OUT WITH THE OLD, IN WITH THE NEW!

“The library closed 15 minutes ago!” Yelled the young librarian. “I have a New Year’s Eve party to get to and just because I work at the largest library in town doesn’t mean I’m a nerd. I can’t believe I’m going to be late!” She bickered to herself.

I followed her down the now dark and echo-filled hall toward the downstairs, ‘employees’ only exit’. My car was parked on the opposite side of Building D and apparently this was Lot B. It’s not that I don’t want to celebrate the year’s retreat; truth is I have no one to spend it with. I moved to another state to attend school and my family is more than 500 miles away. So where am I 20 minutes to the countdown? At the only quite place I found to be open this late, the downtown library.

I’m a shy, quite suburb girl, in a large crowd-filled city. I live scared to death of the unexpected ‘anything can be lurking around’ life one lives in the Big Apple state.

“You see that green metal door Repunzel? That’ll lead you outside.”

I would have thanked her if she’d given me the chance, but her car door slammed faster than the fluttering of insects’ wings. I walked steadily toward the exit and as I pushed the door open I was met by a blistering wind, the late night was accompanied by a vapid motion of falling snow. I blinked my eyes through the freezing gusts then headed toward the spot where my car was parked.

The wind sang its heavy tunes through my long hair, and I instantly wished I had brought my hooded sweatshirt to go under my hood-less wool made coat. I stopped and placed my books on the floor then lifted the collar all the way around my neck then buttoned it to the top. That’s when I spotted it. I know what you are thinking…I’m seeing things. I mean sure with my usual jumpy self but I swear I saw something slowly and steadily creeping up behind me. Like a shadow with an invisible owner shifting between post-lit areas and shady ones. I bent down to pick up my books then turned to my side and peeked through my locks. It moved slowly to a spot where it would be well hidden. But it had been there! I had seen something, I was sure!

I continued to walk, focusing my peripheral vision, forcing my attention to whatever or whoever crept back yonder. I heard a soft rattling sound followed by a light tumble with a swish, swashing. My heart raced, and my pulse quickened. I held my books tighter until I felt the edge piercing through my coat. The light stab cleared my frightened thoughts enough for the adrenaline to help me twist my body around in a sudden jolt. A soft yelp escaped my throat. It wasn’t until I witnessed what the soft rattling was; a dried up cackling leaf was being pushed by the wind alongside the pavement. I chuckled softly then exhaled my fears. Okay, I needed to relax!

But sure enough denial slowly pried itself back below my spine then trickled its way up to my neck. It seemed that it triggered each micro-sized follicle to stand on its end as I perched my neck up and pushed my hair back behind my ears to hear more clearly. As I did this I saw something skidder and the absolution of fear seized me once more. My car was now visible and all I had to do was run a few 16 steps then click the door unlocked. I could barge inside for its comforting safety.

Yet my inability to move was beyond my control and I stood frozen like a statue, or a frozen body being grasped down by gravities controlling hold.

I turned around and finally met the primitive shadow face to face. His face appeared to be squished, deep wrinkle lines slashed across his face shamelessly. The old, old, old man looked fragile, he held his weigh with the help of his cane. His clothes seemed ancient and filthy; he wore dark blood colored pants with a urine colored coat. Filtered by the wrath of his elderly age, his shoulders slouched forward. The old man smiled at me, it was an ugly, empty, toothless smile.

He stomped his cane twice and as if by command the wind around him picked up and snow began to whirl, curling him up in what seemed like a life size cocoon. I watched closely and was about to get closer to offer my help when the snow began to glow. It got brighter, and it shimmered, then with a sudden POOF the man was gone!

Gone I tell you! And in his place was a small child. He looked excited and mirthful. His pants were apple red and his coat beamed of yellow, like the sun. Instead of a cane, the boy held a bat. He stomped it twice against the ground, then smiled gleefully at me.

How bizarre! The old man had turned into a child!

I took two steps closer then the boy lifted his hand up signaling me to stop.

“Don’t live in fear this year. Stop turning your head expecting the worse out of a situation, celebrate life!” He said, and then he ran off.

I stood there motion-less, by choice this time, because I was unsuccessfully trying to convince myself that what I saw was not real. I was tired that’s all. Suddenly an explosion of fireworks lighted the sky. It was a new year and somehow I felt a rush of peace seep through me. I was relaxed and soothed by the bright jellyfish-like twinkles above.

