Monday Matters: Half Past September

It is half past September,
the month is flying fast
there are something I want remember
before this month is past.

In the first fifteen days of September, I wrote thirteen poems. Of those ten were form poems and three were free verse. In addition, I wrote my first steampunk poem, which was an effort because I had to use a specific form. I wrote the poem as part of a challenge and it had to be a form poem. I used decuain form for Lord Claymore's Contraption.

It is half past September
a month to remember,
a month to celebrate
and to commemorate
because I stepped
outside the walls of my box.

I like writing form poem because I can focus on the form and the subject without worrying about anything else. Writing form poetry takes my mind off my troubles and helps me worship God through the use of stanza and line.  I believe that work performed with the proper attitude is worship of God and writing form poems helps because the form has to be perfect when it is complete.

Monday Matters: There's a Supermoon rising

What current event or topic inspired or influenced my writing? The supermoon (perigee moon) of Saturday, July 12. I did not witness the rising of July's Super Full Buck Moon, but its appearance influenced my writing. After reading the July 12, 2014, story by Charles Poladian, I made an entry in my writing.com blog concerning the moon. I wrote a poem called There's a Supermoon Rising, but I on changing the title of that to Supermoon. Perigee Moon, or Perigee-Syzygy when I rewrite it. I also used the supermoon as the topic for my upcoming edition of the writing.com fantasy newsletter.

There are two more supermoons coming up in 2014. The next occurs on August 10 when The Full Sturgeon Moon rises. I want to make a point of seeing that one, even if I have to stay up later then normal. The third supermoon is on September 9 when The Full Corn Moon makes its appearance. Witnessing the rising of both of those supermoons should inspire more poems or a story.

Monday Matters: Thinking about the Obvious

I am going through boxes of writing  projects I moved into the apartment. In so doing, I discovered an essay I began in 2003 titled The Obvious. After rereading the paragraph (several  times), I began wondering what I was thinking when I wrote it. Since I cannot find any notes about the paragraph, I do not know what event in my life caused me to write it.

What am I going to do with this paragraph? Do I just tear up the essay and forget about it? Do I rewrite the paragraph and use it in a flash fiction or short story? Do I turn it into a poem? I am letting those questions slide for the moment and copying the paragraph into this blog entry.

The Obvious

"What is obvious is that the obvious sometimes needs to be stated; needs to be proclaimed from the highest rooftops; needs to be shouted through a megaphone; because the obvious is not always obvious to everyone. Or the obvious is ignored. Walked around, tiptoed over, and tunneled under. True you cannot ignore the obvious for long, especially if someone states it. So never be afraid to state the obvious. After all not everyone is looking in the same direction. Not everyone want to see the obvious."

Looking over this paragraph again, I think the first thing I have to do is look at the grammar before rewriting it. The second thing is to decide whether to continue it as an essay with examples from my life or use it in a short story or poem.

Monday Matters: A Trip to The Bank

I received two checks through the mail on Saturday, but I waited until today to go to the bank and deposit them at the ATM. I had two reasons to wait until today to deposited the checks. First, my bank has an ATM is its air conditioned lobby so I do not have to stand outside in triple digit temperatures to make a deposit or receive cash. Second, the bank keeps a basket of lolly pops for customers and whenever I go into do business I get a grape lolly.

A grape lolly pop
brings back childhood memories
joyful nostalgia.

I deposited the checks and then I drove home in my car with the nonworking air conditioner. I took a bottle of water with me, but it was not frozen or even cold. On Tuesday or Thursday I will go to the store to get another six pack or two of bottled water. The only time I use bottled water is when I am out driving; at home I have a filter pitcher to keep water in the refrigerator.

Keep hydrated in
triple digit temperatures
carry ice water.

Monday Matters: Wake Up and Write

It is Monday morning in Las Vegas. I am attempting to wake up and write, which is difficult since I did not get to my love seat (I do not sleep on a bed) until 1:30 or 2:00 am. I woke up about 6:00 am and managed to say my morning prayer and take my first medication without difficulty. I turned on the computer, checked the local temperature on-line, and then opened the door to look outside.

