ANNOUNCEMENT From SWCLASSOF89.ORG Website
The SW CLASS OF '89 Fundraiser is here! Support your Class Reunion by referring your friends and families to http://www.classiccookie.com where they can help us get Registration Costs way down!
Classic Cookie offers Ready-to-Bake Cookie Dough - DUE DATE for Orders & Money is APRIL 10, 2009! Please help us pay for our 20th Reunion and refer your co-workers, neighbors, family and friends to the web site http://classiccookie.com
For out of town relatives, friends, alumni, and supporters of Southwest High School, SHOP ONLINE And be sure to ENTER COUPON CODE: SW1989 AT Checkout! That's "SW1989" when you checkout of http://www.classiccookie.com
THIS IS A PRE-PAID SALE. ALL MONEY IS TO BE COLLECTED WITH ORDERs, please.
For those of us in KCMO who are doing in-person selling, you may accept checks for cookie dough orders. Please MAKE CHECKS PAYABLE TO:
SW CLASS OF '89
The Southwest High School Class of 1989 20th Reunion Committee would like to Thank You for Your Support!
emg
Thursday, March 26, 2009
Thursday, March 12, 2009
Why Don't We ALL Love Like Dogs?
Not live like dogs, Love like Dogs! It angers me to still see our beloved animals left out in the cold weather this March. In Kansas City, Missouri, the weather is less than ideal. We never know what to expect with each coming day around here so we are pretty much left with our own judgment. Why isn't our best judgment loving toward our beloved furry friends?
In these days of up and down temperatures, it amazes me how inconsistent we are as responsible animal owners! I drive my daughter to school every morning from Monday through Thursday. In the ten minutes it takes me to do so, I see at least five or more animals outside in the 20-degree weather! I am an avid animal Lover & Enthusiast. Be that as it may, I do let my miniature schnauzer outside to do his business and Promptly let him back inside. If it takes him two minutes or 20 minutes, I'm there to let him in.
It sours my heart to see animals, large and small, tied outside in this hostile weather. I know you work, I know you get kids to school, I know you have errands to run and things to do, but if you can't spare five to 20 minutes to care for the simple basics of your animals needs, then you shouldn't have gotten one in the first place. In fact, you need to start searching for a new and responsible home for your animal right now. If you lack the time to feed, brush, groom, bathe, clothe-is optional, walk, and play with your animal on a regular basis then you absolutely have no business owning an animal.
I know because I do all these things and still care for my animals, sometimes better than I care for myself. That's what unconditional LOVE is, people. A lot more often than not, we all could take a lesson from Fido! Especially in regard to "LOVING thy neighbor as thyself."
Ownership is an ugly word to me with regard to another living thing. Be it human or canine, feline or otherwise, ownership doesn't compute in my head when it applies to my pets. They can FEEL, they do REMEMBER, and they do LOVE, OBEY, HONOR, and CHERISH their human counterparts until death do us part. Dogs do it better than we do, hands down! Always have, unfortunately, always will.
Dogs are like 2-year-old children their ENTIRE Lives! That means, no matter how "old" your dog gets, he may be the equivalent of 74 in dog years but that doesn't mean his mentality is that of a human 74-year-old. His mind is still only 2-yrs-old! Period. He still looks at you for his every need: he needs love, attention, play time, guidance, discipline, food, cleanliness, water, the outdoors, exercise, and a warm bed to sleep in just like your human children, and yourself for that matter.
Let me ask you something, would you tie out your 2-year-old child outside to go potty in our 18-degree morning weather for one whole hour or eight hours while you're gone to work? Hell NO! Although we may want to from time to time, as frustrated parents, we would never really Do that. Unless we wanted to spend some time in jail for the free meals and cable, only to never see our children again, right? (That's a whole other discussion entirely.) No, again?
