An Eighth Shot of Espresso: Coffee and Creativity on Mum's Third Shift

dewdrop in the morning  trembles at the edge  of a budding flower  not knowing  if it will fall over or linger for just  a while longer a razor's edge of possibility one or the other will gravity win or will it cling long enough for  the sun's drying touch

Bathe in a bright moonbeam feel the forest all around  the power of pristine perfection  the peace of a profound soul.  Look up into the light show the hidden halves within the truth tells the tale all the lies soon lie bare. See the stark reminder  of fate that fuels the universe  the goddess grants a lovely boon  that sends shadows through the night

After the rain on stone  droplets linger  waiting for their turn  to go back to the sky The clouds part the storm moves on the sun returns in all its glory Too short an existence but long enough from water to vapor each drop rises again.

Enhanced vision  from a tertiary eye unseen by mortals  but granted by heaven a knowledge beyond knowing a fate beyond feeling  they called her lucky  her words prophetic  but her sight is cursed  to see what could have been  what should have been  instead of what it is now

I am a phantom  of who I was meant to be  She stands mute  and shakes her head  She wonders how  I chose the life I did  She does not criticize She does not judge She takes my hands  "There is still hope."

Walk through the meadow  full of honey-thick clover breathe in the scent  of flowers and greenery  in its most natural state  feel the power of the earth  right beneath your feet  the lines that run through every bit of land carry life wherever if flows it thrums with vitality  that is muted in the city  in a cage of brick and steel and concrete  but it strongly exists here

Good memories written in  hard-bound journals fill so many boxes in the attic left to gather dust as the years go by a time long ago a world so different from the one the children and grandchildren and great grandchildren take for granted sixty years  in black ink  with certain days  outlined in red

Power in lightning: a brief flash  but in that single  moment in time  there is enough  to level a mountain at just the right height there is enough to light up a thousand lamps there is enough to make the night look like daytime but only if it is harnessed  to its greatest potential

blown-away by the skill  the intelligence the empathy and the sheer  resourcefulness  of the young ones who come after us  they have lived a thousand lifetimes in their short time on this planet seen the best perhaps they  will be the ones  who save us after all

A quiet hour  after everyone has gone to bed  the candle burns low  Though I am tired I cannot sleep the veneer of mother falls away it is the only time  to sit and contemplate  the events of the day  in complete silence

The muse  flings words  and they are  showering stories all over the world  each one takes  a different flavor depending on where they all land  but now  they all have  the same kind  of general theme

The shepherd  is struck  by melancholy as he looks over his sizable flock  lambs newly born  will grow up  to grace the plates  of an uncaring  bunch of nobles  but at least  they will know  love and care  in their brief  lifetimes

The goddess  of cats  surrounded  by purring  felines who gather at their bowls every day only the best fills their stomachs the fresh cream sates their thirst they pull her chariot willingly lie in her arms for comfort they are quick  to defend her  should she  be threatened  their claws  rend flesh  and bone  asunder do not disdain the lady of cats for she has the power.  

Set up all  the folding chairs for a grand ceremony  an ending to an era  walk across the stage  so many memories  good and bad  some surrounded by loved ones others walk alone today is the first day  of the rest of your life savor the accomplishment  before starting again and this becomes just one chapter of your life.

The petals  from the blossom  drift down lazily  with the spring breeze  and land softly  on the grass  in a curtain  of pink and peach  and white  like colorful snow  on verdant carpet branches wave in the air still holding unopened buds not ready to arrive yet.

awash in  numbness  I see life  through a  fuzzy lens  push through  fatigue  and a sense  of helplessness  that threatens  to overwhelm  my mind swim in molasses I need to plan every move to conserve energy to think and decide what what is more important but at the  end of the day I have nothing left.

