Like Mother, Like Son, people sometimes say. So when I told son, Craig, I was to do a video of myself reciting a sonnet, submitting it to the Oregon Ashland Shakespeare Festival for possible projection on the screen before performances of Book of Will this summer, he wrote me this clever poem:
Oh, I am certain yours would be good,
If that’s not well known, then it’s misunderstood.
A sonnet must start and go on for awhile,
But the critical part is the good actor’s smile.
Since you have expressions so bright and so true,
They have only one choice - screen projection of you!
Saturday, May 19, 2018
Poem To Aunt Carole Hlavacka
I sent this poem to my Aunt Carole on her 78th birthday:
Happy Birthday, dear Aunt Carole,
You fill so many lives with fun,
Dressed always in stylish apparel,
Yes, YOU, such a truly loved one!
Your family and friends adore you,
You’ve kept folks laughing many a time,
And always a fabulous hairdo.
Your sense of humor is so sublime.
Memories of our time together -
Phillips, Middleton, Beloit and Medford,
Picnics in good or bad weather,
Hearing tales of your joy as a snowbird!
So kick up your heels and celebrate,
Cherished aunt/friend that you are,
For indeed, there can be no debate
You are true excellence, by far!
Happy Birthday, dear Aunt Carole,
You fill so many lives with fun,
Dressed always in stylish apparel,
Yes, YOU, such a truly loved one!
Your family and friends adore you,
You’ve kept folks laughing many a time,
And always a fabulous hairdo.
Your sense of humor is so sublime.
Memories of our time together -
Phillips, Middleton, Beloit and Medford,
Picnics in good or bad weather,
Hearing tales of your joy as a snowbird!
So kick up your heels and celebrate,
Cherished aunt/friend that you are,
For indeed, there can be no debate
You are true excellence, by far!
Writing Poetry
On a whim, I entered a Shakespeare sonnet contest put on by the Southern Shakespeare Company in Tallahassee, Florida. I didn’t win, but I enjoyed reviewing the required rhyming structure and composed this poem:
Loves Nearly Fiery Loss
On October 17, 2017 -
Loud banging and shouting at our front door!
Awakening to a harrowing scene,
Hearing, “Fire!” “Go!” as our feet hit the floor.
Grabbing my journals, we raced to the car,
Fiery branches and ashes rained on by,
The ridges were blazing not too afar,
Driving along flames, I began to cry.
My dear mother! Oh, no! Will she survive?
Will she soon flee these fires of Sonoma?
Will I soon find her, calm, safe and alive?
Or will she suffer a stroke, lapse to a coma?
And then, her text - whew, my mother, no harm!
Her selfie, clasping a fireman’s arm!
Loves Nearly Fiery Loss
On October 17, 2017 -
Loud banging and shouting at our front door!
Awakening to a harrowing scene,
Hearing, “Fire!” “Go!” as our feet hit the floor.
Grabbing my journals, we raced to the car,
Fiery branches and ashes rained on by,
The ridges were blazing not too afar,
Driving along flames, I began to cry.
My dear mother! Oh, no! Will she survive?
Will she soon flee these fires of Sonoma?
Will I soon find her, calm, safe and alive?
Or will she suffer a stroke, lapse to a coma?
And then, her text - whew, my mother, no harm!
Her selfie, clasping a fireman’s arm!
I Love To Act!
So, the past few months I have been attending a weekly beginning acting class. Great fun - we do pantomime, group energy exercises, improvisation, monologues and scenes from plays, partnering up. I had a rollicking good time doing a monologue called “I Ate The Divorce Papers” from a play called “Goodbye, Charles.” Very comical. And next week, I will do a scene from Moliere’s play “The Learned Ladies.” And of course, I play the haughty, learned sister to my younger oh-so-in-love sibling. One day, our teacher told us we could do something for Shakespeare as a video and submit it to the Ashland Shakespeare Festival. So I submitted my selfie video of Sonnet 73, a sonnet about getting older. You can see it on the Facebook page House of Will OSF. The committee will play selected videos on a screen projected over the outdoor stage. I have visited that ongoing several-months festival, and it is amazing.
Monday, April 16, 2018
More Trolly Stuff
Read previous 2 posts first
I responded:
Your poetry is delightful,
It made me laugh outloud!
Good I didn’t read it
While with the trolley crowd.
The tour was fantastic,
I learned so much
You and Norm woulda loved it
Even with his crutch!
Your couch-pouch rhyme
Is funny as hell.
Not true, my friend,
I know that well!
And now, I only have
Just this to say....
Have a splendid and warm
Rest of the day!