OK, so why do we so easily do this to our dogs? It kills me to see cats slinking around out there all the time, too. I'm not saying every cat has to be held hostage inside someone's house and de-clawed, etc. I mean let's have a heart and how about a little more COMMON SENSE, shall we? You stay outside all night without a coat and only the clothes on your back as the temperature plummets from 30-5 degrees in an hour or less. You fend for yourself outside awhile and see how you like it. Then maybe you'll have some empathy for your four-legged friends. If you don't, you have no business owning a pet of any kind.
Now, don't get me wrong, I am NOT PERFECT. I have made mistakes with my animals in the past. Especially as a confused teenager who didn't have time to worry over a dog. Yet, I have LEARNED How to Do It RIGHT. How to be Loving and Responsible to my dog-dogs and better for it in other areas of my life and relationships with friends & family! But this CAN BE Taught. Loving an animal takes time, patience, and the willingness to CHANGE Yourself on behalf of anothers' needs. Putting those needs before yours sometimes is a deciding factor of Love itself. Again, much like the love of a child.
I don't understand how, even in this economy, people continue to let their dogs starve to death rather than feeding them table scraps at the VERY LEAST (even though I do not recommend table scraps as a substitute for dog food ever), but in order to keep them fed until you CAN buy them dog food. You're feeding your two-year-old child aren't you? I am sticking to this analogy because my pets are Absolute Members of My Family Unit. I don't forget my dog in any decision I make for my family.
Let me tell you a little story. When we had the opportunity to buy into a Great Deal for resort vacations...the ultimate deciding factor for me was this: they did not allow dogs. That was what stopped me. That's ALL that stopped me. If we did not have LOVING Relatives willing to watch my dog while we were on vacation for 7-10 days, I Would NOT GO ON VACATION. No kidding. I would send my family, or stay home with one of my kids and my dog, send the other kid with my husband, that way we would take separate vacations if need be. We are a "pack" in my dogs eyes, and in mine as well. I am ever conscious of this fact and of his mentality as a perpetual "2-yr-old child" (dog). The unconditional love of a dog is what mine have taught me.
I of course, am not the only exception. I know several animal lovers who feel the same way about their own pets. Believe me, we are a Nation of animal lovers. We may occasionally disagree on what is right and what is wrong in the way of breeding, raising, or feeding our animals, but we do share the love, hard work and pure effort and responsibility necessary to handle, treat, and nourish our beloved animal family members.
If you cannot identify with the above paragraphs then I beg you please, PLEASE do NOT Buy A Dog - or a living breathing pet. I don't care how spoiled you want your child or how loud she cries and begs! Get an electronic 'pet' for your child instead! You can change their battery after you let them starve and die, then start all over again. This is NOT AN OPTION with a Real LIVE Animal.
I do not MEAN to preach and I will climb down off my soap box in a moment or two. I just wanted to speak out for the animals who so often lack the voice of their owners and "masters" to speak up on their behalf. I wanted to speak also for the caring neighbors of these animals who are ignored, mistreated, forgotten, and literally tortured in our society. I raise my glass and my prayers to God on behalf of ANY and EVERYONE who turns negligent animal owners in to Animal Control or the authorities. Not for "absent minded" mistakes but for actual, obvious neglect in our hearts eye.
We need to police ourselves, our neighbors, and our communities behavior - like it used to be. So many things have changed in our society, we can no longer afford to be absent in our own and each others daily lives...this is a much broader subject and hopefully, we can cover it much further in another post or perhaps a printed edition of the Twisted Muse. Don't wait for "someone" to call the police, that "someone" could be YOU everyone else is waiting for to act first.
For now, thank you for reading. Please spread these words to other animal lovers, potential pet owners, and neglectful owners alike. We can always learn a new fact, a new word, and give a new lesson to Someone who needs it. Always. No matter what you do in life, this is our Collective Legacy as Human Beings: passing on our greatest traits, life lessons, love and hope in humanity to our children and to their childrens' children as well. Guiding someone to a new path is legend.
