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~Modern Proverbs
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"The heavens declare the glory of God..." Psalm 19:1
Friday, September 27, 2002
Friday Five
1. What are your favorite ways to relax and unwind? Read a good science fiction novel, watch some of my favorite tv programs, write a poem or two.
2. What do you do the moment you get home from work/school/errands? Check the answering machine for new messages. It depends on the time of day. I usually get back from errands about noon, so I eat lunch while watching a daily rerun of an old Perry Mason show.
3. What are your favorite aromatherapeutic smells? We live near a factory that produces mint. When the mint is in production that smell fills the air around town. I like that smell. I also like the scent of my favorite perfume, Tabu.
4. Do you feel more relaxed with a group of friends or hanging out by yourself? I like hanging out by myself, but there a a few people whose company enjoy. My best friend Pauline, for one.
5. What is something that you feel is relaxing but most people don't? I like going to yard sales, but most of my friends are not yard sale people.
Speaking of yard sales, today's find was a silver fork bracelet. When I was in high school, one of my friends had one and it was sooooo cool. I've always wanted one. I found one today. It is made from an 1847 Rogers Bros. fork. I thought at first it was a sterling silver fork, but it is only tripple plated. Still, it looks good. The tines are all twisted like tendrils, and the person who made the bracelet added a piece of turquiose. It's gorgeous.
Thursday, September 26, 2002
First Impressions
The new TV season is upon us. We have watched several new shows. What do I think?
Family Affair--a cute remake. The English housekeeper keeps this from being just another single dad (uncle) coping with younglings sitcom. (Yuck, I hate that word and usually avoid sitcoms like the plague).
Twilight Zone--Classic TZ storylines. The first show's were predictable. The second show's were a bit more original. I have hope for this series.
Presidio Med--The writers may be trying too hard. I'd like to see a couple of more quirky characters. Everyone is just so intense.
Firefly--definitely has potential. Definitely a rough and tumble sf "western." The theme song and background music are great. The likes and dislikes among the shpis crew will hold some interesting interactions in future episodes.
Returning Favorites:
Jag--as expected, Bud lost his leg in a landmine explosion. What wasn't expected was that he died on the operating table. The writer's actually had us believing for a short time that it was going to be the way of things.
The Guardian--it was fun to see Farrah Fawcett as the mom of the drug addict who caused Nick so much trouble. I think the new season is going to be full of twists and turns.
Crossing Jordan--I do hope they have put the "who killed Mom" storyline on the back burner for a while. It seemed such a waste of time for Jordan to go off the rocker like that and nothing get resolved. I hope the quirky characters get to stay quirky. They are actually much more interesting than Jordan. If it weren't for the supporting characters I probably wouldn't watch the show.
Enterprise--This show always leaves me somewhat unsatisfied. The episode in which T'pol is relating the story of her great-grandmother was interesting. And, yes, Betty, I did keep expecting to hear that line about Vulcan ears and mechanical rice pickers.
Blogs and Google
Betty of Maximum Verbosity sometimes makes a list of the more wacky Google searches that bring folks to her blog. So, I thought I would check out the googlies that bring folks to this website. Most of the referrals are of people looking for information on the season premiers of Jag, The Guardian, and Crossing Jordan. The one I found slightly amusing was "Leonardo DiCaprio overweight." Hmmm.
Betty also noted that if you use the words "naked" or "boobs" in one of your entries you are sure to get referrals. I suppose now that I've actually used those words hits to this blog will increase. I wonder would would happen if I had said "my nephew's Lit teacher has a fetish for 12-line poems"?
Whatever, I am just tickled pink that she is encouraging the students to think about poetry and even write some. I wish I had had a teacher in high school that encouraged me to write poetry. If I had persued my creative writing out of high school instead of waiting 17 years, I may have gotten somewhere with it instead of just piddling around.
