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 |   A terminal for all blogs coming in or going out. A view into my life. |
Started July 1st 2019 for contests, etc. as other blogs are filling up and have other purposes.  I'm starting a new blog because
I'll be linking to
I've started an appendix (I no longer have one personally) to keep track of my Space Cadet journals for Space Blog. It's a work constantly under construction. Mind the mess.
I needed to start a folder for contests as there are so many deadlines and details to remember.
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| I'm just running out of steam. I don't want to take a break but I'm breaking... IRL ... I have no one I can talk to heart-to-heart. No one here in Montana knows how losing one friend nearly killed me and how holding on to another I'm so afraid to let go. I once had friends here where I live who would distract me. But we've grown apart or they moved away or died. Traveling was a distraction too. I'm breaking into pieces and fading away. |
For "Space Blog"  What kind of house did you grow up in? Tell us about it.I grew up in a concrete house with cold walls and warm floors. 'Twas painted red, trimmed each winter with snow that drifted through the casement window cracks. A thorny rose guarded the door that kept the neighbors away and not much grew in the wet clay. It was new. My parents wanted new. It was all I knew for 18 years of hiding in the closet during the day, listening to the radio in the kitchen at night while the others were asleep. Drapes closed, it cocooned itself in sadness. Kindness dared not enter. The world was kept at bay. Added: Unfortunately, cold can be bad but emotionally cold is worse. My family just kept me isolated and when my mother was ill she wasn't 'there'. I also withdrew at the same time. When looking back I don't think anyone was overtly mean, abusive or neglectful. Just not there for what I needed. "The Old Farmhouse" [E] by deemac  Mini-review: Very nicely written, quite evocative. One of the best I've read this year. Too bad it's set for preferred authors only. Limits its audience. I give it a 4.8. It evokes sadness without becoming sentimental as concrete images abound. "...the roof was nearly sung off anyway; And love and laughter hugged the walls" is a very strong and poetic image. I believe dandies = dandelions and makes sense as such as dandelion heads can be called clocks. 3.380 |
![Merit Badge in Motivation
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For your endeavor to incorporate all 16 prompts in Round Three of Journalistic Intentions. Congratulations!](https://images.Writing.Com/imgs/writing.com/writers/badges/general-Motivation.gif) So much recognition. A special trinket, a badge, gps. I really need to be planning those trinkets! I need to do at least one new one before I post all my mini-reviews on the review page. I could send a trinket with every review. Softens the blow of a 3.0? Maybe not. But sending gps and a trinket isn't a bad idea. For
"Music to the Ears" [E] by Tim Chiu  Mini-review: Quatrains of aaaa, bbbb ... 5-8 syllables, fairly rhythmic except for the word 'alternative' (is 'alt' good enough or another way to refer to it?) which at 4 syllables is 2 syllables too long. What is nice is that the aaaa rhyme scheme doesn't feel forced or twisted. From 2015. I rate is 4.4 as is; could use a minor edit. Further notes: Tim Chiu has hundreds of poems. Few if any reviews ... which puzzles me. Much of his poetry is definitely rhyming poetry and many here prefer that. Also, the family name 邱 is quite common in Taiwan but there are other ways to spell it so I have no idea what his heritage may be (this may be a pen-name with special meaning to him). Does he still live in Northern California? I'm intrigued. Been here forever but he's invisible. My name translates as Cǎo 草 (short for 草地 Cǎodì) not the same as the much more common name 曹(Cáo). Prompt: Music... I'm going to add my parody of a parody of the LLama song when I'm finished with it. Today (9th is National LLama Day). I also need to write a rant to the rap Human Right's Day (10th) song as well. For
