Though I was only three years old, I can still remember the fire, the house, and the neighbors. The house sat at 36 Pine Street in Van Buren, Maine. It had an older look to it, of course this was the seventies, it was a two story house with a basement and a detached garage, country blue in color. The front door was always inviting with the smell of homemade cookies and fudge. The rust colored carpeting and gold colored appliances stood out as if to invite you in. A wall of mirrors behind the sofa hung in the living-room reflecting all that went on in there. The stairway creaked all the way up to my toy filled playroom. The gravel driveway was short and there was a lawn to the left. The Cote's lived to the left and Madore's to the right. The last look I had of this place was of burnt remains sitting in the basement. The smell worse than a bonfire. My walking doll was no longer white, how it survived I will never know! The neighbor up the street came by and wanted the doll to see if she could clean her up. I was glad to be rid of it, I hated dolls!
My grandmother passed away in 2005 and my sister and I drove up to our hometown. I decided to take a ride to the old neighborhood. The warm spring air was still. There was no evidence that the house ever existed. The Madore's bought the property and there was a huge lawn where home used to be. The garage had been relocated up the street to the home of the girl that adopted the walking doll. It didn't look so good anymore, it had aged and was not well maintained. The house to the left, the Cote's home, had not changed much. The stairs still creaked, the wraparound porch needed fresh paint, the big wood barn still stood where I had had many conversations with Mr. & Mrs. Cote and their grown son. I walked up the few steps that I had walked many times before, and knocked on the door. A wrinkled, aged man answered, he was the son of the Cote's. They had since passed. The kitchen had been updated, candy dishes were still there. A cake on the counter, brought back memories of the sweets Mrs. Cote always had around when I'd come sit with her for hours. When I told him who I was, his face lit up like it did when I was little.
The stillness and quietness of the neighborhood saddened me. The elders had passed, the children had grown and gone, and there was no trace of home. Now etched in my mind, I almost wish I hadn't gone back.
Wednesday, February 29, 2012
Week 5: Prompt 19 You’ve done something terrible and know you will go to Hell
One warm summer day, I was sitting in my parents car. Back in the day when parents could leave children in cars unattended. The car was parked in front of Woolworth department store. Dad said, "we'll be right back, stay in the car."
I was only three years old. I was a bright, curious child. I like to explore everything around me. Not much has changed.
Outside of the tan colored building I spot a little red box about ten feet from the car. Being curious, I get out of the car. I was pretty smart for my age, I was learning to read. I slowly walk toward the box, in hopes my parents don't come out and catch me!
P-U-L-L, yup, I knew what that meant. I did as it said, I pull the little red box open. So, that's odd, I thought. What was that for? Then a button says P-U-S-H. Again, I did as it said.
"Holy hell! What is going on?! I'm in trouble now!" I say to myself. The sound is so scary, I'm petrified! I stand there and cry hysterically! People are running out of the store, fire trucks pull in, I'm so scared!
"I am bad, I am in trouble, what did I do?! I only did what it said!" Yup, you guessed it, straight to hell is where I'm going!
Oh no, there's my dad! He spotted me! No words were exchanged. One firm hand on the ass and in the car I went!
(So today I realize I'm not really going to hell for that. Karma got me...as I was carrying my second son out of the YWCA when he was three, he didn't want to leave so as we were going down the hallway, he grabbed hold of the fire alarm; he only had to pull! How embarrassing! No hand on his ass, but I did make him tell the firemen what he did and made him apologize!)
I was only three years old. I was a bright, curious child. I like to explore everything around me. Not much has changed.
Outside of the tan colored building I spot a little red box about ten feet from the car. Being curious, I get out of the car. I was pretty smart for my age, I was learning to read. I slowly walk toward the box, in hopes my parents don't come out and catch me!
P-U-L-L, yup, I knew what that meant. I did as it said, I pull the little red box open. So, that's odd, I thought. What was that for? Then a button says P-U-S-H. Again, I did as it said.
"Holy hell! What is going on?! I'm in trouble now!" I say to myself. The sound is so scary, I'm petrified! I stand there and cry hysterically! People are running out of the store, fire trucks pull in, I'm so scared!
"I am bad, I am in trouble, what did I do?! I only did what it said!" Yup, you guessed it, straight to hell is where I'm going!
