New Year, New Chance to Live the Dream, Baby

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

In nine short hours (Central Standard Time) it will be 2008 no more...where on Earth did this year of my life go? Wherever it went, according to my journal entries, it had fun getting there! Now, it's time to forgive and forget. We must forgive ourselves for the bad decisions we made all year and forget what they were so we can do it all over again next year!

Honestly, celebrating the New Year is like wiping the slate clean...I mean, face it, it is another chance to make your dreams come true. Like God's Grace is bestowed anew upon baptism, we now have the opportunity to do things better than we have in the past and to do things right, from now on into the future! We each have a choice: live or die. It really is that simple. Anyone who tells you different has got an agenda. Think about it a minute.

We all have choices, every single day. There are two constants in our lives that we all have in common. Choices and Change. Each choice brings change. Each change brings growth. Each growth brings knowledge. For everything learned there is a sacrifice. Sacrifice brings death. And the pattern repeats itself.

In speech class, while in my Court Reporting course, our teacher taught us this phrase: "For every birth, something must die." I can't remember if it's from Shakespeare or not, I'm inclined to say that it is. Did we read Leviticus? I don't remember...and that's a shame! In any case, she was right. In fact, a lot of the old adages of the past come to mind and are also just as true today as they were yesterday. "When one door closes, another door opens, If you love something let it go..., When you fall down, dust yourself off," etc. With the exception of this old phrase: "Opportunity knocks." No, it doesn't. Opportunity takes on many forms of communicating itself to us. Opportunity can whisper in your ear, it can pound inside your chest, and it can kick the door full off its hinges in some cases. Those are the forms I'm familiar with, anyway.

So, what will it be for you? Will you welcome or stifle your opportunities in the year to come? Will you continue to make excuses or finish that "thing" you've been working on forever? What will it take to make you settle down and see it through this year? If you need help, I hope you'll give me the opportunity to help you in any way that I can.

Good luck, Blessings abound, and May your cup runneth over throughout the New Year!
God Bless, Elisa

p.s. I have COMPLETED the entire first draft of my first novel it took me 13 months to write! I'm so happy, I don't know what to do with myself. I've been working so hard for so long...now that I'm done...I don't know what to do now. I'm just so excited and ready to share it with the world!! I had to record it Somewhere for public display! thanks for reading, emg

Our Senior Class President Found Me

I have fresh excitement again about the 20-Year Reunion Class of '89 Gala Event! I received an email from our then acting Senior Class President, Daren Stevens, who willingly offered his help. Considering Reunion Committee members were dropping like flies (out of communications with me), this was a welcome offer. Whoohoo!

Therefore, I have created a New, FREE, Class of '89 only Website and here is the link:
http://SWClassof89.org

I created this one because time is beginning to close in on us (the Reunion Committee = RC) and it was absolutely FREE to create!! How about them apples, eh? So, while you peruse the sight, find your name on the student list, fill in your profile, and take the 25 Question Survey available for our RC - sorry if you took it once before on the "Southwest Reunions" Yahoo! Group site, it has since been removed and I had to recreate it all over again! This NEW class site is better than the '89 Yahoo! Group, and that will be shut down immediately, following my post here!

I'm sending out a classmates.com email Announcement today and I'm hoping you will all come join our New Class Home. There are still more websites to be announced/created/completed and everything is still late into the planning stages. We actually found a SWHS Community Page on Facebook! I'll get the information and post their link on our left as soon as I can find it again! *She promised - as time ticks away...*

Fear not RC, we'll make it to the Reunion as long as everyone Keeps Responding! We need your input. The price per person is still floating around $55 - $65, which is enough to allow this Reunion to be NICE and not "cheap" or "boring." The RC has heard that some of our classmates do not want to pay over $50 and others are willing to pay up to $75. I think we've got a good range there and we can always make exceptions for those who REALLY Just Cannot Afford that price...we'll play it by ear. Also, the One Time Registration Fee will cover Both Events: Family Picnic & Adult Dance/Event. So...

