Olympics

I love watching the Olympics! Athletes who aren't in the NBA or NFL, how refreshing! And the Opening Ceremony is always truly fantastic. I look forward to all the competitions that I can possibly watch,especially the figure skating.

R of B- Pauline's tattoos

When Pauline was Paul, she frequently got inked.She chose an eagle when Paul married Jean and got a panther when daughter Remy was born. While Paul served time for grand theft,he was raped; he put a large dagger dripping with blood on his back.After killing Paul's assailant with a pair of scissors,scissors were also inked on his wrist. For her successful sex change operation, Pauline had a large Venetian style mask inked on her arm.Now with T.Phyrrus'murder accomplished,she plans to get a tattoo of a scarecrow on fire, and each subsequent "project" will warrant another in kind memento.

Taking a cruise

I 'm getting away from the cold weather , this week and next,and will be taking another cruise with a girlfriend, this time to Mexico, leaving from New Orleans. I love cruising! I will not be blogging again until after 2/14 ( happy VD). Al will be home gearing up for a new job that he begins on 2/17 and babying our diabetic cat. Gina, who turned 18 on 1/23,comes and goes and is couch surfing with various friends. ( God be with that child...)Adam becomes 23 on 2/10 , and for the first time , I will not be seeing him on his actual birthday.He wants to have "Mellow Mushroom" pizza and beer before I leave , so that b'day celebration will be pretty low key.I am staying out of my son's way for the most part,because this is his last semester of college,and he has 5 classes. Adam is grumpy.Alfredo is anxious and antsy.Gina is rebellious. I'm chill.

"In defense of the dark arts" ( nod to Rowling)

I write, as I've stated before, to vent and for catharsis.Recently, I have been sharing my general ideas for a dark story I may possibly continue about an ensemble of women who are both misandrists( man haters) and killers.Anything related to this story will be with the working title "River of Blood" ( R of B); other entries will be different titles and different subjects. I make no pretense that it will be a great American novel; nevertheless, I am finding it fun and fulfilling. I asked people for comments, suggestions, etc.,and I thank those who have done so.What I don't understand is the anonymous vitriol and some scathing criticism.I can take criticism, and I'm not upset per se, but how do I respond to anonymous comments? Here are some answers: Yes, I plan to write dialogue(really?). Yes, I can write a story like this and still be a Christian. No, I'm not writing the whole book on my blog. If you don't want to read about the story elements( plot, character, setting,theme, etc.), don't read the blog entries with the aforementioned title. Yes, writing takes up a lot of time for me- thinking, brainstorming, etc. Yes, I have a life- a very good life, thank you, but writing is laborious.Yes, my husband thinks the story is "dark" , but we love each other, and he supports me.No, I am not a man hater, but I like different aspects of each of my characters. No, I am not a lesbian or bisexual( but really, so what if I were?) . Well,I may or may not write detailed graphic scenes; I haven't decided.No, this is not semi- autobiographical ( uh, hello!) These are truthful responses, but then if you feel you must be anonymous, you may not accept them as so. I am not naive enough to think everyone will find this story to be her cup of tea, and that's ok.

R of B - Recuperating

Jillian was beginning to feel stronger, and the throws of withdrawal had subsided. Ruby has stayed by her side the past five weeks, and Yung makes soft foods for her to eat, but Jill doesn't have much of an appetite. She hasn't left her room in quite a while. Today she will shower, dress and go downstairs and visit with her staff who are her only true friends, after all. Jill knows that Evelynn has taken care of everything during her " illness" , and ABC are always on high alert. They care and are very concerned about her. Jillian will also see Anais, her houseguest for the last six weeks. Anais,19 and a real drama queen, branded at the Querencia,proves to be very delicate and high Maintenance.Ruby treats the third degree burn on Anais' leg scrupulously and the brand mark is beginning to heal.Ruby goes back and forth between Jill and Anais during their recuperations,and she soon will be able to be less intensely involved with their healing.Jill visits Anais first.Truth be known, Jill had selected Anais for her name and her resemblance to Sophia Loren. Ruby goes with her as well as Abby, who is skeptical of the whiny teenager and is vigilantly guarding Jill. Jill shows Anais her same mark,five circles , one in the center and four others around it, burned into her thigh. The symbol represents unconditional loyalty.The seared mark assures that the female who has it is guaranteed protection, financial security, and access to some of the most powerful females in the world.Of course, there is the additional payment of $500,000, deposited in the branded's name.Jill has a calming influence upon Anais, and Ruby gives the young woman more morphine. Then Jill leaves to join her lawyer in the breakfast room. Evelynn is waiting and jumps up to give her friend a hug and kiss.Jill, still frail, smiles and sits down feeling weak from the morning's activity. Evelynn relays to her the success of the quartet's first project, and Jill is obviously pleased. She will wait until her "rehab" finishes before assigning the second project.