Oh no, there's my dad! He spotted me! No words were exchanged. One firm hand on the ass and in the car I went!
(So today I realize I'm not really going to hell for that. Karma got me...as I was carrying my second son out of the YWCA when he was three, he didn't want to leave so as we were going down the hallway, he grabbed hold of the fire alarm; he only had to pull! How embarrassing! No hand on his ass, but I did make him tell the firemen what he did and made him apologize!)
Week 5: Prompt 17 'You've lost it. Where is it?'
Feeling confident, I studied hard for a week. I feel great about the exam. Only two hours to go. I go back through the index cards, focusing on the highlighted areas. I've got them all memorized now. I know my shit.
I drive to campus listening to Adel. I feel like it's gonna be a great day. I find parking, which is rare at UMaine. Of course, it's only 8 a.m. so that would be why I find a spot. Any later the lot is packed like a damn can of sardines.
Oh no, I should have eaten breakfast, or maybe taken my vitamins and fish oil.
I get out of my car and start my trek to the Onward building where my exam awaits. I can feel the nervousness set in. What the hell?! "I know my shit! Stop the negative thoughts already!" I tell my self.
Yup, you guessed it...test anxiety...MAJOR! That's why I take my exams at the Onward building! Quiet room, no distractions, time and a half.
As I open the door, I get this overwhelming feeling. I don't know if I want to shit or puke! I feel nauseated and feel a ball of nervousness in the pit of my stomach! My head feel like a foggy morning! The dew sets in. "Oh my god, I don't remember anything!"
I walk up to the desk and say, "I'm here, but I need to review my cards for a minute. I will be ready in five." Sue nods with approval.
As I feel a sweat break, I began to shake. I feel like I'm going to throw up! I'm losing my friggin mind! I can't focus, I can't think! I can't remember a fucking thing!
I look at my cards and say to myself, "alright, calm down, you studied hard, you KNOW this!" While the other part of me is saying, "yeah right!" I flip through them one by one, I know this stuff. Now I just need to believe in myself.
Walking back to the desk, I'm feeling more confident. Sue hands me my exam. As I leave her office and walk up the stairs, I began to shake and trip up the steps. I peek at the questions on the first page. It's all a blur!
I pull up my chair, take a few deep breaths. My trembling hand picks up the pencil. Question by question, I fumble through. Staring and shaking. I jump all over the place from question to question. I remember bits and pieces and need to go back.
"I know this shit, why can't I remember? I can do this. I'll get through it." I tell myself doubtfully.
Times up, I need to turn it in.
Back down the stairs, back to Sue's office. I hand it in.
This is the history that repeats itself, exam after exam! The end is near, last semester is here. Of course, the toughest class, biochem, the one I need to complete my degree; is the only one I have exams in. "Only two more to go, yup, I can do this."
I drive to campus listening to Adel. I feel like it's gonna be a great day. I find parking, which is rare at UMaine. Of course, it's only 8 a.m. so that would be why I find a spot. Any later the lot is packed like a damn can of sardines.
Oh no, I should have eaten breakfast, or maybe taken my vitamins and fish oil.
I get out of my car and start my trek to the Onward building where my exam awaits. I can feel the nervousness set in. What the hell?! "I know my shit! Stop the negative thoughts already!" I tell my self.
Yup, you guessed it...test anxiety...MAJOR! That's why I take my exams at the Onward building! Quiet room, no distractions, time and a half.
As I open the door, I get this overwhelming feeling. I don't know if I want to shit or puke! I feel nauseated and feel a ball of nervousness in the pit of my stomach! My head feel like a foggy morning! The dew sets in. "Oh my god, I don't remember anything!"
I walk up to the desk and say, "I'm here, but I need to review my cards for a minute. I will be ready in five." Sue nods with approval.
As I feel a sweat break, I began to shake. I feel like I'm going to throw up! I'm losing my friggin mind! I can't focus, I can't think! I can't remember a fucking thing!
I look at my cards and say to myself, "alright, calm down, you studied hard, you KNOW this!" While the other part of me is saying, "yeah right!" I flip through them one by one, I know this stuff. Now I just need to believe in myself.
Walking back to the desk, I'm feeling more confident. Sue hands me my exam. As I leave her office and walk up the stairs, I began to shake and trip up the steps. I peek at the questions on the first page. It's all a blur!
