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Author Archives: dreaminofobx

Looking out for Number 1

anger
ME, ME, ME!

Horns honking, birds flipping, curses flying, guns blazing.

Decency, respect, and compassion the exception, not the rule.

Selfless acts now worthy of the 6 o’clock news.

What are we becoming?

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Katherine Paterson, author of Bridge to Terabithia, wrote, “It’s like the smarter you are, the more things can scare you.” Inspired by the quote, this weekend’s Trifextra challenge is to write 33 words about something scary. 

Blogger’s note: I came across the above photo on several other blogs and websites, but have been unable to find the original source to which to give proper credit.

 
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Posted by on October 19, 2013 in Challenges, Observations

 

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A mother’s worst nightmare

trolleysPhoto copyright Janet M. Webb

“Have you seen my baby? My baby? Have you seen him? Sir? SIR!? Did you see someone take my baby? He was right here in the cart. I just bent down to get a case of soda and now he’s gone. WHERE’S MY BABY?”

“Ma’am, I’m the store manager. You’re causing quite a scene. Other customers are frightened. What seems to be the problem?”

“My baby! He’s missing! Someone’s taken my baby! Please! Help me! Ryan! RYYYANNNN!!!”

Leanne sat bolt upright in the inky pre-dawn gloom, sweaty sheets tangled around her bulging abdomen.

I’m going to be a terrible mom.

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friday-fictioneers

Exactly 100 words for this weeks’s Friday Fictioneers photo prompt. 

 
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Posted by on October 18, 2013 in Challenges, Fiction

 

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A snack, a good book, and a place to lay my head

velmaIt’s Thursday, a day I’ve set aside on this blog to answer deep, thought-provoking questions. The idea was not only to allow readers a bit of insight into what makes me tick, but also to bring myself some clarity on certain issues. Well, tonight, I got nothin’ deep. The hubby and I just returned from seeing Captain Phillips and I am emotionally and mentally spent. So I’m doing “fluff” questions today. You still might learn something new about me, but don’t look for any deep philosophical revelations.

I found a great blog, This Is Me Challenge, that is encouraging followers to record their own personal histories by answering a few questions each week. I randomly chose question set #30 to tackle today, but I scanned some other entries and not all of the questions are this easy. If you’re a parent looking to preserve family history for your children (or a child wanting to find out more about your parents), you might want to check it out.

1.  What is your favorite snack right now?
Normally, I’d say Oreos (hey, did you hear on the news yesterday that they are as addictive as cocaine??). But I’ve recently found that my body feels better when I don’t eat wheat, so I’ve cut out most everything containing wheat flour. Which means my beloved Oreos are off-limits. So my go-to snack now is kettle corn. I tell myself it’s better for me than many other snacks like potato chips or cookies (although I’ve not actually compared food labels to confirm this). Salty, sweet, crunchy…it ticks almost all the boxes for an ideal snack food. Unfortunately, I don’t have an off-switch once I get started eating kettle corn, so it’s good that the brand I like best comes from a popcorn stand 90 minutes down the road.
2.  What is the last book you read?
Testimony by Anita Shreve. I’ve read four or five of her novels, and without fail, they leave me wondering what I would have done if I had been in the same situation.
3.  If you were a cartoon character, who would you be?
I’d be Velma from the Scooby Doo cartoons. We might not share many physical characteristics (I am not vertically challenged, she does not have 20/20 vision), but intellectually we could have been twins. She and I nearly always solved the mystery at the same time, regardless of how much the rest of the gang was hindering the process. 
4.  Where was the last place you spent money?
Walmart. I bought a new pillow this afternoon. I wasn’t expecting to spend any actual cash–I had a gift card that I won in a poker game last weekend, but the card wouldn’t scan at the register (card malfunction? register malfunction?). If this pillow means I wake up without a splitting headache or crick in my neck, it’ll be worth every last cent.
5.  Who was your first crush on?
Brad Weeks. He talked too much in class, and I never said boo to anyone, so our fifth grade teacher moved his desk next to mine. I was mesmerized by his freckles, brown eyes, and radiant brace-filled grin. My heart would flutter every time he’d lean his head next to mine and whisper, “Can I borrow a pencil?”

 
 

Hey this isn’t so bad after all…

I_Hate_ThisImage from Val Nelson

I had to put on my big girl panties today. My wingman bailed on me, leaving me to attend a networking event all by myself. An event where she had promised to introduce me to folks she knew (i.e. everybody). I hate networking events. I possess very few qualities of an extrovert (even under the influence), so venturing solo into a room full of strangers where I will be expected to initiate conversations generally makes me nauseous. But I need a job, and this expo of local businesses seemed like a good place to find possible leads. So I had to go. By myself.

