Excellent choices Jen. I want to also tell Chris he is too kind (I am wondering if I owe him money )

I have an idea for something that might be fun along the same lines as the love letters that Jen posted. Those who want to take part are welcome to join in. I think it would be fun to write our own endearing words and post them in here. We could have a small contest and argue over who wrote the cutest letter or love note. There would have to be some rules of course and since it is my idea, I get to make up the rules.

Rule 1. Do not write it to any particular person. (All the women would probably write to Chris and I would be left out.)

Rule 2. Include pet references when ever possible but it is not manditory. (I have dibs on "looks like two kittens wrestling in a pillow case".)

Rule 3. Flirting is good, sexually explicit not so good.

Rule 4. I think we should be able to write as many fun letters as we wish but only one serious one.

Rule 5. Jen is a professional writer so if she joins in, (which she darn well better), we get to give her a handicap. I say she has to type with only her left hand and use only those letters that hand can reach when starting on the home row keys. ASDF (That might be a little severe) My second choice is she has to hop on one foot as she types, that should slow her down some.

Rule 6. Only one vote per person. We could send our choices to a non participant volunteer who agrees to stay out of the competition or simply keep a tally in here.

Rule 7. No plagiarism. If you borrow from any source, please give credit to that person or source.

Rule 8. There should be a timeline so we know when the contest is over. I vote for midnight on St. Swithins day but unfortunately that ended last month so how about the end of August. On September 1, the contest ends and we announce the winner.

Let me have your thoughts on this and I will amend the rules if your complaints, um suggestions, seem reasonable. Maybe Jen can only contribute after three glasses of wine. That might make for a fun post.

Greg

Count me in Greg but I want to see a couple of them so I know what I have to beat. I say Jen has to let her cat do the typing, that might make it fair. I would start mine

Dear Chris, oops I mean to whom it may concern.

Kelly

Count me in!!!

Here is a quick attempt..

My Dearest Darling,

    I miss you so much. I miss your large brown eyes and the way the light dances in them when you smile. I miss your smile, and the way your mouth krinkles up at the corners. I miss the sun in your hair, and the golden and blonde hues that appear in just the right light. I miss you laying beside me, your warm breath on my cheek, your head nestled against my shoulder. I miss the way you whimper a bit as you sleep, softly,  gently. Come back soon my love, I will count the seconds till your return. You are my one, my only one, my Skyler. By the way say hi to your master for me, I think his name is Greg or Craig or hmm nevermind, just come see me.

JJ

Very cute post JJ I have been working a lot so it might be a couple days before I post one, I do have several thoughts in mind though.

Jen sent me a great link the other evening involving Tom Waits and I then was checking out some of his work on Utube. His voice is not for everyone but his lyrics are awesome.

Time by Tom Waits

Well, the smart money's on Harlow
And the moon is in the street
The shadow boys are breaking all the laws
And you're east of East St. Louis
And the wind is making speeches
And the rain sounds like a round of applause
Napoleon is weeping in the Carnival saloon
His invisible fianc is in the mirror
The band is going home
It's raining hammers, it's raining nails
Yes, it's true, there's nothing left for him down here

Chorus:
And it's Time Time Time
And it's Time Time Time
And it's Time Time Time
That you love
And it's Time Time Time

And they all pretend they're Orphans
And their memory's like a train
You can see it getting smaller as it pulls away
And the things you can't remember
Tell the things you can't forget that
History puts a saint in every dream
Well she said she'd steak around
Until the bandages came off
But these mamas boys just don't know when to quit
And Matida asks the sailors are those dreams
Or are those prayers
So just close your eyes, son
And this won't hurt a bit

Chorus

Well, things are pretty lousy for a calendar girl
The boys just dive right off the cars
And splash into the street
And when she's on a roll she pulls a razor
From her boot and a thousand
Pigeons fall around her feet
So put a candle in the window
And a kiss upon his lips
Till the dish outside the window fills with rain
Just like a stranger with the weeds in your heart
And play the fiddler off till i come back again

Chorus

Greg

The love note post is not easy without thinking of someone in particular. I will not mention any names but that is how I will do mine, otherwise the feelings are not there.

In the meantime, a poem.......

One more.....

Just because we all get down sometimes
Does it really mean we have to get angry at the ones we love?
Because someone said something hurtful to us
Does it mean we should be hateful towards our friends?
Why do we let others bring us down
When all they do is insult us for something we didn't do?
We know what we have committed
But why let others take advantage of our innocence?