I am gratified to have had poetry published both online and in print journals. That is an ego-booster. The most current at Amaze: the Cinquain Journal
The cinquain is fun to write. For those interested in the form, there is a great article on The American Cinquain. It really should be mandatory reading for cinquain poets.
Another silly poem
I think my nephew's Lit teacher has a thing for 12-poems. The new assignment is for a 12 line poem of one subject. Jacob said, "train," so here is our newest collaboration.The Train
copyright 2002 by DSB & JPGii
The train.
The train on the tracks.
The train on the tracks there
and back.
The train.
The train on the tracks.
The train on the tracks blows
its stack.
The train.
The train on the tracks.
The train on the tracks wants
a snack.
Again, it's no pulitzer prize winner, but it was fun. I think it could possible make a neat "first reader" book. I've thought about writing some children's stories. I'll have to look into that.
Monday, September 23, 2002
Monday Mission
1. When I was young, my Mom would always drink a cold Dr. Pepper in the morning. Me, I can go either way. I like a Cold Frappucchino in the Summer months and switch to warm Mocha Espresso in the Fall. Do you like to drink warm beverages in the morning or do you prefer yours cold? First thing every morning is freshly perked coffee. Unfortunately, I have to drink decaffinated these days.
2. Have you ever been so upset with someone that you wanted to get revenge? What did you do? Or if you didn't, what would you like to have done? No, I have never been so upset with someone that I wanted to get revenge. I was once so upset with a girl for tormenting me (Junior High) that one day, when she refused to leave me alone, I jerked a handful of hair out of her head. She never did bother me again.
3. Sometimes I can look back at my past and see so many things that I was too naive to take advantage of. A time where I could have moved ahead in my career if only I'd chosen to move, the High School girlfriend who said she would do anything if I just asked, and so on. Looking back, are there any opportunities you missed out on that you can see now but didn't realize then? When I graduated from high school, I wish that at least one of my teachers would have said to me, "You have a talent for creative writing. Go to college and persue it."
4. Today I tried on my black slacks, and they are just a skosh too tight (yeah it's a real word, look it up). Of course, I wore them anyway. Are there any clothes you refuse to throw away even though they don't (and never will) fit? Why do you keep them? I do have some "skinny clothes" in my closet. I won't throw them away because I bought them as an enticement to lose weight.
5. Although my speech classes eliminated most if it, I still have a little Okie accent left. I say "Git" instead of "Get" and "Collar" instead of "Color." Do you have an accent? Are there any phrases or words you say that tip folks that "you aren't from around these parts?" That depends. I'm from Washington state. Here I don't have an accent, but when I visit my husband's family in North Caroline, I'm sure the notice that I don't speak "southern." I have picked up a few of my husband's "southern" words, like "durn."
6. Speaking of phrases, it really drives me nuts when folks say "very unique" (Unique has no degrees, it is either unique or it isn't) or "irregardless" (not a real word). Are there any words folks misspell or incorrect uses of words that simply drive you insane? I've just recently found out that the term "forte" as used in "writing poetry is my forte" is pronounced "fort." So, now it bugs me when I hear it pronounced any other way.
7. I am guilty of using pet names a bit too often, like "honey," "babe," and "sweetie." However, currently, no one uses any pet names on me (and I think I'd like one). Are there any pet names that you like to be called? Any you don't? Do you (or did you) have any pet names for your partner? I don't really want to be called anything except "Deborah," though most people who know me call me "Debby." Some day I might make a fuss about it.
BONUS: Why you so fly? I have to exercise the old wings once in a while, you know.
Today's comment question: Do you prefer a stick shift or automatic? I prefer a stick shift. I don't know, it must be the inner teenager in me. I have to have an automatic now, because my bad knees prevent me from pushing in a clutch.
Sunday, September 22, 2002
Enlightenment
Jesus
wept and still He
weeps. His love for me is
no small thing, and I leap into
His arms.
copyright 2002 by DSB
Thursday, September 19, 2002
Favorite poems
One of my favorite form of poetry in which to write is the cinquain (pronounced "sing-cain"). I've been trying to write one each morning, and have been successful in getting a few published online. Anyway todays entry is:Share my grief
willows
cast your endless
laments into rivers
let their sadness flow to the sea
of tears.
