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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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| The Ideas of March ... stolen from Robert. So we're all just a bunch of loopers like Jack and Diane ... clueless but doing the best that we can. But... what happens when the loop wobbles or moves on or just moves or just changes? I'm sure some of us loopers try to re-establish the old routines while others invest in embracing new loops. But if we must start all over again (war, accidents, amnesia, aphasia) where and how do we adjust? The truth is that humanity is uber-flexible. Another, not as heart-warming truth, is that many if not most individuals are not. So... the last 100 years have brought about many changes, yet we humans remain human. Many traditional routines (loops) are still followed, many new routines have been established. Not everything survives. It is my opinion that part of the cultural friction comes about between those who are fearful of either new or old paradigms. Old loops, new loops, fruit loops. We're all in the same cereal bowl. Many of us are not happy about that. And some out of fear take comfort in the Great Spoon ending all loops. Well... you'll have to read his entry "The Ideas of March"  and the article he links.At least I hope I'm more hopeful than thinking that we are all trapped in a semi-conscience cluster-f***. 42 calm degrees at 10:25 p.m. Old Time (add your own hour) so I hope I can get something done before I nod off. Laters. Up veddy late working on 7 of 8 entries for JI. It's post-noon? 46 on a beautiful day. I took the on-line Enneagram test Steph mentioned: What's funny? I know there is no right or wrong answer but I ask myself twice whether my answer is true to me. I've taken this before (Meyer-Briggs as well) and as wobbly as I feel always end up with the same results. Always a type 4 Creative (which is called a Romantic elsewhere). My 'wing' would be a '5'. I want to be a 7! I'm definitely not an 8. M-B pegs me as ENFP no matter how withdrawn I am. I do share characteristics of INFP. Who do I almost always get along with? INTJ. I draw them out, like moths to the flame. I'm sitting inside in the sunshine. Why? I have writing to finish. 45 degrees at 9:30. I will leave the window open a crack. I did not go out today, choosing to write instead. I did eat though... chicken mustard salad and boneless pork ribs soaked (they were tough) baked in vinagrette. Both turned out very good. I finished my writing task. Much gnashing of teeth but I finished. I can now go gnaw on something else.
"Takk for alt (When We Dead Awaken) [JI#1]" "Bread of Life (The Gluten Lie) [JI#2]" "Immigrant song [JI#3]" "And Bobo makes three (Invention of love) [JI#4]" "Shape of water [JI#5]" "Invisible lines (Battlefield Earth) [JI#6]" "Battle of Angels [JI#7]" "On the beach [JI#8]" Weekly goals:  Finish Journalistic intentions. All 8 done. Shave and check on getting my hair cut (been since November ... of '19) forgot Get out most every day as weather is spring-like. Only 4 days. Soak every plant. Big pots done. Do as many writing prompts as possible, at least 3. Think I did 2. |
  PROMPT March 15th What’s your favorite board game or card game to play with friends? Canasta! But I will bury you so deep you'll never get out of the hole! Red 3s, Black 3s, Deuces and Jokers wild. It's a rummy game like conquian and gin. Rummy is simple to play but each game and opponent is different and since there's a bit of luck involved the better player doesn't always win... but I will, I will, rock you. I really liked playing with good friends because... I'd win... and then we'd play again.  I used to have Wednesday night parties. Spoons were good for getting people going. As was the trading game Pit (can be very loud and rowdy). The key to parties? Always have food... lots of it. I never served alcohol so that had to be made clear. There were always some extra-friendly people invited to welcome newcomers. Board games? Loved Clue. Hated Monopoly. Sorry! is simply Parcheesi  . Many board games have limits to how many can play though. |
