QUESTIONS & ANSWERS

Today someone said to me,”promise me that you will make it count.” My answer, “Every day.”

Sometimes life is hard. Sometimes, I wonder what the heck am I doin’? Sometimes, I know for a fact, that I have no idea whatsoever, what I’m doin’? BUT, I keep on doin’.

We’ve already established, here on my blog, that I have no idea where the commas go. It’s kind of like that in life for me, too. No hesitation, no breaks, just charge forth into the breach.

A few minutes ago I was reading someone else’s blog and to my surprise they mentioned me. They said I was out doing what I do best ‘making friends’. Well, that was kind, but I’m not so sure this is something that ‘I do best’. Currently, I’m not sure about ‘what I do best’. Not necessarily some big cosmic conundrum, more like a little introspective peek into the mess that can be my mind.

Today, I find myself surrounded by books. Books of the non-fiction variety, but none the less entertaining, informative and totally mind blowing. I’ve been studying – everything. Looking for answers and for the most part, finding more questions. But then, questions are good for they lead to the answers. Maybe. Hopefully. I’m reading The Book, the one with all the answers. If I find them, I’ll let you know.

Until then its head down and keep moving forward. Complete the task or die trying.

CALIFORNIA

Push play and enjoy while you read. It's relevant, I promise.

Today I want to tell you about the first time I ever went to California. Daddy was a cop. We didn’t have lot of money. Family vacations were normally spent fishing up in Minnesota (I already told you the ‘walrus’ story about my mother) and we did take one Route 66 vacation to the Southwest. I’ll tell you about it one day. There was no Disneyland vacation in my childhood, but I’ll bet you’re not surprised.

The first time I went to California I was an adult, kinda, living in Colorado. This trip started out as a long lazy, camping through the desert, trek. We were in Telluride, Colorado. Our tent was set up on a mountainside somewhere and we headed into town to meet some friends who used to live in Breckenridge. I had to make a call and went from the bar were we met our friends to another bar across the street that had a pay phone in back (yeah you heard me right, a pay phone). When I made my call, I got some really bad news. So bad, in fact, that my friends found me sitting on the floor underneath this pay phone, quite literally rolled up in a ball. So, being really good friends they took me back to the first bar where I proceeded to get drunker than I have ever been in my life. I came to the next morning in that tent on the mountainside, wishing I had died.

I’m not sure how but I managed to help ‘break camp’ and load up the car then we headed for Chicago (due to my bad news) by way of Los Angeles. Ok, now I know you’re confused, but this is my story about the first time I was in California, not the bad news, or the trip to Chicago, maybe I’ll tell that another time, not today. Let it suffice to say there was something I had to pick up in California and take to Chicago with me. So the trip to Chicago had to be made the long way around. Oh, there was one more thing, I had to be in Chicago within three days time.

Anyway…we drove straight through from Telluride to Los Angeles. Our little car had no air conditioning (are you kidding me? I lived at 9600 feet above sea level, you don’t need no stinkin’ air conditioning there) we drove through the desert at night where the temperature dropped to about 130 degrees. I think I was still hung over and trying to sleep. I was leaning against the center console with my feet propped out the passenger side window, wearing some little sundress. It was early morning, you know how it can be on the west coast, warm, muggy and kind of grey foggy all over. I wake up to the vroom, vroom sound of some jet engine and look out the window at the undercarriage of a monster truck with ‘The Boss’ screaming 'Born to Run' out of the stereo. This guy looks down and under my carriage, I’m sure. He smiles and says ‘Welcome to L.A.’

That’s it. The first time I went to California. I picked up what I need to and within five hours we were on our way to Chicago.

Resulting in the Truth...

Well folks the waiting is over. The results are in for Cherie Reisch’s 2^nd Annual Flash Fiction Contest. Congratulations to the winners:

        1^st Place –  Scribbles from Jenn

        2^ND Place – Medeia Sharif

        3^rd Place –  Geek Banter

Cherie took down the Linky List, so you will have to go directly to the respective blogs to read the winning entries.

I had pretty much given up on the voting around noon on Saturday and being resolved to a solid fourth place, stopped checking back. This morning I was surprised to see that I had actually tied for third place but in a karmic –handwriting on the wall – kind of way, randon.org (the means Cherie used to break a tie) chose the other writer and their story.

It was an interesting exercise for me. One in which I actually learned a lot about myself and my writing. Funny, how some of these little things, can produce such big results. I want to thank Cherie and tell her how important this opportunity has been.


I also want to thank everyone for the kind comments and your votes. I'm truly not as SHAMELESS as stated in my last post. More like completely self-conscious. Nothing like a little self-deprecating humor to hide your insecurities.

I'M TAKING MY CLOTHES OFF IN PUBLIC - AGAIN!

OK, maybe not really. Read on and you decide.

You listen to this,while I talk.It will help me explain.

I know you're anxious to get to the naked stuff, but wait for the music to start, it'll mean so much more if your do.

I made it as one of the six finalists in Cherie Reich’s 2nd Annual Flash Fiction Blogfest. Cherie chose the finalists and I have to tell you this woman really knows her stuff (you are still listening, right?)

Now, it’s your turn. You get to go here  cheriereich.blogspot.com

and vote for the best piece of Flash Fiction – that’s me of course (still listening to Billy and Garth, aren’t ya?)

