Happy New Year! May this year be one filled with love and hope and joy. I pray that God will grant our needs in this year, as He has in the past. I pray that this year will be an easier, less painful year for me, and that He will strengthen me, and show me what He wants me to be. I pray that you will all be guided by His word, and by faith in Him. I pray that no matter what, He will be the centre of our lives. I keep being reminded of how little we are, and how we cannot succeed without Him, now I just need to stick with that. I pray that you will all realise this and experience it.
After the story I did jana – some of you wrote to me calling Val a tramp and a home wrecker. Well what about Eric, men initiate just about 90% of relationships. So why is it people are ganging up against Val? What about the father of two, the husband, the man the corporate world loves to bits, the man who commands respect among his peers, what about Eric?
I’m a little disappointed in Val also, seriously a MARRIED MAN??? Her pals tell me since TPF she’s gone out with just about anyone who’s anything in this town, her flings extend all the way to TZ and SA.
We left for KC on Thursday morning and for once we got out-of-town on time and even a little bit early! The weather and traffic were decent. No accidents to delay us (which is usually a constant on our road trips to KC) It only rained. We reach my father-in-law’s house about 3pm and it had just started to snow. We were going to have a white Christmas!! YAY!
I went to Christmas Eve service with the family, while Mike stayed home because JonJon was sleeping. Got to hear Alyssa sing a solo and Melanie also sang with the rest of the choir!
Wake up Christmas morning and enjoyed time with family. Opened presents! Didn’t do much else on Christmas day.
Saturday, the 26th, we were suppose to go to Omaha to see Mike’s brother and mom and step-dad. Well we didn’t make it for 2 reasons. Iowa had closed I-29 because of all the snow and ice on the roads. And JonJon woke up throwing up. He had a really bad head cold. He was not himself and just rotated between me and Mike for sleeping. He finally started feeling better about 12. I went shopping with Sue(Mike’s step-mom), and her parents. After we got back, just hung out the rest of the evening.
Sunday we wake up and JonJon is feeling MUCH better. We decided to not go to Omaha again because of roads and because of travel time. We didn’t want to drive a total of 6 hours on Sunday then turn around and drive home 6 hours. Too much time in a car! Papa and Nana Sue watched JOnJon for us so Mike and I could get out for a bit. The truck decided to stop heating the cab of the truck. Got that problem fixed thankfully! (needed antifreeze) That evening, Papa, Nana Sue, and her parents and MM went out to celebrate Hal and Nancy’s anniversary (Sue’s parents). We stayed at their house and ordered a pizza and just hung out!
We woke up Sunday morning. Mike wasn’t feeling good. We drove home. I ended up driving 5 hours home. We got home last night about 5:30pm. Unpacked. Got J to bed. Cleaned up the house a bit.
Oh, did I mention that we’re going to be having some house guests? Yeppers! Mike’s mom and step-dad will be staying with us for a little while. Long story, and don’t feel like rehashing. So, we’ll be happy to see them! We’ve not seen them since May!
last sunday, the people of burton and the program invited our dealers and close friends down to the showroom for some good holiday fun. did i say holiday fun? i meant open bar. dude. (party came complete with a dancing john d santa claus, a pinata of old st. nick, and free facebook photos for all).
heres a splicing of what went down (check out burton colorado’s community page for more photos):
This is my first post and I haven’t thought it through, so it’s likely to be self-indulgent nonsense of no interest to anyone else, except perhaps mental health care professionals. Just like most of the other blogs out there.
If you’re still there I’ll take the opportunity to get some things off my chest. Words and that. Sometimes certain words or phrases become overused. Over the last few years it has been impossible to listen to any news report about Afghanistan or Iraq (or in the case of Heather Mills, Strictly Come Dancing) without hearing the phrase hearts and minds - yes I realise it sprung from the U.S. Vietnam campaign and I understand what it means but please stop saying it. Blah blah blah blah hearts and minds. It’s as if all politicians have been briefed to use the phrase and are living in fear of a Malcolm Tucker-style bollocking if they don’t. As a result I’ve stopped listening to the content of news reports. I just hear disconnected words swirling and echoing against a loud tick-tick-ticking until the inevitable we-have-to-win-over-the-hearts-and-minds bit arises. And then I scream.
