postaweek

It’s the End of the World As We Know It (And I Feel Fine)

/ Janna Hill / 5 Comments

I wish I hadn’t drank all of those margaritas on the beach the night before….  I wish I hadn’t downed so many Dos Equis on the bus ride but OMG it took like ninety hours to get there and a margarita hangover leaves a person very thirsty.

December 21st of 2012. I don’t recall that date being mentioned in 1995 when we toured the ancient grounds of Chichen Itza. I suppose it was irrelevant with Y2K looming in the not so distant future. Maybe the guide did make mention and I missed it because I was passed out resting half way up the pyramid. That of course would not have happened if he’d sent the Sherpa I requested.

I don’t think the tour guide liked me despite my best efforts to build a rapport.

“Parlez-vous français?” I had asked. “Oui- petit.” He responded. That exhausted my french so I gave him a slap on the back and said, “Well jolly good for you old chap.” He snarled and started his rehearsed dialogue for the small crowd.

Everyone listened in awe as he pointed at the cracked engravings and bits of broken symbols, skirting over the fissures and holes filled with smooth stones. I am not a hieroglyphics expert but I could see large gaps of information were missing from the story. Laying my linguistic talents aside and in my most authentic voice I gently interrupted, “Sir? Pardon me? With so much of the picture missing how can you be sure of that interpretation?” but like a well-trained telemarketer he pressed forward with the history lesson he’d been taught.

“Escuzzie  moi señor? Ooday ooyay hablas ingles?” I asked. Initially he ignored me but after repeating the inquiry eight times I got his undivided attention and readied my next question as he turned to face me. “Are there any little Mayan peoples left? Perhaps you have an oral history -”

“NO!” he snapped before slowly raising the corner of his mouth to reveal sharp decaying teeth. I have to admit it was a bit creepy staring down the rusty tines of this human tiller so I spat, “Fine! I’ll just look at the rocks and make up my own story.”

After silent hours of wandering aimlessly research (silent unless you count the noise of the Quetzal) the only conclusion I came away with was this: We are not an advanced generation; not in 1995 and not now. We assume way too much and despite all of our technical gadgets, we are idiots.

So December 21st is only days away and I sit staring at 17 year old photographs wondering, Where is my fanny pack and that intelligent archeological tourist hat that hubby was wearing? Where on earth did I get those outrageous shorts and what will I get the children for Christmas? All the while one line from a song I can’t remember loops in my frontal lobe. ‘It’s the end of the world as we know & it and I feel fine.’ I think that’s REM. They may have been ahead of their time and we may be out of it. Any naysayers, doomsdayer’s or opinions on the subject? Personally – if I can pinch my own flesh I’m not falling for it.

The Temple of the Jaguar
After the Sherpa saved me.
Hmm – I forgot 😦
The Temple of the Warriors. Psst. The column count is not even near 1000.
Forget the ball game let’s get right to the removing of the heads 😮
The Observatory. I could live there.
If the hieroglyph were complete it would say…
So that explains the Colonels recipe and why KFC will never be the same.
That is the most intelligent archeological tourist hat – why isn’t he happy?!
Rocking a most awesome fanny pack

What’s In a Dream

/ Janna Hill / Leave a comment

What’s in a dream? Ask ten experts and you will get at least seven variable opinions.

Are the images and stories played out while we rest simply the mind’s way of defragmenting and filing away information or are they forgotten conversations of long ago? Are dreams conjured by restless imaginations, unconquered fears or outside stimulation? Are they side effects of what we eat and drink or are they answers to what we seek? Suppose one isn’t [knowingly] seeking anything other than a good night’s sleep? I have only questions that beget more questions.

Somewhere in the twilight of slumber a woman approaches. Her brown eyes and skin are soft, almost radiant. Her dark hair rests like black satin about her shoulders; her lips are like wine but she does not speak for there is no need to. She holds a palm leaf in her hand and offers with it her wisdom. I follow her to a place where patches of green grass surround a dry fountain and we sit with feet resting on knees and commune. A man watches in the distance… her protector? She has no reason to fear me nor do I fear of either of them. A repetitious psalm begins, one I am not familiar with. I motion to cease the unnecessary chant. They want to barter, she will tell me of a cure – a cure for the mind if I will….