I pull up my chair, take a few deep breaths. My trembling hand picks up the pencil. Question by question, I fumble through. Staring and shaking. I jump all over the place from question to question. I remember bits and pieces and need to go back.
"I know this shit, why can't I remember? I can do this. I'll get through it." I tell myself doubtfully.
Times up, I need to turn it in.
Back down the stairs, back to Sue's office. I hand it in.
This is the history that repeats itself, exam after exam! The end is near, last semester is here. Of course, the toughest class, biochem, the one I need to complete my degree; is the only one I have exams in. "Only two more to go, yup, I can do this."
Monday, February 6, 2012
Week 4 Prompt 16: If only they'd pay me!
I love to talk, talk, and talk about health issues. Getting healthy, eating healthy, how I have done it myself, how your body has the ability to heal itself, how pharmaceutical companies get richer while people get sicker! How government programs are set up to keep people fat and feeling like failures! It's a vicious, insane, cycle!
If only they'd pay me! I'd be hauling in some overtime! I would be part of the 500 INC! I would be in competition with the pharmaceutical companies, the FDA, and USDA would be after my ass! I would rattle some cages and piss some people off but maybe they would wake up and maybe things would change! Oh, would I talk! I would talk, talk, and talk so people would be forced to listen!
The processed foods, medications, and unnecessary surgeries without second opinions, it's making them sicker, some people are dying! We need some major overhaul here!
We hear talk about cutting government funding, programs that help people get medical attention, food, childcare and education. Don't cut it! Fix it!
Lets start with food stamps (SNAP) SUPPLEMENTAL NUTRITION ASSISTANCE PROGRAM...
S~U~P~P~L~E~M~E~N~T~A~L - N~U~T~R~I~T~I~O~N...
Get it? Supplemental? Nutrition?
Not a complete diet of junk and empty calories!
Many people live off food stamps alone! Educate them how to budget or better yet, disperse the funds weekly! Then people would have food for the month instead of only a week or two! Nutrition, have you seen the shit that some people buy with food stamps?! Crackers, chips, soda, candy, processed foods, it's obesity, diabetes, and cardiovascular disease in the making! Where is the nutrition in that?! SNAP should require food from the basic food groups, like fruits, vegetables, carbs, and protein. With SNAP, anything goes! That's just not right! How many young parents out there are uneducated and don't know any better about nutritional value? It's disgusting to watch the government do this!
The WIC program that helps pregnant moms and young children under five is smart enough to list relatively healthy foods that you are allowed to get on WIC vouchers! (Example: Cereals need to meet low sugar, peanut butter and beans for protein, carrots and tuna fish for breastfeeding moms...) They also work on educating young parents on healthy eating and good nutrition for children. Unfortunately, yup, you guessed it, budget cuts have happened in this area as well! Go figure!
Start with the food issues, then the medical issues will improve. It's a win-win. It would provide healthier food for the entire month. Your health can't help but improve if you improve eating habits and have access food for every week.
America is obese! America is sick! America has problems with access to health care and the cost of health care! FIX IT!
Access to healthy food regularly --> improved health --> less obesity --> less illness --> fewer trips to the doctors --> less surgeries --> less medication (fewer side effects)
States cut programs and cut funding, yet they hand out monthly checks to some that are able and even willing to work. Take a poll on how much money is paid out in TANF and how many recipients are willing to work if only they had a job and maybe some transportation! Take those people, train them and have them work in positions so helpful programs don't have to be cut! Some of them WANT jobs! They just can't find one or the have no way of getting there! Enlist the city bus to commute them, open a day care center and have some of the stay at home parents that want jobs work them. This will help meet many needs, it would save programs, give people jobs, and it might even help people get more active instead of being home all day!
I could go on and on...if only I could get paid to talk!
If only they'd pay me! I'd be hauling in some overtime! I would be part of the 500 INC! I would be in competition with the pharmaceutical companies, the FDA, and USDA would be after my ass! I would rattle some cages and piss some people off but maybe they would wake up and maybe things would change! Oh, would I talk! I would talk, talk, and talk so people would be forced to listen!
The processed foods, medications, and unnecessary surgeries without second opinions, it's making them sicker, some people are dying! We need some major overhaul here!
