Sunday, October 11, 2015

Colorful Chilly Morning

Colorful Chilly Morning

Colorful Chilly Morning
by Ritzy Ritzhaupt
Copyright 2013 All Rights Reserved

A silver stillness greets the chilly morning.
Yellow, gold and brown leaves collect beneath the tress.
Protected from the cold night air
Together they hang in a colorful array of spent foliage
Proudly clinging to the trees mothering limbs
New fallen foliage decorates the ground below
Giving lively color enhances to nature’s discards 

The icy dew slips from its resting spots  
Glistening and sparkling in the morning sun
Dancing with radiant brilliance as day begins
The beauty begs the mind of the viewer
To remember and savor the treasure
For the delight of the beholder
Now and in all the years to come


It's that time of year and I needed to share as the colors danced with beautiful brilliance.  Haven't been out since the downpour... almost afraid to see how flooded I am.

Saturday, July 25, 2015

DINNER AT THE BAR



From my briefcase... thought I'd post to my blog. Hope you enjoy...

Dinner At The Bar  by Ritzy Ritzhaupt


 A not so lovely Thursday had just happened to Miss Beth. She was exhausted, hungry and in desperate need of some relaxation. 

Where else, but to the local bar where she could enjoy some people watching, she thought as she parked her car over one street.

Upon entering the bar she was greeted with glad tidings from the duty bartender, she knows them all. They had started their shift at six pm and were in rare form, already a line was forming to order drinks. Miss Beth was given the last open stool at the bar by the duty bartender Paul, as she called him by his first name and rarely used his bar nickname of “Frog”. He was given that nickname because he makes you think of a little boy at play, treasuring a frog in his pocket. I know its lame, but most the staff has nicknames. Miss Beth only resorts to calling him “Frog” when he is busy and the only way he pays attention when super busy, is when he’s called by the childish name, Frog. 

“Hey, what’s good on the menu?” The oversized gent, in the slouched cowboy hat asked the cook, as he came out from behind the bar.

“Oh, Fritos, potato chips,” he blandly replied to his most obnoxious customer.

“Cookie, you have a better idea than that.” The frustrated, would be dinner shrugged with disgust. “I’m just trying to buy a meal here,” he let fly to the other patrons of the bar.

Cookie had been walking behind the bar and took the last few steps to the front door for a quick smoke break, as it closed on his reply, “Don’t need your crap today.” His eyes rolled in disgust at having to p l e a s e this customer.  He inhaled deeply, the pungent smoke from his fancy and pricey, blue cigarettes. He quickly darted around the corner of the barber shop and out of sight, as he hid in the peaceful ally.

“Don’t tell me, you had another run in with Harvey?” Luke shook his head to acknowledge the futility of Cookie trying to appease Harvey over food. “Geez, I think you two would learn by now. Can’t you just let him order?”

“It’d be fine if he’d just order. No, he’s got to demand extras. You know, like the Linda salad. I could kill that girl for coming up with that god damn salad. It’s got ta have avocado slices and extra onions on the damn thing. We’re just a bar not a four star restaurant!” Cookie puffed on his cigarette, showing his misshapen front teeth, as he growled in disgust. Watching Cookie pace as he puffed, made it truly hard to belief that he had been one heck of a woman in his six inch heels on Halloween. The spaghetti straps and ponytail almost fooled patrons, until he turned around revealing his beard. 

Harvey adjusted his cowboy hat as he taped his earpiece to answer an incoming call. “No, man that’s fixed, your computer is ready to use. Yup, did that too. Okay. Yes, call me if you have trouble.” He owned his own business repairing and making work, outdated computers for small businesses, individuals and a couple of private schools. He sold new package deals too. They included fully loaded computers with whatever a company or person required. A majority of his costumers were befuddled by today's technologically and constantly needed to be walked through the logging on process by Harvey.
He sat back in his stool, grateful for the back and arms that made it so comfortable. He allowed his shoes to slip to the floor and rested his stocking feet on the metal rail. In full comfort, he intently studied the blue paper menu, as if seeing it for the first time.
He set his empty Bud Light down sideways on the bar and gave it a little spin. This was his special signal, he was ready for another. The bartender’s kept track on his coaster with pen marks, so they could easily see how many he had, it was vital to keep track. He’d order the maximum number of drinks he’d consume for the night. He always paid with cash, making a person wonder, if he was hiding out from someone. A wad of bills would appear just before Happy Hour ended, to get cheaper prices. The bartenders delivered one beer at a time, keeping the rest cold until he was ready for another brew.  

