Cattitude and Gratitude

Halloween Countdowns at WiddlyTinks.com

I am participating in BlogHer NaBloPoMo for October 2013 and the theme is FALL.  Love those blog challenges and reading other bloggers' posts! Always a fun time! My favourite thing about autumn would have to be the colourful foliage. Here in Canada, the trees put on a spectacular display of red, gold and orange leaves. The sun is lower in the sky and bathes everything in a golden light. I especially appreciate the finery, knowing that it is here for such a brief time. Soon the trees will be naked and grey and we’ll all be bracing ourselves for the onset of winter. As much as I love fall, I find it a melancholy time with the shorter, colder days and all the plants withering away. I want to make it stop and last longer but of course it never does. Maple leaves blaze crimson red Gently floating past my head, Gone is summer’s oppressive heat Leaves rustle and crunch beneath my feet, My eyes feast on nature’s glorious show I know that soon the leaves will...

This blog post was written for Write Tribe's 100 word challenge with the prompt of "If only you were here." If only you were here, I’d be raising a daughter instead of two sons. It’s still hard to accept that your death 21 years ago was a tragic accident that would never have happened if the doctor had been more careful. But no matter how much grief I’ve suffered, with all its overwhelming emotions of anger and sadness, nothing will bring you back. I try to be grateful for the present and appreciate all of the good things in life. Still, it’s hard not to wonder about what might have been, my sweet daughter Laura. If only you were here.

http://writetribe.com/100-words-on-saturday-4/ This poem is written for Write Tribe's 100 words on a Saturday prompt of "Truly Alive." Some day there’ll be time for you and me Some day we’ll be together, just wait and see, Some day I’ll work less and take time to rest Some day I’ll be less grumpy and be at my best, Some day I’ll  try and enjoy life more Some day I’ll stop and take time to explore, Hey, Mr. Some Day, I have something to say The time to start living is now, not some day, Have you forgotten life comes with an expiry date? Start some day now, it’s never too late! 

http://writetribe.com/world-suicide-prevention-day-2013/ Today is World Suicide Prevention Day and  I decided to write a short story with a hopeful message. It doesn't have to be bleak and hopeless. There are people who care. All you have to do is reach out to others and give life a chance. From the rooftop of our apartment building, I look at the cars below me, tiny dots of red and white light streaming along in the darkness. The cool autumn wind rustles through my shaggy brown hair and I hear a plane coming in for a landing overhead. “Aren’t you going to get your hair cut, Josh?” my father asked just last night in complete exasperation. “You look like a bum. How will you ever get a job looking like that?” I take another swig of the bottle of vodka I stole out of my parents’ liquor cabinet. Usually it makes me numb. It’s not working tonight. It would be so easy to end it all right now. “Josh, you’re hopeless. You’re on a one way road to nowhere,” my mother ...

http://writetribe.com/write-tribe-festival-words-day-7/ I have enjoyed this week long Festival of Words as it's so challenging and rewarding to write something daily. I have also enjoyed reading other bloggers' blogs and am especially enjoying learning about the wonders of India through the eyes of all the Indian bloggers who were involved with the challenge. Such fun to learn about your country with its many cultures and incredible diversity. For the last day of Write Tribe's Festival of Words, I am writing about seven things that I can't live without each day. It goes without saying that my family, friends and pets are my world and I can’t live without them but for this post, I will focus on daily things that I can’t live without.  How about you? What daily things can't you live without? I have to start off with my Keurig and good strong coffee to kickstart my day just right. I love flavoured coffee the best and my favourite lately is Van ...

I meant to post this yesterday but was out and about til later in the evening so it never happened. And you bloggers in India are already ahead enough of me by 10 hours so I thought I'd keep it for today's post. Bad me missing a day. Sigh. I guess it happens. This is for the Write Tribe's Festival of Words from September 1-7th celebrating the number seven! http://writetribe.com/write-tribe-festival-words-day-6/ Seven pine cones so fragrant and fine Waiting for me to make them mine, Soon they will become a Christmas treasure Giving me hours of crafting pleasure, First I buy spray paint in metallic tones I get more paint on me than on the cones, Gooey glue drips everywhere On my dress and in my hair, And I won't even mention about the glitter I don't want it broadcast on Facebook and Twitter, I am all thumbs, I must confess The pine cones are sticking to my dress, I look so festive, don't you agree? I could re...