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 |  Left-overs piled on hot rice and mixed. |
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https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bibimbap พีบิมบับ (pheebimbap) At home in Thailand we do something similar. At home, we make rice and top it with whatever we didn't finish from the last meal. I finally decided to use June 2022's entries for my responses to other bloggers' entries. I tend to do this daily anyways and post in my weekly 'catch-all' blog (added to every day} "Porthole"  .
Each entry to be brought to the notice of Ԝ€ß☆ԜiʈCH and StephBee - GOT Survivor when they are running the Bard Blog Contest. For bitem:981150 sponsored by huser:webwitch and huser:sgcardin |
| To Khola Mousethyme in "Invalid Entry" Prop yourself up at the bar, cafe or library. Add a sign: Advice: $0. Good Advice: I pay you! Or anything silly will do. "Gab with a Granny/Geezer" "Free advice. Not necessarily useful... but the price is right" "Free Hugs" "Prove me wrong!" "Cookies" "Lemonade/Water". Getting out is the key unless people are used to visiting (I do remember the past century when neighbors were a tad less paranoid). Isolation is deadly. Power... have a Plan B. Now would be a good time to make one. Where to go. Who to call. How to manage electricity. Back-up generator, rechargeable batteries, do I know my neighbors? I grew up in Snow Country. Neighbors were important. I'm having difficulty making connections in Thailand. This small city is very convenient and easy to live in but I don't know more than a few words of the local language (slowly...) and many ex-pats are unfriendly. To IceSkatingSugarCube (Jennifer) in "Swim Meets, Vacations, and Trees, Oh My!" "Is this the house with the 5 bedrooms, a quiver full of kids and a gazillion cars? I like willows. I'd cut the dead part and leave the living.As for swimming... I'm learning! I have to work on breathing because I get short-of-breath and then I panic. Water is warm and not deep so I'm making decent progress. Days can be a hot 90 with nights 75. Thailand can be steamy in rainy season. I love the rain! Sun burns. I wear a hat. Even when I sweat working out (yeah... I'm doing that too... surprise!) I wear long pants and sometimes a long sleeve shirt. The flies and skitters are pesky. Thankfully we have lots of birds. Covering up is essential here during the day." For QotD. A list of 5 from least to worst: 5. Having a gun (real or fake... never knew) put to my head. I was cool and collected. 4. Being forced to drive to the border (I stopped at the precinct instead). I was mindful and focused. 3. Waking up to someone in my room standing by my closet. I was screaming and hysterical. 2. Being caught in a riptide, Cahuita, 1974 whilst I was walking alone. I was terrified and panicked! 1. A couple events from my childhood I cannot remember. I still am frightened of heights/edges and despise birthday parties. Trauma is never what happens. It's how the body reacts. Being homeless triggered traumas and was traumatizing in itself. I have a whole list for that and other events. My high-anxiety and deep-depression stem from those. I'm actually doing much better these days. |
| To Stik re "Let's Hang Out" : I immediately craved a rootbeer float. The ice cream in the fridge is blueberry/banana/raspberry. Would any go good with Pepsi? I have no idea what a zero-proof or and arcade-bar could be. Maybe a blog on regionalisms of the Frozen North Coast? I see no reason why a bookstore or library couldn't be 24/7. Yes, it would have to be set up for that but there are 7/11s here and all-night diners in US cities, and... the cop shop could be open with a public area instead of being a bunker (the ones I remember). No reason why it couldn't be in a mall, one that includes a tower or six of apartments. The integration of work and play and a place to stay is foreign to Americans who insist on living in don't-speak-to-your-neighbors whitewashed suburbs, work in a place that must include parking and an hour commute, while they spend their one-week vacay in deSantis-land or flying into the Casino-smorgasbord in the sweltering desert. I used to hang out in cafes pre-covid and went to the library every Tuesday. Here? I walk to the market most every day, drink coffee at home, and still have no clue where the local hang-out is located. Pan prefers delivery and taking Grab (like Uber) instead of walking. I could scream. To Mary Martin Arnold on fb: "OMG... that is spot on! I remember Brandon... very violent alcoholic. In getting to know him I realised that drugs and alcohol were his meds. His severe depression was one of his main problems." To fatherthymme re "Day337, 7-21-23 Update" : "Good to see an update. Have you tried an eye-patch? Regardless, you'll need new glasses come August.At 71 I'm slowing down and being very careful; but, this year in Thailand has helped: not living alone, working out every day, swimming most every day, getting out of bed (number 1 most important task). I keep track of new routines to establish new habits. "I may be slow but it gets done." To Steph re "Book review: The Duke and I " I really really need to do reviews of Thai BL series. I've watched enough to actually know what's what! I prefer those that are more than a rom-com. One I'm watching now "AiLongNhai" is supposedly fluffy and pointless and unlike most BLs the sex comes in episode #2... which actually makes sense plot-wise. Sex-too-soon, even when consensual, provides the tension. I'm also watching "Home School" (horror imho) and "Enigma" (super-natural drama), neither of which is BL, two series with young actors I'm familiar with due to BLs. What works? Chemistry between the couples-to-be, the ease with which the actors play off each other and whether they become their character is one essential ingredient. I so need to do reviews! To be edited... |
![Merit Badge in Bard's Hall Blogging Merit Badge
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For Blogging with the Bard's Hall, June 2023](https://images.Writing.Com/imgs/writing.com/writers/badges/group-Bard=s_Hall_Blogging_Merit_Badge-2094227_12.gif){kind=icon} Bard's Hall Blogging Merit Badge Honorable mention. I will try to do better next year. This year I was thrilled just to finish. My concern? Blogging is still not respected and apparently there has always been a discussion as to what a blog is and what purpose it serves. Like the difference between Bookface, It'sagram, Twatter and Tock-Tic. None of them are good for blogging though. Bookface is great to keep connected and is useful for photos; Twatter serves blurby banter (great for the inarticulate or irrational); It'sagram works for short poetry or prose and photos; Tock-tic is video based and unfortunately misused and easily misinterpreted (there is no rest-of-the-story). All serve folks who prefer scandal and shallow connections. Memes may be 'funny' but they are a waste of time for me personally. So... back to blogs.
