A note

Mother's in hospital. May not be around very much in the following few days.

Tales on Tuesday

Nessa of The Chrysalis Stage is hosting a new meme. The idea is to post a short story - 500 words or less - based on the week's theme. Each time the theme is a title of a TV show but the story doesn't have to have anything in common with the show.

This week's theme is Dark Shadows

~~~


“Don't be so tense. What are you afraid of?”

“I don’t know… nothing”

Wanda was lying on a bed, stripped down to her underwear, waiting to be spiked with thin stainless steel needles. She didn’t mind the pain as much as she was uncomfortable about her body being touched and prodded.

Wanda was a rather successful basketball player. She’d passed the junior selections with flying colours and was even drafted for the junior national team. She’d trained hard and possessed every technical skill needed but her lack of aggression and self-assertion had prevented her to get to the top. However, for the last few months she’d been complaining about a persistent pain in her Achilles’ tendons which had prevented her to give her best on court. After much pleading the club had arranged a treatment with an alternative therapist who, allegedly, had some success treating sports injuries. She’d had a few sessions before but never at his home. He said he’d try a new approach this time… electric stimulation and something about removing the mental blockades.

“Fine. Let’s try to relax you, then. Close your eyes and imagine the favourite place you’d like to be. Imagine yourself lying there... you’re breathing deeply… your lids are heavy and your body is completely relaxed…”

Wanda’s mind went into a frenzy. What is my favourite place? Is it a beach with warm golden sand and a soft breeze and the sea gently lapping the shore? Or is it a forest clearing smelling of pines and summer herbs with butterflies flittering around? Or… ? She couldn’t make up her mind and completely forgot about the man and his words until…

A hand touched her abdomen. Bare skin brushed against her thigh. She winced and opened her eyes as the weight of another body… a naked male body pinned her down.

“You are not hypnotised.” The simple statement gave her the shivers. She tried to scream and wriggle out of his grip but although she was a trained athlete, she could do nothing to counter the man’s force and his words only confirmed her fear. She knew he was telling the truth and realised he’d done this before. “Don’t try anything. I can disable you in seconds. You can not escape and nobody will hear you. Resistance can only get you hurt so you’d better stay calm while I give you the acupuncture of your life.”



Wanda was sure there were other victims and hoped at least one of them would stand up but no support ever came. She ended her life rather than being exposed to further humiliation when nobody believed her story. The man knew better than to leave any bodily fluids as evidence of his deed. Yes, she’d had sex, they said, but that proved nothing.

Some years later the man’s cottage burned to the ground and his body was found inside, the erection still discernible. There were no other remains. The cause of the fire was never discovered.

Microfiction Monday

Hosted by Susan at Stony River



When we were young I jumped over this bridge to bring her back the key she had dropped. Now I'm sorry I didn't push her over instead.

Forsythia update

Easter musings - where I come from

Post WWII Yugoslavia was in a way a tampon zone between the capitalist West and the communist countries behind the Iron Curtain. We had Tito, we had the Non-Aligned Movement and we had a hodgepodge of nationalities, cultures and religions. State was separated from Church and that was the only way the federation could exist.

The north-west (the vast majority of Slovenia and Croatia) was Roman-Catholic with a Lutheran community in the north-east. The eastern parts (the majority of Serbia, Montenegro and Macedonia) belonged to the Eastern Orthodox Church whereas Islam prevailed in Kosovo. Bosnia and Herzegovina was an unfortunate mix of Muslims, Roman-Catholics and the Orthodox. However, the prevailing belief (or, rather, non-belief) was communism.

In Slovenia, Catholicism was deeply rooted in the rural areas whereas, in general, atheism was fondly embraced in the cities. And while going to church wasn't encouraged, it wasn't banned either. Besides, many of the newly initiated communists (atheists) were burdened with the guilt-driven Catholic background.

I was born and raised an atheist, was never christened or initiated in any other way. In fact, I have always found the stories of god (or God if you will) and 'his son' odd, to say the least. While I can understand to some extent why people would believe in some entity with supernatural powers being in control of their lives, I could never believe such tales. I can respect ancient traditions and acknowledge their pagan origin but have a natural aversion to any belief system which tries to prescribe me how to live and what to do or not do. Having said which, I have no problem liking and respecting people who hold such beliefs as long as they don't behave in a patronising manner.

