You Say It's Your Birthday!!!

Happy Birthday Sognatrice!

We're having a party!

Ahem...

Happy Birthday to you

Happy Birthday to you

Happy Birthday dear Sognatrice

Happy Birthday to you!

Ok... make a wish and blow the candles out!

Hope it's a wonderful birthday!

Balance~

Phoctober 16th

The ABC's of Making a Difference For Our Planet

The ABC's of Making a difference for our planet!

Ask others to be part of the change
Buy recycled products
Change the way you use
Dispose waste properly
Ecologically minded, every day!
Find ways to reuse
GO GREEN
Help your community learn and practice ways to save
I may be one person, but I can make a big difference
Just one earth, just one chance
Keep finding new ways to save our planet
Leave nothing but footprints behind
Make the difference
Now is the time
Only what you need and what won't hurt the planet
Purchase earth friendly products
Quit wasting
Responsibility is OURS ~ recycle everything
Start now!
Teach everyone how to live environmentally friendly
Understand the impact we have
Value the planet enough to change how you use it
Waste not want not!
Xperiment with new ways to save
You are the difference
Zzzzzzzz.... sleeping through this is not an option

Make a difference every day, in many ways, with everything you do.

Nice Smile!

Part I

The "Nice Matters Award"

Verilion at A Wanderer in Paris and Jeni at The Passionate Palate have gifted me with this mischievous cheshire cat Nice Award. Thank you Jeni & Verilion! I like it very much, as I tend to be a good blend of nice and mischievous myself. Balance is important, you know. If you look closely at the picture, there's mischief in the cats eyes and smile, and a snake wrapped up in the cats tail around that tree trunk. Someone else will have to explain the umbrella to me, but I like the way it looks, and I'd walk down the street under it, if there was rain.

I shall pass this award on to a few of those who I believe to be well balanced in both Niceness and Mischief.

La Cubana Gringa ~ one of the funniest and most honest writers I have ever had the sheer delight and thrill to read. A lady, a doctor, a lover of cheese and a Brit, a San Francisco girl, a lightening sharp wit, and a brain that doesn't stop. Betcha can't read just one post.... oh, and fair warning: NO CONSUMPTION OF LIQUID OR FOOD WHILE READING HER BLOG; there's a real good chance that there will be no controlling it.

Ally at Tangerine Zest ~ Formerly of Crazy Dust in my Coffee fame, this woman is absolutely worth every single minute spent on her blog. Sassy and sweet, strong and funny, wise and smart-Ally, this one always makes me laugh, makes me think, makes me smile. So glad to have you back, lady- you were missed. **Just now she's featuring a "Tell me something I don't know" contest.... definitely worth a look!

Loretta at Failed Painter ~ If you rolled all the women in "Steel Magnolias" into one woman, it would be this woman. She is a brilliant artist and writer, her heart is bigger than Australia, her mind is as deep and wide as the ocean around that country, and she never fails to reach me on many levels. What a diamond in the rough.

Molly at Molly Bawn Chronicles ~ Words to live by, places to see, life to laugh at, cry over and share as each day zips past us... it's all here. Molly is a woman who looks at the world in a way that opens windows and doors for everyone else, she is many things I admire in a truly good woman, from top to bottom. No one is perfect, and she doesn't pretend to be, but she's got a good grip on it all, and I learn a lot about who I am, who we all are, and where we could be from her.

Jules at Thinking About is another great California girl. Her blog is peppered with great humor, keen insight, family devotion and good introspect. Always interesting, current and insightful! Love this one.

Chesca at ExSkin Diver is a realistic, sassy, funny, sweet, oh so very thoughtful, devoted mother who is always right on the edge of everything and always takes my mind, heart and humor to new places. What an adventurous, cool, exciting and awesome lady!

Christina at Single City Chick is definitely in the right group here! Smart, deep, fun, definitely sassy and a lover of good words; this is one of those places I know I can find good book, a good laugh, and a good look at life. A girl who speaks Scarlettese in many ways, this is one not to miss!