Please start saving NOW. Put a penny here, a dime there, in a glass jar in your kitchen and watch the savings grow! Any loose change you have left or floating around the house can be dumped into the jar and deposited into the bank later for Travel Expenses, Registration Fees, and Logo Memorabilia!

There's always the "curse jar." Come on, I refuse to believe I am the only one who still has one. My change doesn't stay mine for long. I can't buy my babies those gumballs, M&Ms, and peanuts at Pizza Hut and Godfather's because my change goes inside that dang curse jar!

Anyway, the RC hopes to see as many classmates attend as possible. The more the merrier and all other cliches apply. Please feel free to call or email the RC at any time to voice your opinions, concerns, suggestions, etc. The more we hear from the student body, the harder we work to put on the greatest show!

Speaking of shows, Earl Cotten has gladly accepted our offer to MC the evening event! As some of you may know, he owned a night club called "The Spot" for some time and is still a playa! But, he is married - to a very unique woman!

One last question: would anyone like to hear a speaker at the Picnic or the Adult Dance? We are making time for dancing and socializing (for us wall flowers), so do let us know. We may plan some Trivia Questions and/or a PPT Presentation of our year in review. Games and events are also being discussed for the Family Picnic. Let us know how we're doing - drop the RC a line and speak yo mind! Anytime.

Thanks, Elisa
Prez, 20-Year RC

emngg@yahoo.com
glove0217@yahoo.com
biggyrl5@yahoo.com

America Changed Its History Today

I wake up every morning, listening to the Steve Harvey Show on Hot 103 Jamz... of course, this morning Barack Obama was all the rave! Do you realize that we are all alive to see history in the making? The entire world is talking about this election! It's not just an American Dream anymore.

Countries from Britain all the way to/as far away as Africa! Yes, Steve Harvey said so, or maybe it was one of his guests... One of which happened to be the Reverend Al Sharpton. Now, I don't know anything about him, except that Michael Jackson said something about him in a song and I don't even know what that was, so if mentioning him is a drag for someone reading, Sorry. I hope not to offend anyone here, I just had to mention Steve Harvey because he is HILARIOUS!

I had to edit this post because we turned the page on American History today! I also have to give props to Senator McCain for his concession speech. It was elegant, graceful, and respectful to our new President Elect, Barack Obama. I told my little sister, "I heard he was a nice man, but when they start slinging hash at each other, it turns me all the way off." That immediacy to finding fault in another candidate is what makes me NOT want to Vote for you! I don't understand why this country has become so hostile toward itself.

We are the GREAT MELTING POT: America. Where did that America go? I could mention that the Constitution of our great country was founded on the Gospel of Jesus Christ. I could mention that the Founding Fathers of this country were Mostly Devout Christians looking for Freedom from Religious Prosecution. In this day and age, where we have come so far as to not only accept a half-breed (no offense, my kids are half-breeds, too! come on, we're all adults here) as a Nominee for President of the United States, we ELECTED HIM, TOO!! Before today's history was made (and no gunfire rang out in his direction) I had lost hope in the America I grew up in. But now...there is hope, I'm sure of it. We as a nation are not lost as the world believes, and a lot of us believed it was, before today.

Believe me, I, as Mr. McCain and Mr. Bush, understand the significance of this memorable historic event. I have been Mexican all my life (duh) and have faced racism in my past, too. I never understood it and was naive enough not to know it the first time I heard it. I was also confused with being Caucasian, which was funny at the time. If racial slurs were hurtled my way I just hoped they got the Right Race! However, I don't believe for a minute that this entire election was based on the racial issue at all (okay, aside from that one organization who shall remain nameless, because I won't give it the satisfaction of giving it credit for anything, about not electing a woman to Office, and they would instead vote for the 'black man' before they voted for a woman - at least, that's the email I got). I found the issue of race not having been mentioned very comforting.

Now, having said that, I did not follow the entire election as closely as Anyone else, so I wouldn't know if race was raised at some point and time in this election. The omission of such an issue is what I saw and I was proud of us for not bringing it into the forum. If I'm wrong about that, I don't really want to know, let me be proud of America for once, will you?