(copyright 2002 by DSB)
Cinquains are fun to write. The form was invented by Adelaide Crapsey, an American poet (1878-1914). She was quite taken with the Japanese poetic form "tanka" and desired to invent a comprable American form. The form as it is practiced to day is a verse of five lines with a syllabic arrangemen ot 2-4-6-8-2 in its five lines.Niagra
by Adelaide Crapsey
How frail
Above the bulk
Of crashing water hangs,
Autumnal, evanescent, wan
The moon.
Wednesday, September 18, 2002
A Poem is created
This morning my 9th grader asked me to help him write a poem. The assignment was to list 10 things of which people are afraid and then create a 12-line poem from the list.
The list:snakes heights choo-choo train the dark God water death science teachers drugsThe poem
10 Fears of
the dark
choo-choo
train snakes
on high
with
drugs
and God,
dying
for lack
of water
and science
teachers.
It may not win a pulitzer prize, but it was fun.
This or That Tuesday
(Yes, I am aware that it is not Tuesday, but I Iike this list)
1. Portland, Maine or Portland, Oregon? Being as I have been to Portland OR several times, I think I would like to visit Portland ME
2. New York or New Jersey? New Jersey. My brother's in-laws are from Jersey originally and they are wonderful people.
3. Van Gogh or Van Halen? Van Gogh. I love art.
4. Bill Clinton or Bill Gates? Bill Gates. He's the one with the money, honey.
5. Leonardo daVinci or Leonardo DiCaprio? daVinci. He is a legend. I suspect if the world revolves long enough DiCaprio will be forgotten, but daVinci's accomplishments will live on.
6. "American Pie" or "American Idol"? Neither.
7. George W. Bush or Curious George? George W., he's the man.
8. Billy Joel or Billy Idol? Neither
9. Donny Osmond or Donald Duck? Donald Duck. *quack, quack, in an annoying little voice*
10. Dr. Seuss or Dr. Kevorkian? Dr. Suess. No question!
Friday, September 13, 2002
Friday Five
1. What was/is your favorite subject in school? Why? English and Literature. Reading let me escape from the problems of real life, and English was just so darn much fun. I've always like the way words go together. English has helped me become a creative writer. Writing poems lets me explore the emotional side of my life, some of the stuff that is hidden deep inside.
2. Who was your favorite teacher? Why? I had a crush on the chorus teacher when I was in high school. He was probably the youngest teacher I had ever had. He was thin and had long black hair. All of my friends were crazy about him. I can't remember his name though.
3. What is your favorite memory of school? The circle of friends I had. Most of us were overweight and none of us was popular within the school, but hey, we had each other.
4. What was your favorite recess game? I didn't like recess much. Very few of the other children would play with with me. I think it was because I was a big girl and not popular, so I think it embarrassed some of the other more popular sort to be seen with me. I was always the last one picked in any kind of games.
5. What did you hate most about school? The way the other children, especially the boys, would torment and harrass me because I was overweight.
I would have like school if the other kids had been kinder to me. After I graduated I never looked back and I am so glad I never have to go through it again.
Thursday, September 12, 2002
So much to do, so little time!
I know it's an old, old story. Still, it's the truth. It seems I never have enough time to do all of the things I have to do online--like update my blogs and my websites. Plus find time to write my poetry and get busy on the zines I do for the various APAs to which I belong. Yes, I'm griping. Have I overextended myself?
Now that you mention it, yes, the new TV season is starting soon. Yes, I watch too much TV and it is going to drive me even crazier finding time to watch my favorites and do all of the stuff mentioned above!
Speaking of TV, you know you watch too much when the only magazine you buy each year is the TV Guide Fall Preview issue. Actually this year I bought two: returning favorites and new shows.
