Search where?

This Portfolio (charlieabney)

All of Writing.Com

◄ July ► 2019
S	M	T	W	T	F	S
	1	2	3	4	5	6
7	8	9	10	11	12	13
14	15	16	17	18	19	20
21	22	23	24	25	26	27
28	29	30	31
Archive				RSS

Create New Item

Read & Review

Community

Browse By Type

Browse By Genre

Writing Resources

Mon, Oct 27, 2025

10:24am EDT

Members: 698

Guests: 4,866

Total Online: 5,564

Are You Listening???

by Charlie ~

Rated: GC · Book · Emotional · #2181458

A journey of self-improvement - or not.

Sup? I'm Char.
You may know me from timeless classics such as

Invalid Item

This item number is not valid.
#2030442 by Not Available.

and

Invalid Item

This item number is not valid.
#1974611 by Not Available.

I blog for things like

Invalid Item

This item number is not valid.
#2146101 by Not Available.

FORUM

30-Day Blogging Challenge ON HIATUS

(13+)
WDC's Longest Running Blog Competition - Hiatus
#1786069 by FivetricksterTreats

FORUM

JAFBG

(XGC)
Because real life isn't always roses and sunshine...
#2094931 by Elisa, Stik-or-Treat

[Embed For Use By Upgraded+]
Believin' all the lies that they're tellin' ya
Buyin' all the products that they're sellin' ya
They say jump and ya say "how high?"
Ya braindead, ya got a fuckin' bullet in ya head

Show Recent Comments

10 Most Recent Blog Comments:

👀intu the Darkness

Jul 22, 2023 at 8:05am
In response to "Invalid Entry"

Hey Char, It's been a while since I've touched base with you. I'm so sorry for your loss. The last thing people should say is everyone loses their grandparents eventually, or it will get better with time. It's the last thing you want to hear when you're hurting. Death sucks, long-lasting illness sucks! Having to decide to let the person go to keep them from suffering REALLY SUCKS! I think the only ones who can understand truly just how much are those who have had to make that decision. My heart breaks for you.

I'm not religious, but I do have a strong faith in God. I call myself spiritual because I don't agree with all the rules and regulations of religion. I do know I will see my family and friends again, and this is a great comfort. I can only imagine how much more painful the death of loved ones is without this belief. But you're right, it can't be faked. But it is a beautiful thing.

Having mental health issues during times like this makes it even harder to go through. I know what you mean about seeing things that aren't there. I'd walk into a room, and say, "Where's Star?" and she would be sitting right in front of me. When I looked, I swear I saw an empty chair. The mind is crazy. It gives new meaning to a mind of its own

Some time has passed since you wrote this. I don't know when you'll see this but know that you are in my thoughts and prayers, and I'm sending good energy your way. I hope you're doing better. I look forward to hearing from you.

Aiva Raine

Mar 28, 2023 at 9:40pm
In response to "Invalid Entry"

I'm sorry for your loss. I know they are shitty sounding words that don't even attempt to fill or fix, but they're meant in sincerity.

Having lost several people the best advice I was ever given was when life gets too hard- take it at your own pace. If a day is too much- cope with an hour at a time. If that's too much, take it ten minutes at a time. If that's too much- then you deal with one minute at a time. Work through life and grief at your pace. And don't ever feel guilty because you feel sad. And if you can- find one positive in each chunk of time- even if it's something as little as the beauty of sunlight on a leaf or the softness of your shirt. And ask for help if you need it.

Elle

Mar 7, 2023 at 3:29pm
In response to "Invalid Entry"

Aw, Charlie, I'm so sorry. It's a shit thing to go through whether it's sudden or not. And just because everyone goes through it, doesn't make it easier. It also doesn't take into account that you were closer to them than your parents. Nobody says 'Oh, everyone loses their parents eventually' do they? Surely not. And that's what's happened here really. I'm actually glad you've got an appointment with a professional tomorrow, because they might be able to help you with getting through that initial devastation.

When my dad lost his mother, he really struggled with his own lack of religion. As you say, there is some comfort in believing they've gone to a better place, been reunited with loved ones, that you'll see them again, and so on. For most of my life, Dad would say 'Religion is a crutch for the weak', but I definitely saw him struggle with the finality of it when he lost his mother, the person he was probably closest to.

My thoughts are with you.

1 Like

~Minja~

Mar 7, 2023 at 3:21pm
In response to "Invalid Entry"

Crazy stuff, grief. If you want to talk about it, message me always.

1 Like

QPdoll

Mar 7, 2023 at 6:21am
In response to "Invalid Entry"

I understand what you mean about wanting to tell your grandmother something. I did the same thing after my grandmother passed. I was at home and the first thing I thought was to call grandma. I picked up the phone and realized that she wouldn't answer. It's so tough losing your grandparents, especially as close as you were. I don't have any magic words, but take care of yourself. It's what they would want.

1 Like

Waltz in the Lonesome October

Mar 6, 2023 at 10:31pm
In response to "Invalid Entry"

Take care of yourself during this difficult time.