No sweat really. WdC writers seldom read blogs (I keep track of views) and even fewer leave a 'like' and seldom do I get a comment. 7 people commented in BiBimBap in June. Which was nice. I haven't responded to all comments yet; I usually do in time. |
| We swam last night after 7 p.m. The water was warmer than the day before; the chlorine was less. I love floating on my back looking at the Moon and Venus. The canyon between the towers blocks out most of the sky, but city lights... *sigh*. I'm slowly overcoming my fears. Going into the pool every day would be best. To WakeUpAndLive️~🚬🚭2024 (Petra) in "To swim or not to swim" "I have to exercise and walk every day. Easy in the 6 condo towers. We have a small 4 station workout place outdoors, an indoor exercise room (that I don't use). We also have 3 pools. I put swimming on my to-do list. I have been afraid of water since I was a child; so, this is good for me. I remember seeing the ocean for the first time when I was 21. I remember the blackness, the stars, the Southern Cross and the terrifying immensity of it all." I was raised by parents of the Greatest Generation. My mother's family struggled through the Depression and she would hoard anything that could be reused. We didn't waste tin pans or left-overs. I learned this lesson well. Here in Thailand I try to teach Pan how to recycle plastic bags for garbage and how all food must be consumed before it goes bad. Fortunately our place is very small and Pan likes to clean more than I do. He also looks after me. To intuey GoT Survivor! in "Yea, Here I Go Again ...." "My life has changed drastically in the past year. I had this crazy idea of traveling around Thailand... but I ended up in a condo and a relationship. Both totally unlike me. I even work out each day and go swimming. I've been allergic to any notion of taking care of myself in the past. I live in small places. I'm a depressed clutterer who can't get rid of anything. A small place puts limits on my insanity. Entering contests is one way to restart the writing-engine." Each place has a rhythm. I've tried to establish my own routines: exercise before 10 a.m., read/write blogs when it's too hot to walk, watch TV at 20:30. In the tropics there are morning chores and evening markets. The sun and heat of the day (10-4) is best avoided. A/C is everywhere that's enclosed (like the present cultural exhibition in UD Town under 2 adjoining canvas quonset huts). I look forward to rain every day. To Anni Pon re "Turning blue in June" "I vote for the Pomegranate. Ancient symbol for many things.I absolutely don't do resorts. If I did I don't know whether I'd join in with people or hide. The neuro-science gathering seems promising. NaNoWriMo can wait for a different month... maybe October? Choose one that will allow you to focus without too many interruptions... one with 35 days is best. Montana Smoke Season is brutal (especially if there are 'controlled' fires in Idaho). Smoke in Isan started in February and lasted through April in Thailand (due to a government mistake and lack of ASEAN regional cooperation). I love Rain Season. I do not like SADD (both summer and winter for me)." "I like the beginning of Spring and Autumn. Growing up, summer was too hot for me; winter too dreary. In the tropics (Thailand 16 degrees N; Costa Rica 9 degrees N) the end of Cold Season is Hot! Hot and dry and smoky and may be great at a beach but not for me. The rains are a godsend; but by the end... the grey skies and deluge is a tad too much. In both places that would be March-April and September-October... kinda... sorta... I'd rather be in Montana during those months; but, reality has fangs and bites.  I can get a arctic-summer-high. However, that's not good for my balance either. I had to be careful visiting Norway in summer and winter." For June, 2023
sponsored by Ԝ€ß☆ԜiʈCH and StephBee - GOT Survivor ~ 640 words 59 |
| I would love to have tea with Elycia someday in Malaysia. I've done it with other WdC members: Mavis Moog and Scarlett immediately come to mind. However, Zippity is not my name. I am slowed down or blocked at times by anxiety and depression. Sharon's "Easy" is mournful... I relate to mourning, to the blues, nordic-noir, the bittersweetness so often found in French art. A note just a bit off, like in bossanova or "I think it's going to rain today", the plaintive moan that sunshine cannot assuage. I must ask her what it would take to revive her contest: "Poetry Song Contest" "Easy": https://web.facebook.com/hashtag/songchallenge2306 "Autumn Lullaby" (written by me; music by Sharon Rachel) "Autumn Lullaby " : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R9lrxKzADTATo Beyond the Cloud9 (Sharon West) on (fb): "You are totally mould-less or is that moldless ... apparently neither word exists but you certainly do! What it isn't is zippity-do-da Doris Day (loved her by-the-way) but maybe it's a croon... a very dark moaning croon? I dunno. I don't understand genres in general (too restrictive imho) and molds don't suit me well. Choice of black/white works well." I'm naturally neurotic. Let me count the ways... some other day. It could be a multi-chapter book in and of itself. Organization is tricky for me. I keep track of my daily objectives in my blah-blah blog "Porthole" to remind me that I need to accomplish something that day. This helps on days like this past week when I'm concerned (a polite word for what I'm experiencing) over my impending trip out of Thailand (1 day, 3 days, 10 days; Laos, Malaysia, Cambodia...). I'm torn between choices. Some of my objectives: work-out, watch BLs, walk, actually help distract me. At the end of the day if I have a  that makes me feel like I've done something, even if the "Elephant in the Room" is still crowding me. To Elycia Lee ☮ (Elycia) "My Ideal Day " : "It seems like a peaceful flow... do you manage this?I'm more of a