"The people have spoken," McCain said in his speech. Well, yes they have, but they didn't get a chance to in the last two elections, so, needless to say, I was a little doubtful this year. But my FAITH was Strong! I woke up this morning Knowing and Aware that we would have a new President today...and I KNEW it would be Barack Obama. At least, that's what my heart told me. Not to mention the chant I prayed all day, "Please Lord, let him win. Please Lord, let him win. Please Lord, let him win!" Yeah, I was pretty sure.

In my private blog I relate a story of my son's Voting Day at Kindergarten and what he told me about voting for Barack Obama. Yes, he did, too. Yes, I told him, "I'm proud of you, baby." The last thing I do want to mention though is - How on God's green Earth Could/Would America STILL Want to Vote Republican after these last 8 Years??? I'll never understand it. Now I know why I'm not especially interested in making friends in my rural/suburban neighborhood... it's because I voted for Change and they voted for the same crap, different 4 years! Why, God, why?

Thanks for reading the rantings of a sane, well-medicated individual.

Your Halloween Fix All Year-Round!

I hope your Halloween was as great as mine. I finally got to spend the entire day doing my favorite thing...watching horror movies from sun up to sun down, and nearly to sun up again! Not really, but I did watch several scary movies from Halloweens past.

From classics like Halloween and Halloween II, Friday the 13th Part I and II, Night of the Living Dead, Dawn of the Dead, and Land of the Dead, The Howling, Carrie, and Invasion of the Body Snatchers, to cult favorites who develop a following under radar, sometimes bypassing the Hollywood money making machine that is your local theater altogether. During the week, while my children were at school, of course, I was able to watch my cult faves like Killer Klowns from Outer Space, PumpkinHead, Child's Play, Jeepers Creepers and Jeepers Creepers 2, Pet Sematary, The Thing, and Phantasm. On Halloween day, we explored the more recent entries to the horror hall of fame like Skin Walkers, Decent, Dog Soldiers, Sleepy Hollow, and the Resident Evil trilogy (so far).

Then we switched between channels to watch movies we didn't have in our private collections, during the commercials of the chopped up versions on TV. We also followed the Ghost Hunters LIVE broadcast from 6pm to 1 o'clock am. Yes, we handed out candy that evening, too.

Speaking of Ghost Hunters, which is my favorite TV Show ever, a widget is posted below. I'm posting it here because our SWH School Colors are Halloweeniscious!! Happy Halloween - 2008!

Muse Mailbag - More 89er Answers

OK, so a lot has gone on in the realm of Yahoo! Groups lately. Apparently, Steve Edgerson has had enough of my Special Notices off the Southwest Reunions chopping block. Well, excuse me, Mr. I can afford mobile emails...I'm trying to get 89ers excited about their own 20-Year Reunion here, Steve. If you had been more VOCAL much earlier in the campaign, I would know by now just how much it would take to get on your nerves! After all, it only took you 9 months to respond to ONE of my countless emails.

In short, my response is: you brought this on yourself, dude. But, that's just me :)

Of course, I am here to correct the Yahoo! Group for the Class of '89 is no more! We have moved from the pay site classmates.com! Our '89 20th Reunion Headquarters can be reached by copying this link and pasting it in your address bar:

http://www.swclassof89.org

We are keeping the Southwest Reunions Yahoo! Group for ALL Classes from SWHS to Communicate with all our fellow Alumnus. Now on to the rest of the Comments on RSVPs and Answers to 89ers from the Family Picnic Event Invitations sent out from classmates.com below. Enjoy!

5. Antwaine Ramzy shared this comment with us, so we thought we should pass it along to you: "What it do ol' schoolers, let's hook it up!" My sentiments exactly, Antwaine. Thank you.

6. Barbara Mason left us this comment for our upcoming 20-Year Reunion: "I'm hoping this will be an event filled with joy and good healthy spirited love..." Barbara, I can't imagine you would have any 'old enemies' but I may have made some in my day, so I couldn't agree with you more.

