I’ve never really opened an unusual gift. However, if I think about it, my family has some very odd traditions.

One of these was back when we had a dog; we would always buy him canned dog food as a Christmas treat. However, to just give it to the dog would have been boring. So we would wrap them in wrapping paper, write Dad on them, and put them under the tree. And every year, Dad pretended to not know what was in then, while us kids collapsed in giggles.

Another tradition we carry to this day, is the layered gift. Every year there is a gift under the tree that is quite large. But, when you peel off the wrapping paper, you find someone else’s name on it. You then pass it to the next person, who repeats it. Eventually the gift shrinks down to a ridiculously small object, and someone finally gets to keep it. This might be one of my favorite Christmas Day traditions. Though I admit it was quite a shock the first time it occurred.

My three-year-old cousin was staring up at the night sky. After a moment, he turned to me and said thoughtfully, “When the dark comes up…it’s dark.“

I asked my five-year-old brother when his birthday was once, and he thought for a moment and then exclaimed, “Octemberary!”

When he was told that wasn‘t a month, he replied in frustration, “Why does that matter? I KNOW I’m still going to be six!”

With the beauty of a virgin,

She‘s like a sparkling star.

Tinsel hair and cranberry eyes,

Shine like lights from afar.

At present she’s my inspiration;

In old age she’ll be my cane.

From birth I have loved her,

Like a tree loves the rain.

Singing carols dedicated to her

Because I love her so.

Just like she once sang to me

Long, long ago.

Hi guys!!!

I know.

I said that I would only be gone for the summer and be back in the fall.

But then…life happened!!!

At present I’m assisting my aunt with her three kids under 1, and between bottles, diapers and dishes, I haven’t really found the time to write.

But I promise to start writing on here again someday! Maybe next year I’ll get back on track. :)

(I flatter myself by believing many here miss me. :P)

I do check on here for certain people’s writing on a regular basis.

(Hope4ever, lamagoofball, and RosemarieThorn in particular.)

To keep you entertained while you wait, here is a excerpt from my story I’m writing!

The dark figure crept along the rocky shore. The beach was deserted and the sun had set. The figure darted between boulders and went around a corner. There shadowy sails were outlined against the skyline. The man slunk on the beach alongside the ship and called in a low voice. After receiving a muffled reply, he swam out to the ship. A lantern was held out over the side and a rope ladder dropped down with a soft splash. The man climbed aboard and the murmur of voices could be heard. Then the lantern was extinguished, but not before the flag flying high above the ship showed the pattern of the skull and crossbones.

’til we meet again!!!!

Hi guys! I just dropped by so I thought I’d give a little update on my life. :)

As some of you know, I tried to stay off of The Prose for the summer so that I could get some work done on the book (Conquest by Silence) I’m writing for fun. It’s been a crazy summer, so I only got about 10,000 words written, but at least I’m moving forward. :P

Here is a excerpt from my book!

The harbor of Misalania was a lovely but busy place. Carts filled with crates rumbled along the narrow streets as sailors strode by on the boardwalks carrying heavy crates easily on their shoulders. Seagulls screamed and swooped low across the rippling water. Fishing boats swayed to and fro as their owners lay nets out to dry in the sun. A beautiful ship rocked gently in the wind, the name The Wave-Dancer painted clearly on the side.

Have a great weekend, Y’all!

I watched my little brother go down the SLIDE and land with a thump. He jumped up and ran toward a kid on a SWING. As the girl on the swing soared high, I realized that she was going to hit my brother!

"Watch OUT, Jack!" I cried, racing toward him. The girl reached him first and her heels hit Jack in the and he toppled to the ground. Reaching him, I saw blood pouring down face from a FOUL looking cut. As I knelt beside him I could hear someone screaming in a such a high PITCH I thought my ears would break...and then I realized it was me.

Some people playing with a couple BALLS came over to help me. We got Jack into a car, and they began the drive to the hospital.

Clutching my brother to me, I whispered, "You're SAFE now, Jack. You're okay. "

A duck walked up to a lemonade stand

And he said to the man runnin' the stand

"Hey! [(bam bam bam)] Got any grapes?"

The man said: "No, we just sell lemonade

But it's cold, and it's fresh, and it's all home-made!

Can I get you a glass?"

The duck said, "I'll pass."

Then he waddled away - waddle waddle

'Til the very next day

"Bom bom bom bom bom babom"

...

I've been babysitting my small 1 1/2 cousin, L., while his mom is in the hospital with his little brother. And L. is hooked on The Duck Song Ever spent 18 hours straight listening to it? Trust me, you haven't missed out on much. It gets stuck in your head, and you get it stuck in everyone else's as well! (Don't know what it is? Just google it, hit play and then you'll know...) Everything, even your innermost secret thoughts, are about it!

For example, you catch yourself singing this in your head to the tune:

"I need to put my clothes in a lemonade stand...oh, phooey! I mean I need to do a duck in my little clothes dryer. NO!!!!"

Ugh. If I could get this song out of my head, I would SO happy.

But...there are worse things to have stuck in your head, I suppose. :)

He was a cheapskate. That I know. He bought things on discount and in bulk. His family turned badly printed napkins inside out; they split one can of orange juice between 9 kids. They wore hand-me-downs clothes and cheap shoes.

He was a plant-person. He saw a plant, and he bought it. He stuck it randomly in the yard. He planted hundreds of pine trees and other evergreens.

He was intrigued by new inventions. He bought a portable telephone and kept in his car. But, to make sure nothing would happen to it, and because it cost money to make or receive a call, it was never ever used.

He loved words, but couldn't say them right. He used a hard 'g' in the word "gee" rather than a soft 'g'. And only stopped when his wife pointed out that "gee whiz" wasn't said with hard 'g'.

He loved to argue. He could drag out an argument for hours...and hours...and hours.

He loved to read aloud. His kids heard many, many stories from him, and then read them to their own children.

And then, he died of cancer. Leaving 9 kids between the ages of 19 and 2, and his wife behind him.

Yes, I know many, many things odd things about him, but much about his everyday life. I've imprinted everything I know about him in my memory, so that someday when we meet in heaven, I'll recognize him. I'll fling my arms around him, and tell him who I am.

Who was he?

My Grandpa.

And I never met him.