Author Archives: Dee

About Dee

I am a working wife, geek, and mother of two with opinions about just about everything which I plan to share here.

Maid for Better

Creative Copy Challenge #68

Use the following words and then highlight them.

1.    Bellybutton
2.    Digital
3.    Ding-a-ling
4.    Guacamole
5.    Iceburg
6.    Kangaroo
7.    Nail
8.    Percent
9.    Speed
10.    Vacuum

Roz heard the irritating little ding-a-ling from upstairs.  She sighed and glanced at her digital watch. It had to be the twentieth time today and it wasn’t noon yet.  She still needed to vacuum and that old iceberg upstairs would want her lunch at exactly twelve-thirty, not one minute after or she would be ringing that blasted bell.  She smoothed her pink nylon uniform and straightened the prissy little lace cap. It seemed to represent this entire house.  Silly little useless things covered every surface and served no purpose other than to catch dust.

“Coming” Roz called as she trudged up the stairs.  She started to chew on a nail and then remembered how Miss Alice lectured her the last time she noticed her nail polish was chipped.  She could still hear that whiny high pitched voice. “If you are going to wear that atrocious color at least refrain from chewing your nails.  Show some self control!”  Every line punctuated by her little kangaroo arms waving bird like claws.  Wouldn’t she have a fit if she knew about the bellybutton ring.  The thought made Roz smile for a minute.  She took a deep breath and opened the door. “Yes, Miss Alice?”

“Have you started lunch yet?  You know I like my meals on time, and could you fluff my pillows please? Her little wrinkled nostrils flared and contracted as she tried to suck in enough air.

“Yes ma’am.  I made some guacamole and salad. It is chilling and I will bring your tray at the regular time.”  Roz held her bony shoulders up and fluffed the pillows though the skinny little thing barely made a dent.  Ros smoothed the lace bed jacket and straightened the bow.

“Well see that you are one hundred percent on time on time!  Did you finish the downstairs yet?”  Her baby bird neck vibrated as she spoke.

“No ma’am.  I was just getting ready to vacuum.” Roz pushed her hair back.

“You are lazy.  I won’t tolerate incompetence.  You know there are other girls out there who need employment, and fix these pillows!”

“Certainly Miss Alice.” Roz reached for the pillow and with speed she didn’t know she possessed, crammed the pillow down over the old woman’s face.  It didn’t take much strength or time before everything was silent and peaceful. Roz went downstairs and plugged in the vacuum cleaner.  She hummed as she worked.

Sometimes The Words Flow Endlessly

posted at allpoetry.com

A day when words
just flow and go and paint
a picture grab a feeling
slam it at you are the days
the ways that keep me writing
on a day that’s dry

and fallow shallow nothing
special empty of all meaning
gleaning chaff instead
of bread I dread those days
a day of fear that days are here

to stay but somehow
morning comes and there
is something where I
look for sweet release
a peace that comes when

I am done just let the fingers start
the heart will follow
hollow out a little place
a space where I can
lay it down a trickle

tickle then a stream a river
flowing out and over giving
endless weightless freely
pages stages leaves
that fall and cover me

Choices

Three Word Wednesday CCII Grimace, Phase, Stumble

each phase of life must carry
change and also
inability to change that chafes
and blisters feet too tired
too sweet the choice that
lets us move through meadows
green and easy though
the valley waits and peace
is not around when needed
what is heavy
bows the shoulders
faces grimaced with the pain
of rain that falls like rocks
and feet that stumble
smallest stones make
blistered heels when
choice is made by
others or by life itself though
we would take a different
path the way is steep and
shadowed and we climb it
every day and night and
pray for different paths of
our own choosing often
losing sight of stars and sun
and shady trees and winter
freeze the seasons change
and so will we and burdens lifted
life unscripted dreams unsifted
we are blessed and stressed
and tested daily just
keep walking
scenery changes all life
changes all life hinges
on those phases we must go
and grow and show the
scars compare the joy
the peace the pain
the life
we gain

Being Invisible

Three Word Wednesday CCI: Joke, Leverage, Remedy

you think that it’s a joke
but I don’t laugh I don’t
think any of it’s funny honey
you can give the reasons
every season ticking off the fingers one
by one you think it’s comedy and
I don’t have a remedy for you
the problem is too big and
you can’t see beyond your nose
I’m here I’m real
I feel that age is just a number
tied to outside
but inside leverage brains
and feelings eyes
that see the peeling
ceiling of your heart
it’s shallow you are missing
out and I won’t pout
I’ll close my eyes so I don’t see
you not seeing me

A View of Stars

Sunday Scribbling Prompt: View

you were small my all
pajamas yellow
soapy powder smell
blue quilt fence row
pattern you know
I stitched round
tiny mound
the middle of
your bed I said
wake up I want to show
it’s cold so wrap up in the
blanket in my arms come here
it’s late but wait the sky
is clear and bright the stars
tonight you see come out
and we will lie our
bodies down on our back
porch and wonder wish
we’ll make and take
for granted that it will
come true and you will
not remember but the view
I can’t forget I tucked it
in my heart the quilt
a part of sky and you
the stars your eyes
I wished you and
you came to be

Which Half Shows

Sunday Scribbling: Halfway

I’ve been on vacation and hoping to get back into the swing.  I missed you all!

in my heart of hearts
my inner parts my softer belly
under wonder
scrapes the rocks and
locks me out or
locks me in and sin and pain
and fear like rain
falls over me and
I can’t see but others can and
peel the layers leaving
raw and judge me so
I am left wanting
just cliche all tan
and gray and nothing special
nothing much a touch
can hurt the wounds have healed
and some have calloused
half still raw and all your
malice makes them bleed
and plants a seed
of doubt that creeps
up in the dark and stark
and bleak the colors run
and I am left to
pick up stitch up
fill up empty places
shadowed spaces
that’s the child the
grownup learns to hide
the marks but still I shake
and doubt and take the hits
the pits can be as sweet
as fruit I tell myself and pile them up
and hope that in the end
a tree will grow and you
will know that I
was here.

August 14

Writer’s Book of Days prompt: Write about the careless days

I recently purchased a book called “A Writers Book of Days” by Judy Reeves.  I have been following the book and posting the prompts here.  If you are looking for inspiration you are welcome to wander through and pick something out.  There is a prompt for each day of the year and in the book you find articles of encouragement and inspiration.  I highly recommend it.

Saturday Morning Walk

What is that saying?  If I can’t set a good example let me be a warning?  This morning as I was enjoying my music and my two miles around the track I was passed by army guys, GI Joes in training.  As I finished my first lap the uniformed dudes that were standing around keeping time yelled at them to step it up and stop running like girls.  After I passed they were calling out to the ones walking “Don’t let the old lady beat you!” (My mp3 player was playing “Too Late To Apologize” by One Republic at that moment) Seriously?

Thanks army guys.  You keep wearing camo.  I have a car and great insurance lol….

I left the track and treated myself to a Chai Latte.