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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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For:
A girl finds a coin that makes a spaceship appear, who will take her to a new world? "Invalid Item"  by Lisa Noe  On that planet, a native said, "I can't believe this is happening on my birthday." The captain decided to throw a birthday party on board. Odd things happen on birthdays. What birthday do you remember best? I am haunted by a childhood birthday party I can't remember. I soon refused to have them or go to them. I was surprised by one when I was 22 and that was nice but 2 days later my world fell apart. I don't do birthdays. Sorry, not sorry. As for magic coins... read on... Robert Waltz  in "En-listed" lists "The Top Ten Things I Most Desire In Life" I responded but expand here: "Money would allow me to have a car, maybe an RV to travel, a cat I could kennel when I travel internationally. I could make more but shorter trips so I'm not away from my kitty  for too long. A two bedroom apartment instead of two rooms would be nice ... maybe somewhere in the prairies or a place that's green. Yes, money would be nice so I could do all that. Until then I live within my means. Unfortunately that means I can rely on no one. It would be nice to have an accountant, a cleaning person, a personal lawyer all that support that moneyed people take for granted. |
dogpack:saving 4 premium: DWG  lamented in "LOST AND FOUND @ WDC" . So I added my three-and-a-half cents:"How is Holly [her parrot] doing? I'm a traveler so I don't have any furry or feathery companions. I'm usually not this housebound; my plants are not complaining ... much. They will this winter if I ever get out-of-here. Lost... I left my lunch somewhere Friday. Yes, that bothered me. I rarely get a turkey sandwich! But what bothered me more was that I couldn't remember where I'd lost it. And when I looked for dish soap yesterday I couldn't remember whether I'd used it all up. Still no clue. I live alone so the issue of feeling 'lost' is frightening." For
princess  , who has been a member here previously, wrote "Hugs" "The many meanings of giving a hug" I am asked to ponder: "Why do we all like hugs?"Because we never stray far from 'home'; we take it with us; and the womb to the tomb is a very short journey. Hugs help along the way. I personally like warm and cozy and that's what a hug is, especially a long 'deep' one. In seven months now I've barely been touched and went one month without a hug. It's devastating. 2,974 |
| This place isn't going to clean itself and it's end of the month contest-deadline-time. I'll be busy this week. Do I bother to read blogs and leave comments? Pehaps not this week. It's nice to get comments in return; but, apparently that's out-of-fashion. So disappointed. |
I am more listless than sleepless. I do much better on the road. Can't wait until I can  to  . QueenNormaJeanGreeneggs&vegham  writes about sleeping and also mentions homelessness in winter in Eastern Montana. "Sleep on Demand Command" .I commented: "I've been to Honolulu and seen the homeless. I was homeless in Kansas and weather was an issue, especially on holidays (which are holidays for everyone else) when most everything is closed. I don't know how they would keep me on my back without constraints. Not the kind of test I'd do well. Norma also played the part of Mrs. Kelly "Meet Mrs. Kelly" in "Happy Birthday Dear Grandpa" a comedy put on in her small town "Laughter in the Time of Corona" .Never know what's going to show up in the in-box. Hopefully this gives me some energy to tackle some not-so-good news I got earlier this week.  as 2nd Runner Up for the Musicology Anthology for
 for hosting it. And then this... ![Merit Badge in Musicology Anthology
