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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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"Blogging Circle of Friends "  Day 3005: February 8, 2020 Prompt:Knowing others is wisdom, knowing yourself is Enlightenment. Lao Tzu I never quite figure out other people. I do interact and observe but I'm not good at figuring out motivations. Growing up I always felt estranged. I didn't feel comfortable going along to get along. There's a certain authenticity holding me back. I learned to say no before I said yes. And after some bad experiences I came to distrust. Fortunately, that doesn't always hold me back. Know myself? A much harder road. I know a lot about myself but I'm not very introspective in the questioning way. And always being on the defensive growing up eroded my self esteem so I prefer not to look too close. No enlightenment for me ... sorry. for  "No More Seasons in the Rain" [E] by ♥Hooves♥  Mini-critique: I like the lines To not feel all alone No more seasons in the rain But that's the only part that evokes emotion. The prompt words anxiety and depression tell, don't show and they make it very difficult to write short prose or poetry. It does follow the verse from Proverbs but as poetry it fails. The only way to salvage it is to show the verse rather than reworking the words. I rate it a 2.5. Write about this in your Blog entry today. PROVERBS 12:25 NKJV Anxiety in the heart of man causes depression. But a good word makes it glad. or Proverbs 12:25 NIV Anxiety weighs down the heart, but a kind word cheers it up. Proverbs 12:25-28 KJV Heaviness in the heart of man maketh it stoop: but a good word maketh it glad. The righteous is more excellent than his neighbour: but the way of the wicked seduceth them. The slothful man roasteth not that which he took in hunting: but the substance of a diligent man is precious. In the way of righteousness is life; and in the pathway thereof there is no death. First to deconstruct some words: Anxiety: nervous, unease, stress, tension, anguish, disquiet, worry, turmoil Depression: slump, downcast, low, blue, These three words are simpler: heart: spirit, core, pith, centre word: speech, phrase, tidings glad: happy, cheer, happy (Smiling, laughing, calm) I quickly came up with this... by applying the criteria of "The Taboo Words Contest ~ On Hiatus" : avoid these words, but I allowed synonyms.  Oh how to calm my nerves that jangle as my core turns over in turmoil How one tiding of good news in your laughter can cheer me up. and fashioned this: No more seasons in the rain I carry worry day to day, deep blue burdens I can't put down — my nerves jangle as the phone rings, hoping to hear your voice. Oh, how my days would brighten at your sight, sun beams parting clouds — and how your laughter would cheer me up; your good news calm me down. I would beg to bask in your sunny domain, to not feel alone, no more seasons in the rain © Kåre Enga [177.341] (8.februar.2021) And then I thought of this: 3689 |
| For "Backdoor" [13+] by winklett in the woods  Mini-critique: After over 15 years "it is what it is" so... originally crafted as an attempt to write without the letter "i" it's much more than that. The alliteration of 'k', 'b' and 's' as well as the use of 'd' works well; the jerky flow at times... suits it; the surreal images suit it. This image is priceless: ... my dream attendant’s vacant cheerless face, washed and wrung each sleepless day to dry. It captures an uneasy dream. I rate it a 4.8 and highly recommend it. Prompt: What would you do in these situations? I have nightmares all the time. It's better for me to wake up and do something and then intentionally daydream, guiding it away from the precipice of trauma that tries to trap me in its vortex. I use daydreams for poetry but nightmares? I just try to forget them. Maybe I should open that door, leave it open until whatever's on the other side spills out to be swept away and cleaned. Speaking of restrictions... some folks have tiny religious boxes, others larger boxes. I suspect that as humans we all live in boxes. Written today: "Science and religion" 3.685 |
