Pizza Crazy

Doe Do likes pizza
very much.
If you see her pie,
then do not touch.

Pile it high with
extra cheese.
Set the oven
to 350 degrees.

I see her pace
and check the time.
If you steal,
it is a crime.

From the oven
it is drawn.
When Doe Do eats,
it's already gone.

J.A.Scott

A Day Off

Feeling sick,
I have the flu.
Chicken soup,
and tea I brew.

Thinking power,
not so well.
Sickness crippled,
last brain cell.

Calling in,
for loss of pay.
Boss still thinks,
it's Ferris Day.

Breathing, blinking,
why so tough?
Exhausting day,
I've had enough.

Shopping list,
of aches and pains.
Add one more,
to daily strains.

Thus today,
my only quest.
Lay in bed
and get some rest.

J.A.Scott

Something New

At times I long for something new.

As a vagabond I'd love to dabble,

with exotic lands to wander through.

That's why I often seek to travel.

Visit wondrous shores so very far.

Stroll barefoot on North Sea gravel.

Or one day soon see Myanmar,

the stunning Padauk golden flower,

shop for spice in a Yangon bazaar.

Experience rain of a tropical shower,

photograph a troop of kangaroo,

see the view from Skytree Tower.

J.A.Scott

Editing

When I use the word 'about',
I get enraged and want to shout.
Or when describing, I say 'very',
but it's a word I long to bury.
Certain words I use 'a lot',
but usually best if they're forgot.
My brain will often sneak in 'that'.
Taunting me, it's such a brat.
And umpteen times I see 'just',
another word I do not trust.
This problem I have always 'had',
but correcting makes my readers glad.
Yes, now you know what I 'think',
laziness makes my writing stink.
I edit tedious words like 'really',
And let creativity flow more freely.
Clarifying what I 'began',
Editing is a constant plan.

J.A.Scott

Missing

Searching,
looking,
for a love unknown.

Missing,
lost,
are you there?

Bitter,
jaded,
left alone.

Single,
wretched,
who will care?

J.A.Scott

Chicago Parking

I am sane,
I'll park my car.
And never leave the door ajar.

On the street,
I see a spot.
Sign says parking allowed is not.

Circle then,
around I go.
Hope to park before the show.

Once again,
I turn around.
Profanities now, my only sound.

Concerts done,
still I drive.
This is circle fifty-five.

I like eggs,
the number plaid.
I think I've gone a little mad.

J.A.Scott

Something Borrowed

Don't steal my heart,
and then give it back.

Or take it away,
if that is your knack,

just for awhile
when you are bored.

Pretending as if
I am something adored.

Don't borrow my heart
and then run and hide.

I'm not into games
and I have my pride.

If you want my heart,
I'm willing to share.

Just promise me now
that you'll always be there.

J.A. Scott

The Gift

It says I have
a little gift.
A music CD?
Taylor Swift?

Or perhaps,
a book of Troy?
Concert tickets?
Nerdy Toy?

Hoping that
it's something fun.
Or a cash prize
I have won.

Open now,
what do I see?
Words on paper,
A bap recipe.

J.A.Scott

R.S.V.P.

Dinner -
Party -
An evening plan.

Prep the food,
Buy the wine,
Make a list.

Respond -
Please -
R.S.V.P.

Be on time,
Kiss the host,
Associate.

- Jenni Long

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Jenni Long is a writer and editor
of the Canadian children's magazine
'Fille Forte'. That being said, her
thoughts do not necessarily reflect
those of myself.

Into the Future

I went to visit

a future time.

With retro shops

and not much crime.

I could quickly

prepare my food.

A six second pizza

for a hungry mood.

A calming ride

though stressed with loads.

But where I go,

I won't need roads.

Floating free in

that day and age.

'cause hover tech

is all the rage.

I bought a gift

with a quick thumb scan.

A sports stat book

and a simple plan.

But then was told

that would be wrong.

Future knowledge

where it doesn't belong.

So heading home

the Deloreon flew.

Hoping the time-line

wouldn't skew.

J.A.Scott

Jeffrey Scott's - Best of the Blog - 2014

Good news and bad news this year. Then more bad news followed by mediocre news. Then there is... Oh never mind, let me just get to the point. Last year I challenged myself to have at least something produced in each category; r.a.n.t., poetry and photography. I gave it a good try for a few months, but soon found it to be quite the challenge. My blogging was so much of a challenge in fact, that for a few months the only entries offered were from a few guest bloggers. So I not only failed in my goal for the year but I almost allowed my blog to come to an end. But the good news is I didn't. Since my blog hiatus, I have strived to do what I do best, r.a.n.t. away. But I did do something different this year, I started to summarize each week with a poem. Like always, there are some I absolutely love, and others I totally despise. So which ones do I enjoy? And what is the best way for me to let you in on which I feel are the best and most entertaining blog entries for the past year? You guessed it, I've selected what I feel are the Best of the Blog of 2014. If you find a topic that interests you, just click the link and read away. I'll be very interested to hear what you think of it.