But the word which is really getting right on my tits at the moment is the word random. It’s fashionable to say random. I know this because everyone says it. All of the time. With various meanings. People often say random when they don’t mean random, they sometimes say random when they sort of mean random, very occasionally they say random when they mean random but most of all they say random when they mean ooh look at me I say random I’m like totally random I just said random random random random. It’s like a virus. I was having a random drink. A random drink. Eh? When I hear it I have competing physical reactions, one to throw up and one to assault the person who says it. I have to fight both and it’s not easy. The other day I was out with some randomers. You what?… must not throw up… must not batter them with a random object… don’t play into their hands. At the weekend I heard a radio presenter hand over to coverage of The London International Horse Show by saying it was being held randomly in London. And this was on the BBfuckingC. One of the reasons 5Live’s Colin Murray said it was to be funny – because where else would a London event be held – but to my ears it was obscured by the other reason which was oooh I just said random I say random I’m so random I just randomly said random don’t you say random random random random.
Anyway I need to er lie down.
To make up for my ramblings, here are some videos from 2009 featuring the Vivian Girls, Camera Obscura, The Pains of Being Pure At Heart, God Help The Girl, Atlas Sound, Grizzly Bear, Beck, Crystal Stilts, Charlotte Gainsbourg, Midlake, Animal Collective, Richard Hawley, Super Furry Animals, Wooden Shjips and Broadcast & The Focus Group. None of them were chosen at random, nor with the intention to win over any hearts and minds. I hope they work, as it’s my first go at embedding widgets.
I found this list from Matters of the Heart and decided to apply these lessons to my closest friends, as well as myself.
One may think it’s silly doing this, some may find it offensive or rude, but I feel I should take a new spin on things.
*If anyone disagrees with this post, send me a comment and I will happily remove it*
Alex
2. When in doubt, just take the next small step.
6. You don’t have to win every argument. Agree to disagree. (On many occasions, he does this very well)
21. Burn the candles, use the nice sheets, wear the fancy lingerie. Don’t save it for a special occasion. Today is special.
44. Yield (you stopped, waited, and watched, now it’s your turn )
Jessica
7. Cry with someone. It’s more healing than crying alone.
10. When it comes to chocolate, resistance is futile. (I know no other person this best applies to, and I would never change that for the world)
22. Over prepare, then go with the flow. (haha, in terms of her essays)
27. Always choose life.
32. Don’t take yourself so seriously. No one else does.
41. Envy is a waste of time. You already have all you need.
Melina
5. Pay off your credit cards every month.
11. Make peace with your past so it won’t screw up the present. (Working towards this is a long hard road, at least you’ve taken a few steps on this road)
14. If a relationship has to be a secret, you shouldn’t be in it.
19. It’s never too late to have a happy childhood. But the second one is up to you and no one else.
27. Always choose life.
41. Envy is a waste of time. You already have all you need.
Slava
3. Life is too short to waste time hating anyone.
6. You don’t have to win every argument. Agree to disagree.
19. It’s never too late to have a happy childhood. But the second one is up to you and no one else.
24. The most important sex organ is the brain.
36. Growing old beats the alternative — dying young. (My dear friend, I fear your unhealthy habits will harm you more. But hey, you’ve survived so far stay strong Mr!)
44. Yield.
Jennifer
16. Take a deep breath. It calms the mind..
23. Be eccentric now. Don’t wait for old age to wear purple.
35. Don’t audit life. Show up and make the most of it now. (She seems to do it every day, and just getting better at it)
41. Envy is a waste of time. You already have all you need.
Me
4. Your job won’t take care of you when you are sick. Your friends and parents will. Stay in touch.
5. Pay off your credit cards every month.
9. Save for retirement starting with your first paycheck. (I need a get a move on with this because saving is definitely NOT my forte)
21. Burn the candles, use the nice sheets, wear the fancy lingerie. Don’t save it for a special occasion. Today is special.
