*Magnify*
    June    
2020
SMTWTFS
 
1
2
3
4
5
7
8
9
10
11
12
14
Archive RSS
SPONSORED LINKS
Printed from https://www.writing.com/main/books/item_id/1311011-Porthole/month/6-1-2020
Rated: 13+ · Book · Personal · #1311011
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.

Ferry boat between Solvorn and Ornes across the Lustrafjord i Sogn og Fjordane.




I'm starting a new blog because
BOOK
L'aura del Campo  (13+)
Online journal capturing the moment and the memory of moments. A meadow meditation.
#982524 by Kåre Enga going to Montana
had over 1,200 entries and that was getting close to full. I don't want to trim it by deletion. I did that once, much to my dismay. Will be used more for poetry.

BOOK
Hoarfrosts from Hell  (GC)
Anything I'm not happy about or that I don't want in my main blog!
#997339 by Kåre Enga going to Montana
is still hidden from the public and will remain so. It's more personal and full of angst. Was used for 30DBC for May 2020 and now used for Blogville.

BOOK
Enga mellom fjella  (13+)
Enga mellom fjella: where from across the meadow, poems sing from mountains and molehills.
#1317094 by Kåre Enga going to Montana
was full... until the number of entries was increased. A mixed blog, mostly stories.

I'll be linking to
BOOK
On The Write Path  (13+)
ON THE WRITE PATH: travel journal for Around-the-World in 2015, 16, 18.
#2032403 by Kåre Enga going to Montana
as I need to post there about my travels.

 
BOOK
O Pinions!  (XGC)
May my opinions gather wind under their wings and fly, perchance to soar.
#1501776 by Kåre Enga going to Montana
is for my opinions. *Laugh*

BOOK
Nurture your Nature  (13+)
Look around. Let Nature nurture your Soul. I record images I sense and share them here.
#1439094 by Kåre Enga going to Montana
was set up for nature observations and musings.

 
BOOK
Watt's Gnus  (18+)
On topics and today's gnus. Definitely opinionated. Set to 18+ for a reason.
#1439092 by Kåre Enga going to Montana
come out of a need to share interesting stuff I come across. When I was young I did a small newsletter named as such. (or was it column in the newsletter? Been 30 years... I think.)

 
FOLDER
Flash Fiction  (GC)
Short 300 word, more or less, "stories" .
#2190336 by Kåre Enga going to Montana
is where I put my flash fictions. Maybe someday I'll figure it out and have enough good ones to publish. Ratings vary and some are hidden from view.

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.
STATIC
Space Cadet - the never ending journal  (18+)
Journeys of an Alien Space crew.
#2226611 by Kåre Enga going to Montana


I needed to start a folder for contests as there are so many deadlines and details to remember.
 
FOLDER
Conquest ... to keep track of contests  (18+)
A place to keep track of in progress works and up-coming deadlines as well as any awards.
#2233119 by Kåre Enga going to Montana
(also very messy!) *Shock2*

 
FORUM
Blogville   (XGC)
Where bloggers meet and greet to read and share. No required prompt. Alias: blogville.
#2253938 by Kåre Enga going to Montana
is for posting personal blog entries in hope that folks will comment and post their blog entries there as well. I will be commenting on all blog entries posted. It's my effort to rebuild a blogging community.

BOOK
Bibimbap 비빔밥   (13+)
Left-overs piled on hot rice and mixed.
#2296648 by Kåre Enga going to Montana
an E blog focusing on food and culture. Easily digestible for the Queasy and Questioning.

Previous ... -1- 2 3 ... Next
June 30, 2020 at 3:22pm
June 30, 2020 at 3:22pm
#986858
4549 382

My sister sent a note from the home world? Should I care?

We grew up together. She was the one who decided to stay. I'm not to blame for her inability to cope with 4 children. They're not mine!

I'm the logical one. I have to be. Yes, I'm emotional but I know a thing or two about reality. I'm just empathetic enough, flexible enough to handle most anything.

She can't handle a tooth-ache. It's too dry. It's too cold. It's too ... No, dear sister, the drama is all about you.

And you know what? You'll cope. You'll figure it out. You're the 'smart one'. A xeno-chemical-biologist who was born for the stage!

4549 383

So I sent her a letter when I calmed down. There's nothing to report around here. No drama. Nothing going wrong. Oh, don't get me wrong. Something will go wrong. It always does. But I enjoy these moments.