In the returning favorites column are (blurbs taken from TV Guide):
Alias: Lena Olin joins the cast as Sydney's mysterious mom...Vaughn and Sydney partner up more often and their relationship is going to deepen.
The Practice: Jamie Stringer (Jessica Capshaw) joins the firm. Sparks will fly when the idealistic new attorney meets the battle-scarred partners.
Crossing Jordan: Lorraine Toussaint joins the series as Elain Deschamps, a no nonsense patholgist who is also Jordan's nemesis and Garret's rival.
Jag: The season premier finds Lt. Bud Roberts fighting for his life after losing a limb in a landmine accident in Afghanistan.
The Guardian: "I wrote my self into a corner with the cliff-hanger and there's a lot to resolve," says executive producer David Hollander, who promises the requisite twists and turns in the first few episodes. Farah Fawcett appears this season as the mother of a woman previously involved in Nick's life.
Judging Amy: Facing NYPD Blue again this year, Amy becomes grittier. Expect episodes heavy with court cases reflecting such current events as the Andrea Yates murder trial.
Enterprise: The Temporal Cold War with the Suliban will emerge as the prevailing theme. We're going to learn more about what's happening in the 31st centruy and how Archer and the Enterprise are connected with it.
Of the new shows, Firefly is the one that holds most interest for me. I am a science fiction nut and this is billed as a "science fiction western." TV Guide says, "Navigating the farthest reaches of the galaxy to escape the totalitarian Alliance, Captain Malcolm "Mal" Renoylds...leads a mercenary crew aboard his ragtag transport spaceship...like a classic B-movie stagecoach, the ship's ecclectic passenger roster includes a prostitute..., a preacher..., and a secretive doctor... with a mysterious sister...Often landing and trading gods on undeveloped border planets, they try to stay under the radar of the Alliance while steering clear of cannibalistic Reavers.
Tuesday, September 10, 2002
This or That Tuesday
It's time for Christine's This or That Tuesday: (from Kelly's site)
1. Paper or plastic? I prefer paper, but plastic is so convenient, with those handles and all. Plus, plastic bags can be used for trash bags in all of the trash recepticles around the house.
2. Stripes or plaid? Stripes. Preferably vertical--more slimming, you know.
3. Baseball or football? . Yuck, neither. Baseball is boring and football is so...so...yuck.
4. TV or movies? T.v. More of the things I like to watch are on T.V. I rarely watch movies at home. Sometimes I go to the theatre with my friend. Sunday, for example, we saw "My Big Fat Greek Wedding." It was great and I recommend it.
5. Craig Kilborn or Conan O'Brien? I am not familiar enough with this two to make a choice.
6. Amazon or BN.com? Amazon. I've actually ordered a book from them once.
7. Yahoo or Google? Google. I have the search tool on my toolbar so that makes it handy. Plus, when I enter my name into the search, it returns oodles of pages. How ego boosting is that?
8. Star Trek or Star Wars? Please, how can I choose? Don't make me choose. I can't choose. Aaaagh!
9. Cats or dogs? .Dogs. Schipperkes in particular. We have two of those, one terrier, and one cat--Pedro.
10. Is that for here or to go? To go. I am always more comfortable in my own home. I don't have to get dressed up and all of that sort of nonsense.
In Late Summer
A Haibun
Copyright 2002 by DSB
In late summer the trees in our front yard flower. Our neighbor calls them "High Heavens" because the blossoms, and subsequent purple berries, reach toward the sky and in the late afternoon sun take on an ethereal, golden-lavender color.
When the trees blossom, they are filled with honey bees going about their pollen-collecting business. Some days the trees are so filled with bees, when I stand under them it sounds as if I am standing in a beehive.aloft
in the blossoming trees
the bees' hum
Saturday, September 07, 2002
Saturday Scruples
1. You've agreed to sublet your apartment to someone. Someone else offers you an extra %50 a month to give it to her. Do you? I would ask the first person if she wouldn't mind not holding me to our agreement. If she doesn't then I would sublet to the higher offer. If she does mind, then I wouldn't.