And you know what? It wasn’t actually that bad. I don’t know whether this means I’m maturing, or whether extrovert tendencies rub off (my no-show wingman is a CLASSIC extrovert), or if I was temporarily possessed by aliens. But I introduced myself, I chatted, I asked questions, I joked. I collected information, business cards, boatloads of pens and notepads, and chocolate (whoever planned a business expo two weeks ahead of Halloween was a GENIUS). I don’t think anyone would ever accuse me of being an extrovert, but I held my own.

I don’t know whether a job will come directly from today’s outing, but I’ve officially survived a solo networking event. I walked out feeling like I’d conquered a personal demon. Maybe my wingman’s desertion was actually a blessing in disguise. Those big girl panties fit pretty well.

big-girl-panties-xviiPhoto credit

 
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Posted by on October 16, 2013 in Uncategorized

 

A fluke is worth a thousand pukes

fluke 2011_resizePhoto from Rufford Foundation

“Welcome to the Babuyan Islands! I knew you’d love it.”

“Love it? I think I just puked up my toenails. Does your grant money cover Dramamine?”

“Funny. As soon as you see the first spout, you’ll forget all about being seasick. Camera ready?”

“Always. How many re-sights did you guys log last year?”

“Fourteen. Our photo IDs prove the humpbacks breeding here are migrating to feeding grounds off the coast of Russia.”

“Does it get old, squinting through those binoculars day after day, on the off chance that in this roiling ocean you might actually spot a fluke?”

“Never.”

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In honor of its 99th challenge, Trifecta has mixed things up a bit. Instead of using the third definition of a provided word to construct a story of 33-333 words, participants this week are free to use any definition of any word found on page 99 of the Oxford English Dictionary to tell a tale in 99 words. One lucky winner will win a $99 gift card…provided there are at least 99 participants! If you’d like to play for a chance to win, head on over to Trifecta and link up!

 

I’d never heard of the Babuyan Islands until this challenge. Turns out they are a small archipelago, part of the some 7,100 islands that make up the Philippines. The islands are beautiful, but largely undiscovered due to their remote location. Getting to the islands is a challenge…the Pacific is particularly rough in that area…unless you are a whale. Humpbacks and at least 12 other cetacean species favor this northern Philippine locale as a breeding ground and/or stop on their migratory journey. The Rufford Foundation website, particularly Jo Marie Acebes’ final report detailing the results of her project funded by an RSG grant, provided the backstory for the above dialogue.

 
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Posted by on October 15, 2013 in Challenges, Fiction, Tuesday Tales

 

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An open letter to my fellow gym mates

showerPicture from weheartit

Dear Gym Rat,

First, I’d just like to say how much I admire your endurance. There’s no way I could do 45 minutes at level 15 on that Adaptive Motion Trainer. Ten minutes at level 1 and my calves are cramping, so you go, girl!

But just because I am in awe of your stamina and envious of your non-jiggly thighs, does not mean I want to share your funk.

In the row of six available showers, I purposely select the one at the end because it only abuts one other shower. I always choose an end one. ALWAYS. An end shower means less chance of a draft that will wrap the slimy, mildew-spotted shower curtain around my legs. It also means my shower can only be potentially contaminated by the splash-over of one other shower.

I know I’m type-A, but I honestly thought every female on the planet would share this aversion to foreign splash-over. Moreover, I thought all women, being the considerate creatures that we are, would be careful not to inflict such contamination on others.

But not you! In a row of five vacant showers, you choose the one RIGHT NEXT TO ME. Before I can dry off and escape to the safety of the lockers, you have turned your shower on full blast. In the blink of an eye, your water, your shampoo, your soap, your funk are splashing under the shower wall onto my recently scrubbed feet, ankles, calves.

Ick, ick, ICK!!! I am contaminated.

Now I’m torn between trying to stand outside my shower, putting my right leg in then my left leg in hokey-pokey-style to rinse off your splashed-on funk (without acquiring more in the process), running down to the other end shower for a quick rinse before anyone else comes in, or retreating to my locker to slather hand sanitizer all over my lower legs (FYI, that stuff stings like hell).

Next time, for the love of Pete, can you please leave a one-stall buffer? Better yet, pick the other end shower. You’ll love not getting your cheeks (the ones you just tortured for 45 minutes at level 15) caressed by the moldy shower curtain.

With sincere gratitude,

The clean freak in the end stall

 
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Posted by on October 14, 2013 in Monday Mix, On Me, True Life

 

Weekly photo challenge: Infinite

102_1653

This bronze statue of a war-weary soldier was positioned in front of a mural of a World War I battlefield cemetery at the In Flanders Fields Museum in Ypres, Belgium. To me, it spoke of the infinite toll war takes on all involved.

 

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