Someone I'd Like to Trade Places With

Picture Prompt Day 6 - A person you'd love to trade places with for a day

     I'm not happy with my life right now so trading places with just about anyone would be a welcome change.  What would it like to be a teacher, a real librarian, a pilot, a dancer, an actress, a Broadway star, a mother, a pioneer, an archeologist?  I eventually decided on a Celtic Women chorus member.  I really, really miss my choir days, so being in a group of people who love to sing again would be grand.  I would love to work with any of the ladies in the group, I adore all of their songs, and don't get me started on the dresses (THE FLOOF).  Sharing what I love with an audience would be a wonderful experience to have for a day again.

Robyn Batch 10 - Pecan shortbread

HAPPY 100th POST!

71. Broken:  Robyn cried out in pain as she collapsed to the ground.  She had known she was coming down wrong and now she could feel her heartbeat throbbing in her foot, mostly centered around her outer toes.  Taking a few deep breaths, she tried to rise but ended up back on her butt on the floor with a grunt.  She focused on her breathing until Madame Jacobs arrived to help her up and to one of the chairs at the edge of the practice room.  Ice was applied, medication was taken, mothers were called, and two weeks later she danced, broken toes be darned.

     Seriously folks, anyone have a better name for her dance teacher?  Updated her dance teacher's name to Camille Elizabeth Smythe-Jacobs on 16.June.2013.  And I'm only guessing how it feels to break toes as I have never broken any bone.  I've sprained my ankles and jammed fingers more times than I can count but no breaks!

87. Life:  “To life, to life, l'chaim!  To Zeytle, my daughter!”

    “My wife!”

    “Life has a way of confusing us, blessing and bruising us!  Drink l’chaim, to life!”

    Robyn and her fellow chorus members danced around, arms linked, laughing and singing.  They had stayed after school for an extra practice before the performance, and now they were amusing themselves while waiting for their parents to pick them up by singing show tunes.  So far they had jumped through CATS, Fiddler on the Roof, Les Miserables, Phantom of the Opera, and Seussical.

     This may or may not be based on true life.  I admit to nothing.  Lyrics belong to Sheldon Harnick and those associated with Fiddler on the Roof.

98. Pride:  Stephanie soared through the song she had been given, nailing every note and emoting through every line.  When she took her bow the panel of judges and the staff that were hanging about all applauded.  It stung Robyn to note that the response was louder than it had been for her own audition a few minutes earlier.  Logically she knew that the older girl had more experience and was devoted to only one craft, but emotionally it still rankled Robyn to not be the clear favorite, and to someone who simply viewed it as another job (not that Robyn would ever admit to such petty feelings).

     One of my biggest pet peeves in high school was people joining choir just for the A.  They had no passion and because they weren't emotionally invested in the songs they goofed off and brought down the morale of the choir.  They were snide and snarky and didn't take things seriously.  Some days I wanted to tear out their hair for making me want to tear out mine.

99. Prejudice:  Robyn looked Jericho up and down.  Henry had just told her that the young man would be their new contact and she wasn’t sure how she felt about that.  She had heard stories about Jericho, how his father was never up to any good, always off on some half drunken scheme (after a failed marriage Keith Moran was looking for something to make him feel successful again but his sons had to bail him out, which only made him feel worse), and his brother was in some bigger city, dabbling in crime and living off the good graces of the bad (OK, Gaven lived on the edge but most of his income was from honest car repairs).  Jericho himself had been a loner for the most part in high school, not fitting into any clique (all those people who didn’t know what they wanted and put up idiotic fronts to fit in).  He now went to college but she wasn’t sure how he had gotten there (scholarships and grants, and how would it change her opinion if she knew he was majoring in accounting and passing all his classes with As and Bs).  She had seen him around town in his old, classic, black Mustang or riding his slick motorcycle (earned penny by penny from odd jobs and restored with loving care).  She questioned why Henry would hire him, or at the very least trust him alone with her (because he knew how to treat women and once she was seen with him any bad element would leave her alone, though the ‘good’ element might be another matter).  She had seen the handful of girls Jericho had dated and quite frankly she wasn’t impressed (girls who hid their insecurities better than most, or had an idea where they were going).

