Were you popular in high school?
Not overly, not underly. 

If a magic potion could make someone love you, would you slip it to them?
No. I'd rather have someone because they genuinely wanted me and not because I caused them to want me.

You're in the woods, alone; at night...are you honestly not afraid?
Depends on what my odds are of being mauled by a wild animal or lunatic or bitten by a snake.

You're never going to see your lover again, what do you need them to know?
Depends.  The last one?  I needed him to know that he had disappointed me.  There is no current one for me to picture sappy and teary-eyed partings of sweet sorrow.

If you were drafted into the war, would you serve or try to avoid serving?
I'd try to avoid it.

A friend just fell over a very high bridge; do you jump to save them?
Sorry...

If you honestly were abducted by aliens, would you have the nerve to tell?
I'd only tell someone who was likely to believe me.

According to the tale, was Eve wrong for eating and sharing the apple?
Supposing this tale is true, this action gave us the gift of knowledge and a limited life.  To me, knowledge is a good thing, as is a limited life.  Limiting life is what helps us appreciate it.  Furthermore, isn't sharing one of the first lessons our parents teach us children?  So, to sum it up... appreciation of a limited life, knowledge, and sharing, which = kindness in my book... Well... these are ALL good things.

Is there anything your last ex said that you still constantly think of?
Honestly?  I think of snarky little things he said about some girl he used to be FWBs with before we started dating, and I guess I should have thought about that a little more because it doesn't bode well for his character that he talked so much shit about someone who likely cared about him, so now I wonder if he talks that kind of shit about me, and it kind of makes me angry to think he might because if he says the same things about me, they just aren't true.

Are you a different person now than you were 5 years ago?
vastly.

Where will you be twelve hours from now?
I'm not sure.  I'll either be with J, with my cousins, both, or here letting Chris IM with me all night.  I'm lucky because all options are desirable.

If you could script the basic plot for the dream you will have tonight, what would the story be?
I would love to have the dream for a potential wonderful future.

Do you enjoy sleeping in physical contact with your lover? 
If I had one, and if he didn't have any odd sleeping habits, then I would love it.

Would you like to have a child much brighter and more attractive than yourself? 
I wouldn't like to "have" a child at all.

How often do you step back and reflect upon the way you are living and where you are headed? 
several times daily.

Do you consider yourself well organized? 
I usually am, and, at some point, that changed, and I need to get back to the normal that was a good normal.

Someone you love is murdered and you know who did it and got away with it, would you seek revenge? 
No.  I'd find a way to prove it and get him/her punished for his/her actions.  It is not my place to decide who lives or dies.

What are you looking for when you converse with people? 
To be engaged intellectually and for laughter.

If you were offered a much better job in another city and knew you would, over the years, drift away from your closest friend if you took it, would you go?
Likely because I'm pretty good at not allowing these kinds of things to happen.

Would you accept a much less enjoyable job paying twice what you make now? 
Hmmm... likely.

In conversations, do you tend to listen or talk more? 
both at any given time.

Do you thank people who do you favors?
Always.

Does the fact that you've never done something before increase or decrease its appeal to you? 
Provided it's a good thing.

Would you go to movie or a diner alone? 
Sure. I would prefer not to, but if I really wanted food or to see a movie, I would.  It, I have learned, just isn't a good idea to go to a love movie by yourself when your relationship is on the brink of ending and you're all sad over it and that person really SHOULD be at that movie with you and the fact that he is not only perpetuates the negative thoughts in your head concerning said relationship, so you sit there and look at all the other couples there and cry your eyes out.  Maybe during a time of relationship upheaval, one should choose a comedy or something, ya think?

Would you enjoy spending a month in solitude in a beautiful natural setting? 
Provided I have the amenities I want/need.

You discover your wonderful 1 year old child is, because of a mix up at the hospital, not yours, would you exchange back?
Well, look at my kid.  There's NO WAY he isn't mine.  But... if I found out he wasn't... he was so sweet and wonderful, I wouldn't have wanted to just give him back.

