Goodbye, Coke.

Yesterday,

I broke up with you. 

Our co-dependent affair 

started years ago, and

all you have done 

is cause me woe.  

You caused problems 

with sugar in my blood, 

you wreaked havoc

with swings in my mood. 

Years ago I switched 

from sugar to aspartame, 

but most of my symptoms

have stayed the same. 

Coca-cola, we are through,

Diet Coke and Coke Zero, 

Goodbye to you. 

I have no regrets 

about getting you 

out of my way, 

except that I should 

have taken this step

many, many, many
years 

before 

yesterday. 

lcs/2013 

Scotland and England

On one hand, this is probably the worst time to venture to Europe since I took a pay cut to go back to graduate school. I am working several part-time jobs to gain experience and earn money through teaching and writing. Steve is also working very hard with two jobs, and we're grateful for the experiences and the opportunities. We've encountered some pretty heavy stuff this year, so we are currently re-assessing priorities.

I talked to a sympathetic friend who is also going on the trip, and we decided that this is the perfect time to get away. Admittedly, occasional escapism is the best medicine. Getting out of dodge is the best thing to do. We're running away from home for awhile; this trip may be a once-in-a-lifetime experience. We are not going to pass up on this experience, as who knows if we will ever have the chance to do this again. 

No more waiting. I'm done with being afraid as life continues to pass by. Anyway,what is life without some kind of risk? 

Mother's Day: Robin in the Flowering Crab Tree

A very intuitive bird--most likely a robin, so we are naming her Robin-- is taking residence at the Caskey-Sigety household.  Robin started building her nest about two weeks ago. She created a nifty little nest right on the downspout near my favorite tree in the front of the yard.  Robin selected a safe place to have a nest; we try to keep the Lady Cats from lunging at her from the porch and making her nervous. I say hello to Robin every morning and evening. It is really cute when she turns around and all you can see are her tail feathers and a nest. It is much like the cats when they greet us in the morning with their backsides, except that Robin is much more modest (thank goodness). Sometimes, if she is feeling flighty, Robin will fly away and take refuge in a bush or tree in the boulevard.

However, I noticed a change in Robin last night. Even though she is nervous every time we enter and exit the front porch, last night she stayed firmly in her nest. I detected the fear in her eyes, yet I also recognized her stoicism.  Robin stayed put, so I am guessing that the eggs will probably hatch soon if they already haven’t.  There have been a few frosty nights this May. However, due to the location of her nest, Robin seems to be adjusting very well. The strength and resilience in Robin is also the strength that I see in moms that I know and love: the stoicism and the strength to protect their young even in danger and in fear.

Soon, Robin’s eggs will hatch and she will tend to her young. When they leave the nest, so will she. There will be an empty straw nest, which will serve as a memory of spring: beautiful and fleeting. 

 I will miss Robin, and the gift that she gave me this Mother’s Day:

 a gentle reminder that life is beautiful and life is fleeting. 

 The only thing that is constant is love.

            

Happy Cinco de Mayo and Post Star Wars Day

Happy Cinco de Mayo and Post Star Wars Day!

I should have had a margarita with my banana pancakes, but it wasn't noon yet. You know the old saying: one tequila, two tequila, three tequila, floor! (I know, I know... new material.)

Instead, I went for a nature walk to feed the tip jar. This is my monetary reward for getting my middle-aged tush off the couch. It is either a monetary reward or pasta, but then excess pasta would defeat the purpose of exercising. Perhaps I would walk more if a breadstick was affixed directly in front of me like the proverbial carrot?

I'm paying myself to walk. Does that mean I'm a streetwalker? Would that mean that I am my own pimpwalker? Lori Pimpwalker, Intergalactical Walking and Writing Geek. Perfectly ethical, legal, and moral in all fifty states, and I determine the rate of pay. 

I am using the walk and this post as healthy diversions from procrastination: elance assignments due, one more class to finish grading  next week, and I start a new class tomorrow. Oh, yeah, and will submit the application to teach at a unviersity later this summer tomorrow.   (Admittedly, last week was like being inside the Death Star right after Luke made the hit. It was turbulent. Finals and family emergency.)

Here's to a calm and peaceful week. Cheers! (As I lift up my diet coke.)

Kale and Cabernet

I said this to a classmate and friend during a chat this week that my dinner consisted of kale and cabernet. She thought that was a cool title for a blog post. Thank you, K., for the inspiration.

In our creative writing nonfiction class, we have been discussing the concept of metaphor. 
Metaphor can be explained as something that is something else.

After watching the news tonight about the capture of the second suspect in the Boston Marathon bombings, this poem came to mind. I dedicate this poem to Boston. xoxo

Kale and Cabernet
April 2013

This has been a week of kale and cabernet.
The initial bitter taste of kale

meets the initial bitter swill
of a heavy cabernet.

Green and dry; red and dry;
organic and real; once alive;
bitter vegetable meeting dry;
fermented;
fruit from a glass bottle;

the color of blood;
bouquet of kale on the plate;
a color of peace;

doused in the gentle, soothing
calmness of olive oil;
liquid form of hope
and olive branches;

gently warm taste buds;
while numb tongues
slowly adapt
 to the aftertaste

of bitter and dry;
of kale and cabernet.

lcs.2013

Godzilla and Guybrarians

 

http://www.hpemporium.weebly.com

 

Last week, I commissioned a drawing from Jeremy, who is an artist, dear friend, and guybrarian.
Jeremy, like my husband, is a librarian, so I refer to them as guybrarians. I think it's cool.

I fondly remember working with Jeremy at the Main Library a few years ago, and his cubicle featured many framed art pieces .Jeremy also displayed many of his works on his Facebook page, so that inspired me to send him a message. My husband's birthday was coming up, and I envisioned an art piece for his office. So Jeremy sent me a sample sketch, and voila! Here is the finished piece. The print arrived in our mailbox the day before Steve's birthday, and I unrolled the portrait. I was so happy that I gave Steve his birthday print that evening. We are now proud owners of a Jeremy Engel print.  Once we get the print framed, we'll share the picture with you!

If you want to contact Jeremy to commission your own print, here is his contact information:
email: jeremyengelart@gmail.com   or visit his website: http://www.hpemporium.weebly.com.

April is National Poetry Month

Spring Crocuses LCS/2013

Here is a revised version of a haiku I wrote ten yeats ago:
Spring crocuses; friends reunited after winter--wearing yellow, too. lcs/2013

April is a great month. It's the month that spring really arrives in the Midwest. (Believe me, spring is so much sweeter this year. Winter seemed very long to me.) April is the month of Steve's birthday, the days are longer, the crocuses and daffodils are blooming, and the dogs are out walking their humans. (I met a darling rescued springer spaniel today. Beautiful brown freckles; he just had a smile on his doggie face.)  April is also National Poetry Month. Here is an app where you can find poems on yout mobile phone. You can also visit poetryfoundation.org.

http://www.poetryfoundation.org/mobile/?gclid=CO6x1K_cubYCFcw7MgodsxgAyg

Have a great week! xo