Magic Knowing

Swell, swoon, swirl

My toes in Arizona...Clouds make the best sunset

Dipping
Holding her garments high
Blind meeting
Birthday gift
Christmas stocking
Magic knowing
Mind echos Yes 
On tongue's tip
Love

Midnight, New Year
First kiss
Fire place and works
Flame to ember
Steady glow
Snow and angels
Magic knowing
Sunset in her pocket
On tongue's voice
Love

© 2014 by Tammy Secord. All rights reserved.
This is a repeat of one I did...gosh almost 4 years ago. Was reminded of it by Poetry Jam's prompt of sunset. I love sunsets and if I could I would carry one in my pocket so I could look at it whenever I fancied.

Summer Time

...and the livin' is easy.

Check out our schmellow sticks

Camping
Flamage
Schmellows

Need I say more?

When I was a kid my family would spend a week or so at Kejimkujik National Park. Mom, dad, brother, cousins, aunt and uncle, and grandparents.

SO MUCH FUN!!!

I thought my cousins were so rich because we stayed in a tent BUT they had a trailer with a tent attached!!

My uncle would haul everybody around the park in the back of his trailer. Each of us perched high in our lawn chairs.

We'd ride our bikes along the path and go swimming in the lake. We'd race and rawk the suspended bridge. We'd stay up late (dusk) and sing songs about Alice the camel and her many humps. I would cuddle up to my blankie and oversized doll mesmerized by the campfire.

In my child memory, we did this all the time. But actually only once according to my parents.

It's been moons since I've tented and enjoyed a good flaming schmellow over a campfire. So when we packed our tent this past weekend and set out to visit with friends parked in the middle of nowhere, spontaneous dancing was had. I reverted to the age of 9 and packed my sparklers, glow in the dark sticks and lick-em-stick-em tattoos.

Best weekend ever. We do it all the time. Giggle.

Luckiest Girl

I feel so blessed waking up to this view every morning: a sun hovering low over the horizon, a fishing boat or two taking in their nets, birds flying playfully around the courtyards and chimneys below me. All this with the sound of waves crashing. I can't imagine anything better.


The past couple days have been a nice mix of adventure and relaxation. Like enjoying the Sunday market. A mass of leather, cotton, jewelry, and anything else you can imagine. Our favorite tapas bar was the perfect perch to watch those shopping while drinking aqua con gas or cafe solo. We've visited this place often enough that they have adopted us as temporary family. ;)

 
Over time we have explored more of Estepona. Enjoying it's cobble stoned streets lined with shops that end in a courtyard full of the aroma of orange blossoms and the best ice cream one can imagine. The boardwalk along the coast was entertaining as well as you watch the few expats swim in the water (we figure they must be Canadian...giggle) and locals roller blading, biking or jogging and some bundled up in leather coats and sweaters. The weather has been in the high 20s the past couple days and as is typical with myself I'm finding a balance of wearing my bikinis one moment to bundling up in jeans and a scarf the next. Shrug. 
 
Yesterday we went to Gilbratar and like the local expats (a contradiction in terms?) we went for the shopping and not the monkies. Getting to the rocks was easy and as warned, the queue was long. After an hour wait we passed through passport control on both the spanish and Gilbratar sides. Within meters of each other. Shortly after passport control is a stretch of highway that crosses an air strip. We timed our visit just so that for a few minutes the highway and side walk were closed and we witnessed a plane taking off. 
 
The city center of Gilbratar was beautiful. You emerge from a tunnel that enters the old fort into a square with fish and chips signs displayed boldly. A mix of spanish and english is predominant here. The pedestrian only street, again lined with shops like Ray Ban, BHS, and Marks and Spenser, was fun to explore. Hundreds of heads of people filled the street. A small number compared to their summer hours. I ended up with another unexpected souviner as it was madly cold and I was dressed for Estepona (a mere hour away). I love love love my crocheted sweater from Gilbratar.
 
Well, time to get back to the relaxation. Ciao ciao.

More than a Happy Place...It's a Book

This vacation has been exactly what I have needed. Each and every morning I wake up to my happy place realized. Each and every night I go to sleep to the same thing. What more could a girl want? Giggle.


My first couple days here have been luxuriantly lazy. I sit on my perch soaking in the sun and the sound of the waves. I watch life unfold on the mediterrenean accented with white limestone buildings with angled chimneys, terra cotta shingles and a cafe colored beach. Cats, dogs, and birds make up the bulk of my neighbors so far. Gradually the other human tennants of this complex are moving in. Mostly I feel indulgent in my selecusion on my optionally glassed in oasis. Truly I could live here and have often wished for the power to stop time.
 