The boy was right. One day I’m going to give myself a heart attack with all the nonsense worrying I do. So this coming year it will be in with the new and out with the old!

THOUGHTS

People; we as a human race, seem to write more when we're depressed, alone, sick of life, sick in body, or struck down. Do we ever stare up at the endless sky and feel as your spirits slowly lift? Miraculous how a small word can mean so much. I venture to soar, to see the most exquisite corners of the world and awe upon them. But for now I'll explore the surroundings in the limits I can expose myslef to. I love all that is pure; like rain, grass, animals: nature. If I can foucs my attention on all this and all else that brings a smile to my face, if I foucs and trust in God, than I can survive. I can slowly pick myself up and walk away. I can be strong enough to be able to look back and not cry, to succeed, to strive, and to love. I want to thank any who has truly loved, respected, and helped me see this truth. People that have held my hand, people like my soulmate Consuelo. And small people that don't yet know the capability that one look offers, people like Chanel. Or people that have unknowingly and constantly have held me together, people like Karla. Because of this and more I go on. Because of them I love me.

So two days ago was Teaser Monday and I didn't publish any teaser... But it can be Teaser Wednesday right? I talked it over with my partner and she doesn't really agree I should blog it out...But I sort of really want to. Plus, I promised... So here it is, with my heart on a thread: as promised... The first paragraph to one of my favorite chapters in the story I am writing....





Chapter 7 the Iron Mountain



A steamy breeze brushed up against Dan’s right cheek and her eyes searched through the thick cloud of smoke that concealed everything. She squinted her eyes and coughed her way through the thick and gray space between her and the beautiful cries of a creature she yet did not recognize. She walked closer to the flames that burned deep within ashes in the ground. As she focused her confused eyes on the earth the cries got louder and ever more beautiful, the siren like call beckoned her to kneel so she could see clearer.

Dan knelt down beside the dirt and stared deep into the black and silvery, gray ashes then froze, the fiery breeze made her eyes teary and her breathing heavy. With every breath she took, she could feel how the smoke filled her lungs and made her weak, but she could not leave with out knowing where the elegant howl came from.

The ashes began to move inward revealing the most beautifully, hypnotizing creature she had ever laid eyes on. Red feathers like the flames that burned at its side emerged out of the ground and stared at her with mesmerizing eyes which were surrounded by a patch of black fur. The bird had a long neck that extended over his graceful and stretched out body, every feather was like satin and it shined against the blaze. The bird bowed at her then stretched out his feathers and gracefully bounced off the ground before it disappeared in the night sky.

She looked up and searched desperately but the night sky revealed nothing but an empty blackness along with its fellow shining stars. She felt empty and alone, she looked down toward the ashes and softly said out loud…


“But it was dead, I killed him and it was dead.”

It didn’t make any sense to her, she placed her hand over her heart and felt how it drummed inside, begging to see the bird once more, she did not mean to harm it and was happy it had survived, but how?...

Teaser Monday

If you read some of my stuff below you will know that I am a paranoid character. Yet I struggle every day to seep through the delusional thoughts and since I have no followers I am desperate! LoL...I have decided to post a small, short paragraph belonging to one of my favorite chapters in the story I am writing. YES! I know, I know....who convinced me?

Well the simple fact that I am a Google freak and I somehow feel it will help to let some very small, tiny, micro portion of it out. I HATE to boast, yet I feel compelled to share that many of my family members, including some friends, believe that I am an excellent writer. Unfortunately I cannot find to call myself a writer unless I my work gets published AND that people both enjoy and like it. (different things)

Some of the things I have NOT found Googling is that of a true, honest agent. Who knows? Perhaps this can help...DARE TO DREAM!

LINKS ON CITY COVERING DOME read below for more info

Eden Project
Click the "Eden Project" link for more info on DOMES

Apex Photo Agency
Click "Apex Photo Agency" for DOME photos

Getty Images
Click "Getty Images" to see HOW STUFF WORKS with a direct photo on weather issues and connection to the DOME idea/project in Houston