27. Always choose life. 30. Time heals almost everything. Give time, time.
32. Don’t take yourself so seriously. No one else does.
41. Envy is a waste of time. You already have all you need.
These lessons apply to all
Whether it be friends, acquaintances, family members, strangers, everyone:
1. Life isn’t fair, but it’s still good.
17. Get rid of anything that isn’t useful, beautiful or joyful.
18. Whatever doesn’t kill you really does make you stronger.
20. When it comes to going after what you love in life, don’t take no for an answer.
25. No one is in charge of your happiness but you.
26. Frame every so-called disaster with these words ”In five years, will this matter?”.
28. Forgive everyone, everything.
29. What other people think of you is none of your business.
31. However good or bad a situation is, it will change.
33. Believe in miracles.
38. All that truly matters in the end is that you loved.
39. Get outside every day. Miracles are waiting everywhere.
40. If we all threw our problems in a pile and saw everyone else’s, we’d grab ours back.
42. The best is yet to come.
43. No matter how you feel, get up, dress up and show up.
45. Life isn’t tied with a bow, but it’s still a gift.
Below is the complete list of 45 Lessons You’ll Never Learn in School:
1. Life isn’t fair, but it’s still good.
2. When in doubt, just take the next small step.
3. Life is too short to waste time hating anyone.
4. Your job won’t take care of you when you are sick. Your friends and parents will. Stay in touch.
5. Pay off your credit cards every month.
6. You don’t have to win every argument. Agree to disagree.
7. Cry with someone. It’s more healing than crying alone.
8. It’s OK to get angry with God. He can take it.
9. Save for retirement starting with your first paycheck.
10. When it comes to chocolate, resistance is futile.
11. Make peace with your past so it won’t screw up the present.
12.. It’s OK to let your children see you cry.
13. Don’t compare your life to others. You have no idea what their journey is all about.
14. If a relationship has to be a secret, you shouldn’t be in it.
15. Everything can change in the blink of an eye. But don’t worry; God never blinks.
16. Take a deep breath. It calms the mind..
17. Get rid of anything that isn’t useful, beautiful or joyful.
18. Whatever doesn’t kill you really does make you stronger.
19. It’s never too late to have a happy childhood. But the second one is up to you and no one else.
20. When it comes to going after what you love in life, don’t take no for an answer.
21. Burn the candles, use the nice sheets, wear the fancy lingerie. Don’t save it for a special occasion. Today is special.
22. Over prepare, then go with the flow.
23. Be eccentric now. Don’t wait for old age to wear purple.
24. The most important sex organ is the brain.
25. No one is in charge of your happiness but you.
26. Frame every so-called disaster with these words ”In five years, will this matter?”.
27. Always choose life.
28. Forgive everyone everything.
29. What other people think of you is none of your business.
30. Time heals almost everything. Give time, time.
31. However good or bad a situation is, it will change.
32. Don’t take yourself so seriously. No one else does.
33. Believe in miracles.
34. God loves you because of who God is, not because of anything you did or didn’t do.
35. Don’t audit life. Show up and make the most of it now.
36. Growing old beats the alternative — dying young.
37. Your children get only one childhood.
38. All that truly matters in the end is that you loved.
39. Get outside every day. Miracles are waiting everywhere.
40. If we all threw our problems in a pile and saw everyone else’s, we’d grab ours back.
41. Envy is a waste of time. You already have all you need.
42. The best is yet to come.
43. No matter how you feel, get up, dress up and show up.
44. Yield.
45. Life isn’t tied with a bow, but it’s still a gift.
The moments where you wished things just went your way for a bit.
I suppose this is what dreams are for.
However.. you know you’re suppose to slap yourself and shake it off when even in your dreams you cannot find that self pity, and that even in your dreams you’re going against it all.. everything.
Christmas is almost completely over and today was a pretty great day. There was an absolute ton of food and everyone seemed to have a good time. Unfortunately Ryan’s dad and his step mom were not able to make it because the highways and interstates in Oklahoma were shut down due to the weather. Of course they couldn’t completely shut them down but they insisted that unless you had a four wheel drive vehicle you should not be on the road. Jamie was not able to leave town so she joined us for our Christmas lunch and everything was great. Last night we opened our Christmas presents from one another so we would have a few less things to open and because we’re just a tiny bit impatient.
