Tuesday, September 28, 2010

Pregnant in the Pit

A few weeks ago I was at a concert for some pretty big bands. I was fortunate enough to have the closest seats in the house – right in the pit in front of the stage. Other than it being extremely mild for a pit, it was a great time.

At one point I had looked to my left and back just to see what was going on. The area we were standing in was only 5 or 6 people deep and well-lit when the bands were on stage, so I could everything going on around me. As I turned around I saw a woman leaning against the back rail – and what looked to be pregnant. I also noticed that there was a guy with her, whom I suspected was the father of the baby.

I quickly turned around because I didn’t want to stare and the pregnant lady. But, of course, I had to turn around again to check. I looked to confirm she was pregnant and turned back to tell my friend. Or maybe I didn’t… I can’t remember if my friend was there or not. Either way…

So of course my mind starts going into “this woman’s crazy mode” because she’s pregnant, standing in a pit at a rock concert – isn’t she the least bit concerned for her and her baby’s well being?

No, of course she wasn’t. Why? Because as the lights came up as the next band came on stage, I looked back at the pregnant lady in disbelief again, and saw that she was holding a backpack in front of her body.

…Not a pregnant lady at all.

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Sacred – In Haiku

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Held closely to chest
Guarded with life, save and love
The sacred saves us

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Up on high it stands
Gather ‘round to defend it
Protect the sacred

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Whether it is stone
Or fire, or land, wood, or air
The sacred lives on

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Want more Haiku? Check out a few of my others:

Bliss /
Those Eyes /
absolute emptiness /
Haikus To Save The World /

Want more Poetry & Prose? Click the 'Poetry+Prose' label at the bottom or to the right!

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Monday, September 27, 2010

The Symbol of Man

She laid dying on its footsteps
Life shattered by love and hate
The crowd gathered ‘round as it always does
…This place was no longer safe

Nor had it ever been
For many lives, countless, have lost
To our love and to our hate
…This was supposed to be ‘our place’

A place for some to rest and pray
But for others, a place to criticize
This is not a house of worship, though
A monument built in man’s eye

It is here where people gather
To give respect to fellow man
Yet also to tear them down
Because it stands for every man

Though built with great intention
It has driven so many apart
Like us, this monument, this symbol of man
May have been doomed right from the start

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The symbol of man, our monument to us
An illustration of our totality, in accuracy
Deservedly, and
Unfortunately...

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Friday, September 24, 2010

The Watchful Eye

The watchful eye looms
Waiting, measuring, comparing

Its glow, and foresight
Cannot begin to explain itself

But it knows

It knows

“Why?” it yells out
“Why do you sit, and why do you say”

Onto the next, and the next, and the next

Somehow, someway, in another time
The watchful eye was none
Yet, its view was perceived
And not fully understood
But it simply was

“Bring forth” it whispers
So loud, though
You can hear it across the hall
And down the stairway

What ever will you bring to it?
What ever does it want.

“Bring yourself” it says

“And be alone”

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Fall

Autumn
It's Fall
It's wind and waves, and colors galore
It's rain and leaves, and piles...
It's dark
And dreary
And I love it all
I couldn't have asked for more
Than Fall

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Thursday, September 23, 2010

The Night

Embraced by the night, I
Begin to realize, I
Fold back and enjoy my own

Late in the night, I
Stay in the light, I
Try, resist what I have become

Come with me, I
Need your life, I
Pierce your skin, your soul

Deep in the dark, I
Embrace the night, I
Succumb, what have I become...

Laid on the ground, I
Wait, watch the sky, I
Give in and quench my soul

Rest in peace, I
Live now, forever, I
Gave you what you have longed

The night is dark, I
Feel sacred inside, I
Yearn for another lost soul

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Wednesday, September 22, 2010

100th, Sleep, and Something New

So, here I am - 3:16am and awake. Again. Probably not the best decision I've had in a while, but still a decision nonetheless.

I've decided tonight to start a new blog, one much unlike this one; a blog where my opinions and thoughts can be shared with the world on topics I chose to leave out of here. While this blog will continue to serve as my creative outlet, the new blog will be geared toward my opinion on real-world matters and topics: current events, politics, policy, regional/national/world issues, etc...

I've always wanted a venue to debate and discuss, or to at least a way offer my opinion to the world. I guess that's going to be it for now.

If you would like the new blog's address, feel free to email me (jrm at workspacewritings dot com) and as soon as it's up and ready I'll pass out the info. All points of view, thoughtful discussion, and debate are welcomed on any and all topics.

