life

November 1, 2012 Image

My favorite part of today’s Art Club, with 16 students in 3rd-5th grade, was hearing one girl say on her way out the door, “I wish Art Club could be every week.” Today they drew continuous line self portraits with a black felt tip marker. No erasing was possible. Then they added color with washable Crayola markers. I made one too. *happy sigh* Now it’s time to store their artwork in a portfolio, clean up the scattered supplies, move tables and chairs, and finally head home. ~ Janean

“you’re on my optic nerve”
by Janean M. Baird
9” x 12”
marker
November 1, 2012

November 1, 2012

slow dancin’

We were canoodling when the phone rang, cutting off the music we were dancin’ to.
It was my mother saying, “I’m on my way.”
He said, “I don’t want to see your tears.”
I replied, “Then don’t look.”
There’s no time to kiss them away.
Gotta get my composure, blow my nose and grab my sunglasses to walk the dog.
Our sweet pup, Blue.
Met mom on the sidewalk.
Chit chatted and smiled sorta bright.
Held his hand when I came back in.
Assured him it was the tenderness that did me in.
I’m a girl.
It’s how I’m packaged.
Sometimes they are happy tears.

November 1, 2012

October 25, 2012 Image

That evil, loud, serenity stealing, leaf blowing machine appears on the left of this photo. Of course, now it’s 8:01a.m. ET and the leaves must all be banished. I can hear the fountain hitting the pool once again. Ahh. Much better than that mechanical whir. Time to take my oatmeal, doctored up with brown sugar and cinnamon, along with my coffee refill, back to the room. Last day of vacation. The rest of my family assured me at bedtime they wanted to get an early start today. I’ll find out soon…

October 25, 2012

October 25, 2012

last day of vacation

Stupid leaf blower poolside is ruining my serenity. Grrrrr
Time for more coffee and oatmeal anyway – food service started at 7:00. Saturday morning I’ll be food service again. Laundress and dog walker and cat care lady too. The break’s been nice though. Palm trees and sunshine worked their magic. Nice to have a week without too many tears. ~ Janean

October 25, 2012

October 24, 2012 Image

I sat down poolside with coffee only, just as a hint of drizzle turned to gentle rain at 6:20a.m. Thankful for that big red umbrella and time spent sitting in the dark outside. (It was quiet until that lady sat down with her cell phone…that she’s actually talking on and not typing on like me.)
Since then I’ve moved tables. Tweeted. E-mailed. Facebooked. Have refilled my mug o’ coffee too.
Nearly moved again after loud talking cell phone user number two. Instead I couldn’t help but overhear as she said, “You can’t run away from yourself because you can’t get away from your own ass.” Well, tis true.
The sky has brightened. I should go and check on my family, and find out if they are waking up anytime soon. No hurry. That’s the beauty of vacation. The gray clouds are moving. Blue sky is tryin’ to peek through. Not sure where the day is going to take us. The To Do List just reads, “Have Fun.” Gotta love Vacation Days. Reality can wait a few days more. It’s 8:09a.m. now. Livin’ on Eastern time rather agrees with me.
~ Janean

October 24, 2012

October 23, 2012 Image

I’m finding my mellow poolside, under palm trees and a light blue sky. Not a cloud in it either. Just right breeze and temp too for shorts and a t-shirt at 8:36am ET. Maybe the coffee has something to do with that. Oatmeal with brown sugar and cinnamon too. Snuck out while my family was sleeping. Some quiet alone time, just for me.
~ Janean

October 23, 2012 Image

white puffy clouds
bright blue sky
palm trees too
a day made for dreamin’
though the sun
played peekaboo
sighing sighs
the happy kind
serene smiles too
unwindin’
from the inside out
vacation days
go by too soon
real world thoughts
try to intrude
not yet
go away
it’ll keep
awhile longer
today is for palm trees
even though
the soon to be bare
maples and oaks
wait for me
at home

October 22, 2012