WRITE!!!!!!

It is officially well into November, and well, I'm WAY behind...
And I mean WAY behind.

So...


WRITE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
THEN WRITE SOME MORE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!


For those of you scratching your heads...
November is (drum roll, please):
National Novel Writing Month
or NaNoWriMo for those of us who love and revile this thirty day freak fest of typing and moaning/exulting/crying/bleeding/praying/daydreaming/never really sleeping/get the oddest looks from those living with you and those that don't... I could go on, but you get the point, I hope.

This would be easier with a whole left index finger...
Let's just say that the knife thought I meant my finger and NOT the bagel...
That's what I get for feeding the natives...
:D

Well, enough procrastinating... My (new) 1960 Royale portable typewriter awaits...
Yeah, I said typewriter, well, I typed it anyway...

:D

Big thanks to the friend who thought I "just might like it"!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Well, I must be off. I know, I always have been, but it is NaNoWriMo afterall...

Loves to All and Sundry,
Kala

Plumb songs to think about, pray thru, write with...

Taken

i can see you standing in the pouring rain
waiting for changes to carry you away

i can see the light fall from your eyes
as we get lost in the tears of this goodbye
but you can't go farther than my heart can go

*'cause i'll still be loving you
through the sadness and the madness here
and i'll always be with you
in the distance that has taken you from me*

i can hear you laugh when i close my eyes
i can picture your face
and the strength inside your smile

i can see the words dance across your lips
i'll remember forever is something more than this

so you can't go farther than my heart will go
and i'll always be with you
in the distance that has taken you from me


Nice, Naive, and Beautiful


She's only known heartache and pain
But she's never known a pain like this

She stands alone defending her name
When all that she's done is "be who she is"

Well is it so wrong to be who we are
When all that she's done is "fail"

'Cause she's so nice, naive and beautiful
Why does she get taken advantage
Why does she live in a world so cold
She takes advantage of the nice, naive and the beautiful

Cold is the throne of her hardened heart
No one has seen the softest part

Day after night she holds an ache
And won't budge to show this secret place

Well is it so wrong to hang onto hurt
Maybe she could set it free

'Cause she's so nice, naive and beautiful
Why did she get taken for granted
Why did she live in a world so cold
He took advantage of the nice, naive and the beautiful

If you've been there you know
If you're still there hang on
We're all dealt our lumps of coal
What you do with it can turn beautiful

Well there's a life outside of your madness
And there's a face behind every scar
But there's a love overflowing with gladness
Get out of that place that's restraining your love
I said get out of that place that's restraining your love


Both songs from the recording "Beautiful Lumps of Coal" by Plumb. Check it out, it is GREAT!
Copyright 2002 Cubtunes Music et all...

Loves to All and Sundry,
-Me-

I'm still not too sure about this...

Yeah, it has been a long time. I apologize for that. I am still not too sure if I will leave this up or not. Some things happened in my life shortly after my last post, and well, my integrity and this blog were put into question. Needless to say, I did not have a good time with that. I'm still praying on many things. Please forgive me if you happen past here and it appears neglected. Simply means I'm still not sure where to go from here...

On another note, a much more exciting and gut-twisting note...

It is almost NOVEMBER!!!!!!!!!!!!!

For those of you scratching your heads, November is (drum roll, please)

NATIONAL NOVEL WRITING MONTH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Otherwise affectionately known as NaNoWriMo.

50,000 words in 30 days.
Ah, yes, I love the feel of adrenaline and nausea...

:)

Well, let's have at it.
We'll see what will happen from here on out.
One day at a time...


Praying for grace,
Me.

AHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!

Okay... So, how do you speak into a situatiomn that should not even be happenning??? Easy.

Lighten it up with Y'shua's light... That means TRUTH... AND NOTING BUT THE TRUTH.

Easier said than done in some circumstances. (Tell me about it!)

SO.

Here we are again.

Let's have some Truth, and nothing else.

nothing but
s
i
l
e
n
c
e

Summer???

So. It's official; everyone that I have talked to confirms it... Summer has come, and is going, way too fast. I have made the mistake of blinking once or twice and there ya go. Schooling starts all too soon and I am not ready for that. The weather is still too nice and we have not done half the things originally planned.

*sigh*

Oh, well. As it has been said, "Time waits for no man..."

