Whose round is it anyway?

"Hey Bobby!" Danny calls as he enters the bar on Broome Street. 

"Hmm." Bobby replies with little enthusiasm. He continues to read the paper. His contempt grows with every second. 

"It's been a helluva day. Two people called out at the last minute. The rest of us had to pull up the freakin' slack," Danny says as he slides into the barstool beside Bobby. 

"Yeah, that sucks," and turns his attention back to the paper. Bobby tenses up as he knows Danny will ask the same question he does everyday. 

"So Bobby, whose round is it anyway?" 

Damn moocher.

Image courtesy of:  "Whose round is it Anyway?" Alexander Miller http://www.castlegalleries.com/artists/alexander_millar/collection.asp


drabble- n. a story written in exactly 100 words.

Househunting

Yesterday, I went house-hunting for the first time.  Wow!  What an experience!  I saw twenty houses in under three hours.  I must say that it still felt like a world-wind.  I really should have brought a snack or something to drink because I was famished by the end of this process.  Thank goodness, they were in close proximity to one another or I may have abandoned the whole idea.  

Some of the individuals we encountered, seemed as though they were written into some comedic, fictional novel.  One man had all of the archetypal sleazy salesman characteristics.  I swear that when I saw him, he reminded me of a king cobra.  I kid you not.  Another person was a woman with a big flowery dress, matronly, kind and very polite. She reminded me of the sweet old grand And yet another example, this time a couple, were the "opposites attract" incarnate.

I realized that all of the people I met could have been a basis for several characters in my WIP's.  It was like a light bulb went off and Eureka!  I hit gold.  I promptly went to my computer and looked for character descriptions so that I could insert several adjectives.  This helped to define my characters and give them more of an appeal to readers since the readers will be able to make a connection. 

Needless to say, out of the twenty homes we viewed, we liked two and three were "maybe's."  Not very promising.  I've made a new list and plan to do it all over again this weekend.  But on the positive side, I will probably gain more material for the WIP's through all of the people I will encounter.

*crosses fingers*

Toxicity and Drabble Challenges

On Friday, during the early morning, I encountered a truly toxic individual.  I was really good about it too.  I did not react to what was told to me and I did not jump to conclusions and tell them off like I would normally do.  I contemplated my next steps, shared the situation with my husband on the commute home, and replayed in my mind all the various ways that the scene could have played out differently.  

Yesterday, I realized that all this was wasted energy.  I really don't care what this person says or thinks about me.  I am a person who generally gets along with everyone and I am very easy to work with.  Why then did I waste all this time on a person who really has no impact on my life?  Well, the answer is:  I am a problem solver.  I see conflict or any type of dilemma and my mind races to find a way to balance it out.  Kind of like an algebraic equation. 

 **FYI- The one up above, is the quadratic formula used when solving for x when you are unable to factor binomials.**


Well, I decided that Monday I will ask this person if they have a problem.  If not, I will let it go.  If so, then I will try to resolve or just cut the person off completely.  I don't need negativity in my life.  I get enough of that from the rest of the world.  

On a more positive note . . .  


Today the Burrowers, my very supportive Writers' group, is hosting a drabble challenge.  We post the image and you write a story in exactly 100 words.  Please visit here.  Happy writing everyone!

Nonage

Not able to drive.
Not able to drink.
I am so deprived
I must see a shrink.

M for mature
I cannot procure
For I am immature
and its all just manure.

I find myself tired
Because I cannot get hired
At places of leisure
I am liable to have seizures.

This bane is not mine
For I am not inclined
To succumb or subjugate
To adults that are irrate.

I have already foreseen
A time when I glean
The power unseen
Beyond the age of a teen.

This is not at all fair
Nor do I care
This belief I foreswear
As I stand and I glare.

My parents are lame
The world is insane
I need to refrain
From the feeling to blame.


drabble- n. story written in exactly 100 words.


nonage- adj.  The period during which one is legally underage.


*This one is somewhat Dr. Seuss-ish.*

The Gherkin

The Gherkin I

When looking up, one sees an erotically enticing, phallus standing erect.  This shaft is a desirable enhancement against an archaic backdrop of battlements. The cylindrically sensual construct penetrates the city, emerging through layers and folds of flesh.  Smothered in a sexual glaze, this delectable gherkin arouses the appetite and emanates pleasure through its steel pores. Its thick base and slender tip provide for an orgy of interplay for all its clients. This entity is a potent, stroking member whose upright position awakens the senses and imagination of its partners.  It evokes desire, readiness and longing. Increasing in size against the landscape, it throbs against the city skyline.



drabble- n.  a story written in exactly 100 words.

Image courtesy of Castle Galleries, artist- Louis Sidoli

Rhythm of the City

Rhythm of the City

Mind racing. Heart thumping. Rhythms pacing. Music bumping.
Horns blowing. People walking.  Litter flowing.  Shoppers talking.
Taxis zooming.  Buildings rising.  Business booming.  Fashion sizing.
Lights blaring.  Shoes tapping.  Passers staring.  Awnings flapping.
Papers flying. Fires stoking.  Babies crying.  Poultry smoking.
Dogs pooping.  Children playing.  Seniors stooping.  Parents praying.
Meters running. Trucks parking.  Cops cunning.  Drivers barking.
Bikers peddling. Traffic moving.  Vendors meddling.  Dancers grooving.
Singles moping.  Couples holding.  Lovers groping.  Marriages molding.
Card sharks shaking.   Stocks falling.  No money making.  Sellers calling.
Liquors flowing.  No one’s buying.  Discontent’s sowing. People dying.
This is the pulse racing Rhythm of my city.








drabble- n.  a story written in exactly 100 words.
Image courtesy of Castle Galleries, artist- Paul Kenton.