| 37 degrees at 10 p.m. here in Montana. It should go below freezing tonight but it might not for an entire week. It should be a pleasant false spring. It's still warm inside in spite of my open window. Today is the day I focus on deadlines ... wondering which ones I've completely missed.  40 degrees at the hour formerly known as 10:11. I stayed up too late and actually saw the hour flip. I'm paying for that this morning. I commented on the newsfeed ... a loooooooooong comment re newbies: Good point. Also... new doesn't always mean young. Many only start writing after they retire or only share publically as they get bold. Oh, to be 20 and bold! I started writing when I was 47 (because I felt compelled). Fortunately, I wrote a lot and slowly got better. When my life was turned upside down at age 51, writing was my refuge. Moving helped. Even being homeless helped (little to do but observe and take notes). Some of my best poems were written when I was 53. At times I wrote volumes (which is why I try to number) but edited little. I've posted bits and pieces here that I don't remember until someone points them out to me. When I joined WDC I was already a decent poet. Story teller? Nope. Have I improved? Says who? Yes and no. I'm better telling stories. I've tried different approaches to writing; but, every group of writers likes what it likes and fashions change and cultural and language blindness persist. Like blogging... I must have done over 4,500 entries by now. Blogging is not in fashion at the moment. Newbies could learn a lot by just writing a daily blog entry of 200-300 words, be it a diary, journal, essay, poem, memoir, observations. If you need prompts "Blogging Circle of Friends " although just reading a variety of blogs will help immensely. Making a long response longer I don't like reviewing/rating newbies because I have little idea whether that person is 15 or 50, first-language English, an MFA literary person or a truck driver, focuses on dreams or real life observations and experiences.By the time someone has shared a bit of who they are, where they are coming from ("Invalid Item" is good for that), how they write (story telling "Daily Flash Fiction Challenge" or poetry "EXPRESS IT IN EIGHT" or come April "Dew Drop Inn" ) then I have a clue and can more confidently critique.Also... newbies start out as black cases. They need to know that a blue or yellow case isn't necessarily a better writer than they are and that community recognitions (those numbers) are more an indication of interaction here and less how good a person writes. 57 degrees at 4:11. I want to go out but can't until a couple chores are finished. Finished and submitted:
Now 59 degrees at 6:10. I really need to go out. Walked down Brooks to the Rose Garden where I got greeted by a dog  and back on Woodford. Nice peaceful walk. It's twilight now at 8:02. 51 degrees and cooling. Hot in my room so I opened up my window. Wrote something sitting in the park. |
  PROMPT March 14th In your entry, make a list of your favorite words to say. Then describe why they are your favorites and include a pronunciation guide for your readers. Brownie points if you can use your words in a sentence. I'd love to perform poetry on the pnyx. Although a smaller more intimate audience is always better imo, I'm sure we can gather tightly together. I'd have to focus on my audience and remind myself to not blither on and on ... ad nauseum. No need to put them to sleep. The repetition of rhyme, rhythm and reason can become a lullaby. Perhaps a loud joyful ululation instead of a pregnant pause to get their blood flowing? Although "estoy embarasado" might wake them up! I'm just meshugge enough to do that. Pnyx [p.n.i.ks] is an actual hill in Athens; pronounce each letter. Blither and ululation can be looked up. "Embarasado" means pregnant not embarrassed ... as many a man has been embarrassed to find out. "Meshugge" means crazy. Don't mess with me or you'll find out. I chose these out of hundreds of favorite words. I like how they sound. I've known them for years. |
| 26 degrees at 2:26 a.m. I oughtta be asleep. 30dbc prompt triggered me and earlier I was distracted by youtube. I suspect someone was stumbly drunk around 1 a.m. but who knows. It's such a quiet building that any noise unnerves me. New Moon. I should be enjoying the dark but the city has too many idiot lights. 29 degrees at 8:27. Sun came up but I may lie down again. Depressed. A sip of coffee. Lay back down. Now 44 at noon finishing my coffee after frying up thin-skinned yellow taters I boiled last evening. It's a beautiful day and should warm up over 50. The WDC newsfeed mentions discounts on upgrades but I'm best at the level I'm at. 52 degrees at 2:52. 