Having worked a morning shift and typing this after dinner, I am tired.  With that in mind, this entry is going to be short.  You’re welcome.

Today’s high is going to be 72 degrees and the silver lining is having the rest of the day off.

To those of you who like being done with your work day, I hope that you all have a fantastic day.

 

Muse:  My work has just begun!  Ha ha ha ha!!!!

Meanwhile…

Ghost Muse:  Can somebody let me out?  Help!  I can’t break free!  Help!!!

What are you doing reading this?  Everyone.  Go to your mother, give her a nice big hug and tell her that you love her very much.  If your mother is not with you anymore, my condolences.

Still there?  I mean it.  Now is not the time to read this daily blog.  Spend it with your mother.  As for me, I have done this yesterday, having a Mother’s Day dinner with my family, grandparents and my aunt.  Today, I will be spending time with my mother.  I will be going to church with my family.  After that, I will be going home.  As for the rest of the day, it will probably be up for grabs.  Another day to unwind.  A day to write, read, or basically do whatever.

Still reading this?  Enough already.  Give mom your card if you haven’t already. Give her the flowers and tell her that she’s the best mom in the world.  And stop reading this entry.  There’s not anything left to read.  Really!

Today’s high is going to be 58 degrees and the silver lining is celebrating Mother’s Day.

To those of you who absolutely love their mothers, I hope that you all have a fantastic day.

Oh, and director’s privileges are activated for this day only!

 

Muse:  That’s right!  I need to get a card for my mother!  Time to go to the store…

With it raining this morning and this afternoon, it doesn’t look like I’ll be able to mow my grandparent’s lawn.  It’s like the old saying goes.  “The show is cancelled on account of rain”.

To summarize, I got ready and saw The Avengers: Age of Ultron with my brother.  I then bought some lunch supplies and came home.  Later, I will have an early Mother’s Day dinner at my grandparent’s.  That’s this day in summary.

Today’s high is going to be 66 degrees and the silver lining is seeing a movie.

To those of you who like going out to the movies, I hope that you all have a fantastic day.

 

Muse:  Forget movies.  This is better than a movie.  I’m finally free!  Ha ha ha ha!!!

With my morning shift finished and the weekend ahead of me, there’s only one thing left to do.   Give the front lawn a good mowing.  It will be the first one of the season, and with some of the trees cleared out in the front, I look forward to cutting it.

After the lawn gets mowed, I will enjoy some Youtube videos.  I have a queue to clear, so I won’t be writing much today.  Front lawn, here I come!  And tomorrow, grandma and grandpa’s lawn will have their turn, if the weather cooperates.

Today’s high is going to be 84 degrees and the silver lining is getting the lawn mowed and having the rest of the day off.

To those of you who are mowing your lawn for the first time in the season, I hope that you all have a fantastic day.

 

Muse:  I’m just about free…There!  It’s payback time!  Heh heh heh…

Just kidding.  In fact, I’m leaving for it right now.  A Toastmasters meeting at 6:30 pm.  It should be an exciting meeting!

Today’s high is going to be 84 degrees and the silver lining is attending tonight’s Toastmasters meeting.

Tot those of you who like improving your public speaking and leadership skills, I hope that you all have a fantastic day.

 

Muse:  Still stuck…I’m bound real good…I’m starting to get free, though!  Ha ha ha…

It’s basically Mission: Impossible, but with the meeting minutes.

A couple days ago, I started on the meeting minutes but was supposed to finish them.  With my friend over, the progress on them ended.  Yesterday, I was going to continue on them, but had a Toastmasters meeting.  Today, there is nothing that can stand in my way.  I WILL get the meeting minutes done, and I will continue on them right away.

Today’s high is going to be 70 degrees and the silver lining is having a nice sunny day to enjoy.

To those of you who like the nice spring weather, I hope that you all have a fantastic day.

 

Muse:  Urrr…Why can’t I break free?  Thissss abysssssss…I can’t ssssstand it…

Well, this is it.  The Day of 666 that Remedy was talking about.  What are we going to do?

 

Muse:  I know EXACTLY what you’re going to do.  Perish!  Ha ha ha ha ha ha ha!!!!

And just like that, the dark-haired Muse with black clothing began to change form.

Muse:  *hiss*  I can feel it…All the evil of humanity flowing through my veinsss…Everything…Everything will be destroyed…

Then she transformed.  She grew until she dwarfed the highest mountains.  Her head became like that of a fearsome dragon with scales all over her.  Five additional heads emerged out and began hissing like venomous vipers.

