I'm attempting to have a wordpress page again, bowing under the pressure from other authors, so if you want to follow me there, the addy is jaymesjabber65 then you have to put a period (.) and add wordpress.com   Written this way because blogger won't let me add the link.  sorry about that.

Outside the window this morning....

As you can see, it is a ccccccccold day here in northern Kentucky!

I'm adding this photog...
1. Because I can!
2. Because it's my favorite place on earth!
3. Because wordpress is being a pain in the behind!

I took this photog last winter...or maybe the winter before, don't remember. Anyway, it's so beautiful that I had to share as I look out my window to a fresh blanket of snow as yet untouched by sledders... oppp, better get quick pic of it!

Christmas Tree origins research....

So much for research for "Braided Stars: Fragments" , book two in a new scifi series I just started. Book one was "Braided Stars: Journey", and dealt with the journey to adulthood, or something like that. It ended with my main character shunned from her community and dying in the barren lands. Book two (at the moment) opens with her being rescued, and intro's new characters and a new plot (still in development). Kind of anxious about where this one will lead, but it's a good anxious.  

Since I've shared one of the scenes, parts 1-3 of brainstorm this week... I decided to go out and do a little research on the origins of the christmas tree....yeah, kind of silly, I know, but I did it. It killed about a half hour out of my boring day. Soooo, anyway, here's what I learned in a nutshel...


Very briefly... 

The Evergreen Tree (we call Christmas tree) was originally just boughs of evergreen that dates back to the times of the Druids, Romans, and Ancient Egypt. It was used in the pagan celebrations of the Winter Solstice. Ancient Egypt: winter solstice meant that the sun god Rah was weak and evergreen was a symbol that he would gain strength thus representing the victory of life over death. In ancient Rome, winter solstice was seen as a sign that it was almost time to begin the planting season, and evergreens meant prosperity in crop growth. The Druids saw the ever green as a symbol for everlasting life, much as we do today. Christians in Europe (Germany, Scandinavia, UK) began to bring in trees in the 1500's, and decorations around the time of Queen Victoria. The tradition was brought to the USA by Germans around the early 1800's.

brainstorming a scifi christmas....or, something like that...part 1, maybe

'Here it goes.' Ch. touched the switch pad and white lights began to blow between the green branches and red decorations.

Sh. frowned over the rim of her coffee mug.St. and Coh looked up from their studies and cocked their heads at the scene.

'So, what do you think?' Ch expectantly asked.

'I do no see the purpose.' Sh's lips twitched as she shrugged her shoulders.

'Nor do I.' St added

'I think it's pretty.' Coh smiled and winked.

Sh rolled her eyes. 'You would, Coh.'

'It's an old Terran custom for the new year. My ancestors brought pine tree seeds from Earth to Terra Mutara. They planted one in the central square of the capital, and every year it is decorated and lit on new year's eve. Then, on new years day, gifts are given to welcome in the new year.'

'Interesting custom.' St noted. 'I studied Ancient Terra last semester. On Earth, I believe the tree was called a Christmas tree. Christmas being a celebration of the birth of a prophet they called Jesus Christ.'

'Christ was more than a prophet, St.' Ch smiled broadly. 'Christ was the son of the Living God incarnate.'

'Do you believe in a Living God, Ch?' St asked, his curiosity piqued.

'I used to, when I was a very young boy.' Ch admitted, fidgeting with and ornament on the tree. 'My father was a Christian. When he was around, he would take us to church.'

St nodded. 'Why do you continue a tradition that celebrates a god you do not believe in?'

Sooooooo, I'm thinking...yeah, I know, you can smell the sawdust burning... get a life, move on... I'm thinking about doing some writing. It's been a while since I tackled a fresh-write, but now that Nano-write has got me started on a daily regimen of writing, I'd hate to break such a healthy cycle.  So, I'm thinking of writing something new... to do that, I've got to think about the genre, then the characters, the situation, what the purpose is...so many things to think about that I get bogged down, and the writing takes a backseat to my frustration levels. Even more so than the regular checks outside my window to see how much ice/snow/sleet mix we have falling and slicking up the roads.

I could write about slick roads...but, I've already done that -- in 2 stories, both so tragic that I cry every time I see their titles. I just can't see happy when there's ice and snow everywhere... It's so bleak, painfully bleak...Bleakhouse by Dickens bleak.... Sigh.... Or, I could just go back to bed and try to get some of the sleep I didn't get last night.

