100 Word Song: Starting Over

MyBlogCanBeatUpYourBlog

Today I'm participating in a blogging meme called 100 Word Song found at My Blog Can Beat Up Your Blog.  Basically, there's a song, you write 100 words inspired by said song, share it on your blog and you're done.  Sounds fun, right?  

The song:

My 100 words:

It wasn’t the smell of his breath that alerted her muscles to tighten in defense of what was to come.

She knew by the way his eyes darted around his greasy plate of eggs almost 12 hours ago. 

Being hyper alert ever since breakfast was taxing to her body and mind.

Images of police stations, paradise, and promises flew through her when he delivered the blow.

Her collapse to the couch was like a fall into the hands of God.

He said, “It won’t happen again, I promise.”

She fell asleep to the smell of eggs frying in the kitchen.

photo credit: matsuyuki via photopin cc

Wednesday's Woman: Katrell Christie, The Learning Tea

Sometimes helping others starts with something as simple as putting a jar on the counter at the neighborhood coffee shop.  How easy is that?  And yet, how many times have we had the opportunity to help, just a little, but felt it would be too difficult or require too much sacrifice?

I am always inspired by those who, despite their fears (imagined or real), are capable of defying the odds in a quest to make a difference in the lives of others.  I have read that something as simple as sharing a smile can have a significant impact on someone’s day.  And yet, how many times have I passed an opportunity to do so because I was too wrapped up in my own misery (imagined or real)?

As you read today’s Wednesday’s Woman, submitted by Anna Mahler (The Mommy Padawan), think about the little things you can do to help someone in need, the little things you can do to propel yourself out of your own muck.  In the case of today’s story, the simple act of placing a collection jar on the counter in her place of business, a tea shop, evolved into saving a few young women in India from living as victims of human trafficking.

Yes, sharing a smile is marathons away from helping women who are potential victims of human trafficking.  We have to start somewhere.

Thank you, Anna, for your continued support of and willingness to write for Wednesday’s Woman.  I’m smiling at you.  I hope you feel it.

Wednesday's Woman: Katrell Christie, The Learning Tea

Screencapture from The Learning Tea

I have been personally touched by some many of the amazing women I have found to write about for Wednesday's Woman as well as the ones I've read about from others but I have to admit, there is a special place in my heart for women helping women. Because of this, as soon as I read about Katrell Christie, I knew I wanted to share her story.

Katrell is the owner of a coffee and tea shop in Atlanta, Georgia called Dr. Bombay's Underwater Tea Party.  In 2009, two years after opening her shop, while visiting Darjeeling, India to look at tea plantations, Katrell met three girls from a local orphanage.

She learned the girls would be forced to leave the orphanage within a year (when they turned 16) and without parents or other family to help, living on the streets or becoming victim to sex trafficking were real, possible futures for them.

“I made a bunch of promises,” Christie says. She told them she’d come back in six months and help. Then she had to figure out a way to make it happen. “I didn’t know what to do.”
-Source: The Christian Science Monitor 

She simply started with a jar on her counter, asking for donations as well as re-directing funds from her used book sales to help the young women she had met. Six months later, Katrell had enough money to return to India, secure an apartment for the girls, enroll them in college prep high school and supply school uniforms.

After returning home from her trip, Katrell started selling packets of tea from Darjeeling at her store with 100% of the proceeds going to support the girls as well as other female orphans in the same situation. She named her project, The Learning Tea  

During trips back to India every six months, Katrell continued to offer shelter and the opportunity to attend school to more young women who would soon be leaving the orphanage as well. Her work and reach has continued to grow and she now provides a free-standing building with dormitory-style bedrooms and a house mother for the girls full time.

She believes vocational training helps only one generation, she says. A college education allows a woman to pursue a career and, in turn, provide higher education her own children.

“It is the only way I see that you can stop the vicious cycle of intensive poverty in India,” Christie says.
-Source:  Christian Science Monitor 

For a young women, with no close family, to know someone cares about them is a gift in itself but to then provide a safe home and education is beautiful and generous as well.  And it started with a jar on her counter.