The Love of a Dog is the ABSOLUTE EXAMPLE of God and His UNCONDITIONAL LOVE for Us as HIS Children. God Bless All Our Readers, Contributors, Thinkers, Word Pieces, Pet Enemies, and those who Disagree with us alike. Amen
emg
In these days of up and down temperatures, it amazes me how inconsistent we are as responsible animal owners! I drive my daughter to school every morning from Monday through Thursday. In the ten minutes it takes me to do so, I see at least five or more animals outside in the 20-degree weather! I am an avid animal Lover & Enthusiast. Be that as it may, I do let my miniature schnauzer outside to do his business and Promptly let him back inside. If it takes him two minutes or 20 minutes, I'm there to let him in.
It sours my heart to see animals, large and small, tied outside in this hostile weather. I know you work, I know you get kids to school, I know you have errands to run and things to do, but if you can't spare five to 20 minutes to care for the simple basics of your animals needs, then you shouldn't have gotten one in the first place. In fact, you need to start searching for a new and responsible home for your animal right now. If you lack the time to feed, brush, groom, bathe, clothe-is optional, walk, and play with your animal on a regular basis then you absolutely have no business owning an animal.
I know because I do all these things and still care for my animals, sometimes better than I care for myself. That's what unconditional LOVE is, people. A lot more often than not, we all could take a lesson from Fido! Especially in regard to "LOVING thy neighbor as thyself."
Ownership is an ugly word to me with regard to another living thing. Be it human or canine, feline or otherwise, ownership doesn't compute in my head when it applies to my pets. They can FEEL, they do REMEMBER, and they do LOVE, OBEY, HONOR, and CHERISH their human counterparts until death do us part. Dogs do it better than we do, hands down! Always have, unfortunately, always will.
Dogs are like 2-year-old children their ENTIRE Lives! That means, no matter how "old" your dog gets, he may be the equivalent of 74 in dog years but that doesn't mean his mentality is that of a human 74-year-old. His mind is still only 2-yrs-old! Period. He still looks at you for his every need: he needs love, attention, play time, guidance, discipline, food, cleanliness, water, the outdoors, exercise, and a warm bed to sleep in just like your human children, and yourself for that matter.
Let me ask you something, would you tie out your 2-year-old child outside to go potty in our 18-degree morning weather for one whole hour or eight hours while you're gone to work? Hell NO! Although we may want to from time to time, as frustrated parents, we would never really Do that. Unless we wanted to spend some time in jail for the free meals and cable, only to never see our children again, right? (That's a whole other discussion entirely.) No, again?
OK, so why do we so easily do this to our dogs? It kills me to see cats slinking around out there all the time, too. I'm not saying every cat has to be held hostage inside someone's house and de-clawed, etc. I mean let's have a heart and how about a little more COMMON SENSE, shall we? You stay outside all night without a coat and only the clothes on your back as the temperature plummets from 30-5 degrees in an hour or less. You fend for yourself outside awhile and see how you like it. Then maybe you'll have some empathy for your four-legged friends. If you don't, you have no business owning a pet of any kind.
Now, don't get me wrong, I am NOT PERFECT. I have made mistakes with my animals in the past. Especially as a confused teenager who didn't have time to worry over a dog. Yet, I have LEARNED How to Do It RIGHT. How to be Loving and Responsible to my dog-dogs and better for it in other areas of my life and relationships with friends & family! But this CAN BE Taught. Loving an animal takes time, patience, and the willingness to CHANGE Yourself on behalf of anothers' needs. Putting those needs before yours sometimes is a deciding factor of Love itself. Again, much like the love of a child.
I don't understand how, even in this economy, people continue to let their dogs starve to death rather than feeding them table scraps at the VERY LEAST (even though I do not recommend table scraps as a substitute for dog food ever), but in order to keep them fed until you CAN buy them dog food. You're feeding your two-year-old child aren't you? I am sticking to this analogy because my pets are Absolute Members of My Family Unit. I don't forget my dog in any decision I make for my family.