Ryan attacking his present
Ryan’s present was Rock Band 2, which he was extremely excited about. I received a pair of knee high chuck taylors as well as some knee high socks. I also received Weezer’s Raditude on both cd and vinyl. It was definitely a nice surprise. After we opened presents we put together our table for Christmas which was constructed out of MDF and two by fours. It was also 6 inches too tall when we got done putting it together and so we ended up having to cut the legs off. It was definitely eventful and when we had everything all put together it was definitely worth it.
Out Christmas table (please disregard the mismatched chairs)
I did use the original candle holders from one of my previous posts, but I decided that it wasn’t quite enough for the table and decided to make two more candle holders. Since everything was closed I just what I had around and so there are two tall glasses that were layered with cranberries in the bottom and then blue glass beads in the middle and then the berries from our Nandina bushes in the front yard surrounded the candles. They ended up looking very pretty especially when they were added to everything else. Since we didn’t have eight matching plates or eight matching napkins we alternated them and put the patterned napkins with the solid plates and the patterned plates with the solid napkins. It turned out very pretty in the end. Everyone seemed to enjoy the meal and their presents. From the rest of Ryan’s family I got congratulations, and welcome to the family, as well as baking utensils and the set of hexagonal Wilton cake pan sets that I’ve had my eye on for some time now. I’m very excited to be able to use them eventually.
In addition to all of the wonderful Christmas fun and presents the
Once the snow stopped falling this was my front yard
weather decided to dump somewhere around a foot of snow on us. It has definitely made a white Christmas, but the cat hasn’t taken to kindly to it and neither have the people who actually needed to go somewhere. Walgreen’s actually closed today because only two people had been able to make it into work. I have never seen Walgreen’s close for anything. So before I go I decided that I would leave you with a picture of how our front yard looked by this morning. I do hope that everyone’s holiday went well and if it didn’t then it probably will get better by the time new years rolls around or at least we could hope so.
My kids all in one place! It’s been about…oh, 8 years or so since they were all together. I don’t think I could’ve asked for a better Christmas. We left on our 18 hour (you read right) trip at 4 am and after a grueling drive, we got here. Soooo worth it.
Doug’s parents are taking care of all of us so graciously, and I’m pleased to show you some photos and this with wishes of LOVE and PEACE and your own “MERRY” this Christmas.
To me, it aint so much about presents. It’s the love of Christ and family surrounding you. When you get to be a middle age mom or dad, and you have grown up children, your kids getting to come and see you all together at once is worth more than a present.
*Morning breaks somewhere over Missouri, the day of our trip. I can thank Big A for pointing out this photo op. I think I would have slept through it.
*Doug concentrates on the road and yes, it was 31 degrees.
*there was a lot of this going on in the car! I loved having 25 year old Joe, my oldest on the trip. He’s so laid back, he didn’t even mind riding in the back with the girlz, who weren’t the best passengers the whole time!
[VORTEX COMICS occur once per day Monday through Friday. VORTEX COMICS do not occur on weekends. VORTEX COMICS is made by selecting five images (photos I've taken, made grayscale, and inked after printing) and five phrases (taken from things I've written in the past), pairing it down to three phrases, and leaving the connection up to the reader. VORTEX COMICS have no defined story...for now.]
I’m about to head to my first Christmas party so in the spirit of the season I thought I’d post the Space Ghost Christmas Special. If you’ve never heard of Space Ghost Coast to Coast it’s probably because it ended it’s run way back in November 2004. A talk show spoof, it used to play on Cartoon Networks Adult Swim pretty late at night. Always random and always funny Space Ghost provided awesome characters like my favorites Zorak and Brak. I miss this show but am happy to share a little bit of the crazyness with you guys!
This weekend it was sooo cold so that we decided to de-frost our freezers. We just had to put the stuff in our garden . But now the temperatures are getting higher and I deeply hope that the snow stays until christmas.
Dieses Wochenende war es so dermaßend kalt, dass wir auf die Idee kamen, die beiden Gefrierschränke abzutauen. Einfach das Zeug in den Garten gestellt . Aber warum muss es jetzt gleich soviel wärmer werden?!? Ich geb ja die Hoffnung nicht auf, dass sich der Schnee bis Weihnachten hält. Bitte, bitte, bitte….
