Month: August 2018

AccountaClub Friday, August 31, 2018

Standard

accountaclub-woodCan’t believe it’s the end of August already. This year is flying by, and yet it isn’t. Time is weird, but that’s not why we’re here today.

Please come steep in the irony with me that I didn’t feel like doing my #AccountaClub post today. I didn’t even want to be accountable for talking about being accountable.

At least I’m honest.

This week, I’ve actually made progress with the manuscript I’m editing, I’ve edited every single day. I haven’t been writing, aside from the blog posts, so the editing and writing at the same time is a balancing act I’ve yet to master.

If anyone has any tricks, let me know.

I’m still going strong with the Daily Burn, though. I love it as much as when I started, and I’ve tried to do it live all week. I was a little bit late one morning, so I had to wait for the live broadcast to end to do the workout, but I did it.

So that’s five days, five workouts! I love the live aspect of it, the people in the studio sweating just like I am, sometimes missing a beat, sometimes on the wrong foot. It’s real, and it’s an energizing way to start the day.

I’ve shifted my yoga to later in the day, and now that it has no responsibility for being a source of exercise, that’s made it even better. So physically, it’s all going well.

And that’s my week. How was yours, AccounAbles?

Like my political side? Read my opinion pieces here.

Check out  my full-length novels: 

Aunty Ida’s Full-Service Mental Institution (by Invitation Only)   

Aunty Ida’s Holey Amazing Sleeping Preparation (Not Doctor Recommended) 

 Her Cousin Much Removed

 The Great Paradox and the Innies and Outies of Time Management.

And download Better Living Through GRAVY and Other Oddities, it’s free!

Peruse Montraps Publishing.

Advertisement

Ten Word Photo Prompt: Survival

Standard
close up of snowflakes on snow against sky

Photo by Pixabay on Pexels.com

It’s that time of the week! I thought this one would be a nice break from the heat, if not a little bit of a reminder what’s ahead. Also how could a Wolf resist a wolf?

At least I think it’s a wolf.

Here’s the deal: write a ten-word story prompted by the photo. You can have a title, but stick to the spirit of the exercise. Feel free to post in the comments or on your blog! If you do post on your blog, you can also drop a link in the comments so we can see your creation.

OK, here’s mine:

Some flailed in the forever winter. The wolf reigned supreme.

Running late.

Standard
commuter commuting late lost

Photo by Negative Space on Pexels.com

Oh boy am I behind today. I missed the live workout, so I had to wait until it finished the broadcast to do it, and I feel like that threw me off. And the thing is I was awake in time to do the live one, but I just didn’t yet want to get out of bed.

What can I say, it’s gray and it’s rainy and it’s awfully cozy out. Well, not out, in, really, because of outside.

And I just got a spam call, which completely broke my train of thought. I don’t understand them, even if you call me three times in a day, I’m not going to answer the phone. Of course they’re worse now than ever, since there’s no way this regime is going to enforce the Do Not Call registry.

They’re so irritating.

They must work on someone, though, or they wouldn’t keep doing it.

So today’s a day to push goals forward, just maybe not in the time-frame I’d like or at the time I’d like. Maybe take smaller steps. Maybe take slower steps.

That’s OK too.

Eventually we’ll reach the end, just the same.

Like my political side? Read my opinion pieces here.

Check out  my full-length novels: 

Aunty Ida’s Full-Service Mental Institution (by Invitation Only)   

Aunty Ida’s Holey Amazing Sleeping Preparation (Not Doctor Recommended) 

 Her Cousin Much Removed

 The Great Paradox and the Innies and Outies of Time Management.

And download Better Living Through GRAVY and Other Oddities, it’s free!

Peruse Montraps Publishing.

 

I don’t wanna.

Standard
boy child clouds kid

Photo by Porapak Apichodilok on Pexels.com

Do you have that little voice in your head, too? The one who, when faced with a task, even a not-unpleasant task, says, “I don’t wanna?”

My I don’t wanna is throwing a huge tantrum today. Huge.

I woke up very groggy, but still managed to do my Daily Burn 365 live workout. I wasn’t sure I could, I felt heavy and like my limbs were still in bed, but all of a sudden I was doing it then sweatily all of a sudden later I was done.

But as I stood there waiting to get started, that voice greeted me. I don’t wanna.

And I shut that brat down.

One of the things I’ve gotten from yoga–and by now, you know I’ve gotten a lot–is that our thoughts are just thoughts. We can think they’re reality, but they aren’t, necessarily.

