Saturday Centus - I'm Not A Chicken

To get back into the swing of things I moseyed down to Jenny Matlock's Saturday Centus page to dabble in some prompted writing again.  I've been missing the fun of trying to come up with something that almost passes as writing and sharing with fellow writing bloggers.

Well, typical me...I go and try to get back into things just as Jenny decides to throw us a curve ball and ask us to come up with a rhyming poem with the line "Im not a chicken" somewhere in the 100 word limit!!!

Gulp!  I have no idea if I can do this..the dog in the Wonder Woman outfit nearly put me off writing for life...but here goes:

Ten minutes later......nada!

Okay, I can do this...I really can....I think!

When life throws some dirt,
Right at your shirt,
Just stand up and shout,
"Whats all that about?"


Don't tarry in dealin'
With things that help healin'
And never be shy to say to THAT guy....
Give me wings, and for certain, I'll fly!


And sometimes it's fittin'
To say, "Im not a chicken!"
To be who YOU want to be.
And say..."Hey world, I am ME!"


Dr. Seuss I am not!  Oh well....I actually believe in the message.  (My hubby isn't THAT guy though...he's amazing!)

Enjoy,
Gems xxx

Blogging: The Good,The Bad and The Ugly!

Taking time off from blogging has been wonderful!  "What?" I hear you say, "are you crazy?"

My life has been a little on the crazy side lately, so many reasons, please just take my word for it.  Anyway, I was not in the right frame of mind to blog, try to be creative with the wonderful Saturday Centus crew, or communicate in any way with anyone.

What transpired, after the murky gloom of self-loathing lifted, was TIME!  I had not run over to the computer to read blogs, comment on blogs, post on my own blogs, or read about how to make oodles of money with blogs, for a while....I was, instead, playing with my kids!  Go figure.

Don't get me wrong, I love to blog...I love to read blogs and cherish the friends I have made though blogging.  I have discovered more of ME, and also found out that I write my best posts when I am under considerable pressure/fear and just let things pour out!  Now is not one of those times, as you may have guessed.

I think I am now putting my blogging obsession into perspective.  I need to a lot some time to it...it is MY thing to do.  But I also need to remember to live and create experiences without running the next blog post commentary through my mind as I am doing the activity...yes, I have done that on many occasions!

Well, as I type, my allotted time is up.  My youngest son is calling for me to go make model monsters with him.  I want to go and do that, so for now, I am signing off.

Buying a New Cell Phone

Sometimes ordinary events read more like a work of fiction.  Today could have been one of those days.  It began as a regular Sunday with everyone finally feeling better, (school vacation.....everyone had fevers!) and chores were being completed in the usual begrudged fashion.

I planned on a few trips out to local shops for mundane articles and put off the final trip...getting my new phone..until last, because I hate going into those shops.  You know, the shops that sell you all the things you really don't need but buy anyway because you think you need it by the time the sales person is done with you.

I like to be on my toes in those places...prepared to stand firm against the barrage of enticements, ignoring the inner voice of non-reason telling me to, "Just go for it!"  Today was not going to be that day.

On my way to the phone store, I had to make a stop at the bank and the bookstore...harmless right?  Wrong!  The bank parking lot had the pothole from hell and after pulling out and making a quick right into the bookstore parking lot, I stood miserably watching my drivers-side front tire deflate before my eyes...literally hissing with glee at my horror.

Normally it would be a no brainer; call my hubby and have him sort it out.  Today if you remember, I was on my way to the phone store, and it wasn't because I wanted the latest gadget!  My phone was on the fritz and I was stuck in limbo!

Finally, after a few wiggles, taps, and eventually a hard slam on the key pad, I managed to call home.  Long story short...man came out...changed tire for the silly little donut one (why do you do that in America???) and I was good to go.  I also realized that I could have done it myself....duh!

So, fully flustered and over an hour late for dinner (remember it was back to school night),   I pulled in at the phone store and completely screwed up in the first five seconds.

How the hell was I supposed to know I had to sign in with my phone details at the computer screen BEFORE being seen by the sales rep?  Someone pointed this out to me with such an air of, "You really have no clue do you dear!" that frazzled little me almost lost it when I had no idea what my number was and, therefore,  could not be helped.  No computer entry...no help!

Finally I managed to drag the number out of my grey matter and I was then next in line to be helped.  I am not old, but this place was making me feel like I had time-traveled to the next century!

Sales rep time and I explained my phone wasn't working and asked what my plan offered.  Not much info later, I find myself practically begging the guy to sell me a phone...he was more interested in schmoozing with the young guy being helped by the other sales rep...I was too old, too female/uncool, and WAY too 'not worth the effort' for this guy!  Macho banter abound....I was on my own.

Finally I announced in my best British accent..."What about showing me some of my options...I may get more than just the same phone." (aside: "Which doesn't work anyway.")      

The sales rep finally sprung into action and asked me what I would be using the phone for.

"CALLING PEOPLE."

I also added that I do take photos and email/FB on my current phone.  I was led to the iPhones.

"How much?"

"More than you can afford, are prepared to pay, ever wanted to spend on a mere phone." or something to that effect.

"I'll take it."

"You'll need a care charger, screen cover, and case."

"Uh, okay.  Can I have that pretty blue one?"

"Mumble..."

So then we are back at the desk.  I am buying the one phone I can't type on...it took me six tries to enter my email address and password to set it up.  I then discovered that the store does not transfer data, but does give out lovely photocopies of the instructions for doing it...for FREE!  :)

Arriving home, hubby had NOT cooked dinner and the boys were starving.  I was shell shocked, and hubby's friend was over and instantly went through the list of all the things I SHOULD have got from the store.  Hubby was too surprised I bought the phone to comment!

