Cuter and Sassier

How much more cute can a little girl be? Cute since birth and all the way through until now.

Cuter and sassier as each day begins, progresses, and ends. Overnight her 'cute' hormones kick in and she is smarter and wiser upon waking!

The day she was born cute emerged...

"I Love You Ocean, I Love You Roses, too!"

Inland temperature soars like birds toward sun,


I long to play, tho' in the heat there is no fun.


One place known never fails to fulfill my quest,


A place compared to no other - surely nature's best.


Imagine smooth-paved-path that contours the sea,


Adorned with sweet smelling roses - an occasional bumble bee.





Marginal Way in Perkins Cove, Maine is so exceptionally nice,


On this early-June day rose-fragrance mimics sweet-imported-spice.


To the left a gaze at sparkling sea beyond the shore,


Down this path I trod - my senses now explore.


Whitecaps on the ocean dance - sparkle in the sun,


Excited by the tide I jump and skip and run.






Toward shore whitecaps roll-and-creep,


While overhead the screech of gulls deep.


On the beach waves rolls in-and-out,


While on the path I skip and smell and shout.


"I love you ocean, I love you roses, too!"


One holding my hand says, "Always I love you."



(Note: This photo was actually taken in Mexico)

Snippets of Memories

In 1980, my name was called at graduation commencement. Proudly, I walked to the podium to claim my high school diploma from CBNA. It was solely to myself that I owed all the credit of my success. No one had achieved it, but me. With it I was free to begin my new life in the service of my country, ready to leave for basic training just five days from that night.

Snippets of memories flash through my brain as I attempt to recall every detail of graduation night and the years that came before that. Speeches by classmates smarter than me. Our school colors of red and white and anxious eighteen-year-olds eager to get on with life. A sunburned face from a day at the beach a few days before, and the saying goodbye forever to many friends as we raced out our Alma Mater's door. Snippets are all I get...too much time has passed to recall in great detail a chapter so trying for me. Yet snippets are enough to create the illusion of paradise.

Many old friends dance in my head. Their facial features softened with time yet their eyes still dancing with life. One friend used to yell, 'Pizza!' every time someone shot the basketball, in her attempts to make them miss. A few young boys used to tease me, and I liked it, but didn't have the wherewithal to do anything about it. Only a couple attempts at young love ever got off the ground in my high school career. They all ended there. Now, they are part of hazy memories.

To my schoolmates I tip my hat and say thank you. Thanks for treating me well and sharing a secret or two. I wish I had shared mine with you. I wish you had asked...

Snippets of memories are all I need to revisit old friends who knock on my computer's door. I knew their hearts back then in our 'innocent days.' To know of their hearts makes reestablishing friendships easy. If I trusted you back then...I trust you now...it is the law of friendship. If I loved you then there is still a beat in my heart skipping for you.

Some friends come into our lives and are meant to stay for a short time, while others stay longer. It is not the length of time that determines the greatness of a friend, it is the quality. Come, quality, and be my friend.

If you are an old friend of mine...thank you. Please be in touch and help make my snippet of memory burst through the haze and be forever focused. Hazy is overrated!

Weeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!

On my bike I rode as reality faded and dreamland emerged. Come, sit on my shoulder and enjoy the ride with me...

With the wind in my hair - I rode as free as a seagull in flight. Down the bike path I followed my companion, who also rode his new bike. To ride on the paved, smooth path was a freedom a long time in coming. Years have passed since I rode a bicycle like that...having no destination, just enjoying the flow of the air that raced passed by my ears and made love to my face.

From the bike path we broke free and joined the rest of the world at the seaside. Glistening glitter sparkled on the waves as the ebb and flow of the tide danced. Seagulls called out in greeting 'Screech, screech!'. Motorist's gazes gleaned of jealousy. As the sun beat down and tanned my skin I felt the excitement of a late-spring day that would soon be transferred to a beautiful memory.

With the wind in my hair - I flew as free as a seagull in flight... Weeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!

Titillating Movie

First in line at the movie theater were me and my sister...next in line were three other women...all of us titillated and chit-chatty! Then came fifty more...

It was nearly endless the amount of people packed into a movie theater to hear swear words, see naked butts, and giggle and tee-hee to flat-out scandalous, R-rated plot lines.

Sex and the City was all it promised to be and more. Not much was left to the imagination as the lives of Carrie, Miranda, Charlotte, and Samantha (and their men) paraded on the big screen in front of us eager movie-goers. We sure got an eye full!

The wardrobe was exuberant. Guest stars fit in well to the story line. The busy streets of New York City were lit up at night and during the day the glow on the women's makeup faces brought excitement to the beloved make-believe world.

Oh Carrie...Oh Big (John)...such plain names for such hot characters.

Sex and the City was enjoyable and I, for one, am already anxious for the sequels!

(I'm also contemplating my own foursome...character story that is.)

A Sad Regret

One of my saddest regrets is that I never had children. I have to believe God has other plans for me. I comfort myself by swearing I was meant to be a writer, instead. As a writer I wouldn't have time for a child...they are so needy! Sometimes I convince myself it's true that I am destined for other roles in life. Sometimes I throw my hands up in defeat, hang my head, and tears escape...