Some Pink Flowers at Some Pink Flowers, a wanderer like me, who loves to travel and see and experience, and who has just been to a wonderful ball... she snaps photos of the coolest things, and takes us on delightful excursions to the most interesting places. LOVE visiting her page!

And the only gentleman to make this first list: Pawlie Kokonuts at The Laughorist - an irreverent, intelligent, very funny, word play genius baseball fanatic scamp. Got all that? It's not even close to everything, but what a fabulous playground for my brain, what a great place to visit... think and play. Sheer gold. He's also one of my favorites because he likes to slide Latin in here and there throughout his posts. Ex Nihilio. Love that!

***GO ROCKIES!***

Part II

The "You Make Me Smile Award"

Bonnie at Words from a Wordsmith was very kind and gracious and has bestowed this lovely smiley flower award on me. Thank you so much, Bonnie, that's very sweet!

Here's to some of those people who make me smile constantly!! No limits this time ~ I'm going to put my nose in the air and give this to as many people as I want. Humph! Time to bend the rules in half again ;o)

Sognatrice at Bleeding Espresso
Irrelephant at Irrelephant
Kay at As It Happens
Jon at Writing in a Vacuum
Seamus at Shameless Words
Sarala at Blogaway
Diana at Piffle
Pearl at Humanyms
Jeni at The Passionate Palate
Rel at Under the Microscope
Kelly at My Utopia
Cleo at Confessions of Cleopantha
Caroline at Caroline Smailes/In Search of Adam


***And a very special and honorable mention to Neil at LAEvanesce who is a wonderful poet and very good writer, as well as the newest member of The Shameless Lions Writing Circle; for Neil and his lion Cheshire, Viaggiatore and I are very excited and proud to give both of these awards. We've been cheering him on and hoping that he could become a member, and it finally happened! Welcome to the circle, and congratulations!!***


And now... to play along with Moon Topples Phoctober, let's go for a walk to the park and see a statue called "Resistance". On the day that I went, I got a lovely surprise. There were glittery soft pink lipstick kisses all over the sculpture of this woman. All over her face, her back, her bottom, her arms, her breasts, her hands... everywhere. Lots of love. Perhaps if you click on the photos, the kisses will show up.

What I Said Today

We all die, a little every day, but when we wear those glasses and look at the world, it makes the living all the more precious.

Calico

Calico Phoctober with Moon Topples

A Day in Denver

Phoctober phun in Denver, come with me on a short tour!

One of my favorite ways to get here

Downtown Denver

Red, White and Blue skies


Window washers

The walls of Cherry Creek

The Tattered Cover Bookstore on the 16th Street Mall

(one of my favorite places on the planet, yes that whole building is a bookstore)

The Performing Arts Complex and the Convention Center

(and two dancing aliens who landed on the lawn of the PAC)

The sidewalks of Downtown Denver

An old church on Auraria Campus

Streets of Downtown Denver

Denver Botanic Gardens

Phoctober 9th.... Pheet and Phunny Phaces

Moon Topples photo game "Phoctober" has turned up some wonderful pictures all around, it's been very entertaining! Thanks for coming up with this, MT.

The life of the party! Custard filled cupcakes...

Self watering mushroom... verrrry fun...

And a poem about feet, inspired by a particular pair of feet that were dressed nicely in sparkly sandals and caught my attention the other day; I think we take our feet for granted too often.

Feet~

To walk upon

and carry me

where my will

and way may take me

from the rise

to the fall

for each beat

of the heart which keeps

me alive

I step yet again

towards the moment

that I'll die

and I slip

them into cool water

and run

across hot sand

and revel in the cool blades

of the grass that cuts

the heat

that burns my feet

the toes

which balance

and point

and spread

and the heel

that steadies

and rocks

and holds

the body it carries

the heart and soul

thankless work

for foundation

for base

no gratitude found

in time or place

but on we go

with carefree thought

and shorn of woe

we trudge

and dance

and skip

and trip along

until the music ends

and so

the song slows

to a single note

then silenced

and resting there

in statuesque repose

are weary worn

the heels

and toes

that a lifetime

of miles have known

and finally have found

a stillness

when the body has

flown.

