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 |   You never know what you'll find - humor, ramblings, rants, randomness- it's all me! |
This description part is challenging. I never know what I will blog about until I start typing. I do know there will be typos. I don't reread or correct my blog. Otherwise it turns technical instead of my feelings and thoughts. Trust me, on stories and poems I'm a grammaraholic, but this is freedom. Sometimes to keep it from getting too personal, I even turn my head away while I type. Weird, right?. I hope you find this somewhat entertaining, thought-provoking, and humorous.   A little about me. The most important things in my life are family, especially my son, Reese, and my husband, Bruce, my walk with God, and making a positive impact in some way. I am a teacher, currently teaching 6th grade Language Arts. While at times my job can be trying, overall, it is one of the most rewarding passions in my life.   This is my wonderful son, Reese. He is now 20 and and a junior at Oklahoma State University. I may be partial, but he is an exceptional kid with the best heart I've ever known. He makes me laugh, think, and want to be a better person. We are both huge Oklahoma State Cowboy fans - Gooooooo Pokes!  This is Reese's dog, Betty. She shares a name with my mother. Reese named her that because she was beautiful and kind just like his Nanny (my mom). I'm not sure my mom is quite convinced it is a compliment though. Betty is a huge part of our family. She even had her own blog for awhile. Poke around at your leisure and shake your head at some of things that go through mine. I always return reviews/comments, though admittedly, sometimes it does take me awhile depending on what life is serving me at that point. Keeping the faith, Audra  |
Here is your prompt for Day #18: The title of my blog is "Life is random...and so am I". Write about how you've experienced the randomness of life. It could be any (or all) of the following: A random act or experience A random encounter/meeting with a friend of a friend of a friend (like the Six Degrees of Separation theory) Synchronicity that you've witnessed Maybe the whole world is just random, because I know I feel that i'm a random person with random occurences to the point that they have lost their shock factor. Let's look at number 1. A random act or experience -- I'm going to go with a random act of kindness. Ahhhh crap maybe not - it's going to make me cry -- niceness is crazy like that. One morning at school, I found an envelope in my purse with $100.00. Now mind you I'm not "poor", but as a single mother on a teacher's salary, I do make sacrifices, but they are sacrificies I don't mind because I love my son and my job. I didn't set out on my career path to be a millionaire. I wondered why or who would have put money in my purse. Though my students are wonderful they are still at the "all about themselves" stage, and very very very few of them have access to $100.00. Finally, a fellow teacher (who I know doesn't have an abundant about of money) pulled me aside after she could tell it was bothering me. (Great here come the dang tears --- now). She explained that she saw herself in my son, and her mother in me - that growing up their situations had been very similar and her mom had always put her own needs last. It was her way of now being able to give back. She then requested that I not pay bills with the money, but do something for myself. I agreed reluctantly. . . I know she could see it in my eyes. Thinking the moment was over and I could go cry in the bathroom stall, she then pulled out 2 tickets to a hockey game with another $25 for parking and snacks. This was more than I could handle, tears slid down my cheeks. It was a mixture of pride, shame, thankfullness, and utter confusion of all the emotions. Jenny, (the teacher), and I had only known each other a couple of months. She was new to the school and I'd been helping her get adjusted and learning the ropes so to speak. I was honest with my son who was 13 at the time about where the tickets and money had come from. He has a really good heart himself, so I think he understood even better than I did. At the hockey game we had $20 to spend on "junk" after $5.00 for parking. Heading toward the nachos, one of his favorites, I was prepared to pay the overpriced fee for nachos and Dr. Pepper. Reese stopped at a kiosk on the way that was selling Christmas ornaments disabled kids had made as a fund raiser. He asked for the money. Handing the man the $20.00, he told him to keep the change. I think the ornmaments were like $2.00 a piece. He took one that resembled an apple. The next day he became James Bond and sneaked into Jenny's room and put the ornament and a picture he had taken of us at the game on his phone in her purse. Okay, that's all I'm saying because I'm crying dadgumit. It could be PMS because I refuse to admit I have any real feeling beyond humor. Audra |