So, I expect all 217 of you (you all came to see me take off my clothes in public AGAIN didn’t you? Note: to new followers – I actually did do that back in 2011 – I’ll wait if you want to go look for it – that post might be titled ‘What are Words’) Well, that’s probably 212, because I see some of the competitors have been by to check me out –no worries –I did the same (cue the music)

Anyway…quite yer hanging around here get on over to Cherie’s site and read my post AGAIN and vote for me. Heck, vote for me twice, if you’re so inclined (sing it Garth) OK that’s probably in poor taste, even for someone who is SHAMELESS – cut me some slack, I was raised in Chicago where everyone votes twice even the dead. How else do you think you got their least favorite son…OK let’s not go there. In actuality, I don’t think Cherie’s site will let you do that (at least I hope not).

Anyway…go exercise your right to choose and choose me. Is that naked enough for you? I would include pictures, but I know for a fact that small children and one horny old man read my blog and it could cause an uproar!

Wait for the boys big finish cause after all I am (everybody sitting right thee at your computer, just shout it out real loud, and see if I can hear you down here ‘in de’ islands’) Ah, that was nice, but I think I only heard 150 of you, come on everybody go and vote by Monday 5/28, but don’t wait, you might forget –go right on over there ~ NOW.

It's not you, it's me. You can't click on this image and get anywhere but frustrated. Go back up to the link and click there.I'm just a dumb blonde writer, not some super computer techno wizard. Jeez!

I didn't sound nervous or over-anxious back there did I?

If I win, I'll re-post that other 'naked' bit on Tuesday.

Believe it...or not.

I sincerely hope this isn't cheating.

I'm so self conscious about posting my writing, you know writing, writing,not like my goofy stories, that I'm much more comfortable hiding behind a little music.

So,push play and read on.

Below is my entry in Cherie Reich’s Flash Fiction Blogfest. In a perfect world with a much more adept blogger you would be able to click on that image above and be magically transported to Cherie’s blog where all the Blogfest rules and participants are listed. But alas…you’re stuck with me. So, I’ll give you a link at the end (don’t want you running off too soon), and you can go check out the rules, prizes, and other participants. Being the Queen of verbosity, I’m not too good and this 300 words or less, flash fiction thing, but Cherie and you will have a chance to decide.

Lightning

Lightning flashed and I immediately started counting in my head…one-one-thousand, two-one-thousand. The thunder rolled across the ocean and crashed onto the shore with an unusual intensity. Even expecting it, I jumped. You didn’t even stir. I never did sleep like that. There is so much about you that I envy. Maybe that’s my problem. Envy.

I can’t express how or why I fell in love with you. There’s so much we have in common and yet the differences are monumental. Oh well, there is that ‘opposites attract’ thing; maybe that’s what we have going on. I’m not sure anymore. I am sure of one thing; it’s going on more for me than you.

“Hey, I’m always in pursuit. I’m just not pursuing you.” You told me that from the very beginning.

Did I listen? I fell for every line, never realizing that they weren’t lines at all. I’m still not sure exactly what they were. What you were or are about. I do know one thing for sure; for me this is one big heartbreak.

Another flash and the room is illuminated. I marvel at your beauty. Asleep or awake you are gorgeous. I’m grateful for the time we had together. The times I looked into your soul. The time I spent sharing mine. I needed that, still do, but it’s time to go.

“Always leave ‘em wanting more. Never take that extra curtain call. Slip away before the applause completely wanes.” Sage advice. It’s time I took it and made a graceful exit.

Another flare granting just enough light for me to gather my things. The next burst comes and I’m ready to leave. May your dreams be sweet and your memories of me tender.

Lightning flashed one more time, and I’m gone.

OK, now here’s the link to Cherie’s blog. Remember to come back on the 25^th and see who the finalists are. If, I should be one, you better vote for me. Well, only if you think mine is the best, of course.

cheriereich.blogspot.com

Goofy

I love to tell stories about my parents and how goofy they were. I have to be honest and tell you that I’m just as big a goof. Hey I come by it honestly.

Most recently I moved into this pretty spectacular villa. When I first met the landlord I was trying to be on my best behavior. On the day I came back to sign the lease he was painting some of the outdoor railings with marine grade rust resistant paint. He warned me not to touch anything because the paint was wet and very tacky. It was also oil based and would be a ‘bear’ to get off.

He’s out on the deck cleaning up and goes down by the pool. I stroll out on the deck and while still standing on the drop cloth I put both hands on the railing. I realize my mistake in a matter of seconds and pull my hands away. Of course there is paint all over them. While the landlord is busy and his back is turned I grab some paper and wipe as much paint off as I can. This guy is liable to think I’m a real hazard and change his mind about renting to me.

Pretty soon we’re inside sitting at the dining room table going over the lease. His wife hands me an inventory of the furnishings. The place is completely furnished, dishes, pots and pans, linens, silverware, you name it. Landlord is going over things and explains that of course, they understand if something gets broken in the normal course of use, but they expect that their things will be taken care of. Then he goes on to tell a funny story about some friends they let use the villa. He says this woman was a complete klutz. He didn’t know how she did it but she got into some of the most unusual scrapes. He says he warned her repeatedly about a special juice carafe they had and that if you didn’t take the lid of a certain way you could break it. Well, she broke it.

“She was such a nut. No matter how much you warned her, she would still get into trouble. Did you ever know anyone like that?” he asks.

I just raise my hands palms up, so everyone can see the paint residue. Landlord laughs and rented me the place anyway.

What can I say? I’m a nut and an honest one, at that.

'Life is a Carnival'

What a difference a week makes. Tomorrow everything in my life will change, for awhile.

Life is indeed a Carnival so…get in, sit down, fasten your seat belt and hang on (especially if I’m driving). I am not afraid of change. I hope.