Aaaaa It's Snowing

In Portland, any time it snows the city is sent into a panic and basically shuts down. We get so little snow during the course of the year that we don't have the huge fleets of equipment to clear and sand and don't use salt. Frankly, the snow doesn't usually last long enough for that type of Herculean effort to be necessary.

So what we do is run away from work, jam the streets like a frozen parking lot and spin tires. Since I have been working (and I use the term lightly at this time of year) from home. I didn't have any place to drive to or from. I put a jacket on my big headed dog, grabbed my son and went for a walk through the falling snow. It was wonderful. Played like a kid one eighth my age (yes, I'm that old).

Mrs. Monkey Man, however, wasn't that lucky. While she only works three miles from home, traffic was a bitch and after for 45 minutes and progressing a mere mile and a half, parked her car and walked the rest of the way.

I met her halfway with a heavier coat and a warm hand to hold. Our walk home was delightful. There is a walking path in a green space near out neighborhood that was a winter wonderland. Snow still falling and creaking under our feet as we walked. It was peaceful and romantic. The stillness and quiet that comes with snow enhanced the whole experience.

Even though it was almost six o'clock in the evening when we got home, it was as bright as midday outside. It was quite surreal. We were greeted by a snowman at the bottom of our driveway that had been built by the neighbor kids. Check it out.

This morning the snowman is toppled and the snow is mainly slush, but I have a white birthday and that's pretty cool.

Race Brain

The stillness exploded
into the night magnifying sound.
Breathing thundered.
Subtle snores broke
in ear splitting waves.
Exhaustion knew no time
and cared little for rest.
Eyelids ground like rusty shutters
wanting to close but
refusing until the race
was complete
and the stillness renewed.

Sunday 160 - Walk in my shoes

I tried on the shoes
but the fit wasn’t right.
Sloppy.
Then tight.
No matter the walking distance,
it was only empathy touching
imagination that opened my mind.
________________________

This is a Sunday 160.
Take the 160 Challenge if you dare.

Merry Christmas

From the Monkey Man family to all of you - a very Merry Christmas.

QUIET!

Quietly it churns.

Grinding through old memories,

real or imaginary.

Real are discarded.

Imaginary are embellished.

Fed.

Given fangs and claws

that will tear

at its creator.

Churning.

Ever churning.

Rest and silence be damned.

Winter's Fog

The fog rode in

on the back of winter's cold,

piercing with its icy chill

any warmth it could find.

Disfiguring all in its path

with an enveloping blur.

Monochrome reigned.

Stealing color

as it rolled over the countryside.

Feathers fluffed.

Hair on ends.

Heat - a precious commodity

with frozen fog ravaging the land.

Stopping the flow - A Sunday 160

The usually rapid stream

flowed slowly.

Bogging down

by unseen forces.

Ever slower,

then finally halting.

Dammed by

the on rush itself.

Mall exits at Christmas.

_______________________________________

This is a Sunday 160.
Take the 160 Challenge if you dare.

Save the Whales

The Ady Gil was recently added to the protest fleet

of the Sea Shepherd Conservation Society.

The vessel, which runs on low emission, renewable fuels

will be used to scare off Japan’s Antarctic whaling fleet.

When interviewed about what renewable fuel

will be available in the Antarctic,

the vessel’s skipper replied,

“Whale oil, of course.”

____________________________________________

This is a Flash Fiction Friday 55.

If you want to know what the hell that means visit g-man.
The challenge is on.
_____________________

While I am sure whale oil would work, I very much doubt the fine folks at the Sea Shepherd Conservation Society would even sniggle at my attempt to poke fun at them. Click on the Ady Gil link above for the whole story. Be sure to listen to the spooky music intended to scare the Japanese whaling fleet. Good luck to these people in their efforts to save the whales.

Spell Czech

During the coarse of righting, spell Czech can bee vary important. Know won likes two have a story published that is full of misspelled words. Eye pride myself on my spelling as eye am sure many of ewe due. That is why eye have carefully checked this document too make sure beyond a shadow of a doubt this peace was perfect.

Now that is knot to say that everything eye have written hasn't had a mistake now and then. After all, wee can't expect to catch every little detail. Eye mien any won can overlook sum small error and should bee forgiven.

Won should bee cautioned, however, on to much reliance on spell Czech. Many times eye have scene spell Czech sea a word that is spelled correctly, butt it isn't used in the proper context. Yew no watt eye mien. When ewe leave the "Y" off the end of "they" butt spell Czech still says it is all rite to use. Doesn't even sea it as a misspelling and their yew are with an embarrassment on you're hands.

Fortunately four me, eye have spell checked this story and know words were found too bee misspelled. Good news all. Thee system works.

Take Pause

Words rattle in the mind
like the tail of a coiled snake

waiting to strike.
It's the first defense,
this effort to lash out
with deadly swiftness.
The assault meant to bite deeply
and discharge the verbal toxin
upon its prey.
The rattle quickens,
sending surges
through the thoughts.
The coils tighten,
yearning for release.
The rattle warns,
but only one can hear.
Should the strike hit home,
the damage will be fatal.
Organize the words.
Relax the coils.
Let all survive.