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 |   Drop by drop the snow pack dies, watering the arid lands below. |
    Other Blogs and Journals containing the continuing writing adventures of Prosperous Snow celebrating   "The Snowflake Chronicles"  "More Snow Melt" "Writing in Snow" "Welcome to My Life" "Memories of Snow" "Dreams of Snow " Poet999's Thoughts about Writing and Other Stuff http://poet999writingthoughts.blogspot.com/ Poet999 - A Butterfly Emerges From Her Cocoon http://poet999.blogspot.com/ |
The March 16, 2013 prompt for "Blogging Circle of Friends Prompt Forum" isWrite about what you think about that moment before you go to sleep. I preparation for bed, or in my case the couch I sleep on, I put one drop of the prescription eye drops in each eye. I then notice where I laid my glasses, not that this helps finding them in the morning, make sure my cell phone, prayer book, loose leaf notebook, and ballpoint pen are within easy reach. Then I decide whether I want to lay down on the couch facing east or west, it does not matter which way I face because I will be facing the opposite direction before morning. In the moments before I go to sleep, I intone God's Most Great Name and then I wrap myself in the blanket of His Glory. About one or two hours latter, I wake up and check my cell phone to see what time it is. If it is close to midnight, which it usually is not the first time I wake up, then I open my prayer book and say the midnight prayer; otherwise I say another prayer. Then I decide whether or not I want to face the opposite direction on the couch. After that, if I am still not sleepy I say another prayer. In the moments before I go to sleep, I listen to the noises of the house: Do are those footsteps in the attic? Why is the neighbor's dog barking? Do I hear a Siamese cat in season? Is that a siren or a banshee I hear? Are those gunshots echoing? Is that thunder or a fighter jet rumbling? Why is this neighborhood so noisy? In the moments before I go to sleep, I say a prayer and then I wrap myself in the quilt of divine protection. At 66 sleeping straight through the night is not easy and sometimes impossible. It is less painful for me to sleep on a couch or a love seat then it is in a bed or on a mattress. Sometimes I wake up only once and some times I wake up every one or two hours. As I have said before, growing old is not for wimps nor is it for anyone who enjoys sleeping, at least all the way through the night. Food for Thought: "The young and the restless eventually become the old and the sleepless." ~ Author Unknow |
The March 15, 2013 prompt for "30-Day Blogging Challenge ON HIATUS" isLife is full of incidences which are embarrassing when they happen, but become more and more funny as time goes on. Share one such story. An embarrassing incidence that became funnier as time passed, while I am attempting to remember one about myself I will write about one my brother related about himself and his oldest son. At the time, he was still married to his first wife. His oldest son must have been two or three; the kid was able to ride in the seat of a shopping cart. He had taken his son to the PX to get some groceries. In the vegetable section, he turned his back on his son to pick out some items. While his back was turned, a top heavy, well endowed woman stopped her cart next to his. His son reached out and grabbed the woman boobs, all she knew was that someone had grabbed her breast, but she did not know who did it. She yelled at my brother, he of course told her that it was his son and not him. Needless to say, she did not believe him; however, he was much more careful about watching his son when he took the kick shopping. I still cannot think of an embarrassing incident that happened to me which I later thought was funny. Perhaps I am the problem is that for me embarrassing incidents make me self-conscious. It could also be that when my nieces and nephews are with me they tend to behave themselves and do not do anything quite as embarrassing with me as they do their parents. Self-conscious feelings I must learn to overcome look for the humor Food for Thought: Remembering that I'll be dead soon is the most important tool I've ever encountered to help me make the big choices in life. Because almost everything - all external expectations, all pride, all fear of embarrassment or failure - these things just fall away in the face of death, leaving only what is truly important. - Steve Jobs |
The March 14, 2013 prompt for "Blogging Circle of Friends Prompt Forum" isAre you the type of person who lives for the journey or for the destination? I don't think you can separate the journey from the destination because they are linked. Sometimes the connection between the journey and the destination is subtle, in this case the seeker is not aware of the destination because it is hidden by fog, mountains, or forest. At other times the link between the journey and the the destination is clearer and the wayfarer can see the hints of the end of the journey. The journey of the wayfaring seeker is a spiritual one and the stages can be symbolized as valleys. Traveling through these valleys the seeker encounters numerous tests on his or her way to the destination and that destination is the Beloved of the seeker's soul. So, to answer the question, I find the journey exciting and stressful, while looking forward to the destination. The Wayfarer's Journey Stone on stone foundations were laid And citadels constructed: Seven cities lead to certitude; Seven valleys perfection. Exiting self, The Wayfarer traverses The stages of certitude; Through valleys deep and city