>>> Quote of the Day <<<

Creativity is allowing oneself to make mistakes. Art is knowing which ones to keep.

~ Scott Adams

Guess I was 'creative' with my Wordzzle words this week... and artful too, as you will see if you read the post.

>>> Three Word Thursday & Raven's Wordzzle Challenge<<<

ATTENTION:

Quite by accident, I used next week's Wordzzle words. Thanks to SouthLakesMom for pointing that out to me. If you choose, you can wait until next week to read this. I know I prefer to write my post before I read other posts with the same prompts as I don't want to have my creative flow altered or influenced. If it doesn't bother you, or if you know you'll forget my story by next week... read on!!

Part 1 of the story is my Portrait of Words. You may want to read it first.


Each week (Thursdays), Quilly gives us three words to write into a story. Oh, they're not just any words, not words you'd hear/see ever day. Nope, these are obscure words, endangered words. Before we can write to these words, we have to find them on the internet so as to find out their meaning so they can be used properly. This week's (Week 15) words are:

rubefacient [roo-buh-fey-shuhnt]
adj. - Producing redness, as of the skin.
n. - A substance that irritates the skin, causing redness.

senticous - adjective
- prickly, thorny.

divagations - noun
divagate [dahy-vuh-geyt]

–verb (used without object), -gat⋅ed, -gat⋅ing.

1.	to wander; stray.

2.	to digress in speech.

Raven, at Views From Raven's Nest, has created this word puzzle, Wordzzle, for us to have a challenge and write to. The words/phrases to work with this week are:

Main Challenge (10): parasite, meals on wheels, crows, it's my fault, everything but the kitchen sink, on sale, patriotism, the love of my life, library card, common sense

Mini Challenge (5): blackmail, California, stethoscope, postage, crank


Thanks to all who left the wonderful comments to my Portrait of Words post. You have convinced me to continue it on, so here is part 2 (or part 2, 3 & 4 if I'm lucky and the words come)...

My Mega Challenge (15) & Three Word Thursday:

"What kind of work have you done before?"
"Where did you last work?"
"What kind of experience do you have?"
"Have you ever picked grapes before?"

These are some of the questions Nivek was asked at the vineyards where he went to ask for work. Of course, with his background, he couldn't exactly tell them the truth. Who would hire him if he told them he'd been a member of an outlaw biker gang since he was a kid, had never held a job in his life, and lived off the proceeds of illegal endeavors? Nobody, that's who. Well, nobody legit anyway, and he didn't want to live off criminal activities anymore or he would have stayed with the gang back east. No, Nivek wanted to start an new life and he wanted it all to be legal and above board. So, when asked these questions the first time, he didn't do too well, tripping over his words and not sounding at all convincing. Before going to the second place, he drove to a store where he bought himself an ice cold bottle of cola, and sat in the shade drinking it as he 're-wrote' his 'story'. He even decided it was plane common sense not to tell anyone he had just moved here to California.

"What kind of experience do you have?" asked the man he spoke to at the second vineyard.

"Well sir, I don't really know for sure. You see, I was in an acident. Apparently, I lost the love of my life, and I had a head injury so that's why I wear this bandana under my hat. Anyway, I got all my memories knocked out of me, haha, they call it amnesia. I don't know anything about my past life and the hospital even had to help me give myself a new name. I really want to make a good new life for myself, sir, and I'd like to start by learning the grape growing business."

"Have you picked grapes before?" the man asked.

"Not to the best of my knowledge, but I have the feeling I'm a hard worker, sir. At least I worked real hard in the hospital to live and then to walk and talk again." He hoped he wasn't overdoing it here, "so I believe it's in my nature to work hard and to learn well. I sure would appreciate a chance to show you."

"I don't know. I just don't know," said the man. "I really wanted someone with lots of experience in the grape business. I'm sorry, but I'll just have to pass. Good luck finding something."