*sigh, again*

I am still hoping to do a few family picnics and trips to the parks; the beach would be nice, too. (Provided that I bring enough sunscreen to drown in! *smiles BIG*) I could really use some time with my DH and kiddos just playing.
Strange concept, I know...

We have family from out of state coming in and I really want to spend time with them, but I do not know how much time I will really get due to planning issues. I have not seen these Dear ones for seven years! That is way too long in my book, but ya know how it gets when people live half the country away!

Well, other than that I really do not have much to say, so I guess I'll get going and try to get some laundry done...

*one more sigh*

Hey, life is good 'cause I'm blessed and He said so!

Have a good time till I come back y'all!! :D

Loves to all...

I'm going to bleed a bit here... No sharks, please.

Hello to all...
It has been way too long and I humbly apologize to any who still periodically check this poor neglected page.

I have been dealing with things lately that I am not good at dealing with; things better left in my Savior's hands...

Days like today when I am suffering from a lack of sleep are especially challenging. Clouds stubbornly fill my mind and refuse to budge. I crave to spend my day in the solitude of a good book, letting the characters struggle through challenges that I am too much of a coward to face.

Do I take this up in prayer? Ought to. Sorta want to. I know that it would mean facing some of this stuff... And I am lazy. Scared. Angry. Tired. Worn thin.

Joy is so fleeting, happiness overrated... Seriously overrated.

Days like today my heart wraps itself in this "safe" little shroud... Unholy.
Plain and simple.
I know it.
Change is scary and I'm facing a whole heap of it... And I have no idea how to hand things over to the ground before the cross to do so. I'm not so foolish, or prideful, to think I can do any of this stuff on my own. I can not even get to the hill of Calvary without His help.

Oh, Y'shua help... How oft I sigh this prayer...


Can you see me?
Can you look into my eyes and see the scars?
Can you hear the scream that lodges in my heart?
Can you feel the fear that shackles my soul?
Can you see this " fragile frame aged with misery"?
and "with crippled anger and tears that still drip sore"?**

No. There are none here on this earth that know the depths to which I have hurt. Just as I can never know how far your scars weep. "I am not alone!" No. None of us are.

Y'shua has caught all of our tears in His jar; someday He will wipe them all away...

I begin to understand some things about my own heart...

Mirror, Mirror, chained to the wall, hear my cry...
You hold the seed of freedom inside.
Your chains are the "damage" done, only you can let them go.
Often the hardest thing to do is the right thing to do.
You have Someone who can "swim" for you, if you let Him.
Do you trust what you see?
Do you trust what you feel?
Will you trust what is invisible right now?



PRAYER. TRUST. RESPECT. LOVE. HONOR. TRUTH. RIGHTEOUSNESS. HOLINESS. INTEGRITY. BELIEF. FAITH. hope...




There never is a "normal" because this side of the Fall is abnormal...


Thanks to any who have made it this far on this entry. Raw glimpses into who I am rarely follow patterns others can see... Welcome to my soul.

Loves to all and sundry,
Daughter of the King of kings and LORD of lords... me


**from the song "Cut" by Plumb. Few, very few, know the truth of this one for me... And I am "tired of dying inside just to breathe in"... Grace and peace.

Um... I don't really have a title for this one...

Hello to All and Sundry!

Sorry it has been so long since my last post... Life has a way of moving forward, ya know?

The school year is almost out... I am not sure how I feel 'bout that. It will be good to have my boyoes at home with me again. *sigh* I just hope that they will stay off each other's throats!

*tilts head to the side and ponders awhile*

I guess that would be part of my job as Momma, wouldn't it? If I'm doing my end of the whole thing, they will have less to do with fighting themselves. *Shrugs*

I plan on keeping up with their lessons over the break so that they are not behind come fall; if I keep some maintained schedule things will run smoother at home in general.
I have been working on just that for some time now, the schedule, that is.

I still have not had THE TALK w/my DH yet about them attending/ not attending the public school next fall. :P
I am not sure that I want to...

Things have been a bit on the stressful side lately. Friends have been having troubles, my MIL's basement flooded bad, the ministry schedule is picking up... Yeah. A bit busier...

OK! Enough of that!!! :D

I have a new website that is WAY AWESOME!!!!!! If you are into playing music check this site out!!!!!!

http://www.musicnotes.com

It is a lot of fun!
Ok, that's all for now my Dears! I gotta go price & compare mulch... yes, mulch... :)

Loves to all...