rabbit... running from task to task, but like a turtle... slow, slow... slower. I make lists in my "garbage can a.k.a. dumpster" blog to keep track and remind me. It works most days. I do tend to start with a brief workout, mostly because it's too hot after 10! I wear sweat pants and a long shirt (Thai flies are pesky and mosquitoes are mean). Speaking/listening/learning Thai is another daily check-off. Walking is crucial but swimming has been more sporadic as I won't go in alone (don't like water). Reading? I try to read 3 blogs/day. Writing? Depends... I have to make a visa-run and considered Malaysia. Flight or train to Hat Yai... cross to Padang Besar... easy peasy; but, I'm too stressed to do it at the last minute. Train is 33 hours from Udon! Perhaps in August. I do imagine using an asteroid as a space ship. The trick is structural integrity. If one could mine it properly without that potentially disastrous side effect there's great promise in inhabiting a rock that's self propelled. Oxygen? Not an issue in a closed system with oxygen generators (plants under interior solar lamps powered by external solar power?). Same with a cloud-ship over Venus. The surface may be too hot, although we have life around thermal vents on Earth, but the atmosphere at a certain distance may be just right, or already ripe, with life. As for the Goddess... I don't mess with Her. English demands humanoid pronouns so "The Holy It" doesn't fit and frankly, I don't think gender should be an issue. Only certain religious groups have this obsession over God's gender. To Harlow Flick, Right Fielder (David) "Invalid Entry" "Are you saying I can see-or-skip "Asteroid City"? May I assume one lives inside the asteroid? Imagine a hundred asteroid cities with inter-asteroid connections. Sounds interesting to me. "Islands in the Sky?" Or is that applicable to cloud-ships sailing the mists of Venus?The Goddess needs to have a one-on-one chat with Charles and Cindy. I sometimes challenge comments, but try not to belittle the commenter. Hopefully the God of Sodom-and-Gomorrah isn't filling-in for Her that day." For June 2023
Sponsored by Ԝ€ß☆ԜiʈCH and StephBee - GOT Survivor ~660 words 51 |
| I thought living alone was grand until covid hit. The loneliness did great damage. Now I share a place. In spite of the barriers of language, culture and personality, it's worth it. Pan does any heavy lifting. We both cook and shop and clean; but, I think he does more. He can't manage money and he doesn't believe in planning, but I do! In many small ways we help each other. Neither of us has any energy. Me due to age; Pan due to meds. To Sorji (Sara) in "I knew I wouldn't get anything done this weekend. lol" "Family. You have a life... and a family. Never underestimate those blessings. Games and books = a movie? For some reason I thought of the ancient movie "Tron". We keep rice and coffee in our place at all times... and eggs. So much one can do with rice. We walk to the nearby markets (street vendors, stalls, etc.). At my age I'm very very careful No lifting for me! I do a mini-workout every day when I'm home and walking is on my checklist. Use it or lose it! I don't know whether I've lost any more weight, but I don't seem to have gained any back... so that's good. " I was stopped by the plaintive mews of a cat yesterday. She looked like she had babies. She had a collar and was quite friendly. Hope she's there next time I pass by. A real sweetie with startling green eyes. AI is a real threat or opportunity. It's difficult for people to adjust to rapid change. To bob county (Muzzy): "Read a bunch of your short entries in your blog "That is perfectly normal... Maybe." . I like the randomness and flow. That said, I think that "Glen Beck is a UFO." poses a serious question and the idea of humans becoming pets isn't too far off base nor too far off time-wise. But pets can and do control their 'masters'. Ask any cat willing to tell the truth."My Aunt Verna lost her ability to smell when she was around the age I am now. She could only smell onions. I may be going down that road. Since smell and taste are related I wonder whether my ability to tolerate brussel-sprouts and onions has something to do with the loss of certain senses. As for chili spices? They make me cough, sneeze or choke. I think of my sister and her allergies. We are so alike in many ways other than this. To Joy (Joy) in "Scents and Smells" "Patchouli... the original Time Machine!We use rose a lot here; The smell of durian will make you run! But in Montana I love sandalwood and lavender and cook with herbs de Provence. I'm moody ... so perhaps I'm more affected than most folks. I don't have the allergies that many complain about." For June 2023
Sponsored by Ԝ€ß☆ԜiʈCH and StephBee - GOT Survivor ~450 words 47 |
| Yep. A sorting task. A prioritizing. A letting go. A going-forward. A... long listing list of issues. Capsize! I didn't quite make it to the toilet on time a couple days ago... but I cleaned it up to the point that Pan didn't notice and I feel no need to mention it to him now. We have bigger issues at present. But in the past... my job/home balance wasn't always great; and frankly, when everything went down the toilet it was sad but predictable. I was completely overwhelmed and I didn't see the landslide coming and how I wasn't going to survive it. I did survive it, but much was lost. I do have better boundaries than back then. Not perfect, but better. My home is who and what I carry with me. To LeJenD' Looking Up (Jen) re "So Much to Do" : "Advice can be used for bird-cage and litter-box lining... and can be as crappy as dog-diarrhea. So... I proceed with caution.1. You are aware that there's an issue. That's half the battle. 2. Your boss/friend/dog's-human-dad can help by insisting on work boundaries. 20 hours max? Over 2 days, 4 days, no more than 5 days (unless working 3 hours/every-day works for you like the routines of getting up and making breakfast...)