     The parentheses were not there to begin with but I think they add a nice flavor and depth.  What do you think?

154. Tower:  It would probably always be Robyn’s favorite trip ever.  She had been newly sixteen and therefore able to fly by herself so her aunt and uncle Buchanan had invited her, and her alone out of family, to go on a European tour with them.  Robyn  said yes in a heartbeat and spent the next month doing all she could to convince her parents  she would be responsible and good and obedient.  In the end they had relented (they were going to say yes anyways but Robyn had been so helpful they decided to milk it) and Dawn and Elizabeth could barely understand the words in her squealing phone call but perfectly read the tone and dissolved into squeals themselves.  The family of four plus their two add-ons (they also invited their best chum Adiana) toured Ireland, Germany, Italy, Scotland, and ended in France, with a view of the Eiffel Tower and crepes every morning.  She had grown closer to her aunt, uncle, and cousins and made memories to last a lifetime and a half.

    Who else wishes they had family in Europe now?

Robyn Batch 9 - Coconut Macaroon

20. Colorless:  She floated in a void, lacking sound and color and sensation and, strangely, emotion.  She was aware that there were people around her and some part of her knew that they were speaking because their lips were moving but no sound issued from their grey lips.  It was nearly two days before color seeped back in and sound rushed to assault her ears.  She barely felt Austin’s touch as he hovered near her but her heart was still numb.  She wasn’t sure if that could ever recover from the loss of her grandfather.

42. Triangle:  From the beginning it had been Austin and Robyn, Oz and Bobbie.  Wherever one was the other wasn’t far behind (and if one had caused trouble, chances were the other was simply hadn’t been caught).  Then Talulah had moved into town and into their fourth grade class.  Talulah had been painfully shy and withdrawn from living in her sister’s shadow in a high pressure family but Robyn would have none of that.  She currently had an opening for a female best friend (her previous one had committed some sort of unforgivable offense like trying to kiss or exclude Austin) and Talulah fit the bill.  Best of all, Talulah and Austin hit it off and RAT was formed.  Slowly the shy, dark haired girl blossomed with two fast friends to encourage her, defend her, and vent to.  Then, in their junior year of high school Robyn’s two best friends finally admitted their feelings for each other, even if they didn’t officially start dating until senior year.  Most of the time Robyn couldn’t have been more thrilled (she and Austin had thought about it at one point but it was like kissing a sibling), but then there were moments where she would admit she was insanely jealous.  Tal and Oz were made for each other and very happy together and Robyn wished she could have the same happiness, someone as perfect for her as those two, especially when they went on dates.  Robyn dated once or twice, boys from the productions she was in, but when the play or musical was over, so was the storm of emotions and the relationships fizzled.  She hated feeling like the third wheel but she never allowed it to affect her friendship with Oz and Tal.

115. Silence:  Robyn knew that something wasn’t right because of the silence permeating the forest.  None of the animals were making their usual noises, no birdsong rang through the trees.  She hadn’t noticed the quiet growing as she read the latest book from her favorite horse book author but when she looked up she realized what the animals had known some time ago.  Dark, angry clouds filled the sky and a gust of cold, sea scented air rattled the trees above her, a breath of the storm flicking down into her clearing and chilling her. 

170. 67 Percent:  Robyn’s heart sank as she received her latest physics paper and she couldn’t help but let out a disappointed and dejected sigh.  This did not bode well for her final grade.  If she passed the class, at this point it would be with a C at best, at worst she would have to take it again, along with another science class to hedge her bets and assure that she had enough science credits to graduate.  Physics had seemed so easy in middle school and was easy in application but combining the math to calculate when things returned just didn’t seem to sink in. 