"LOVE IT!!!!"

YAAAAYYYYY!!!!!!!

I finally have enough points with MyPoints.com to get a reward!!!!!!! Well, more than just any reward... THE REWARD!
(For those of you who are not familiar... THE REWARD is a $25.00 gift card for Overstock.com... My FAVORITE online store!)

If you are not familiar with the whole MyPoints.com thing, let me know and I would be glad to refer- I mean inform you!! :D

Oh, I am such a points hog!!!

(For those of you who are wondering... I REALLY do LOVE exclamations!! ;D And, yes, I DO talk that way, too!)

Also for today...

Movie recommendations!

DO see Night At The Museum. It was a lot of fun for all of us. The only disclaimer of any kind would be for some mild language. And, hey, you get a free history lesson to boot! :)

DO NOT see The Weatherman. It was not wort the bit of time we gave it! Very disturbing elements, very dark tone, language from here to China (no offense, my friends), I could go on. We did not even finish it... And coming from me, well, let's just say that does not happen very often! :P STAY AWAY!!!


Well, that is all the time I have for now. Sorry to leave so little after so long...

Have a blessed time till next we... whatever.

Loves to all!

Just for fun...

Hey Y'all!!!! I have a little bit of fun for you... Brought to you by my arch nemesis... Youtube. I spend way too much time getting lost in vids, or more appropriately, the music.

There is a slight disclaimer about the clip here:
This happens from 45-49 seconds into it. There is a timer at the bottom so ya know.
A sumptuous blond (Hevn-sama) pulls a cell phone out from a *struggles for the word and gives up* spot.

It is a short "eye-bounce" for any who might be wary.

So without further ado...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sr5NqO-ix4o

This is called an AMV (Anime Music Video) for those new to this sort of thing. People make these and can enter them in contests and show them at conventions, etc.

WAY TOO MUCH FUN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

So, enjoy!

Loves to all...

Wounded Wolf/Vision Commentary

Hello to all and sundry!
I took this REALLY rough excerpt from the NaNoWriMo novel that I started in '06. I reached the goal of over 50,000 words, but the novel was only near the mid-way point. I have started diving into it again.

Can we say, "ABSORPTION POINT," class?!?!?!?!?!?!

So, I apologize in advance, y'all... Write... Must write...

See you whenever I end up emerging from the "story-membrane." My cocoon is pretty thick...

Loves to all...


P.S. Believe it or not, not all of my writing revolves around blood being spilled... I just tend to be able to write these scenes a bit more coherently than the rest! :D

Vulnerable Wolf /Vision

Little needles of pain coalesced where his fist tightened and pulled her head so that she was forced to look into his hard eyes. Had a gasp been possible, she would have. The normally guarded and tempered gates into his soul were gone, replaced with an inner maelstrom that only she could see.

The forest quailed under the lash of hail; lightning split asunder trees at random. Shadowed figures assaulted a weary, wounded wolf with taloned hands. Blood slicked the already rain-soaked ground, bits of fur, flesh, and melting shadows dotted the area. The wolfs claws sunk into the mud, providing little purchase for his weak defenses; he did not even attempt to attack now. Soon, the shadows would overwhelm him. Someone was screaming, she could hear it, but it seemed so far away...

She was falling, she knew this sensation; like falling in a dream and jolting awake as the ground rushes up to meet you. The solid impact of her body awkwardly slamming into the ground brought her fully out of the trance. Next to her lay a wolf, its gray-brown fur matted in places. No blood. There was no blood. The realization slammed into her mind and she choked back a sob. Relief flooded through her. She flung herself at the wolf and buried her hands and face into the fur around his neck. His breath came in ragged, shallow gulps.

A hand on her shoulder made Kala jump nearly out of her skin. She had forgotten the rest of the world existed.

My bad!!!

Hey Howdy Hey Y'all!!
Wow, it has been a long time! Sorry to leave ya hanging. Needless to say, I have been busy.

Life has a way of coming at a person in rapid fire spurts interspersed with languid shallows, ya know?

I spent a little more than a week up with my BF and her Fam. That was a great experience for me. I really do have to use the term experience. I have not been able to spend that much time with them all at once before. They have a very challenging family situation, and the only way to really appreciate it is to live it for a time. I praise God that we do not face the challenges that they do... I would have cracked a long time ago under such stress. I still marvel at how they go about surviving and living... The grace of our Y'shua truly amazes me!