(Husband Norm recently had knee surgery and uses a crutch).
We do have fun in our golden years!
I responded:
Your poetry is delightful,
It made me laugh outloud!
Good I didn’t read it
While with the trolley crowd.
The tour was fantastic,
I learned so much
You and Norm woulda loved it
Even with his crutch!
Your couch-pouch rhyme
Is funny as hell.
Not true, my friend,
I know that well!
And now, I only have
Just this to say....
Have a splendid and warm
Rest of the day!
(Husband Norm recently had knee surgery and uses a crutch).
We do have fun in our golden years!
My Trolley Ride, continued
Read previous post first.
My friend, Diane Cleaver, wrote:
The happy-go-lucky free spirit you are
Makes walking in the rain a treat by far.
Me, I sit curled up on my couch,
Making my stomach grow a big pouch.
It’s Monday, with David,
I’m off to the Alley,
I’ll walk later today
When the rain stops, by gally!
(Diane takes her brother, David, bowling on Mondays).
My friend, Diane Cleaver, wrote:
The happy-go-lucky free spirit you are
Makes walking in the rain a treat by far.
Me, I sit curled up on my couch,
Making my stomach grow a big pouch.
It’s Monday, with David,
I’m off to the Alley,
I’ll walk later today
When the rain stops, by gally!
(Diane takes her brother, David, bowling on Mondays).
I Am A Poet, And I Know It!
So, last October, I was signed up to ride Rosie The Trolley. Rosie is a beautiful red and golden bus, owned by the Santa Rosa Parks and Recreation Department. Unfortunately, the history tour on Rosie had to be canceled, because the horrific fires were still roaring in many areas of the county. And it was rescheduled for a week ago. Indeed, it was canceled again, due to a dead battery. And finally, today was the day!
About 24 of us enjoyed a 2-hour commentary, summarizing some 150 years of Santa Rosa history. We learned of the Pomo Indians, the Mexicans, the earthquake, the city leaders. We saw historic homes, parks, barns, a railroad station and churches. It was a true delight, and I will go again.
First I took a walk in the rain, at Howarth Park, the pickup spot. To preface my journey, I wrote a poem:
I can’t complain
About a walk in the rain.
Let me explain -
Weather: friend or foe...
At least it’s not snow!
And now for some folly,
I’ll ride Rosie The Trolley!
About 24 of us enjoyed a 2-hour commentary, summarizing some 150 years of Santa Rosa history. We learned of the Pomo Indians, the Mexicans, the earthquake, the city leaders. We saw historic homes, parks, barns, a railroad station and churches. It was a true delight, and I will go again.
First I took a walk in the rain, at Howarth Park, the pickup spot. To preface my journey, I wrote a poem:
I can’t complain
About a walk in the rain.
Let me explain -
Weather: friend or foe...
At least it’s not snow!
And now for some folly,
I’ll ride Rosie The Trolley!
Tuesday, April 3, 2018
More Poetry In Motion!
An annual event on April Fool’s Day is the joke I play on my 3 sons. Maybe once, or likely, twice, I have fooled a son or two. The joke is so old now that no one is fooled. It all started out with me reporting that Ken and I were on the way to the San Francisco airport to pick up some toddler twins we had adopted. This year, I took to poetry:
“We want more!”
Cried our twins, aged four.
Whom we adore....
Hard to ignore!
So to avoid an uproar,
And for an encore,
We called Singapore.
And now, therefore,
To shock you furthermore,
And increase our rapport....
Who’s arrived at our door?
Ken Jr. and Eleanor!
That evening, to my delight, oldest son Craig Zeman, replied poetically
You’ll have to excuse me,
For as you can see,
Star Wars released
A new DVD.
It’s Episode 8, Saga 3.
It’s Episode 8, Saga 3.
Luke Skywalker is in it
But not Two-One-Bee.
Although there’s no singing,
It has a few dances
R2 and Yoda and offscreen romances.
It’s Episode 8 and it’s been 40 years,
And Chewie still sits in the cockpit and steers.
An interjection - I had been promoting to him a special I was just about to watch on TV - Jesus Christ Superstar (JCS)...and so, he continues.....
Does JCS Special contain any creatures?
No? Then I will be watching the DVD special features.
LOL, my attempt at Star War poetry is great,
But I won’t give away the ending of Episode 8.
I responded:
Ah your poetry is so fine
And unduly sublime.
You have inherited my wit,
Yes, you are a hit!
Well done, Son.
What fun!
My poetry came alive
This morning at five.
And may your fun be great
With Episode 8!
Sunday, March 18, 2018
Almost done!