The next 2 or 3 places Nivek went, things went pretty much the same. He stopped at a gas station to fuel up 'the bug', and while there saw an American Flag which gave him an idea. Maybe if displayed patriotism, someone would buy into his new story. The next place he went, he finally met someone willing to give him a chance. "I guess you don't need experience to clean up some land where I want to plant more grapes," a guy said, "and if you do good with that, I'll let you stay on and help with the planting and who knows after that." At first Nivek was overjoyed to finally get a break, and he knew the little flag on his antena was to thank for that. The next day he showed up bright and early, ready to put in a days work. By noon he was tired and sore like he'd never been before, and on top of that, he was in a big patch of senticous and rubefacient plants, so was most uncomfortable and miserable. He decided the boss was some kind of parasite who should be fed to the crows, hiring people who were down and out to clean this mess by hand, and for minimum wage. Well, he wasn't going to go through this kind of hell for any one, or for any amount of money, never mind this chump change. With that, he limped and hobbled over to his car, carefully eased himself inside, and drove away.

"It's my fault," he told himself as he drove home to the motel room, "I should have gotten an education and some work experience!" As he told himself this, he knew it wasn't the truth. A young boy whos parents were too caught up in their addictions to notice if he was even alive, or to care either way, had no way of getting an education. Once the bikers had taken him in and given him a home where he was cared for, there had been no looking back... and no legit jobs or education to be had. "At least if I knew my way around the city I could do the 'meals on wheels' thing." And having only arrived out west less than a week ago, he had no way of knowing how to get around in his new city so being a delivery driver, running here and there delivering beer and fast food, was for now at least out of the question. He'd just have to keep thinking and he'd come up with something short of blackmail.

Once at the motel, he went to his room where he took a nice long soak in a hot bath, then, feeling quite a bit better, he went out to find a drug store. He managed to find some cream on sale that would help take the redness and itch from his torchered skin. As he walked around inside the store, he saw pretty much everything but the kitchen sink, they had a counter where you could buy postage and mail letters, if you needed a stethoscope you could buy one in this store, or a pencil sharpener with a handle to crank. As he left the store, he decided take some time out for divagations... to walk just walk around awhile and get a better look at the area he now lived in. As he walked along he saw a library two blocks down from the drugstore which was one block over from the motel he lived in. This gave him an idea. He'd go in and get himself a library card, take out some books and teach himself some new stuff. Hey, after all, one thing he could do was read.

My Main Wordzzle Challenge (10):

Nivek walked into the library and took a good look around. It had been years since he'd been in a place like this, if he ever had. He walked over to the counter, "Hi, Gloria," he said to the woman behind the counter, having taken a quick glance at the name tag on her blouse, "I'd like to get a library card, please."

"Sure thing, sir. I'll need a piece of picture ID, and something with your current address on it," she replied in a fairly monotone voice.

"No problem," he said though he wasn't sure that was true. He pulled out his wallet and extracted his driver's licence, still with his old address on it, and a receipt for room rent at the motel. He handed these to Gloria, and hoped for the best.

"I'm sorry," she said after glancing at his ID, "but this is an out of state licence, and a motel receipt is hardly an address. You'll need to show me proof of permanent lodging here in this city."

"I've just moved here," Nivek informed her, "and until I get a job and enough money for an appartent, I'm living at the motel. It will be my home for some time. I need some books to be able to teach myself some things so I can get the job I need to survive."

"We don't give library cards to homeless people!" she stated as she shifted her gaze and said out loud, "Next!"

"I'm not homeless," he protested with no luck, "can I at least read the books here inside the library then?"

"So long as you don't bother people. Library hours are 10am to 4:30pm Monday to Saturday. Next!"

Nivek wandered around looking at row upon row of shelves containing too many books to count. He read titles like: "Common Sense Ways to Rid Your Home of Parasite Infestations", "Meals On Wheels & Patriotism", "Crows; the Love of My Life", "Divagations: It's My Fault" and even one called "How To Buy Everything But The Kitchen Sink... On Sale". It took him a long time to find the right section with the right books, and finally he did. Here he saw books on how to build things like tire flower pots to wooden bird houses and furniture, how to tell junk from antiques, how to fix things including motorcycles. He wasn't sure if that made him want to laugh or cry. That was the one thing he really did know how to do well, he could rip down a Hog and have it back together in under a week, all rebuilt and purring like a kitten... and in his new life he couldn't even acknowledge that he knew what a Hog was.