Just an FYI: the 89ers I have had the pleasure of running into have matured into capable adults and are looking forward to seeing us all. So are we!

7. Jonathan Freeland says: "I'm there! Is Tower Park still nice? How about Loose?" We would like to say 'Congrats on the new baby born just last month!' We look forward to meeting her at the Family Picnic!

8. John Nickles states: "Lisa, I am in touch with about 20 classmates that will attend." Let's hope they do attend, we will need the money as soon as a Bank Account is established and an attendance fee agreed upon by the Reunion Committee this month...hope to see you at the October 11th Committee Meeting so you can help us make that decision.

Remember that Reunion Committee Meetings are always open to all 89ers in the local area and online to join in on the discussion, anytime! Your participation is what we need to make or break these Class of '89 Reunion Events. Psst, pass it on!

FYI: That meeting will take place on Saturday, October 11, 2008 @ 3:00 pm, physically at the Plaza Public Library and virtually at the Class of 89 Conference Chat online through Yahoo! Messenger. Log on, check in, and sound off if you want to be heard.

9. Shalisha Boles asks: "keep me informed on the events" which we certainly hope we're doing!

According to Steve E. up top, we are! His last email to me was, "Ok, we get it." Does everyone, really? http://swClassof89.org is where to go to vote on our REUNION POLL, join our Class of '89 only group, and post your own messages for FREE!

If you have something nice to say, please do. If you have a complaint, let us know. If you choose to remain silent, then forever hold your peace, especially if the Reunion was not to your liking because you didn't help plan it. "And that's all I have to say about that." -Forest Gump

10. Michael Clark: "Just tell me when and where and I will be there!" We need to hear from more 89ers like you, Michael.

11. Nicole Newton: "Looking forward to seeing everyone." So are we, Nicole!

Thank You's to all those who have already RSVP'd and shared your Comments with us. The '89 Reunion Committee looks forward to answering and sharing more of your thoughts and commentary on our Blog. Have a Blessed Day!

emg

Muse Mailbag - We've Got Fan Mail!

Considering this is our first issue, rather, entry for our mailbag I'll start by improvising and addressing some of the questions the 20-Year '89 Reunion Committee Members have received.

From the "Comments" with your RSVP to the Adult Dance Event on classmates.com, I say to:

1. Shalisha Boles - Yes, we have organized a Committee to handle the Reunion, however, our numbers are small and if you would like to join or Advise the Reunion Committee Members with your particular suggestions, interests, opinions, etc. please, don't hesitate call me at home @ 816-741-8801 or you can eMail any of us at the following addresses:

For Elisa Mendoza (Gilliland): emngg@yahoo.com
For George Lovelace: glove0271@yahoo.com
For Karin Williams: biggyrl5@yahoo.com

We are always looking for fresh eyes, ideas, and options for our Only 20-Year Reunion! I say, if we're going to do it, let's do it together and let's do it right!

2. Eddie Moore - Thank you for requesting that our contact information be mailed to you, in case you see any of our classmates that would like to come to the Big Event in August next year!

We need full addresses, eMails, Phone numbers, Cell numbers (optional), and any of YOUR Contact Information in order to contact YOU for the Next Main Event we would have in the future for our '89 Alumni Directory!! We may also have a 5-Year intermingle event, who knows?!

We are glad to supply our Contact Informati0n to all who request it and appreciate the Huge response we are receiving from this Word of Mouth marketing campaign we have running from classmates.com, swhighschool.org, southwestalumniinc.com, and others to come soon!

3. Sawn Winfield - Yes, you are more than welcome to bring your children to our Family Friendly Picnic event on Saturday morning-afternoon, August 15th, 2009. However, we ask that you not bring your children to the Adult Dance Event on the evening-night of August 15th, 2009 due to the fun "ADULT" atmosphere we are promising to make the dance/social event.

4. Wendell Thomas - I'm sorry to hear that you cannot get out of town that particular weekend :( you will be missed and in our thoughts. Perhaps we'll find a way for you to join the fun via computer webcam or some junk? Hey, anything's possible!

