New Year's Revolutions

One of my New Year's Resolutions (our nine year old calls them reVolutions) is to learn to shoot, file for my pistol permit, and purchase a gun I can safely manage. 

He, who is nine, wants to eat more fiber and fewer calories. He calls it the diabetic diet.

We are moving the Christmas Tree and instruments out of the music room, replacing them with the weight sets and Nordic machines that reside in the shop (baby, it's cold outside!)

J, now seven, resolves to finally lose his first tooth. 

A Blog as Creative Writing, not a News Report

It's a good day to publish this reminder: this blog is work of creative writing. It's not meant to be factual or accurate. It's a place where a writer can play with words, make connections, and explore ideas. A blogger can cultivate an alter ego, a poetic voice, or a case study.

I make no claims to writing from any single source or perspective.

Many moons ago I was told that I'd insulted someone here.

This person, I believe, imagined seeing herself in a story, although her name wasn't used and the scenario was imaginary.

A blogger is allowed to imagine and explore. I don't however, believe that we should point fingers, name names, or infringe on other's privacy.

Still, I sincerely apologize if I made an insulting remark or published something that was inappropriate.

I'm reminded of an article I read yesterday in The Huffington Post, "The Top five Most Preposterous Things in The Desolation of Smaug." The author (critic) thought that the director had taken too much liberty with this and that scene or character.

Where is our acceptance of creativity?

The Impossible Project

“Impossible is just a big word thrown around by small men who find it easier to live in the world they've been given than to explore the power they have to change it. Impossible is not a fact. It's an opinion. Impossible is not a declaration. It's a dare. Impossible is potential. Impossible is temporary. Impossible is nothing.”

― Muhammad Ali

While searching for a gift on Ebay I stumbled upon The Impossible Project, the name given to the company that purchased the former Polaroid instant film company. In my imagination I can hear the critics who advised the group NOT to purchase the former warehouses and equipment for old, virtually defunct cameras. Now the company is HOT, selling film for the latest artistic craze, "analog photography." I'm wild about the idea.

Our 9-year-old and I are reading "Strength of a Champion," by former NFL player O.J. Brigance.

O.J. Brigance, a former Ravens and Baltimore Stallions (CFL) LB, is the Ravens’ senior advisor to player development. Brigance, who has three championship rings– two Super Bowl rings with the Ravens (2000 and 2012) and a CFL Grey Cup ring with the Baltimore Stallions (1995) – has been an inspiration to the entire Ravens organization for his perseverance and courage while fighting Lou Gehrig’s Disease (Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis) the past six-plus years. The NFL has honored Brigance many times, earning the Best Overall Player Development Program award for two straight years (2005-06) and also receiving the Most Outstanding Internship Program Award in 2005. In 2007, the NFL once again honored Brigance’s program, this time with the Outstanding Continuing Education Program Award. In 2008, the Ed Block Courage Award Foundation also saluted O.J. with its Johnny Unitas Tops in Courage Award for his strength in his battle against ALS. Brigance played seven years for three NFL teams (Miami, Baltimore and St. Louis) before joining the Ravens’ front office in 2004.

Many times, O.J.'s life circumstances seemed insurmountable. He typed the book with his eyes because ALS has stripped him of the use of the rest of his body.

Recently we watched the movie "The Impossible," the story of one family's miraculous journey to find one another following the tsunami in Thailand. It is a gut-wrenching, beautiful, inspiring film.

Christmas is the perfect time to marvel at "the impossible. " God became human. A savior-king was born in a manger. He performed miracles and conquered death.

This blog is a work of creative writing.

Oh Gravity!

I sometimes feel as if the forces of gravity are somehow stronger over and under my house. It seems that the floors are constantly littered with things that have fallen from shelves, counter tops, and clothes hangers.

Yesterday I noticed that a boy's dirty sock had fallen into the basket of potpourri that sits in the living room on a side table. I can't get over the juxtaposition of my best attempts at a nice-smelling family spot next to a boy's mindless attempt at undressing himself.

It becomes very frustrating when I have a cold or some other illness that drains my energy.

I am then no longer capable of working, 24-7 against the forces of boy nature.

The sink fills up with dirty dishes. The laundry pile grows and grows.

I'm finding it especially difficult to manage this week when there is a slim, very slim, chance that a visiting relative might stop by and see the wallpaper that has fallen to the ground, the shoes that carpet the entryway floor, and the well-used bathrooms.

This weekend is our family Christmas get-together. There is also another large snowstorm in the weather forecast.

Snowfall spoiled our Thanksgiving plans.

Snow must fall, once again.

Oh gravity!