4549 384

Famous last words. The hydro system sprung a leak. Not enough water where we need it. Too much where we don't.

The Engineers are working on it.

Not my job.

I just jot down notes on how everyone is handling it. We have a Gqarian who sealed herself in. Good idea. This isn't her area of expertise and she'd only be in the way. It's so important to know one's strengths and limitations.

I told her I'd notify her when it was safe.

The Kla, however, think they know better than anyone else. I spiked their tea. They were so stumbly-drowsy it took six of us to get them to a safe dry place. Everyone agreed it was worth it.

One of the Landers said he could calm people down by touch. He's actually good at it. I need to jot that down. I never knew.

4549 385

Well, yesterday was hectic but we have a good crew.

All back to normal. The Kla woke up in time to actually help with the clean-up. They're good at sorting things out after the fact. I wish they would understand that. But it's in their nature to boss everyone around.

It takes all type to run a ship through the void between stars.

Someone asked me about what makes my heart beat faster. I told them that every day I meditate to regulate my heartbeat. I can't afford to let it push me around. I monitor it. And now I know someone who has a magic touch.

I have no need to seek thrills in fantasy. Our lives are thrilling enough! I'd rather read a historical-mystery where I know how it ends or do a word or mathematical puzzle to massage my brain.

Nope. No drama for me. I read in old texts about a 'drama-llama'. Reminds me of my sister. But what's a llama? We don't have any on this ship.

For:
 
FORUM
Space Blog  (ASR)
Cruising WDC cyberspace and raiding ports for blog prompts!
#2223838 by Sharmelle's Expressions


Good morning starship. I just got back from an away mission to a star I have known for sometime. Today's star is Lilith of House Martell The prompt is "Who really understands why two people from the same home turn out so differently?" from her blog "Yes, we are family, but..."

Planet "What makes your Heart go thump?"   [E] by LegendaryMask❤️ asks the question: "What makes your heart go thump?" So ... what makes your heart beat faster? Love? Horror movies? Novels? What gives you a thrill?"
June 29, 2020 at 3:12pm
June 29, 2020 at 3:12pm
#986780
I'm not much in the mood to blog today. I might ... or might not ... explore today's topic from my Space Cadet's point of view ... but how to make universal today's angst over media? Personally I think "thou dost protest too much" applies.

I suggest anyone read Prosperous Snow celebrating 's reasoned response in "How To Prepare For A Crisis

I commented:

Thank you for a very rational response.

Although there's bias in the media there's bias everywhere ... so I look around at what we consume. I have a couple conspiracy theorist friends. There isn't a conspiracy they don't relish. It's what they consume ... constantly. The bias is within them, not the media.

I am prepared for minor crises but frankly I'm no 'survivalist'. I will depend on the kindness of others or perish. I believe in community.

I think this wisdom may have Jewish origins: I plan. God plans (with a shrug). Without an overarching spiritual view every crisis is the end-of-the-world. I do think that many folks should read Max Ehrmann's "Desiderata".


The prompt: "The news media are NOT you're friends." from "Invalid Item"   [] by A Guest Visitor

June 28, 2020 at 5:04pm
June 28, 2020 at 5:04pm
#986712
Guinan grabbed me after lunch. "We have to talk."

"The lunchroom is empty."

"No, the lunchroom has ears."

She lead me through a door. And then another. We sat on dimly lit rocks, bare rocks, surrounded by no stars.

"The clouds hide what I don't want you to see. Good."

I didn't know what to say. Guinan would speak when she was ready.

"No, I speak when you are ready to listen. And no, I don't read minds. We've had this conversation before. By now I figured you've learned. Some don't."

A sound of crystals ... like wind chimes ... I listened hard.

"You expect everything to carry a message. This is merely the wind."

"But..."

"Nope. Not living. This world is dead ... in the past as in your future. You breathe oxygen and assume there is life. You see clouds and assume water. You see no stars and assume they aren't there. You assume that what assails your senses are true. They aren't. Just like you assume that your dreams and nightmares may come true. Here? They won't."

"I'm listening."

"Listening too hard. What I have to say won't matter if you don't open up."

The windchimes changed their tune.

"Not much time but time enough."

Guinan tapped a finger on the rock.

