Hump Day Hunk: Who Knew Bird Tattoos Could Be So Hot?

I've been pinning different tattoo designs for a swallow bird on Pinterest lately. I think the swallow or some incarnation of one will be my next tattoo. I thought they were always quite feminine in design, until I stumbled across this one:

 

 

So what are your thoughts? Think a swallow tattoo on a man is for the birds or swoon-worthy?

What Will Your Verse Be?

Geek Girl and her amazing mom

My mom loved to enjoy life. She loved to travel, go to wine tastings, read a good book, enjoy good music, but when time allowed she loved to sneak off to the movies with me. One of her favorites was Dead Poets Society starring Robin Williams.

I found it a bit ironic, that while she was struggling this week after many health issues, I kept seeing the new Apple commercial that featured one of her favorite section of dialogue where Robin Williams’ character John Keating quotes Walt Whitman. It’s as though she has been sending me a message all week, to remind me that we are all important. We all have something important to contribute to our world.

We don’t read and write poetry because it’s cute. We read and write poetry because we are members of the human race. And the human race is filled with passion. And medicine, law, business, engineering – these are noble pursuits and necessary to sustain life. But poetry, beauty, romance, love – these are what we stay alive for.

To quote from Whitman,

“O me, O life of the questions of these recurring. Of the endless trains of the faithless. Of cities filled with the foolish. What good amid these, O me, O life? Answer: that you are here. That life exists and identity. That the powerful play goes on, and you may contribute a verse.”

“That the powerful play goes on, and you may contribute a verse.”

What will your verse be?

Today, I honor my mother’s life. She contributed quite a verse or two to the powerful play of life. She contributed many verses to my father’s life, my brother’s life, my life, and the lives of my children. She also impacted many lives through her years as a teacher. In the quiet hush of a chilly Western New York morning, she passed from this earth, placing a final signature on her verses.

I hope I can honor her always by remembering that I too am contributing my own verses, and I hope she is looking down smiling on how I finally figured out which verses were mine. I love you my beautiful, amazing, strong mom!

Here's the Apple Ad in case you've missed it. It will give you chills. I hope it inspires you to figure out what your verse will be.

 

Book Review: Changed by You - Natalie S. Taylor

Changed by You, is a terrific debut novel by Natalie S. Taylor. Ms. Taylor deftly weaves a beautiful story about two people trying to overcome the loneliness that comes from past experience. From the first encounter between Grace and Trevor in the coffee shop to the last moment as they reach Maine, their love story unfolds beautifully. The plot twist near the end is well worth the surprise. Ms. Taylor brings compassion and tenderness into the character of Trevor Stone, something refreshing in romance these days, instead of the dark, brooding male. Of course he is not without his past, but it doesn’t make him angry. He lovingly helps Grace come to terms with her entire past and it is a poignant thing to read it unfold. I highly recommend Changed by You and I look forward to reading more of Ms. Taylor’s future work.

Blessed Bliss

 

My Beloved Archangel Michael --

 

The bliss

the uncluttered and divine peace

I had found

in the shadow of Your wings

was unlike any other

secret place I've known

In that delectable warmth

of Your

unconditional love

where nothing was taboo

and

everything was sacred

I am forever thankful

for those stolen moments

of blessedness

You tattooed on

my soul.

 

         --- Your Ashlynn

Hump Day Hunk: A Hunk of Burnin' Love

I couldn't resist the title and also going a bit retro for my usual Hump Day Hunk posting. Today is the King of Rock n Roll's birthday, so to honor that I thought Elvis was the perfect choice. What's not to love? His sultry voice, his amazing hair, his eyes, and that brooding, pouty, pensive look like in the picture below:

 

 

Elvis was way before my time, but my Mom is a huge fan. I can recall going through her record collection and playing all of his music. I became enchanted with him and my parents took us on a family vacation to Memphis so we could tour Graceland.

 

 

And although he was known for his films and his fun music, his tender side gets me every time. Below is one of my favorites, Always on My Mind.

 

 



Monday Mouthful: My Number One Resolution for 2014

Recently, a friend of mine mentioned how I might not ever be able to survive two weeks in a secluded location without the Internet. Well, he might be right. However, writing steamy, tempting novels would  seriously be hampered by a lack of connection.

So, since I cannot completely eliminate the Internet from my life, I firmly resolve to do what I can to have more quality time while I am on the computer. I think this exercise will be beneficial to my productivity. What do you think?