Eleutheromania

An intense and irresistible desire for freedom.

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It struck her during yet another round of accusations and insinuations, after the baby woke and began screaming. His voice, once a balm to her ears, filled with rage and contempt as it battered at her down-turned head and dripped acid over her soul. 

Two wishes then, equally strong: either she and baby Jonah free or the ability to turn to stone, the both of them, so their hearts could remain unbroken. Unfortunately, no human heart ever remains unbroken.

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Hearing his heavy boots veer toward the door to the baby's room, she jumped to her feet and ran to block the door; the heavy skillet hidden behind her. "Get the hell outta my way, you fat cow, it's time your brat shut up" he hissed just as he grabbed her milk-sore chest and twisted; something he'd done dozens of times in the six months since Jonah had been born. This time, however, she was prepared, knowing he always returned in a rage after seeing his friend ... swinging as hard as she could with the frying pan, she sent both he and the skillet sailing into the wall. Turning toward her, trying to grab her throat, he staggered as Demetria panicked, flailing at him. Her unloving husband, Carl, drew his fist back, preparing to take her down, as Demetria pictured her right hand as a stony fist and threw her punch first. This time he stayed down and she shook her hand a moment before grabbing his wallet and dressing wee Jonah.

Back in her room with the baby; hurriedly changing clothes, then slipped the sling on in front and placed him in it. Stuffing supplies into the backpack and pocketing the $57.00 she'd found in his billfold, along with his debit card, she planned to get more money from an atm and do it again after midnight; hoping against hope she'd make it before he thought to cancel the card. The bus depot was across town but it wouldn't do her any good, Carl had destroyed her driver's license and they wouldn't sell her a ticket without i.d.; she knew this for a fact, she'd tried once before.

Slipping outside and drawing a deep breath, she set off down the pavement at a steady pace; it was less than a mile to the nearer edge of town, where they could escape into the woods. There was a convenience store halfway between and she could get more money from the store's atm. Jonah, bless him, was sound asleep already and his tiny snores set the pace for her...

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Sehnsucht

An inconsolable longing of the human heart, for we know not what. A yearning for a far, familiar, non-earthly land one can identify as one's home. 

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"Felipinho come along. Quickly now, breakfast is ready." His nose, made sensitive by so many years spent hungry on the streets, quickly identified the scents of pingado - sweet coffee milk - and the cheese-filled bread rolls called pao de queijo. It almost smelled of his Bahian home instead of this cold Northern town called Bosstown; the name fit, nearly everyone seemed to want to be a big boss in this place. 

Still, he was better off here than he'd been at any other time in his life: decent food every day, often more than once. No one getting drunk and beating him, or worse, every night. Belonging to Vovo Linda's crew meant a safe, warm place to sleep and a chance to improve his situation in life; even become respectable. She was tough, Vovo Linda, but fair, and you could tell she had been a real beauty in her day. Even so, there were nights he awoke, traces of tears wetting his thin pillow, vague dreams of a family and home he didn't yet know tugging at him.

He'd almost reached the kitchen door and had spotted Vovo Linda watching him through the window; grinning at his headlong rush when he heard it: a cry of terror and despair so profound that it jerked him around to search the busy street for the woman, and a woman's voice it was, who had uttered such a disturbing sound. Again it rang out, further down the street, and he started toward the sound; rushing faster and faster yet. Behind him, Felipinho heard the smash and clash of breaking glass and another, more familiar, woman's voice shouting "Faster Felipinho! Fly to her before all is lost!"

Ignoring the painful prickling across his shoulders and down his arms; dashing down a familiar grey concrete and black asphalt alley, he reared back... or tried to... when what was familiar suddenly turned to tan beach, misty blue sky and steel blue water. Too late, too late! He'd passed some unseen boundary.

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Well it certainly needs work, but at least it's begun.

The Itch Returns

That would be the itch to write, of course. Some interesting prompts have thrust their flamboyant verbosity in my face and begged me to play with them. As always, having an image to go with them is quite helpful. In no particular order, I give you . . .

Sehnsucht: An inconsolable longing in the human heart, for we know not what. A yearning for a far, familiar, non-earthly land one can identify as one's home. (If you'd like to see a larger version of any of these photos, click on them to "make it so".)