Muse:  HISSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS!!!!  It begins now…Ha ha ha…

Several fissures opened up around the earth.  Volcanoes sprouted like wildflowers and the sky became crimson like blood.

And as much as I tried to run, I couldn’t.  I felt like the earth was closing over me, but it was her hand.

Muse: You will perish!!!

And before she could do anything, a flash of light filled the landscape.

???:  You will not touch him.  By all my intangible powers combined, you will be bound!

Remedy!  Just in time like usual!

Muse:  Ughh….!  How are you binding me?

Remedy:  You had me fooled when I heard that your ghost was on the loose.  After searching everywhere for it, I knew that you were lying.  Knowing that you were going to use all the evil in humanity, I took it upon myself to gather every intangible power in existence.   Or should I say nonexistence?!  Whatever the case, you are bound.  Into the abyss with you!

Muse:  The abysssssss….No!!!

Remedy:  Yes!  Farewell, you brood of vipers!

Muse:  Ahhhhhhhhh!!!!!!

Thank you, Remedy.  But what are we going to do about this earth?  The volcanoes have destroyed everything!

Remedy: Not so.  This will restore the earth to normal.  Evil, begone!

What’s going to happen to all the evil in humanity?

Remedy:  It will return to every town, city, county, state and country she consumed.  When she was “eating” these areas, what she was really doing was eating all the evil that was inside the hearts of everyone.  But just as there is evil in everyone’s hearts, there is also good.  When the Day of 666 ends, all the evil will return to everyone and she will lose her powers.

And she’ll be much less powerful, right?

Remedy:  Indeed.  Now if you would excuse me.  I need to return all the intangible powers to everyone that I borrowed them from.  Have a good day!

You too!

Wow.  I’m glad that didn’t turn out to be any worse.  With my morning shift over, I will now get ready for tonight’s Toastmasters meeting.

Today’s high is going to be 62 degrees and the silver lining is going to tonight’s Toastmasters meeting.

To those of you who like evening events, I hope that you all have a fantastic day.

 

Muse:  Ugh…Remedy…You will pay for thisssssss….When I escape thisss abysssss, you will pay…Ha ha ha ha ha….

With my morning shift done, that is my priority for right now.  Get the meeting minutes from this weekend done before my friend comes over.  And for the record, no.  The Mummy-Me Maze Forever was not played the other night.  Instead, the new DLC from Mario Kart 8 was played.  Time to get going on those minutes.

Today’s high is going to be 76 degrees and the silver lining is being able to enjoy the rest of this day.

To those of you who love the warm weather, I hope that you all have a fantastic day.

 

Muse:  Tee hee!  All the yummy states are eaten, so I’ll eat the yummy countries now.  There!  Now the yummy planets and galaxies.  I’m getting more and more hungry and I’m feeling more and more naughty!  Tee hee!

???:  Get lost!  You have no reason to be here, little girl!  You have restrained me long enough, but I will once again have the upper hand.  I hate you and I hate everything that exists.  All the evil of humanity is flowing through my veins.  And tomorrow, you will be a good girl and shut up.  Oh, it will be so delightful!  Ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha!!!!!

Muse:  I…I’m scared…But being naughty is so yummy!  Tee hee hee hee hee!!!

Alright.  I’m just kidding about the recap being a whole novel.  But you will get a story out of it.  I promise.

The story that I’m about to give to you is a story that has been written into my heart.  A story that reflects every event that has transpired during the weekend Toastmasters conference.  The story of a city.  The story of a hotel and conference center.  The story of a charming southern belle that held my heart in the palm of her hand.  And while she held it, I was caught in a perpetual state of suspense.  When I opened my mouth, all I could hear was laughter.  Laughter that made my cheeks pink and my ribs sore.  I laughed until I nearly peed.  Her red hair was wild, like the words that came out of her mouth in every direction.

But before we get to the story, we need to back up.  This story needs to start from the beginning.  So from my place of solitude, I give you my recap of the Toastmasters District 62 Spring Conference.

I and my brother get in the Buick LeSabre, which is black as night.  I drive down M-30 before I even knew what was going on.  Where was I going?  What was I doing?  Was I going to a conference?  With the loud synthesized music of Family Force 5 flooding the car, it took a while before reality finally returned to me.

About two hours later, I spotted the Holiday Inn in the distance.  It sat at the bottom of a steep hill, surrounded by a valley.  A cliffside estate in reverse.

I enter with my brother and check in.  I call my mother while I was waiting in line.  The trip to Jackson was successful.  After all, the tires were brand new and the oil was good.

