Writers Inspiration

Halloween poem, letter-c, recipe and other stuff

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Memento
Memento, created by Emily Romano is a poem about a holiday or an anniversary, consisting of two stanzas as follows: the syllable count should be 8 beats for line one; 6 beats for line two; and two beats for line three. This is repeated twice for each stanza. The rhyme scheme is: a/b/c/a/b/c for each of the two stanzas.

Thought I would give one a try just for fun. And since Halloween is on my brain. I’ve been thinking a lot about our quandary to decorate or not. Do I expect trick or treaters? Probably, the same children in the neighborhood since they already run everywhere in our development. I’ve crossed paths numerous times and we always maintain social distance. I could simply set a filled dish on the steps for them. Some how I don’t see the trunk or treats at the school happening this year. The majority of our schools are distance learning.

Halloween©

Halloween, a ghoulish delight
goblins and fairies join
so glad
to partake in whatever fright
without flipping a coin
you cad!

“One need not be a chamber to be haunted. One need not be a house. The brain has corridors surpassing material place.” ~ Emily Dickinson

Letter-c and custard

Three weeks have come and gone without a word from the doctor. Should I safely assume no news is good news on the biopsies done on the polyps? So I logged into the online portal that seems to be the methodology of the medical field these days, nothing was listed in my test results there either. Why is it so hard for communication channels to work as efficiently as their billing channel does?

Fall is approaching and with it comes the drying of herbs or freezing them for future use. I can’t freeze this year so I will be drying a slew to take with me.

I looked in the cupboard and I noted I have 8 cans of pumpkin on hand. I don’t feel like a pie or bread but then I remembered in the cancer fighting cookbook a recipe for pumpkin custard. Now that sounds divine.

Preheat oven 325

1 cup canned pumpkin, 1 teaspoon of ground cinnamon, 1/2 teaspoon of sea salt, and ground ginger, 1/4 teaspoon of ground cloves, allspice, nutmeg. 2 eggs, 2 tablespoons of maple syrup. She indicates dark is better. 1 tablespoon of molasses. 1 teaspoon of vanilla. I cup of organic milk or coconut milk. I didn’t have either so I used 1 cup of vanilla almond milk.

Combine pumpkin, cinnamon, ginger,cloves,allspice and nutmeg in large bowl. In a smaller bowl beat the eggs lightly, then add the maple syrup, molasses,vanilla, and milk. Blend together then whisk into pumpkin mixture until thoroughly combined.

Pour the mixture into 6 ramekins and place them inside a 13″x 9″ pan or whatever pan you have that has at least 3 inch sides so the water doesn’t spill when you put it and pull it from the oven. Add 2 inches of hot water around the ramekins and carefully transfer pan to oven. Bake 45 -55 minutes. Test with a knife to make sure it comes out clean. Serve warm or cold. So good! ❤ Your family will love you for it.

This recipe belongs to Rebecca Katz from the Cancer Fighting Kitchen.

Rant:

“There are horrors beyond life’s edge that we do not suspect, and once in a while man’s evil prying calls them just within our range.~ H.P. Lovecraft

More violence and more covid-19

6,132,074 in the United States. deceased in the United States 186,173

confirmed cases: New Jersey: 192,973 Maine: 4,632 Virginia 124, 779, Nevada 70,474 , Massachusetts 129, 596

Looks like it’s safer still to live in Maine but unfortunately, they don’t have the medical I require available without long trips to Boston.

https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/what-we-know-about-the-death-of-michael-forest-reinoehl-the-portland-shooting-suspect/ar-BB18HUzg?li=BBnb7Kz&

https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/crime/man-struck-by-stray-bullet-while-sleeping-5-others-shot-in-east-germantown-during-burst-of-violence/ar-BB18HQ

https://apnews.com/29c7f7a558778e132a0f09c1c4d2b8b4

https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/coronavirus?ocid=TSHDHP

I’m inclined to stay inside and continue reading Roald Dahl’s Ghost Stories the outside world isn’t appealing to me. Maybe start a new crochet project so I’m not transporting it all with me.

Sandman’s Q&A

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https://sandmanjazz.wordpress.com/2020/09/02/sandmans-q-and-a-24/

If I could have my hair any color for 24 hours, what color would I choose?

