Waste not. Want not: second chances.

From old t-shirts as rags.
To making a drop cloth out of a trash bag.

If it can be used til it screams,
I’m gonna make it dream.

Recycle, reduce, reuse –
I’m going to make it produce.

Waste not. Want not.

This poem is being written in stages to highlight the things I do toward frugal living.

Growing up; my daily life was filled with the saying, “waste not, want not.”

When you’re young, what clue do you have in lives dot?

As we grow; we learn, “money doesn’t grow on trees.”

I save the salt from chocolate squeeze.

To my stew you are added.

Flavor has been padded.

Aw sheet!

Blasted hole. This is not a treat.

I’m gonna fix you. I guarantee.

From my needle you need to flee.

More time will be added to your life. Around you I shall mend.

So more dream filled nights, you can tend.

Coffee. Nectar of God. You help me through another day.

Upright and functional, you help me stay.

What about your grounds?

A use for you, I have found.

Nutrients to the soil you will add.

Helping my veggies grow big and strong. Which will make me very glad.

Leftovers are my jam.

From me, they do not scram.

I freeze you to eat you for lunch.

Which helps my overall finances a bunch.

Someday I’d like to retire.

I’m sick of this mire.

Toothpaste: squeeze, squeeze you. But never tease me.

I will cut you open before I let you be.

Give me all your power.

Your contents, I will devour.

Inside I find more paste.

Enough for at lease 5 more brushings. No waste.

Mustard, ketchup, butter, pepper, or salt.

I don’t eat out a lot. Put that spending to a halt.

When I do, those condiment packets will be saved.

Eaten later or added to a recipe, usefulness will be made.

Some restaurants now days are making us pay for those.

Concerning our budgets, we must be on our toes.

I’m doing dishes anyway. No electric dishwasher near.

I pack my lunch almost every day. These sandwich bags here;

I haven’t bought new ones in years.

I wash them out until cracks appear.

Organized in old tissue boxes. Painted and labeled neat.

Baby steps toward my financial goals, meet.

Sincerely, I’m addicted to chap stick.

My lips, I do not lick.

I have it everywhere; on my desk, in my pocket, in the car, on the coffee table, by the night stand.

Use a tube to the nub. Throw it away? No way man.

Use a cosmetic spatula to get every last soothing ounce.

Apply to dry lips, give them bounce.

I got the yummy delicious benefit of the meat.

To my taste buds, it did greet.

Save the left over grease for my dog.

Add it to his kibble. Then share it on my blog.

Cheekie gets more than just grease from the table.

Added treats to his kibble, whenever I’m able.

Being single allows me some latitude.

Some of the things I do, your partner might give you attitude.

With the exception of my kitchen, my trash cans are small.

Even it has been retro fitted so; grocery store bags, I reuse them all.

I even have a cute storage sleeve.

I only buy trash bags if I need them for a specific project. Price too high, peeved.

Homemade things are the best?

I put that theory to the test.

I made all my people birthday signs.

They didn’t seem to mind.

Happy Birthday!

That’s what the signs say.

From old t-shirts as rags.

To making a drop cloth out of a trash bag.

If it can be used til it screams,

I’m gonna make it dream.

Recycle, reduce, reuse –

I’m going to make it produce.

My first trip to New Orleans

My first trip to New Orleans; a fresh face college kid in the BIG CITY.

A small group of us were walking down the street having just arrived. Trying to get our bearings, shaking off the long drive, as well as taking in the beauty that is New Orleans.

Our little group was approached by a thin man staggering from side to side holding a white styrofoam cup. He stared at us as only a wine-o can, with his head bobbing on his shoulders; asks using his best Creole draw, “how ya’ll like bein’ 17 feet under woder ?” Raised his cup in a toast and staggered off.

*Just to give a little prospective, the county I grew up in had a population of 10,278. The county seats population was 272. My graduating class from high school was 162, county wide. My first trip to New Orleans the population was 469,053. BIG city for this country girl.

Once there was Darkness

Chapter 30

Part 2

“Let me test.” He dipped her blood filled boot in the pool. It bubbled and hissed wildly. “Can’t do that. Looks like we are doing this the old fashion way.” Rajaf began to mix together different things from his bag making a green paste. “Baby girl, this is going to hurt.” She screamed as he began working the paste into her wounds.

Kol wanted to die. He thought she was going to tear his garments off. With each scream, his heart stopped.

Violet collected Kessa’s uniform and ran from the room.

As much as Kol wanted her arms around him, he didn’t want it to be this way.

When he moved to let Rajaf have a better position to bandage Kessa’s hip, the box containing the chain fell from his pocket. Max picked it up handing it to him. They locked eyes for a moment. Max knew.

Once Rajaf was finished, “we need to let her rest.” He and Max left. Kol found a Bible and decided he would start reading to her. Much like she had read to him in the past.

He stroked her hair and she moaned. “Kes?”

“Yes, my king.”

