Today I will...

• Be on time to church
• Make it through my entire shift at work without complaining about a respondent
• Organize the closet, bring out the spring wardrobe!
• Balance my checkbook
• Sing
• Cook something I've never attempted before
• Steal a thousand or so kisses from my man
• Be ever mindful of the many blessings I encounter daily
• Have a great day!

-V

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

prompt via Writing Prompts

Why do they call them "pet" peeves?

What makes you want to scream? via The One Minute Writer

In Alphabetical Order:

1. Apples with brown spots or tiny holes in them. I'm always waiting for a worm to pop out. It'll happen one of these days. Really freaks me out.
2. Ashlee Simpson's music career. [the fact that she has one]
3. Bills. Especially the statements from the lovely people at my bank, just letting me know how much I'm going to owe them if and when I graduate.
4. Feet. Other people's, other people touching mine. Ugh. Makes #8 rather interesting, huh?
5. Getting text messages from my Boss.
6. Not being able to find my car keys, a regular occurrence.
7. People who are oblivious to their own body odor. Rule of thumb; bathe!
8. Stubbing my toe immediately following a pedicure.
9. Time Warner Cable.
10. Waking up 5 minutes before my alarm goes off, going back to sleep, then oversleeping.

-V. O'Neel

Song: "Scream" Michael Jackson ft. Janet Jackson

Too much.

via @writingprompt on twitter:

"her green eyes" [Prompt for 10/06/09]

Too Much

Her green eyes have seen too much.

They have seen the face of her baby brother,
swollen and blue.
Now she wants to take care of him.

They have seen scars.
Scars on the chest of a man with chestnut skin,
Now she wants to heal him.

Her green eyes have lost their sparkle.
They have lost their shine,
their glow.

They have become
tired-
Weary
from lack of sleep,
and worry.
Troubled.

Her green eyes have seen too many tears.

They've cried for joy,
laughter,
death,
fear,
love,
regret.

-V. O'Neel

------------------------------------------------------
I'm not all gloom & doom, I promise. =)

Songs:
"Lady" Regina Spektor
"Balcony/Green Eyes" Joe Purdy
"Blue Lips" Regina Spektor

Never WILL I ever...

List 50 things you will NEVER do
via http://www.creativewritingprompts.com/

1. skydive.
2. swim with sharks. (or skydive into a tank of sharks, for that matter.)
3. pierce my eyebrow.
4. get a tattoo of a rose.
5. buy a Ford Taurus.
6. own any kind of lizzard.
7. pose for Playboy.
8. wear lipliner.
9. have to go to rehab.
10. drink cheap Tequila ever again.
11. be a Metal fan. Just can't get into it.
12. Watch an entire episode of Lost without getting frustrated and turning the channel.
13. forget that kiss on the side of the road in the pouring rain.
14. become a famous trapeze artist.
15. use a racial slur, even in jest.
16. stop wondering...
17. forget where I was on September 11, 2001.
18. closely follow golf, baseball, or tennis.
19. be a size 0.
20. have elective surgery.
21. forget how blessed I am.
22. give up on my best friend,
23. or on being a good friend.
24. work fast food ever again.
25. forget my little autistic friend and how he changed my life.
26. turn my back on my faith or my God.
27. burn the American flag.
28. watch Steel Magnolias without crying.
29. understand racism, bigotry, or hate.
30. marry for money.
31. be a smoker (of anything, really.)
32. follow my head without first consulting my heart,
33. and vice versa.
34. get into a fist fight.
35. see Michael Jackson in concert. =(
36. quit something because I'm afraid.
37. stick with something because I'm afraid of quitting.
38. let fear control my life again.
39. let any one person control my life.
40. watch Remember the Titans without thinking of him.
41. look at my high school cheerleading outfits in the same way.
42. listen to Seal's greatest hits without a smile on my lips.
43. be a beer drinker.
44. watch the Hannah Montana movie.
45. read the Harry Potter series. (I tried, I failed, I gave up.)
46. have to give a speech starting with, "I'd like to thank the Academy...".
47. give up on the people I love.
48. give up on myself.
49. stop learning.
50. stop dreaming.

-V. O'Neel
-----------------------------------------
Well, THAT was ridiculously difficult.

Songs:
"Some Things Don't Work Out Like They Should" Joe Purdy
"Wash Away" Joe Purdy
"Time is Running Out" Muse

down to my last dollar

Things have been a little heavy lately, and I think it's important to do a fun exercise every so often, to lighten up!

List 10 things you would buy with your last $20.

via http://www.creativewritingprompts.com/

1. orbit bubblemint chewing gum (necessity)

2. gasoline for Tauri

3. a can of diet coke (necessity)

4. burt's bees chapstick

5. a cheap novel

6. ramen noodles (so I don't starve when I'm penniless)

7. a spiral notebook

8. pack of black ballpoint pens

9. glass of vodka & water with lemon (why not?)

10. a lottery ticket

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

(The pink one with the tiara is my piggy bank. Adorable, isn't she?)

Alte Liebe (Old Love)

Responding to a prompt via http://creativewritingprompts.com/.

Weave a story around a 60 year old photograph:

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

He walked down the quiet hallway, cradling the ancient wooden box in his arms with the utmost of care. After seating himself on the edge of the bed, he ran his hands over the brittle wood, pausing to encircle each notch with his finger before unfastening the latch. It opened with a faint creak, breath bated in anticipation. With a shaky hand he lifted the old photograph out from its storing place and gently blew away the dust which had gathered with the passing years. The old man's heart quickened as the memories began to flood back to him.

