Storytime Tapestry Newsletter

The newsletter devoted to spreading love and cultural awareness around the world.

Jan 30, 2007

Today’s Announcements

Congratulations goes out to our chief writer Sharon Bryant who has published 301 stories here on Storytime Tapestry.

The Writer's Chatroom Writing Contest!


PRIZES:
1st place: $25.00 Cash, Publication in Writer's Chatroom Newsletter and on The Prompt Writer website, and 1 copy of C. Hope Clark's book, "Just Hit Send"

2nd place: A subscription to Total FundsforWriters and publication on The Prompt Writer website

3rd place: 1 copy of Christine R. Senter's book, "Written Promptly Everyday"

Honorable Mention: A critique of your story, provided by Glenn Walker, of Writer Circle fame.


All entries will be published in our forum at least for the duration of the contest.


GUIDELINES:
NO ENTRY FEE!
Genres --All (with the exception of Poetry and R+ rated Language or Adult Content*)
Word Count --500 or under
Theme --New Beginnings (must use one of 10 provided prompts**)
Entry Deadline --March 1st
Announcement of Winners --No later than March 15th

You must be a forum member to enter. There is no charge to join the forum. http://www.writerschatroom.com/forum/

Send submissions to "renee" through our forum PM system. Put your user-name in the subject-line. Do not include your name or any other identifiable information in the text of the submission. Forum members will vote through our forum PM system.

*We reserve the right to reject any offensive material without explaination.
**Prompts are provided by Christine R. Senter and have been posted at: http://writerschatroom.com/forum/viewtopic.php?p=837#837


SPONSORED BY:

C. Hope Clark of, Funds For Writers, Fame: http://www.fundsforwriters.com/  
Christine R. Senter, the Prompt Writer: http://www.thepromptwriter.com/  
The Staff at Writerschatroom: http://writerschatroom.com/  
Audrey Shaffer - http://audreyshaffer.com  
Linda Hutchinson – http://www.lindajhutchinson.com  
Renee' Barnes – http://trailerparkgazette.bravehost.com  
Glenn Walker, founder of Writerschatroom: http://www.comicwidows.com

Donations are needed to help with the operating expenses of running the newsletter and to keep Storytime Tapestry the quality newsletter you are so accustomed to.   

Please note that Storytime Tapestry is a free newsletter to members and there will never be a cost for the newsletter.  Donations are purely voluntary and no member should ever feel guilty for not making a donation at this time.

Today’s Stories

~**~**~

The Third Chakra

Robin Lee

Reservoir Of Strength

When individuals experience difficult times, they often find that they possess a previously undiscovered reservoir of strength. In ancient Vedic texts, the third, or Manipura chakra (when healthy) is the seat of that strength, bolstering courage and determination in times of stress and uncertainty. This chakra radiates from the base of the sternum, governing our emotions, will, and ego. When balanced, it blesses one with a profound drive to succeed, authority, integrity, and self-respect. It is active, rather than passive, and helps in the achievement of tasks both great and small. The Manipura chakra may be visualized as a bright, cheerful yellow and is associated with the sunflower and amber.

Because of its connection to the ego, when the third chakra is in a depleted state, it is common to experience feelings of inadequacy, doubt, and rejection; depression and lethargy; and intense worry. Too much energy focused in the area leads to the desire to exert inappropriate control over one's environment. A well-developed Manipura chakra empowers you to grow in positive ways and inspires you to act on your desires. It is possible to exert a balancing influence over the chakra by bringing fire into your life in the form of candles or hearth fires, wearing yellow clothing, and doing exercises that strengthen the muscles of the abdomen and teach you to breath deeply using the diaphragm. You can stimulate an under-active third chakra by burning cinnamon or carnation incense, using peppermint or lemon essential oils and Ginkgo biloba or milk thistle, and exposing the chakra to tiger-eye. The simplest and most potent method of opening and energizing the chakra is relaxing your emotional center. Laugh and cry more often, let yourself be more sensitive, and embrace your raw emotions.

Living with a repressed Manipura chakra is like existing automatically, without vitality. Its qualities can be the cause of overwork and excessive perfectionism, but this chakra is more often the seat of free will, goals, personal power, and decisiveness. When nurtured, it can lead you to new heights of spirituality and balance in all aspects of your life.

Robin Lee

onespiritx3@yahoo.com

~**~**~

Clothes Makes
Bill Walker
missourisage@yahoo.com

It is said, or I have read it, clothes makes the man. Well, if
that is true, it would work for the girls also. Clothes that one is
wearing I think, changes a person. I have noticed this many times. It
changes a persons thinking of them self. It also changes how people look
at a person. That is, people see how one is dressed and thinks different
thoughts of them.

You see the banker, the doctor, the lawyer, the president of some
company, the preacher in a suit of clothes, you think these are men of
importance. This goes for the gals also. Put a person in fine clothes,
you get the feel this person is something.