streets, She ascends the degrees of perfection. Into the Valley of Search, The Wayfarer rides Astride the steed of patience: Seeking high and low; Seeking far and wide; For the Point of Adoration. Inhaling the fragrance of the Friend, The Seeker Is dissolved in the blaze of love. Into the Valley of Love, The Wayfarer rides Astride the steed of pain: Blind to both doubt and certitude; Blind to ignorance and knowledge; She fears nothing. By the favor of God, The Lover is freed From the claws of the eagle of love. Into the Valley of Knowledge, The Wayfarer strides Content with God's injunction. The Traveler perceives, With both outward and inward eyes, The secrets of resurrection In the universe; In the infinite Manifestations of God She recognizes divine wisdom. Advancing beyond the planes of limitations, The Wayfarer strides Into the Valley of Unity. The Wanderer penetrates the shrouds of plurality: To see with the eye of God; To hear with the ear of God; And comprehend the varieties witnessed In the phases of her journey Emanate from her own perceptions. Entering the Valley of Contentment, The Wayfarer experiences The zephyrs of divine happiness Blowing from supernal realms. Burning the veils of desire, She sees all creation compensated Out of God's abundance: Her depression changes into ecstasy; Her unhappiness succumbs to rapture. Entering the Valley of Wonderment, The Wayfarer's awe increases exponentially. Thrown into confusion, She continually witnesses New phenomena: The beauty of God makes her speechless; The works of God increases her astonishment; Pondering humanity, She perceives the universe within. Entering the Valley of True Poverty And Absolute Nothingness, The Wayfarer dies And is reborn in God. In this station The Seeker is sanctified From everything that decomposes: She lives on the plane of certitude; She hears the song of perfection. Through her journey, The Wayfarer must never depart From the Law of God. Obedient to the commandments of God, The Traveler Shuns everything forbidden: She is nourished from the goblet of Law; She is acquainted with the secrets of Truth; And soars in the heaven of certitude. (152 B.E.) Notes about this poem: This poem was inspired by The Seven Valleys. I wrote it sometime in 1996. In this poem, the word she refers to the soul and not gender. Once I decide whether I need to rewrite this poem, I will attempt a poem inspired by The Four Valleys. Thought of the Day: "And further: The stages that mark the wayfarer’s journey from the abode of dust to the heavenly homeland are said to be seven. Some have called these Seven Valleys, and others, Seven Cities. And they say that until the wayfarer taketh leave of self, and traverseth these stages, he shall never reach to the ocean of nearness and union, nor drink of the peerless wine. The first is ..." - Baha'u'llah, The Seven Valleys And the Four Valleys, page 5 |
The March 14, 2013 prompt for "30-Day Blogging Challenge ON HIATUS" isWhat modern invention do you think is a waste of time? My first thought when I read this prompt was that nothing which assist a person is a waste of time, but then my first up of coffee kicked in and I realized there are probably numerous inventions that are a waste of time. So I went into the kitchen, poured myself another cup of leftover coffee, put it in the microwave (which I do not think is a waste of time) and waited for my coffee to get hot. While I was watching my coffee cup turn in the microwave, I realized that there is one invention that I think is a complete and utter waste of time and money (at least on the part of its users) As an ex-smoker who had one hell-of-a-time giving up nicotine, I believe the electric cigarette, or e-cigarette as it is known, is a waste of time. The e-cigarette, according to my research, is an inhaler that uses the nicotine extracted from tobacco. The nicotine is the addictive part of a regular cigarette, it is the part of the cigarette that gets people hooked on smoking. Since nicotine extract is all that this cigarette uses, it is supposed to be safer then ordinary cigarettes. The presumption raises a couple of questions. Will people smoke more e-cigarettes if the think the health risk is lower? Will smoking more e-cigarettes increase an individual's nicotine addiction? What health risk does the increased nicotine addiction pose? For more information on e-cigarettes see http://www.rferl.org/content/electronic-cigarettes-safety/24903852.html If smokers smoke ordinary cigarettes, do vapers smoke e-cigarettes? The March 14, 2013 prompt for "Blogging Circle of Friends Prompt Forum" isWhat is the one thing you cannot live without? I think I have addressed this question or a similar question before, either that or someone offline asked me the question. My stock answer is indoor toilets, I can deal with all most anything except an outhouse on a cold winter night or rainy summer night. I also have difficulty with the creepy crawlies that tend to inhabit these little wooden houses; I also detest the rent-a-johns and I believe that is because the remind me of the wooden outhouses I used as a child. I have no problems using public restrooms, but I will go out of my way and dance on one foot to avoid a rent-a-john. I will say this about the rent-a-johns, at least they have rolls of real toilet paper and not old catalogs, newspapers, or dried corncobs. Thought of the Day: “My aunt in Knoxville would bring newspapers up, which we used for toilet paper. Before we used it, we'd look at the pictures.” - Dolly Parton |