"In the future there are worlds of great beauty, others ruins of beauty past. Places where life barely holds on that in another thousands of years will host great civilizations. Try as you might you cannot predict it. Your imagination, as great a gift as it is, is not based in fact. There are a million possibilities but no certainty except for a moment of time." She looked straight through my eyes. "Live it! We sit here in a future you'll never experience in a place you'll never find, a future you are not allowed to know."

"Why here?"

"The lunchroom has ears and now it's time for coffee. Let's go."

For:
 
FORUM
Space Blog  (ASR)
Cruising WDC cyberspace and raiding ports for blog prompts!
#2223838 by Sharmelle's Expressions


The planet is "The Sky Was Never the Limit"   [13+] by Robert Waltz

Prompt: Do you think today's science fiction is tomorrow's science fact? IRL response: No, but some, not all, are possibilities
June 27, 2020 at 1:26pm
June 27, 2020 at 1:26pm
#986653
I'd never been swallowed whole before.

I slept well, waking to green upon green upon green. Listening to myriad shades of green. I knew the yellow shades were curious. They'd never seen anything like me while the faded greys seemed to say, at last. The emeralds sighed relief and the red tinged swords relaxed.

I don't have words for it.

The Grass People don't speak in words, just rolling rhythms and soaring intonations. They didn't need a breeze to talk like their lesser cousins I had met around the galaxies, those we call just plain grass.

They asked about them. I mentioned wheat fields, rice paddies, corn in its thousand colors, shapes and sizes.

They knew they were food and fodder elsewhere but this was their Home Planet and they defended it with every blade and every root.

They knew the arts of welcome and repel, knew how to soften themselves to silk or to exude poisons that killed on contact. No one dared stray off the paths they had fashioned. It would be suicide ... if not murder. They negotiated with the Gqarians to seed the stars, paid with their own bodies to feed them. The Gqarians were their gardeners and exclusive merchants and guarded their secret treasures well.

Why was this told to me? It had taken 5 cycles of light and dark to educate me.

Apparently I was a blank wall and they decided to scribble on me ... hoping that I could somehow translate and share on my travels ... with one caveat ...

Never to visit again and never disclose where.

Every line I wrote must count they warned me; then write nothing more.

For "Space Blog

Planet:
 Invalid Item 
This item number is not valid.
#1898865 by Not Available.


Prompt: "If I had a wall I would write on it."
2.507
June 27, 2020 at 2:29am
June 27, 2020 at 2:29am
#986621
A weekly blog that starts skinny on Saturday and fattens up by Tuesday and is ready for slaughter by Friday ... if not before.

llllllllllllllllllllllllllllsummerlllllllllllllllll*Sun*llllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllll
lllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllll*Cloud*lllllllll*Bird*llllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllll
llllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllll*Clouds*lllllllllll*Bird*llllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllll*Cloud*llllllllllllll
lllllllllllll*BurstP*lllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllll*BurstP*lllllllll*Butterfly2W*llllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllll
llllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllll*Bee*llllllllllllll*BurstY*lll*Butterfly2Y*llllllllll
llllllllllllllllllllllllll*Bee*lll*BurstR*lllll*Ant*lllllll*BurstY*lllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllll



            PORTHOLE           



SUMMER: JUNE 2020
"Ye are all leaves of one tree and the fruits of one branch.”
- Bahá'u'lláh



*HeartBroken* MY THOUGHTS

June 27: It's hard being attacked; harder when out of context with no clue why.
June 28: I'm making more typos. Have to spell check. Mental slippage? Probably.
June 29: There has to be more than 'tolerate' me. Value me? Show me kindness?
June 30: Very unsettled. Lots of bad news. Stressed out by deadlines.
July 01: 70% masks at the grocery store? The only thing mandatory in Montana is stupidity.
July 02: Slept in like Czeszniak. I'll just plod through the day.
July 03: I wonder whether people are concerned about me. They should be... but just a little.

*Mountains* WEATHER

June 27: 23° and cloudy; 25° and sunshine this week in Faro, Portugal.
June 28: 13° cloudy, rain later; 14° cloudy, humid, dry week in Port Townsend, WA.
June 29: 11° rain and more rain; 27° and warm sunny calm this week in Buffalo, NY.
June 30: 10° grey and damp; 7° and cloudy in Tromso, Norway.
July 01: 14° and undecided; 24° at 10 a.m. in Tbilisi, Georgia. Highs will be 31-36 this week.
July 02: 21° and pleasant; 23° in Prishtina, Kosovo a warm night after a hot day.
July 03: 12° at 2 a.m. but going u to 29 today; 19° in Perth, Australia, sunny.