Mixed stuff

The photo of a couple enjoying their morning drink and ciggy (I suppose) out on their terrace is a bit sneaky but not damaging for anyone, I don't think, and there's something reflecting off the windows behind that I like.

It's been a mixed day. Away most of the time: part running errands, part attending a birthday party of sorts (family stuff) which took too long. The weather acted in a mixed fashion, too. Started off with some morning sunshine from under the clouds, continued with showers - occasionally very strong, even with some hail mixed in which is unusual for this time of year, then partially cleared but the afternoon brought in some more showers albeit less intense.

I said yesterday the forsythia hadn't opened yet. Well, as I came home tonight I saw the first few unfolding blossoms. No photos, though, as it was already dark, but I hope to get some tomorrow. We switch to Sumer Time - aka Daylight Savings time (what nonsense!) tonight so there will be one hour less sleep and it'll take me days to adjust to the fact that we've been robbed of an hour.

I think I'll post some Easter musings regardless of what I said yesterday - because you asked for it. But not tonight - it's already late here and my thoughts are not particularly clear.

A random post

I started to write a self-pitying tirade but thought better before hitting the publish button. Then I thought I'd share some thoughts on Easter but changed my mind as what I might have said could offend those of you with Christian beliefs. That's why you're getting a flower instead. The photo is exactly one year and two days old and although the growth was late last spring, the same forsythia hasn't opened yet this year...

3WT in 55

After his girlfriend had left him, Ivan lived in some kind of accide. He would only get up for work and eat only to keep his body functioning. The books he used to enjoy gathered dust and his cromack and hiking boots lay forgotten. He just sat there, contemplating the fissiparous nature of human relationships.

haiku

holiday brochure...
awakened from a daydream
by a yelping dog

Strange

Two strangers - female, should I add - caught doing strange things in the neighbourhood.
I have technically better photos of the pair immersed in a photo session but this particular one, imperfect though it is, is my favourite.

Tales on Tuesday

Nessa of The Chrysalis Stage is starting a new meme. In her words:

I have been looking for a Meme to do on Tuesdays. Not being able to find one I like, I made one up. I call it "Tales on Tuesday."

The idea is to tell a short, short (500 words or less) story based on the week's theme. To provide us inspiration, each theme will be the title of a TV show.

Your story does not have to have anything in common with the TV show.

If you want to play, the theme for Tuesday, March 23, 2010, will be "Lost In Space."

So, without further ado, this what I managed to come up with:



Where am I?

Myrme shook off her torpor and tried to get a feel of the place she found herself in. It was pitch dark so she couldn't rely on her vision. The surface was firm but felt strange although there was something vaguely familiar about it. The air was stale and damp. She could sense the putrid smell of decomposing matter. From somewhere in the distance she could hear the dripping sound of water. She couldn't tell which time it was as nothing penetrated the darkness.

She tried to recall something - anything - to help her understand how she got here, wherever "here" was. Was she abducted by aliens? Something had urged her to stray away from her colony, that much she remembered. And there was that huge fungus she had never seen before. The fungus... somehow she knew that it was important. She had to explore it, right? Right?? Anyway, she'd climbed onto it. And then something lifted the fungus from the ground. It soared through the air for a little while before plummeting into the darkness. Darkness... She tasted the air again. No, not this darkness. That one was different. That one smelled of earth, of pine needles, of things she was familiar with. How did the transition occur? She didn't know... she must have passed out.

She tried to relax, hoping the answers would come. If only her shoulders didn't itch so much. She remembered a tale the elders had been telling, the tale about the conception of the colony she had been part of. Would she ever be able to return? The legend said the Queen of her tribe had arrived in the land that now belonged to them on a metallic beast travelling with unimaginable speed. She'd had to cling to it for grim life until the beast slowed down enough she could let go without being crushed. Then she'd found the fertile soil that would sustain her family and started raising the babies. The rest, the legend says, is history. Something stirred in her mind... metallic beast? crushing speed? why do I feel I know these things? I must have been swallowed by one!

Suddenly Myrme felt she was being moved again. Moments later light flooded her prison and in an instant she was blinded by strong piercing sunlight while her body bounced off a pile of what felt like soft withered lettuce. Dazed, she wanted to hide but was hindered by strange pressure on her shoulders. As she tried to shake off the burden, she found herself airborne.

***

"Ma, I just emptied the bin on the compost heap as you told me, and there's a large ant with wings flying away from it!"