Smiling up at him from the portrait was a beautiful woman with auburn hair, falling in curly tangles around her shoulders, eyes bright with youth. Her nose was wrinkled with laughter and her cheeks were flushed as she stood outdoors in an open garden. Her arm was outstretched, showing proudly the tiny golden band with a glimmer of a diamond on her left ring finger.

The man closed his eyes and remembered. The scent of the breeze blowing through her hair, she always smelled of lavender and soap. He remembered the feeling of the soft grass on his trousers as he knelt before her. The racing of his heart as he struggled with the pocket of his jacket, and the surprise on her face as he displayed the ring. He opened his eyes and stood from the bed, turning to gaze out the window, listening to the light drizzle of the falling rain. The man felt a drop of wetness on his finger, and reached down to wipe away the tear which had fallen onto the beloved photo, before placing it gently back into the old keepsake box.

He crossed the room to his dresser, and put the box on top of it, propping the lid open so the picture would remain on display. He dressed slowly, fastening the buttons on his pressed white shirt with the difficulty that comes with old age and exhaustion. As he made his way down the stairs, he slipped the black suit jacket over each arm and over his shoulders. Grabbing the umbrella from the closet, he opened the door to the house they had shared for 60 years.

The black town car was waiting for him in the driveway. He opened the umbrella and stepped out into the drizzle, forcing back tears that threatened to out pour the rain. As the car made its way through the winding hills, he closed his eyes again and smiled. A lifetime of laughter, kisses, and scents of lavender and soap played in his mind. His aching heart was comforted by only one thought;

Goodbyes are temporary when love is strong.

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

Author's Note: I'm terrible at ending things.

Listen to: Alte Liebe by Brahms, one of my favorite German pieces in my repertoire. I couldn't find it online to add to my playlist (below), but it'll be worth the download, I promise! One of my favorite recordings is by Sarah Connolly, you can purchase it using Napster: http://music.napster.co.uk/uk/song-17161654/Sarah+Connolly/The+Exquisite+Hour/Alte+Liebe+(Brahms)

-V.O'Neel

Good Morning

via @writingpromt on Twitter

Writing Promt: the best morning

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

I wake up early to no alarm

a kiss on the forehead and a familiar smile welcomes me

Morning creeps through the windows

and bounces off the fabric with shades of deep pink

the room is filled with rosy light

Flecks of gold in a chestnut gaze

Our eyes meet and I am lost.

Our lips meet and I am home.

---------------------------------
-V.O'Neel

Song:

"Good Morning" John Legend

It's a Sin To Tell a Lie...

Answering a prompt from @writing_prompts on Twitter:
"When was the last time you lied and why?"

What immediately comes to mind:

the lyrics to "It's a Sin To Tell a Lie" from Ain't Misbehavin'

Be sure it's true when you say

"I love you"

It's a sin to tell a lie

Millions of hearts have been broken

Just because these words were spoken

I love you

Yes I do

I love you

If you break my heart I'll die

So be sure that it's true when you say

"I love you"

It's a sin to tell a lie

Of course. My brain would go straight to a Broadway show. =) Okay; here goes.

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

The last lie I told was not to a friend. It was not to a coworker, family member, or to the one I love. The last lie I told was to myself. As women, I think we lie to ourselves more than we realize, or admit. From trivial, vain lies such as; I can't eat this brownie because I'll automatically gain five pounds and everyone will think poorly of me! (or conversely; I can just skip my morning workout today, I'll make up for it tomorrow) to more important lies such as; He'll change, I just have to give it time. I am guilty of all of the above, and then some!

I am currently involved in a self-woven web of lies. Centering around, of course, a guy. Not really a guy, the guy. The same guy who has been both the love in my life and the bane of my existence for the past few years. Seems longer. The relationship started out easy enough. We were both liars, convincing ourselves (and each other) that we were ready to be together. In truth, neither of us were fit to be with anyone-both lost in internal worlds of hurt for vastly different reasons.

And now, after almost three years and countless memories, kisses, fights, break-ups, reunions, car rides, and phone calls later, I've become ensnared in a trap of my own design. My mind is so full of lies that I'm unable to tell fact from fiction. I've made innumerable broken promises to myself, vowing that this, truly, will be the last time. The last time I allow myself to be pierced by the arrows of duplicity and mistrust. Lie. I don't want to venture a guess on how many times I've broken that contract.

Even statements of emotion are hazy. Do I love you? Okay yes, but in what way? At this point, we've played every roll in the human spectrum in each other's lives. He has been my love, best friend, counselor, and at times, my adversary and the wrecker of my heart. I have been to him the same. Do YOU love ME? I haven't a clue. Lie. I know the answer, but sometimes loving someone isn't enough. Life is full of seemingly more important matters than that of the heart.

Lies, lies, lies. I have grown tired of lies. I understand that there are certain necessary evils in this world, but lying to oneself should NOT be among them. Sure, I'll tell my co-worker that her horrendous new haircut looks cute on her, but I refuse to play a game of deceit within my own mind. That sounds slightly unhinged, doesn't it? It is time that my habitual abuse of the 9th Commandment ends. Today I will put down the brownie, tie my running shoes, delete the unsent text messages, and focus on what is true. I have decisions to make and goals to achieve. Nothing will weaken my resolve.