Today!

Irrelevant

Mountains stand alone.
Oceans stand apart.
Rivers flow continuous.
Plains stretch out endlessly.
Each is solitary but each has their relevance.
The mountains collect the snows to water the summer.
The oceans create the storms that snow on the mountains.
The mighty and not so mighty rivers flow to refill the oceans.
The plains turn melted snow to crops, returning what’s left to the river.

I stand alone.
Unused, unneeded, and unclaimed.
I am irrelevant.

Resolute

A dear lawyer friend once told me, out of good old fashion friendly advice,
“Goals are important to set, for sure, but continued failure will never suffice.

“My friend, one may aim for the sun, knowing no chance to ever get burned,
Some think that simply setting an impossible goal is worthy for one to yearn.

“But” he went on astutely, “I think that it’s foolish; the wisher greatly deceived.
For never will he feel the true success of experiencing that challenge achieved.

“I have, therefore, divined a plan to realize my goals each year without fail.
You, because I like you, may join me and celebrate in your success’ as well.”

He leaned forward so that he could whisper his plan, the key to personal Victory
“Each year” said he “I resolve to exercise less, gain weight and watch more TV.”

It's in the Blood

My Raiders put up a fight but again lost today. They finish with a record of 5-11. It makes the seventh straight year with at least 11 losses, an NFL record.

Although reaching a new level of suckage, I cannot abandon my team. There is something that keeps me aligned to the Silver and Black that I am afraid and yet proud will always be with me.

I have no hometown. I attended ten different schools. I have no lifelong friends. The Shield, the word Raiders, and my belonging to the unofficial Raider Nation is the closest I got.

It not just football; it's my Heritage.

Flight of a Snowflake

They say I’m different from all the rest.
Don’t know if I’m worser, or maybe best.
We’re each all pretty, we at least hope so,
Because in a few minutes, we’ll just be snow.

The Day After Christmas

After all the presents are opened and the day has moved past the night
The day after Christmas and all its mess begins at the first break of light.

The tree now looks so lonely and bare, the presents guarded now gone.
Ornaments not quite so cute, the lights not so bright; if we turn them on.

Space in the living room is at a premium, how long to keep this stuff?
The wreathes, the knick knacks, the little displays. Enough is enough!

Tradition states, we recall, that all must remain at least to New Years Day.
It’s a whole ‘nother week and then, the work begins to put it all away.

Each year I swear as I pack up each and every Christmas Decoration box
I won’t do it again next year, no I won’t, I don’t like it, “not even with a fox”.

Not a light to hang, not a Santa to play, not even a ribbon or bow
Next year, I’m not even going to hang any advantageous Mistletoe.

But the year rolls on and the seasons change and while I eating the Bird
I get excited to go outside and decorate, to light my little part of the world.

Oh the Season is the Season and I can’t help but to play and participate.
I think, however, I need to remember, It’s only the Day After that I hate

The Day After

The house may be a mess for days on end but outside, this morning, everything was just as it should be.
The new year officially starts next week, but the day after Christmas seems to be the real start.
Good Morning and Happy New Year.

Brrrrr! Very Vermonty!

Maybe the start of a new Christmas Tradition? Maybe. I really enjoyed my quiet time this morning in the 10 degree air frying bacon for breakfast sandwiches.

Christmas Bacon. I don't know, but it has a ring to my ears.

Merry Christmas everyone!

Feeling Chilly?

Maybe the memory of the backyard fire can warm up the otherwise frigid temps around here.

Cookie? Cookie for me? (1st Ever Guest Blogger)

Yeah. I admit it. I'm a sucker for cookies and well, pretty much anything baked, fried or otherwise sweetened to unhealthy proportions. But especially cookies.

Although a bit blue, literally, I do like to consider myself somewhat of a ladies monster, and when Charley walked in with those Monster Cookies, which my inside information had already told me she likes to bake, I figured I had this lady already caught in my magic.

A few cookies later, and gushing with all the information she needed, it didn't take much of a sugar rush to figure out that I had been duped. Charley did this to all her information saps. I just happened to be the latest victim. Rapport some call it. A way to build trust. It worked on me, that was for sure. I think it's sneaky. But what the hell, I got Monster Cookies out of it.

As a last ditch effort to save some face, I yelled out to her as she turned to leave with the now empty crumb filled cookie platter.
"Hey! How about at least a good night recipe before you leave."

She laughed.
"If you ever unhand those last two cookies grasped in those furry fingers, you can get it from me next time; I'm in the book."

I was nuts for the girl, and her cookies, and after a number of harassing emails, calls, and a pending restraining order, she finally gave it up to me. The recipe, that is. And here is that address if you want to make your own:

http://www.deniserobbins.com/books/connectthedots.html#recipes

And if you happen to see her, I've got some questions I'd like you to ask her for me. Like:

What CIA approved "enhanced interrogation technique" does the heroine witness in Connect the Dots?

and

Why does she not approve?

If she won't tell you, check out bookobssessed.wordpress.com tomorrow and I'm sure you can find the answers there. But just know that it'll just lead to more questions.

Until then, I'll be over at Denise Robbins' blog, begging for cookies and learning more about her new book Connect the Dots. Make sure you meet us there and bring your answers with you. I hear she might give out more than just cookies to those who post them.