| My comment to the "Question of the Day!" : "Are there universal characteristics of belief systems that are common across all cultures? What are they and how can they bring us together?" I think some folks are 1. overthinking and 2. culturally blind. To wit, many forms of Christianity are exclusive. If you were brought up in that my-team versus your-team tribal midset you may have difficulty wrapping the mind around a different way of looking at things. Culture is wonderful in its diversity of human expression. Sure, it leads to misunderstandings but those can be overcome by love, kindness and heart-to-heart 'conversation' (verbal or non-verbal). Not all cultures think of God in an anthropomorphic way and therefore limited to human form and frailties. If you google "face of God" only the Christian literal anthropomorphic concept comes up... don't be deceived in thinking it's true or shared by others. If you look at someone and see the face of God, you won't hate them. Very simple. And if you come from believing that God is One and all creation flows from that Oneness than seeing Humanity as One isn't all that difficult. However, if one sees how 'religions' are warped by time and place, then accepting that they all strive to follow a path to God may be diificult. And one only sees difficulty when looking down at the path then looking up; but the perspective from On High is unifying. Further thoughts: If you start from disunity trying to sort out the wheat from the chaff ... good luck. If you start from unity than you delight in the diversity and have less need to divide people into groups. People aren't a wheat field to be harvested, the best to be put on pedestals and praised, the rest discarded. If God so wills... but people aren't 'god', except in their own heads. I attest to the unity I see around me not the delusion that seeks to divide us. "Blogging Circle of Friends " "You come to love not by finding the perfect person, but by seeing an imperfect person perfectly." — Sam Keen A lot of people get hung up with the imperfections. Are you one ? What's the best way to handle imperfection? Address it or ignore it. The only person that's perfect is a perfect asshole. Which is a crude way of stating it. I've met a few radiant people in my lifetime. I sincerely doubt that they considered themselves to be perfect! It gets to a point I try to make in the first part of this post. See the face of God in everyone and you will love them regardless of their imperfections. (This helps when reviewing or critiquing an awful piece of prose or poetry. Love that writer while slicing and dicing what they wrote.  )In my personal life I've felt loved and have loved. But the concept of 'perfect people' just gets in the way of unconditional love. |
For
Mini-critique of "Prince Remembered" [E] by Jeannie  :Needs a grammatical edit with attention to punctuation. For instance, hyphens don't work and just replacing them with em-dashes won't either. Each instance needs to be rethought. Content? I'm not a big fan of Prince so I can't critique whether facts are correct but I'm familiar with at least 3 of the 5 songs and the personal observations seem genuine. Since we can embed youtube videos here then choosing one, or a medley, would enhance this 500 word informal essay. I rate it a 4 that could be more once an edit is made for grammar and typos. Who is your favorite musician? What do you like about them? I don't have a favorite musician. I was raised on classical music and Claude Debussy immediately came to mind. There are individual songs I like. Back in the 80s I liked Aha! and Culture Club. In the 70s, Pentangle. "Blogging Circle of Friends " : Please use these words in your blog: fern, rainy, decipher, sparkle, and interception.Going home Rainy purple days among the ferns sparkled in the depths of woods... It was a year of deception, the interception of our alien thoughts deciphered by those who sought to harm us. How to calm their fears? We'd been here centuries among these redwood giants. We weathered the cycles of drought and fires, but seeing our homes among the misty heights destroyed by humans? Enough is enough. We fairies only dared enter human dreams. Now they wish to bestow on us their nightmares, put us in cages along with butterflies and fragile things, mere collections of baubles bought and sold. We've witnessed their slavery unfold. Now we gather one last time to go back home. Once this planet was a magical place of giants and unicorns. All gone. Come Tuesday we will be too. moss and mist — nests atop the giant trees fall to earth © Kåre Enga [177.335] (5.februar.2021) Good enough to flesh out and make something of it? Suggestions? 3.672 |
