Friday, June 27, 2008

Feel-Good Friday: Jeff Laughs His Head Off, Raven Gets Cooked in Her Own Wordzzle, & Everyone Gets an Award!

Mine was a fitful sleep. I tossed and turned with grotesque dreams. Dreams of a horse's head. A disembodied horse's head that floated over my bed and laughed a maniacal, cruel laughter. I awoke the next morning with the disquieting realization that perhaps I hadn't been dreaming after all. Demonic laughter reverberated from the walls of my bedroom. The horse head scene from The Godfather flashed before my eyes and I began to shake. Closing my eyes, I peeled back the sheets and held my breath. After what seemed like a good five seconds, I managed to pry my horrified eyes open. Horse's head? Nope. Blood oozing out of the comforter? Nope. Blood on my hands? Nope. No blood. No sweat.

Still, the grotesque laughter persisted. It was leading me down the stairs. I walked trance-like, round and round the endless winding staircase, stepping over Trudy's slumbering body at the foot. I seldom envy a dog's life, but in that moment, I longed to trade her existence for mine. She snored in innocent bliss, her dog breath floating upwards from the peaceful depths of blogless sleep. For a moment the laughter seemed to be coming from the mysterious woman in the Marie Larson painting...


Trudy awakened, sensing danger...



I crossed the living room. I counted the bricks in the floor as my bare feet trod over them, wandering into the kitchen. Hypnotically, I lifted a cheese danish to my frightened lips. Funny how simple things--counting bricks, devouring a trans-fat-infused pastry--can keep one from being overwhelmed by hysterics. I wandered down the hallway, one hypnotized foot in front of the other, compelled, counting bricks. The laughter was coming from my studio. I grasped the knob on the door at the end of the hallway, holding my breath.

What awaited me on the other side of the door stopped me in my tracks. The cheese danish stopped in midair, halfway to my mouth. Things were worse than I'd imagined.

The laughter was coming from the i-Book, whose lid opened and closed, opened and closed, in a frantic rhythm. Like a toilet lid in a crazed Tidy Bowl commercial. Up. Down. Up. Down. Up. Down. All the time emitting that eerie i-Book glow. Licking my trembling fingers, I sat down and opened Entourage. I held my breath and clicked SEND & RECEIVE ALL.

And you know what? That maniacal laughter? It was just the laughter of Jeff B.


That horse's head? It was only this award he'd presented me over at A Word in Edgewise.

I'd gotten all worked up for nothing.

Thanks, Jeff. Everybody, go to his place and try your damndest to get a word in edgewise. But beware: Jeff lives a bit on the edge, as do his cohorts. It's so easy to fall in with the wrong crowd. Today, a laughing head. Tomorrow a dead one:




I narrowly escaped the horse-head-in-the-bed-fate, only to fall prey to another attack of wordzzle, courtesy of Raven, who actually wormed her determined self into this week's offering:

The heady fragrance of lilacs wafted on the soft summer breeze, entered Raven’s open window, and proceeded to tango with the aroma of Dr. Elsey’s Precious Cat Premium Cat Litter sifting from the garbage can. Such a fabulous olfactory contradiction, thought Raven, inhaling deeply. I simply adore the violent collision of unrelated things. Meanwhile, Abraham Lincoln, all elbows, knees, and Adam’s-apple, was pedaling his tricycle up the hill to Raven’s house. He was late! He was late! For a very important date! Raven sighed. Where oh where is that silver-tongued, womanizing aristocrat Abe? LATE AGAIN?? THE NERVE!!! He has toyed with me one too many times. He is not even MY TYPE. Talk about a violent collision of unrelated things. And now he is trouncing on my good name. As God is my witness, when Abraham Casanova Lincoln walks through that door, I will smother him with kisses. Then I will proceed to beat him with the business end of this curtain rod. The door opened….















I woke from this appalling nightmare to learn of two more awards, both of them sweet as daydreams. Both of them from lovely Anna over at A.Bananna...

Anna has outrageously winsome offspring and an uncanny knack for photographing them at just the right moment. Here's her little enchantress Rue looking at the world through her bubble spectacles...


Like mother, like daughter.

The first award from Anna is the Special Scribe Award. Anna says she honored me with it because of my "creativity in tying my art with everyday stuff." Here's hoping the award isn't revocable after she sees THIS unraveled post, its loose ends dangling all the way to Fort Worth.