The March 13, 2013 prompt for "Blogging Circle of Friends Prompt Forum" isIf you could go anywhere in the world right now, where would you go and why? I hadn't intended to respond to this prompt today, but after responding to the "30-Day Blogging Challenge ON HIATUS" prompt "War Chest Wednseday: Getting Away" , doing a few reviews and starting a poem about spring; I decided I wanted to escape Las Vegas for a few hours or a few days. Not that I will be able to do that before the end of April or May, but that's what I want to do. The problem is that I don't know where I want to escape to, so I that writing about more places I want to go might give me some ideas for a short vacation, baring that, a staycation.I want to escape Las Vegas, I want to see the world, I want to ride in a hot air balloon, Over oceans and continents, I want to fly to the moon. Where in the world would I like to be right now? Anywhere except Las Vegas. Anywhere except the house I am inhabiting right now. As I've written before (at least I think I've written it) I want to go to Israel. I want to go to India. At this point, Timbuktu or Kalamazoo would be acceptable and different. I'm sure my problems would not go away on my get away, but just getting away would give me a fresh perspective and encourage creative thinking and that's really all I want a staycation or vacation to do. This desire to escape begin yesterday, when I logged into my bank account and saw red. After calming down and telling myself several times "Don't panic!" I realized that between the money I had in my savings account (which is linked to my checking account) and the cash in my purse, I would have enough to cover the overdraft and the bank charge. However, this didn't dissipate my desire for escape and this morning's events have only increased that desire. I overslept because I sleep with my cell phone in my hands or beside my pillow. When the alarm sounded this morning, I turned it off in my sleep. I'm probably the only person in the world who can turn her wake up alarm off in her sleep. Fortunately, I was able to get the trashcan to the curb before the garbage turns went past. Since I can't get out of Las Vegas, the next best thing is to visit the local museums, art galleries, casino restaurants, or the Las Vegas Zoo. If I visit the local attractions then I can pack light because the only thing I need is my local ID, my digital camera, and my pen and paper journal. Why do I want to escape? I want to create new memories. I want to meet new people. I want to honor my mother's life by living the rest of my life to the fullest. Food for Thought: Poetry is not a turning loose of emotion, but an escape from emotion; it is not the expression of personality, but an escape from personality. But, of course, only those who have personality and emotions know what it means to want to escape from these things. - T. S. Eliot |
The March 13, 2013 prompt for "30-Day Blogging Challenge ON HIATUS" isWhere do you go when you just want to "Get Away"? Where do I go when I just want to "Get Away"? It's been so long since I could just get away and leaving everything behind for 24 or 48 hours that I'm not sure where I want to go. Before Mom retired, before the Alzheimer's got bad, we would go to Disneyland or poetry readings in local coffee shops. Now, that I am alone, I don't know where I want to go. Perhaps to Disneyland or maybe Disney World, I think I'd like to go somewhere that has no memories of Mom and I having fun. Of course, I could change my mind about that in a few months and decide that I wanted to go to Disneyland. I think what I need to do is start making some new memories and going to Disneyland by myself would be a good start. Going to Disney World would a good start as well. Other place Mom and I went were to the San Diego Zoo, the Las Vegas Zoo, the San Diego Wild Animal Park, and Sea World. The easiest place to start would be the Las Vegas Zoo. I could also go to some of the places in Las Vegas that Mom mentioned she might like to go, but never got the chance. I know one thing I am going to "get away" to is poetry readings. There are several in town, I'll start with the ones Mom and I attended together, see how I feel and then if it isn't too depressing going without Mom I will continue; otherwise I will find some new readings. Go some place where the grass is green, Eat something new and inspire your taste buds, Take a trip away from the tourist traps. Away from the pollution of city lights, Where the stars of the Milky Way are shining bright, A place where you can sit at a picnic table and write: You need to take a staycation in spring. Thought of the Day: “Get away from the crowd when you can. Keep yourself to yourself, if only for a few hours daily.” - Arthur Brisbane |
The March 12, 2013 prompt for "Blogging Circle of Friends Prompt Forum" isWrite your own obituary. It can be for ten, twenty, or however many years you choose from now, or it can be for tomorrow - it's your choice. Neva Florence Darbe, who wrote under the pseudonyms Prosperous Snow and Poet 999, was born in Blackwell, Oklahoma, on Tuesday, December 24, 1946 at eleven minutes before midnight. Ms. Snow, as everyone at the Writer's Retirement Village knew her, ascended into the next world on Monday, December 24, 2046, at approximately eleven minutes before midnight. She was laughing so hard at a joke she read online that the undertaker has been unable to get the smile off her face; unfortunately, Ms. Snow requested a closed casket funeral so those attending will not be able to see her last smile. At her 99th birthday celebration on December 24, 2045, she was ask what she attributed her long life to she said: "Daily prayer, meditation on the Baha'i scriptures, 15 of