Harmonious Groove

Blog, Poetry

Darkness

August 2, 2018by Susie KrivacicLeave a Comment

trees in park — Photo by Pixabay on Pexels.com

Darkness

Eyes closed or open?

I have no way to know.

It’s been dark for so long,

am I above or below?

I view faint shadows

which are leering at me.

Are they stuck here forever

merely standing to see?

I’m feeling so trapped

as the wood grazes my nose.

I can’t feel my legs.

My whole body has froze.

Where’s the soft pillow?

Where’s the cushy bed?

Is it all for a show

to honor the dead?

Is it there for survivors

as they glance at the box?

It’s the illusion of comfort

as the coffin closes and locks.

I feel a slight bump

as the pallbearers’ stride.

I’m placed for final rest

but not sure if I died.

I hear the ominous sound

of the dirt as it drops.

It hits the coffin lid

as I try to scream, “STOP!”

Life can’t be over,

as there’s so much to do.

It’s gone in a blink.

How is my life through?

Why is life ended?

Why is it done?

Solving this mystery

is priority one.

Stay groovy…

–Susie

Blog, Poetry

Hostile words…

August 2, 2018by Susie KrivacicLeave a Comment

adult alone anxious black and white — Photo by Kat Jayne on Pexels.com

Hostile Words

Hostile words,

angry words,

words that incite violence.

Disrespectful words,

hurtful words,

words that lead to an ambulance.

Strong words,

bitter words,

words that cause a crime.

Painful words,

nasty words,

words that result in jail time.

The fact is

they’re just words.

Why do they illicit such action?

If we could replace them

with words of joy,

imagine a different reaction.

Stay groovy…

–Susie

Blog, Poetry

That cold glass of wine…

August 1, 2018by Susie Krivacic2 Comments

clear long steam wine glass — Photo by Pixabay on Pexels.com

We’ve all had a day like this, and only one thing will make it better…

That Cold Glass of Wine

It’s been a long day

with pressures like no other.

I’m in a comfortable chair

with that cold glass of wine.

The world’s going crazy

with deadlines looming.

The boss has been yelling,

but I’ve got that cold glass of wine.

Bills are piling up,

and there are chores to do.

Seems everyone needs something,

and I need a cold glass of wine.

My head is throbbing,

and my mind’s on overload.

My body is aching,

but I’ve got that cold glass of wine.

But not just a cold glass of wine

because that wouldn’t do.

I’ve got a cold glass of GOOD wine

to make everything awesome and new.

A sip or two, maybe three

and my troubles disappear

because that good wine makes all the difference.

The only thing better might be a good beer!

Stay groovy…

–Susie

Blog, Poetry

The interview…

July 31, 2018by Susie KrivacicLeave a Comment

adult agreement blur brainstorming — Photo by rawpixel.com on Pexels.com

Anyone who has ever had an interview knows this feeling…

The Interview

Your heart is racing,

and your palms are sweaty.

Your mind is turning.

It’s pretty heavy.

You’ve worked so hard

to get to this day.

You’ve got 30 minutes,

so what will you say?

The questions fire,

and your answers are ready.

Keep the conversation going.

Keep your hands steady.

Could you possibly be

what they’re looking for?

Or will they simply smile

and show you the door?

Now comes the waiting

which is perhaps worse than the chat.

Your future in their hands;

It’s really hard to take that!

I think I may throw up…

Stay groovy…

–Susie

Blog, Poetry

Falling off the grid…

July 31, 2018by Susie KrivacicLeave a Comment

three women standing near man holding smartphones — Photo by rawpixel.com on Pexels.com

Okay, prepare for a stream of consciousness:

Falling Off the Grid

Have you ever wondered how difficult it would be to fall off the grid?