I opened the door
inhaled the cool morning air,
I can't say the fresh air
because I live in a city and,
as everyone knows
city air is not fit
for human consumption

All right, now that I have written my depressing poem for the day and finished my first cup of cafe mocha made with "rich chocolate" Ovaltine©, I am ready to begin writing and reviewing. I will make myself another cup of cafe mocha, warm up the chicken I cooked yesterday, and fix myself a celery salad for breakfast or brunch whichever I decided is a better term for my first Monday meal.

Monday Matters: Thinking about Time-Out Tuesday

It is Monday, June 9, and I am thinking about Tuesday, June 10. I will not be online tomorrow because I am scheduled to work the primary election. I am a bit nervous because this is the first time in several years I have been able to work the polls on elect ion day. I know I should not be nervous because I have placed everything in God's hands.

I will take time-out

on  time-out Tuesday

to work the primary election

I get nervous when I let my mind wander and imagine all sorts of things that could go wrong. I just need to take a deep breath and say a prayer for protection against vain imaginings. As long as my mind is occupied I can focus on what I have to do to get ready to leave the house in the morning. The only thing I have to do this afternoon is pack the stuff I am taking with me, fix my salad, and my peanut butter sandwiches. I have the clothes laid out that I plan to wear tomorrow.

Writing this blog entry has helped. Of course, writing and prayer always relieves my mind and prevents me from worrying. These things always keep my mind occupied and help relieve the case of nerves I get every time I work the polls. I have to keep my mind occupied to stay positive.

Monday Matters: Poetry Form - Vahid

I am thinking about a specific poetry form today called a Vahid. This is how I described the form when I wrote a poem yesterday using this description. "Vahid - means unity; it is composed of 1 or more stanzas with each stanza containing a total of 19 syllables, but without a specific stanza line count. There is no rhyme scheme required; however, the poem must focus on a specific theme or subject which usually makes up part of the title. It isn't required that the subject or theme be mentioned in the poem itself."

I was describing the form from memory because I could not find any description not even a rudimentary one. Since I cannot find a proper description and I cannot claim the form as my own, I will just have to work with what I remember about it. I am changing the description slightly because I do not think that is a good description of the form. I wish I could remember where I ran across it; however, since I can only remember the form I will rewrite the description.

Vahid, meaning unity, is composed of one or more stanzas with nineteen syllable each. The number of lines in each stanza is left up to the discretion of the poet . There is no required rhyme scheme, which allows the poet to use any rhyme at his or her sees fit. The poem must focus on a specific theme or subject, which usually makes up part of the title, but it does not require that the subject or theme be mentioned in the poem itself.

Monday Matters: Monday Morning in Las Vegas

I woke up, set up on the love seat, checked the time on my cellphone (2:50 am), pulled my security blanket over my head, recited my morning prayer, and mediated. I got off the love seat at 3:25, took my thyroid medication, brewed a fresh carafe of coffee, and turned off the alarm on my cellphone at 4:00. I then turned on the computer, opened Google and found that today is the fortieth anniversary  of the Rubik's Cube. After that I logged into writing.com to check the e-mail and respond to whatever needed a response. I then checked my Facebook account and updated my status for today.

As I set here, sipping a cup of iced coffee, my mind goes back to the first Rubik's Cube I got. I received this toy sometime between 1974 (when it was invented) and 1980 (when it was named toy of the year). I enjoyed playing with it in my spare time because it kept my hands and mind busy, something I have to do otherwise I fantasize. I do not know what happened to my Rubik's Cube, it got lost in one of my many moves. It could still be somewhere in Oklahoma waiting for me or someone else to find and play with it.

Maybe my Rubik's Cube is on the Island of Lost Toys patiently or impatiently waiting for someone to find it. That would make a good plot for a short story. I think a good title would be Where in the Word is My Rubik's Cube? Next time I go to the mall, I need to stop at a toy or game store and see if I can find a Rubik's Cube.

Monday Matters: Sunset Thoughts

It is sunset in Las Vegas
and the well of my inspiration is running low.

I listen to the noises of the neighborhood,
to the voices of children playing,
to the voices of adults calling,
to the sound of the neighbor's dog baking,
and I wonder what these noises will inspire
once my well is running full again.

It is sunset in Las Vegas,
the blue sky is fading
and darkening
into night.