(As an aside, if you’re curious, this comes from Bernie Clark and his yin yoga classes. I don’t think it’s this practice specifically, but here’s a free beginner yin class to try.)

So that voice can say I don’t wanna. It can scream it, it can pound its tiny little fists, it can stomp its internal voice feet.

But we don’t have to listen. We can acknowledge it and do it anyway. There are so many obstacles in life, we don’t have to be our own.

Guess what else that voice didn’t wanna do?

This post.

And here it is. You show that little voice what’s what today.

Like my political side? Read my opinion pieces here.

Check out  my full-length novels: 

Aunty Ida’s Full-Service Mental Institution (by Invitation Only)   

Aunty Ida’s Holey Amazing Sleeping Preparation (Not Doctor Recommended) 

 Her Cousin Much Removed

 The Great Paradox and the Innies and Outies of Time Management.

And download Better Living Through GRAVY and Other Oddities, it’s free!

Peruse Montraps Publishing.

Monday comes around again.

Standard
bengal tiger half soak body on water during daytime

See this tiger? It has eyes. EYES OF THE TIGER.  Work with me here, people. Photo by Flickr on Pexels.com

Having a little bit of chocolate with my Monday morning coffee. Because why not? For all we know, some unseen asteroid may be hurtling toward us at this very moment, or a certain orange despot wannabe might try to change the conversation in a big big big way, and that square of chocolate could remain uneaten.

No one wants that.

Basically, I’m eating it for the universe. And because chocolate and coffee are the BFFs that put all other BFFs to shame.

Take that, Monday.

I’m still wearing my workout leggings because they have flowers and stars and they’re ridiculous and I love them, and why not? I haven’t quite settled into the day, though the morning is nearly over, so let’s not even get started on the week.

I think I’ve finally shaken a very persistent migraine, though, so I score that as win.

And here we are.

Still sticking with Daily Burn, which I love. I’ve started doing the live workouts, and it’s a fantastic way to begin the day, an accomplishment right out of the box. This week, they’re talking about setting goals.

Ah goals.

So my goal today is to do some editing. Some messy, tedious, exasperating editing. If I could handle this morning’s workout, 30 minutes alone in a dark alley with my manuscript should be a breeze.

Happy Monday! Have a goal you want to share? Please feel free!

Like my political side? Read my opinion pieces here.

Check out  my full-length novels: 

Aunty Ida’s Full-Service Mental Institution (by Invitation Only)   

Aunty Ida’s Holey Amazing Sleeping Preparation (Not Doctor Recommended) 

 Her Cousin Much Removed

 The Great Paradox and the Innies and Outies of Time Management.

And download Better Living Through GRAVY and Other Oddities, it’s free!

Peruse Montraps Publishing.

AccountaClub Friday, August 24, 2018

Standard

accountaclub-woodNo beating around the blog today, it was not an effective week for me. There was still a whole bunch of clearing at my parents’ house, immediately followed by a migraine that announced itself with words I didn’t intend to type to appearing on the screen. Like “offense” instead of “defense.”

So if you’ve noticed any language oddities this week, that’s probably why.

“Probably” because sometimes, for me, the oddity is baked right in.

I’m sure the crazy amount of news this week didn’t help, with convictions, guilty pleas, and so many people granted immunity. The brain can only hold so much.

Or mine, at least, can only hold so much.

So that’s me. I’m hoping for better next week, and trying to take things where they are.

Physically, though, it’s been great. I’m completely into Daily Burn; I even ditched the Amazon channel, which didn’t update regularly and skipped an entire week of workouts, and signed up directly with Daily Burn. It costs a little more but the opportunity to do the live workout in the morning makes it worthwhile. I highly recommend it, it’s a really fun program, it changes every single day, and it’s only 30 minutes of work.

How was your week?

Like my political side? Read my opinion pieces here.

Check out  my full-length novels: 

Aunty Ida’s Full-Service Mental Institution (by Invitation Only)   

Aunty Ida’s Holey Amazing Sleeping Preparation (Not Doctor Recommended) 

 Her Cousin Much Removed

 The Great Paradox and the Innies and Outies of Time Management.

And download Better Living Through GRAVY and Other Oddities, it’s free!

Peruse Montraps Publishing.

 

Ten Word Photo Prompt: Stuck

Standard
beautiful bloom blooming blossom

Photo by Pixabay on Pexels.com

Ten word story time! I know it’s challenging, but it’s over before you know it. In ten words, to be precise.

Using the above photo, write a micro-flash fiction story of only ten words. You can have a title, if you’d like, but don’t go nuts with it.