"Is it really? I bet it's the future queen of a new colony of garden ants. Now stop making things up and come here if you want some of this mushroom pie I just baked"

Microfiction Monday

Susan at Stony River hosts this meme. It's short, it's fiction, it's fun, all in just 140 characters or less.



Gee, I'm glad I'm not a man so I don't have to join the Navy to enjoy the company of sailors.
Now kiss me, my admiral, and say you agree.

Association meme - tagged!

My friend Thom tagged me with a new meme which seems to be making rounds in the blogworld.

There are supposed to be some rules which I refuse to follow but here's the copy/paste just in case anyway:

1. Anyone can play, whether they have been tagged or not.
2. Include the rules and logo in your post.
3. Copy out all the responses that were made before you.
4. Link to each of the people who responded before you.
5. Put in your response. Your response can be as little as a single word or as much as 100 words. It can be a word, a phrase, an image, a song, a video, a story, or a short rant.
6. Tag anyone you would like to challenge to play this game. You do not have to tag anyone.
7. You can do this any time you run across it, even if you were one of the previous responders.

The thread so far (no links, I said I'm a rule breaker):

Alice said: Excitement

Hootin Anni said: Thrill!

Hazel said: Suspense

Thom said: Murder

My first thought was Agatha Christie and I guess I'll stick to it.

So, if anyone wants to pick up the meme, you're welcome to do so. Otherwise, tough luck... the buck stops here for this particular thread.

Spring equinox reflection

A week ago

This picture was taken exactly a week ago. Even the crow seemed bored with all the snow and was trying to fly away...

A few warmer days since then took care of all the snow except for the blackened piled up mountains where it was ploughed or shovelled out of the way, and even those have reduced significantly, streams of water trickling from underneath. We're ready for spring and I hope she's ready for us!

3WT in 55

"What a coxcomb!" exclaimed Ulla when a young man eructated while passing her. What she didn't know was that Alex was completely unaware of his surroundings when he noctambuled. She also didn't know his sleepwalking had never taken him this far before and he would be shocked to find himself awake in the red district.

senryu

unemployed
she shares her sandwich
with sparrows

Pipistrelle

I met this guy at the edge of a forest today when the daylight was already beginning to fade - hence the blurry pic. These small bats are incredibly agile and not at all easy to capture on a camera, especially when you only have the old point & shoot with you. A DSLR with a telephoto lens would have made things easier...

Microfiction Monday

Brought to us by Susan at Stony River



Lucy would enjoy the rare moments of her alone time if she didn't dread uncle Jo's visits.
She was horrified by the way he touched her.

Finally spring?

Some blue sky and nicer temperatures hopefully mean we're done with the winter - for the time being at least...

Another winter reflection

Too many of those already but...



(the photo is a night shot and hasn't been converted into B&W)

Flash 55

He realised he was lying on a platform in deep virgin snow. It was still snowing heavily. He had no recollection of how he got there. Before darkness engulfed him he noticed with grim satisfaction the vivid red colour spreading around his contorted body into the bleak white-grey world of winter he loathed so much.


A note: busy today. Will be around some time tomorrow

Disgusted - still!

Oh well, it stopped snowing and the wind has calmed down but the stuff shows no signs of disappearing. Sigh...

That building

I kind of promised in the comments thread that I would try to dig out some information on the building where the fire burst out yesterday. Here goes, then...

Kolizej, as the building is known, was built in 1846. The edifice is rectangular, 120 m long by 30 m wide, and initially served as a stable and transitional barracks for the Austrian military troups befre deployment - mostly to the northern Italy. Slovenia at that time was part of the Habsburg monarchy (Austrian Empire - and from 1867, Austria-Hungary). The building aslo hosted a riding school and was, with its dance hall and cafes, a social hub for the local bourgeoisie. When the military permanently left at the end of the 19th century, tradesmen and artisans took over, turning part of the building into workrooms and shops. After WWII the building was nationalised (as was most of the private property) and remodelled into a residential area for the socially endangered population. Since then little was invested into the renovation and the building slowly deteriorated. In 1995 one of the supporting walls collapsed and buried a few residents so the whole building was evacuated. Since then it has offered temporary residence to the homeless and junkies.

There have been no official reports on the incident but it was unofficially stated that the fire had started in one of the mattresses used by the homeless but was put out before it could cause any serious damage. No persons were found inside the building at the time of the fire or immediately afterwards.

Madness!