After checking in, I was greeted by familiar faces as I waited by the registration desk.  Faces that looked friendly.  Faces that looked eager.  Faces that were ready for a weekend of learning.

Then I saw a face that wasn’t familiar.  One that wasn’t from around these parts.  Not known by District 62, but only by a few.  She wheeled her luggage bag through the hall, which I swear could easily fit me inside.  She had flowing wavy red hair with twin pony tails, and fake looking eye lashes.  The kind that looked like they were drawn on with a marker.

She wheeled her bag into the conference room and I approached her.  “Are you the keynote?”

She nodded.  “I am!”

Her accent added another layer of mystery to who she was.  It was a southern drawl, with her southern charm to accompany it.  This was Kelly Swanson, a name that I never heard of.  I was told that she told stories and was funny, but that was all that I knew at the time.

A little later, I met Mohammed Murad, the president of Toastmasters International.  Not just the president of a club, but of the whole organization.  A president of over 300,000 members in 126 countries.  My first encounter with him was a nervous one.  I simply introduced myself and walked away.

Then the conference started.  After getting dinner, the keynote began.

Kelly Swanson began her story, unraveling it faster than what you could unravel a ball of twine.  A story about a woman named Star.  A woman whose life was changed by four motivational speakers who ate at the diner that she worked at, due to a grounded flight.  When she finished the story, I noticed that my heart was missing.  Kelly was holding my heart in the palm of her hand.

But it wasn’t held in the way that would resemble abuse or harm.  She held it with care, as if there was something that had to be fixed.  Something that she wanted to change for the better.   The southern belle held my heart in the palm of her hand, leaving me in a state of suspense.  I could only laugh.  I could only smile.  I could only applaud when when she finished her carefully handcrafted story.  Handcrafted just for me.

After the keynote, the reception began.  I pretty much wandered the room, making my rounds to the various familiar faces through out good ol’ District 62.

As the reception ended, the District Governor spoke up.  An invitation.  “You are all welcome to come to my room to continue the reception.  235.”

With 227 being my room number, the decision was an easy one.  I went to my room, dropped off my belongings and entered the District Governor’s suite.

With there being plenty of wine, I knew that the stories that I would hear that night would be interesting.  Helping myself to some trail mix and Martinelli’s Sparkling cider, I listened to my district leaders share some interesting stories about their childhood.  Stories that would make Kelly jealous if she were to hear them.

After the late reception, I retired to my room.  It was 1 in the morning.  Almost 1:30.

The next morning was a blur.  After getting ready, I whizzed with my brother over to the Commonwealth Commerce Center in downtown Jackson.  There was breakfast and there was the morning keynote, presented by Mohammed Murad.

After that came the choice of two breakout sessions.  I went to Alan Headbloom’s “Working Internationally: Do You Have What It Takes to Be a Global Gal or Guy?”  After this session was the evaluation contest, where I heard an excellent target speech, followed by 8 excellent evaluations.  Jack Pyle won the contest, and before I knew it, it was lunchtime.

I helped myself to lunch and listened to the DTM Ceremony, led by Mohammed Murad. Four new DTM’s were given out, each of which were well deserved.

With the DTM Ceremony ending, the moment came.  The event where I had a very important role to play.  The Semi-Annual Business Meeting.  Holding my 3 ballots, I sat in Mohammed’s spot during the meeting.  I read the District Mission at the beginning and was the steward of the mike throughout the meeting, while casting secret ballots and carefully making sure that all the blanks in the script were filled in.

When the meeting ended, it was time for the International Speech Contest.  The winner would go to the semi-finals at the International Convention at Caesar’s Palace in Las Vegas.  The end of the contest was really close, and the person that I wanted to win ended up in second place.  Deandre Carter came in first.  Fred Johnson III came in second.

After that, it was time for dinner.  At this time, I started to get nervous.  During the business meeting, I was not given E Division.  This made sense since it would’ve been too much of a stretch for me.  That left the Installation after dinner.  I would either get Area 15 or Area 16.  But what if I got neither?  These doubts started flooding my mind and invaded me like a legion of demons.

After dinner and hearing Amy’s speech, Lorrie got on stage and began the installation.  Actually she didn’t.  She presented a speech reflecting her journey through the different offices.

After that, she began the installation.  Here we go.  Area 3, Shawn Elli.  Area 4, Randy Snow.  Area 5, Tammy Slavik.  My heart was beating out of my chest.  Area 8, not sure yet.  Area 10, Mark Mills.  Area 11, not sure yet.  Area 12, Spencer Van Roekel.  Area 13, Nick Dybas.  Area 15, I have not decided yet.  Area 16, Kyle Walker.  Phew!  That was close!  Having heard that, my lead heart became lighter than a feather.