? 3. There will always be too much to do. Let it go... let others... Your puppies (no matter the age) will thank you.  "To Jen on the Newsfeed: "My anxiety is rising. I'd rather just stay home for the next two months. But... my butt needs to leave Thailand (for a new visa) for a day or two or maybe even ten. I don't want to.  It may be a lesser known footnote of the Rule of Entropy (movement = life) versus Frictional Facts (this place feels like velcro)."Tang Ping (Chinese) or 'Lying flat' is a movement about doing nothing. Less work = less stress. After I lost my job and income I felt broken. When I managed to acquire income I felt no urge to work. I learned to live within my meagre means. It suited me well. I'm quite 'successful' now. I explore the world. I learn about people, culture, and language. I record my memories in thousands of photos. I've written thousands of pieces of poetry and prose. After numerous head injuries I try to not bang my head literally or metaphorically. To Margi (on pookfaze): "It's an issue in Thailand where 'working hard' doesn't matter. Who your daddy is = success regardless, because nothing else matters. There are other issues like colorism (whitening is a big issue here as it is in most of Asia, but in Thailand those with European or Chinese blood have naturally lighter skin and therefore... ). I grew up in this type of environment totally unaware that there was a ceiling. [Here] Thais are aware and most don't bother banging their heads." I swore-off meds ages ago. I try to regulate myself in other ways. Am I successful? I'm sure my old friends would have differing opinions if they were to get to know me again. I'm an alien in so many ways in spite of being related to my younger self. Meds help many and hopefully they will help Elle and her family in New Zealand, and me and Pan here in Thailand. To Elle in "Invalid Entry" : "It takes time for medications to even out. Glad you are happy to be on them in the meantime.Pan has severe medications and a diagnosis that would be greatly concerning if I wasn't already familiar with it in other friends. That said, he had a major breakthrough a couple days ago after a scary moment. He ADMITTED that he has severe issues, has to take his meds, that the side-affects are lada lada lada. His body needs to adjust. In his case he wants/needs to sleep... like 16 hours/day. So... he struggles and I struggle with his struggles. My own struggles? At my age I work around them; although, I'm not sleeping well and my anger-issues flare up at inopportune moments." For June 2023
Attention: Ԝ€ß☆ԜiʈCH and StephBee - GOT Survivor. ~670 words 45 |
| So, here's the deal. I have a goal of reading and commenting on three blogs every day (leaving a 'like' doesn't count). It takes up a lot of time because I try to give it some thought. Mind, you, when I'm triggered, that leaky dam bursts and heaven-help anyone downstream. I'm highly opinionated, not always 'right', but have a wide array of experiences. Today I'm being triggered by many things. Voices? No, the flashbacks. I've felt threatened and treated poorly at times and today I can't mask it. Sorry. I shared a room growing up, usually shared a room in university, and scrambled for a spot on the floor in a homeless shelter for two years. So, yeah, I get the importance of privacy and having some control over where I sleep. I also know all about clutter. I'm very prolific and have written most every day for over 20 years. Editing is another issue; but, I looked at something I wrote in 2009 today and gave it its own item! "Obituary for a bad boy" Soon I'll be traveling for maybe 10 days and that rearranges my priorities and energy-level. To Khola Mousethyme (Mouse) re "Invalid Entry" : "A Room of Your Own. Yes, you are right to be grateful as you know the alternatives. I was thrilled when my disability went through and I could rent a place with a roommate, and then when I moved into my own place. Now I share... but that is my choice. So much is about options. The rest? Details. But I don't find the mundane blah-blah-blah boring. Writing? Yeah, scratch those notes down. Make a pile of them separate from the other piles (trust me on this)." Re "Invalid Entry" Not all "laziness" is just being lazy. I'm low energy. I get easily over-whelmed. Other people's expectations seldom make me do anything. If I'm not motivated it's hard. I have made writing goals and objectives before; but at the moment, I'm focused on Thai language and culture and "working out". And next week I travel. Yes, I scratch down notes. Yes, I write. But the "big" items will have to wait. I've lived in group settings. Even loving families can be challenging. But we are communal not solitary animals. I find the self-determination movements limiting. One can learn from them and I don't want to force people to live in rigid religious communities or chaos like many homeless people are. I also don't believe in segregation, criminalization, incarceration, involuntary conversion or ghettos. So, I think there's much to learn from alternative lifestyles. Live off the grid? There's much to be said for proper architecture and engineering. The Ancients knew this. Adobe, caves, igloos... they knew about wind, sun and water. They built civilizations. And hermits are fine, but they cannot survive without community. There are more homeless people in Missoula than there are living in this 'forward thinking' group in New Mexico. And they too know all about the harassment that non-conformers face. To 🌸 pwheeler - love joy peace (Phyllis) re "Earthships - America's Off-Grid Desert Community" : "I don't believe in separate self-sufficient units. Yes, I think it's a good idea but off-the-grid [individual units are] a waste of resources imho... as are HOAs, gated communities, same-age, same