• Fifty dollar rebate hubby's friend got yesterday
• They should have transferred my contacts
• They should have set up my email
• They should have spent time teaching me how to use my new phone.

I learned many things today:

• Watch out for pot-holes
• When you need it most, your phone won't work
• I can probably change a tire myself
• I am a complete sucker when I am frazzled
• Service 'aint like it used to be
• I have NO idea how to use my new phone!

Saturday Centus - ATM

It is Saturday again, which means it is time for Jenny Matlock's prompt to drive us insane creating a shot piece following the strict rules:
This weeks prompt is: 

The ATM machine began dispensing twenties...

You can use this prompt and UP TO 100 additional words to write a story of your choosing in any style of writing you prefer. Just keep your story PG and try to visit as many of the other links as you can!
So here goes:


The newly married couple were trying to figure out how to live together in harmony.  She, having come from England, had little to furnish their new apartment with. While he had all sorts of junk from college which he clung to like a baby to his binky!  
"We are going to need real furniture," she cautiously suggested.
"Well, my stuff is fine for now."
"Perhaps we can look anyway...we might find something that matches...um...and smells better."
"I get it," he replied as the ATM machine began dispensing twenties...his hard earned twenties.  "You'd rather catch that grenade than use my old couch huh?"
" I love you, sweetie," she gently replied, hoping Pottery Barn would still be open.

Obsession???

This past summer I discovered something I hadn’t known before: I am a hard-core Pearl Jam fan!  Why is this so strange?  Because I NEVER listened to any of their songs for the past twenty years, and now, in the space of a few short months, I know most of their catalogue, have viewed most of their concerts (at least in part) on YouTube, and have begun a collection of bootlegs (PJ issues them through their fan club – yep, I’m a member), and even read Five Against One, the book which seemed to be the most accurate account of the Pearl Jam story.

I am a Pink Floyd, Beatles, Stones, The Who, Black Crowes, Morcheeba, Massive Attack, Jose Carreras, Tchaikovsky kinda girl…with a bit of Eminem thrown in…so I do have diverse taste in music.  I am now listening to PJ almost exclusively…well, they do have a lot of songs for me to get to know!  I stumbled across an old 1992 video of PJ at the Pinkpop Festival. I still have no idea how I came to be watching it; I usually watched comedy on YouTube and didn’t even know I knew the song Black. Yet, here I was entranced by a truly amazing performance of a song I actually had heard many years ago but had no idea who sang it.  I think, had I seen this back in 1992, I may still have just clicked “next’ and ignored it…so why did it spark so much obsession?

Some may say it’s the Eddie Vedder crush, but I didn’t go wild when I was young and  this week is the first time I have listened to his solo stuff, so I don’t think so.  I do think I am smitten with his voice…I recognize it instantly now…and do now enjoy his solo stuff and really appreciate how different it is from most PJ songs.   So what else can it be?  Yes, they are an amazing band together…their videos through the years show how great they are performing live.  There is a certain electricity even through the screen that is captivating.  Yes, I am also enjoying watching how the band evolved through time, and how their music, style and attitude had changed in certain ways.  But I like other bands this way too, although I am no where near as crazy about them.

My husband had been quietly supportive of my new obsession and has bought me a couple of CD’s.  He used to listen to them years ago, but he does not have the same desire to play PJ music daily; I tend to save it for driving in the car alone now. 

There was a moment of clarity a couple of weeks ago when, on a date night with hubby, I got a little tipsy and decided to announce that I was going to the PJ 20th Anniverary Festival…WHEREVER it is being held.  He replied, “doubtful” and I then let loose with “Oh, I”m going…I hope you can too, but I’m going!”

“Alone?”

“If I have to”

“What on earth has got into you?”

“I don’t know, but I am sure as hell not missing this…I have never seen them in concert and I am not missing this chance!”

And then it happened….my husband revealed the reason for my obsession…”I think you are just trying to relive your lost youth!”

“I didn’t like them when I was young!”  I barked.

“That’s just it….your LOST youth!”

Bother!…I turn 40 and get obsessed because I DIDN’T listen to PJ when I was young….

Expressing My Creativity

I love to dance.  I am not a dancer, nor will I ever be.  I am, however, a person who enjoys letting my body flow to the music, and I experience so many emotions through allowing my body to ‘just be’ whatever the music tells it to be. 

I take clases….the adult – I’m not professional but I’m here anyway – lessons that sometimes remind us of our aging bodies.  But these lessons give us a release; we have time to ourselves, away from the daily grind, we are with friends and feel ‘safe’ to express ourselves, and we are challenged both mentally and physically.

I have danced in many styles through these lessons: Ballet, Lyrical, Contemporary, Hip Hop and even Flamenco.  Each style brings forth a new way to express myself.  Sometimes I have to concentrate so hard, self-expression is lost…that is when our teacher reminds us to ‘feel’ the music and let it happen. 

I will never be famous for my dancing, but I express myself through the movement of my body.  I feel the beats, pulses, rhythms and melodies of the music…I am creating a new me!

Saturday Centus: Grenade!

It is time for the next Saturday Centus inspired by Jenny Matlock's prompt which will appear in bold in the 100 word piece.  This week the prompt is a line from the Bruno Mars song, Grenade.



Wedding over, guests departed, the couple sat on the bed together, elated, exhausted, in love, confused, MARRIED!

"So, we did it!"

"Yes, we did!"

"It was a wonderful wedding..."

"Yes.."

"Are you happy?"

"Beyond words...you know, I'd catch a grenade for you.."

There was silence....then she knew she had made the right decision.

"I would catch one for you too."