My Mini Challenge (5):

It was a month since Nivek House had moved to California, and things were getting tight. The wad of money he'd left the east with was now pretty much gone. He walked to the library every day, leaving his little VW Bug in it's parking spot at the motel, even though it was really easy on gas he didn't have the money to refill the tank, so wanted to save the fuel that was in it, and besides, it was only a short walk and it felt good to get out for the bit of exercise it aforded him. Between the weekly rent at the motel and his food, he knew he didn't have enough to pay the postage on blackmail. Joking like this helped to keep him in a fairly good mood and not become too much of an old crank.

"Hey you!" Nivek heard as he walked through the door and into the library. He glanced around and heard, "yes. You." Then he realized it was the woman behind the counter that was talking.

"Me?" he queried, looking around again.

"Yes. You!" she repeated. "Come over here a moment please."

As he approached the counter, not knowing what to expect, he read her name tag and saw once again that her name was Gloria. He'd forgotten the name though he would not any time soon forget the way she'd treated him the first day he'd come in here. "Do you want a job?" she asked him. "I've seen you come in here every day we've been open since that first day. You always take good care of the books and you put them back when you are finished, as well as you always leave 5 minutes before we close. You've never been a problem and are always clean. I think you deserve a break."

"I sure could use a break, Gloria," he assured her, "and a job. If I don't get some money to pay my rent at the motel, I'll be living in my car by the end of the week."

"The stethoscope manufacturer down on McAfee, about 6 blocks south of here, is looking for laborers. My husband works there. It's not hard work, but it's good work and they pay fair. If you're as dedicated to working as you are to reading, you'll do well there."

Nivek profusely thanked Gloria, then made a mental note to bring her some flowers as he left the library and headed south at a fast walk.


Quilly said for Three Word Thursday: The Week Sixteen words will be: niddering; amanuensis & tyro

Raven doesn't have this week's post up, so I will have to tell you later what the words for next week's Wordzzle Challenge are to be.... make sure you come back and have a look. Okay, so she did and I messed up. Next weeks words are what I used this week. Maybe next week I'll write with this week's words. Hmmmm.

Don't forget to leave your comments... then to see more participants, or to join in the fun, visit Quilly &/or Raven.

Happy weekend!!!
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*** Portrait Of Words ***

May 2009 version of

Vin had been running with the biker gangs since age 12 or 13, then when he turned 16, Bubba loaned Vin his Harley to take the test and get his drivers license. Of course, Vin had been driving motorcycles for 2 years by then, so it was nothing new except that now he would be legal. Hey, a guy had to do something legal once in awhile. His license said Vincent Kevin House, though all his friends just called him Pig and soon forgot he ever had a name other than Pig. Vin's parents didn't know by this time where he was, and they didn't much care either. He'd pretty much been on his own since he was out of diapers, his parents being drunk or high or just too busy partying to care about a little boy, so the biker gang, The Hades Guardians, was the only family he had ever really known.

Over the years, Pig & his 'brothers' rode hard, and partied hard... they also broke a lot of laws. The day finally came when Pig woke up and realized he'd had enough. He had had enough of the riding, the partying, and especially the illegal activities that were now getting worse and more frequent. He realized he wanted out, and knew they would not just let him walk away. After all, he knew too much, and they believed that if you weren't with them you were against them.

That is the day Pig got out of the bed he'd shared with another woman whos name he didn't remember, got dressed and rode his Harley away. In his heart, he told his 'brothers' that he loved them and told them good-bye, though to them he'd just said, "Going to the store," then kicked the Hog over and rode away. Pig rode down to 128th near Mainland Street, the downtown core of the city where he lived in eastern USA. There he parked his Harley, put 2 hours worth of coin in the meter, and walked away. He walked down a block to a second hand clothing store where he purchased some 'new' clothes, clothes he'd never dreamed he'd ever wear in this lifetime. There was a pinkish-red coat with blues and other colors in the lapel, a multi colored scarf that would cover his shaved tattooed head until the hair grew back in, and a crazy print hat to top it all off. He also bought himself a pair of sandles. Wearing his new duds, he donated the black leather jacket & chaps he'd recently spent over $1,500 for, and his top quality boots that were also new. Now Pig was dead, Nivek (his middle name, Kevin, spelled backwards) walked out of the shop and into his new life. Nivek flagged down a cab and climbed in.