Choose any and enjoy: ARE YOU A SKIRT OR A PANTS PERSON? HOW HOT IS IT WHERE YOU LIVE? HAS ONLINE RESEARCH CHANGED? Cool, what diverse prompts. Since I've been such a cheater lately I'll try to answer all of them to serve my penance. 1. Skirt vs. Pants -- Easy one for me. Definitely . . . . PANTS. A couple of reasons stand out. Wait . . . are you asking what I wear or what I prefer others to wear. Well, actually I don't care what others wear so let's keep talking about me. Reason 1: I had bilateral knee surgery so I have scars that go about three inches below the knee to 3 inches above. I'm not embarassed by them, but who really wants to see that. Plus, I'd continually get that question, "What happened?" and to keep it exciting I'd have to make up a story lol. Second reason, my butt is huge and I think skirts accentuate it. Third reason, it's windy in oklahoma. Fourth reason: I don't know, I just didn't want to stop at three. 2. Hot??????? I think we have had 23 days of over 100 degrees. I'm a winter person, so this is a living hell for me. This is the weatherman: Well, folks. It's going to be another scorcher out there! Put away those snuggies . . . . chuckle chuckle. I want to shoot him. I get the saying know don't shoot the messenger. Well, if he's telling lame jokes, he deserves to be shot. As my Dad would say, "It's hotter than a 2 dollar pistol." He also says, "It's hotter than who shot John." But I don't get that one. Anyone know? 3. I don't know if online research itself has changed,, but it's definitely changed research itself. Personally, because I'ma nerd I love to research things. LOVE LOVE LOVE I wanted to share a cool quote I came across. It's in a Motion Picture magazine from 1973. John Wayne: "There's no generation gap that soap, water, and love can't cure!" I love that Duke. finally not late with a blog Ralls |
In terms of your artistic/writing craft, comment on the following idea: "The most beautiful thing we can experience is the mysterious". ~~Einstein and "What shakes the eye but the invisible?"~~ Theodore Roethke Okay, I just have to say that when I first read this I thought it said, "In terms of your artisitic/witch craft". I began freaking out, feeling like I was the only non-wicaan person in the world, and I was going to have to research spells so I'd have something to write about and then my son might see my history of sites on the computer and not be able to sleep at night, and then OMG i wouldn't get a good night's sleep! Actually, I do practice a little witchcraft I suppose, when I make my 8th grade students believe that if they lie to me, I will put a curse on them that they'll never have a date to the prom. But it doesn't say that, so let's go on. I just love Einstein. Such a kooky guy. So he's saying one of the most beautiful things I can experience is something I didn't realize I could create, right? Kinda? Hey, just tell me I'm right - it'll make me happy. I can see that though. Sometimes I write or make a hairbow (don't make fun, it's a relaxing technique for me lol), and I'll go back and be like - wow - that came out of me??? - Sarcastic, me? At first I'm in awe, and then I laugh. Now Theodore, that's pretty deep. I think he's saying what grabs are attention is when we don't see what we expect. Which is honestly how I try to write. I think, okay how would someone else do it, and then i try to do something else. I'm sure many of us do. But it's more than that too. It's effecting someone else's thoughts; changing their processing. Nice quotes to ponder. Over and out! ALR |
Prompt: If you had six weeks to live, what would do? This goes along with the 2012 prompt. I don't think about these things. I like my fantasy world where I'm going to live longer than 6 weeks. So to avoid thinking too deeply about it, I will cheat and make a list of things I wouldn't do in that 6 weeks. I wouldn't . . . . 1. Listen to whatever meanie told me I was going to die. 2. Pay my rent 3. Continue to diet -- Let's face it - it's going to be an extra large coffin if I only have 6 weeks to get the weight offf 4. continue to reorganize my files. 5. let my son go to his dad's for 2 weeks -- obviously, he's going to get plenty of time with him 6. continue to be celebate ( JUST KIDDDDDDINGGGGGG - heck I can't even spell the word) 7. purchase anything from China off ebay because it wouldn't get here before I croaked. 8. mow my lawn -- come on, now - it's 107 here. 9. eat rice the night before I died. Who wants to be bloated and dead? Wait, you bloat anyway don't you? 10. tell anyone else I was going to die. So there is my morbid sense of humor and thought process. Thanks for playing! Audra L. Ralls |
