FYI: shipping to military (APO/FPO) destinations...

Thanks to the brilliant, charming and generous
Sparrow at All Atwitter, I found out that KOHL'S
department stores will ship orders to any military
address APO/FPO.
The shipping price is based on the dollar amount
of the order to be shipped. For example, if your
order totals $100, the shipping you pay is $10.95.
Not bad at all.

I know a lot of my readers are military supporters
so I wanted to spread this info as far as possible.
Perhaps it will inspire others to send some goodies
to even more of our military currently serving in harm's way.

And, if you're not sure about what might be needed, one
of the best sites to check out is AnySoldier.com

Clear as mud...

you would think
I don't
but I do.
just like you.
although,
there are times when,
you know.
yes, I know you know.
it's like that everywhere
of course.
some things never change,
not really, except
on those rare occasions
when.
but that's no one's fault
either.
it just is.
so simple, really, if
you just think about it.
life is strange and we're
very lucky.
not like the others
who just don't get it
at all.

UPDATE: Salt water Haiku...

The topic for this week's Haiku Challenge is:

~~~~~~~~~~~~~ OCEAN ~~~~~~~~~~~~~

UPDATE: VOTE VOTE VOTE before 11 pm, please.

Remember, Sparrow sends a Deluxe Care Package
in the winner's name to a member of our military
serving in harm's way.
~~~

How many critters
swim in the ocean and where
do all of them pee?
~
buoyed by the waves
meditation therapy
for soul and body.
~
condense something so
enormous down to a mere
three-line haiku? tears.

Sense-less...

we know it only
when it's gone,
out of reach and lost.
Love.
Sanity.
Comfort.
Pleasure.
Time.
alas,
how much we
miss
while we
hold it in our hands.

Think again...

rasslin' with
the black dog.
surprised
and wonder why?
no one tells all
to anyone.
not you, not I.

Good-night, sweetheart haiku...

It's that time again. Don your thinking cap.

The topic for Sparrow's Haiku Challenge is:

zzzzzzzzzzzzzzz_SLEEP_zzzzzzzzzzzzzzz

UPDATE: Go back to VOTE for your favorite before 11pm Thursday.

...
slow down. slow motion.
cloud pillows under my head.
just about midnight.
...
on those nights when it
evades me, I woo it like
an old lover gone.
...
Sandman, sprinkle sweet
dreams in my drowsy eyes. Make
my slumber divine.
...
Waketh me not if
thou knowest what is goodest
for thou, alarm clock!

Pimpin' a friend...

'cause that's what friends do, right?

Go here to get the info for ordering Mark's book.
Poetry and prose from a master.

(only $9.00 including postage)

Paint by number...

regulations
maintain stations.
stay in line
stay blind.
outside boxes
life is noxious.
Or so they want us to agree.
guardian leaders
groupy greeters.
know what's best
for all us rest.
follow quiet
make no riot.
life is simple
then you're dead.
Choir chanting one-part harmony.

I can't think of a good title for this post...

The topic for this week's Haiku Challenge at Sparrow's is:

.......................... PRESSURE! ...................


VOTING UPDATE: Vote before 11 pm Thursday.

Remember that the winner gets to choose a
member of our military, serving in harm's way,
to receive a Deluxe Care Package from AnySoldier.
(Courtesy of the lovely Sparrow.)

...Final exam day... Another lay-off...
Sexual tension...Tea kettle whistles...
Wet, crying babies... Heartbreak repeated...
Gymnasium grunts... Ambulance sirens...
Insufficient funds... Needle on empty...
Almost orgasm... Some good, some not so...
Steam under the hood.

Help yourself to a five-syllable line or two.
My brain is refusing to count to seven today.

8:43 pm, Finally...

Dreams untended, hearts
unmended, quiver to come
to life. Realize.

Remember when...

you took me to the airport and I asked you
to leave so you wouldn't see me cry?
That was one of the dumbest things
I've ever done.
I'm sorry.

Where did she go?...

this is me
so long ago
I dare not
count the time.













Twelve years ago today, Michael killed himself.
I'm not angry any more.
No one else should be either.
Be glad I didn't lose my smile forever.

Be glad there are people in my life who do not
hesitate to let me know they love me.
Be glad that I can let those people know that I
love them back.
Be glad that I still believe my life is worth living.

I look forward to the next breath and the next day.
However many of those there will be, I will be glad
to have lived them all.

Newsflash - Kim Crawford gives birth! ...

Buy a book. Velociman is outta booze.
If you've read his blog, you'll have an idea
how good the book must be.
He has a teaser page in the post.

UPDATE: Commit yourself...

The topic for Sparrow's Haiku Challenge at All Atwitter:

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~COMMITMENT~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

UPDATE: You have until 11 PM Thursday to VOTE for your favorite.

There will be no fail.
Un-do. Re-do. Carry on.
Life is to be lived.

Clogged, Stalled, Hampered...

(^ My current status in three words ^)

Major effort does not always produce positive results
in our first attempts. Is that normal?
Or am I dumber than normal? Too blonde?

Criminycrackshit.

Flea Market = No Go.
In five weeks I took in $62. Rent paid = almost 5x that.
I removed all my products from the Flea-O Market-O.
Fine. On to...

1. Trying to create the finishing touches for the on-line store.
Unfortunately, still learning the tricks of the new camera to
produce clear, readable photos. Making progress, but... when?
Soon, I hope. (Thank you, Berry, for continuing to help.)

2. Getting information from as many small local arts/crafts shows
as I can find. (Dozens)
Whothefuckaretheykidding??
For 1 or 2-day events, the entry fees are outrageous.
More money than I feel comfortable investing on another gamble.
I know, I know. Risk is unavoidable in business.
But, I believe a better effort in developing the on-line store makes
more sense. At least for now.

And, of course, daily life must be dealt with...

Last week, the clothes dryer died.
The drum seemed to be jammed.
In the garage, in the heat, it took quite a while for me to
figure out how to get it apart. Then, when I did, there is a
squirrel corpse wedged where it should not be.
Bloating. Messy. *gag*
I still can't get the dryer to run so I've had to make trips to the
public laundromat.
(I know I'm whining here but, this was not in my plan.)

Thennnnnnnnnnnn... there's been so much rain and
I have been so terribly neglectful that my yard looks like,
not just a jungle but, an overgrown jungle. Yeah, that bad.
The only lawnmower I have is one of those push-reel types.
It is completely worthless, especially now.
So, I swallowed my pride and asked to borrow a mower from a
neighbor. He brought it over late last night.
As in, too dark to mow.
I mowed less than half the yard this morning because
I have to mow every spot over and over again. I think I'm going
to owe this neighbor a new mower blade by the time I'm done.
Took a break for lunch, to cool off and to run a couple of errands.
Now, I can't get the mower to start again, it's getting ready to rain
again and the only neighbors at home are decrepit females.
The mower-owner doesn't usually get home from his business
before 7 or 8 in the evening. Crap.

If there was a brick wall close by, I'd bang my head against it.
Repeatedly.

Since I have probably succeeded in either boring you or irritating
you, I'm going to suggest that you read a few other bloggers with
much more valid reasons for ranting than I have blathered about here.

Actually, the topic they are all addressing, pisses me off, too.
Since I am more than lame when it comes to politics, you would
do much better to read VMan, Dick and Joanie.

edit: Click on Joanie first, then you'll know what I'm talking
about. VMan and Dick have done more posting, so you'll
need to scroll down a bit at their places. sorry.
I'm too lazy to link correctly right now.

but...

you said
love
always
forever.

you said
no one
else
ever.

rumor
has it that
you
lied.