New gal again with a long list...
Squeen- Thank you for posting What my lips have kissed. I haven't read that in a while and it brought good memories with it.
Violet- Mixed muffins was such a happy piece (doesn't new lingerie do that every time?) thank you for the smile. Yep,I am an Oregonian and I love it here. I do not own an umbrella and I refuse to wear Birkenstocks. However, I do love a great cup of coffee and I enjoy granola occasionally. Thanks so much for the compliment.
Kevin- You have a great style to your writing.
~When your
question is searching
I am your yes
~ very nice line.
WryShadow- Nightengale(sp?) is beautiful.
Jack- Submerged in images of closer times. ~My favorite!
Madison- Do you ever write badly? As we do is another in a long line of yours that I have enjoyed.
Whew... My fingers are getting tired... :)
Arwen~ real oregonians don't use umbrellas anyway... but refusing to wear birks is a problem. ;-) i'm down at WOU... we're almost neighbors. :-)
Sati, again you have placed my heart on paper... simplest words for hardest knowings. Be well.
Sati, again you have placed my heart on paper... simplest words for hardest knowings. Be well.
Hi Rhet,
Thanks for your kind compliment. To answer your question, I do love my job. But I think that 'Every Prison' is more a reflection of one of the negative aspects of it. It's hard to spend 12 hours a day with these prisoners, know their circumstances, what they're charged with, hear their stories, etc. and then sit in the courtroom guarding them and watch things unfold. I can't say I'm a bleeding heart, 'cause I'm surely not. Nor can I say I'm a hard ass, for that would be inaccurate. All I can do is keep the peace, make sure they are safe from each other, and then listen and say my piece, for what it's worth, and carry a little thought that maybe a month from now, a year from now, twenty five yars from now, something I said to them will come to mind and help them make the right choice when they're faced with a situation. Most of what I say falls on deaf ears, but I say it anyway, because I have had enough of them come back and tell me that they remembered what I said, or how I treated them and it DID make a difference. And I know that I will never know about most of them. Most of these prisoners have no idea what a functional, healthy life is. To think of themselves in a nice house, with a good job, a tight family, and any respect from society is like us picturing ourselves as a movie star or a sports figure. It's just so inconceivable. We can dream, but inside we tell ourselves that kind of life is not for us, we don't get that because we haven't got whatever it takes to have it. And they only know dysfunction. For example just tonight...I had one prisoner talking to his parole officer in the pod area. All of a sudden he slams his fists down on the metal table and starts yelling. Heads to his cell and smashes his walkman, and cusses out his cell mate. We have to cuff him and escort him to the cage as he's crying like a baby. And this is because he found out he's getting 30 days instead of 3. What good is his reaction, besides to heap more consequenses on himself? Attention. Someone listens, pays attention. And then tonight also, we have this prisoner who is crazy, basically. He gets off on hands-on takedowns. He gets an erection and defecates himself when he gets slammed to the floor. So what does he do? He regularily creates a disturbance so we come and cuff him up, etc. What good is this? He has human contact. Attention. And another today goes off in his cell. Slams things, screams, threatens. Why? Because his girlfriend tells him that some guy asked her out today. These are people who are so ineffective in life, that all they CAN do is REACT to their environment. They don't seem to create their life at all. They just slide through it, making bad shit happen and feeling hard done by. They act out the pain and frustrations they were never taught to deal with, never shown how to deal with life and what it throws at us. And they shout. And they kill and steal and rape and bang with the gang and break the laws that are supposed to protect us all. And they are lost. And you know what? Nobody listens.
(sorry about the long tirade. I just got home from work, and it was a long day!) :-)
TJ?
Got a mug of warm cocoa with your name on it. You are a romantic soul living in a pragmatic world. And I do thank God for you. Yank up a rock girl....
Gala
Got it!