sexuality, no-children, same religion, same ethnicity... The idea of recycling is great. But... there are plenty of homes in Michigan, Indiana and elsewhere that could be recycled and already have the infra-structure like roads and utilities. If these units [in NM] were connected, grouped, close to markets, etc. I'd be more inclined to support them. They will remain the play-things of the wealthy, the paranoid (afraid of people), xenophobes, or the lovers-of-tech geeks. As a unit they may be sustainable and the experiment is laudable; but, it's not an open inclusive community." Urban-planning is one of my major gripes. I would gladly live in Torino, Italy or Goteborg, Sweden. Both are very liveable, beautiful!, walkable and connected with the outside world. Very few places in the USA offer anything close to the experience they provide. So... why don't we hear about them? 1. Hubris and ignorance: Americans think they are better than others so they don't look around. 2. Priorities: bling-bling and money matters more than getting along. 3. Tourists don't live in a place. They 'party'. It's why Orlando and Vegas are destinations but not Pittsburgh or Omaha. Without the perspective and experience of a city that works, most folks rely upon hearsay or ignorance, unaware that their city could be improved upon, not just for them, but for everyone. I wrote a blog entry in response to Stik's post and will need to edit what I deposited on her doorstep and post it elsewhere. To Elisa the Bunny Stik (Stik) re "Autist Behind the Wheel" : Many transit issues are cultural. In this condo people use the elevator and not the stairs. Sometimes they choose to wait for the next trip. Oft times they turn their back, and rarely exchange a word. In Japan people walk crowded streets and ride crowded trains, never intentionally touching. Privacy is coped with in different ways. Over-stimulation? It's a societal norm to not make noise on public transport. Americans tend to be more gregarious and self-centered. Americans have this image of dirty dangerous subway systems perpetuated by the media and sensational stories they consume. Sorry, Americans... Taipei and Bangkok have reliable, quick, and clean MRTs. Mexico City subways may not be new or clean but they go most everywhere. None of these systems are expensive either. The poor can and do use them; but then, poverty isn't considered a disease everywhere in the world. The Asians I've met (in Taiwan, Thailand, Japan, with a sprinkling of visitors from elsewhere) may want money, may want to be rich, (may even look down on the poor), but they don't treat the poor as poorly as Americans do. Their cities are livable and transportation is available. Is this 100% true? Of course not! I don't live in the Land of Absolutes. ... cont'd... The rest of my rant is in my general blog "Week 15 of the year 180" . For
~ 1000 words 42 |
| I am not lost. Except that I am. But I'm not interested in just conforming to others' beliefs to assuage their fears that there are possibilities outside the box everyone is expected to live in. It's fear that kept me from using drugs. Fear kept me in school. I conformed in many ways. But, I needed to crawl out of my own box... and found myself in a bigger one. Travel? Still a box. My comfort zone is larger than many of my friends but it's still a comfort zone with walls. To Jeff re "Christian Q&A + Faith" : "I'm not a Christian (no problems with Jesus). But I'll try to answer this as a Baha'i.I would repeat the three Onenesses: God is One, God's Messengers come from the same Source, Mankind is One. It has guided my life and how I act. We do not have rituals; but, I could work on prayer and being more mindful in my interactions with others. In Montana there's a mix of religious beliefs but many are Christians. In Thailand Theravada Buddhism is official but there's freedom of affiliation. In both places I need to be aware of the importance of ritual to others. My life has not been blessed by the criteria often cited by Americans; but, I've been blessed in other ways. I don't consider any burden [I carry] to be placed by God. However, many of God's "followers" have been brutal in their narrow application of my-way-or-the-highway. I bear no cross; I seek no salvation. That's the burden borne by others." I am learning to swim in the condo's pool to overcome my fear of water, one that started as a child. I float on my back and gaze up at Venus talking to the Moon. I'm a landlubber who would be content (read 'prefer') to do this in the Flint Hills of Kansas. On a boat? Not so much. But I've had to be flexible in the past so I would if I had to. I couldn't write Viv's story because it's so far away from my own experience. dogpack:saving 4 premium: DWG (Viv) re "Dream Voyage: Revisited" : comment in her notebook: "I don't review because I'm not qualified; plus, dreams are quirky. A blow-by-blow account of the storm (dropping into it or severely clipping the intro - the epilogue may need a word or two added, the gravelly shore was warm, grass green, trees unbent, rocks solid beneath me something short, sweet and concrete) would provide the focus for a flash fiction. 