Losing your temper can mean losing loved ones
So why bother being lost without them?
Our heart goes through so much during our life
So why bother making it hurt more?
To go on through life with all the urges to do better
Is what our hearts command.
Not feeling alone is a high
Which is what popularity to the human soul loves
To be alone or not to be,
It's your choice.
Maybe one day people will realize they'll only hurt themselves
By taking it out on loved ones.
And one day after hurting those loved ones
They'll turn on us and we'll left on our own.
Nothing is more painful than sadness and misery
Combined with being alone.
In complete solitude you'll realize you lost the most important things in life aren't things;

Well said Kelly......

Ok...here goes... and no laughing Greg,

To my little tiger,

I found you when you were a youngster and have been blessed to see you grow.  That day I found you, neither of us could have known how you would end up.  That day we spent apart is behind us because our lives are spent together.  You will never fully understand how much you have meant to me and how much I thank the day you came in to my life.  Buddy, you will be forever my little tiger and I will love you always!

christopher

Chris that was very well done, I am most impressed. It is a brave man who can show emotion (women love it by the way.)

I had been meaning to mention this prayer Cacky  posted and had been too busy lately.

This is the beginning of a new day. God has given me this day to use as I will. I can waste it - or use it for good, but what I do today is important, because I am exchanging a day of my life for it! When tomorrow comes, this day will be gone forever, leaving in its place something that I have traded for it. I want it to be gain, and not loss; good, and not evil; success, and not failure; in order that I shall not regret the price I have paid for it. - Author unknown

I think sometimes we take some things too seriously and lose track of what is really important. Some have a hard time with inner reflection and are more likely to blame circumstances or other people for their inner turmoil or failures. I was most impressed with something Dan said recently, I do not have the quote in front of me but it had to do with treating people or talking to people in the same manner we do our pets. Those were some very wise words and some we should all take to heart. I think at times we become jaded. We are exposed to violence and anger and crime and hatred, but if one of us saw an animal suffering, our hearts would go out to them. Do we feel the same way if Russians are killing Georgians or Iraqi children are mutilated? Why do we talk to people in a worse way than we ever would our pets?  It might be time for some inner reflection.

This appeared earlier in Words but it is fitting:

No man is an island, entire of itself
every man is a piece of the continent, a part of the main
if a clod be washed away by the sea, 
Europe is the less, as well as if a promontory were, 
as well as if a manor of thy friends or of thine own were
any man's death diminishes me, because I am involved in mankind
and therefore never send to know for whom the bell tolls
it tolls for thee. 


-- John Donne

Any mans' death diminishes me, because I am involved in mankind.

To not treat your fellow man in a good and decent way diminishes you also.

Recently I came to a realization. I have been taking on a project which was dear to me but in all liklihood I am not qualified to complete. It is a sculpture and I will now place it in more skilled hands. My drawings will be used but the ability to turn those drawings into a three dimensional object I am happy with is truly beyond my ability at this time. In a case like this, I make no excuses and will move on to things that I can do. I tried.

(For those of you who sent photos, only my drawings will be passed on, the photos will be destroyed or secured.) JJ and two other friends will complete that part of the work. My name will not appear on the statue.

Greg

Greg don't give up.... if it's your first attempt at a sculpture of course it won't look the way you want it to, keep trying~eventually it will

Here is a link to a great sculptor's website, he is amazing and his video's are done in such a way that you can't help but feel inspired to create!

http://philippefaraut.com/

 Jennie

Jennie, I have done smaller pieces, just nothing on this scale. I sculpted animals but the detail involved in a life size figure is most difficult. I will grab more classes this winter and work on technique.

Carolyn, as always you are most kind as always and thanks for making me feel better. I am just a little frustrated right now but all will be fine in the end and I designed the entire garden, this was just something I hoped I could do but I did have a back up plan luckily.

A Harry Chapin song I doubt many know...

Now he was a man who worked with his hands
Only in a motor he found peace
He could make an engine sing like a bird
He could find his only lind of release
When he was up to the elbows in the grease.


She dreamed of a time for painting
As she was cleaning up his stains from the rug
She'd play all day with their children
And try to meet him with a welcome and hug
As he came shuffling through the house with a shrug


I tell you dirt gets under the fingernails
And hate gets under the skin
But a dream got a way of getting down to the bone
And the heart of a body that it's in.


While he was making magic with his piston machines
She was cleaning up the mess he'd left behind.
She was trying to make it through to the end of the day
With a little empty time
And do the painting that meant peace of mind.


I tell you dirt gets under the fingernails
And hate gets under the skin
But a dream got a way of getting down to the bone
And the heart of a body that it's in.


Well one day she didn't bother 'bout making his bed.
She hurried all the children out the door.
And she let the bills and the marketing go.
And she went and almost bought out an art supply store.


It just so happened that day he got to thinking.
Of the grease that always covered up his skin.
So he left the garage a little early
He got a shave and a manicure and trim
Came out clean as a plaster maniquin.


