Sunday Photo Fiction – The Writing on the Wall

The writing on the wall
Sparkles brightly
A clear and constant warning
And yet
I ignore it to spend eternity
Wrapped in your smile

The writing on the wall
Keeps flashing
Warning signs in my head
And yet
I turn away
And wrap myself in our love

The writing on the wall
Remains present
Around every corner I turn
And yet
I see it less and less
As I bask in the warmth of your arms

The writing on the wall
Has changed
A declaration of peace
And so
I accept my place in your heart
And breathe you into mine

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I think it is very fitting that I am starting Sunday Photo Fiction on the last prompt of the year. I’ve been following it for about a month now but have only just decided to add it into my weekly line-up. I haven’t been posting much lately, but I am ready to get back into the swing of things.

The rules are to write a story or poem with around 200 words with the photo as the prompt. My little poem is coming in at 101 words. I hope you enjoy.

Happy Sunday!

Song Lyric Sunday – New Year’s Day by Pentatonix

It’s no secret that I’m in love with these guys. They are pretty much the only music I listen to lately besides the Hamilton musical.

I’ve been waiting to post this particular song because it’s so fitting for the time of year. It’s also beautiful. It brings tears to my eyes every time I listen to it. There’s just something so poetic about letting the past go and starting fresh. Equally poetic is the “celebration of moments to come.”

I know I’ve pretty much abandoned my blog lately, but I’m finally done with the crochet projects and am ready to get back to writing. I miss it so much!

I’m wishing you all a safe and fantastic new year celebration with my Song Lyric Sunday. Feel free to read the “rules” below and join in with a selection of your own.

New Year’s Day by Pentatonix
Lyrics found at AZ Lyrics

Tonight, the apple falls in Time
We’ll sing along with Auld Lang Syne
And throw confetti high up into space
Tomorrow morning when we wake
This town will be a different place
And the past will wash away like coffee stains

We could be kings of the world
On top of the nation
It’s a celebration of the moments to come
The city’s on fire
We’re holding up lighters
Raising them higher and we’ve only begun

Take me all the way
Hear me when I say
Let’s kiss the past away
Like New Year’s Day
Take me all the way
Hear me when I say
It’s time to celebrate
Like New Year’s Day

Another year will dim devine
We’ll play it back in slow rewind
And laugh about the cold and bitter nights
We’re route our way on maps of stars
Hold on tight to fragile hearts
And keep our friends forever by our side

We could be kings of the world
On top of the nation
It’s a celebration of the moments to come
The city’s on fire
We’re holding up lighters
Raising them higher and we’ve only begun

Take me all the way
Hear me when I say
Let’s kiss the past away
Like New Year’s Day
Take me all the way
Hear me when I say
It’s time to celebrate
Like New Year’s Day

Morning breaks, take my hand
Wide awake with arms wide open
Catch your breath, walk this way
No regrets on New Year’s Day
Morning breaks, take my hand
(Kings of the world, top of the nation)
Wide awake with arms wide open
(It’s a celebration of the moments to come)
Catch your breath, walk this way
(City’s on fire, holding up lighters)
No regrets on New Year’s Day
(Raising them higher, we’ve only begun)

We could be kings of the world
On top of the nation
It’s a celebration of the moments to come
The city’s on fire
We’re holding up lighters
Raising them higher and we’ve only begun

Take me all the way
Hear me when I say
Let’s kiss the past away
Like New Year’s Day
Take me all the way
Hear me when I say
It’s time to celebrate
Like New Year’s Day

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Here are the “rules”:

• Post the lyrics to a favorite song or a new song you want to share
• Make sure you credit the singer/band and provide a link to where you found the lyrics
• Link to the YouTube video, or pull it into your post so others can listen to the song
• Ping back to my post that will go up every Sunday by 9am MST (or as early as I can…)
• Read at least one other person’s blog so we can all share new and fantastic music and create amazing new blogging friends in the process

 

Song Lyric Sunday – Hot Air Balloon by Owl City

I always seem to turn to Owl City when I’m feeling down and just need some joy in my life. I especially love this song since it seems to me that it’s just about playing.

The winter months are the hardest ones for me and I know I’ve been neglecting the blog lately, but I promise I’ll get back into it once I’m done with my crochet projects and shopping and all the things that can take the joy right out of the holiday season (for me). I think the only thing that has kept me halfway sane is knowing my crochet project is for the little bundle of joy driving his mother crazy right now with his kicking and keeping her up at nights. I can’t wait to meet him.

