'Possums in my Breezeway!

Well, it's been quite a few months now, but there was a discovery of Opposums living in a cubbie hole in our breezeway attached to our house! Needless to say, after all their shenanigans I've been inspired to write a song in their honor. OK, I won't take complete credit, Sir Mix A Lot is responsible for the flow, and just a few of the words.

Also, my husband David says, "you haven't blogged about me!" So here it is, to introduce David into my blogging, I have featured him in this song.

--And my friend Jill is good at writing songs like this, so was inspired by her as well. :) --

Enjoy!



Me and Dave Sensation love our cabin-like home
Although it has no signal for the cellular phone
We’re talkin’ ‘bout the “Posse” and where they might be livin’
I think they walk across our roof in the nighttime we be trippin'
Everybody's laughin’ at my stories all around
The fear of the unknown keeps us closer to the ground
we want to be sure nothing’s chewing on our wires
the Bamboo's draggin’ at a volume that is higher
wonder if it’s the wild king-dom or on our roof there is a bum?
we're searchin' with fear, thinkin’ does he have a gun?
David wonder’s what to do, and does the sucka wanna rally?
He’s the man they should hate, the De Lay Hoya of the Valley
Picked up the blanket on roof ready for some action
turned out no one’s there, but Dave was ready to jack him
the yard's kinda crowded, the weeds that need cutting back
It’s better watchin’' T.V. cuz the work is kinda whack
On Martin Luther King.....the 3 day weekend’s kinda dead
writing this Rap to creatively move ahead
we all look kinda' SWASS the crew you can't forget
the Dave & Roe posse with our three pets

A “Posse's” in our Breezeway!

UhhhSleeplin' with my posse we’re prayin’ to the Lord
there's not another posse to bring us discord
we don't walk around like criminals or flex like big gorillas
my homeboy Dave Sensation was the teenage cretin killa'
Rocket Dog is on the outside barkin' like a freak
the scent of other creatures makes his knees get weak
Speedy is the white dog people think he's funny
a happy little fluff ball who is runnin’ like a bunny
We also have a fish, although he’s not gold
cruzin' in his bowl ain't got no place to go
Japanese fighter he is nuthin' but a thug
always dissin’ other fish, wishin’ he could eat some bugs
but the fish bowl’s got 'em to get out he must hop
does he ever wonder what’s on our roof top?
at the back door, Rocket broke left
even he was wonderin’ who was our tree theft
it sounded like construction, but who woulda guessed
it was a freaky opposum causing the distress
the closer that we get, the crazier that I feel
the Posse's in my Breezeway it's time to get ill

A Posse's in our Breezeway!

Cruzin' the Breezeway really really slow
rollin with my posse is the only way to go
the doggies by the door would rather go for a ride
we tried to pick them up and put them inside
didn’t know is it a skunk?, we don’t think they understood
if they were to get sprayed, they wouldn’t feel good
the Posse's is much bigger, than we really knew
the trees were draggin', to build a nest, I couldn’t argue
Now the Posse's gettin' hungry, and David isn’t treatin'
this isn’t Taco Bell, not sure what they’ll be eatin'
but their exit was closed, and the entrance we would guard
they growled and left their tail hanging out to fall it would not be hard
deep is the place where the crew hung out
the SWASS like to play, and will stock their hideout
Possum on the end he stood, so big we had some news
we're gettin' dirty looks, from trying to bid him adieu
Dave Sensation grabbed his long tail, and didn't even miss it
skeeza from anotha' crew, David’s main goal was to dis it
the Possum’s illin', he had an ugly face
from his actions we could tell he didn’t want to race
'Cause I never liked a punk, who hides out like a squirrel
if you don't have game, then you better leave my world
Should we name him gusssssss or take a censusssss
Dave snapped a quick flash picture, and it’s a circussssss
boy we gotta def posse, they gotta bunch of dudes
they're broke co' cryin' as the Dave-man pursues
you beat up on our house, and now they're all upset
they’re with the Miller posse, as their Breezeway Pets!

A Posse's in our Breezeway!

*Original song: Posse's on Broadway, by Sir Mix A Lot*

Some dirt on Chele

Made you click!


The latest dirt on Chele has come from a new garden!! My good friend Jill and I are growing a garden together to see how green our thumbs are.


We did start with plants that were a few weeks old....but hey, we're new at this! Cut us some slack!!


We picked the plants at a local nursery. We figured if they were growing at the nursery, we'd be good. Living in a foggy area can make gardening fruits and veggies a little diffcult. But so far, so good!


