I pad through puddles
Feels nice on feet
squishy wet grass
is a tasty treat
I find stick
tastes yummy too
water drips on my nose
I chew and chew
Then towel time
So warm and soft
I chase and play
As Human dries me off
I miss the rain
When it goes away
I like the wet and mud
Every day
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!
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!)
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!
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:
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):
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!
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
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?
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.
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!
I have this story that I’ve been trying to write a draft for. But after working all day sitting at a desk for 8 hours, do I want to come home and sit at my desk to write? No. It’s so frustrating. My notes/drafts/brainstorms are all on my computer, so it’s just so much easier to type out my draft for my story. Buut…I’ve been doing everything else tonight.
Here’s some things I’ve been trying to keep motivated:
Listening to Music ~ This has been doing a great job in keeping me relaxed, and I’ve switched to the Pop/Hip Hop workout station on Pandora, which makes me want to get up and dance, of course.
Stumbleupon.com ~ Mike’s really the reason why I know about www.stumbleupon.com. You basically create an account, edit your interests and click stumble. Next thing you know you’re surfing the web based on your interests. Can be very inspiring for writers.
Looked at Vacation destinations ~ This is really because Mike and I are shopping around for a place to go this coming summer, but this might be a good way to trigger a location for a story.
Also came upon this ~ 33 Ways to Stay Motivated. This was a stumbleupon result.
I’m jamming away, relaxed (now maybe a little sleepier) and trying to get that passion for writing. So funny how when writing becomes work, I suddenly am not inspired at all. Except when it’s like 10PM on a Sunday, and then suddenly all hell breaks loose. So typical.
What are you guys up to tonight? How do you stay motivated? Any tips?
Happy Writing!
A. J. Morse 