I now toss this beautiful blossom, the Special Scribe Award, at the following keyboards:

Raven, of A View from Razen's Nest. Mad scientist/wordsmith. Creator of the wordzzle: every week Raven flies over cyberspace, dropping random words on our heads. Our task is to scrape them out of our hair and shape them into paragraphs. Lady Raven practices what she challenges with a diabolical, beautiful frenzy. Like her namesake, Raven finds literary nourishment everywhere, picking every bone clean of meaning and nuance.

Paschal, of murat11. Paschal's MS (Master of Surrealism) diploma was shoplifted from the BAKING NEEDS aisle of the Piggly Wiggly in Jackson, Mississippi, soaked in agave reposado, hung out to dry in Langley, Virginia, debriefed and chopped into pieces, rolled in powdered sugar, fortified with beeswax, then fired from a cannon by Tibetan monks at the top of Mount Everest in observance of International Choose Your Weapon Day. Most of it landed in San Antonio, and now Paschal dishes it up over at his place. It's an acquired taste, but what an acquisition!

The second award, Shine On, I won by virtue of being female. That's right. Anna awarded it to all females who read her blog. I grabbed it and ran with it. No DNA samples were required.


And now this award is up for grabs by anyone reading this blog who'd like it. I am accepting bids in the form of cash, chocolate, and gasoline, preferably all three. Highest bidder gets the award.

Just kidding. If you'd like this award, just post a comment to claim it. And keep shining, all of you. That's the only requirement.

121 comments:

lime said...

i do believe i have slipped down the rabbit hole. but if i had to slip down one i'd be thrilled to find myself in your creative sphere.

San said...

Well, Michelle, why don't we slip down there together?

Velvet Ginger said...

You certainly had me on the edge of my seat....like Dorothy spinning spinning in her house...inside the cyclone.
Thank you for honoring my gifted adn sweet daughter!

Celebration of Life said...

You had me on the edge of my seat with this post, San! You are just too funny! Wow, what a creative mind you have and I am priveleged to know you!
Hugs from Wyoming!
Jo

Jameil said...

the horse head story? HILARITY! hahahahaha.

A.Bananna said...

I was the same as my mother and Aunt Jo. LOL. Sitting at the edge of my seat. Thank you so much for those very kind words!! You are too sweet!!

Ellie Creek Ellis said...

you truly deserve this award! san, you're so creative and enchanting! Thanks for honoring my niece, A.Bananna, and Rue RUe!

Raven said...

WOW! What a fun/frightening dream. GREAT wordzzle. I haven't done mine yet. I'll probably post the wordzzle post late this afternoon and hope you'll add your name to Mr. Linky so that the others will find you.

Not sure how I feel about being "cooked in my own wordzzle," but since you gave me an award... and such a pretty one... Thank you so much for the beautiful award. It's so pretty!

You are so wonderfully creative. The view here is always just delightful.

Daryl said...

Oh you are so clever ... you should be writing a book .. and illustrating it! I mean it. Do it!

:-Daryl

Phyllis Hunt McGowan said...

You are so funny. This was tense reading! I didn't know how it would end and I was scared and worried for you ;) Glad things turned out better than you expected.

Anonymous said...

Great set up! You had me on edge.

Um... About Jeff's photo. I have only seen it as a small profile shot. All this time I thought he was up to his chin in a mud bath! LOL! I had no idea it was his shirt.

Raven said...

Ok... One good award deserves another.... Please check in at Raven's Nest.

p said...

the first half of this post CRACKED ME UP. I've never seen the godfather, the video was hilarious.
your writing superb...your a wonderful goof.

Mima said...

San, as ever beautifully written, loved all the tension at the beginning, then some well deserved awards!

Akelamalu said...

That was a bit like Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds! Congrats on the awards and I loved your Wordzzle!

San said...

Rubye Jean: Like mother. Like daughter. Like grandmother. And a very youthful grandmother at that.

San said...

Jo, I am privileged to know YOU.

Hugs from The Land of Enchantment. Wishing you a restorative, unplugged camping trip...

San said...

Jameil, so that was you I heard laughing THIS time!

San said...

Anna, your whole family is too sweet. It's great to get to know all of you!