I abruptly inform her that I do not bargain. I do not know her. Though she appears trustworthy I am skeptical. She politely bows her head when I inquire as to who she is and who sent her. As they vanish a white scroll of ribbon appears with blue letters written out before my eyes.

whats in a dream

 

Sporadically over the years I have typed the phrase into every search engine and came to naught. I don’t recall ever seeing or hearing the term…

What’s in a dream? Once again I am left with only questions. Possibly it is just a bizarre tale waiting to be told for the reader’s entertainment. But not tonight. I am off in search of undisturbed sleep without riddles or prophesy.

Weekly Photo Challenge: Changing Seasons

/ Janna Hill / 11 Comments

Weekly Photo Challenge: Changing Seasons

The winter solstice is due to hit Texas on December 21st and the last of the golden Hickory leafs are falling. Another season will soon have passed leaving only the evergreens to stand watch while nature sleeps.

As the days are shortened it seems patience is lengthened (if only for a short time) and hearts give way to kinder notions. Colorful festivities dot the dulling landscape and religious traditions are celebrated all over the world. What a sight that must be to behold from the heavens.

The garden tools are stored away and replaced with the red, gold and greens of Christmas. These things [along with a good bonfire] make the change much more bearable.

The last of the Autumn leaves
The red, gold and greens of Christmas
A flame to ward off Old Man Winter

Waiting

/ Janna Hill / 5 Comments

I honestly didn’t know who this man was (I’m sheltered like that) until Sara’s post exposed him here on WordPress. No, I do not live in a cave though I have often wished I did.

The thing that moved me other than his world renown photography is that Steve McCurry’s Simple Act of Waiting  told in pictures is [chillingly] what I imagined when I wrote Waiting. I seriously got goosebumps.

If you’re like me (sheltered and horrible with names) or you are lucky enough to live in a cave, that doesn’t matter – I know you will recognize his photos when you see them. Who could forget the eyes of the Afghan girl starring out from the cover of National Geographic? Who would want to?

Waiting

For hopes that hung on a chicken bones
For hearts that lived in chains
For pods of green that died unknown
While waiting for the rain

For dreams left bare on empty prayer
For souls that wished in vain
For tears unshared in mute despair
While waiting for a change

For you and I and all mankind
For worlds where peace was slain
For faith and mind no man can bind
We wait and wait again

Poem first published in Interior Verse © 2012. Republished 2018 in Getting Me Back

Weekly Photo Challenge: Reflections

/ Janna Hill / 13 Comments

Reflections. One could go in so many (deeper) directions with this week’s photo challenge. I chose a few simple mirrored images.
You know I have become somewhat of a procrastinator and [once again] goofed off all weekend. So now it is Monday and everyone has gone back to their weekly grind leaving me without a proven assistant, someone to inspire me and offer suggestions. Oh sure I have plenty of insects and dying foliage but they don’t seem to speak to me at the moment. Was it something I said? I don’t know. Nevertheless I found a new assistant. He is young and inexperienced, a bit awkward and doesn’t take directions well but he works really cheap. I mean really, really cheap. After a few belly rubs and a dog biscuit I had him eating out of my hand, literally. And now without further ado I present to you the reflections of Mr. Clyde Kadiddlehopper.

"Calm down Clyde or you'll break the mirror."

“Calm down Clyde or you’ll break the mirror.”

"Now you both have a biscuit. Good boy."

“Now you both have a biscuit. Good boy.”

"I know you're a little apprehensive but..."

“I know you’re a little apprehensive but…”

"Ponder Clyde... what does 'reflection' mean to you?"

“Ponder Clyde… what does ‘reflection’ mean to you?”

"It's okay you cracked the mirror. Cheer up -dogs aren't supposed to be superstitious."