The world  murky and clear  and the same time  undersea  ghosts  of the drowned  their souls float in the black morass unable to surface but if you dive deeper  the dark becomes light  and the denizens  are like nothing  you have seen before

The fury of the storm left nothing untouched  walk in the garden  to see subtle signs  leaves scattered petals broken and bent branches of wood float in the pond torn from trees and suddenly orphaned the storm-bent daffodils as they bowed  to the wind's power  but they are not broken they subtly resisted and live to see the sunshine again.

a paracosmic world  that exists in one's   imagination  ships on the high seas  their flags raised high the sound of battle  the whistle of  cannonballs a romanticized tale of high stakes and golden plunder pirates in port  as the rum flows  and there is adventure  and treasure to be had.

incensed  but I need  to channel it  into my creativity  these complicated emotions and annoying feelings and not let them fester into anger and sadness and resentment that will poison the rest of my days I need to let it out  without hurting  the ones who mean  the most to me.

treat yourself  once in a while  it does not have  to be extravagant a long bath a simple dessert a quiet moment outside to savor the sun on your face peace and quiet before dealing with the complications of real life again  give yourself hope  and a goal  to work towards  but do not  deny yourself  the pleasure  of a job well done

Life is like  one steep incline  a herculean task to climb inch by inch meter by meter  all the way to the top  your feet lose purchase  sweat dots your brow  you gain ground  only to slide down  and you fight to gain  whatever distance you can But in the end  will you reach your goal or will the weight of existence crush the spark of your spirit?

cake for breakfast  when you are  all grown up chocolate ganache or strawberry angel food  with a cup of coffee flour, eggs, milk and all sorts of fruit what makes it  different from toast with jam or a pancake topped with blueberries? no one  can tell you  that it is wrong  to eat your dessert  before your meal

Jumbled up letters  I sort them  to spell out  all kinds  of words to reflect  how I feel  inside  sometimes I see an idea and dash off my response no frills just raw intuition other times I think on form and structure like some  sort of scaffold for building an airtight alibi some of these are only  approximations and are not  as precise  as they could be  but that's okay.

Chocolate doesn't argue  don't hurt  it brings comfort  caffeine and  serotonin  it comes in different flavors for different tastes milk, dark, white, carob sugar free fruit and cheese solid and melted cold and hot molded in pleasing shapes or eaten in rough chunks this is why  I always have  some on hand  during the bad days.

In the middle  of a rainstorm  the earth  trembles  as the thunder  crashes in  the heavens  and the rain rattles the leaves of the forest canopy from the  cowering birds to the  shivering tulips  they all wait  for the storm  to pass.

Many times  blistered by harsh  criticism  the words raise  invisible welts  of shame  on my skin  and in my mind even all these years later a soul parched in the heat of indignation  and the scars  remain

As you read  my poetry taste my phrasing: is it sweet  like honey or sour like an overripe lemon? spiky like an  uncomfortable truth hard to swallow? abrasive  like sandpaper  or rich  like caramel  dipped in chocolate? Will you savor every morsel or just gulp it down?

As much as  a billionaire wishes,  nobody controls the stars they have been there long before  he was born they will shine long after he is gone the sheer wonder of their glory cannot be quantified in profit for the heavens  and the cosmos at this time are untamed  by Man

A strong arm  to support  the weight  of an entire  family  is not one  to be  underestimated  Mama can  pack a punch  if her kin  is threatened and she does not hesitate  but she can  hold you up  if you need  the boost.

The thunderous beats of a drum  drives the dance the music courses through every pore of your body let the fires  of passion  fuel your limbs  and give form  to your movement  Don't let rigid rules  stand in your way free your mind from its shackles of convention  feel the rhythm  and match it.

Tomorrow  I will try  to take  better care  of myself  it means  no caffeine  cut back  on sugar  and exercise  right.  Get enough sleep try not to be too stressed out. Of course  I have made  this kind  of resolution  before.

The ring on my finger  does not  have a diamond  it is one that  I have picked for myself  not given to me that shows  my commitment  to my own  well being.

Don't try  to fill  idle time with activity:  your body  is telling you  to relax  take a break  just breathe  savor the moment don't rush let your mind stop its race to get everything done for just  one minute  before the chaos  of life  begins again

She had  everything planned  just so:  where her  daughter  would go to college  whom she  would marry  what career  she would take  an hour  to and from  and live at home  a doctor  or a lawyer  or be a doctor  herself  how lovely!  But her supposed  future was derailed:  by her own daughter

My facade:  someone who  has it all  together  keeps all  appointments  writes every day  edits, teaches  a good mum  in reality: someone who  cries in pain is awake at night tortured by doubt of doing a good job is barely  keeping things  together

A vessel  full of memories  as the seconds tick down  and the moments  become so fleeting  one side  of the hourglass  empties to fill  the other side when it runs out a cosmic hand reaches over to tip it so the flow begins anew  but nothing is lost  the balance is maintained  it's just the illusion  of time disappearing  into the ether.