30 minute goal: write then take a walk taking notes I can use for ... something. I make some progress on my JI entries. I have smoothed out the format that all 8 will follow. They are hidden in my tlog but will be revealed sometime Monday. I'll need to edit of course. I want to eventually use them in some way to make trinkets. The photos and exact caption need not be fussed over at this point for JI. I need to enter a free form poem. I'll check my plog for that as one of the poem I wrote for Express in 8 may suffice. I'll hopefully choose the best but even not placing is better than not entering. 55 degrees at 5:00. I bought a rosemary focaccia. I consider one loaf to be one portion, best inhaled from one end to the other. They aren't as good stale. I walked a bit, sat and ate. Wrote: The entire rosemary focaccia, one portion in an oily paper bag. My weekly required sodium exceeded, smile on my face. The sunshine agrees as it melts the ice that does not hide in shadows. The shadows know their days are numbered, this week before the equinox. Footpints impressed in the water-clogged track wait for runners to erase them once the frost leaves the depths and the surface dries out. Soon, the shadows whispered; the snowdrifts answered, hush. 39 degrees and dropping at 9:19. The time 'springs forward' tonight. The sun and moon don't care so why should I? In so many ways it doesn't affect me. I have no schedule. I have one thing due on the 14th but I have a back-up, so that doesn't matter either. |
| 32 degrees at midnight. I closed the window. I made good progress on Journalistic Intentions. They are a mix of prose and poetry, a bit like a haibun... but not. They are in my travel blog for now and on a private setting. They are due by the 15th. I need to look at contest deadlines. Some are mid-month. I'll check later today. Still haven't heard from some February contests so my expectations must be kept low. I'm tired. Just had some chocolate milk. Midnight is a good bedtime hour for me right now. Sun gets shiny around 8 once Apollo gets his chariot over the mountains. He seems to get a tad worn out every winter. Up at 8! A chilly 28 on it's sunny climb up to 50. I love a soft snow. The kind that sifts through the mind like the sands of time under my thinning hair. It's a nice memory come spring ... soon. I posted the above in response to a post by Lilli. David McClain  (Tor) will soon be joining his beloved Mel aka Mrs Tor . He was recently diagnosed with cancer; it has metastasized. He is in hospital then hospice. One month? Maybe a tad more. David announced this on facebook. 44 degrees at almost 2 p.m. I'm sitting here shirtless with the sun warming my back. Vitamin D recharge. To cold outside to go half-naked unless you're young and jogging. Seen by the river: Hearts carved into timber, sparkle of water, glisten of snow, an incessant hum of tires on asphalt noticed in the quiet along paths that were icy and puddled last week, now drying in the sun. Brown leaf litter lifted by a waft of air, movement but no life, two bicycles gliding by, chatter between Shorts and No Jacket, a jogger in bright blue puffing past. The cottonwoods hold tight their buds as osier reddens. Both wait patiently in March. I unzip my jacket because it's too warm, zip it up again when a stray breeze refreshes my thoughts. Did y'all know it's Friday? I know because it's our janitors deep-clean day that starts at early at 10 a.m. and goes until the vacuuming is done. Otherwise ... would I know? 45 degrees at 6:26 as the sun sets. I made the mistake of taking a nap. Tonight I must write. |
  PROMPT March 12th Imagine you had to create an art piece for a gallery or museum. What would you create? As you enter the room you face a familiar painting that shifts as you walk though it along paths of dirt or cobblestones. Flowers blooming at every turn emit faint fragrances and bird-twitter softly fills the air. We rely too much on sight, they warn you when you buy your one-way ticket, every Starry Night is filled with starlight if not moonlight, sounds of the nightengale or at dawn the lark. Distant water burbles as an owl hoots or in a hush passes overhead. The fragrance of pale flowers beckons the moth. You pass from room to room as crows caw and flutter as patrons clink glasses and bottles, as waiters wend their way through gaslit tables. You can no longer deny this new reality. By the golden light you can almost taste the breath of life being shared. Yes, some fear to enter. It is whispered that some never leave. |