Macavity and me

I had the electric blue for more than 24 hours, I loved it. But then I’ve had so many hair colors over the years thanks to my awesome friend and hair stylist.The typical colors of auburn, brunette, blonde after chemo stole my hair color. My hair came back in snow white. All of my natural color was gone. So then I tried, Royal blue,turquoise, pink, eggplant, green, red, orange, black and blue together, black and green together, purple, silver with red tips, I love the freedom, I have to express myself.

Am I a Hitchcock fan? If so, what is my favorite movie?

Hitchcock fan oh yeah. My introduction was because my Gramma loved John Forysthe, he starred in an unusual Hitchcock The Trouble with Harry. It wasn’t all that suspenseful, the setting isn’t busy, and the story is unusually quaint but she loved it and I watched it with her.

My second favorite is I Confess. the film stars Montgomery Clift in the leading role as a priest who’s wrongly suspected of murder. I Confess puts the ethics of privacy of the church on the stand, which ultimately results in showing the oath of silence in a new light. Which at the time was novel.

My third favorite is Spellbound. Spellbound is a twisting and turning suspense thriller from Alfred Hitchcock that nearly reaches the heights of his greatest works. Ingrid Bergman and Gregory Peck star in the film and both give excellent performances.

And finally, you can’t be a Hitchcock without the Birds. Why would anyone want to make a movie about Birds? I love birds but there are lots of people who hate birds. That’s due to a phenomenon known as ornithophobia — the fear of birds — and Hitchcock understood better than anyone how to tap into it. According to google to The Birds is one of Hitchcock’s most iconic works and has inspired countless spoofs and parodies over the years. For as silly as a swarm of birds inexplicably attacking people may seem to some, the film speaks more broadly to base human fears about how fragile our sense of security in the world actually is. The delicate balance of our daily routines could unravel and disrupt our lives forever — a horrifying theme indeed. The Birds is a multi-layered horror thriller from the master whose weighty themes cut beneath its story’s strange and frightening surface.

Do I decorate for Autumn/Halloween and will it be affected by this year’s craziness?

The witches cackle, the books move.
Igor offers interesting dining options.

I’m the house in the neighborhood that people come to see what I’ve done inside and out each year. I decorate because I love Halloween and how festive or scary I make it depends on my mood more than anything. I love creating the villages each year, I takes lots of pictures so I don’t repeat the set-up.

This year I have more than covid weighing on me. We’re moving and unpacking all the decorations and setting up draws away from what I need to be focusing on. But on the other hand I love how it feels in here with everything up and this is going to be last opportunity in this house. I’m going back and forth on this.

This being a grown up totally sucks.

I’ll never have a fun bathroom like this again.

# day 3 album played to death

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Day 3: An Album You Played too Death

https://sandmanjazz.wordpress.com/2020/09/03/30-day-album-challenge-day-3/

Hands down the Rolling Stones, my love hasn’t diminished in the last fifty years plus. Jagger and the Rolling Stones set the bar for rock-n-roll and not many groups have beat it or even come close.

The Rolling Stones are an English rock band formed in the UK in 1962. As a diverging act to the popular music of the early 1960s, the Rolling Stones pioneered the gritty, heavier-driven sound that came to define hard rock. According to wikipeida these were the artists on the American release:

  • Mick Jagger – lead vocals, backing vocals, harmonica (on “The Under Assistant West Coast Promotion Man”), tambourine (on “Play with Fire”)
  • Keith Richards – electric guitar, backing vocals, acoustic guitar (on “The Last Time” and Play with Fire”)
  • Brian Jones – electric guitar, acoustic guitar (on “Good Times” and “(I Can’t Get No) Satisfaction”), harmonica (on “The Under Assistant West Coast Promotion Man” and “One More Try” [15]), backing vocals
  • Bill Wyman – bass guitar, backing vocals
  • Charlie Watts – drums

Back in the day, there were UK releases and American ones with variations on the tracks.

I remember when I saw them on the Ed Sullivan in my living room on that black and white monstrosity with the snowy imagery my parents owned. It didn’t matter what they looked like I was hooked with the song and as soon as I saved enough I bought the album Out of Our Heads.