"The airport, please, and stop at a drugstore on the way."

At the airport, Vincent Kevin (Nivek) House walked up to the counter and asked for a ticket to any place in California. He figured now that the best place for him to go was to the far side of the country where he could begin his new life and have less chance of being recognized. He purchased his ticket and then, with a 2 hour wait, he went to the bathroom with is bag from the drugstore. He removed a pair of scissors from the bag and 'snip, snip, snip' off came the long beard, making it a short, cleanly trimmed beard instead of the long, wild one he's always had. Next, he took out the dye he'd bought for beards and died his from blonde to a nice medium brown. He knew that if he shaved the beard off after so many years of wearing it, the skin under the beard would be white compared to the rest of his face that was well tanned from riding in the sunshine. That would stand out too much, so the trim and dye job would be the best way to go.

Nivek didn't care which city he went to in California, that wasn't important to him as he knew none of them anyway, so he just took the plane to the first airport he could get a plane flying into. He had known a guy a few years ago that lived in San Jose, in fact, was a San Jose motorcycle accident attorney, though he wasn't concerned about the guy just now. From the airport he caught a cab which took him across a big read bridge and into the city. Every time he crossed that bridge for years to come, he would remember that day. He would remember the first day of his new life.


He asked the cabby if there was a good, fairly cheap place to stay for awhile 'til he got settled. The cabby knew of a few so took Nivek to one of them. Nivek thanked him, paid the fare including a good tip, and went into the motel.

"Yes sir, may I help you?" the girl behind the desk asked.

"Hello. I hope so. I need a room for awhile," Nivek told her.

"How long will you be staying?" she queried.

"I don't know. I just got to town today. I need to find a job and stuff."

"No problem. I have a room I can let you have by the week at a reasonable price. Would you like to see it?"

"No. No need. I'm sure it will be good," Nivek assured the girl, paid for 2 weeks, and having gotten the key and directions, he went to his new home. He unlocked the door and stepped in, closing the door behind him. Looking around, he saw a clean room, the usual motel furniture and ugly picture above the bed. He was sure there would be the usual Bible in the drawer. He had nothing to unpack, so, taking off his coat, hat and sandles, he laid down on the bed and went to sleep.


When Nivek awoke the next morning, he was surprised he'd slept so long. For him to go to sleep at 7pm and sleep for 12 hours was definately a first. He acknowledged that he must have been really tired, likely had been under more stress over the last 24 hours than he'd realized and now felt fairly safe. "After all," he said to himself as he looked at himself in the mirror having just showered and dressed again in his new, very unfamiliar clothes, "I don't even recognize you, so don't guess anyone else will either."

He walked down to the Office of the motel where he found a man behind the desk now.

"Good morning," greeted the man. "You must be the fellow my daughter checked in to 312 last night."

"Yes, sir, that would be me. I'm Nivek House, glad to meet you," he said and the men shook hands. "Say, I'm new to town and need a job. Can you point me to where I can buy a car? Maybe give me an idea where to start looking for a good, honest job?"

Ten minutes later, Nivek left the motel and walked to the car lot the man had recommended. He enjoyed the walk, something he'd not done much of all the years he'd ridden a Hog and walking hadn't been cool. When he hadn't ridden his Hog he'd driven one of the trucks The Hades Guardians owned and often used to haul a broken down bike, or used in winter months when the weather was 'not biking weather'. Today, he bought himself a fully restored, late '60s VW Bug with a sunroof in it.

"Very Californian," he joked to the salesman as he paid cash and signed the papers. As a member of The Hades Guardians, money had never been a problem, though now he knew he'd soon need a job if he was to make a go of things. Oh, he could get money with no problem if he had to, though he'd made up his mind he didn't want to get it 'that way' in his new life... he wanted to go 'legit', to keep it legal.

After purchasing proper insurance on the VW Bug, and filling the gas tank on it, he found a nearby cafe where he enjoyed a big breakfast and a few cups of coffee. Being the man he was, he flirted and chatted up the waitress as she served him, though he kept it 'respectful' and light. As he prepared to pay his bill, Nivek asked the woman if she had any ideas where a man could find an honest job.

