My Cardboard Balcony

How Is This Funny?! by Belinda Roddie The joke involved alcohol, arson, and a traumatic brain injury.

Paired Cocktails by Belinda Roddie Served on the rocks, we tumble in the tumbler: Squeezed, strained, and poured into highballs. We drink each other, the notes and hints of calm exchanges, only to find that the aftertaste is bitter.

Australia by Belinda Roddie The Land Down Under deserves a break from...y'know. Fire. Help your mates out. Donate!

Flat by Belinda Roddie Sometimes, you gotta drop a Bennie on new bike tires.

by Belinda Roddie "I prefer chocolate bonbons." "...What." "I. Prefer. Chocolate bonbons." "...Are you kidding me?" "No?" "Hon, you have never told me you prefer 'bonbons' before." "Well...I do." "But I've gotten you bordeauxs for ages." "I know." "And buttercreams." "I know." "And butterscotch schnapps, and chocolate-covered biscuits. And patties. Peanut butter patties." "Yeah." "Your favorite." "..." "You told me it was your favorite, John." "..." "..." "..." "..." "...I may have been drunk when you said that." " What." "I'm sorry. I may have been drunk." "Are you fucking shitting me." "I'm sorry! I may have been drunk!" "Is that the way it is, dude? Me second guessing everythin...

Trash Baby by Belinda Roddie The cat's shenanigans encouraged us to get a covered bin.

Okay. So today was Valentine's Day. I got Arden flowers and candy. She got me candy and a card. We went out to dinner at a nice Italian restaurant in town that we had never been to. Kind of a change from the usual steak she prepares me or the spaghetti and meatballs I whip up for her. This weekend is also the start of a one week break for me (thank goodness). I do love my classes so far, though - granted, my sophomores are upset with me for teaching them Of Mice and Men because of the ending, but we've had some good times. And talking about toxic masculinity based on gendered products and Romeo and Juliet with my freshmen is also fun. Thanks to my students, I have prompts and outlines for my next two Storytellers as well, since I was getting them to be creative in a lesson on how to outline a project. Thanks, you wacky youths, you! So yeah. I'll get to ride my bike more with my mom. I'll get to write. I'll get to relax. I'll get to temporarily forget about...