Singapore Sessions

What happens when provocative ideas collide? Sparks are created. Singapore sessions bring together experts from various backgrounds who focus on the challenges of tomorrow. Click on the video below to learn more about this thought leadership forum and what these experts from diverse fields have to say.

Friday's Haiku

cloudy morning skies
the promise of Friday rain
or a dreary day

When I picked up the paper this morning, I saw the crescent moon and Venus. As the morning progressed, the clouds became thicker concealing the blue sky and the sun. I have not checked the weather yet, so I do not know it it will rain in Las Vegas. I would like to see it rain because I planned to stay home and write.

raindrops fall from sky
without thunder's announcement
no lightning flashing

It is raining! I looked out my window and saw the raindrops gently falling. I did not hear thunder or see lightning, the rain slipped up when I was not looking. It is going to be a pleasant, cool Friday in Las Vegas. A day to stay home, catch up on some writing or other work, and watch the rain. I enjoy the rain when I can remain home doing work between watching the raindrops water the weeds in my yard.

Tuesday Musings: August 27, 2013

Morning dishes washed
while fresh coffee brewed
and nightingales sang.

The birds singing outside my kitchen window sounded sweet and melodic, so I guess they were nightingales. I like the thought of them being nightingales even though I did not see which species of bird was singing. I know there is one or two pairs of nightingales nesting in the neighbor's oak tree.

A brisk morning breeze
blows through pine and oak trees
birds fly to their nest.

This morning when I took a bag of trash to the garage, I saw a couple of birds flying between the ground and a neighbor's oak tree. There are several oak, pine, and olive trees in this neighborhood. I think they were planted because they produce a large amount of shade during the hottest part of the day. The also appear to be good places for birds to build their nests.

Las Vegas Tuesday
cirrus clouds in the sky
with blue peeking through.

It is a beautiful partly cloudy morning, with the wind blowing through the trees. The sun shining through the clouds cast dark shadows across the pavement. It is a cool morning for late summer, which makes going outside pleasant. It is a beautiful day in Las Vegas.

The Writing Process: Moving Forward

Writing is a process of moving forward one character at a time. It is editing and reediting until the story or poems appears perfect or, at least, is as perfect as it can be in the moment. Sometimes the most that you can do is correct spelling and grammar before sending the story out into the world for critics to tear apart.

Write and rewrite, edit and reedit. Get up and take a walk in the rain or pour yourself another cup of coffee before going on to the next project. Life moves forward and so the writing process must advance. Nothing in the world can stand still for very long, if it does then it stagnates or turns stale. An author does not want a musty piece of writing any more then he or she want to make a peanut butter and jelly sandwich on a stale piece of bread.

Everything, including the plot and the character must go forward, must proceed toward the final curtain and destined goal. The climax of the story eventually comes, the editing and rewriting are completed, and then the written piece goes out into the world for others to see. This is not the end for the writer there is always another project, there is always more to write.

The Last Sunday in August 2013

cirrus clouds floating
across the blue morning sky
a gentle breeze blows

I listened to the weather report yesterday, so I expected more then just think cirrus clouds today. I have not turned on the television to check the weather channel or checked weather.com to see what to expect today. I do not care what the weather is like today because I am staying home.

wind in the elm trees
thin clouds mover across the sky
beautiful Sunday

If I want to know what the weather is like today, I just look out my living room window. I can watch the Stars and Strips wave in the wind. I can watch the birds fly to and from their nests in the neighbors' trees. I can go outside and stand in the sun if I want a closer view of the weather today. I might turn on the television later if I want to know what is predicted for tomorrow.

A Lazy Saturday Afternoon

It's a lazy Saturday afternoon
and the only thing
I want to do is write.

It's a lazy Saturday afternoon,
a breeze
is blowing
through oak and olive trees.

It's a lazy Saturday afternoon,
the clouds are moving
slowly to the east,
as patches of blue sky
appears between patches
of white and gray.

It's a lazy Saturday afternoon,
a good time to write
free verse or haiku.

It's a lazy Saturday afternoon
in Las Vegas:

clouds hide the bright sun
the wind blows the limbs of trees
olive, oak, and pine.

Wordless Wednesday: Be On for Publishers Syndicated Player

Tuesday Morning Senryu

laundry washed and dried
trash carried to the gagage
need dish washing soap

Tuesday Morning Haiku

moisture bearing clouds
pregnant with the memory
of Sunday's downpour

moisture bearing clouds
promising another storm
a humid morning

It is not a blue Monday in Las Vegas

mostly cloudy day
sun peeks through a patch of blue
bright clouds reflect light

It is cooler this afternoon then it was last Monday afternoon. All day the clouds have covered the sky. This morning, pools of water stood in my driveway; they were leftovers from Sunday’s thunderstorms.

pools of rainwater
dry slowly on cloudy days
a slight breeze blowing

This morning a breeze blew through the neighbor’s olive and oak trees. The dead limb on the pine tree in my front yard remains attached to the tree. I have to find someone to cut the limb off or cut the tree down. At this point, the only thing I am worried about is finding the money for the next power bill.

humid summer days
remind me of Oklahoma
I prefer a dry heat

It is not a blue Monday in Las Vegas. I am not as depressed as normal. I have eaten a good breakfast and lunch. I have written three Haiku for this entry, all though I am not sure about the third haiku because of the syllable count.