Thanks for your Questions in the Comments section of your RSVP's. Thanks and Appreciation to all who HAVE RSVP'd on classmates.com, already. Thanks, Appreciation, and Well-Being to all of YOU who have made this labor of love successful thus far and great fun, to say the least! It is such an honor and a privilege to hear from those of you posting on my Profile and sending me messages @classmates.com

Please continue to spread the word as you have been and sign up on classmates.com as you have been, and we will celebrate like a Class who is Proud of themselves, each other, and cares for one another! I sincerely hope all of you can join us - and please Answer The RSVPs sent out on classmates.com for an increasing head count. We don't want to overspend if you're not attending and we don't want to miscalculate if you ARE attending!!

Read Your RSVP Carefully, each event is being presented as a separate Event. There are 80 who have not yet responded to the Picnic Event and a whopping 94 who have not yet responded to the Adult Dance Event. Just click Yes, No, or Maybe, in your eMail Invite. Leave us a comment or not and we'll be happy to answer it here! We are ALL going to be famous! LOL

Seriously, Your 20-Year '89 Reunion Committee wants to accommodate everyone who makes next year's reunion possible! Thanks for your questions.

If you would like to submit a question to the Muse Mailbag, please send your Questions, Answers, Advice, Comments, and Concerns to us at one of the following eMail address:

*****
SouthwestReunions-owner@yahoogroups.com
*****

God Bless Each and Every One of YOU Today,
Your 20-Year '89 Reunion Committee President,
Elisa {Me}

Hey, You Drive Like It's 1985!

Speaking of 1985, '89ers like me began their Freshman year at Southwest HS that year. Although we wouldn't have our driver's license until the next year, we were sure trying to borrow the car anyway, weren't we?

But were we old enough to know that the Missouri Driver's Guide states that "if you can use your windshield wipers, your headlights should be on?" Did you also know that the furthest left lane on any highway is not the 'super fast lane,' it's the "passing lane" only?

Do you remember what was on the radio? Here's a clip of one of my faves:

One Night in Bangkok (CHESS) Murray Head

[via FoxyTunes / Björn Ulvaeus & Benny Andersson]

"One Night in Bangkok" as told by Murray Head

Jeez, of all the names in the world...how about that? Actually, I was going to introduce a new section the Twisted Muse spit out from her innards just this afternoon. Instead, I found this little clip of a song we used to like. 1985 marked my Freshman year at Southwest High School and I had a great advantage! My sister was a Senior!! So I got to know a lot of them, hang out with them (Anna and me have always been very close), and sometimes I got to go out with them...well, maybe one or two.

Anyway, enjoy the clip.

Expanding Vocabulary

Now, what would an Alumni Newsletter Blog be without a vocabulary post? Let's keep helping one another broaden our horizons, shall we? Here's my effort, your words are:

perusal = read something carefully, or read something quickly, to examine something

pristine = unspoiled, immaculate, in or of its original state

citadel = a fortress, or strongly fortified building, a defending body of life or principle

genuflect = to bend the knee as in religious respect; kneel, show excessive respect

agog = very interested; intensely interested, excited, or eager about

Prithee = I pray thee; please, used to introduce a request to somebody

shanghai = trick or force to do something, force into naval service, to recruit forcibly

archaic = no longer useful or efficient, no longer in ordinary language, ancient

amicable = friendly, without anger or bad feelings

fugleman = leader, somebody acting as a leader or example to others; soldier training others

tyranny = cruel use of power, oppressive government, cruel act committed by a powerful person

quibble = a petty objection, to argue over unimportant things

sop = a gesture to pacify an angry person; food dipped in liquid; offensive term, insult

merrymaking = celebration, having fun, a lively celebration, or enjoyment

nosh = food, snack, to eat a snack between meals

grouse = a reddish brown game bird with mottled feathers; to complain regularly and continually

hornswoggle = swindle; hoax; to cheat, trick, or deceive somebody

malinger = to feign illness to avoid duty; to pretend to be ill, especially to avoid work

loquacious = very talkative, tending to talk a great deal

twaddle = empty talk or writing nonsense; nonsensical or pretentious speech or writing