500 words? Less? More? Questions... what kind of boat? It doesn't matter in a dream, but details make a better story. What colors, sizes, shapes can be added? What sounds, smells, touch, tastes (eating anything when the storm hit? did you keep it down?). Add a back-up boiler and make it steampunk! Whatever works. This can be worked with. Personally, I'm frightened of water. I bob, don't swim. A barrel would be comforting in some ways." Neil's mother just died. Mine died last year. Both lived a long life. My mother became nicer in her old age. A pleasant surprise. It would be nice if I did. I struggle with my own issues; but, when my mother died some left-over childhood issues seemed to dissipate like mist. Maybe they were a mirage all along. I also deal with anger. So does Pan. I need to let go and slowly I am... just not quick enough. Dr Gonzo (Neil) re "A Sad Day to Rejoice" : Yes, a fighter. Almost 90. Not bad post scarlet fever. That said, every day comes to an end. Apparently she had many happy ones and bestowed blessings on everyone she met. "Floating on a Sea of Guilt Ridden Relief" Family is an important part of a hospital stay in Thailand. They assume everyone has family and that family will visit, feed and look after needs. Families tend to be strong here; but, not everyone has one. When my mother died last year at age 99 I felt a certain-lightening. Fortunately, my sister was there and it was her time-to-go. The rage isn't good. It's understandable though. Had a good discussion about rage last night. The air-between-us seems clearer now. After the storm... the calm. Stuff. You will find new homes for some of it, choose to keep some of it, realize that with every touch you are touching something your mother once held. If you ever feel overwhelmed... let it out. Life is a series of wounds and healing. For June 2023:
Attention: Ԝ€ß☆ԜiʈCH and StephBee - GOT Survivor ~ 730 words 32 |
| 24 June. Pride Parade in Udon Thani later today. That said, it has been a difficult 30 hours... to be posted elsewhere if I'm moved to share. Some things break and cannot be mended or when bandaged never quite heal. Jeremy writes to this and I responded in kind. Mind you, Kevin was a friend not a lover; but, I'm in a complicated relationship at the moment and I no longer know what to expect. I'm old, so in some ways it won't matter as Time will move on, just as my present flame will, without me. To Jeremy Jeremy | 21 Years On WDC re "Repeat Until Death" : "For some 1+1 = 3. My parents were like that in some ways. But me?I remember Kevin. I still call out his name. A part of me died when he cut me off after 24 years of friendship. It was bad timing and became a part of a downward spiral for 4 years. But time moved on even if I didn't. After 20 years would I like to hear from him? You betcha." Charity looks forward to the open road. I remember that thrill!  But it has been many years. I considered an RV and should've bought a car at the beginning of covid; but, I didn't have a crystal ball. Nowadays I'm in Thailand after traveling for many years. It's amazing what one takes with oneself. Not the trinkets, but the memories and emotions and other baggage. Amazing what one can live without. To Charity Marie - <3 "A New Beginning" : "When I travel I take things that I cannot easily replace... like my chromebook and charger... never forget the charger! And my extra pair of glasses (and prescription) because I've been known to misplace them. Clothes can be bought and so can toothpaste. You have wheels so no need for 50 triple-rolls of TP. Living on less though can be challenging. Following a minimalist approach might be best on-the-road. In hostels people bring books to read and then purposely leave them and pick up a new one. (Little libraries may become your friend. If you stop on libraries along the way, a donated book of yours may be appropriate.  ) Same with shampoo or anything difficult to travel with. They leave it! Someone else may just need it that day. It's acknowledging that needs will always be provided. Wants? Make that a short list. Like that bracelet. Want it? Focus on what is necessary to achieve it. I use my place in Montana as a livable live-in quasi storage unit. I have less here. That said, it's time to unclutter here and there. Next stage of your interesting life... enjoy it." Broken? Like I told Norma Jean, some things are worth mending; like I shared with Jeremy, some things are never forgotten. And like I've mentioned to Charity, knowing what to take and what to let go is a lifelong lesson. My memory is a mishmash of cluttered thoughts. Some aren't worth keeping. But... they lurk in the recesses of my mind. Like Sabetha, like Crete, my first car, working in the fields, hospital, community outreach. It's not that all memories are precious. Some just get stuck in forgotten corners. To QueenNormaJeanGreeneggs&vegham "Cheep! Cheep! Cheep!" : "Not gluing back the pieces? Kintsugi came to mind, but that's with gold. Worth it if it were a special heirloom or one-of-a-kind. Jumpy? I mean... you could write about a nervous shelf that just couldn't hold on any longer! I knew about chicks in the mail, but that's a very old memory, possible from Kansas/Nebraska, 70s. We have local roosters. The night herons hoot; the mynas chatter, the finches twitter, the swallows silently swoop." For June 2023,
Attention: Ԝ€ß☆ԜiʈCH and StephBee - GOT Survivor ~600 words |
| "Oh, God, make me a hollow reed, from which the pith of self hath been blown so that I may become as a clear channel through which Thy Love may flow to others." Part of a well-known prayer among Baha'is, although not attributable to 'Abdu'l-Baha or George Townsend. (I checked the source, Prosperous Snow celebrating1) Basically... we get in the way... our 'pith' so to say. Some things work best when hollow. It seems to work well with what Sonali wrote. To THANKFUL SONALI Now What? re "06/22/2023-'hollow'" : "I really like this. This message is 'solid'. I'd tweak it to make sure the rhythm is perfect though because it demands a smooth flow (like a flute). The rhymes work (wallow/follow not many options with hollow.) Consider: I'm saying (you/I/we) need not dwell or wallow. Some things NEED to be hollow." Yeah, yeah, yeah... Elle - on hiatus reminded us all about the snail mail group "The Snail Mail Forum" . Sonali, Neva, Elycia and Elle are all a part of that group. And yeah, I owe everyone postcards or letters or something. A small booklet might be nice.That said, the group could use new members. Many have gone inactive for sundry reasons. To Elycia Lee ☮ re "Pocket Letters Pending " : "Cute but it would need to be sent as a package? I truly need to make some small booklets that fit into a regular size envelope (that varies by country; in the US a sheet of paper folded twice works; in Thailand?). If I'm smart I could hand-write, draw and print (adding color with pencils to personalize). I've printed out booklets in the past. I keep forgetting that you're part of the Snail Mail group. "Where do you get ideas? I read blogs and most anything else that's short. That quirk is helping me learn Thai! Still some combinations are beyond beyond at this point. Misreading can also help stimulate the brain. Even brain-farts matter when I'm desperate for ideas. To Vanishing Vapor re "Safe from the fire below" "I do like this! Love the line Myself, the bain of all ants. but I read it as 'brain' did you mean 'bane'? I like 'brain' better because it jars the... brain. I'd work with rhythm a bit to smooth the flow. Add a syllable, take one out. Maybe use 'can't' or 'don't' instead of 'doesn't' in line 5. And 'surely shows' instead of 'does show' in line 10 and 'volition' or 'permission' instead of 'the will' in line 11. It comes close to traditional forms (ballad comes to mind) so maybe this or one of your other poems would fit the Trad Poems contest once Brenda starts it up again." "We're all just farts in the wind."  "Fireproof" About 460 words. For
23 Footnotes |
| June 22 Thursdays are orange days in Thailand. After each solstice the day lengthens or shortens slowly moving towards the equinox and the momentary balance. Pisces enters Aries; Virgo enters Libra. Now Betelgeuse sheds its cocoon, its scarlet aura frightening the firmament. Soon Orion will be no more. When will this blue marble stop spinning; when will it lose its water. May my Soul return to its Source. May my physical existence return to atoms. I was very shy as a child. The idea of being naked and looked-at frightened me (I had very poor eyesight). The idea of being bound? I was good at wrestling because I knew how to squirm. At university I actually bit a dorm-mate who tried to force me to do something I said no to. Their idea was to strip me naked and trap me in the breezeway between tower A and C. No way! If this were to happen today I could sue. But back then I was fearful of being expelled. I transferred to another university. To Elisa the Bunny Stik (Stik), "All Tied Up" (rated XGC): "I'd be hysterical. Losing control is one of my major issues. I go into fight and flight (both modes) and would prolly bite you!Gay/straight liaisons ... the "straight" man is often the submissive ... perhaps to try it out? Anyhoo... there are lots of straight men who might say yes but ask gay men as well. The camera doesn't know the difference. As for handcuffs... no and no." When my uncle had open heart surgery circa 1985 (he was 67) he looked like ___ according to my cousin. No worries. They had him up and moving the next day or two. Pain wasn't an issue; clotting was their concern... and pneumonia. I remember commenting that they didn't take out the 'grumpy' when they operated. He lived another 15 years. I'll try to remember this if my hip gets worse... maybe ask them if grumpiness is operable. To Lyn's a sly fox (Lyn), "universe in June" : "Up and walking. Yep. To either prevent clots or pneumonia, or both. The ice machine is a nice touch. My left hip has given me issues, but sporadically. I'm careful when I exercise but need to be more careful when I walk. I put 'walking' on my daily to-do list because I sit too much. We don't have hummingbirds here in Thailand. Finches galore though. We have birds that hoot. I believe they are night herons. Lots of myna birds and doves. Our grounds are kept immaculate but flowers = bugs and bugs = birds. We're a happy bunch. The unkempt lots and areas along the railroad tracks also help."Ya know... writings aren't reviewed nor commented upon when they are placed on 'private'  . So I'll need to check out what I've posted here and elsewhere to work on the stories listed in "Blood of the Garlic" . Looks like I now know what I need to read and edit. Amazing how the passage of months can help. The passage of years, however... I may need to take notes just to make sure my characters and any story-line (what's a plot?) stay consistent. Once edited, they'll need a beta reading. To Storm Machine (Storm), "Invalid Entry" : "I have little problem beginning things. My issue is finishing them.Blood of the Garlic comes to mind. It started as stories, and maybe that's what they intend to be. Same with Space Cadet, although that has more of a narrative. I haven't looked into printing out copies on paper, but I should. That may help me with the editing and sorting process. I've reread old works that I've forgotten, amazed that I wrote them. If only I could move on from traumas that easily. That said, it can be easier to find flaws when a piece has mouldered for a while." ~620 words. For
Attention: Ԝ€ß☆ԜiʈCH and StephBee - GOT Survivor |
| Solstice Eve — Solstice Adam? Yeah... how many solstices have I been through? How many lives? In this life? 143. And am I more yin or yang?  We all fit on the spectrum somewhere. I can sparkle a bit in Thailand; but, I miss the diversity I have experienced elsewhere. To Angie: "I'm old enough to have felt recycled a few times. I wrote about living in inner city neighborhoods "Juneteenth" but I'm not satisfied with the results. Too rambling. Too unfocused. Thailand will 'heal me or break me' or so they say. It's just wearing me out. Just another place that tourists claim to be Paradise. It isn't. The daily mundane blah of it all grinds me down. There has been some recent progress; but, it's not enough. Anyhoo... thanks for the badge. "![Merit Badge in Juneteenth
[Click For More Info]
I'm glad you're here, Kåre.
Things will get better and they'll get worse.
At least we know they'll keep changing.
