All posts filed under: writing

Gone Fishing

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I was going to say farewell, bon voyage, hasta la vista—but I know myself better than that. It’s likely I’ll post a bit over the next week or two, while I’m getting acclimated. I need to wean myself off slowly, to avoid that weird separation anxiety. I don’t know. That sounds a little neurotic, but it’s how I’m wired. C’est la vie. If I fade away, know that I’ll be back again in a few months (and I’ll be checking in to read other people’s posts (OPP) as time allows. I’ve made some awesome new connections, and I’ve stumbled on two new gems recently. Maybe not new to blogging, but new to me. I wanted to mention them now because they would have been on my list of things I love if I hadn’t had a limited word count. Word-Whelmed Woman has… well… whelmed me with her poetry and kindness (and humor). So far she’s a bit of a mystery, but it appears her “About” page is in the works! KUCHED is SO good with …

the little things

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I love… morning coffee to tinker; a little bit of this and a little bit of that thunder and lightning, especially when I’m enjoying coffee and tinkering the sound of rain on a tin roof rainbows and butterflies the way my body feels after doing something strenuous (rare, but happens) swimming in cool waters when the sky explodes into colors (missing Colorado) road trips—I’ll get out there again, eventually walking on sand the ocean Weekend Writing Prompt: Tinker (in 75 words) & RDP Saturday: Eventually I could go on and on, so I’m glad I used the 75 word prompt! I saw another blogger do this things that I love, and thought it was a great idea. It really was a wonderful exercise in gratitude. I felt so refreshed after thinking about the things that I love. And these are just the little things! I’m recycling an old image here. It’s from way back in the archives; a shot in the backyard after it rained. Those are tiny droplets, and I love them so! Anyway, …

Magical Moon

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Magical moonlight, Bidding the sunset adieu, Lighting up the night. I’ve been playing with the moon tonight. It’s not what I intended at all. I sat down to create something with a dancer, and somewhere between snacks and a movie… everything changed. That’s a wild Friday night for you. 😉 Peace & Love!

A Haiku of Faith

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The path is twisted, But there’s a cross, in the light, Guiding my footsteps. And an update for the road— My summer break is coming to an end. School starts Monday, and my bag is already packed. It’s been an interesting season, and I’m glad I took the time to refresh and recharge. I started organizing posts recently, updating some of my categories, and I realized something. Stories about my faith have dwindled. I guess a blog is a bit like life; like people. We wander. I’ve been a wanderer since the day I could crawl—both figuratively, and literally. I love to travel, to explore, and to learn new things. Maybe that’s why I love being a student. Every day I learn something new, discover new things, and meet new people. So, where am I in my faith? There’s a quote I found about a year ago, by D.L. Moody, and it really struck me. “A holy life will make the deepest impression. Lighthouses blow no horns, they just shine.” I’ve emphasized the second sentence …

Karma

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Whatever goes up, will surely come down; Like a boomerang, it just all goes around. You get what you give, or reap what you sow; If hate’s what you plant, then hate’s what will grow. If you want to see change; if love’s what you thirst, Be bold with your kindness… Dare to go first. Your Daily Word Prompt: Karma I’ve been stumped the past few days. Writer’s block, creativity block… whatever you want to call it. Slightly annoying—that’s what I call it. When I saw the word Karma my mind went where any annoyed person’s head would go. To the dark side. You know… rubbing my hands together, evil grin, thinking the worst. Revenge (even though I’m my own worst enemy, so that’s probably a bad move). But Karma isn’t revenge. It’s quite the opposite actually. If you sit around hoping (bad) Karma will make its way to someone else, you’ve missed the point completely. That’s like trying to get the speck out of your friend’s eye when you’ve still got a log in …

On the Edge

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I think the definition of artist is a bit enigmatic. I’ve never called myself an artist. I’ve said things like “this is some art I created,” or “I love to create art,” but that’s as far as it goes. I think the first explanation that pops into my head is the fact that I don’t use pencils, pens, or even brushes (although that may change after the new semester).

Is Fear Surreal?

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FEAR has Two Meanings: Forget Everything and Run… …or Face Everything and Rise. A quote by Zig Ziglar I think there may be a third option. Be still. Because maybe, like this woman seems to realize, there is nothing to fear—but fear itself. 🙂 Image created for Fandango’s One Word Challenge: Surreal

Living the Dream

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Chaotic workday— a scuffle with friends, Five o’clock traffic— the stress never ends, Pressure to do well— fearing failure, too, Stuck in a pattern— afraid of what’s new, Plan for retirement— look forward to rest, Where children once played— is now empty nest, Dating disasters— a marriage from hell, Lack of investments— there’s nothing to sell, No regrets linger— My head’s not for rent, All of these moments— are evanescent, March forward, full steam— toward what is unseen, Faith is eternal— I’m living the dream.