Starlite, the bouncy bartender, asked him for his dinner order, as she tossed his dead bottle in the recycle bin and popped the lid off a fresh brew.  She was the thinnest woman he had ever seen, maybe a size one or two, but she had a set of sisters that made every man stare. Harvey took in the full view with pleasure. He continued to gaze as she marked his coaster with another hash mark. 

Oh, here it comes… wait… Oh, he could have shot Bobby for walking in just then, Harvey held his breath. Bobby got a welcoming “Hello,” from Starlite, before she continued to bend lower, unloading the dishwasher. 

He was sure his heart would stop beating or beat so fast he’d need the aid car. The view was easily worth the wait, big lushes melons… He had to do something before he burst. “Girl, I’m gonna have the double stack burger. Leave off the pickle, lightly salted fries and some ranch. I’d really like a little horseradish on the side.

Miss Beth slid up behind him as he continued to give his order and her breast touched his back. 

Harvey gave a throaty, “Mmmmm,” as he leaned back, pressing into her, to see who was being so generous with their welcoming gesture. “Hey girl, how’s it going?” He quipped with the sheer pleasure of feeling up a woman without having to do a thing.

“Sweet,” she grinned devilishly, she knew he had enjoyed the contact, as she adjusted the stool next to him, persuading her girth into the space. Dissatisfied by how she was placed, she dismounted, moved the stool and climbed up again. 

The second bartender, Chase, deepened his smile as he watched her commandeer the bar. Miss Beth didn’t do a thing but act natural. She had no clue of the power she held over the men. It made him chuckle as he placed her shot of Rockin’ Rye in a big glass. She had explained to him, “It allows walking around room and I never lose a drop.” He placed a large glass of ice water with a slice of lemon next to her liquor. He knew he’d be filling up that glass of ice water a few more times, before she came close to drinking the rye. Boy, can she nurse a drink… Chase thought, as she took a tiny sip of the rye and a large swallow of water.

When he’d first started working at the bar, she drew him close and said, “We can be friends as long as you understand you never, ever remove my liquor glass until I say I’m done with it, even if it looks empty. And keep my water filled. You take care me, I take care you, got it?” She asked with a stern stare giving him her directions for proper service, with the tenor of an old schoolmarm instructing her distracted students.

“Yes, mama,” Chase answered looking solemn, as thought he’d been given an order by the President himself.   

“Thank you,” She sweetly said with all the warmth his mom would give. It made him feel as though he should dive in for a good sized hug, but he restrained himself. He wasn’t sure he’d get punched by the capable older woman. She cocked her head as she told him, “Chase you have the most divine dimples I’ve ever seen… mm, mm, mm,” she sighed. 

He was dazzled by her words and declared right then and there, to be a fan of the blunt, Miss Beth.

“Hey, Dragman,” she said sending a wave and a wink to the big biker at the end of the bar, once she had comfortably reseated herself.

He was standing, meticulously peeling the label off his soon to be empty beer bottle, being careful to keep it in tack. He stacked it with three other labels. Each was neatly rolled into a skinny tube from beers he’d previously downed. “Where you been hiding? Haven’t seen you around for some time?” An overly abundant amount of facial hair danced as he talked with his glasses perched on the end of his nose. He resembled Santa in stature and beard, making it hard to watch him indulge in straight shots between beers. You just knew Santa wouldn’t do such a thing. 

