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.

Blogophilia 18.14 Topic: Paranormal Occurrence

Hard Bonus: Use the word “tear” twice – as a noun and a verb
Easy Bonus: Include a zodiac sign

Blogophilia Facebook group right here

Blog topic parameters over here

Blogophilia & how it works, Here

Paranormally Listed

I'm not sure if this counts as a Paranormal Occurrence or not, but I remember it was about 1978, a year after I'd moved to Racine, from Tokyo, and we took a weekend trip to visit my Hungarian great grandparents in Stanley, WI. These would be my mother's paternal grandparents, who were already "old" at that time, so the 2nd floor bedrooms weren't cleaned, and very dusty. Because it's in the boonies, and the house wasn't originally equipped with running water, "the kids" had to use the outhouse, because the sole bathroom that was an addon was reserved just for the adults. I guess I've always had a weak bladder, and due to coughing & sneezing, my sister & I slept out in the car. I woke up to what seemed like bright lights, and there were 3 red blinking lights in a triangular shape, hovering where there was nothing when we went out... considering that everything else appeared jet black, it was odd how these lights, which weren't bright yet the glow would tear through the night sky into the car... I stared, looked away, couldn't fall asleep again, look up, still see it, tried to wake my sister, still seeing it several times as I try to rouse her, and when she wakes up, I turn to her, and as I go to point it out, gone... just the night, as if the blinking had to tear out of there with a quickness, just to tear my vision in half.

Now you see it & POOF!

Being that I am born an Aquarius, I feel like I have a strange personality combination. I'm quirky, humanitarian, enjoy taking the path less traveled (it's therapeutic, not lonely), can be laid back yet rebellious, embrace change & can roll with it, and learns well from mistakes (which makes it annoying when others want to carry on & on & on, sue me for being human & imperfect), and don't mind reinventing myself or repurposing things. Maybe I ought to be Paranormally Listed myself... I like watching those on YouTube.

 

Weekly Writer’s Group 33: When The Halloween Party’s Over

Subtopic 1: With Halloween being tomorrow, and daylight savings is next week, what do you do for the rest of the year?

Subtopic 2: What’s your favorite Halloween song?

Weekly Writer’s Group Facebook page HERE

Weekly Writer’s blog topic parameters Over Here

Pumpkin Patch Minion!

It’s one of my favorites to celebrate, with ghouls, witches, scary characters, princesses, super heroes, etc… I enjoy seeing them all, but… I have a dress rehearsal for Racine Concert Band, with a show on Tuesday, November 1, 2022 at 7pm at Washington Park High School. So, that will be my gig this year. 2022 marks the 100th year of Racine, Wisconsin having our very own municipal band. All summer concerts, starting the 1st Sunday of July through mid/late August (for a total of 8 shows) are free & open to the public at the Zoo. Normally, there are 3-5 concerts during the rest of the season, and those have an entrance fee, but in celebrating the centennial, this one is free, and the final free one of this year.

When The Halloween Party Is Over, my schedule will slow down a little bit for a while. I got a 2 week layoff at work, with no solid plan to go back yet, so that is still up in the air to see if I will have something there after that or not, which stinks, because other holidays are coming. With my autoimmune disorders, trying to look for other employment just doesn’t make much sense. This one is what I’d be able to handle, and with it being a relatively quiet nonprofit, could be flexible around my appointments. At least I have the UW-Parkside Community Band, where we have 4 concerts throughout the year, with our next concert being on December 8, 2022 at 7pm in Bedford Hall at the Rita Tallent Picken Regional Center for Arts & Humanities, affectionately called The Rita. Summer concerts are fun, with the marches, polkas, & other crowd pleasing music, where we have 1 rehearsal & show weekly, inside the bandshell/gazebo. The other shows being on a more formal stage, brings out the musicianship, for a more professional/studio sound, which takes a bit more work, and really shows off the talents of all of the performers.

I’m looking forward to DST ending… I really could use the extra hour of sleep, though I think I’m old at my not so youthful age, I’m not looking forward to driving at night… Oh well! Life happens, though it would be nice to just keep it here, and just adjust times for everything else. The last few years, losing that hour of sleep in the spring really takes a toll on me, and takes me 3 or 4 days to fully recover. What am I to do the rest of the year? Well, do what I can to make it through the holidays… and for a fuller update on the other things I am working on, aside from being a musician for 2 groups and an advocate for BeLEAF Survivors Inc., feel free to ask to join my extremely private group, Feral Humans Anonymously – where I’m encouraging all of us who are not fully domesticated to brag about their misbehavior for a good cause, get support, advice, encouragement for things that are going on, etc. For me, it’s about the biggest project I’m taking on… I don’t have a lot of “help”, and it would be helpful if I had Minions who could go for the ride with me, but… often, the situation is what it is. I may not be the healthiest person, physically, but I AM a natural advocate with tenacity.

I will leave you with this: Beethoven’s Grosse Fuge in B-flat major – Op. 133. The Allegro movement makes for a nice autumn/Halloween theme.