wet blanket = killjoy; person or thing whose presence or influence lessens enthusiasm of others

ninny = a fool; dolt; offensive term deliberately insulting another’s intelligence or common sense

tête-à-tête = head to head; a private conversation between two people; type of S shaped sofa

ghoul = evil spirit that robs graves and eats the dead; one morbidly interested in repulsive things

obtuse = blunt; slow to understand; between 90°/180° with internal angle above 90°

fetid = having a bad smell; stinking; putrid; a rotten or offensive smell

dolce vita = a life of luxury and idle self-indulgence

sarong = a cloth worn like a skirt; a garment of men and women in the East Indies

If you're already sweating bullets, no need to fear, there will not be a test! These words are from the Gals at Media/Professional Insurance (MPI), where I worked right out of school, compliments of our Word of the Day Club!

Enjoy! From your friends and classmates at SWHS in KCMO.

Movie Zombies and Boob Tube Slave Reviews I

Here's what our Resident Writer thought about the latest and greatest at the theater (Bets is his wife). From my Writer's Meetup Correspondent, Mellenballer Max - Enjoy!

Bets and I have seen these and this is what I thought.

Wanted: Excellent. WE GAVE IT: 5 stars.

The Mummy 3: Good to kill an afternoon, but don't expect a great plot or story. Lots of action, characters of Rick & his wife were weak. {Not to mention they replaced Rachel Weiss and thought we wouldn't notice!} WE GAVE IT: 3 1/2 stars.

Hancock: Pretty good... great twist at the end, good characters, plot was tightly wound and executed. Great moments. WE GAVE IT: 4 stars.

X files: Won't even waste my time. {No aliens, nothing to see here.}

Journey to the Center of the Earth: Take the kids, but don't expect to be swept up. Good moments, but no great ones. WE GAVE IT: 2 1/2 stars.

Swing Vote: A good movie, a few funny spots, characters that made you care about them and think about politics in a useful way (as in, "What is government really good for? What is its purpose?") WE GAVE IT: 4 stars.

Wall-E: Excellent movie. WE GAVE IT: 5 stars. Go see it now.

Mamma Mia!: Fluff. Meryl Streep and her girlfriends were 15 years too old to play this part, and so was Pierce Brosnan and his cohorts. Only a couple of the songs were recognizable to me from the old ABBA catalog; most I'd never heard. Good choreography, though. Good movie to see when you're drunk. (Not as bad as Dragon Wars, though. You needed to be unconscious for that one). WE GAVE IT: 2 1/2 stars.

Hellboy II: The Golden Army: Excellent movie. You go, you sit, you writhe and yell and wince. Popcorn is strewn everywhere and you don't care; a great show. WE GAVE IT: 4 1/2 stars.

Kung Fu Panda: A fun movie, one to definitely take the kids to and enjoy yourself. Jack Black is the best as Po, the panda. WE GAVE IT: 4 stars, 'cause there's no blood and guts.

Get Smart: Go see this now. You won't be sorry. Good characters, solid plot, true to the old TV series, funny, smart, and well done. Steve Carrell and Anne Hathaway are both great in this, and Dwayne Johnson was really good, too. WE GAVE IT: 4 1/2 stars.

Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull: Lacked punch for me. Felt like the supporting cast was waltzing along and mugging for the camera. You go in and sit down and wait for the rush of adrenaline and it never comes, even though things are going on up there on the screen. I don't know quite how to describe the shortcomings but they're definitely there. WE GAVE IT: 3 stars.

Now, just imagine those "stars" as Zombie parts and we've got a Real Review! Thanks Max come back anytime. We'll bring the popcorn.

From the Homeland to the Promised Land

Here’s a dilemma for you, your sibling is going to marry a drug addict...have I got your attention now?

Things aren’t like they once were in the old country. My sisters and I weren’t raised in the traditional fashion, not since we moved to America.

We were all born here in Missouri but have made several trips back to the homeland and my father was born there. So is my grandfather, on my mom’s side.