And, as always, leave a comment, share on your social media page, "like" it or just email me with your thoughts. I'm always looking for input, always looking for people who are willing to guest blog and always willing to post run on sentences. Thanks for reading. I truly hope you enjoy what you find here.


January
Photography
Fun With Colours - Experimented with photographing colours.
Poetry
Accidental Wrap - I hate when I spill my coffee.
R.A.N.T.
Chit Chat - I find it hard to "Chit-Chat"
Guest Blogger
(Professor Sanee) No Go Greyhound - Sanee describes a horrible experience on the bus. Awful and humorous at the same time.


February
Photography
Ground-hog Day Filming Location - Woodstock Illinois
R.A.N.T.
Super Bowl 48 Review - More precisely, commercial review.
Guest Blogger
(Jenni Long) Making Plans - Tips on being a responsible guest.


March
R.A.N.T.
Madness in March - I try my hand at guessing who will win March Madness. SPOILER ALERT! - I don't do very well.
The Eternal Winter - What I hate and love about Winter.


April
Poetry
Holding Hands - A poem I wrote for my dad.
Super Man - What I would do if I were super.
National Poetry Month - A month of increased poetry activity inspired this.
Pitaya - Have you ever tried this odd fruit?
Humming Bird - One of my favourite photos couple with a poem about my favourite bird.
R.A.N.T.
Showing Appreciation - How and when should one thank another? Find out here.
Have You Turned it Off & On Again? - It's always fun when you are having computer problems.


May
R.A.N.T.
Take Me Out to the Ballgame - Go to the game, bring your wallet.


June
R.A.N.T.
Guest Bloggers
(Charles Winthrop) A Thing of Beauty - Part 140 - What is beauty? Is it the same as value?


July
R.A.N.T.
Guest Bloggers
(Professor Sanee) The Impossible Girl - What does it mean for something to be 'impossible'?


August
R.A.N.T.
Guest Bloggers
(Jenni Long) Stop Being Insecure - Jenni answers reader questions ala Dear Abby


September
Poetry
The Fool - Who thinks they are special? Only the fool.
R.A.N.T.
Random Rants II - For once, I let many random people rant away. I follow up with my own replies.


October
Poetry
Spider - I wrote this after I saw a spider in my bathroom.
R.A.N.T.
Getting Lost - I'm always frustrated when I get lost.
Guest Bloggers
(Charles Winthorp) The American Radio - Part 41 - Charles shares his notes of songs currently playing on the radio.


November
Poetry
Socks on Fox - A Dr. Suess inspired poem.
R.A.N.T.
Where Do the Socks Go? - Really, where do they go?


December
Poetry
Stay - Do you like to roam or stay put?
Winters Door - Please close the door. Especially in Winter.
R.A.N.T.
Open Door Policy - My solutions to help others remember to close doors in Winter.


Most Read Blog Posts of 2014
Top 10 Blog Articles of 2014: January - June (According to Web Hits)
1.) 417 - R.a.n.t. - Super Bowl 48 Review - 02/02/14
2.) 318 - Poem - Psychrolutes Marcidus - 04/23/14
3.) 153 - Poem - Drizzly Days & Tuesdays - 04/08/14
4.) 152 - Poem - Coati Mondi - 04/16/14
5.) 133 - R.a.n.t. - Cud Chewin' - 02/23/14
6.) 128 - Photography - Woodstock Illinois; Groundhog Day Filming Location - 02/02/14
7.) 90 - R.a.n.t. - Spring Ahead - 03/09/14
8.) 81 - R.a.n.t. - No Go Greyhound - 01/12/14
9.) 72 - R.a.n.t. - Leave the Despising to Us - 01/19/14
10.) 72 - R.a.n.t. - Done With American Football - 01/05/14

Top 10 Blog Articles of 2014: July - December (According to Web Hits)
1.) 83 - R.a.n.t. - The Impossible Girl - 07/13/14
2.) 72 - R.a.n.t. - Random Rants II - 09/28/14
3.) 58 - R.a.n.t. - Open Door Policy - 12/14/14
4.) 54 - R.a.n.t. - Stop Being Insecure - 08/24/14
5.) 48 - R.a.n.t. - Getting Lost - 10/06/14
6.) 47 - R.a.n.t. - Don't Put Me In A Box - 10/12/14
7.) 42 - R.a.n.t. - Where Do the Socks Go? - 11/16/14
8.) 41 - Poem - Spider - 10/02/14
9.) 40 - R.a.n.t. - Shiny Happy People - 12/07/14
10.) 38 - R.a.n.t. - Abandoned - 11/02/14

Somebody

I'm somebody!
And so are you.
Why worry and fret,
and seek others to please?

