~A Bitter Swallow~

For those of you keeping track of my writing prowess (or lack thereof), you will be happy to know that I actually completed(ish) and submitted a piece!

I saw an ad for a gentlemen looking for submissions of father-daughter anthologies from the daughter's point of view. He wanted the story, as well as how that relationship continues to influence the daughter's everyday life.

The piece I submitted I cannot say I am happy with. I have a very hard time writing about my father. However, I finished it. I submitted it. It may not get chosen, and that is okay. I am proud of the fact that I have gotten as far with it as I have. It was not a long piece- only roughly 3500 words. But, again, it's done. That is the highlight.

So, wish me well if you like, but celebrate my completion more. Now, the next deadline I have is for sometime in the Fall of this year. This one I need to start pushing myself more on, because this one is to be an actual book-long story. It will involve copious amounts of research on my part, and with my procrastination level, I need to really strive to keep on task. But the fact that it is per request of a friend perhaps will boost my motivation level. If only to appease.

In any event, there you have it. One down- about 4 or 5 more I'm working on.

I was rereading over my old posts while wiling away the slow hours at work today. I came across a post where I deliberated on what to do with the new words I have been receiving in an attempt to strengthen my vocabulary skills. I had contemplated various ways to adhere those little (or big) words into my brain in order to pluck them out when appropriate. One thing I jested on was writing out blog posts around them, but discarded the idea due to lack of topic matter to write them around.

Today, I decided to disregard my previous disregard, and to indeed use those neglected words in weekly posts. I may not have the topics to use them around, but I can use them as the topic themselves. It will not only use the words in context, but also gives potential for some entertaining blogging.

Stay tuned!

So, I think I'm going to sign up to be an ambassador. A KRL Ambassador, that is. I will be out and about promoting the library and all the goodness it possesses. Yes, all the yummy books and DVDs and music; All the access to Internet, and shows, and classes; The book club, the movie club (both of which I would really like to participate in sometime, but always have dang schedule issues), the children's' programs, the teen programs.

I will get to go out and really help push this stuff. I get to be a pusher. Of information this time, instead of drugs. (Don't worry... I was a legal pusher of drugs in my time!)

So, get ready to see me everywhere! (dun dun dun!)

I was going through the books being checked in today, looking for loose, forgotten items used as bookmarks, markings in the book, etc.. and came across one that had a dedication in it. It was donated to the library in remembrance of a loved one that had passed on. I looked closer, and realized that the dates given marked this loved one as still a child. It brought upon a deep feeling of mixed sorrow. The wretched kind from losing one's darling baby (I have two myself, but still cannot even imagine), and also the happy kind that comes with having something that helps you remember, and makes you smile at those memories.

The book made me think of my own youth, when my troop of friends and I would wander through the graveyards to hang out in the peaceful quietness. There was something soothing about the place. We always made our way toward where there was a remarkable amount of gravestones with dates that spanned a disquieting few amount of years. Like all teens that age, we were a obstreperous bunch, laughing and playing our way through. However, without warning or prompting, the whole of us would be overcome by a hush as we passed into that area of the young spirits. A sort of reverence for those who did not make it as long as we had, and a deep respect for them. We would tell each other stories of these children- happy stories of perserverance and love, and of those left behind who still mourn the happy memories of their lost child.

To this day I do not view graveyards as a place of spooky scariness, but rather a place to rest and relax in the quiet. They have always brought upon a feeling of peace and stillness in an otherwise crazy world. I still find myself wandering, looking through the names and the dates, and finding those of the children. Those souls whose journey ended sooner than we would like to think possible. And I always find myself stopping at them, wondering about them and their lives, and what possibly could have brought them to this place in the dirt. How were their lives, their personalities, their deaths?

Oh, and that book with the dedication? It was "Love You Forever" by Robert Munsch. A proper and fitting title, don't you think?

My son had karate again this evening. He'd had to miss two weeks of class due to a toe infection, and then a camping trip with his Boy Scout Troop.

But in light of this, and a mark of just how dedicated he has become to his karate studies, he was able to complete the next kata in his class, and he got his second stripe on his belt. This was completely unexpected! His sensei told him that if he can complete this kata flawlessly and with confidence in two weeks, he will put his name up to be challenged to earn his orange belt!

So far, his sensei is highly impressed with my son's progress. He's only been in karate for three months, and knows two katas, and strives to further his knowledge of terminology as well as form of movements.

