#Musings

#WednesdayWisdom: Now

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I’ve always thought the beauty and the interesting bits were in our differences. I’m fascinated by the nuance of lives different from mine; it’s one of the reasons I so love to travel.

Now those differences are used as handholds to tear us apart, to isolate us, to break us into smaller chunks much easier for authoritarian regimes to swallow. Make us each independently concerned for our very survival.

Crowbar the fissures.

Our days have been quite chilling up until now, but I fear worse days ahead. So this is what I ask of you.

Remember that there are others also fearing for their futures, for their safety. Remember that differences are not a marker of competition but of humanity expressed in another way.

Remember we owe one another our support. Remember we need to see the obstacles ahead, not only our own, but those faced by others as well.

Or those obstacles will take root, broaden, and imprison us all.

Take the time to let someone else know you see them today. Hope your day goes well.

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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Wishy-washy Wednesday

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Had one of those nights with my thoughts piling like rocks in my head, one thought after another, and they felt like they were still spinning underneath my dreams.

Not a restful night of sleep last night.

It’s another bright day, though, not as sunny as yesterday but mostly sunny, and I think warmer. I’d like to feel inspired, motivated but mostly I just feel…blah.

It’s one of those blah days.

I’m going to need my list. Only a list will get me motivated. Or annoyed enough at the lack of crossed-off items to get me crossing off.

Well a list and coffee. Which is getting cold. Give me a second, I’ll be right back.

OK, it’s reheated. Where were we? Ah yes.

Stagnation.

Perhaps bright-eyed and bushy-tailed is overly optimistic these days. Perhaps. There’s a lot going on.

Sometimes one foot in front of the other, even with the smallest distance between them, is all a person can muster. Sometimes just standing still is a step forward.

You know what I mean.

So off I go into the expanse of the day, having sufficiently talked myself into medium. Have 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 eventually

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You know those days when you start one task but that task leads to another task and THAT task leads to another task?

Yeah, like that.

I wanted to write at my revamped desk, but the file cabinet drawer got stuck open AGAIN. I hate that file cabinet, it is beyond annoying but I haven’t replaced it because I get sticker shock every time I look at the cost of new ones. Why are they so expensive?

It seems unfair. Nothing so boring should ever be so costly.

So I struggled with that, and struggled with it and eventually got it but then couldn’t get the stuff that was in the drawer back into the drawer and frankly I’d love to put caution tape over the whole thing and pretend it never happened.

I came across some of my comedy sketches and I’ve got to tell you, they’re tedious. They are meta in a way that only I and perhaps one other person on the planet would enjoy and I don’t think that’s the way to get to comedy.

So a little additional opposite-of-sunshine in already less than sunshiny day.

Metaphorically only, though.

Outside it’s super sunny. Gorgeous, really.

So I am hoping that my afternoon leaves me open for lots of creativity but nothing like those sketches, wow, those never should have happened.

I hope you have a great 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.

#WednesdayWisdom The week marches on.

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(Photo by Tomáš Malčo Malík from Pexels)

Another week, another Manafort sentencing, though this time, the judge isn’t calling him “otherwise blameless.” So that’s good and based in actual reality.

It’s strange to contemplate the things some people get away with and the things other people don’t. Disparities in the justice system are rampant; now is the best of times to observe it happening in real time.

Well, last week was.

Maybe not this week. Maybe not.

Still on the Tasks with a capital T, taking things in steps, which is one of my favorite things to do when something feels overwhelming. One little bite at at time, and before you know it, you’ve devoured the whole thing.

Much like I’m devouring the live threads about Manafort, which are not on the list but, well, you know.

Sometimes I need a little self-push to do the things I don’t really want to do. One of my tricks is setting a timer; it’s an artificial deadline, a contest between me and the clock.

Sometimes I bribe myself. Or reward myself, depending on how you want to look at it.

Sometimes I can just roll up my proverbial sleeves and go.

It all hinges on the mood of the day. But, however you get going, it’s time to do it. Have a great 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: Around we go

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Sometimes I feel like time is circular. MondayTuesdayWednesdayThursdayFridaySaturdaySunday
MondayTuesdayWednesdayThursdayFridaySaturdaySunday
MondayTuesdayWednesdayThursdayFridaySaturdaySunday

And here we are back to Tuesday. Still Tasks ahead, the capital kind, not the minor kind, but the kind that need to be done, nonetheless. Or more important than nonetheless.

There are signs of spring outside, real ones, I think, or maybe I’m being optimistic. The ground is still muddy and brown, the grass last year’s dead growth, but maybe, just maybe there’s a hint of green to it.

It’s sunny today, and with a high of not so cold, maybe winter will be shrugged off after all.

That’s it for me for today, but I hope you have a great Tuesday, and I hope spring is near for you, if that’s your season now.

