The train

I tried to board that train one night
Ticketless, nonetheless I tried
Unfamiliar faces paraded before me, some worn from their journey
Others greeting another with the exchange of an embrace or a smile
The warmth of their simple pleasantries lit within me a flame
Howsoever I should climb aboard; my desire would guide the path I chose
As though my mind was no longer alive
I tried to board that train one night
Ticketless, nonetheless I tried

Copyright © 2009 M. Gresham All Rights Reserved

A few surefire ways to communicate to your spouse that you want a divorce without actually saying that you want a divorce

1. If you are working out of town, and living temporarily in a company paid apartment, make sure to spend nights in hotels every so often so that the Dew Drop Inn charges appear on your credit card statement.

2. Frequent many restaurants and order two appetizers, two drinks and two meals so that your credit card statement gives the impression that you have been entertaining, erm, clients?

3. When your spouse calls you, keep the conversation short. Say something like, “yawn…I’m so tired. I’ve been working all day and really need to get some sleep”.(note: In order for this method to be effective, make sure you keep the conversation short on each and every call, regardless of the time of day. )

4. Birthdays, Anniversaries, and other Holidays are important, special times that families spend time together. Disregard all of them.

5. If your spouse begins to ask questions, such as, why haven’t you been home to visit or why don’t you call home, get angry. Bring up random disagreements, arguments, and such from 5 years prior to dodge the interrogation. Think aggressive defense! Communication is key.


*Be sure to check back soon for more tips on how to communicate with your spouse*

Names have been omitted to protect the innocent.

Lyrics to Hide and Seek

Someone asked me to post the lyrics to that song, so here they are!

Hide and Seek by Imogene Heap

where are we?
what the hell is going on?
the dust has only just begun to form
crop circles in the carpet
sinking feeling

spin me round again
and rub my eyes,
this can't be happening
when busy streets a mess with people
would stop to hold their heads heavy

hide and seek
trains and sewing machines
all those years
they were here first

oily marks appear on walls
where pleasure moments hung before the takeover,
the sweeping insensitivity of this still life

hide and seek
trains and sewing machines (oh, you won't catch me around here)
blood and tears (hearts)
they were here first

Mmmm whatcha say,
Mmm that you only meant well?
well of course you did
Mmmm whatcha say,
Mmmm that it's all for the best?
of course it is
Mmmm whatcha say?
Mmmm that it's just what we need
you decided this
whatcha say?
Mmmm what did she say?

ransom notes keep falling out your mouth
mid-sweet talk, newspaper word cut outs
speak no feeling no I don't believe you
you don't care a bit,
you don't care a bit

(hide and seek)
ransom notes keep falling out your mouth
mid-sweet talk, newspaper word cut outs

(hide and seek)
speak no feeling no i don't believe you
you don't care a bit,
you don't care a (you don't care a) bit

(hide and seek)
oh no, you don't care a bit
oh no, you don't care a bit

(hide and seek)
oh no, you don't care a bit
you don't care a bit
you don't care a bit

Emotional night

Sigh. No matter how long I layed motionless in my bed last night, with my eyelids gently pressed against each other, I could not manage to fall asleep. At about two o'clock in the morning, I decided to just get up out of bed and take some photos. The mistake that I made was playing the Imogene Heap song "Hide and Seek" over and over. Before she managed to sing the second or third line of the song...I was already emotional. So. I began to snap some really emotional photos with my inexpensive web cam (I haven't mastered setting up the Nikon to time photos).

I know it may sound strange that I would take photos of myself in such an emotional state, but I think that I really needed to just let it all out. I haven't in quite some time and I want to remember how I felt at that moment. Even though sometimes, things or people cause you pain or the things that you do, the energy that you have put out in the world come back to you ten fold, it's all such a grand experience to be alive and to feel. It's beautiful.

Halloween at the Corn Maze

Halloween has always been one of my favorite holidays. As a child, my fascination with Halloween was directly related to the thrill of filling my plastic pumpkin with a variety of chocolates, sweet tarts, and lollipops. I fondly remember sorting through out bag of goodies in the back yard, sitting around the bonfire and toasting marshmallows. It was one of those days where we were allowed to eat as much candy as we could possibly tolerate, without it being taken away.






Later on, I began to appreciate the other, psychological aspect of Halloween. The art of being frightened. Something about allowing yourself to be frightened, to experience the raw emotion of fear (some may argue as to whether fear is an emotion or a response), excites me. Granted, knowing that I'm not in any REAL danger is significant. I don't believe I would feel quite the same, if I was in a truly dangerous situation.





Last night, we went to the haunted corn maze. From the moment I stepped into the cornfield, I was afraid. I let out my first blood curdling scream within 20 seconds of entering the maze. I forgot about everything else in my life that has being weighing heavily on my mind. I almost slipped along the sloppy path through the maze, trying to elude Michael Myers and Friday the 13th's Jason Voorhees. I was afraid for the duration of our trek through the maze, but , I enjoyed every second of it...even when Leatherface ran me out of the maze, chasing me with a chainsaw.