7. Letter Writing Day Write a letter to one of your favorite characters. Which book and who's the author? Not happening today! I might write to Ennis from Annie Proulx' "Brokeback Mountain" telling him to follow his heart... such a tragic story. Goes for many characters. 8. Brownie Day There are many types of brownies: Fudgy, cakey, 'special', with or without nuts, etc... Tell us something about brownies. I don't like the texture of brownies in general. Blond brownies? Bland. Give me chocolate cake, fudge or candy. 9. National Pastry Day Write about an experience of eating pastries. What did you eat, with whom, etc? I think everyone should visit Portugal for pastries, both sweet like pastel de nata and savory like pastéis de bacalhau. I can also get pastel de nata in Tainan, Taiwan. One can't go wrong trying pastries in Paris. In Costa Rica, the best are found in Colombian bakeries. Asian cultures aren't as pastry oriented, but Viet Nam had French influence, so someday... The Middle East does it differently but who doesn't love baclava? 10. Human Right's Day Write anything you wish about this. I've written a lot about my rights and others. As long as Americans refuse to accept my humanity there isn't much to say to the spiritually deaf and blind. 11. National Noodle Ring Day This is not just some random food holiday about pasta forming a ring. It is about a special dish everyone can cook who has a bundt pan and noodles. The noodles have to be cooked and then filled into the bundt pan. Anything can be added now: from eggs, tomatoes, cheese, carrots, or bacon, and of course the sauce. The dish now has to bake and can later be turned upside down. Thought and opinions? Something you might try? Sure, why not. If I like what goes into it there should be no problem. It's just a baked spaghetti. 12. Pointsettia Day According to Mexican folklore, there is a story of a little poor girl who had nothing to bring to church for Christmas. On her way to church, she picked some plants by the side of the road. As she entered the church, the leaves at the tips of the branches turned into bright, brilliant red flowers. You guessed it... Poinsettias. Write anything you like about Poinsettias. Pastores florecen en esta epoca en Costa Rica. Many people don't realize that it's a perennial. I had musaendra, a cousin, when i lived in CR. 13. National Ice Cream Day What are your favorite flavors, weirdest flavor you've ever tried, or a flavor you would NEVER try! I liked maple-bacon. Big Dipper, two blocks away, has made it in the past. I had olive earlier this year in Taichung, Taiwan. My favorite? Anything with chocolate in it. I'd probably try most anything once but not twice. For instance I don't care much for pineapple and cringe with anything whisky flavored. On the other hand, cas (in CR) makes a great sorbet even though I despise it as a drink. Today is National LLama Day: 3373 |
  Received for a new prose/poetry piece (similar to a haibun) that I wrote today.
I wrote to Redtowrite  who kindly reviewed it before it won (I'm hoping Fivesixer  will read as well):Thank-you.  Yes, I won, as you know, but this email means more because it's hard to be invisible and frightening to step out into the light. Your email makes me feel like I was seen and acknowledged. Which is what Kevin did in February 1979 - May 2003. His wife put an end to our friendship. Very sad. And yes, it's a hole in my heart. It's fictionalized non-fiction in that sense. I do remember a pink rose blooming one December (the 9th sticks in my mind) along Delaware Avenue in Buffalo (blocks south of where Roosevelt took the oath in 1901 after Mckinley was shot). It was very odd to see roses blooming in the autumn there and never so late in the year. And I did glean rosebuds this summer/autumn around town where I now live between mountains. And yes, their fragrance is fading. I put some in a bowl and others in a pale chalice (pale blue-indigo) that now sits over the stove on a shelf with the store-bought spices (and gleaned fennel, sage, tarragon and lavender). Unlike many efforts to write, this one was almost effortless. There was too much to work with! And my Muse was kind enough to provide some rhythm, rhyme and flow. I've done similar pieces in the past, been awhile. I called the others 'gzaibun' so I wouldn't offend certain writing-purists. It's not a haibun, but it shares a similar [structure] and the short interruptions act as a pause to reflect and slows the reader (many of whom read too fast, imho). Those are similar to haiku or senryu... but not quite. It reflects the poetic Japanese influence of my childhood. I'm glad it moved you. I only need to figure what to do with it from here. It's new so it can use an edit but then it needs to be submitted elsewhere on-site or off-site. I found out how to do trinkets! So... this is one of them. The theme seems related to "Winter Rose" albeit at a slant. K (as in Cory)   For