A small river winds its way through in its banks carves a path started a long time ago thousands of years rock worn away gradually changing its course. it eventually  joins the bigger  tributaries flows past  shores that  never stay the same despite the illusion of complete stillness. Then branch out  into distant lands until it reaches  the vast ocean

Too much to do  too little time  so many  appointments  the calendar  on the wall  the clock  is ticking away  the seconds  and the minutes  of a life without pause  no time to breathe  or pause and reflect  just keep on going because the days pass by faster and faster the older you get.

Orange and purple yellow and red  duskglow the light fades as  the seconds and minutes pass  the fireflies  come out  to bid the day  farewell and  the nightingale  sings a dirge  to the setting sun.

Be grateful  for what you have Count your blessings The sun's light in the sky the wind in your hair the food on your plate from the choicest steaks to the blandest porridge And the air that you breathe but just possessing the basics  doesn't mean  that you have  to settle  for a substandard  existence  and don't let  anyone convince  you otherwise.

Obfuscate  frustrate cover your tracks  everyone  has their  own opinion  give enough of the situation to gather interest reasonable doubt  no one is really sure  just what really happened  a narrative that makes just enough sense many theories  lots of rumors  but no truth at the end

Bison used  to range freely through the plains  migrating with  the seasons  living in harmony  with the people  of the land who moved with them from place to place only taking enough for survival to ensure the generations to come  until ones who  upset the balance  dominated life  with no regard  for consequences

Don't disturb  keep your  voice down!  It is not  a library  but look!  She is  absorbed  in a book! You claim to encourage higher education! So let her  finish her  reading!  

fresh faced  and innocent  they take you  under their wing  show you the ropes  how to behave what to say where to put  your hands when to look them in the eye and when to lower your gaze  how to survive  and outwit the ones  who want to see  you fail. the years pass and you see a newcomer and so you pay it forward and complete the cycle. 

a cloud over memories  she cannot remember  a life afflicted by fog  she knows this place holds some significance these faces should  be utterly familiar but it slips her mind. what did I do have I been here before  where am I  grasping with silent fingers an unraveled tapestry a stretched fabric  of a life punctured by holes.

glass pen slender and swirled  dip the point  into purple ink  the pressure  determines  the thickness of lines smooth curves  of a forgotten  writing skill as the silent scratch of the parchment letters joined into words invite you to a party or a wedding or a letter of intention a poem of love or a binding agreement a code that hides all sorts of secrets no one can decode in this day and age.

Bamboo grows  new shoots in the spring  a forest of green  that bend  in the wind  but never breaks no matter how angrily the gale blows over them gentle rain nourish sweet soil as they reach the sky their leaves a canopy to shelter weary travelers their hollow stems support a house or become the parchment of the emperor's edict or fill the stomach of a hungry man.

Take a bite  of your favorite food  an apple, a taco  a pumpkin pie  savor the taste remember the texture  for once it is eaten  it is forever gone but it becomes a part of you nourishes your body and soul easily forgotten until for some reason you cannot have it anymore

Needle and thread  repair the rips and tears  in daughter's play dress  kiss the tears  and lovingly patch up  the skinned knees  of childhood The years pass she becomes a woman sew ball gowns prom dresses a wedding dress of satin and lace for a special day Towels and kerchiefs for a brand new trousseau quilts and blankets then back to play clothes again for a brand new generation of little ones with grass stains and skinned knees

flowers  are confused  whether it is  spring or  if it is still  the season  of snow one day warm and sunny turns on a dime to become cold and grey the next winds howl tearing off fragile petals scatter them across the poor young grass torrential rain flood and  overrun the unprepared soil and then as if in apology the sun appears again with its loving light

prince among men  known for his wisdom  his unyielding justice  his unwavering loyalty his staunch principles  a hero in the mists  of a forgotten time the bards keep his legend alive through song and story  others try to mimic him  invoke his mighty name chain their questionable legacies to his  but they are pale imitations  of the real figure  who lived and breathed