56. Breakfast:  At one time Robyn imagined she might not have enjoyed eating breakfast in the morning but she had been in dance so long she couldn’t remember the time.  It was important to her to start off the day in the best way possible, which for her was an egg scrambled with extra whites, a smoothie with added protein and calcium, and a strip of bacon.

     It was so hard coming up with something for this prompt but there ya go!  Thanks Joey Graceffa, I borrowed your trainer suggested breakfast routine.

Robyn Batch 7 - Orange macaroons

12. Orange:  She was astonished at the gourmet feast spread before her.  Chicken garnished with oranges and some kind of herb, green beans sprinkled with sesame seeds and crumbled cheese, and bread (store bought but heated in the oven, buttered and sprinkled with herbs) were attractively placed on the table.  “Jericho, I didn’t know you could cook like this!  This is amazing!”

     Jericho is turning into the perfect man.  He has a classic Mustang, a motorcycle, an Irish Wolfhound, can play the guitar well enough to pick out a tune, and can cook really well.  -sigh-  Become real and wait a couple years?

     Swooning aside, I based this on iJustine's boyfriend Ryan aka Fwiz.  He makes the most amazing things that look like they are straight from the Food Network or Cooking Channel, which I would not have expected considering he is known for his gaming.  The two do not naturally/automatically co-exist in my head which makes his considerable talent that much more awesome.

33. Too much:  “Robyn, that is enough.  You need to take a break right now.”  Madame Jacobs stood firm, walking stick held firmly in her hands before her like Madame Giry.

“I know I can get this move!” Robyn cried, frustrated, as she began to go through the movements of the dance she was rehearsing.  The sequence of moves normally wouldn’t have been all that difficult for her but she had recently begun working, on top of her vocal lessons, homework, and the production of both a play for school and the local theater company, along with this, preparing for the upcoming dance revue.  She was spread thin, working at physical things until mid evening, then working on her school work into the night and early morning hours.

“Robyn, you are tired and not thinking clearly.  Take a break.”  Madame Jacobs instructed but before she could finish speaking the young auburn haired ingenue fell to the ground.

A weakness!  Robyn doesn't know when to quit and is very much an overachiever.

67. Snow:  The three siblings shrieked and ducked and flung themselves about in the thick coating of white powder.  The weather people the night before hadn’t been optimistic about them getting any of the snow that had been brewing near the mountains, after all, this was the coast, but they, and all of Aurelia, had awoken to a thick layer of fluffy white snow coating the town, shutting down school, most businesses, and trapping tourists for at least the day.  

105. Seeking Solace:  Robyn could classify periods in her life based on who she turned to for comfort and support with her problems.  Early in her life, it was naturally her parents to whom she turned when she fell or had a fight with a friend or was worried about something that happened.  Around six or seven she began relying more on her grandparents, then transitioned into Austin by age twelve or thirteen.  At this point any girly problems she confided in Mrs. Rosamund but Austen and Talulah were her main confidants.  Now she found herself in a startling and confusing quandary, possibly at the beginning of a new phase; she was torn between fleeing to the comforting presences of her two best friends and turning to her silent, dark, and handsome assigned protector.  

160. Rejection:  Robyn’s shoulders slumped and her head fell, tears already welling in her eyes.  She had seen it coming in some ways but hadn’t wanted to believe it.  Still, she had to ask.  “You’re sure?”

“Yes,” Blake said.  “I want to break up with you, I am breaking up with you.  I don’t think this is working out and I think you see it too.  We don’t have time for each other and we don’t have enough in common anymore.”

     They had been dating for nearly two years now after meeting in theater class their sophomore year but gradually over their junior year Blake had become more and more involved in sports, track and field, football, and tennis, as Robyn became more and more involved in choir and theater.  He was right, they barely saw each other and their social and interest spheres no longer intersected much anymore, but she had been willing to try.  It seemed he no longer was. 