I pray for them even more fervently now, and am better able to grasp what my Dearest struggles with every day.

Amazing. Simply amazing. *Befuddled shaking of head*

Anyway... : D

While I was up there I attended my first anime convention!! *bouncy, bouncy* YAY!!!!
I cosplayed from a favorite series of mine-- "Haibane Renmei". A dear friend who was visiting at the BF's home went with me, or more correctly, I went with her... She cosplayed from "Please Teacher". I am not familiar all that much with this particular series, but she did the cos really well! *vigorous nods & grins*
We really had a great time!!!

I am sad, relieved, happy, and bummed all at once to be back home. I could not stay away from my DH one hour longer, and I chafed to be with him constantly, and yet...
And yet, I wish I could still be with my BF, my "Mirror." I do not hold much hope in us moving there, or them moving back here, but I like to dream...

Loves to all...

WAAHHOOOBEEE!!!!!

I AM SO HAPPY!!!!!!
*Happy Dance in the library*

My Dear, super-nice, fantastic, etc, DH said I could buy my very own copy of ....
(Drum roll, please,)

STRANGER THAN FICTION!!!!!!!!!!!

Needless to say, I already have it and it is waiting for its first run (of many).

Note:
If you are a writer, GET YOUR OWN COPY OF THIS FLICK!!!


Can you tell that I REALLY love it?!?!

*ROTFL* (Well, not literally... The gent next to me is nice enough and all, but...)

So, I guess that is all for now. Every one behave, now.
Loves to all!!

The "Who would you be?" challenge.

I was talking with my Mom this am (Hi, Mom!) about the cool things I have been finding on other blogs and she gave me a great idea. It is something that her church is doing...

If you could be any person in recent history for a day, and only one day, who would it be? Why?

My immediate response was, "Tolkien." Followed closely by, "Or maybe C.S. Lewis..." I guess that maybe the writer in me would be fascinated to know how they thought, felt, lived. Kinda weird to be a guy for a day, no offense gents. I really do enjoy the challenge and joy of being a woman.
I digress, as usual.
I suppose that a lot of other people would choose either of these fine Gentleman Writers, probably even for much the same reasons... They were geniuses. They are what many of us writer types aspire to. I have always loved the man Tolkien. I did research on him for papers, read about him for fun. His mind always called to my creative curiosity. I have often wondered what it would have been like to be inside his head.

Oooohhhh yeah...

*vigorous shaking of head* Enough daydreaming!

Well, I better toddle off now and do some of the other things I set out to do when I signed on to use this box...

Loves to all...

I have been tagged- So to speak

So I have been busy visiting blogs today... Another cool blog by an ACFW member: MaliaSpencer. (Yes, I left out the space on purpose. That is the name of her blog; go have fun and visit it.)

She put out the challenge to find a dress to wear to an Hollywood award ceremony. Well, I found one that I love, but I could not find a way to quickly paste the pic here. I am not that savvy, and I need to get the boys real quick like.

So... It is an Oscar de la Renta. Hop on www.OscardelaRenta.com and click on runway, then hop onto Fall 2007/#46. I LOVE IT!!!!!! So there ya go.

Loves to all...

Visiting other blogs can lead to other endeavors.

Ok. I visited Supernaturalcraving- a blog (that is awesome, BTW) by another ACFW member and she had this cool link. As she warned on her post, there is foul language used in the questions. It is not REAL bad, but just so you know... It was fun and crazy quick to do. Give it a try. Now I have to go figure out who this guy is...

Loves to all...

I am: Gregory Benford A master literary stylist who is also a working scientist.

Which science fiction writer are you?

Let us all get knocked over together... (For ACFW)

Greetings to you again, my Dear Ones.
I have just finished going through my emails and have been bowled over by the prayer requests, again. You know, I really thank Y'shua that He knows exactly what is happening in each of our days/nights/in-betweens. He knows what is going on in our hearts, minds, lives. The amazing love and capacity for understanding astounds me. It knocks me over, repeatedly.

Pain, physical and emotional, runs rampant in this fallen world, yet His hand holds us and guides us. He directs the Church to be His hands and feet when physical/earth-bound needs rise to the front.

I thank El Shaddai that He is a God of compassion; a God who knows what it is to walk in this fallen world. Emmanuel, God with us, and to Him be the glory forever.