Ok....you've seen them before...emails and articles that offer best of (fill in the blank). So rather than have a poetry challenge (yet), and since we are from all over the place...Let's play Best of 20 Questions...here goes---
1. Favorite five romantic movies, in order or preference.
2. Favorite five love songs, with prefered artists.
3. Favorite meal to share with your honey.
4. Favorite meal to have alone.
5. Favorite NONSEXUAL part of your loved one.
6. Favorite five books, and authors.
7. Favorite five web sites to visit.
8. Describe what would be a decadent day for you...what and whom, and where and why...
9. We all have had our hearts broken---give the name of a heart breaker that got you so bad, if you meet a person with the same name, you cringe. (optional, but interesting)
10. You get a fantasy shot---a bit part in a movie where you can kiss anyone you like---(with tongue). What person would you choose? (Doesn't have to be a movie star, or celebrity)
11. You get to give a dinner party---any 10 people you name will be magically delivered for food and conversation---who would you pick?
12. Most romantic spot on the planet where you have ACTUALLY been.
13. Most romantic spot on planet where you would like to go, and when (season, occasion, etc)
14. Most romantic gift you've ever been given.
15. Most romantic gift you've given someone else.
16. Asti or champagne? (Which do you prefer?)
17. Secret thing that melts you on the spot---(extra points if the one in your life has ever figrued it out!)
18. Favorite Painting or art work, and artist eho did it. (I vote for the Dancer, by Davena Aboye!)
19. Most romantic poem ever---by someone else...
20. Longest phone call you've ever had with a lover...
Okay guys...let's go!
I love the Blender!! I submitted a poem, but it is no longer on the submissions page. Where do these go? There is someone I need to read it!!
Arwen I'm just happy you got it. My boyfriend (and he's very deep intellectually, but being an artist he sees images more than feels words) well, when it took me 10 minutes to explain 4 lines of poetry, geeze he had no idea I was talking about anymore than a leaf and wood chimes :| ha. Gala, I think I'll just pick out 2 or 3 of the questions, I'll be gabbing all day otherwise! Interesting challenge. I'll start with #5: favorite nonsexual part of a lover. That one's easy, there are none. None to exclude that is, when I think of any part, they are all sexual! (do I need therapy?)
Gala~ ooh fun! do we answer those on the board, or in a poem sumbission thingy?? respectfully yours, ~*Violet*~
If I could have a dinner party, it would be catered by Fisherman's Wharf out of Galveston, Texas. And I'd invite these people:
Billy Bob Thorton, Angelina Jolie, Drew Barrymore, Stephen King, Hunter S. Thompson, Erica Jong, George Clooney, Ozzy Osbourne, David Lynch and Carrie Fisher.
Thanx Gala, I'll take that cuppa, and sit down with you any day. I just reread my big entry from last night. I am fortunate that I am one of those people who can do this job. I don't take jail stuff home with me. I do think about it all though. Thankfully, I seem to be able to be empathetic and practical there, yet I can retain the balanced sense of the neccesity of incarceration. I don't feel like the world is shit, or that the criminals are treated unfairly by being held accountable. And one day, I will write a book about it all, because there are things that need to be said. And there are stories...crazy, touching, scary stories that need to be told. A couple of years from now you'll see my book, and read about your role in who I am, and you can say..."I knew her when she was that romantic soul living in a pragmatic world".....
Please excuse the impersonal address - but I am short on time and often too long in my praises!
Here are a few that I read that mooove this mama:
Madison
as we do - I don't need to tell you how much I like this, you always read so well.
violet
mixed berry muffins - fun and whimsical - nothing is more exciting than a fresh start (and the occasional muffin with honey)!
scqueen
Harvest Moon - WHAT A SONG. The way his voice breaks, I enjoyed the read - nearly as much as the memory of the melody!
Galadrial
Port Wine Kisses - Hip Hip Horray. You didn't rest your pen for your birthday? How does the challenge go? Do I post in new submissions or on the board? I shall finish this tonite!
MichaelT()
Leaves - You are constant and your works,however parenthetically prefaced, are wonderful to read.
Maverick
I am THE MAN - well you meust be teh man, huh? If it is written - it must be try, right?