Let me tell you a little story. When we had the opportunity to buy into a Great Deal for resort vacations...the ultimate deciding factor for me was this: they did not allow dogs. That was what stopped me. That's ALL that stopped me. If we did not have LOVING Relatives willing to watch my dog while we were on vacation for 7-10 days, I Would NOT GO ON VACATION. No kidding. I would send my family, or stay home with one of my kids and my dog, send the other kid with my husband, that way we would take separate vacations if need be. We are a "pack" in my dogs eyes, and in mine as well. I am ever conscious of this fact and of his mentality as a perpetual "2-yr-old child" (dog). The unconditional love of a dog is what mine have taught me.
I of course, am not the only exception. I know several animal lovers who feel the same way about their own pets. Believe me, we are a Nation of animal lovers. We may occasionally disagree on what is right and what is wrong in the way of breeding, raising, or feeding our animals, but we do share the love, hard work and pure effort and responsibility necessary to handle, treat, and nourish our beloved animal family members.
If you cannot identify with the above paragraphs then I beg you please, PLEASE do NOT Buy A Dog - or a living breathing pet. I don't care how spoiled you want your child or how loud she cries and begs! Get an electronic 'pet' for your child instead! You can change their battery after you let them starve and die, then start all over again. This is NOT AN OPTION with a Real LIVE Animal.
I do not MEAN to preach and I will climb down off my soap box in a moment or two. I just wanted to speak out for the animals who so often lack the voice of their owners and "masters" to speak up on their behalf. I wanted to speak also for the caring neighbors of these animals who are ignored, mistreated, forgotten, and literally tortured in our society. I raise my glass and my prayers to God on behalf of ANY and EVERYONE who turns negligent animal owners in to Animal Control or the authorities. Not for "absent minded" mistakes but for actual, obvious neglect in our hearts eye.
We need to police ourselves, our neighbors, and our communities behavior - like it used to be. So many things have changed in our society, we can no longer afford to be absent in our own and each others daily lives...this is a much broader subject and hopefully, we can cover it much further in another post or perhaps a printed edition of the Twisted Muse. Don't wait for "someone" to call the police, that "someone" could be YOU everyone else is waiting for to act first.
For now, thank you for reading. Please spread these words to other animal lovers, potential pet owners, and neglectful owners alike. We can always learn a new fact, a new word, and give a new lesson to Someone who needs it. Always. No matter what you do in life, this is our Collective Legacy as Human Beings: passing on our greatest traits, life lessons, love and hope in humanity to our children and to their childrens' children as well. Guiding someone to a new path is legend.
The Love of a Dog is the ABSOLUTE EXAMPLE of God and His UNCONDITIONAL LOVE for Us as HIS Children. God Bless All Our Readers, Contributors, Thinkers, Word Pieces, Pet Enemies, and those who Disagree with us alike. Amen
emg
Tuesday, February 17, 2009
Happy LOVE Days...
We have a few birthdays I would like to mention in the month of February:
Anna Mendoza on 2/11
Eric Haar on 2/14
George Lovelace on 2/17
If I missed anyone, please drop us a line and let us know. Remember, to sign up Alumni using the links to the LEFT at either out ALL CLASS Yahoo! Group or our Exclusive CLASS OF 89 Website that will remain active all year 'round.
Current 89 Reunion News: Right now we are VOTING on a sit-down dinner or a finger-foods buffet. The Committee would like to start the Main Adult Event at 9pm thru 12a or 1am as opposed to the first proposal of 7-11pm time... How does this sound to you? Also, don't forget that when you purchase ANY Southwest High School Customizable Memorabilia from our zazzle.com store, 10% of the costs go toward funding our 20-Year Reunion and any Future 5-Year Events we may plan. There is still hope, especially for those who could Not make it to this year's Reunion!!