I think we planted around Sept 26th our little baby plants























And today (10/16/10) ......

It's MASSIVE!!!!

I'm proud to say that I harvested a nice spring mix salad this evening and it was awesome!! I'm so glad we started the garden...maybe soon we'll try growing seeds!! Wish us luck. :)

~Chele

My first “fan mail” to a great author

I have some special people in my life that say, “Hey Rochelle! Haven’t seen a new blog post in a while…” Well, I come up with many excuses, one being I only have one internet connection at home, and one husband ADDICTED to Mafia Wars on Facebook. I am a Mafia Wars widow. :) But anyhow! I digress….

I was reading some posts from blogs I follow, and Weekly Geeks has challenged that we post a blog to an author vs. sending fan mail, but I already fan mailed last week!

I was moved by how this author’s work changed my life. Not just when I first read her book, about 16 years ago, but I have picked up the book again, and it is still amazing and life changing.

My e-mail to her was very personal, so I won’t share that part, but I am inclined to start working through some challenges, so that is going to affect my writing and blogging. I won’t get too emotional here in this blog, but it is on my heart to honor the author Jan Morrison, the author of “A Safe Place: Beyond Sexual Abuse”.

It was 18 years ago (this weekend), when my life changed. Years of secrets were unleashed, allowing me to finally be “Safe”, and start on the road to healing and recovery.

I am sitting here thinking right now how crazy it is that I want to post this to my blog, for all the world to see. I know I have come a long way in the past 18 years, and it’s time for me to open up again, share my story, and help others on their path to recovery.

If you are reading this post, and you are looking for support for yourself or a loved one, I am here for you!! I don’t have all the answers, but I know that health and healing can be attained. It is a life long journey, and by all means cannot be done alone.

Thank you again to Jan Morrison, for having the courage to share her story, helping so many people on their path to recovery and finding their “Safe Place”.

~Rochelle~

I love you, Mom!!!

I'm not real sure how to begin this post, as so many things are running through my mind. Lately in telephone conversation, my mom has been talking to me about Cindy Grasso's blog, and how great of a writer Cindy is. I agree!! Cindy is one of those kind of people who's writing is a reflection of her heart.

OK, it's been a long time since I've blogged, and now I'm trying to remember how to do a link. :)

Anyhow, back to my story. So, my mom said, "you and Cindy are good writers". Me?!? I was so proud to be lumped in with Cindy! Cause that's good writing. Then my mom says, "You need to start blogging". Really, that statement was made with her mom voice. You know what I mean...."you need to .... ". It's that statement that you're thinking "OK. I'll get right on that". But in all reality, when she said this to me, I thought to myself, "She's right! It's time to get moving on this."

So here are my excuses for not writing and/or blogging...

My life has been crazy.

My husband is a computer hog. (Well, I have my own computer, but it is very old and does not understand current technology, therefore the act of "blogging" is made very difficult.) :)

I also figured out, I'm afraid to write. Afraid of what I might find. And the thought of that began to overwhelm me.

Yesterday morning I came up with the idea, that as a Mother's Day present, I would not just write for my mom, I would post a blog in her honor.

My mom has been an active change maker in my life. It is because of her that I am a follower of God. It is because of her, that despite the negative circumstances of my childhood, I had a good upbringing. It is because of my mom that those negative circumstances have not ruined my life. It is because of my mom (and step-dad... hi Dan!!!) that I live in a cozy house, and am finding myself healing and growing every day. And now, it is because of my mom that I am writing this Post, hoping to continue on a regular basis, and face my thoughts head on!

Thank you, Mom, for being who you are to me. You are a blessing to me!

The Laughing Stranger

The Laughing Stranger
by Vina Delmar
1953
pages: 250

This is a story of a star-crossed family with all of the misfortune in life, and only the fortune of monetary wealth.

Based during the time of the Civil War on the coast of New Jersey, young Elizabeth Carpenter takes you through a year’s period of their life, recounting the full story of their encounters with the laughing stranger. Elizabeth, despite her circumstances, is a well versed, well mannered young lady. I wish more people in the world had a character like hers.

This book was an accidental read for me. I got it from the bookshelf in my local laundry mat, and kept it around. I was curious a few days ago what the story could be, and was immediately sucked in!

This book I guess is technically a love story, and I usually don’t read those!! It turns out that the love story has much more to it than just gushy romance, but it involves the character and integrity of people, or lack there of!