"Well, there are many vineyards out in the Valley," she said, "and from what I've heard, they often hire pickers at this time of year. I'd recommend you go check them out, if you have a way to get out there."

"No problem there, I just bought an old VW so can pretty much get around," he assured her. He paid the bill, she gave him directions, and off he went in search of a new job as a new man. He laughed as he started his car and drove away from the cafe... after years of drinking wine, he was about to go get a job picking the grapes to make the stuff. Oh ya, life could take some pretty wild swings.



To find more on what POW is all about and/or to see other participants, visit Jeff, the one who started this challenge, at Portrait of Words. And here are the photo prompts for May '09.



Thank you to Akelamalu for leaving me a comment which included a link to the photo prompts for this month. I was 'having issues', lol. Akelamalu also left me the link in a comment on Jeff's blog in response to my request for help, as did Thom. I am grateful to you both, and to Jeff for telling me how to find it in future.

" A Thousand Words In Idioms" G & H

" A Thousand Words In Idioms"

Jientje has started a wonderful photo challenge: "As long as people have been around, they have tried to communicate with each other. As a means of getting the message across as clearly as possible, idioms and sayings have found their way into our language.

Now, because a picture paints a thousand words, I thought it would be nice to make this a new photo challenge. The idea is to pick an idiom, or a saying, ( even slang is allowed) and illustrate it with a picture. Each week we’ll cover two letters of the alphabet, okay?"

If “language is the dress of thoughts” ( Johnson), then idioms must the wardrobe …

G & H

If you would like, see: A - F.

Each meaning has a link to the page where I got it from, and where they post about the origins of the saying/idioms.

Get your goat:

Meaning: Make you annoyed or angry.



I couldn't make up my mind, so you get a bonus H today.

Straight from the horse's mouth:

Meaning: From the highest authority.



A dark horse:

Meaning: Someone who emerges to prominence; being previously little known.

Visit Jientje to see more participants.
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>>> Quote of the Day <<<

We have to stop procrastinating, pretending that we have forever to do what we want to do and to be what we long to be. If we think that we want to become better and more loving human beings, we had better start moving in that direction right now.


Lama Surya Das


Where I got this quote & photo

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>>> I Am Grateful <<<

Today I had an appointment with the health nurse & my doctor, something I will have every 3 months due to the diabetes. They were both most happy with my blood sugar levels. Della, the nurse, commented on how good I am looking from when she saw me 2 months ago, and that I'm looking younger now. They are both sO supportive, it's awesome.

Next, after grabbing some food at A&W (2 pieces chicken, a green salad, large tea), I went to an appointment at the hospital, a follow up on the Diabetes Clinic I attended. I was complimented big time on the blood sugars again. Guess it must not be all that normal for people to be so 'in the target zone', and dealing so well with this kind of thing. I was weighed as well. It's hard to say from one scale to another, though it would appear I have lost more weight (I'll find out for sure tomorrow at TOPS), and I didn't even need nuphedra, or anything... doing it all 'naturally'. I've been working at making changes in my eating habits and amount of physical activity, and it seems to be paying off.

Wednesday is the day I usually go to the Centre for Spiritual Living and do the Sunday programs. Last week, due to migraines, I put it off until Friday (after getting glasses adjusted and a much needed chiropractic treatment). This week, having had another chiro treatment yesterday, I was able to go do the work at the Centre. Lorraine met me there and assembled the programs once I had done the computer work and printed them out.

A good walk at the dog park finished the day in town, then Reba & I drove home. Len, the fellow who lives in his travel trailer in my yard, had left me a 'gift' at my front door... a large piece of nice new carpet. He 'rescued' it off the construction site where he works, saving it from going to the dump. Not sure where I'll use it yet, though am sure I can get some use out of it as an 'area rug'.

I had wanted to load a bunch of garbage into my truck this evening, though just felt too tired to do it. I don't have garbage pick up here as it's crazy expensive, and I don't generate anywhere near enough garbage to justify the expense, so I 'stock pile' it and make an occational 'dump run'. Tomorrow I will be very close to a dump, so wanted to take a load along. However it will have to wait for another time.

