Chap-O-Wrimo

I have friends who during November write 30,000 words hoping it will be the next great American novel. It's a worldwide sensation called NanoWrimo (national novel writing month). I tried that once and got as far into the plot as follows: girl from the burbs meets boy from the farm and when she can't find cologne at the nearest cosmetic counter that has notes of alfalfa the affair is doomed. I think I made it to 1500 words. I'm a short story writer which I guess is what happens when your teenage brain starts you out writing poems and the gradual progression then becomes mini memoir. I've decided that in the month of November as a birthday present to myself I will post some of my writings that make up my chapbook collection, The Fridge Magnet Chronicles. So as the month unfolds watch for an assortment of very eclectic prose and poems. Maybe one or two get you to smile or shake your head. Have them be what they will, I'm not expecting to become the next Erma Bombeck. Oh wait, yes I am...

College and middle age, what was I thinking...

I have gone to college off and on since 1984. Guess what all those classes I've taken over the decades add up to, nothing except a write off I can take when I file my taxes. I was recently taking the business ed classes that would eventually give me a certificate in Human Resources. Not wanting to overwhelm myself I had just one class every Wednesday night, "ORAL COMM IN ORGS; Develop speaking skills to effectively and confidently deliver oral presentations in organizational settings. In addition, analyze audiences, research topics, and prepare and deliver presentations." I have been diligently getting to the Santa Rosa campus every week, semi prepared after having typed out many drafts of a speech and reading the chapters of the older edition of the book I found on Amazon for $5.00. Well, last Wednesday I just couldn't take my nutty professor or her rambling emails in regards to needing to make the keyword outline perfect before I could present my oral presentation on helping returning veterans getting back into the workplace. I'm sorry but does it matter if the right section has bullet points or is indented in the appropriate spot? Well it does matter to her and from the looks of things I was never going to make my presentation. So after my head almost exploded after conversing with her, the class chiming in with their helpful suggestions as well I called it quits at the break. I drove out of the campus parking lot tossing my textbook out the window of my truck lamenting the money I had spent on tuition, parking and the gas it took to drive from work to school. I do feel much freer, not going to let myself feel like a quitter. In fact the first thing I did once I got home was get onto the JC website and start looking for another class to take next semester. I even feel like I learned something about myself, I like classes on comparative mythology and world geography not classes on business writing or organizational communication. I'm choosing to no longer torture myself with perfectionists who don't like my speech draft, so there. I might get my college degree when I'm 60 or I might not. I'll still continue to be a student of life and that's been a real education.

Juno and Autumnal Equinox

The above title isn't necessarily joined together for any reason, just want to write about a sweet dog named Juno and also that the autumnal equinox is upon us.

First about Juno, definition from googling the name;
JUNO: the wife of Jupiter, queen of heaven, and goddess of light, birth, women, and marriage.

Those of you who follow my fb page will have seen the story unfold recently that our grand-dog Juno needed to go to a new home. She has the best temperament, loves her humans with all she's worth and has a bunch of other amazing traits but we just weren't able to invest the time and energy in her that she deserved. So with mixed emotions we broke it to her original parents Dan and Tiff that she was going to a new home.

As it turns out our good friend Cindy went above and beyond the call of duty and found Kaitlyn and Jonathan. Juno gets a two night sleepover with Boonie at Drew and Cindy's then Tuesday will go home with her new parents. By the way Kaitlyn and Jonathan did I mention there's a no return policy? Thank you to all of you who were helpful in putting the word out, isn't social media amazing?

Next Autumnal Equinox, definition from wikipedia:
The holiday of the autumnal equinox, Mabon, is a Pagan ritual of thanksgiving for the fruits of the earth and a recognition of the need to share them to secure the blessings of the Goddess and the God during the coming winter months.

I think I'll add some items to my alter in honor of Mabon this year remembering that this time is when the darkness and light are equal, white candle and black candle that sort of thing. And maybe a picture of a beautiful queen with big brown eyes who looks good wearing pink and seemed to just want to always retrieve that ball no matter how many times you threw it.

Many manila envelopes...