Here's your prompt for July 14: Day 14: "Human beings, by changing the inner attitudes of their minds, can change the outer aspects of their lives." - William James - To be or not to be? Cause and Effect. Chicken or the Egg. IHOP or Dennys. Ooops, sorry that was this morning's debate. I believe this William guy has something here. I mean if you want to get technical, it can go back to psychology's self-fulfilling prophecy. We become what we expect or what other expect us to be. The mind is a powerful tool. But then again, it just seems like common sense to me. If my inner attitude becomes more positive and perhaps even nicer, why wouldn't i have say - more people who want to be around me? If inside I become more motivated, why wouldn't I maybe excel more in school or work? Some may call it karma. And trust me, I am a big believer of karma, but the quote though in one way seems deep - in another way is obvious. But then again, so often we are looking for the deeper meaning in something, we miss the true message. Peace, no-fighting today, serenity lol - i'm so full of it. audra Sorry, I forgot a thought. Maybe it is the outer that effects the inner too. I mean if I have beauty, wouldn't I feel more confident. If I have teeth (I do, it's just and example - though a bad one) wouldn't I smile more. Sigh - the ramblings of randomness have overtaken any intelligent thought again. |
30 Day Blog Challenge Prompt 13 Happiness is when what you think, what you say, and what you do are in harmony. -Mohandas Gandhi Do you think this to be true? What brings you the greatest happiness in your life? What is one of your happiest moments? I've thought about this prompt a lot . . . After all, I've had the time. I've known about it for 3 days now. So I decided, I'd just make a list. Basically, I figure if I can't come up with at least 20 things that make me happy, I must not really be happy - which, well, would sadden the already apparently sad me. These are in no particular order. 1. My son -- especially when he's asleep -- that's not as mean as it sounds -- he looks angelic and doesn't smell funky then lol - okay, it is mean 2. Coffee on a cold winter's day before class 3. Fresh sheets 4. Giving to others (I know it doesn't sound like me - keep your sarcastic thoughts quieter please) 5. Random 'thinking of you' texts 6. Mail that isn't bills or junk 7. Packages 8. God 9. Forgiveness 10. Common sense 11. Pepperjack Cheese 12. Deposit slip error in my favor 13. People falling (come on, you know it's hilarious) 14. Music 15. Sleep -- good old uninterrupted sleep 16. Laughter 17. Not completely baked chocolate chip cookies 18. Scales that lie in my favor 19. Hugs (unless you smell or linger too long) 20. WDC (corny, I know, but I don't want to be booted from the website) Peace, Love, and stop procrastinating (note to self of course) Audra |
30 Day Blog Challenge Prompt 12 It's hotter than Hades in August and you're at the beach. You run out into the ocean waves, jump to get over that big one, and on the way back down, something bumps against your leg. What would you do? Would you dive under the water to see what it was? Would you yell for help? Would you swim toward shore in the same direction as the bump? Or something else? Well, let's see - it is hotter than Hades here right now. I don't even remember what a number under 100 looks like much less feels like. Ocean waves??? Well, I have seen those once, but then a tornado came, abecause, yes, that's how my life rolls. Jump to get over the big one? Well, I guess, it's possible in water, thought I have had bilateral knee replacements so I haven't officially jumped in awhile. Something bumps against my leg? lol Okay, here we go now. In the mood I'm in now, it would probably go a little something like this: "What the hell! It's not hot enough for you? You trying to steal some of MY body heat. Or is it that the ocean isn't vast enough for you? So of course, you had to come in MY area of it! Or is this a fat joke? Sure, pick on the fat, white tourist in the ocean. . . I see how it is. Bump me again. I double dog dare you. Because you'll be yelling for help. YOU'LL be swimming for the safety of the shore! 'Cause you know what? Life throws some pretty good punches, and occasionally I forget to duck, but I'll be damned if you are going to kick me while I'm down." The End. Peace, Love, and Rant Audra (I misspelled my name the first 2 times I typed it - peachy) |