     ... she had a boyfriend?  Cool!  Most of the time my characters are smart enough to not date in high school but I thought I'd make her more typical and imperfect.  :)

100. Persuasion:  Boss swept into town and did his best to sweep Robyn off her feet.  The Labyrinth club was designed around what his men had been able to glean about her likes and dislikes and music styled around the theme and what she enjoyed.  To his great frustration though, he didn’t factor in her loyalty to Henry Sterne, Aurelia, and her steel backbone when her friends were threatened.

     He doesn't have a name yet so he is just "Boss".

 

83. And:  “Yes it goes on and on my friends.  Some people started singing it not knowing what it was and they’ll continue singing it forever just because it the song that never ends.  Yes it goes on and on my friends.”  Robyn danced around her friends in circles singing loudly and grinning like a fool.

     “I told you she shouldn't have had that second Mountain Dew,” Talulah grumped at Austin who merely grinned winningly back at her.

     Austin is a combination of Landon Austin, Bradley Cooper, and a touch of Martin Freeman and Steve Zhan.  Imagine that grinning back at you.  You aren't going to stay mad for long!  ^_^

Robyn Batch 6 - No bakes

60. Drink:  Robyn could handle her alcohol, except for tequila.  True to the song, nothing hit her like tequila and her clothes did tend to ... shed.

     Based on the song Tequila Makes Her Clothes Fall Off by Joe Nichols.  Thank you country radio!

199. Solitude:  No one could find Robyn when she hid in her grove though she always enjoyed anywhere else in the forest when she was alone.

183. Heal:  The forest healed any hurt in her heart with its quiet balm.  So did performing for others. 

112. Insanity:  Doing the same thing over and over and over and expecting a different result.  Or in other words, taking Physics science class for Robyn.

     Sorry Rob, you inherited my weakness.  Physics in application makes sense but combining the math in any way other than linearly doesn't work.  It's like there is some physical block in my brain which is really frustrating.  I know how things should work and that it should be easy but something just isn't clicking.  Other things I can comprehend with work and study, but physics ... GAH!!  I first took it my freshman year of high school along with geometry, failed out of the first semester, retook it my junior year and barely passed.  My teacher the first year was awesome (thank you Mr Steiner!!) but I didn't have enough of a math foundation and had too much of a homework load.  My teacher and I junior year only had a so so student teacher relationship.  He didn't always explain things in a way that made sense to me but by that point all the things I learned freshman year sunk in so I was able to make it farther.

95. New Years:  It was New Years day, the first time she showed Jericho her sacred grove.  She was incredibly nervous, as she had shown no one but Talulah, Austin, and her parents, and the last two had been a necessity in case anything happened to her, they had insisted that she show them where she disappeared to in the woods.  The ground was still covered in frost and frozen fog, even in the early afternoon, when she lead him first towards the old cabin, to mask their footprints, then into the underbrush.  Robyn had developed a bit of a homing beacon over the years, she could approach her grove from anywhere in the woods, and so avoided wearing a trail, other than the ones animals already used. 

     (The girl is seriously paranoid.)

163. Do Not Disturb:  Jericho knew about Robyn’s wooded retreat, he had followed her there enough times but, after observing how well and how far she went to cover her tracks, he had never actually been in.  It felt like too much of an invasion, besides which, he had spoken to Austin and learned of the vows they had made; he had no desire to anger her.  He was therefore very honored when she invited him to her grove.

133. Expectations:  He wasn’t sure what to expect when she invited him to see her favorite place in the world but is exceeded anything he could have come up with.  Chips of colored glass glittered in the cold afternoon air, casting a rainbow of patches on the frosted ground which was as flat and smooth as any house floor.  A bench with wrought iron flowers was tucked under the giant tree, facing a square of driftwood planks that were set into the ground, surrounded by candle holders of various colors and shapes.

No One Mortal

A bit of bleak, emo poetry written back in high school, that matches my currently black, bleak mood.  I struggle with my self worth and have moments that are worse than others.  I am better able to recognize and handle these moods now than I was when I wrote this, but it does not lessen the reality.  Thankfully I also have the help referred to in the second half of the poem (after 'Can one really love me?').  I rely on the thought that even if I don't see myself in a positive light at the moment, Jehovah does and with his help I can break free from the darkness.