The Versatile Blogger Award Goes To . . .

I was so graciously awarded The Versatile Blogger Award by Rayna M. Iyer and Jan Morrison.  Please check out their blogs.  They are fabulous writers and so much fun to hang out with.

As tradition dictates, I am supposed to reveal seven things about me.  So, here we go:

1. I am one of 17 grandchildren (big family), not to mention that these grandchildren have a total of 22 great grandchildren.
2. I have three beautiful children- Justin (16- Dear God, help me), Ayanna (14- ditto), and Zionne (7- my princess).
3. I manage the inclusion program (special education students in a general education environment) at a NYC high school.
4. I love to swim but rarely get an opportunity to go except during the summer.  :(
5. We are going to Disney later this summer (excited!).
6. I love art (Impressionism, Surrealism, and all its many forms).
7. I am Puerto Rican but have only had the opportunity to visit the island twice (once in the late 80's as a teen and in 2002 on my honeymoon with my wonderfully romantic and caring husband).

Next is to award this to several new recipients:

Hart Johnson- for her Nakedness and World Domination
Cruella Collett- for her Digressionisms
Tara Smith- for her procrastination, plus dithering and dathering.
365 Days of People- for being so observant and poignantly funny with sarcasm.
Becky's Book Reviews- for covering such a wide variety of books.
The WM Freelance Writers Connection- for having such wonderful ideas and being so supportive of Writing Mommies.
And because everyone else who I was to award this to has already received it, I will end there.

Thank you Rayna and Jan!

Burrow, Books and Balderdash

I am part of a wonderfully supportive group of writers known as The Burrow.  I never considered being writer.  Some negative and irrational beliefs hindered me for many years to come.


However, the Cafe Steinbeck nurtured what they deemed to be the beginnings of an author.  I am so grateful to Serafina Graham, Jason Drake and Rayna Iyer for believing in me.  I want to also thank Cruella Collett, Leanne Rabessa, Hart Johnson and last but not least Tara Smith.  You have all helped through the ups, the downs and the in-betweens.


Come check us out.  You won't be disappointed.
 
http://burrowers.blogspot.com/

drabble- n. a story told in exactly 100 words.

Very Van Gogh

Very Van Gogh

-oh my god.  these are the pictures made by that man that cut off his ear.

-well, what did he do a thing like that for?

-my mom says that he did it to feel pain or sad or something. 

-that is wicked cool.  i mean to just cut yourself like that and not be scared.  he is really brilliant. i like this van gogh guy.  think we can be like him?

-nah, i’m not cutting my ear off. plus, he’s dead. 

-come on.  let's go see his other pictures. i wonder if mom will buy one?
-he is awesome!

drabble- n. a story told in exactly 100 words

Image courtesy of Castle Galleries, artist- John Wilson.



Come see us at the Burrow-  http://burrowers.blogspot.com/2010/07/intro-bunowrimo-summary.html

On Being American

Yesterday as I was in Faber Park celebrating my daughter's seventh birthday, I looked around and admired the diversity of cultural backgrounds.  There were Mexican-Americans, African-Americans,  Dominican- American (from the Dominican Republic) and my family is Puerto Rican (American).  I am not sure if it needs a hyphen or parentheses since most of us who are of Puerto Rican descent just call ourselves "Puerto Rican."

It's strange because almost everyone I know will define their cultural background with a hyphen.  There are Italian- Americans, Irish- Americans, Polish- Americans, Russian- Americans, etc.  The list goes on and on.  I don't know a singe individual who identifies him or herself as just plain "American."  Don't get me wrong.  This is a great tribute to the "melting pot."  I find it amazing that so many different cultures could live in one place. What perturbs me is that we need a hyphen at all.  If we are all American, why is then that we differentiate ourselves with the hyphen.  Is this the governments way of political correctness or is it a way to separate us from the rest of the flock?  I'm still wondering about this and will probably post on just this topic.

However, as it is Sunday morning and I have not had my coffee yet, I will go off on a tangent.  Growing up in the Bronx was a balancing act when thinking of nationality and ethnicity.  On the census form, for Race, there are only a few limited options, in which I fall into none of those categories.  I am not Caucasian, Black or Mongoloid.  Now ethnicity is a different story.  Here my culture is recognized so I check the box "Puerto Rican."  This is just one example.  Next example of the tightrope act was education.  I was forced to take an ESL exam (English as a Second Language), although through my speech and writing, it was evident that I had a clear command of the language.  It was assumed that because my last name was of Hispanic descent, that I did not know English. 

It was also a little weird that I had to balance the best of both worlds.  Puerto Ricans have their own culture, customs, language, music, and food.  The United States, or New York City in my case (as a child I had a very narrow view of the world), has their own culture and customs.  I had to find the best in both and somehow blend them so that I wouldn't lose my "Puerto Rican" identity and not sacrifice my "American" identity. 

When listening to my grandmother, I realize that I didn't have it so rough.  During the 1950's, it was really rough in Brooklyn when my grandparents migrated from Puerto Rico. My grandmother tells me some pretty horrible stories of how she was treated at her factory job, in her neighborhood and the local stores. She was called names with negative racial connotations and discriminated against at places of employment. I thank her for these stories as I realize I really don't have it so bad.

So where are we.  Well, I'm still on the fence about the hyphen in identity associated with "American."  I am not sure if Puerto Rican American or just plain Puerto Rican applies to me and the world doesn't seem like such a horrible place. 

For those of you who live in the United States, what are you views on being American?  For those of you who don't live in the United States, how does your country view Americans?

Happy 4th of July America!

First two images taken from Wikimedia Commons and are free of copyright.

Final image courtesy of Zac Allen, http://www.flickr.com/photos/47264866@N00/3683040307/ Fireworks!