We weren’t raised to stand by while our men ate around the dinner table, waiting to serve them their next course. We also weren’t raised to a life of servitude to our men as was our previous generations. I’ve heard it actually still happens here where Mexicans & Latinos make up the majority in some communities.

The Matriarch of our family has been and continues to be my mother. My father is the main breadwinner and has the final say in all matters.

Most of the time they agree on everything, especially when it came to raising us. However, it’s fun to watch them go at each other from time to time about minuscule issues like what to eat for dinner.

My mom used to tell me stories about how my father was raised and how my Abuelita differed from my other grandmother in their dealings with we girls.

It used to keep us talking for hours. It still does, who am I kidding? My father takes it all in stride, like water off a duck’s back. He’s the pack rat in our family and never throws anything away. Our driveway looks like a used car lot, or better yet, a salvage yard for ancient cars!

They made it a point to give us all the things they never had growing up. My father had to get a job and pay the bills when he was only 12 years old in Mexico. My mother was sent away to live with her grandparents for 8 years and felt like an outcast to her siblings once she returned at age 14.

It’s been a tough road for our parents, especially raising three out of control “locas” who can’t imagine life in Mexico after all this spoiling going on in America!

Gracias Mama y Papa, te amo mucho!

FEATURED FICTION: Immersion Escape

“We’re tracking two more, sir.” My twin ensign informed me; interrupting my perusal of the documents I was assigned to memorize.

“That makes seven of the pristine beauties escaping.

“I have two more,” My triplet confirmed. “That’s nine in all, sir.”

Inside the dimly lit citadel, orange and red emergency lights glowed against opaque control panels it had become my onus duty to command. After my genuflectual mannerism to the Colonel of Centurion Arms agoged His Majesty’s courting daughter, he placed me on this rock as a test for her hand. Frankly, they should have asked me if I was at least interested. Now, I’m forced to reassess my Colonel for reassignment, as I’m sure His Majesty will be disgruntled at my Prithee NOT to be wed to his daughter.

“They’ve reached the South Rim.” My triplet announced behind me.

“Heading for the prisoner shuttles.” I commented, like a good commanding officer; let them know you’re in control, even when you’re not. “Shanghai!” I exuded with glee, “Who’s responsible for this archaic machinery?” As all eyes found me, amicably enough, in my fit of fugleman tyranny I yelled, “Why can’t I stop the ships from launching?”

“Communications are down, sir.” My triplet said, “We can’t stop the timer settings they’re connected to either-”

A trotting of what sounded like hooves and combat boots filled the corridor behind us, officer’s quibble, no doubt.

“Do we go after them, sir?” The first ensign asked.

“No. It’s out of our hands now. The night guards will shoot to kill.” I replied. If they wanted to run, let them suffer the same fate free men would face on Earth.

“Commander Mikah!” Another voice entered the room with a different face. The egocentric lieutenant I sent to check the escapees’ cells. Of course, he may be the one to sop around here for a good mark with my Colonel’s decision to reassign me.

“Sir, they put goats and chickens in their cells with their tracking implants tied to them. They made their escape after breakfast merrymaking.”

“And this, sir,” A second lieutenant, identical to the first (the original, I knew), brought forth a milky white snake with blood red eyes. The creature glared at me with familiar eyes; recognizing me from when I made tasty noshes of his brethren. “This was in the cell of our immortal. The healer.” He groused.

“The one His Majesty covets? Isabal?” I knew it was her; yet I don’t believe she would...betray us. “Hornswaggled, eh?”

“Yes, sir. She malingered this morning at breakfast merrymaking.”

“Catch her! Find her! I want her back alive!” I pounded the control counter before me with a leather gloved fist. The video monitors lining the walls of the room stared back at me, dark and uncaring. The officers behind me backtracked down the corridor, leaving loquacious squeals and twaddle-some heckles as their furry and feathered prisoners were herded away.

“Commander, the shuttles are away.”

“Land them! Ground them all!” I yelled back at the wet blanket; I knew we couldn’t, she’d gotten away. This SNAFU may cost me a rank. Blast the witch!

