Archive for the ‘Fun Stuff’ Category

The prompt, “Water gives life.” or “Water takes it away.”

I blew the 600 word count.

It is what it is.

Forgive me.

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The sun glinted off the crystal clear blue water. It blinded her deep chocolate eyes. She quickly lowered the large plastic mask onto her face, covered her eyes and nose, its suction tight against her tawny skin. One of the black rubber fins rubbed against her toe with every kick of her foot, the friction uncomfortable.

She placed the snorkel in her mouth, took a few practiced breaths and placed her face into the water, it slapped at her ears, muffled chatter and laughter, her breaths loud and raspy in her head, a perfect seal. Teams of fish, silvery bright, darted through coral of different shades and textures. Stunning. She lifted her face from the water, popped the snorkel out of her mouth to speak.

“Isn’t this fabulous?” Her vision blurred from the dive mask, but his light gray swim shirt buzzed dark brown hair and the bright red sunburn of his forehead gave Deklan away.

“Did you see that baby shark?” He pointed excitedly over near the rock face of the island, sheer and dark, next to the buoyed lines that marked the perimeter of the snorkel site.

“I’m going to go look. I told you snorkeling was going to be amazing here.”

She placed the black rubber into her mouth, trying to block out the taste of chewed tires and swam over to try and find the shark. She couldn’t see it, so many brilliantly colored fish, but no shark. She popped to the surface to tread water, took the tube out of her mouth to breathe the fresh air. Her feet strained against the fins, her arms felt heavy and tired already.

“I’m tired, going to head back to the boat.” She called to him.

“Already?”

“You know I don’t swim that well!”

Snorkel in mouth, she plunged under the surface, one last look at the fish as she made her way towards the side of the boat. She kicked her legs together, as if she were a mermaid and smiled inwardly. She remembered doing the same when she was a young girl in her grandparent’s pool during the summer.

She climbed aboard the ship, the metal ladder made more difficult as the unforgiving fins slapped against each rung. A sun-kissed Maui native grabbed her hand to help her up.

“Thanks.” Her radiant smile caused him to smile back.

“Done already?” He asked, his tone playful.

“I don’t swim very well and this fin is killing my toe!” She pointed at her left foot and grimaced, more for show, though it did hurt.

“I can get you a different pair of fins and we have plenty of noodles if you want one.”

She flip-flopped over to an open seat and took off the fins to reveal an angry red cut edged in white wrinkled skin, rubbed raw on the small toe next to her big one.

“Ouch, that hurts. Let me get you a band-aid.” His abs perfection, he went to get the first-aid kit.

“Thanks.” She looked down at her perfect cleavage and smiled. Thankful she wore the scarlet swimsuit. It suited the boobs. It didn’t hurt to look sexy.

He brought over a new set of fins and antiseptic. It burned as he placed it on the jagged cut before he covered it with the band-aid.

“We’re leaving here soon and going over to see if we can find some sea turtles. The water is choppier there, you should bring a noodle if you go out.”

“Thanks for the tip and the band-aid.” She winked at him.

“No problem.” He smiled back and then left her on the side of the ship, against the railing. She watched the others in the group make their way back to the boat and the fish dart around underneath the water as the sun beat down upon her shoulders.

“Hey beautiful!” Deklan’s arms wrapped around her from behind, his wet swim shirt cooled her baked skin.

“Did you enjoy yourself?” The boat picked up speed, away from Molokini in the direction of darker waters.

“I’ve never seen anything like this, it’s truly amazing.” He kissed the nape of her neck and they watched the plush green island on the horizon become closer, the water sprayed white as it boat cut through it.

“I might sit this one out.” She stifled a yawn.

“Are you sure you want to miss the turtles?” He frowned slightly.

She sighed as the boat came to a stop and dropped anchor at the new location.

“No, I don’t want to miss it.” She put the new fins on, her toe still tender beneath the rubber and grabbed her dive mask and snorkel as the crew warned the group about the choppier water.

