THE RAM’S HEAD REVIEW
December 9, 2007
Season’s Greetings to all the Rams. Four of us gathered here Thursday night even though Margaret and Bob were the only ones who had written anything. Bob’s wife Carole is recovering from surgery, and Bob is busy homemaking and caregiving. Elaine was occupied with an ailing family member. Amanda finds Xmas time so busy. No word from Carolann. Anyhow, those present did decide we will not have another meeting now until January, and free everyone for other pursuits for awhile.
Bob had one paragraph to read called “The Undertaker”. Jacoby Bros. used to buy old gold dental pieces from a man they assumed was an undertaker, and it was Bob’s job to remove unwanted foreign material and then test for karats.
Margaret showed Bob her ring given to her by her husband, and after scrutinizing it with the lens he carried in his pocket, Bob told her it had been manufactured by Jacoby Bros. Small world.
Ellie read more of the girl, Saria, finding her rooms in Alvin’s castle very luxurious, with fine tapestries, carpets and a large bed with curtains. When left alone she opens her trunk and finds several books she hadn’t packed herself. She hides them. Someone brings her a tray of food, and someone else lights the candles, and someone else brings her a bath. Yet nobody at all speaks to her.
Margaret reads a Peabody chapter called “The Last Rites of Riley”. Rev. Peabody has to give the rites for two men named Riley. Because Dalton Riley had caused him to lose his big toe, Peabody is unable to say anything nice about him. Then he highly praises the life of Farley Riley. But afterwards, we learn the coffins had been mixed up and Marie was told Peabody should be praised for criticising the life of Farley Riley, who was a murderer and had been in the first coffin. Marie didn’t tell Peabody the truth.
I read a nice email letter I received from Susan, detailing events since Declan was born. Lots of news.
Next meeting will be here in January, but haven’t decided yet whether it will be the 3rd or the 10th, as I’m not sure what my work schedule will be that first week. But I will let everyone know beforehand. In the meantime, hope everyone has a wonderful holiday and that The Muse is also an invited guest. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to all.
Lisa
Sunday, December 9, 2007
Sunday, December 2, 2007
THE RAM'S HEAD REVIEW Dec. 2, 2007
Dec. 2, 2007
Bob’s wife Carole and my daughter-in-law, Chantal, are both recovering nicely at home after surgery, with devoted husbands in attendance. Good news to hear.
And while I’m snowed in here today, so is my daughter Sarah in Thunder Bay, with howling winds and four-foot snowdrifts. And Susan in Newfoundland said they had their first snowfall, too. She also said she likes staying home with Declan, finding it peaceful while he sleeps by the fire, and that family and friends keep bringing over food for them so she hasn’t even had to cook. Lucky girl.
Bob read first Thursday night. We heard about a ringmaker who had been an emplyee of theirs, who had very greasy hair. He would wipe his hands full of gold filings in his hair and then put his hat on and leave at the end of the day. He was fired when caught. And in ’82, when a customer was going through hard times, at his request they removed a large diamond from his wife’s ring and replaced it with a cubic zirconia. They sold the diamond for him, and their friends never caught on the stone was no longer a diamond.
Ellie read of the girl being hustled into a carriage at dawn, without being able to say goodbye to her mother. Over several days, they travelled into the mountains and arrived at a large pallace where she was led to a suite of rooms by a young man carrying her trunk.
Margaret read of Peasly and Peacock dressing up as Lord and Lady Bugwater. Peasly bought 2 sponges for Peacock to use as a bosom, but had a bath with them first. Peacock wanted to know why they were so wet. They went looking for the candlemaker, who had Joey the parrot, and was now missing after an explosion, but they found him in town at his sister’s. He was only too happy to give them the parrot in a box, as Joey had caused the explosion to happen when he screamed out :”Blow up the castle”.
Carolann had several poems to read. “Anger” was about feelings of anger wanting out in spite of denial they exist. “After She’s Gone” was about a man experiencing emptiness after his wife’s funeral. And 2 more poems, both entitled “Ode To Itrend”, were about Carolann enjoying working at a call center that did telephone surveys. On the one hand it was frustrating and very competitive, but on the other it was well paid work. Interesting.
I didn’t have anything to read, but did supply banana/orange/apricot bread for a treat.
Next meeting hear at my place Thursday, Dec. 6th at 7:00 p.m. Happy writing in the meantime, and hope to see you Thursday.
Lisa
Bob’s wife Carole and my daughter-in-law, Chantal, are both recovering nicely at home after surgery, with devoted husbands in attendance. Good news to hear.
And while I’m snowed in here today, so is my daughter Sarah in Thunder Bay, with howling winds and four-foot snowdrifts. And Susan in Newfoundland said they had their first snowfall, too. She also said she likes staying home with Declan, finding it peaceful while he sleeps by the fire, and that family and friends keep bringing over food for them so she hasn’t even had to cook. Lucky girl.