I am a great Auntie Lisa! I'm a wicked good Great Aunt Lisa. I'm a pretty good Stepmother to a stepdaughter that doesn't really need me.

It is my greatest joy to have my young niece be such a huge part of my life these days. For half a day on Thursday (& other days when she requests a visit) when my niece comes over to spend time at my house, I get to pretend I'm the mother I would've been...if...

Some things happen or don't happen, I believe, for a reason...still I wonder what the reason is...often I get sad, but God knows I tried!!! (Lord, how I tried!!!)

(I am posting this at 11:32 p.m. - Clearly, I have no children...)

Anybody childless out there besides me?
Got any comforting words???

Sex and the City...Marathon

I LOVE SEX AND THE CITY!!!

For several past seasons my sister taped the HBO jaw-dropping show and happily shared this awesome series with me. Over the weekend, I watched a marathon of the classy sitcom. I watched about twenty-five half hour shows of season five and six.

I knew I had gotten into the groove of Sex and the City when I was in town on Monday and something pissed me off. I said to my husband, "Let's get the f*** out of here!"

I enjoy Carrie Bradshaw's character and root for her to find the perfect love...but none of her lovers can hold a candle to 'BIG'. I am aware of the new, long-awaited movie that is coming out soon and I am anxious to go see it.

I love Sex and the City and realize that there could never be a Sex and the Country...it just wouldn't be the same. But sex in the country is very nice! So is sex on a little peninsula on Ossipee Lake!

Are you a Sex and the City fan?
What are your thoughts about Carrie, Miranda, Samantha, and Charlotte?

Make Every Word Count

Contemplation is a big word for 'think about it and figure it out.' I am in contemplation mode on my novel. I have written a dozen chapters. I've described neighborhoods, characters, and feelings. I've described relationships, sex, and breakups. But have I described them too much?

In contemplation mode I like to take a breather from my story. I step back and put some space between us. By doing this I hope to come back to the piece with a fresh perspective. With fresh eyes I can pick out things that I thought were working, but aren't. The hard question is: am I so in love with my words that I can't nix them?

My wonderful niece and editor brought to my attention some things about the story she would like to see added, and some things she would like deleted. She told me some things she loved and some things she didn't love. Some things she feels I should simplify and some things should be harder. She is a wise writer, so I am taking heed and pondering her suggestions/comments.

I am also reading K.C. McKinnon's "Candles on Bay Street" and one of many Danielle Steele's books. Doing this will aid me in seeing how much description is necessary and how effective are short or longer dialogue. Already I have noticed that one story has very little description and dialogue and the other thrives on minute details to the point that it makes me want to gag!

Should I bend my story to fit some kind of mold, or write it my way and let the chips fall where they may? If I want to get published, I believe I should follow in the footsteps of those who have successfully been published before me. That said, I will compromise and do an adequate amount of description, introspection, and dialogue. I must remember to make every word count and to show, not tell. Plus there are so many other rules to writing. It's not as easy as one might think.

I am thinking about it and figuring it out...this process is called contemplation. Some enter this phase with trepidation. I enter it with an open heart and mind. Being flexible and persistent is the key to success!

Classical Music

I have recently gotten into classical music. I have even gone online and printed out brief synopsis' of the most popular composers: Mozart, Beethoven, Bach, Chopin, and Shubert.

I say recently, but in actuality I have been married to a wonderful man who always liked classical and we play it during...

Anyway, in my novel my hero took piano lessons as a kid and now he plays for fun. He's awesome and once won a piano contest while in college at Harvard. He won the prize of playing two of Mozart's piano sonatas with the Boston Pops.

In my story my character begins dating his old girlfriend and he plays her his favorite sonata and to watch his hands stroke and make love to the keys really turns her on!!! (I think he will be playing to her often.)

Anyway, to experience the thrill of classical music I have begun listening to CDs my husband had. I listen while I write and drive. I listened to the Boston station on the radio at work.

Yes, I like classical music and I'm not ashamed to admit it!

Just the Facts, Please...

I received a thick envelope in the mail from NH Superior Court.
I am a candidate for jury duty in a double-murder trial.
Inside was a juror questionnaire.
I was under the threat of perjury if I lied to any of the questions I was forced to answer.
I bit my lip and dreaded having to share private information.
I got a letter from my chiropractor saying I have back problems.
There are at least 300 other potential jurors.
One hundred of them showed up when I did for orientation.
I met a woman named Lorna, who was a nurse in her scrubs, and we conversed to pass the time.
I brought my condensed version of Bronte's Jane Eyre as reading material.
Because I answered 'affirmative' to one of the judge's questions I had to tell my secret.
The judge and council for the State and the Defense did not excuse me from jury duty.
I have an appointment next week for an interview with council on both sides.
I plan to produce the medical letter if my back hurts me during the trial.
It is my civic duty to be on a jury if I qualify and am picked as a juror.
If selected, the trial is expected to last four to five weeks.
I am holding my breath to see if I am picked...
My employers are also holding their breaths...