While trying to think of a Thursday Thirteen list, something called to mind my favorite car from childhood. I decided to share my musings on what made the 1969 Corvette Stingray 427 Convertible so special.
1. Probably my favorite part, that swooping curve of the front fender positively defined sexy to my innocent eyes, and still does today.
2. The low profile reminded me of some stalking predator ready to pounce.
3. Riding in, and later driving (!) my father’s pride and joy, that shiny hood seemed ten miles long.
4. Chrome all over that car sparkled and gleamed like nothing else I’ve seen.
5. Its powerful engine would go from a purr to a roar in a few patters of my heart.
6. The lipstick red paint job never failed to turn heads.
7. Especially riding with the top down, I liked to think some of the admiring looks were for me as I grew into a young lady.
8. Amusingly, those same laid-back cruises with me earned my father more than a few scandalized glares. Sharing more personality traits than distinctive physical resemblance, we always got a kick out of the misunderstanding. I particularly enjoyed the obvious chagrin on some stranger’s faces when we confessed our relationship.
9. The car’s interior hugged its driver and passenger like some kind of spaceship from science fiction.
10. Even the name of the Stingray body style expressed sheer coolness.
11. Its model year, ’69, gave me an illicit thrill once I learned sexual slang. What can I say?
12. The suspension clung to the asphalt tight enough to make me thrill at every incline, dip, and swerve.
13. Despite the various models my father restored, enjoyed, and eventually sold, a slinky ‘Vette from that year stirs up memories other cars just don’t evoke. Things like small-town parades, Friday night car rallies, and crisp morning drives through Amish country.
Thursday, February 18, 2010
Tuesday, February 16, 2010
Friday, February 12, 2010
It's Friday! Time for a quick fix of fantasy.
Kitsune
Sudden brightness tickled Kama’s nose and the sun forced a sneeze from her slender snout. Feeling a tug upon one of her seven tails, she lashed it good-naturedly. Tsuki wrinkled his tiny muzzle around the mouthful of her fur with mock ferocity.
Bounding from the dark den, older sister Shumi imitated their mother with a perfect miniature of the vixen’s sneeze. Kama proudly admired the female kit. Her girl-child already sported two tails. Was that the start of a third? Shumi just might take after her very wise father. Tori had gained the full compliment of nine far ahead of adulthood. Why couldn’t his daughter?
Tsuni yelped, obviously noting his mother’s admiration of older Shumi. Without a doubt, his playful call begged for Kama’s notice. She felt a surge of guilt and looked toward her young son. Single-tailed and simple, her boy deserved no less love or approval.
Kama watched Tsuni dart between clusters of wildflowers. Her eyes were newly appraising. Diminutive paws were sure, Tsuni’s flight swift and agile.
The rueful mother fox took on a playful stance. As she prepared for the chase, a figure on the horizon stopped her. A sharp call to her kits sent them scurrying for home.
A mysterious man approached, the unfriendly wind carrying all useful scent away from Kama and her babies. Did he mean them harm? Or had he come out of respect? Before she could decide on a course of action, the unmistakable fan of Tori’s tails thrilled her to the core. The rejoicing vixen leapt to welcome her Reynard, the unexpected return bittersweet.
Tori was home. But for how long?
Their Lord Inari didn’t often dismiss his kitsune servants short of five decades. Nor did he normally grant temporary leave for these vital messengers. Yet here stood her beloved Tori in the flesh, resplendent in this particular human form, and far short of completing fifty years.
Standing upright, she reached delicate fingers toward his strong face. Kama spoke the only thought she could voice.
“How?”
“I have wonderful news, dearest Kama. Inari has sent me to begin training our little Tsuki. He is to be Inari’s right hand in a mere thousand years.”
With that most unanticipated blessing ringing in her ears, Kama watched the large fox run toward his children. Her husband’s golden fur shone, gilded to brilliance by the spring rays.
~the end~
Thursday, February 11, 2010
Thursday Thirteen
Well, I wanted to put up a picture list today. Many online friends will want to roll their eyes when I admit the desired subject was going to be the late, great Japanese drummer Kami. You can relax, dear friends, because I sadly didn’t have thirteen candid shots (hence, no copyright infringement).
