Sad News But Hopeful Report

I wasn't sure how to label this, then 'cry for help' seemed to fit, as in the form of a request for prayers and well wishes. Today SO and I visited brother and sis-in-law at their daughter's hospital bedside. She had a serious car accident on her way home to Oxford. Care-flight brought her to Dayton and her parents drove down from Akron.

We don't even know yet what caused her to drive off the road. The rescue team spent nearly an hour cutting her out of the vehicle.

That said, her injuries could be much, much worse. It was still horrible seeing her sedated yet intermittently scared and in some pain. I can only try to be there for her parents much as possible and pray she recovers well as caregivers expect. Feeling her squeeze my hand brought a torrent of tears.
 
This bright young woman was set to graduate from college next month and had an exciting fall language teaching internship lined up. Her mom, desperate for some positive focus, contacted professors and all are more than happy to work with her through the recovery. That comforted me to no small degree considering all her hard work.

Isn't that nice of her present and future associated professors?

~ 

Positive Sparks March 26, 2018 – A Musical Note

To quote Annie of McGuffy’sReader, the bright spirited blog where she created Sparks Mondays, “I believe we are meant to be lights in this world. If we allow our light to shine, we can see where we are going. It is then that we can begin to truly see each other clearly. Together, we can light up the entire world!”

As usual, today I’m sharing words from a (late) great musician. Today I give you the incomparable Prince. As I am more likely to read the Bible and pray than attend any church, the following quote rings true to me. And I like to think that if even atheists could agree with it, the world would be a better place.

Out of the Entire Book, I Most Adore Psalms and Proverbs

Thanks to Brainy Quote for this saying. Photo courteous of Matias Rengel from Unsplash.

As I want this heart for my wall, I have to ask if anyone has any neon at home.

-

A Rainbow Snippet for March 24-25

 

In this weekend’s Rainbow Snippet I’m sharing a bit from

Jackson Bordeaux and Ronnie Larue’s story. Jackson has no

clue he has weretiger in his genetics. He’s also never met

anyone quite like Ronnie.

Story:

After a time Jackson lost his nervousness shuffling to a local

band’s newest single. The small, dark, sinuous creature looked

fantastic in the disc jockey’s strobe light, standing out from

the masses like a polished diamond in the dirt.

As if by accident in the throng, he brushed his pelvis against

Jackson’s thighs. The response almost immediate, sparkling

irises told him Ronnie noticed.

Flapping his collar as if overheated, Jackson continued to sway

pulling out tucked shirt tails. Ronnie emitted a near giggle, the

sound somehow complimentary and sweet, and oh, boy,

Jackson knew he was in trouble.

~

 

I hope you enjoyed it and check out what others have shared.
Have a good weekend!

#rainbowsnippets

_

Darla's Discoveries and a Quiz Answer - March 22, 2018

Yesterday I asked about a kitchen gadget and got some fun responses. Today I will share its purpose as well as a tip in caring for the accompanying tool.

The rubbery tube pictured below removes the skin of garlic cloves. You simply insert individual cloves and roll the tube using very light pressure.

This is Amazingly Efficient

On that note, why are the garlic bits called ‘cloves’ and not ‘lobes’ when there is a clove spice? That actually confused me a moment writing this as if I had the wrong term. ~grin~ Anyway, rolling it back and forth removes the skins super fast, as long as you keep the tube dry. Be sure to skin all your cloves before rinsing the tube clean (this delicate thing never goes in the automatic dishwasher).

While I realize that’s a tip in and of itself, I figured out another useful one regarding the garlic press after SO cooked a recent meal. When I went to cook something else garlic-based the next day, I found the press in the dish drainer with dried bits of garlic skin stuck to the shiny outer left hand portion (below).

This is More Dishwasher Safe; We Seldom Bother

At least the internal parts were clean. But thinking those less tasty flakes might end up in my food, I cleaned the press again. The bits were really tough to remove as I tried to hurry beneath a cold tap.