We've had a couple adventures. Not the least of which was me getting a bit of a jolt one morning from one of the outlets. Whoops. Another day we drove towards Malaga exploring the coast line and getting turned around more than we had hoped but that's when you find the true treasures of travel.
 
Yesterday was my much anticipated trip into Morocco. We took a ferry from south of Gilbratar into Tangier. Morocco was both more and less than I hoped it would be. Unique and yet familiar.
 
Mom and Dad were very on task and efficient when it came to finding our bus etc. It's reduces the stress when you are traveling with others who have the same neurosis you do. Having said that, we were uncharacteristicly seperated from our group in the old city where mom sealed the deal on two fabulous carpets with her seemingly bold move of walking away. Truth was, she was done. Her way or the highway and to her they bowed. I am excited to say that I am now a proud owner of a fireproof, individual work of art (that you can walk on) for a 1/4 of the original price.
 
I loved Morocco. The old city was my favorite with it's narrow streets, colorful produce and people. I would have loved to have spent more time there exploring. But one thing that stood out to me like a sore thumb, was the absence of the random backpacker or two exploring at their own pace. I'm not a fan of tours in general, but I do wonder if if it is the only option here.
 
I shared my seat on the bus with my boyfriend for the day, Liam Neeson...I mean Leo. A Russian from Austria who is working in London and traveling with his daughter and grandson. When Leo smiled (which was often) he lit up just like his nine year old grandson. We saw the cave of Hercules where the opening onto the spraying Atlantic was a naturally formed map of Africa. We drove around the outskirts of the rapidly growing city. We were treated to a traditonal moroccan meal meant to be eaten with your hands. Although they provided utinsels some of us wore our saffron stained fingers with pride.

This little taste of Morocco makes me want to go back and see the rest of Africa. Wonderful.

Spain, Day 1

After about 30 hours of traveling I have arrived in Estepona. 
 
The transatlantic flight was fairly uneventful, just full of the jumps, twitches, head bobs, and snorts of the nearly but never quite sleeping. Add a hello kitty sleeping mask and I was something to behold. Giggle. 
 
The airport in Zurich reminded me a lot of Frankfurt. Easy to navigate and plenty to entertain me during my 7.5 hour stop over. And I do mean plenty. There was lunch with the Auzzies who were either coming or going on a skiing trip. Admitedly I only listened to half of the conversation. Whoops. There was the woman who was waving madly to get the attention of her husband...whose back was turned to her. The american looking crowd who buttered their croisants. What do they think gives croisants the flaky texture and, yes buttery flavor anyway? The only person I didn't see who I truly missed was the older woman in her velor tracksuit. That breed is getting harder to spot.
 
I do feel decidedly unfashionable on travel days in my yoga pants and hoodie. Especially when traveling to Europe. I do worry that maybe I am one plush away from becoming that rare species that I enjoy spotting. Truthfully, I'm drawing the line at birkenstocks.
 
The highlight of the people watching were the Valley Girls who surprisingly had like gone to the like red sea and like rode camels with like bombs going off in the background and like yeah. They were also like coaching one of their like girlfriends that it's like ok to be like weirded out by the rest of the team like crossing inappropriate boundaries. Like sure. Legally blonde in real life, and although my tone is mocking, I left with a great deal of respect for these young gals who seem to have it together much sooner than I ever did. Never judge a book by the cover, or a girl by her quantity of likes.

I finally landed in Estepona to a very warm greeting of homemade spaghetti and delicious local red wine. Mom and dad have this place cased. Dad was driving like a local...almost the same as loco. Giggle. I'm here, I'm happy, I'm on vacation! 
 
Like yeah!

Roomy Shell

My home
A shell
I side crawl
Defensively around
Near
Far

Memories
Stopping the door
Open
Room for more

© 2011 by Tammy Newman. All rights reserved.

In response to Magpie Tales picture prompt this week.

Traveling Fit

It was a somewhat uneventful travel day to DC. Although I did get my first customs agent who didn't sucumb to my smile and friendly attitude. For a moment I didn't think he was going to let me into the country...the fact that I worked for an American company but out of my office in Canada baffled him and he didn't like that much. Shrug.

The flights were short: I finished reading Jerk Calfornia on one flight and saw 1/2 a movie on the other.

About an 1.5 hours after landing I made it to the hotel in a meandering shuttle. Shrug. Travel is travel. It does what it wants with your schedule. You'll have a much better relationship if you just realize she will get you there but will have her way with you first.

