StoryBook Club ONE YEAR OLD!

Hey Ho Storycologists!

Last night was the 1 YEAR Anniversary of our StoryBook Club!!!

In the past year of fun, food and frivolity (oh I do love f words :)

we have studied the following themes!

Dec. 2010     Hansel & Gretel (we tried to meet 3x due to snow storms!)

 

Jan. 2011      Little Red Riding Hood and also The Snow Queen 

(so she would leave us ALONE with no more snow storms...)

 Feb.             Baba Yaga

 March           Finn McCool

 April            Beatrix Potter

May            Faery Stories

 June            Dragons

July             Vampires

 August         Werewolves

September    Frankenstein

 October        The Legend of Sleepy Hollow

 November     Zombies

 December     The Golem

Last night we studied "The Golem" It was indeed a most interesting and new tale for some of us. 
We learned that:


Man (like God) creates creature for a purpose.
Creature has no conscience.
Creature develops conscience and/or Creature runs amok. 
 Creature fulfills purpose  
Man takes away creatures existence.



We are not sure how a creature w/o a conscience develops one...unless it is sort of "Nature vs. Nurture"....

All very interesting and was the precursor to Frankenstein in many ways. Adam was a Golem. So was The Gingerbread Man. Computers are on the make to be a Golem. "Gollum" in Lord of the Rings name is an anagram of "Golems" (Smegol) 

Stephanie (our resident expert in all things Jewish) told us many tales of her family and the culture and she said we did right well on the food, table and centerpieces!

And such a table it was...Right?
Of COURSE, right! :)

 Such yummy do food ...again....as USUAL for this creative group!

There was Jewish Apple Cake, Bagels/Lox/Cream Cheese/Rubens/

Broccoli Casserole, Chocolate, Wine, Gingerbread men (another golem!)

And there was "Fiddler on the Roof" for dessert! (and much rejoicing and kvetching was done! :)

Next Month's THEME?

Why TROLLS...of course!

I will find the newish release "The Troll Hunter" for this!
(It was pretty good in a documentary sort of way :)

And as far as food goes?

Well, trolls eat about the same as people...

with the exception of the eating people part...and porridge as well....

so I leave it to our creative group member to their own creativity where food ideas go!

Until then....

So....

Happy Trolling for Stories!

Merlyn (who feels like a troll today....)

StoryBook Club~ Zombie Zombies Everywhere!

This month's StoryBook Club was held at Phil & Christine's house which was already in full bloom for Halloween! We were greeted by a flying witch at the doorstop. (and no, I didn't get scared and spill my "zombie eyes" nor my "salty bones" but laughed a hearty witchy cackle instead :)

There were about 5 "Virgins" there tonight for their first meeting! Their 1st time at StoryBook! :)

Dinner was GRAND!
Chili (zombie stew), Zombie Eyes (deviled eggs w/ whole olive & pimento), salty bones (biscuits) a graveyard cake (apple crisp) red vampire vodka (cranberry) blood red wine, brain jello, eyes (chocolate) "parts', and a delicious veggie stew (bugs and guts) and "garlic" soup and spaghetti squash with RED marinara sauce among more goodies!

We discussed zombies: Their origins, their behavior, their symbolism that relates to today.

We fear that our culture is breeding Zombies at an alarming rate. What with Second Life, World of War Crack and some video games, not to mention that people rarely know their neighbors next door, and are just feebly going thru the motions of their day to day life, until they get to set down at night to plug into their "REAL LIFE" which is their Second Life game or whatever.

Tis Sad.

They are Zombies and have traded their Creativity and Community for a Sham.
They will go thru their day, motivated minimally, and die having not really LIVED. You can't call virtually living really LIVING. I know a guy....he lives for Second Life.

 Eat, breathes, smells it in his day to day life.
He has made an avatar that has more fun than he does. His avatar is a stripper in a night club. So he "dances" and has his avatar strip in clubs online.

 His avatar has no flaws, a 1000 outfits, and as perfect a being you can make. An ANGEL.. You can make anything come true there. Pity is, in real life, he is no angel, has no money, and has a Narcissist Personality Disorder. So Second Life seems perfect for him, because he doesn't have to BE himself. His girlfriends there all have big tits and money and PAY him to be their friend. In real life, they are women he takes advantage of their good graces....

