Photo from a book store - and a Poem for Friday Writings

You can count the keys on this LARGE PRINT typewriter pictured.
Please also note that it is a manual and not electric.
"Typewriter" posts, http://jimmiehov.blogspot.com/search?q=typewriter

  Words we speak 

"If I had my choice, I probably would've 

gotten married in my twenties, 

had three kids, and never left my hometown.  

Sometimes life doesn't work out the way 

we wish it would." 

Words were spoken like I've heard before

'I won't ever marry a man, and when I have 

children I'll teach them to not marry either.'  

Thus sayeth a senior girl in my typing class 

(I and one other were the only boys enrolled) 

which shocked a farm boy like me. 

Later I read in the paper when the girl above 

had married that summer a fellow who drove 

a batch truck for the paving gang making the 

new highway to a neighboring town.  

Later still, I read of the birth that fall of a baby 

boy to the couple.  

The author of the book from which I quoted, 

then married, did have a child, at the age 

of forty-two.  

Things don't often, seldom, work out like 

our plans.  

I didn't plan things, never did.  Instead when 

there is an open door of opportunity I evaluate 

choices and most often have taken the good ones. 

 

I ended up not rich but have retired well enough 

off to have retired many years now. All my 

degrees aren't helping me now but they did produce 

quite well. 

Moral of the story from my book, the author 

was telling, "God has a plan for us" and it may 

differ greatly from our own. 

_ _ _

Notes:

1. The book I'm reading is “Mostly What God Does”

written by Savannah Guthrie. The words I have used here

are to be found in Chapter 4, titled “Like a Mother”.

2. My “Prose Poem” has 290 words not counting the title 

but counting the author's quotation from the book. 

_ _ _ 

- Writing Copyright, Jimmiehov 2024, All rights reserved 

-  I am linked with Magaly at Friday Writings #130 at 

  https://poetsandstorytellersunited.blogspot.com/ 

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A Short Ode - a Write for NaPoWriMo 2024 Day 24

Ode to an Injured Wild Rabbit

"Wee, sleekit, cow’rin, tim’rous beastie, O, what a panic’s in thy breastie!" 

You've just read in British the first sentence of a John Burns very famous poem It is "Ode to a Mouse".  Poor mouse had been 

partially plowed under a farmer's plow blade 

I will continue this write with his first sentence in mind 

Oh small animal, I am so sorry, this trap wasn't meant for you. Rather for rats running wild. My children made a good find and had brought you to our house. Now we'll get you fixed up, clean, bandage, and splint that bloody leg.  

If you have babies at home I hope and pray that Daddy Bunny will care for them and feed them well. 

The people who set that trap in our hay field should be ashamed and feel sorry for you.  They are poachers breaking the law.

 

I'm hoping with you that the vet will fix you maybe so that you can soon go home, walking again. 

_ _ _ 

  - Writing Copyright, Jimmiehov 2024, All Rights Reserved 

 - I am linked with NaPoWriMo 2024 Day 24 

    https://www.napowrimo.net/day-twenty-four-10/

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Snowy Release -- a Prose Poem for dVerse Prosery

     Packing Snow 

‘Snow would be the easy way out’ .  Those words would be her rescue road.  Locked in here like a caged lion  

Mountainside lodge snow piling in. Snowman packed would it hold her up?   Up to windows high break the glass 

Then freedom at last!  

 _ _ _  

 -   Prose Poem Copyright 2023, by Jimmiehov, All Rights Reserved 

  - I'm linked with  kfim881  at dVerse Prosery     https://dversepoets.com/2023/11/06/november-for-beginners/ 

   Where Kim's prompt words for us to use is my first line, ‘Snow would be the easy way out’.  We were to limit ourselves to writing with no more than 144 words including the seven she gave us. I used 44.

 - Click here to read some of the other writers using these words

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The Book - a Prose Poem for dVerse MTB

My Book 

It's a book of must reads, a book that I must read.  There must be a reason to make the 'must', tell us more of that work of written art.  My book, borrowed from the local library shelves, "The Country of the Blind; a Memoir at the End of Sight", by Andrew Leland. 