Some of you may or may not know that I achieved a personal milestone a few weeks back. After much struggle, I finally believe that I have a foothold on living a healthy lifestyle: daily leave-it-on-the-table exercise and well eating are now a priority and part of my personal description. As much as traveling is.

So you can imagine my concern with traveling for the next three weeks. I know myself, it's easy to get lazy and I really don't want to lose what I've achieved. Sure there is a lot of hiking planned but if I don't have that committed exercise until-you-swear-and-pant daily, I feel like I'll lose my momentum. Thankfully, in this global environment it is becoming quite the trend.

Yes, the hotel did greet me with a warm cookie but room service had this amazingly delish Mediterranean chicken salad with kalamata olives, feta cheese, chickpeas, geens, roasted peppers and other goodies. Add a large bottle of sparkling water and you have healthy in-room dining. They even give you the nutrition breakdown!

To finish off the day of travel and just enjoying my room I googled hotel room exerices and did this one (http://www.ehow.com/how_4549389_exercise-hotel-room.html). Can I just say: mamma mia!? Yes, there was some swearing, but also some creativity as my eReader just doesn't have the weight of a book, generally the appeal with travel...who knew? Giggle.

Now to enjoy a hot bath and Anna Karina.

Tomorrow is a comfy shoe work day as we walk from the office to the Buildiing Museum and look at Lego structures, Italian lunch, and then the Tidal Basin to enjoy the cherry blossoms. The festival kicked off this weekend. Yes, I get paid to do this. It's intended to inspire our design. :)

Untitled

I'm annoying, opinionated
I'm terribly shy
I'll regret not doing
And wonder just why
Around this globe I spin

Comfort gone awry

Defending endangered pleasures

Sipping reality and rye

Apprehensive to face the day

From tomorrow spilt

He's addicted to affirmations

She to digs of guilt

Swooning in a bookstore

Man not transformer built

Caring aid human
Hearts full tilt

© 2011 by Tammy Newman. All rights reserved.


Have been thinking about my visit to Japan lately with the disaster that has happened there. Such a beautiful island with a remarkable people. Can't believe the trip was in 2006. It feels like yesterday. If you wanna see more pics they are here: https://picasaweb.google.com/tnewman711/Japan#

Wheel Experience Abroad

I highly recommend renting a car when you travel abroad. Not only do you get to see the country-side from non-guided excursions, you have the adventure of following their roads and…their rules. Traversing down narrow lanes, navigating through a heard of mountain goats, gliding the open spaces, and bending along the sharp cliff-edged turns.

On my second visit to Greece, Jaclyn and I decided we would do just that: rent a car and tour the Peloponnese for a week before skipping off to the ever popular islands. I would wheel the cities relying on her navigation and she the country-side. Trusting a travel agent I had used before, our hotels and car were booked. Great prices and great itinerary; we really couldn’t complain. Anxious to get there and start our adventure, days moved at a snail’s pace.

The day we finally arrived in Athens I was astounded by my memory and walked us straight through the Plaka to the travel agent. The ancient city stayed true. Nothing changed. Why should it? 1000s of years or 7? What’s the difference there?

Sitting there, excited to get our vouchers and itinerary we were all a glow…until: “Did you say the car is a standard?” Blanched faces, fluttering tummies, eyes as big and white as the moon.  “We don’t know how to drive a standard!”

Images of trying to learn how to drive a standard in downtown Athens raced through our minds. “What do you mean we’ll be ok? Isn’t the Peloponnese mountainous?!”

We spent our first night pleading with God for an automatic.

Answered prayers the next day, the last automatic in the entire city became available at the last minute. Not car girls, that Matrix was a well hugged car!

Beaming we drove off. Praising our blessings. That car took us wherever we steered it. We learned fast is good and stop is just a suggestion.

Days later our dear Matrix had a flat. Stereotypical girls, we couldn’t figure out the jack. So Jaclyn ran back to the hotel where we suspected we would find help. I can imagine the scene even now: A 6’2”, slender woman with chocolate hair and eyes, and a brilliant smile running into the hotel lobby past the dining men on the patio. She’s wearing short shorts and a tank top and has tourist written all over her. Who could resist her cry for help?

Shortly after I see her running back with not one, not two, but five (YES FIVE) members of a local soccer team to change the tire of one wheel. Cheers to Jaclyn.

We like to tell ourselves it was their National team. Giggle.

Thanks boys!