To continue our poetry...(start a few posts back, at the Life in the Tourney Prep Lane, and work backwards to this) -
Diane:
The tennis tournament kept us hopping,
No time to eat
No juicy slopping
Ok, getting really bad
So better quit,
It’s all too sad!
Me:
Sadly, here is what I think
If we want to better dink
And not to be the weakest link
To better be in sync,
To make our booties shrink -
Sorry, not to be a fink...
We must cut back our drink!
Wink, wink!
Ca chink!
Diane:
That’s a good one, I do declare,
Sadly, too, it’s just not fair
I do know that you are right
So for that, I’m going to fight
If ever I saw my waist again
Oh my, oh my, how I would grin!
So doing the work, dear Kathy Kerst...
Not going to think about my thirst.
Dink, dink.
Finally, me:
I know, I know -
It is the worst
To think about
Our frickin’ thirst!
I think our strategy divine
Will be to take time outs...
And drink some wine!
Diane:
The tennis tournament kept us hopping,
No time to eat
No juicy slopping
Ok, getting really bad
So better quit,
It’s all too sad!
Me:
Sadly, here is what I think
If we want to better dink
And not to be the weakest link
To better be in sync,
To make our booties shrink -
Sorry, not to be a fink...
We must cut back our drink!
Wink, wink!
Ca chink!
Diane:
That’s a good one, I do declare,
Sadly, too, it’s just not fair
I do know that you are right
So for that, I’m going to fight
If ever I saw my waist again
Oh my, oh my, how I would grin!
So doing the work, dear Kathy Kerst...
Not going to think about my thirst.
Dink, dink.
Finally, me:
I know, I know -
It is the worst
To think about
Our frickin’ thirst!
I think our strategy divine
Will be to take time outs...
And drink some wine!
And the poetry goes on...and on!
Revert back to the start and read backwards...and to continue...
Me:
Oh, my - if we don’t lose a ton of weight
At least, our creativity
Is top rate!
I read our fab poetry to our troops just now
And yes, I took a humble bow!
Carbs and water
Yay, yay, yay!
Today will be
A fun-filled day!
Diane:
Today you play and will display
A performance of a champ.
When you are done and you have won,
Just know, you’re in my camp!
Me:
When I get home
Will the scale break?
How many pounds
Did my trip make?
Did the heat melt them off?
This, I hope!
If that doesn’t happen,
I’ll feel like a dope!
Next day, me:
Not to boast,
But thanks to our host,
After all I ate,
I did not gain weight.
Arizona heat
Can’t be beat!
Diane:
I did well too
Probably not as good as you,
Lost a little bit,
But never did I sit.
The tenn
Me:
Oh, my - if we don’t lose a ton of weight
At least, our creativity
Is top rate!
I read our fab poetry to our troops just now
And yes, I took a humble bow!
Carbs and water
Yay, yay, yay!
Today will be
A fun-filled day!
Diane:
Today you play and will display
A performance of a champ.
When you are done and you have won,
Just know, you’re in my camp!
Me:
When I get home
Will the scale break?
How many pounds
Did my trip make?
Did the heat melt them off?
This, I hope!
If that doesn’t happen,
I’ll feel like a dope!
Next day, me:
Not to boast,
But thanks to our host,
After all I ate,
I did not gain weight.
Arizona heat
Can’t be beat!
Diane:
I did well too
Probably not as good as you,
Lost a little bit,
But never did I sit.
The tenn
And yet more poetry
So....to enjoy this adventure, go back a few posts, to the beginning. To continue...
Me:
Good thing we went for a walk last night
Or today my clothes would be very tight!
Diane:
I never felt fatter than I do right now
I swell in the desert and feel like a cow.
I drink lots of water and try to eat right
But for some reason, I’m losing the fight!
Me:
We will beat everyone’s asses
With your cool new sunglasses!
And Beagle says you otter
Not drink too much water!
Oh my-it
This diet
Is a riot
I can’t deny it
I want to cry it
No lie-it!
I want some pie-it!
Diane:
Oh my, you are really stretchin’
These poems you are fetchin’
I know your pounds are melting off
I gain one with every cough
That’s a cop out, I am sure
Just stop eating,
That’s the cure!
Me:
Good thing we went for a walk last night
Or today my clothes would be very tight!
Diane:
I never felt fatter than I do right now
I swell in the desert and feel like a cow.
I drink lots of water and try to eat right
But for some reason, I’m losing the fight!
Me:
We will beat everyone’s asses
With your cool new sunglasses!
And Beagle says you otter
Not drink too much water!
Oh my-it
This diet
Is a riot
I can’t deny it
I want to cry it
No lie-it!