Prompt: YOUR CHOICE --- 1. MTR or MOUNTAINTOP REMOVAL 2. GAS FRACTURING or Fracking 3. A tale of taking down the Christmas Tree in July .. Okay, I'm being honest here . . . Ignorance show thyself. . . I'm writing about #3, because I don't know what one or two mean and I've had a hell of a long day, so normally where I would relish research, my brain is screaming "NOOOOOOOOOO". (Does it not know it still has to work? Silly brain.) Once upon a time, a tired queen of Oklahoma wrote a fascinating tale of taking down a Christmas Tree in July. Then, she slept; hopefully, living happily ever after. lol - Just kidding. . . . Let me go try my borracho beans; that will either give me brain function or make me puke, depending on if I made them right. HOLY HAT TRICK ELVIS! That was SPICCCCCCEEEEEEEEEEYYYYYYYYYYYY. Good, but disco inferno burning. . . So now, I'm awake AND probably going to puke from heartburn. "The Story" "Mom! What are you doin?!" Pigtails bounced as little Gabriella raced to get in between her mother and a much-loved Christmas tree. Pushing her glasses up her nose, her mother prepared for World War III. It was 105 degrees outside, Gabriella couldn't even remember what she got for Christmas, and not even Old Man Wilson still had his Christmas lights up. And yet . . . the Baker's Christmas tree still adorned the living room, along with discarded pool towels and a picnic basket. "Gabby, Grammie and Papa are coming to visit. It's time to put the tree up until December. We've talked about this. I'm sorry, honey; I know you love it, but it's coming down." "NO!" Stamping a six-year-old foot with arms crossed in deviance, Gabriella fought the tears welling up in her eyes. "Mama, please! The tree loves us. It's part of the family. You wouldn't get rid of Jimmy!" "Jimmy is a person, not a tree. Jimmy's alive. This tree isn't. Gabby, I'm trying to be patient, but Mommy is really tired tonight. Just think how exciting it will be to put it back up in December. You and the tree will be so happy to see each other again." "What?! You lied! You just said it wasn't alive. How can it be happy and see if it isn't 'live?" Eyes as big as silver dollars, Gabriella looked as if the shock of her mother fibbing was almost as detrimental as putting up a Christmas tree six months after Christmas. "Oh, Gabby, please." Silence as the two strong-willed females faced off, one a miniature version of the other in looks and personality. Each contemplating their next move, planning strategy in the Christmas Tree War. Finally . . . "I'll be a good girl, Mommy." Yes, she pulled out the puppy dog look with the sugary sweet voice of promises. "Gabby Ann, you are a good girl." Her mother released her grip on the tree to kneel eye to eye with a daughter who she had indulgently let sleep in front of the Christmas tree for far too long. At first, it had been cute, even sweet. Footed pajamas and a Santa quilt had slowly changed to a thin cotton nightie and a light summer sheet. "Mama, the tree watches over us. Why don't you feel it?" A sincerity in her voice melted her mother's heart. "Jesus watches over us, honey." Nodding her head, Gabriella responded, "Yes, and the angels." "Yes, honey." "So you won't take it down?" The excitement of possibly keeping the tree up was suppressed by a fear of hoping. "Gabby, a tree's isn't an angel. You know this, honey." "But angel lives in the tree." "No, Gabby. We took all the decorations off on Valentine's Day, remember? We "loved" them so much, we let them rest for awhile." "Not Katherine Angel." Her mother looked at the top of the tree to verify they hadn't forgotten the angel, though she had no idea when it had been named Katherine. Gabriella got on her hands and knees, crawling under the tree. She reached under the tree skirt, producing a silver and light pink angel figurine. "Where did you get that, Gabby?" Her mother's curiosity was peaked. She had no recollection of the angel as a gift. It looked Victorian almost. "Jesus gave it to me for Christmas. I found it Christmas morning under the tree. The tree watches over the angel, and the angel watches over us. Mommy, please don't tell Jesus we don't need her by taking her house away." "Her house is the tree?" "Yes, Mommy. Please." How could her mother argue with this? In fact, why would she? Was a tree in the living room that big of deal? Apparently, it was to a special girl. "Why is her name Katherine, Gabby?" Gabriella's eyebrows knitted together. "Why not, Mommy?" Sleep well, my WDC friends - may the angels watch over you with or without your Christmas trees. |