*Tree2* IMAGES

June 27: chocolate-lavender milkshake, petting a black dog.
June 28: cool breezes, slashing rain, wet windowsills, thunder.
June 29: clouds wrapping the mountains in grey.
June 30: buttery pan-fried polenta. *Smile*
July 01: egg-cheese sandwich. The sun has returned! Rose in my nose.
July 02: puffy clouds, slight breeze, taste of pink taffy.
July 03: pink and red hollyhocks. The fragrance of herbs-de-provence. Halcyon day.

*TrophyB* CONTESTS

I've decided to enter "Musicology Anthology I only have 4 days to write 11 pieces. *sigh* I can do it.
I'll be putting them all in the folder: "Days of Future Past

*BoxcheckR* [A] "The Day Begins" ""The Day Begins" [A]
*BoxcheckR* [B] "Morning Glory" "Morning Glory [B]
*BoxcheckR* [C] "Dawn: Dawn Is a Feeling" ""Dawn is a feeling" [C]
*BoxcheckR* [D] "The Morning: Another Morning" "Another Morning [D]
*BoxcheckR* [E] "Lunch Break: Peak Hour" "Lunch Break: Peak Hour [E]
*BoxcheckR* [F] "Forever Afternoon (Tuesday?)" "Tuesday Afternoon [F]
*BoxcheckR* [G] "(Evening) Time to Get Away" "Evening, Time to Get Away [G]
*BoxcheckR* [H] "The Sunset" "The Sunset [H]
*BoxcheckR* [I] "Twilight Time" "Twilight Time [I]
*BoxcheckR* [J] "Nights in White Satin" "Nights in White Satin [J]
*BoxcheckB* [K] "Late Lament / Resolvement" "Late Lament [K] (Can be part of J)

It's increasingly obvious that I will NOT do all of these in any given month. Priorities are given to sporadic contest. Blink and I may have to wait 3 months!

*Boxcheck* "No Dialogue Contest-CLOSED SS <700. June: DAD. No dialogue. "Bluegill [177.99] (323 words) HM *RibbonV*
*Boxcheck* "Poetic Traditions Poetry Contest <50. Old or new not awarded. Limited to 20. "Old Bob plants his garden
*BoxcheckR* "The Writer's Cramp - Poetry Week Daily noon-noon WDC = 10 a.m. MTT. Must be item. "Make that to ... [106] (298 words)
*Boxcheck* *Box* "The Taboo Words Contest ~ On Hiatus Monthly. Beach and avoid certain words? "Wavelengths [105] (17 lines) *TrophyB*
*BoxcheckB* "Invalid Item June. It's a dark month... "Abdication [108] (lines) *TrophyS*
*XW* "Journey Through Genres: Official Contest
*BoxcheckR* "Invalid Item 3 parts June 15-29 "Masked - 6 word story for June 2020
*XW* "The Contest Challenge A contest of contests... every month.
*Box* *Box* "Second Time Around ~ Birthday Special Old non-winners! Got lots of those (poem/ss) June 15th-14th
*BoxcheckB* "Share Your Faith until June 30. Story or poem. Prompt: dealing with anger. "Opening the garden ... of the heart [109] (36 lines)
*XW* "Inner Strength Contest July Theme: resolve <500 or poem 15 line max.
*BoxcheckB* "Kittiara's Writing Contest 1 ss, 1 poem. Theme: renewal "On the boat [107] (12 lines)
*Boxcheck* "The Random Poetry Contest through June 14. (closed for now)
*Box* "Invalid Item open for July
*Boxcheck*Je2 *Box*Jy1 "Invalid Item Round 73: hokku/renga "One hokku and eleven rengas *TrophyG* Round 74: mondo.
*Boxcheck* "The Humorous Poetry Contest Humor, so I doubt I'll enter. "From Missoula with Love (15 lines) (HM) *RibbonV*
*Boxcheck* "Verdant Poetry Contest - On Hiatus Nature-Summer. Form and words. "Knud Knudsen's Beach Burn [177.90] (HM) *RibbonV*
*Box* "Shadows and Light Poetry Contest Round 85 15th to July 14th. Old or new. Free verse <40 lines.
*XW* "Write from the Heart - closed Romance.
*XW* "Butter My Buns Contest Erotica! 500 words or 15 lines. July: devotion
Added:
*Box* "The Dialogue 500 SS <500. July: A Dialogue with your Doctor at the Sanitarium.
*Box* "The Science Fiction Short Story Contest SS <2000. July:
*Box* "The PET NEWS CONTEST SS <2500, P <40. July: a real wild pet
*Box* "The 4 Controversies Contest Opinionated non-fiction essay >1200. By July 17: covid-19
*Box* "WEIRD TALES CONTEST SS <1000, July prompt: invaders from outside. Item.

