LJWorld.com

On Feb. 5th, as people turned excitedly to the news, or filed slowly to form lines to participate in the political caucus system of our great nation, clouds carrying killer storms formed quickly and wrecked havoc in several states. Many people were killed and numerous more were injured. The following is a tribute to those who lost someone they knew and loved:

Snow flakes, falling fluffy and light,

Strike upon my heart as weights

Each one heavy and hard.

Blood drips from my soul

As tears from eyes should fall

These other storms,

Darkness swirling on the horizon

Too early to be night,

Contrast sharply with

The layering of white

Across our land.

People weep, mourning

Loved ones who disappeared

Too quickly from their sight,

Now awakening to the light of morning

And a plight an entire nation shares

Good night, my friends, good night

So we're stuck inside; that's if we're one of the lucky ones. For those who are forced to work outside on a day such as this, you have my deepest sympathies. Lemonade stand anyone?

Word spread through the Internet grapevine of a 'cool' game being played at one of the campus buildings yesterday and it sounded like a fun way to beat the heat and keep our brains from frying.

Post a sentence or paragraph of at least twenty words that are e free. Yes, leave out the E words and go for the other vowels. A I O U and sometimes Y. Y not? Have fun!

Local artist Stan Herd and son Evan Herd will be hosting a pre 4th of July party Saturday evening from five to midnight and you're invited. Only one problem, it's so large they're holding it at Abe and Jake's Landing - 8 E 6th St.

The event, which is from five to midnight, July 3rd, (tickets are five dollars - with one dollar from each ticket going to the Lawrence Community Shelter) will showcase a multitude of area bands including: Michael Paull - Big Stack Daddy, Frut Snaxx, Forest of Luxury, Yeti Speak, Atomic Blues, Quiet Corral, Katlyn Conroy, Yes 'ir, Rachel Black, and Elevator Action.

It sounds like there will be something for everyone! So my question: (since I'll be helping with tickets and juice bar) which bands should I be sure to catch? Remember, my tastes run the gamut from Beatles, blues and I love the poetry of rap music.

So, if any of the reading audience has any positive words about the bands, now is your chance to speak up! I hope to see you there - the event will be hotter than an exploding fire cracker, so beware!

Two work days to make it through before the explosive thought of July 4th, and the day following as paid vacation for most of us, so let's pass the time sharing some of our favorite performers and performances that have instrument solos with the letters 'har' in them. I'm thinking harmonica (a personal favorite), harp and harpsichord.

Who are your favorite 'har' pos, 'har' poons, and 'har' pers? Yeah, yeah, yeah - Lennon could really play a mean harmonica as can Dylan.

List your song and performer and share a link so we can enjoy. One post per comment, please.

Whether they're large, small, black and white, or in color, we all have them - dreams. They're what a large part of our waking and sleeping lives are about. They keep us going in the bleakest of times and give us something to focus and strive towards. Some people simply dream, never taking the smallest of baby steps towards making their dream(s) materialize. Others create through their dreams - allowing and encouraging themselves the ability to let the subconscious slip over them; envelope them, understanding that we can trust ourselves to know what is right for us. Still others deny any dreams.

I met Carol the Coach, as she's referred to in the Indianapolis area, when I began flying to and from Chicago to pursue my dream of becoming a Life Coach. (I wanted to work with people who had lost someone to suicide or homicide by helping them stay connected with their loved one by fulfilling that individual's dream.)

Carol Juergensen Sheets (LCSW PCC CSAT Motivation Speaker) is a mighty name for a woman of such small stature, but it suits her powerful spirit and her ability to dream large. Carol has already accomplished more than most of us hope to dream for. She is a columnist for Indy Metro Woman, The Daily Journal, Indy Sports-The Men's Magazine and Healthy Living with Teresa Tanoose, and she hosted a weekly hour talk show from 2007-2009 "Sex, Love, and Relationships". But Carol has a new 'old' dream. She has been contacting Oprah to no avail for eight years in an attempt to promote, "Group Work for Woman" which is Carol's dream to change the lives of women one step and one woman at a time.

I found out about Carol's dream a few days ago and thought it'd be fun to help her achieve her dream. You can help too! Carol will be coming on throughout the day and evening (between client sessions) to explain more and to answer any questions. Carol says it's been implied that since she is no "Barbie Doll" she doesn't stand a chance. Carol's response, "Dr. Phil is no Ken!" Let's prove 'them' wrong and give Carol our support. Carol has until the end of July 3rd to make her dream come true.

What are your dreams and which ones have come true? What is the most extreme thing you've been willing to do to make them come true?

"Lattw Niwamh moved smoothly and confidently to the front of the packed auditorium. The poetess had given readings of her poetry so many times previously that it caused as much excitement as her morning cup of caffeine free tea. She didn't begin to realize until hours later, having removed her dramatic bright red lipstick, sheer foundation and deep magenta eye liner with matching mascara, as she climbed into bed that evening, that the poetry she had read that day was not her own.

At the exact same instant, another poet, Lyiem Kensocdin, crossed and uncrossed his legs impatiently. He was old fashioned. He was as computer savvy as any of the upcoming poets of the day, but he preferred to sit with his bottle of scotch on the balcony overlooking the courtyard where women and girls in multicolored skirts and peasant tops sashayed far below. Sometimes he could catch the faint odor of their perfumes as they mingled together and made their way to where he sat.

He felt frustrated; he'd been trying to write a poem that he couldn't seem to push out of his mind all day. It wasn't until he closed his eyes for a brief moment that it became clear what he was going to write. He was delighted with the final product - it had flowed out of him as a vessel; the way poetry is supposed to come. It was good, really good and he was excited to share it with his mistress of the past six months - Lyiem went through women like most men consume wine or cigars.