July 10 Prompt: Who are the authors that have inspired your work? I've thought about this on and off all day today. I don't really think my inspiration to write comes from other authors. It is more inspired by an innate desire to express myself, or a destresser, or a guilty pleasure. Many more sources of inspiration exist but I'm sure as writers you know them, and understand what I'm getting at. I've enjoyed and admired many authors - from best sellers to the wonderful authors here. As I reflect, authors are sort of like musicians. You know when you first start getting to know someone often one of the predictable questions is "Who is your favorite band/musician?". I always struggle with that one, because it depends on my mood, plus it changes throughout life. Well, so do authors. For instance, as a preteen I was obsessed with Judy Blume. Even to the point, I secretly read the "adult" book she wrote. Trust me, I was ready to go from "Dear God, It's me Margaret" to that. I think it was called "Wifey". lol - i should go back and read it and see if it is as "shocking" as I thought at 13. Maybe a book that did inspire me to start journaling more was "Go Ask Alice". It's still a middle school favorite 30 years later. Of course, I had/have my Stephen King and Dean Koontz phase. I enjoy many authors, but I guess if I have to name one that inspires me to write it would be my dad. If you knew him, you wouldn't expect him to be a writer at all. I like his style. He writes on here - check him out, it will make his day. duece   .Peace, Love, and Let's Read More! Audra |
Here is the day 9 prompt December 21, 2012 is supposed to be the end of the world. Do you think it will it be a cataclysmic shift of Earth itself, a transformative shift in human consciousness, or something else? I knew someone would pick the very topic I refuse to write about, so I'll write around it, or suck it up and do it. See, I have an irrational fear of the whole 12/21/12 thing. I know in my heart the Bible says that no one knows when the world will end. And I also remember people having this fear at the turn of the millenium, but for some reason it still FREAKS ME OUT. It could possibly be because my son loves to torture me over it. Truthfully, I think he's scared of it and his "humor" is the way to deal with it. Let's give you an example of said "humor". I teach English and had my son in classs this year since I'm the only 8th grade English teacher (that's a whole other blog, story, novel, epic). We always begin class with a short writing - 10 minutes - I provide the challenge/prompt for them, and then we share our writings. Well, I have Reese (son) 2nd hour. On that day, I was occupied before school and didn't have a proompt on the board so I let them choose their prompt. It went fine. Many writings on video games, rumors, drama, love, parents who don't understand, sports . . . You get the idea. 3rd hour pretty much the same thing. 4th hour got to work surprisingly quickly and quietly for them. I was impressed. Even more impressive when I asked for volunteers to share, all hands shot up. Feeling like a miracle had been done, I called the first person. You guessed it: A gory account of 2012. Second person: great use of descriptive words on 2012. Third Person: amazing dialogue among the end of the human race. Finally, laughter erupted as they could see in my eyes I was plotting my revenge on what I knew had to be the doings of my son. What bothered me a little, is I thought he was smarter than that. He should know I have much more ammo on him than he does me. I laid all the naked baby pictures on the kitchen table that night with a note to pic the one that would be displayed on the board the next day to write about. It's amazing how quickly he promised to quit tormenting me with 2012. Of course, I was bluffing, and of course, he was fibbing. In fact, it was just yesterday when he tried to convince me that keeping weeds out of the yard was a waste of energy since we wouldn't even have a yard in 2012. AND he pointed out because of the months our birthdays fall in - I will only have one more, while he will have 2. I told him I wasn't sure he was going to make it to either of the forementioned birthdays. lol Peace, love, laugh, and hit people who try to scare you. audra |
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