We hear talk about cutting government funding, programs that help people get medical attention, food, childcare and education. Don't cut it! Fix it!
Lets start with food stamps (SNAP) SUPPLEMENTAL NUTRITION ASSISTANCE PROGRAM...
S~U~P~P~L~E~M~E~N~T~A~L - N~U~T~R~I~T~I~O~N...
Get it? Supplemental? Nutrition?
Not a complete diet of junk and empty calories!
Many people live off food stamps alone! Educate them how to budget or better yet, disperse the funds weekly! Then people would have food for the month instead of only a week or two! Nutrition, have you seen the shit that some people buy with food stamps?! Crackers, chips, soda, candy, processed foods, it's obesity, diabetes, and cardiovascular disease in the making! Where is the nutrition in that?! SNAP should require food from the basic food groups, like fruits, vegetables, carbs, and protein. With SNAP, anything goes! That's just not right! How many young parents out there are uneducated and don't know any better about nutritional value? It's disgusting to watch the government do this!
The WIC program that helps pregnant moms and young children under five is smart enough to list relatively healthy foods that you are allowed to get on WIC vouchers! (Example: Cereals need to meet low sugar, peanut butter and beans for protein, carrots and tuna fish for breastfeeding moms...) They also work on educating young parents on healthy eating and good nutrition for children. Unfortunately, yup, you guessed it, budget cuts have happened in this area as well! Go figure!
Start with the food issues, then the medical issues will improve. It's a win-win. It would provide healthier food for the entire month. Your health can't help but improve if you improve eating habits and have access food for every week.
America is obese! America is sick! America has problems with access to health care and the cost of health care! FIX IT!
Access to healthy food regularly --> improved health --> less obesity --> less illness --> fewer trips to the doctors --> less surgeries --> less medication (fewer side effects)
States cut programs and cut funding, yet they hand out monthly checks to some that are able and even willing to work. Take a poll on how much money is paid out in TANF and how many recipients are willing to work if only they had a job and maybe some transportation! Take those people, train them and have them work in positions so helpful programs don't have to be cut! Some of them WANT jobs! They just can't find one or the have no way of getting there! Enlist the city bus to commute them, open a day care center and have some of the stay at home parents that want jobs work them. This will help meet many needs, it would save programs, give people jobs, and it might even help people get more active instead of being home all day!
I could go on and on...if only I could get paid to talk!
Week 4 Prompt 15: Spare me the lies!
It started when he was about 16 years old after he returned from staying with his father for a year. Little white lies to not get in trouble. Then the stories began to grow and grow and grow! Totally unbelievable just like his father!
Last summer, he pulls a disappearing act for a couple days. His cell phone is turned off. I get a text stating he was dropped off in the woods and doesn't know where he is. He said he called 911 and the police didn't know where he was but gave him some coordinates. So, being a good person, I look up the coordinates on my laptop so I can plug it into my gps and go the estranged young man up. GREENLAND! Right! Bullshit again!
Finally I get the name of a church and town out of him and start heading over. I look up the library and tell him to go wait there for me, it will take me two hours. As I'm headed down the final road toward where the gps was leading me, I see him coming up the hill. He gets in the car and claims there was no library, though online it showed it across the street from the church!
He was out of money, and almost out of cigarettes too. I gave him a bottle of water, if I had only had a vial of truth serum to slip into it!
This one likes to talk, almost like diarrhea of the mouth. He would have fessed up. He would have told me, he was up to no good. His phone wasn't dead, he just turned it off not to be bothered. He wanted to hang out with his friends and maybe have a few beers. His girlfriend was driving him nuts, he was stressed and he needed a break.
I know that he talks so much; in 60 seconds I would have got it all! Times, names, and all the details!
...If only I had a vial...
Last summer, he pulls a disappearing act for a couple days. His cell phone is turned off. I get a text stating he was dropped off in the woods and doesn't know where he is. He said he called 911 and the police didn't know where he was but gave him some coordinates. So, being a good person, I look up the coordinates on my laptop so I can plug it into my gps and go the estranged young man up. GREENLAND! Right! Bullshit again!
Finally I get the name of a church and town out of him and start heading over. I look up the library and tell him to go wait there for me, it will take me two hours. As I'm headed down the final road toward where the gps was leading me, I see him coming up the hill. He gets in the car and claims there was no library, though online it showed it across the street from the church!