Later the day we also had a long walk outside. I took the camera with me and this is how it looked like:
Warm eingepackt haen wir dann noch einen langen Spaziergang gemacht. Diesmal hatte ich die Kamera mitgenommen und ein paar Fotos geschossen:
I found this video about British accents that I really enjoyed. In it, a British woman divulges her opinions on an American dialect coach teaching people how to speak British, and points out the American woman’s…stupidity, basically.
I don’t think this video is just about imitating dialects. It’s obviously more or less about the way I think a lot of Brits think about Americans and their habits, beliefs, and confidence.
This video is almost 7 minutes long, so don’t watch it unless you have a lot of time on your hands or if your life is going nowhere and you like British accents and want to hear a British accent.
Back in 2007, I was given a Christmas miracle, or so I thought… I recounted the happenings to my family and friends in an email. Here is the story of my 2007 Christmas Miracle:
Christmas was amazing! It was filled with peace, joy, prayer, family and plenty of laughter. I couldn’t have asked for more, except maybe that my Christmas miracle would have actually happened. One night during the third week of Advent I was practically asleep before I climbed into bed. I woke up at one point worried that I had overslept my alarm. Concerned as I was about over-sleeping, I spent few moments debating whether or not I should sit up and look at the time. It always amazes me how my groggy, sleep-filled mind can rationalize just about anything for a few extra minutes of sleep. I finally sat up and peered across the room at the clock. I squinted and strained my eyes trying to make out the glowing green blob. I squinted again and thought something didn’t seem right. Then it registered. My eyes flew open. I could see the time – clearly. There was no need to squint. It’s a miracle, I thought! I can see! And I still have an hour before my alarm goes off! I’m going back to sleep. With a happy sigh, I curled up and dreamt about my miracle.
So much for that! When I finally got up (after jumping out of bed and running across the room to hit snooze a couple times) and was no longer under the influence of “sleep-rationale”, I realized that I had forgotten to take my contacts out the night before. Ah yes, my Christmas miracle that never was. Maybe God was trying to tell me I should get my eyes lasered. I know I don’t need to remind the Lord that I prefer the most economical route which would be the miracle not the surgery. Perhaps next Christmas…
Well, it didn’t happen last Christmas and I doubt it will happen this Christmas, but at least it was good for a laugh!
I’m feeling pretty accomplished. I made a list this morning so that I could check things off. And I’m over halfway finished with it.
The things that I checked off have been on the list in my head for quite some time. Wrapping presents, finishing up Christmas cards, mailing packages — it took almost all day, but now they’re all checked off my list, and I feel ready for Christmas!
This afternoon I went to the post office. I knew it was closed, but I just needed to use the little mail-it-yourself kiosk in the corridor. When I got there, I wasn’t surprised to see a line of several people. I mailed my Christmas letters, then stood in the line.
Perhaps you’ve noticed something about people around this time of the year. They aren’t happy. They’re impatient in traffic, tired of waiting in lines, and sick of the weather. They’re either coming down with a cold, suffering through a cold, or recuperating from a cold. I’m sure they don’t intend to be Mr. Scrooge or the Grinch, but they are.
Today at the post office, I was expecting nothing different. I knew there would be a line, and figured it would be full of grouchy people, angry that the post office was closed and impatient that they had to wait.
Boy, was I wrong. There were two ladies in front of me, and while they waited they asked me a few questions. I could mail my package like that? (I was reusing an old Amazon box.) Were they just going to print their postage and then put it in the big bin? What about if they were using one of the flat-rate boxes?
I answered their questions, until the lady using the machine started to leave. Her card wasn’t working, and she had decided to abandon her quest to mail her package. One of the ladies encouraged her to try again. She did, reluctantly, apologizing for holding us up.
The card worked. The woman thanked us profusely for encouraging her to persevere. She left, wishing us all a Merry Christmas.
Now it was the questioner’s turn. She began the process, asking questions the whole way. The woman behind me chimed in, helping her through the process. Then that lady began asking me questions about the flat-rate boxes.
Everyone was SO NICE. Everyone in line was talking, sharing stories. Two women behind me began talking about the snowstorm on the east coast. As it turns out, they both have cousins that live in D.C., and they swapped stories.