This memory was inspired by Theme Thursday's: Wheel. Oh and they had trouble with the jack as well. ;)

Gypsy Feet Play List

Fairy Wings ~ Kim Barlow
Don't let your feet touch the ground ~ Ash Koley
New Shoes ~ Paolo Nutini
Put Your Foot Down ~ Layah Jane
These Boots Are Made for Walking ~ Nancy Sinatra
Get on the Good Foot ~ James Brown
Shoe Box ~ Barenaked Ladies
Pink Shoe Laces ~ Dodie Stevens
I Feel the Earth Move ~ Carole King
Walking in Memphis ~ Marc Cohn
I'm Gonna Be (500 Miles) ~ The Proclaimers
The Way You Make Me Feel ~ Michael Jackson
Walking After Midnight ~ Cowboy Junkies
Cold Feet ~ Tracy Chapman
One Foot Wrong ~ Pink  

Am I missing any? Would love to hear your suggestions!

Blue Memory

Climbing down the 600 steps to Hades for the second time, I watch my step. You would think that climbing down would be easy, but it's not. Careful to miss what the donkeys before me left, I take my time. I'm in no hurry to get there.

It's hot. Litres of water are being consumed but with little effect. I'm tired and sticky. Sexy. Braided pigtails clinging to my neck. Freckles rapidly darkening in the sun. Why am I doing this to myself again?

Why didn't I just stay at the top with the blue domed churches?  Just to prove I can? Is that reason enough?

Although I've been here, done this and have the t-shirt packed with me somewhere, the view stuns me as it did seven years prior and I find myself elated. Crystal waters lay out before me like a blanket, enveloping the tip of an active still volcano, grey in it's ash.


An excerpt from my novel in progress, about my second visit to Santorini...In response to this week's Theme Thursday prompt of Blue.

Snap Shots

Cute and pudgy
Tiny toes
Little coos
Shoot me now

Running energy
Beaming face
Sundresses
Shoot me now

Shy wallflower
Bored by school
Boys with coodies
Shoot me now

Jeans and sandals
Def Leopard
Sockhops
Shoot me now


Higher moments of learning
Braided pigtails
Dreams and writing
Shoot me now

Greece and Italy
Backpacking
Missionary
Shoot me now

E-Learning
Remote employee
Home office mine
Shoot me now

Entrepreneur
Humble confidence
Love of a man
Shoot me now

Tomorrow
Buckle up
Ride's not over yet
Shoot me then

This is in response to Theme Thursday's prompt of camera.

Friday

TGIF indeed. My first thought this morning was an almost weepy relief of "it's really truly friday!"

What a hard week. I'm sure I have felt this drained before. I just can't recall it. A reflex maybe. I'm sure I must have felt like this that night when I got home from the store to no dinner, more work, and my car stuck in the drive. I remember that I felt bad. I just don't remember how that felt.

At this moment I feel like a knot loosening. Slowly because I don't really remember how to relax.

I'm finally sitting in my backyard. I've been wanting to be here all day. I'm writing as butterflies flutter around my head. Not as majestic as one would think when you find yourself ducking with each dive bomb at your skull. Pretty but doing nothing for my levels of tension.

I'm not one of those people who serenely sit still as a bright winged insect perch on their hand, shoulder, nose. No. I pull muscles as I jump, flinch, duck, jerk out of their way.

Finally, they've rested and I can enjoy their visit...from a distance. All the better to appreciate their beauty. Don't misunderstand and think I don't enjoy the outdoors or even mind sharing my backyard with God's other creatures. I just find sudden fly byes and attacks stressful.

There are tiny strawberries growing in my lawn and ants climbing my chair...possibly my toes as well. Buttercups, pansies, dandelions, and lupines. My lawn is a derelict beauty.

Ugh. My nemesis is on the move again. I'm going to seriously hurt myself. Sigh. I'm tired. Not physically. Mentally. This week took a lot out of me.

Something is eating the rhubarb. Maybe those kamikaze butterflies with diamonds on the tips of their antenna.

I'm hidden in the weeds and contented to be here. Taking what repreave offered from Friday evening and the promise of weekend.

Dah! Seriously, must they fly so low? Why insist on being unfriendly? How did I offend them so? Sneak attacks from behind are uncalled for!

We went to a butterfly farm in Martinique once. You can imagine how I fared. Shoulders raised and hood wrapped tight around my head. I imagine I was the fastest observer they met.

Tomorrow I'll google the butterfly diet. Stubbron I'll flinch and jump but go nowhere tonight. Right here I sit.