 In this world, he doesn't have to change, doesn't have to grow, he doesn't have to give to his community, he doesn't have to be creative. He can just click away and be a fake person. Which is the truth. His zombie finger grows longer on the mouse clicking away every day. He talks to other zombies. He has zombie romance.....yes...and virtual zombie sex.

He can have a 1000 girlfriends, who drool for his avatar, and will put up with his personality disorder, because THEY TOO aren't living in the real world. They think he IS all that. Because that world becomes REAL to them.

I wonder what would happen to them if they had a power outage and their internet went down??
They couldn't exist in real life. Oh, they'll hook up...in real time....and have their moments, I'm sure, but he can't carry a relationship for long term. He just doesnn't have the capacity or the evolved personality to be REAL for long. I wonder what would be like if these women knew the REAL him?

Now, isn't that the life YOU want?
UGH.
Give me a REAL life, with REAL friends and lovers anyday!!

But surely I digress.

The night was spent discussing zombies... NOT being one.

No, this club is FAR from Zombieland.
These are thinking, feeling, doing, creative, happy, well adjusted and well read people who get together to eat, drink, be merry and discuss BOOKS. Stories! Themes! Symbolism!

We take on the world as we know it.

How fucking kewl is THAT?

Here is our table tonight:

 Pretty posh, huh?

Next month, our StoryBook Club celebrates a whole year of fun and research on Stories of all sorts!

We have decided to look into "The Gollum" story.

NOT the LOTR Gollum, but the Jewish Gollum. Just in time for Hannukah :)

Till then, may you live a REAL TIME "Happily Ever After!" :)

Zombie Rule #32: Enjoy the little things :)

Yesterday went well, enjoyed a very fun open mic with friends from near and far, sang some really fun songs ("Love Potion # 9", and "The Monster Mash" :) and my friend Darlene, said that our Merry Mischief version of the Monster Mash was the best she's ever heard! Someone else said, "You have the perfect voice to mimic Boris Karloff".

And I thought everyone was going to think I was queer....but I did it anyways.
I'm glad I'm so silly and have fun friends I can be weird with :)

I finished a good 2 day fast. Only liquids.
I feel a bit more focused and stronger in several ways.
I really needed to spend some time on ME. :)
After all the surgeries, stress, pain, worry, anitbiotics, alcohol, Advil, tylenol and stuff,
I needed to detox.

(read: "God Bless My Liver" :)

Huzzah.

Re: The new story I've been pondering......
I was even able to compose a letter to some select people and sent it, regarding the story I will be writing. I was just letting them know that they are, and why they are on this hand picked list of people.
They are people whom I wish to include in the telling of this next story.

So that was a good start in the right direction.

I also actually started work on the foundation bit of the story too...wrote many things and dug into my memories and came up with some gold.....and made some pretty accurate great headway.
I will proof it and send the first chapter, today, maybe.

Took a lovely long walk and talk with my friend, Lori Williams, she came all the way from Buffalo, for our open mic, and we are enjoying spending some time together. It's a nice soft day.

I also had a dream I shoved a really, large, whipped creme pie in someone's face.

when I thought about who it was....
I feel it was well deserved.

That was a sweet thought....

And it made me happy :)


So, folks, "Enjoy the little things".

Zombie Alert! Better safe than sorry....

In retrospect, today started out pretty well!

I got on my NEW scale and it told me that I was down about 8#s from what I thought! (at least 8#, but now that I have a scale, I can track it!)

I am also down 8 1/2 " from my measurements 3 weeks ago! Mostly on my thighs and hips...probably from all that walking/jogging! HUZZAH!

So that was a goodly start. Followed Harry to the engine repair shop and we dropped off his van for some work and then stopped in at the Auburn Family Restaurant for breakfast. I had a good breakfast.

It's a good thing to have a big hearty breakfast before a ZOMBIE ALERT day.

Truly.