I recall finding ten. So close and yet so far! Heh…
Anyway, I’ve since wracked my brain for what to choose. I ultimately decided to go with reasons my significant other and I like the Adult Swim cartoon, “Metalocalypse”. Frankly, we’re addicted.
1. Toki Wartooth – the Norwegian rhythm guitarist is the youngest band member and most mild-mannered creature on the planet, usually; the character’s long, chestnut hair probably doesn’t hurt.
2. Watching Toki lose his temper – he goes positively berserk in episode “Snakes & Barrels, Part 2” upon a rude concert-goer, something I’ve wanted to do more than once when just wanting to enjoy a show in peace.
3. The band manager, Charles Foster Offdensen, is awesome; he’s practically becoming a super-human watchman over our heroes.
4. Episode “Deathhealth” – again Toki deserves mention, this time for bearing his beloved cat over the rainbow bridge after his unnamed “best friend” dies inexplicably.
5. Dimmu Burger – this fictional fast food chain is a direct homage to Dimmu Borgir; the hot, young guitar hobbyist who works in my local deli department introduced me to this Norwegian black metal band.
6. “Deathgov” – this episode hooked my partner and remains a favorite.
7. The growing number of real-life musical outfitters listed as sponsors of the show is absolutely fabulous!
8. The love/hate relationship between incredibly talented lead guitarist Skwisgaar Skwigelf and Toki Wartooth (funny stuff!).
9. Pickles the drummer – images of him as frontman for “hair band” Snakes & Barrels in the eighties is burned into my brain; his family is an absurdly funny caricature of dysfunction.
10. Lead vocalist Nathan Explosion’s tendency to act as a father figure makes me laugh every time; I especially enjoy his farewell to Skwisgaar and Toki when they’re dropped off for driving school. He says something like, "Eat all your lunch and don't talk to any strangers. There's some weird people out there."
11. The outrageous spending of these multi-millionaire celebrities is hilarious; I especially like the politically incorrect endangered species’ room and Nathan’s “scream activated” lighting system.
12. Great attention is paid to continuity, which makes the episodes endlessly re-watchable.
13. Some of the extra features on the DVD are fabulous; the fact there are so many of them and the creators included a great presentation of all the animated music videos guarantees I’ll buy the upcoming season three releases.
I recall finding ten. So close and yet so far! Heh…
Anyway, I’ve since wracked my brain for what to choose. I ultimately decided to go with reasons my significant other and I like the Adult Swim cartoon, “Metalocalypse”. Frankly, we’re addicted.
1. Toki Wartooth – the Norwegian rhythm guitarist is the youngest band member and most mild-mannered creature on the planet, usually; the character’s long, chestnut hair probably doesn’t hurt.
2. Watching Toki lose his temper – he goes positively berserk in episode “Snakes & Barrels, Part 2” upon a rude concert-goer, something I’ve wanted to do more than once when just wanting to enjoy a show in peace.
3. The band manager, Charles Foster Offdensen, is awesome; he’s practically becoming a super-human watchman over our heroes.
4. Episode “Deathhealth” – again Toki deserves mention, this time for bearing his beloved cat over the rainbow bridge after his unnamed “best friend” dies inexplicably.
5. Dimmu Burger – this fictional fast food chain is a direct homage to Dimmu Borgir; the hot, young guitar hobbyist who works in my local deli department introduced me to this Norwegian black metal band.
6. “Deathgov” – this episode hooked my partner and remains a favorite.
7. The growing number of real-life musical outfitters listed as sponsors of the show is absolutely fabulous!
8. The love/hate relationship between incredibly talented lead guitarist Skwisgaar Skwigelf and Toki Wartooth (funny stuff!).
9. Pickles the drummer – images of him as frontman for “hair band” Snakes & Barrels in the eighties is burned into my brain; his family is an absurdly funny caricature of dysfunction.