Ever feel like you must have an adventure soon or you'll go crazy? I currently have 4 manila envelopes on my dining table full of random things to be mailed off to loved ones. So you ask what do envelopes have to do with adventure? Well my adventure is to pretend I've put my shrunken self into the envelopes then I'm able to go somewhere away from home. Granted a couple of my envelope adventures would be Willits and Windsor, not exactly out of my current area. But the other two would be Oregon and Virginia. I think if I could I would choose Virginia and pretty much all of you would know why. There's a handsome sailor and his beautiful sweetie along with an adorable boy who might even give me a big hug and call me Nana back there. But work and finances stop the real me from getting to hop a plane and head east into the sunrise. In the meantime I'll just remember the trip there from a few months ago. I guess even though I'm a California girl through and through, I have a new happy place. It's a neighborhood park that I've actually never even visited but is from a picture where there's a beautiful dark haired, twinkling eyed boy playing. Or it's the back patio of a peaceful family condo that has the firepit going as twilight descends, marshmallows are roasting on sticks and I hear the laughter and quiet chatter of the darling boy excited for his smores. I'm finding a couple rubber duckies to put into the envelope for Virginia, more random things for the other three envelopes. I think I'm now feeling less crazy, thankfully I can use my imagination and find adventure in my mind.

Can I get a compass in that happy meal?

I'm feeling in flux. Here's just a tidbit of something I found while googling the definition.

"Continuous change.
synonyms: continuous change, changeability, variability, inconstancy, fluidity, instability, unsteadiness, fluctuation, variation, shift, movement, oscillation, alternation, rise and fall, seesawing, yo-yoing"

The fluxing of my life has been happening for awhile, probably at least a year. My family dynamics have changed, friends have passed on without fulfilling some things I was watching them accomplish, the job (well that's a whole other story!)

I went from what I thought was my magical age year into turning 57, looked at the mirror of what has been and was informed through the drum circle "the mirror should be the reflection of the beauty we bring to the world". There's a challenge!

Not that I haven't accomplished some things. I have performed my second croning, have worked spells to help bring what I hoped was helpful to the success of an author friend and even tapped into my business persona and became a notary! So what if my bank account looks sad or my house needs remodeling (those two are somewhat connected).

I can also smile when I see the photos of my sailor son and his beautiful new sweetie with her adorable little boy. Now that's something to make me wake up and feel joyful about!

I also have quite a network of amazing women who when we get together make me feel more powerful and connected to the earth (and current events/books) and give me leeway to vent from the frustrations happening on a daily basis.

But an upcoming visit to the forest will refresh me, recharge my batteries. I will sit and feel the breeze coming up from the river and watch dusk descend over the canyon. Possibly in the quiet I'll even hear the whispers of my lineage giving me the direction I could choose to point my compass...

Carsonisms...

We've become grandparents! Well, we did meet a wonderful little boy who I'm hoping one day will be calling me up and saying "Hi Nana, don't let the bed bugs bite!" So everyone needs to know that he's 3 (we of course think he's an exceptional 3), knows the pledge of allegiance and can write his name pretty well. He spouts out things that I get to hear about from his darling mom since I'm 3000 miles away and don't skype yet. Does every other grammy feel this way? I'm also going to keep a list of all the Carsonisms, might make a great coffee table book one day.

Did I miss "May the fourth be with you"?

May the fourth be with you! LOL! Guess what, it took me a couple of years before I figured what that referenced. Here's the latest... Had a nice time out in Virginia. It was cold though so had to wear layers especially at the pier but I didn't care because sailor kid would finally be back stateside! We got to meet a really wonderful woman and her beautiful little boy, Kim and Carson. Sock monkey didn't really want to be included for many of the outings, the zoo for a little while and a couple meals where he was asked to try some grits and that good ole' sweet tea again! We also got to have Easter dinner with Kim's lovely and hospitable family. Shout out to Candy and Mike for being the hostess' with the mostess'! Now looking forward to a road trip with bff Jana and time to visit with mom and sis. Watch for more postings soon y'all! Take care.