I want some pie-it!
Diane:
Oh my, you are really stretchin’
These poems you are fetchin’
I know your pounds are melting off
I gain one with every cough
That’s a cop out, I am sure
Just stop eating,
That’s the cure!
More of the Poetry
So....
The previous post misses the last line:
Giving up wine
Makes me sad.
To continue....
Me:
Staying the same
In the rain...
Messes my brain!
This is what I have to say,
Tomorrow will be a leaner day!
Diane:
You betcha,
Lots of vetcha!
Me:
Oh, Diane, your wit is cool!
Humor is an excellent tool.
And I am trying to do a rhyme
But I have run out of time!
The previous post misses the last line:
Giving up wine
Makes me sad.
To continue....
Me:
Staying the same
In the rain...
Messes my brain!
This is what I have to say,
Tomorrow will be a leaner day!
Diane:
You betcha,
Lots of vetcha!
Me:
Oh, Diane, your wit is cool!
Humor is an excellent tool.
And I am trying to do a rhyme
But I have run out of time!
Life In The Tourney Prep Lane
So.
My longtime friend, Diane Cleaver, and I have decided to be pickleball partners at our annual tourney in June...the Wine Country Games. We will be playing in the 70-74 category at the 3.5 level. I came up with an idea to help us get energized for our event....a diet contest. I did this once before, back in the 80’s, when I worked at the Treasury. We weighed ourselves weekly, and the winner was one who lost the highest percentage of pounds. It was fun. And of course, I won.
For this contest, I initiated a poetry encouragement saga, via text. At pickleball lunch today, after I read a few excerpts, one of our group suggested I publish our poetry exchange, to date. So here goes!
Me:
We are going to be
Thin, Thin, Thin...
So we can move QUICKLY!
And win, win, win!
Diane:
Rah, rah, rah
Sis boom bah....
You betcha!
Me:
Soon our clothes won’t be
Splitting at the seam
Cuz we are an EXCELLENT
Weight-losing team!
Diane:
Our arms won’t flap,
Our thighs won’t rub,
We’ll be the most agile
In the whole dang club!
Me:
We’ll be on the right path
If we do the math
Calories add up
Especially when we sup!
Doggone it!
Diane:
Ha, ha, ha...
You got that right,
Not giving up the fight -
Calories are bad -
Giving up wine
My longtime friend, Diane Cleaver, and I have decided to be pickleball partners at our annual tourney in June...the Wine Country Games. We will be playing in the 70-74 category at the 3.5 level. I came up with an idea to help us get energized for our event....a diet contest. I did this once before, back in the 80’s, when I worked at the Treasury. We weighed ourselves weekly, and the winner was one who lost the highest percentage of pounds. It was fun. And of course, I won.
For this contest, I initiated a poetry encouragement saga, via text. At pickleball lunch today, after I read a few excerpts, one of our group suggested I publish our poetry exchange, to date. So here goes!
Me:
We are going to be
Thin, Thin, Thin...
So we can move QUICKLY!
And win, win, win!
Diane:
Rah, rah, rah
Sis boom bah....
You betcha!
Me:
Soon our clothes won’t be
Splitting at the seam
Cuz we are an EXCELLENT
Weight-losing team!
Diane:
Our arms won’t flap,
Our thighs won’t rub,
We’ll be the most agile
In the whole dang club!
Me:
We’ll be on the right path
If we do the math
Calories add up
Especially when we sup!
Doggone it!
Diane:
Ha, ha, ha...
You got that right,
Not giving up the fight -
Calories are bad -
Giving up wine
Tuesday, March 13, 2018
Life In The “Slow” Lane
So.
As I write, I am in Surprise, Arizona, lodging at the home of our friend, Marlene, who moved here from California over a year ago. Ken and our friends, Sandie and Beagle, are also here for 5 days, while participating in a pickleball tournament in nearby Sun City.
Surprisingly, (ha, you knew I would say that!), there are pickleball courts everywhere. In fact, our tournament has 18 courts. Back home at the tourney Ken runs, there are 8. Rohnert Park is building 6 this year, and I am in contact with Healdsburg. There will be a meeting next month to address Windsor needs. The joy spreads. And I am passionate about it.
But I digress.
What I really want to say is how refreshing it is to gather with friends in a setting outside of home base. How fun it is to get to know these people in new ways. It’s been a hoot to laugh and play and talk non-stop. I must say electronics sometimes gets in the way, at times. Being mindful of that. Heck, I just talk at people, even while they text.
And I have fond memories of journeying with friends, before kids and after kids, back in my 20’s. We camped, cross-country skied and yes, chatted non-stop. I see that tradition has emerged, enthusiastically, with my 3 adventuresome sons.