He was out of money, and almost out of cigarettes too. I gave him a bottle of water, if I had only had a vial of truth serum to slip into it!
This one likes to talk, almost like diarrhea of the mouth. He would have fessed up. He would have told me, he was up to no good. His phone wasn't dead, he just turned it off not to be bothered. He wanted to hang out with his friends and maybe have a few beers. His girlfriend was driving him nuts, he was stressed and he needed a break.
I know that he talks so much; in 60 seconds I would have got it all! Times, names, and all the details!
...If only I had a vial...
Week 4 Prompt 13: If these fat cells could talk
Wow! They are everywhere! I can't get away from them! I go to the gym and I run, and run, and run! I still can't get away! They follow me, sleep with me, eat with me, hell, they are part of me! If only they could talk. I would ask them, what is it that you want from me?
Tell me your secrets, how do I get rid of you? I exercise, I eat a very healthy diet. Why do you haunt me? Can't you find somewhere else to go? Can't we just compromise? I know your there, I know you don't just go away. I understand that sometimes your full and sometimes, not so much. I know you can duplicate yourself. I, truthfully, can't take it anymore! At times, you don't bother me, others you drive me nuts! I know we have a symbiotic relationship. As much as I wish you were gone, I know I need some of you for protection. But come on, enough is enough!
"Can you tell me, how can we both reside in this body and be in agreeance? How can we both get what we need and be happy? Truthfully, I'm pretty tired of you hanging around all the time! If just half of you would go on a permanent vacation, I would be ecstatic!"
In unison, they respond, "we like to hang around, you fulfill us. You keep us well-rounded." (That's an understatement!)
Okay, so yeah, they're happy and I'm still hanging around 29-30% of those little bastards! Co-dependent shits! If they could talk, they would carry on and on and on about how they need me, they have to go everywhere with me, how they adore me, and how they can't live without me!
Ugh! I wish they would just see it my way and deflate or something! For now, until I can convince them otherwise, I guess I will have to put up with them, and keep doing what I do. I don't like it, but I guess that's just how it goes, sometimes.
I WISH!
Tell me your secrets, how do I get rid of you? I exercise, I eat a very healthy diet. Why do you haunt me? Can't you find somewhere else to go? Can't we just compromise? I know your there, I know you don't just go away. I understand that sometimes your full and sometimes, not so much. I know you can duplicate yourself. I, truthfully, can't take it anymore! At times, you don't bother me, others you drive me nuts! I know we have a symbiotic relationship. As much as I wish you were gone, I know I need some of you for protection. But come on, enough is enough!
"Can you tell me, how can we both reside in this body and be in agreeance? How can we both get what we need and be happy? Truthfully, I'm pretty tired of you hanging around all the time! If just half of you would go on a permanent vacation, I would be ecstatic!"
In unison, they respond, "we like to hang around, you fulfill us. You keep us well-rounded." (That's an understatement!)
Okay, so yeah, they're happy and I'm still hanging around 29-30% of those little bastards! Co-dependent shits! If they could talk, they would carry on and on and on about how they need me, they have to go everywhere with me, how they adore me, and how they can't live without me!
Ugh! I wish they would just see it my way and deflate or something! For now, until I can convince them otherwise, I guess I will have to put up with them, and keep doing what I do. I don't like it, but I guess that's just how it goes, sometimes.
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Sunday, February 5, 2012
Week 4: THEME Playing with truth, facts, and the area just beyond them
~Truth~
When I was three, I used to visit my cousins a lot. There were four of us about the same age. Our parents used to sit in the house and visit while us girls played outside. One warm summer day were just doing our usual, running around, playing on my cousins swing set. We laugh and tee-hee while seeing who can swing the highest. The swing set rocks back and forth and legs slightly lift up off the ground. All of a sudden, I caught my pinky in the link of the chain on the swing. I tore the skin off and was now bleeding. One of my cousins ran in to get my father.
