November 9, 2014 by kimicalreaction - 6 Comments

Crickets.

We are visiting my parents this weekend in Chelsea, Alabama and I ended up going to the store with my husband and my dad to pick up some stuff my mom needed. My father, who is left-handed, noticed that the guy in front of him at the register was writing out a check with his left hand (you never see checks at a grocery store anymore in Atlanta.)

My dad addressed the guy jovially: “So, us left-handers will take over the world someday, won’t we!?!”

The guy smiled and said, “You know, I think you’re right. It’s kinda funny you mention, but I actually work at a very small company, and all ten of us employees are left-handed.”

I said, “Ohmigod, that’s kinda sinister.

Have you ever had a joke or story fall completely flat?

November 8, 2014 by kimicalreaction - 0 comments

A brief letter to my cat, Brodie.

And while I’m catching up on correspondence, a long-overdue letter to my youngest cat:

Dearest Detective Inspector Ferguson,

First, let me say thank you for your dedication and hard work in leading our home’s security team. It is admirable how you personally inspect Every.Single.Container that enters our dwelling. No potato chip bag is too small, no fragile gift too beautifully wrapped, no container of food too clearly designated as my dinner to escape your trained powers of observation and mandatory physical evaluation.

In fact, you police the entire house with a zeal that is over and beyond the call of feline duty. I’m quite positive you have single-paw-edly prevented a multitude of multinational mishaps due to your extreme diligence.

If, and only if, I might share but one small thing; miniscule in the greater threat of global terrorism, yet something that strikes at the very core of my being.

Toilet paper is not the enemy.

I still love you with all of my heart. Wait, whatareyou….that’s not… !!!! Waitstopnoooooo….

Mom

P.S. Thank you, Daily Prompt, “Literate for a Day” for the inspiration.

November 7, 2014 by kimicalreaction - 6 Comments

A thank you note to the lady in the gas station bathroom

Dear lady in the plaid shirt in the truck stop bathroom in Eufala, Alabama;

Thank you for reaching over to my sink from your side of the counter and turning on my faucet for me.

I realize my somewhat frenzied hand waving in front of the taps may have led you to assume I was having a breakdown or perhaps trying to land an imaginary plane.

You had no way of knowing that I work in a place where everything in the bathrooms is automated and in order to get soap/water/paper towels you have to make a gesture within the motion-sensor range of the dispenser.

I’m sure I would have eventually figured it out, but you were there and took direct action. Bless your kind and helpful heart.

I’m sure we have given each other a good story.

November 6, 2014 by kimicalreaction - 4 Comments

Blissed Out

I think it’s a picture post kind of day, so I’ll borrow a prompt from Photo 101.

Bliss: complete happiness, great joy, paradise, or heaven. What is your idea of bliss? Today, publish an image that represents bliss.

Waltzing to “Moon River”

This photo was taken on our wedding day, back in December of 2012. The occasion was extra, amazingly special because we had our whole families there, including David’s Dad, who we lost shortly afterwards to cancer.

The whole evening was so glowingly glittery with love and happiness that I honestly thought I would bust.

I especially love the float-y quality of this picture, which of course was achieved with a filter, but actually pretty accurately represents the effervescent swirl of joy I was feeling.

It was, indeed, a damn good day.

November 5, 2014 by kimicalreaction - 2 Comments

One more thing I hate about time change…

I was woken yesterday in the icy and ungodly darkness of 5:00 a.m. by a very tiny, very cold, slightly moist jab in someplace that was warm, happy and otherwise sound asleep.

This assault was followed, of course, by a very weak, very plaintive, quavering meow.

The Very Hairy Wake Up Fairy, a.k.a. Detective Inspector Ferguson, the Fuzzball, Brodiestopthatrightnow!

It appears that while I took the time on Sunday to adjust the clocks on the microwave, oven and coffee pot by one hour, I neglected to set the cat back.

In a rare, purely Supervisory Roll, Captain Keegan, Director of the Committee for Prompt Breakfast Service observes from the foot of the bed.

In a Rare, Purely Supervisory Role, Captain Keegan, Director of the Committee for Prompt Breakfast Service, observes from the foot of the bed.

November 4, 2014 by kimicalreaction - 1 Comment

Picture Perfect

Borrowing another prompt for today’s blog from Rarasaur and Fish of Gold.

“Tell a story in pictures.”

November 3, 2014 by kimicalreaction - 0 comments

And yes, you can quote me…

My writing inspiration today is drawn from a list of blog prompts put together by the lovely Rarasaur and kindly shared by Fish of Gold.

“Start with a quote that represents how you want to live your life– explain it.”

I find it fascinating that one of my all time favorite quotes is from someone famous for not speaking, silent-film actress Mary Pickford.

“You may have a fresh start any moment you choose, for this thing that we call ‘failure’ is not the falling down, but the staying down.”

This is such an amazing and powerful set of words and they have been so true in my life that I want to tattoo them on the back of my hand or somewhere else I will never lose them, somewhere I can see them every single time some rogue day gets the jump on me and beats me into a stupor.

It reminds me not to give up on myself.

It reminds me of other wonderful words, these from the German philosopher Goethe.

“Magic is believing in yourself, if you can do that, you can make anything happen.”

November 2, 2014 by kimicalreaction - 1 Comment

It’s a Dead Man’s Party

I was struck by lighting, walkin’ down the street

I was hit by something last night in my sleep

It’s a dead man’s party, who could ask for more

Everybody’s comin’, leave your body at the door

Leave your body and soul at the door

Don’t run away it’s only me

Only me, only me

I’m all dressed up with nowhere to go

Walkin’ with a dead man, with a dead man

Waitin’ for an invitation to arrive

Walkin’ with a dead man, with a dead man…

lyrics courtesy of Oingo Boingo
Songwriters
ELFMAN
Published by
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Universal Music Publishing Group