The questioner was getting frazzled because she felt like she was taking too long. One woman reassured her that she was fine — “We’re all human, honey.” I’m not sure what she meant by that, but it was nice.
Everyone wished each other a Merry Christmas as we all went on our way.
As I left the post office with the cold rain chilling me to the bone, entering the crazy traffic … the world was a little merrier.
Mateus’ preschool puts on an annual Winter Holiday Celebration and this year was his first. Xavian still wasn’t feeling 100% so Martin agreed to stay home with him while I took Mateus. It was a joy to watch. His little foam Rudolph nose kept falling off, but he kept picking it up and putting it back on. He really enjoyed being up there. It was fun to see a room full of parents recording each moment. He got to see Santa and I got to see him sing. It couldn’t have been better.
WTF am I supposed to do about Christmas?! I had a bah-humbug in my butt but it went away before we stopped talking. Apparently it jumped ship and found a new host. I WAS TIRED AND A LITTLE DELIRIOUS!
This is a story I’ll tell at my oldest son’s expense. He is a sophomore attending the local Christian high school and has inherited my introverted personality. Early in the fall, I started bugging him about attending the formal dinner the school puts on at Christmastime. He mumbled something about how boring it would be and that nobody would go with him, so I’d drop the subject but keep bugging him occasionally.
My oldest daughter, who graduated from the same school last year, got into the act and tried to persuade him to go. All she got was the same stone wall. She was going to attend by herself as they had asked her to record the evening to video. So the time came to make a decision but he was still sitting on the fence. All the girls had been asked out and he (along with another guy who had just broken up with his girlfriend) would be the only stags attending.
Word got out to the student association at the school and needless to say, there’s nothing like a good dose of peer pressure to change one’s mind. They convinced him to go by giving him a free ticket and promising that he wouldn’t be ignored. Knowing that his sister would also be there probably helped.
The night of the big event came and they dressed to the hilt, climbed into the limo and were swept away to as exciting of an evening as a Christian school could have.
Tangent time. Do you remember the Brady Bunch episode where Peter is having personality issues? In the end, he has a party to show off his comedic skills and bombs. Feeling sorry for himself, he sits on the steps and mopes that he’s dull. Girl after girl comes up to him to offer support and consolation. In the end, he’s surrounded by every girl at the party and ends up having a great time.
Well that’s exactly what happened to the sophomore. He ended up being the star of the banquet and in the end, had his picture taken surrounded by every girl at the event.
I still haven’t quite figured this dynamic out. Is it the pity women feel for men who are down, or is it an interest in a man who isn’t attainable? Don’t know. Go figure. Word on the street is that my son has been seen actually talking to girls in the hallway at school beyond merely saying hello.
Maybe this whole thing was brought on when they served pork chops and apple sauce that night.
Three world-class pianists.
Two possible killers.
One dead woman.
Who is her murderer?
Who will be next?
When acclaimed pianist Nicholas Kalman discovers his lover’s dead body, he sets out alone to find her killer. During his journey, he meets an unwitting female accomplice who soon becomes determined to help Nicholas wield his retaliation. Following a parallel path for justice, Steven Hawk, the deputy of a sleepy Southern county, is assigned to the case. Pursuing the investigation, Hawk finds himself entangled in a world of vengeance, greed and manipulation.
Performed against the backdrop of the Great Smoky Mountains of North Carolina, Staccato transports readers to a behind-the-scenes glimpse of professional musicians, the psychological twists and turns of its characters, and in the end, retribution that crashes in a crescendo of notes played at the literary pace of a maestro’s staccato.
Staccato is the first novel of the Steven Hawk/Inola Walela thriller trilogy.
Excerpt:
No. It can’t be . . .
He didn’t have the courage to look at her closely, so he repositioned the body, then dragged the cloth sack beyond her shoulders.
The sweet scent of gardenias and rosewater hit him with blunt force. His gut churned, a lump formed in his throat, strangling his whimper.
Mind racing, he swept the hair from the corpse’s face. He cupped her head in his hands and bent inches from her. Blood slammed to his brain, ringing in his ears deafened him. He managed to utter a guttural growl.
God, no, not Elaine. The one person he trusted completely. She, who had unselfishly relished his triumphs and filled his days and nights with excitement and passion.
