Writer's Island 4/26/08 "Outrageous"

Punked

by Constance

This is the face presented to the world, greasy, ambivalent,

acned, laced with metal bits. Attitude hurled forth, position

spewed, grace eschewed for statement. Pagan symbols drawn

from obscure cultures, ballpoint ink, sewing needle stippled

connect-the-dot tattoos.

A revolting revolution, urban insurgents, who long for upheaval

order anarchy from the Internet in hopes of a new rebellion

unaware, unknowing, or not caring of society’s lost interest

in rebels, regulated, related insurgents stick to network bites

of 30 seconds or less.

Topped by hair colored to paint chips, neon signs, new cars,

teased, tortured, this is the face. Mutiny outlined by hair struggling

to conceal the occupant below. A-frame, border-line, another time

unseen. What lies beneath will not be rejected, coerced, hijacked

by uniformity cravers.

This is the picture in the yearbook, the newspaper, the mugshot

eyes flint-chipped, they stare to a distance, unaware, to a different

future, one outside this town.

Writer's Island 4/19/08 "Triumph"

Guardian

by Constance

From the apex of my eye,

I see mighty seraphim,

exalting me to burn with-

out as I once burned within.

On other thrones ophanim

whirl, devoted, round and round.

I'll never reach their pinnacle

they will never touch my ground.

But far from lofty summits,

away from virtue praised,

attending to me constantly

my guard angel faith conveys.

Corgi Thursday!

Corgis are masters of relaxation. Give them a bed, pillows, a blanket... and they make themselves right at home. Apparently, sleeping upside down is a little known Pembroke trait, on the other hand, hogging the covers is a well-known Max 'thing'.




Merlin likes being under things - under the bed, under the table, underfoot. One of his many nicknames includes being called "The Monster Under The Bed" for his penchant for hiding beneath it and only popping out to bark at his brother.




Anubis doing what he does best - looking smug and superior. It's a gift, he tells us...

Writer's Island 4/12/08 "Flight"

Syringa in Space

by Constance

Violet hued, load-bearing lilacs

pull and sway in the backyard,

under the influence of a bleak

prairie wind burning through

the plains. Unpruned, defiant lilacs

bloom bright like stationary stars.

Guy wires surge-fall in winded

tensile dance. Purple flowers strain,

stamen, stigma prepare for launch.

Pollen swollen luminaries shimmy,

tethered to an indifferent ground,

flight delayed, filaments unfulfilled.

Genetic rockets, yearn to blast, thrust

for space unknown. Blossoms dip,

swing, lean, twirling with mad desire.

They burst, fragrant missiles cast off

the surly bonds of earth, slip, scattering

generations to the newborn sky.

Cell Phone Follies Revisited

I previously posted about my search for a new cell phone. I thought I had plenty of time to research, review, and try out different phones before I decided.

My old phone felt I was procrastinating, and in a bid to make me hurry, shed its little connector plate, where you plug in to charge the phone. I stuffed it back in place. Jury rigging bought me a week, in which I glanced at a few phones on the Net, and thought about going to my local Phone Store. Thursday night my jury rigging no longer worked, and I was faced with an interesting dilemma. Could I research and acquire a phone before 3:00pm Friday, when the kids would begin their litany of calls, complaints, and demands? For an added challenge, I was to spend early Friday morning in a meeting, and the rest of the day cleaning out my office... no, I'm not fired, the building owners decided to finally get new carpet installed. Finally. For the past 8 years I've had Bronco orange carpet in my office. And it went so well with my blue chairs... ah well.

I stole a few minutes while packing to jump on the Internet, see what my Phone Service Provider offered, and research a few phones I thought I'd like. Since I had flex time over lunch, courtesy of my 'O-Dark-Thirty drive across the state to learn about oil rigs training', I ran up to the Phone Store. At my early meeting I played with my boss' Treo, my supervisor's Q, and while I liked them, they had far more features than even I'd ever use. Not to mention they felt like they were the size of a cheese sandwich. I wandered through the phone store, playing with cells, until I reached one with a touch screen and slide out keypad. I picked it up, it came to life and a koi swam around the screen and hid under leaves.

I think my reasoning went something like this.. "This is cool. -But you'll get fingerprints all over it.- They wipe off... this is cool, look, touch, touch, touch, feature, feature, feature... don't have to change my cell plan... hey, look, an MP3 player. -But I have an iPod.- So, this is cool! Look, a 2mp camera. -But I have a digital camera.- But you can have everything in one for those days you forget your geek paraphernalia. -True...- It's also got Bluetooth and GPS capabilities. -But it's a tad pricey...- Hey, they're giving me a deal to renew. And it's cool..." Then the deciding thought. "Huh. This is the closest I'll ever get to an iPhone..."

I came, I played, I bought my LG Glimmer, I still had time for lunch. And my kids are jealous.

Perfect.

I like toys, what can I say? *g*

Corgi Thursday!

Because my brother's week would not be complete without pictures of Max and Merlin...

Max

Proof that Corgis can fly!




Merlin
Why yes, as a matter of fact, these are MY toys...



and the honorary dog, Anubis"You will bring me a small, unmarked tuna..."