Bon Voyage - Rhet
Teej ~
Thank You for giving me such an in depth look into your work. I must agree with Gala, that from what I know of you work here, you don't appear to be your average prison gaurd. I once visited a min. security facility with a class and it was frightening. I wonder what type of shell you must wear to leave those horrific memories at work - and not allow them to haunt you. You are a brave soul - keep safe.
Tangerine, Taboo, Charade, and Betty ~
You are so fun...I am trying to acsertain the difference in each style.
Once again, Rhet
This kind of thing should be kept on the message board, unless you manage to put your answer in terms of an interesting poem or prose piece.
(Some of those questions look for five when I'm lucky to be able to think of one...)
And since I started this....
1. The Big Easy
2. Now Voyager
3. Romancing The Stone
4. Jumping Jack Flash
5. The Princess Bride
Love songs:
1. You'll Never Know.
2. I Left My Heart In San Francisco (Who else---Tony Bennett!)
3. What Are You Doing New Year's Eve---Ella Fitzgerald
4. The Way it Is Celine Dion
5. Angel of the Morning (Original version)
Indoor: Lobster
Outdoor: Cheese, fruit, croissants, and a crisp reisling...98 is nice.
4. Favorite meal to have alone.
Cherry blintzes with sour cream.
5. Favorite NONSEXUAL part of your loved one.
The eyes have it...
6. Favorite five books, and authors.
Darkover Books by Marion Zimmer Bradley,
Set in the ago of Chaos.
Most of the Anne Rice books.
Friday by Robert Heinlein
Anything by Grisham...(he tells a good story)
Anything by Jeffrey Wilder Deaver
7. Favorite five web sites to visit.
The Arcanum Cafe (yeah, well it's true!
The Dock at Poet's Bay
The Blender of Love
Xanga
Galadrial's Garden (shameless plug)
8. Describe what would be a decadent day for you...what and whom, and where and why...
Spending the day somewhere that has a masseur, a hot tub, big fluffy robes, and the guy who inspires my Back Bar stuff....(WHEE!)
9. We all have had our hearts broken---give the name of a heart breaker that got you so bad, if you meet a person with the same name, you cringe. (optional, but interesting)
Okay...this is not funny but true...I have had my heart broken by multiple Steves...so Steve...and believe it or not, Lori---(Sorry Kaz) (She didn't break my heart---but she took my first real boyfriend, back when I thought a loved one could be stolen---without wanting to be!)
10. You get a fantasy shot---a bit part in a movie where you can kiss anyone you like---(with tongue). What person would you choose? (Doesn't have to be a movie star, or celebrity)
Mmmmmmmmm. Dennis Quaid looks like he could be PAID for kissing. Yup. He'll do.
11. You get to give a dinner party---any 10 people you name will be magically delivered for food and conversation---who would you pick?
1. Mark Twain. 3. Mae West
2. Dorothy Parker. 4. Ben Franklin
5. Da vinci 6. Elizabeth I
7. Groucho Marx 8. My daughter, as an adult
9. Tip O'Neil 10.Emeril Largasse
12. Most romantic spot on the planet where you have ACTUALLY been.
The crest of a ridge overlooking Cinammon Bay in St. John, USVI----the veiw was stunning, but the ridge was covered with jasmine and hibiscus....HEAVEN!
13. Most romantic spot on planet where you would like to go, and when (season, occasion, etc) Any waterfall in Hawaii that you can swim under...
14. Most romantic gift you've ever been given.
An opal ring---the most beautiful one I had ever seen.
15. Most romantic gift you've given someone else.
An Opal ring---triangular cut...to the same person who gave me mine---for the same occasion. We didn't know what the other was doing...
16. Asti or champagne? (Which do you prefer?)
ASTI!
17. Secret thing that melts you on the spot---(extra points if the one in your life has ever figrued it out!) Having my neck nibbled.....for an hour. Longer.
18. Favorite Painting or art work, and artist eho did it. (I vote for the Dancer, by Davena Aboye!)
19. Most romantic poem ever---by someone else...
Ok...it's cliche as hell...but Elizabeth Barett Browning...How Do I Love Thee...