Hard to believe we've been posting blog entries for 3001 days in BCoF. Have you ever scrolled back to see what your first blog post was and when? Did you ever think, you would be blogging this long? Do you blog the same way as when you began or have you developed a style of your own? First entry in "L'aura del Campo" from June 2005 still here (I deleted some): "Summer: 1 Rahmat 162 (June 24)" I read a few. I mention places and people. I included 'senses'. I highlighted snippets from witings here at WDC that I liked. I really liked rereading them. Much better than what I write now. My first commenter? VerySara  on July 25th. Red Writing Hood <3  is the second from September 5th "Summer: 16 Asma (September 4)" An excerpt of her poem was my 'treasure of the day'.I deleted a lot of early blogs. Copied with comments saved elsewhere but in the early days no one was commenting. When I found Blogville, my blog took off and I rose to the top 10 and eventually #1 in views. It now has 104,924 views but I don't promote it. It has poetry I recently wrote (I sometimes use entries instead of items to enter contests) and poems I'm working on. August 2, 2005 in "Hoarfrosts from Hell" "Destabilization of the homeless" triggers me; but, it's well written. August 5, 2005 "Living on nothing" reminds me of being penniless. Both are set on 'preferred author' Neither have ever been commented on ... ever. August 9, 2005: "Rant on idiot reviews at WDC." is a rant about reviewing ... very little has changed here at WDC. I have. I mostly ignore reviewers. I shouldn't.August, 2005: "The controversy over forms: haikus." is a rant about haikus. I may need to quote it soon."Enga mellom fjella" was started in 2007 as my first blog ran out of space. September 20, 2007: "Letter to Colleen from Somewhere. The trip begins." I was off to Missoula to visit it for the first time! Ever. vivacious  was the first to comment (in about an hour). Those were the days when Blogville was alive! The 'poem' I included needs to be revisited. I should enter it into a contest of free verse. Give it its own 'item' or entry?By entry #10 I already had 224 views with numerous comments every day. Think about that for a moment. On January 1, 2021 my Porthole (main) blog had 3,517 views. By the 30th, 3,644. That's 127 views in 30 days. 4+/day compared to 22+ way-back-when. Blogville is d.e.a.d. My blogging has withered as well. |
 Week 1 (Feb 1 - 7) 1. What do you want to do this month? Write your goals for the month, and think about what you need to do to accomplish them.I need to reconnect. To that end I do the Weekly Goals Challenge to force me to reconnect with myself and others. I have nothing to look forward to in February here in Montana. My heart beats elsewhere and my legs want to travel in the opposite direction.  2. A day in the life... give us the low-down on how you spend a typical day.I go from room to room to... I only have two rooms. I have to wear a mask to go out in the hallway, to go down the 42 stairs, to use the toilet. I don't always take a shower to lessen my risk. I pee in a cup and dump it in the sink and run the water... I have a very 'small' existence. I do see friends sometimes around noon and shop for groceries once a week. This has been my life for almost a year.  3. What are you excited about in the coming month?Nothing. I'm wating for Godot. Will I get a covid shot before it gets me?  4. Write a list of things that make you happy.Little things cheer me up for moments. Sunshine or snow can cheer me up. Sunshine last week. Today it snowed on my way back from the store.  5. Who can you always count on for a good laugh?I seldom laugh. I don't seek out laugher. "C'est tellement mystérieux, le pays des larmes." — Antoine de Saint-Exupéry.  6. What is the funniest thing you’ve heard or seen lately?Ha. Ha.  7. What book(s) did you read in January? Give us a blurb on one or all.I can't get into reading. I'm still not finished with "Autumn Letters" which I should have no problem with. I understand the place and time. I even lived in Nebraska a few years after the setting. I'm nothing like the 4 main characters but I understand Mark and Hubbard better than Hurley and Nell. It's basically a coming of age story. Autumn letters are those letters you write but never send. I have a 5,162 page journal to attest to that.