All photos Copyright © 2009 M. Gresham All Rights Reserved










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Ehow

Good afternoon fellow bloggers and visitors. I hope everyone had a wonderful weekend. =)

My weekend, went fairly well. I worked most of the day on Saturday and in the afternoon, signed up on the "how to" website, www.ehow.com . I had been hearing wonderful things about the site and in the past, I have used the site to search for tips on "how to" do a variety of things. Since I'm trying to keep busy on my days off from work, I've been experimenting with my new camera, and now, I'll write a few articles for www.ehow.com . I've never written in that capacity before, so, I hope my writing will improve over the coming months.

I'm trying to stick with things I know about or know how to do. It would most probably prove to be rather difficult or time intensive to write articles about things of which I have no prior knowledge. My first two articles, published this morning, are about food and drink! What a surprise! lol

The very first one that I wrote, is basically a short "how to" on how to make fried dough or mock beignets. We used to eat fried dough quite a bit back home in Louisiana, and the steps are fairly simple, so, I thought, why not write about that! The second article I wrote yesterday is about how to brew spiced coffee. I drink an enormous amount of coffee daily and lately, I've been spicing it up a bit. I really feel as though I now prefer spiced coffee to regular. If you have the time, feel free to check out these links for my first two "how to" articles on www.ehow.com:

How to make mock beignets
How to brew spiced coffee

I just got off of work, and just wanted to share what I've been doing for the past couple of days. I hope to take some more photos soon and when I do, I'll upload a few here.

Take care!
Michelle

Day

I long for
the Day
when again I will see the simpleness of yesterday
neighbors are greeted with a welcoming smile
and good morning and how are you

When all Mothers
love
all Daughters
and all of their Sons
the same
envelope them with warmth
and are
tolerant and kind

I long for
a Day
when clenched fists begin to unfurl
all is tranquil
yet the sun
still shines
and the dark days of old are allowed to rest where they lie
I long
for that Day.




Copyright © 2009 M. Gresham All Rights Reserved


Cya soon!

deviantart

Earlier this week, I signed up on www.DeviantArt.com and began posting some of the photos that I have taken. To my surprise, a few people there have added them to their favorites! Even though the photos that I have published have been photographs that I like, I'm happy that there are others who seem to enjoy them, as well. I've added a deviantart widget on my blog, below my "about me" section, if anyone would like to take a look at my small, beginner's gallery =)

I'm not 100% familiarized with the site, but I have spent some time browsing others' galleries. I'm hoping that with continued practice on my part and viewing and studying others' work, that my photography will improve. Some of the site's features, are a community forum as well as a chat program. I've visited a couple of the photography chatrooms, and the members there have been very helpful and informative. After reading many of the links provided in #photography, I now know the meaning of aperture AND I know how to adjust it on my camera!

I thought that I was doing so well, just pointing and clicking, but there is so much to learn. It's rather exciting!



All photos Copyright © 2009 M. Gresham All Rights Reserved

Cya soon!

I love this camera!!!!

I just thought I'd post a few other photos that I have taken, edited, etc. with my new camera! I love this camera so much. I really don't know what I'm doing, but it's so fun lol. By the way, I purchased a Nikon D40, after reading quite a few reviews online. I wish I knew enough about it to even formulate an educated opinion about the ease of use, quality of photos, the lens that was included...but I don't! lol I just really enjoying playing with my new toy...so here are some more photos lol. Enjoy.

a mushroom!


some wildflower or weed in the backyard!

a cool bug!


hmmm, I'm underneath one of the climbers at the playground!


the playground was empty :(


sigh...i wonder how much longer it'll be around..



a few pics of Nat, that first one is her eye..idk what i did, I was just playing around and it looked interesting.

this is a water droplet, but, i kept toying with the exposure and , of course, i came up with some quasi-horror looking image..hmm, it kind of gives me the creeps, like i'm being watched.

All photos Copyright © 2009 M. Gresham All Rights Reserved

It's nice to be back

Hello to everyone in Blogger world.

Over the past couple of months, I've been a little preoccupied with job hunting and haven't been able to dedicate much time to blogging. Hopefully, if time permits, I'll be able to update my blog more frequently than once every couple of months.

I would like to add that I finally purchased a new camera. I had a bit of free time last week to toy around with it for a couple of hours and a couple of the photos, I really like. I'd really love to learn more about photography. As for now, I'm just going to click away and see what kinds of images I produce.


Anyway..


The other night, I had an idea for an original short story based upon an old, southern legend, hmmm...which I suppose doesn't make it very original? lol Oh, well, we'll see how it goes!! I've only been writing a bit here and there, but it feels nice to be able to have a bit of relaxation time to myself to jot down some ideas.

Here are a few of the photos that I like ( I must have been watching horror movies):

All photos Copyright © 2009 M. Gresham All Rights Reserved
(Thanks to StephenK from Photoforum for editing assistance on the self portrait)

Cya soon!

