mermaidcamp
Keeping current in wellness, in and out of the water
You can scroll the shelf using ← and → keys
Paradox Passage
November 8, 2017
narrow passage
metallic angel
Between the walls of the ruined buildings plants grew wild
Some metallic angels flew over the houses and smiled
Merry pranksters fell down laughing long after the joke
Any resentment or anger had long ago gone up in smoke
Vintage remnants of times that will not be remembered
Scatter over the narrow path like a fire burned down to embers
Night Riders
November 7, 2017
Stagecoach
The coach pulls out at midnight to fly around the hills
The riders are invisible and the driver feels the chill
Of the howling wind as it whips through his bare bones
The stagecoach is a spirit vehicle with a will of its own
The destination is always kept secret until the horses stop
Then passengers are invited to the free store to shop
They rummage through the past, the deeds they left behind
The burden of past mistakes is magically lifted from the mind
They leave the area on foot with new paths to discover
Each one has witnessed transformation from which they will never recover
Free store
#WritePhoto Tower Of Power
October 12, 2017
— 9 Comments
Tower Of Power
The Roman army built the arches, aqueducts, and city streets
Then conscripted the local constabulary, farmers and priests
They marched off to conquer and manage all humans and beasts
The emperor demanded tribute in service, and taxes paid in gold.
The able bodied were enslaved and abducted to serve the will of Rome
It is hard to say which one issue caused the empire to crumble and fall
Maybe that imperial power concentrated in one place was never real at all
The ruins of foundations laid down long ago are remnants from the past
Mighty political forces appear and disappear, never meant to last
#writephoto
This poem is in response to this week’s photo prompt on Sue Vincent’s Daily Echo. Join us each week to read, comment, or submit your own take on the photo. I think this poem is also inspired by today’s political climate.
#WritePhoto Skulls And Shadows
September 29, 2017
— 8 Comments
skull sign
They looked down on the path with hollow eye sockets
Warning visitors to the woods that not all who enter leave
Some are murdered, skinned and eaten during dinner parties
Others are made into shoes or caps for theater troops
Life in this place must be a precarious race with survival
Assumptions made before entering will warp and strengthen
Turning everyone into either hunter or desperate prey
The shadows cast by the skulls grow long in the afternoon
The darkness grows deeper, the silence is discomforting
The sign is an omen of impending doom from which there is no escape
#writephoto
This gloomy little poem was inspired by Sue Vincent’s Echo. The photo prompt each Thursday is food for thought and for writing. Please join the group to read, comment, or submit your own version.
#WeekendCoffeeShare Shift Change
September 24, 2017
— 3 Comments
When You Are Engulfed In Flames
If we were having coffee in Tucson this weekend I would invite you to sit down in the living room with a cold iced tea. It is lovely weather now, with a little bit of chill at night. You probably think of this as summer weather, but for us it is a big deal to have highs below 100. We get all excited when “sweater weather” arrives, sometime in October. I have switched my hours at work in order to be there early to harvest outside. This is a fun change of pace. I am, however, having an issue with lack of ambition when I arrive home. I was finishing all my fitness activity and writing before going to work in the morning. That way I can relax when I get home. Now I am all about relaxing when I get home, but have not finished my own daily tasks. I must apply some discipline to make this shift change work. I am slacking on everything but my job.
The clearing out of the barn across the street is going very well, with only a few more personal items to move and review. I have thrown away loads more useless, outdated paper files. Just this morning, I found something I really wanted to find. I bought some amazing double sided cashmere fabric in Paris about 15 years ago. It has been in a plastic box for the last 10 years, with a couple of little pieces of cedar wood to repel moths. Lo and behold, the cedar works and the fabric is much more than I thought it was. I am lucky it is all still in perfect condition. Now that I have kept it so long I must find the perfect use for it, but not so perfect that it takes another 10 years to decide. I am thinking of a long reversible wrap skirt. I have one in silk, and think it is classy. My new motto is use it or ditch it for a clutter free life. It is time for this heavily hoarded fabric to get to work clothing me.
If we were having tea I would tell you I am behind on all my office work, which includes blogging. I excuse myself during this time because closing my real estate deal and finding space for all the stuff I want to keep is the most important task I will complete all year. I think once this job is done I will gratefully return to by diligent practice of writing. My financial load will be lighter, and my office will be better organized. The one task I have completed ahead of schedule is the payment of my real estate taxes. I am delighted to be paying about half of the tax bill I have had for the last 10 years. This makes me feel super happy and free. In 3 weeks my erstwhile tax burden will be another family’s future home. Everyone is a winner in this deal.