You take the same man and get him to dress down a notch or two, you
might walk on by thinking another normal run of the mill person.
Clothes makes the man. I use to know a banker. He fooled many a person
by his dress codes. I guess he wore a suit once in a great while. That
goes for a man that was head of a factory here. He was known to never
been in a suit unless it was a had to be case. Both of these men wore
what was classed as good clothes, but not a suit. If you met one in
the big city, you would have figured a man of some importance, but not a
man worth millions of dollars. Both were sure to be wearing a sweater
if the weather called for it, never a suit coat of any kind. The man
of the factory died. I understand it was thought a suit. The family
took one look, and said no, a change is in order. Take the suit
coat off, and put a sweater on him.  It isn't him in a suit coat, but it
is him in a sweater. Clothes makes the man.

I was asked about my clothes while back. I said I feel out of place
all dressed up. I haven't worn a good set of clothes in a long
time. Got such hanging up in the house. Do I wear such? No. I
have got used to wearing clothes that can make it to the washing machine
once in a while. Now once in a blue moon if there is a have to case, I
can go for the suits or a sport type of jacket, but it don't take
long to get out of that outfit. I don't feel normal, I felt like a
big shot for a hour or two, and any one knows I sure am no big shot.
Clothes makes the man.

Some lady showed me a picture of her son while back. She had to tell
that was a picture of him, I didn't know him. He was dressed in one
of them cotton picking monkey suits. He was with some Dollie he was
courting at the time. I sure didn't know her. She was in one of them
long sweep the floor out fits, with her upper showing lots of skin.
Now if both would have been in the picture in the normal duds they wore,
girl could have still showed a lot of skin, I might have known them.
Clothes makes the man, and I guess the gal too.

Now take John, the rat fink that left a couple bodies in the ditch some
where. He never wore a suit in his life. He looks like he hasn't had
a hair cut or a shave since he started growing hair on his mug, and that
was years ago. His court time comes up. Here he shows in court, with a
nice suit, and he at last got the hair cut, and he is clean close
shaved. He walks in sets down and is so nice and good looking. The
jury comes back with not guilty. Clothes makes the man.

Now we can take the gals here too. How many young buck takes a long
look at some Dollie he met at the beach, he makes a date. He go
to the address to pick her up for the evening dinner date and dance.
She comes to the door in a long flowing outfit, He takes one look and
says sorry I must have the wrong house. Yea, she put her different face
on and got clothes on this time, different girl. Clothes makes the
woman also.

People eat with their eyes, bad food can be made to look good, and is
woofed down. Clothes does the same. We size people up by the clothes
they happen to be wearing. Clothes makes or breaks a man or woman.
Tinker and Poo; The Boys Write
http://www.iuniverse.com/bookstore/book_detail.asp?&isbn=0-595-35741-5

~**~**~

Storytime Tapestry

Sharon Bryant

I write for a few other sites besides Storytime.  But Storytime feels like
"home."
The topics that folks write about are interesting and heart warming.
I have become to know many with personal emails, and I've made quite a few
friends on Storytime.

I've also learned many things since I joined Storytime through the writer's
eyes.
I think there are some wonderful writers here.

In college, I always remember something my professor told me...."Catch the
reader's attention with your first paragraph."
Maybe sometimes I do that, and maybe sometimes I don't.  Maybe one day I'll
learn to do this right.

Some folks say to me, "I can't write."  I always say, "Sure you can.  Just
write as though the person were sitting across from you."  It's always
worked for me.  I used to write long letters back home when I lived so far
away on a Naval Base long ago.
Mom always said it felt like I was sitting in the room with her.
But then, I've always been a gabby type person.  Now don't laugh.....that
comes from working with the mass public all my life.  Dad used to tell me,
"You're the only person I know that can go into a Laundromat and come out
with a pen pal!"

Thanks for keeping me on board all these years Carol.
God Bless,
Sharon Bryant

1946@bellsouth.net

Poetry Corner

~**~**~

There Is Always Tomorrow

Cynthia Groopman

When I was a little girl,
And my world and life were in a constant whirl.
My Mom used to tell me that there is always tomorrow,
When smiles will triumph over the darkness of doleful sorrow.
When the game of life yielded a loss and no win,
And my heart would cry and my head would spin.
There is always tomorrow, was heard,
As I was encouraged by each and every comforting soothing word.
For when the arms of tomorrow,
Begins to embrace the sadness of yesterday,
Radiant rays of sunshine will lighten the weary load,
As we travel along life's way.


Cynthia Groopman

Cynthia.Groopman@verizon.net

Copyright ©2006 Cynthia Groopman

~**~**~

Laugh Along With Me

Cynthia Groopman

Oh, laugh along with me,   
As the sunshine of humor glows radiantly.
Let smiles adorn each and every face,
As they enfold us into mirth's majestic embrace.
Oh, laugh along with me, in a voice so loud and clear,
As our thoughts are optimistic devoid of fright and fear.
For let us laugh and howl together,
During challenging times and all kinds of weather.
For laughter lightens the weary heart,
As pessimistic thoughts will disappear and depart.