R of B: 1246 Dionisio Circle,Part 2

Trey Pyrrhus went to his mailbox, as usual when the sun went down. He doesn't want to interact with any of his neighbors , and it seems this time works best for avoiding them. When he goes back inside, the last thing he remembers is Myrtle smiling at him as Sharon knocks him out by slamming a bat over his head.When he regains consciousness hours later, he is tied up in a chair with duct tape over his mouth. Alina is taking photos and Pauline continues to look around the house. Pauline,opening the door of one of Pyrrhus' closets, discovers what may be the answer to why Jillian chose Pyrrhus. She calls Myrtle and Alina to come see.Sharon stays with the target. Photos of young girls, appearing to be under age 10, are taped all over the inside of the closet door with panties tacked next to each picture. Pedophilia! Myrtle is enraged and wants to do the kill. She finds a large butcher's knife and gleefully stabs the pervert in his eye, and then she slits his throat. Sharon decides to partially scalp the already dead man, so she can add another trophy to her growing collection. Alina,Myrtle and Sharon leave out the back door and work their way cautiously to their car, while Pauline sets the house on fire. The quartet is exhilarated. One down...

River of Blood- 1246 Dionisio Circle, part one

This is their first "project". Of course, Alina wants it to be Rodriguez; Evelynn wants it to be her brother, but Jillian decides.Trey Pyrrhus. The "quartet " only knows his name, photo and address.The four women- Sharon, Myrtle, Pauline and Alina- have only just begun to get acquainted in the past month. Jillian does not tell them why, but she does not tell them how either. They can decide that. The modest looking,well kept, bungalow style house sets at the end of a cul de sac with similar looking homes, except for its red shutters and red door. Evelynn told them that there was no security system, and that he lived alone.No pets.It sounds simple enough; that's what worries Sharon, and she says so. Pauline assumes that T.P. will have weapons.They form a plan. The first day,Alina walks around the neighborhood handing out pamphlets about an upcoming political protest at the nearby university, so that if he sees her out of a window, his house won't appear to be singled out. Alina knocks on 1246. No answer.She rings the doorbell. No answer. She puts a pamphlet on his mailbox and leaves. She goes to her car and waits.No one comes outside; maybe he isn't home. After about four hours, as dusk approaches, Mr.Pyrrhus emerges in his bathrobe, picks up his newspaper , gets his mail , and yanks the taped brochure off his mailbox. He goes slowly back into the house.Nothing out of the ordinary, reports Alina.She figures that he doesn 't bother with solicitors. A couple nights later , after 1am, Pauline scouts out the house. The street is dark, and no lights are on in any of the houses, including 1246. Pauline peers carefully through an uncurtained window. Nothing. Going around to the back, a set of windows has shut blinds. Perhaps that's the bedroom. No sounds. Enough for tonight. Return two days later. This time it's Myrtle's turn. She knocks; he answers. She shows him a photo of her " missing granddaughter." No he hasn't seen her. Now please leave, he says. Myrtle gets to her car and waits. He comes out of the house around dusk,gets his newspaper and mail, and goes back inside. This seems to be the pattern that they need. Tomorrow,early evening,they will all "visit" him ,and Jillian's first project will be handled.This should make Jillian feel better, since she has been under the weather the past three weeks.Alina surmises from her medical training that Jillian is having major withdrawal symptoms from some type of drug; she noticed Ms.Alexander's fitful state, back during her interview 3 months ago. Nevertheless, Alina is keeping her thoughts to herself. After all, she understands the lure and addiction of pain killers. She changes gears; tomorrow - how exciting, she thinks.