SoCS: Back to…. (oops! Back of the Frig)

 Today’s prompt for Stream of Consciousness Saturday is “back of the fridge.” Write the first thing that comes to mind when you think of the phrase “back of the fridge.” Enjoy!

Back to the future! Maybe one day, in the future, I’ll hire and exterminator for the waterbugs, aka American cockroaches, like I threaten to do often. I have no problem taking spiders, moths, or beetles outside in a cup. Who knows why the waterbugs creep me out so much. Maybe they freaked my mom out and she passed it on to me like her red hair and soft green eyes.

I haven’t hired an exterminator in spite of frequent threats (like the bugs can hear me), because I think the exterminator chemicals will be toxic to more than bugs. I do have termite contract, but that’s different. They don’t spray.

How does this relate to the prompt? I have to keep all food in the refrigerator, unless it’s canned or tightly wrapped. That includes bananas and the butternut squash they’ve been gnawing on. Gross, I know. If I lived in the mountains, it would not be an issue since I don’t leave food out or open for the smaller German cockroaches. But here in the sub-tropical south, the bigger cousins are prolific. Climate change may be a factor in their abundance, too. I found some old diatomaceous earth and spread it around their pathways. Last night, I put some peppermint out on cotton balls (where Marley can’t reach) along with the citrus spray. The cedar oil spray works, but the smell is awfully strong.

We are now approaching the time of year when a few bugs will come in from the cold, but mostly they die back until late spring. What a relief. I’m determined to leave no food available so maybe they will go back outside and stay there.

“Back to the howling old owl in the woods,” as Elton John sang in “Goodbye Yellow Brick Road.” Do owls eat bugs? The song says something about them hunting the toads.

As for the toads and frogs, I hope they make it “Back to the River. Back to the Forest!” as Elliot encouraged them in E.T. I love it when the other kids in the classroom start chanting:

“Back to the River. Back to the Forest!“

And then there’s Galadriel telling Sauron to go “back to the void from whence you came!” I think that’s what she’s saying. Perhaps I shall tell that to the nameless ones if they come in through the tiny cracks.

Yeah. Galadriel. The ultimate exterminator. No, that was Frodo. And Sam. They all played a part.

