Something: Hold Hope

Dear Sillies, 

I hope you're doing well and taking good care of yourselves.

It's been a while since I wrote a non-erotic poem. Instead of starting from scratch, though, I revised an oldie. Times are tough, so it's an attempt to inspire.

Keep a smile and a stash of chocolate.

Enjoy.

Sometimes we reach for something

but it's something we can't see

When a moment feels like hours

and we struggle to just be.

Despair is all consuming and 

the future beckons fear.

We listen with intention

unsure what we yearn to hear. 

Sometimes we pray for something

though we lack religious creed,

still staking faith in one thing

to provide all that we need.

Yet  in this desperate stretch
At times
We sense a subtle shift.

Gentle breath

and tender hues

console an injured rift.

Hold hope 
when there's no hand to hold

nor signs to guide you through

That something of a priceless kind

will find its way 
to you.

                                                              colored pencil drawing by me, 2003

Celebrating Jacqueline!

Dears,

I'm very sad to say that our beloved Jacqueline (of Randomosity and then Cranky Bar) passed away on 2/6 - due to a severe stroke. In spirit, she's still with us in a loud and lovingly playful way. From my understanding, Jacqueline was surrounded by loved ones, including the Great Scot, and had been a spunky pistol until her final breath (including attempting to dance and shimmy from her hospital bed).

 

So we're celebrating our dear friend, Jacqueline. A small group of  us are posting today - Mitchell, Bryan, Cheryl, Debra, Jono, me, and Michael. Feel free to join us today, or any time.  We know that Jacqueline touched countless lives, human and animal, virtually and in a very real way.

One of Jacqueline's many beautiful posts, this one from her Facebook page.

Jacqueline's kidling, Jennie, shared meaningful advice:

If you'd like a way to honor Jacquelineand Mitchell, here are a few ideas:

--- 1 Good Thing: Every day, write down one good thing. It doesn't have to be something big, just something that makes you smile.

--- Learn the signs of a stroke: FAST [Facial drooping, Arm weakness, Speech difficulties; Time to call emergency services.]

--- Advocate for children. Be the person that a child in a bad situation needs; listen and believe them. If there was one thing mom couldn't stand, it was leaving a child - any child - without help.

Alas, Jacqueline loved my Martha Stewart series because she hated Martha. It's another reason I love(d) her. This little bonus is for you, Jacqueline!

  Jacquelineand....said Next thing you know, she'll be selling bronzed pubic hairs...
Don't do it, Martie! Just don't!

Rest in peace, precious soul. 
You're deeply missed, deeply loved, 
and we'll keep celebrating wonderful you.

Chocolate GIVEAWAY WINNERS! Best V.Day Hate!

Dear Sillies,

You make it SO MUCH FUN to HATE Valentine's Day that  I ALMOST don't hate it. But I do still hate it. I also love you and your hate.

Before the big announcement, please enjoy some lovely hate from the lovely Cheryl:

Now, our 4th place winner who - as Pickleope said - made a real Valentine, Shoshanah Lee Marohn! This one's so beautiful, I wanted to re-post. Plus, she's a wonderfully fun artist and author.

Coming in 3rd, the remarkable Mr. Pat Hatt with: 

Roses are red. 

Chocolate is brown
Tomorrow they'll be cheaper, so calm the *uc* down

And now for second place...drum roll, Jeopardy music, and a wink from Martha Stewart (Oh never mind, she was winking at Trump. Yikes.). Stagehand Mccaulay Culkin shouts out, "There was no second place, you dumb f*k!" Oh yeah. Robyn flips him the bird. I forgot, friends. There was a tie for first place, and I couldn't decide. Both entries were equally weird and hateful and accurate.

The TWO WINNERS of Life by Chocolate's Annual VDay Hate Contest are:

A Beer For The Shower 

Valentine's Day: the only time it's socially acceptable to offer up genitalia as a present.

AND

Al Penwasser's entry #3:

"Don't buy me a thing," she tells the poor sap.

Pal, get her some bling 
because...IT'S A TRAP!


CONGRATULATIONS, GUYS!! You'll each receive a generous, sweet package of chocolate goodness. We'll do dealings in private. Wink.

Much gratitude to all who participated and enjoyed this one - Life by Chocolate's best ever V-Day Hate Fest!

In spite of it all, may you experience a sweet Val...err, Chocolate Day!
Much love.

Anti-V Day GIVEAWAY! VOTE NOW!

