POEM: When My Dog Works

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Author’s Note:

I am very lucky in my current situation to be able to work from home. My heart goes out to those who work in essential jobs who are more and more at risk everyday. It’s been stressful for all of us. Our chocolate lab, Koda, has been providing the entertainment here. He might not be the most well-behaved co-worker sometimes, but he is definitely our free-lance therapy dog right now. Below is just silliness.

Stay safe everyone!

Amanda


When my dog works
It’s all about play
He sits near your chair
As you begin your day

Somehow, his ball makes
its way on your desk
His wet nose touches your elbow
You tell him to rest

Just when it’s quiet
You have to go pee
Of course, he has to come along
(In case there’s something to see)

Back in the office
You answer a call
He gets stuck under the desk
While getting his ball

He looks up at you
With a big doggy grin
Wagging his tail
Let’s do it again

And again

And again

And again

Poem: Lazy Saturday

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Should I write, or take a nap? My body doesn’t really give a crap.
My head says no, my heart says yes
Maybe I should just get dressed
Just lying here in bed
The fan swirling around my head
My heart chiming its steady beat
Its really all up to my feet
Should I stay or should I go
The rest of you say no

Feet say yes, and wiggles toes
Let’s just see how the rest of this goes

This is just silliness this Saturday. But my, it does feel good to relax today! Just finished watching Guernsey and the Literary Potato Peel Society on Netflix. I feel so inspired to write now. What a great feeling!

What I’m Reading: Winnie the Pooh, Silly old Bear

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Went and saw Christopher Robin today, and it was fantastic. I went in expecting some childhood nostalgia, and a heartwarming story and got exactly that. The animation of our old friends to look more like the actual stuffed animals is amazing, and makes you want to pick them up and hug ’em all!

I’m feeling a little nostalgic tonight, naturally, so reading The House at Pooh Corner.

Will also probably re-read Winnie the Pooh at some point, too. If I could ever write anything as well as A.A. Milne, I would count myself very blessed indeed!

Happy writing everyone! (And reading!)

What I’m Reading: Children of Blood and Bone by Tomi Adeyemi

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I attended a writer’s group around here and someone recommended this book to all of us. It was a winner of a contest called Pitch Wars, which she also told us about. If you don’t know what pitch wars is, I suggest you Google it. Got a manuscript? Want some advice from experienced writers? This contest is for you. You get a chance to partner up with with a mentor, who will offer you advice and ways to edit your novel so you can pitch it to agents. In the end it’s like a bidding war for the best novel and sounds so exciting. I’m going to give it a try myself.

Anyway, this book is about four young adults who are brought together by tensions exacerbated by the politics surrounding the world of the novel. On one side there are those who have magic, or used to have it. On the other: the evil king who is determined to keep magic away for good.

Friendships form, romance kindles, and adventure makes this book as absorbing as the world the author has created.

Happy Reading and Writing!

Vacation Highlights: 7 National Parks Over 6,000 Miles

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Monument Valley

Mike and I took a long vacation his year, and it was fabulous. Last year we were in Utah, and we just didn’t get enough of the West, so this year we headed out there again…

We were gone 18 days, drove over 6,000 miles, passed through 16 states and visited 7 national parks in total. It was a whirlwind of an adventure…and although, it was a TON of driving which I think we might pass on for next vacation…it was a lot of fun.

Grand Canyon

Arches National Park

We purchased one of those annual passes for the National Parks, and we visited:

  • Badlands National Park
  • Yellowstone National Park
  • Grand Teton National Park
  • Grand Canyon
  • Bryce Canyon
  • Arches National Park
  • Black Canyon National Park.

Fountain View from our room at the Bellagio (26th floor) Las Vegas baby!

Paonia, Colorado

Hoover Dam

Attractions we got to see (not in order):

  • Hoover Dam
  • Las Vegas strip
  • Colorado Mountains (annd Mike’s Grandma on our way through)
  • Mount Rushmore
  • Grasslands of South Dakota
  • Titanic Exhibit (Luxor in Las Vegas)
  • Tournament of Kings (Las Vegas)

States we passed through:

Pennsylvania, Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, South Dakota, Wyoming, Idaho, Utah, Nevada, Colorado, Arizona, Nebraska, Iowa, Wisconsin, Minnesota, Montana

This was the first thing we saw upon entering Yellowstone. Just a buffalo trotting down the opposite side of the road. Like, no big deal, guys. I’m just here, doing buffalo things…

Old Faithful

Falls in Yellowstone

Animals we saw (some we’ve never seen before):

Black Bear, Grizzly Bear, Elk, Moose, Prairie Dog, Buffalo, and deer.

This trip made our relationship stronger, we learned how to be more aggressive drivers (you gotta be in some urban areas), and it reminded us that life is short and you must enjoy it where you can. Life can be stressful, and it really shouldn’t be. Don’t let work (especially work) weigh you down. All the money in the world is not worth your heath or your happiness.

Badlands National Park

Morning Star Pool in Yellowstone

Yellowstone Lake

Bryce Canyon

This is my favorite picture out of the whole vacation, guys. Lake Jackson in Grand Teton National Park.

I hope everyone is having a great summer and enjoying life’s little joys where you can.

Happy Writing and Vacationing!

Blackout Poetry: Unexpected

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Wrote some blackout poetry at the library today. They had a little station of copied pages from books, and only a red marker – I guess someone took the black? Anyway, I had fun.

It reads:

Then stillness

the one I’d wanted

were standing outside the door

breathe the landscape

that enclosed us

the tender edges

our centeredness

her dress

her name

blended

with the room

What I’m Reading Tonight

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Got the Yankee – Astros game playing in the background, the fan is whirling and making a steady shwooo noise, and I’m snuggled in bed with a book.

Everland, by Wendy Spinale. It’s this steam punk version of Peter Pan. I love the cross genre and diving into the realm of fiction classics is always fun, too.

What are you reading? Anything good?

6-word Stories Tell a Story on Their Own

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I worked on this last week, but I guess I forgot to post. It was something I saw on a Facebook feed from a previous year. Someone had shared some 6-word stories and they were heartbreaking. Beautiful though, but amazing how they were able to portray so much with so little words. It’s such a great challenge though for creative writers.

Let’s see what you can come up with…here’s mine:

Seven 6-Word Stories

1.  Brian said, “Goodbye.” Then he jumped.

2. Snowflakes danced around flower-covered headstones.

3. Black coffee drank up searing disappointments.

4. The advertisement read: need companion, non-violent.

5. Clutched hands trembled, the doctor spoke.

6.  Tail wagged. The Vet said, “Ready?”

7.  Birds chirped happily over rushing water.

All The Happy Little Trees

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I am appreciating the outdoors today and the sunshine, even though it’s pretty cold outside! It’s as if Bob Ross were here painting all his happy little trees…

Mike took this picture on our walk today. This up and down weather is taking its toll on the small streams and canals in the area. There’s been some flooding from blockages from ice floes.

I somehow caught pink-eye over the weekend; and the handle to my driver’s side door snapped off when I tried to open my frozen car door last night, but I am choosing to remain positive. Was actually a great triumph for me to laugh about it, instead of let my anxiety take over.

Plus, I’m inside and warm, and that always helps, too. Hope everyone has a great Sunday and keep safe out there!

Happy Writing all!