Gilded Fish

In anticipation of the next upcoming SPARK round, and because I've been in contact with someone and looking forward to some art/poetry collaborations, I figured it was about time to sit down and try and get back into the groove. For some reason I feel naturally drawn to write in ballad meter. Not sure why. I guess I like the sing-songy nature of the prosody, and I feel an overwhelming urge to rhyme when I write poetry, so in both respects it works. Though it is really annoying when I try to write something more free and I wind up relegating myself to a regular meter like this.

Anyway, I tapped this out, very rough, but I kinda like it. I think because ballad sort of sounds very old-fashioned, so my wording and grammar turns out a little old-fashioned, too. It fits. Any comments would be appreciated, if you liked it, didn't like it, suggestions on how to make it better, parts that weren't very readable, and keep in mind this is the first draft (that is, if I ever re-write it. If I don't, this is the first and only draft!). Whatever the case, I hope you enjoy:

Gilded Fish


Little gilded fish
dressed in shining scales
golden ones above her brow
and silver on her tail

Swim, fish, swim
across the ocean vast
Swim, fish, swim
to arrive at home at last.

The current swept her far away
into many perils anew
and though her fears were mighty strong
she was stronger and swam through

A deviled canyon met her eyes
bubbles rising from the pit
she tightly shut those gleaming eyes
and swam right over it.

Swim, fish, swim
across the ocean vast
Swim, fish, swim
to arrive at home at last.

Tentacles reached out to pull
her in their squirming grip
she swiftly swished her shining tail
and out of reach she slipped.

A school of fish she then did cross
following the current
with them she did swim along
until her strength was spent.

Swim, fish, swim
across the ocean vast
swim, fish, swim
to arrive at home at last.

Tired and sore she had to rest
before her fins gave out
a rocky cave she snuck inside
then heard a mighty shout.

A slithering eel disclosed himself
and snapped his jaws so mean
but gilded fish was much too quick
the fastest he had seen.

Swim, fish, swim
across the ocean vast
swim, fish, swim
to arrive at home at last.

Exhausted was the little fish
she merely drifted on
no more swimming could she do
'til she heard a familiar song.

“Shining scales in sunlight
glimmering in moon.
Coral for your playground
night time comes too soon.

Sleep, sleep my little fish
a night rest you must take
and mother’s fin will hold you safe
Til the morning when you wake.”

Mama fish pulled her in
and kissed her glittering cheek
and gilded fish she settled down
for about a week.

Swim, fish, swim
across the ocean vast
swim, fish, swim
she arrived at home at last

Life went back to normal
or so the mama thought
the little fish remained uneasy
and dreamed of what she sought.

The ocean placed a longing
deep within her heart
in her reef she could not stay
she knew that she would part

from all the things she used to know
and all the things she loved
to find her place among the waves
whether beneath them or above.

She no longer feared the open sea
that had shaken her quivering core
now she gladly did embrace it
and went swimming back for more.

Swim, fish, swim
into the ocean vast
swim, fish, swim
to arrive at home at last.

© Elizabeth Cordes, 2011

It's Snowing. Again!

It seems snowing is the "norm" here in the North Country. I am now convinced that when the weather report says 70% chance of snow, it REALLY means that it will snow at least 70% of the day. The last two days have been sunny (weird!). So sunny, in fact, that some of the snow cover started to melt enough to be able to make a snowman! Me and Caelyn went out after school yesterday and rolled together a boy snowman and a girl snowman (snowoman?).

At any rate, it was almost a relief to see it starting to snow this morning as I was working out to the Plyometrics and Cardio Circuit DVD. It went well. I made it through the warm-up and the first circuit set better than the first time, but really pooped out on the second circuit set. I also definitely sweated a lot more than when I did the same one last week. I think it's because we turned up the heat a little in the living room in the mornings, so instead of jumping around in 58 degrees, it was a balmy 65. I had to crack the door open a bit for a breeze to cool myself off! I also had to pause the video in the middle to get myself some more water.

I did skip Sunday's and Monday's workouts, mostly because Caelyn was home on Monday, and I wanted to move my rest day back to Sunday so I could follow the Insanity calendar how it was written. So, yes, I did skip two workouts. But I jumped back on yesterday and did the prescribed video and hopefully will keep it up. I also got my uncle's old treadmill in the basement now. I need to hook it up and see if I can get it running; it's an old clunker from like, 15 years ago. So when I get it running I'll be doing that as well as Insanity in the AM.

On the craft side, I am almost finished the second set of blocks for the Crochet-a-long blanket I've resolved myself to finish. Two more double crochet blocks, and then it's on to treble crochet in the next color! Woo! I'm excited about this blanket. The first block set took so long; I think because it takes more rows of single crochet to make 9 inches than double crochets. More rows=more time. So I expect the next block set to take even shorter. I will have to find my camera and take some pictures. Can't wait to have all the blocks done and get it sewed together!