~Facts~
When I was three, I would visit my cousins just about every weekend. There were four of us, three of us the same age and one a year younger. Our parents used to sit in the house and visit and send us girls outside to play. One warm mid-summer day were having fun, as usual, running around, playing on my cousins swing set. We would laugh and tee-hee while and seeing who could swing the highest. The swing set would rock back and forth and it's legs would slightly lift up off the ground. All of a sudden, I caught my pinky in the link of the chain on the swing. I tore the skin off and was now bleeding pretty bad. I started to cry but didn't leave my seat on the swing! One of my cousins ran in to get my father.
~Area just beyond them (aka semi-bullshit)
When I was three, I would visit my cousins every weekend. There were four of us, three of us the same age and one a year younger. Our parents would sit in the house and visit and send us girls outside to play to get us out of their hair. One hot, humid, mid-summer day were having fun, as usual, running around, horsing around on my cousins swing set. We would laugh and tee-hee while and seeing who could swing the highest. The swing set would creak and rock back and forth, and it's legs would lift up off the ground like we were going to flip the damn thing over! All of a sudden, I caught my pinky in the link of the chain on the swing. I tore the flesh right off my finger and was now bleeding profusely! I started screaming and crying hysterically, my cousins were screaming they were so scared! The skin on my finger was hanging, it was disgusting! I'm too busy jumping up and down screaming, one of my cousins passed out, and another had to run in to get my father. What a bloody mess!
When I was three, I used to visit my cousins a lot. There were four of us about the same age. Our parents used to sit in the house and visit while us girls played outside. One warm summer day were just doing our usual, running around, playing on my cousins swing set. We laugh and tee-hee while seeing who can swing the highest. The swing set rocks back and forth and legs slightly lift up off the ground. All of a sudden, I caught my pinky in the link of the chain on the swing. I tore the skin off and was now bleeding. One of my cousins ran in to get my father.
~Facts~
When I was three, I would visit my cousins just about every weekend. There were four of us, three of us the same age and one a year younger. Our parents used to sit in the house and visit and send us girls outside to play. One warm mid-summer day were having fun, as usual, running around, playing on my cousins swing set. We would laugh and tee-hee while and seeing who could swing the highest. The swing set would rock back and forth and it's legs would slightly lift up off the ground. All of a sudden, I caught my pinky in the link of the chain on the swing. I tore the skin off and was now bleeding pretty bad. I started to cry but didn't leave my seat on the swing! One of my cousins ran in to get my father.
~Area just beyond them (aka semi-bullshit)
When I was three, I would visit my cousins every weekend. There were four of us, three of us the same age and one a year younger. Our parents would sit in the house and visit and send us girls outside to play to get us out of their hair. One hot, humid, mid-summer day were having fun, as usual, running around, horsing around on my cousins swing set. We would laugh and tee-hee while and seeing who could swing the highest. The swing set would creak and rock back and forth, and it's legs would lift up off the ground like we were going to flip the damn thing over! All of a sudden, I caught my pinky in the link of the chain on the swing. I tore the flesh right off my finger and was now bleeding profusely! I started screaming and crying hysterically, my cousins were screaming they were so scared! The skin on my finger was hanging, it was disgusting! I'm too busy jumping up and down screaming, one of my cousins passed out, and another had to run in to get my father. What a bloody mess!
Week 3 Prompt, Lobby of an elementary school
While standing in the lobby waiting for my 8 year old to be dismissed from school. There are many conversations are going on. Being a nutrition major, I hone in on three women having a conversation about weight.
(Label's for women, since I don't know their names, W1, W2, and W3)
W1: "Hey, how are you?"
W2: "Good, you look great!"
W1: "Thanks, you still going to the gym?"
W2: "Yeah, not as much though. (pointing to her toddler as if to say he keeps her busy) I need to get there more."
W3: (Walks in) "Hi, haven't seen you in a while."
W1 & W2: : "Hi, how have you been?"
W3: "Good, hit a plateau, but losing again. Lost 40 so far."
W2: "That's great! You look great! You must be feeling better too!"
W3: "Yes, I feel so much better! Actually got back into my skinny jeans!" (she turns sideways as to show the other two women) How are you doing?"
W1: "Still going, it gets easier. Workouts get tougher though."
W2: "I need to get back going regularly. I should meet up with you guys. When do you go?"
The women continue to talk but I can not make out what they are saying! One of them looks at her phone maybe to make a date with one of the others to meet up at the gym? I don't know.
