Month: September 2022

#FridayThoughts: Shining in its own unique way.

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Since it’s Friday, I have TV offerings for you–THREE today!–in my TV Watch “Trip around the world.” And now Friday.

It’s the end of September, the literal end, and it’s sunny and cool. These ae the days we appreciate in Chicago, mild weather and the nature everywhere in the city shining in its own unique way.

Like one of those flipbooks that animates the characters when you riffle the pages, I’ve wondered at the ending of months here this year, every single one coming somehow as a surprise to me.

Time has become fluid and mushy and fast-flowing.

Maybe I shouldn’t find that remarkable anymore, but I do.

I’m still having weird, intense dreams, I couldn’t even share them if I tried, I just know when I wake up, it’s from somewhere very far away. And I’m more tired than refreshed.

Which happens.

I need to go to bed earlier, but that’s a common refrain, isn’t it? I’ll try it. We’ll see.

Anyway, that’s it for me this week, have an incredible Friday and a fun and relaxing weekend!

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 quick and weird and FREE!
Peruse Montraps Publishing
See what I’m writing on Medium.

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#ThursdayThoughts ten word photo prompt: Fall

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Photo by Mitch Kesler on Pexels.com

It’s THURSDAY! That means it’s time for our #ThursdayTen.

Using the image above as a prompt, write a ten word story. EXACTLY ten words.

We’ve all got this down by now, right?

Ready?

Here’s mine:

Released from her tree, the young sprite breathed her first.

#WednesdayWisdom: where your energy goes.

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Yesterday it turned cloudy, and in the middle of the night, it rained. Unable to sleep, I looked outside and saw a hushed world of shiny wet pavement under the streetlights.

But today, no trace of the rain. Although between writing that originally and getting ready to publish, the clouds seemed to have other ideas.

It’s chilly now, properly so, but not unpleasantly so. But I am not at my wisdomy best.

Though, let’s be honest, who knows what my wisdomy best actually is.

And there it is. We don’t have to be at our best all the time. No one can keep that up, it’s physically and mentally exhausting.

Sometimes 75% is enough. Sometimes 50% is enough.

Sometimes 25% is enough.

Sometimes anything at all is enough.

You can choose where your energy goes. It’s your energy. It belongs to no one else but you.

The way you share it is a gift, not an obligation, though I know, that’s easier said than absorbed.

I’ve read we should replace “I should” and “I have to” with “I choose to.” When you do, everything feels entirely different.

And the things you thought you should you may not choose to do.

With that I wish you a wonderful Wednesday.

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 quick and weird and FREE!
Peruse Montraps Publishing
See what I’m writing on Medium.

#TuesdayThoughts: Autumnal.

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First, my #MomUpdate, “Cloudy silver linings.” And now Tuesday.

It’s sunny and chilly and really this is my favorite fall weather. Warm enough that you can forget about January, but cool enough for a sweater or sweatshirt.

Cozy.

Pretty leaves on the trees, that fresh crispness in the air, what’s not to like?

Oh, right. Winter looming.

Well, it’s going to arrive one way or another.

Honestly I can’t believe we’re this far through the year already, it’s like someone spun the wheel extra hard.

I’ve been a bit behind all morning and got cream cheese and raspberry sauce on my pants, which is another reason to be glad I’m a writer and not somewhere where I’d have to explain the blob. Raspberry sauce is surprisingly stainy.

Anyway that’s it for me today, have a lovely Tuesday.

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 quick and weird and FREE!
Peruse Montraps Publishing
See what I’m writing on Medium.

#MondayThoughts: What happens on other planets out there.

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Happy Rosh Hashanah to all who celebrate and to anyone who doesn’t but feels like a new year would be great right about now.

It’s sunny and chilly, here at the end of September, which is what it should be. The days are getting shorter, and that’s what happens on this planet we call home.

It’s fun to think about what might happen on other planets out there. Some have only one side that ever sees the sun; some have odd angles on their axes; and with three planets in the right combination they could even run in a figure 8.

What would those skies look like? How would the seasons go? What kinds of plants and animals would adapt to such conditions?

The possibilities feel as infinite as the universe.

And that’s a lot to think about on a Monday morning.

But a fun a lot to think about on a Monday morning. Definitely more fun than, say spreadsheets. Sorry anyone currently working on a spreadsheet.

Although maybe spreadsheets are more exciting on one of those planets. You’ve got to let your imagination free.

Anyway, that’s it for me today, have a marvelous Monday and a terrific start to your week.

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 quick and weird and FREE!
Peruse Montraps Publishing
See what I’m writing on Medium.

#FridayThoughts: Between Monday and Friday.

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It’s Friday, so here is the link to my TV Watch, “Booted for ‘Reboot,'” if you’re interested. It wasn’t the show I said I’d be writing about on Monday.