Every man in my masculine line of ancestry that I have learned, has gone blind, blind of Macular Degeneration. That has come about age ninety, maybe eighty-nine.  Not a woman there, I've been told.  

So as I approach that yellowed age I must have something to prepare me.  What could be better than this book of a blind, blind man writing his memoirs?

I may skip around, there seems to be no end but an interesting beginning. In the beginning. Chapter One is titled “Seeing Stars”. I love to see the stars at night, shining in the heavens so bright. Lay on my back some night, I'm prepared for a sight. Shooting stars are my best, I'll do more of this until I cannot see the stars, blind to them and to most all.

Chapter Four might interest me, “The Male Gaze”. Interesting perhaps, I'll give it a test. Number Six is misnamed I feel sure, “The Library of Babel”. Don't go there, there weren't books back then, let alone a library of them. Chapter ten is the end, end of my book; it is titled “Half Smiling”. Do you think I will smile when I just have gone blind; I can't think of one thing to smile about on that sad day. How about you?

I may read between some lines, I could do that when I go blind. 'Do that my foot?' But perhaps by then I'll be ready for when, when my time comes to see nothing more.

I've a last little worry. I lose canes a plenty, that is now, when I can see. But when I cannot how will I ever find even one, lost cane.

    The End 

 _ _ _  

  - Prose Poem Copyright, Jimmiehov 2023, All Rights Reserved 

  - I am linked with Laura Bloomsbury at dVerse MTB, 

    https://dversepoets.com/2023/09/07/mtb-book-a-prose-poem/ 

  - Laura wants us to write a Prose Poetry effort about a Book that we have or will have read last.

 - To read others writing work, Click Here

Food and Eating -- A Write for Friday Writings

[JIM'S LITTLE BLOG: Happy Birthday Sis! Happy Birthday Lois! (jimmiehov.blogspot.com)]
A restaurant on the West Side of Montgomery, Texas, now closed (Lois is center, back)

About Food and Eating 

Been asked to tell a tale 

A tale of food or eating 

Start with a place 

that isn't good? 

That I will not 

        We've never had a bad at the Cracker Barrels.  Their Meat Loaf is par with Mom's; Chicken Fried Chicken is my favorite.  Desert is Fried Apple in sweet syrup to go for desserts, at home we have it a la mode with Blue Bell Homemade Vanilla ice cream. 

        Yummy!!  

Then tell about your cook 

I'll tell you of some things I cook 

My cooking some might call 

it for every thing I make 

So everything I make, means 

microwaving, baking, frying, 

assembly of ingredients, 

defrosting from the frozen,

You name it, that, I might “make”

        Today I'm "making" Hot Dogs with cheese and sauerkraut and having Bush Original Baked Beans soon for Lunch. Cherry Pie a la mode next or later for dessert. 

If there is a place left 

on the Misses' card 

we can go out for 

a tasty meal 

    

        And when I'm not “making” it chances are that we are eating out. I like a lot of places besides Cracker Barrel. Some we visit that are nearby, Fast Food would be McDonald's, Wendy's, Burger King, Whataburger, Little Caesars(pizza), Chick-fil-A, and Kolache Factory. Favorites here would be Burger King for a sit-in Breakfast, Wendy's for sandwiches, and Subway and Kolache Factory for take-out.

        If we are better dressed for going in, it would be Orleans, Spring Barbeque, Luby's, Willie's Grill, Carrabba's Italian, Chuck Wagon BBQ and Burgers, La Finca(Mexican), and Apple-bees.

        Our Sunday Restaurant is Orleans, serving New Orleans type foods, much is spicier than Mrs. Jim wants. Wendy's eat-in is good, ours isn't open often for breakfast due to a help shortage. Burger King has Breakfast coupons; our favorite there is BOGO egg, cheese, and Ham or Sausage croissant sandwiches plus one senior coffee; it comes with one helping tater tots and one medium coffee.

    I used a list, “Restaurants in Katy,” there were 972 (Houston Metro Area, 11,361) for choosing. Some others did not make the list. Also we eat outside Katy into Houston proper, there it is liable to be Papadeaux Seafood. 