So fast forward to now - the title of my post. Slow lane? Not yet. And, as a reference to Zoe, I think I will continue enjoying these splendid years of what I now deem “The Peppermint Twist”! Rock on!
As I write, I am in Surprise, Arizona, lodging at the home of our friend, Marlene, who moved here from California over a year ago. Ken and our friends, Sandie and Beagle, are also here for 5 days, while participating in a pickleball tournament in nearby Sun City.
Surprisingly, (ha, you knew I would say that!), there are pickleball courts everywhere. In fact, our tournament has 18 courts. Back home at the tourney Ken runs, there are 8. Rohnert Park is building 6 this year, and I am in contact with Healdsburg. There will be a meeting next month to address Windsor needs. The joy spreads. And I am passionate about it.
But I digress.
What I really want to say is how refreshing it is to gather with friends in a setting outside of home base. How fun it is to get to know these people in new ways. It’s been a hoot to laugh and play and talk non-stop. I must say electronics sometimes gets in the way, at times. Being mindful of that. Heck, I just talk at people, even while they text.
And I have fond memories of journeying with friends, before kids and after kids, back in my 20’s. We camped, cross-country skied and yes, chatted non-stop. I see that tradition has emerged, enthusiastically, with my 3 adventuresome sons.
So fast forward to now - the title of my post. Slow lane? Not yet. And, as a reference to Zoe, I think I will continue enjoying these splendid years of what I now deem “The Peppermint Twist”! Rock on!
Friday, March 2, 2018
A Day in the Life
Yesterday, Andy and I had a Facebook messenger conversation about social media. Well, specifically, my use of social media. I think I may have astounded him. So it occurred to me to share a little of my current life, as it is. What follows is my morning schedule. I am up, without an alarm, at 4:45. Who knows why? Maybe cars start driving by on our country road? But always, like clockwork. Haha.
Then, over the next several hours, I read my online book, read Facebook, the Press Democrat, Channel 3000, Instagram and text messages. Thereafter, I read online news, after which, I play currently 15 games of online Scrabble against 3 competitors, several games going at once. Yes, Ken usually beats me. After Scrabble, I play Trivia Crack against a friend from Madison and a new friend from Texas. After that, I play Word Search against a new friend from England. (Actually, my new friends have been my friends for 2 years. I found them randomly. We chat once in awhile). I used to have a new friend from Canada who I played Upwords with, until she quit after beating me all but one game over a year. I think she bought cheats, So then, I check weather here and in Madison and look up movies to see. If it is especially hot, I check weather at Bodega Bay or San Rafael (traveling on an air conditioned train is fun). Lastly, I write in my journals, check email, and prepare a dish of dinner snacks. By then, it is 7:40 and Ken goes to work. I watch NBC news and tend to a few tasks, get ready for play, and am out the door for pickleball at 8:25. So that is my morning adventure!
Then, over the next several hours, I read my online book, read Facebook, the Press Democrat, Channel 3000, Instagram and text messages. Thereafter, I read online news, after which, I play currently 15 games of online Scrabble against 3 competitors, several games going at once. Yes, Ken usually beats me. After Scrabble, I play Trivia Crack against a friend from Madison and a new friend from Texas. After that, I play Word Search against a new friend from England. (Actually, my new friends have been my friends for 2 years. I found them randomly. We chat once in awhile). I used to have a new friend from Canada who I played Upwords with, until she quit after beating me all but one game over a year. I think she bought cheats, So then, I check weather here and in Madison and look up movies to see. If it is especially hot, I check weather at Bodega Bay or San Rafael (traveling on an air conditioned train is fun). Lastly, I write in my journals, check email, and prepare a dish of dinner snacks. By then, it is 7:40 and Ken goes to work. I watch NBC news and tend to a few tasks, get ready for play, and am out the door for pickleball at 8:25. So that is my morning adventure!
Saturday, February 24, 2018
Tuesday, February 20, 2018
I’m Back!
It’s been awhile! Ken and I have moved to California, Craig has moved to Brodhead, Ben and Brianne are remodeling their house in Healdsburg, and Andy and Amy have married. Where to begin? Well, maybe a few pictures here and there. Personal update: Ken works 4 1/2 days at Mercedes Benz. I play pickleball 7 mornings a week and some afternoons. Other adventures are riding the SMART train, driving to the coast, taking a beginning acting class, dabbling in random art projects, visiting museums, going to movies, reading, writing a pickleball story and playing online Scrabble and Trivia Crack. Blah, blah, blah. All fun, and it’s all good!
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