“Busy,” Miss Beth replied with a teasing grin and a flutter of her unpainted eyelids. She gave him her most mischievous shrug, leading his mind down a dangerous path.
Cookie stood in front of Miss Beth and asked, “You eating dinner?” 

“Yes,” She nodded seductively. This was Miss Beth, clueless to the way she appeared… very sexual. He leaned in closer draping his right arm all the way across the bar, separating her and Harvey, putting his back to him, he asked in a lowered voice, “Do you think you’d enjoy some ribs I made, tender and sweet?” Only a few knew, he’d picked up something special to prepare food for the crew and a few invited patrons.

“I love pork ribs… yummy.” She said, in a whisper with exaggerated gestures.  “Yes, p-l-e-a-s-e.” as she stretched her chin in the air making it seem very luscious, like part of a sex act.

Harvey leaned over whispering, “He’s in love with you, you know?” He really wanted to know how she got such service. “Geez,” he muttered as he stood to go outside. He could hear her explosive gaffs of contagious laughter, even standing out on the sidewalk.

Minutes later Cookie set a hot plate of tender ribs in front of the heartily laughing Miss Beth. One bite told her they were superb! Whatever he made she’d eat. She motioned for Chase to come over. “Put whatever Cookie wants to drink on my tab.”

The men watched her devour the ribs, licking sauce from the side of her mouth with pleasurable, mmms added. She slowly licked each finger with heavenly gusto. The men were intent on watching her as they created their own sexual fantasies. They never noticed Chase watching the whole scene play out. He only hoped the owner had the surveillance cameras rolling as he normally did, since the eating process made for a killer scene. 

Straight shots of liquor were ordered by all the men at the bar as they continued to gap. Their mouths hung open as she clean each bone of its meat. She sucked each rib of the thick, red, rich sauce with an added, 'Mmmm". Some even licked their lips as they took in her display.

Miss Beth certainly knows how to enjoy her food, thought Chase, as he chuckled to himself.

Copyright 2015 all rights reserved
 

Thursday, May 14, 2015

The Stream of Life

The Stream of Life
by Ritzy Ritzhaupt

Late in life
One realizes 
Need for repair

Fishes swim 
Unhindered up stream
Gracefully darting
Between life and death

Humans run around
Wildly exclaiming demands

Life tumbles and bounces
Deflates the strong
Dismantles the frigntened
Kicks the weak
Starves the hopeless

Screams for change
Process more
Make us better

Stronger we stand 
Closer we bind
Together as one

Showing the way 
Sharing by all
Making everyone stronger

Paying our dues
Visitors welcome to
Explore our path
Stifling no one

These United States
Once again we
Will be strong!

Copyright 2015 all rights reserved


 




Monday, January 5, 2015

Tears of Disbelief (c) January 5, 2015



Tears of Disbelief
by Ritzy Rithaupt

Tears, tears, so many tears
How can this be?

When only happiness is wanted
The blissful stuff that makes
The light shine from your eyes
As you laugh and giggle, filled with joy

The pain comes strong stomping on your heart
Bouncing up and down within your chest
Screaming for release, for something to alter
To bring back the happy times

The change greets you daily
The loss beats you more than any other experience
By any living thing

The empty chair you tried to cover
Using heaps of clothing, books, papers and boxes
Alas, it is still a huge empty chair
Glaring back strangely at the loss of being happy

The gentle one that filled that chair with human emotions:
Love, caring, desire, friendship, sharing and
Always being there for you is now
Gone, gone, gone, gone

The finality overwhelms ones soul, as though
Being smacked by a friends hand across the face
The sting of their fingers makes bright red marks
Setting the stage for the emptiness

Abandoned once again, the path has narrowed
Allowing only one to create happiness out of darkness
The task is harrowing beyond one’s belief

The desire to be strong is weakening
The desire to falter is overwhelming

Strength comes from within the marrow
Pushing one down the path of life
Resisting and kicking
The passing of time at
The loss of a dearly beloved

copyrighted January 5, 2015 All Rights Reserved