I hold your travails and joys in my heart and bring them before His throne, my Beloveds. I may not know what you look like, but I know the One who does. He calls us by name, gives us our identity, and draws us into His family- into His arms. I love you, each and every one, who is called by His grace... And may that same grace pour out on you, cover you, and bring you solace. I will continue to pray, for that is what family does.

May the grace, peace, and joy of our Y'shua cover you and give you strength today- and every day.

Loves to all...

Colloquialisms and the Life of "X"...

Hello to all!
I hope you all have enjoyed yourselves since last we shared company. My dearest BF and I had a wondrous time this am on the phone. We talked in the usual circles and tangent-cies that circumscribe our conversations and lives... Oh! How I LOVE it!! =D (I am not familiar with a word that means the tendency for tangents, so I use that! Correct me if I am wrong, please.)
Among the many paths our words meandered perhaps the most amusing two centered on- you guessed it- colloquialisms and the letter "X".

It was not too hard for my BF to find the meaning of the Brit col. "sod" on her home-based DSL connection. (Yes, I am jealous, and doing not so well in not doing so... Have fun with me today, and just put up with my typed speech patterns!)
This led to the finding of a Brit/American dictionary/lexicon. I am still having fun with it, however, I think my fellow library goers are of the opinion that I have lost my mind... Perhaps you agree with them. Your choice; I'm happy.

We also talked about what she considers to be the under-dog of the alphabet, the letter "X". I just plain do not care for the letter, or any of the words that start with it, for that matter. They are either scientific words with definitions that leave you searching the meanings of the words in the said definition, or just plain words that need an "x" only if they are abbreviated. You tell me, please, if you find the letter "X" to be the useless, if complicated, fop I deem it to be- or the under-dog of the alphabet who deserves our respectful pity- Oh! Sorry! I meant admiration. *smirk* [I love you, my Dear, but I am sure we will agree to disagree on this small, if pressing, issue. ;) ]

Loves to all!

Not quite so "quantiloopal"...

Hey there!! I added some links to my page here, well, not "here" exactly... More like to the left side of the page, but ya know what I mean. Check them out when you get a chance! Provided that some one other than my BF is reading this page!!! :D I am really hungry right now because I did not eat lunch before dropping the younger boyo at school; I am going to sign off now and get some grub. = D
Loves to all!

Search and change...

Hello, my Dears and Sundry.
I am changing the look here 'cause I am tired of the old one. I wish I could change up my living room so easily... *Big sigh* Oh well. I have no idea how long this template will stay, so I hope you don't mind it.

So- how many of you are familiar with floriography or its Japanese counterpart hanakotoba? It is the "language of flowers" or "flower word." I have been doing my best to turn myself cross-eyed researching this elusive topic. I guess I should say topics, really. Very rarely do the meanings given coincide, as I am finding out.

Why am I doing this exercise in wild goose chasing? Good question!
I am doing my background checks on flowers in order to design a tattoo. I do not treat such a lasting thing with brash disregard for the symbolism. People may base their decisions solely on how pretty the design is, and that is fine for them. I am not so unbalanced. Life is harsh at times on this fallen planet, and we all struggle to overcome the sin within. Our beauty is fleeting as the flowers' bloom. That is just the way I am. I have to reflect this in my design. I am not anywhere near the realm of being "finished" as they used to call it, nor am I deluded enough to think so grandly of my mortality. "Beauty is fleeting, but a woman who fears the LORD is to be praised..."

I hope that I have made sense in any of this... Any which way you care to think about it, I need to sign off and give my eyes a break! Besides, I would love to do some reading in the car before I have to pick up my boyoes. Take care, and know that you are loved, and not just by me...

Loves to all...

A Penchant for Pondering

Hello to Sundry and All!

A grey day all around, here. I seem to have lapsed into one of those kind of days where everything reminds me of something else. A penchant for pondering.

I was snippy with my Eldest in the car on the way to school this morning and it tainted our usual cheery routine. I was painfully brought to the memory of when I was a child and had had a similar experience with my Momma. I did not get to tell her goodbye one morning and it left me in tears for the whole day. I had begged a trusted teacher to let me go to the office and call her, once I was sure she would be at work, so that I might say goodbye to her. My plan failed; my teacher said no. I cried all the way home and could not concentrate on anything till she got home from work and I could talk to her. I did not tell her goodbye at that point, bien sur, but I did make sure to say goodnight with an extra hug for good measure.