He could do nothing but stare at her beautiful, porcelain face, now turned ashen, expressionless. She had been his salvation. He mourned every time they were apart, rejoiced once they reunited. He would never see her again, be with her, love her.
Nicholas wrapped his shaking arms around Elaine’s body and rocked her. Tears coursed down his cheeks. He mumbled her name again and again. After a long time, he lifted her from the tumble on the floor, swept the bag from her body and crumpled the cloth into a ball at her feet. Placing her carefully in a seated position on the passenger seat, he smoothed her hair and took her limp head in his hands. He kissed his lover’s waxen forehead and released her limp body. Pulling the seat belt tight, he snapped her securely in place.
His entire body shook as he shut the door, then paced in front of the car and raked his hands through his hair. Thoughts of retribution filled his raging mind. Vows of revenge rocked the core of his being. He opened his arms and lifted his head to the misty sky. A wail of anguish emitted from deep inside him, rising in intensity until he expelled no more sound. He thrust himself forward and crashed his fists down on the hood of the Porsche.
The cacophony of sound echoed throughout the parking lot, mixing with his strangled sobs.
Deborah J Ledford is a three-time nominee for the Pushcart Prize. Her award-winning short stories appear in the print publications Arizona Literary Magazine, Forge Journal, Twisted Dreams Magazine, AnthologyBuilder, and two Red Coyote Press mystery anthologies. Her latest stories appear in the Gulf Coast Writers Association anthology “Sweet Tea and Afternoon Tales” and the Sisters in Crime anthology, “How Not to Survive the Holidays.” A flash fiction piece is presented via podcast at Sniplits.
* my corgi waiting outside my door for me this morning and jumping on me.
* talking about nerdy photo stuff with people
* snowflakes
* getting to spend time with my Dad
* Dansko’s
* New Sagaya
* Compliments on my bookbag
* A few moments set aside for reading
* Organized files and slides
* My awesome, awesome friends who show up at my work with CHAI! FOR ME! IS that not the greatest thing or what? I know, I am way too excited about it. My coworkers did tease me and complain a lot about the fact that their best friends don’t bring THEM chai at work, but they don’t have the same friends as me, now do they?
* Plans for an upcoming photo shoot with a friend
* Knowing I have successfully kicked butt and finished my internship with flying colors. I did it… I survived for 3 whole months in an office without killing anyone! I didn’t think it was possible. But I did it! And now, to be honest, I’m kinda sad it’s over. I’m gonna miss it. But, new adventures await me, and so I will go forward from here having learned much and experienced much. Being an itern could not have been more challenging, stretching, or even, as rewarding as I had thought… and I’m excited to take what I’ve learned here into the next chapter of life, wherever that takes me.
Alex
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Me
My kids all in one place! It’s been about…oh, 8 years or so since they were all together. I don’t think I could’ve asked for a better Christmas. We left on our 18 hour (you read right) trip at 4 am and after a grueling drive, we got here. Soooo worth it.
Doug’s parents are taking care of all of us so graciously, and I’m pleased to show you some photos and this with wishes of LOVE and PEACE and your own “MERRY” this Christmas.
To me, it aint so much about presents. It’s the love of Christ and family surrounding you. When you get to be a middle age mom or dad, and you have grown up children, your kids getting to come and see you all together at once is worth more than a present.
This is a story I’ll tell at my oldest son’s expense. He is a sophomore attending the local Christian high school and has inherited my introverted personality. Early in the fall, I started bugging him about attending the formal dinner the school puts on at Christmastime. He mumbled something about how boring it would be and that nobody would go with him, so I’d drop the subject but keep bugging him occasionally.
Three world-class pianists.
Deborah J Ledford is a three-time nominee for the Pushcart Prize. Her award-winning short stories appear in the print publications Arizona Literary Magazine, Forge Journal, Twisted Dreams Magazine, AnthologyBuilder, and two Red Coyote Press mystery anthologies. Her latest stories appear in the Gulf Coast Writers Association anthology “Sweet Tea and Afternoon Tales” and the Sisters in Crime anthology, “How Not to Survive the Holidays.” A flash fiction piece is presented via podcast at Sniplits.