If we were on our second glass of iced tea I would ask how life and writing is going in your world. I hope you are more focused and productive then I am these days. I am listening to David Sedaris read his book, “When You Are Engulfed In Flames”. This does inspire me to try creating memoir again. His stories make me laugh out loud. When I finish his book I will dive into an eighteen hour course on the history of ancient Rome. Listening to different kinds of books on my audible account makes my work day zip by quickly. I get a lot of “reading” done while doing my job. There is a contest to produce a 30 second promotional video for audible telling how you use it. The winners will be awarded new Volvos. I am seriously considering entering this contest. Have you tried audio books? They are my new favorite thing.
#WeekendCoffeeShare
Thanks for joining us for this digital beverage party. Join us to read, comment, or share your own week with the crew. Follow the hashtag #weekendcoffeeshare on twitter to join the party.
#WritePhoto Dream Flow
September 21, 2017
— 7 Comments
Flowing River
The edges of the stones were mossy and slick. When we tried to climb on them we slipped into the rushing current of the river. We were carried swiftly downstream, looking for a jetty or an overhanging branch on which to cling. There were no helpful signs. The river had run away with us, and in our folly we had lost our way deep in the forrest. The adventure had turned into a nightmare without a map or a plan.
This little hike started out with innocent curiosity about where the source of this river . Some said the tributaries trickled down from the whole mountain range, naturally seeking the sea. Others told stories of a hidden artesian spring deep in a cave, which was the main source of all the water we found in between the river’s banks. It had been said in ancient times a hermit guarded the source of the spring, to keep the enemies from polluting it. The folk tales of the valley mention healing powers, even miraculous restoration of wealth and status, attributed to bathing in the river water. The hermits and the shamans kept the secret of the waters for themselves. They stopped healing the sick, and started selling miracles to those in power at the time. After a time the spring ran dry, and the flow of the river was diminished.
We found shelter under tall trees on the shore where we finally landed. We sat at the edge of the water and watched for the others. Our voyage of discovery had been ill-advised to say the least. We now found ourselves miles from our intended destination, wet and without a plan. As the afternoon shadows grew long we heard voices coming from the woods. Our shouts for help were finally met with the sound of our companions calling our names. Once reunited we felt better, but still had no idea where we were. We built a fire and told our individual stories of falling into the current and finding our way to this place until we all fell asleep.
After a long heavy sleep we awoke to find ourselves safe and sound on the shore where we had started our day. We all had strange dreams about the river which we recounted to each other on the way home. It was surprising how similar our dreams had been.
#writephoto
This story is in response to Sue Vincent’s photo prompt in her Echo. Each week writers interpret a photo to share. Join us to read, comment, or write your own piece.
#WeekendCoffeeShare Real Estate Contract
September 10, 2017
— 3 Comments
minimalism and joy
If we were having coffee this weekend in Tucson I would invite you to relax with some iced tea and chocolate covered dates stuffed with walnuts. I scored yet another 20 pound box of Medjool dates at my produce pick up this morning. I have been giving dates away for weeks, and now I have about 30 pounds. They are perfect for winter, and will last a long time. I am looking for new date recipes. Sit down and tell me how your week has been. I hope all of those who have been hit by the storms are safe and dry. Our national recovery will take a long time. My heart goes out to those who have been displaced.
The week went quickly for me, with not much writing. I worked last weekend to make up for the day had to miss for grand jury. I was excused. The people who manage the process, from the registration staff, to the bailiff who guides you and tracks you by your badge number, to the judge, are all extremely professional. The judge was very clear in all his explanations, and the entire mega situation, with people reporting all day long, is handled super efficiently. We all had bar codes to track us, which I suppose enables a smooth and accurate accounting of all that happens. I was impressed with this little corner of government function. It works really well for all involved.
I am extremely glad not to have to dedicate 2 days a week to the court until the middle December. This morning I got the good news that I have an offer on the lot I have for sale across the street from my home. I accepted the offer and now have until October 19th to clear out my possessions from the lot and the barn. I had begun the job, but now there is a solid deadline to finish organizing and decluttering. I hoped to sell it before I had to pay taxes on it again, and it looks like I will meet that goal. I can’t wait to be finished downsizing. It is liberating to jettison unneeded stuff.
I wrote a short piece of fiction this week that was related to getting rid of family heirlooms. I am sure this came from my effort to relieve myself of the silly burden of files and papers from my dead parents finances, etc. This is the theme in my life at the moment. Marie Kondo has worked her magic into my very soul. I believe that tidiness is true happiness. I am out to prove it. By 19 October I will be a much lighter being. I think it will inspire my writing to be free. Stay tuned, and we shall see. This deadline is the best gift for me now.