Soft of voice  modest  in demeanor  speaks only  when spoken to  stays within her sphere  does not interfere  so when the power shifts  she is overlooked  she is not a coward  she just bides her time waits for an opening a bid for freedom to hold her own destiny in her hands

nostalgic for times gone by  a place that  no longer exists  I cannot show  my kids  where I grew up time marches on like leaves that grow in the spring and fall in the autumn and dandelions that drift on the wind only to disappear  my heart is sore  that a piece  of my history  has been taken  away from me an exists only in my own memories

Crushed can served its purpose  taken to be melted down  reconstituted  changed for a newer  different life  a physical change  to house another item but still made to fit the same role and to be broken down into yet another form again  not so different  from our cycle of life  isn't it?

 a wizard arrives  when fate ordains it  neither early nor late  or by chance nor accidental sometimes bombastic  others quietly with nature as their guide or tomes with their hands prove you are worthy or just a good instinct of your potential either way they stand by your side  ready to teach  a reluctant hero

Face never shown  as the earth turns  undiscovered country  here be dragons with the rabbit maiden in a forbidding tower always dark  mysterious why won't you turn only show one face in the sun's light what are you hiding? when will we see the features  you cannot show you will not reveal that are hidden to us  since eternity

Cauliflower trees  white blooms  floret  of flowers  that look like bunches of white  snow on branches Cotton candy trees pink blooms almost like cherry but not quite soft petals rain like a crimson carpet My daughter points and laughs at the memory of a young girl with an imaginative mind naming the trees. 

the geese are angry chase him from  the parking lot they're not to be crossed this is their turf never mind that they are the squatters like a squad of elite warriors patrol their territory and don't invade their space the borders tend to be flexible with the seasons you can lay siege to their castle and just stare at each other across an invisible line.

Bird is a  broad descriptor  it covers everything: from a penguin  who cannot fly  to a phoenix  who cannot die to a nightingale who always sings to a crow stealing shiny rings to a falcon silent and deadly to a hummingbird hovering friendly life and death good and evil birds cover eternity

They tell you  to feel gratified with what you have  but that does not mean  that you should settle  for less than you are worth Do not agree  with their assessment that you should be quiet, demure and low maintenance.  Be someone who speaks up when it matters but do it with grace and tact.

Let these ideas flow  write them down  as they come to you do not depend on providence to remember them. a rainbow of  unrelated thoughts that seem so scattered and random  but when you  really look at them  they have some  connections  the mind works  in mysterious ways.

so many hopes and dreams  sustain a heavy heart  when the road is foggy and the path unclear the burden unending the sighs unsatisfied take away the sorrow  of a stormy sky  and the rain of tears  that fall on a barren garden  coax new flowers to grow from the broken refuse of childish expectations and unmet needs bright and beautiful from the grey of despair

Draig , they call him  in the Welsh language  dragon is his name  not a moniker, not a title  the mystical legend made flesh in reality  the potential of stories  in his blood the swell of pride in his heart and the wave of melody in his bones.

Locked in the pages  of stories and legends  are slivers of truth  about the bravery  and the endurance  of the common person not always heroes immortalized by monuments of marble,  whose names may not  appear in popular  annals of history the ones who just try to live in the wake of tumultuous events and whose goals are not so lofty: survive the aftermath of others' folly.

so many hopes and dreams sustain a heavy heart  lighten a troubled mind when chance or fate reduce a life to rubble and so to start again. a ray of determination takes away the sorrow  of a stormy sky  and the rain of tears  that fall on a barren garden  coax new flowers to grow a sense of pride courses through a soul that one has made it despite all the hardships to raise one's head high and forge ahead with speed.

If a genie  granted you  three wishes  you can change the world  but is it really  your power  or the djinn's?  Intention is only  half the story. The power to change and to create is inherent in all of us so speak loud A single spark can influence so many people inspire them to rise up to  do the impossible Trust in yourself.