Best,
Angie/buddhangela](https://images.Writing.Com/imgs/writing.com/writers/badges/group-Juneteenth-2240950.gif) Ah... 1988... mostly gone. I had head injuries from a car accident (mine was totaled) at the same corner I was beaten with a chain in 1986. Both were also on Labor Day weekend. Ended up in the same hospital. I was in my 30s. I suspect the head injuries did more damage than I realized. To Sum1 Jim: "So... you have adult kids by now... 35 plus... 4? 6? So if this were 1988 I have no memories of that year (car accident). Petra reminded me of her contest and I should enter 'just because'. So many ways I could approach this. You chose 'memories'. I have too many. Even my entry on "Juneteenth" was hard to write (because I wasn't focused and I was avoiding certain images that kept coming to mind). It rambles and I'm not happy with it. Your response was easy to read and to-the-point. I should emulate your style." I was frightened of dying in a car crash until I was sandwiched. Then... the fear went away. But I was never afraid of damnation. I don't believe in the black/white dichotomy of good versus evil common in America. I bite my tongue on bookface and here on WdC. I don't join exclusive clubs. To Harlow Flick, Right Fielder Harlow: "I don't believe in the literal Heaven/Hell dichotomy so popular among certain sects of Abrahamic religions and I'm opposed to using it as a cudgel of control and obedience. I grew up among German-Americans who were brutal in this respect. No respect for diversity. Big on judgement. Adverse to tolerance. The Baha'i Faith teacher that our Soul comes from God and returns to God (kinda like a library loan). The body returns to dust. Here in Thailand Theravada Buddhism has rituals but death isn't to be feared. It's the fear that is used to control imho. However... Anxiety-Depression is my hyphenated middle name. I use Liam here in Thailand. Eternity? Not in this body! Consciousness? That would be interesting. But we have books and songs for that. The handed-down (written or oral) thoughts of the Ancients still surround us like water." Mundane matters! I love weather, especially storms. They energize me. As does trying new foods or new combinations of old standbys. I'm not as easily bored as most people. A fallen leaf can inspire me. And quirky combinations of words? Why not! To TJ: "This literally happens! Especially in the SouthWest US where rains can be sudden and brutal and flood downriver where it's sunny and dry on high banks and mud on the flats." To Whirls : "Every time I cook it's an original dish. I don't follow recipes and even if I did the results would be unique. I prefer variety. Even though the ingredients may be found everywhere the combination is inspired by that moment. Want the same-o same-o? Go directly to McDonald's... do not stop at a bank along the way. So... no... your word salad is gathered and tossed. It's the combination that is a part of you, vomited on the page." ~640 words For June blog contest.
Attention: Ԝ€ß☆ԜiʈCH and StephBee - GOT Survivor. |
| Gleanings from what I posted on the Tenth. I do need a new body. Maybe the worms will feast on this old one... considering how ornery I can be... maybe not. I really enjoyed Steven's work, "Invalid Item" . As a page turner, it's best read in one setting.To s (Steven): "Chapter 4: Silence of the Lambs? Someone needed/wanted a new skin? I just want a new body or at least the parts back that I've lost (they can keep the appendix). By now I've gotten into the rhythm of your verbosity. The pacing... that last line... a very good hook. Do all of your chapters have hooks? If so it works a bit like a nineteenth century penny-dreadful. Strong technique." Ah... the "golden child" turned out to be FeS2, iron disulfide, pyrite, fool's gold. To tracker (Tracker): "My mother became a mother when she had me. I was #2 as she had a miscarriage. I named him Jeremy... because he had no name and no one to mourn him. I was the only son, the golden child, the misfit, the... Gleanings from the Eighth: I don't do well feeling rushed. Deadlines created stress for me as a child and because I handed things in late I became accustomed to having A's become B's. As an adult I don't suffer nitpickers well as perfectionists destroy creativity and I'm too artistic (and maybe a tad autistic), and definitely too old to put up with that ____. I'd much rather sit with this moment that Judith describes. We're from the same region so it takes very little imagination to go there. I just think of drives, of friends and cousins... and I'm there. I really miss that place and time. To Apondia (Judith): "Thank you. Lovely pastoral vignette. By-the-way... I find these interludes important and sometimes lacking in fiction where they can provide setting and ambiance. This would be a nice first chapter to a horror story (contrast can work wonders). In-real-life, too many people rush when it isn't necessary. Winter's a good case study. Roads not plowed = going nowhere. What gets done gets done. When everything's done one bakes or reads. Spring however, has always been my favorite season for doing something after being cooped up all winter. Springs came late along the Great Lakes and then hurried in a gush of leaf-green and pollen. I loved the smell of freshly mown grass. Usually in May. Today they whacked and mowed the lawns at the condo here at Lumpini in Udon Thani. Big piles of green, the myna birds searching the short grass. To live in the North, a place of 4 seasons, one must find the beauty at each time of year. I've settled into the boring routines of the two-season tropics. It's the 1st part of the rainy season when I welcome the downpours that sweep away the trash and cleanse the air. I'm sitting in a covered area watching butterflies and birds. There's musack playing and workers sweeping, but at 10:46 I have the seating area to myself. Basically... I see someone now and the birds... no frogs or toads at the moment. Where are they when needed to get rid of the pesky flies?" I have to keep grounded by use of my senses. I'm definitely peculiar at times though. I'm best described as eclectic, anti-violence and world-embracing. I was "semi-woke" long before GenZ's parents were born. But I'm more "woke" now. To Beholden: "Algorithms will dumb us down. I do search for odd things sometimes. Popular vs Peculiar = I was more peculiar. That helps me at times. As does the 'interested in everything'. Even with the news... I check out the 'enemy' occasionally. Recently, I found out about the dam by Kherson on a weather/climate channel. Nothing on MSN, so I went to Al Jezeera. Now? It's a concern but only in the sense of devastation and possible war escalation. Americans love to watch violence of various ilks. On youtube I watch The Voice, Thai BL series, Thai language instructions, random music but specifically Dimash." For June 2023:
Sponsored by Ԝ€ß☆ԜiʈCH and StephBee - GOT Survivor ~673 words |
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