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In other news:
A small bit of celebration is in order: the previous post marks my 100th on this blog! Congrats! Thank you for sticking around and checking me out! I greatly appreciate all of your follows, subscriptions, comments, and views. While I may be all over the board on my topic posts, I'm glad to see you enjoy what I offer (to some degree at least).

Thank you for that. I hope I can continue delivering worthwhile content for months and years to come!

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In more other news:
I should be sleeping, but I'm not. Something's gone wrong with my brain and it's switched it's hours. Work certainly isn't going to like it, and I certainly won't either. This is night #2 that it's been like this.

And also, I've been feeling rather creative lately, which is probably why I decided to start up a second blog. Not that I want to leave this one, but there are things I want to write about that don't belong here. I'm sure you understand. Writing a book, painting, making music, building something, and writing lyrics are all on the mind lately. The urge for an additional outlet has probably contributed to my lack of sleep tonight, as my creativity and slight-OCD have forced my focus onto the new blog - creating, designing, customizing, etc.; once I started there was no stopping until I was done.

And now, here I am, 3:37am, writing a post instead of catching some sleep.

What's with this suddenly-strong urge to create?

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Monday, September 20, 2010

Bliss – A Haiku

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Bliss, we all have it
And in that very moment
Everything is fine

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*Want more haiku? Click the label 'haiku' below!

Enjoy and Thank You!

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Friday, September 17, 2010

Time

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Time, it slips,
slowly, slowly away.
Once, some time ago,
it was far, far away.
But now, it seems,
it was just yesterday,
and tomorrow is quickly advancing.


*Note: Inspired by Magpie Tales, picture:
















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Thursday, September 16, 2010

Hula hoop mastery & Jesus Ponies

The other day I went to the Rockstar Uproar festival. Jagermeister was there, as usual, and had a tent where you could get free swag. But nothing in life is free. So what did I have to offer up in return for free swag? I had to hula hoop.

I don’t know the last time I hula hooped, but my brain clearly isn’t wired to handle such stresses on the body. Of course, adding an undertone of alcohol in the bloodstream wasn’t going to help either… or maybe it does, I don’t know.

Either way, I tried to hula hoop. I wanted a shirt. I hula hooped ever so un-graciously, in fact the hula hoop spent most of its time with my knees. They got to know each other a little; who knows, maybe hula will call and ask them out on a date. We’ll see…

Fortunately though, the Jager girls weren’t very strict in their expectations and had little regard for the form required to “win” a shirt – you simply had to try, and gyrate a little, in order to get the shirt.

I got the shirt.

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Today, I learned about Jesus Ponies. If you’re anything like me and have no idea what they are, go ahead and google it. See what they’re all about.

If you already know what Jesus Ponies are, good for you. Thanks for not sharing with me sooner.

...I could have had a little more fun over the past few years had I known about these things.

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Tuesday, September 14, 2010

Your customized itemized linky-list of the day

1)     Snowmaking starts in just FIVE DAYS!!!!
2)     There really are DIAMONDS in the sky!
2a)   ‘Diamonds’ doesn’t look right when in all-caps
3)     Lucy in the sky with diamonds.
4)     Wolf pack
5)     Rockstar Uproar today – short day for me!
6)     Great American Beer Festival Thursday, Friday, and Saturday
7)
8)     What.
9)     I miss Vegas
10)   I want some NC BBQ

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Monday, September 13, 2010

Vegas Recap v2.0 …and a fortune cookie.

Here’s a short linked list for your viewing pleasure as an exploratory recap of my trip to Vegas. For those of you who haven’t been, this will serve as a nice highlight of what you can expect if/when you go.

Joe’s Stone Crab
Mandalay Bay Beach
Planet Hollywood’s Pleasure Pit
Cabo Wabo
Pink’s famous hot dogs
Bellagio’s fountain
B – BeatleShow Tribute! (The Beatles’ tribute band)
City Center
And much, much more

Also to note: upon my returned from Vegas, there sat on my desk at work was a fortune cookie along with a postcard from Merrill Lynch Wealth Management which read, “what does your future hold?” Apparently it was ‘401(k) day’ while I was gone… at least that’s what the card said.

I didn’t know such a day existed, but it does.

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“Hitting the big one” (aka Vegas Recap v1.0)

Welp, here I am – back in effect.