(I just realized that I blatantly misread this prompt as back to the frig, but it was supposed to be “back of the fridge,” which makes more sense as a prompt. Oh well. I must have needed a laugh and Galadriel’s power.)

~~~

For more streamy streams and the ruly rules,

visit our SoCS host, Linda Hill by clicking HERE.

What’s That Crawling on the Ceiling?

Just a friendly visitor

I’m not a fan of staring at the ceiling, though I’ve certainly done my share. When I was a teenager, I had posters on my bedroom ceiling, and the walls were covered with posters. I think my ceiling had a “Let it Be,” poster with a serene water scene, and the words, “Let it Be,” across the bottom.

Now, I have no posters on the ceiling, but there are a few stars left on my daughter’s old bedroom ceiling. Some have fallen off and left that sticky stuff. Maybe I’ll put more stars up there. It’s my studio now, so I can do what I want with it!

I wonder how bugs walk on the ceiling. Some are better at it than others. I don’t mind spiders so much on the ceiling. Spiders catch other bugs. Spiders are interesting. But if I can reach them, I’ll catch them in a glass and slide a card underneath. But there are some bugs I do mind on my ceiling, and I don’t catch them and put them outside. I spray them and get ready to run in case they fly at me. I’m talking about the big palmetto roaches we call water bugs. Where I live, the summers are hot and humid, and they (the bugs) are prolific. I wish I wasn’t afraid of them, but I’ve been knows to scream when they fly at me.  I think this fear is something that has been passed on through generations.

Enough of the scary bugs! I’d rather think about stars on the ceiling. A skylight would be nice! But I wonder if I’d see the bugs crawling on the skylight. STOP THINKING ABOUT BUGS!

Maybe a poster on the ceiling would be better. Like the “Let it Be Poster.” When I find myself in times of trouble, Mother Mary comes to me, speaking words of wisdom, let it be.  I will let the spiders be. Sorry roaches. STOP IT!

My favorite ceiling would be outside under the real stars. You won’t see any bugs crawling on that ceiling. And if I stay close to the campfire, they might not crawl on me.  Maybe if I was outside, I’d just brush them off and not be afraid of them as much.

Let it be. Let it be. Let it be. Let it be. Whispered words of wisdom, let it be…..

Some bugs don’t scare me at all. Here are a few other friendly visitors I’ve discovered in and around my house.

A visitor in my bathroom two summers ago.

This beauty took up temporary residence in the kitchen.

 

Tiny critter on the back screen door

A lovely surprise on the back porch

Cicada molting at my front door a few nights ago.

Today’s Stream of Consciousness prompt was: “sealing/ceiling.” Use one, use both, have fun! For more SoCS fun, visit our host, Linda Hill at:

https://lindaghill.com/2017/07/21/the-friday-reminder-and-prompt-for-socs-july-2217/

Here are the SoCS rules:

1. Your post must be stream of consciousness writing, meaning no editing, (typos can be fixed) and minimal planning on what you’re going to write.

2. Your post can be as long or as short as you want it to be. One sentence – one thousand words. Fact, fiction, poetry – it doesn’t matter. Just let the words carry you along until you’re ready to stop.

3. There will be a prompt every week. I will post the prompt here on my blog on Friday, along with a reminder for you to join in. The prompt will be one random thing, but it will not be a subject. For instance, I will not say “Write about dogs”; the prompt will be more like, “Make your first sentence a question,” “Begin with the word ‘The’,” or simply a single word to get your started.

4. Ping back! It’s important, so that I and other people can come and read your post! For example, in your post you can write “This post is part of SoCS:” and then copy and paste the URL found in your address bar at the top of this post into yours. Your link will show up in my comments for everyone to see. The most recent pingbacks will be found at the top. NOTE: Pingbacks only work from WordPress sites. If you’re self-hosted or are participating from another host, such as Blogger, please leave a link to your post in the comments below.

5. Read at least one other person’s blog who has linked back their post. Even better, read everyone’s! If you’re the first person to link back, you can check back later, or go to the previous week, by following my category, “Stream of Consciousness Saturday,” which you’ll find right below the “Like” button on my post.

6. Copy and paste the rules (if you’d like to) in your post. The more people who join in, the more new bloggers you’ll meet and the bigger your community will get!

7. As a suggestion, tag your post “SoCS” and/or “#SoCS” for more exposure and more views.

8. Have fun!

The Day Water Delayed My WIP

Today’s Stream of Consciousness prompt is, “book.” Yesterday I was going to work on my book in the afternoon, because that’s my schedule. Wednesday and Fridays afternoons are for my WIP, my book. Wednesday and Friday mornings are for platform building and business related to my book. Which reminds me, what do you think of the new look here at
“Anything is Possible?” I didn’t want to make a static home page, because I don’t know if that will make it harder to find my blog posts. One step at a time. I did add a WIP page and a page for my art.

Anyway, I also went to the gym in between the business book work and the book work, and it was HOT out, so I decided to take a shower! I have an exclamation point there  because now, with my new schedule, I have the freedom and flexibility to take a shower whenever I want, almost. The problem came when I could not turn off the cold water! I tried and tried, but it still flowed out happily – more than a trickle but less than a gush.

 

I called my husband who told me where the cut off was right in front of the house. Yes, I should know that. He said it was under the bucket just under the bedroom window. I pulled that bucket for a while before it came up. There was no turn off to be seen. Only bugs. Lots of bugs. I poked around a bit, but then recalled that there is also a shut off closer to the street. It took about five minutes to figure out how to lift the cover off the hole. I got my biggest trusty screw driver, after the shovel didn’t work, and lifted it. More bugs. Living in the south, in a humid environment, we have an abundance of large cockroaches. We call them water bugs. I don’t mind them as much when they’re outside….