So, for today’s installment, I give you three or so minutes of happiness and joy. I hope you enjoy! And, as alway, feel free to read the “rules” below and post one of your own. I’m having a blast sharing music with great friends in our little virtual world.

Happy Sunday, everyone!

Hot Air Balloon by Owl City
Lyrics found at AZ Lyrics

We wrote a prelude to our own fairytale.
And bought a parachute at a church rummage sale
And with a mean sewing machine and miles of thread
We sewed the day above L.A. in navy and red.
We round a racetrack through your mom’s kitchen chairs
And fought the shadows back down your dark basement stairs.
I lit a match and let it catch to light up the room.
And then you yelled as we beheld an old maroon.

Hot air balloon

I’ll be out of my mind
and you’ll be out of ideas pretty soon.
So let’s spend the afternoon
in a cold hot air balloon.
Leave your jacket behind.
Lean out and touch the tree tops over town.
I can’t wait to kiss the ground wherever we touch back down.

la la la la la la
la la la la la la

We drank the great lakes like cold lemonade.
And both got stomach aches sprawled out in the shade.
So bored to death you held your breath and I tried not to yawn.
You make my frown turn upside down and now my worries are gone.

I’ll be out of my mind
and you’ll be out of ideas pretty soon.
So let’s spend the afternoon
in a cold hot air balloon.
Leave your jacket behind
Lean out and touch the tree tops over town.
I can’t wait to kiss the ground wherever we touch back down.

I’ll be out of my mind
and you’ll be out of ideas pretty soon.
So let’s spend the afternoon
in a cold hot air balloon.
Leave your jacket behind
Lean out and touch the tree tops over town.
I can’t wait to kiss the ground wherever we touch back down.

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Here are the “rules”:

• Post the lyrics to a favorite song or a new song you want to share
• Make sure you credit the singer/band and provide a link to where you found the lyrics
• Link to the YouTube video, or pull it into your post so others can listen to the song
• Ping back to my post that will go up every Sunday by 9am MST (or as early as I can…)
• Read at least one other person’s blog so we can all share new and fantastic music and create amazing new blogging friends in the process

 

Song Lyric Sunday – Somebody to Love by Queen

As I’ve mentioned the past few weeks, I’ve been watching The Voice and I’ve been inspired each week by Jordan Smith. This week is no exception. He sang this song and I was literally crying and laughing and generally in awe of how brilliant he is and how beautiful his voice is. So, I’m posting his performance as well as the original Queen version.

I can’t lie, I grew up in the 80s, but I didn’t really know about Queen until I was probably in my twenties… Maybe high school, but probably not.

I’m also going to be honest and say I didn’t know what Freddie Mercury looked like until today. I honestly Googled them because I thought the video I was watching was someone else. It’s pretty funny looking back on the 70s and the clothing they wore and thought was cool. Freddie has a few doozies in the video.

But his voice is ridiculously good and I just love this song because it’s about love and not just wanting someone to love you, but actually wanting to love someone. I love showering people with love. I think it is more satisfying, somehow, and although I love getting love in return, giving is a wondrous thing. I hope everyone finds someone to love. The world needs more of it.

Without further ado, I give you today’s installment of Song Lyric Sunday. Remember to read the rules below and try it yourself. Thanks to all who currently participate and make each Sunday a wonderful day full of music!

Somebody to Love by Queen
Lyrics found at AZLyrics

Jordan Smith’s performance on The Voice

Can anybody find me somebody to love?
Each morning I get up I die a little
Can barely stand on my feet
(take a look at yourself)
Take a look in the mirror and cry
Lord what you’re doing to me
I have spent all my years in believing you
But I just can’t get no relief,
Lord!
Somebody, somebody
Can anybody find me somebody to love?

I work (he works hard) hard every day of my life
I work ’til I ache my bones
At the end (at the end of the day) I take home my hard earned pay all on my own –
I get down on my knees
And I start to pray (praise the Lord)
‘Til the tears run down from my eyes
Lord – somebody – somebody
Can anybody find me – somebody to love?

(He works hard)

Everyday
I try and I try and I try
But everybody wants to put me down
They say I’m goin’ crazy
They say I got a lot of water in my brain
I got no common sense
I got nobody left to believe
Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah

Oh Lord
Somebody – somebody
Can anybody find me somebody to love?

Got no feel, I got no rhythm
I just keep losing my beat
I’m OK, I’m alright
I ain’t gonna face no defeat
I just gotta get out of this prison cell
Someday I’m gonna be free, Lord!

Find me somebody to love
Can anybody find me somebody to love?

