Celebrities, Oscars,and Toilet Paper

Three people Fio didn't think would make it that are still riding high--Donald Trump, the Duggars, and Caitlyn Jenner.  But there's always tomorrow.
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No, Fiorella didn't watch the Oscars.  She has better uses for her time and doesn't care about who wins what or who wears what.
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Do you think Husband ever figured out that Fio is the toilet paper fairy, the one who places an extra roll of Charmin on the tank top whenever a roll is almost out?

The Time to Reap

Every generation has
Its season in the sun
Sharon Kite's husband died
The harvest has begun

Trumpery

Let's get this straight. Trump's first wife was two years younger than he was, his second wife was seventeen years younger than he was, and his third wife is twenty-four years young than he is. Anyone want to bet on how much younger his fourth wife will be? Certainly younger than his daughter.

Appeal to Bigotry

Fio suspects the subtext of "Make America great again" is "Make America white again."  Think about it--Trump wants to disenfranchise people born in the US who have an immigrant parent, and he wants to kick out anyone with a Mexican-color skin.

Clifford Kite, RIP

Sharon Kite called yesterday to tell me that her husband had died.  I searched for soothing words, but all I could say was that I loved her and that I was weeping with her, which was pretty much evident by the fact that I couldn't get a distinguishable word out.

I first met Sharon in church choir where we were bad girls who talked in the balcony during the sermon. But we were also strong leaders who were elected PTA  presidents. and we were career women with important responsibilities, and we are still the good friends who support each other in times of sorrow.

Bless you, my friend.  Again, all I can say is that I love you, and that I am weeping with you.

Computer Scammers

When someone supposedly named "George" or "Eddie" calls and is kind enough to want to fix Fio's computer if she will just turn the controls over to him, she is very wary--with two semester of Hindi and three years of Telegu under her belt, Fiorella knows an Indian accent when she hears one.

"Does your mother know what you are doing?" she has been known to ask.  Other times she has been mean enough to inquire which computer her caller is referring to, an inquiry which results in a phone being slammed down in her ear.  Yesterday, "William" started out by saying her computer was doing fine, but . . . .  The second Fio heard the "b" start to form, she shouted an appreciative Thanks! into the phone and clicked off.

Feel free to use any or all of the above when Bangalore calls.

As Eclectic Does

Fio watches Big Bang Theory, Lucifer, The Little Couple, and Forensic Files.  Don't tell her she's not eclectic.

Moving Forward

Yesterday's political news had Fiorella so depressed that she couldn't write.  Nothing to do but go to bed early and pray for strength.  About an hour later, she turned on her bedside light, constructed a day-by-day outline of her novella and wrote out the hero's timeline.

Thank you.
Amen.

Short Story Cornucopia

Fiorella is going to be dropping short stories on you every now and then, rewrites of a treasure-trove she wrote through the years.  She liked her stories then, but likes them even more now that her skills have been honed by seven years of RWA membership.  Yep, all those critiques, contests, and conferences were worth it.

Politics, Easter, Gratification

Fiorella has enjoyed watching the political scramble lately.  It's been a combination of a circus parade and a badminton match.
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Walgreen's must be observing Lent.  It's just five weeks till Easter and chocolate-covered marshmallow eggs are nowhere to be seen on their shelves.
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Fio delivered a big bag of candy kisses to the guys at Mazda yesterday afternoon when she picked up her car, and she'll deliver another bag to Click Computer on Monday.  She believes in instant gratification for good people.

Hell or Heaven?

Regarding Lucifer, the TV show Husband and Fio have started watching, Husband thinks it will end with Lucifer returning to rule Hell with Chloe, the cop, by his side.  Fio, on the other hand, thinks Lucifer will help Chloe and her ex-husband reconcile, be redeemed, regrow his wings, and ascend to Heaven.

Which gives you a pretty good look into Fio and Husband's respective psyches..

Fuel Pump Blues

Fio had a busy day planned yesterday--stopping by BookSpot in Round Rock, then driving to Austin to check in with BookPeople and join a friend for lunch before speeding back to Georgetown to sit in on a writer's circle. Then her car went dead. Thank goodness it was at a service station in Georgetown and that Click Computer was just two storefronts down. Friend Travis contacted Mazda for her, and Mazda's Jason Gardner, also a friend, came to her rescue, called a tow truck, and delivered her safely home. Later she learned the problem was the fuel pump, which is expensive to replace, but Fio's baby car can't run and play without it.