In the year 2018, we’re tied into everything:

cell phones, bank cards, credit cards, PCs , laptops, e-mail, Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, Snapchat, Tinder, Pinterest, texting, social security numbers, web pages, electricity, alarm services, water bill, MapQuest, Facetime, traffic signal cameras, Skype, i-pad, Nook, Kindle, HD everything, streaming, Dropbox, Google, Amazon, Hotmail, g-mail, online banking, cable, 24/365 news, 24/365 everything, Kardashians (just kidding), direct deposit, E-Pass, YouTube, Bitcoin, eBay, Match, eHarmony, downloads…Did I forget any?

Falling off the grid…

…Nope…It ain’t happening any time soon!

Stay groovy…

–Susie

Blog, Poetry

Early morning…

July 31, 2018by Susie KrivacicLeave a Comment

woman and child sitting on fur covered bed — Photo by Daria Shevtsova on Pexels.com

Early Morning

There’s a certain feeling you get in the morning.

The kids are still asleep.

The birds are, too.

The house is still with quiet and peace.

You may hear a slight snore

Or perhaps a sigh as one of the children turnover in their bed.

The gentle sound of coffee brewing indicates the day has begun.

The wonderful smell wafts past your nose.

Then the gentle sound as birds awake

Just as the sun begins to rise.

They each have a particular song to sing

You wonder if that song has significant meaning to another.

You sit down with your hot cup.

You open the newspaper or boot up the computer to catch up on the news.

As you sip your coffee, the room gets a natural light with the rising sun.

The birds begin to converse more, and that brings a smile to your face.

But the largest smile is yet to come as you hear the children stir upstairs.

They skip down the steps two at a time.

They’re hungry for breakfast

And ready to start the day.

Stay groovy…

–Susie

Blog, Poetry

Errands…

July 31, 2018by Susie KrivacicLeave a Comment

alone black and white blur boy — Photo by Kat Jayne on Pexels.com

This was a little something I wrote after seeing a stressed out child on a shopping trip with his mother…Have you observed a scene such as this?

Errands

Errands…

He stands in a crowded corridor.

He’s no more than four years old.

The mall: grand, colorful, enormous…

He can only see the knees of those around him.

Tears stream down his face.

People blindly mill past him.

They’re ignorant of his obvious stress and sense of confusion.

Some even bump past him, creating an uncomfortable jostle.

Errands…

The tears in his eyes grow stronger.

He wonders, “Will she ever find me?”

Just as hope fades, he feels a strong tug at his arm.

The firm hand practically yanks his shoulder from its socket.

“Where have you been?” inquired the stern voice.

“I’ve been looking all over for you!”

It’s impossible for him to keep up as he’s dragged through the crowded department store.

“If you get away from me again, I’ll tan your hide!” she hissed sharply.

Errands…

It’s the single word in the English language he most abhors.

Just then his fingers slip out of his mother’s grasp as she reaches for a product on her list.

Tan your hide…

It’s the single phrase in the English language that makes him shudder.

Something to think about…

Stay groovy…

–Susie

Blog

Signs, signs, everywhere a sign…

July 30, 2018by Susie KrivacicLeave a Comment

signs

Five Man Electrical Band sang it best in 1971:

“Sign, sign, everywhere a sign
Blockin’ out the scenery, breakin’ my mind
Do this, don’t do that, can’t you read the sign?”

It’s election time, people. And you know what that means…Campaign signs!

So as I’m driving through my neighborhood, I am greeted by the above display. Now I wholeheartedly support a candidates’ right to campaign. I also want to take this moment to plead with everyone to please get out and vote. Some feel one vote won’t make a difference, however, those “one votes” add up to many votes and this could quite possibly change the trajectory of our local, state, and/or national government.

Back to the original purpose of this entry…The central (non-campaign) sign lists “Coming in 2019…For Lease”. This leads me to believe that this property is owned by the company represented on that above sign. If that is the case, have the candidates obtained permission from the property owner to display their signs? Or is there just an assumption that the open field and the lack of a building creates a free for all for any and all candidates to plead for votes? I am not implying support or lack thereof for any of the candidates represented above, I merely question the sign placement.