San said...

Thanks, Ellie. I believe fun and creativity run in your family.

San said...

Raven, you are too kind. I'm glad you like the award--it is beautiful, isn't it?

And thanks for being a sport about my writing you into the wordzzle. How's Abe? Have you guys made up?

San said...

Daryl, you sound kind of bossy. I need a boss like that.

Don't we all?

;-D

San said...

Well, The Elementary, the jury's still out on the damage done by the cheese danish.

:-D Thanks for your good cheer.

San said...

Chewy--and I thought I had difficulties seeing details on computer monitors!

Actually, your vision of Jeff's profile pic is clever. Somebody should have one like that. What about you? Your picture continues to morph in exciting ways.

San said...

Raven. I already went over and collected. This is a windfall week for me! LOVING IT.

San said...

Paula, I'm so glad that the horse head scene was new to somebody. Of course in the film it wasn't exactly like that. The video is hilarious, isn't it?

San said...

Mima, I'm glad you enjoyed the silliness. I hope you're feeling well.

San said...

Thanks, Akelamalu. I look forward to seeing what you come up with. You are so clever.

Andrea and Kim said...

Well, you have done it again...how, I do not know, but you weave these words which leave me asking myself what just happened?

I will say, you deserve each and every single award you have received! This is truly a delightful and thoughtful blog by a delightful and thoughtful woman!

And in the end, I don't mind if I do "Shine On"...what a great graphic! Thank you!

Keep on Shining, San! You are fabulous!

Unknown said...

San,

As you might guess I was quite excited at the prospect of a dream... a dream that sampled from the media/art world of film... and instead, I was led on a winding path that became so twisted I ended up in my own waking dream world of sorts. Then a wonderful Freudian slip popped in: I read "toss this beautiful bosom" instead of "blossom." Well, I can tell you that it is happy hour and I have not yet had a drink, but now I think I will. Margarita, please and hold the sanity.

Sparkling Red said...

You had me worried for a minute there. That horse is kinda creepy, taken out of context! Then, once I realized that he was laughing, everything slipped back into proper perspective.

Peter said...

Hi! It's funny what we recall. I, like you, still remember that scene vividly. Very much like the scene out of exorcist, where her head spins around and around.

Having said that, I can understand why your your head would be spinning with excitement on receiving this great award. Well done!

Take Care,
Peter

jsd said...

ah macs are possessed, and i just thought it was pcs :)

San said...

Kim, how can I shine when you make me blush? Shucks.

I hope you will place the Shine On award on your amazing blog. It's one radiant place in cyberspace.

San said...

Doc, my bosom is heaving over your comment!

Hold the sanity indeed.

San said...

Red, I agree. That horse out of context is on the creepy side. Shudder.

San said...

Peter, you are so witty. No doubt your experience viewing frightening movie scenes has developed your witty muscle. Your comment gives me whiplash.

San said...

JS, there are levels of possession and the PC is in a whole different category--the "call an exorcist" category. I think of Macs as delightfully mischievous elves.

Anonymous said...

Love your shine, sweet pea. That luminosity hasn't dimmed at all in lo these many years (I know exactly how many but it's a bit shocking to see it in writing). I am blessed to feel the glow of your reflection.

Lee said...

Ok, San, I'm claiming the star award. My smile shines even if nothing else does. :D

Love the Wordzzle! Especially the violent or not so impacts of scents and sounds. Seems to me you truly do paint in all 5 senses. You Go Girl!

Nearly fell out of my chair laughing over what you said about our Paschal. Too funny! Can't wait to read his response. (WEG)

Now that my current work project is done maybe I can find time to email more and write.

Hugs!!!! Oops...that is if I don't slip in the stardust you keep showering us with.

Love!

San said...

b2, thank you for not putting the number in writing on the World Wide Web.

Even though you don't blog, I hope you will accept both the Scribe Award and the Shine Award. Print them and put them up in your studio. Or over the washer and dryer. Or you could put them in Armand's sports memorabilia room.

San said...

Lee, I'm glad you're claiming the Star award. It suits you to a T. Make that a star.

You glow, girl!

Yeah, I'm wondering about Paschal's acceptance speech myself. And more email and more posts from your glowing self--I'm ready!

SandyCarlson said...