Seeking Origins

Why does Fiorella write?  You've seen samples of her essays, poems, novels, and short stories, but there are also newspaper clippings, songs, and short musicals tucked away in her files. The girl is driven--she can't help it.  Where did this obsession come from? One would think it was genetic, but no one else in her family writes. Why is she the lone ranger?

Writing in Bed

Fio was late getting downstairs this morning, but for a good reason--she was writing in bed.

Now, writing in bed is not new to Fiorella.  As a child and young adult, she'd lie on her stomach in bed and grind out essays, stories, poems--you name it--but somewhere along the line she started sitting on the soft-cushioned couch while she wrote.  And now her back hurts.

So it's back (pun intended) to the basics

That Time of the Month

Maybe Bush and Rubio shouldn't have come down so hard on Donald Trump during that debate on Saturday night--he might have been having his period.

Debate and the Day

Against her better judgment, Fiorella watched part of the Republican debate last night. It was awful--like tigers in a cage fighting over a zebra leg.  Maybe Trump had gotten some new poll figures we haven't heard about, but he was more bloated and grumpy than usual, while Jeb and Rubio seemed knowledgeable and well-reasoned. Fio especially enjoyed the way the two Floridians joined forces against Trump's rude attack on the Bush family.  Meanwhile, Cruz was relatively low-key, like a tarantula lurking in the background waiting for the others to destroy themselves, and Carson, as usual, was out in left field.  Actually, Ohio governor Kasich, whom Fio had never noticed before, came across as the only grounded guy on the stage.  Hmmmm.....

Anyway, politics aside, HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY!!!!

Questions about Politics, Health, Weather

Have you ever thought about how much Donald Trump resembles Kim Jong-un?
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HIV, Ebola, now Zika--no sooner is one threat contained than something else speeds down the pipe. God, are you trying to tell us something?
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It's going to be an ideal day--cool in the morning, up to seventy degrees at noon, then edging down to the fifties at night, but where is my snow?

Adventure in Exploring

Fiorella's good day yesterday continued to be good, despite the fact that when she and Husband decided to walk three of their property lines, they got lost in the jungle behind the house for two hours plus, and would have been spending the night sleeping under cedars if they hadn't spotted a house through the trees and appealed for help from the nice woman who opened the door. Not only did Dana Gray invite them to rest on her front porch and give them bottles of water, but she also led them back through the forest to their own acreage, which turned out to be right behind her own spread.

Oh, and did Fio mention that Sonia had been along for the trek? Poor baby--she's still sleeping it off.

Good, Good Morning

Fiorella woke up early to the sound of Sonia Dog barfing in the bathroom, staggered downstairs to let doggie out, then sat down on the couch with her laptop to catch up on the news of the day.  When Sonia came in from the backyard, she crawled up behind Fio and has been acting as her backrest--and warmer--for the past half hour.

Vomit notwithstanding, it's been a great way to begin the  day.

Creativity vs. Analysis

Fiorella saw something on the internet the other day that referred to the creative mind vs. the analytical mind, as if the two were polar opposites.  Apples and oranges, people.  Creativity and analysis function easily in the same fruit bowl, as when an artist analyzes lines, relationships, and relatives tones of color.  As when a novelist plots out the ebb and swell of the story.  As when a scientist works out new ways to observe the world and the universe.

And while we're at it, let's also get rid of those stupid right brain.left brain designations.

Endor

Another one of Fiorella's short stories.


As they did every new moon, the three elderly sisters met at Starbucks, reserved a table by depositing their dear mother's cookbook on it, and walked up to the counter to place their orders. In the few seconds it took for the barista to turn toward the back of the store and instruct her co-worker to add extra whipped cream to Glinda's hot chocolate and Irene's latte, an athletically built young man pushed Zelda aside and put in his  own order.

"Gimme the biggest cup of Dark Roast that you have and make it snappy!  I've got places to go and people to see!"

Hazel gave him a darkling look.  "Sir, perhaps you didn't realize it, but you cut in line.  Our sister was next."

"Too bad." The athletic young man shrugged and checked out the room for a table.

