November, november...

My boys in the Bronx are playing so well ! Man, I hope they wrap this up tomorrow night in the "big house" I'll be watching and looking towards right field and the Model's sign. : ) That is an inside joke..So for those of you who are out of the loop you can just wonder.. LOL

Election day today and here in Agawam I had the grand choice of voting for a well known 30 something THUG or another man of questionable character.. Good grief..It took me forever to make a decision. I was going to write in Micky Mouse, then I thought I'd write in myself. I wasn't sure if doing something like that would cause all of my votes to be nullified. So in the end I went with choice number 2. Based only on the fact that he has had more experience I do not like the man at all!

I took a drive over to The Christmas Tree Shop and got three pretty glass pitchers for the house. I am sick to death of the ugly plastic ones that are here now. YUKKY.. It will be nice to have something pretty that matches for parties and meetings.

I am working away at my book. I have almost 10,000 words written it is coming along nicely. So interesting how it is taking shape. It isn't anything at all like I had planned. There seem to be two plots developing..one as seen by the young girl..her eyes see as a child does. She is unaware of the corruption and deceit that is swirling around. It is looking very much like someone will die..probably two people will die. One the victim of a tragic accident the other...hummmm not sure suicide or murder.. Wherever my vivid imagination and fingers take me. The title of the book is "RABBIT SUMMER" and I can promise that the rabbits will be saved...

So my friends I wish you all a happy Tuesday.. J J ..I wish I was up there to make you some coffee.. It is really easy..just follow the directions I posted on Facebook : )... For all the rest of you stay safe, stay happy and whatever you do remember to

BREATHE and smile for me...

Happy Halloween to everyone..

The picture above was taken 39 years ago today at right around 2:15 in the afternoon.. Our wedding started at 2:00. At that point in time I had lost the ability to speak. The minister had just asked me "Do you want to continue?" Hummmmm.


So I have been working away at this novel that is running around in my brain..and I decided since it was Halloween and all to share a bit of it with all of you. Now mind you this is just one small scene, and this one small scene really did happen to me when I was around 8 years old. The story is made up of several events that actually did happen to me..but it is not entirely based of fact..

Read it.. and feel free to contact me with advice, suggestions and other. If I get published you will all be a part of my dedication.. LOL


.........The next day after school she decided to go by herself back to the spot where she and Bobby had been watching, David and her sister. She crawled through the brush. This time there were only boys voices, loud laughter and what sounded like chickens.

“What are they doing now?" she thought. She peered through the brush and held her breath. There were 5 or maybe 6 boys all of them wore the black jackets like David’s. They were smoking cigarettes and laughing. She saw a big box off to the side. David was poking at something in the box with a baseball bat she thought she heard him say,

“Are you ready to walk the plank?”

There was a long board set up on top of two barrels and a rope was hung from a tree branch at one end. Under the rope there was a metal wash bucket.

“ Hey Dave, said one of the boys, is your momma gonna cook them up tonight?”

Everyone was laughing now as David pulled a big black and white chicken from the box. The bird was squawking and flapping wildly as David carried it to the board.

“Here we go.” said David grinning

He tied the rope around the chickens neck and watched as it ran along the board. It hit the end and dropped hanging in the air flapping its wings. She watched in horror as David swung an ax and cut the head right off.

“Look at that the boys yelled its still flapping. Do it again!”

“Walk the plank, walk the plank ..they shouted.”

David was covered with blood as he wildly swung the axe at 5 chickens one after the other.


Leslie could not move. She was frozen in fright. Her hand covered her mouth to keep her self from screaming.

“Oh my God Oh my God please don’t let them see me.”

She stayed huddled in a small tight ball until they all left, carrying the bodies of the 5 chickens back to the Moore’s house. The five chicken heads were stuck on the ends of the fence posts that surrounded their “club-house. Another image of horror for Leslie to carry in her mind. Her bike was waiting at the top of the bank. But instead of riding she walked pushing it along beside her. She walked through her woods trying to make the images in her mind go away. A doe was grazing in the clearing and twin fawns played as she ate. As Leslie looked at them she thought about those awful boys and wondered if they would hurt these creatures too. She clapped her hands and watched as the deer ran deep into the woods.

“Stay safe she thought, stay safe.”

Lenny’s pond was just ahead she saw some kids playing at the edge. Bobby looked up and waved. She waved back and walked down the hill to the pond.

“Where were you?” Said Bobby

“ I just went for a ride, she answered, I wanted to check out the baby sheep that were born last night at the Mahler Farm.”

“Did you see um?” asked Bobby

“No, I stopped where we were yesterday and I wish I hadn’t.” she said.

She told all the kids what she had seen. Know one said a word. But their faces told the story.

FEAR



“We have to tell someone, said Bobby, that’s sick. They might try and do that to a person.”

“I don’t think we should tell, said Lee, There are too many of them, I don’t know all their names. Someone would figure out who saw and told and then we would get hurt. But I am sacred for my sister. I think I should tell her.”

“ Your sister will tell David and then he will get us.” said Bobby.

“ Then we will not tell anyone. Blood brothers vow.” said Lee.

Bobby took his pocket knife and they all made a small cut on the tip of their fingers. They held hands then and vowed to never tell!




Happy Halloween everyone..stay safe now and watch out for goblins and gouls. Whatever you do Remember to

Breathe and smile for me

Wednesday already..

