Tag: Friends

Something To Think About #14

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“What about your friends? Will they stand their ground? Will they let you down?”

Fortune Cookie Wisdom. Photo Credit: Tremaine L. Loadholt

I will share “Something To Think About” for the next two weeks on Sunday afternoons. It may be a quote, a picture, an interesting phrase I heard, artwork, etc. Whatever I share will surely be intriguing or involving enough to spark a casual discussion or in-depth conversation. Stay tuned every Sunday for this feature!

Have you gotten your copy of my new book: a collection of serial tales & flash fiction, Séduire (E-Book and Paperback) yet?

I recently signed up to write on Substack as well. Poking the Bear’s Belly for Fun is a place of healing as I speak about the most recent events with my place of employment as it pertains to racism and discrimination. I welcome your visit.

Séduire Fans Photo Collage #3

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The Lovely Ones who purchased their copy of Séduire, Part III. Photo Collage Credit: Tremaine L. Loadholt. Individual photos provided by the beautiful ones holding up their copy.

I won’t bore you with what I have to say about Séduire: Serial Tales & Flash Fiction. I’ll let these few reviews detail exactly what you can expect from this creative work of art of mine . . .

E-Book Reviews screengrab:

E-Book Reviews screengrab. Click on the image to make it bigger.

Paperback Reviews screengrab:

Paperback Reviews screengrab. Click on the image to make it bigger.

Again, I am overjoyed by the success of this book so far. I am appreciative and grateful for those of you who have decided to plunge into my restless mind. I do not take it for granted. Thank you. From the bottom of my heart, truly . . . thank you!

Have you gotten your copy of my new book: a collection of serial tales & flash fiction, Séduire (E-Book and Paperback) yet?

Your Poem From Me Request #3

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The Giving Cause: My Power. Your Power.

Photo by Huzaini Husin via ReShot

At my age, I haven’t the energy
to argue over meaningless
occurrences–I spend my time
learning the mores of life–increasing
my depth of wisdom.

I no longer flit between strengths
and weaknesses–I know where
I stand. My power is in
the love I give my children–the
conversations I have with
old friends and new acquaintances.
My power is in every breath I
take on a bone-chilling morning–the
final words I say at night.

You can have some, you know . . .
My power. I’m happy to share it
with you. I can blow it
in your direction, corner it
and jar it for safekeeping, smooth
the wrinkles out of it, and straighten
it to your liking.

Does it fit?
Can you wear it?
Here . . . Try it on.

The world around us dwindles
down to ash–we can remain,
undeterred and immovable.
It’s up to us. Let’s merge our
powers and create a superpower
that will live on beyond
the impending apocalypse.
Let my power become your
power . . . Our power . . .
The world’s power.

Thank you to Mary L. Holden for allowing me to gift a poem to you. I truly enjoyed writing this one.

To learn more about Your Poem From Me: The Giving Cause, click here. Let me write a poem for you. I can give it life.

Because It’s Still the Little Things . . .

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Homemade Gingerbread Cookies. One is me, the other is my sweet friend, Heejin. I love that she got the skin/cookie tones right. She’s Korean & Jewish.

I will always say, “It’s the simple things” in life to cause me to become my happiest. My beautiful and incredibly talented friend Heejin included homemade Gingerbread cookies in our care package this year, and I nearly teared up when I pulled them out of their bubble-wrapped packaging. I immediately sent her a text message to make sure they were indeed edible and not for decorative purposes only . . . I mean, I don’t want to eat them, they’re so perfectly crafted. She informed me that yes, I could eat them, and not only were they edible, but they were also made in our likeness. One is her, the other is me. I informed her again that I truly didn’t want to eat them even more now after learning this fact.

I am in awe almost daily of her undeniable talent. She never ceases to amaze me. I often think “What can I do to top Heejin? How can I give her the best gift?” But she continually tells me, our friendship is the best gift I could ever give her. Having her in my life is surely icing on the cake.

If you’re blessed enough to know true friendship, hang on to it–embrace it at every turn. I’d choose it over any monetary or tangible gift any day.