10. Lead vocalist Nathan Explosion’s tendency to act as a father figure makes me laugh every time; I especially enjoy his farewell to Skwisgaar and Toki when they’re dropped off for driving school. He says something like, "Eat all your lunch and don't talk to any strangers. There's some weird people out there."
11. The outrageous spending of these multi-millionaire celebrities is hilarious; I especially like the politically incorrect endangered species’ room and Nathan’s “scream activated” lighting system.
12. Great attention is paid to continuity, which makes the episodes endlessly re-watchable.
13. Some of the extra features on the DVD are fabulous; the fact there are so many of them and the creators included a great presentation of all the animated music videos guarantees I’ll buy the upcoming season three releases.
Wednesday, February 10, 2010
Wiley Wednesday on the Writer's Retreat Blog
Stop on over for a read! I'd love to know if you suffer the same sort of technical impairment as yours truly. Drop me a line!
Writer's Retreat Blog
Writer's Retreat Blog
Friday, February 5, 2010
Flash Fiction Mini Ficlets
Today a talented acquaintance told me of an interesting contest. A clever gal is offering prizes for her favorite short story from contributors.
Did I say short? Try 40 words. The theme is "seize the day". I thought I'd share what this challenge inspired.
But first, here's the link if you'd care to give it a try: Head Above Water
My three stories follow. I hope you enjoy these untitled snippets.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
He thrusts his fists against the posts and still insists he sees the ghosts.
The stuttering boy’s vocal exercise ran through the nervous man’s mind like a mantra. He could do this. He knew his presentation. He needed the promotion.
_________________
Rain again. Walking along, drenched, he missed the weather of his mountain village, thunderstorms rumbling through snow-filled valleys. Why had he ever left? Then he looked at the sign announcing his art exhibit. Maybe rain wasn’t so bad after all.
_________________
“Let’s see,” she said aloud to herself. “Pickled eggs, fried chicken, potato chips, chocolate truffles, and wine. They say the way to a man’s heart is through his stomach. Let’s hope they’re right.”
Sarah lifted the picnic basket, shoulders squared.
Did I say short? Try 40 words. The theme is "seize the day". I thought I'd share what this challenge inspired.
But first, here's the link if you'd care to give it a try: Head Above Water
My three stories follow. I hope you enjoy these untitled snippets.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
He thrusts his fists against the posts and still insists he sees the ghosts.
The stuttering boy’s vocal exercise ran through the nervous man’s mind like a mantra. He could do this. He knew his presentation. He needed the promotion.
_________________
Rain again. Walking along, drenched, he missed the weather of his mountain village, thunderstorms rumbling through snow-filled valleys. Why had he ever left? Then he looked at the sign announcing his art exhibit. Maybe rain wasn’t so bad after all.
_________________
“Let’s see,” she said aloud to herself. “Pickled eggs, fried chicken, potato chips, chocolate truffles, and wine. They say the way to a man’s heart is through his stomach. Let’s hope they’re right.”
Sarah lifted the picnic basket, shoulders squared.
Thursday, February 4, 2010
Thursday Thirteen
Chronicling careless youthful exploits to a friend, I was reminded yet again what wonderful and patient parents I’m blessed with. I like to think I tell them adequately, if not often enough.
True to their natures, my mother and father don’t complain about my lack of calls or visits. Yes, hints are dropped at how cheap flights to Florida can be, but that’s the extent of their guilt trips. That pattern carried through my childhood. I’d like to make a list of anecdotes to remind myself how fortunate I am to have been raised by these two, not to mention that we still have them in our lives.
1. At the age of fifteen I started walking to the library as I had been doing for a few years, only now my boyfriend’s car waited out front. Our church, of which my mother was a choir member, stood directly next door and she inevitably caught me one practice night. Why I would be so dumb as to go that evening can be blamed on hormones, but try explaining how my enraged mother handled it so well. Rather than tell my strict father, she took me and my boyfriend to McDonald’s, bought us lunch, and gravely explained how we’d let her down. She insisted on being respected with honesty and proceeded to negotiate with Dad for my beau and I to have more time together!