How do you feel about your hair right now?
I wish it would hurry up and grow back.

How did you get your last bruise?
I fell after twisting my ankle at Brandywine Falls.

Name two facts about the last person who texted you?
She is an amazing singer and is one of my best friends.

If you were upset, who is the first guy you'd go to?
Ernie.

Have you ever used your bra to hold things like you would a pocket?
My cleavage, but not my bra.

Do you believe that what is meant to be will happen on its own?
Yes.  I believe things can be "helped" or "nudged", but what's meant to be will always find a way.

The shirt you’re wearing, where did you get it?
It was a reward for excellent productivity/accuracy when I worked for the USPS.

Where is the person you last kissed at this moment?
No longer residing on my FB friends list.  Other that that... I don't know/care, but not in that negative way... It just "is".  Kind of like before I ever remembered he existed.

What was the last thing you looked up on Google?
Song lyrics.

What are you listening to?
Hello It's me.  For some reason I can't quite imagine (I'm totally lying) the song is stuck in my head.

If you see a girl with big boobs do you automatically think she’s a slut?
Nope.

Do you prefer to drink from glasses or mugs?
either/or

Do you think you'd do well at teaching the English language to a foreigner?
I'm really not patient enough for that.

Do you suffer from Restless Leg Syndrome?
No.

Have you written a resume before, either for yourself or someone else?
I have.

Do you consider Lady GaGa's appearance artistic, or just plain weird?
I don't even know who that is or what she looks like.  Hang on, let me go Google...  WOW... I kind of dig the shit out of the hairdo on this picture I just saw...  Just looks like any other celeb to me.  Unless I'm Googling the wrong pictures?  I mean, the fact that someone bothered to ask this question leads me to believe she should maybe be "freakish" or something?   Though I did read something about a hermaphrodite.. right?  What's more of a concern to me is if I need to go back up a few question and change my answer regarding the last thing I "Googled".

What was the last thing you used scissors for?
In all likelihood, it was to cut something.

How many USB cords do you have lying around?
3

Have you ever eaten a crayon?
No.

Is there anything pink within 10 feet of you?
Yes.  a legal size notepad that I write things on.

Have you bought any clothing items in the last week?
No.

Did you stand on your tippy-toes when you had your last hug with the opposite sex?
No. The last opposite sex hug I had was with Melissa's husband, Dave, and he was sitting down, so I leaned over.

I officially filled up my old photobucket site.  I have 9999 pictures on it, so I had to create another free acct.  I already pay to be on Flickr, so I'm not about to pay for photobucket.  I just uploaded some new pictures on there.  Well, they're new to you wonderful folks.  Some of you Facebook folks will have already seen them, but these are some of my faves from late summer/early fall.

These first few are from a trip my friend, Steve, and I made to the Cleveland Art Museum.  I'd heard that they'd re-opened some of their renovated galleries, so I dragged him kicking and screaming up there on the last official "day" of his vacation from work.  Surely, I jest... He loved the place. 



I've discovered that I love two artists... Van Gogh and Monet.  The first few are Van Goghs. 



More Van Gogh. 



He's really incredible.

This, however, is my favorite painting ever... It's a Monet...



It's called "La Capeline Rouge", and it's rumored that the woman in the painting is Madame Monet.  I shot it from this angle so I could be all artsy with art.  hahaha...  I love this painting so much I bought a print of it from the museum store. I just need to have it framed.

After we left the museum, we visited nearby Lake View Cemetery.



The Garfield Monument.  This is where President Garfield and his wife are buried... Well, they really aren't "buried" in the true sense of the word.  Their coffins are displayed in this round section behind bars in the basement of the building.  Inside, there is this spiral staircase that takes you up to a balcony at the top of the building where you get the most stunning view of Cleveland and Lake Erie.



Stained glass inside one of the chapels.  Actually it's a special kind of glass created by someone in the Tiffany family, so it really isn't stained glass. 



blue window inside one of the mausoleums.