20. Longest phone call you've ever had with a lover...
Four hours...and I'm not saying another word.
1) My fair lady, Casablanca, the little mermaid, the sound of music, and Moulin Rouge! :-)
2) The abscence of Fear, by Jewel; You've got a friend, by Carol King; Power of Two, by the Indigo Girls; On my Own, from Les Miserables; and Near you Always, by Jewel.
3) A good New York Steak with my baby gets my libido flowing. ;-)
4) Brie cheese, french bread, fruit and almonds... sit in front of a good chick flick and voila! the perfect alone meal.
5)My boy has a "shoulder dent" where my head rests prefectly. :-)
6) Shakespaere's Complete Works, Emily Dickinson's Complete works, a night without armor, Jewel; The pilot's Wife, by Anita Shreve; and The weight of water also by shreve.
7) i don't have five... this one is first... hotmail is a good one ;-) and i also really like the create your own engagement ring sites. If anyone had any fun website tips.. let me know... oh hey... thespark.com has funny tests.
8) my decadent day would be having an endless supply of money... shopping at all my fave stores... eating lunch somewhere quaint with my honey... going on a walk by the river or through a park... and then going out to dinner at the fanciest place in town for steaks... followed by an evening of swing dancing and love making. ;-)
9) i once was dumped. it was random, out of the blue and sooooo painfully done (publicly!) and his name was Mikkel. He was my "first love" so yeah, it hurt!
10) If I was in a movie, and could kiss anyone (because it'd be my job, right? :-P ) I would kiss George Clooney because he is amazing. (im his biggest fan... have his autograph... yum)
11) 10 people at a dinner party... my love, my 4 best friends, george clooney, jewel, michael stipe, my mom because she's good at dinner parties and lastly audrey hepburn (can i invite dead people?)
12) toss up between victoria, canada; skagen, denmark; paris,france; and Prauge, Czech republic.
13) i'd love to go to greece!
14) my darling is in the process of making me a lovely needlepoint of a new england scene just because i love it there... it's very cute that he can sew... i can't even fix buttons :-P
15)I made a big jar of 365 reasons why i loved him... pretty romantic, i thought... he reads one everyday... :-)
16)champagne yummmy
17) I secretly melt when he is driving, smells like cologne and is not paying attention to me at all... it makes me crazy!
18)I really love anything by Monet! I saw his exhibit three times... when it came to Portland. Fantastic!
19)"You" by Jewel so passionate.
20) longest phone call... hmm... probably three hours or so.
That was Fun! Sorry if I wrote a Novel! I can't wait to see the other results! :-D
I appreciate this distraction. I love lists. My favorite painting is The Lady of Shalott by John William Waterhouse. The most romantic poem ever written is Annabel Lee by Edgar Allan Poe. Most romantic movies: "Prelude to a Kiss"! "An Affair to Remember"! "The Fisher King"! "An Officer and a Gentleman"! "Always"! I won't name Heartbreaker Numero Uno but lesser heartbreakers include Brian, Jay (much lesser), Josh, Chase and Dallas. The most romantic songs..."Smoke Gets in Your Eyes," "Crazy Love" (Van Morrison), "My Man (Mon Homme)" (Billie Holiday)..."Angel Flying Too Close to the Ground" (Willie Nelson)and "I've Been Loving You Too Long (To Stop Now)" by Otis Redding.
The most romantic place I can think of on this planet is San Francisco. I've never been there but that's my "dream" city. Thanks, Gala.
I'm anxious to read other responses.
Misi~ iLOVE anabell lee!! :-)
2. Favourite five love songs, with preferred artists:
Angel Eyes, Jeff Healey
Beautiful in my Eyes, Joshua Kadison
(Could you be) the most Beautiful girl in the world, Prince
Lovers Rock or the Sweetest Gift, Sade - actually anything Sade.
and Cruise by Huey Lewis and Gwyneth (just cause it is 'our' song)
3. Favourite meal to share with your honey.
Seafood at 'Windows on Bay'
18. Favourite Painting or art work, and artist who did it.
Oh anything by me.... no really.... umm... let me think about that one...
