Untitled Poem

Well, I was cleaning and organizing my bedroom today. I went through several boxes of old papers, notebooks, and other things I had saved. I found this--what I think is--an unfinished poem. I can't guarantee it, but I feel like it was me writing about the inner part of me--my inner child, for lack of a better phrase--who had held tight to the hurt feelings from her younger years. I can see both sides of this thing. I can understand her hurt and even understand how it can be hard to let go of the hurt and hard feelings. However, I can also completely see the need to just let it go. How interesting that the child is the one who wins.
Anyway, here it is:

She stays with me, unhappy and hurt.
She stays with me, unforgiving and bitter.
She stays with me, unworthy.
She stays with me, unwanted.

I want to love her.
I DO.
I want to forgive her.
I DO.


But somehow, I cannot.
I want to hug her and tell her everything will be okay
and at the same time.
I do not want her to stay.

The Simple Woman's Daybook-12JUN11

Simple Woman's Daybook: 12JUN11
FOR TODAY
Outside my window...green trees swaying in the wind.
I am thinking...that I wish I could breathe.
I am thankful for...air conditioned homes.
From the learning rooms...the G scale on my guitar.
From the kitchen...nuttin'. We're having leftovers.
I am wearing...grey shorts and a forest green McCarty shirt.
I am creating...a camoflauge and purple knitted hat.
I am going...to go crazy if my sinuses don't start calming down.
I am reading...still on Reagan's diary from WH years.
I am hoping...to get a nap today.
I am hearing...that pesky tinnitus again, along with the air conditioner.
Around the house...it is peaceful and I am falling asleep as I type.
One of my favorite things...asparagus.
A few plans for the rest of the week: Houston VA Hospital for two doctor's appointments. Bible, sleep, laundry, chicken friend steak maybe Friday?

p.s. Check out Irene's website. It was she who first introduced me to the Simple Women's Daybook. :)

You Go, Anne-Girl!

I am a huge fan of Anne of Green Gables. Each time I read one of Lucy Maud's stories, I marveled at Anne's wonderful imagination, her love for adventure and her great heart. OOhhhh, I so wanted to red-headed, freckled Anne. I especially wanted to be her when handsome dark-haired Gilbert Blythe arrived on the scene. (I think--perhaps--it is he who began my life long appreciation of dark-haired men! Of course, let's not forget my adoration of red-heads either!)
I know several renditions of Anne's story have been made through-out the years, but I'll confess that the Canadian version which stars Megan Follows will ALWAYS be my favorite. She just NAILED Anne. She made Anne jump off the page for me.
So, today, I was watching a movie entitled 'Bookie Makes Her Mark.' It was made rather recently, especially when compared to the Anne movies from the 80s. When Booky's momma came onto the screen, I smiled. There was my friend, Anne! Though her face was older and her hair not quite as vibrant a red, I recognized my old friend. It made me super happy to see her. At one point in the show, Anne's daughter was kicked out of the free lunch program at school. Of course, Anne had to head to the school and whup that Vice-Principal into shape. When she left the office, her daughter was back in the lunch program.
The scene that followed began with our Anne walking out of the front doors of the school and down the steps. She stopped for a moment, put her hand over her head, and smiled a smile filled with a surprised triumph. It was at that moment, that I heard myself say aloud, "You Go, Anne-Girl!" As strange as it prolly seems, it made some sense to me cos--just then--she REALLY was my old friend from the books Lucy Maude wrote. She was someone who was special to me and whom I'd never been given the chance to see grow up and get married and have a family. It was nice to re-visit her. I do know that the character of Booky's momma is not really my Anne, but because the same actress played her, it was as if she was.
I've often wondered if other people connect as much with literary characters as I do, but I DO. I connect like they're real people to me. They're a special part of my world--part of my family. And because of that weird connection I have with my literary friends, when I saw her walk out of that school I felt so proud of her for accomplishing something that--perhaps--she didn't think she could do. My heart shouted out "Yay, Anne-Girl!! You Go!"

Photo Shoot with Pike

Aurora was working on her school work--with Kelly's help. Gage was studying with a friend in the office. So, Pike I and were entertaining ourselves. We had the best time. Every photo was followed by little kid giggles. It is really fun to be silly--in my humble opinion!

Belinda was mine....

....Well, not really, BUT--something really cool occurred regarding her.

So, I haven't really been practicing my guitar--probably in about two months. I think I've been kind of in a funk and didn't really know that I was in one--if that makes any sense. Anyway, so I don't have a guitar teacher at the moment cos the last one was a 15-year-old boy who was always late for our lessons and sometimes just forgot to show up, so after bout three late lessons and two no-shows, I let him go.
During the last several days, I've been practicing playing 'Bubbly' by Colbie Caillet and 'Collide' by Howie Day. I'm no great shakes at either one of them yet, but I'm getting a little better and--amazingly, though I really should have know this already--even just getting a tiny bit better at something makes me want to practice more.

So, today I picked up the 'Acoustic Guitar Primer' which is a basic book wherein a beginner may learn both theory and the actual playing of songs. I decided to pick up where I left off. I practiced 'Tom Dooley' and learned a few notes and then I went on to try to learn the G scale. So, in the process of practicing it, I accidentally threw two notes together that weren't part of the plan, but it was sooooooo cool cos what I heard in the mistake was one of the first few notes in Neil Diamond's "Solitary Man." I took in a quick breath and smiled and purposefully made the sound again and smiled again and then made it several more times all the time wailing aloud "Belinda was mine 'til the time that I found her...."

