"The Very Thought Of You...

And I forget to do -
Those little ordinary things that everyone ought to do..."

(Audio Alert)

posted by Headless-in-GR @ 11/29/2006 03:18:00 AM | (0) comments

Six Weird Things I Like About Me

Ok, I've been tagged by the Mrs. Pickle-O to spill my guts and tell you six weird things about me. Here we go...

1. I brush my teeth in the shower. I do this because it is a very satisfying feeling to step into the shower totally dirty and out of the shower totally clean. Brushing teeth prior to showers is acceptable, but not desirable. For the record, I do brush my teeth at other times as well - not just with showers.

2. I've actually been asked - and said yes - to writing a "Harry Potter Lenten Series" for adults at a Congregational Church. Harry Potter meets Lent...yep.

3. I always use two sponges for washing dishes. One is for glasses/cups/mugs. The second sponge is for all other dishes. Sponges are never used to wipe down counter tops - Windex is used to wipe down counters. Sponges are only for dishes. (I have no dishwasher, obviously.)

4. I am not allergic to poison ivy nor to poison oak nor anything else as far as I know.

5. I always ask for water with lemon (along with my soft drink or whatever I get) when I go out to eat. I then proceed to eat/suck the lemon with generous amounts of salt - at the table - in public - without shame - even on dates. I rarely drink the water.

6. No one - not even my parents - knew or would ever guess that my favorite subject in high school was geometry. Geometry was like brain candy - like instinct. It was the easiest thing I had ever done - or have ever done. I disliked all my other math classes.

posted by Headless-in-GR @ 11/29/2006 01:46:00 AM | (1) comments

WO-HOO!

Taken today at a Barnes and Noble by an employee who was opening the package of new posters soon to be put out...

OMG!!!


















For the original, go to mugglenet.com and look in their photo galleries or just click here.

posted by Headless-in-GR @ 11/16/2006 05:40:00 PM | (1) comments

Imagination...While You Wait!

Ok, I never look and see how many people are reading my blog, and quite frankly, I haven't bothered to read anyone else's blog for months. Not because I don't love you, but I just have this sensation that if I read another blog, the bubble I'm living in might burst.

Oh stop with the psychoanalysis!

You don't even know what the bubble is!

Ok. The bubble is the story I've been writing "Imagination, Faith And Magic". First, I didn't intend for it to be a story - if I would have intended that, I would have given it a better name. Second, this bubble has ballooned to a massive proportion. What I've been putting on the internet has been first drafts and so the other day I thought "I'd better go back and start editing - at least the spelling mistakes" but what happened when I put all the posts together was that the entire thing was ripped to shreds and re-pieced in totally different ways. Huge chunks were torn out, the entire setting was changed and about 11 different issues previously unthought of reared their beautiful heads, so...

So, what was intended as "moral of the story" kind of story that should have been about 3 posts long is now 38 pages worth of 14 point Times New Roman Microsoft Word pages.

So...I'm sorry, but if anyone's been reading it, I need to finish it first and then - if you want - you can read all of the reworked story at once.

Please direct hate mail to the comment section below...!

posted by Headless-in-GR @ 11/04/2006 11:02:00 AM | (1) comments

Imagination, Faith And Magic (Part Eleven)

Part One Here
Part Two Here
Part Three Here
Part Four Here
Part Five Here
Part Six Here
Part Seven Here
Part Eight Here
Part Nine Here
Part Ten Here

Rose and white colored silk danced on a fragrent breeze. After a dreamy moment or two, Andi became aware of voices - voices calling to one another, laughing. Another sound kept time beneath the voices. It was a sound Andi recognized with a sudden start. It was the sound of waves breaking against a boat.

Andi sat straight up. The air around her hit with full force, crackling energy and excitement. Throwing off her covers, she stepped to the window - and gasped.

Aways from the shore, in the middle of the dark blue inlet was the largest, most breathtaking sailing ship she had ever seen. Three golden masts stretched skyward, yet the distance bow to stern stretched even longer, giving the ship a streamlined look despite the towering masts. Its sides were low and long, navy blue with a honey colored trim. Two smaller boats were loading cargo on to her, while on the shore three more boats were being loaded.

"Ooh, she's lovely ain't she?"

One of the housemaids bustled through the door carrying Andi's freshly washed clothing in a pile, along with an odd assortment of other things.

"Now before you get dressed, we'll just get some measurements."

And then, almost as if by magic, seven or eight chattering women were measuring her waist, her head, her feet; holding up swaths of cloth up to her face and arms; jewelry to her ears and neck and the whole time laughing and talking as loud as jaybirds. Andi wasn't sure if they were laughing at each other or just themselves, as by all appearances no one was doing any listening.

And then they were gone, almost as suddenly as they appeared. The last one out the door turned to Andi and said, "Now get dressed dear" before the door shut.

She stood for a moment, and then snatched her clothing up and got dressed, wrapping her sweatshirt around her waist. There was a knock at the door. Andi crossed the room and opened it. A distinquished elderly gentleman, carrying a silver tray with tea bowed slightly and said,

"His Majesty, Prince Vianarson, sends you his compliments, and requests the honor of your presence tonight on board the Joanna dela Silva Mico."

He sat the tea on the bedside table and motioned to a guilded invitation.