[Click For More Info]
Congratulations on being the 2nd Runner Up in [Link To Item #1377819] 2020!](https://images.Writing.Com/imgs/writing.com/writers/badges/group-Musicology_Anthology-1086027_14.gif) As I told Emily  ... I do enter contests for the badge. I mean ... not everyone can win and although I win a few I'm up against some awesome writers. I highly recommend reading the winner "AC / DC High Voltage" by Legerdemain  .ME: Frost is predicted next week in Western Montana (but they really don't know...). AQI of 27 but hopefully some more sprinkles. A very cool day predicted. Scored supper! Bri had too much pancit (pilipino style) and banana cream pie. I made sure it disappeared.  No UM football games ... thankfully ... our covid numbers locally went through the roof today and Montana hit an all time high of 323. In Florida terms that would = 6,000 cases; if this were California = 12,000. We went from one of the safest places in the USA to one of the most at-risk. I am NOT amused. So every cough, every high temp has me worried. I check when I'm not feeling 100%. So far, s'okay. Went up to 99.1 (which is high for me) but then back to 97.6. I do the best I can. Robert Waltz answers "What is something that only comes once a year, but you always look forward to?" in "O'zapft is!" . Would you believe it has something to do with bier? I commented: "I was in Munchen. I avoided Oktoberfest because there's no place to stay and I don't drink bier. I went to Praha instead (too many tourists). As a child I'd look forward to strawberry picking time (late June). These days... when the local peaches ripen (especially white peaches in August). In Costa Rica the 'first' rain (April, varies). In Taiwan, the Lantern Festival (February, varies)." I don't believe in American exceptionalism nor nationalism nor military glorification. So rather than comment on a particular prompt, I'll just ignore it. Must remember to edit and post this poem by the 29th: "Red, gold and green [233] " . Posted. Yes, I want that badge! (see above)And this short story "Where the grass grew tall (913 words) Sci-fi" now "Where the grass grew tall [238] 960words" and posted.A 'taboo' poem "That reunion funeral [234] Taboo poem for 9/20 3rd place" , now posted.A sijo non-competing-offering for Judi "Interrupted [235] (sijo) " finished and posted.Another fiction (691 words)
For Stormy's newsletter (a bit bleak): "From the grave, a voice [237] (10 lines)" , now posted.Other snooze: Remembered to send postcard to Susan in Minnesota. Celebrated with pumpkin pie. And bought  a red watermelon (there were out of yellow) and an  eggplant. I'm a big spender! $9.50. Checked mail. Said hello to a couple people. Trying to stay vertical. Up to January 30th with my photos from last trip. Studying Chapter 9 of my Norwegian course. |
...just another voice whispered by the wind. In Chinese I am 微风 (Wéifēng). Whether I'm a good 'breeze' or a bad one depends on your perspective.  "A Voice Lost Among the Wind" sethermancrash writes "We all refuse to be another set of voices lost among the wind. We will be heard."Many of us who were shy as children have become out-spoken. As Death approaches for those of us who are elderly it becomes more urgent to speak, less frightening to pay the ultimate price. At some point we howl ... and we will be heard over the whimpers of our lost childhood! For:
Just got this: ![Merit Badge in WDC Soundtrackers BoMB
[Click For More Info]
Congratulations on successfully completing the 2020 [Link To Item #1987725] challenge in connection with WDC's 20th anniversary celebration!](https://images.Writing.Com/imgs/writing.com/writers/badges/group-WDC_Soundtrackers_BoMB-1979333_12.gif){kind=tracking} Which seems so appropriate!Another contest begins October!
