Sunday Scribblings: December

Here is a poem I wrote a while back that I think is fitting for this theme (although it was written in November :) )

First snowfall

quiet night

seems like only yesterday
tiny spidermen, princesses and ghouls
clamored for candy on our porch
tonight darkness fell so soon
you on the computer, me
watching chick shows
comfortable in the knowledge
you're right
here

commercial break

you wander upstairs

to the windows that frame our door
the one you spent three days painting electric blue
last summer

beckon me over
to watch the world outside
car, trees, driveway, rooftops, last month's pumpkins, darkness blanketed fluffy white
big chunky flakes drifting
softly

quiet night
so quiet
think I hear the snowflakes fall
warm orange glow of streetlights
bright gleam of a neighbour's Christmas lights
two weeks early
we chuckle at his zeal

lean into the checkerboard of your flannel pyjamas
into the circle of your arms,
our house
cozy

together
breathe in the soft crisp whiteness
of the year's first snowfall

~Ceebie

Sunday Scribblings: Guidance

As this week's Sunday Scribblings prompt is "guidance," I was hoping to seek guidance from the group on this poem I wrote last week. It came to me at around 4am and I banged it out, and personally I've felt like it just came together, but I'm curious to hear your thoughts on it. I've also been struggling with the title, so any guidance would be appreciated. Thanks!

Untitled

the thing about poetry is,
once it finds you, it is very hard to let it go

suddenly it is everywhere
in the gush of a blueberry
running hot and purple on your tongue
when all you wanted was pancakes on a quiet morning

it is there at a street corner
in the slant of light through buildings,
the sheen of a puddle,
tugging at your sleeve as you wait for the light to change
it wants to dance a slow tango with you across Quinpool Rd
toying with you
till you want to share it with strangers

in the darkness of 4am
suddenly poetry is there with you in the room
there in the hum of words in the corner behind your right eye
roll them around in your mind like a marble
hear them like a new song played over and over again
can almost taste them, their metallic twinge
poetry is the imp at the bottom of the bed that takes hold of your blanket
tugging at the corner
there in the feverish warmth of the pillow that you flip over and over
searching for a cool spot to rest your cheek on
then when at last you cannot take it anymore
throw open the laptop
its quiet glow on your knuckles, your eyelashes
bang on the keys
words creeping black across the snowy wilderness of an empty page
hoping to stay the rush of words in your head
release the torrent behind your eyes
then

silence

for awhile...

because poetry knows that you'll be back

~ Ceebie

What type of stemware are you? A new way of talking about body shape...

Thinking of purchasing a clothing item for a loved one on your list? Want to make sure you don't buy them a skirt that's two sizes too big and makes them look like a walking tent, or pants where the crotch falls below their knees like some bad retro Bobby Brown outfit?

Then listen to the wisdom of personal shopper and wardrobe customizer Cindy Wheeler, owner of Customizing Wardrobes by Cindy. A few weeks ago I had the pleasure of corresponding with Cindy for an upcoming shopping article in The Coast's Gift Giving Guide (which comes out tomorrow - stay tuned for more!). She was a wealth of information and knowledge, and I ended up having more material than could fit in my article.

So, Cindy kindly agreed to let me share with you her 9 Types of Body Shape Stemware, which she came up with a few years ago as an antidote to the whole "apple and pear" distinctions.

"It can save you a lot of hours shopping if you know the perfect styles for your body shape [or that of your friends]," says Cindy. "So I came up with 9 body shapes all named after stemware lovingly named and influenced by my friends."

Grand Vin Wine - no defined curves to speak of; rounder through shoulders
Cordial - tomboy-type figure
Champagne Flute - any shape, but over 5’8”
Grappa - hip and booty issues
Decanter - thigh and leg issues
Margarita - slim shoulders, big busted, slim hips
Goblet - rounder shoulders, larger tummy, slim hips
Wine Carafe - extremely curvy, hourglass, any size
Pilsner - curvy but thicker through the waist

"I wanted to focus on the many issues that we women have," adds Cindy. "BUT, my biggest lesson for my clients is, dress the body you have, not the body you want or the body you had."

Her last words of wisdom? "Feeling great and looking fabulous starts with knowing and loving your shape, regardless of it being a Decanter or a Goblet."

This short little Wine Carafe couldn't agree more. Thanks, Cindy!

Click here to learn more about Cindy and her wardrobe customizing services and workshops.

Now it's your turn - what type of stemware are you?

~ Ceebie