A very good book, well written. I really enjoyed it. Coco Chanel was very reminescent of Evita, from her beginnings to how she worked her way up by using men. This book was very informative about the war and very interesting on learning about the characters.
Sunday, June 3, 2012
I deliberatly touched your arm today
when we made eye contact yours were filled with hatred and disgust
the loathing look I returned it with was meant more for myself
how I feel about my actions
not your reactions
I used to think it would make a difference if you knew my family was new to the country
post WWII
that my ancestor didn't take your land by force
but then I realized any immigrants causing populations to grow
diminished your dream of getting your land back
You too have watched it become Walmarts and dumps.
As you walk out the door
your motion smooth and proud
I hope in our next lives fate is kind and makes us possible
when we made eye contact yours were filled with hatred and disgust
the loathing look I returned it with was meant more for myself
how I feel about my actions
not your reactions
I used to think it would make a difference if you knew my family was new to the country
post WWII
that my ancestor didn't take your land by force
but then I realized any immigrants causing populations to grow
diminished your dream of getting your land back
You too have watched it become Walmarts and dumps.
As you walk out the door
your motion smooth and proud
I hope in our next lives fate is kind and makes us possible
Saturday, September 3, 2011
poetry
I saw you yesterday
in the eyes of an unknown window washer as he mischievously peeked into my office
his glance made me numb
now I am obsessed with needing to notify you
I fell in love somewhere between the elevator freshman year and yesterday
with either you or the memories of you I am not sure.
I am old and a married woman now and these thoughts need not concern me, or the woman I have become.
yet my mind keeps returning
you opened up so much of your world to me
did I give anything in return?
will my last thoughts in life be of you and regrets or will I find peace?
in the eyes of an unknown window washer as he mischievously peeked into my office
his glance made me numb
now I am obsessed with needing to notify you
I fell in love somewhere between the elevator freshman year and yesterday
with either you or the memories of you I am not sure.
I am old and a married woman now and these thoughts need not concern me, or the woman I have become.
yet my mind keeps returning
you opened up so much of your world to me
did I give anything in return?
will my last thoughts in life be of you and regrets or will I find peace?
Friday, August 13, 2010
Start a story with the character going through their phone messages and then stops on the third message...
Richard was dozing on the couch when Roberta finally finished creating her geocaching route for the day. "It would go so much faster if I didn't have to solve those mathematical puzzle nightmares" she complained waking Richard with a start. "Are you ready to go? Were you sleeping with your shoes on the davenport? Oh never mind, let's just go before all the good trackables are taken" She threw back the coffee Richie had made her, now cold and slipped on her Crocs.
Backing out of the driveway Roberta realized she had forgotten her route map and scrambled, with all the grace she could muster, out of the smart car. At the front door she spied her keys on the counter in the kitchen. Knowing it was going to be a bad day she decided to plow ahead anyway because she really wanted the geocoin in one of the caches. "Richie dear" she shouted back at the car "could you come open the door for me?"
Richard never dreamed this is what life had in store for him. He fought in Vietnam came back a hero and worked the next thirty years as a General in the Marines. Sure life had thrown him curve balls, he had come back from the war to find his high school sweetheart had married, he had terrible nightmares, but he got on with his life...until last fall. He had met Roberta at a close chess buddy's funeral. He found her lively (which turned to bossy) and interesting, (which became too talkative). Looking back over the last few months he realized he was mostly taken by her vulnerability. She lived in an old farmhouse that was settling back into the earth and needed someone to take care of her. Having just lost his closest friend and having trouble getting used to being simply ordinary he decided to give marriage a try. Now he viewed himself as a blue collar, chauffeuring Roberta from one pine tree to the next so she could dig around for junk. He had to stop his travels after marriage, Roberta was content to stay at home knitting things no one wanted and sending her travel termites, or whatever she called them out into the world. She spent her life with the computer, not him. Not exactly the life he had in mind. He was neither needed nor valued and starved for adventure. Clambering out of the car he unlocked the door and waited while Roberta flitted about the house looking for her lost list. She came bustling back with the list "Oh I hope we make good time, I want to be at the Hamfield Mall before school lets out."
Nearly an hour later and 20 miles down the road Roberta had logged 10 finds, 2 no finds and had exchanged one small cooler full of toys for another full of, well junk. Richard was already exhausted, hot, and hungry, but Roberta was just getting started. While Richard was pulling back onto the road Roberta let out a yelp and tossed a spider out the window. Richard swerved almost clipping a motorcyclist who in turn gave him the finger yelling something about a cod sucker? Odd time to be talking fishing, but Richard let out his frustrations on Roberta, grabbing her list and driving home after throwing it out the window. Roberta sat stunned.