Thanks to all for reading our Newsletter and for passing it on!
emg
Anna Mendoza on 2/11
Eric Haar on 2/14
George Lovelace on 2/17
If I missed anyone, please drop us a line and let us know. Remember, to sign up Alumni using the links to the LEFT at either out ALL CLASS Yahoo! Group or our Exclusive CLASS OF 89 Website that will remain active all year 'round.
Current 89 Reunion News: Right now we are VOTING on a sit-down dinner or a finger-foods buffet. The Committee would like to start the Main Adult Event at 9pm thru 12a or 1am as opposed to the first proposal of 7-11pm time... How does this sound to you? Also, don't forget that when you purchase ANY Southwest High School Customizable Memorabilia from our zazzle.com store, 10% of the costs go toward funding our 20-Year Reunion and any Future 5-Year Events we may plan. There is still hope, especially for those who could Not make it to this year's Reunion!!
Thanks to all for reading our Newsletter and for passing it on!
emg
Sunday, February 8, 2009
Hyatt Regency Hotel Loves Southwest High School
The Hyatt Regency in downtown Kansas City, Missouri has been a long standing host to many of our school related events. They would like you to know that they love being our hometown spot for Proms, Reunions, and Award Ceremonies.
I spoke to Jessie Shelby on Friday just past, February 6th, 2009, and she mentioned that October 16 & 17, 2009 Southwest High School Class of '59s 50-Year Reunion has been booked at the Hyatt!
Wow, we may have our 20-Year Reunion for the Class of '89 there as well this year on August 15, 2009. The numbers are not in quite yet, but we have good feelings about this familiar associated location. Our '89 Class has fond memories of Hyatt Regency, some of which were recently shared during our latest 20-Year Reunion Committee meeting on Saturday, February 7th at my home. We were graced by the presence of a visiting class member who wanted first-hand information for his close friends.
Thank you for attending, John Nickles! You certainly gave us a welcome deviation to procedure that we enjoyed. We have informed John & the '89 Posse, that our Center of Operations or the '89 HQ is no longer on "classmates.com" but has its own FREE Class of '89 Home Page and fully operational website at http://swclassof89.org
You can also move your pointer over the Indian Mascot ON THIS PAGE and LEFT click on it to reach the '89 HQ site referenced above. Your name is already listed. Find your name, enter your basic information and wait for the updates to arrive! It's a no brainer...and isn't that a relief?
Class Members, PLEASE Include your Full Address so we can compile an '89 Class Directory for the Reunion Committee. We would like to FIND YOU the NEXT TIME an '89 Class Event is planned. Otherwise, there will be a Sign-In Class Book at the Reunion in August located outside the ballroom at our registration table. We will not share any information you do not wish shared, but you MUST COMMUNICATE This Wish to Us.
If you are not attending this time, you will be missed. Please be sure to send us your information so that you will keep abreast of our future Class Activities and Events. This Reunion Committee does Not plan on letting you all go into hiding again! We have worked too hard and have had an extremely successful relocating campaign to just quit after this year's Reunion. We are setting up a Class Account in order to fund Ongoing Class Events throughout the years to come. So if you cannot make this Reunion, we hope to see you for any 25-Year Class Event we may be planning.
Perhaps we can even help other classes who find that Reunion Planning can be overwhelming. We can offer sound advice, tips and information, just as our previous fellow Alumni helped us: the Class of '86, we thank you!
Love and Laughter,
Elisa
I spoke to Jessie Shelby on Friday just past, February 6th, 2009, and she mentioned that October 16 & 17, 2009 Southwest High School Class of '59s 50-Year Reunion has been booked at the Hyatt!
Wow, we may have our 20-Year Reunion for the Class of '89 there as well this year on August 15, 2009. The numbers are not in quite yet, but we have good feelings about this familiar associated location. Our '89 Class has fond memories of Hyatt Regency, some of which were recently shared during our latest 20-Year Reunion Committee meeting on Saturday, February 7th at my home. We were graced by the presence of a visiting class member who wanted first-hand information for his close friends.