*Chicken* POULTRY

DAILY for JULY: "The Not-So-Daily Poem by 4 p.m. WDC
DAILY: "Invalid Item by midnight WDC

STATIC
One hokku and eleven rengas  (13+)
I wrote two lines 7/7 in response to other peoples hokku for a June 2020 contest.
#2225550 by Kåre Enga going to Montana


*Egg1* "On the boat [107] (12 lines)

*EggB* "Abdication (30 lines) [108]

*Egg3* "Opening the garden ... of the heart [109] (36 lines)

*Egg9* "Late Lament [K] (Can be part of J)

*Egg6* "Antidote [110] (20 lines)

*Egg5* "In a garden - 24 syllables [111]

*Egg7* "Once upon a time in Ontario [112] (10 lines, limerick)

*Egg8* "Peace until the rise of dawn [116] *RibbonB*

*EggR* "In Cathedrals of the Book [117] (16 lines)

*Egg2* "To remember Tokyo [118] (16 lines)

Not yet laid:

*Pig* PORK

June 27:
 
STATIC
Make that to ... [106] (298 words)  (18+)
< 300 words. Prompts: face, three, Mark; pride month coming out.
#2225430 by Kåre Enga going to Montana


*Reading* READING

Utopia, poesia de Costa Rica ... still
Mapping the Distance poetry by Alicia Hokanson.

*Video* MOVIETIME

I can't focus on audio-visual! I need to finish one movie and find one that works for me. I have 200 to choose from. May need to go on-line and watch some East Asian love story serials.

*CoffeeG* MARKET *Coffee* SENIOR CENTER *CoffeeR* COFFEEHOUSE

June 27th: Didn't bother with the sad farmers market. Went to Butterfly Herbs and said hello to a couple people, wrote, ordered a chocolate-lavender milkshake.

*CoffeeO* MY FORMER LIFE

June 1960s: roses bloomed this time of year where I grew up
June 2010: visited Lawrence Kansas.
June 2017: visited San Jose, Costa Rica.

*Cow* WATT'S GNUS

Elijah McClain: Colorado protesters shut down Highway 225 (CNN) Apparently when people have the time they can protest ... maybe a silver lining to this dark viral cloud.
We Could Be Feeling This for the Next Decade’: Virus Hits College Towns (NY Times) Ghostly Trump Towns. Missoula is impacted but has some Summer tourism.
Montana dphhs: 56 new covid-19 cases; highest since this began. 20 new cases in Missoula
Oklahoma voters approve Medicaid expansion as coronavirus cases climb 200k will be helped! Very good news.
At least 152 coronavirus cases linked to Michigan bar (CNN) It never gets better because Americans still want to party and the rest of us be damned.

*Earth* WATT'S GNUS INTERNATIONAL

Malawi's new president, a former evangelical preacher (AFP) I'm skeptical about religious leaders in politics. It's been rough in Costa Rica.
Kosovo president says he will resign if indictment confirmed (Al Jezeera) region is tottering even without this.
Pride celebrations stir tensions in Turkey (Reuters) A reminder that issues are global.
Taiwan expels two Chinese journalists over political shows (AFP) Ongoing tension heightens.