I couldn’t resist this photo, it’s just so pretty. OK, here’s mine:

August, yet still spring. She groaned and grabbed the pliers.

 

 

Barely Blogging

Standard
person using typewriter

Photo by rawpixel.com on Pexels.com

Blogging this week has felt like a real challenge. It’s weird for me; sometimes it’s like water, it just flows, I sit down, my fingers move, and a few minutes later there’s a post, done and dusted.

Other times, not so much.

I’m tired this week, so that could be it. It can’t possibly be because I have nothing to say. When do I ever have nothing to say?

There’s so much happening right now, it seems to be taking up a huge chunk of my mental resources. Including the bloggy part.

Basically, we’re in the middle of history happening, unfurling in front of us. Some day, this will all be settled fact, we’ll know the outcomes of the trials. In the words of Shakespeare, who really did get everything, “The truth will out.”

But right now, the truth’s still pretty in.

And I’m obsessed with it.

One of the things I’ve learned from yoga is accepting what is. And so right now, blogging is tough. Who knows what tomorrow holds?

(Actually, I do. It’s a photo 10 word story prompt. See you then!)

Like my political side? Read my opinion pieces here.

Check out  my full-length novels: 

Aunty Ida’s Full-Service Mental Institution (by Invitation Only)   

Aunty Ida’s Holey Amazing Sleeping Preparation (Not Doctor Recommended) 

 Her Cousin Much Removed

 The Great Paradox and the Innies and Outies of Time Management.

And download Better Living Through GRAVY and Other Oddities, it’s free!

Peruse Montraps Publishing.

 

Sloooooow this Tuesday.

Standard
close up photography of brown snail on brown wooden surface

Photo by Michelle Yorke on Pexels.com

Ever have one of those days when you wish your blog post would write itself? But then it never, ever does?

Never?

Ever?

You’d think these things would be more helpful by now. This 21st century stuff isn’t anything like we were promised.

(“What’s a blog?” asks my 20th century past self.)

I’m physically tired from the junk-clearing, so so so so much junk clearing, and mentally tired from technical difficulties. I also dropped my phone on my foot, corner down, so ouch.

I think I’m detecting a little bit of a blog-whine today.

Two cups of real coffee down…well, one and a bit, I’d need to reheat if I’m going to drink it, and I’m no more awake than I was when I got out of bed. Which makes me question the wisdom of getting out of bed.

But then we’re back to those 21st century deficits, because then somehow I’m the one who has to feed me and my robot butler hasn’t been invented yet. It’s truly a travesty.

Anyway, we’ve gone about as far as we’re going to go today, literally and figuratively as I’m icing my phone-toe. I hope you’re tearing up your Tuesday.

Like my political side? Read my opinion pieces here.

Check out  my full-length novels: 

Aunty Ida’s Full-Service Mental Institution (by Invitation Only)   

Aunty Ida’s Holey Amazing Sleeping Preparation (Not Doctor Recommended) 

 Her Cousin Much Removed

 The Great Paradox and the Innies and Outies of Time Management.

And download Better Living Through GRAVY and Other Oddities, it’s free!

Peruse Montraps Publishing.

 

Manic Monday

Standard
person holding teacup

Photo by rawpixel.com on Pexels.com

Did you know Prince wrote that song (“Manic Monday”), famously performed by The Bangles? Such an amazing talent, and such a sad loss. Not sure why I have Prince on the brain today, but there he is.

It’s been a packed several days as I continue to help clear stuff from my parents’ house, an archaeological adventure in many ways. It’s amazing the amount of space you gain when you clear out the junk. I think I’m going to try it here, to sort through the accumulations you just don’t notice and you stop seeing.

I think that’s true for us, too, on the inside. We could have so much more room if we cleared out the junk, if we dug through the layers and got to the messy, dusty bits wedged in the corners. Yoga, I find, helps with that; clearing bit by bit, making more space to breathe.

Which is a little ironic, given how much the dust makes me sneeze. Can’t say for internal dust, though I’d guess it does as well. I mean, it makes sense.

Sorta.

Anyway, I’m off to make space, physical and perhaps metaphorical. Hope you have a good Monday.

Like my political side? Read my opinion pieces here.

Check out  my full-length novels: 

Aunty Ida’s Full-Service Mental Institution (by Invitation Only)   

Aunty Ida’s Holey Amazing Sleeping Preparation (Not Doctor Recommended) 

 Her Cousin Much Removed

 The Great Paradox and the Innies and Outies of Time Management.

And download Better Living Through GRAVY and Other Oddities, it’s free!

Peruse Montraps Publishing.