Velvet Verbosity

Evil Kenievel (that would be my 16 year old son) is at it again.  I think he’s trying to break the world record in Emergency Room visits.  He flew off his skateboard yesterday and landed on his arm resulting in a compound fracture.  If you don’t know what that means, it means SERIOUS, BADASS, and BLOODY.  It means bones poking through skin.  Yep, I’m a little more gray today.

Internet, just a plastic heads up…today is the day for 100 words.

Love, VV

Happy Sunday!  Today was just about a perfect day with beautiful weather and chock full of good moments.  I’m glad the sun finally went down because my awesome-day-o’meter was just about to go over the top.  So let’s get started with the round-up, shall we?

JM at Fiction Scribe had me convinced she was a mother when I read this.  Pop over to her blog see what the inspiration was.

Our daughter Amelia, Melly for short, had decided at the wise age of three that she was politically minded.

“Like Alex,” she would say.

Alex, ten years older, already had an interest in politics. Melly simply liked to let her opinion be known. Fortunately, she didn’t quite yet know how to deal with opposition from President Mom.

“I’m against eating carrots,” she said one day, eyeing the orange veggies on the table.

“Well,” I said, “I’m against you not eating your vegetables like a good little girl.”

Melly blinked at that a few times and then said, “Well, maybe one.”

A powerful piece by Sassy Mama Bear

The pounding had started again, the noise deafening in the silence of the room she sat in. Like a jackhammer ripping through years of neglected concrete and asphalt the noise reached a peak of insistence, demanding she pay attention. Remember, never forget, bear the pain for eternity it screamed. She could not fight against them, the millions of memories that stretched back decades. She could not hold them back as they strained against her mind, threatening to take control. Make it stop! She slammed her head against the wall, and if only briefly she found silence, then they started again.

~ Penelope Anne Bartotto
5-28-08

From The Night Blog.  If you haven’t already visited over there, you should.  Some interesting writing coming from a high school student.

I won’t be afraid. The familiar faces around me are meaningless. I will not tolerate being one of them.

My legs shake. People glance at me, frowning. They’re listening to the speaker giving a suave aggregation of his notorious school career.

“They’re my friends,” he says, smiling. Cameras flash. “I love each person graduating today.”

Rage nullifies my fear. Suddenly, I’m standing. I’m reaching down, grabbing the microphone.

“He doesn’t love any girl who won’t step out of her pants for him.” The pain eases. He’s standing stock still, in embarrassment. Cameras are flashing away and I’m smiling. I’m smiling.

A beautiful piece by newcomer Renee Daniels

I stir quietly, noticing your warmth along my body and the pressure of your leg intertwined with mine. I move my fingertips slowly across your skin, marveling at the sensation. I lay my head against you, nuzzling into the hollow between your shoulder and neck where I can breathe in your scent until my senses are saturated. Gently I kiss your amazing lips, missing the taste of you but unwilling to disturb your slumber just yet. Here I feel wrapped in your presence; I feel safe. And I smile in wonder at the privilege of awakening with you against me.

From a dream, Secret Agent Mama was inspired to write this.  By the way, I’m particularly flattered that the multi-talented SAM especially loves the weekly 100 word writing prompt!

Running, sweaty, and completely out of breath, I found myself turning around often. I kept looking back with this expression of dread and worry. I kept thinking, leave me alone, let me be, stop making me run; yet still, I ran. I looked back one last time and saw this huge rush of water coming toward me. Immediately I stopped running, dropped to my knees. Then as the water surrounded me, sweet relief. The water against my body was cold and refreshing. I swam in the water, never once worrying or looking back.
I simply let the current carry me forward.

Mr Lady over at Whisky in my Sippy Cup (that title makes me laugh internally every time I see it) sums up motherhood in one breathless piece.

A tangling of limbs in a dark, secluded corner of the world between two strangers turned into a child growing around my vital organs which turned into a little man pushing through an unwilling cervix that became soft pink skin warmed by mine in a hospital room that grew into cuddles after owwies which evolved into hasty kisses on my cheek at school doors and subtle snuggles when no one was looking which will change into handshakes at college dorms one day. For now, forever, I hold fast to the memory of my soft, sweet, perfect creation pressed against me.

The Wandering Author tried his hand at poetry this week.  All I can say is “Here Here!”.

Against
I cry out -
Against
Death and loss.

Against
Entropy.

Against the inexorable current of
Time.

Against
Cruelty and its craving:
Suffering.

Against
Lies luring us astray -
Politics;
Every party, every candidate -
Posturing,
Hypocrisy,
Good intentions soured, presented as fresh,
Cures worse than diseases,
Distortions of truth
Winning votes,
Betrayal of all
Who trust promises.

Against
Conformity,
Thoughtless obedience -
Slayers of creativity;
Hatred and intolerance,
Harsh enforcers;
Standardization,
Enemy of infinite variety.

Against
Greed,
Lust;
Which cultivate
Indifference to all
But their satisfaction;
Exploitation,
Pollution,
Destruction,
Bitter fruits of indifference.

Against
Rigid law,
Rules, regulations,
Injustice.

Against
War in any form.

Another newcomer, MommyCosm, used the writing prompt as an opportunity to write about recent personal experiences.  Welcome aboard MC!

The way you treated them goes against everything I believe in as a coach. They learn more by what we do than what we say. They are only rebelling against current authority because they are not being led by proper example. They are just kids.

I cannot sit by and participate in something that goes against my life philosophy so strongly that my body has reacted with it’s first panic attack. I love this school. I love being a coach. I love those girls. I never envisioned walking away, but against my prior plans, I feel I have no choice.

Lceel called me fragrant!

I love the feel of your skin, warm and soft, smooth and silky. I love the smell of your hair as I bury my face in the soft, warm crook of your neck and taste the goosebumps I find there with gentle licks and teasing nibbles. I love the feel of the long smoothness of your back under my hands, as I gently draw you to me by running my hands up between your shoulder blades and pressing your chest to mine. I love the way your thighs welcome me. With the pleasure, is the feel of you against me.

This next one by Sarah at Sadie’s Storylines is the kind of piece you chew on for a while, excavating the meaning slowly.

Once best friends, now we barely speak.
Against my every wish.

Our beliefs the same, you gave me them
Against my every action

You think you are in the right
Against my every thought

Deep trust and faith you felt in me
Against my swirling moods

Now it’s only shame I see
Against me every step

How am I to win you back
Against many obstacles?

I should give up, move on
Against your tide I swim

But my behaviors now mirror yours
Against how I want to be

Is my future doomed to copy you;
Against my only children?

That wraps up the Against challenge.  The challenge grows a little every week, and I’m excited by the possibilities as the number of participants grow.  Y’all are keeping me busy reading!

The new challenge (rules here) is from Magical Thinking by Augusten Burroughs.

Plastic