*Raspberries* OPINIONS

"Rebuilding a blogging community
"2020 wish for secular governments and human rights

*Martian* SPACEBOOK quotes (you can guess context):

*Penw* BLOGVILLE


Reference to challenges, contest and prompts (not all appearing on the same week):
BC: "Blog City ~ Every Blogger's Paradise (daily) (I'm not a member)
BCOF: "Blogging Circle of Friends using my Nlog (nature blog) "Nurture your Nature and "Hoarfrosts from Hell (daily)
BHC: "The Bard's Hall Contest using my Tlog (travel blog) "On The Write Path Theme: June is blog month.
JAFBG: "JAFBG (open rants)
JI: "Journalistic Intentions using my Blog "Enga mellom fjella (8 blogs from 16 prompts) "June post. I'm finished. "  
30DBC: "30-Day Blogging Challenge ON HIATUS (July)
MHA: "Invalid Item weekly prompts starting June 14th.
OP: "Invalid Item using my Plog "L'aura del Campo
PP: "Promptly Poetry Challenge (2023-2024) my Plog response to prompts as I missed the sign-up date.
Real: "Welcome To My Reality Forum 75 prompts
SB: "Space Blog


June 27th SB: "4149 305-313 Scribbles in all shades of green
June 28th SB: "7788 17 Future Past
June 29th SB: "You choose what you consume...
June 30th SB: "Stardate 4549 382-385
July 31st 30DBC: "Letter
July 32nd 30DBC: "Moods (Blood of the Garlic) [115]
July 33rd 30DBC: "Quentin has a royal hissy fit...

Visited this week so far and commented: Sum1 Kell Willsen Lyn's a sly fox WakeUpAndLive️~🚬🚭2024 Lostwordsmith tah2o SusanFarmer Alexi Cheddah SandraLynn Team Florent! QueenNormaJeanGreeneggs&vegham Bernie runningwolf04 lizco252isback skeason Charlie ~ Emily Apondia SB Musing Mighty Sumojo IceSkatingSugarCube Robert Waltz 💙 Carly bobturn StephBee - House Targaryen Prosperous Snow celebrating ♥Hooves♥ QPdoll Joy Chris Breva Debi Wharton Charity Marie - <3 Eric Wharton Sorji Elisa the Bunny Stik Elle - on hiatus ⭐Princette♥PengthuluWrites {......}

Trying to keep up on blogs. Over 30 last week but 15-20 is a better goal.

*MailY* Postcards:

Received touchnote from Cecilie sent from Paris last week.
#6 to Debi and Eric in Mississippi 6/27
#7 to my sister in NYS 6/27

Stained glass at Woolarac, Oklahoma:

Visitor's Center of Woolaroc in Oklahoma, Osage Nation. Tribute to Native America.


         *PoseyV*          *AntR*                              *PoseyV* *ButterflyV*                    *PoseyV*          *AntL*                              *PoseyV*                    *PoseyV*          
*Grass**Grass**Grass**Grass**Grass**Grass**Grass**Grass**Grass**Grass**Grass**Grass**Grass**Grass**Grass**Grass**Grass**Grass**Grass**Grass**Grass**Grass**Grass**Grass**Grass**Grass**Grass**Grass**Grass**Grass**Grass**Grass**Grass**Grasshopper**Grass**Grass**Grass**Grass**Grass**Grass**Grasshopper**Grass*

2.506 views as of June 27th.
June 26, 2020 at 3:17am
June 26, 2020 at 3:17am
#986555
Soft music crescendoed as I opened my eyes. It was still dark.

The nights here were longer than what I was used to.

I flipped a switch. The room glowed emerald. I tried voice commands, clapped my hands, turned the switch off and on, twisted it ... ah ... a softer shade of lime.

I began to read.

The customs, the culture, the language, how this planet organized itself.

The Gqarians owned nothing, ruled over nothing. The Grass People were the true 'lords' of this place. The Gqarians were their messengers.

I had always dreamed of stretching out under soft moonlight in the middle of the meadow with nothing to see but stars.

I expected the grass to be alive ... but not sentient.

I went to the balcony and stood there.

The music beckoned.

I saw a way to climb down. So I did. Now the whispers wove a welcome.

I moved towards the edge of a walkway and stepped carefully onto a carpet of green. A path seemed to open before me until the music stopped. I sat down and looked up. Peace shone all around me.

I felt drowsy so I stretched out.

The Grass People slowly swallowed me.

For "Space Blog

The prompt comes from the planet
 Jessica's Gift  (13+)
In the final analysis, having a dream is often more pleasurable than attaining it.
#2217323 by Adeline
:

In the final analysis, having a dream is often more pleasurable than attaining it.
June 25, 2020 at 3:35am
June 25, 2020 at 3:35am
#986470
Starships are smooth but need space ... a lot of it. On a planet they are useless and usually orbit a moon ... or hover far enough away from the gravity well to not be entangled by it.

A plane or train or ... well most anything ... Surface transportation is nice if it gets you there quickly, smoothly and on time.