Love withdrawn  the bank is empty  checking spent on necessities savings drained on emergencies stocks are worthless all the accounts have nothing but interest  no longer accrues  so that you  have nothing left  to spend  and nothing  more to save but he demands more thinking you have it all.

When you don't feel seen you learn to use  the shadows  to your advantage  You observe  what they do  you listen to  what they say  and act and plan  accordingly do they notice no, they don't do they care no, they don't being overlooked means no suspicion and no worry about your power that is how you act within their blind spot.

just a touch of salt  makes all  the difference  in a delicious dish  spices make it  exciting to the palate. New flavors bold combinations entice taste buds and make them  crave more. Any chef would welcome such patronage as their satisfied customers return for more.  So why do they  not use any  and keep their food bland?

I miss  the charming lilt in his voice the deft turn of phrase the soft accent that made his words unique   the one who is now in my life  only speaks in a monotone and in fancy terminology  as he explains  the obvious  to me again

A tattoo  with burning lines  that stand out  upon pale skin  newly inked still stings from the bite of the needle a trickle of blood where the points are not yet healed but no memory of when, where how and why an indiscretion not easily hidden a mark of a  spontaneous indulgence  that is quickly regretted.

I read books  because  I want to go  on adventures even though  physically  I cannot.  It doesn't matter that my hands are bad or my knees are not like they were when I was young. My mind is  unfettered  by those  who say  I can't. My world is not clouded by the  fog of harsh reality.

bouncy ball  a favorite toy  of Fido's  that sits  in the corner  a solitary beam of sunlight touch it in highest reverence twenty years  after his paws  touched it for  the first time  teeth marks  doggy drool tail wagged as he chased it to and fro spring days spent in the yard happy barks and an idyllic childhood it's been years and yet it stays  immortalized.

Throw a stone  into the river hear the splash as it sinks to the bottom as gravity pulls it down watch as  the ripples  spread out from the point of contact  and the waves  grow larger  the farther  they go  the perfect mirror shattered every reflection  marred by the touch. Do you recognize your twisted features in the aftermath?

cup of coffee  gone cold  forgotten  in the bustle  of life  and then  when it is  drunk  it sits bitter  in your mouth pastry half-eaten sits on a tiny plate crumbs  on the desk where the screen glows brightly and words refuse to flow.

What does  your fortune tell you?  Do you believe   in that sort of thing?  My Chinese grandmother  consults the Tao Te Ching  my best friend pulls out  her tarot cards  Do the stars  really shape  who you become? Is it all already written? Or do you struggle against the flow of time and defy the tide of a concrete fate?

whimsical humor  suppressed for years  I was too frivolous too loud and too obnoxious way too much for such a quiet and retiring personality there was too much to do bills to pay children to raise jobs to perform I learned not to laugh so loud or stand out in a crowd because that made him uncomfortable but now that more  than five decades have passed I've decided that  I am too old  to not enjoy life  and become  the person I was  meant to be

blood is life  and an obligation  when loyalty  is placed above reason  the family banner  unfurls over your existence  and casts a long shadow  an intangible sense of honor becomes all encompassing and a way to ensure power is in the correct hands when your fate is already written in the stars how do your actions make a difference? At least that's what they tell you. Only when the balance tips way too far and life becomes too intolerable do things change A righteous tradition  is not always a just one.

lambent light  from the glowing lantern  it lifts the shadows  lingering on the path  so late at night. look beyond the trees and do not laugh lest the ghosts beyond  who are lost to time  leave a lasting impression.

Too many books  too few shelves piled up on the floor on the living room table so many pages to read husband sighs  looks at the pile  of new books  on the nightstand  he jokes at how  orphaned tomes just leap into my hands  because they somehow know  I will give them a good home.