**
Stephen Bale, now known as Edward Stoltzfus, woke when the vehicle turned off the pavement onto a dirt road. It was completely dark when they pulled up to what was to be his home. it looked pretty much as he had planned, a white farm house in the middle of nowhere. "Your nearest neighbors will be the Hochstetlers, who live over there about a mile, you'll see the house in the morning" the deputy searched for something to say. "It won't be an easy life, but disappearing never is...want us to help with your bags or anything?" Stephen now Edward said "nah, but let me make sure this key works 'for you go, I don't want to be sleeping with the neighbors, well not yet at least." "Son" the deputy barked " these are respectable people and that kind of humor will get you in trouble...with me, so I better not hear any complaints about you. Leave them alone and they'll do the same. Goodnight". Before Ed had a chance to put the key in the door the deputy's car had turned around leaving him in the dark. Having been in special ops before this whole deal, he got in the house by punching through the window. Once in he found the place to be empty. Oh, there was a table and some chairs, but the spot where the big screen should be was barren, and there were no lines for the Internet. He figured he would deal with the shock in the morning and headed up the stairs with his two duffles. The only furniture on the second floor was a bed, no sheets, no clocks. This wasn't the Motel 6 or his Grannies house, but he was alive and given a chance to start over with a measly $500 in the bank. He took off his black cowboy boots and fell fitfully asleep on the cold lumpy bed.
**
Roberta decided to give Richard the silent treatment. She was unconcerned about his anger, he was always angry these days, but that list!! It took her all yesterday evening and this morning to compose. Some things were just impossible to replace. she tried to jot down as much as she could remember.
Richard took the opportunity of Roberta's pouting to play solitaire on the computer, it wasn't often he got the computer AND silence. He should learn from their afternoon and reenact it more often, without the motorcyclist of course. In between games an advertisement for a vintage car show came up. He had never really been interested in vintage cars, or any car for that matter, but he thought it sounded like a nice trip. It could be made in a day, but if he played his cards right he could get Roberta to stay at the casino, they showed pictures of a stunning buffet. This afternoon had cleared his head and suddenly he knew what he had to do. If he won the next game he would go by himself and maybe leave her, if he lost he would make her go with him. He lost.
Roberta was just getting ready to give up when Richie started into the kitchen "Listen here Roberta, I married someone to be my companion and not my boss and we are going to go away for the weekend, and we are going to a vintage car show and we are spending the night, maybe two, at the casino and I don't want to hear nothing more about it! I expect you to be packed and ready to go by 9am Friday morning, that gives you three and a half days to get packed and cancel your plans!" He then stood there waiting for the whining, or at least that frowny face that made her look like a troll, but got neither. Finally she found her voice "OK Richie if that's what you want to do, you don't like this treasure hunt stuff much do you?" Feeling himself melting a little he let himself be truthful "I don't much see the point of it! Toting this junk here, moving this crap there, all the while being sneaky- you're not a boy scout Roberta! It's just plain ridiculous!!" She looked like she was going to cry but said "will you make the reservations then?" As he turned to leave she added "You know I just get so fidgety, it gave me something to do, something to look forward to everyday...it was a goal for me. You have all your medals and buddies, but I don't have anything to look back at, no one will remember me..." he didn't respond but cleared his throat and moved out of the room that was now becoming uncomfortable. It wasn't until he got back on the computer that he realised all that just occurred. They had just talked more in the last minute then they had for their entire marriage. Maybe this weekend could be a sort of starting over for them. In fact, he would make reservations for dinner tonight at that little salad place Roberta always mentioned wanting to try. He sat down with a misson and felt a little like his old self.
**
Edward woke with a start a little before dawn. Laying with every muscle tensed he couldn't figure out what had awaken him. There was no way he could have been found that quickly, he was off the grid and had spoke to a single person in the past 24 hours. Then he heard the noise again. It was coming from downstairs, movement, a rustling. Grabbing for his colt, then realizing he didn't have it (part of the relocation agreement) grabbed his boot instead. He could wreck havoc with his steel toed boot if necessary. Ever so slowly he inched off the bed and started down the hall. He heard chatter once he got to the stairs, almost like children's voices. That's just what he needed on his first day of his new life, to strike a child dead with his boot. The chatter didn't start back up, but the movement did. He ever so quietly placed his foot on the first step, which groaned, then the second, which creaked. Cursing he then went for it and slid down the banister to turn and stare straight into the eyes of his attacker. The attacker reared up in surprise alerting the other who appeared by the back door, which was swinging open. Confirming that Edward was not a man to be messed with both raccoons scurried out into the night through the door he evidently never shut completely last night. "Bandits" He grumbled once his heart stopped racing. He decided he was up for the day and might as well start with a cup of coffee. Then he remembered he had no coffee, no coffee pot, and certainly no electricity to plug a pot into. Thinking about how long $500 would last he decided to go to a tourist trap and eat breakfast, after a shower and shave.