Thank you for attending, John Nickles! You certainly gave us a welcome deviation to procedure that we enjoyed. We have informed John & the '89 Posse, that our Center of Operations or the '89 HQ is no longer on "classmates.com" but has its own FREE Class of '89 Home Page and fully operational website at http://swclassof89.org
You can also move your pointer over the Indian Mascot ON THIS PAGE and LEFT click on it to reach the '89 HQ site referenced above. Your name is already listed. Find your name, enter your basic information and wait for the updates to arrive! It's a no brainer...and isn't that a relief?
Class Members, PLEASE Include your Full Address so we can compile an '89 Class Directory for the Reunion Committee. We would like to FIND YOU the NEXT TIME an '89 Class Event is planned. Otherwise, there will be a Sign-In Class Book at the Reunion in August located outside the ballroom at our registration table. We will not share any information you do not wish shared, but you MUST COMMUNICATE This Wish to Us.
If you are not attending this time, you will be missed. Please be sure to send us your information so that you will keep abreast of our future Class Activities and Events. This Reunion Committee does Not plan on letting you all go into hiding again! We have worked too hard and have had an extremely successful relocating campaign to just quit after this year's Reunion. We are setting up a Class Account in order to fund Ongoing Class Events throughout the years to come. So if you cannot make this Reunion, we hope to see you for any 25-Year Class Event we may be planning.
Perhaps we can even help other classes who find that Reunion Planning can be overwhelming. We can offer sound advice, tips and information, just as our previous fellow Alumni helped us: the Class of '86, we thank you!
Love and Laughter,
Elisa
Saturday, January 31, 2009
Save Your Vacation Time for A Cruise!
We have received some great news! If you want to go on a Cruise with your classmates and others who share our common bond of attending Southwest High School in KCMO, you have got to read this:
Dear Southwest Alumni,
The Southwest High School Alumni Association has planned their 2nd all school alumni cruise. It is a 7 night Southern Caribbean cruise and we have reduced group rates. The first cruise was such a blast that we decided to do this cruise every other year.
The dates are January 24-31st, 2010. It is on the Caribbean Princess. The ports of call are Puerto Rico, St. Thomas, Tortola, Antigua, St. Lucia and Barbados! We already have 44 people booked on this next cruise. Please join us! And feel free to invite your family, friends and of course, your old Southwest gang. You'll be glad you did!
Best Wishes,
Christie Besheer Biggs, class of '71
913-397-7433
888-818-7433
PLEASE KEEP CHECKING OUR LINKS ON THE LEFT Once Monthly For More Southwest WEBSITES, PAGES, AND INFORMATION as any Southwest News becomes available regarding Cruises, Reunions, Events, Activities, and everything else Southwest as we continue to Honor our Alma Mater.
Dear Southwest Alumni,
The Southwest High School Alumni Association has planned their 2nd all school alumni cruise. It is a 7 night Southern Caribbean cruise and we have reduced group rates. The first cruise was such a blast that we decided to do this cruise every other year.
The dates are January 24-31st, 2010. It is on the Caribbean Princess. The ports of call are Puerto Rico, St. Thomas, Tortola, Antigua, St. Lucia and Barbados! We already have 44 people booked on this next cruise. Please join us! And feel free to invite your family, friends and of course, your old Southwest gang. You'll be glad you did!
Best Wishes,
Christie Besheer Biggs, class of '71
913-397-7433
888-818-7433
PLEASE KEEP CHECKING OUR LINKS ON THE LEFT Once Monthly For More Southwest WEBSITES, PAGES, AND INFORMATION as any Southwest News becomes available regarding Cruises, Reunions, Events, Activities, and everything else Southwest as we continue to Honor our Alma Mater.
