Blogophilia 22.14: Bewildered

Blogophilia group on Facebook

Blog topic parameters HERE

How Blogophilia works now

Hard Bonus: Include a lyric from Panic! at the Disco

Easy Bonus: Use the term “ad hoc”

PacMan Live!

This new music these days from groups I’ve never heard of… I was and sometimes I am Bewildered!

Tonight we are victorious, Champagne pouring over us, All my friends were glorious, Tonight we are victorious! Panic! At the Disco – Death of a Bachelor album 2016 “Victorious”

As an advocate working on organizing an ad hoc grassroots group, I’m hoping that the meek can offer a sense of power in numbers, no matter how small we are. With the work I’ve been doing from home, I feel like I’m Packman Live, with what I’m doing. It’s a mixed blessing… I have the time while at home, yet I have distractions too. This is who I am, which is why I’m nominating myself as the Patron Saint of Miss Demeanor.

Weekly Writer's Group 37: Light A Candle

Weekly Writer’s Group on Facebook

Blog topic parameters on WordPress

Subtopic: Mention Cyber Monday

Candle Light

*sigh* I’m still feeling melancholy & discombobulated. I’m keeping busy with chasing papers, organizing, reorganizing, trying to get my bearings straight…

At the job I had for a little over a year, I’d Light A Candle, usually a scented one at my station. Not only did it give off a nice aroma. I rarely had anything that would be complicated, since I prefer the single scents like sandalwood, coconut, etc. because the blended ones are too complicated for my nose. It reminds me of when my husband would come with breakfast or when my maintenance guy would sit with me at lunch, and we’d have a candlelit meal together… I guess I’ll have to figure out a way to move on, and keep doing me as best I can.

For everyone reading, just know that I see your glow, whether it’s a candlelight or a bon fire or anything in between, and I appreciate all of you! How was your Thanksgiving? Mine was good. I used to like to gather around everyone to have bigger events, but, these days, I prefer the cozier gatherings. Holiday shopping stresses me out, so maybe I’ll get my shopping done for Cyber Monday.

Maybe for the upcoming holidays, I’ll reinstate my annual “Untraditional Traditions Potluck”. Everyone has a unique tradition, it seems, whether it’s a long standing one that ran throughout your family lines, or you started your own, and I’d host a dinner party where people brought their thing. It was fun. For now, stay warm, be safe, and I bid you happiness.

Weekly Writer's Group 36: A Time of Giving

Weekly Writer’s Group on Facebook

Blog topic parameters on WordPress

Subtopic 1: Mention ham or turkey
Subtopic 2: Mention something you’re grateful for
Bonus Subtopic 3: Mention Black Friday

Holiday Feast Time!

Thanksgiving seems to be the official holiday to kick off A Time of Giving. Especially in the northern hemisphere when things get really cold over the winter, the greatest needs are rising at this point. I hope it continues throughout the year, though, even if we’re trying to make the holidays count, which is also necessary, we have a lot of needs that need to be met by the people.

It seems as if the main celebrations that happen from Thanksgiving kicking off winter holidays to Easter ending them, that in the USA, turkey or ham are the staples of the main entrees. Thanksgiving turkey, Christmas ham or turkey, Easter ham… In Japan, people pre-order KFC 5-6 months in advance… Nuts, I tell you! Yet it seems as if in Italian households, it’s normal to do lasagna or stuffed shells, Mexican households might do tamales or something? I’ve done Puerto Rican, Italian, and even Japanese food… This year, my son is making empanadas.

I’m kind of hard on my husband & son, but I am really grateful for them. I really am. It’s getting difficult to know what to give them as gifts for the holidays, especially since I boycott Black Friday – those crowds really get to me. So, it makes me also grateful for summer sun & coffee to sit back & enjoy!

Here is toasting fellow bloggers who inspire me to write weekly, and to the organizers who make this able to happen tirelessly, even when there’s so much going on! I appreciate you all.

Java Flava

Blogophilia 21.14 Topic: Thank you

Blogophilia Facebook group HERE

Blog topic parameters Over Here

How Blogophilia works Right Here

Hard Bonus: Give thanks about something or someone that has meant so much to you this past year

Easy Bonus: Mention your favorite type of pie

Martian Thanksgiving Invasion

At this moment, it’s a bittersweet time. October 2011 I’d started a gig with a nonprofit that offers housing. I had a vision. And after going through decades of not finding my professional zone, I was content in landing this. In hopes of developing a professional relationship with the tenants, I started with those who were in the units attached to the building. When winter hit, and I didn’t have anyone reliable to help with snow removal for that property, one of the guys stepped up. I was grateful.

During the next few months, he’d work on the freezing load of $&!% – only wanting to be able to warm up in the office with some hot coffee. The visits started with just a half hour or so during snow times, which turned into daily visits, which could last at least a couple of hours. As far as “work” went, I was being undermined by others, so, these ‘interruptions’ were definitely welcome as a part of my day. Essentially, he became my work husband, with the various items he’d get done for me, until other things happened to put a kibosh on a perfectly good working relationship.