Standing in the bedroom going through the clothes he packed, he was told to pack inconspicuous clothing, he couldn't decide between the blue plaid or the t-shirt that read "I'm with stupid". Now that he was here he realized "I'm with stupid" may have been a bad choice. He lugged his black cargo pants and blue plaid around the second floor twice before he decided the bath must be on the first floor. A thorough search through the whole house including the cellar revealed no bathroom. He stood at the back door to relieve himself and decided he too would have to go primitive and use the pump in the kitchen to pump water and heat it on the stove. However, he couldn't find a pot nor a stove. "Welcome to hell" he shouted at the empty wall before going into hysterics, " I should have just let them kill me" he said quieter.
Ten minutes later he was walking up the road in the direction he hoped was town. "Guten Morgen" someone shouted from out of the gloomy dawn. He stopped, but didn't see anyone so began moving again slower and quieter. "What are you on about there sir?" this time he could see a shadow forming and instinctively reached for his empty belt. He was just about to bend down for his boot, thinking how inconvenient this was going to be, when the figure took the shape of a man in a funny hat. "Eh, you must be the neighbor then?! Welcome, Welcome" he said enthusiastically mistaking Steve's maneuver as friendly. "That's quite an interesting shirt you've got on there."
Backing out of the driveway Roberta realized she had forgotten her route map and scrambled, with all the grace she could muster, out of the smart car. At the front door she spied her keys on the counter in the kitchen. Knowing it was going to be a bad day she decided to plow ahead anyway because she really wanted the geocoin in one of the caches. "Richie dear" she shouted back at the car "could you come open the door for me?"
Richard never dreamed this is what life had in store for him. He fought in Vietnam came back a hero and worked the next thirty years as a General in the Marines. Sure life had thrown him curve balls, he had come back from the war to find his high school sweetheart had married, he had terrible nightmares, but he got on with his life...until last fall. He had met Roberta at a close chess buddy's funeral. He found her lively (which turned to bossy) and interesting, (which became too talkative). Looking back over the last few months he realized he was mostly taken by her vulnerability. She lived in an old farmhouse that was settling back into the earth and needed someone to take care of her. Having just lost his closest friend and having trouble getting used to being simply ordinary he decided to give marriage a try. Now he viewed himself as a blue collar, chauffeuring Roberta from one pine tree to the next so she could dig around for junk. He had to stop his travels after marriage, Roberta was content to stay at home knitting things no one wanted and sending her travel termites, or whatever she called them out into the world. She spent her life with the computer, not him. Not exactly the life he had in mind. He was neither needed nor valued and starved for adventure. Clambering out of the car he unlocked the door and waited while Roberta flitted about the house looking for her lost list. She came bustling back with the list "Oh I hope we make good time, I want to be at the Hamfield Mall before school lets out."
Nearly an hour later and 20 miles down the road Roberta had logged 10 finds, 2 no finds and had exchanged one small cooler full of toys for another full of, well junk. Richard was already exhausted, hot, and hungry, but Roberta was just getting started. While Richard was pulling back onto the road Roberta let out a yelp and tossed a spider out the window. Richard swerved almost clipping a motorcyclist who in turn gave him the finger yelling something about a cod sucker? Odd time to be talking fishing, but Richard let out his frustrations on Roberta, grabbing her list and driving home after throwing it out the window. Roberta sat stunned.
**
Stephen Bale, now known as Edward Stoltzfus, woke when the vehicle turned off the pavement onto a dirt road. It was completely dark when they pulled up to what was to be his home. it looked pretty much as he had planned, a white farm house in the middle of nowhere. "Your nearest neighbors will be the Hochstetlers, who live over there about a mile, you'll see the house in the morning" the deputy searched for something to say. "It won't be an easy life, but disappearing never is...want us to help with your bags or anything?" Stephen now Edward said "nah, but let me make sure this key works 'for you go, I don't want to be sleeping with the neighbors, well not yet at least." "Son" the deputy barked " these are respectable people and that kind of humor will get you in trouble...with me, so I better not hear any complaints about you. Leave them alone and they'll do the same. Goodnight". Before Ed had a chance to put the key in the door the deputy's car had turned around leaving him in the dark. Having been in special ops before this whole deal, he got in the house by punching through the window. Once in he found the place to be empty. Oh, there was a table and some chairs, but the spot where the big screen should be was barren, and there were no lines for the Internet. He figured he would deal with the shock in the morning and headed up the stairs with his two duffles. The only furniture on the second floor was a bed, no sheets, no clocks. This wasn't the Motel 6 or his Grannies house, but he was alive and given a chance to start over with a measly $500 in the bank. He took off his black cowboy boots and fell fitfully asleep on the cold lumpy bed.