Phoctober 7th

Phoctober Phun with Moon Topples

It rained...

There were cows...

There were trees of gold

And snow in the hills...

And snow by the creek and autumn trees, just a dusting of it...

What a good weekend.

Phoctober 4th...

Moon Topples is having photo phun with pics in the month of October... or in this case, Phoctober.

I doubt I'll be able to get pics in every day, but I'll participate as much as I can with some here and there.

Happy Phoctober 4th!

Scarlett & Viaggiatore

Where the sky stops

Blowing and drifting snow on the road....

Sun on winter snow glazed hills

Prairie Snow and wild horses

The Best of Friends

My sister will be coming for a visit because we're going to my brothers wedding together. A very special time with precious people. She is my best friend. Who else would put up with me and all of my shenanigans, but her?

I sincerely hope that you have someone like this in your life.


Someone who knows all the things you have done... good and bad, someone before whom you could never be embarrassed because they simply know you too well for anything to matter, someone who will laugh with you when things are good, who will comfort you when you are sad, and who never lets you forget anything; whether you want to or not.


Someone who offers advice, warranted or not, helpful or not, someone who can help you plan and carry out dreams, goals and missions. Someone who would do almost anything for you.


Someone who you could give all of that back to, and they'd want it.

Someone who you mean the world to, and who means that much to you.


Love you so much, B.
Thank you.



Scarlett

***The upshot of all of this syrupy mushy stuff is that I will be gone for the wedding for a few days. See y'all when I get back***

Brownie Birthday Karma

My birthday was last week on the 27th. (Thanks for the birthday mention Sognatrice!)

Some of you may recall one Robert the Bruce, of Armed and Dangerous/A&D II fame.

We got together for a birthday dinner.

He gave me a gift that made me giggle... still, makes me giggle. He's truly a good friend.

I opened the bag and found Vegetable Oil and Boxed Brownie Mix. Not just any boxed brownie mix.

Ghirardelli chocolate caramel brownie mix.

How do I rate?

The significance of this gift goes back a few months to my failed brownie debacle. To understand why this is apropos, you should read the following:

Brownie Shenanigans and Disastrous Results

"We're making brownies together." he said. "These will come out perfectly."

I am still shaking my head and giggling.

Isn't it great to have moments and friends like that?

Falling All Over Us

Phoctober Phirst Phun

These are some early autumn shots as summer hasn't quite dissolved yet, the best of the season will be posted next week.

Probably.

By the Book

Absolute Vanilla tagged me with another meme. I almost got away, but she's a quick one!

1. Total number of books owned - Several in every room of my home, and it's never going to end... kind of like my Christmas decorations... hee hee...

2. Last book bought - HAH! A few hundred dollars worth of textbooks that I've yet to crack. Still getting A's though. Luckily they can be sold back, pity though at only a fraction of the price I paid, but I always buy used books when I can. God bless http://www.half.com/

3. Last book read - Well, I multi-task/read; usually reading 3 or 4 at once. I've just finished all the HP books while reading 1000 days in Tuscany (I'm savoring this one, enjoying a bit of it at a time), and 'What a Girl Wants' (my sisters recommendation).

4. Five books which mean a lot to you -
~Do I get to use the Bible on this one? Yes, yes I do. It always stays on my nightstand along with...
~A treasury of Kahlil Gibran's works which was gifted to me by my Shannstress; these two are fundamental.

Also on the list are:

~To Kill a Mockingbird
~Rudyard Kiplings 'Just So Stories'
~Anne of Green Gables.

I think it's interesting that the lists of 'books which mean a lot' to some of the bloggers who've done this meme are oftentimes books from childhood. Books that helped shape our minds and hearts. Isn't that something? We hold fast to our cores.

