Month: March 2014

Hades

SFoxWriting’s Alphabet Challenge, Day 8 ~ “H”

Hades
Our caravan approached the River Styx
A band comprised of thieves and convicts
The tone was subdued, not so merry
As each one boarded Charon’s Ferry
All were charged an obolus save the poor
They were left one hundred years upon shore
On turbulent waters our boat coiled and twirled
We dead approached the entrance to the underworld
We hadn’t made landfall when I was struck by an oar
I was launched from the raft and swam to the shore
The three heads of Cerberus greeted us with a growl
He threatened with claws intended to disembowel
He let us pass as he slashed his serpent tail
Snakes hissed warnings any escape try would fail
Our journey continued as we approached the Pavilion
Where three judges would assess us for each sin
Evil-doers trembled at where they’d be sent
Each heard grim tales of the Fields of Punishment
I heard my sentence, I was ordered straight there
Dread became dismay as I saw flames throw smoke in the air
I turned and I ran toward the Isle of the Blest
The Elysium would protect me from eternal unrest
Liberation short lived, Hades’ chariot drew near
He was formidable and loathsome, instilled great fear
His scepter struck true, I sailed forty yards
Violently I landed upon the feet of his guards
I stood unharmed, brushed the filth from my clothes
Empowered by this I prepared for more blows
Hades was amused by my invincibility
He knew I had fallen into that tributary
Realizing my power made me a hero
He granted my pardon, he let me go
Through Acherusia I left without delay
A paragon was born of fate on that day

Image courtesy of http://imgarcade.com/

Grand Rapids

Steven Fox Writing’s Alphabet Challenge, Day 7, “G” ~ A poem about home: Grand Rapids, MI

Grand Rapids, Michigan
Or, Beer City USA,
The place that I love,
Live, work and play.

It’s a city of culture.
It boasts fine cuisine,
Breathtaking landscapes,
And sunsets pristine.

Beaches and fishing,
Symphony, ballet,
Fine artisan markets,
Film fests and Broadway.

Home of Art Prize,
And Blues on the Mall
Swing dance, ice skating
Hockey and baseball.

A remarkable town
Not one to be missed
A visit belongs atop
Of your bucket list.

Photo from Art Prize 2012, courtesy of http://www.knightarts.org/

Fog in the Trees

Laura Macky Photography

Living close to San Francisco, we get a lot of fog here. Usually the fog occurs during spring and summer in the mornings, but once in awhile we’ll get that low-lying type probably because we have a lot of hills surrounding us. Yesterday morning, I looked out our back window and saw the low-lying type. It was so pretty that I literally jumped up from my computer (where I was reading my WordPress Reader, of course) and snapped this picture.

I took the photo in monochrome on my camera, brought it into photoshop where I adjusted the contrast till I was satisfied, and then brought it into Nik Silver Efex for final adjustments. UPDATED: I actually tried a suggestion someone made by creating three images in Nik Efex, bringing them into photoshop and then masking to come up with the final image (first one below). I think it came out…

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Friends Are the Family You Choose

Day 6 of Steven Fox Writing’s Alphabet Challenge ~ The letter “F”. I dedicate this poem to the people that know how crazy I am and still choose to be seen with me in public.

I tell them my secrets
With nary a thought.
Every word spilled
Locked in their vault.

The times I gave up,
Laid down and cowered,
They hoisted me up,
Left me empowered.

They are my champions.
They know the real me.
They forgive me my faults
And love unconditionally.

They are my family,
We come in all hues.
The best of friends are
The family you choose.

The above picture was as close as I could get to having my closest friends in one photo. It is missing Michael, Terry, Lee & Julie. Love you guys!

Electric Six

Image from Electric Six’s March 1st show at The Stache (inside The Intersection in Grand Rapids, MI). This is me after the show with Electric Six front man, Dick Valentine. My husband got me tickets as a birthday month, day 1 gift. I told Dick that I am turning 40. He said I don’t look a day over 29. I really like that guy.

Day 5 of Steven Fox’s Alphabet Challenge and I am loving how this challenge is forcing me to branch out. No longer does this blog seem to be nothing more than a series of creative writing assignments. There is life here now, reality in small doses. It is time to show the world who I am and what makes me tick. Today, I give you the “E” in me. The music of Electric Six ~ they are the soundtrack of my soul, the rhythm my heartbeat, and the voice behind some of life’s greatest memories.

Electric Six is a band that originated from my home state of Michigan. The band was highly successful, particularly in the UK, in 2003-2004. According to Wikipedia, their style has been described as a brand of rock music infused with elements of garage, disco, punk rock, new wave and metal. To be a little more succinct and to put into my own words; it’s rock music you can dance to, infused with fun and absurdity. To best appreciate an Electric Six show, you must take it in along side a group of your most entertaining friends.

I was denied the light of Electric Six in my life until July of 2009. It was a sunny Saturday afternoon when I was enlightened. It was a day of celebration, friends gathered together to feast and imbibe upon spirits. It was the day the music was resurrected. A great man they call Dan brought forth a gift. It was not the tangible sort you hold in your hands, but the kind that touches your soul. Joy erupted within my psyche as “Down at McDonnelzzz” off I Shall Exterminate Everything Around Me That Restricts Me From Being the Master penetrated my ear drums. Before that glorious day came to a close I would also fall in love with “Dance Commander”, “Danger! High Voltage”, “Improper Dancing”, and “Gay Bar” all off Fire.

Today Electric Six serenades me as I write. They are there when I dance. They encourage me to sing. Their live shows are an anticipated event for me and my closest friends. I have seen them live no fewer than 7 times now, usually at The Intersection (or The Stache inside The Intersection) right here in Grand Rapids. Pre-show the band mingles with their fans. Once my husband bought drinks for himself and guitarist, Johnny Na$hinal while they took in an opening act together. Post-show band members walk among the crowd and happily shake hands, sign autographs and take pictures. It is an experience, one I never miss when they come to town.

Here are a few photos from the latest show I attended, as well as a link to my favorite music video, for your pleasure.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2a4gyJsY0mc ~ Electric Six chooses to neither confirm nor deny the presence of Jack White’s voice as backup on Danger! High Voltage. I think we all know…

And because this is still a creative writing blog, an epitaph poem inspired by Electric Six’s “Egyptian Cowboy” lyrics (did you catch how many “E”s I tied together there?):
Here lies an
Egyptian Cowboy.
That identity was
Merely a ploy.
He set out to kill
But was stabbed instead.
He had pretty hair
But now he is dead.

You can learn more about the band at their website http://electricsix.com/.