It’s truly the best.


30 Things My Dog Probably Says About Me Behind My Back

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That is, if she could talk.

Jernee: aka, The Boss; aka, J-Nasty; aka, Jern-Jern; aka The Princess; aka, The Little Monster, etc. Photo Credit: Tremaine L. Loadholt

Pet owners: I’m pretty sure you have your very own thirty things and we’d probably swap stories and laugh hysterically about the ways of our non-human friends/family. Feel free to share a few in the comments if you want to.

  1. Human . . . I expect dinner promptly at 5:30 pm, there should be no deviation from this plan.
  2. That place that you go to every day in the morning and come back much later in the day, what shall I call it?
  3. While you were gone, I ate the crumbs on the floor you thought you brushed “off” the counter and into the cleaning cloth.
  4. Remember that one time you asked me if I liked the new grain-free food you bought me?! Do you recall my reaction, how I dove into the bowl as if I’d not eaten before? Well, I faked it.
  5. There’s this thing that rings loudly while you’re away. How can we make that not happen?
  6. Every time Nana visits, she sits in my favorite spot on the couch. I don’t like that.
  7. Why does she have to visit us anyway? Don’t you visit her enough now?
  8. I think you should warn me about bath-time, preferably a week in advance. I need time to evade this entire process.
  9. I’m not religious. You know that, right? God or mercy or hallelujah should never be in our discussions. I’m just sayin’.
  10. What’s this thing about “voting” I keep hearing on the radio? Is this something you’re going to do?
  11. If you are, will they pay you for it? I need more treats. Prioritize. Monetize this vote thing. Treats are important.
  12. Okay. You’ve seen Shrek 378 times already. That’s enough.
  13. The same goes for Finding Nemo.
  14. Auntie hasn’t been here in a while, neither has Nala. Did I do something? Did YOU do something? It’s always you. Yes, let’s go with that. Did you do something, human?
  15. You like to tell me not to drool on the couch, but please recognize how that’s not working out for you. Do I tell you not to drool on your pillows?
  16. Crushed ice is my favorite snack. More crushed ice, please.
  17. It’s been a while since we’ve had a daddy or another mommy around. What’s the holdup, human?
  18. I mean, I’m trying to gather all the attention I can. Are you keeping this from happening?
  19. The Vet . . . That’s one place I’d like not to go to anymore.
  20. If there’s any way we can make that happen, I’ll be happy about it. Tell them I’m good — we shouldn’t have to pay for pre and post-excellence. Let’s face it, I’m both. Save your money.
  21. Think of the treats.
  22. When you say things to me and you think I don’t understand what you’re saying, I’ve news for you, I do. I’m just ignoring you.
  23. Do we have new neighbors? I hear strange noises while you’re away.
  24. What’s with the burning of all the candles? And the sage?
  25. It’s been 5 minutes since you rubbed my belly or scratched behind my ears. Let’s change that.
  26. I’m not eating my food because I noticed yours smells much better.
  27. Yes, that’s right . . . Pick up my poop! Good human.
  28. No, I don’t like this taking pictures of me all the time thing. Stop it.
  29. When you take my collar off, it’s like you’re removing a piece of me. My identity shifts. How’d you like to have your identity shifted?
  30. NO, I WILL NOT STOP BARKING AT THE NEIGHBOR’S DOG! I’M PROTECTING US!

Bonus: I really do love you. That, I’m not faking.

Originally published in P. S. I Love You via Medium.

behind the screen

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NaPoWriMo #12

I’ve not been able to visit my baby cousins every weekend as I am accustomed to doing, so yesterday, we had a little video chat session. It lifted my spirits tremendously. I also got a chance to chit chat with my sweet friend of God knows how long now. LOL. I’ve known her since she was a toddler (so maybe 32 years?). She is in the navy and is stationed in Japan–just to see her loving, sweet dimpled face was truly the highlight of my evening yesterday. 

Reach out to your loved ones, people. I did and I feel a bit better about not being able to see them during this time.