Monday is not blue
all though blue patches shine through
the bright white cloud cover

A Thunderstorm in Las Vegas

I wrote the following poem during a thunderstorm in Las Vegas. The weather bureau released a Flash Flood Warning for southern Nevada and central Clark County. They kept updating the warning all afternoon. The warning ended about 6:15 PM or a bit earlier.

Do I hear thunder?
See raindrops on the cement?
The wind is blowing!

A flash flood warning
For southern Nevada:
“Turn around don’t drown!”

I watch the wind blow
Through the pine tree’s dead branches;
The rain is falling.

A flash flood warning
For central Clark County:
“Turn around don’t drown!”

Listen to the rain
Whispering to Las Vegas
Relief from the heat.

A flash flood warning
For the Las Vegas area:
“Turn around don’t drown!”

I watch the pine tree
Its brown limbs blow in the wind
Will they break off tonight?

The flash flood warning has ended. The wind has stopped blowing. The limbs are still on the pine tree. The clouds still cover the sky, but the rain has stopped. There is a puddle of rainwater in my driveway.

I worry too much because there is nothing I can do about the dead limbs on the pine tree. I cannot afford to have them cut off. I can only say a prayer of protection and hope that we do not have 30 mile an hour winds for the next two or three months.

A Breakfast Break from Writing

Writing can be difficult work,
so perhaps I need to take a breakfast break
because it's getting hard to concentrate.

Writing can be difficult work
a little fruit could be just what I need,
to give my muse an idea seed.

August Dawn in Las Vegas

the first light of day
highlights in white dawn gray clouds
undisturbed by wind

dawn in Las Vegas
begins another warm day
morning scattered clouds

Evening in Las Vegas

as the blue day fades
the neighbors return home
after a long day

an attitude change
is what I require and want
maybe tomorrow

I watch the sunset
no spectacular scarlets
after a long day

Friday's poetic Thoughts on Writing

A funny Friday?
It is too early to say.
I am depressed anyway.

Funny Friday is a weekly blog prompt when the official version of the 30-Day Blogging Challenge is held on writing.com. The next official version of the Challenge will occur in September, so the only blogging prompts I am receiving are from the Blogging Circle of Friends. The Blogging Circle of Friends is also a writing.com group.

The goal is to write
Two thousand words a day
There must be a way.

I wrote that little poem last night or early this morning before I went to bed, which is actually my couch since I do not have a real bed. Even when I had a real bed I could not sleep in it because it enhanced my back pain. At least, sleeping on the couch does not cause my back to hurt.

When is the best time to write,
I wander as I look into the night;
I think of tomorrow
The mourning dove's sorrow
And I remember the nightingale's plight
As I listen to the neighbors' cats fight.

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An Afternoon Nap Refreshes a Writer

An afternoon nap
a refreshing retreat
rest both mind and muse.

I took a short nap this afternoon. I sit down on the couch and I fell asleep sitting up. Normally this is not the best way to take a nap, but today it was refreshing. I do not know how long I slept. I do not remember dreaming. The doorbell woke me up.

The doorbell ring once. It was a long single ring and it woke me up. There was no one on the front porch and no notes stuck in the screen door. I suppose the doorbell could have been a dream, but it sounded so real that it woke me up. This happens every once in a while, but usually at night.

I think I have gotten used to the doorbell ringing at weird hours, so it does not bother me anymore. I used to worry about it; however, now I just take it as another odd or weird occurrence in my otherwise mundane life. I think I should use the doorbell ringing as part of a story. Perhaps my muse is attempting to send me a message for a plot, which I have ignored.

LG G2: Inspiring Teaser Film

How is LG learning from you? Click on this inspiring teaser film to find out LG G2 is Learning from you on August 7. How are you inspiring? Click on the video below to find out.

Sneezing Day Four

Sneezing episodes - Day Four

The sneezing start off innocently,
Three sneezes on Thursday,
Six sneezes on Friday,
Nine sneezes on Saturday,
Twelve sneezes on Sunday.

Why am I sneezing?
The weather is not freezing!
Am I allergic to dust?
Is it the wind gust?

Do I have a summer cold?
I threw out my old pillow yesterday
I am still sneezing today.

Could I be allergic to August?

LG G2: Launch Teaser Film

Click on the video below and to find out why you are inspiring. On August 7, 2013 you can find out how LG G2 is "Learning from You". Click on the video below to find out more.

Thankful Thursday: A Writer's Gratitude list

On this first Thankful Thursday in August, I am grateful...

1. that I saw a bird flying back to its nest in a neighbor's oak tree;
2. that the scattered clouds in the blue sky above las Vegas suggest a patchwork quilt;
3. that a gentle breeze is blowing through the neighborhood trees;
4. that the bright sunshine is casting deep and dark shadows across the sidewalk;
5. that I have a glass of iced coffee to drink while I am making this entry;
6. that I woke up in a positive mood this morning instead of being depressed;
7. that the American flag in front of my neighbor's house is blowing in the morning breeze;
8. that Dr.Seuss wrote "Green Eggs and Ham";
9. that I still have some oranges left for my lunch today;
10. that everywhere I look I see a subject for a poem.