Happy Mother's Day

“You just wait until you have children,” she said as she pointed at me, shaking her index finger in some sort of ceremonial gesture. Unsure of whether I should counter with an “insert stupid teen, trying to be witty” remark, I decided to play it safe. I kept my mouth shut.

Years later, those haunting words my mother spat at me returned as I stood, arguing with my teen daughter. I could hear my mother whispering in my ear, “You just wait...”

Nooo!

Had my mother belonged to some sort of secret, maternal order of sorcery?

How could this be?

She’s one of the kindest people I know. She gave so much of herself, so that my brothers and I would not have to go without. She was involved. She was there for my school plays. She helped me with homework so that I would do well on my quizzes and exams. She was there for swim meets and softball games.

Thank you for being there.

I know that I haven’t been the perfect daughter, and, I probably never will be, but I love you.

I’d like to dedicate this song/video to my Mom, my daughter ( a future mother one day! ), my Granny, and to all Mother’s.

Happy Mother's Day.



And Btw,

Mom, I’m sorry! You can remove the curse now!!!

Thank You, Timethief and Squirrelqueen

I would like to thank you, Timethief, for the heads up about adding the copyright information to creative works posted online. I have taken your advice.

Thank you, also, to Squirrelqueen, who not only was my first follower (and only atm lol) , but whose photographs have inspired me to possibly dab in photography myself!

Sunday Morning

Hidden below their adornments
My feet begin to rustle the cotton sheets
The two largest of my toes stroke their slender neighbors
Those which remain, anticipate arousal

Beneath the folded pillow, upon which rests my head
A Crooked arm slides against the mattress
Tingling nips my fingertips
They awaken to the rhythmic tap dancing
Of raindrops into the trough

Nestled amongst the branches of the mother oak
A chipper chorus
Accompanied by the insistent horn of a distant train
Serenades me with its reveille
Relentless Dawn
Paints lines of demarcation as she violates her way
Through the blinds, tickling open my eyes

Good Morning, Sunday.

Copyright © 2009 M. Gresham All Rights Reserved

One Moment

Once upon a yesteryear
Uplifted
Upon his shoulders
The world,I feared not
Enclosed within his hands, small, tranquil fists
My lips danced
Controlled by instinctive laughter
One moment
A glance
The synchronicity of a smile

Copyright © 2009 M. Gresham All Rights Reserved

Silversun Pickups

Early last spring, I was in the mood for listening to some music other than the top-forty radio songs that, although some are quite enjoyable, are overplayed. I began to search through the many internet radio stations in hopes of hearing something fresh and new. I decided to spend some time listening to one of the Alternative Rock stations, and how happy am I that I did! You know that feeling when you hear a song that you like for the first time, and within moments, you notice that your body has begun to sway from side to side, be-bopping along with beat? Yes, well that’s how I felt when I heard the single “Lazy Eye” of the Carnavas Cd by the Silversun Pickups.

Last month, they released their third Cd, entitled “Swoon” and their first single, “Panic Switch” is currently receiving airplay on Alternative Stations. Check them out when you get a chance. Thank You, Silversun Pickups!

First post

I’ve done it!

Over the past year or so, I’ve toyed with the idea of writing a blog, but for one reason or another, I had decided against it. Yet, here I am today, not feeling remotely ambivalent, typing my first post. Yay!

First of all, I feel it necessary to divulge that I am neither a professional writer nor an expert on anything. I’m simply a woman who feels an urge to express through words some of her thoughts and ideas. I have written, for my own personal enjoyment and/or therapy, on and off, for many years. I’ve found that through writing, I’m able to communicate certain moods and ideas which, during the course of a normal conversation, may seem out of place. Writing is my escape and my solace.

Being from Southern Louisiana, Gumbo is one of my favorite foods. It’s a combination between a soup and a stew, thickened with a roux, which contains various local ingredients, such as Andouille sausage, Gulf Shrimp, Blue Crabs, okra, and the” holy trinity” (onions, bell peppers, and celery), ladled over a scoop of white rice. It’s such a delightful mixture of ingredients that together awaken the taste buds. If anyone happened to stumble upon my blog with the hopes of expecting to find some of Louisiana’s best Gumbo recipes, I may add a few recipes at a later date; however, this is not a blog that will be strictly epicurean in nature. So, why did I elect to name my blog El Gumbo?

I feel a strong personal connection to Gumbo, not solely because it originated from my place of birth. It’s a mixture or melding of various cultures, a little of this, a little of that. Well, that’s sort of how I feel, like I am a mixture of cultures, not really belonging to one in particular, so; therefore, forging my own. I’m still simmering on the stove at the moment in hopes that when I am ready, I, too, will awaken something in others.

With that being said, I plan to approach this blog in the same manner as I would cook a large pot of Gumbo, a little of this, a little of that and hopefully some delightful conversation.

Welcome to El Gumbo!
Thanks for reading!

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