Cynthia Groopman
Cynthia.Groopman@verizon.net

Copyright ©2006 Cynthia Groopman

~**~**~

In The Land Of Fairy Tales

Cynthia Groopman

In the land of fairy tales,
The wicked vanish and the strong and wise triumph and prevail.
With a magic wand so great,
There are never sorrows, as all laugh and celebrate.
A person lives beyond his life span years,
As eyes dance like sparkling stars, devoid of weary tears.
In fairy tale land,
Fairy Godmothers and angels are at our command.
Nobody suffers from hatred or tragic plight,
As the sun shines eternally during the darkest night.
But unfortunately, in fairy tale land, I do not dwell,
And only stories I can relate and joyfully tell,
In the land of reality, I am glad to live,
Where we may make an error but love and forgive.


Cynthia Groopman

Cynthia.Groopman@verizon.net

Copyright ©2006 Cynthia Groopman

Readers Feedback

Carol, that was a sweet note from Louise.  I have received several  similar ones this morning, sent directly to me.  I guess more people love their pets than we can imagine, don't they? Thanks, Carol, Mariane

Re Goodby My Little Dog,    Thank you Mariane for writing the anguish, the horror of losing a beloved pet.  I could calendar my life with the losses.We do survive them, and there are others we will love.  The lost ones take a piece of our heart with them though,and somehow our love of a new one never seems never quite as big.  Louise

Carol,
Kun Leng certainly can cover a wide range of topics! I am pleased that I noticed her brilliance and am trying very hard to help her gain admission and scholarship to a good U.S. college. Please pray for our endeavor. Vance

Re: “ Beyond the Mirror, What is the Truth?”  Thank you Bill Allin for casting a little illumination on the complex subject of faiths and religions.  My ignorance is huge, but there is reassurance in the knowledge that the goals and objectives of religions and those who believe in them are essentially the same.  i.e. the realization of our potential for goodness and the living of a good life.

     Why, though, is there so much confusion over the need for acceptance and tolerance of other’s beliefs if the cause is so uniform?  How can we accept horrific inhumanity to mankind and pretend to be religious?           Louise

I watch American Idol also.  I like the talent.  Since the last three winners for first place came from my area......we're hoping for another Birmingham winner this year!

I too thought Simon went a bit overboard when he made the remark to the man about looking like a monkey. 

I know the judges put in long hours and I noticed there has been some really bad contestants this year.  I can imagine sitting there in a judge's seat all those hours and not have much talent show up in a days time.

But Simon should have left the part out about what the man looked like.  We come in all sizes and shapes.  Our eyes, nose, lips, whole face is different.  I know if someone called me a monkey, I'd.........well that's another whole story.

I'll just be glad when we get to Hollywood.

Storytime Tapestry Angels

Angels on earth, they exist they are out there.  Angels come in all ages, shapes and sizes, civil status, and religion.  Their nature is love and their purpose is giving to the less fortunate of this world.  Storytime Tapestry angels are no exception.  These angels are loyal members who have contributed to the upkeep of Storytime Tapestry newsletter so that Storytime Tapestry can continue come to your email box 350 days of the year.

Here is our Storytime Tapestry Angels: Also, I would like to thank those of you who chose to be a silent angel and gave an anonymous donation to keep Storytime Tapestry up and running.

Clara Westerfer, Mark Crider, Rosanne Catalano, Paula Booher, Kay Seefeldt

Mary Ellen Grisham, Louise Nomani, Sharon Bryant, Angela Walker

Hart and Helen Dowd, Keith Ready, Ginger Morgenstern, Ellie Braun-Haley

Surinder Jandu

Senior Writers

Chief writer: Sharon Bryant

Chief researcher/historian: Hartson Dowd

Agee, Vance; Apted, Violet; Baker, Kathy; Batt, Al; Berry, Nell; Blaine, Pamela; Boda, Ginger; Booher, Paula; Buhagiar, Victor; Cassady, B.J.; Costner, Joan Clifton; Cavalera, Robyn; Crider, Mark; Dees, Mary; Deming, Barb; Doherty, Maria;  Dowd, Hartson; Dowd, Helen; Gilbert, Robert, Jr.; Gold, Ron; Goodier, Steve; Grisham, Mary-Ellen; Groopman, Cynthia; Braun-Haley, Ellie; Harris, Kathy Anne; Henry, Linda Ann; Hunt, Sharlett; Hymes, Christina; Jacobson, Gary; Kiser, Roger Dean; Kerens, Claudia; Kevin, Tim; Jenkins, Pamela; Liles, Norma; Lily Jodi Flesberg; Lock, Joyce; Marlor, Janice Bumbalough; Mazzella, Joe; Meeks, Carol; Mizrany, Mary Carter; Morris, Deepak; Ojeibge, Georgewaters; Petry, Dianna Doles; Pringle, Sandra Lewis; Roberts, Susan; Shiveley, Debra; Shaw, Bob; Sims, Richard; Smith; Michael; Streidel, Saskia; Swarner, Ken; Vaknin, Sam; Verhoeff, Jan; Walker, Bill; Walker, Joe; Warner, Gordon, K; Walsh, Sue; Weymouth, Barbara J.; Whirity, Kathy;

Wainland, David; Westerfer, Clara; White Robert;

Storytime Tapestry Staff

Carol Roach - Founder/publisher

Thelma Hartselle - Co-Founder, Moderator

Clara Westerfer – moderator