The three women exchanged hard-eyed glances, but knew better than to make a scene in public. Picking up their drinks, they turned to walk back to their table, then saw that the athletically-built young man had claimed it for himself.  Glinda bristled with anger.  "Sir, you're sitting at our table!  That is our dear mother's cookbook."

The athletic young man glared at her.  "Find another table. granny, and take your crazy book with you!  Damn thing tried to bite me! "

A table opened up, and the three sisters sat down together, put their mother 's book of recipes in the center of the table, then sipped their beverages, watching the athletic young man the whole time.  When he left without cleaning up the table, Glinda swooped down like a night owl sighting its prey, slipped his cup into a plastic bag. and stowed it in her purse. Then, their faces grim, the women drove over to Zelda's, consulted Mother's recipes, set the iron pot to boiling with the standard ingredients, smiled at each other, and tossed in the cup that the athletic young man had used.

Eye of newt and toe of frog work so much better with fresh DNA in the mix.

Statesman Needed

Fiorella expected better from the ninth Republican debate, but maybe the wannabes were all tuckered out. Instead of answering the questions posed by the moderator, they spent their allotted times sniping at each other and repeating gasbag campaign rhetoric we've already heard.  The GOP can do better.  Somewhere out there is another Dwight Eisenhower, Ronald Reagan, or Theodore Roosevelt.  Please--FIND HIM!

Television, Art, and Fences

Fiorella woke up after a good night's sleep thinking that the new X-Files was ponderous, self-absorbed, and that its monster was ridiculous.  In contrast, Lucifer was light, clever, and its monster, the star. was charmingly naive and delightfully wicked.
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Fio hasn't drawn anything for a while, and her hands are getting so antsy that this morning she sketched herself in the bathroom mirror.  Not bad--Fio, you've still got it
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The property-line fence that Fio and neighbors Mike and Kathy have been talking about for years has finally been built. Fiorella recommended her yardman, Fernando, for the job, and neighbor Mike, who designed the fence, took over from there.  Good fences, good neighbors.

Good Wishes and Love

Mother was an emotional purist.  From the second that the phrase "Have a good day" came into general usage, she railed against it as being common and  insincere.  She also, you will remember, thought using the word "love" was cheap, that true love was shown by deeds rather than words.

Fio, on the other hand, is emotionally sloppy. She spatters the world with "Have a good day" and frequently uses the word "love," and she's sincere on both accounts.  Her theory is that wishing people well and telling people they are loved makes for a better world--for the speaker as well as the hearer.

Political Comment

Has The Trumpet been silenced--or at least muted?  Has Donald finally landed on planet earth?  Does he now realize that a poll is not an election, and that his bellicose bellow is not the word of God?  Will we soon read about a kinder, gentler Donald, a thinking Donald?

Don't hold your breath.

Confidence

Given enough time,
Fio will come through--
Whatever she sets her mind to
Fio can do

To My Children

Fiorella tried to be a good mother, but she wishes she'd been a better mother. Her only excuse is that sometimes she was tired, or angry, or depressed, or just plain stupid. Please forgive her, and learn from her mistakes

Paranormal Parade

Husband tuned in to the new X-Files Monday night, and Fiorella couldn't help but be intrigued by the monster-de-jour, who turned out to be a red herring.  She was not intrigued by Mulder and Scully, and the long, explanatory dialogues to update old fans and augment the plot.  The story dragged, the hot shot of Scully was gratuitous, and there were too many senseless twists and turns.

But Lucifer, the show that followed it, was great!  Fio may have a new must-watch show.

The Evolution of Sonia Dog

When Sonia was a puppy, she slept in a cage next to Fiorella's side of the bed so that Fio could reach down and comfort Baby Dog if she whimpered during the night.  When Sonia grew older--and bigger--Husband doubled the size of the cage by removing the center divider.  At some point, Sonia objected to the cage door being closed so Fio left it open.  Eventually, Sonia decided she was grown up enough to sleep with Mommy and Daddy and climbed up on the bed.

And she's been warming our toes ever since.

In the Know

Fiorella has a long-time habit of rechecking everything--Google news, Facebook, her blog, and her email--every time she opens up the computer, which is about five times a day and just before she goes to bed.  As she shut down last night, she heard herself say, "Nothing there.  I'm safe."

Yes, your Fio doesn't like surprises.