He rang Lattw on his iPhone. No sooner did he begin to recite his poem when she joined in, completing word for word everything he had just written.

What they didn't know, but were about to find out, was that every poet in the world had just written the same poem. There would be many more to come, but where were they coming from. Were they a message from God delivered through the poet to the masses in order to save humanity, or were they something more sinister? Perhaps, they were simply another sign of the poet - that madman."

The previous paragraphs are from my science fiction piece, "The Poet - That Madman"

Rules for the contest:

Submit your original science fiction short by August 1st to ronda@sunflower.com (or via ljworld at random)

Your submission must not be longer than 999 words, but it can be shorter.

There will be a panel of five judges from varied backgrounds. Please submit one story only.

Prizes include gift certificate to Borders (supplied by our Fiction 500 winner Roe), and a $50.00 gift certificate to your favorite restaurant.

Top winning stories, along with names of the author, will be published online during the month of September.

Have fun - make it 'unreal'!

We've been playing solos from our favorite performers and songs. So far, we have had the guitar string us along and we've had the doldrums beaten out of us by the old drums. Today, sit back, smile and show your ivory! We're going to share our favorite songs that include a piano solo - it might even be an instrumental.

There are a lot of fabulous performers with multiple talents - some play all the instruments we've discussed, but there are several who really stand out as stand up piano players.

Please list one song choice per post and do include the performer's name, link for easy listening and any memorable experiences you have to share about your choice of performer or song.

Did you grow up with a piano in your home? Were you forced to practice?

It seems many performers got their first love for music seated on a piano bench surrounded by family. Who is your favorite piano player?

So I'm sitting in R bar (Treasure Island, Florida) a couple of weeks ago and I'm with my cousin Janelle. I've mentioned her before - she's the Angie Dickinson blond who has men approach her and ask if they can buy her dessert if she'll dance with them.

She's a natural beauty, vivacious and lots of fun. She doesn't have to resort to fluffing long auburn hair and propping her breasts up in catchy low cut, red t-shirts. We order our favorite - which has switched from crunchy grouper to crunchy catfish - and we decide to split it since we always know she'll be bribed with dessert later.

The entertainment for the evening is Mike Calzone. I'd heard him play a couple of years previously at the same location and am happy because he's good, real good. Not only does he play other people's material nicely, but he interacts well with the audience and writes his own material. It isn't long before I notice the black t-shirts hanging close to where he performs on a make-shift stage.

The shirts have the eye catching (and self identifying phrase), "I Love You...But Not Enough To Ruin My Life". I realize that not only must I own one of those shirts - I also wish I'd written the saying.

Here's what Mike has to say about his catchy phrase - "One night as I'm getting ready to start performing,... the owner of the bar asks me how 'we're' doing. I said, 'I love her, but not enough to ruin my life'. The light goes on in my head and I keep hearing it over and over. I sat down and wrote the song in 5 minutes."

The song he is talking about has the title I'm referring to and is a catchy, bluesy number. Mike had a chance to visit with us during break, but he had a rough break recently, literally. He was hit by a car while riding his bike and had surgery the Monday following the performance I saw.

Here's where the blog topic comes in. What sayings have you heard that you identified enough with that your eyes turned green with jealousy and you said to yourself, "Damn, I wish I would have written that line!"

Thanks, Mike, for letting me share your great line. We wish you a speedy recovery and hope you're writing plenty of new material to perform once you're back on your feet.

The Visiting Nurse's Association is seeking charity assistance for their yearly 3D event. 3D stands for Dine, Dance and Donate. Here's how it works: you invite friends and family to your house for brunch, lunch, or dinner and your guests pay you the amount of money they would have paid should the meal have been eaten at a restaurant. The money you raise goes towards the Care Cottage.

If you aren't familiar with the Care Cottage, 3109 West 26th St, Lawrence, it's a home where people are taken care of by Hospice and the Visiting Nurses Association at end of life. They presently have four people being cared for at the house, a waiting list and need for additional rooms.

Although the annual event formally comes to an end on April 17th, with an appreciation for those individuals who opened their homes and wallets to the cause to be held at the Oread's Hancock Room, desserts donated by area restaurants, and music performed by the Prairie Dogs, interested parties may still reserve a date to participate after that event.

The plan: have 50 dinner parties across town. Please spread the word. With nicer weather coming up, it would be terrific to plan an outside BBQ! I hope I'm invited to many homes - in fact, I'm counting on it!

For additional information, to make a donation, or to host a party, contact Sarah Randolph or Judy Bellome at 785-843-3738. $28,000 is all that's needed!

What is your favorite charity?

Did you know any driving you do as a charity service, or driving to and from serving a charity, is tax deductible at 14 cents a mile?

As with most types of writing, whether it be a poem, short story, novel, or memoir, the most difficult step is getting started. I've known many marathon runners over the years and one of the things I hear time and time again is, the first mile is the hardest.

Writing, not unlike running, job hunting, cleaning your house, can be difficult to get motivated to begin - no matter how badly you've been wanting to write. If you are like me, the times you can write are often the times you can't think of anything to write. And, when you're so busy you hardly have time to breath, all kinds of creative ideas come to mind and you find yourself mumbling, "If I only had time to write!".

Something that I've found works well for me, is to convince yourself that there are no blocks in your path; now believe it! My technique was to come up with a phrase that enables me to write, always. In my case, my mantra became 'justbegintowrite'. It is truly that simple. It doesn't matter what the first word is, you can always go back and scratch it, but get started.

Today, I encourage memoir writers to come up with a trigger that works to motivate you, free your unconscious desire to write, and make you feel confident that you truly can justbegintowrite whenever you desire.

This week will be spent writing - you're on your own, but do feel free to contact me should you have any stumbling blocks or questions.