Sunday, January 18, 2009
Our Hidden Planet - Twisted Inspiration
OK, if I hadn't seen this video with my own eyes, I would not have believed this little tidbit. The camera jumps around a little bit, following a newly discovered "walking fish" along the seabed dated August 28, 2002. Watch this for yourself: http://www.wimp.com/fishfind/
I found this clip tempting because I can see the headlines now - "Darwin's Theory Proved!" or, "Is This the Missing Link?" Even - "Darwin trumps God!" Yeah, right. The true question is: where Are the headlines? If this was taken in 2002...hello?
As the "Fish Find: Strange new creature with legs discovered walking on a sea bed." video suggests, it is CLEARLY a fish. Its legs are obvious fins and its face is fishy...oh, you'll see. There is no other information with this clip, oddly enough (my, how convenient). There's no telling where this is, except for the "heading marked" on the video. I'm no sailor (although my mouth mimics one from time to time), but I am sure a weathered seaman could make some sense of the "heading" at the top of the screen.
Other than that, this was cool to watch. I don't have much else to say. I just thought it interesting enough to share with our readers. What could be a more perfect specimen to publish on the Twisted Muse than a "walking fish?" Honestly, maybe it just got tired of swimming, guys. Didja ever think of that? Those are fins, not "legs."
Even so, scientists have known for a long time that we do not know our own planet well enough to know everything or every creature that inhabits it. Newly discovered creatures are found every five to ten years across the globe. If you looked into it as I have, being a fiction writer of Sci-Fi and avid reader of Horror, you'd be surprised exactly how many "discoveries" are made of "new" and interesting beings our hidden planet has to offer both above and under water.
So, just remember, if you're not Twisted, you've lost your Muse. Until next time, have a great week!
I found this clip tempting because I can see the headlines now - "Darwin's Theory Proved!" or, "Is This the Missing Link?" Even - "Darwin trumps God!" Yeah, right. The true question is: where Are the headlines? If this was taken in 2002...hello?
As the "Fish Find: Strange new creature with legs discovered walking on a sea bed." video suggests, it is CLEARLY a fish. Its legs are obvious fins and its face is fishy...oh, you'll see. There is no other information with this clip, oddly enough (my, how convenient). There's no telling where this is, except for the "heading marked" on the video. I'm no sailor (although my mouth mimics one from time to time), but I am sure a weathered seaman could make some sense of the "heading" at the top of the screen.
Other than that, this was cool to watch. I don't have much else to say. I just thought it interesting enough to share with our readers. What could be a more perfect specimen to publish on the Twisted Muse than a "walking fish?" Honestly, maybe it just got tired of swimming, guys. Didja ever think of that? Those are fins, not "legs."
Even so, scientists have known for a long time that we do not know our own planet well enough to know everything or every creature that inhabits it. Newly discovered creatures are found every five to ten years across the globe. If you looked into it as I have, being a fiction writer of Sci-Fi and avid reader of Horror, you'd be surprised exactly how many "discoveries" are made of "new" and interesting beings our hidden planet has to offer both above and under water.
So, just remember, if you're not Twisted, you've lost your Muse. Until next time, have a great week!
Friday, January 9, 2009
Here's A Good Segway...
Speaking of New Years and New Chances...I thought of sharing what I believe Life Does Promise Us: Death & Taxes, but more importantly, Choice and Chance. As in my previous entry, we all have daily choices. Get out of bed, or go back to sleep. Call in to work, or go earn a paycheck. Be happy with this job, or start searching for a new one. Our choices are different, but they're always there.
I know, your parents told you "Nothing is Promised to you in Life," and/or "Nothing in Life is Free," right? Well, my mother had a different opinion. Mama always told me I could do anything I wanted. In turn, amidst my first pregnancy, I held down a full time job and a full night class schedule. I thought a lot about what I really wanted to do with my life while anticipating the arrival of my baby boy. For instance, if I intended to tell him "Son, you can do anything you set your mind to in this life," would I be telling the truth? Was I, in fact, doing exactly what I wanted to do with my life? No. At the time, I was not.