**
Roberta decided to give Richard the silent treatment. She was unconcerned about his anger, he was always angry these days, but that list!! It took her all yesterday evening and this morning to compose. Some things were just impossible to replace. she tried to jot down as much as she could remember.
Richard took the opportunity of Roberta's pouting to play solitaire on the computer, it wasn't often he got the computer AND silence. He should learn from their afternoon and reenact it more often, without the motorcyclist of course. In between games an advertisement for a vintage car show came up. He had never really been interested in vintage cars, or any car for that matter, but he thought it sounded like a nice trip. It could be made in a day, but if he played his cards right he could get Roberta to stay at the casino, they showed pictures of a stunning buffet. This afternoon had cleared his head and suddenly he knew what he had to do. If he won the next game he would go by himself and maybe leave her, if he lost he would make her go with him. He lost.
Roberta was just getting ready to give up when Richie started into the kitchen "Listen here Roberta, I married someone to be my companion and not my boss and we are going to go away for the weekend, and we are going to a vintage car show and we are spending the night, maybe two, at the casino and I don't want to hear nothing more about it! I expect you to be packed and ready to go by 9am Friday morning, that gives you three and a half days to get packed and cancel your plans!" He then stood there waiting for the whining, or at least that frowny face that made her look like a troll, but got neither. Finally she found her voice "OK Richie if that's what you want to do, you don't like this treasure hunt stuff much do you?" Feeling himself melting a little he let himself be truthful "I don't much see the point of it! Toting this junk here, moving this crap there, all the while being sneaky- you're not a boy scout Roberta! It's just plain ridiculous!!" She looked like she was going to cry but said "will you make the reservations then?" As he turned to leave she added "You know I just get so fidgety, it gave me something to do, something to look forward to everyday...it was a goal for me. You have all your medals and buddies, but I don't have anything to look back at, no one will remember me..." he didn't respond but cleared his throat and moved out of the room that was now becoming uncomfortable. It wasn't until he got back on the computer that he realised all that just occurred. They had just talked more in the last minute then they had for their entire marriage. Maybe this weekend could be a sort of starting over for them. In fact, he would make reservations for dinner tonight at that little salad place Roberta always mentioned wanting to try. He sat down with a misson and felt a little like his old self.
**
Edward woke with a start a little before dawn. Laying with every muscle tensed he couldn't figure out what had awaken him. There was no way he could have been found that quickly, he was off the grid and had spoke to a single person in the past 24 hours. Then he heard the noise again. It was coming from downstairs, movement, a rustling. Grabbing for his colt, then realizing he didn't have it (part of the relocation agreement) grabbed his boot instead. He could wreck havoc with his steel toed boot if necessary. Ever so slowly he inched off the bed and started down the hall. He heard chatter once he got to the stairs, almost like children's voices. That's just what he needed on his first day of his new life, to strike a child dead with his boot. The chatter didn't start back up, but the movement did. He ever so quietly placed his foot on the first step, which groaned, then the second, which creaked. Cursing he then went for it and slid down the banister to turn and stare straight into the eyes of his attacker. The attacker reared up in surprise alerting the other who appeared by the back door, which was swinging open. Confirming that Edward was not a man to be messed with both raccoons scurried out into the night through the door he evidently never shut completely last night. "Bandits" He grumbled once his heart stopped racing. He decided he was up for the day and might as well start with a cup of coffee. Then he remembered he had no coffee, no coffee pot, and certainly no electricity to plug a pot into. Thinking about how long $500 would last he decided to go to a tourist trap and eat breakfast, after a shower and shave.
Standing in the bedroom going through the clothes he packed, he was told to pack inconspicuous clothing, he couldn't decide between the blue plaid or the t-shirt that read "I'm with stupid". Now that he was here he realized "I'm with stupid" may have been a bad choice. He lugged his black cargo pants and blue plaid around the second floor twice before he decided the bath must be on the first floor. A thorough search through the whole house including the cellar revealed no bathroom. He stood at the back door to relieve himself and decided he too would have to go primitive and use the pump in the kitchen to pump water and heat it on the stove. However, he couldn't find a pot nor a stove. "Welcome to hell" he shouted at the empty wall before going into hysterics, " I should have just let them kill me" he said quieter.
Ten minutes later he was walking up the road in the direction he hoped was town. "Guten Morgen" someone shouted from out of the gloomy dawn. He stopped, but didn't see anyone so began moving again slower and quieter. "What are you on about there sir?" this time he could see a shadow forming and instinctively reached for his empty belt. He was just about to bend down for his boot, thinking how inconvenient this was going to be, when the figure took the shape of a man in a funny hat. "Eh, you must be the neighbor then?! Welcome, Welcome" he said enthusiastically mistaking Steve's maneuver as friendly. "That's quite an interesting shirt you've got on there."
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