Blog 365 Challenge | Perle Champion

Black Friday – The day after Thanksgiving – the single largest shopping day of the year – historically the day most retailers go well into the Black. My main purchase is always Holiday cards and a this year I picked up a small token to insert into the card.

People will be out getting their Christmas tree and decorations. Thanksgiving day, mom had the kids, grandkids put up the tree, I watch and take pictures.

I don’t do the tree thing, and my blue party (xmas) lights stay up year round – homage to a ritual of mine and a friend now passed, Mark Roberts. I’ searching for more of the blue icicle lights – they’re scarce this year, don’t know why.

The day after Thanksgiving is my day to write Holiday cards and letters.

pondering the end

that 2012 end of the Mayan calendar

poleshift

I love a parade

22 Nov 2012 Leave a comment

by Perle Champion in Blog 365 Challenge, Haiku times 2, Macy's Parade, Thanksgiving

music, marching bands

themed floats and balloons on high

talking heads report

let the games begin

bowls followed by malls shoppers

armed and dangerous

Note:

I love a parade – shopping and games – not so much.

My Thanksgiving day begins with coffee in front of the TV watching the Macy’s parade and perusing the Sunday-thick holiday newspaper that came out at 9pm Wednesday night. Mainly, I love a thick newspaper, and I do need to do a little shopping, so I need to see what the deals are.

We don’t eat until 7, so there’s no rush to get anywhere until later this afternoon. I’ll spend the rest of the morning on my e-books that I’m hoping to launch by Saturday or Sunday; calling friends to wish them well; chatting on facebook; the old ‘Miracle on 34th Street’ playing in the background…

Life is good and I am grateful.

Holiday Migrations

21 Nov 2012 Leave a comment

by Perle Champion in Blog 365 Challenge, Haiku times 2, Thanksgiving

thanksgiving eve day

the gatherings begin now

students scatter to

far flung parents’ homes

neighbors’ drives spill onto streets

christmas lights appear

Note:

Driving to the store today for last minute supplies for Mom, I notice that my young downstairs neighbors (students both) are gone. There are a lot of students living in my neighborhood. Other neighbors driveways are populated with out-of-state plates.

I’ll head out tonight for Mom’s in Hoover, 15 minutes down I 65, to help her and my sister with food prep for tomorrow.

Forks in the Road

20 Nov 2012 Leave a comment

by Perle Champion in Blog 365 Challenge, Freelance Writing, Haiku times 2, Retirement

“You have brains in your head. You have feet in your shoes. You can steer yourself in any direction you choose” – Dr. Suess

ah yes, but which way

even the yellow brick road

has forks and oh my

I have trouble with

opinions’ many voices

forks many choices

Notes:

I still have a day job, so I’ve no choices to make today. I’ll go to work. But 2013 is just around the corner and I’m going to retire from that ‘day job’ and oh the choices then.

I just have to remember I can’t go in all directions at one time. I need a plan and at the moment I don’t have one other than the list. More on that later.

Recalling ‘dolce far niente’

19 Nov 2012 Leave a comment

by Perle Champion in Blog 365 Challenge, Freelance Writing, Haiku times 2, Retirement

monday and I have

no special place to be

such a free feeling

I want more like days

where the only one I must

consider is me

Notes:

Selfish? Yes, but I’ve worked all my life since I was 17. I raised an exceptional child til I could not, a husband with cancer, a failed business with a friend – no longer friend, and the list goes on.

Laid off in 2007 when Saks corporate went back to NYC, gave me a 2 year taste of ‘dolce far niente’ (how sweet to do nothing).

I didn’t do 100% nothing. I did what I wanted, when I wanted: Walked the neighborhood every day; wrote and published stories, essays, book reviews; painted and hung 3 art exhibits; etc., etc., etc…

I will be revisiting those days by retiring one way or another in 2013 by or before March 20, 2013. Spring equinox, the first day of Spring – Rebirth of earth and rebirth of me.

Lessons unlearned

18 Nov 2012 Leave a comment

by Perle Champion in Blog 365 Challenge, Haiku times 2, Poetry

simple ideas
true upon the lined page
saved for tomorrow’s

lessons yet unlearned
marching cadence armed for war
moths still drawn to flame

Seasons change

17 Nov 2012 Leave a comment

by Perle Champion in Blog 365 Challenge, Haiku times 2, Poetry

the gauntlet was thrown
spring waited watched and listened
the very wind held

back his very breath
no leaf nor creature dared to
stir lest winter stay

No to do list on Friday

16 Nov 2012 Leave a comment

by Perle Champion in Blog 365 Challenge, Haiku times 2, Poetry

Oh my to do list

I’ve ignored you royally

My only excuse is

Friday and pleasurable

Things lured me away

It all started Thursday night with open house at PepperPlace. Bought a great magnet for the fridge which at $6 dollars was a bargain as the much larger painting was $325. Then off to Frontera’s open house for great Mexican appetizers, more to drink and I found these wonderful metal crafted roses.

This morning after a leisurely breakfast and reading on the balcony, I attended a free seminar at Hoover Library on making your dreams reality, pizza was served. Later off to Forest Park for shopping at Zoe’s – got a sparkly hot pink beret. Then to Naked Art to check out the unique Christmas ornaments. and then the best, we were off to Daniel Day Gallery for their Christmas Art show and terrific food, good conversations with friends and Sally Belle crooning on stage.

I’m with Scarlet on that to do list ‘I’ll think about it tomorrow. tomorrow is another day.’ Night y’all.