It’s interesting, and seemingly ritualistic, how every time you return from a trip to Vegas and everyone (well, at least one person) makes the comment, “I guess you didn’t hit the big one…” forcing you to engage in ridiculous banter which you have no interest in partaking.

No, no I didn’t hit the big one. You’re correct, clearly. You would have heard about it already if I had, and you probably wouldn’t be seeing me at that moment, or possibly ever again.

I guess that comment is much like other comments which are so blatantly obvious that they’re meant to spark conversation and be unfulfilling filler when there’s nothing else to talk about, but there is, but you don’t feel like giving much effort to the conversation, so you offer up the old adage of “guess you didn’t hit the big one”… much like the 'weather conversation'.

Anyway… Vegas was great. I’ve only been a couple times before, and this trip was by far the best. Plenty of good food, good drinks, and good times. I was lucky enough to win about as much as I spent on food and drinks (which is always a plus), and (un)fortunately didn’t wake up with a tiger in my room, or atop a hotel roof baking in the sun while others searched for my body.

I did, however, see a woman at one point walking with her man. I thought she had a rose in her hand, which I assumed her man gave her. Of course, as with most other times, it turned out that it was not a rose, and in fact a coke bottle with a red cap… No rose in her hand, not even close.

Standby for “more to come” (aka Vegas Recap v2.0) in the near future.

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Monday, September 6, 2010

Out of office

I'm out of the office this week and heading to Vegas (baby!) for a few days.

I'll be returning on the 13th, hopefully with some good blodder (aka blog fodder).

Until then: find a post or two that you may have missed from the early days and enjoy!

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Friday, September 3, 2010

Rooster Man and Friday Eve

Last night was Friday Eve. You know, the night before Friday. The night you’re supposed to go out and have fun in celebration of the fact that the following day is Friday.

What? You don’t do that?

Well why not? Seems to be a very logical thing to do if you ask me. You just might see Rooster Man and the proverbial chicken dance at YOUR local establishment.

As I sat on my bar stool last night, I looked through the crowd and saw a guy attempting to dace, alone. Interestingly enough, he opted to go for an adaptation of the chicken dance. One might think that he was making fun or fooling around to make his friends laugh, but in fact he was not. He actually appeared to be taking things seriously.

He proceeded to “dance” (walk) in a ten-to-fifteen-foot circle, snapping his fingers to the beat on one hand, who-knows-what with his other, and bobbing his head like a chicken, maybe even singing along to the music, too. He continued to “dance” (walk) around in said circle a few times – I saw him complete the circle at least 4 times, but who knows how long he was doing this prior to me noticing.

I wonder, why would someone choose a form of artistic dance expression at a bar such as an adaptation of the chicken dance? I can’t imagine any benefit from it, especially if you’re a seemingly-single male who is out for the night, possibly even with an interest in meeting someone of the opposite sex.

Maybe he was just overwhelmed with joy during the typical Friday Eve celebratory activities. I doubt it though.

…And this is just one reason why you should celebrate Friday Eve and support your local establishments.

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Wednesday, September 1, 2010

Take your shoes off at work!

I just took my shoes off at work for the first time this month. Yes, I know it’s September 1st. Yes, I understand. No, no this is not a joke. Yes, my shoes are really off.

You’d be surprised by how much of a difference such a little move like that can have while at work. Taking off your shoes when you’re sitting at a desk can help you relax, cool down, and might even keep your temper in-check. In fact, you may stop being so easily annoyed at those pesky coworkers!*

Go ahead – try it! Right now! Let me know how it works out for you!

And pass the word!!!


*Note: these statements have not been reviewed by the Surgeon General and are completely speculative. YMMV.

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‘Drunk with a Bug’ and more ‘Treat Receipt’ action

Two quick things:

1) You know you may have had enough to drink when, while in a public restroom, you try to wash a bug down the drain as you’re washing your hands, only to find that the bug didn't get washed down the drain and survived the flood, so you rescue it with a paper towel, place it on the counter, and profusely apologize to it, all while wishing you had your phone to take a picture of it for your blog as it visibly tries to recover from the event and, curiously enough, seems to acknowledge your existence.

Fun.


2) The ‘Treat Receipt’ is official. Starbucks changed their drive-thru signage at some point since my last visit. There is a sign that specifically says ‘treat receipt’. Apparently, they’re running some sort of promo… Joy.

Just when I thought the lady was being ‘fun’ the other day, they go and be serious about it… Not joy.

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