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1. To receive the Jane Austen anthology books I ordered. Yay! I can ship them out to the writers now! I love this book!
2. Super grateful to the thoughtful person who sent a box of Harry & David assorted dark chocolates to me. Yummy! It’s a wonderful gift I never would have bought for myself. Thank you, thank you, thank you.
3. For my Tachyon pad that heals sore muscles and keeps arthritis out of my left hand.
4. For getting back into my yoga routine. My body feels so much better, livelier and more flexible.
5.  To have my drain pipes unclogged and have the water draining properly.
6. For my sunflowers seeds popped up and growing!
7. To have breakfast on the sunporch with the Captain before the sun comes round the bend. He looks for me to be there, goes out the door and keeps checking back to see if I am still there. He is precious.
8. To be back on my daily walking routine. It feels so good.
9. To have writing work to do and get paid for it! wow!
10. For readers of all genres, poetry, essays, memoirs, and prose of any kind.

Coming soon. . .

Her words are everywhere! Jane Austen quotes show up in the least likely places, i.e. cozy mysteries, magazine articles about writing, blogs, advice on anything to do with life, and you’ll find a JA quote to answer it.

I have read many articles and the openings of stories by seeing this most famous JA quote: “It is a truth univers-ally acknowledged that a single man in possession of a good fortune, must be in want of a wife.”  No need to identify the writer, everyone knows it on sight!

The words of Jane Austen are relevant to us today in many matters that touch our hearts, open our minds and expand our imaginations. I have found wit, wisdom, joy, and answers to my modern day world in reading her stories, quotes, and letters. Laugh out loud is there, too, and often.

Virginia Woolf (A Room of One’s Own) and famous essayist wrote about JA in 1913 again in 1924, 1925 and again, and again . . .

The great novelist E.M. Forster, 1879 – 1970 states “I am a Jane Austenite, and, therefore, slightly imbecile about Jane Austen. “

“What would Jane Austen say?” is the new game being played even though JA opinions are not known per se.

What is it about JA and her novels that keep each new generation enthralled?

1. Happy that I had the mom I did. Happy Birth date, Mom.
2. May brings lots of beautiful, colorful flower to the landscaping.
3. Glad for my 2 Moderna injections with no negative effects.
4. My friskie Captain Midnight gets me up early, early, early.
5. People are responding to carefully entering domain the public again.
6. My Jane Austen anthology is being published.
7. Jane Austen anthology will be available soon.
8. The birds that sing songs around my sunporch
9. Being connected to writers in my life.
10. The opportunities of continual learning, now online.

Directions – arlene s bice (c)

Did you just stop this person and say. . ?

let me tell you the easier, short-cut way

walk up this street until you see the bay

make a left and you’ll see a huge pile of hay

that’s where you, don’t let the police see, you jay

walk across the street, remember you need to stay

on that side, it’s shadier for you, so you may

then walk a block or two, maybe it’s three, and, pay

close attention, hear me now, you’ll turn left, nay

I think you go right, look up high above the fence for a ray

as large as your grandfather’s painted-red winter sleigh

on the billboard, that’s it! you will be in the right sway

have a grand day!

Imagine a window looking into a place or onto a particular scene. 

arlene s bice (c)

Mr. Cristofaro was a sculptor

of tombstones only I thought

but no, revealed now to me

a larger than life size sculpture

his interpretation of

Marines raising the

American flag on Iwo Jima

arlene s bice ©

so, what’s up today?

why are you so glum?

did someone pass away?

did you lose a chum?

I can tell by your face

something awful took place

want to talk about it?

come, sit down for a bit

tell me what affects you so

and I can stay with you, or go.

arlene s bice (c)

no title

It’s just getting too late 

for any longer of a wait

I must get on with my day

wondering what is the delay

hoping nothing has gone wrong

perhaps memory lapse like an old song

that you carry the memorable tune

sing a word here and there but soon

lose the whole gist of the melody

and wind up singing a parody.

write a parody

The Cat is not in the Hat

© asb

Why should the cat be in the hat

Questioned Dr. Sprat

Who happened to house twenty

Cats at home, that’s plenty

He stated, but not one of them

Has a serious, unwanted problem

So they aren’t sent into a corner

Like Jack ‘plum pudding’ Horner

Instead they roam around at will

Loving life, their own shoes to fill.

Happy Birthday

asb ©

tis a day to celebrate

twas born someone great

of you I am delighted to know

blow out candles, not the glow

carry the glow forever with you

until you reach the age of 102

or longer if you want .

Cat Came Back

arlene s bice ©

Long ago on the Isle of Wight

Black cat Jess, at 3 years height

Disappeared from a garden loop

Found/Comforted the Ryde House Group

Assisted living folks needed the cheer

known as Tibby, Jess gave it for 14 year

Slowing down, Starting to grey, no more zip

Off to the shelter he went, scanned for a chip

Returned to a surprised Ms Bateman

Who still loved/ missed and gave him

The cat came back home needing some care

Time didn’t fade love from his home’s pair.