It was actually the very first album I ever purchased with my babysitting money in 1966 or 67. The album became so scratched I purchased it again in an 8 track. Unfortunately, it was in the player when my boyfriend at the time wrecked his car so I was out my favorite group for a while.

Then I bought a collection of the Rolling Stones on cassette tapes which I played to death, one cassette tape broke. GRRRR.

My final purchase which is still going strong is on a cd. No scratches and many years ahead of me to enjoy. I’ve shared my ultimate four favorites for your listening pleasure.

# three thing challenge

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https://pensitivity101.wordpress.com/2020/09/03/three-things-challenge-347/ Your three things today are: post, build, repair.

Imperfectly Perfect©

people post, comment

 all the time that

idealism is mismatched yet

perfectly paired denying

repair won’t hide our

 horrific brutality because

we need it

up close and unsettled to

inspire what we build underneath

what we’ve purposely seduced

to hide our betrayal

from a galaxy far, far, away

we lie to ourselves

with every potent belief

that says every one is equal

in this mismatched yet perfectly paired

world that neither changes

for better or worse

#Day 2 The last Album Listened too

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https://sandmanjazz.wordpress.com/2020/09/02/30-day-album-challenge-day-2/

Leonard Cohen, I love his raspy voice and the way he delivers a story. Did you know, Leonard was a more than a Canadian singer, and songwriter. He was also a poet, and novelist. His work explored religion, politics, isolation, depression, sexuality, loss, death and romantic relationships.

Leonard pursued a career as a poet and novelist during the 1950s and early 1960s, and did not begin a music career until 1967 at the age of 33 he turned to music. His greatest influence came from poet Federico Garcia Lorca who was noted for his symbolism and surrealism poetry in Spain.

In 1967, disappointed with his lack of success as a writer, Cohen moved to the United States to pursue a career as a folk music singer–songwriter.

“His song Suzanne became a hit for Judy Collins (who covered a number of Cohen’s other songs as well), and was for many years his most-covered song. Collins recalls that when she first met him, he said he couldn’t sing or play the guitar, nor did he think “Suzanne” was even a song: And then he played me “Suzanne”  … I said, “Leonard, you must come with me to this big fundraiser I’m doing” … Jimi Hendrix was on it. He’d never sung [in front of a large audience] before then. He got out on stage and started singing. Everybody was going crazy—they loved it. And he stopped about halfway through and walked off the stage. Everybody went nuts. … They demanded that he come back. And I demanded; I said, “I’ll go out with you.” So we went out, and we sang it. And of course, that was the beginning.” `wikipedia.

How cool is that to be on stage with Judy Collins and Jimi Hendrix. Both incredible artists, no wonder he walked off stage… it had to be overwhelming when you’re just beginning in the music field.

Leonard passed on November 7th, 2016 at the age of 82. I cried.

I enjoy all of Leonard’s work but this song is my absolute favorite.

Dance Me to the End of Love

Dance me to your beauty with a burning violin
Dance me through the panic till I’m gathered safely in
Lift me like an olive branch and be my homeward dove
Dance me to the end of love
Dance me to the end of love

Oh, let me see your beauty when the witnesses are gone
Let me feel you moving like they do in Babylon
Show me slowly what I only know the limits of
Dance me to the end of love
Dance me to the end of love

Dance me to the wedding now, dance me on and on
Dance me very tenderly and dance me very long
We’re both of us beneath our love, we’re both of us above
Dance me to the end of love
Dance me to the end of love

Dance me to the children who are asking to be born
Dance me through the curtains that our kisses have outworn
Raise a tent of shelter now, though every thread is torn
Dance me to the end of love

Dance me to your beauty with a burning violin
Dance me through the panic till I’m gathered safely in
Touch me with your naked hand or touch me with your glove
Dance me to the end of love
Dance me to the end of love
Dance me to the end of love

Source: Lyric Find

Songwriters: Leonard Cohen

Dance Me to the End of Love lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC

#FOWC Drain

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Today’s word is “drain.”

Write a post using that word. It can be prose, poetry, fiction, non-fiction. It can be any length. It can be just a picture or a drawing if you want. No holds barred, so to speak.

