Thursday, December 8, 2011

Finals Week


The best part of my projects for Finals week this semester happened today. We were asked by Dr. Miranda Wilcox to create a story using the motifs in the medieval genres we've studied. An incurable romantic, I decided to send a knight back in time, since magic was part of the Romantic Period, to rescue a virgin saint and marry her, thereby changing the course of history. It was immensely satisfying and I had a hard time stepping back into the present--I wonder why we segregate our heroes by gender and limit them to one per story. So much fun to write history the way you wish it!

Tuesday, November 22, 2011

So here goes...



This has been one heck of a week--some highlights: ...never mind about that one...or that one... but I can say that wrecking my 10 year old Toyota and replacing it in less than 24 hours was both miraculous and dizzying. Since I only average 4-5 hours of sleep a night lately, I am having a hard time processing all that's going on, but a good metaphor always helps me see the sunshine through the smog.

In front of my first purchased home I planted approximately a dozen rose bushes because the yard was barren, I'd seen it done elsewhere and really loved the feel of a romantic old cottage it created. Well, I'd never dealt with roses before and took on a dozen simultaneously and let me tell you this: Life is like a rose garden!! Very much so! Did you know it's possible to die, or at least, be hospitalized if you fall into a bed of roses? No other flower is so prone to diseases, parasites and rewards you with vicious, spiky thorns for trying to care for it. But homegrown roses are unbelievably fragrant and lovely when they bloom (as long as blight or aphids don't get to them first). THAT'S why the world obsesses over roses and they represent love, purity, passion, and all sorts of lovely ideals. But it hardly seems possible that so many people continue to grow roses and gush over their blooms, considering what a pain they can be! But otherwise unfriendly neighbors used to stop and admire them, taking time to socialize while I pruned and cared for those flowers. I learned more about how to sketch the stages of growth by watching and caring for them, cutting off black spot, fungus and spraying poison on parasites. And how I loved those blossoms! One or two really pretty blooming roses can eclipse the gloomiest day and all of the problems associated with the stem, leaves and bush that hold it up.

This morning it occurred to me that one never offers a friend (or a stranger, for that matter) a rose that has aphids crawling over it, or with leaves below the blossom that are infested with fungus. Thorns can't help but accompany a naturally grown rose, but we eliminate the really repugnant stuff as quickly as possible so it won't spread. We never pass it along and I'm going to avoid sharing fungus and parasites in my communications. The stuff happens--sometimes it can almost take over, so it has to be taken care of--but not shared which is why I deleted the most exasperating parts of this past week.

Besides, if we spend too much time weeding and pruning w/o pausing to admire and breathe in the lovely, exquisite rose petals, what's the point? Since life really is a LOT like a garden of roses, later this week I'll pick some its most delightful blooms and share them in honor of Thanksgiving.

Please feel free to share back!

Happy Thanksgiving!


The last blog I created mutated into something for my business, so this one is just for me--and you, should you choose to join me :-) I want to be able to write about things I think are cool and since I've stopped keeping a journal regularly and my world's gotten too cluttered to keep track of anything I DO write down (unless I have to turn it in to a professor), like many of you, I'm going to use this medium.

Have to do stuff for my Medieval Literature class before Thanksgiving break, but hopefully, I'll get back to this!