Thus my writing career was reborn after a 10 year hiatus. I had the opportunity to stay at home with my then seven month old son and I fully intended to Show him How Anything is Possible! Missouri is the Show Me State. That's when I picked up my notebook, dusted it off, and began writing seriously in 2002. To prove it, here is a much more current piece I wrote for my writer's group assignment recently. I hope you like it.
TAKEN from Memoirs of The Chopping Tree
by Elisa Mendoza
I know, your parents told you "Nothing is Promised to you in Life," and/or "Nothing in Life is Free," right? Well, my mother had a different opinion. Mama always told me I could do anything I wanted. In turn, amidst my first pregnancy, I held down a full time job and a full night class schedule. I thought a lot about what I really wanted to do with my life while anticipating the arrival of my baby boy. For instance, if I intended to tell him "Son, you can do anything you set your mind to in this life," would I be telling the truth? Was I, in fact, doing exactly what I wanted to do with my life? No. At the time, I was not.
Thus my writing career was reborn after a 10 year hiatus. I had the opportunity to stay at home with my then seven month old son and I fully intended to Show him How Anything is Possible! Missouri is the Show Me State. That's when I picked up my notebook, dusted it off, and began writing seriously in 2002. To prove it, here is a much more current piece I wrote for my writer's group assignment recently. I hope you like it.
Tree Spirits
By Elisa Mendoza Gilliland
Standing; waiting. The wind blows through my bare branches in fall. Life-giving rays of sunlight permeate my thick outer skins, energizing the deep ridges. My small sprout fingers sway back and forth, collecting carbon dioxide where it is most necessary.
Vibrations around me signal the harvest time is ending all will be done. On my side is the wheat field. On the other is a garden where the boy works to protect me everyday. Pulling weeds that wrap around my roots, stealing moisture from the ground, the boy is attentive. Planting acorns along the wheat fields this year, my crop has reached into the thousands. Climbing high upon my thick trunk and through my sturdy branches, the boy keeps me well pruned, preparing me to grow stronger still. He builds supports for my spreading canopy. He chops branches with no more use so my whole can thrive forever.
Older than his days, I am known from centuries past. The patter of man surrounded me once chanting ancient names. When blood was spilled around my trunk, soaking deep into the soil, my roots gathered new minerals. The knowledge of man invades me through this thick liquid vein. I know not when I became aware only that now I have a record aside my inner rings.
I have no eyes to see, nor ears to hear, I do not taste or smell. All I am is all I have but I do feel the world outside and all within. My power is strength and I have passed it on. My weakness is relying on man to supply me with proper podzol and the knowledge-granting blood.
The old ones would ask me for rain clouds and sun. These things I cannot do. Still they ask, and sacrifice their young, creating a god of me. Suddenly, the winds of change blew thunderous gusts and howls as the old ones lay dying beneath my vibrant shelter. They beg of me to take their souls, for without me they are lost.
I as well, felt the loss of my keepers and my collects became scarce. Even this did not stop me from growing. Whether I yield for man made no difference to the young ones who survived. Their foster and care brought my leaves back to splendor. My flowers reached the thousands and my crops grew twice in number each year I drank innocent blood.
The boy is the last of the keepers of the tree spirits. I amass and disperse through each nubbin that matures in the fall. My time is short, I can feel the evil stalking me, and betrayers of their own religion are to destroy me in fire. With the boy I give healing to the weakness that man bore him. I have no ears yet give the def hearing. In turn the boy gives me more blood. I am secure with my seedlings planted safely in the fields. In spite of man, I will live on forever.
TAKEN from Memoirs of The Chopping Tree
by Elisa Mendoza
Wednesday, December 31, 2008
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
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
Thursday, December 11, 2008
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
Tuesday, November 4, 2008
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.
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.
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