In this one, the door was just standing open.  You know we had to go in, right?  We were respectful and left things as we found it.  Closed the door behind us even.



Interesting statue at a place called O'Brien Cemetery.  This is an "interesting" sort of cemetery.  A lot of oddities there.



Angel statue at another cemetery we visited.



This was taken at Mater Dolorosa (Mother of Sorrows) Cemetery in Boston Township,OH.  It's rumored that this cemetery holds a coven of Witches that were ex-communicated from the town.  I didn't see anything that looked Witchy there, though.  We all know I would know, no?



But for some reason, the fence around this plot intrigues the hell out of me.  I must have like 90 different shots of it.



Brandywine Falls



More Brandywine Falls



From another vantage point.



Signs of Autumn



I took that one right after I twisted my ankle, fell, and skinned my knee. 

Anywho... Hope you enjoyed.  I'm thinking I'll post pics of my Coven's Samhain gathering in the next few days here.  I hope you're all well!!

~Blessed Be!

Okay folks... I've decided it was about time for another photo blog.  It's been a while, and I've seen/done some cool things along the way, so I'd like to share some of them.  I've been playing a LOT with my lovely Nikon D-60 D-SLR camera, but please bear in mind that, A.) some of these pictures are taken with my phone's camera, and B.) I am, by no means, a pro just yet. 

One day, I was all achy and sore, and I decided I desperately needed a bubble bath.



I decided to take that time to catch up on some reading.



See... I've been watching that new tv show (yes, I know... hard to believe, but, yes, I, indeed have been watching tv.  Only two shows, though), Eastwick.  I never knew that both the show, and the movie, were actually based on a novel, so I decided that I really needed to read the novel The Witches of Eastwick by John Updike.  Bear in mind that I'm normally a big fan of Updike's short stories (The Chrysanthemums being a personal favorite), so imagine my surprise when I got 2 pages in to this novel and HATED it.  It reminded me immediately why I am not a fan of the modern novel.  I can't stand a lot of wordiness.  I think it clouds issues and is pretentious with its grandiose descriptiveness and gives no allowance to the reader's imagination, which, mine works just fine, thank you.  Anywho... that's just MY two cents.  I can't believe that book is actually considered "literature"... Anywho... (I just love that word) I will, however, finish reading it because I spent my money on it, and I'm optimistic that it may get better.

On with the show... OH... those first two pics and the subsequent few were phone pictures.  No way was I taking my 800.00 camera in to the tub with me.  hahaha.

These next few are me goofing around in my down time at work.  Aren't camera phones fun?



Another thing that's super fun?  Pigtails. I highly suggest trying them out if your hair is long enough.  Someone actually told me the look was sexy on me.  ;)



I really needed a nap.



I love making faces.  Wouldn't it be fun if my mom had been right all those years ago and my face did freeze that way? 



This is me at this year's Akron Pagan Pride Mabon Festival.  Mabon is the Pagan harvest celebration.  It was great fun this year.  It was the first time I went with the pigtail look. 



Mary and me outside of her house.  We were on our way out to see that movie, "All About Steve."  It was cute, though a little disappointing.  I think it was made out to be funnier than it actually is.



This is my most recent self-portrait. It was taken this past Saturday. It was a good hair and happy kind of day.  haha.

Now... On to the good stuff.  Steve (no, not the movie Steve) and I decided that we needed to get out and see how some things we've already seen look in Autumn.

First stop was Mater Dolorosa Cemetery in Peninsula,Ohio...

Not that they're any better, but THESE shots were taken with my GOOD camera. 



There's this old rickety iron fence around one of the plots there that absolutely fascinates both of us.  I swear, I probably have 100 pics of it at various angles from the two trips we have made there.  I think he has as many, if not, more.



See?  Fascinated.  That, by the way, is Steve.  We're pals.  I guess.



I love my new macro filters. 



close up of a star engraved in one of the headstones.  idk why, but I love this picture.  It's a personal fave from that day.



another of the famed fence with a tree trunk kind of growing around it.  The people within the plot have been planted there since the mid 1800s if I recall.

