Velvet Verbosity

It’s getting cold outside but I’m sitting by the fire in an 18th century house, and honestly, the only thing that is just this short of historically romantic about this situation is that I’m writing on a computer instead of with a quill and ink.

The past week has brought new challenges, sweeping realizations, pain and growth.  Among the more absurd and inane observations this week, I realize that people who smile while driving their car, at no one in particular, just gives me the squigglies in my stomach.  Who is that happy?  I’m not talking about the smile that creeps up on your face when a happy memory dances through your head, or the smile when you’ve just left the arms of your new love, or the smile of listening to bust-it-out funk.  I’m talking about that weird, glassy-eyed, never-wavering smile.  That stuff scares the crap out of me.

What doesn’t scare me is the 100 Word Challenge.  Once again you’ve all given me some interesting pieces to share.  My pick of the week is Night Blogger’s.  A haunting description of how women’s ways, up against a harsh culture, can go wrong.

Intuition. Instincts she could rely on. If a guy smelled like booze, any suspicion he was cheating, don’t let the door hit your ass on the way out, honey. That’s how a girl got by. Men were liars. Families died. Bosses fired you, but intuition saved the day. Get out before it hurts.
Every night she slips beneath the covers. She drifts there until the light creeps up to warm her skin like all the kisses that never reach her cheeks, all the men who never make it past the foyer. All the nights spent cuddled next to intuition, empty.

Did you feel that dark dampness wrap it’s cold fingers around your heart and squeeze?  You know the remedy…more writing with different moods.  Click on through for more.

• I’m suspicious that Lessa might have more than one personality in her when she can produce dialect like this.
• Solar Dancer shows how intuition roots out the creep factor.
• Mommy vs. Daddy intuition, Ninja style!
• Intrigue, betrayal, infidelity in 100 words at Mary’s place.
• Patsy’s developing a story…wondering who’s going to play June in the made for TV movie?

Losing Myself (who hosts an inspiring blog on self-improvement) had posted a link but it didn’t work and I can’t seem to find her 100 word post.  So if you’re reading LM, send me the link again.

And Lceel…dude, whassup?

For every person who has ever struggled with addiction, this week’s word from “Drinking: A Love Story”, is dedicated to you.

Time

With love,

We hit a pothole on the road to recovery.  I’m changing the tire and will be back with 100 words very soon.  If not tonight, tomorrow.  Hang tight internet.

Wow.  I’m a stellar speller usually, but it just took me three tries to get “resurrect” right in the title of this post.  Another sign I might just be losing it.  The “e” on my keyboard is also acting wonky and I wish it would cut it out since I’m a touch-typist and get really annoyed when I have to keep looking at the screen to make sure all my “e”s showed up.

I want to take a moment to thank everyone for all the kind words and support over the last several weeks.  I’ve been in some pretty dark mind places, and writing is one way I stay tethered to life.  This blog, my journaling, and a recovery forum have been my lifeline many nights, and my little family is so not out of the woods yet.

My pick of the week is from Patsy.  Sometimes I can’t really explain why a certain piece resonates with me, but I know exactly what it is about Patsy’s piece that does for me at this particular juncture in my life.  The “spit fire” reminds me of the strong woman I’ve always been, but sometimes that very strength has been what has broken the back of my spirit.  I fight too hard, care too deeply, and hang on too long.  Still, I always admire that kind of strength in a woman, so Patsy, here’s to you and every spit fire woman whose ever had that flash in her eye that just makes you smile.

Hank Derby was ready to put his plan to work in this dusty, old town. It needed someone to resurrect it and he was just the man to do it. He was going to set this place on its ear, put it on the map, and make a name for himself. But first he had to convince her to help him. He had never met anyone quite like that long legged, blue-eyed ball of spit fire, but he was ready to give it his best James Dean try. He couldn’t believe that girl didn’t realize what she was sitting on. But with his help, she soon would.

For more 100 word adventures, check these out:

• Sleep Deprived Ninja writes about his favorite topic.
• Angel resurrects something worthy of resurrection.
• Internet, meet Mabel, courtesy of Susan.
  
• This could be just the beginning for Losing Myself.
• New playah Mary with an interesting twist.
• Ponder this one from the Night Blogger with me.

In honor of trying to resurrect my own spirit, my own strength, I am re-reading “Women Who Run With the Wolves”.  The word is:

Intuitive

With love,

On a lighter note.  The “precious” and addiction.

Watching The Two Towers, and being a codependent, I couldn’t help but see the analogy between the one ring and addiction.  In this part of the movie, Sam and Frodo discover Gollum is following them, but Frodo takes pity on the creature and they Gollum on as their guide to Mordor.  As they trek toward Mordor, Sam does little to hide his disdain for Gollum and constantly derides him and calls him foul names.

Frodo: Why do you do that?

Sam: What?

Frodo: Call him names.  Run him down all the time.

Sam: Because, because that’s what he is Mr. Frodo.  There’s naught left in him but lies and deceit.  It’s the ring he wants.  It’s all he cares about.

Frodo: You have no idea what it did to him.  What it’s still doing to him.  I want to help him Sam.

Sam: Why?

Frodo: Because I have to believe he can come back.

Sam:  You can’t save him Mr. Frodo.

Frodo: (turning on Sam viciously) What do you know about it??  NOTHING!

(Sam walks away.)

Frodo:  I’m sorry Sam, I don’t know why I said that.

(Sam turns)

Sam: I do.  It’s the ring.  You can’t take your eyes off it.  I’ve seen it.  You don’t eat.  You barely sleep.  It’s taken a hold of you.  You have to FIGHT it.
Frodo:  I know what I have to do Sam.  The ring was entrusted to me.  It’s MY task.  MINE.  MY OWN.

Sam:  Can’t you hear yourself?  Don’t you know what you sound like?

(Later, Gollum fights the addict within)

Must have the precious.  They stole it from us.  Sneaky little hobbits.  Wicked, false.

No, not master.

Yes, precious.  First they will cheat you, hurt you, lie.

Master’s my friend

You don’t have any friends.  Nobody likes you.

I’m not listening, not listening.

You’re a liar and a thief. 

Go away.  I hate you.  I hate you.

Where would you be without me?  I saved us.  It was me.  We survived because of me. 

Not anymore.

What did you say?

Master looks after us now.  We don’t need you.

What?

Leave now and never. Come. Back.

NO

Leave now and never come back.  Leave now and never come back.

(Suddenly Gollum/Smiegel starts jumping for joy.)

We told him to go away and away he goes.  Gone, gone, gone, smiegel is freeeee!

For those of you still with me, it’s time to resurrect the 100 words. I’ve got some catching up to do, but if you want to join me this week, the word is

Resurrect

That was a surprise, eh? For details on rules of the game, go here.