This probably doesn't make ANY sense, but it was just so rockin' cool that I--even by accident--played one of the special notes from a song and artist that means a lot to pretty much every member of my immediate family. Seriously, we're all huge Neil Diamond fans!!

Needless to say, it was fun! See y'all tomorrow!

YouTube video which lifted me up on my soapbox

Warning: This is very probably a rant.

I just happened to watch this particular video a few moments ago.

After watching it, I was just appalled. Does she not get it AT ALL? You CANNOT vote in the United States if you are not a citizen!! Additionally, there are cases wherein even United States citizens are not afforded the opportunity to vote: Convicted felons. As I'm sure most are aware, that means that those people did something illegal and are being punished for it. One of the punishments is you NEVER get to vote again.
Guess what? Being in our country without having gone through the appropriate means you have committed a crime. So, you have two strikes against ya for voting rights. (a. you aren't a citizen and therefore have no right to vote, and b) you have committed a crime against the laws of this nation.)
The fact that the woman in the video thinks it is just some right-wing conspiracy to stop democrats from voting is ridiculous. And to liken it to the behavior of racists during the civil rights era is nearly downright slanderous, if not straight-up lying. It matters not. Either way--If you're slanderin' or lyin'--you're still just plain ol' behaving badly.
I know this'll get me dinged by some people, but--seriously--do (some of) these politically left-leaning people really NOT see their irrationality of their thinking on this particular issue? It is crazy!
Some might say "Well, they live here and work here. The government should just give them citizenship." Well, I'm all for forgiveness and all that, but true forgiveness requires repentance, yeah? I really liked the idea George W. Bush put forth for a "rational middle ground between granting an automatic path to citizenship for every illegal immigrant and a program of mass deportation." I can't remember it exactly and I can't find it outlined specifically, but I remember reading about it. Give illegal immigrants a chance to come forward, get a card which is a) hard to destroy and b) clearly labels them as non-citizens. Then institute a program wherein they--over a period of time--pay a certain amount of money to the government in installments. I can't remember if the money they are paying is a) all or a portion of back taxes they might owe, or b) a punitive fee in order to teach a lesson in regard to the crime they've committed or what. But at the end of the period of time when fees are paid and paperwork is filed and they have shown their intent to be good (i.e. not criminal) citizens of our nation, they they would get citizenship. And--if my memory serves--the amount of time isn't even as long as the normal seven year waiting period endured by legal permanent residents. To me this idea seems like a really great compromise in which both sides should at least feel like some of their issues are being heard.
Okay, I'm stepping off my soapbox now. I'm just giving out some food for thought.

Hope y'all have a fabulous day.

Simple Woman's Daybook: 07JUN11

Simple Woman's Daybook: 07JUN11
FOR TODAY
Outside my window...dying plants cos it is soooo hot.
I am thinking...that I ought to go to bed.
I am thankful for...those two encouraging gals who took care of me at the beauty salon today.
From the learning rooms...'Collide' by Howie Day on my guitar.
From the kitchen...peanut butter chocolate brownies.
I am wearing...purple and green pjs.
I am creating...Well, as Gaston would put it, "I'm evolving..." a plan.
I am going...to Bible Class tomorrow.
I am reading...The Atlantic Magazine and Ronald Reagan's diary from his WH years.
I am hoping...to feel peace.
I am hearing...the birds in the chimney banging around.
Around the house...it is HOT up in here.
One of my favorite things...see above in the line which begins "from the kitchen."
A few plans for the rest of the week: guitar, Italian, French, Photography book, Bible, sleep, laundry, chicken friend steak maybe Friday?

p.s. Check out Irene's website. It was she who first introduced me to the Simple Women's Daybook. :)

06JUN11

Today, Pop has a dentist appointment in the late afternoon. He is going to have a tooth pulled. I figured that he won't feel much up to eating when he returns, so I decided to make him a huge lunch.
I baked sour cream chicken, mashed some potatoes, steamed green beans fresh from Gage and Kelly's garden, and cooked up some mushroom gravy--with REAL chopped up mushrooms in it, YUM!! While I was de-stringing the beans, I realized that cooking used to be so much harder. We are so lucky nowadays. However, to be honest, I really like the way the fresher stuff tastes, so maybe I think I'll learn to like stringing beans and spending more time in the kitchen. Now I know why Mom made us all help so much. I only have to cook for two. Poor Mom had to feed six of us!
Best of all--I can make sure my IPOD is charged and combine the old with the new and have a GRAND old time. Neil Diamond, Billy Joel, Katrina and the Waves, and all the boys bands from the 50s and 60s can serenade me whilst I de-string the beans and chop up the potatoes and all the other little cooking maneuvers. Oh, and don't forget the dishes! Why is it that cooking from scratch is so much messier?
Anyway, I really enjoyed the morning making a lunch filled with many of my favorite foods--green beans are second only to asparagus on my favorite veggie list.
The meal was delicious and purty. Sorry, I didn't get any pictures. Maybe next time. Hope y'all have wonderful days and that your meals are just as delish! <3