Looking Back

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Looking at your past is not a bad thing. Not to brood over it, but to cherish fond memories; see what you’ve done right (and wrong); and to learn from your past mistakes. When you take it all in and reflect, you figure out what’s worth repeating, what you should do differently next time, and—more importantly—what you should never do again.

In the Quiet

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Beauty comes to rest In the quiet of the day Gently, with no force I had to share another photo of the butterfly that stopped to visit yesterday. Mainly because I took so many pictures, but also because while standing on the grass to get the shots… my ankles were eaten alive by what I can only assume were mosquitoes. I guess even beauty has its price! Peace & Love!! Ronovan Writes Haiku Challenge: Beauty & Quiet

Wishes Come True

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A wish, like a dream Is only the beginning The challenge comes next Prepare for the fight Fear will say: “Impossible!” You must not listen Like “look, but don’t touch,” Always leaves you wondering, What did that feel like? You will never know What you are capable of Until you have tried So take a gamble, Up the ante, raise the stakes Make your wish come true Written for Daily Addictions: Fight, RDP Friday: Prepare, Fandango’s One Word Challenge: Touch & Your Daily Word Prompt: Raise

No News is Good News

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The Journey Continues… It’s been awhile since I’ve updated my journal. On the one hand, it means that nothing exciting (or newsworthy) has been going on. On the other hand—and more importantly—the old idiom rings true: No news is good news. Today marks 1,229 days of sobriety… so that’s good news!

One-Way

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Kindness lights the fire Winds of change begin to blow Compassion ripples The featured image is another one of my experiments in portraiture. I’ve been looking for ways to use partial faces, to make the portraits more abstract. My goal was to give it an urban feel, kind of like a piece of street art. The subject is my grandson. The phase I’m going through at the moment is thinking of ways to visually communicate—incorporating my art with some kind of “statement.” I don’t think I made it there (yet) with this portrait, but it was my inspiration for the Haiku, so it all worked out. My statement: Start a Ripple! That’s about all for now. Peace & Love to you all! Haiku Written for Ronovan Writes Haiku Challenge: Ripple & Wind

Yesterday’s News

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What screws us up most in life is the picture in our head of how it’s supposed to be. —Author Unknown I’ve been thinking a lot. That’s what happens when I have time on my hands (did I just say that in an earlier post?). What I’ve noticed lately is that—in certain areas—I’m a bit of a control freak. Nothing huge, mind you, just little nagging issues that bother me.

What am I?

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Beauty is all around me, To see, taste, smell and feel. This collage of golden flowers, Sits before me as I kneel. When I pray to the Almighty, The colors swirl about my head. Then snuggle around my body, Keeping me warm… inside my bed.

Be Real

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Be unique. Be awesome. Be you.   Do whatever it is that is true.   Take chances. Make mistakes. Step out. No one else knows what you are about. Encourage. Give a hand. Be kind. Speak gently, of what’s on your mind. Do what’s right, when others go wrong. You matter. You’re here. You Belong. Being phony will fracture your soul, So be real. Be authentic. Be whole. —Janet Word of the Day Challenge: Phony

Doorways

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“Still round the corner there may wait A new road or a secret gate; And though I oft have passed them by, A day will come at last when I Shall take the hidden paths that run West of the Moon, East of the Sun.” —J.R.R. Tolkien

Life’s Poetry

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Delicate verses Tender lyrics rip through souls Hearts mend in rhythm Haiku #9 Ronovan Writes Haiku Challenge: Rip / Mend The featured image comes to you from the patio in our backyard—a delicate hanging fuschia. I thought it was the perfect fit for my haiku. Peace & Love!

An Ode to Blogging

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We’re going out in public, So please put on your mask. Say “I’m fine” and “thank you,” If anyone should ask. I know your thoughts run rampant, You want to share them all, But these are not the places; The grocery store, or mall. Wait until you’re all alone, And type them with your hand. Share them on the blog instead, Where people understand.

Nurture

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RDP Thursday: Nurture verb: care for and encourage the growth or development of. noun: the process of caring for and encouraging the growth or development of someone or something. My featured image is kind of random! I did so many assignments in the past semester that the rebel in me has been fighting to break free and do something that’s just “because.” No judgement, no grade.

End of the Rainbow

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Something wonderful happens when it rains here! I saw this ‘end of the rainbow’ a few weeks ago and thought it was a great image for this evening. I logged on a while ago and saw that I have 25 minutes to go until my sober anniversary. Woo! School is keeping me SUPER busy, and I rarely come up for air… but I’ve been thinking about everyone! Anyway, I added a lot of drama to this photo, just because. It was quite a dramatic feeling to walk out and see it in person. I never really knew if you could see the end of a rainbow until I actually saw it. And now I’ve hit my 3 year sobriety mark and life is fabulous. What’s funny is that I shared it on Facebook the day that I shot the image, and someone seemed adamant that it wasn’t real. I guess my Photoshop adventures have placed my photo shares in the “this image could be fake” category. BUT… it is real. That’s about all for now. …

Directionally Challenged

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—I need a little direction right now. First of all, I took this photograph yesterday while riding with my son. I noticed the yellow lines in the mirrors and the Which Way Photo Challenge instantly came to mind. I realize I’ve already used the “rear view mirror” idea, but I had to do it again because I really enjoy how the lines repeat, but they don’t line up. One of the things I love about word and photo challenges is that they provide you with a little direction. The blank canvas isn’t quite so “empty,” because you’ve been given a prompt to draw upon.

