My Cardboard Balcony

Recline by Belinda Roddie Sit me in a hammock just seven inches off the ground, and feed me rum-soaked raspberries by the bucketful until I'm both sated and inebriated. By the time the tartness has enveloped my cerebrum, I'll be far away on a rickety boat of my own making with a sail hitched up so high that not even the wind gods could end my circumnavigational voyage. Each berry sits on my tongue like a welcome guest: Greet it, shake its hand, offer it a drink. Soon, it will make itself comfortable in a foreign abyss, where pomegranate seeds are symbolic of endless winter, and surprisingly, autumn actually exists in our suburban status quo, and a kiss tastes remarkably of both citrus and elderberry.

"This wine," murmured Bartholomew. "It hasn't aged well." And to prove his point, he emptied his entire glass onto the grass beneath his feet, the red spreading angrily among the green, staining everything, ultimately, purple. The owner of the winery grew equally as purple in the face, and I was left no choice but to drag Barty out by the arm and chastise him in the parking lot.

by Belinda Roddie My wife is quite the mixologist. Sure, she'd never be a bartender, or host a rambunctious party with her beverages. But she sure knows how to put themselves a tasty concoction, especially for family and friends. And I am the fortunate guinea pig in her delightful experiments. We had some Bengal spice tea we refrigerated for a time, and what did she do? Mix it with gin and add a single ice. Her moniker for it? A Ginnamon Martini. Or perhaps a Raspberry Storm is more your preference? The wifey makes it with coconut rum, raspberry vodka, and a splash of champagne. Drop a raspberry in first before the downpour, and you have a celebration in your glass. Yes, my chemist spouse is splendid so far with the cocktails, so we'll just have to go from there. A recipe book may well be in order. For now, feel free to swing by our humble condo and scare our skittish cat. You'll get a fine glass of something extraordinary. Or maybe we'll just make you a Canadia...

So, two of my classes are smooth sailing, and one is difficult (though full of personality). Well, two out of three ain't bad! I'm hanging in there, though. I love my job, and I love the school I'm at. Just gotta stay there now. Don't forget - my book's still on sale.  Click here  to get a copy if you haven't already - and feel free to provide a rating and review that isn't just a blank one star because you're not a nice person. Seriously, though, see anything I could improve as a writer? Write it down. Feedback helps me tremendously. Okay. Thank goodness I have a mostly free weekend. I do have some training videos and courses to finish, though, and I'm happy to see my parents on Sunday. But now, drinks, cuddles, and sleep. Have a great night and a great weekend, everyone.

One Star by Belinda Roddie Next time you pan my book, give me reasons, please?