"at the party" [E] by Rhyssa Mini-review: I felt I was there. I really like the strong ending "bitter-dark and sweet as every year they’ve known." Uses smells, colors, touch, taste and sound. Great use of senses. I'd prefer 'smack!' to 'strike' because it is more of a sound and would be echoed by 'crack' later. But that's a quibble. The syntax towards the end puzzles me. I shouldn't have to stop to figure it out. Near rhymes like bubble/gurgle and the assonance of spin/stick/dizzy is very nice. After 5 years it's due for a second look and edit. As is I give it a 4.6. It could be a tad higher imho. Related prompt: Write about this item or a Birthday Party. Well I don't do birthday parties... ever... so I will respond to other questions it asks. I think that children's events are important as they will be remembered for better or for worse. I seldom was at a party with a piñata but then ... I didn't like parties. That said, I felt I was there at this one. Years ago, a friend would have parties with neighborhood children and she paid attention to details and all the senses. I'm certain the children remember the joy she brought to everything 20 years later. 3368 |
| "Blogging Circle of Friends " Day 2943: December 7, 2020. Prompt: “The meaning of life is to find your gift. The purpose of life is to give it away.” ―Pablo Picasso 4157 160 (Giving) I... was I a giver? Not exactly. Was Jaafar, 90210, Sheima or the other Wings? Was Gomo? How about... I went down the list. Each person gave in their own way. Wahlena? She was beyond my understanding! Cook? Yes, Cook was a giver. There didn't seem anything he wanted from anyone in return. He gave and gave. Most of the Crew were generous in their sundry ways. Most of the Landers as well. The Engineers and Maintenance people had their own mostly mundane lives but one could sense that they shared what they could. Even the most anti-social among us contributed in some way. It felt like a group of tight families who supported each other. A village, let's say. Cook made certain that no one cocooned themselves too long. He was likely to show up at your door with soup. He didn't seem to mind being a delivery 'boy'. How old was he? It was time for me to ask someone but the Landers were asleep and the Wings were busy avoiding some space rocks. Kat was dreaming so that was a good sign. I went to the lounge. Gomo was snoozing on a couch. Cook was nowhere to be found. I made myself a pick-me-up drink since no one was there to stop me. The aroma of stinky herbs, the cloying sweetness of roots, the... memories of other times and places. I had become accustomed to stray walks with Wahlena, thankful now for what she had taught. As was her way... she came and went as she pleased. She was nowhere to be found. I heard Gomo get up from the couch. "Did you make any for me?" "You like this?" "Nope. It stinks. It woke me up. Will you make me some?" I just rolled my eyes and twitched all four ears. I went to make another cup. "Thanks. If you're drinking this vile whatever-it-is something must be on your mind. Give." "That's it." And sipped quietly. "I was wondering whether I'm giving enough." "As in?" Gomo grimaced and then stuck his tongue out at me. He was spending too much time around humans. "Just a thought. Cook is giving, but am I?" "Can't give what you don't have. What are your gifts?" "You're acting like a human and sounding like Wahlena." "We all have our faults." We both laughed. Then Gomo looked at me as if he were Kat. "I'll tell you one of my gifts. Remember Jindal? I'm not a shape-shifter but I mirror other people. Helps when I'm among a group of sentients I don't know. After awhile they think of me as one of them." "And me?" "Those four ears give you away. You'll never be confused with Cook or Kat." We laughed again. It felt good to laugh. "Seriously though. You observe and listen. Very little frightens you. In a way you are quite brave." "How so?" "Wahlena teaches neither fools nor the timid. You're one of her favorites." I shook my head. "And you don't even know it." Gomo took another quick sip. "We all need to find our gifts so we can give them away. Cook has a heart bigger than Home and freely supplies whatever is needed... and he always seems to know what is needed. Wahlena teaches wisdom. Kat shares her dreams. I give the gift of calming the nerves. You..." Gomo emptied the cup. "You have the gift of observation. And you are wise enough to know when to share it." "Wise?" "Yeah. You're spending too much time with Wahlena instead of me." — an excerpt from Space Cadet. For