 and Lyn's a sly fox  there as well. Jeff deserves everyone's support."30-Day Blogging Challenge ON HIATUS" : If I gave you $5000 and told you that you had to spend it today, what would you buy? Eric Wharton  would buy a boat "Gone Fishin'" and leave Debi home to bake bread?.I answered: "Bye, Debi? Have some fresh bread for me when I get home? Oh... ya gonna hear 'bout dat iffn she read dis. Did you ever buy her a rolling pin? I'd buy plane tickets. Maybe for March/April, maybe refundable just in case. Just checked out MSO-LAD-LIS-OSL-MSO To Luanda, Angola, direct flight to Lisbon then a flight home from Norway. $1,855! I'll have to try harder! MSO-LAD-LIS;OSl-NBO-BOM (Kenya and India added) for only $2,806. Google flights only lets me do 5 flights. I'll need to do about 8 to get up to $5,000. I wonder whether I could do an around-the-world again...  "Truthfully? I WOULD buy tickets and figure out acomodations later. It costs me about $1,000-1500/month for places to stay, eat, trips. I'm 'cheap'. Because I have not been traveling I can afford 3 to 4 months. Whether my body can take that is another issue. Of course, I could also buy a decent phone and spend some money on my writings and photography. Me: Went out to lunch (free). Sat with Kathy, Laxmi, Bill, Ben and Matthew. Turkey sandwich. AQI 17 = good. Temp: an autumnal 11 degrees with sprinkles. Today the question in the WDC newsfeed was about how one gathers/earns gps. I decided not to answer. I know some folks support this hobby by paying with gps. I know some have astronomical costs for rent. For me however writing isn't just a hobby, less important than a meal at a restaurant or paying to watch Netflick. At $12/month for premium I could do without one fancy meal, or a six pack of soap and 2 gallons of milk (both on sale for $7) if I had to. On my limited income I budget so I don't have to make those choices. I mean... how much does a fancy coffee cost these days? I'd rather be here. |
"Walking My Humans" by ♥Hooves♥  "I still like to walk these humans of mine." Write about walking a dog from it's perspective and views. Can't write anything from a dog's point of view today though, or maybe not ever as I don't have a dog and have never had one of my own. I do like the poem (I can quibble about cadence but that's my inner poet... pay no-never-mind). Not everything I write is from the human perspective. Each creature has a voice we can hear ... if we bother to listen. Yes, a dog walks a human. A cat has his royal servants. We aliens just watch in amusement. For:
Beholden  has an interesting entry "On Free Verse" that I responded to:My intro to 'poetry' as a child was bastardized Basho. The tortured European forms did not interest me. I had my own poetic voice but was never encouraged and because I wasn't a story-teller and not disciplined I stayed away from English majors. My interest was Linguistics. My degree was Biology. I was useless by the age of 23. I didn't seriously start writing poetry until I was 47. And I only wrote because I had to. So many years later I just write to forms or no forms. To paraphrase what you said,"I'm too old to fight." I just can't keep track! Since I reconfigured my blog I needed a place to list the deadlines for poems/stories and to keep track of those that have won and 'lost'. It's still a work-in-progress. "Conquest ... to keep track of contests" Me: AQI is 29. We're in the Green Zone! Temp is a cool 14° this afternoon. So I ventured out to pick up a lunch and wandered down to Sacajawea Park to sit with Willie, Ben, Phil and Laxmi. After solving the world's problems (after dumping you-know-who) I went grocery shopping. I only buy chocolate milk when it's marked down and Dove 'soap' when it's on sale. Scored both. Even remembered to pick up Lubriderm for me dry skin. To and fro I took a few pictures and collected some orange maple leaves. Once home... did not feel so good, very weak, so I napped the day away. I live alone and no one checks on me so I need to be careful. Seems like such a waste of time though. |
| Covid-19 is raging through Montana, especially among Native populations. The 22nd registered the second highest number of new cases. 10% of testing comes back positive. 30% of those hopitalized leave in a casket. 2% mortality rate overall. Folks think this is getting better? Come here and tell that to my face with your mask off! Cough-cough... you're it. As for smoke... it's back up to an AQI of 90... and I can feel it.  Will I be able to go out Wednesday the 23rd? Will shall see. For