laughter, writing, and drinking, at least three cups of, hot black whole bean coffee. Plus being too stubborn to die before my 100th birthday." Ms. Snow joined writing.com on October 31, 2002, when it was known as stories.com, has been an active or semi-active member ever since. Ms. Snow's most notable achievements were the ability to cook anything in a Microwave oven, to laugh at life instead of crying, and the inability to give up no matter how difficult the path or huge the roadblocks. Other achievements consisted in writing several books of poetry and editing a collection of poem's written by her mother. Beneath this granite headstone rests, A writer who felt extremely blessed. Food for thought: Live so that when the final summons comes you will leave something more behind you than an epitaph on a tombstone or an obituary in a newspaper. - Billy Sunday |
The March 12, 2013 prompt for "30-Day Blogging Challenge ON HIATUS" isHave you ever seen a ghost? If yes, describe the experience. If no, do you think ghosts exist and would you like to see one? One of the first houses I lived in when I came to Las Vegas was a three bedroom, two bath ranch style duplex on Oahu Street. The master bedroom was off the living-dining room area. The other two bedroom and bathroom were accessed by a hall that led from the living room. Each of the bedrooms and bathrooms had doors so that they could be closed off, but the hall had an open entrance. You could see the entrance to the hall from the entire living-dining room. If anyone was standing in the door you could see the person. All most every evening, when I was in the living room or at the dining room table, I saw a dark shadow standing in the hall entrance. It appeared to be a man wearing dark clothing, but when I looked directly at the door the shadow would disappear. I was not the only person in the family that saw "the shadow" as it came to be known. My brother and other members of the family saw it or rather him. The first time I saw him, I was startled, but once I came to realize he did not want to harm anyone I was not bothered. I suspect all this ghost wanted to do was watch the events in the living room or at the dining table. I never saw it in any other part of the house. I never got the feeling that he wanted to harm anyone. However, I did make sure my bedroom door was shut whenever I wanted to change clothes or go to bed. A peeping shadow standing in the hall doorway: Is that where he died? A shadow watching the family come, go, and eat: Why did he remain? A lonely shadow attached to the hall entrance: Did he want something? Thought of the Day: A ghost is someone who hasn't made it - in other words, who died, and they don't know they're dead. So they keep walking around and thinking that you're inhabiting their - let's say, their domain. So they're aggravated with you. - Sylvia Browne |
The March 11, 2013 prompt for "Blogging Circle of Friends Prompt Forum" isThe topic is the death penalty. Are you for it or against it and why? This is what I wrote on January 17, 2013: "There are some crimes that are so heinous that they require a death penalty. The problem with this penalty is the way it has been used in the past and is still being used today. The crimes that require this penalty should be strictly limited and the appeals process given an overhaul. Humanity, its cultural, its technology, and even its laws are in the process of evolution, of change. In the past, a person could be put to death for any crime; however, that has changed. Today are numerous crimes that do not demand or even require the death penalty. In the future, there will be even fewer crimes that require this penalty because everything in the material universe is in the process of change. As the human race matures, reasons to use the death penalty will become fewer as we learn how to deal with our emotions, reactions, etc." My opinion has not changed since January, I would like to add that I think changes need to be made in the penal system and to penal laws. The penal system in its present form does not protect the innocent from incorrigible or repeat offenders. Too often people think of the death penalty as revenge when it should have more to do with protecting people from those who cannot be reformed for one reason or another. The death penalty applying it properly requires consideration. Food for Thought: How come life in prison doesn't mean life? Until it does, we're not ready to do away with the death penalty. Stop thinking in terms of "punishment" for a minute and think in terms of safeguarding innocent people from incorrigible murderers. - JESSE VENTURA, I Ain't Got Time to Bleed |
The March 11, 2013 prompt for "30-Day Blogging Challenge ON HIATUS" isYesterday, Sunday March 10, was the start of Daylight Savings Time. Research DST and provide us with your thoughts. Feel free to take this prompt anywhere you like. I set each clock ahead carefully, the coffee maker, the microwave, and the clock radio. Next I gave thanks because I didn't have to manually adjust the computer, cell phone, or the cable T.V. It is March and most metropolitan and non-metropolitan areas in the Northern Hemisphere have sprung forward and set their clocks one hour ahead. I hope in doing this strenuous exercise no one sprung a finger, wrist, or ankle. All right, enough of the comedy; it is time to get down to business and discuss Daylight Savings Time in relation to Nevada, Arizona, and Kingman AZ. Nevada, which is located in the mountains and logically should follow Mountain Standard Time or Mountain Daylight Time, follows Pacific Standard Time or Pacific Daylight Time depending on the