Drowned out by the office staff dismissing kids to rec. The kids start barreling down the hallway and lobby dismissals are being called. I can't make out another word of the conversation because it's too loud, and then my son appears and does his normal routine, hands me his backpack and takes off out the doors. I do my usual and chase behind him!
(Label's for women, since I don't know their names, W1, W2, and W3)
W1: "Hey, how are you?"
W2: "Good, you look great!"
W1: "Thanks, you still going to the gym?"
W2: "Yeah, not as much though. (pointing to her toddler as if to say he keeps her busy) I need to get there more."
W3: (Walks in) "Hi, haven't seen you in a while."
W1 & W2: : "Hi, how have you been?"
W3: "Good, hit a plateau, but losing again. Lost 40 so far."
W2: "That's great! You look great! You must be feeling better too!"
W3: "Yes, I feel so much better! Actually got back into my skinny jeans!" (she turns sideways as to show the other two women) How are you doing?"
W1: "Still going, it gets easier. Workouts get tougher though."
W2: "I need to get back going regularly. I should meet up with you guys. When do you go?"
The women continue to talk but I can not make out what they are saying! One of them looks at her phone maybe to make a date with one of the others to meet up at the gym? I don't know.
Drowned out by the office staff dismissing kids to rec. The kids start barreling down the hallway and lobby dismissals are being called. I can't make out another word of the conversation because it's too loud, and then my son appears and does his normal routine, hands me his backpack and takes off out the doors. I do my usual and chase behind him!
Saturday, February 4, 2012
Week 3 Prompt: (9) Conversation with my self ~ Quite literally!''
So five days ago I decided it's time to kick the habit and purchased an electronic cigarette. I smoke my last butt Monday evening around 8 p.m.; picked up my electronic cig around 5 p.m. and batteries are charging...
Me: "Wow, this sucks! I really enjoy my before bed cigarette!"
My conscience: "Yup, it will be good for you to quit. You were an idiot to start again after quitting for 8 years!"
Me (as I use my e-cig) "Well, it's not so bad. I don't have to go outside and freeze my ass off, I don't stink and it tastes pretty good."
I wake up in the morning, have a few drags off the e-cig and jump in the shower to get ready for school.
Me: "Shit! What's wrong with this thing?! It's not working. Oh shit, fuck!"
Conscience: "Calm down woman! You have time. Drive over to the smoke shop and talk to the owner, maybe he can help you out!"
I walk into the store and the owner greets me.
Me: "I haven't killed anyone yet, but I'm going to if I can't get this thing to work!"
Store owner laughs and said: "Maybe it's the cautomizer, no, guess not. That's weird. Let me check that batteries. There you go."
Me thinking silently: " G~I~V~E IT BACK....AND NOBODY GETS HURT!!!!!!!!"
Conscience: "Chill a minute! Let him put it back together!"
Back to the car and on my merry way to school.
Me: "Holy shit! I don't know if I can do this. I need a friggin' cigarette!"
Conscience: "It's really not that bad, it is better for you! Hell, your working out, eating healthy, hitting the sauna to eliminate toxins. What the hell do you want to smoke for? It stinks and isn't good for your health!"
Me: "Yup! I know! Errrrrrrrrrrrrr! This sucks!"
The days goes along well, no one has been killed or even wounded at this point. Then about 5 p.m.
Me: "What the hell?! Ugh! These fucken batteries! I need a friggin' cigarette! Holy shit! I don't know if I can do this!"
Conscience: "Just charge the damn batteries! You will be fine! B~R~E~A~T~H~E!!!!!!!"
Me: "Yeah, ok!"
Day 3 and Day 4 run pretty smoothly, a couple little bumps but no biggie, no cigarettes. Day 5 arrives.
Me: "I better charge these batteries. I'm going to be gone all day. If the batteries die, it's NOT going to be good!"
Driving home, the batteries are on their way out without warning!
Me: "Holy shit! I don't know about this."
Conscience: "Your doing well! Five days, don't screw it up now! You just told your father you quit and you promised him last summer when he had a heart attack and 6 bypasses! Don't stop now! Go buy some spare batteries and keep the extras charged!"
Me: "Good idea."
7:30 pm., day 5.
Me: "Wish those spare batteries were ready! These batteries are dead again!"