#WeekendCoffeeShare
Thanks for stopping by for a chat today. This moveable feast and digital coffee klatch is hosted each weekend by Diana at PartTimeMonster. Please join us to read, comment, or write your own coffee share post about what is happening in your life and writing.
Small Hex Poem
September 5, 2017
— 1 Comment
Witch’s Brew I made a wish Upon a casserole dish, For my cauldron was at the menders; The handle was broken And it just wouldn’t work It just stood there on the ground; It made me feel like a berk; And I couldn’t borrow Brenda’s (As it was wash day). So, I resorted to Pyrex […]
#WeekendCoffeeShare Labor Day Edition
September 2, 2017
— 4 Comments
Halloween car
next load for Goodwill
If we were having coffee this weekend I would invite you to relax on this cloudy day with a long glass of iced tea. I am drinking white blueberry now because it is refreshing. The news cycle is anything but refreshing, so I hope you have some personal stories of good cheer. My own good news is that I will be working my regular shift processing and trimming weed on Labor Day. I love my job and feel very lucky to be allowed a lot of flexibility with my schedule. I hope I will not need to call on that flexibility to serve on a grand jury for up to six months, two days a week. I could work around it, but I sincerely do NOT want to do it. I don’t think I can be impartial.
love my job
labor of love
labor of love
love my job
I must report to the court on Wednesday morning to convince them I am not the person they want. The process involves hearing testimony from cops to decide if there is probable cause to indite for felonies. I have the absolute worst relationship with the TPD and do not believe cops because of the direct experience we have had in our neighborhood. I do not fear police brutality, but am totally afraid of police mendacity, which I think takes place all the time at all levels of authority. I just don’t trust them to have the public’s best interest at heart.
My writing is still sluggish in terms of productivity and on the dark side. I wrote a poem about piracy this week that I continue to examine myself to figure out the deeper meaning. I wrote about places I have been in the past, but changed the century. I think I need to try this device on longer pieces. I did a tea review because I am truly loving the white blueberry. I started telling true stories on Facebook live at my desk. I bought a piece of software called ecamm live that enhances the experience. For instance, you can create a scheduled livestream and notify your peeps when it will be live. I plan to do a few each week in a regular time slot. I have not fully examined or used all the cool features of the software. I have only done two stories, but am compiling ideas for the future. There is a Skype feature to do interviews. I think it will be a fun new tool to use.
Halloween will be extra fun this year because my car is “volcanic orange” with black details. When the weather cools down I have a large wardrobe that matches my car. I am still working diligently on trimming down my possessions in order to sell my lot with a barn full of extra junk in storage. I have made good progress in the garage, and some in the office. I have tossed an unbelievable amount of old and useless paperwork, some of which belonged to my long dead parents. There will be more discovery of my ridiculous hoarding when I excavate the barn, I am sure. The task of tidying is not so difficult if taken a little at a time. The process of discarding useless stuff is rewarding as well as revealing. I just need to remain diligent until it is all gone.
Can I offer you another glass of iced tea? Tell me how your muse is treating you these days. I sincerely hope none of the coffee sharers has been hit by Harvey. It is good to know Diana is dry enough in New Orleans to host the party this week. Join us on the weekends by reading, commenting, or submitting your own coffee share post. Thank you for stopping by this week.
#WeekendCoffeeShare
#WritePhoto In Sight
August 31, 2017
— 8 Comments
sight of the horizon
We sailed for Devil’s Cay out of old Nassau’s harbor
The sea was so calm that the Tongue of the Ocean
Was as smooth as glass with reflections of white clouds
The quiet was suddenly broken with a clap of thunder
Followed by gale force winds that carried us swiftly
To the destination for our meeting with the pirates
Who had promised us part of the booty if we helped them
Rob the Spanish galleon laden with treasure and slaves
We anchored our ship, rowed ashore, and climbed the hill
The tide was rising while we scanned the horizon
Our instincts told us we had been fooled were trapped
On this tiny island with a deep ocean hole in the center
They say the chickcharney had blessed our expedition
Had given us magical powers of perception and stealth
Now as we hide peeking though a round hole in the rocks
It looks like we should anticipate violence, not wealth
We have been very shortsighted and now will regret
Making pacts with buccaneers reeks havoc you won’t forget
#writephoto
This is a response to the photo prompt from Sue Vincent this week on her Echo. Please join us to read, write, comment, and contribute to the fun. Follow the hashtag #writephoto.