Bob read first Thursday night. We heard about a ringmaker who had been an emplyee of theirs, who had very greasy hair. He would wipe his hands full of gold filings in his hair and then put his hat on and leave at the end of the day. He was fired when caught. And in ’82, when a customer was going through hard times, at his request they removed a large diamond from his wife’s ring and replaced it with a cubic zirconia. They sold the diamond for him, and their friends never caught on the stone was no longer a diamond.
Ellie read of the girl being hustled into a carriage at dawn, without being able to say goodbye to her mother. Over several days, they travelled into the mountains and arrived at a large pallace where she was led to a suite of rooms by a young man carrying her trunk.
Margaret read of Peasly and Peacock dressing up as Lord and Lady Bugwater. Peasly bought 2 sponges for Peacock to use as a bosom, but had a bath with them first. Peacock wanted to know why they were so wet. They went looking for the candlemaker, who had Joey the parrot, and was now missing after an explosion, but they found him in town at his sister’s. He was only too happy to give them the parrot in a box, as Joey had caused the explosion to happen when he screamed out :”Blow up the castle”.
Carolann had several poems to read. “Anger” was about feelings of anger wanting out in spite of denial they exist. “After She’s Gone” was about a man experiencing emptiness after his wife’s funeral. And 2 more poems, both entitled “Ode To Itrend”, were about Carolann enjoying working at a call center that did telephone surveys. On the one hand it was frustrating and very competitive, but on the other it was well paid work. Interesting.
I didn’t have anything to read, but did supply banana/orange/apricot bread for a treat.
Next meeting hear at my place Thursday, Dec. 6th at 7:00 p.m. Happy writing in the meantime, and hope to see you Thursday.
Lisa
Sunday, November 25, 2007
THE RAM’S HEAD REVIEW
Nov. 25, 2007
Six of us met Thursday in honour of The Muse. Carolann brought me a copy of “The Rag”, a quarterly magazine here in the Valley, mostly for women. I believe she and Margaret have both had something published in it in the past.
Carolann, had two poems to read. “My House” was a nostalgic recollection of memories one could have of a former home that no longer exists. Since I love pictures of old homes, this poem gave me the ‘warm & fuzzies’. In “No One Cared”, Carolann wrote about the sight of Robert Dziekanski dying when he was tasered by the RCMP. But she switched from a first person account to third person opinion at the end, and did admit she had trouble continuing in first person as the event was so terribly disturbing.
Margaret read about Rev. Peasly being sorry he filled Rev. Peacock with dread about losing his parrot. He told Peacock not to wear the costume again, and said he would go as Lord Bugwater to see if he could get the parrot back, and Peacock could be Lady Bugwater.
Ellie read more of the girl who had dropped cake in her betrothed’s lap. Her Uncle, Aunt and Mother were all horrified. She wept. Her Uncle stuck her across the side of the head and she crumpled. When she awoke, she was in her room and there were other people there with her, wearing the colors of Alvin, her betrothed. They made her change into mountain clothes, and she knew she was being sent to the mountains with Alvin.
Amanda read three poems, but only two of them were hers. First she read Jack Whyte’s poem, “My Friend”, about the withdrawal from living of a friend after he suffered a personal loss. Then Amanda read “Keep This Darned Dog Home”, her own poem about her Grandmother’s dog who kept running away, but would come home with a note on his collar telling her to keep him home. And then we heard Amanda’s rewrite of “The Robots Are Rising”, and how thought of them rising and marching, gives the young boy the strength to tell his parents to stop fighting. We love the rhythm and imagery in this children’s poem.
Bob didn’t have anything to read. His wife Carole had some testing done at the hospital, and is also scheduled for surgery on the 30th, so he has been busy with other things. We wish Carole the best of health.
I read Chapter 47 in my novel, where Fiona is packing to stay with Tanner, and is interrupted by a resident who accuses her of being the reason arson fires occurred in the complex. Tanner sticks up for her, drives her to the Office so she can work to get the water main fixed and water turned on again. They hear sirens, and Bert comes in to tell them they should go over to Lucy’s Unit, which she knows is where Cam is.
Sonny is very busy preparing for deployment to Afghanistan in April, and has little time to administer our website. So he has set up a blog for us to use until he returns in 2009. This means I can post The Review to the blog, which will be linked to our website. Eventually, you will just be able to click on it from our website, but in the meantime, you can find it at www.ramsheadwriters.blogspot.com
Next meeting here at my place, Thursday, Nov. 29th at 7:00 p.m. Hope to see you then. Keep writing in the meantime.
Lisa
Nov. 25, 2007
Six of us met Thursday in honour of The Muse. Carolann brought me a copy of “The Rag”, a quarterly magazine here in the Valley, mostly for women. I believe she and Margaret have both had something published in it in the past.