2. Still basically a child at nineteen, I started seeing an older man my parents didn’t like. They didn’t complain, instead letting me see the mismatch for myself. When I wanted to break up with him they happily agreed to be my scapegoat. I calmly lied to the unsuspecting fellow, telling him they didn’t approve and I was forbidden to see him. To me it’s telling that I could even make that request, let alone that they would comply without a hint of “we told you so” in their voices!
3. Terrified of telling my father I was moving out to live with a man, I packed in secret for a solid week. As it turned out, my grandmother had prepared him for the news. She basically saw the inevitability before I did. To his credit, he hugged me and wished me well without a hint of disappaproval in his words or actions.
4. As noted above, I put all my belongings into storage boxes without my parents’ knowledge. What I didn’t say is how. To my knowledge, my parents never once came into my room without an invitation. All they asked was the same courtesy which, when I was a little girl, I didn’t always honor.
5. After I’d been out of their house for a few years I made the drive back to visit and my mother gave me her mother’s engagement ring because she could no longer fit the size. When I protested she argued that I would cherish and care for it, which was better than having the diamond sit in a jewelry box. I have since stopped wearing the ring everyday simply to preserve the stunningly delicate scrollwork which the jeweler fashioned out of white gold.
6. A little girl in our neighborhood was a complete and utter brat. One day she decided to bite me on the arm. Hard. I went home crying and when my mommy saw the teeth marks she told me to go back over and give as good as I got. She spent the rest of the afternoon defending me to the ridiculous mother of my “friend” and never once backed down from the woman’s diatribe.
7. As an adult I went home close to the holidays and my mom, a lovely alto singer, invited me to join her choir for an evening of practice. I hadn’t sung to more than the radio in years and certainly never as the soprano they desperately needed for the piece. What a boost Mom inadvertently provided when the director asked if I could come back for the performance! The evening would have been special without that, which was what she wisely intended all along.
8. Even before our long-awaited wedding, my parents purchased a queen-size bed so my guy and I had a comfortable place to sleep when we visited. Since he usually stayed with his mother in those days, it made the gesture even more meaningful.
9. On one visit to our home, my father reinforced our aging deck, painted the two story structure, then moved on to the ugly cement back wall. I didn’t even know they made paint that simulates stucco. His energy sapped mine but the end result remains impressive.
10. When the transmission went out on my car they lent me their credit card long distance. I had to pay the money back with interest, just enough to make me appreciate the value of money.
11. Right when we were moving for my father’s new job my baton corpse finally got real uniforms. Though I’d be long gone before the parade, my mother scrounged up the funds and purchased the pretty spangled jumpsuit. I still remember parading the spacious upstairs hall and twirling my baton for all I was worth.
12. While these days I buy vintage concert T-shirts on eBay, as a child I hated hand-me-down clothing. One time I actually told my mother’s cousin that I didn’t need anything. Mortified, my mother handled me very gently in that little etiquette lesson.
13. When his twenty-year-old girlfriend fell to pieces for the first time in his presence, my boyfriend called her parents. My pet snake had just died and I felt like I’d failed the poor creature, despite a trip to a reptile specialist who tried to treat Jake for something akin to a bad cold. Anyway, my dear father advised me to put him in the freezer until the weekend when I could drive up to visit. We had another Air Force Airman as a roommate, which made it awkward, but I didn’t care. When I made the trip it turned out my father had actually built a square wooden coffin! Now my colorful corn snake has a final resting place next to our family’s two elderly, deceased dogs. I try to imagine what archeologists of some future race will say when they discover the site.
True to their natures, my mother and father don’t complain about my lack of calls or visits. Yes, hints are dropped at how cheap flights to Florida can be, but that’s the extent of their guilt trips. That pattern carried through my childhood. I’d like to make a list of anecdotes to remind myself how fortunate I am to have been raised by these two, not to mention that we still have them in our lives.