"To Err is Human; To Edit, Divine " [E] by Lilli 🧿 ☕  Mini-review: Nice intro that doesn't apply to me but it will ring bells for most writers here at WdC. Mostly good advice. Editing, spell-check and paying attention to your writing really help here, and 'out-there' it's crucial. Especially for publishing. It's been edited this year apparently and that's good as any advice 3 years old needs to be updated as markets and publishing change. I give it a 4.5 because it's well written, helpful and short. It also would be a good intro to a larger work with chapters on editing, editors, publishing, publishers. As a prompt? My thoughts: Well... I wasn't a writer. I hated writing letters. When I was 12 I wrote something good for my final English exam and I once wrote a poem in high school when I was supposed to be writing an essay. I avoided any school subject with lots of writing. I constantly make mistakes and smudged my paper. We didn't have auto-correct, spell-check. We were supposed to take pencil or pen to paper and write it correctly the first and only time. I was a wreck. And I never paid attention to the teachers corrections and since we had large classes and my grades were passing this went mostly unnoticed. I didn't have a diary. I didn't dream of writing. I became a writer late in life. And now I am ... because I write. I have made chapbooks. I pay attention to the actual composition of anything I 'self-publish' even it is just calling cards. To be 'successful' would be nice. To monetize my 'product' feels like prostitution or becoming a used-car salesman. Both are a lot of work. So I don't. 3.365 |
| My deleted post elsewhere: "Triggers suck. As for crying... I'm easily moved to tears but there's no one here to see them. That sucks too. The continuous assanine s*** from our present dear leader triggers me. I wanted to move on by now. I struggle. And covid? The numbers here are soaring and covidiots standing by the casino next door remind me why. I do groceries once per week. I am careful. But I should wear a mask to take a shower or take a s***. I don't dare take a bath. Nothing has changed for me. My depression is lifting and my nerves are calming down but not fast enough." Wrote yesterday. A poem, a parody, a flash fiction. I am writing in my journal. I put it on pause for September, October and November. I'm on page 5,149. 11 blog comments in 5 days. I should be happier than I am. I have friends that are traveling. I don't know how they can. There are so many restrictions. And those restrictions are very expensive for budget travelers. Yes... poor me. Which is why it's better to do prompts and pretend that everything is okay when it's not. Added much later from a comment I made about characters in Sorji blog: "The only problem with placeholder names is replacing them. I usually just make something up on the spot. My main Space Cadet doesn't have a name because he's the narrator, but others have referred to him as 'Four Ears'... which works because he has four ears... My one character is named Beverly Hill but goes by '90210' (an in-joke that needs to be explained to the other aliens aboard 'Home'). And 'Home' seems to be becoming a character as well. It's not exactly a spaceship... more like a floating space hotel from Japanese anime moving through the void. No 'name' other than it welcomes newbies with "Welcome Home". The nickname sticks... and gave me a subplot to work with." Don't know whether this is collectable here or only at the bottom of the blog-header. |
Sinterklaas Kapoentje is December 5th in Holland. Petra explains in "Saint Nicholas and Pete" I had a Dutch friend here who celebrated it. Frances always made bags of cookies or chocolates or something. One year she gifted me "Skin so Soft" for my travels. I still have it. Frances and Tweetie from December 2008:  (Dutch) Sinterklaas Kapoentje, Leg wat in mijn schoentje, Leg wat in mijn laarsje, Dank je Sinterklaasje! (English) Saint Nicholas, Little Rascal, Put something into my little shoe, Put something into my little boot, Thank you, little Saint Nicholas! The shoes and boots became stockings in the USA. This is the famous scene from "Miracle on 34th Street". "Daily Flash Fiction Challenge" has 'phone, window, light...' as its prompt today. Will I remember to write? I could use the gps although the Daily Cramp 'pays' better. Oh, I have gps. It's just that if I want to make trinkets I should earn them. The 4 I made this week were 25k a piece. I need to be ready for the next sale. For