Eclectic Thoughts

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How does one decipher, Mixed messages conveyed? Go where there is no path, But be careful not to stray. Reach for the stars is guidance… That often goes around, But can this be achieved… When keeping both feet on the ground? Am I shooting for the moon… If I aim to rise above the crowd? Or is this evidence… That my head is in the clouds? Unraveling ancient proverbs, Double edged, their meanings dual, Will knowledge bring me power… Or the wisdom of a fool? —Janet Written for Fandango’s One Word Challenge: Eclectic

the Boardwalk

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Footprints left behind, In the ocean of my mind, Memories captured. —JanetHaiku #6 I’ve shared this image before, in Pier Madness, but it was severely manipulated and I don’t like that version anymore. The girl taking the iPhone pic is an old schoolmate, and our friendship was the inspiration behind the Haiku. It’s still raining, and they say it should continue for a couple more days. I’m actually loving it (my comfort weather), but we’re keeping an eye on the news. Some of our friends live in areas that were damaged by fires recently, so you just never know what’s coming.

Wool-gathering

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BAD DAY AT SCHOOL It required too much effort; Listening to his speech… Dreaming of tomorrow, Things just out of reach… “Learn anything?” he asked… As I exited the class, “Well…” I answered softly, “These chairs sure hurt my …” —Janet Weekend Writing Prompt #92: Wool-gathering (36 words) Fandango’s One Word Challenge: Anything RDP Saturday: Effort

Gratitude Hour

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Time can be a little deceptive. It’s been two months since the fall semester ended, and—to be honest—it feels like it’s been a year. I’m grateful for the “down time,” don’t get me wrong, but that old familiar feeling… that it’s time to get moving… has taken hold, and Tuesday can’t come soon enough. It’s kind of like long, out of town vacations. They’re awesome! They’re fun, relaxing, and refreshing, but eventually you reach that point where you just want to go home. So… Daily Addiction’s word today is Inspire, and I’ve been thinking about that word quite a bit (burning the midnight oil again). In my pondering, I realized that one of the reasons my life, and this blog, have morphed and grown so much over the past couple of years is because so many of you have inspired me. Undoubtedly, I’ll be online much less once my classes start… so it seems like the perfect time to express my gratitude for that inspiration. To all the photographers out there, thank you for sharing. …

Into the Unknown

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Haiku #5 Enigmatic Path, Shadows and light intertwine, Past and present merge. I found several old road trip photographs while (still) sifting through my archives. I believe this one was taken in Utah. My boyfriend (at the time) wasn’t one to make pit stops, so my head was hanging out of the window most of the time—taking pictures—when we traveled together. I thought this was a good candidate for the Which Way photo challenge today. The fact that you can’t see where we’re going; only where we are and where we’ve been was the inspiration for the Haiku. Maybe road trips really ARE a bit like life. And relationships. The rain did, indeed, arrive today and we had some exciting lightning and thunder earlier this afternoon. That being said, I’ve put off my errands for now, and hope to get to some of the word challenges soon. Which Way Photo Challenge: January 31

Balance

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Rain taps the window, Inviting us out to play, Childlike dreams return, Cares melt away in each drop, Balance is being restored. —Janet Written for Your Daily Word Prompt: Inviting, & RDP Tuesday: Balance Rain is like macaroni & cheese to me. It’s my comfort weather. The fire goes on, blankets get piled high, and I have an excuse to stay in bed with a good book (guilt free!). A day like that is a great way to restore balance. I wanted to share some exciting news about school. After working as an unpaid graphic design intern for two semesters, I’m going to be official this semester. I will actually get paid for my work!

Helter-Skelter

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The midnight oil is burning. Scribbled words on shreds of notepaper litter the floor beneath my seat. I let out a yelp as the computer warns of pending doom: “Online storage approaching maximum capacity; purchase upgrade for more space!” Perhaps I shouldn’t write tonight. Shuffling through images from my past, I contemplate long and hard about which ones to retain, and which ones to throw out. Some of the photos seem so sad, so grainy. I look beyond the flaws, and into the memories that they bring. Perhaps I should save them all, it’s so hard to let go. Attempting to consolidate only creates more commotion, more chaos… I’ll finish tomorrow. Weekend Writing Prompt #91: Helter-SkelterWord Count: 111 Word of the Day Challenge: Yelp I don’t know if it’s cheating the 111 word count to go on like this, but I’m a rebel anyway so who cares. 🙂 I wanted to say something about my collage. I actually thought about writing a Haiku for this, because it reminded me of how little boys dream… usually …