1. At the age of fifteen I started walking to the library as I had been doing for a few years, only now my boyfriend’s car waited out front. Our church, of which my mother was a choir member, stood directly next door and she inevitably caught me one practice night. Why I would be so dumb as to go that evening can be blamed on hormones, but try explaining how my enraged mother handled it so well. Rather than tell my strict father, she took me and my boyfriend to McDonald’s, bought us lunch, and gravely explained how we’d let her down. She insisted on being respected with honesty and proceeded to negotiate with Dad for my beau and I to have more time together!
2. Still basically a child at nineteen, I started seeing an older man my parents didn’t like. They didn’t complain, instead letting me see the mismatch for myself. When I wanted to break up with him they happily agreed to be my scapegoat. I calmly lied to the unsuspecting fellow, telling him they didn’t approve and I was forbidden to see him. To me it’s telling that I could even make that request, let alone that they would comply without a hint of “we told you so” in their voices!
3. Terrified of telling my father I was moving out to live with a man, I packed in secret for a solid week. As it turned out, my grandmother had prepared him for the news. She basically saw the inevitability before I did. To his credit, he hugged me and wished me well without a hint of disappaproval in his words or actions.
4. As noted above, I put all my belongings into storage boxes without my parents’ knowledge. What I didn’t say is how. To my knowledge, my parents never once came into my room without an invitation. All they asked was the same courtesy which, when I was a little girl, I didn’t always honor.
5. After I’d been out of their house for a few years I made the drive back to visit and my mother gave me her mother’s engagement ring because she could no longer fit the size. When I protested she argued that I would cherish and care for it, which was better than having the diamond sit in a jewelry box. I have since stopped wearing the ring everyday simply to preserve the stunningly delicate scrollwork which the jeweler fashioned out of white gold.
6. A little girl in our neighborhood was a complete and utter brat. One day she decided to bite me on the arm. Hard. I went home crying and when my mommy saw the teeth marks she told me to go back over and give as good as I got. She spent the rest of the afternoon defending me to the ridiculous mother of my “friend” and never once backed down from the woman’s diatribe.
7. As an adult I went home close to the holidays and my mom, a lovely alto singer, invited me to join her choir for an evening of practice. I hadn’t sung to more than the radio in years and certainly never as the soprano they desperately needed for the piece. What a boost Mom inadvertently provided when the director asked if I could come back for the performance! The evening would have been special without that, which was what she wisely intended all along.
8. Even before our long-awaited wedding, my parents purchased a queen-size bed so my guy and I had a comfortable place to sleep when we visited. Since he usually stayed with his mother in those days, it made the gesture even more meaningful.
9. On one visit to our home, my father reinforced our aging deck, painted the two story structure, then moved on to the ugly cement back wall. I didn’t even know they made paint that simulates stucco. His energy sapped mine but the end result remains impressive.
10. When the transmission went out on my car they lent me their credit card long distance. I had to pay the money back with interest, just enough to make me appreciate the value of money.
11. Right when we were moving for my father’s new job my baton corpse finally got real uniforms. Though I’d be long gone before the parade, my mother scrounged up the funds and purchased the pretty spangled jumpsuit. I still remember parading the spacious upstairs hall and twirling my baton for all I was worth.
12. While these days I buy vintage concert T-shirts on eBay, as a child I hated hand-me-down clothing. One time I actually told my mother’s cousin that I didn’t need anything. Mortified, my mother handled me very gently in that little etiquette lesson.
13. When his twenty-year-old girlfriend fell to pieces for the first time in his presence, my boyfriend called her parents. My pet snake had just died and I felt like I’d failed the poor creature, despite a trip to a reptile specialist who tried to treat Jake for something akin to a bad cold. Anyway, my dear father advised me to put him in the freezer until the weekend when I could drive up to visit. We had another Air Force Airman as a roommate, which made it awkward, but I didn’t care. When I made the trip it turned out my father had actually built a square wooden coffin! Now my colorful corn snake has a final resting place next to our family’s two elderly, deceased dogs. I try to imagine what archeologists of some future race will say when they discover the site.
Tuesday, February 2, 2010
Internet Addiction – Who? Me?
I'm sure many of us can relate to this quandary. Please click the link for my tiny epiphany.
Writer's Retreat Blog
Writer's Retreat Blog
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