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Here are the “rules”:

• Post the lyrics to a favorite song or a new song you want to share
• Make sure you credit the singer/band and provide a link to where you found the lyrics
• Link to the YouTube video, or pull it into your post so others can listen to the song
• Ping back to my post that will go up every Sunday by 9am MST (or as early as I can…)
• Read at least one other person’s blog so we can all share new and fantastic music and create amazing new blogging friends in the process

 

SoCS – Christmas is how close?

I’ve had a hard time focusing on the blog lately. The only thing I really want to do is crochet. I started early this year with the Christmas presents, but wouldn’t you know it… it probably wasn’t early enough. Maybe it was because I picked larger patterns for my family. It wasn’t just a quick scarf or those slippers I started and finished one but couldn’t figure out how to do any more. (I really have no idea how I did the first one and the yarn is a bitch to work with, so I finally just threw it all in a bag and it’s still sitting in a corner)

My brother’s wife is going to have a baby some time at the end of December or early January, so about two weeks ago I found the cutest baby blanket pattern that I’ve been working on. My boyfriend says I’m obsessed, and I actually am because I think about it when I’m at work; and when I’m home, I hurry through everything else just so I can sit and crochet the blanket.

I would post a picture of it, but my brother and his wife read my blog, so that’s not going to happen. Sorry guys! You’ll just have to wait!

To say I’m excited about a baby in the family would be an understatement. I’m getting to that point where I want a baby in my life but my kids are too young and in the family, my son is the youngest child. We weren’t surprised that my sister-in-law ended up pregnant. They only just got married a few years (or was it a year) ago, so chances were they were going to have at least one together. More power to you, brother, but I can honestly tell you that I wouldn’t want to start over with more kids of my own.

I can, however, be a spectacular Aunt!

I just realized yesterday what day it was and that Christmas is creeping closer and closer and not only do I not have any presents (other than what I’ve made), I honestly have no real idea what to get anyone this year. The only person who actually told me was Adelle. Is it just boys? Do they just not care? I received an email from Adelle about a month ago telling me what she wanted. I asked Jaxon a few days ago and I got a shrug and, “I don’t know…”, which is his typical answer for just about everything these days.

Not entirely sure where this post is going or even where it’s been, but I suppose that’s all. I’m just really obsessed with crocheting right now and it doesn’t seem to matter how close Christmas is, or that I have things I need to get done. Chances are, you’ll find me on the couch crocheting like mad.

At least I’m creating something.

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This random post is brought to you by Stream of Consciousness Saturday which is hosted by Linda G. Hill. Your Friday prompt for Stream of Consciousness Saturday is: “-clo-.”  Use a word or words that contain the three letters in order, and base your post on it/them. Enjoy!

Friday Fictioneers – Birdy’s Demise

PHOTO PROMPT © Luther Siler

“If you love me, you’ll do it, Jimmy.”

“Geez, Paula. What’d Birdy ever do to you?”

“You were at the game! You saw what he did! The whole school was laughing at me!” Grabbing his face, she leaned in, almost touching her nose to his. “You’ll do it, or we’re over,” she whispered.

…

That night, Birdy went missing just before the biggest game of the year. While the band started playing on the field, a search party flooded the school. It didn’t take long to find Birdy, beaten and broken on the theater room floor, clutching a jersey in his mangled wing.

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Friday Fictioneers is a weekly flash fiction prompt where we are given a photo and asked to write a 100 word story – beginning, middle and end. This one came in at 103 words.

Click on the blue froggy to read other amazing 100-word stories!

 

One-Liner Wednesday – Web of Lies

“Lies are like delicate webs and you just threw a rock right through it.” – Andru Espinosa

(My twelve year old’s response when I was telling a brilliant lie and my boyfriend, who knew I was lying, decided to add to it with something totally outrageous. Everyone, of course, realized I was lying at that point…)

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One-Liner Wednesday is hosted by Linda G. Hill. Feel free to click the link and read other brilliant one-liners, or join in with one of your own!

 

Song Lyric Sunday – I’m Gonna Find Another You by John Mayer

The first time I heard John Mayer was when he performed Gravity at the Grammy’s. I fell in love with him on the spot. He is a master guitar player, his voice is heavenly and his lyrics are on point.

I chose this song because it’s my favorite song of his and it makes me smile. It has so much sass! Breaking up is hard to do, but there is a point when the heartache is over and you start looking for someone else who is maybe just a bit nicer and lets you do things you couldn’t in the last relationship.

I hope you enjoy this installment of Song Lyric Sunday. Feel free to read the “rules” below and post one of your own. I appreciate all who play along and make this so enjoyable each week.