No one Mortal

I feel a weight,
heavy cumbersome,
throttling my life away
I feel a dullness
a cloud
hanging over all I do
Grey and bleak is the sky
Through the gloom
I see my family
is breaking away,
dissolving, eaten by acid
When I look to the source
I see nothing, but wait
into the pool of stinging liquid
I see . . . ME
The cause is my tears
NO! I am a stone, a rock,
Untouchable, Unaffected, Unscathed,
Unlovable
Oh how hated is a pebble,
an irritant in your shoe
something to be stepped on, discarded
thrown away, despised
Can one really love dirt?
Can one really love me?
No, no mortal has the patience
to find that the pebble
can make tools
is sharp
can make fire
is bright
has emotions
can carry your worries
can see your pain, your acid
you erode it
wear it to nothing
No one mortal sees how the
pebble is worried
pressured, kicked
tossed about
No one mortal
can support the
pebble in the current sweeping it
Only one can make it float
spark, sharp, be seen,
very few can love a pebble
but they can see
They are not mortal
Only one can lift
the weight
One immortal

Day 9 - Light on the water

August 9 - The way of light on water

Inlightened Ruffles

Inlit petals awash with pink blush 

Glides gently on molten wax

Crisp breeze caresses velvet ruffles

Bruised tips cradle

                            embers

                    dreams       glow

Inner contentment floats on viscous

                                             primordeal fear

Glazed

         in one rose

- Leandra Kafer (8. March .2006)

-----------------

Gently, gently it floated

Hovering

Not touching the cold water beneath

Pale and fuzzy, it could not bring itself to damp its life with this unhappy medium

Alone it wandered, wondered, searched for a companion, a someone, a friend

Searching across the water at last it found a beam of hope

"Come to me," it whispered,

     older, wiser, a lady

To the beam it flew,

     quickly as its form could fly

    to the voice that reached and faded

                             reached and faded

                             reached and faded

At last it reached its love

   Dodged bodies on the water

 And joined with its love

A stationary love

Whom it would leave

Older, wiser

To float again

Leaving with love and regrets

To find someone to share the water with again

The first poem I wrote years ago in my high school Creative Writing class based on the image you see.  When I read the prompt it was the first thing that came to mind so I had to copy it in before I began the new poem.

In the second poem I see this little, young, fuzzy, male ball of light floating above and wandering the dark ocean, searching for more of its kind and rather lonely.  Then it hears this siren voice calling across the water.  The voice is a lighthouse; older, more mature, female, maternal, and rather stuck in her ways (she is a lighthouse after all).  It dodges the boats on the water around her to fling itself into her light beam.  There they are very happy for a countless number of years until it begins to mature and realize that, despite their happy times, the lighthouse with it's stability and it with it's inherently playful and freewheeling ways don't share the same lifegoals.  So eventually the fuzzy light, now stronger, leaves to wander the waves again, again in search of someone to share life with. 

Day 9 - Getting Permission

Giver permissions to my students to write about themselves or whatever they please.

Day 8 - Everything Chirps

August 8 - Everything means something

I remember being so annoyed in high school when we read stories and the teacher asked us to find the symbolism in it.  I argued heartily that authors didn't put any in on purpose.  I was wrong.  I use names to symbolize things about the character or family.  I work in flowers from the Victorian language in one of my Rae stories.  But I won't do much beyond that.  It is too much thinking and like my stories to be easy on the brain.

I apologize Mrs. Croley and Mr. Beckley.  Profusely.  I was rude and stubborn and so sure of myself on the subject and refused to listen.  But I still hate To Kill a Mockingbird and The Scarlett Ibis.

Day 8 - The Voice That Chirps and Chips

"Just do the work.  Tell your story; it's important.  Have faith."

I liked this article too.  It talked about the inner critic we all have but that in authors is a little louder about both the stupidity and importance of our writing.