WELCOME ME BACK!!

Hey there my beloved blogger friends! Hope all is well with you guys. I’ve been gone for several months due to an unexpectedly accidental computer mishap, among other things. But I’m back. Again. <Rolling eyes> Let’s see if I can keep up with you guys this time.

I’d be remiss not to put out there how much I’ve missed blogging and my blogging friends. I hope I haven’t lost too many of you in my absence. I just wanted you all to know that I’m OK.   XOXOXO

 

Writing 101 Day 3: Committing to a Writing Practice

Ok, so I’m a few days behind. I’m gonna have to be winging it and making it up on weekends it seems. I’m doing Day 3 of Writing 101 and the assignment is:

Today, celebrate three songs that are significant to you. For your twist, write for fifteen minutes without stopping — and build a writing habit.

This is a difficult assignment because there are many songs hold special places in my heart. Since the assignment calls for three only, I had a hard time trying to figure out the three MOST important songs.

1. Knights in White Satin — The Moody Blues: This song is so significant and not for the reasons you might think. It doesn’t take me back to my childhood, although I do vaguely remember it from way back. My daughter Mandy took me to see Dark Shadows with Johnny Depp for my first Mother’s Day after my bleed. That was in May, 2012. I was just graduating from using the cane. I still get emotional every time I hear it.
2. Sweet Dreams (Are Made of This) — Eurythmics: Fond memories always come back to me when I hear this song because it was my mother’s favorite when she was alive. She loved her Dean Martin and Frank Sinatra, but back when I was kickin’ it 80’s style, she fell in love with this song and would try so hard to sing along with her heavy Hungarian accent. What a hoot that was!
3. Paradise by the Dashboard Lights — Meatloaf: There are dozens of songs that can easily fill this spot, so this was more of an eeny-meenie-miney-mo choice. I’ve loved Meatloaf since forever and this is my absolute favorite song of his. If I’m ever courageous enough (or tipsy enough) to do karaoke, this would be the song I’d be belting out. 🙂 It takes me back to a time when I hung out with close friends, bar-hopping, camping, canoeing, and just enjoying the young, single, and responsibility-free life (well, except for rent, food and utilities)…

There we have it. Three songs that have significant meaning in my life. I’m curious what songs inspired everyone else throughout their lives. Until tomorrow…or the next day.

Express Yourself Meme-June 2-6, 2014

Hey there fellow bloggers! I’m being a good girl and publishing my first post for June’s Express Yourself Meme.   I was at 50% last month and I wrote in my last post that I was aiming for 75-100% for June. I really want 100%. 🙂

This wonderful blog-hop was founded by the dynamic duo of Dani Bertrand at Entertaining Interests and Jackie Felger at Bouquet of Books.

The topic for June 2-9 is: Any fave video games? Not a gamer, then what are your top board games, cards, etc. you enjoy?

Pfft, that’s easy. I haven’t played in a while, but I love the Fallout game. 🙂 Especially 2 and 3. I have it for Playstation3. I finished Fallout 2 three or four times; I kept trying to be a bad guy, but I always wound up with good karma in the end. I was about halfway through Fallout 3 when I had my bleed, maybe more. By the time I was well enough to play again, I had to start over. I did, but find I can’t play for long lengths of time. I still haven’t gotten to the level I was before. One day.

Oh, board games. I always loved them. My favorite used to be the Game of Life. I liked Monopoly too, but when I was young, it just took too long to finish.

That’s all I have for today. I’ll check in with next week’s topic! Have a great one all.

 

Writing 101-Day 2: Room With A View

If you could zoom through space in the speed of light, what place would you go to right now?

Photo courtesy of anankkml
http://www.freedigitalphotos.net

Today’s twist: organize your post around the description of a setting.

1972, it’s early evening and there’s a slight breeze in the summer air at the playground by 167 and Jerome Ave in the Bronx. I’m laid out on a blanket under a tree with Mami; Papi is practicing his soccer kicks on the grass with my Woolworth’s purchased imitation soccer ball. Occasionally, the rumble of the number 4 train can be heard passing on the el.

Two other families, one Puerto Rican and the other Dominican, ten to twelve deep are setting up together about twenty feet away. We recognize them; they’re regulars here too. They both live in the next building over from us. We’re the only Hungarian family they ‘know’.  The men set up chairs; they ready their congas, bongos, tambourines (panderetas), guiros, and maracas for entertainment. The women set out food and beverages, enough to feed an army, it seems.

This is a guiro. To learn more about amazing Hispanic instruments, click on image.

Mami and me get up off our blanket and walk over. I already know Mami offers to help the women. They accept. I go to play with the kids. Papi and the men wave hello. One of the older boys goes up to Papi and they start to kick the ball around.

Pretty soon it seems as though three families had come together. Mami brings our lone blanket closer and calls me to bring my bicycle, the one that I am still trying to learn how to ride. The breeze carries the delicious smell of arroz con gandules and fried chicken. My mouth can’t help but water. After dropping my bike off by the blanket, I glance over and notice potato and macaroni salads, chips, and all manner of sweets. At seven years old, I’m loving it.

Sometimes, what I wouldn’t do to go back to such an easier and carefree time. I was young and didn’t feel like I had the weight of the world on my shoulders on my worst days. I had my beloved parents with me. That evening in the park with the two families turned into the start of a beautiful friendship between the three families.

I can still hear the rhythm and the beat of the congas in my head to this day. Milo, one of the sons of the Dominican family, became my best friend. We became so close that my parents allowed me to spend a summer in Santo Domingo the following year.

One summer back in time would satisfy me. That’s all I ask.

Express Yourself-A-Z Challenge

Hello there fellow bloggers! Hope everyone is enjoying their Memorial Day weekend. Although I’m a bit inconsistent, I’m putting for the Express Yourself Meme, hosted by the wonderful blogging duo of Dani Bertrand and Jackie Felger.

The topic for the week of May 26-30 is which A-Z Challenge post or blogger did you really enjoy this year?

This could be interesting; so many choices depending on the day!  I visited so many bloggers for the Challenge this year (first time I ever visited), hopefully next year I can take part. There are way too many to list, so I am only going to list three. I really enjoyed (in no particular order): posts by A Writer Inspired – who did 30 Days of Writes, Alex J. Cavanaugh – who did Retro themed posts, and Melissa Janda – who did Writing and Writing Advice posts.

I’m looking forward to June’s list–I got it 50% for May, I’m going to aim for at least 75%, if not 100% for June.