“It’s okay you cracked the mirror. Cheer up -dogs aren’t supposed to be superstitious.”

Weekly Photo Challenge: Thankful

/ Janna Hill / 10 Comments

I’m a little late in getting this post out but still I am pleased to be able to participate in this week’s photo challenge Thankful.

There are so many things I have to be thankful for… to be grateful for. So many family members, friends and fans – you know who you are and I love you. I am thankful for you!

The photographs I chose have less to do with the colorful umbrella and more to do with the conversations held beneath it…

Nothing to do with the roof but the souls that have been sheltered under it…

And the door, well it’s just the gateway to another world. So many comings and goings and so many to be thankful for.

Weekly Photo Challenge: Geometry

/ Janna Hill / 5 Comments

Geometry and Grandchildren.

The youngest grandson stayed with us over the weekend…

by himself…

There were no cousins to sword fight, wrestle with or act as the other meat eating dinosaur. It was only me and his Papa to contend with his six year old imagination.

When he grew bored with his grandfather it was up to me, the Disney channel or his PSP to amuse him. Hmm…

I said, “hey how about a geometric journey- you like to take pictures don’t you?”

He of course was thrilled with the idea snapping the camera at anything that had a line, an angle or might be used in measure.

Six year olds are really intelligent creatures. Give them a definition in terms they can understand (don’t call it learning) and watch them grow go.

This weeks photo challenge is geometry. We took over one hundred shots and settled on two.

The Stars & Stripes of Our Geometric Journey
It’s Cool to be Square

Some People Just Give It Away

/ Janna Hill / 6 Comments

Before your assumptions make a hard left in the wrong direction please know I am not talking about sex, books or money.

I may be guilty of giving away the aforementioned but this post relates to donating body fluid; lifesaving liquid. The stuff mosquitoes, bedbugs, lice and ticks take without asking.

Literally your lifeblood.

Did you know you can donate (aka sell) plasma and keep your cells? That’s right, the red and white blood cells along with the platelets are returned to you during the process and a little stipend for your trouble.

The last I heard the pay was about $30 per donation. It usually takes two hours so hey, that’s fifteen bucks an hour. Not bad for a part time job. Most facilities allow you (even encourage you) to donate twice a week. That’s like what… $60 a week… $240 a month. Shoot, during months with five weeks you could earn as much as $270!

Some people I know [honestly] supplement their income this way and then some people just give it away.

Donating a pint of whole blood is less time consuming and pays much less. The average payout for whole blood is $0.00. Yeah, that is definitely not a way to supplement your income. I personally prefer to donate, not because of time constraints but because it makes me feel better… like a philanthropist. Maybe they’ll put that in my obituary.

Yes I donated blood today, hence the reason for this post. I left the bus smiling a juice mustache smile with a package of Nutter Butter cookie bites feeling like I saved the world.

If you are a donor reach around and pat yourself on the back. You’ve saved a life or at least improved someone’s health.

Please also consider your own health and the possible side effects of frequent plasma donation.

Weekly Photo Challenge (Foreign)

/ Janna Hill / 10 Comments

This week’s photo challenge foreign fits right in to my current thought process, as in foreign language. As I mentioned in a recent post I speak Hick and a little French. My grasp of foreign languages is limited; thank goodness my imagination is not.

I sometimes watch Spanish television. No, I do not speak Spanish – that may be why I find it so entertaining. I like to guess at what they’re saying. My husband enjoys certain Latin channels because they show cleavage and midgets. I don’t know what it is about that combination but it humors him and he laughs at the plump jolly man dancing to La Cucaracha.

I try to discern what they are saying, I don’t want to fluently comprehend – that would take the fun out of my guessing game. Husband doesn’t even try to guess, his thoughts are, “They’ve got boobs, little people, a happy fat man dancing and a song about a cockroach – who cares what they are saying.”

Foreign Snapshot

This snapshot came from a program I was watching this morning. I gather the conversation had something to do with men cheating on women or leaving them and monogamy being a realistic expectation.

I’m guessing that to some monogamy is a foreign concept.