I remember telling her that I had not gotten to tell her goodbye that morning and she just did not get why that hit me so hard. Perhaps she still does not; I really do not know.

Partings of any kind impact me in strange ways, be it dropping the kids off at school, my DH going to work, going to bed at night, leaving the cats at home so I can go about my errands... You get the point. I do not know why these things affect me so much, but they do. Perhaps it is a quirk of personality combined with growing up in our unusual family circumstances?

You see, for those of you not familiar with my history, my family dealt in death- in a manner of speaking of course, no mafia ties that I'm aware of. My Grandmother worked for a funeral home and would sometimes bring me to her work so my Mom could go to work, or whatever. I grew up around the hushed tones of mourners and the pasted, overly polite and sympathetic smiles of the Hosts. We also lived in an apartment above one of the funeral homes owned by that family for many years. Perhaps because of these things, I have developed an overly sensitive consciousness of the fragility of life...

I am waxing philosophical. Forgive me, kudasai. Thank Y'shua that this life is not all we are meant to live. Yes, we are to live this life in a special awareness of His Will and bring Him glory... But there is more than this tenuous grasp at life. How I love Him in His mercy and grace! His love covers the multitude of sin, and I love the life He has lent me. May I remember that ever so well when I am camped in the grey zone!

Loves to all!!

Is there a title that would suit this? I think not.

Hello, my Friends.
I hope that everyone is doing well today. I cannot take a lot of time to type today... I have a book at home that I am in the middle of reading and I would really like to know what happens next... What can I say? I am myself afterall.

Several friends this week have had health troubles and it bothered me more than I care to admit. My mind is sometimes my own worst enemy. I hate when it gets carried away, and I let it! I decided that I need to control it better. "Take captive every thought..." Thank my Lord that He is able to help me where I am not. All of these friends are doing better now and are on their way back to "normal". Thank You, Y'shua!!

I am hoping to do some more writing soon, however, I am afraid that this book that I am reading will unduly influence anything that I put down. It is full of cultural lingo that I find pervading my own speech. Very irritating. A main problem of being such a sponge! I am not quite half way through this massive tome, and now I despair of having this lingo leave me anytime soon! Ah, well. Perhaps if I reapply myself to my studies of the Japanese language and culture I could get rid of some of this- this- STUFF. An idea, anyway.

By the by... The movie "Stranger Than Fiction" will be released on the 27th of this month!!! If you have not seen this movie, then do so when it comes out!!!! This goes quantiloopal if you love to read/write fiction. (Yes, I made that word up. I could not think of a number that would suit my desire, so there you have it. Sorry, Mr. Ingermanson!)

Well, my time is up; I must be off. Please take care, Dear Ones, till next time.
Loves to all...
Me

RE: "Cardinals in the Snow"

Well, that was a bit that I wrote this AM. As I drove home from dropping off a kiddo at school, I saw a cardinal swoop across the snowy sky into a clump of trees. It made me think of blood... I know that my brain does odd jumps now and then, but to a writer it makes perfect sense. That is all I have time for today, my Dears. Take care and please accept my humble apologies for not posting sooner.
Loves to all...

P.S. When I put a word in ( ) it is a word that I intend to replace with something more creative... Once I figure it out at least. :)