I highly recommend Gibran for perspective, if you haven't had the pleasure already, and Just So Stories for smiles and wonder.

Ok then, to the tagging. Barbara @ Barbara's Bleeuugh, Roberta @ Turn the Page, Christina @ Single City Chick, Pearl @ Humanyms, and Jeni @ The Passionate Palate.
Have fun ladies!

A Shameless Lions Story

Have you heard about the exciting writing project happening over at The Shameless Lions Writing Circle?

A ring of words... Shameless Words began a story with this photo and then passed it on to Kay at As It Happens who gifted me with it. Each of the members of The Shameless Lions Writing Circle will take a turn writing part of the story, and after each piece is written, that member will choose the next writer. When it is complete, we will decide on a name for it. How many twists and turns will this lady named Grace take as she makes her way through the lions circle? Let's find out... I'll post the new chapters as they become available.

See here for the basic rules.

And... the story so far:

_______________________________________

The new watch that Grace's husband had given her the week before slipped inside the sleeve of her coat as her arm went up in the air. She felt she had no control over the movement, as though it were completely natural for her to be hailing a cab in the middle of New York. She felt as if she were being directed by remote control. 4:42pm, October 7. She made a mental note of the time, thinking it might be something she'd always want to remember.

"I just want you to drive," she said as she got in, avoiding the driver's eyes.

"Drive? Drive where, sweetheart?" He sounded like he might be Middle Eastern, although the writing on photos and cards above his head looked like it could be Greek. She also noticed African music coming from the radio.

"I'll let you know. For now just drive anywhere. Wherever your instinct takes you."

"That is strange."

"Yes, it's strange. Please just drive. Anywhere."

"Whatever you say, sweetheart." During the few minutes it took for the cab to rejoin the flow of angry traffic, she stared at the entrance to the subway that she'd been using to get home every night for the past 12 years. Ample time to change her mind. She turned off her mobile as the cab swung into Third Avenue. Happy trumpets played as a grainy picture of Sebastian and the two little ones faded into black. (1)

Grace sat back and tried to relax. All her muscles were tense. She moved her head a little from side to side to try and release some of the tension in her neck. She made an effort to relax her face muscles that she was sure were drawn up into a tight mask. As the cab swooped along with the stream of homeward-bound traffic, a sudden gust of wind swirled fallen orange and red leaves into a mad dance. She found their dance mesmerising. It reflected her mood of being drawn into a wild dance, almost out of control. Where the dance would lead, she had no idea.

“Ok sweetheart?” the cab driver sounded uncomfortable with his role of just driving anywhere.

She nodded, still not meeting his eyes. She wished he would stop calling her sweetheart. She didn’t feel like anybody’s sweetheart. She looked down at her tan boots and noticed one of the toes was scuffed. She fingered the money purse inside the large red shoulder-bag sitting beside her like an obedient pet. She would have to watch the fare. After all, she only had so much money to go on. She made herself stop biting her fingernails as she tried to figure out just where she wanted the taxi cab to drop her. (2)

------------------------------------------------

Grace closed her eyes and thought of the gaping entrance to the subway that she'd just abandoned. It was a turning point; she'd finally turned away from him, but to what? Never back to the barren arctic mausoleum; that prison home that the train had returned her to for so many nights, so many years, devoid of warmth, of love, of anything she really needed. She refused to lose another precious moment of her life to it, she knew if she went back again, there would be no more life.

Her thoughts were a blizzard through which she could only take a step at a time; slowly, carefully, blinded by the unknown... but feeling for it desperately, going anywhere as long as it was away. She had to escape. The storm of his loathing and anger raged around her in her mind and her heart began to pound, her pulse started to race and she knew this was it.

Reality seemed to fade into a dream and she fled the monster at her heels in uncertainty... could she make it? Could she really leave and be free? At last? The thought of it beckoned to her like a distant star in her dark night and the shadow of an image began to take form and make it's way to the forefront of her mind. Jack. It was her only chance.

