we bend under pressure
and sustained battery to the psyche
and yet
ironically, those “contributions” can raise the quality of life
our troubles and the suffering surrounding us
can become extinct when the beauty of love shows up
when we treasure the existence of humanity
and gift it what it needs
those weakened
can begin again with renewed strength
The Joy Of Sand
Redux
innocence at play
peaceful sand beneath her feet
enjoying the waves
Originally posted 3/29/2019 on I Write Her.
Sun, Water & Smiles
friendship’s cherished times
atmosphere fuels harmony
a connection felt
Deserving
Every step sloshed about my favorite drink, The Legacy. It was a potent drink, but hey – I was of age, and eager not to remember the events of this evening amongst the rich and famous. My chest was heaving with emotion after witnessing the crowd sneer and lie about Jayne. I couldn’t stand the smell of their betrayal anymore. Damn it! It was my boss’s turn to win big for her contributions! I was shaking with anger. If she didn’t get the Oscar for The Scam, her career would be over, her confidence demolished, and me, with no job.
SenHai Saturday #16
Here is this week’s image to get your creative juices flowing!
The image fills the sky with billows of dark smoke from a volcanic eruption; the sky above that is dark blue and cloudy, and the landscape below the mountain has also dimmed considerably as a result of the event.
Please create one senryu and one haiku to accompany this image prompt. Remember that a traditional haiku describes nature or a season, while a senryu focuses on human nature and emotions.
Then, provide a link in the comments below or ping back to this post on your blog.
Look forward to all your wonderful creations!
Meet Chica!
Allow me to introduce you to the lovely Chica, who kept me company while I house-sat in Isla de la Piedra, Mexico, for the past six weeks! Not only did I get to see new places and make new friends, but I also experienced many new adventures.
Everything started off as one would typically expect. Chica and I warmed up to each other quickly, becoming bedmates every night, almost right from the beginning, until the last few weeks, when she fell in love with my husband. She is an incredible snuggle-buddy.
Within the first week of my arrival, I fell ill, likely contracting a germ on the flight, and had to let it run its course. It wasn’t anything too severe that acetaminophen couldn’t handle for a few days. I was thankful to recover quickly. Fun resumed!
I never knew I had it in me, but I instinctively crab-wrangled two that entered the home I was staying at. Chica brought one in, and the other one crawled in by itself. Talk about some heart-pumping going on! However, in the end, I was able to remove both of them from the premises. Thank goodness! Here you can see the first one that was trapped behind the bookcase. Those pinchers were about 2″ wide!
Chica also had a habit of bringing me other gifts – lizards! Like almost daily! Unfortunately, they didn’t survive her batting them about, and I would find them and have to dispose of them. :(
Another scary situation, I unfortunately locked myself out of the residence at one point. However, with the help of Google Translate, the local people were able to understand what had happened and assisted me in getting back in. I cannot express how grateful I was for their kindness and support.
But let’s talk about some better things – like the food! I have a favorite restaurant called Carmelita’s. The service is wonderful, and the staff are a lot of fun. They helped me learn more Spanish, and I, in turn, helped them with English. If you happen to ever visit here, please look them up and ask for Alex and Marcos. Tell them I said hi! :)



I never tired of the freshness, flavors, and colors of the wonderful food there! Yum! I feel like I’ve probably lost a little weight, eating this healthily.
The other wonderful things were certain stretches of beach. You know how I love the beach!







That last pic was the view from Carmelita’s while I was waiting for my food.


I got around primarily in this golf cart, and if I wanted to ride a horse, I could do that too! :)
Some more interesting shots – a random religious image on the side of a mountain, my street after a violent thunderstorm that knocked out our power for almost 24 hours, and a beautiful hummingbird capture from the kitchen window.



As every year, the month off has done me good! I’m feeling refreshed and rested. I look forward to reviewing The Short of It submissions and starting next year’s features again.
Whole
fiery attitude heard as a child
trapped between two enemies
wishing war’s end
eventually
with feet stamping
moving forward determinedly
chasing curiosity and immense feelings
rescuing myself from chaos
one hard step after another
shedding layers of dysfunction
releasing the heavy weight of the past
choosing a better life
Natures Discovered Review!
Freya Pickard, an ardent fan and supporter of The Short of It since its inception, has posted her thoughts about Volume 3 – Nature’s Discovered. Please take a few minutes to read it here, where she showcases some brilliant pieces from the book, and gives her readers a look at what The Short of It provides. I am proud to call you my friend, and so happy that you have been with me not only from the very beginning of I Write Her, but also since the start of The Short of It. Thank you, Freya, for your love and support! I treasure it! <3
Best Days Ahead
Redux
life’s cruelty held me down
it dampened me
became hardened even
but there lies
determination within
it resides deep down
in the folds of my being
from this place of
darkness and
stoic bravado
i will emerge
i will rise
watch me become
Originally posted 3/28/2019 on I Write Her, presented with revisions.
Places
adventures await
rise up to the occasion
lessons on the way
Glad to be back again! I will share more in a few days. :)