| 27 degrees at midnight. I've been procrastinating. Not getting things done like I should. Can't blame the weather or any disturbing news. So off to bed soon. If I'm smart I go to the post office and cafe by 9. If not? Just another day. 35 degrees at 11:27. Sunny and warming. I went across the wide river and met my friends at The Break. Saw Willie, David who I hadn't seen for awhile, Kathi who loaned me a book. We sat and chatted. I'm the youngest of the bunch but I don't feel that way. They've changed policy at the laundromat where David works so I should do my laundry. It's been months. Not everything washes out well by hand. I'm winded when I come up those 42 steps, but sitting here with my coffee I feel fine. "Old age" is like that. Moments when one feels youthful and present, moments lost in the nostalgia of back when... moments when the body reminds one that it ain't young no more. I'm getting old in ways that disturb me and charm no one. I have so much to do today and no will to do anything. I could just sit here in the sun and lose myself in daydreams. It would be far too easy. 44 at 3 minutes to 3. I'm wasting time listening to Dimash, watching reactions to his performances. At least I ate some beef vegetable soup. It's 3 p.m. Time to work. Back in an hour. 4:18. Got some writing down but I need to continue for at least another hour. Took a break to fertilize plants, clear a spot on the table. Even opened up a window. It's 46 outside. 44 degrees at 6:18. It's cooling. Windows still open. Must close them before bedtime as the nights freeze. Planted two rooted onions... finally. Tried to drown the plants in the hall but still dry at the base of the pots. I want to overwater and then let them dry out a bit. I'll need to be careful as I hope they'll drain. Old plants in old pots ... big old pots. I have made progress on my 8 Journalistic Intentions entries. Just not ready yet. This blog has gone over 4 thousand views so I sent some gps off to the first commenter after I posted this last night. |
 PROMPT March 11th What qualities do you look for in a friend? Are there any qualities you avoid? What qualities about yourself do you think make a good friend? Truthfully? When I was growing up I was desparate for anyone to be my friend. But I was withdrawn and wary. I mostly found refuge with other misfits. It was rough being a teenager and I never felt part of a group even when invited. I pushed people away. A special someone? Anyone? I think everyone sensed that I was wounded in a way they couldn't help or heal. So, even when I had 'friends' I kept them at an emotional distance. I kept family as far away as I could. My life changed for the better when someone decided to be my friend when I was 26. We were friends for 25 years. Since then? Why trust anyone? When I travel I do trust ... to an extent. I don't want to be around hurtful mean people. I do find calm quiet people attractive ... because I'm not. However, sparkly enthusiastic people bring that out in me. Either way I don't like drama. Me? I am loyal ... but I'm not a good friend in a puppy kind of way. I'm more feline. I'll love you at a distance. So no ... I don't make a good friend. |
| A cold and clear 29 degrees at 10:30 p.m. I've been working on a Journalistic Intentions post. Due date is the 15th. 30 dbc is still going well. People are interacting! and around 13-15 are posting most every day. I comment as much as I can. Blog entries needn't be long and they needn't be rocket science, although a shout out to Robert Waltz  who, although he skipped this March edition, tries to give a rational essay like entry on a daily basis... rarely misses a day. I try to keep up on blogs between challenges regardless, but with so many active bloggers this March it's been work. I really do try. I do my 30dbc entry as soon after midnight WDC time and then start my regular blog post, updating it as the day goes along. Yes, it's dreary. Most days are dull and dreary for me in this Season of Covid. Crisp, clear, bright and frozen at 8:30 a.m. 23 degrees. That pesky  woke me up early. Already started on a  of u-no-watt.I need energy sometime this week. Maybe today? Visited friends on the way to fetch groceries. 41 degrees outside in the .  y inside by the window. It's the season when you put clothes on and take them off.Crocuses in bloom on the south side of two houses on 5th street.  and  snow crocuses but the larger crocuses may be up as well. Remembered to buy and sugar. Ricotta and cottage cheese were on sale, so was   . Spent less than $20. Nice walk. Too hot inside 7:22 p.m. and I'm hot and drowsy. My temp is 97.5. Headache coming on? 36 degrees outside; too chill to open windows, imho. 3.986 |
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