I enjoyed the story you created and all the fun in this post, San! You have a great big heart.

Unknown said...

You speeded up my heartbeat with this one!

Sandi McBride said...

Congratulations on your awards San...I was truly waiting for the horses head to jump out at you from the fridge...lol...what a great way to get my blood moving lol
loved it
Sandi

~Babs said...

Carried away on a wild train ride!
(and loved every second of it)
I feel so very "Alice".

Heather said...

Honestly if that had been me waking up to a crazed i-book, I would have fired the gun I would have been carrying. (Down here in the south most of us are pistol packing, don't tread upon us indeed)
I love you awards though, you deserve all the best awards there are.
I'll claim the last one, being that I am a grrrrrl, and one that is licensed the carry a conceled weapon at that. Watch out, she's only got one good eye! Thats what my kids say all the time, don't piss her off, she's only got one good eye, you never know what could happen! LOL

Cath said...

San what a beautiful award! Thank you for sharing it and I will keep you in chocolate forever....

You so deserve those awards. Your writing is entrancing, gifted. I love how you weave your words around the subject and intersperse with paintings and photos, always complimentary, always giving. You are a good soul. A truly good soul.

I love coming here and losing myself in your magic world.

Raven said...

Hope you'll add your name to Mr. Linky at the wordzzle post so others can find your wonderful work.

Meg Wolff said...

Hi San,
I enjoyed this post (except for the horse head scene!) and have visited Jeff, Raven, Anna, and Paschal!

Rhea said...

Great awards! I want to win Jeff's hilarious horse one. :o)

San said...

Sandi, now I'll be uneasy about opening the fridge at night. Shame on you.

Hugs.

San said...

Babs, I believe you are so very "Alice," especially when it comes to your art.

San said...

Heather, you are hilarious! You pistol packing grrrrrl--the You Shine award definitely suits you. That's one shiny gun. Aim it over there, hon.

San said...

Cath, you know how to make someone's day!

Mine is made, thanks to you.

xx

San said...

Raven, I thought I cooperated with Mr. Linky. I will have to check...thanks for the reminder.

San said...

Meg, thanks for visiting J R A & P. I know they appreciate it!

Sorry for the horse's head. Now you know I why The Godfather didn't appear on the Feel-Good Movies list you requested.

:-D

San said...

Thanks, Rhea. The wearer of a hat like yours definitely deserves a horse award.

The Moody Minstrel said...

They say that laughter is the best medicine.

So why are people trying so hard to make it something from one's deepest, darkest, ugliest, most gothic, tabasco-before-bedtime nightmare?

My whole world view is melting into some unspeakable nether gulf of arcane horror! Either that or I've been reading too much H.P. Lovecraft.

Indigo said...

San, I just think you'so COOL! :)

Richard said...

Nice wordzzling San.

Rich

Unknown said...

Thanks for lotsa blogs to go visit :>). Left you a James Wright poem over on my blog!

San said...

Moody, maybe both conditions apply here! You always leave me questioning when you drop in from The Land of the Rising Bile.

And I do enjoy a good question. Thanks.

San said...

Well, Indi, as the cliche goes: Takes one to know one.

San said...

Rich, thanks for the visit. I hope you'll come again.

San said...

Distracted--a James Wright poem? YIPPEE!

Odat said...

Wow...this is my first visit here and I'm mesmerized by your great writing and stories!!! Great fun!! I think I'll be back....Oh and I love the Shine On Award! I just sent someone a card with the words "Shine On"...coincidence???? I'm going to take it, OK? Here's a pound of cyber chocolate to hold you over....hehe.
Peace

Jay said...

Oh Holy Cow! How has this blog gone unnoticed by me for so long?? What a great blog you have! I'm glad it was just that crazy horse laughing and not actually your Mac Book. I don't think your warranty would cover that. ;-)

San said...

Odat, a pound of chocolate should hold me over until your next visit. IF you visit again very soon. Take your award and run with it. And thanks for your shining enthusiasm!

:-D

San said...

Jay, your point about the warranty is well taken. Explaining such an issue to tech support would be a nightmare in itself.

Come back soon. Please.

david mcmahon said...

I simply HAVE to know what happened to the Danish!

murat11 said...