All the day was well, errands, bank, hair done, nail fix....you know....regular shite.
Got to work at the college for a short shift....same old, same old.
Working on registering a stack of Basketball camp registrations, answering phones, listening to Ren Radio, occasionally checking email....you know...regular shite.
It was a quiet night there tonight.

And DEN?

The POWER goes OFF.

BAM! I am sitting in total darkness at my desk.

Well, the office work was done for the day, and I proceeded to walk about, helping the police herd any students out for the evening. The power really never came back on. Once all the students had vacated the building, my supervisor and I left to leave as well. We went out to the "authorized only" parking lot to leave. How'ere, we couldn't leave, as the "gate" was electronic and wouldn't let us out. Now we were trapped.

Now I started to think about ZOMBIES.

I mean, it was a perfect scenario as I looked around the deserted parking lot that we were now trapped in. So I started looking for a back way out....
(Zombieland Rulle #22 "Always know your way out") and we ended up driving down the sidewalk and on the lawn and out the other side.

The traffic lights were all OFF. People were not doing well with the lack of direction. One man, (I swear he looked like Woody Harroldson) drove past me, too fast, too close and tried to clip me.
I swerved and he just barely missed me. He was driving like a mad man.
"ASSHOLE!" I yelled.
"Definately a looter" I thought. (Zombieland Rule #4 "Wear your seatbelt")

I stopped by the grocery store to "get supplies" for the pre-zombie invasion.
Here, where I live in Mulberry, R.F.D., all was well.....quiet....calm. No trace of the oncoming zombie onslaught.

YET.

I made a mental check of what I had at my disposal for weapons. (always good to know what's on hand in an emergency). Well, first off, I had my car. I could always run down the zombies with my car.
That could actually be fun. I had a full tank of gas.
Instrument and music stands in the trunk...perfect for removing heads. (Rule # 10  "Don't swing low" and  Rule #29 "Shoot first")

Shitload of weapons at home. Rennies are very well equipped in times like these. There are daggers, swords, crossbows, bodice daggers, knives, mace, spears....you know.... "PROPS" :)
Out in the garden shed, I remembered the hoe, cultivator rake, shovel and lawn trimmers, not to mention the chain saw and oh, ALL the myriad items in Harry's barn that I could invent with....
I felt better already. A bit more empowered.

I walked in and a couple was there picking up 16 gallons of milk, a cart full of bread and other sundry items.
"It's happening" I mused. (even if they were there picking up for the Food Pantry.)

What did I buy? What does everyone need in times of great need? Well, Harry needed beer and no zombie invasion is complete without a supply of toilet paper. I was careful not to get trapped in the aisle with the family with the cart at the end. (Dead end. You always want an escape path Rule #22- Always know your way out)

When checking out I told the checkout girl to "Be careful of the zombies"  She smiled. I said, "You laugh NOW...." and I looked both ways and left. I looked around the parking lot.

I was GLAD that I have been working out lately.
I felt like I could RUN if I had to. (Rule #20 "It’s a marathon, not a sprint, unless it’s a sprint, then sprint")
So I walked powerfully out to the car...(Rule #31 "Check the back seat")
and I drove home.

I walked in and checked over the dog and also Harry for any signs of infection or bite marks.
(Rule #29 Use the buddy system").
I brought in my few simple items (Rule #7 Travel light").

I am home safe and am having a glass of wine, and savoring a piece of dark chocolate and watching "Monarch of the Glen"  (Rule #32 "Enjoy the little things").

:)

Bodice Challenge Day 28

1) Exercise: Walked/Jogged with Monty Joe the wonder Schnoodle!

2) Food:
Breakfast: (to fortify against zombies :) 2 eggs, 3 slices bacon, homefries with onions & peppers. Black coffee.
Lunch: Salad w/ scoop of Seafood salad.
Snack: Greek yogurt and nutra bar at my desk, small Clementine
Dinner: Veggie stirfry, rice, steamed dumplings. 1 glass Wine. A piece of dark chocolate

3) Creativity: wrote a story= Zombie Blog.  Hope you liked it  :)

4) BP: forgot to take it. Will do in the morning.
How'ere, I will expect it a bit higher after the soy sauce and the zombie stress :)