Like the kids on the corner,
sunglasses askew,
they want to impress friends,
but mostly themselves.

If they could see how funny
they look in my eyes.
Would they care?
Would they dare?

A terrible fright
somebody becomes.
Worrying about others,
but nobody cares.

J.A.Scott

cOOl kids

R.a.n.t. of week 12/28/14

I remember back in high school of how much I longed to fit in and be one of the cool kids. No, I never did become a cool kid. I never had the latest trends in clothes, didn't own a pair of sunglasses, wasn't even 'hip' or in touch with the awesome 'hits' on the radio. But that didn't stop me from wanting to be one of the cool kids. One of the ones who it seemed everyone looked up to. One of the ones everyone was talking about in a positive light and were perhaps an inspiration to others. Or the one others wanted to follow. But no; that was never me. I never walked the straight line they did, my heart fell behind their heartbeat. The cool kids were always invincible, and I was always in the background. They were living the good life and couldn't see what I was going through. You might say they were driving the fast cars in the fast lane.

But I'm older now and things change when you are older. Don't they? When a person gets older, they never care too much about fitting in or being one of the "cool kids" any more. And yet, life seems to find a parallel for us. No matter how old we get, there is always something we aspire more for. It's ingrained in our system. Without the need to improve or hope for something better, we fail to try and improve ourselves. So we need to ignore those 'cool kids' and concentrate on improving ourselves. Not worrying about others. Reminds me of a poem from Emily Dickinson

I'm nobody! Who are you?
Are you nobody, too?
Then there's a pair of us -- don't tell!
They'd banish -- you know!

How dreary to be somebody!
How public like a frog
To tell one's name the livelong day
To an admiring bog!

But I mislead you before. There are some grown-ups who still long to be the cool kids. They form their little 'cliques' and include or exclude people into their social functions based on whether others are 'cool' or not. It's annoying because it causes divisions and feelings of resentment. Not from me, mind you. I'm nobody and happy to be that way. It would be dreary to be 'somebody' as Emily would tell me. Perhaps one day, the 'cool kids' will come to realize they are not as cool as they thought they were. Will they strive to better themselves? We shall see. Ribbet!

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
For the record: Resident music lover and part time blog contributor, Charles Winthrop, has requested I update my blog entry to point out a portion of the r.a.n.t. above contains remarks plagerised from the song "Cool Kids" performed by Echosmith.(As if you couldn't tell from the blog photo or title).

Charles Winthrop is a Washington
state writer & D.J. His interests
include music (both modern and
classical) and is a fine art connoisseur.
His articles have appeared in various
magazines including, 'Art Beautiful',
'Music of the Renaissance', and 'The Walla Walla Whistler'.

Spock, I Am

On a planet far away.

Lives a race so very rare.

They neither laugh in sheer delight,

nor other moods of great despair.

The Vulcan Spock was very keen.

He daily had to fight the urge.

Emotions what he felt inside.

'Twas this he strived so hard to purge.

Half human was he, did you know?

So meditation was the key.

Don't debate how emotions are a prize.

'Cause logically he'd disagree.

Vulcans thought a purge was best.

For their history, a violent time.

Anger, madness, gloomy moods,

soon became a planet crime.

Happiness was also gone,

and other feelings bringing joy.

Emotionless they proved to be,

which thusly angered Doc McCoy.

J.A.Scott

Spock, I Am Not

R.a.n.t. of week 12/21/14

Years ago, (let's say over 25) I was dealing with some traumatic things in my life. As the daft, emotionally, awkward teen I was at the time, I rarely allowed my emotions to surface. Or to be more precise. I never placed them on display. I would hold everything in. Unlike Spock, it wasn't really intentional, it was just something I did. I hadn't really noticed till one day my brother was upset with me for not being more emotionally distraught about what we were going through. I remembered him yelling at me, "You're Spock!" as though it were an insult of ultimate shame. I always find it somewhat funny. Though to be honest, I don't recall laughing about it at the time. I most likely held that in as well.