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Eleutheromania: An intense and irresistible desire for freedom.

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Solivagant: To wander alone.

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Coddiwomple: To travel in a purposeful manner toward a vague destination.

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Thus my mind goes, and fills the hours.

A Tasteful Canid?

If It's Easy, a short story by my longtime pal, Carolyn McBride. (Click on her name to go to her blog.) You can also visit her Amazon Author's page --> Here, and her Facebook author's page is Here. *Carolyn was kind enough to share an author's copy with me but all opinions are my own, as anyone who knows me would know.

This is the tale of Coriander Wolf, a lonely author with a flavorsome name and a cynical  view of romance. Beginning with the prophetic announcement from a djinn trapped in her computer, and continuing on to a meeting with an exotically beautiful stranger, Cori is about to learn more about the universe(s) and all they contain than she could ever have imagined... One suspects that her adventures will not end with this one short tale and that is definitely a good thing.

Carolyn and her wife, Betty, live in Southern Ontario, where Carolyn continues her tradition of writing strong lesbian protagonists and Betty keeps her in line! 

Now for a few photos!

A lovely, celebratory bowl of succulent mussels. Yup, I got the job! Have to wait to start until they get the results of (standard procedure) obligatory urine test and I-9. For those not from the States, the I-9 is to determine if one is eligible to work in the US. It takes a while and I'm not inclined toward patience just now; despite having been sent (before I'd even arrived home) an email stating my pay rate, etc...

We had rain and storms most of the day yesterday, the sky boasted some unusual colors as the sun was setting; looking straight up:

And to the right...

This next one, however, looks positively sulphurous.

Thought I'd share an earworm with you in farewell. You're welcome!

Sometimes...

...the Universe listens and responds with a resounding "Yes"!

I have a job interview on Monday afternoon; it's at a place Mom and I frequent and is quite legit. 

My oldest brother had his last injections and tests, which he passed with flying colors. He's on the lung transplant list! Also, among all the other tests I had recently was one for the 1 antitrypsin gene, which was passed down from our father. It's what caused Jim's lung disease. I don't have the genetic markers for it. 

Is it weird that I'm feeling guilty about this?

I'd say Mom and Jenn think so.

In Living Color

Spotted these whilst around and about today; thought I'd share.

Not sure what the top one is, the bottom is pink oleander.

And with the warm horizon filter . . .

So, the Doctor

Getting established with a new doctor is far from my favorite thing, as most of you know quite well since I kvetch about it on a regular basis. Physicians insist on painful tests and sticking me repeatedly with sharp instruments, etc... this makes me dislike their company rather quite a lot.

I may have struck it lucky this time. My new doc, whom I shall refer to as Dr. Banana, as it rhymes with her last name, has it going on. I mean, she's on top of things. And I got some good news, which tends to make me view her more favorably.

Ready for it? 

I've been taken off the medication to control the essential tremor!! Huzzah Huzzah! Picture me with my happy face on because I don't need it anymore. The tremors are gone baby, gone. 

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I'll even be driving next week; re-acclimating myself to it. 

Of course, there was also less positive news.

As a side effect of one of the medications I've been on for years for diabetes, my kidneys are showing signs of failing, something this particular medication is known for causing. Not that I knew that until Dr. Banana told me (and I immediately began researching). I'm off that medication and the hunt for a replacement has begun...

Have had to be taken off two other medications because they were exacerbating the spinal arthritis; we are trying other medications but, as always, I can only try one new medication at a time because I have odd reactions. The doctor informed me of that... this on our second appointment and without me having to argue for a cautious approach. She gets it! Physical therapy to prevent the loss of mobility is still in my future, but that has been delayed until the sciatic nerve calms down a bit; it's quite grumpy about what's going on with my spine.

If it ain't one thing it's t'other, but no more tremors.

Oh. I do go Monday to have an ultrasound done of the remaining half of my thyroid. A goiter has developed suddenly, which explains more than it doesn't. What she's talking about, HERE Of course the C word got tossed around, something I don't put much stock in since I've been on this merry go round before. 

Now if I can just find a job I'll be really quite content.