Lorem Ipsum, Perhaps?  states in "A Slower Return" "Make the most of each moment...before it's gone". How do you make the most of each moment?I don't. Sorry... that's the truth. Especially when I'm depression napping. I'm not tired-in-a-good-way. I'm just worn out. Normally I'm more like a jumpy rabbit. Spurts of energy interspersed with little movement. I don't plod like a tortoise. With people I'm more feline than canine. I'm not a pack animal, which in this moment means I spend too much time alone. I like to be around people on my own terms. Which isn't possible now. That said Brian's poem focuses on a dead leaf  that in it's de-construction is 'giving back'. I can embrace that.    I do make memories when I travel. My photos take me back. But I know I not 100% present, not then, not now. Photos: finished New Years, January 25th, in Taipei... and the 26th. IceSkatingSugarCube  in "Dom Flemons Can Carolina My Chocolate Drops Anytime" went to a Cowboy and Poetry gathering. She posted two videos (one with her in the audience). I commented: "Funny that the first thing I notice is the difference between hair up and hair down. Yep, see you in the audience. Cowboy music and poetry together makes some sense because (my understanding) both based on the ballad (often 8/6 in English). Did not go out as AQI was 90-ish. Possible sprinkles by morning... I can only wish. So no 'lunch'. I made my own: pork and spinach, cottage cheese and pear-ginger jam. Found (re-found) some old postcards; some go back to the 1960s. I wonder who'd like to receive an 'oldie'. Just talked to my sister. Got mom's new phone number and her address. Today was her 70th wedding anniversary but she was meh... according to my sister. She doesn't have Alzheimer but at age 98 she has 3 types of days... 1a lucid, as in all there and knows who you are. 1b. lucid, but fictional stories, believable ones. 2. paranoid? just not in her right mind. Could be due to meds and/or when she has a UTI. L.A. Grawitch will be glad when the Season of Politics has passed. I know many here would concur. It's depressing and divisive. "Least favorite season" I responded; "I have friends that have quit spacefook ... I have warned them that I will not friend them again ... because? Apparently 2 [of my] friends were hacked this week and I got requests. I don't have time for games and I won't expose myself to hackers. I don't unfriend people but I've placed people on snooze for 30 days and should again soon (for my peace of mind). For me it's not differing political views, rather conspiracy theories, racism and islamophobia. I can get past the anti-vaxxers, the anti-maskers and anti-everything ... to a point. The fact-challenged " I Luv A Lie " crowd just works me into tizzy. I've cut back a lot. In the past we had these conversations face-to-face. The internet depersonalizes most everything." Just my opinion. |
| I was day-dreaming of the story I will write some day, 狐狸与微风 Húlí yǔ wéifēng (The fairy fox and the breeze) when I heard a sharp sound, looked up and saw something black sticking out of the top of my door. I got up to check. I don't like being startled; it can trigger my traumas. Well... there was nothing poking into my room above the door. It was my umbrella handle... that 'magickally' opened up without any help. It had been peacefully sitting in that spot for months, thank-you. Anyhoo... I don't always write down daydreams (which is a pity because unlike some folks I seldom remember dreams). But how can one ignore an umbrella with an attitude?  Really... So I wrote this part down and did a rough translation into Chinese. The fairy fox is but a myth; he melts into the morning's mist. You will find him unexpectedly; he will disappear as quick. Couplet: 8/8;9/7 [131e] 狐狸不过是个神话而已。他融化在晨雾中。 您会意外地发现他；他将很快消失。 Húlí bùguò shìgè shénhuà éryǐ. Tā rónghuà zài chén wù zhōng. Nín huì yìwài dì fāxiàn tā; tā jiāng hěn kuài xiāoshī. 10/7;8/6 (Chinese Tang verse is 7/7) [131c] When I try to make the versification fit I come up with this. Not happy; will take lots of work. 小白是一个神话。他融化在晨雾中。 你意外地发现他。很快就失去了他。 Xiǎo bái shìgè shénhuà. Tā zài chén wùzhōng rónghuàle. Nín shì ǒurán fāxiàn tā de. Tā hěn kuài shīqùle tā. I leave the translation as a beginning point to translate and form it into proper verse, maybe a (絕句: juéjù) as I tried in "Snow geese 雪雁 (xuě yàn) [177.87]" .I think I told Tinker  , maybe concrete_angel, that I would get back to this form. I think that umbrella knew...  that now was the time.This month's challenge is the Korean sijo:
Your choice will decide who shall be the next calendar girl for the year of hope... "Invalid Item" by Jenn Webster She asks "But for right now, I would very much like to know: Which symbol of hope would very best represent the calendar year of 2021, in which we hope would be a Year of Hope?" I told Prosperous Snow celebrating  :I chose the butterfly  because I believe humanity  must transform  to achieve peace (which is why I didn't choose  the dove)  .For me the sunflower  is a more comforting symbol. I choose the prairies over the sea or mountains. I understand why you chose ocean waves but they overwhelm me like a riptide or tsunami  .My Swedish roots wanted the blue and yellow but colors do not have the same meaning in every culture. It was interesting to have a link to a poll! For:
My life: 87 AQI... did not venture out. Tomorrow? May be better but the winds are light and if the rains don't come till Thursday... Dark early; didn't see any sunset. Pork-patty with cheese for supper. Plenty of coffee. Realized chapters 1-10 for Norwegian will only bring me up to A1 level. Part 2 will bring me up to A2 and has 10 chapters as well (found the link). I need to do this for myself. It's Autumn? Hmmpf. 2,952 |
| There was a sliver of moon tonight at dusk. Was it waning or waxing? I've used the moon as a poetic talisman before: "A radiant moon has set" "The moon is blue ice" "Owls at the hour of moonset" "Of mice, owls and moonflowers" "Shadowed silhouettte (gzaibun, Zmitri)" (still set on private for who knows what reason) For flash fiction: "The Moon Walks as a Man [119] (296w)" "Comfort of moonlight and shadows (253w)" "Lela Mae [75] (300 words)" And short stories: "Laura by moonlight" "Johnny-by-moonlight" Last night it was waxing...
"Never love a poet, she warns..." Why should we never love a poet? God may be sunlight but a poet is more like moonlight. A reflection, a mirror, a phantasm one cannot hold, a mere apparition or illusion. Poetic words like moonlight move us but both pass through out fingers as if they were a sieve. How does one possess a lover of moonlight... one that fades away at dawn? For:
See her how she flies Golden sails across the sky Close enough to touch But careful if you try Though she looks as warm as gold The moon's a harsh mistress The moon can be so cold Once the sun did shine Lord, it felt so fine The moon a phantom rose Through the mountains and the pines And then the darkness fell And the moon's a harsh mistress It's so hard to love her well I fell out of her eyes I fell out of her heart I fell down on my face Yes, I did, and I -- I tripped and I missed my star God, I fell and I fell alone, I fell alone And the moon's a harsh mistress And the sky is made of stone The moon's a harsh mistress She's hard to call your own. I told Joy  in "Autumn and Poets" : "Thank-you. I was a sensitive child that was somewhat wounded and a bit crinkled and crushed. Once in high school I wrote something very poetic (the assignment wasn't poetry) but I was never encouraged. I was 47 when I opened up."Future Mrs. B  is sounding good in "The Beauty of Letting Go" Autumn may be a colorful time, but is not her time to fall away like autumn leaves.  Elle - on hiatus  also had a positive post about a book she read and enjoyed. "Book review: The All for the Game series by Nora Sakavic" I responded: "So exy is a fictional game! Intriguing. I've read YA that is dark, so dark it is ... as long as it doesn't trigger me." MY LIFE: 11 a.m. AQI is 63 (moderate) so I'll go for lunch. 12° but should warm to 24°. Bright morning when there isn't so much haze. I wanted to leave this comment on a post but decided against it: "It's hard to know when to hang on and when to let go. I am at an age where I may be forced to let go. If I don't move I may end up being moved. When I left in 2003 it was as if a tornado had stripped me of all my leaves. Oklahoma was welcoming but it was a false Spring and Kansas an unexpected freeze. But Montana which was a respite and a place to come home to, is no longer my 'happy' place. These up and downs come and go as you well know. It's just hard for me to have perspective when I'm down. This too shall pass." I met up with friends for a blah-blah meal. I couldn't stay as long as they wanted. I just don't well for long periods of time. Norwegian... the grammar is going to kill me. That and I don't seem to be able to distinguish certain sounds well. Should we mention that vocabulary is also an issue? I'm at part 8 but snuck in a peek at part 9. My original goal was to complete all 10 parts by end of September. I could... but what will I retain? I slog away. 2939 |