The possibility of it was slim... but, perhaps. She had to try. Leaning forward, she instructed the cab driver with urgent directions and he was relieved that she'd finally determined a destination.

For the first time in ages, she stood at the base of the stairs that led up to his door and willed herself to move. How many years had it been... a hundred at least? What if he wasn't home? What if he didn't care about their friendship anymore? She'd let the winds of time carry it away in small fragments... like the leaves swirling about her feet, that skittered on the air and vanished. Grace carried the weight of the world and the bulk of the past with her up the steps and hesitated before pressing the button by the large door of the brownstone.

Time never passed so slowly. Her heart pounded in her chest and blood rushed in her ears. She drew a shaky breath. He might be gone. Maybe he had company. He probably wouldn't even want to speak to her. What if he didn't recognize her? How could she even come here at all? What was she thinking? Certainly he must be angry that she'd let their friendship go. All those years... best friends since they were children, and she'd let it go. How could she have done that for the monster she'd married? She began to breath shallow and quick. He had seemed so hurt the last time they'd talked.

She gasped and jerked her head up.
He'd opened the door, shock and disbelief registering on his face.
She froze.

"Grace?" he whispered her name like a prayer from the heart. There was more emotion in that one word than she'd felt from her husband in a year.

"Jack... I..." she stammered, unsure that she should have come at all.

In a single movement he came through the doorway and pulled her into his arms tightly. "Are you alright? Are you hurt?" he only let her go long enough to cup her face in his hands and peer into it closely, searching for any sign of pain, as a parent might do to his long lost child. He saw it there and pulled her back into his whole embrace. Anxiety and hope filled her clenched lungs as she allowed herself to breathe deeply.

"Come. Come in and we'll take care of it." he said quietly, as he brought her into his home.

He sat with her on the couch and watched her, listening intently as she spoke.

"I'm so sorry to just show up like this... I..." she clasped her hands tightly in her lap and stared straight through them.

"Grace, please don't apologize, there's no need at all. We're best friends, and you know time can't touch that. It doesn't matter what brought you here, you are welcome to stay as long as you need to and you know that you are safe. No one can touch you here. I'll make sure of that."

She stared at his unwavering countenance. Into his bottomless, dark eyes. Time ceased to exist then, time that had passed and time that would have come after this moment. It was as if they'd never been apart even a day. She launched herself into his arms again.

"I've missed you so much, thank you."

"You are one of the strongest women I've ever met. You are unstoppable, vibrant and passionate, and you are so full of secrets right now! This is not the Grace that I know," he said skeptically as he raised one eyebrow and with his hand on her chin, turned her face from side to side, "where's that wonder woman that could take on the world? Why have you hidden yourself away behind this mask?" He paused and whispered, "What happened to you mon ami?"

Grace looked around for an answer to his question, as though the welcoming walls in the room might offer her the words that she could not find. She opened her mouth to tell him, but somehow the brave front that she had shielded herself with crumbled in this sanctuary where she knew she could finally fall on her knees and find solace. Tears carried the pain away as they streamed down her pale cheeks like a long overdue rain on parched land. Saying nothing, Jack drew her to his chest, held her close and stroked her hair until she cried herself to sleep. He laid her head on a deep pillow and covered her with a thick quilt. Grace drifted off into a deeper slumber than she'd had in months, and Jack watched her for a long time.

It was late when he reached for his phone and dialed the number. He spoke softly, his eyes never leaving her as she slept. "Sebastian, you won't believe this. Grace is here... she finally came; she left him. Now she can begin." (3)



That was so much fun. Thanks Seamus, Kay and Viaggiatore!
I shall pass this along to Minx now, and she'll open the next page for Grace.

1) Seamus @ Shameless Words
2) Kay @ As it happens
3) Scarlett @ From the shores of introspect and retrospect