Following that, we heard a local hero accepting their award, following by Mohammed Murad, who gave another keynote on leadership.

After that, it was Kelly’s turn again.  The southern belle reclaimed our hearts and brought us all to a state of suspense.  We all laughed until we cried. We cried until we laughed.  Sides split open and ribs were in pain.

And then I heard Kelly say something that I will never forget.  “This is wrapped up, just for you.”  Kelly delivered a heartfelt message at the time where we needed it the most.  Someone was hurting, and somehow, Kelly just knew.  When the profound truths came out of her mouth, her quiet whispers of “yeah…” sent chills down my spine.  I didn’t just hear her words.  I felt them.  Every one of them.  And I can imagine some of the audience wondering “how did she know?” Those words of hers were not just for crafting stories.  But they were therapeutic.  They were healing.  It was chicken soup for the soul.  And when you have some of that soup, it makes you feel a lot better.  Yeah…

After the second round of laughter and the lesson, it was time to go back.  My day at the Commonwealth Commerce Center was over.  But the night wasn’t.  Amy invited everyone to her room again.

After getting back, I dropped my things off at my room and went to Amy’s for night 2.0 of the reception.  There was a couple more people, besides the ones from last night.  Mohammed Murad even paid a visit, which was a different Mohammed than what I recognized.  A Mohammed all unwound and in workout clothes.

And with that, the wonderful stories continued.  Stories that would make Kelly jealous.  Because if you ever have a story that is better than Kelly’s, watch out.  She has your number.  And your heart, too.

The reception ended a little earlier and I went to bed.

The next day, everything came to an end.  I checked out and had breakfast.  I heard Jan Janke and Craig Carrel’s “Are You Surviving or Thriving?” breakout.

After that was round three.  Kelly spoke again, sharing all her secrets to how she gets booked everywhere.  It’s got to be her humor.  Either that, or it’s her humility.  Or her humanity.  Or could it be her passion or uniqueness?  Or is it just the power of the story?  Actually, it’s all of them.

After answering some quick questions, Kelly gave all of our hearts back.  And I noticed something different about mine when I examined it.  It felt brand new.  It felt rejuvenated.  It felt complete.  I am not certain what it is.  But I am certain that you just heard a story.  A story that has been written into my heart.  A story that reflects every event that has transpired during the weekend Toastmasters conference.  The story of a city.  The story of a hotel and conference center.  The story of a charming southern belle that held my heart in the palm of her hand.  And while she held it, I was caught in a perpetual state of suspense.  When I opened my mouth, all I could hear was laughter.  Laughter that made my cheeks pink and my ribs sore.  I laughed until I nearly peed.  Her red hair was wild, like the words that came out of her mouth in every direction.  And after meeting her, my heart is different.  And while I still don’t know what it is that she did, I know this beyond a shadow of a doubt.  My life will never be the same.  And if you ever meet her, neither will yours.

 

Muse:  *sniff* *sniff*  That…was wonderful!

Wonderful?  No.  That was a story.

Muse:  But it was a wonderful story!  I loved hearing about Kelly Swanson and her powerful stories.

So did I.  And with that, I’m burnt out.  I work in the morning tomorrow.  Back to a pizzeria.  A pizzeria in the old parts of Midland.  The dough is made fresh and so is the sauce.   In this pizzeria, there are a couple of teenagers sheeting out dough.  A couple more are at another table.  Saucing and cheesing.  Pepperoninng and placing them in the oven.  Another is by the oven, taking each pizza out and carefully landing them onto the table, with a set of tongs and a spatula.  The one by the oven does it swiftly and quickly.  Taking out four at once.  Placing them into boxes and cutting them into eight slices.  Then they go in the warmer, where they wait there to be bought…

Muse:  Alright.  I’m going off to bed…

You don’t like the story?  Hmph!  I think it’s pretty good…Wait.  She really did leave, didn’t she?

Time to end this post.  Today’s high is going to be 80 degrees and the silver lining is having the rest of the day off.

To those of you who are enjoying your Sunday, I hope that you all have a fantastic day.

 

Muse:  I liked his story about Kelly Swanson and the conference.  His one about work, however could use some work…

I don’t think so.  This story arc will resume on Monday.  Director’s Privileges, ENGAGE!

Dark Evil Muse:  Fine!  You’re no fun!  Let me know when it’s Monday!  *blows raspberry*

Muse:  There.  I’m guessing that you wanted to do this, because of the conference this weekend, right?  Are you ready for it?