Deklan got in first as one of the crew tried to hand her a noodle to float on. She declined with the knowledge that she wouldn’t be in the water for long and made the awkward climb down the ladder and into the salty sea.

Her mask in place she swam towards him but the water was much rougher than she anticipated. Waves slapped, crested around her, the sea rolled beneath her as she struggled toward Deklan.

Her arms and legs fought against the water, to keep her afloat as she paddled like a dog towards him, exhausted after a few minutes she stopped to tread water and gain her bearings.

She was equidistant between Deklan and the boat and the more she tread, her limbs felt heavy and sluggish, the waves pushed her against her will. He was oblivious to her predicament as he searched the water for turtles, enthralled with the experience.

I’m going to drown.

She started again towards the boat and cursed herself for not heeding the advice of the sexy crewmember. She should have gotten a noodle.

Her muscles strained against the water, her breath ragged in her ears, the snorkel still in place and yet it seemed as though she made no progress at all.

She slipped under the sea, water clogged her snorkel, she held her breath as the panic settled deep inside her chest, her heart pumped in rapid succession, charged with adrenaline and fear.

She surfaced.

Spit the harsh rubber from her mouth, ripped the mask from her face and gulped in the precious air, her arms circled the water, each arc reached toward the boat as her fins pushed against the water, the cut on her toe throbbed, her muscles ached.

She slipped under again, caught by surprise.

Her eyes shut tight against the water. It filled her nose. Her mouth shut tight too late, swallowed salt water, choked on it, the bubbles escaped to freedom at the surface.

A freedom she had lost.

I could never have imagined the pain searing through my abdomen as that first contraction hit.

After two very similar births I thought the third would be a piece of cake. Have some mild contractions, the ones you talk and laugh through, the kind where your doctor doesn’t even think you are in labor but you surprise them by being four centimeters dilated and get to stay to have a baby. You sit around until you get too uncomfortable, only then asking for the epidural. The numbness sets in rendering you free and relaxed. Then they break your water and a bit later you push a few times and the baby slides out slimy and screaming. As far as my experience had been, giving birth was easy. Heck getting my wisdom teeth out had been much worse!

I was underneath the computer desk with a screwdriver trying to install a new ethernet card. I felt a strange pop within my belly and a slight trickle of liquid leaked from me, like I had peed my pants. Again. I lifted myself up and sure enough the carpet was saturated in one spot. I asked the girls to get me a towel and to get their dad. They didn’t quite understand why I needed the towel, but I told them not to ask questions and just do as I said. I sat on it and Brian trudged up the stairs unhappy after being woken from his nap on the couch.

“What?”

“My water broke!”

“Really?”

His frown instantly changed to a surprised smile.

I was getting ready to leave, chatting on the phone to friends when about twenty minutes later the first contraction hit. I folded over, and thought I was going to die. The pain ripped through my body in a way I had never, ever, felt before. We left with the intention of taking the girls to my parents first. More intense contractions in the car made me reconsider, so my Dad met us at the hospital.

They couldn’t figure out if my water had broken. Twice I had to scoot down. A little more, just a bit more and deal with a speculum during crazy white knuckle grasping the sides of the bed, almost passing out pain. I wait for them to take their little slide under a microscope to figure out if my water did indeed break. I vacillated between venting about having to be in triage to thinking I was going to be ripped in two. I had never felt so much pain in my life and this was my third time around!

“I’m going to die, I’m going to die.”

“Jesus, help me!”

Oh wait, I’m supposed to breathe through contractions. Just remember to breathe.

“I’m dying, I’m dying.”

“Jesus help me, I’m dying!”

The midwife on duty came back to confirm I was telling the truth, my water had in fact broken. I was taken to a room where I got my epidural. Now comfortably numb except for the minor problem of the hot spot in my hip and thigh. I felt everything in that one spot. I didn’t feel like death, but it was no picnic either. Next thing I know it’s go time. A few pushes and out he came with his one little hand up by his head.