20. Longest phone call you've ever had with a lover...
6hrs 20mins - We try and talk once a week for a decent length of time once a week though - usually about 4-5hrs... and we talk for and hour most nights.
scqueen, Gala, Rhetoric, Arwen, Madi...
thank you all for your kind words. I have needed them of late!
My list, for what it's worth...
1. Dr. Zhivago (a POET), Shakespeare (another POET) in Love, The English Patient, Casablanca, Princess Bride (have to have ONE non-doomed love story)
2. That is way too difficult! Lately, tunes by Allison Krauss + Union Station though…
3. Anything she asks for.
4. Macaroni and cheese (I have a craving).
5. Eyes.
6. Haven’t ONLY five books (that would be too difficult). Five favorite authors are William Shakespeare, Joan Didion, Marge Piercy, Robert Heinlein, and
7. www.xanga.com , www.salon.com (unless and until Son of Mr. Blue is a bust), www.imdb.com , www.allmusic.com , and espn.go.com (everyone deserves ONE guilty pleasure)
8. Anywhere on another poetic road trip… Because it was/is such a self-indulgent act.
9. Never been broken THAT bad.
10. I’ll never tell! ;-)
11. Grace Kelly (okay, so she would have been the answer to number ten as well), Bob Marley, and eight certain Blenderites past and present…
12. San Francisco
13. Paris in the springtime
14. Sex, of course!
15. Poetry – mine, and others’
16. Champagne
17. The tucking-the-hair-behind-the ear thing…
18. My very own Davena Abioye original, “Plughole” It was inspired by something I’d posted here on the Blender (as was the OTHER painting I really really really wanted, “Whites”)
19. “Lovers” by Richard Brautigan
20. 2-3 hours – I think…
re: Kevin's 19. “Lovers” by Richard Brautigan, because I'm pretty sure people will ask (I did)
http://www.angelfire.com/ky/petposey/rbpill.html
click around the links at the bottom of the page and you'll find lots more by Brautigan.
WOW - This was a great idea Gala and Scqueen:
I am shocked to see The Princess Bride on here SO many times...AS YOU WISH.....I just loved Robin Wright (Penn) in that one.
Heres a few of mine to add to the mix -
1. Favorite five romantic movies, in order or preference.
The Princess Bride - All time fave movie
The English Patient
The End of the Affair
Indochine
The Red Violin - Ok, it is an affair with an instrument, but I love it.
2. Favorite five love songs, with prefered artists.
Pictures of You – The Cure
I Would for You – Janes Addiction
Say Goodbye – Dave Matthews Band
Black – Pearl Jam
Into the Mystic – Van Morrison
3. Favorite meal to share with your honey.
Fondu - everything tastes beter with cheese!
4. Favorite meal to have alone.
Chicken Tikka Masala with lots of onion chutney and papaddam
5. Favorite NONSEXUAL part of your loved one.
His hair – from eyebrows to toes - texture and color
6. Favorite five books, and authors.
Leaves of Grass – Whitman
Anything by Patricia Cornwell - love those medical thrillers
The Shawshank Redemption – S. King - my sweetie made me read
Cry the Beloved Country – Alan Paton
Oh The Places You Will Go – Dr. Seuss - what is more inspirational that this one?
7. Favorite five web sites to visit.
Of Course The Blender
CDC website – I know, boring!! ( I am a health educator!)
Food Tv.com
Dean and Deluca
The Onion
9. We all have had our hearts broken---give the name of a heart breaker that got you so bad, if you meet a person with the same name, you cringe. (optional, but interesting)
Justin - my first love and he stills has a HUGE chunk of mon coeur stashed away somewhere! He was my Birkenstock man, violet!
10. You get a fantasy shot---a bit part in a movie where you can kiss anyone you like---(with tongue).
Drew Barrymore ...I can't decide between Drew or Jennifer Lopez...both drive me batty.
18. Favorite Painting or art work, and artist who did it.
Black and white photos – Man Ray, Emogene Cunningham, Patrick Demarchelier, and Albert Watson
Paintings - Anything by Monet, Picasso, and Van Gogh – I love the Impressionists!