Good grief. It has been crazy busy here. Lots happening at the house and in life in general. Stated my class on Monday and I have been working on my assignment about 4 hours each day. We have to complete a 70,000 word novel in 8 months. I have had a story rolling around in my head since I was in college in the 1960's..and so far it is going well. I have completed about 3500 words now. Yesterday my teacher looked my work over, made a few suggestions in format and told me to keep working. The story is based on events that happened to me and some friends back in 1951. It is a look back at a simpler time yet that simple time is tainted with a murder,corruption and fear. It is called "Rabbit Summer"

So that is what I have been up to. I may drive Dan over the edge here. Now I am on the computer constantly. The ideas are just pouring out of my brain. I am really excited about this book : ) Who knows maybe I'll be "discovered" and be an over night success like the woman that wrote Harry Potter. LOL


Anyway I hope all of you are safe and happy..Remember to have fun, make memories and watch out for evil doers..

Whatever you do don't forget to
Breathe and smile for me.

I amost forgot..

Tonight I am beginning a class in creative writing..which will run till the end of May. My first class since my college "daze" back in the 1960's. Wonder how I'll do.. LOL

At any rate I can see a prize winning novel and a screen play in my future...

Yeah RIGHT..

Take care all

later......

Monday, monday...

It is beautiful here in Massachusetts today. The sun is shining..the air is crisp..the sky is blue blue blue...Great day to take some photos which I may just have to do later.

This morning I cleaned the house down stairs and set up for the chamber of pirates tomorrow AM. Early day tomorrow..I have to get up at 6:30 to start the coffee and tea and get the juice iced and ready for their arrival at 7:30AM.. Once a month isn't bad..

Mailed out the invitations for Thanksgiving dinner this morning.. Probably around 40 people again. Though some are still up in the air I think just about everyone will be here. Except for Joel and Amanda who are in the military and unable to get leave.

Should be fun..crazy getting everything ready and hot and served..and cleaned up and of course the very next day i have to decorate the Leonard House for Christmas.. after I get up at 3:00AM to hit the sales for Christmas. I am really insane. Of course this year between Thanksgiving and Christmas we are having a wedding... EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEKKKKKKK.. Oh well this too shall pass and I know I can do it all.

So my friends I hope everyone is safe and warm and happy. Have a great Monday. J J I hear you are "parenting" up there in PEI..sure wish I could come and sit with those sweet babies.. Give them a big hello from meg and tell them i miss them lots.. miss you and Julie too !!!

Take care now and remember whatever you do today don't forget to


BREATHE and smile for me!

Ranting along ..but with a smile...

I am sorry for last nights rant. I am sorry if I worried my friends. I'm fine, but I was really angry and writing it all down helped. I do not want to worry anyone.

Sometimes I just need to vent and this spot allows me to do just that.

I turn to the keyboard and I type. I spill out all my emotions onto a screen and push a button sending it off into cyberspace. Kind of like a prayer or a meditation. It works for me. My dear friend on PEI told me today. "Let go and let God". I understand that and I do. Sometimes I just get so bound up with all these crazy emotions and thoughts that the only way I can cope is to vent in this way. So I guess in a sense this screen, this page, this blog, is my "prayer" or meditation. But I don't mean to upset my friends. When I get this way just remember you are my prayer group..I am unloading and giving it to "God", "the universe", whatever you want to call "IT" or "HIM" or "Her" ( Attempting to be politically correct while writing : ) )

It helps, it works most of the time. You see, I am at a point in my life where I need to feel right. I need to feel good. I need to be able to say to people who piss me off that they "piss me off"..That they hurt my feelings when they talk to me like I am the village idiot. My suggestions or advice is never offered to be self serving but is offered after living through a lot of years. My advice and or suggestions don't have to be taken and followed but they deserve to be listened to and done so with respect. After that, do whatever you decide to do, it is "your life" after all. Just don't talk to me like I am an idiot with absolute nothing worthwhile to offer. Because I'm not!

I think I need a puppy..they are never anything but loving.. : )



Have a great Sunday my friends.. go on out and make some happy memories. It is a beautiful day here in Massachusetts..maybe time for a head clearing walk down by the river. Whatever you do today ..remember

BREATHE and smile for me..

Giver or taker

My Mom always said..there are two kinds of people in the world. Takers and givers. You know who you are. The takers ask, and ask and ask. To the point of expecting that they shouldn't have to ask . They start thinking they deserve whatever it is they want or need. When things don't go their way they lash out or they just find other ways to "punish" those who have not done as was expected.

The givers never stop giving. They run through their lives..helping family members and friends. Giving time, giving money, giving favors. They never ask for anything in return. But they spend a lot of time feeling hurt and unloved and unappreciated. Because the takers are always there asking for more and lashing out when the givers cannot help at the exact moment they need it.

So how do we solve this dilemma? We could be like "Nancy Regan" and just say "NO"..all the time..just say "NO"..But that would be too much to bare for the givers. They can't say No..not without feeling guilty, and the takers know that.

The takers never seem to be able to see what they are doing to the people around them. Their demands never stop but they don't see it. They just want and want and want. And they forget..when they are asked they forget to do what they are asked..or what they promised. But they NEVER forget what they have asked FOR or what they think they deserve.

I am tired, I am tired of feeling guilty for saying "NO I Can't do that." I am tired of being second to everyone else. I want to be a TAKER for the rest of my life. But that won't work because I really don't need anything except for the takers I know to stop being the way they are and realize that I only want to be thought about, maybe 1/2 as much as the friends. That I would love to have moments when I can just sit quietly and visit without having to do something or take care of someone.
CAN YOU TELL I AM PISSED OFF.. GOOD !!!!!.."

Because I am...and now I feel guilty for saying that.. good grief

BREATHE