CITY COVERING DOME-true story

Environmental Project Gone Extreme
The planet has always had its ups and downs regarding climate change and damages done by ‘mother nature’ herself; there have been cities torn apart by hurricanes, tsunamis, and tornados. Scientists, biologists and engineers have been working together for years trying to come up with ways to shield us from these types of disasters. One of the most popular and thought out to be more science fiction than realistic is the idea of a dome; not just any dome, a dome that covers an entire city. In this particular and sensitive case the dome would have to be built with resistant material strong enough to shield the damages that bring down buildings, homes and businesses.
Domes are thought to be the best idea by some because they center their focus on their logical explanation; Hurricane Ike’s damages were more than $10 billion dollars, and we do not know when this can happen again. Therefore the main argument that holds up the construction of a dome over a city is the fact that the cost will not be greater than the total damage costs it would take to constantly re-build a city after it is destroyed. In a large city where the weather is extreme like Houston’s heat, the electrical costs are extremely high. The city suffers from 90 degree weather on nearly 100 days each year, the residents run their air conditioners so often that more electricity is used in Houston than in Los Angeles.
By implementing a dome over Houston it would protect the city from critical weather and the unpredictable scorching heat. There would be vents at the highest point of the dome that could be opened and closed to regulate temperature, and massive doors that allow entrance could be closed to protect the city from hurricanes and other inclement weather; the dome would serve as a refuge for its occupants.
The idea of a dome has been attempted before in different scenarios. The Eden Project is an example of a dome that covers a large area. The accomplished, giant, multi-domed greenhouse was built in March of 2001 in Cornwall, England and it has become a popular tourist site that attracts thousands of visitors every day. The Eden Project was built along the side of a deep pit and it consists of three biomes designed to represent three distinct climates found around the world; the Humid Tropics Biome, Warm Temperate Biome, and the Roofless Biome. Because the Eden Project was such a success it attracts the idea of a dome over a large area and intrigues people all over the world that would like to cover another patch of land to protect it, or maintain it.
In order for the dome to work properly the teams of engineers have come up with a few techniques; they have considered the construction of the dome, the materials used to build it, an entrance to the city, and vents that will maintain an adequate temperature of 70 degrees no matter the climate outside the dome. If Houston’s dome is built, it is estimated to be the biggest structure with the largest roof in the world; the surface area will stretch over 21 million square feet. More than 369,000 narrow steel bars form the frame, and almost 75,000 of them could fail before the dome becomes unstable. Since the size and height of the dome is so massive, engineers are planning on using heavy-lift helicopters and a new type of helium-filled dirigible (sort of like a blimp) to move pre-assembled pieces to the top of the high dome. Instead of using glass, they are using a strong and lightweight plastic called ethylene tetrafluoroethylene (ETFE); this triple-layered surface weighs just 1 percent as much as glass but won’t shatter and it can easily be repaired, if it happens to fall it will simply drift down like a feather without hurting anyone. Panels will be placed at the very top of the dome, they will be opened to provide ventilation and to help regulate the temperature.
Some argue that other cities such as Galveston would benefit more of the dome since it is more susceptible to hurricane damage. Contradictors have also found some loop holes in the plan such as the fact that a dome does not address the issues of pollution caused by the petrochemical and oil refining facilities that surround the city of Houston. The cost is also another concern, in theory it could cost $140 billion or $250,000 per resident to build a dome. Some people do not necessarily get worried about the cost, or what the dome will do for the city; more than anything some feel it will be a sort of claustrophobic experience to live within a dome. People that support the idea argue that you will not even know the dome is there since it is more like being surrounded by a screen; a very powerful screen.
The concept of a dome over a city like Houston is very impressive yet it has failed to convince all. The outcome of it is unknown and people wonder if it is the best idea all together; if it will even work. Considering all the negative input from people that do not agree with this idea, some scientists think it is the only way to save Houston and that this idea is just the beginning. Large cities with uncontrollable and at times outrageous weather will soon be added to the list; cities like Buffalo, Minneapolis, New York and Chicago will be considered to be placed within a dome.
The dome idea is just one of many projects thought out to improve the planet’s current state. Whether a dome will provide adequate shelter from the outside climate is still unknown although scientists and engineers continue to work hard to prove that it is the only way to save cities that are in danger of destruction. There are both supporters and non-supporters for this idea but both parties are equally anxious, awaiting the outcome of the Houston Dome Project. There is no telling what can be executed next if this project succeeds and even though it seems like a science fiction theory it is exciting for all to know that technology continues to take the planet further.

My baby niece, Chanel, is excellent! She turned 3 months on the 12th of Dec. This coming holiday will be her very first CHRISTMAS! Then of course, comes the New Year. Happy Holidays everyone! Hope everyone is well and that you enjoy these past and coming holidays with the ones you love =)