Because of Elizabeth’s circumstances, she has found a way to entertain herself with witty games and dream of the impossible. Until one day her dream is shattered. Sitting with her father, Powell, he says to her “It is the emptiness that troubles you now, Liz. The aching question of what to put in place of a dream. Shall I tell you what to put there, darling? It’s very simple. Just put another dream”. She answers, “there are no other dreams.” “Not for me.” He smiled in a way she had not seen him smile before. “I am an authority on the subject,” he said. “And I assure you there are always other dreams.” She shook her head. “For others perhaps. For me, no.”

I will share this, it wasn’t the end for young Elizabeth. She thought she’d live on in life with a disappointed heart, but something happened to fill her heart more than she ever could have imagined. This ended up being so encouraging to me on a personal level. Sometimes things don’t work out how we’d like to see them work out, but in the end, sometimes even more magical events can happen in our lives! I was feeling a bit like Elizabeth, wondering if my future would be one of trials and tribulations with my dreams quickly going by the wayside. I’m still kind of feeling like Elizabeth, that there are dreams for others, but none for me.

Coincidentally, upon completion of The Laughing Stranger, I saw on my bookshelf “Dreams Underfoot” by Charles de Lint. I tried reading this book before, and it just didn’t get moving for me. Probably because some inspiration was needed. :) Thanks to Elizabeth Carpenter of “The Laughing Stranger”, I am now contemplating my thoughts and feelings towards my own dreams. As I read the Introduction to Dreams Underfoot, I found my inspiration! A small portion of the intro reads,

“’Using archetype and symbolic language’, writes folklore scholar and author Jane Yolen, ‘[fantasy tales] externalize for the listener conflicts and situations that cannot be spoken of or explained or as yet analyzed. They give substance to dreams…[and] lead us to the understanding of the deepest longings and most daring visions of humankind. The images from the ancients speak to us in modern tongue though we may not always grasp the ‘meanings’ consciously. Like dreams, the meanings slip away, leaving us shaken into new awarenesses. We are moved by them, even when –or perhaps because – we do not understand them on a conscious level. They are penumbral, partially lit, and it is the dark side that
has the most power. So when the modern mythmaker, the writer of literary fairy tales, dares to touch the old magic and try to make it work in new ways, it must be done with the surest of touches.’’’

W.B. Yeats once wrote “Tread softly, because you tread on my dreams”. I hope Mr. de Lint does tread softly, because I look forward to being moved by his writing, and discovering the dreams that are under my feet.

Great advice from my friends!

I just wanted to post real quickly that I appreciate all of the feedback regarding my decision to participate in NaNoWriMo or try to meet my goal of 25 books this year.

So, 99% of my feedback was to read and do my writing on the side.  The other 1% was my mom.  She said, “write! write! write!”  She really wants me to be a writer.  :) 

Anyhow, thank you everyone for your feedback.  You helped me prioritize and see what is most important for now.  And not just that, but committing to reading will in essence help me with future writing (and will make me a better writer!) I’ve decided that I may not read 25 books exactly, but I’m going to go back to practicing my piano as well.  I’m guessing I’ll finish about 20 books and try to learn some Christmas songs before the end of the year!!  I figure reading music counts for the 5 books I’ll be missing for the year.  Reading music is hard!!

Thanks everyone.  I’m sure I’ll be back for more of your input.  There’s an old quote that says there is wisdom to be found in a multitude of counsel.  So congrats, you’re helping me to be more smart. ;)

~Chele

What should I do? Read or Write??

I have a goal, well, an informal goal to be honest, to read 25 books this year. So far I have completed 18! I'm pretty darn close to my goal, but something new has come up. NaNoWriMo.

NaNoWriMo is a challenge to take on for National Writing Month, which just so happens to be starting in about 34 hours from now. (Yikes!) Writers begin writing on November 1st, and have until midnight on November 30th to write a 175 page/50,000 word novel!! The idea is to give the writer a goal, concentrating on quantity and not so much quality. Not that quality isn't important, but sometimes the challege of writing in general is just sitting down and doing it!

So, a big THANK YOU to Care for mentioning NaNoWriMo. Whether I participate or not, I was very glad to learn more about the goings-on in the writing community. :)


Just a side note, author Sara Gruen, writer of Flying Changes, was birthed from her participation in NaNoWriMo. Wow. Big things are possible with NaNoWriMo!


What do you think? Should I try meeting my 25 books-read goal for the year? Or should I jump on this opportunity to see if I got the stuff to be a writer??