It was probably about the same time I made the concious decision not to write poetry. I considered it too "girly" and saw no point to it. As I recall, any of the poetry I wrote at that time was forced upon me through school courses. One of the first poems I wrote (if not the first) turned out to be a favourite of several people, though I never truly liked it. You can find that poem in my collection on this site. It's found HERE. To this day, I'm still unsure how I feel about it.

I was the same for many years, but as time goes on, one changes. For instance, I'm more in touch with my emotions and I proudly put them on display. I embrace each emotion and not ashamed of any. If I'm happy and I know it..... Why did I suddenly start singing? If I'm happy, I show it. If I'm sad, I show it. If you don't like it, too bad, I can't help that. But I also do poetry now too. I've found it to be expressive and beautiful or depressing and thoughtful. At times you can do more in a few lines of poetry than you can in a few paragraphs of prose. Poetry can be de-constructed and interpreted different ways. And that's partially why I'm not afraid of my emotions and will display them, I'm not worried about how others perceive me. Sure, some may see me in my gloomy moods and think that's all that Jeffrey Scott is, but how wrong they would be. As most of my readers here know, I'm also a very funny person and do much to express that as well. Whatever the mood, that's who Jeffrey Scott is, but it's never all-inclusive. Each mood is just a portion of the package. We are all happy, sad, gloomy, grumpy, excited, pensive, excited, stressed, courageous, amused, fearful or surprised from time to time. I have found a way to embrace each emotion and use each emotion. If I'm sad, I'll keep myself sad and use it. I'll write poetry, or just explore the emotion as much as I can. Others, like Spock, will just hold it in, angry at others for not feeling how they want them to feel.

Also, I am not:

Tuvok

I may seem distant at times, but I'm not unfamiliar with having fun. I have a large assortment of games at home; be them video, card or board games. You can always find something fun to do at my house.

T'Pol

I may not seem very adventuresome at times, but I'm always willing to try something new. Like travelling alone overseas. I just love doing that now. I'm also not afraid of trying new foods, even if I know I won't like it. And trust me, I've been served some really odd things.

Saavik

Humour may be a difficult concept, but I simply adore it. Love to have fun and play humorous tricks on people. Also like throwing in a few "Easter Eggs", even if for my own enjoyment.

T'Pau

I'm a big fan of 80's music as everyone knows. But it's not the only lyrical muse capable of captivating and inspiring my heart and soul. Jazz, classical, modern top 40, pop, rock, local, the list could go on.

Winter's Door

An open door
in Winter is,
annoying as
a math pop-quiz.

Keep the door closed
if you can.
At least for me
that is the plan.

I do not like
a chilly breeze.
So help me out now
if you please.

You'll find for me
it's not okay.
To wait out Winter
in dismay.

If you need a lesson
I will teach.
Don't be surprised
if it's a speech.

I resist the urge
for me to hire.
A doorman's not
what I require.

Perhaps it's time
for me to weld,
the door secured...
I am compelled.

Office can through
a window stroll,
while neighbour upstairs
slides down a pole.

Or ask my grandma
to sit and stare,
and tsk those daft,
who boldly dare

to leave the door
open, so taboo.
Annoying as a
monkey throwing poo.

J.A.Scott

Dreary Gloomy People

Dreary, gloomy, people crying.
Hiding in the house.
Laying on the ground.

Dreary, gloomy, people trying.
Sitting in the dark.
A whimper is their sound.

Woe is me,
dreary as can be.
Gloom is all,
that I can see.

Dreary, gloomy people crying...
crying in cupped hands.
Another day,
another scar.

J.A.Scott

The Spice Store

I had a chip,

how it was bland.

Slightly better,

than munching sand.

Was boring as,

a plate of rice.

I greatly need

some special spice.

Now my palate,

I'll put at ease.

by switching to,

Doritos cheese.

Or sample curry

if I was dared

Is this too much,

should I be scared?

I may have said

this all before.

Doritos needs

their own spice store.

J.A.Scott

Stay

Never wander,
never roam.
Always sticking close to home.

Do not leave,
and do not quit.
Like a good dog, sit, sit, sit.

How I love stability,
though a fanciful little dream.
I've had enough reality.
That's enough! I want to scream.

Time to settle,
I implore.
You do not like it? There's the door.

Off you wander,
off you roam.
always seek a better home.

J.A.Scott

Socks on Fox

Time we talk of missing socks,

stolen by a ludicrous fox.

He likes to stack all sorts of clocks,

on top of wonky slanted blocks.

Annoying too, is how he talks,

of breaking into the Fort Knox.

He dreams of switching gold for rocks,

all while wearing our stolen socks.

J.A.Scott