19. Most romantic poem ever---by someone else...
I am really on this Edna St. Vincent Millay kick now – so most words from her pen
I love the responses - it really gives me an inside track into your personalitites guys!!! Keep pouring it on.
Rhetoric
just for the heck of it!
1.when harry met sally, legends of the fall, english patient, bridget jones'diary, an affair to remember
2.Sarah Mclachlan-I love you, Fisher-I will live you, Extreme-more than words,Sinead o'conner-nothing compares, ella fitz and Louis armstrong-nearness of you
3.subway sandwiches
4.good ole mac and cheese (singles)
5.uhhh...toughy
6.fountainhead-ayn rand,memoirs of a geisha,leaves of grass-whitman,the little prince(la petite prince),Harold and the purple crayon
7.LOVEBLENDER!, www.cosmopolitan.com (hehe), www.bearshare.com, www.Smithdailyjolt.com
8.Me, josh, Siesta key beach, at night with full moon, on blanket on the sand. nobody but the two of us.
9.heartbreaker, heartbreaker- joey v.
10.who else. Joshy!
11.uh, josh, my bro, Diana, Liz, Rosie, Emily, maggs, jenny, phil, jeff, KJ
12.movable place-walking in bloomingdale west in the rain with a boy
13.Autumn(full-fledged foilage)in New England. Northampton,MA (my new home)at night on paradise pond. a clear-starry night. with Josh
14.his heart in poetry
15.my heart in poetry
16.champagne
17. when he whispers sweet nothings, of course
18.ooo, thats a tough one. robert doisneau's hotel d'ville photograph
19.Pablo neruda's love sonnet 17(I do not love you as if you were salt-rose...), and josh's (wryshadow)nightengale
20.hours upon hours. (long distance bill here I come!)
WOW...
You people are awesome. Thanks for playing along...
any one else feeliing brave...?
Gala
B.K - LOVE your bump
Kev -Allison Kraus has the sweetest and most delicate voices in all of music today. She and Sarah McClaghlan should collaborate.
Here are a few more:
11. You get to give a dinner party---any 10 people you name will be magically delivered for food and conversation---who would you pick?
Drew Barrymore (for my kiss!), Three of my closest pals, Umberto Eco, Dr. David Satcher (Surgeon General – he is brilliant), Chaucer – I LOVE Chaucer, Jennifer Lopez – eye candy, Dave Matthews, and Winston Churchill.
Catered by any of the iron chefs!!
12. Most romantic spot on the planet where you have ACTUALLY been.
Belgium and Germany make me think of woolen socks, cool breezes and standing on hill looking out at farmland and sheep grazing. I get so caught up in the wonder of nature sometimes that I can’t breathe.
13. Most romantic spot on planet where you would like to go, and when (season, occasion, etc)
I dream about Bali and Spain – either place would do – perfect weather, no matter the season!
Ok - I must stop here - if I don't I will have said too much. I may have already :)
The Darlin Rhet
Ok ~ My tired brain can only handle 5 of these questions at a time, so here goes my first bunch...
1) 5 favorite romantic movies: Somewhere in Time, Princess Bride, Urban Cowboy (don't you dare laugh, I luved Sissy and Bud:-) Big Man On Campus and One On One (remember with Robby Benson?)
2)5 love songs : The River(Bruce Springsteen), In The Dark (Nina Simone), Songbird(Kenny G.), Walking By My Side (Pete Droge), The Lines Around Your Eyes (Lucinda Williams).
3)Favorite meal with my honey: Anything he cooks, especially veal.
4)Meal alone? A cashew chicken salad sandwich with tomatoes & sprouts on multigrain bread - each half of the sandwich topped with one giant garlic stuffed olive. I get this maybe once a month at a local shop called 'The Loading Dock' - coincidentally owned by the late Phil Hartman's sister.
5)You mean there are NONSEXUAL parts of people? Well, ok - the neck is my favorite.
nitey-nite