    Luby's has veteran discounts, Orleans has Senior Day on Fridays.

   _ _ _ 

 -Photo and Poem Copyright, Jimmiehov 2023, All Rights Reserved 

 - I am linked with Rosemaryy at Friday Writings #90 at     https://poetsandstorytellersunited.blogspot.com/2023/08/friday-wrings-90-food-andor-eating.html?m=1

 - Rosemary has asked us to write about food and/or eating short or longish (369 words or fewer), fiction or nonfiction. Mine is exactly 369 words not counting the title.

Burned Breakfast -- a Poem for Friday Writings

"Don't cry over burnt toast" 

'twas a weekday morning 

had nothing special planned 

Coffee and snack time 

10:30 AM 

The Mrs. had a Kolache 

split in two 

one piece for her 

another for me 

She had eaten hers 

with her cup of coffee 

I put mine in the micro 

set for "Reheat" 

forgot the Kolache 

tending my coffee 

suddenly I smelled smoke 

something was burning 

Oops, forgot my food 

normally a warm touch 

and I will take it out 

O dear what will I do 

I am a bit hungry 

lunch would be around three 

when we get home after the 

doctor's special visit 

Open the fridge 

not much there 

assortment of leftovers 

greeted my eyes 

Make do, make do 

leftovers better than none 

let's see what we can do 

Who's the "we" brother Jim? 

We shall find how well they blend 

     Click on the picture for a larger size view

Cottage cheese, low fat 

"Cajun style Crab Dip" 

very hot to the taste 

And a whole gob of brown beans 

"Bush's Best, Original" 

Got them on sale, 99 cents 

With a fresh pack of 

crisp graham crackers 

That was quite a haul 

beans made the difference 

Top it off, quite full now 

with three soft dark prunes 

Those finished it off 

for a guy who could not 

wear his upper appliance 

today, dentist's order 

Mouth should heal a bit

    _ _ _ 

 - Photos and Poem Copyright, Jimmiehove 2023, all rights reserved 

 - I am linked with Rosemary for an inspiring prompt phrase at the Friday Writings #84 ,  

   https://poetsandstorytellersunited.blogspot.com/

  - Rosemary has asked "us to be inspired by the phrase "Broken glass crunching under the boot steps"."

 - We were to limit our writing to 360 words, mine has 216 without the title covered

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These things make the Mrs. Happy -- A Poem for dVerse Poetics Day

Mrs. Jim at the school--for Grandparents Day 2015 
[grammar school, KP now starts High School in August]

     Things that make the Mrs. Happy

I asked my wife to tell me SOME things 

Gave her little pad and a pen 

and asked her to give me a list 

"a list of things that make me happy" 

Was I surprised?  Was I? 

Well, not exactly, they were all things,  

things that I DO now, Me.  

I am so very privileged, 

That list alone makes me happy and

I am glad that I faired fairly well 

I'm going to show you the list now 

p.s. if she thought of some more just tell 

(an Aside:  When I first started writing 

my other blog, one of the things I told 

my readers was that I gave my wife 

an ANUAL EVALUTATION. Woo Hoo) 

Here is her list:

 - Time together 

 - Walks 

 - Cuddling at night and good night kisses 

 - Remembering over fun things, or times

    we enjoyed together 

 - Courtesy of a gentleman 

 - Helping to make up bed in the morning 

 - Watching TV of show we both like 

Wasn't that nice, she had decided to involve 

me with everyone--I hope she didn't  

misunderstand that just list SOME THINGS 

You can tell that number one on her list 

is the very first thing that she listed, "together"

All the other fit it well, her saying since 

COVID came along, "We are joined at the Hip"

Which are my THREE FAVORITES of these?  Any one 

could be, I enjoy our walks the most, we have 

a pleasant parklike place to walk complete with 

paved walking trails, streams, water throughout 

with ducks, cranes, and birds of all sorts.  And 

then there's the turtles and walking bridges, lots 

of trees, small playgrounds with swings and slides 

along the way.  And of course, WE TALK. 

