Writing prompt.......

There is a writing prompt given in the journal software that I sometimes use. I have been on a journaling/writing kick lately doing Julia Cameron's Morning Pages each day, keeping a food journal per Julia Cameron's new book, The Writing Diet, doing a daily Lenten Meditation journal, and yesterday I started a knitting journal to keep track of a sweater I am making. Today I thought I would write a short piece based on the writing prompt and post it on my blog. Here it is.......

"Tracing the outline of her face from a photograph..."

Tracing the outline of her face from a photograph I realized how sharp her nose appeared. Funny that I had never noticed that before. I thought I knew her face so well. But did I ever really look at her face before? Did I memorize her features? Her eyes always captured my attention, as they were so blue - a light blue, an almost transparent blue. I envied those eyes. Those eyes always seemed to command attention and long looks. No one ever turned away from Carolyn Ann because they were bored. She captured your attention with her eyes and then held it with her ability to listen. She seemed to listen with her whole body - first the eyes, then the tilted head, then the body leaning forward. People poured out their stories at the easy prompts from Carolyn Ann's mouth.
I started to cry again, salty tears running down my face. Carolyn Ann was dead. Her death was a shock, a senseless accident, a slippery road and a careless teenage driver. He was dead too. So senseless and horrible and sad. Two good lives suddenly gone from this earth, leaving grieving families and friends.
The picture of Carolyn Ann was in my photo album. It was a picture taken while we were sitting around a table at Linda's wedding reception just a year ago. Carolyn Ann was dressed in her new blue silk dress with the belted waist. How I envied her that day. She looked so beautiful and so self-assured. She was comfortable in her own skin. Perhaps that is why she was so good at focusing on other people. Aha, there is a lesson in that thought. But then, that was Carolyn Ann, her very life was a lesson to be learned and it came through even in a picture.
Thank you Carolyn Ann - for your brief life and for your example. I will miss you.

Writing can be fun when I am in the mood..............

Snow

The month of January has been filled with computer problems and devasting viruses, but at last I have my computer back and am able to post to my blogs.
Last Wednesday we had a big snow storm - around 10-12 inches of snow. The big malls around here (Randhurst and Woodfield) closed, the libraries closed, and our church cancelled it's Ash Wednesday Worship Service.

My front porch bench didn't look so welcoming covered in snow, but if you look carefully below, some critter paid a visit.

It is bitter cold now. We are definitely having an old fashioned winter, the kind that makes us heartier. I love the look of snow covering the world and I really don't mind the cold as long as I am properly dressed. I even enjoy shoveling the driveway, but my doctor would not approve so I welcome the folks who clear snow for a reasonable fee. When the weather is wintry I make soup. Hmmmm - that sounds good. I think I will go make some now.

Computer

My computer is at the repair shop getting a nasty virus removed. Fortunately the library has free computer service and I can post this message.

Being without a computer is like being without electricty, without a car, and without water. I have no contact with the world! Poor me.

Still a mess

This is a terrible, fuzzy picture - but, you can see that my office has become even messier than my last post. I continue to have computer problems, but at this moment (and I'm holding my breath) I am able to get on the Internet and post to my blogs.

Even Hal, the metal flamingo, has fallen over in shock at my cluttered office. Company is coming Monday night so I have two days to get this place ship shape. Wish me luck.

Electronic Mess

Believe it or not, I am an organized person who keeps a neat, clean home. This is a picture of the state of my office for the last few days. I'm old enough to remember when I had a little manual typewriter in a cute little black case that I proudly took to college. Now I have a desktop computer and a new laptop computer, two printers, a router, a label maker, a camera docking station, a Palm Pilot docking station, a USB hub, not to mention mouse, keyboard and monitor, all of which need to be plugged in. Oops, mustn't forget the lamps and shredder that also need to be plugged in - plus the cable modem, the TV and the telephone.

And since I am switching to using the laptop as my main computer, I need to eventually remove the desktop but keep the keyboard and monitor because they will be plugged into the Notebook QuickDock.

I love using the Internet and E-mail, but there are times when I get nostalgic for the little manual typewriter - and having only one thing plugged into each outlet in my home.

Indulgence

Putting together a jigsaw puzzle is something I only indulge in between Christmas and New Years. Once I start a puzzle, I am oblivious to the rest of the world and can stay up all night working to find one piece. This year I had some fairly easy puzzles, so I managed to get three done in two days. They were fun to do.

Then I had some computer problems - could not get on the Internet to browse - and finally ended up purchasing a new computer which just arrived yesterday. Because it was so frustrating not having access to the Internet, I started working on a 1,000 piece puzzle, and finished it in a few days.

Being without the Internet is getting akin to being without electricity. I couldn't pay bills, I couldn't get any recipes, I couldn't read blogs, I couldn't look up the weather, I couldn't browse Amazon, I couldn't do the jigsaw puzzle on AARP, and I couldn't shop. Horrible.

Now I have a new laptop, I have endless problems getting things setup, and half my programs don't work because they are so old. Life is never boring.

Christmas Decorations

This cuddly pot-bellied little snowman is watching the world go by from the vantage point of my dining room table. That is a soft flannel quilt on the table, made many years ago. I love all the smiling faces of the snowmen.

My fireplace looks inviting on this cold December day. Two beautiful poinsettia plants add Christmas color.

Last year I went all out with Christmas Decorations - a big tree and decorations in every room. This year I'm keeping it simple and easy. After a small health problem and surgery, I'm ready to sit back, relax, and enjoy my quiet home. Thankfully I'm doing well, feeling great, and fully recovered. This year I will enjoy the season, hearing the story of the birth of Jesus, the music, the colors, the family parties, the food, and finally a big family wedding on December 29th. Tis the season to be jolly, fa la la la la la la.

Today I am grateful for the color red. (And green.)