Ms Mitchell

Reply to The Final Rinse in Fiction Writing JoeUser Forums

"I hope this fiction has no basis in fact..." Yeah, but I'm MUCH better now... Thanks for reading it and commenting.

The Final Rinse in Fiction Writing JoeUser Forums

She runs a bath to the bottom of the overflow valve with water just on the edge of too hot. She lights the candles on the vanity and lowers herself into the tub. She lies absolutely still for what could be a minute or it could be a half hour. There is no sound but the occasional plop from the end of the faucet and the intermittent sighs that are her substitute for sob

The werewolf is gone in Parenting JoeUser Forums

First of all, I hope you will forgive me for using this forum for business purposes, but I simply can't keep this to myself. It would be selfish. My 11 year old was diagnosed at age 7 with bipolar disorder. For the past 4 years it has been a constant battle to get him stabilized. He would have rages that lasted for hours and I would have to send the little on

Reply to Murphy.. go away in Life Journals JoeUser Forums

I had a wonderful (annoying) friend, who no matter what was going on would follow up with, "that's good, though..." Sometimes she was so perky I wanted to smack her. Migraine? "That's good thoug, it gives your hubby a chance to pamper you..." You get the drift. So here is me offering Colleen style comfort. Murphy's Law whooped your butt? That's good though, you avoided a head-on collision with a semi that would have been there if you

Reply to Message from Kelly in Poetry JoeUser Forums

Thanks Buddha. I'm looking forward to summer vacation and more time to spend writing.

Reply to Why Can't My Big Brother just say THANK YOU? in Current Events JoeUser Forums

Every Memorial Day and Veterans Day as long as I can remember, my dad bought a poppy from the vets and kept it on the visor of the car. So when I had my own car, I bought a poppy. The car just looked naked without one. I always knew it was to remember the soldiers, but I never really got the significance until a Viet Nam vet teacher spoke to our high school sociology class. What he reserved the right not to discuss spoke louder than anything he could

Reply to Message from Kelly in Poetry JoeUser Forums

Thank you all for reading it. It's hard to see someone still carrying the guilt for a brother's death, still convinced the wrong kid was killed.

Message from Kelly in Poetry JoeUser Forums

Twenty years ago today I was killed and you were not You still grieve—Stop it, Dork! You let me sit up front Even though I was The younger brother—way to go, Ace! You knew I was dead Even before the drunk Drove up the off ramp—well, Duh! You partied too hard and drove too fast Trying to catch up to me B

Reply to Religious pop music sucks. in Religion JoeUser Forums

We called this Pom-poms for Jesus music. While we at it, can we do away with Christian literature? That ranks up there with the Spanish Inquisition on the list of stupid things done in the name of Jesus.

Reply to I Returned to the Temple in Poetry JoeUser Forums

I LOVED this. Beautiful twist. Well crafted. We are of the same faith after all.

Reply to White Guilt. in The Media JoeUser Forums

and again you don't develop any sort of defense against a disease unless you at least incounter a close cousin as in the case of small pox and cow pox I get it. Small pox was a plot by Medieval European dairy maids to wipe out the Native Americans. It's all so clear now.

Top ten One-liners in Blogging JoeUser Forums

It can be fun having smart (aleck) kids. 10. On a bad night at a support group----You know you've got troubles when a toothless crack whore with an ankle bracelet offers to light a candle for you. 9. On the movie Apocalypto---The intense violence made up for the amount of man-ass in it. 8. At school---Which one is your son, the white kid?<

Reply to White Guilt. in The Media JoeUser Forums

sinces 1 out of 100 europeains are immuned to it so 99% aren't...How does that compare to the immunity of other races? oh gosh... never mind

Reply to White Guilt. in The Media JoeUser Forums

I have worked for two principals at two schools within a mile of each other in the same district. Same socio-economic and ethnic make-up at the two schools. At one school the students are rude, belligerent, and under-performing. At the other school the students are cheerful, well-behaved, respectful and academically successful. Neither student body has any typically touted sociological advantage over the other. What, you may ask, is the difference? One principal expects good be

Reply to White Guilt. in The Media JoeUser Forums

May I suggest YOU ASK the child where she heard that? Gee wish I'd thought of that..

Reply to White Guilt. in The Media JoeUser Forums

You mean we really did invent AIDS and crack? My child came home from school with the information that AIDS was a biological weapon developed by the KKK to exterminate blacks and gays. I'm hoping that one came from the playground and not a teacher. Or am I wrong and it IS the KKK's fault?

Reply to The Fortune Teller in Fiction Writing JoeUser Forums

This was a combination of my writing group moderator, my therapist, my yoga instructor (who, as Anne Lamott says, wore bicycle shorts as an act of aggression) and a guided visualization tape from dollar bin at a used bookstore. Mostly it was a story I made up to amuse my daughter.

Reply to Poetry Can Save the World in Poetry JoeUser Forums

Oh is THAT why I do this?? I don't want to analyze scantion and symbolism. I just want to feel something.Thanks for this nugget. And thanks for the occasional noodge.--Maggie

Reply to Keep it in your pants! in Home & Family JoeUser Forums

I'm seeing this among my students. I teach middle school--mind you. Girls gone wild videos filmed on cell phones in the bathroom and posted on myspace. Eighth grader had third abortion. Another dropped out to care for preemie. Another who feels superior because her sister was pregnant at 11 and she didn't give it up till whe was twelve becasue God told her this boy was the one (he has a car). Dance moves at school dances that men in rain coats used to

The Fortune Teller in Fiction Writing JoeUser Forums

The Fortune Teller The fortune teller emerged from the draperies that formed her stall. She had been working county fairs and Renaissance festivals and Earth Day celebrations since she was old enough to rebel against the bra as a "male invention designed to subjugate women." Her long brown hair had only a very few silver threads and it accentuated her pleasan

Reply to The Passion of the Moskowitz in Poetry JoeUser Forums

My favorite scripture: Mark 9:24 ...Lord I believe; help thou mine unbelief.

Reply to Your Weakness is My Strength in Poetry JoeUser Forums

Not sure why, but this one reiminds me of the morning after a thunderstorm when colors are too saturated and things are too quiet. Kind of a metallic peace. I loved the tension and release. Well done.

Stupid Moon in Poetry JoeUser Forums

What do you do when your memories get underfoot? You're walking along minding your own business And you smell aftershave Or hear a ring tone Or see a stupid moon That takes your breath as suddenly as a punch to the gut You close your eyes and drink in the delicious pain Of the first kiss and the last kiss And the way breaking up le

Reply to Shadow Girl in Poetry JoeUser Forums

Buddha, Thanks for the prompt.

Shadow Girl in Poetry JoeUser Forums

Down the basement steps that are more like a ladder Braving cobwebs that brush like ghost hair And centipedes that saunter away to a crack Not allowing one the dignity of having startled it. On a rusty cot Matted hair Sunken eyes The basement girl She can't scuttle into a crack So she shrinks into herself