season. Arizona, with the exception the Navajo Nation lands, does not observer DST. Therefore, during spring and summer Arizona time or Mountain Standard Time is the same as Pacific Daylight Time. In winter and autumn, Arizona time is one hour ahead of Pacific Standard Time. The Navajo Nation community observes DST from April to October, which makes it one hour ahead of the rest of Arizona during those months. See http://www.timeanddate.com/time/us/arizona-no-dst.html Kingman, Arizona, which is rumored to be a bedroom community of Las Vegas, Nevada, because numerous people live in Kingman and drive to Las Vegas to work. Kingman is approximately 95 miles southwest of Las Vegas; however, the driving distance is somewhat longer then 95 miles. According to Mapquest, the driving distance from Kingman to Las Vegas using US-93 N is about 103 miles and take 1 hour 45 minutes. Las Vegas and the rest of Nevada are on Daylight Savings Time during the spring and summer, which means that workers driving from Kingman to Las Vegas only have to worry about the time difference between the cities during the autumn and winter. Thought of the Day: I don't mind going back to daylight saving time. With inflation, the hour will be the only thing I've saved all year. - Victor Borge |
The March 10, 2013 prompt for "Blogging Circle of Friends Prompt Forum" isFREE DAY ~ Today's a free day without a prompt, so blog on whatever your heart desires and have an awesome day!  I am emerging from a one day mental fog. Saturday, March 9, 2013 was a lost day and a dark foggy day (this has nothing to do with the weather in Las Vegas). I am writing this in order to remember what I did last week, but especially yesterday. I know I made a blog entry on Saturday, but I did not write much of anything else. I think I made an entry in Writing My Spiritual Journey, I will have to check to make sure. I did not review yesterday. the fog is lifting or slowly dissipating memory returns What else did I do Saturday? I took the trashcan and the recyclable bins to the curb, I fixed me a couple of grilled cheese sandwiches, I opened a bottle of grape juice, I made fresh coffee, I payed pyramid, and I played mahjoung. At least, I think I played those two games, I know I was depressed and when I am depressed the only thing I want to do is pay some type of game on the computer. I know playing those game do not help the depression or accomplishing anything. a bright sunny day the wind is blowing tree limbs my fog is lifting What did I do last week? On Wednesday I went to my grief counseling meeting; actually I made myself go even though I did not want to take the time. I am glad I went because I was given a hand made small blanket. For the past few months I have found myself covering my head when I lay down. The hand made blanket is crocheted and I can put it over my head and still breath. I am 66 years old and I now have the security blanket I never wanted as a child. I think I am going to give my blanket a name. Writing about the blanket brightened my day, I cannot help but laugh at the fact that at my age I want and need a security blanket. Maybe it has something to do with my mother's death. What did I do last week? On Thursday, I went to Barns & Noble to spend a gift certificate a friend sent me. I bought The Year of Magical Thinking by Joan Didion and the March edition of The Oprah Magazine. I have read two chapter in the book and gotten a poem idea from one of the headlines on the front of the magazine. I also picked up a loaf of free bread that day, but I did not get much else accomplished. That is about all I can remember from last week except writing, washing the dishes, washing the clothes, and doing some housework. What am I going to do this week? Keep notes on blog entries that I find intriguing and a list of accomplishments. I am also going to read a couple of more chapters in Joan Didion's book and an article in the magazine. |
The March 10, 2013 prompt for "30-Day Blogging Challenge ON HIATUS" isBlog! Tell us about your week. Include your favorite entry from your fellow challengers from the week before, and, most importantly, why. a pristine blue sky the shadows of oak limbs dance on my garage roof Today the sky is clear, a pristine blue without clouds or a hint of rain. It rained all day Friday and Saturday was mostly cloudy all day. A friend sent me a Barns & Noble gift card, so on Thursday I went across town to purchase a book and a magazine. I bought The Year of Magical Thinking by Joan Didion and the March edition of The Opera Magazine, which is the only fashion magazine I am ever interested in reading. Normally, I buy writer's magazines or science magazines. olive tree limbs wave hello to approaching spring a temperature change Today the wind is blowing, perhaps I should say still blowing because there were variable winds all last week. I have not checked the weather, so I do not know what the meteorologist predicted. Maybe I should checked weather.com to see what to expect over the next seven day. I have to get out more this week then I did last week because staying home contributes to depression, which set in yesterday. About the only thing I accomplished yesterday was a blog entry. fog on a clear day hides yesterday's memories do I need grape juice Saturday was a lost day. I am not even sure that I read any blog entries yesterday, I know I cannot remember much of what I read before Saturday. I did write some poems last week. I did read and respond to some blog entries last week. I did review last week. However, I am still dealing with yesterday's mental fog and that seems to be hiding a lot of what I