Carolann, had two poems to read. “My House” was a nostalgic recollection of memories one could have of a former home that no longer exists. Since I love pictures of old homes, this poem gave me the ‘warm & fuzzies’. In “No One Cared”, Carolann wrote about the sight of Robert Dziekanski dying when he was tasered by the RCMP. But she switched from a first person account to third person opinion at the end, and did admit she had trouble continuing in first person as the event was so terribly disturbing.
Margaret read about Rev. Peasly being sorry he filled Rev. Peacock with dread about losing his parrot. He told Peacock not to wear the costume again, and said he would go as Lord Bugwater to see if he could get the parrot back, and Peacock could be Lady Bugwater.
Ellie read more of the girl who had dropped cake in her betrothed’s lap. Her Uncle, Aunt and Mother were all horrified. She wept. Her Uncle stuck her across the side of the head and she crumpled. When she awoke, she was in her room and there were other people there with her, wearing the colors of Alvin, her betrothed. They made her change into mountain clothes, and she knew she was being sent to the mountains with Alvin.
Amanda read three poems, but only two of them were hers. First she read Jack Whyte’s poem, “My Friend”, about the withdrawal from living of a friend after he suffered a personal loss. Then Amanda read “Keep This Darned Dog Home”, her own poem about her Grandmother’s dog who kept running away, but would come home with a note on his collar telling her to keep him home. And then we heard Amanda’s rewrite of “The Robots Are Rising”, and how thought of them rising and marching, gives the young boy the strength to tell his parents to stop fighting. We love the rhythm and imagery in this children’s poem.
Bob didn’t have anything to read. His wife Carole had some testing done at the hospital, and is also scheduled for surgery on the 30th, so he has been busy with other things. We wish Carole the best of health.
I read Chapter 47 in my novel, where Fiona is packing to stay with Tanner, and is interrupted by a resident who accuses her of being the reason arson fires occurred in the complex. Tanner sticks up for her, drives her to the Office so she can work to get the water main fixed and water turned on again. They hear sirens, and Bert comes in to tell them they should go over to Lucy’s Unit, which she knows is where Cam is.
Sonny is very busy preparing for deployment to Afghanistan in April, and has little time to administer our website. So he has set up a blog for us to use until he returns in 2009. This means I can post The Review to the blog, which will be linked to our website. Eventually, you will just be able to click on it from our website, but in the meantime, you can find it at www.ramsheadwriters.blogspot.com
Next meeting here at my place, Thursday, Nov. 29th at 7:00 p.m. Hope to see you then. Keep writing in the meantime.
Lisa
Tuesday, November 20, 2007
New Forum for Lisa's Weekly Reviews
Greetings Rammers!
As I am preparing to head off to Afghanistan and time to administer the ramsheadwriters.ca website tightens due to training commitments from now until April and then will be non-existent from April 08 through Feb 09, I have created this page to give Lisa a forum in which to publish her weekly reviews, but also to encourage dialogue between members of the Ram's Head Writers' Group and a few others. The blog is currently open to the public, and anyone can comment on the blog entries.
On Thursday, I will add a link from ramsheadwriters.ca pointing to the blog page, which can also be accessed by pointing your web browser to http://ramsheadwriters.blogspot.com. At the moment, clicking on Home at the left will take you to the Ram's Head Writers' Group Home Page.
Happy blogging! I encourage you all to comment.
Sonny
administrator
ramsheadwriters.ca
As I am preparing to head off to Afghanistan and time to administer the ramsheadwriters.ca website tightens due to training commitments from now until April and then will be non-existent from April 08 through Feb 09, I have created this page to give Lisa a forum in which to publish her weekly reviews, but also to encourage dialogue between members of the Ram's Head Writers' Group and a few others. The blog is currently open to the public, and anyone can comment on the blog entries.
On Thursday, I will add a link from ramsheadwriters.ca pointing to the blog page, which can also be accessed by pointing your web browser to http://ramsheadwriters.blogspot.com. At the moment, clicking on Home at the left will take you to the Ram's Head Writers' Group Home Page.
Happy blogging! I encourage you all to comment.
Sonny
administrator
ramsheadwriters.ca
18 November - Susan's exciting news!
Bob had some exciting news at our meeting Thursday night. He had a phone call from Susan to tell him her newest son, Declan, was born at
I read first Thursday, a poem I had written one other winter when there had been a storm and a power outage. And of course, that’s what the poem is about. It’s called “High Noon”, signifying the
Ellie read some more of the girl held captive by her uncle. She manages to shut the secret panel door. A maid comes to prepare her for a betrothal dinner in the hall. She meets the much older and very ugly man her uncle wants her to marry and suffers through the dinner. But when she is supposed to feed him a piece of betrothal cake to seal the deal, she deliberately drops it in his lap.
Margaret read to us of Rev. Peacock looking for his parrot, Joey. He went back to the
Bob didn’t have anything to read and said he’d had a very difficult week. The storm on Monday caused both Ellie and I to be without power for hours and hours, but nobody else had power failure. Elaine is away for the next 2 weeks, visiting family in
Next meeting here at my place, Thursday, Nov. 22nd at
Lisa
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