cardinals in the sidebar; you will find other writers who have taken different slants on these words!  You should be intrigued...

What IS this?

Look at these photos...all are of trees.  What do you think when you see them?

How does this grow?

Where is this?

Can you tell what kind of tree?

How long will this tree hang on?

In the Li-Bree

Highclere Castle Library

Since the introduction of “Downton Abbey”, life in the great houses has fascinated me.  Not the stairs or the gowns and not the life style of the occupants, but it is the signature possessions that indicate “Now, here!  And here!  Well-to-do people live here!”

For me, the greatest indicators are the libraries (li-brees). 

Authenticity and status demanded floor to ceiling bookshelves, weighted with huge ancient books.  Faded leather bindings and spines, line up carefully with huge tomes on the top shelf, newer books in descending shelves.

Even in the respectable American homes, loaded bookcases mark the home as being one of means.

So many questions, I have so many:

1.   How is the library used in those houses?

2.   Do the Aged Leather bound books way up on top have a meaning?

3.   Did anyone read those books?

4.   If they did, where would one start?

5.   If the books were read, did anyone read them from start to finish?

6.   Who re-shelved these books?

7.   Would one have a cool library ladder?

8.   Who dusted those books (a female servant?)?

9.   What happened to those books as they deteriorated? And who ever checked to see if the crumbling books should be thrown out?

Did anyone actually know what books they had?

That is all I wanted to know. Well,not all, but I am certain you may have questions of your own. Any answers?

I want #78 on the third shelf down.

Wednesday Words...Frank and the snow

Keep shoveling..

Weathermen in the Northeast called the latest snowstorm an anomaly.  Frank was called in to the warehouse to forklift pallets of salt for the snow plows.

He had wished to be part of the snow plow guys, but he wasn’t ambidextrous which was great help in such a job and meant better money.  Frank continued to deliver bags and bags of salt.

Finally tow trucks were able to pull abandoned cars to the impound lots, including Frank’s new sports car.   Always deleterious in care of his belongings, Frank discovered heavy salt residue mixed with icy snow covering the car had eaten through the snazzy black paint, creating zebra stripes in the paint.

Frank shook his head sadly.  At least he had been faithful to pay his car insurance.

These italicized and bold words, sentence phrases are provided by Delores from Under the Porch Light.  Each Wednesday,  Delores provides six daunting words for any who wishes to participate in this writing challenge. Please visit her site by clicking on the shivering cardinals in the sidebar; you will find other writers who have taken different slants on these words!  You should be intrigued...

When You Are Old

starry starry night

When you are old and grey and full of sleep,

And nodding by the fire,

Take down this book

And slowly read and dream

Of the soft look your eyes had once,

And of their shadows deep;

How many loved your moments of glad grace,

And loved your beauty with love false or true,

But one man

Loved the pilgrim soul in you,

And loved the sorrows of your changing face;

And bending down

Beside the glowing bars,

Murmur, a little sadly,

How love fled,

And paced upon the mountains overhead

And hid his face amid a crowd of stars.

William B. Yeats

Art of Negotiation

Are you a good negotiator?  

When you were trying to get the car keys, did you manage to convince your parent how logical it would be?  To buy a used guitar for $25 instead of $35? To stay out past the curfew time?  To buy a used car way under the sticker price?

Did you succeed with other negotiations?  

Here is my 2 ½ year old grandson:

Benjamin:  We need an idea.  Let’s…watch TV.

Daddy:   No…we need a better idea.

Benjamin:  Let’s watch……TV.

Daddy:  No.

Benjamin:  We need another idea.  Let’s watch a movie.  On that TV.

To some, the art of negotiation is inborn; it 

comes with the genes.

Wednesday Words: Medic! Corpsman!

Source

Staff Sgt. “Buffalo” Bill Wheeler slung his army duffel over his shoulder, every inch a dignified soldier. Passing the baggage claim carousel, he stepped outdoors onto the cold cement where buses and taxis created clouds of diesel and roars of engines.

Sounds grabbed, yanking him back.  

Frenzied screams tore through the smoke.  “MEDIC!  Medic...Corpsman, over here!” Bill trudged through blood and blue shadows, searching for the sources of the screams.  

Looping around slopes and brush, he found his wounded comrades.  Gazing into the wounds, Bill realized most were almost dead.  Hang on, Private!  That’s an order, son!

Artillery explosions threw debris and billowing smoke filled the sky, sheltering them under the midnight sun.

“Hey! Staff Sgt!  Over here!  Corpsman!...”

A familiar voice pulled him back to the cold cement.  “Hey, there! Buffalo, you old man.” He hugged Staff Sgt. Bill.  “Why, you got yourself a new leg, dude!  Shiny thing, too.  And…” he looked at Buffalo’s face.  “Those scars make you look better.  Ladies like the scars, man…”

They walked on, Bill wondering if he would ever feel harmonious and safe with this new life.

These italicized and underlined words, sentence phrases are provided by Delores from Under the Porch Light.  Each Wednesday,  Delores provides six daunting words for any who wishes to participate in this writing challenge. Please visit her site by clicking on the shivering cardinals in the sidebar; you will find other writers who have taken different slants on these words!  You should be intrigued...

Then and Now...Then......

To capture the City of God

Journey of holiness

Painted by in a thick

Line of religion and inquisition.

A quest, a crusade

To rescue what is and is not

Sacred.

Jerusalem and spices.

Gold and silk.

To kill and take.

To kill and take more.

Painted line

Grows wider,

Becomes stronger,

Killing in the name

Of ?what? whom?

Finely penned ink on parchment,
moments captured for history to see,
to judge. 

“Then you might have seen many a banner and pennon of various forms floating in the breeze—helmets with crests, brilliant with jewels, and shining mails, and shields, emblazoned with lions, or flying dragons in gold.”

Geoffrey de Vinsauf, itinerary of Richard 1.

To do what is right...  Then....

Bloody...Bloodier...Bloodiest

Line painted

By a thick brush

And red paint

Of hate and heretics.
New ideology.  New horror.
Live for all to see,
To judge.

...and now

What will be written?  What will be said?  What will be done?  Who can even quess?

Elaine's Journey

Nicer than one thinks to walk upon

Ten steps.  Elaine counted, running fingers along ridged strip along the wall…linen closet door…towels rolled and placed in color value…Elaine inhaled with satisfaction.

Nine steps…bathroom and its cold bumpy tile.  Those ridiculous river rock titles that make a path to the toilet, to the shower and now the modified sink…Life is bumpy, will become bumpier, and then what?

Eight steps…a painting Elaine had done once, when all had been well and her hands did what she said.  The colors and the brilliant textures Elaine felt in her mind, painted with a broad brush and pallet knife. How glorious!

Seven steps: sixth—a step up, fifth step…then the landing, all with the blessed railing.

Fourth, third, second, holding onto a thick rope and then Praise God! Finally the last step…her bed with night gown and turned down covers, soft and warm, producing a deep sigh of relief.

Lamp light filled the room.  It was night, but for some reason, knowing light glowed above was a blessing.

Diabetes is a disease increasing in numbers as more and more people become obese.  Diabetes has become a part of my family members.  Blindness can be caused by this horrible diabetes.

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