read. I am sure that I found most of what I read last week interesting, but I cannot remember much of what I read. I am in mourning, so that may account for the depression; however, I am not sure it accounts for my sketchy memory. I remember reading the first two chapter of Joan Didion's book and I found out I am experiencing The Year of Magical Thinking, so that could account for my confusion about last week. change is always good a notebook and a pens helps the mind remember This week I am making some changes. In addition, to reading and responding to blog entries I am going to keep notes on those I find most interesting. I am also going to attempt to figure out what happened yesterday that brought on the mental fog. The one thing I do know about Saturday, March 9, is that it got away and I do not know where it went or what I accomplished. If I have another day like this during March then I will have to contact my doctor and see if she can assist in finding out what is wrong. I suspect the issues is that I am still in mourning and If that is the case then I just have to continue with my grief counseling sessions. |
The March 9, 2013 prompt for "30-Day Blogging Challenge ON HIATUS" isTell me how you would give a plot twist to one of your favorite movies. Perhaps try your hand at script writing. I think my favorite moves was The Search for Spock. The only twist I would add to this concerns Spock's memories. I would have him remember things from Bones' life and think for a while that he was Bones instead of Spock. A quote from the movies: [The crew watches the Enterprise burn up in the Genesis planet's atmosphere.] Kirk: Dear God Bones, what have I done? McCoy: What you had to do, what you've always done, turned death into a fighting chance to live. The March 9, 2013 for "Blogging Circle of Friends Prompt Forum" isIf life had a "redo" or "rewind" button would you use it? If so, what situation comes to mind? If not, why? There is no use rewinding my life, Because of the tests and the strife, A time shift would change, The person I have became, And the path that I walk in this life. Thought of the Day: Do not pray for an easy life, pray for the strength to endure a difficult one... - Author Unknown |
The March 8, 2013 prompt for "30-Day Blogging Challenge ON HIATUS" isHave you read or written anything funny on writing.com lately? Share a link and tell us what about the storytelling stuck you as particularly innovative or hysterical. Why should we read/review it? (This is a time to brag or to promote someone else’s work )So far in the past week I have read two items that made me laugh. The first is "Five Random Tidbits" [E] by Steve Jebson  Review of "Five Random Tidbits"  and the second "Invalid Item" [] by A Guest Visitor Review of "The Penguins Dropped By " . I began laughing with first item, 1. Me and science are like oil and water. Which means I have no idea what that means., on the Five Random Tidbits list and did not stop until after I completed the review. I had trouble completing the review because it is difficult, at least for me, to laugh and type at the same time. The same thing happened when I read The Penguins Dropped By; however, I am not sure which stanza I found funniest because all of the stanzas made me laugh or smile.In the past three weeks, I have written two funny or amusing items "Mudd's Spud" [E] and "The Perfect Dinner" [13+]. I think the funniest of the two items is Mudd's Spud, which I wrote for the "Star Trek Poetry CONTEST " . I wrote the other poem The Perfect Dinner for another contest. I enjoyed writing both poems, but I still laugh every time I think of Mudd's Spud.The March 8, 2013 prompt for "Blogging Circle of Friends Prompt Forum" isDescribe your favorite fairytale, myth or legend from your childhood, and discuss why it’s your favorite and how it has influenced your beliefs and morals throughout your life so far. I grew up in the age of television and movies. My mother or my grandmother read fairy tales to my siblings and I, but we also watched cartoons and Disney animated features. Some of the animated features and cartoons were take off on the fairy tales; therefore, sometimes I remember or confuse things that were in the cartoons or Disney features which were not in the original fairy tales. What was my favorite fairytale? I am not sure I had a favorite fairytale. I liked Sleeping Beauty, Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, and Cinderella. If they had any influence on me then it was awakening my interest in fantasy and science fiction. I am not sure I ever believed that anyone could live happily ever after in the material world. All though if any couple came close to the living happily ever after in this world, it was my grandparents. The prince kissed Beauty waking her to love at first sight. Did they really live happily ever after? Thought of the Day: “Fairy Tales always have a happy ending.' That depends... on whether you are Rumpelstiltskin or the Queen.” ― Jane Yolen, Briar Rose |