Next I'll tell of the making of the bed 

Generally one of us gets up first, that person 

starts the coffee if she or I think the other might 

arise fairly soon.  IF SO, that person last up MAKES. 

(p.s.  Some times the first up gets up at a terribly 

early time.  I generally make a cup of hot chocolate 

and a piece of raisin bread with creme cheese and 

strawberry jam to tide me over until coffee time 

She makes hot chocolate with a graham cracker 

and perhaps some peanut butter 

and the Third HAS TO BE cuddling and stuff 

I wasn't told the birds and bees from my parents 

I learned it all in high school and perhaps a little of 

what comes naturally and morally around a girl with 

mutual likes 

That started in the first grade, we didn't have

kindergarten, when the other girl in first grade 

invited me to sit down in the storm cellar steps 

Well, the Mrs. and I have very mutual likes!!!

I love my wife dearly, I pray to for my life to 

be as long calendar wise as hers, I'm sad and almost tear 

to think it won't 

We are old 

All this and more walking trails are 

within three-mile radius our home:

Pictures if we walk to the east of our house 
Cinco Ranch, Katy, Texas.  They are for flood
water retention, we can walk to the west, north, 
or south also [click picture for larger size]

 _ _ _ 

 - Photos and Poem Copyright, Jimmiehov 2015 and 2023, All Rights Reserved 

 - I am linked with in Sara [sarahsouthwest in ]Poetics

 Poetics at dVerse Poetics, for her prompt, she did also allow for us to write our own wishes or of someone else's -- I chose Mrs. Jim's 

    https://dversepoets.com/2023/06/20/what-colour-is-hope/ 

 - Click here to read what others have written 

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April -- NaPoWriMo 2023 Day 23 -- an "Old Friends" write

   

         Reminiscing; Way Back 

I. 

(The agenda, Jim D and Jim H, Facebooking) 

II.

Well, Jimmie H, how are things going for you way down in Texas?

It's been a long time since we parted, I'm retired and stayed here in Newport Beach.  

Wish we could get hold of Old Rosie, I miss her a lot.

III.

Yes, she was quite a gal.  You were her boy toy before there ever was a name for that relationship. I miss her too.  For an across the hall neighbor, we couldn't have found a better.  

IV. 

I've been reading your posts, I am glad you found each other.  I could have arranged that if I knew you guys had gone a really long way apart.  

Oh yes, I miss you all too, "Miss Rosie of the 50's" is here almost sniffling." 

V. 

Rose, you are making me feel bad, I doubt any of us will ever get together again.  Distance makes good memories but that's about all.  Jim H, could we do something about this, just one more time get-together.  

VI.

Let's pick a halfway destination and a time.  The word "can't" is not in my thoughts if I can help.  All right, Rose, Jim D, how does Salt Lake City or Crested Bute, Colorado sound?  

Choices?

VII. 

(Silence) 

VIII. 

All right, I have memories of Crested Bute, we'll go there.  A date? 

IX.

Any Month that has a fifth Thursday, let's see, next month, Guys?  

X.

(Simultaneously, both Jims) Fine, fine, meet at the motel TBD. 

XI.

Rose, you pick the motel, there's either the Red Rooster Inn or Mama's B&B; and now deep pocket guy Jimmie D, you pick up the Hotel tab.

XII.

(In unison)  Cheers to our old abode!!!

(Silence all, computers darkened) 

                 _ _ _ 

- Photo and Script Writing Copyright, Jimmiehov 2009 and 2023 respective, All Rights Reserved 

- I have linked with NaPoWriMo, National Poetry Writing Month, Day 23 at 

    https://www.napowrimo.net/day-twenty-three-9/ 

- The prompt deal there, "Now, try to write a poem of your own that has multiple numbered sections. Attempt to have each section be in dialogue with the others, like a song where a different person sings each verse, giving a different point of view. Set the poem in a specific place that you used to spend a lot of time in, but don’t spend time in anymore."  

 - Note:  The "apartment" photo is a hotel on the beach at Etretat, France.  Read about our 2009 visit here, 

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