| I don't even know if I have lost friends or family from covid. I have lost others to death or distance or disinterest. The empty chairs imagery works well for me. I wonder whether anyone misses me? I responded to Apondia  in her post "Friends" :Ouch. I'm not in contact with folks like I used to be. Feeling quite isolated these last 6 months. I used to have friends. And I remember how helpful folks were in the small towns where I lived in the 70s. But that era has "gone with the wind". That sense of emptiness is the theme for my blog today when I get around to writing it. Sunday is the most segregated day of the week. But it can also be the loneliest if you aren't a 'joiner'. And there's the rub. Even at the Senior Center I felt estranged. Joyce had her Tuesday group and was happy when I joined in (she was the glue). I'm sure I reminded her of her son. When he died she started to go downhill (heart failure). She died in March at age 89. I have her small bookcase. And memories. I have those. When Hugh died at age 97 about 4 years ago the Socrates Club fell apart. Now that Lavinia died in August I feel lonelier where I live. And Nick says hello when he comes to town and gives me a hug, but nothing is like it was before. Yes, I need new friends but I can't make them sitting at home. Folks gather outside the Senior Center (kept closed due to covid so we get to sit in the rain or smoke outside) M-F for a piss-poor lunch. I know they want me to come more often. But, I'm not into joining a group. This past week the dangerous smoke levels kept me away. Perhaps this Monday. There's a grief that can't be spoken, There's a pain goes on and on. Empty chairs at empty tables, Now my friends are dead and gone. Here they talked of revolution, Here it was they lit the flame, Here they sang about tomorrow and tomorrow never came. From the table in the corner, They could see a world reborn, And they rose with voices ringing, And I can hear them now The very words that they have sung Became their last communion On this lonely barricade, at dawn. Oh my friends, my friends forgive me That I live and you are gone There's a grief that can't be spoken, And there's a pain goes on… "To brighten my own days, and remind me what day it is, I am writing a poem a day on a chalkboard beside my front stoop." So says Katya the Poet  in "Chalkboard Poems" StephBee - GOT Survivor  did a virtual 5k walk with her son and has been writing, working on "Christmas in Bayeux" and looking forward to new possibilities (maybe the lost year of 2020?), and reading political/historical books. "Catching up September" I told her, "I have done lots of writing. Haven't been in the right mood to read though. That doesn't help. It would be nice to do a 5k walk. I sure couldn't run it!""The next time I write a story or poem, I will be more conscious of apophenia." You could look up 'apophenia' or just read Robert Waltz who explains in "Patterns" . I responded, "Haiku is based on two images with the reader connecting the dots and providing the emotion. What is evoked in me may not be the same as what is evoked in thee." amy-Has a great future ahead  is working on her book "Your Positive Life". See "September 20, 2020" I wrote, "Chapter 4: If It's Important To You It's Important To Me ... I sometimes feel that my poems/fiction and especially blog posts are "too much information" but then I get feedback that somehow I've put words to someone's dilemma. And that it helps. Afterall, we are all human. I think of Roberta Flack and "Killing me softly with his song". My life? I have done nothing today. But the AQI is 39 which is wonderful! And for some reason I'm getting images of May and mown grass and no idea why. I took out the garbage, strolled down to Anderson Park and bought 2 gallons of milk on the way back. I spoke to Shaun and Dan. Not much but better than normal. On disqus: • modejunky: "We’re just living on a raindrop." • RitaEvacuee: "She tastes like a raindrop, she got the look! Na na na, na na na naaaa" There's inspiration everywhere! 2,933 |
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