I’m Gonna Find Another You by John Mayer
Lyrics found at AZ Lyrics

It’s really over, you made your stand
You got me crying, as was your plan
But when my loneliness is through, I’m gonna find another you

You take your sweaters
You take your time
You might have your reasons but you will never have my rhyme
I’m gonna sing my way away from blue
I’m gonna find another you

When I was your lover
No one else would do
If I’m forced to find another, I hope she looks like you
Yeah and she’s nicer too

So go on baby
Make your little get away
My pride will keep me company
And you just gave yours all away
Now I’m gonna dress myself for two
Once for me and once for someone new
I’m gonna do some things you wouldn’t let me do
Oh I’m gonna find another you

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Here are the “rules”:

• Post the lyrics to a favorite song or a new song you want to share
• Make sure you credit the singer/band and provide a link to where you found the lyrics
• Link to the YouTube video, or pull it into your post so others can listen to the song
• Ping back to my post that will go up every Sunday by 9am MST (or as early as I can…)
• Read at least one other person’s blog so we can all share new and fantastic music and create amazing new blogging friends in the process

 

SoCS – An opinionated study on Miss, Ma’am and Sir

There’s this soup, sandwich and salad place near my work that I go for lunch quite often. I’ve talked about it before on my blog a few times. They have this Kale and Quinoa salad that’s to die for. It’s one of those setups where you have to go down a line and talk to someone at each station. The first station is for salad and sandwiches; then you do the salad toppings; soup is the next section; and finally, you tell the last person what you ordered and someone else rings you up. At each station, it seems like I am addressed as “Miss.”

“Miss, would you like any salads or sandwiches today?”

“Can I get you any soups today, Miss?”

“What did you order for yourself today, Miss?”

It’s all very polite and nice and I enjoy the customer service. There are so many places today where I feel like I spend the few minutes in front of someone at a checkout line trying to get them to smile. I wish them a nice day, wondering why the hell they are in customer service if they can’t even fake a smile for their customers.

Anyway, the whole “miss” thing should be something I enjoy and look forward to, but honestly, it bothers me. I’m not a “Miss” by any means but what other alternatives can they use without stepping on a mine field. “Ma’am” is way too formal and that would upset me too for different reasons.

I suppose it’s the best thing they can use without it turning into something weird and unfriendly. But I just always feel like they are lying to me and in turn, I am lying to myself. I spend the whole way down the line saying to myself, “I’m not a miss. I don’t even look like a miss (although I’d like to think I look youngish for my age?).

This all made me wonder what they call the men. To be honest, I’ve always been so wrapped up in the erroneous “Miss” that I haven’t even paused to listen to how they address the men. I’m assuming it is “Sir,” because I think that is the safest bet. And that just seems so unfair! I suppose “Sir” is the equivalent of “Ma’am,” but they just don’t sound like they are even in the same league. Sir seems so dignified and gentlemanly.

Do men feel the same way about things like this?

My son’s girlfriend (that sounds weird too) used to get in the car and call me “Mrs. Espinosa.” Boy did I put a stop to that!

I think we all need floating signs hovering around us with our names so we can all be friendly and nice and use each other’s given name rather than formal titles or weird terms of address that don’t even fit. (In my humble, and rather grumpy opinion…)

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Stream of Consciousness Saturday is once again hosted by Linda G. Hill. I, for one, missed you Linda. Thanks so much for the welcome and for making it so easy to help out. You truly are a gem!

Your Friday prompt for Stream of Consciousness Saturday is: “miss.”  Use it any way you’d like. Have fun!

Friday Fictioneers – The Last Survivor

When I saw the door for the first time, I cried.

I’d been out in the devastation for so long, barely surviving, that I couldn’t even remember what safety felt like. I didn’t really believe the signs that led me here, but I didn’t have anywhere else to go. There was nothing left. I grabbed onto the last spark of hope I had managed to find in over a year and followed the hand-written signs along the highway that promised walls and safety.

Looking back, I can still hear the moaning mass of dead slowly shambling in my wake. It was risky to open the door; but they did, and I managed to slip into safety just in time.

I was the last to come through the door.

We haven’t seen a survivor in decades, but the door remains – a beacon for those who might still be out there.

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Friday Fictioneers is a weekly flash fiction prompt where we are given a photo and asked to write a 100 word story – beginning, middle and end. I wrote this one to 150 words before I realized this wasn’t Monday’s Finish the Story; but I like it as is, so I decided to leave it.

It’s my first time posting for this prompt. I’m hoping it will be a regular.

Click on the blue froggy to read other amazing 100-word stories!