I have picked up another used car,
For the orange one would not go as far,
As it needed to go,
In the rain, ice, and snow,
That’s between “way up here,” and “down thar.”
My first book-marketing mobile
My new book-marketing mobile, with cruise control!
When I opened the trunk, I went “Eek!
“I can’t keep my books dry with this leak!”
So I sold that orange car,
With its built-in “wet-bar,”
As a feature — no charge for “unique!”
I told David that dance was my thing,
So he showed me some waltz and some swing,
Then a man with big shoes,
Gave me a touch of the blues,
Now the limp gives my salsa more zing.
Not my favorite dance step
In a rumba lesson, the man with big shoes stepped forward when he should have stepped back. I have a blue toe and a new appreciation for careful dance partners like my friend, David Seghers, and my husband, Barry.
With my sweetie, I’m Ohio-bound,
But the pilot can’t get off the ground,
It’s my little orange book–
Forty-seven, I took,
And each copy weighs only one pound!
It’s been eleven years since I quit,
And I miss all my friends, I admit,
But when you read my book,
You will see, I forsook
Corporate life for a much better fit.
Steve, of Expeditors International, and Meps at Sweet Mickey’s, September 2014
This is especially for my former coworkers, who have kindly encouraged me to be an author and artist, instead of a business analyst, knowledge manager, or systems integrator. I’m probably ruined for the corporate world now, because I can’t remember how to install (is that the correct verb?) pantyhose. I hope I don’t have to wear pantyhose when I make it to the Today Show.
If you’re a former coworker of Meps’, please say hello in the comments!
I hope to see your smiling faces in Ballard tonight, sometime between 6 and 8 pm. If the rain stops, we can make Happy Spots on the sidewalk in front of the store! If it doesn’t, we can make paper Happy Spots inside!
When I walked in right off of the street,
The two strangers I happened to meet,
In their colorful store,
Full of candy galore,
Booked an author appearance there — Sweet!
If you’re in the Seattle area, come see Meps on Tuesday, Sept. 23 from 6 to 8 pm at Sweet Mickey’s Candy Shoppe in Ballard (next to QFC on 57th). An autographed copy of Strangers Have the Best Candy won’t rot your teeth. And the fabulous candy and fudge Sweet Mickey’s carries is worth a trip to the dentist!
We’re chicken-sitting in Seattle again! Here’s a little limerick, inspired by our feathered charges:
There once was a hen known as Nancy,
Who lived in a coop — nothing fancy,
She wanted to travel,
But fear made her cavil,
‘Cause flying, for chickens, is chancy.
A Chicken, as illustrated by Meps
Way back in 1964,
The stork dropped me at the front door.
Now that I’ve turned fifty,
I think that it’s nifty,
That Mom said, “Please bring me one more!”
I don’t have any pictures of the stork that brought me. But Mom looks pretty happy with the results. My sister Julie just looks shocked.
I had hoped to escape from the pain,
For their bites drove me nearly insane,
But I got no relief,
From the gnats with big teef,
Those no-see-ums were chasing my plane!
No see ums (biting midges), expanded view (drawing by Meps)
No see ums (biting midges), closeup view (drawing by Meps)
No see ums (biting midges), microscopic view (drawing by Meps)
There once was a lady named Doeri,
Who wanted to eat cacciatore,
She broke her routine,
By eating poutine,
And posted the pic and the story.
This was inspired by a friend’s photograph on Facebook. Barry and I ate poutine with Kris a number of times, because it was the cheapest food item in the Lunenburg pub. “It has carbohydrate, protein, and fat,” I said. “A balanced meal!”
Classic Poutine