He regaled us with his tales  as the snow fell outside  the fire crackled in the hearth  as we all sat in utter delight  at the tales he spun to entertain us all. We waited with bated breath the heroes on their journey in fantastical lands of light and dark their struggle against good and bad we cheered at all their victories. A story with song and voice resonating off the walls and rafters a magical performance that is not easily forgotten and remembered fondly at every chilly night.

aperture where light  comes in  and translates  a vision  into reality a world opens up and mind experiences a different view but each encounter is a wholly unique way to see life enfold.

soothe the savage heart  remind them of a calm river  at the end of a storm  rolling water with angry rapids  eventually calm down  but it is still moving the energy is still there just under the surface it has not disappeared on the contrary it fuels it forward pushes it into tributaries makes it overflow its banks pushing fertile silt so plants can grow it races to the bay then to the ocean to join more powerful tides and bring change to the rest of the world  

The thrum of an engine  well-tuned to specs  it purrs like a kitten it rumbles like soft thunder it feels like a smooth whiskey  poured at the bar  in a jazz club  barely noticeable in the moment  but at that first vibration  or that first sip from the glass or at the first rev of the pedal  a warm comforting feeling your soul says "There it is."

Ragged and broken eggshell edges tossed into the compost heap  it protected  a fragile yellow yolk even as thin and fragile as it is that makes it easily crushed its usefulness ended time breaks it down into elements but in death  springs new life  so in the long run they were not  that useless  after all

A writer like me  scribbling words  words and words  for others to read  digest and analyze  An artist like me  paint on canvas  pen on the screen  for others to see  judge and criticize  A musician like me strum softly on strings or warble a beloved tune for others to hear and enjoy sing and dance That is who I see  deep within the depths  of the electronic sea  I smile when I view  their creative works

 CODICIL:  Added at the end of a straightforward message, there comes note to the solicitor: "At the end of the day  I could reveal  all sorts of secrets  written in my will  but that would double  the size of the document  so come with me  on a trip down memory lane   use the map enclosed  and the clues within  to unlock these truths  for yourself." Would it be riches? Scintillating gossip? Even if you gain nothing, it would be an adventure.

Heavy is the head  that wears the crown  at least that is how the saying goes a literal circlet or a metaphorical  headpiece on your brow A weight on your soul a burden on your neck it is a beautiful chain  that binds your soul  and you can never  find peace in your life  for you must always  be alert for those  who would take it.

Dunkin Donuts holiday specials all prepared  so early  in the morning covered with sprinkles grab a couple with a cup of coffee for the morning commute into work Krispy Kreme  watch as they  make them by hand  travel down the conveyor belt stacked into boxes some drizzled with  glaze or covered with sprinkles  take a dozen home  still warm from the fryer

Do you think that one day  our bones will grace  the exhibits of some  futuristic museum  mislabeled and misidentified as their docents drone about our foibles and our mistakes because we managed  to makes ourselves extinct and the archeologists puzzled out the time of events and they become  a warning  for whoever arrives  after us?

I drink both  tea and coffee Dual worlds  every time  I put on the kettle  or grind the beans  just like I put  malt vinegar  on my chips  and cheese  on my burger. I use the lift up and the elevator down My apartment has flat floors. Aluminium or aluminum that extra syllable confounds my friends an extra 'u' in 'favour' with so much flavor confusing for them and me.

A diverse group  with different ideas  all brought together  to solve a problem  has more of a chance  to find an effective solution  than one who constantly  tries the same tactics  that have failed in the past. So why is this not done? History teaches us that the most effective answers can be taken from the past and adjusted for the present and changed for the future. Flexibility is the key and seeing it from angles can reveal complications. A simple response: Ego and arrogance get in the way of effective solutions no matter how wealthy no matter the cost the need to protect oneself the veneer of control will override a common good.

she is bewildered:  who are these people  who visit her every day  they tell her their names  but why can she not recall  they are still strangers she puts down her phone but then cannot find it it's not where she left it the house is haunted bad spirits move things she asks the same questions gets the same answers I'm getting old, she laughs this happens to everyone you can't blame me for it. I got lost just one time road construction changes how everything looks nothing is how it  used to be. But don't you worry these episodes don't last I'm just fine and I don't need help I can take care of myself

Youthful optimism  a chance to change the world  find cures for old diseases meet new people  see a different outlook visit faraway places  blaze a new trail up a sacred mountain try odd cuisine strange flavors on  the tongue cherish the history of peoples all over learn from their mistakes to avoid strife in the future witness history as it unfolds in front of your eyes.   but like gold that tarnishes  and iron that rusts with time  shelve naive thoughts  for the world no longer  feels safe to explore.