Eventually, we’d eat lunch together, and I even got to share some of my home baked apple pie with him. I’ve learned not to expect normal from life, and while we may have been unlikely friends, we became really close. At the end of October, I became laid off, the beginning of November, he took an out of state transfer. I’m glad for him, it was a needed move on his part. So, on one hand, I’m grieving the loss of my job, I know that I’d be half waiting for him to come in if I was still working, just to remember that he won’t. This guy is my maintenance guy, my friend, my work husband, and forever My Jimmy.

I’m raising my favorite tea cup with my green tea, as a Thank You to my fellow blogophiliacs. I appreciate the reactions, comments, reads, and so much more. We are a community for sure!

Tea Time!

Weekly Writer’s 35: Kindness

Weekly Writer’s Group on Facebook HERE

Blog topic parameters Over Here

Prompt: Incorporate a line from the song “Hands” by Jewel

Infect Random Acts of Kindness!

In a world filled with chaos, people wanting to hate people for their own troubles, tempers fly out of control… On occasion, I’m guilty of that too, but I have to remember, not to dim my light, it’s time to let the candlelight the hearth.

Kindness can go a long way, especially in a time where it might not be easy. When we have a couple extra dollars, buying a cup of coffee for someone is convenient. We like to be generous during this time of holiday season, when we’re reminded of Thanksgiving, Hannukah, Ramadan, Christmas, etc… Rather than when the spirit hits us when generosity is thrown in our faces, what about every other day of the year, during the off season? Sometimes it’s when it’s “hard” is when it counts in a much bigger way.

“My hands are small, I know … And I am never broken” Hands, by Jewel. It’s easy to think that we are “only” one person. In many instances it only takes someone to make things happen, and just know, you are someone, just like I am someone! As long as the music plays, we are not broken, even if we feel like we’re breaking. Be the light the darkness fears, and keep it going. You might find that you really have more courage than you thought, be the difference you didn’t know you had the power to create, and this world is better because you’re here.

Blogophilia 20.14: Topsy Turvy

Blogophilia Facebook group There

Blogophilia topic parameters HERE

How Blogophilia works Right Here

Hard Bonus: Discuss the Butterfly Effect

Easy Bonus: Mention a taxi or Uber

Spidey News

In a time where it seems like everything is Topsy Turvy, I feel like my creative streak is stunted. I swear life puts me in a spot where I’m needed, not necessarily where I want to be. In a world where there is power in numbers, my current situation calls for me to step up to the front, without a group I’m joining. It’s nuts…

The Butterfly Effect: My previous life situation brought me to the Hospitality Center, where I met a contact who introduced me to the place I’m recently laid off from. A change in administration led me to get hired with the help of another agency… In my head, it was supposed to be what carried me through, kind of like having a taxi do my driving while I got my stuff done. But, the new administration is fiscally inept at best, so my Spidey senses told me to step to the plate… As a former grassroots organizer, speaker, and advocate (currently as well), I know the channels to take, and follow the suggestions… Low-income people are relying on this agency.

It’s possible that my efforts may be ineffective. I could fall flat on my face, but, on the flip side, I could make a huge difference (even if not for me). I’ll clue you in on “news” as it happens, we’re still in the paper chase at the moment. 

Ecrits Blogophilia 19.14: Hurricane Hope

Blogophilia Facebook group Right Here

Blog topic parameters Over Here

Blogophilia & how it works HERE

Hard Bonus: Include a line from a Sylvia Plath poem

Easy Bonus: Include your favorite animal

Ocean Captivation

Habits of Mother Nature

Undergoes a lot.

Ripping apart anything on the warpath,

Raining, driving, roaring, twisting…

Intensifying at varying degrees

Catapulting manmade structures

Abused by humans, retaliates.

Immediate cover insufficient,

Naturally disastrous, like a rabid badger

Ending slow or hard…

Hoping for gentler times,

Our drive to survive prompt inventions

Purpose creates the roadmap for the future

Eternal gratitude for life & what brings us together

Weekly Writer’s Group Topic: Saving Daylight

Subtopic 1: Include thanking a veteran

Subtopic 2: Include something you would never forget

Weekly Writer’s Facebook group HERE

Blog topic parameters Over Here

Light Stream

It seems crazy sometimes that we want to be Saving Daylight. As a young adult, I was somewhat a night owl, and preferred 2nd shift. Now, I think I’m officially “old” – I’m in bed by midnight, awake around 6:30AM, up by 7. I wake up when I wake up. The clocks don’t matter. I don’t mind getting the extra hour in the fall, when we need it due to winter coming, I’m having more & more difficult time losing that extra hour in the spring each year. Old people don’t like to spring ahead faster than we need to.

In thinking about thanking a veteran… My great uncle Wally, who served in WWII – he’s been long gone, but I will always remember visiting him and will never forget how he would drive the golf cart so us kids could chase each other, knock each other out, just to be able to sit next to him until we got knocked out by the next cousin to sit there…

Life goes on, so many memories… We need to normalize telling people we love them, even if it’s awkward, strange, etc. It’s getting more difficult to roll with the flow & have people go. For those of you who stay active, even if it’s just online, thank you! I appreciate you because you’re all treasures.