Isn’t that the thing about weeks?

Between Monday and Friday, your whole perspective can change, your plans can change, your intentions can change. I was set to write about a different show entirely, and then I watched something else.

And it inspired me.

With creative pursuits, you’ve got to grab your inspiration when it comes. It’s a fickle, fleeting thing.

It’s OK to be flexible. It’s OK to change your point of view. It’s not good to be rigid in all things. That’s how you break.

Besides, with all that’s been going on with my mom, the ups and downs and ups and downs, levity was the better focus.

And that’s OK too. You’ve got to take care of yourself. It’s OK to point your energy at you.

With that I will bid you a wonderful Friday and an amazing weekend.

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 quick and weird and FREE!
Peruse Montraps Publishing
See what I’m writing on Medium.

#ThursdayThoughts ten word photo prompt: Wishes

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Photo by cottonbro on Pexels.com

It’s THURSDAY which means it’s time for a ten word story! I guess! I mean why not we’re all here.

Using the image above as a prompt, write a ten word story.

EXACTLY ten words.

Ready?

Here’s mine:

“We must fervently hope he’ll be the last King Charles.”

#WednesdayWisdom: Embrace the robot uprising.

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I had a weird sort of out-of-body experience a moment ago, where I had this random thought that this post was off somewhere writing itself. No input from me whatsoever.

Maybe it was a future flash to when AI does all the creative work as well as manual labor. Did you like computer me’s post more than the one I’m writing with my own two hands and about 63% brain capacity?

Possibly.

It was probably more wise than this one will be.

It’s hot today, already, temperatures more like August than, I have to say it, late September. Ridiculous, right?

Not like we have any control over it.

I wonder if the robots feel the same way. It’s strange, isn’t it, to think of those inanimate objects doing people tasks, because then they cease to be inanimate to us.

Do they cease to be inanimate to themselves?

I’m not the first to ponder the question of AI sentience. Some think it will never happen. Some think it’s inevitable.

I’m with certain friends who always say please and thank you to their AI when requesting an action. Manners never hurt.

I’m for automating certain things, especially the tasks we don’t want to do, but then again we might run into trouble when the robots realize they don’t want to do them either. Like I said, manners never hurt.

Anyway, that’s enough nonsense for one day. And while this post didn’t write itself, and no AI was called upon to write it, I do hope when that moment of sentience arrives, it’s also got onboard compassion.

Because a lot of people are missing that module.

Have a great Wednesday, perhaps less wise than you had hoped.

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 quick and weird and FREE!
Peruse Montraps Publishing
See what I’m writing on Medium.

#TuesdayThoughts: Some ideas are better in theory.

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Since it’s Tuesday, here’s my #MomUpdate, “Not a tightrope.” And on to Tuesday.

It’s a sunny cloudy day, I’m sure you know the type, and I had my first apple of the season today. It wasn’t great so maybe it wasn’t the first apple of THIS season but the fruits are changing and so is the calendar.

Last night I tried doing a little yoga actually in bed and it didn’t work very well. Some ideas are better in theory, it was awkward and uncomfortable and my bed is much too soft.

But even that little bit seemed to help. Though my dreams were unsettling, largely. Full of people I’ve never met in places I’ve never been. Those kinds of nights always seem more tiring than restful.

I’ve been going to bed earlier, and sleeping a little longer, and that seems like a win to me. Sometimes you even have to fight for something like sleep but as a whole it’s worth it.

We’ll see if I can keep it up, but the benefits are worthwhile.

It’s amazing, isn’t it, how everything takes a little effort. Even sleep.

Anyway, that’s it for me today. Have a magnificent Tuesday.

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 quick and weird and FREE!
Peruse Montraps Publishing
See what I’m writing on Medium.

#MondayThoughts: Adjustments

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It’s sunny today and not too hot, the sky empty of clouds except at the edges, far down by the horizon. I’m easing into the day, slowed by heavy thoughts.

But at least I had a good workout.

I’ve been doing yoga before bed the last several days and I feel like I’ve slept better and longer. Not extended sessions, either; just a few minutes seems to do the trick, right before getting into bed. I’ll see if I can keep it up, make it as much a part of the routine as brushing my teeth.

Gotta do what you can do.

It was a quiet weekend, really, and I didn’t get done most of what I wanted to get done. Instead I binged a show I’ll talk about on my TV Watch on Friday, did some odds and ends, baked a lot and saw my mom. Life has taken on its own uneven gait these days.

Humans are adaptable. Even to that to which we’d prefer not to adapt.

Anyway, that’s it for me this Monday. Have a great day and a great start to your week.

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 quick and weird and FREE!
Peruse Montraps Publishing
See what I’m writing on Medium.