I may never receive a call or letter from someone I love dearly; that is what I'd really love to get. Substitutes don't make up for it. I don't like secrets because so much was hidden from me growing up. So, no, I don't want a secret admirer and it would only hurt me deeply. I may very well have had secret admirers in the past that gave up and kept their secret. A couple weren't secret and we sorted it out when I said no. For
"Invalid Item" [] by A Guest Visitor Mini-critique: I'm not convinced the 3 line stanza works. Imho, it would be better with all line breaks taken out, all capitalization removed, attention to rhythm and flow, and natural line breaks put back in to make a very nice free form poem. Also the one 'is' and many of the 'the's can be eliminated (maybe 'stalk BY day/night'?). One of the 'moves on' needs to go, imo. It hasn't been edited since posted in 2017. I needs a second glance as it's only a 3.9 'as is' and it promises more. Prompt: Write about twilight. Le crépuscule des larmes. L'heure du lâcher prise. La tenue. C'est comme ça avec moi. Bonjour tristesse... tous les matins du monde. I have always loved spring and autumn. My hour is the moment when the sunset fades and twilight gathers. I am not the child of the dawn, the happy playful sprite of winter or summer. I'm a ghost that prefers shadows that know my name and never mock me. Watched these being made by a ghost so I googled and now need to make 99. 3.661 |
| "Blogging Circle of Friends " Day 2999: February 2, 2021 Prompt: Use these words in today's entry: groundhog, spring, shadow, hope, snow, flowers, lavender. The groundhog ate the lavender as deep blue shadows within the drifted snow dashed all hope for flowers before spring. The prairie dogs here have a town along the irrigation canal that runs past the green grass of the high-school practice football field and track. They are sleeping in February but may come out on a mild sunny day. Not today. Dark clouds and big drops of rain chased us all inside. We also grow lavender, which is quite edible for humans, but better stripped before the first hard frost. We also usually have deep snow in the mountains but not so much this dry winter. We need bitter cold for the ponderosa pine and snow melt to keep the streams running cold for the trout. There were no signs of spring along the river path yesterday. The sun strengthens day by lengthening day but winter isn't ready to give up its grip. "Surreal Flash #poem" [E] by Ilaya  Mini-critique: I love "a seagull's flight over the cities' web of wires". There's some nice rhyme and rhythm. But because English is not your first language grammar becomes an issue. A tool like Grammarly would help in short stories and essays but poetic language breaks some rules and may make what you are saying dull and not poetic at all. Still, 'trembled' should be 'trembling' and 'a change in light' (which may have many meanings) may be better expressed as 'for the light to change' (which is literal) unless you prefer the ambiguity/metaphor of what you wrote. The first verse is very strong; the second verse not as strong. You have a mature voice; wish I knew Romanian. Will be looking forward to reading more of what you write. My rating: 4.4 as it does need an edit and it's not quite as strong as it can be. Companion piece: "The beggar's eyes" Prompt: Write about surreal. I'm lying in bed in Montana. I should be traveling. Is this a dream? I should be shoveling snow, glad I don't have to work because I'm finally retired. On my drive to the store I should lightly tap the brakes so I don't slide. The dirty slush will stain the cuffs of my pants. I'll rejoice when the sun peeks out for a few minutes. I'll stop for coffee at a friend's house. My garden is sleeping. Friends call to make sure the poetry session tonight isn't cancelled. A cat meows as I drink my coffee and look out the window over the valley. And then I'm back in Montana. The plants are quiet and I wonder whether it's worth the effort to get up and make myself coffee. There are no plans today... or any day. asymmetrical mentions about soring years in boxes in her blog. I answered: Wonderful entry. I don't open certain boxes. They have unpleasant surprises, like a jack-in-the-box that startles and leaves my nerves ajangle. 1972 joy blooming after despair. 1974 mistakes best not revisited. 1986 numb. Maybe that elephant [you mentioned] sat on it. 1988 empty. A concussion robbed me of the year. 1999 death and a key unlocking me. 2003 '72 and '74 and '86 chasing me. 2020 lost. 3,655 |