How many signs are enough in this space? How many signs are too many? How many redundant signs should be displayed for a single candidate? And what about after the election? Have you ever observed that post-election, those same signs remain in the place originally displayed? Does this create sign pollution? Shouldn’t there be a timeframe within which the campaign signs should be removed? Should there be a fine for leaving a sign continually posted long after the use of it has expired?

What should be the limit of questions that I am allowed to pose about the neverending campaign signs that litter our neighborhoods? (LOL!)

Just something to think about, compliments of me…And please, don’t forget to get out and vote!

Stay groovy…

–Susie

Blog, wellness

And they call it puppy love…

July 29, 2018by Susie KrivacicLeave a Comment

IMG_0449 (2)

Are you one of the 48% of American homes that call a dog a family member? If you do, I certainly understand why. Meet our Goldendoodle, Lilly…Also known as Silly Miss Lilly J Von Fluffenstein III Filbert de la Pickle Pad. Don’t ask why or how…it just is.

Dogs are amazing because of their unconditional love and totally empathic personalities. Lilly can immediately sense when we are stressed, sick, or sad. But she also embraces our happiness, excitement, and glee. No matter what the emotional state, Lilly is right there…our 42-pound lap dog ready to share in the joy or make things better. She loves to play and will bring us her favorite toy of the day when she is ready to fetch. She’ll then cuddle on the couch, roll onto her back, begging for the eternal belly rubs.

The benefits of the bonds that people have with their dogs, or any other pet for that matter, have been studied, and there is scientific evidence that dogs improve our overall wellbeing.

“The strength of the human-animal bond has been known for a long time, but scientific evidence about how it works was first published only about 30 years ago when a psychologist, Alan Beck of Purdue University, and a psychiatrist, Aaron Katcher of the University of Pennsylvania, actually measured what happens physically when a person pets a friendly and familiar dog. They found that the person’s blood pressure lowered, heart rate slowed, breathing became more regular and muscle tension relaxed-all of which are signs of reduced stress. Furthermore, a study published recently in the Journal of Psychosomatic Medicine not only confirmed these effects but showed changes in blood chemistry demonstrating reduced amounts of stress-related hormones. It is interesting to note that these positive psychological effects work a lot faster than many drugs taken for stress since all of these effects occurred after only 5 to 24 minutes of pleasantly interacting with the dog.”

Referenced: (https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/canine-corner/200906/health-and-psychological-benefits-bonding-pet-dog)

Now, I’m not trying to say that the love of a dog will negate the need for psychotropic medications, but my interactions with Lilly do enhance my mental wellness. That, combined with my medications, help me to maintain a more stable version of myself.

So if you’re having a good day, hug your dog. If you’re having a bad day, hug your dog. Not only will you feel great, but your dog will too!

Stay groovy…

–Susie

Blog

Shut up!

July 26, 2018July 26, 2018by Susie KrivacicLeave a Comment

woman and man wearing brown jackets standing near tree — Photo by Vera Arsic on Pexels.com

So here is my question of the day: What is with the phrase, “Shut up!”? Now it’s not a profane expression, yet it is rather unpleasant. The words in insolation are not at issue but put them together with a hostile tonal quality, then you’ve got something ugly.

But why “Shut up!”? You see, “up” tends to evoke feelings of being lifted, of rising, obtaining a higher position, being in a cheerful mood…

When people say or often yell, “Shut up!”, what they are really trying to do is shut you DOWN…

Down: adjective, directed or moving toward a lower place or position; verb, knock or bring to the ground…

The speaker of this questionable phrase is trying to edit you, get you to cease speaking because perhaps you speak the truth and this is quite threatening to that individual.

So if you find yourself on the caustic end of “Shut up!”, just go ahead and chuckle to yourself. You know that the person speaking is a complete dolt whose limited vocabulary forces him/her to utilize a trite phrase with the sole intent of intimidation.

Oh, and you may also want to buy them a dictionary…

Stay groovy…

–Susie