Nervous  before the curtain rises  all muscles tense in anticipation  dancers keep moving so their muscles  stay limber musicians tune to the perfect note actors pace or visualize their perfect opening night however you prepare for the night the crowd hushes then the lights come up and the audience applause  fills you with a strange calm  as you focus on the performance

a rebellious soul  doesn't follow  the conga line  the stiff armed step dance or the ballet chorus  they are the ones  who dances with  a margarita glass  in hand  as the sun goes down the ones who taps their fingers to the beat subtly as the taps ring out on the floor and the one with the red tutu and the rose in her hair  who does pirouettes  from the rafters

he says he'll make adobo  looks up recipes  on the internet  instead of asking  his Filipina wife...  it's the thought that counts I guess but my ancestors  are screaming  in my ear  this isn't adobo  it's lo mein  with some  adobo seasoning  and I cry internally.

kooky ideas  not accepted by  the mainstream unconventional outrageous uncontrollable   tradition scorns what is different merits are debated results are compared some fall by the  wayside   others prove  their merit  and shake the  foundations  of what is known knowledge is advanced The novelty   of a brand new  and shiny toy  what happens  when the glimmer fades and the  color not as  vibrant as it was  before? it becomes  common sense. 

A passport to other lands  other ways of thinking  seeing and feeling Fresh perspectives, new ideas.   broaden your horizons  no man is an island it takes a village the lone adventurer Immovable stones are worn down by time, wind and rain become diamonds with pressure that all sounds so cliche so many roll their eyes but it's quite important  now more than ever Reach out and explore yes it takes effort for life does not  just come to you Songs yet unsung paintings yet unmade the possibilities are endless it takes so much courage The first step is the hardest to leave the familiar behind but to free your soul and mind you must decide to go there.

Crickets: they are loud in their silence. they say do what you love  and happiness will  come to you  I'm too old for  this popularity contest I'm not in junior high I don't need all this  justification for  my pen, my brush my worlds my characters my ideas but deep inside  I don't want to be  ignored.

They told us  go to college get a degree  and a good job buy a house have your own family and you will live the dream of a productive life  and only after then  think about what  you want...  well, Mum,  I did what you wanted. look at me  can you honestly  say that I am happy?

This is the lounge a private room  where magic happens  and stories are written  where fates are decided I created you nurtured and shaped you but somehow, some way you took the reins and dictated your own destiny You found your voice told me all your secrets what I need to know what I need to do my pen continues its path. tonight you and me  sit opposite each other across the table  with glasses of champagne  in our hands

Walk the snowbound path  the mountain beckons  as you journey round and round  in a spiral encircling the tor  the sun rises in the east and sets in the west just like any other day the moon high in the sky sometimes hidden in the clouds but it is always there watching and waiting weighing your journey the scenery seems the same  but if you look carefully  the view is different  with each rotation the sun's angle changes the moon's face becomes full then wanes before it is gone again You feel like you are just going in circles until the path grows shorter the time goes faster until you reach the view at the top and it all finally stops.

fertile ideas are planted  but they need to be nurtured  in good soil and watered  if the temperature dips gentle hands cover them or bring them inside to protect against frost even as they sprout the work is not yet finished the tender shoots of thought are fragile and easily crushed disease attack the roots pests feed upon the leaves and those must be dealt with before the damage is done those who withhold the rain  and cloud up the sky  do not want the new ways  to bloom...  ...but nature will do it regardless.

The prompt word is balderdash balderdash: senseless talk or writing; nonsense Just a strongly worded  disapproval  is balderdash  words carry weight  but action is what gives meaning  to principles  that are only  theoretical  at this point  to talk about nothing is a useless gesture an evil does not stop at a mere proclamation on a piece of paper or on a social network the question becomes:  what's really stopping you?

Why does a strong woman  means emasculation  for a certain type of man?  Is he so damn insecure  that he sees shadows  around every corner  and challenges to his fragile masculinity?  A book that proclaims that a man is the master of his destiny and the dominator of all creation is written by men. Is he so arrogant that he believes Nature will always bend to his will? I think we all know  the answer to that.