1 Like

Anni Pumpkin

Mar 6, 2023 at 9:06pm
In response to "Invalid Entry"

I know it doesn't help any, but I'm so sorry for your loss. I can't imagine much worse than losing a parent or parental figure. They represent stability and safety, you grew up with them, and you've relied on them for most, if not all, of your life. You're right, the initial devastation will fade and things won't feel so fresh. But, as you know, grief never really goes away. It just becomes a permanent part of you.

It's horrible that you only got a couple days worth of bereavement! That's not even long enough for the shock to wear off enough to START grieving. I hope you have the support of someone else in your life to help you through this dark time. Take it easy on yourself in the mean time, that's all you really can do. Taking care of your physical self, eating and sleeping, is critical. Sleep deprivation and hunger will make things feel a million times worse than they actually are (which, for the record, is already pretty bad).

1 Like

Cinn

Feb 20, 2023 at 9:34pm
In response to "Invalid Entry"

I actually pretty much love this one. Nice, man...

Cinn

Feb 19, 2023 at 11:07am
In response to "Invalid Entry"

I'd say that more freedom for participants would attract more people. One obvious example that I've never understood is fiction vs poetry. If it's an activity, not a contest, why not allow people to explore whatever the theme of your activity is with whatever type of writing that want to do?

I've actually written for countless contests/activities over the years but never entered... because they inspired me, but I don't fit within the guidelines. Max rating too low, items required (book entries only over here), no poetry accepted, etc.

I know well why people restrict writers' freedom, but they're also restricting the number of participants they'll get. I still just take the inspiration where I can get it.

Elisa, Stik-or-Treat

Feb 19, 2023 at 10:26am
In response to "Invalid Entry"

I've had decent participation with Journalistic Intentions (even though I know my prompts are sometimes considered "difficult"). I do think that there's been a bit of a shift in regards to contests and activities, where people have been more open to admitting they find some setups too restricting or that they feel intimidated by contests. I would love to be in discussions to address those issues, but so far I haven't been invited.

July 3, 2019 at 12:48am

#961958

It's about food

Artist: The Strokes
Song: Hard to Explain
[Embed For Use By Upgraded+]

Prompt via "30-Day Blogging Challenge ON HIATUS" : What is your go-to dish to bring to a potluck? Does your family have any traditional recipes?

Me trying to do a food prompt

[Embed For Use By Upgraded+]

I'm not a baker or a cook in any way. Luckily, my family has a lot of people who love to cook for family get togethers, so I don't really need to make anything.

I've never been to a legit "potluck" either. That's where everyone's supposed to bring a dish, right? I'm trying to think of any situation I've been in that has had a potluck style meal. Sounds like something that would happen for a church event when I was a kid, and of course, I didn't cook then either.

We all know that I'm a picky eater (if you've blogged with me before), so I won't beat that point to death. Suffice to say that I'm not hard-pressed to eat at a potluck to begin with.

If I'm going to a birthday or holiday party where people are bringing food, I'll usually bring a bottle or two of wine.

I mostly do it for selfish reasons. Hey, gotta make sure there's some alcohol there, right? But also it's just a nice 'guest' thing to do.

I'm going to get off track to rant for just a second, but...

I absolutely loathe these social niceties. Like, oh gee, you invited me to a birthday party so I've already got a birthday card and gift for someone, but I also need to show up bearing gifts for the party host because of reasons.

I especially loathe being on the receiving end of these social niceties. I've had to tell people, hey, you don't need to bring homemade cookies or a small trinket-like gift to my house just because I invited you over for an evening. Like, not only do I not want them, but I don't want to feel guilty when I inevitably throw the shit away.

For example, Kira invited her friend and her friend's husband over to watch the season finale of this show that we all like. We were just ordering takeout and we let them know ahead of time that they didn't need to bring anything with them. But, of course...

She made a whole-ass pineapple upside down cake and he brought this handmade decorative container for wine corks.

Like, what the fuck?

It's a nice gesture and all, but what am I supposed to do with this large, clunky wire container? We live in a tiny place with hardly any counter space. Of course we accepted the gifts graciously, but I felt pretty terrible being like, "Uh, okay, so, dumpster this?" a few days later. I even asked a couple other people (who were not mutual friends of the couple) if they wanted it and they said no thanks.

Anyway.

The point is, I've never been to a legit potluck as an adult.

Yes, that was totally the point.

Some of my family members have 'signature' things they make when we get together though. My sister-in-law loves to cook so she brings homemade macaroni and cheese and some kind of dessert with her every time she leaves the house. My grandfather likes to make brownies. A few of my family members are really into making homemade pastas and bread.

I've heard of workplaces having potlucks before. I would be totally screwed. I think I'd go to the store, buy a container of macaroni salad, dump it into a plastic food storage container and then just bring it in.

Does that work or is it totally obvious?

I say the right thing but act the wrong way
I like it right here, but I cannot stay

Comment • View 12 comments

Printed from https://www.writing.com/main/books/item_id/2181458-Are-You-Listening/day/7-3-2019