“I can’t, sir. They’ve gone.” My twin clone sputtered.

“I can see that, you ninny!” I considered a tête-à-tête with this one after lunch merrymaking.

“Prepare my ship, get after them!” I turned a twisted snarl at him as he hurried out of the room with my triplet. “I want to leave in five minutes.” I finished.

Stealthily turning to the awakening monitors snowy screens, her ghoulish name escaped my reluctant lips, “Isa.”

Isabal stared out the hatch that narrowly missed crushing her moments ago, watching the muddy brown complex disappear within a cloud of dust and exhaust fumes from the ship she stowed upon. Heir Mikah would be displeased with my betrayal of His Majesty as he had cared for me himself, when no one else would. Only his obtusely fetid henchmen would lose their dolce vitas on PRONE. Feeding off the pristine concubines they’re surrounded with, their soft nature’s rubbing off onto soldier’s in the King’s royal army...His Majesty would never be caught dead in a sarong!

BACKGROUND: I belonged to a Word of the Day Club at a former employers with about eight other gals and we had a list of words compiled over a few weeks that I decided to immerse into a story I wanted to write at the time. It's not my best, but it was an awful lot of fun to write!

emginc

May I Introduce Myself?

I am the Twisted Muse and my purpose is simple: to entertain, amuse, and inspire you.

My inspiration may serve to awaken the creative spirit within each one of you for further discovery of self. I may also propel you toward making your own dreams come true.

Together we will explore new and unexpected ways to view what may have become our ho-hum existence.

Perhaps we will find a common ground between our daily anxieties and hidden fears so we can begin living the life we’ve always wanted.

My pages are filled with exclusive works of fiction by first time writers in our own backyard. We accept freelance submissions from readers and writers in our own area for your pleasure.

Personal essays, poems, comic strips, and inspirational articles are included.

My twisted humor obeys no boundaries and distinguish my pages from most other publications.

Featured columns in each issue offer endless tidbits and surprisingly useful advice on everything from parenting, to pet care, to questions from other readers just like you.

There are cultural topics explored and strategies for surviving multicultural family life.

My creator would like to advise you that reading beyond this point will be at your own risk. Your risk of corruption by life’s twisted nature clashing with its logical interpretations is far greater now that you know my true intentions.

In the end, our journey together will serve to bring a heightened awareness to the current life you live. To wring the dull, boring days right out of your misery with bare, gritty hands until you have no choice but to succumb to me...

Uh-hem. So please, find a comfortable place to relax, put up your feet, and open my pages to experience the irrefutable candor manifest in the

Twisted Muse.

Soon to be a Minizeen Publication: Where there’s a little taste of something for everyone.

*Published by EMGinc.com

Welcome Southwest High School Alumni !!

That's right, this is your New Online Twisted Newsletter Publication Blog for your eMusement!

We will be publishing short stories, articles, tips, tricks, advice, answering emails and comments to any of our posts. Including articles, short stories, and art submissions from local talent in our Alma Mater's hometown of Kansas City, Missouri. Keeping you abreast of OUR beloved Southwest High School in KCMO is our top priority.

Postings will be sporadic at times and flow without an end in sight other times. We will occasionally have some Shameless Advertising links for fellow Alumni who are operating their own businesses via internet or up-close and personal. Blaze will be conducting interviews with as many members as wish to be interviewed and share their stories, memories, and pictures associated with their experiences at Southwest High School in Kansas City, MO.

Please do not hesitate to contact us with any and all publication inquiries, art submissions, ideas for improvement, comments or questions, and article submissions. I, Blaze, am your fearless leader in the fight to save our high school's memory as it has been deserted and stored away from the former students, teachers, and staff who reminisce about the good 'ole days at Southwest High School.

We are currently leading an ambitious campaign to contact the Kansas City Public School District in order to form an Actual Legal Alumni Association with copyright, ownership license, trademarks, and recognized by the State!

Yours Truly and Ever Sincere,
Elisa Mendoza Gilliland, President
20-Year Class of '89 Reunion Committee

*Scheduled for August 2009