Conscience: "Get over it! Learn a little patience would you?! Holy hell! That's probably why you smoke in the first place! No patience! You're going to drive me (conscience) to smoke!"
Me: "Aha, yup, if I had a little more patience with myself, it would be much easier..."
...to be continued...
(not really but it sounded good :)
Me: "Wow, this sucks! I really enjoy my before bed cigarette!"
My conscience: "Yup, it will be good for you to quit. You were an idiot to start again after quitting for 8 years!"
Me (as I use my e-cig) "Well, it's not so bad. I don't have to go outside and freeze my ass off, I don't stink and it tastes pretty good."
I wake up in the morning, have a few drags off the e-cig and jump in the shower to get ready for school.
Me: "Shit! What's wrong with this thing?! It's not working. Oh shit, fuck!"
Conscience: "Calm down woman! You have time. Drive over to the smoke shop and talk to the owner, maybe he can help you out!"
I walk into the store and the owner greets me.
Me: "I haven't killed anyone yet, but I'm going to if I can't get this thing to work!"
Store owner laughs and said: "Maybe it's the cautomizer, no, guess not. That's weird. Let me check that batteries. There you go."
Me thinking silently: " G~I~V~E IT BACK....AND NOBODY GETS HURT!!!!!!!!"
Conscience: "Chill a minute! Let him put it back together!"
Back to the car and on my merry way to school.
Me: "Holy shit! I don't know if I can do this. I need a friggin' cigarette!"
Conscience: "It's really not that bad, it is better for you! Hell, your working out, eating healthy, hitting the sauna to eliminate toxins. What the hell do you want to smoke for? It stinks and isn't good for your health!"
Me: "Yup! I know! Errrrrrrrrrrrrr! This sucks!"
The days goes along well, no one has been killed or even wounded at this point. Then about 5 p.m.
Me: "What the hell?! Ugh! These fucken batteries! I need a friggin' cigarette! Holy shit! I don't know if I can do this!"
Conscience: "Just charge the damn batteries! You will be fine! B~R~E~A~T~H~E!!!!!!!"
Me: "Yeah, ok!"
Day 3 and Day 4 run pretty smoothly, a couple little bumps but no biggie, no cigarettes. Day 5 arrives.
Me: "I better charge these batteries. I'm going to be gone all day. If the batteries die, it's NOT going to be good!"
Driving home, the batteries are on their way out without warning!
Me: "Holy shit! I don't know about this."
Conscience: "Your doing well! Five days, don't screw it up now! You just told your father you quit and you promised him last summer when he had a heart attack and 6 bypasses! Don't stop now! Go buy some spare batteries and keep the extras charged!"
Me: "Good idea."
7:30 pm., day 5.
Me: "Wish those spare batteries were ready! These batteries are dead again!"
Conscience: "Get over it! Learn a little patience would you?! Holy hell! That's probably why you smoke in the first place! No patience! You're going to drive me (conscience) to smoke!"
Me: "Aha, yup, if I had a little more patience with myself, it would be much easier..."
...to be continued...
(not really but it sounded good :)
Week 3 Prompt: (10) He said, she said
I overhear a conversation between two roommates. One is male, the other female. They previously lived together in the apartment next door but needed a two bedroom. The one next door became available so they recently moved in.
She said, "this apartment is worse than the other one."
He responded, "yeah, I know!"
"Look at all the paint the other tenants left here! I want this blue in the kitchen!" she said.
"I want the white for my room. What about the bathroom?" he said.
She said, "I don't know. I will see if Ray's mom has any paint she isn't using. We should also put a border in the kitchen. Ugh! I need to paint over that cream color, it looks dirty! And the entranceway is disgusting!"
He said, "yeah."
She smiled and said, "well at least there's a lot of closet space and places to put things up so the dogs can't get into stuff!"
She said, "this apartment is worse than the other one."
He responded, "yeah, I know!"
"Look at all the paint the other tenants left here! I want this blue in the kitchen!" she said.
"I want the white for my room. What about the bathroom?" he said.
She said, "I don't know. I will see if Ray's mom has any paint she isn't using. We should also put a border in the kitchen. Ugh! I need to paint over that cream color, it looks dirty! And the entranceway is disgusting!"
He said, "yeah."
She smiled and said, "well at least there's a lot of closet space and places to put things up so the dogs can't get into stuff!"
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