I poked around and found the meter. The screw driver tapped something that might have been the turn off valve next to the meter. But there were lots of roots covering the whole shebang. I don’t usually use that word. I don’t think I’ve ever written the word, shebang. I don’t like the looks of it. Roots covered the whole apparatus.  I had to dig at them, but they were tough. I used my hands some which made me feel brave. I set my jaw the same way I used to when I was single and had to do this stuff myself most of the time. I had thought of calling my husband back and telling him I couldn’t find the dang turn off, but I decided to push through and not make him come home from work. After I got a plastic grocery bag to use as a glove (we only get them because they’re great for picking up after the dogs) things moved quicker. I saw the turn off valve! AND I had the turn off tool the plumber left with us which made it much easier to turn off.

Then I went to wash my nasty hands. But there was no water! Thank God, I had put a pot under the bathtub faucet before I started looking for the turn off. I had meant to save it for the dogs. But I’m so glad I could use it to wash my hands. So, I could finally get back to my book! Oh, the adventures of working from home.

If you’d like to get your feet wet in the Stream of Consciousness, visit Linda G. Hill at:

https://lindaghill.com/2016/06/03/the-friday-reminder-and-prompt-for-socs-june-416/

Here are the rules:

1. Your post must be stream of consciousness writing, meaning no editing, (typos can be fixed) and minimal planning on what you’re going to write.

2. Your post can be as long or as short as you want it to be. One sentence – one thousand words. Fact, fiction, poetry – it doesn’t matter. Just let the words carry you along until you’re ready to stop.

3. There will be a prompt every week. I will post the prompt here on my blog on Friday, along with a reminder for you to join in. The prompt will be one random thing, but it will not be a subject. For instance, I will not say “Write about dogs”; the prompt will be more like, “Make your first sentence a question,” “Begin with the word ‘The’,” or simply a single word to get your started.

4. Ping back! It’s important, so that I and other people can come and read your post! For example, in your post you can write “This post is part of SoCS:” and then copy and paste the URL found in your address bar at the top of this post into yours.  Your link will show up in my comments for everyone to see. The most recent pingbacks will be found at the top.

5. Read at least one other person’s blog who has linked back their post. Even better, read everyone’s! If you’re the first person to link back, you can check back later, or go to the previous week, by following my category, “Stream of Consciousness Saturday,” which you’ll find right below the “Like” button on my post.

6. Copy and paste the rules (if you’d like to) in your post. The more people who join in, the more new bloggers you’ll meet and the bigger your community will get!

7. As a suggestion, tag your post “SoCS” and/or “#SoCS” for more exposure and more views.

8. Have fun!

 

Snakes, Swans and Waterbugs

This is my first Stream of Consciousness Saturday post inspired by http://lindaghill.com/2014/10/10/the-friday-reminder-and-prompt-for-socs-october-1114/ with the prompt that we write about what ever comes to our mind first about the letter S.

Snakes come to mind first, but I really want to write about swans. I’m not as afraid of snakes as I am swans, but I’m more afraid of water bugs than snakes. Whenever I see a snake it seems to be trying to get away from me. It’s more afraid of me than I am it it. Just like waterbugs.  I stepped on a snake once in the woods. It was fat and grey and trying to get away. It did get away, unharmed I hope.

I have to remember I’m not supposed to edit. Just write what comes into my mind.

Yep, I’d rather write about swans. When I was in first grade we played with clay. I was really good at rolling the clay into a snake like shape with one end much wider and then fold it into a swan, pinching the other end for a beak. Everybody loved my swans. Yes, that’s a good memory.

My son used to have a pet snake. He fed it live mice. I don’t want to write about that though. I’d rather write and think about swans. Lovely peaceful swans, gliding along on top of the lake, mating for life, with their S shaped bodies. So I guess I’ll end with swans. Swans eating snakes. Stop! Don’t think about snakes! SWANS, SWANS, SWANS!

SSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS…

Hey, that was fun!

Here are the Rules for SoCS Saturday:

1. Your post must be stream of consciousness writing, meaning no editing, (typos can be fixed) and minimal planning on what you’re going to write.

2. Your post can be as long or as short as you want it to be. One sentence – one thousand words. Fact, fiction, poetry – it doesn’t matter. Just let the words carry you along until you’re ready to stop.

3. There will be a prompt every week. I will post the prompt here on my blog on Friday, along with a reminder for you to join in. The prompt will be one random thing, but it will not be a subject. For instance, I will not say “Write about dogs”; the prompt will be more like, “Make your first sentence a question,” or “Begin with the word ‘The’.”

4. Ping back! It’s important, so that I and other people can come and read your post! For example, in your post you can write “This post is part of SoCS:” and then copy and paste the URL found in your address bar at the top of this post into yours.  Your link will show up in my comments, for everyone to see. The most recent pingbacks will be found at the top.

5. Read at least one other person’s blog who has linked back their post. Even better, read everyone’s! If you’re the first person to link back, you can check back later, or go to the previous week, by following my category, “Stream of Consciousness Saturday,” which you’ll find right below the “Like” button on my post.

6. Copy and paste the rules (if you’d like to) in your post. The more people who join in, the more new bloggers you’ll meet and the bigger your community will get!

7. Have fun!