“Are you okay?”

“I’m afraid to look.”

“May I help?”

She tried to smile. “Thanks, my king.” He helped her up out of the floor. Instantly, she was light-headed. “Too soon.” He directed her head to his shoulder. It took all her strength not to be sick.

Rajaf came back. Kol held her while Rajaf cleaned and redressed her wound. “I soaked the bandages in the liquid. They didn’t react violently to her blood. Let’s see what happens.”

“Isn’t that too great a risk?”

“I don’t think she would think it was.”

It seemed to work.

“Let’s try this again.” He woke her. Her leg hurt like sin. It burned and felt like a swarm of bees stinging. She pulled her breath through her teeth. Kol stood at the ready to support her. She made it out of the floor. Already, she was covered in sweat and her head was spinning. Instead of allowing her back to the floor; Kol took her to one of Enda’s tables.

Kol woke to see Max with outstretched arms ready to catch Kessa if – when she fell. Kol was amazed that just after two days, she was up and walking.

She hissed, “we missed the boat.”

“He smiled a great big smile, “boats wait for me.”

Taking Flight

Answer me this: why do rockets look like an extension of the male anatomy? A tube full of fuel with a pointy end to push through the atmosphere and penetrate a region of space.

I know I’m not the only one who has notice this.

Jaxa/H3
Vikram-S
Starship

Getting the picture? Doesn’t matter what country; the design is the same, Big Ol Richard.

NASA’s Space Shuttle kinda looks like an airplane. Does it really? Hmm?

NASA says rockets are shaped this way, “The aerodynamic shape of the nose cone helps prevent air from slowing the rocket.” NASA’s Do-It-Yourself Podcast: Rocket Science

So what if I designed a space worthy craft based on being a female? Would it look like a ‘space amoeba’? How about a pancake? Most UFO’s are depicted as round with a dome in the center. Hmmm, smart aliens.

“You’re just jealous cause your body isn’t being represented!” No, not really. Curiosity.

Around 400 BC, Archylas made a wooden pigeon fly. https://www.grc.nasa.gov/www/k-12/rocket/TRCRocket/history_of_rockets.html

Why can’t we design an airplane style space vehicle? Well cause airplanes suck. ? Well, you suck! No, “the jet engines of airplanes actually work by sucking air through them.” There is no air in space. Can Airplanes Fly Into Space? [VIDEO] | Science Explanations for Kids – Tappity

I get that.

Hawk made it work. Buck Rogers in the 25th Century, NBC.

I know what you are going to say; “but Chico’s Mom, these are works of science fiction; UFO’s and Hawk’s space plane.” Well, yeah!

What about the design? Give ‘Richard’ a break. He’s been rip snortin’ around long enough.

Richard Nixon

Pictures from Google images.

Psalms 102:7

Do you have a quote you live your life by or think of often?

Psalms 102:7 “I watch, and am a sparrow alone upon the house top.”

When I became a Christian, all of my Christian friends had at least one Bible verse that defined them in some manner. While I understood each of their choices, none of them spoke to me.

As I was reading one day, this verse jumped about at me. “I watch, and am a sparrow alone upon the house top.”

King David is credit for writing much of Psalms. How fitting that my favorite verse comes from one of the ‘poetic’ books of the Bible. The version of the Bible I own (KJV) says Psalms 102 is a ‘prayer of the afflicted, when he is overwhelmed, and poureth out his complaint before the Lord’. While I have no problem pouring out my heart to God; I take this verse to mean something different/personal to me.

I see this sparrow (me) sitting alone upon the house top. Perhaps it is the highest point around? Perhaps other birds come visit me for awhile? I get to see amazing things from my spot on the roof.

I don’t consider this position to be a sad one.

Fairy Tale Ending

Sue and David were high school sweethearts.

They would never part.

Lovers till the end.

A love time would not bend.

Sue stayed in-state to go to college.

David went away to seek his knowledge.

They vowed to be true.

Parting made them both blue.

Sue studied hard. Focused and true.

David; lonely, wondered trying not to be blue.

Distance was a killer.

Phone calls, letters, cards, texts, e-mails were not a thriller.

Visits wained.

Love became strained.

David found a new love. Lonely no more.

Sue stayed true; though many tears poured.

David stayed away. A new life he made.

Sue came back home. Her love never did fade.

David had a life, job, wife, and babies.

Sue stayed true; some day maybe.

Forty years later, a message across the verse.

David was lonely again. Time could traverse?

David’s wife had died in an accident, two years ago.

Loneliness set in, back to his roots should he go?

Sue was still out there. No ring on her finger.

He remembered those feelings. How they lingered?

Sue was overjoyed. Her one true love was coming back.

All of her joy, she couldn’t unpack.

Her fairy tale romance was coming full circle.

All of her feelings, she couldn’t make verbal.

David was broken. A wreck. A mess.

To the last 40 years, he would not fess.