The March 7, 2013 prompt for "30-Day Blogging Challenge ON HIATUS" isWrite about your opinions regarding something currently in the news. Please provide a link to the story or a brief summary of the article before stating your opinions on it. http://www.lvrj.com/news/mail-sorter-gets-two-years-for-stealing-mail-195659671.... An Associated Press Article posted on the Las Vegas Review-Journal website in March 6, 2013 proclaimed "Former Postal Service worker sentenced for stealing mail". The man charged with aggravated identity theft was a not a mail carrier, but a mail sorter. The article stated that he was charged with "aggravated identify theft", but I suspect the identify was the results of a typo and lack of proof reading. Not only do we have to worry about clerks in retail establishments stealing our identities, but now we have to worry about mail sorter stealing our identities. As the result of a plea agreement, the guy pleaded guilty to "one count of aggravated identify theft" plus the judge ordered him to pay $6,000.00 to his twelve victims. I have no problem with the peal agreement because they are used all the time. My main issue is with the security risk posed by this event. I thought the postal service did background checks; obviously a background check has its limits. Since this is the case, how do we protect ourselves against identity theft when something like this can happen. People need to be away and check their credit reports three times a year. There are three credit reporting agencies and a person can get a free credit report from each agency once a year. Just make sure you do not request them all at the same time, maybe once every three or four months. Identity theft I look at customers walking into a store I wonder if they are who the say they are or has one of them stolen someone else's identity. Food for Thought: "According to the Privacy Rights Center, up to 10 million Americans are victims of ID theft each year. They have a right to be notified when their most sensitive health data is stolen." - Luis Gutierrez |
The March 7, 2013 prompt for "Blogging Circle of Friends Prompt Forum" Are there any circumstances when you can be justified in losing your temper? I do not think there are any circumstances when losing your temper is justified because losing ones temper is not a constructive way of dealing with anger. Anger is an emotion which is only one component of temper lose. The other component is the feeling of helplessness when confronted with a situation. I know that since November 29, 2012, I have dealt with a multitude of emotions, including anger, caused by grief. At no time, did losing my temper help the situation; in fact, it only made the situation worse. If ask this question last year, I probably would have said yes. However, experience and grief counseling has taught me otherwise. In order to heal, in order to transcend the grief, I have to go through the grieving process which means experiencing the emotions. I have found that I get angry with myself because I sometimes feel I failed my Mother because I could not do more to prevent her from transcending into the next world. However, I have come to realized that Mom's soul chose the time to let go of her body. Mom was failing fast, when she went to the hospice care center; when my sister and I went to visit her the next day my car would not start. I had no problem starting it before and I have had not problems starting it since. I would almost swear that Mom's spirit prevented it from started so that we would not arrive until after she had ascended. I know that does not make logical sense, but that is what I believe. I also get angry with other people because they do not understand my unique experience of grief. Losing my temper in this situation would do no good because the other person would not understand why I was angry or why I lost my temper. Sometime I get angry with Mom because she left me alone; I have come to realize that she is still with me. I still have the memories and she comes to me in a dream. The paraphrase someone (I cannot remember who) our mothers never leave us. Eventually the anger will pass, like all the other confusing emotions I am feeling. Eventually I will regain balance in my life and find a new normal. The anger passes evaporates like fog touched by the morning sun. Thought of the Day: "You have the right to feel a multitude of emotions. Confusion, disorientation, fear, guild, and relief are just a few of the emotions you might feel as part of your grief journey. Others may try to tell you that feeling angry, for example, is wrong. Don't take these judgmental responses to heart. Instead, find listeners who will accept your feelings without conditions." The Mourner's Bill of Rights, #3 |
The March 6, 2013 prompt for "Blogging Circle of Friends Prompt Forum" isAre you afraid of death? Write about your feelings on the subject. Am I afraid of death? No. Death is nothing to be afraid of because it is only the end for the human body and not the soul. When the body dies, the soul reviews its existence on the material plane and ascends into the next world. I expect to at the time of my death, when my soul and body go their separate ways, I will meet Baha'u'llah, to review my life on Earth, and continue my ascent through all the worlds of God. I do not know precisely what paradise is like because the beautiful of that perfection is concealed from us here on Earth. I can write poem, stories, and blog entries about what I think paradise looks like, but I will not see the Garden of Paradise until after my soul begins the next phase of its journey. Singing the lover's soul ascends intoning God's Most Great Name. Stopping, at the Gate of Paradise, the newly freed spirit greets the Beloved with songs of praise and prayers of thanksgiving. Thought of the Day: Death proffereth unto every confident believer the cup that is life indeed. It bestoweth joy, and is the bearer of gladness. It conferreth the gift of everlasting life. - Baha'u'llah, Gleanings from the Writings of Baha'u'llah, CLXIV: page 345 The March 6, 2013 prompt for "30-Day Blogging Challenge ON HIATUS" isWho are your favorite authors? What about their work most interests you or what about their work do you most want to emulate? Who are my favorite authors? This is difficult to answer because I have several. However, the author that most interests me and whose work I want to emulate is Tahirih. I can only dream of writing mystic poems that even come close to her verses. Unfortunately, I cannot read her poems in their original language, so I must read the English translations, most of which do not diminish spiritual feeling of her lines. My favorite poem by Tahirih is Point by Point. This is the first verse "If I meet you face to face, I would retrace--erase!--my heartbreak, pain by pain, ache by ache, word by word, point by point." The rest of the poem can be found at http://maraahmed.com/wp/2009/06/09/point-by-point-by-qurratul-ayn-tahirih/ |