A wagon pulled over rutted paths is none of that.

"Why are we taking a wagon?"

"Problem with that?"

"Nothing a butt massage and a couple of pills can't cure."

The Gqarian handed me a stick.

"Now chew on it."

The view was great. I must admit that. And traveling slower than a Snail-squirt would be relaxing if I weren't so sore. The plains were wide and flat. But the path wound around every rock. In fact it seemed to follow them.

"Are the rocks signposts?"

"Yep."

I got the unspoken message. In the quiet I started to hear odd music. It came from both sides. An ebb and flow like a call and response.

"They approve of you." The wizened woman handed me another stick and a cup filled with liquid. "Drink this."

It wasn't water.

I could almost make out voices. It was melodic with awesome harmonies. I'm trained in languages but not this one.

Then it stopped as a shadow passed over us and landed on a rock.

"Message for you," the Gqarian explained after listening. "We're expected by lightfall and will have to go faster."

The path seemed to smooth out as we gained speed. Not too much speed. But I wasn't bouncing.

The music returned becoming a symphony.

When we arrived the Gqarian explained. "The Grass People are alive and aware. They are wary and only allow intruders to follow the paths. They make them as rutted or smooth as they choose. They must really like you."

"Why?"

The Gqarian gave me an odd look and said nothing.

The meeting was cordial but few words were spoken. It was almost as if the flavors and fragrances were exuding a message ... one I couldn't quite grasp. With only a gesture I was shown to my (standard galactic) room and left to myself. Obviously this was not a planet accustomed to conversation.

For:
 
FORUM
Space Blog  (ASR)
Cruising WDC cyberspace and raiding ports for blog prompts!
#2223838 by Sharmelle's Expressions


Prompt: Write about a conversation you had with a person on a plane or on a train.

June 24, 2020 at 11:07pm
June 24, 2020 at 11:07pm
#986461
I’ll catch you if ever you should fall,
because I go wherever you go.


The words ring in my ears as I sign off my tasks. I wish I were already 'tucked in' and falling asleep, perhaps to dream of those I left behind.

Soon ... after a few more reports the Landers just handed me *sigh* are sorted and filed.

Most have now retired to their chambers. The lights have been dimmed. The Wings barely need them. The famous song "Night Eyes" was written about them ... by one of their own ... as if they were some subspecies of 'celestial owls'. I wish I had feathers and could fly.

But our family was heavy boned and bulky.

We were never close. Half of us had inherited the 'crazy' gene. The other half had no excuse. We were scattered across three galaxies. Or so they say.

I see families when we land and there are even a few on this voyage. At times I wish I had one.

I laugh. A teacher once said, "if wishes had wings pigs could fly."

Time to make the last rounds. I've left some old logs to keep you amused while I'm 'gone'.

Sweet dreams are made of these...

For every caress upon your cheek
is just a reminder from me.



For "Space Blog The planet is
My Wish  (E)
Written for Whispers of the Soul
#2096131 by Purple is House Florent
and the quotes are from Purple is House Florent

If you had three wishes, what would they be?
June 23, 2020 at 4:15pm
June 23, 2020 at 4:15pm
#986364
The specimen is from planet: "Invalid Item by bobturn

"Sometimes the loneliest place is in a crowd."

We have left Planet Teal and its pulsating sun. We slowly wind down our affairs. The Landers still seek to understand what they found; but soon, they too will shut down.

It's an empty lonely place, this void between stars.

A few have already sealed themselves in their quarters. They will snooze for however long it takes. Others make preparations. Our visit was much shorter than expected and some of the specialists were never woken up. For them this wasn't even a dream.

There are those who stay awake, who love the ensuing silence. They're a very tight crew. They live for the emptiness between these pinpricks of light, rest when we've arrived. Seldom do they ever ask to go planetside. They're known as the Wings.

Fortunately a couple are gardeners and harvesters. The needs of the crew lessen. Even Cook makes plans to retire to his slumber. He writes menus for the Wings. They could survive on bird seed, he grumbles.

This home away from home is always crowded. But like a mausoleum, it only echoes the words of the living who dare to speak.

There's a kind of a hush all over our winged world.

It settles in like dust.

Soon I'll doze too, but not for long. I'll wake up to check our status ever-so-often. It's my job.

In two 'days' the captain and her crew will leave the 'bridge' to the Wings and the lonely time-between-stars will ensue.