I've watched the qualifying tasks for achieving an orange belt. It was pretty brutal, both physically and mentally. He has a couple weeks to prepare for it. Now it's time for me to be on the ball as well, and while I may not be able to help him with protecting himself in the physical part, I can at least get his mind prepared for the knowledge part.

I'm so proud!!

So, yesterday I met up with Dustin after work. I got out at 12:30, so we went and had some lunch, then headed over to Lowe's to pick up a new, desperately needed lawnmower and weed-eater. We came home excited to get them put together and start on getting our lawn in shape.

Unfortunately, we came home to both dogs nowhere in sight. He had left them in the yard, like we always do. The house just gets too warm to leave them inside on sunny days. It's never been a problem. Until yesterday.

I'm not sure whether I am totally convinced that they just escaped on their own. They've shown no precedence to do such a thing before. In any event, whether or not they got out of their own will, or someone elses', they were gone. Dustin scoured the neighborhood looking for them. When we got the kids from school, we drove around to the neighborhood on the other side of the trees to see if anyone there had seen them. We left our names and phone numbers with various people in case they spotted them.

Then this morning, Dustin called the Humane Society to see if any dogs were brought in that matched Muttley or Sam's description. They had a dog that matched Muttley's. But not one for Sam. We went in, and sure enough, there he was, scared and excited to see us. But they did not have Sam. This is not a big surprise, since Muttley is much more apt to come up to someone whereas Sam is more likely to just run.

Luckily though, the gal helping us do the paperwork to get Muttley back was able to contact the animal control officer who had picked Muttley up. He told her that he had not seen another dog with Muttley, but had reports that a lady had possession of another dog spotted with Muttley at her house, and a control officer was on his way there to pick her up. We got that officers name and number, and the address for the house, and headed out.

When we got there, there she was! The officer was already there, talking with the lady. She said they had both shown up, having run across a huge field that ran from our backyard to hers (we're talking, maybe a mile across here, if not more). She said Muttley ran away, and so did Sam at first, but then Sam returned alone, scared and lost. She fed her, and got her to come to her. Then she called the Humane Society to let them know she had her.

I was sooooooo incredibly thankful that both were found and both were safe and sheltered from last night's rain! It was hard for me to sleep last night, listening to it pounding on my rooftop, thinking of them both stuck out in it, lost and alone. I thanked the woman who took Sam in profusely.

Even better, we paid nickles compared to what this could have cost us. Since Muttley got brought in after when we could have come got him yesterday, the woman at the shelter did not charge us yesterday's kennel fee. And the officer who met us to pick up Sam said he'll just use this instance as a warning. That's a $120 ticket we're free from right there. All in all, what we were thinking was going to cost us about $300, only cost us just over $60. With the money we saved from that, we are going to build up the fence around the yard so that they are physically unable to jump it or dig under it. Some nice lattice, some chicken-wire for underneath, some planter boxes and flowers for outside... maybe some berry bushes and roses for thorny deterrents. I get a safer spot for the dogs to go, and some more gardening for me! It's win-win as far as I'm concerned.

So, here's to lost dogs found, better sleep, and a negative getting turned into a positive.

Today was a good day. The sun was high and bright. The sky was a marvelous blue that you just wanted to drink up. Indeed, I could have easily spent my day lounging outside next to the lake, soaking up a good book and the sun's rays.

Instead, I got a bit busy. After a morning workout, Dustin and I went to Lowe's and spent some money. We got a nice, fragrant jasmine bush, some rosemary, some strawberries, and a peppermint plant. Then I went to Walmart and got a Don Juan climbing rose vine.

Once home with my loot, I headed out into the garden in that happy warmth, and gave my bean plant and zucchini plants their new home. Tucked nicely into their dirt beds, I gave them a quick shower, and then dug out the hole for the rose bush. Then off to pick up the kids from school, and a pound of red worms. The worms went into our compost bin, and I'm excited to start getting nutrient-rich worm poo for my garden!

I love days spent out of doors. I didn't get my outdoor lounger, since all I found where the expensive ones. I'm really only looking for a cheapo one. One I can fold up and take with me easily down to the lake. Tomorrow I figure I can get my bathing suit, and hopefully that chair. Then, the next sunnylicious day off I have, I can take my book and my chair down to that wet horseshoe, and catch those rays and that story.