Limerick a day, keeps the doctor and my frustration reined in. I hate this block editor. I know I’m not alone, I’ve seen other posts.

Word Press block editor is insane
who needs frustration, it’s such a drain
why, why change the format
I’ll hit you with my bat
misery loves company…and pain

There’s even a song that sums up my frustration, wordpress you could have been the greatest instead you decided to f— with me.

#One Liners and Poetry

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“Speak only if it improves upon the silence.”-Gandhi

Ain’t that the truth. I wish more people would heed Gandhi’s advice.

“Any person capable of angering you becomes your master; he can anger you only when you permit yourself to be disturbed by him.” ~ Epictetus

One-Liner Wednesday – Always makes me laugh

Not Guilty… Said the Moon

The storytellers always place me at the scene
like I am a part of whatever convenes.
I am merely the man on the moon doing my job,
I miss the days when I made your heart throb.

On those sweet grass scented nights, we shared
your love and dreams filled the warm night air.
How quickly those summer night passions disappear
and now you glance at me with caution and fear

A criminal in a court has at least the benefit of doubt
not me I am guilty as soon as the wolf cries out.
When I am the brightest in the sky, crazy things occur
Oh no, did you see the witch and her cat sweep by in a blur?

All kinds of crazy things happen and create a stir
If I did not shine, the mischief would still occur.
Yet, I see it in your eyes that look of distrust
when not too long ago it was a look of lust.

Soon you will see that I was just there
this is the truth, I solemnly swear.
Not everything in a story tellers tale is true
and like everything, subject to review.

Tanka

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Whisper so sweetly
your enchanted words of love
hold them close to us.
like sweet honey on a comb
locking withered dreams away

Tanka is a classic form of Japanese poetry related to the haiku with five unrhymed lines of five, seven, five, seven, and seven syllables. (5, 7, 5, 7, 7)

Uncertain

/ lyncrain / 3 Comments

Today’s word is “uncertain.”

Write a post using that word. It can be prose, poetry, fiction, non-fiction. It can be any length. It can be just a picture or a drawing if you want. No holds barred, so to speak.

As you know from Esther’s Monday Limerick fun I enjoy writing them very much plus they give me opportunities to vent when I feel frustrated like today. I won’t go into details other than to say today was one of those days I miss my driver’s license immensely because I would have left putting some distance between myself and this situation. There’s nothing more invigorating then cranking the radio and just driving with no destination in mind. Cept maybe today there would have been a end point.

But since Fandago offered a perfect word choice for me to express my irritation. Here goes.

Frustration©

uncertain I seek rumination
nor will a flowery donation
words can’t fix this mistake
or ease painful heartbreak
but I can arrange his cremation

 

Yup, I feel better.

#Day One: An Album w/ Killer First Track

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fb_img_1597924096711

https://sandmanjazz.wordpress.com/2020/09/01/30-day-album-challenge/

What’s a party without Santana…  mediocre at best.

Abraxas is the second studio album by Latin rock band Santana. It was released on September 23, 1970 by Columbia Records. The first track is instrumental and sets the mood perfectly for the album.  I love this opening cut on the album, it features various percussion and wind chimes as well as some tasty electric piano. Mike Carabello is actually credited as composer, which would explain why it’s percussion laden but oddly,  Mike Shrieve gets sole credit for this song, which is ironic considering there are very few drums in the song. The percussion is provided by the congas and timbales, played by Mike Carabello and Chepito Areas.

I was a freshman in high school when this awesome album was released. Talk about going back in time.

60 Days to Halloween and another Santana tune will be rocking this woman’s music list.

Black Magic Woman
Songwriters: Peter Alan Green
Got a black magic woman
Got a black magic woman
I’ve got a black magic woman
Got me so blind I can’t see
That she’s a black magic woman
She’s trying to make a devil out of me
Don’t turn your back on me, baby
Don’t turn your back on me, baby
Yes, don’t turn your back on me, baby
Stop messing about with your tricks
Don’t turn your back on me, baby
You just might pick up my magic sticks
You got your spell on me, baby
You got your spell on me, baby
Yes, you got your spell on me, baby
Turnin’ my heart into stone
I need you so bad
Magic woman I can’t leave you alone