Mea culpa, Ms San, on the white rabbit's tardy reply. I am honored, as I am always honored by your supportive and appreciative and perceptive eyes. And a shout out to your home state: even such a tiny burg as Athens, Alabama was able to supply Mr Schultz's witch's brew in a way no burg up the Tejano Palestine Highway was able.

I'm troubled by that diploma's stopover in Langley, knowing the Firm's penchant for using unsuspecting minds for pin cushions, but I suppose that's why the agave reposado, anti-viral to even the dastardliest of dastardly hands. Much as I like the Pigg of old, those BAKING NEEDS would assuredly have come from the Jitney Jungle, and preferably the one down Belhaven-way, Eudora's old stomping grounds.

Shine On, Ms San: I believe your feminine virtue was but one of your MANY claims to that aptly named and aptly claimed award. Peace.

indicaspecies said...

"She snored in innocent bliss, her dog breath floating upwards from the peaceful depths of blogless sleep."
Hahaha..Classic!

The Special Scribe Award is rightly ascribed to you. Another adorable post San.:)

indicaspecies said...

I now recall Pink Floyd's track 'Shine On, you Crazy Diamond' by Roger Waters.

Btw, I'm claiming the Shine On Award. Thank you.:)

Anonymous said...

San I apologize for the lack of a wordzzle. My wordzzle is posted on my other blog: Answers to the Questions But thanks for visiting the nyc waterfalls post! Your post is so interesting - I can't pick one thing to comment about! But I loved YOUR wordzzle! :)

Maggie May said...

You had me going with that tale! Was feeling quite wobbly! LOL!
You need to write a book! And illustrate it!

San said...

David, that's the next night's dream.

San said...

Paschal, my apologies to the Jitney. It's just that the Pig is wigged out poetry-wise.

And yes, the antiseptic properties of the agave are legendary. Not to worry about the Langley mental voodoo.

Now that you mention it, I believe the model for the Shine On award bears a striking resemblance to the silhouettes on those mud flaps so favored by truckers on the Palestine highway.

Keep on keepin' on.

San said...

Celine, I'm glad you liked the dog breath.

And by all means, snap up the Shine On award. You are one radiant blogger.

San said...

Thanks, Mary, for your compliment, and for solving the mystery as to your wordzzle's whereabouts.

San said...

Maggie May, what were you drinking when the wobbliness set in?

:-D

Jeanne said...

Love your posts and the pictures to accompany them with. The dog pic startled me at first reading along about horse heads and such I had to look closer that it was 'normal' lol. Great classic movie clip tied things up.
RYC: I used to work in a bookstore and it was a wonderful thing to be surrounded by all those possibilities.

San said...

Jeanne, I never intended to spook people with Trudy's picture. Shudder.

I can see you in that bookstore surrounded by, as you say, possibilities. Nice image it is.

Lori Skoog said...

San,
Thank you for looking at my Journal. I have been checking in on yours regularly and it is one of my links. I also looked into the Wordzzle...it would be fun to try it. How long has it been since you had rain?
Lori

San said...

Lori, I will add your link to my list. If you do a Wordzzle, let me know. I'd love to read it.

We had no spring rain to speak of, but July (usually) marks the beginning of our monsoon season. It's thundering anyway. Hoping for a deluge...

rebecca said...

for once i'm speechless...this was sooo funny!!! you wrote this so well....hysterical.....LOL!

and thanks for dropping by my other bloggie blog and leaving that supportive comment....when it comes to exercise, supportive comments are like cheerleaders rooting me on! so, hey, thanks for that "you go girl!" :)

San said...

Rebecca, thank you very much for your enthusiasm.

You should definitely take that Shine On award if it interests you. You do glow, you know!

www.retiredandcrazy.com said...

San, you sound like so much fun. I love people like you.

San said...

Retiredandcrazy, I'm sure we could make some great mischief together.

Velvet Ginger said...

I just love that picture of my Rue rue!

San said...

I know what you mean, Rubye. That's one to be printed and framed and distributed to the family!

Bruno LoGreco said...

Excellent story - I thought It was a clip from your book - LMAO. Thanks for sharing - You are definitely creative. :)

Have an amazing day!

Daryl said...

There's an award for you, come on over and pick it up!

:-Daryl

San said...

Thanks, Bruno. Next time we'll go for ROFLMAO. That's when the good times really start!

San said...