We left Mater Dolorosa (which, btw, translates as Mother of Sorrows, and, btw, this place is reputed to be haunted, a claim to which I can attest the accuracy of.  Next stop was O'Brien cemetery in near by Boston Township.



This is the road leading back to O'Brien Cemetery.  It's way back down this road.  I'm surprised the picture came out clear-ish because it was taken through the windshield of Steve's truck.



Some of the headstones.  I have mixed feelings about this picture.  It's a nice angle and whatnot, but, if you look closely at the third stone... Some vandal left a dead cat on top of it, and it's laying there sort of decaying away.  Sad, really, that someone would desecrate a grave that way OR do that to a poor cat.  Unfortunately, I have no means by which to clean it up.  It's weird, too, because the place is maintained, the grass had been cut since our last visit.  WTF is up with whomever cares for the place just leaving that there??



Beautiful lake near by, just behind where I was standing to take the last picture.  I decided to sit there and try to take close ups of the leaves on the ground.



The only decent-ish one I got.  I was playing around with the focus thingie that lets me pick where the focus will be.  YES, I did say "thingie".  I TOLD you I'm NOT a pro hahaha.



I liked this angle best for this stone.  I love the colors of Autumn, too bad it was cold that day.



One of the two wooden statues in the cemetery.  I love this close up of her.  At first, I was mad because it had turned out darker than I intended, but it's growing on me this way.



Steve playing with his new camera. 





One of the other wooden statues there.  This guy is standing at the entrance (you have to walk through), and he's holding a tray.  Over the years, folks have left all sorts of odds 'n ends on this tray.  Loose change, old cell phones, all kinds of stuff.



The road out of O'Brien, which, by the way, was taken out of Steve's truck.  hahaha... 

So, that's mainly what I've been up to.  How have you all been?

I hope you all have a blessed week!!

~Blessed Be.

Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4

~~~~~~~~~~

*Disclaimer:  This story is a work of fiction.  Any similarities between actual people and places is entirely coincidental.  The people and places in this story exist wholly within the collective imaginations of Dissy and Charla.

~~~~~~~~~~

No sooner than Jillian had hung up with the police department, her phone began to ring.  Looking at the caller ID display, she answered with relief in her voice,

“Paula?”

“Did you like the candle, Jill?”  Paula, her best friend, asked.

“Oh my God, Paula, you left that?” Jill breathed a sigh of relief.

“Well, sure, don’t you remember?  You ordered it last month at my candle party,” Paula reminded her.  “I brought it over today when I picked Junior up to take him to the vet’s office for you.”

Junior was Jillian’s 7-year-old grey and black striped Tabby cat, and today, Junior had been scheduled with Dr. Shockley at the vet’s office to get his annual shots.   Jill hadn’t been able to get the afternoon off work to take Junior to the appointment herself, so she had asked Paula to take him for her.  Being the good sport she was, Paula had agreed.

“I lit it after I brought Junior back home.  I figured it would only be an hour or so before you got there, and the place would have a nice fragrance to welcome you home,” Paula told Jill.

“Oh, Paula, I came in here, saw the candle, and freaked right out.  I didn’t remember that I had ordered it.  Remember, that stuff took so long to come in?  I called the police and everything; they acted like I was a paranoid moron, by the way.  DANG you woman… don’t you know you could start a fire that way?  What if I hadn’t come home from work?”  Jillian demanded to know.

“Chill, Jill,” Paula started.  “I live right across the street, remember?  I knew you’d at least be stopping in at home because I saw you had left your camera on the dining room table.  I knew you’d want that before you headed out for the evening, or haven’t you been taking pictures since Derek flew the coop?”

“Speaking of,” Jillian said, sitting down on the floor in front of her couch, “guess who sent me a text today?”

“No shit…”  Paula said with astonishment in her voice.

