Summer School

Taking a required 1 credit Library Resource online class this summer. So far not doing too bad on week number 2. Here's what I wrote as my student bio to get extra credit. See below, let me know what you think.

Hi, my name is Mona and I've been going to college since before most of you were born. I have worked a bit toward a couple certificates but then would quit when I either found the work I would do after getting said certificate was boring or I took classes from a less than steller professor and had to quit because they made me want to scream! So now after finally visiting a counselor for the first time in the 32 years of my student career I am hoping to get my degree in social and behavioral sciences when I'm 63 in the year 2019. Just in time to retire from my bank job, yay! Right now the joy of my life is my 5 year old grandson who lives with his mom and dad (my son and daughter in law) in Chesapeake Virginia so our vacations usually take this nana out there on visits with my husband who I could write a book about the love he has for that little guy! Well in fact we are collaborating on a children's book with the grandson as main character, "Carson Finds a Job". Hope all of you are enjoying the summer. As I always tell my son who's made two deployments to the Persian Gulf as a United States sailor, stay safe and sane! Good luck with class. Sincerely, Mona Mechling

Chesapeake Forest

Sitting out in the twilight I got snippets of whispers from the wood nymphs. My mermaid friends staying in the gentle waves of the Atlantic were sorry we wouldn't have a visit this trip. They asked the shore fairies to pass word along the forest network to me with the salutation that we would meet again but understood that this was nana time with adorable grandson. The shy wood nymphs were hesitant to leave the safety and comfort of the higher leafy branches. But I did get some bold hellos from the frogs and squirrels who scampered, hopped and chattered through the day and night. Today I pack up the cozy Chesapeake cabin, memories and sleeping bags to be carried home to California. I send my goodbye to the elusive wood nymphs and hear a singing bird who will be sure to let my mermaid friends know I'll be back soon.

Flying...

I'm not a good flyer, not that I worry about crashing I just don't like being in enclosed spaces for long periods of time. And I'm always concerned that I will miss my flight, you know sleep through the alarm etc. Anyway, today I decide to drive the scenic rural route home and what happens as I'm flying along at 60+ miles an hour, a bird leaves the field next to the road and while trying to get air born hits the car and  in the rear view mirror I see it land a few feet behind me. Of course I rush home to the computer and google dead bird omen and maybe there will be a chant I can say for the soul of the bird. Well, mostly there are funny post about dead birds but I'm wanting to honor that this bird gave it's life against my front bumper. Plus since I'm about to get on a big flying machine I have to make sure I don't have any bad juju. Turns out that I found something nice that sort of makes me feel better, not a chant but I can make one up and I think I randomly have bird seed around of all things that I'll go to the side of the fence and toss in the air for luck. Here's the copy paste from a portion of a site I found during my googling. Might have been serendipitous that a bird and I crossed paths, right?

https://exemplore.com/spirit-animals/Birds-as-Omens-and-Signs

A Dead Bird

If you've seen a dead bird in the road or perhaps you accidentally hit a bird on the road, this usually feels like a bad sign. Actually death is typically a good sign showing us that an end to turmoil or pain is ending. This doesn't necessarily mean physical death, just a metaphorical death. Perhaps you're going through heartache of a break-up, perhaps you are struggling to find a job...this dead bird marks the end to your search and struggle. A new beginning is just around the corner.

Mermaid posting...

Hi humans! We just wanted to say Happy New Year! That lovely holiday you all seem to enjoy so much with sparkling lights and pretty paper wrapped things called gifts to be shared with your loved ones has passed for another year. We keep tabs you know on folks we've had a good time with. The small boy with the tear on his cheek a few months ago (only for a few minutes though) got to have yummy cake and dance with his cousins at a big party. We like him alot, he's a fun guy so we'll watch from shore for awhile. He has a pretty mom (he sure thought she was extra lovely in her beautiful white dress) who likes lap time with her boy and loves that her new husband (quite dashing as a sailor man) is good at things like cooking their food on an outside machine called a barbecue. We might not seem to be around, especially if we've been invited to frolic with dolphins over near sand covered islands in other seas but we will be back. We like to be part of adventures with some of our favorite humans too...

A wonderful time was had by all!

I think the dolphins I saw in Chesapeake Bay from my 5th floor balcony told the Atlantic shore mermaids to be sure to hang about the Marina for the wedding of Dan and Kim. I didn't see the mermaids but I could feel them there. I have a feeling they whispered among themselves about the jewel like tear on littlest groomsman Carson after he walked his mom down the aisle and gave her away. I'll bet they couldn't believe their eyes when they saw the most beautiful flowers, hydrangas and roses overflowing crystal vases as tall as themselves. Their smiles reflected the bride and groom as the officiant pronounced "you are now husband and wife!" They licked their lips as they smelled one of their favorite foods, crabcakes. You of course know how much mermaids love weddings, right? The night of music and magic was full of fun and frivolity, toast and laughter. Oh but there is so much more to share the mermaids say...

A wedding!

Six days until I watch my only child Daniel marry his sweetheart. The sun will be setting opposite the water, we will see a sparkle on the beautiful Atlantic Ocean. Kimberly now becomes the newest member of the family and adds Carson, boy extraordinaire who will regal me with tales of summer fun swimming and fishing and seeing his favorite characters at the Disney on Ice show. I can imagine the magical time had by all, cocktail attire, mixture of old and new music by a DJ. Then out of the watery mist the eastern shore mermaids float close to see the humans dancing and hugging and eating all in celebration of the bride and groom.

To be continued...

Adult show and tell

Speech number two is an informative speech. For 6 minutes I have to inform my class of something with visual aids. Before we make the speech though our assignment was to brainstorm topics that we might possibly use for our speech. The following is my list of 25 things that I might pick one from for my speech at the end of the month. What do you think?

1.Croning ceremony
2.Become a Notary Public
3.Mobile/Online banking
4.Paper mache crafting
5.Tarot card reading
6.Lacrosse
7.Selfpublishing
8.Wine tasting
9.Stonehenge
10.Open a bank account
11.Make beef jerky
12.Tour Library of Congress
13.Search for Big Foot
14.Make fudge
15.Autumnal Equinox ceremony
16.Make vision board
17.Soap making
18.Felting
19.Crocheting dishcloths
20.Make rose beads
21.Make zucchini bread
22.Participate in a dig
23.Prepare creme brulee
24.Drive route 66
25.Make a labyrinth

I already sort of have in mind what to speak about, what would your adult show and tell be about?