+ I am grateful to be comfortably sitting on my bed, leaning against a pile of pillows, enjoying peace and quiet.
+ I am grateful I discovered that if I leave the birds in darkness longer they get more sleep and tend to be happier and much more quiet (thus I spend more time in here).
+ I am grateful for internet and books that give good information, tips & knowledge.
+ I am grateful my blood sugar levels are doing so well, mostly in the target range.
+ I am grateful for the information and support I am being given as I adjust to living with diabetes.
+ I am grateful my body is getting slimmer & healthier.
+ I am grateful for the chiropractor (nuff said).
+ I am grateful for Lorraine's help with the programs, and for her friendship. She's now my 'second mother', lol.
+ I am grateful the weather held out while Reba & I took our wonderful walk today.
+ I am grateful my head is 'feeling good' again.
+ I am grateful my birds and other animals all seem to be healthy.
+ I am grateful for the time Tomas was in my life. (Wee bird passed away last night while I was out at Toastmasters).

That reminds me... A week ago last night, an opening came up on the schedule for a speech for this Tuesday, so I jumped at the chance and put my name down for it. It is getting close to the end of the Toastmaster year and I intend to meet some goals I set for myself (complete my Advanced Communicator Silver & my Competent Leader award requirements). One of the last 2 speeches in my manuals I'm working from required me to give a 13-15 minute 'After Dinner' speech, so I decided to give it on the Law Of Attraction... after all, that's something I already know a lot about so with only a week to prepare I wouldn't have to do a lot of research. I wrote a nice speech, though didn't practice delivering it, not even once. With the migraines I had it's no wonder. So, off I went to present this speech. I had managed to 'know' the first bit of it, basically the 'opening', then read the definition of 'Quantum Physics' I'd printed out from 2 online sources. Yup, so far so good... then I forgot all of what I'd written and even glancing at my notes was not enough. I would have to read it and I was not about to do that. Soooo, I decided to wing it, I mean, what other choice was there? None. It's a really good thing I have been studying this subject for a while and know a fair bit about it, as I delivered a 15 minute, 18 second speech, managed to use a bit of the ending of my original one, and not one person had a clue that I had not practiced and practiced the delivery. Not one of them knew I was giving a 15 minute impromptu speech instead of a prepared one. YES!! Whew....

+ I am grateful I know about the Law of Attraction.
+ I am grateful for the positive changes I've been making in my life since I learned about the LOA and how it works.
+ I am grateful I am a fairly good speaker.
+ I am grateful to be one speech closer to my AC-S award.

Now, in 2 weeks I give an 'educational', where I have to deliver information Toastmasters has written up for the purpose, which is much harder than using something you already know about. I will have to do a lot of prep work to pull this one off. Then 2 weeks after that I give another speech. I forget just now how long, but likely about 10 minutes, and it is on selling a product or service. I might 'sell' an idea instead of a product or service, will have to read the manual project to see if that will work. Then I will have completed the requirements for my AC-S (Advanced Communicator - Silver).

Tomorrow I meet with Kate from Toastmasters, she's a new member and I will be her mentor for the rest of this Tm year. This is the last project I need to do towards my CL (Competent Leader) award. I had planned to complete this before Christmas, then I ended up changing clubs so am way behind in this.

We have club officer elections next week, so I have to decide if I want to let my name stand for one of the available positions. I'm not totally sure I want to stay with Toastmasters, though it is very good in many ways. I just have so much going on in my life and know I need to cut back on some of it and if I am on the executive, I am committed to another full year. Hmmm, decisions, decisions. If I do stay, I have to start doing a better job. Just winging my way through has been working, though it's not the way I like to do things. If it's worth doing I want to do it to the best of my ability, so I need more time to work on and prepare for my commitments.

+ I am grateful to be so close to achieving the 'next levels' in Toastmasters.
+ I am grateful for all the things I'm learning about being a better speaker.
+ I am grateful that I can see and take responsibility for what I need to do better.
+ I am grateful for all growth in my life... as a public speaker, on a personal level, spiritually... all ways.
+ I am grateful I got my Three Word Thursday post up early too.
+ I am grateful I was able to go around to other blogs and see the posts for the 1000 word idiom photo challenges. There really were some incredibly good ones this week. I'm glad I get to join in with the fun and creativity.
+ I am grateful "I'm BACK"

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