My Cardboard Balcony

Irish Sunset by Belinda Roddie Disheartened, the goddess relinquished her immortality and traveled to Galway.

by Belinda Roddie My dream job is to be the person who writes elaborate descriptions on the backs of wine bottles. I mean, do I have to explain it again? This is the third time! We're at Trilogy Level, homies! Okay, here we go! Summer Blast (White Blend) An aromatic journey into your nearest valley, this wine will make you want to pull on the white polo and khaki shorts, head out to the patio, and sip some citrus-y goodness while watching your neighbors play bocce ball. Experience the delicate hints of orange, lemon zest, and lavender if you can taste it. Just don't forget to wear sunscreen, or else your pasty butt will look like a beaten up football in then years. Uncommon (Verdejo) Let's be real: You probably have never heard of Verdejo before until you looked at this bottle. Well, today's your lucky day, Gary! Spice up your otherwise boring office cubicle experience with flavor profiles like lime, grapefruit, or fennel! Just be sure to put your mask back on after you...

Churro Goodness by Belinda Roddie It took two tries today to get an edible waffle.

Whew! Holy shit. I made it through my first week back teaching on an actual high school campus. My students are absolutely lovely. They're adapting quickly to this "new normal," and I'm grateful for it. I'm also happy with my new room, despite the previous occupant being an absolute garbage human being for a number of reasons (not something for me to talk about here, but happy to share in person over a cup of tea). I'm definitely still acclimating myself. Having a new cat so quickly after Spike's passing adds to the chaos quite a bit. Getting enough sleep is a trial all by itself, so I'm doing what I can to balance my work life and my recreational activities. One step at a time, I suppose. In other news, I'll be able to see a good friend in person tomorrow, and I'll be doing some good old-fashioned Dungeons & Dragons. May as well enjoy myself before the school year gets too crazy. Have a great night and a great weekend, everyone.

Verse By Verse by Belinda Roddie What was once love has compounded itself to dusty lust, drawn by the scarcely paralyzing bliss. Still, I feel no animosity against the sleeping shadow who cradles cheap words against her bosom like dead stars. Her shape arises here in the transparent mist, and I can almost trace my own lineage across her ribcage. She has the face of her counterfeit queen, and I, a mere minstrel, can only serenade her with poetry I did not write. This was written using the Google Research tool Verse By Verse. The poets I took suggested lines from were Emily Dickinson and Walt Whitman.

Now I'm Hungry by Belinda Roddie I wrote a presentation all about sushi for my job.

The Feline White As Snow by Belinda Roddie The feline white as snow preferred to rouse me from my slumber in the early morn - three thirty AM, to be exact. Out he went from my bedroom, though I was torn about shutting the door. And yet, I craved... nay, needed more than a few hours of rest to handle being back in class. I braved the traffic and elements to the best of my ability so I could teach on campus, mask and all. And yet this youth of a cat was quite keen to each night breach the unspoken contract 'tween us. Yes, the truth of the matter was, the door would be closed, and he could receive love when next I rose.