Terror on our street!

Just a little while ago, I heard a loud explosive sound that shook the windows. Not that I'm all familiar with the sound, but I have heard it before, many years ago. Back then, it was a propane explosion and it left a dearly beloved brother-in-blue burned so badly that he died two weeks later. So, when I heard the sound, my heart thumped painfully in my chest and I ran out the front door to see if there was perhaps a car accident on the street (something I've also heard too tooo many times). I didn't see anything, so I came back in. Then, it was like the whole fire department was pouring into the housing development one row of houses over. I looked to the sky for smoke. There was a little...I went to prayer. Prayed for anyone who was injured, and for the firemen that are rushing on such an icy day to help.

People don't often think to pray for the firemen and women... that's sad. They put their lives at risk every day...especially on days like this. Hence my memory of my fallen Brother-in-blue. It was a morning much like this, with blizzard-like conditions when he went to make his rounds, doing a routine security check on the town's water tower. As he opened the door and flipped on the light, the bottom of the tower exploded. He was thrown several yards, and 80% of his body had 3rd & 4th degree burns. Our whole town mourned his loss.

So the sound, this morning, sent my heart thumping and adrenaline rushing through my tired body. I posted a prayer request on the church page for such things, but saw that it was immediately taken down...replaced by a "Merry Christmas Everyone" message... tell me, will you, what kind of care that is??? We can pray for people to get "things" for Christmas, but we can't pray for the men and women in harm's way? Hypocrisy, if you ask me...Then, again, I've seen a lot of that at church the last few months... makes me wonder if church is really worth it anymore.

MERRY CHRISTMAS!

It's Christ-mass eve here. Woke up early, had a nice cup of coffee. It's been a full hour, and so far, nothing upsetting has happened. Then again, no one else is awake yet. Today, just going to try to surf the emotions as best I can, maybe spend some time writing, arting, or should I dare to go out to the bookstore and see what dreams I can find on the shelves. Don't know.

Christmas at our home is seven nativities, a tree, and a cat that likes to do really torrid things with the wisemen and the sheperds. (Don't ask, I'm not sure you're old enough for that kind of knowledge, hehehehe.) Tonight, before bed, we'll curl up and Hubby will read the Christmas story from Luke, chapter 2 then read 'The Night Before Christmas' and we'll go to bed.

This will be the first year in our 17 years of marriage that we've spent the holiday in our own home - alone. We won't be making the mad dash to be at family homes 200 miles away. No fancy dinner (probably left overs) or alcohol drinking relatives to spoil the day. No Grizwold family Christ-mass for us (well, maybe on dvd)! We'll just have each other and MaryJane.

BTW- we have a can of MaryJane's fave food, and a new laser mouse toy for her. 
  

Depths of Grief...

Since June, I've buried five family members, and seventeen friends. I don't need people to tell me to 'not feel down' or to 'look at the bright side'. I need to cry, to let it out... to do otherwise is unhealthy for me. I don't need to hear anymore about shootings, stabbings, muggings and violence, I've seen and been subject to enough of all of them in my lifetime. I need to hear about happy things, births, weddings, birthday celebrations, and funny things. Just because my soul is in shatters doesn't mean that funny things don't amuse me. I just can't break through this curtain of internal pain.

I stood at the graveside of a lost friend, gently placing a wreath on his grave. My throat caught, and I couldn't stop the tears. I went for coffee and the topic of discussion was the Ct. shootings. It was too much and my heart shut down. Yesterday, I went to a Christmas dinner, and the only thing that was talked about was death ALL day. Then I was frowned at when the smile left my face. Today, I went to church with a heavy heart, hoping to feel some small measure of joy in watching the children perform. I guess church is the last place you'd expect to find joy at christmas. from Sunday school on, the day was centered on lost loved ones and death. On leaving, I was reminded to take a flower in honor of my dead family. In prayer, I wept. I was told (in vagaries) not to feel. Everytime I venture out, or turn on tv or even facebook, there's nothing but death, dying, and pain.

Hard to pull out of depression when the world is acting against you to keep you there. Reminding you every minute of everyday about your losses. How you can't enjoy the holiday without a family, without friends...I've lost them, so don't expect me to enjoy the holidays.