2. Your boss congratulates you for a brilliant suggestion and hints at a promotion. A subordinate gave you the idea. Do you mention this to the boss? Of course I do. If I don't get the promotion on my own merits, how can I take pride in it?
You're a college basketball star with high grades. An infertile couple offers you $4000 to donate semen/an egg. Do you agree to do it? One egg, maybe. The problem with fertility programs is that often more than one egg is required and then all but a few are destroyed after implanting if more than one is fertilized. In my opinion, that is destruction of human lives.
Thursday, September 05, 2002
WHCnews - WHC Earth Day Ginko - Worldwide
Some times it pays to do a search of your own name. I used Google and found out one of my haiku had been selected as a favorite from the WHC Earth Day Gingo project. My entry is the very last on the page accessed by the above link. Cool!
If I lived in Middle-Earth, it would be in:
The Bay of Belfalas
The sea is calling you too. The heat, the ocean, and moderate population of people is sufficient for you. You may not be much of a beach person, but the coastline environment provides the best balanced combination of everything: nature & urbanization, seclusion & socializing, and especially the moderate weather conditions; however, you can bear the heat quite easily.
Pop Quiz
Yesterday, my eighth grader brought home a "Citizenship Test." His assignment was to first answer the questions himself then ask someone in the houshold to answer them. I turned out the be the someone. We had to answer the questions from our own general knowledge, we couldn't look them up in books. I missed four of them (no number 5 wasn't one of them. Your answer will be different from mine unless you live in WA.). Here are the questions. 9 correct out of 16 passes. The answers are posted following the questions.
1. What are the colors of the U.S. flag?
2. What country did the United States fight in the Revolutionary War?
3. Who becomes president if the president and vice-president both die?
4. How many representatives are there in Congress?
5. What is the capital of your state?
6. Who wrote "The Star-Spangled Banner"?
7. Who has the power to declare war?
8. Who helped the Pligrims in America?
9. In what year was the Constitution written?
10. Whose rights are guaranteed by the Constitution and the Bill of Rights?
11. How many times may a congressional representative be elected?
12. Which countries were our enemies during World War II?
13. Who was Martin Luther King, Jr.?
14. What is the basic belief of the Declaration of Independence?
15. Who is the vice-president of the United States today?
16. Name the original 13 states.
Anwers:
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1. Red, White, and Blue
2. Britian
3. Speaker of the House
4. 435
5. Olympia, WA
6. Francis Scott Key
7. Congress
8. Native Americans
9. 1787
10. The people's
11. Unlimited times
12. Germany, Japan, Italy
13. A civil rights leader
14. Freedom
15. Dick Cheney
16. Delaware, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Georgia, Connecticut, Masssachusetts, Maryland, South Carolina, New Hampshire, Virginia, New York, North Carolina, Rhode Island.
Wednesday, September 04, 2002
Back to School
Yay! Today is the first day of school. Six, or so, hours of quiet while the children are in school. It is an interesting year because our oldest starts high school, and the youngest starts sixth grade, which is the first grade of middle school. It will be a new thing for both of them.
Jim and I celebrated by going out to lunch at The Wild Turkey Cafe in Napavine. Napavine is a small town south of us and where I gradutate from high school in 1975. That was some time ago, and the town has changed quite a bit. It has grown. In fact, it is the fastest growing town in Lewis County.
Jim and I each orderef the Seafood Platter. And it was loaded with everything from shimp to prawns to halibut. It came with french fries and onion rings.We have enough left over for each of us to have for dinner.
Tuesday, September 03, 2002
This or That Tuesday
1. Tom Hanks or Tom Cruise? Tom Hanks is an incredible actor, but Tom Cruise is a hunk!
2. Julia Roberts or Julia Stiles? I enjoy Julia Roberts' movies. She is a very good actor. And I like her public personality.