You can learn more about the amazing work Christie is doing at The Learning Tea as well as her tea store, Dr Bombay's.

Twitter - 

Facebook -

Blog - 

WEDNESDAY'S WOMAN IS A WEEKLY FEATURE DEDICATED TO SPOTLIGHTING WOMEN WHO ARE ROLE MODELS FOR OUR DAUGHTERS. . . AND THE WORLD.

photo credit: Professor Bop via photopin cc

Mistakes, a Playlist

This week’s theme for Twisted Mixtape Tuesday is “Past Mistakes.”  It’s open for interpretation as long as one comes up with a playlist of five songs sticking to the theme.

Don’t we often come up with excuses, or justification, for our past mistakes? 

“I shouldn’t have, but it looked so good”
“I would have, but I just couldn’t get all my ducks in a row before hand.”
“It wasn’t my fault.  They made me do it.  Plus I was under the influence.”

I’m starting my Twisted Tuesday with just that—excuses:

*It’s already well into Wednesday so I have little time to think of a clever interpretation.
*Although it has warmed up to 17 degrees, my creative brain has yet to thaw.
*I’m late on this.  All the good songs are probably already taken by other bloggers in the link up.

And so on…

And so on…

Infinity.

However.

I am committed to blogging regularly in 2014.  Responding to a prompt in a blog link up makes it easy.  Plus, I love music. 

Wait.  

Were those justifications to write something for Twisted Mixtape Tuesday?

Yes.  I think they were.

Mistakes.  A Playlist.

1 - Paradise by the Dashboard Light – Meat Loaf

This song, the Bat Out of Hell album cover, and this story of that most universal mistake were all very provocative to me as a child.  As an adult, the make-out portion in this video is just as provocative for its qualities of silliness, not for its qualities of greatness.  Although, I do find the theatrics to be highly entertaining.

“Stop Right There!” – Female vocals – hands down, my favorite part of the song.  I’ve always wanted to sound like that.  Just know, on the inside, I do.

2 – Cocaine Blues – Johnny Cash

I love Johnny Cash.  It’s difficult for me to leave him off any playlist, even a short one like this.  He was the best at telling us about his mistakes, lamenting, asking for forgiveness, never ashamed to own up to being human.

I am pretty sure that Cocaine Blues is fiction—and a great work of fiction, in my humble opinion (sorry Tolkien fans).  It is morbid to think of it as biographical.  Maybe metaphorical? Let’s just hear the tune.

3 – Up Jump the Devil – The .357 String Band

The man sells his soul to the devil and then hangs himself.  Sounds like a bad day to me. Nevertheless, I do love the sound of this punk-grass, old-timey, gritty song.  Plus, I traversed the Midwest to quite a few .357 String Band shows in the mid 2000’s.  They hold a special little space in my heart.

4 – Cheers Darlin’ – Damien Rice

I chose this for its clarinet intro.  My daughter plays the clarinet.  She was and is definitely not a mistake.  (That little description has nothing to do with the theme. Cue song).

5 – Nobody's Perfect – Hannah Montana

My girls were of the perfect age to be huge Hannah Montana fans.  This is one of my favorite songs from that time period in our lives.  It’s uplifting and provides a positive message for tweens. 

My girls are now teenagers.

 

The transformation of Miley from Hannah Montana to Twerk Queen has been uncomfortable to watch.  But I’m here to tell you, it is eerily similar to how it feels to parent teens.

Be kind.  Remember, everybody makes mistakes.

Don't try this at home:

"Over Monday and Tuesday, the Los Angeles Times counted at least 50 people on social media who reported burning themselves or their friends after trying to turn boiling water into snow. There were also several reports of people going to the hospital to receive treatment for burns."

http://www.latimes.com/nation/nationnow/la-na-nn-boiling-snow-20140107,0,6070776.story#ixzz2ppmxx4VV

10 Things New to Me in 2013

Happy Monday and Happy New Year!