Sue made it her mission;

every tear drop, every whimper, she would listen.

One day Sue told me her story of fairy tale bliss.

No detail did she miss.

Things I truly didn’t want to hear.

But to my ears, she did steer.

Destiny, God, fate;

here was her mate.

Regardless of the fact that he had lived a life.

Had children, a job, and a wife.

They didn’t like her, she confessed.

Time would win them over, he wasn’t as big a mess.

Her love, healing touch;

was too much,

the pain

was spilling down the drain.

She could see it. Feel it with each passing day.

With each little victory, the harder she did pray.

She had her man.

The testament to their love would stand.

As I set there listening to her words,

I wanted to drown myself in my cup of coffee. This was observed.

How was this a happy ending?

What kind of love was this sending?

She gushed and cooed.

As I questioned in my mind and stewed.

It was her choice to wait.

This was her fairy tale to state.

It made he sad for both of them. And I couldn’t wrap my head around,

why she wanted to make this life with him sound?

I had sat a timer for my break, when it was over.

Not a moment too soon, I couldn’t wrap my head around her four leaf clover.

My head and my heart hurt.

It was difficult for me not to blurt;

I’d would have told him to shove it up his ,($.

Spend the last 40 years living a life of sass;

be lonely on your own dime.

Why ring my chime?

In what universe was this sweet?

How was this a treat?

But she was over the moon, elated.

As if she had been counting down the hours, minutes, seconds – dated.

Knowing he would return.

Filling that burning in her heart, that yearn.

She had her fairy tale bliss.

The man from her youth. Her one true love. Her past reminisce.

Easter

What is your favorite holiday? Why is it your favorite?

I love Easter. It marks for me the beginning of spring. Flowers are blooming. The earth is waking up. What’s not to love about baby chicks, rabbits, chocolate and Easter eggs.

I also love Easter because of the resurrection of my savior Jesus.

Christmas is important as well. You can’t celebrate the resurrection without the birth. There is just so much happening at Easter, it floods all my senses with joy.

So Small

Philippians 4:6

“Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.”

King James Version (KJV)

How do I pray, Lord help me have a good day?

When there are people in the world dying.

How do I pray, God watch over my home and my dog while I’m gone?

When there are people in the world with no home.

How do I pray, Lord help me loose weight?

When there are people in the world with not enough food to eat.

How do I pray, God fix my dysfunctional family?

When there are people in the world with no family.

How do I pray, Lord if there is no romantic relationship written in your book of life, take these feelings away?

When someone is experiencing the loss of their greatest love.

How do I pray, God is there a new job in my future?

When there are people praying they could work.

How do I pray, Lord take these negative emotions away from me?

When there are people in the world who want to feel something, anything.

How do I pray, God take these struggles from my life?

When there are people whose heartaches and struggles are far worse than mine.

How do I pray, Lord heal these aching joints of mine?

When there are people who have lost limbs and sensation completely.

How do I pray for the small things?

When there are far bigger problems than mine.

Once there was Darkness

Chapter 30

Part 1

It was time to go to the island. Kol was trying to get everything ready. He called for Kessa. He was working on different things when she arrived. Trying to get all the loose ends tied up for Abraham before they left.

“My king.”

It wasn’t two minutes into him talking that she wasn’t able to hear him anymore. The pain in her right leg over took all of her senses. He started to walk back and forth between the two large desks. ‘Please stand still.’ There was no response from him. He was either ignoring her or she didn’t say it out loud. Back and forth. Any minute now she knew she was going to throw up. Thank God he stopped. He was still talking. She watched his lips move but had no idea what he was saying. She could read lips but the pain was too much. Her leg felt like it was going to fall off. She put all of her weight on her left leg. That didn’t help. The throbbing and burning was only getting worse. ‘God forgive me.’

Kol heard a swishing sound.

He turned to see Kessa laying in the floor. “Kes!” He shouted.

Max opened the door and slid to a stop beside her.

Kol was caressing her face.

“I told her she needed to go see her dad. I told her not to come here first.” Max said angrily. “I’ll go get Rajaf.”

“Meet us at the barracks.” He picked her up with the greatest of care.

Kol had just laid her down by the pool when Rajaf and Max ran into the room. The old man was moving as fast as he could with his bent frame.

“Baby girl,” he almost cried as he attended to her. “What happened?”

“She was hit by a cart on the beach as we were preparing the ship for departure.

Members of the Bejhar are trying to find it as we speak.”

“Max, go get Violet.” Rajaf instructed. He left. “My king, hold her ankle.” Kol did as he was instructed as Rajaf started to remove her boot. She gave a low moan. As he took it off, they both noticed it was full of blood.

Max returned with Violet. Kol and Max held up a large towel as Violet removed Kessa’s uniform. Violet gasped. Kol covered her with the towel. He and Max both just stared at each other. From the top of her hip to her knee her flesh was hanging in shreds. Removing her uniform just made the bleeding worse.