Exercising and Crocheting

It's been a while since my last post. I apologize! Today I started the Beach Body Insanity work out dvd's again today. It kicked my butt! I made it through the "warm-up" and skipped the following stretches because the bottoms of my feet were sore. Time to get some gel inserts or something! But I picked it up again and pushed through to the end. I won't get into the details. I don't want to make this an exercise blog or anything.

What I did do after the work-out was crochet! Yes. I am very happy to be crocheting again. Finally dug out my yarn for the crochet-along I started WAY back when and decided to finish it. So I sat and relaxed while watching this Australian cartoon on HUB (Dennis and Gnasher. Pretty much like an Australian version of Dennis the Menace) and crocheted for about 20 minutes. It's an easy enough pattern (uhhh, straight double crochet. Easy peasy) that I can put down and pick up very quickly without having to worry about losing my place or finding where I left off.

And speaking of crocheting, I finally finished the damn scarf I've been working on! It's so pretty, but I wish I had another skein to make it longer. I don't like scarves that are too short to wrap around my neck twice. Any shorter and they just seem to unwind and fall off. It's also a bit scratchy. The yarn felt so soft when it was all balled up, but once I worked it up it still feels kinda soft on my hands, but around my neck is much more sensitive and it made me all itchy. Maybe I'll try to sell it. I do have an Etsy account that I haven't yet utilized. I did buy another skein of the same yarn but in black and white instead of the gray and pink I had. I'll make another one and sell both of them. Whee!

But I'm determined to finish this darn blanket, and then my mom has another blanket that she started that I want to finish. It's kinda springy, blues and purples and greens, with dragonflies worked on some blocks. Very pretty! I've seen the yarn in a bag sitting in the hall every time I go up or down the stairs and it makes me want to just take it out and do it! But I'm going to finish the crochet-along first.

And that's about it. Peace out.

2011

Well it's the new year and I'm not making any resolutions. I think they're pointless and redundant. People try to "do" the same things every year with little or no success. Save money. Lose weight. Be kinder. Buy a car. Get a boyfriend/girlfriend. Whatever. I'm not buying it. If I can't do any of that when I want to during the rest of the year, why would making that promise to myself on January 1st make it any different?

It doesn't. So no resolutions. Just me being me, and doing my best as always.

At any rate, the snow has been melting for the past two days and today it started snowing again. It looks so pretty coming down. I'm glad I went out earlier and put my new windshield wipers on my car. I also backed it up closer to the top of our driveway so I can get out easier tomorrow without having to shovel the ENTIRE parking lot.

I've also finally got a desk in the office so I'll be able to set my desktop computer back up and start working again! I am really not liking this whole being broke thing. At all. I guess I'll stop here. I kinda lost my train of thought while playing on Neopets. Yes I play Neopets, shut up! Some people play WoW, some people play Farmville, I play Neopets. So there. And now I'm going to back to play more.

Merry Christmas and all that Jazz

Just a warning, this is going to be a long one. A lot has happened and I have a lot to catch up on. I probably won't even be able to touch on everything.

I'm blogging from MY ROOM in the big house! It's exciting! Kind of. It's strange being here. It doesn't feel like it's for real yet. I'm loathe to unpack my boxes and put my clothes in the closets and dresser drawers because it would feel too permanent. I'm not sure I'm ready for that. It still feels like I'm just up here for a vacation. Like next week I'll be back 'home.' But I known that this is 'home' now. Weird.

I can't wait to set my desk and computer up in the office and start working again. I need to make some moolah. I'm pretty much broke right now. I don't like being broke. I am also looking forward to doing my taxes ASAP this year so I can get my refund. One of the only upsides of not making a lot of money and having a kid and not having to file jointly with someone. Also paying tuition gets me some nice education credits. At least it did last year and I'm hoping for a repeat.

Tomorrow I'm driving back down to Jersey with my dad so we can do a last clean-out of the apartment, and pick up his car. After that, it will be completely done. Nowhere to go back to. I've already done my change-of-address through USPS, and changed my billing address on everything that matters. Including my college records so they mail my diploma to the right place.

In other news, I have to go to the high school on Monday when the schools reopen so I can register Caelyn. I was going to do it before they closed for the winter break, but it snowed, and we had no snow blower for a day, and we didn't shovel out til it was too late. I figured Caelyn wouldn't mind a couple extra days of no-school. And it would give her some more time to get acclimated to LIVING here, and not just act like it's a vacation. Well, it sort of is a vacation, since it's technically "Holiday Break," but eh, we gotta get back into a routine. At least time-wise. Going to sleep at midnight is not good for a 5 year old, especially if she is gonna have to get up early for school.

And I was thinking, I'm not sure if I like having moved up in winter. It does give us a good excuse to stay in and unpack and organize and rearrange stuff, but it also doesn't make it easy to get out and DO stuff. I'd like to explore town and get involved in things; make friends, get to know people and all that good stuff. It's way too easy to isolate up here, especially in the winter. Maybe I'll sign up to be a class mom, go to PTO meetings or whatnot. Idunno. I'm thinking cleaning out all our stuff as we 'move in' will create a need to have a garage sale in the spring, and boy do we have the perfect driveway to have a garage sale!