| For "Invalid Item" [] by A Guest Visitor Prompt: Write about Wonderland from this poem. Mini-critique: It has a certain musical quality to it but needs editing, especially for flow. To correct that read out loud, establish a rhythm, control the words don't let them control you. Use Rhymezone or the WDC ideanary for synonyms or alternative words where the rhythm jars. Line 3 can be cut because you say it in line 8. The last 5 lines can be cut as the poem ends with "Take me to Wonderland" and the questions on the end make it sound whiny. A fine whine needn't be whiny. The content and 'message' is fine. I give it a 3.4 'as is' because although it has potential it needs lots of work. "Blogging Circle of Friends " Day 2998: February 1, 2021I found my Serenity Journal, when I was cleaning out a container. Since this is the first day of a new month, I'm posting a quote from that journal. "There is a quiet, serene confidence in knowing that all things do not stand or fall according to one's own achievements or the correctness of every decision one makes." Joseph A. Sittler Prompt: What does this quote mean to you? How do you find moments of serenity in your day, week, or month? I need not carry the world on my shoulders. I need not carry my grief and burdens. Sometimes what was, is, will be... is not dependent on me. Not in the sense of fate, and it does not ask me to be apathetic; it just acknowledges that I am not the center of the universe and that's it's okay to let go. I'm okay when I'm mindful. Today it's sunny. I have some meditative music on. I can still taste the coffee I drank awhile ago. My butt is firm on the bed . My feet are warm. I mentioned to Marvin, "We only see what we choose to see. So no... if we go by appearances we will not see the divine. If we look for the light we will find it surrounding us." For "Weekly Goals" Weekly 'goals'.I've failed partly because a couple goals were too broad. I may do better with specifics. Objectives can be broad as well as laser focused. I'm avoidant and depressed. I have to be careful about being vague and overwhelmed. 1. Send out 5 postcards or letters to friends, family or folks here at WDC. Gary is #1.  Others:  Kate Theodora Elizabeth  2. I'll write in my journal every day: 1 2 3 4 5 3. I'll go outside every day, snow or sun: 1 2 3 4 5 4. I'll clean/unclutter something: refrigerator, plants, counters, floor, futon. Dishes don't count because I do that anyway. 5. I'll make entries for 5 contests and start to write something.  3rd haiku by Feb 13th "haikus [332]" in **"Invalid Item"  dnp story by Feb 14th "Second Time Around ~ Birthday Special" **"Climbing sweet briar [319] (601 words)"  GrP poem by Feb 14th "Second Time Around ~ Birthday Special" **"My name's not Jack!" dnp free verse by Feb 14th for "Shadows and Light Poetry Contest" **"Stalactite [343]" dnp monster poem by Feb 15 "Amerika über alles [331]" dnp stormy's poem by Feb 18 "Left behind [343]"  3rd rhyming poem by Feb 20 "Poetic Traditions Poetry Contest " **"In search of Iris"  1st romance poem by Feb 25 "I wish to live before my death [352]" , now **"I wish to live before I die" cat poem by Feb 28 "Peaches [339]" **"Peaches" dnp quotation story by Feb 28 "Quotation story by 2/28 820 words Unwrapped " **"Embers" story by Feb 28 "A nudge of narwals minus 782-69 words" **"At the water's edge"  1st children's story by Feb 28 "Traveling Teddy [355]" **"Traveling Teddy"  bad poem by Feb 28 "TEXT BOOK NEW LOVE [353]" Decided to not submit. 1st love poem by Feb 27 **"Crone and Sage [349]" from "Crone and Sage" dnp dark poem by Feb 28 "loves lies bleeding Paid in full [350] poem for Dreamscapes" **"Paid in full" philia story by Feb 28 "Invalid Item" dnp love poem by Feb 28 "i am behind the camera [358]" story by Feb 28th "story homeless language barrier " dnp chocolate by Feb 28 "Just loud enough for the Universe to hear [356]" now **"Just loud enough forthe Universe to hear" There's a long list of other things but if I list them all I may get nothing done. |
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