"Cardinals in the Snow" Excerpt

A snap of her wrist and the sword sent sprays of blood hurtling through the snow-filled air. Her blade almost appeared to be made of the (stuff). She paid it no mind; she knew there would be more. Her own blood thrummed through her, a sweet and grim song of survival. She firmed her grip on the slick leather wrapped pommel. Her fingers and face were stinging from the cold and her wind-lashed hair kept getting in her eyes, making them water.
Soon her attackers would be dead. Until then, the Battle haze consumed her, forcing the physical discomforts aside. Three of the wounds she had incurred since this all began would need stitches, maybe more. At least the cold would slow the bleeding. A corner of her lips twitched at this practicality. Azurat would laugh at me for that. Thinking of him sobered her. A coldness enveloped her that surpassed the weather around her.
"Let them come," she whispered, "I am ready."
So they did and she was. They came at her from the stark naked trees surrounding the grove. She laughed as her blade sliced clean through the torso of one and caught the off- side of the next blade. She watched the inferior metal shatter and rip into its owner even as she kicked out to her left with the momentum left from her swing. Her foot met flesh with the solid crack of bone and a grunt of pain. She laughed again as she finished off the the creature in front of her. She dodged a vicious swipe of steel and it sliced through her hair. The falling strands reminded her of raven feathers. She turned her dodge into a roll at the last second. As she uncurled herself she slashed at her attackers hamstring. She continued the upward stroke from that to tear into him as he went down screaming. He was easily finished off.
She heard the whistle of a sword behind her and shied to the side. Cold steel parted cloak and tunic and left another wound that would need stitching. She thrust the pain aside and brought her own blade to bear. His intestines met the cold air; the stench would have normally made her retch, but now she smiled tightly. He dropped his sword to grab at his guts, as if to put them back, not even looking at her. One slash and he was dead.
Three more. Only three. She did her best to minimize her own wounds while inflicting the most possible damage to them. The blood surging and spraying from their wounds reminded her of cardinals in the snow. The discordant symphony of battle became her heartbeat. Breath came hard and fast, slamming in and out of her lungs. She struggled to keep it under control. Then it was all over; she was alive and they were not. Her arm lowered, letting blood soak into the snow where the tip grazed it. She turned in a slow circle to survey the carnage. Blood and bits of gore were all around her. Her enemies mangled bodies steamed as they cooled.
She shivered violently in the cold aftermath. Gathering her spattered cloak did little to warm her. She knelt down and rubbed snow on her sword, careful to not cut her numb flesh on the edge. There was not enough clean snow around her to properly do the task. She sighed and got up. She would have to pick her way through towards the opposite tree line; that was the only area in the clearing that had clean snow.

I really would like to have DSL at home...

Hello, my Dears (and those just pretending while reading this)!

OK. I confess that I have been reading some Lemony Snicket today. The Unauthorized Autobiography, in particular, if you want to know. Well, now you know whether you wanted to or not, I suppose.

I digress from my intended path of meanderings...

It has been some time since I have been able to do more than check Netflix and lesson plans on the Internet. I apologize for leaving you for so long. It is a dream of mine to have DSL at my home, sooner rather than later, I hope. Yes, I like to dream, and dream big.

Many things have happened since last I posted, and yet, not one thing has been beyond the mundane run of things. I am still taking antibiotics for an infection I came down with last Saturday; I hate doing so, but the good doc did not give me much choice in it. Money is still tight, the kiddos are still doing their best to trash the house, some decorations from the late holidays still adorn the house... Yup. Life is all normal around our place.

I wish I had something more exciting to tell, but that will have to wait till it happens. I need to face up to some monsters lurking around me. Things like reconciling the bank statements, de-cluttering my kitchen, and yes, the decorations really want to get put in their boxes. Not to forget my lamenting exercise routine, and my languishing half-done novel. *Cringe*Cringe*

Well, my Dears, I best be off to do the rest of my errands so I can procrastinate a little longer on My List of Scary Things To Do.
Loves to all!

Dunno...

Well, yesterday was my Birthday! I was hoping to get some time to write to y'all, mais, ce la vie! ;D I did have a good day, although there was a little more TV in it than I would have liked. My DH was home with a back injury that was the result of playing a little too rough with our boys the night before. In fact, he stayed home today as well. My folks had lunch w/us in one of my FAV places, and they gave me some cool stuff! I at least know that I can be really greedy, now I just need to repent. :{

I had a good time having my family around me. That is important to me, extremely important. My Aunts even called me to wish me fun and a good year, though my BF beat everyone else to the punch. That is something my Aunts do not normally do, but I was soooo happy to hear their voices. They both live far a way from us and I have not seen them in a long time. I hope that I can see them soon.

My DH even played Mexican train dominoes with me before bed. I really liked that... Even if he did win all four rounds. I am not accustomed to such a bad streak, but I think I handled it well. I really enjoy playing that. Two nights in a row we have played. He's spoiling me!!! :D If only I could get him to go to the Chiropractor for his back... Oh, well. If wishes were dimes...

I am out of time for today, my loves. The library is crawling with folks tonight and everybody wants their turns at these keyboards. I need to get home and get a supper on, anyway. Not enough Chinese leftovers for dinner tonight... :( Maybe I'll make a stir-fry... :)

All is right with the world, because Y'shua is still at the center of it all!
Loves to all, and to all a good night!!