"The Lady Bede will be arriving shortly."

He bowed and left.

She sat down on the bed and picked up the invitation, staring. uddenly it hit her. The Joanna dela Silva Mico! She ran to the window, stubbing her toe on the way, pulled back the silks and stared open-mouthed at the manmoth barque on the water.

"Andi? Ah, yes. I see you are properly awed."

Bede pulled back the other set of silks, looking out on the bay with a smile.

"Tonight we will eat, drink and be merry aboard the Joanna. And tomorrow, we will put down at Portaportega and sort everything out for you. You are not afraid?"

"No."

"Good, there is no need to be. The ladies are preparing a gown for you for tonight's gala - I have seen it. It is lovely. Of course..." she added with a twinkle in her eyes "I have been sworn to secrecy as well, so must not say anymore."

"Do you consider that you have an active imagination, Andi?"

"Um. I suppose...somewhat active..."

"May I make a request?"

"Of course."

"Live in the moment - at least for now. Take all this in and do not miss a smell or a sound or a color or feeling."

"That shouldn't be too hard."

Bede smiled. "I hope not. Now, do you still have your pastry bag from the cafe?"

Andi looked around to the little back sitting on the floor near her tennis shoes. Bede's eyes followed.

"Ah, good. Bring it with you when you board tonight, please."

Andi nodded.

"Now, the ladies should be back any minute for you. I hope you enjoy their hard work. I will see you tonight, until then - have fun!" and she left.

Andi crossed the room behind her and shut the door. As she did, she looked down at the pastry bag on the floor. Frowning, she reached for the bag. She opened it, and with a wonderful wave of odor, the smell of hot butter croissants and sausage filled the air.

"Oh!"

And for the second time that day, she thought she might drool.

posted by Headless-in-GR @ 11/02/2006 04:20:00 PM | (0) comments

Imagination, Faith And Magic (Part Ten)

Part One Here
Part Two Here
Part Three Here
Part Four Here
Part Five Here
Part Six Here
Part Seven Here
Part Eight Here
Part Nine Here

She was sitting across from Andi now. Her silver-grey eyes held Andi's brown ones. Andi simply waited, partly because she had no more expectations of what was normal and partly because her belly was full and a tiredness was creeping over her. Besides, she felt no fear of this woman, no ill intent residing in those penetrating eyes.

And there they sat - simply looking at one another - two women in an outdoor cafe. Time stretched...

Finally, "You are well, despite your ordeal?"

"Yes - tired, but fine."

"Of course you are tired. You are finished with your meal? Good. Come with me and we will find a place for you to clean up and rest."

She pushed her chair back and Andi did likewise. Wanting sleep more than just about anything, she obediently obeyed. Andi's only thought as she left her table was that she really should have saved some food, just in case.

"Ma'am? Your order..."

The waiter was holding out a white pastry bag. Andi, slipping more and more into a tired stupor, stared at him and then slowly reached for the bag. Beside her, astonishment was written on the lady's face - astonishment that briefly flickered to concern. She stood a moment more, and then said, "Come. You need rest."

Andi followed a half step behind as the lady led her away from the square, down a cobbled street that quickly took them away from the town and opened into grassy, rolling land dotted with groves of ancient shade trees. A breeze was rolling across the grass - a breeze that carried the warm, salty smell of the sea. Ahead, to the right, an inlet of ocean glittered in the sun and near it, a few large trees gave shade to a grand sandstone colored house , trimmed in white, sitting atop a low hill. Iron fences and deep green gardens courted the graceful home while brilliantly colored flowers trailed from the balconies. To this paradise, they appeared to be destined.

"I am Bede..." she turned and looked expectantly at Andi.

"Andi"

"It is a pleasure, Andi."

Andi was exceptionally tired, but could not help noticing that her escort was both grace-full and stately, and that she also seemed to radiate warmth and power - a power held ever so lightly. Laughter gathered around her eyes, while wisdom held steady in this ancient lady's gaze. Here was a person who would explain everything. Here was a person who would make it all right. Andi trusted her.

Very shortly, they reached the house. The doors were open, looking in to a courtyard of red tile, green plants and bubbling fountains.

"Vian?" called Bede, walking in.

The fog of Andi's sleepiness disappeared with a nearly audible pop as a man of such extraordinary beauty stepped into view. He smiled and came toward them, walking with a rangy, graceful, athletic lope - the kind that is deceptively quick, though it appears effortless. Tall and dark haired, yet his skin was fair and his eyes were the deepest blue. Broad-shouldered, narrow-hipped and muscular, Vian seemed to radiate his own warmth - very different from Bede's. A drop of moisture tickled Andi's lip and flushing, Andi realized she had just literally drooled over a man. Quickly she sucked her lip in and dropped her eyes to the floor as her own embarrassment added to the heat in the room.

Greetings and introductions were made and soon two house-maids were bustling Andi away to a plush, upstairs sleeping chamber. Lavender water, thick towels and a simple cotton gown were waiting her. As she climbed into bed, Bede appeared at the door with a steaming mug.

"Drink this before you sleep - you will rest better."

It was warm and creamy and chocolatey and it was the last thing Andi was conscious of before sleep.

To be continued...

posted by Headless-in-GR @ 11/01/2006 11:09:00 PM | (0) comments