The March 5, 2013 prompt for "Blogging Circle of Friends Prompt Forum" List five things from your childhood that you wish all children could experience.  Eating snow ice cream made with real snow instead of shaved ice A Memorial Day road trip with their grandparents Using a rotary phone Playing a record on a record player Helping their grandparents dig potatoes in their gardenThe March 5, 2013 prompt for "30-Day Blogging Challenge ON HIATUS" is If you were assembling a time capsule of your entire life, what items would you select or make reference to? Reflect on things you have done and events that have happened in your lifetime. The memories of my childhood Inscribed in line and stanza. My mother's poems along with her picture. Excerpts from my favorite books of scripture. Comic pages from Las Vegas Review-Journal Sunday edition. A sampling of my favorite whole bean coffees. Post card showing the place I have visited, Some of them with comments or poems on the back. Useful items from my everyday life. Laughter: copies of my favorite jokes. Excerpts from my personal journals. Thought of the Day: You can turn painful situations around through laughter. If you can find humor in anything, even poverty, you can survive it. - Bill Cosby |
The March 4, 2013 prompt for "30-Day Blogging Challenge ON HIATUS" isMarch is Women’s History Month. Who, in your opinion, has been the most influential woman in history (alive or dead) and why? Provide sources or concrete evidence to support your choice. Who is the most influential woman in history? A mother is the most influential woman in history. By mother I mean any woman who has served as a mother figure whether she is a biological mother, an adoptive mother, or a foster mother. The reason I say that a mother is the most influential woman is history is the affect a mother has on the lives of her sons and daughters. The maternal influence or lack of it is something her children has to deal with until the day they die. Thought of the day: My mother was the most beautiful woman I ever saw. All I am I owe to my mother. I attribute all my success in life to the moral, intellectual and physical education I received from her. - George Washington The March 4, 2013 prompt for "Blogging Circle of Friends Prompt Forum" isWhat can you find at home that you can find no where else? Home is where I find comfort and tranquility for my weary mind. Home is where I find a peaceful spot where my soul prays and meditates. |
The March 3, 2013 prompt for "30-Day Blogging Challenge ON HIATUS" isBlog. Tell us about your week. Include your favorite blog entry from your fellow challengers from the preceding week and, most importantly, why. First the good news, I found my copy of my favorite Dr. Seuss book Green Eggs and Ham. Yes, I still read Green Eggs and Ham, at least when I don't inadvertently hide it from myself. I bought this copy in a grocery store several years ago. I intended to give it to either a nephew or a great niece, but I got selfish and kept it for myself. Now the bad new, I can't make up my mind which poem I like best. Therefore, I'm listing my top four choices (1) "Invalid Entry" , (2) "Invalid Entry" , (3) "Invalid Entry" and (4) "Invalid Entry" . The reason I like these the best is the rhythm, the rhyme schemes, and they reminded me of Dr. Seuss poems.Reviewing is addictive, like eating potato chips, cashew nuts, or chocolate. Anyone addicted to reviewing should check out "The Kiwi Review Challenge! - closed" [E].March 3, 2013 is a free (no prompt) day for "Blogging Circle of Friends Prompt Forum" :Today's a free day with no prompt, so feel free to blog on whatever your heart desires. And please, have a fantastic wonderful day! crazy quilt morning patches of blue peek through gray clouds will it rain today I had several questions last week about the National Consumer Panel. It is a survey group that I belong to, they sent me a scanner (at my request) to scan all my purchases. Once a week I upload the scanner to their website and earn points that I can use to purchase items from their gift catalog. http://ncponline.com/ morning clouds scatter chasing away thoughts of rain a beautiful day This is Sunday, March 3, seven days until daylight savings time begins, seventeen days until the first day of spring, and eighteen days until Naw-Ruz. We spring forward at 2:00 A.M. on Sunday, March 10. This year the vernal equinox occurs at 7:04 A.M. (EDT) on March 20. I celebrate New Year on Naw-Ruz, means New Day, on March 21. I need to finalize my New Year's resolutions before the 21st, which seems like a long way off but really isn't. unity's poem humanity one species beautiful Naw-Ruz Thought of the Day: The tabernacle of unity hath been raised; regard ye not one another as strangers. Ye are the fruits of one tree, and the leaves of one branch. - Baha'u'llah, Tablets of Baha'u'llah, page 164. |
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