I do hope you are staying warm.

I am getting things rolling for 2014 at Sperk* by participating in one of my favorite blogging linkups, Monday Listicles hosted by Stasha at The Good Life.

The theme today is 10 Things New and it is open for interpretation.  

At first, I struggled with this theme.  Are my creative brain cells frozen?  

Then I got a little bummed out. I do not have a lengthy list of new things I have acquired in recent months.  

I did get a coat for which I am very grateful.  Oh, and I bought some jeans for the first time since 2007.  

But I'd like other new things, like a new car, new roof, new windows.  Ho hum.

In a state of self-pity is not a good way to begin the year.

So, I scrolled through my go-to for inspiration, my Instagram gallery, and it reminded me that I experienced several new things things in 2013.

Small things.

No mountain climbing or body surfing.

But I wouldn't trade them for anything.  Really.  I wouldn't.

10 Things New to Me in 2013 

1 - Being a Nanny

In 2013 I finally put my new-to-me degree in early childhood education to work and took a job as a nanny. It has been challenging on so many levels and just as rewarding in ways I couldn't have imagined.  I haven't had a job outside the home since my 15 year old daughter was born.  That's a long time.

2 - Middle School Honors Band

This year my 13 year old daughter was selected to be in the Bowling Green State University Middle School Honors Band.  It was a one day event that started with our drive to the university at five in the morning. The students rehearsed through the morning and afternoon finishing the event with a performance in the evening.

Needless to say, I was very proud of her.

Her dad was also very proud of her.  In the evening, he drove up to meet us for the performance which included a spy-themed piece with the added touch of all of the musicians wearing sunglasses.  When it was time for the spy-themed piece to be played, I realized her dad, up to that point in the concert, had only been watching her, apparently not even glancing around at the rest of the band.

When she put the sunglasses on, he leaned over to me and said, "What the hell is she doing?"

I simply replied, "Look around. They're all wearing them."

3 - Crazy for You

My 15 year old daughter was in her first official high school musical, Crazy for You.  She worked so hard to learn tap dancing, something she had not done before auditioning for the show.  Brava!  That's all I can say. I couldn't find a clear photo of her dancing, but we get to admire her beautiful smile.

4 - Weekly Visits to The Ohio State University

My 15 year old began voice lessons which are located at Ohio State.  We go once a week.  She sings.  I take mobile photographs--not of her.  I walk swiftly (lessons are only 30 minutes long) and get as many captures around campus as I can.  When I first started engaging in this activity I felt silly.  I'm over that now and it is something I am grateful to be able to continue in 2014.

5- Selena Gomez

I took my younger daughter and two of her friends to see Selena Gomez in concert.  It was a first, not for concerts, but for seeing Selena.  Miss Gomez is quite a performer.  We all enjoyed the show.  More so, I enjoyed the time with my daughter and her friends.  These times spent together are fleeting.  I know this because my older daughter no longer allows me to accompany her to shows.

6 - Painting With Apples

Being a nanny has offered me opportunities to try art projects that I never got around to doing with my own children.  (Do not judge.  We did plenty of crafts.  Just not ALL of the ones I wanted to try).  My favorite in 2013 was painting using apples as stamps.

7 - Instagramming in the Rain

I became very committed to Instagram this year and sometimes spent time "gramming" with my significant other.  This is a wonderful "couples" activity.  It gets you out of the house and turns on some "super-explorer switch" in your brain.  During one of our outings, it began to rain.  In the past, I would have run for shelter.  I am glad the past is the past.

8 - Pulled Over for a Photo

Towards the end of 2013 I became a little less timid about getting the mobile photographs that I wanted.  Instead of driving by something picturesque and wishing I had a photo of it, I actually pulled over and attempted to capture what I saw.

9 - Noticed the Clouds

10 - Experienced 365 Brand New Days

Many more to come, I hope.