On another note, I need a night stand. My "desk" where my laptop is now is against the wall by the foot of my bed. What I really need is a taller table to put a lamp on, and also so I can put my glasses on it when I go to bed. Also, I think I want a nice comfy chair in here with a tall lamp behind it, to read. And a bookshelf. I must have a big shelf for all my books. I've got boxes and boxes of them. I'm sure I won't be able to put all of them out, but at least my favorites will be able to breathe again.

And to end on, before this gets any longer (I will try to blog more often, about interesting things!), Merry Christmas everyone! even though it's a few days late. I hope everyone also has a fantastic New Year's Eve. And don't think too hard about all those resolutions. Mid-way through February we'll all forget about them anyway. I've never stuck to one in my life and don't see it happening this year either.

Well, that's about it, wishing you all every kind of holiday cheer from my new abode north of the Adirondacks.

PS, I knew I'd forget something... I registered for NYC Midnight's Tweet me a Story contest! Registration was free, so I figured, why not? I won't lose anything from entering and it should prove to be really fun! I'll probably post about this again as the event gets closer.

I'm DONE

With school, that is. Last final and paper were due on the 20th, but due to the whole moving thing, I spent yesterday doing my syntax final. Today I went to campus to hand it in (ie. slip it under the professor's office door), then went to the library to write up my phonetics lit review. It took about as long as I figured it would take due to the fact that though the title of the article made it sound very easy and cut-and-dry, unfortunately the content was very hard to understand. The actual writing of the summary didn't take very long; it was all the understanding and interpreting of the data that took a long time. And it was freezing in the library. I'm sure this affected my performance to some degree... Get it? Degree!?

Hah. That is the state I'm in right now. I'm done. Completely done. My syntax final is out of my hands and the lit review has been emailed to the professor. That's all I had left to do in both my classes. Then I went over to the parking office to get my refund for my parking pass. Apparently, my final audit for GRADUATION that states that my conferment is January 2011 was not enough for them to say that I'm GRADUATING in January and would not be attending Montclair State any longer. I had to go to the Registrar and get a separate document stating that I was expected to graduate January 2011. So I did that. No big deal, but really, my audit wasn't enough? Really!? Oh well. So I handed in my parking permit, filled out the form, and in 6-8 weeks I shall get a refund check. For some odd reason I was expecting to just get money back today, but alas, I obviously expected too much. But at least I'll get the money eventually.

And now I'm home, blogging. It kinda seems a bit surreal. My head hurts. I'm tired. And I can't believe I'm done with school. All I have left to do now is to wait for my diploma to arrive in mid-February and then it will be even more official. It's been a long road from beginning to end with a lot of stops on the way. But here I am, on the cusp of moving to boot, looking toward the future and a new beginning.

Cookies

I love cookies. I love baking them. I love decorating them. I love trying new recipes. I love eating them. Cookies. The smell of freshly baked cookies is one of the most fantastic smells to me. Especially around Christmas, it's what I like to call Cookie Season. Oh! The varieties and flavors of all the cookies we've made over the years; choosing which ones to make next year, which ones will be a "favorite" or a "regular."

This year may be different. After the move, I will have 3 days to bake cookies before Christmas. I suppose I could bake some AFTER Christmas, but then, are they still Christmas cookies? Are they as good for New Years? I'm not sure. I've made chocolate chip cookies a few times, but none so far as to be called Christmas cookies. In those 3 short days, which recipes will jump to the top of the stack? Which cookies will be worthy of making, in absence of all the rest? Macaroons, with their sweet, sticky coconut bodies topped with a bit of maraschino cherry? Peanut butter blossoms, half-melted Hershey kisses pressed into warm, sugar-coated peanut butter rounds? Magic mints, their peppermint combining with the chocolate ever so perfectly, their tops crackled with powdered sugar? Fruitcake cookies, for those who shun the real fruitcake, these will make you change your mind? Scotch-a-roos, those elusive cookies so good we haven't ever tasted them yet? My famous sugar cookies, cut into so many festive designs, splashed with colorful, simple frosting?

I wish I could make them all, but today I'm baking up the rest of the gingerbread dough I made last week. It was my first shot at gingerbread. It's mighty tasty, but not as soft and poofy as I imagine really awesome gingerbread cookies to be. They look all poofy in the oven, and as soon as I pull them out, they go flat. Like a souffle. Delicious, thick, chewy cookies fresh out of the oven are, in seconds, demoted to flat, indistinguishable blobs, for not only have they caved in, they've spread. My meticulously cut gingerbread men could not hold their shape. Lop-sided 5-petaled flowers emerge instead of little boy cut-outs waiting to be dressed up in frosting and candy.

Despite their shape and lack of thickness, they are delicious. And chewy. I suppose I should be grateful that they didn't burn, or are otherwise inedible. I shall cast aside all my cookie cares and worries and bask in the satisfaction that something I've made brings smiles and sighs of delight to my family and friends. A toast, then, to Cookies!