3. Kevin Costner or Kevin Spacey? Kevin Spacey
4. Ben Affleck or Ben Stiller? Ben Affleck. I liked him in Pearl Harbor, and loved him in The Sum of All Fears.
5. Sean Connery or Sean Penn? Sean Connery, no contest!
6. Jennifer Lopez or Jennifer Aniston? Whatever
7. Courtney Love or Courtney Cox-Arquette? Neither
8. Sarah Michelle Gelllar or Sarah Jessica Parker? No preference
9. Michael Douglas or Mike Myers? Michael Douglas. I've always admired his acting ability.
10. Nicole Kidman or (Anna) Nicole Smith? Nicole, I suppose.
Monday, September 02, 2002
Monday Mission
1. What's the most embarrassing thing that's ever happened to you on a date? What date? Believe it or not, I've never been on a date. When I met Jim I was so wild about him I moved in with him the same day--we were married nine years later.
2. Do you eat your veggies? Yes, the only vegetable I found I don't like is asparagus. I hate it, and I won't eat it. Of course, I blame that on my dad because when I was around six years old we had asparagus for dinner one evening. It was canned asparagus and I told Dad I couldn't eat it because the smell was so awful that if I actually ate the stuff I would puke. He made me eat it anyway and, sure enough, I barfed all over the dinner table. Dad never forced me to eat asparagus again. I still hate the stuff!
3. Most people are comfortable going to the bathroom in front of at least one person. Has anyone ever used the restroom in front of you that you wish wouldn't have? What happened and how bad was it? No, I don't share the bathroom with people I don't know and like.
4. Have you ever had a bad online transaction? You know, the item wasn't what you thought it would be, you got totally ripped-off, no refunds, it just plain sucked? What's the story there? No, I've never had a bad phone transaction, but I got ripped-off by an online deal once. I was signed up for a free internet connection service, which worked fine for several months. Then one day a message came that it could no longer be provided at no cost but if I signed up for a year's service I would get the monthly rate of only five dollars per month. Well, I did that and before a month was up the company went bankrupt and I got no refund for the balance of the year and don't ever expect to.
5. Ever have a current love find any old love letters (or similar item) you kept that probably should have been thrown away? How did that turn out? Belive it or not, my husband is my first love and he has never written me a love letter (though I do still have a post card from a guy I was kind of fond of when we were in high school, though it isn't mushy or anything like that. Oh, and I still have that rock a boy gave me when I was about 10 years old. It is some sort of an agate).
6. A secretary at work was telling me about a trip she took to Mardi Gras. She showed off her beaded necklaces and proudly said she "earned' each and every one of them (for those not familiar with this tradition, ladies walking up Burbon St. in New Orleans will flash people who are upon the balconies, in return the guys will throw them worthless plastic necklaces). I was shocked, I had no idea this quiet gal had a wild side. Was there ever a time when you did something totally outrageous because you knew no one would know who you were, or maybe didn't care even if they did? No, I am completely a completely mundane person.
7. Hey, what happened to you last night? I waited forever! The children and I were watching The Fellowship of the Ring (and it is a three-hour movie, you know!). We bought the video yesterday. It is such a good movie. I Iiked it when it was in theatre and I liked it even better this time.
BONUS: I know I could break you down, but what good would it do? Often what you get isn't as big of a thrill as the wanting of it in the first place!
My webpages updated
Sorry to have been away for so many days, but I was working furiously to get both of my poetry journals, Wellspring and Dayspring updated before September 1st rolled around.
With Wellspring, I had been on hiatus since the beginning of the summer and I had about 30 submissions from poets who had got their work to me prior to the time I went on hiatus. I promised those folks I would have their work posted before September 1st. And I did it, though barely.
Then with Dayspring, a new issue was scheduled to go online on September 1st. And I did that, too. I am especially pleased because readers voted my own poem After fifty years as their favorite poem from the July/August issue.
If you surfed in from a webring located on The Beachboard Homepage use this link to return.
