Monthly Archives:February 2016

The Discarded Habit

February 24th, 2016 / Categories: Family, makin' my own fun, Moose Nuggets, Moosin Around, words / 6 Comments »

I once fantasized about becoming a nun, taking the habit. I would be a Bride of Christ, with vows of poverty and, occasionally, silence.

I contacted Mother Superior for the order teaching in my small parochial school. Mother answered my letters with wisdom, humility and love. She encouraged me to pray, to seek if this was God’s will for me.

In high school my world was expanded. Still parochial school, but several schools combined. Options! I met my heART when we were only 15.

I shucked the habit and took on a ring to become the bride of Art. No regrets.

Valentine's dinner smooch 2016

Valentine’s dinner smooch 2016

_____________________________________________________________________

Written for Tara’s 100 Word Challenge, this is a second version of the prompt HABIT. True stories are sometimes better than fiction. 🙂

Habit

February 23rd, 2016 / Categories: Hear Me, makin' my own fun, Moose Nuggets / 5 Comments »

One day I awakened the slumbering beast inside me.

It yawned deliciously. It stretched its wings. It reached out of the flaccid years-long stasis and moved towards the fit beast it somehow knew it could be.

Nearly four years later the beast roars each time it walks into the gym, picks up a weighted bar, sets its shoulders and lifts. Or swings. Or pushes. Or squats.

I am a cross fitter. It’s my drug of choice.

My mother would be somewhat horrified. I’m not the lady she thought she raised. I think, however, she would support the fitter, happier me.

warming up with Rusty the gym dog

warming up with Rusty the gym dog

written for Tara’s 100 Word Challenge. This week’s word is HABIT.

I started out at 350# – could barely ride the stationary bike 10 minutes at a time. I’ve taken off 75# and find myself much fitter and happier. You can find me at CrossFit Certitude M-W-F at 5:30 a.m. Join me. It really is habit-forming.

Reams

February 18th, 2016 / Categories: words / 8 Comments »

Paper. Reams and reams of paper. Not your normal sized paper. We are talking 70 inches plus.

This was my life for well over 20 years. Our family owned a small print shop and spent a lot of time there working together. A lot of time.

We printed 500 business cards or thousands of full-color brochures. Our customers ranged from small business to the hospital and college. Everyone needed paper covered by ink, folded just so.

Until copiers came on scene making most printing presses obsolete. Our business closed. We went toward different careers.

The world needs paper. I still smell the ink.

heidelburg
(not ours, but very similar to our Heidelburg press. We printed thousands of brochures using that press – one color at a time – one side at a time. It was an art – run by Art.)

Written for the 100 Word Challenge as hosted by Tara. The word this week is PAPER. Now, you go find some paper and jot down your 100.

Lucky?

February 10th, 2016 / Categories: Moose Nuggets / 6 Comments »

age16

“Lucky the bride the sun shines on”, my aunts intoned as I married in the rain.

As our years reached 46 and counting I would smile and tell everyone, “he’s a lucky man,” knowing full well that I shared that “luck”.

“Your husband is lucky to have survived the cardiac arrest, we didn’t think he’d make it”, shared many surprised doctors.

As I age, even though I have a strong Irish bent, I think luck has far less to do with what happens in my world. I am blessed beyond belief by a gracious and loving God. I am thankful.

Written for the 100 Word Challenge – the word is LUCK.

I have an idea

February 8th, 2016 / Categories: Hear Me, inspiration, poetry, talkin' to mahself, words / 6 Comments »

They scurry and scamper
On feet so spry – so fleet
Into one ear
Bouncing around in my brain
Then
Slipping quickly into
The nether regions of
My mind
Then out again
Into the bigger
Nothingness

I grasp and try to
Bring them back
These ideas
These flitting pieces
Of wisdom
Of brilliance
And then

I awake
They are gone
And I am left bereft
Missing them
Those tiny thoughts
That could be so
BIG!

The bulb dims
The candle flickers
What once was gray
Matter
No longer matters
Is no longer within
Reach

Memo to self
Write the brilliance down!

——————————-

100 words – in nearly as many lines – for the current 100 Word challenge by Ms. Tara. Now, you go on over and write your 100, won’t you?