Bicycle

I’m proud to say that I want to be like my mother when I grow up. Ha; when I grow up. My mother has always been the youngest person I know: so full of life and ready for the next adventure. She taught me that life is truly what you make it. It can be about the picket fences and the nine to five or it can be about doing what you really want to. Don’t get me wrong, I think picket fences are cute and I’ve done my time but I wanted and still want more.

My friend Anna had moved to Japan, after living in England and Lithuania for some time. Working in youth hostels and mission fields she’s a gypsy I admire. I traveled during my time off, while she lived the travel and has the mud stains to prove it.

She was teaching English to a small school in Osaka and invited me to visit for the nth time. “I don’t know. It’s so far, costs a fortune, and honestly Japan has never been on my list.”

Never been on my list? What was wrong with me? I decided I needed to go, to be reckless, to do something frivolous because quitting my job to go on a six week trip to the Philippines wasn’t reckless enough. I needed to get out of my not-so-comfortable cubical and mundane every day.

So, I bought a ticket and found myself on a 13 hour flight to Japan. Hour six is the hardest. It’s when you realize that you no longer want to be in that can and know there is nowhere to go. Burdened with many forms of entertainment, forced sleep is what got me through it.

Anna met me at the airport, chauffeured by Maki, a now dear to me friend and Geisha. Excited to see someone from home, Anna was anxious to show me her Osaka, which of course meant playing Russian roulette with Octopus.

We hopped on her wicker basket adorned bicycle and started to pedal up the street. Wind in my hair, ass falling asleep from the metal bag holder over the rear wheel. I was on top of the world and thought I was Rose in that iconic scene from Titanic. Swerving here and there, off balance, the air tasted like frivolity, recklessness, and pollution.

I was grinning from ear to ear in my bliss.

Anna turned to me after we veered into traffic a second time and said, “Um, can you put your feet in? I’m trying to pedal here.”

An excerpt from my novel in progress, in response to this week's Theme Thursday's prompt.

The Face Behind the Voice

After much delay I safely arrived at the Dulles airport. I immediately let Ward know I was safe. I then called Tommy and was greeted with a hearty "Welcome to the USA Tammy". We made arrangements to meet at the airport and he would chauffeur me to dinner, wine, and finally the hotel.

While waiting I was entertained by the free H1N1 Vaccine clinic at the baggage claim. With them hollering "free H1N1" it's not a wonder nobody signed up. I also witnessed a gentleman have a very lively conversation with a vending machine, telling the dispenser that whatever it did was not acceptable. I say good for him for saying something. Giggle.

Dinner was fantastic as was the company. It was nice to finally put a face behind a voice I had worked with for so long. A dear friend who I was only just meeting. We laughed, we ate, we enjoyed a bottle of Innocent Bystander and were invited to join the electric slide happening at the bar.

All in all an enjoyable day one. Today is full of meetings but I'm sure I'll find some adventure in it somewhere.

On my way...maybe

I'm enroute to Washington, DC. Well, at least that is the plan. I haven't left Saint John yet. My flight has been delayed for the 3rd time due to weather. I can claim to predict the future: I miss my connection in Halifax.

Being somewhat of a local celebrity as one of The Girls, I'm well taken care of. I get to enjoy the VIP lounge of getting the table and chairs closest to the TV and outlets.

The staff here have been so wonderful; taking the initiative of researching weather and seats in Halifax and discovering that if I follow that route I won't make it to my destination today. The lovely ladies have booked me now through Montreal.

So unless the weather does not improve, my 7:10 flight is now at 11:45. Here I sit in the Saint John airport 30 minutes away from home enjoying a perfectly toasted bagel, a steaming cup of coffee, and taking advantage of the wireless internet.

The Bell Tolls

I haven't had much time to blog this week, actually any. I've missed the writing but life can get away with you. I'm late for my Thursday Theme post of Bell and ringing it for Barry. I was going to write about bell towers and how a friend became obsessed with them on our multiple week vacation in Italy.

But instead, I find it appropriate that I write about time and running against that bell. Do you remember in school, time was counted by the sound of a bell.

Bing - Math Class
Ring - Recess
Gong - School's out
Clang - Graduation
Chime - Somebody's married
Tink - Happy hour drink
Ding - TGIFing
Dong - Monday returns
Chung - Not enough done

Milestones

Traveling miles
Skipping precious pebbles as I go
Engraving indigo veins
Milestones on this fluid journey

Inspired by Sunday Scribblings prompt of Milestones