He came home in a hurry
But he almost didn't recognize the place.
It looked like it'd been hit by a hurricane.
There was canvas filling every open space.
And she had paint all over her face.


I tell you dirt gets under the fingernails
And hate gets under the skin
But a dream got a way of getting down to the bone
And the heart of a body that it's in.


They both stood stunned into silence
Then their laughter exploded like a shout
And he went out to make some magic in the kitchen
The clean man learning what cooking was about.
And the dirty girl painting her messy heart out.


I tell you dirt gets under the fingernails
And hate gets under the skin
But a dream got a way of getting down to the bone
And the heart of a body that it's in.

Greg

Charlee it is great to see you again and your letter was very touching. Jen or Kelly or Ivet or Greg are probably a better judge of the quality of the writing but the content was very interesting and moving.

I am still trying to write a serious piece  but it is not easy. Maybe this weekend.

Greg your talk about the statue was moving, You could eventually do it but I know time is a factor and there are only so many hours in the day. You are most gracious but you will have credit also. It has been a great experience to watch you work no matter what, you are so driven and your drawings are incredible.

Hold my hand, so I can hold you in my heart
Hold my hand, so I can guide you through the forest of the night
By the sea upon the raging tide

A message to the wind
I must begin to write of love and rain

Touch my heart for it is beating just for you
Hear my song, as I sing it to the lost and lonely ones
If there were time to spend another day

A message to the wind
I would begin if he could blow my thoughts to you

Hold my hand, now it is time for me to go
Take my love and let it rest
For we must meet again somehow

When you're alone and willows start to bend
And rain begins to fall
At times you will pretend and not pretend at all
I'll be with you again

A message to the wind

Gordon Lightfoot

JJ

Chris your post was adorable. Charlee yours was moving. I am still waiting to see what Greg and Jen come up with before I commit anything . Ivet may be the sleeper here, I have a feeling she writes with great emotion.

Last night we had a group of friends over after their book club meeting to watch some of the Olympics. Michael Phelps is sooooo good and of course trains in Michigan. Tonight he may match Indiana's Mark Spitz for golds and has a chance win more gold medals in one Olympics than anyone in history. (He all ready leads in total gold metal count and may be back in 2012). I doubt we see his records broken in our lifetime. It took 36 years for anyone to have a shot at Spitz.

Kelly

The anger I have deep in side
Comes out when I least expect it
This anger I have in me should just go away
This anger I have is an annoyance
This anger I have has messed my life up
This anger I have is stupid
Anger you have messed up my marriage
Anger you have messed up my life
Anger you have destroyed who I am inside and out
Anger you are the devil
Anger you are all that is bad
This anger I have in me has made me fight
A fight that was not worth it

The anger I have deep in side
Comes out when I least expect it
This anger I have in me should just go away
This anger I have is an annoyance
This anger I have has messed my life up
This anger I have is stupid
Anger you have messed up my marriage
Anger you have messed up my life
Anger you have destroyed who I am inside and out
Anger you are the devil
Anger you are all that is bad
This anger I have in me has made me fight
A fight that was not worth it

Jonathan Pendley

JJ

Charlee, that was a touching post. Ok here is my non- serious attempt at a love letter. Bear in mind I am not thinking of anyone particular, I think.

My dearest _______ (fill in name)

I think back to the only time we met. I was being obtuse and you were quite acute as we angled toward one another. I do not recall my first words to you but you rolled your eyes at me. I picked them up and rolled them back. Ah those eyes, how they seemed to follow me around the room, first one, then the other. Your teeth were like pearls ( they would have been more suitable for mastication if they were like teeth but they were lovely none the less.) We began to speak and your words filled my mind like a duck with one leg longer than the other, swimming in ever widening circles on a pond of vanilla pudding. The gibberish was accented by an occasional squeek or chirp that left me speechless and with little to say. I began to feel your nearness close to me and we began to dance. We seemed to glide across the dance floor, in all directions, all at once. You said something that made me blush and suddenly I was all alone, marooned. (this is a pun, and not a very good one. It was proceeded by a couple redundancies and another pun but I digress.) As quickly as we met you were gone and I never learned so much as your name. Please come back to me, I believe you have my wallet, you can keep the money, I just need you.

hmm this was not a very good attempt, sorry, I will spend some time on the serious one I promise.

G

Greg that is funny. It took a while but I got the last pun. That was pretty brave, I will stick with serious lol  but not yet.

Friendship Ended

© By Kathy Littrell
A robin my cat once befriended
Till one day the relationship ended
I came home to find
My cat changed her mind
For from her a mouth a feather extended

Kelly