Placed upon my chest was my beautiful son. I stared deep into his unique light brown eyes. I was no longer only a mother to girls. Alexander was finally here. This precious baby boy was mine.

Then the whole world shifted.

Written for the prompt over at The Red Dress Club.

This weekend was MY TIME!

On Saturday, I had the pleasure of joining 13 other women at the Harrison House Bed and Breakfast in downtown Columbus for a Twilight Moms overnight.

We had the most wonderful time, meeting new people and spending time with those we already knew and obsessing over all things Twilight. In fact, I only knew one person before going. My friends and Brian thought I was crazy, but I knew I would have a lot of fun and I did just that!

Lynn, the owner of the B&B, told us the history of the house, that the Anthony Thomas candy family had lived in the home at one time, about the 4 spirits (Cedric, Jakob, Moby and a woman) who currently resided there.  Cedric liked to smoke and occasionally you would walk through the upstairs and smell cigarette smoke briefly. I smelled it a few times in different areas and before I fell asleep, I smelled smoke in our room for about 15 seconds. The woman spirit likes to sit on the beds, leaving behind a butt print. Our linens were smoothed out and there were two butt prints left on my roommate Mandy and I’s bed in the Meadow Room. It was very creepy but cool.

We watched Twilight, New Moon and Eclipse. Had oven fried chicken, salad and mushroom ravioli for dinner. Cupcakes, complete with Team Jacob and Team Edward rings in the icing. Lots of wine, though I didn’t have any. I did have some vodka and strawberry banana though!

The coordinators, Kendra and Lori, did an amazing job! They even made sure we had some swag to take home with us. An Eclipse cup, magnets, bookmarks, stickers.Twilight Sweethearts. One girl made chocolate chess pieces in honor of Breaking Dawn. Another girl contributed a Twilight Blend of coffee. And Lori made floral arrangements for all of the rooms and we got to take them home with us.

Sunday came way too quickly and before I knew it, we needed to pack up and go our separate ways. I came away with new friendships and memories.

I look forward to the next Twilight Moms get together.

I also look forward to next weekend when it becomes MY TIME again with a scrapbooking/craft weekend at LCC, Friday night and all day Saturday.

Sometimes it’s nice to take off the Mom hat and take a little break to refresh.

MY TIME was definitely worth it.

It’s the first prompt of the year over at The Red Dress Club! I look forward to participating fully this year. It’s a wonderful way to get your creativity going. You should join in the fun and link up!

Your assignment is to write a short piece – fiction, non-fiction, poetry, whatevs – in which each sentence starts with a the next letter of the alphabet. Starting with “A.” So, yes, your finished product will consist of 26 sentences.

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At first it did not look like rain, the sky now churned with violence.

Brilliant light flashed through ugly thick purple clouds as booming thunder shook the house at the seams.

Cautious, I stepped outside the first fat raindrops collided with my upturned face.

Down in torrents the rain lashed my smile wide with glee.

Every inch soaked through I twirled and jumped.

Flip-flops squelched, the water squished between perfect pedicure toes.

Green hues change the scene, the severity of my surroundings escalate.

Hail.

Ice chunks pelt my skin they scatter the ground.

Just run into the house through beautiful French doors.

Kick off shoes and grab the plush sage towel off the barstool.

Leave a trail of water through the house and up the stairs.

Mom and Dad still not home.

Often I am alone, left to fend for myself in the big quiet house.

Peel the wet clothes off my body, warm pajamas out of the dryer.

Quilt made from Nana with love, wrapped around me.

Read a new book, escape to another world as the trees thrash wildly outside.

Siren.

Tornado possible.

Unconcerned I retreat to the basement.

Victory is not mine without power.

Wait it out in flashlight glow surrounded by eerie shadows.

Xander, a frightened ball of fluff, is curled in my lap for protection.

You would think I would be scared too.

Zen, as always the storm has passed.