"Journaling" [E] by SusanFarmer  Mini-review: A very short senryu (they're all short... *ack* says Bill-the-Cat). I don't think anything more can be done with it. I rate it a 4.2. Personally, I was a melon and sea-green child. I often use different colored pens in my journal (which I've started) writing in again. Today it's .4mm red... so thin. I also use colors in my blogs to divide sections. Oft times they reflect my mood. So I agree with the 'message'. ♥Hooves♥  made peanut brittle so I commented: "You have everyone's address, don't you? I mean to say ... it couldn't hurt making up a batch a day and sending them our way!  I 'cook' by grabbing whatever's handy. Usually two pieces of bread and whatever can't scurry away fast enough. That last piece of bologna was real s l o w last night. Cashew brittle? I love cashews." ¯\_༼ •́ ͜ʖ •̀ ༽_/¯ 3.338 |
For
"Underwater Stones" [E] by Joy  Mini-review: I liked it, mostly for the message of aging and the way it's laid out as free verse. Doesn't flow as smooth as I'd like though and a couple odd words (omit?) or phrasing caught me. From 2003 "it is what it is" and I give it a 4.4. Prompt: Have you ever experienced a nor'easter? What was it like? Not really. Around the great Lakes we had LES Lake Effect Snow. If the wind direction was just right we would have wind AND snow. It would come in bands. A nor'easter looks like a hurricane and has some of the same features. High winds that change directions, lots of moisture. In the plains it was tornados and derechos. Here it's a storm system from Canada backing up to the west giving us a Hell Gate Wind (so called because it comes through Hell Gate Canyon) with easterly breezes about 40 mph. Mostly in the valley it is calm. Which is fine on a sunny cool day like yesterday but not fine when smoke fills the valley or inversion caps our skies with a layer of grey. Received today... ![Merit Badge in Bard's Hall 15th Birthday
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For the Bard's Hall Contest, NOV 2020, Excellence in Limericks](https://images.Writing.Com/imgs/writing.com/writers/badges/group-Bard=s_Hall_15th_Birthday-1092070_14.gif) No letting go My flaming fire, reduced to embers a summer lost, autumn remembers as winter covers me with fresh snow that twinkles in your eyes that know I always loved you but dared not make my fantasy real until spring's melt allows hearts to heal, for you must live and I must abide ere May's blooming, Moon's change of tide. I will love you then when floating ashes return to earth mesmerizing all who'll witness rebirth of one who could not abandon you to life's slow death — I begin anew my unfinished quest. KE [177.291] (3.diciembre.2020) for
3.338 |
2020 goals? Surely you joke. I had travel goals, including adding a country: Morocco. Canceled, lost money. I have no access to printers ... so much for booklets of poetry. I have had writing goals. October was brutal. With no life I stopped writing in my journal after 16 years... just started again. DJT made me so jumpy for 4 years my anxiety soared. Over? I hope so. 2021... see above. I'll write. I'll travel. I'll probably be better emotionally, physically and mentally. I'm looking forward to January 20th at noon. Yes, I'd like to be in Taiwan come February, but... covid. Fortunately my year doesn't begin until the Spring Equinox. By Naw-Ruz I should be in a much better place to make goals. For
"Invalid Item" [] by A Guest Visitor Mini-review: This is a well-loved old poem (2007). There are enough concrete images that places/names don't detract. Satterfield, Shawgunks (Shawangunk Ridge) Simic (Charles Simic) add texture perhaps and alliteration. Personally, I don't like the long lines and necessary enjambments as it disturbs the rhythm and makes it feels too prosaic. I like it better as a short line free verse or no line-break prose poem as the rhythm becomes apparent when the line breaks are ignored. I can almost hear the voice. Languid and sweet. "Wielding my camera whose poetry is addictive." is my favorite line. I give it a 4.5 in this incarnation. Prompt: Write about