Dears,
   Many wonderfully hateful messages were submitted to our annual Anti-Valentine's Giveaway. The winner(s) will win a generous package of chocolate sweets. As a reminder, any form of entry was accepted, but limited to 15 words. All of my followers get to vote. Despite the crowds, I shut, locked, and dead-bolted doors to our studio. We received plenty of timely submissions.
   I now present you with the ballot. Please vote once for only one entry. Place your ballots in the comments section or email to Rawknrobyn@aol.com. If you're voting for someone with multiple entries, please specify which entry of theirs you're voting for (e.g., Bernie Sanders #1). Feel free to vote for yourself - we won't judge.
   Polls will close at the end of the day on Monday, February 13th (11:59pm PST).
   Thank you to all who participated. I love all you haters. Good luck!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Alex J. Cavanaugh: I love you just enough to spend ten bucks at WalMart on February 13.

Pat Hatt Roses are red. Chocolate is brown
Tomorrow they'll be cheaper, so calm the *uc* down

Birgit: Happy Fucking Valentines Day..thanks for reminding me.....too rude? 

Pickleope Von Pickleope: 1. "A hundred hearts wouldn't be enough to carry the spite I have for you." 2. "Love is an art, one letter off from fart. Let them both pass."

Shoshanah Lee Marohn:

 

Jono Roses are red / Feces are brown
Tie weights to yourself /Jump in and drown 

 fishducky    1. How do I love thee? Not much!!
2. Your lips are like a dead, dead rose.
3. Get lost or I'll get a restraining order!! 

Empty Nest Insider Hearts are cheap / Grabbers fist and bump

Fake news by a creep / Tweeter named Trump

Geo.: The shepherd in me / Misses Lupercalia --naked

          Magistrates, shaggy / Thongs, whipped shins,
          Plutarch and Rome.

A Beer For The Shower Valentine's Day: the only time it's socially acceptable to offer up genitalia as a present. 

Elsie Amata Valentine's Day: When love is shown through trinkets and crap rather than emotions and intimacy.

Cheryl: 1.

2.

3. 

 *As a bonus, Cheryl submitted three more. Since they have over 15 words, they're not on the ballot. I'll post them when winner is announced.

 Anthony J. Langford: Ladies and Gentlemen, we are about to experience some mild turbulen... ahhhhhhh. Love sucks. Amen.

Al Penwasser: 1. Roses are neat
Violets are dear / Chocolates are sweet
I'd rather have beer

2. Today's the day / you might get a moaner.

Viagra's a way / for a four hour boner.

3. "Don't buy me a thing," she tells the poor sap.

Pal, get her some bling / because...IT'S A TRAP!

4. It's Valentines Day / There's chocolates, maybe flowers

Hey what's on TV?

5. Love is in the air


Bill Clinton may get lucky
He needs no excuse


REMEMBER, YOU ONLY GET TO VOTE ONCE FOR ONE ENTRY (If you're voting for someone with multiple entries, please indicate which numbered entry gets your vote). 
"I voted" stickers are en route from Florida and will be here by 2019. We appreciate your patience. Be well, my sillies. 

Annual Anti-Valentine's Day GIVEAWAY!!

Dear Sillies,
I'm kicking-off Superbowl Sunday with announcement of:
Life by Chocolate's Annual Anti-Valentine's Day GIVEAWAY!! 
There's a natural connection to football...fields of sweaty, studly young men and tight-end receivers working up a sweat, making passes, charging forward and scoring -- in SOMEBODY ELSE'S end-zone. Play after play. Game after game. Year after year. So, yeah, see rules below.

In any format (photos, cartoons, sculpture, words only...), and using NO MORE THAN 15 words, create an Anti-Valentine's Day slogan. Either post it in the comments section or email it to Rawknrobyn@aol.com. Entries must be submitted by midnight PST on Saturday, Feb 11th. Enter as many times as you like, and anyone can enter (You need not be a blog follower.)

You, dear readers, will vote on the winner(s). I shall cast deciding vote(s), if needed. And you can vote for yourself, but it's one person, one vote. Kinda like real democracy, only I always accept bribes and compliments. Not that this has anything to do with who's gonna win. I just like bribes and compliments.

Oh, the winner(s)* will receive a very generous, sweet chocolate package in the mail -- their preferences and dietary restrictions taken into account.

*It's been too close to call for a few years, so more than one of you might win.

Have fun and send me your hate!

A good week to you, my friends.
Take care of yourselves.