“Yep.  It was a picture of the turnpike bridges over the valley, and there was a message with it, all it said was ‘Wish you were here’, What the hell is up with that?” Jill asked without really expecting an answer.

“Did you answer?” Paula asked.

“Tanya did.  I didn’t have the nerve,” Jill answered.

“Didn’t have the nerve?” Paula asked incredulously.  “Jill, WHAT is your problem?  You’ve missed the guy like crazy, and here he texts you and basically says he misses you too, and you don’t have the nerve to answer?”

“He just left, Paula, remember?”  Jill told her best friend in all the world.  The one who had always been there, no matter what. 

“Yeah, he did leave, right after that night you told him that Mark wanted to talk to you,” Paula reminded her.  The insinuation in Paula’s voice was that Mark had everything to do with Derek’s decision to ignore Jillian for what had seemed like an eternity.

“What does any of this have to do with Mark, Paula?” Jill asked.  She hoped this conversation wasn’t heading where she thought it was heading.  Jill wasn’t prepared to deal with this just yet, and it was always Paula’s way to make her face the music.

“Derek got jealous, Jill.  You know, I’m pretty sure he thinks you’re still in love with Mark.  Think about it, it only makes sense.  Mark wanted to talk to you, Derek thinks you still have feelings for Mark, so he probably thought you two were getting back together.  My thought is that Derek couldn’t deal with that, and he dipped off the radar for a while.  Remember how Derek always got an attitude when Mark’s name came up?” Paula went on.

“Derek was just having my back because he knows what happened with Mark,” Jillian denied as she poked at the now hardening candle wax.

It was then that Paula reminded Jill that Bill, Paula’s husband, loved her like a sister, and he never acted that way when Mark’s name came up.  Sure, Bill was protective of Jill and was loyal to her, but he never had quite the reaction to Mark that Derek always had.  In fact, none of their friends had acted quite like Derek had when Mark was mentioned. 

“Well why the cryptic messages now, Paula?”  Jillian asked with more than a bit of frustration in her voice.

“Bill ran in to Derek at Target last night,” Paula started.  “You know how men gossip worse than women sometimes, and Bill told Derek how down you’ve been since he went away.  ‘Oh?’ says Derek.  ‘Yeah,’ Bill told him.  Basically, Derek begged Bill not to tell you he was back in town just yet, said he had some things to think over and that he’d be in touch with you soon.  Of course Bill came home and told me about it, and you know better than to think I’d keep that from you, hon.”

“Ah geez, Paula..  I’ve got to get out of here.  You want to go down to Glendale with me?” Jillian asked, knowing full well what the answer would be.

“Can’t, love.  Molly will be home soon, so I’ve got to get dinner started.  You know, this is JUST like you to rush out the door when the conversation gets complicated.  You need to sit down, think, and face the fact that Derek is in love with you and he got tired of sitting around watching you pine for Mark.”  Paula said in her blunt, yet loving way. 

“Paula…” Jill protested, knowing it would be futile.

“Go think about it,” Paula said and hung up the phone.

Jillian sat there and continued poking at the candle wax and wondered why everyone was picking on her today.  Derek was not in love with her.  He couldn’t be.  He’d never given her any indication that he wanted to be more than her friend, so that was what she’d allowed him to be, her friend.  Taking a deep breath, Jill stood up, went in to the dining room, grabbed her camera bag, and headed out the back door.

~~~~~~~~~

Charla and I appreciate each and every one of you who stops by to have a look at our story.  We do request that you please take the time to leave a comment and let us know what you think.  What do you think of the characters so far?  Any ideas?  Anything you'd like to see happen?

Charla has posted Chapter 4 to our story here in her blog.

Please check it out and leave a comment showing her some love.  We love feedback and would love your ideas/suggestions or your takes on the characters.

As I mentioned earlier, Thing 3 has been born to our own lovely Andrea.

Andrea will have surgery tomorrow, so, if all goes according to plan, Thing 3 will be sprung loose tomorrow.  I'll keep you all posted as I learn more.