searching for poetry of your heart. My heart was opened in 1999. Keith found the key. Since then I write. My early need to express myself lead to poems, journaling, blogging, flash fiction. I've gone through many stages of each. My Muse... lead me to write all the Zmitri poems. I haven't written one in awhile, but I will. My heart isn't totally frozen like a rogue asteroid wandering the void with nowhere to go and no hope for warmth. And that's how my writing starts... stray thoughts... a few words strung together... a flash of emotion... usually longing... for something I will never have or someone I will never know. A trinket I made:   I commented in the "The Snail Mail Forum" :An article from WaPo (so it may be firewalled for some of us). The gist is that Timbuktu no longer has tourism so guides no longer have income, so these folks set up a postcard business to employ the guides. Our addresses here are mostly straight forward, but Ali Nialy's is even shorter: Ali Nialy, Timbuktu, Mali (Africa). I guess they know him! I'm probably going to send him a postcard just for support. I've learned that support matters. https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/world/not-getting-any-travel-postcards-a-project-... Prompts for
Week 1: Dec 1-6 1. Today is Eat A Red Apple Day. Nope. Like Spies. Don't like red whatevers that aren't delicious and taste like sawdust. 2. Today is National Fritters Day! Write about your fave and if you haven't had fritters, would you like to try one? Like corn fritters. Can't get them here and although I cook I don't make them. 3. National Roof Over Your Head Day! Tell us about the favorite room in your home. MINE. I remember being homeless. Every place I lived I did have a favorite room. Growing up it was the closet. 4. Waiting for the Barbarians Day! Ok, tell us what you're up to and how you are preparing. Bavarians? Like in creamy donut filling? My mouth salivates. 5a Bonfire Night! Tell us about an evening around a bonfire. High school before the football game with our rivals. Almost always = cold. 5b Prohibition Ends in the US, 1933 Didn't work. Like Reagan's War on Drugs (a.k.a. War on the Poor) didn't. 6a Marooned Without a Compass Day! So where are you and what are you going to do? Either happy or anxious, I'm fairly good in the woods and usually know where I am or at least directions; basically... find a road. 6b Bartender Appreciate Day! (Europe) Write about an encounter with a bartender, make one up if you have to. I've known bartenders but I don't drink. Full stop. 3329 |
| Before coffee it's "Morning." After two cups and an hour to unpaste the eyes it's "Good Morning," unless it's already afternoon. For
"Where I am From" [E] by Angelica- Happy May 5th!  Mini-review: I really really like this. The jumble of juxtapositions will connect with many people who have more than one heritage or home or like me who come from a very simple background that they then made more complicated, interesting, dangerous and beautiful. I found the word 'large' puzzling and interpreted it as 'fat' (from eating). The lack of punctuation combined with left-flush capitalization made it harder for me to read. But it still was powerful. It's going on 10 years now. Perhaps time for an edit. I give it a 4.6. Prompt: Write about where you are from. My poem: From whence I come I come from broken promises and broken spirit, a waif hiding in shadows — given away by shy smiles, a talent never developed — too afraid to stand out and too full-of-myself to keep my mouth shut. Abandoned strawberry fields knew my summer name, spent cattails and weeds in narrow cracks my sorrows mown grass was my carpet, worn dirt my playpen I often gave hugs to my favorite elm tree. Now no one hugs me — I wither like flowers that wait too long to bloom, or cut off at the roots can't find their way home — I bloom none-the-less and am better for it. My spirit prepares to return. KE [177.289] (1.diciembre.2020) I wrote to SandraLynn Team Florent! , "The lantern festivals [in Taiwan] are magical. Many towns have small ones every year. The national one rotates among places and is usually huge. This coming Year of the Ox, February 12th, it's in Hsinchu, February 26-March 7th, along a canal. Photos should be great. I really want to go. The sky lanterns in Shifen (Pingxi) in the north are world famous (February 26th)." Jiufen has a street of lanterns:   3315 |
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