Snow, gusting wind, freezing, freezing, freezing, more snow, more wind... when will it ever end???

haiku

what happened to
the yellow dandelion?
- pale full moon

Fire!

On my way home from work I came across this scene. Just across the street from my bus stop in the city centre the once impressive building, now only a faint shadow of the past glory over which institutions have been arguing whether to protect it as a monument or put it down, was caught on fire. Firemen already at the scene, likewise the police and an ambulance - as it turned out later, fortunately not needed.

The road out of the city centre was jammed, traffic hardly moving at all. Icy wind blowing in gusts strong enough to move a lighter person carried snowflakes to and fro (yes, the white specks on the roof of the building are fresh snow). Waiting for my line in such circumstances was useless so I proceeded on foot toward home and made it about half way before I finally hitched a bus. Need I say I was frozen to the bone!

Microfiction Monday

Monday is play time. This week Susan provided us with the following picuture to make up a story in 140 characters (or less)




Esther failed to notice the blink her latest catch flashed toward his buddies.
As she clambered out of the pool, she swore she'd get even.

A rant (raw and unedited)

I never thought being published would piss me off (well, I did have one awfully disappointing experience with a certain alternative magazine in Slovenia) but it just has because everything regarding this particular publication was done the wrong way.

I'm not sure where or when it started or how exactly it happened. I remember having a conversation around the beginning of the year with the person whom I considered a friend and who happens to be the president of the Haiku Club of Slovenia in which she mentioned something about being in touch with the editor of Shamrock Haiku Journal who wanted to showcase Slovenian haiku and that she suggested the authors who should be represented, including me. So I expected to be contacted by either of the two to agree on the selection of the haiku or at least to be asked permission to use my work (which I would gladly oblige). Nothing happened.

Turns out - and I only discovered that recently - that the issue she was talking about had already been published in December 09, meaning before she told me about it. And when I looked in, I was shocked. There were five of "my" haiku published, only I didn't recognise any of them. After some investigation it dawned on me they were all - every single one of them - taken from my haiku/haiga blog and rewritten without permission. Not a single one contained my exact words. And the editor had the effrontery to add the work was "translated" by him.

I was furious. In fact, I still am! I mean, I am not a native English speaker but I am convinced my English is not so poor as to not know what I am writing about or what I am trying to convey, and thus far I haven't had other people complaining that they didn't understand me (having said this, I am aware that my grammar is not perfect and I lack in vocabulary to some extent). The work posted in the blog has always been raw and unedited and I would sometimes continue working on pieces I thought needed editing to be improved but mostly they were left as posted. So, who does this guy think he is to have the right to twist and rewrite my work without ever consulting me - the rightful author. I am open to suggestions but I alone have the right to decide whether the change would benefit the work or not and approve it or not.

And if somebody else (namely the woman representing the Slovenian haiku - and she was the intermediary in that other disappointing experience as well) took the right to decide on my behalf what somebody is entitled to do or not, then I'm through with them. I do not need Slovenian haiku, Slovenian haiku needs me. And they have just lost me! For good!

Reflection on a Saturday

A rather silly 55

Which, however, may just explain why we have been getting so much water in every possible shape for what seems an eternity (sorry, Thom - not! )


“Haven’t you had enough already, son?” A rich tenebrous baritone echoed through a spacious hall.

“But, dad… I enjoy playing with water… it has so many different appearances.”

“Do you realise we have to get rid of all the by-products of your experiments? And there’s nowhere else we can deposit the waste than the Earth.”

Wordless Thursday

A perfectly dreadful day

Morning rain mixing with snow
Jammed roads, hardly moving traffic, impatient drivers
Cranky co-workers making unreasonable demands
Inadequate, incomplete, delayed documentation
Colleagues asking stupid questions
Irate boss
Crammed bus stop, my line not appearing for ages
Temperature hovering around freezing all day long
Monotonous grey clouds covering the sky, wrapping the world in monochrome semi-dusk
Bitter gusting wind turning over a number of umbrellas
Freezing rain lashing the landscape
Accidents, earthquakes
No Three Word Thursday

my take on wednesday haiku

empty husk
hidden beneath a leaf -
pulsating wings

Ribs

Microfiction Monday

It's time to play again. This time Susan provided us with the following picuture to make up a story in 140 characters (or less)



Are you sure this is the right way to Jack's estate? I don't think he had this in mind when he said we should turn right at "The Two Cows".