The lesson learned here is not only to clean garlic tools once you’re done with them for the day, but make sure your effort is thorough. Let’s hope dear SO got the message.

Oxo Brand Tools are the Best!

Do you like garlic?

-

A Quiz for the Day – Another Gadget

After Pam Jackson shared a kitchen gadget on Life Through My Eyes, I took a photograph of a related one to share. Then that blog post never got written until now, weeks later.  This might tip you and your followers off, Pam. ~grin~ Fortunately, the photos were easy to find.

This is a single use tool, but one which I’m grateful we bought. Can you guess what it does? I’ll be back either later today with an update or post the answer tomorrow.

Totally Tubular, Isn't It?

How do you prefer your food, herbal or spicy?

-

A Minor Announcement and a Pretty Picture

I don’t believe I have ever written a post with so many tags before. And the first might be misleading. I want to formally announce that I will not be taking on the A to Z Blog Challenge this April.

As dear Annie of McGuffy’sReader reminded me, there is still time. And I even started out with plans to share music videos (and you know I would have touted Palaye Royale along with some awesome My Chemical Romance and Panic At the Disco).

Then I considered stealing Annie’s theme and sharing snippets of my prose. But in the end time, despite my lack of outside employment, is a constraint.

It’s not so much the posting but reading new blogs, which I feel compelled to do in support of fellow challengers. I already follow so many folks on a near daily basis, I just couldn’t see adding more. Not when I really want to spend all my time writing.

In fact, I should shout out to all of you with links but fictional characters are calling. ~grin~ Anyway, best wishes to all who endeavor to run in this spring blog race. And with that I’ll leave you with something shiny.

Drummer Emerson Barrett of Palaye Royale in Studio
I Cropped the Rude Gesture Toward a Brother

Do you have any special plans this spring?

-

Spark by a Musician (from an Obsessive Music Geek)

Marilyn Manson Image Courtesy of Fan Pop

To quote Annie of McGuffy’s Reader, the bright spirited blog where she created Sparks Mondays, “I believe we are meant to be lights in this world. If we allow our light to shine, we can see where we are going. It is then that we can begin to truly see each other clearly. Together, we can light up the entire world!” 

Before I share Marilyn Manson's quote, let me share the inspiration. Yesterday my writing track was what I named “Marilyn Manson Singles” on iTunes. There are 37, not music released by the band for radio play but rather B-sides and rare finds.

I have four additional categories: one for studio albums and compilations, talking (interviews), live performances, and ‘oddities’. That last was named for some weird early experimentation but generally is just repeated tunes from having bought many singles for their rare and cool B-sides.

That said, here is a quote from Brian Warner (aka Mr. Manson) that caught my attention. As I like to tell folks, the man is wicked smart (when sober).  ;)  I snagged this from Brainy Quotes.

"Don't ever empty the bucket of mystery. Never let people define what you do. It's not about zigging when you should zag. It's not about doing something unprecedented and unpredictable. It's just about never being a word, or something that is not in the process of transformation."

- Marilyn Manson

Did you know he scored the brilliant soundtrack for the original “Resident Evil” film?

-

Rainbow Snippet for March 17/18

 

Wow! This month is flying by. I’m really having fun joining so many talented LGBTQ+ writers at RainbowSnippets. Here’s a steamy little m/m snapshot from my BloodMoon series.

Snippet:

“If you’re afraid to… you know…, there are other things we could do.”

“Other,” I echoed, gulping, “things.”

“Yeah, lots,” he agreed, grinning now through glittering autumnal strands.

Stunned by what reflected sunshine did to his ivory skin, I gulped again, seeming to signal him. He swooped around and suspended himself above me, all that hair a fragrant privacy curtain. Nickolas brought his lips to my ear, where his tonguing around the shell made an obscene sound.

~

I hope you enjoyed it and check out what others have shared. Have a good weekend!

#rainbowsnippets

_