Well things are rolling along now

I started at my new job this past week. Talk about jumping right in! It was great. I started out at a conference with a lot of folks who came in from all over the country for a three day event.   There was candy and screaming monkeys. What's not to love?

Seriously, I feel like I've not stopped moving for a week.  Along with a new job, I went to Maine for a family reunion,  drove through two wicked ass thunderstorms and managed to add a chapter to my book.

That was the real strategy to finding a job I think. Get rolling on the book, while I have all kinds of time, then as soon as it is going REALLY good -- blammo -- got a job.  I'm not complaining.  I'm thrilled.

Yeah, this is just a throwaway blog for the most part.  The real writing is yet to come, so please be patient and stay tuned.

Shout out to all my Xanga buds! Thanks for following me here.

The Wait is finally over

What a great way to be woken up out of a sound sleep -- by the telephone.  Usually that would make me upset, but this morning it was a call I've wanted for seven months -- a job offer.  Of course, I accepted.

I start on Thursday, which is very quick, but they wanted someone immediately. No problem; my social calendar is pretty wide open, go figure.  

Thank you to every one who has kept the good vibes coming my way. I appreciate it all greatly. 

I am astounded at how it came about. They say 90% of jobs are found through networking, so I dutifully joined  LinkedIn, and other jobish sorta networky places. Did the mojo with Monster and Career Builders and all those places, ya da ya da. . .  and to relieve the anxiety, I visited on Facebook -- which I considered to be just a fun place to hang out.  

Guess what, it was a chance connection with an old friend from high school I found through Facebook that got me this one.   Well, it IS a network, so I guess that counts.  At any rate I'm very happy.   

Today, I need to find some clothes that do not have shoulder pads.

Peace!

And so, Lady Songbird has flown the nest . . .

After five or so years, I have chosen to leave Xanga, where I was know as Lady_Songbird, or LSB to my friends. I realize I had a little bit of a following there and I hope those readers will forgive me, and follow me here, to my new (newish) home.

I will post small works of fiction, essays, photographs and artwork as the spirit moves and time allows, just as always. I invite comment and conversation. Please be civil and polite. I do not have time or patients for meanness. Remember, I am a real human being, and do not take kindly to being called names or bullied.

As a reminder, I think I shall start this new life with a poem I wrote a few years ago, and drag out every so often as a reminder to be kind to those you meet along the road, even if they do not keep the same pace that you set, or choose a different path than the one you would. (Much love to Jesse Coffey for saving this for me!)

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

You kneel on cushions, droning endless strings of rote syllables, emotionless,
Hearing only the sound of your own voice, and not the message in the words you chant.
And you call yourself pious.

I dance and sing out joyfully to my creator in thanksgiving for the wind and the rain,
Rejoicing at the miracle of each rising sun, and each breath that brings me life.
And you call me heathen.

You place your dollar in the plate, grudgingly, not caring where it is to go,
Yet being careful to record it for the accountant to mark . . .
And you call yourself charitable.

I cry out for the sick, and the old, and for those who have no voice, that they are in need of that dollar you care so little for, yet refuse to offer . . .
And you call me a bleeding heart.

You measure your worth by your portfolio, and you hold your mirror against others in judgment, dismissing those who do not conform to your standard.
And you call yourself successful.

I live day to day, awash in the smiles of children, reveling in muddy hugs and kisses, watching each bloom and grow into his own beautiful soul.
And you call me unmotivated.

You look on me and scoff at the bright colors I wear, and the length of my hair,
You ruefully tell me I am a failure, a burden on society, an assumption born of prejudice.
And you call yourself educated.

I look on you and mourn the life you have squandered for the sake of your pride,
I offer my hand in friendship, and you turn your back, laughing at my impudence.
And you call me ignorant.

You sit, surrounded by the muted tones and elegant vestments of your station,
Alone with only the indifference of the plunder of your corporate pillaging . . .
And you call me . . .


And I answer . . .

misty-spec

misty-spec, originally uploaded by Lorrieann.

I took this photograph a couple of days ago while on a hike up Old Speck in Grafton Notch State Park in Maine.

It has been a very wet summer, so the woods are exceptionally green and moist. When the sun does finally shine, everything is in a misty haze.

This shot is the last difficult portion of the trail, just below the summit. The photo does not do justice to how steep and daunting that portion of trail was, but it sure was pretty.

I used an Olympus SP-550UZ, set on a night exposure. It made for an interesting effect.

Flickr

This is a test post from , a fancy photo sharing thing.

Book Covers I've Designed

Happy Everything Day!

I hereby decree that from this day forth, the 29th day of the month of May shall be known as:  Everything Day!

Everything important in my life seems to happen on this day.

May 29, 1939:  My mom's birthday.   She is 70 this year and is not the least bit happy about that.  She still thinks of herself in her 40's I think.  But that's cool, she can do that. She can still run circles around me with a dust mop (and sometimes does, literally).  

Mom always gets upset because she thinks she gets forgotten on her birthday - especially milestone birthdays.  For example, she was was miffed that I was the one who got the cake on her 40th birthday, 30 years ago because ---

May 29, 1979: I graduated from high school.   Yup 30 years.  Good lord where the hell did those years go?  Anyway I remember it like it was yesterday.  My sister baked me a cake that was shaped like a piano. 

It was very selfish of me to have my high school graduation fall on mom's 40th birthday. 

Thee years later, I was planning  my wedding. Toby and I had originally chosen April 24, but there were some complications with that date, and we had to reschedule.  Mom volunteered to help us find another place and date, and it absolutely could not be any later than Memorial Day because, (gasp) my gown had long sleeves, and it just wasn't done that a June bride wore long sleeves.   So guess what day she managed to secure for us?

May 29, 1982:  27 years ago today, I got married.  I got a cake that day too.  You can also imagine that I was a bit distracted with my own event to remember to bake a cake for mom.  I did arrange for the DJ to sing her a happy birthday song -- which had to be worked into his schedule of obligatory wedding dances. 

Every May 29, since, I have celebrated an anniversary.  Can I be forgiven for thinking of that day as my anniversary first, and mom's birthday second?   I never forget to send flowers afterall.

There is another fun fact about this day.

Those of  you who have my book "By Right of Will" go ahead and open up to the first page, and check out the date. Yup, May 29, 1588.  Mom was tickled that I picked that date as the birthday of my main character.   But there's a secret to it.  You see, I found my character while doing research into my own genealogy. There really was  a William Fylbrigge and his birthday really was May 29.  I changed the year to suit my story -- just don't tell mom.  

So, Happy Birthday Mom!

Happy Birthday Will!

Happy Anniversary Lorrie and Toby!

Happy 30th Graduation Anniversary Lorrie!

And Happy Everything Day to all of you.