Daryl, I went over. You are simply too cool!

Jeff B said...

Bwahahahaha!!!

Finally making it over to say hi. long and much needed weekend away with the family.

Glad the horse brough you so much entertainment. I loved your story to go along with it. The comments here are like a post within a post too.

Congrats again.

Lavinia said...

Hi San, and what a what a what a post! It had me riveted as I read...with photo accompaniment....your terrifying nightmare-story...the maniacal laughter..... very well written, what can I say, I was spellbound!

Little Rue (love that name!) and her bubble spectacles...that photo should win an award in its own right..what a remarkable shot. Little Rue is so cute!

You deserve these awards and its great that your wonderful blog was so rewarded....!

San said...

Jeff, I'm glad you and your family enjoyed your camping trip.

Thanks again for the award and for letting me have some fun with it. I look forward to the next episode of "What Is It?"

San said...

Lavinia, Rue is the daughter of one of my blogging friends Anna (A. Bananna.) And she is the granddaughter of Rubye Jean (Somewhere over the Rainbow.) As a matter of fact, I believe Rue is short for Rubye. Isn't that delightful? They are a beautiful family!

Thank you for your enthusiasm about my post. You are quite a charmer.

Paula In Pinetop said...

San, this is the best most wonderful and delightful post I've ever read at your place. You have my pre-holiday- last-day-at-work-brain spinning down that rabbit hole !!!!!!!!!!

Wheeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!

Oh, and I love the picture of the horse !!! OMG, you are a total goofball.

sukipoet said...

stories well told. Love the pictures with it. Esp love the little girl with the bubbles. thanks for the award......am sending rain your way. Suki

A.Bananna said...

wow!! you must be a busy lady! LOL. Just wanted to come say Ello and I hope your day is wonderful!! have a great rest of the week!

Cath said...

San I pass this award right back atcha because you shine too. Come over to mine and see what I say...

San said...

Paula, your colleagues are starting to stare. "Bridle" your enthusiasm.

HAPPY FOURTH!

Hilary said...

San, that was hilarious. I love how the fear and tension built, but not SO much that you couldn't grab a Danish along the way. What a clever, creative post.

San said...

Suki, I'm glad you're taking the award--you deserve it. AND your rain arrived last night! Better than chocolate.

The world is fresh and smells SO good.

San said...

Anna, thanks for stopping by. I hope your week is going great. I just told Suki--it rained last night! I am excited about that. We needed it. How we needed it.

San said...

Cath, you are so generous-spirited. I am prepared to blush and be SO pleased.

San said...

Hilary, I'm glad you enjoyed the Danish bit. You are "sweet."

A visit from you is always fun.

Jennifer S said...

You had me on edge! Plus, now I want a danish.

You deserve these awards--Congratulations!

Heather said...

I think you deserve every award there is. I've been crazy busy trying to kep our heads above water,so I have not been around as much. I was thinking of you and just wnted to let you know that fact, the post was a funny bonus! XXOO

San said...

Jennifer--coffee and something sweet--it's good for what ails.

Happy Fourth to you and your family!

San said...

Heather, you are SO kind.

Have a lovely holiday with your family. You are in my thoughts...

xxoo

John-Michael said...

You, my Darling San, continue to amaze in the most delightful and enchanting ways. Bless you!

Lovingly ...

david mcmahon said...

Happy Fourth of July, San, to you and all your loved ones.

Gone Back South said...

Oooh, that gave me the heebygeebies - even though there was nothing to be scared of really, just the thought of hearing creepy noises in the night makes me not want to go to sleep! And thanks, I will pick up that lovely award since you offered!

whimsical brainpan said...

What a fun post. Congratulations on the awards!

Lynette said...

San, you had me biting my nails and hanging on the edge of my seat while I read about your horse head nightmare and maniacle (sp?) laughter coming from your studio! :o :) Would some homemade chocolate chip cookies be good enough to grab that 'Shine On' award? I made some tonight. Great post!!

Sandi McBride said...

Alright San Darlin', what's up, get back to blogland...missin' you
hugs
Sandi

myonlyphoto said...

Oh San, you are so funny, the horses laugh story got me really going, lol. Congrats on the awards, you deserve it. Anna :)

Anonymous said...

Ha, ha! That was a clever way to begin the post. :)