Babs - The Conversation Station

GModal

HORSE WITHOUT A HERD

It seems the longer I stay away from blogging the easier it is to stay gone.  Ideas for blog posts are more sketchy at best, even though I do still have something to say.  Okay, I'll confess - I've been spending my days over on MySpace.  MySpace is commercial and shallow, but it's been a great way to stay connected with old friends and new friends I meet.  It's also quick and fits my sporadic lifestyle.

So, why am I here today?  Well, I'm a seeker and lately I have felt like a horse without a herd.  I'm searching once again for kindred spirits on the Internet.  I'm looking for artists, poets, free thinkers, wild/independent spirits and humor.  I'm want to connect with those who want to engage in stimulating conversations.  Don't be surprised if I land on your site today as I poke around the blogsphere.

CHRISTMAS TAG

The Local Malcontent sent me a Christmas tag blog style!

1. Wrapping or gift bags? In the beginning of a wrapping session everything gets put in a box with pretty paper and curly ribbons.  By the end, I'm grabbing for bags.

2. Real or artificial tree?  A real tree every year for the past 16 years.

3. When do you put up the tree?  About ten days before Christmas.

4. When do you take the tree down?  If the tree lives long enough, I take it down New Year's Day.  Last year it came down the day after Christmas.

5. Do you like eggnog?  NO!  It can't even be doctored with liquor.

6. Favorite gift received as a child?  My teenage years were the best - that's when I started receiving art supplies and records.

7. Do you have a nativity scene?  I have a small set I received when I was confirmed as an adult.

8. Worst Christmas gift you ever received?  I'll leave this one out - wouldn't want to offend anyone.

9. Mail or e-mail Christmas cards?  I only mailed cards one year.  They were homemade and really cool.  In the rest of my years, time slipped by too quickly.

10. Favorite Christmas movie?  It's A Wonderful Life.  It's always the classics for me, although I do really enjoy Christmas Vacation.

11. When do you start shopping for Christmas?  Thanksgiving always seems to throw me in a panic.

12. Favorite thing to eat at Christmas?  Fudge and decorated sugar cookies.

13. Clear lights or colored on the tree?  Currently, I have a set of green and one strand of clear.  I really do need another strand of clear.

14. Favorite Christmas song?  "Carol of the Bells."

15. Travel at Christmas or stay home?  It depends on where the family is and what they are doing.  In recent years, we stay home.

16. Can you name all of Santa’s reindeer?  Yes!  Can you?

17. Angel on the tree top or a star?  We have a beautiful angel.  I'm thinking it would be cool to get a sun next year.

18. Open the presents Christmas Eve or Christmas Morning?  Growing up we were Christmas morning people.  I married into a Christmas Eve family.  Now I get to open both days.  I love being married!

19. Most annoying thing about this time of year?  Plastic commercialism.

20. Do you decorate your tree in any specific theme or color?  This year I went for natural and homemade.

21. What do you leave for Santa?  This year I think Santa wants a shot of 101.

22. Least favorite holiday song?  I don't care for the long slow dirges.

23. Favorite ornament?  As I change every year so does my favorites.  This year it's the bisque fairy.

Grab the tag and have a Merry Christmas!

Crazy Cats

I drive from cat stanzas
Roll and curve
to quench
my carnal artistic thirst,

Unsure of my quest
Unsure of my destination
Unsure if this Oasis exists

Halt!
Harmonica permeates
street’s ears
Suddenly,
I’m tempted to be tied
in steel string knots
and drink down Blues,

Quaint like a take-out café,
Ample space to acquire memories,
Memories shared among
a five minute family,
Inebriated in Italian Bistro,
crockpot cooking,
full of stray cats.

Back Beat

Leather clad hooligan
rocks into town
Turquoise and cream
a Rocker’s girl dream,

She trades
saddle oxfords
and poodle skirts
for leather boots
and denim cuffs,

Throws her legs
over rumbling machine,
She rides
to psychobilly
depths of nowhere,

Together
they embrace
the Bohemian pulse
of the new generation
of the past generation
of every generation.

STORY CONVERSION

Well, I guess a month is long enough to celebrate Dave's Birthday (even though he is special).  Thanks for the encouragement fellas - I was actually thinking about pulling the plug again.

I have good excuse for my absence, though.  Remember this project?  I didn't reach my goal last year.  I managed out another chapter and was off writing poetry, getting back to my art, and discovering the beats.  But the unfinished story still lingered over my head calling out to my guilt to be completed.  After attending a few writing workshops, I decided to do my own thing.  I would revive the story where my passion is today.  I converted 21 chapters into an epic poem in creative verse format and finished the remaining seven chapters in about a month.  I'm happy to report the project is completely finished at a total of 99 pages!  Now all I have to do is figure out what I'm going to do with it.

The haunted epic poem is kind of out there, so finding a suitable publisher might be difficult.  My plan is to have a few copies printed and bound to give to family and friends while I wait for my publisher to cross my path.  I describe the story and style as Poe travels to the 20th Century, picks up a beat poet, and meets Stephen King in the 21rst Century.  Of course, I don't claim it to be as good as Poe, the beats, or Stephen King, but the spirit is there.

I would be happy to entertain any other ideas as to what to do with this piece.

Happy Birthday, Dave

Today is Dave's Birthday!  Go over and give my good friend some happy birthday wishes. He's sporting a brand new post military look, too! 

Looking good for a new year, Dave - may it be the best one yet!

FEEDING MY HEAD

"the ultimate famine is the starvation of the imagination"

From Rant by Diane di Prima.

A CHILLING TRIBUTE

When is a tribute spooky?  When the tribute sounds better than the original!  Check out Carla Russell-Kosmic Mama on MySpace - scroll through the music selections and play them all, but be sure to listen to the Janis Joplin tribute.  If you like psychedelic blues southern style, you'll find Carla Russell's voice and style amazing.

I'M FULL

Well, it's been four days since my last post.  Were you beginning to think I was doing my disappearing act again?  Not so!  I've been in Dallas at SMU for a writing workshop led by Vicki Pettersson,  Vegas showgirl turned best selling author.  Read her story here.  Check out her dark fantasy books, Scent of Shadows and Taste of Night and Holidays are Hell.

The workshop was very uplifting, motivating and Vicki packs a punch of inspiration that could be applied to any creative expression.  She also shared a few of her writing toolbox techniques.  If you ever get a chance to attend one of her workshops or attend one of her book signings, I highly recommend you do so - you won't forget or regret the experience.

While in Dallas I also had the privilege of having dinner with one of my friends (whom I've known the longest) and a lady at the Genghis Grill (Mongolian Stir Fry).  The food was absolutely fabulous, the bar mixes a mean amaretto sour, and the company was even better!  To add to the highlights, I also had lunch with guitarist Dave Mack and fellow band member and friend at Cuba Libre.  I absolutely love their plantain chips! And, of course being in the company of two handsome men who treated me like a special lady just can't be duplicated.

I spent the rest of the weekend with a girlfriend to get my chick batteries charged.  We talked the way only good friends can, rummaged through her closets, rested in silence, and she even gave me a belly dancing lesson. 

Wow!  What a weekend.