For:
 
FORUM
Space Blog  (ASR)
Cruising WDC cyberspace and raiding ports for blog prompts!
#2223838 by Sharmelle's Expressions


June 22, 2020 at 10:54pm
June 22, 2020 at 10:54pm
#986300
-1. "You are socially invisible," Courtney repeated.

Very dystopian. A 'virus' kills us all. (written 2013)

From Chapter 1 of 10
Trick or Tweet  (13+)
Technology is advancing at an ever-increasing pace. Can it be taken too far?
#1765162 by Tom Buck


0. A wanted outlaw finds herself face-to-face with an alien believed to be extinct.

Would you take a potion to cure immortality?

Chapter 1- A Cure for Immortality  (13+)
A wanted outlaw finds herself face-to-face with an alien believed to be extinct.
#1175396 by Sara King


1. “It really is becoming a bore to be the bearer of bad news again.”

Viral perhaps?

From a short story:
 Lost in Translation  (E)
Aliens arrive too late to a ruined world.
#2219803 by Chris24


2. Annie, never forget, what happens on Vegas, stays on Vegas. Live long and prosper.

A date with Spock?

From a fanfiction story 1700+ words:
 
STATIC
The Encounter  (13+)
Intergalactic dating
#2223437 by 𝔹𝕝𝕦𝕖𝕪𝕖𝕫


3. "You must mourn for your losses. Grieve for those you’ll see no more."

A parallel eArth.

From a short story 1100+ words:
 Invalid Item 
This item number is not valid.
#2158664 by Not Available.


4. "Clad in gray walked this space alien, Nine About Blue
who was sent to this Earth for a decade or two."

If you were sent ...

From a poem:
 
STATIC
Nine About Blue  (E)
A space alien, the solstice, and a new Moon.
#2224860 by Jatog the Green


5. "There were a few freshly cooked ducks hanging in the window, but the raw ones hung on hooks in the hot kitchen. You don’t cook duck cold, he used to tell me, because it won’t cook through if you do. The duck has to be nice and warm before you can do anything to it."

Can you write about "ducks" (or chickens or pigeons or hogs...) and make it a metaphor?

Gruesome 'crime' story:
 Duck  (18+)
Two men meet among the ducks.
#2021195 by Sz, the Poet


6. “Takes a lot to gain their attention these days, doesn’t it?” a man asked.

Can you say cryogenics?

Excerpt from a book:
 
STATIC
The Silo Saga: Thaw (20% Sample)  (13+)
In Silo 1, Hal discovers secrets about his past. Carlton's role in W.O.O.L. is revealed.
#2107554 by Patricia Gilliam


7. “Hello, Navigator. I am NavCom, your command interface and navigation system. You are being awakened from suspended animation. Your memory may be foggy as the effects wear off. If you do not remember, our mission is to map this sector. You were awakened because of a conflict of protocol. Your authorization is required in order to continue the mission.”

Would you be mournful at the end of the Universe?

Short story
Mournful, the dying Universe  (E)
A Navigator wakes up on board his ship with memory impairment.
#2021194 by Sz, the Poet


8. [Sahara] refuses to return to a home that abandoned her so easily.

"You know you can't always rely on the machinery to keep you alive," he said walking closer to her.

Intro to a book:
 Stranded   (13+)
Soldier turned engineer, she was abandoned on a strange planet left for dead.
#2224599 by Raven Valentino


9. How far would you go to save an enemy from assassination?

A chapter from a book:
STATIC
The Hannaria Series: Out of the Gray  (ASR)
How far would you go to save an enemy from assassination?
#1205290 by Patricia Gilliam


10. "It is a far, far better thing I do, than I have ever done; it is a far, far better rest I go to than I have ever known."

Opening line to Chapter 3 of a book:
 Bleached Nightmare Ch. 3  (13+)
A story set 400 years in the future, where mechs are powerful military units.
#2224698 by FatFluffyPenguin

21 Entries · *Magnify*
Page of 3 · 10 per page   < >
Previous ... -1- 2 3 ... Next

© Copyright 2024 Kåre Enga going to Montana (UN: enga at Writing.Com). All rights reserved.
Kåre Enga going to Montana has granted Writing.Com, its affiliates and its syndicates non-exclusive rights to display this work.

Printed from https://www.writing.com/main/books/item_id/1311011-Porthole/month/6-1-2020