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: Distraction

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(Photo by FOX from Pexels)

I was looking for a banner, but decided they are just silly given how overpriced they are. It’s a banner. Why should it be pricey?

You use it once, probably.

So I’m going to make one. And I’m so filled with plans to make one that I am having trouble sitting here doing my blog instead of checking out how hard it is to cut out the font I chose.

I thought it looked easy. I could be wrong.

Can’t wait to find out.

It’s funny how many things there are that seem more fun than the task at hand. Life seems to be a lot like that.

And the universe handed me a gift: a phone call. I got most of the letters cut out, three more to go. Is it as fun as I thought it would be?

Of course it is.

Nothing like an emergency craft project to divert attention from, well, everything.

Yet again it’s bitterly cold and brightly sunny. If you didn’t check the temperature before you went outside, you’d get a terrible shock in the form of a wind that feels like the ghosts of the Arctic on a sightseeing tour.

That could be what it is, who are we to say?

Anyway, I have much Tuesday to do and less Tuesday in which to do it. Have a great day.

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: Most snails are faster

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So today I am 0% more awake than yesterday. I’m so much not awake that I didn’t even hesitate to make the second cup of coffee.

I’m a wild rebel.

Wild. Rebellious. That’s me.

Of course if you know me at all, you’re probably laughing as hard as physics allows, which is, I guess your right.

It’s another gray day, with those small, tiny angry snowflakes that always mean business. Not sure if it’s supposed to amount to much, I guess we’ll see.

And today is the mayoral election here in Chicago. I have to admit I’m not bowled over by any particular candidate, and am actively leery of several, so…this should be interesting.

I don’t expect anyone to get a clear majority, though, so it should go to a runoff.

Gotta tell you, cup two of coffee isn’t doing its thing. I thought we had a deal.

I’m getting ready to muddle through the day and go do my civic duty. Voting is always important.

Always.

Meanwhile, I hope your Tuesday is effective and productive.

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 if I have to

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(Photo by eberhard grossgasteiger from Pexels)

Yesterday the wind was fierce. So bad, in fact, a friend in town from Minnesota was left surprised and breathless from it. And today the temperature plunged into the single digits.

She has winter weather war stories that will play in Minnesota of all places. Imagine that.

I am tired enough today that, despite drinking out of a cup like a big girl for several years now, I just dribbled my much-needed coffee. Not sure which is worse: the potential mess, or the fact that between starting this sentence and ending it, I’d forgotten the punchline.

Sigh.

As I said, tired.

On this flat, gray Monday, the gears in my head failing to catch, the entire outside tired of winter, I am not heading into my week inspired. I would like to be inspired, of course. Who doesn’t want to be inspired?

But instead I am much like the weather, as though it has seeped all the way through. Which it does, around this time in February.

Spring’s got to show up at some point, right?

Anyway I hope you’re having a much sharper start to the week than I am. Have a great Monday.

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.

#MondayMood…sluggish

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Drinking out of my “embrace your inner unicorn” mug this morning, but I’m having a hard time finding a sparkle, let alone a rainbow. And you can forget the glorious, shimmery horn.

I am off today.

Yes, it’s Presidents’ Day (PLURAL POSSESSIVE!) so I can, technically, take it little easier, but by off I mean off my game. Like I just had to try three times to hit that period.

Yesterday I had a headache, and I think it’s still with me, slowing down the old noggin. And fingers. I actually dropped a piece of sushi yesterday.

Sushi.

On the floor of the restaurant.

Never done that before. It’s sushi.

The day started gray and ominous, but suddenly it’s sunshine, the surprise snow–they said one to two inches, but they didn’t say they meant repeatedly–fresh and white.

Hopefully it’s a metaphor for the rest of the day.

So I’m going to Monday my Monday. I hope you have a fabulous 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.

#WednesdayWisdom: Chilly

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I mean, I know. It’s winter. I live in Chicago. That’s not hard math to do.

And it’s brilliantly sunny out today, with bright white snow and a bright blue sky. Beautiful.

But I’ve got that inside cold that doesn’t quite go away until often the end of April, the kind when you’ve been cooled all the way through.

Like I said. Winter.

The sunshine is so deceptive, because the sun lets off zero warmth. Absolutely none.

Yet it shines merrily away up there as though it’s helping out. Not so, sun.

It does make for good writing weather, though. Listening to that cold wind, knowing there’s nowhere cozier than my new little writing spot. Looking forward to getting to it.

The writing, I mean. I’m blogging from there right now.

That’s the thing. Anything can be a motivator, if you look at it the right way. I’d much rather be in here, perhaps with a cup of tea in the not-too-distant future, than out there somewhere, that wind making ghosts of us all.

In here, my worlds are as warm as I make them. That’s a control I like.

I hope your Wednesday is appropriately warm.

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.