I wonder
as I listen to the city's noises
what will happen
before dawn breaks
and a new day begins.

It is sunset in Las Vegas,
the temperature is cooling
from the high seventies
to the middle seventies
and then to what?

Monday Matters: A poem and Ideas for Poems

Monday afternoon
I purchased a new broom
To sweep my apartment clean

I went shopping this morning for cleaning supplies, specifically a new broom, dustpan, and sponge mop. The first store I stopped at was the 99 Cent Store where I purchased a new broom, dustpan, and a few other items. However, the only type of mops they had were spaghetti mops which I have difficulty using. so I went to the Dollar General where I bought a sponge mop, a spare sponge for the mop, ice cube trays, and dish washing liquid.

Normally, I do not go to more then one grocery store in a day, but today was  special. I needed the mop because the only one in this apartment is a spaghetti mop. In addition, to cleaning supplies I also have an idea for a poem. I think I will call it Ode to my New Sponge Mop. Perhaps I need to get out of the apartment more often because I think my muse is being starved of inspiration.

Monday Writing Matters: Focus on Accomplishement and Getting out of the House

With the exception of taking the trash to the alley, I have not gotten out of the house since last Tuesday eventing when I attended the Feast of Glory. I did accomplish some stuff, not everything I wanted to accomplish, but I am getting used to that. Staying in my apartment for five days did prove one thing, which is that it does not make any difference in the amount of writing and work I accomplish by remaining home every day instead of going out. The only thing remain home did was lower the amount of gas my car uses, while it increased the amount of electricity I use at home.

writing on Monday
morning a necessity
starts the week off right

I have to focus on necessities and accomplishments today, which means I have to start going back to the gym and my exercise classes. I have to force myself to get out today so that I can go to the gym and the store. I think two  places is enough to go any day of the week with both housework and writing to do at home. I can accomplish a reasonable amount of things at home while still doing two thing out of the house.

it takes time to write
it takes time to do housework
make a to do list

Monday Matters: A Good End to March 2014

March is going out like a lion. On Sunday, March 30, the wind woke me up scattering trash and palm fronds across the neighborhood, This morning when I went to the gym the wind was not blowing hard, but an hour later the wind had increased by two or three miles per hour,  perhaps more. By the time I drove home, seven or eight minutes later, it had increased even more. As I look out the window, I see it has increased another four or five miles per hour.

Since I do not plan an outing this afternoon, it does not matter how fast the wind blows. I have several pieces of writing to finish and I need to do some more reviews on writing.com, which makes going out again today difficult. Tomorrow, I plan to do a load of laundry and go to the gym for about an hour. Wednesday morning I have an exercise class and in the afternoon my grief counseling group meets (yes, I am still going to grief counseling because my mother's death hit me really hard). Thursday I have to do another load of laundry (unless I change my mind and do two loads on Tuesday) and then an hour at the gym. I also need to pay my rent on Thursday, so I am not sure how much writing I will accomplish that day.

Today I have to balance my books and sit up my April goals spreadsheet. It is a good thing I picked up food at Lutheran Social Services on Friday, March 28, because now I have stuff I can just pop in the microwave and reheat for my lunch and dinner. I suppose I should check the weather forecast for the rest of the week because I do not want to be surprised by rain or strong gust of wind when I am driving across Las Vegas.

Monday Matters: A Beautiful Writing Day in Las Vegas

It is a beautiful day in Las Vegas, as I look out my window I see bright sunshine and a blue sky. I have ate breakfast, finished off a carafe of coffee, and washed dishes. Last night or early this morning (went to bed around midnight), I finished the responses to three blog prompts and posted them in my writing.com blog. There are advantages to living in the west and posting to a blog on the east coast.

Today, I have a follow-up appointment at 11:15 am to discus the results from the colonoscopy last Monday. I also have to stop at the grocery store to pick up a few items. After that, I plan on going to the gym for an hour and then return home to finish unpacking a suitcase my sister brought over last week. The problem with unpacking the suitcase is where to put the clothes. I found an empty drawer in my file cabinet for my socks, but I do not know what I am going to do with the rest of the clothes, especially the blouses. Right now all the hangers in my closet are in use.

It is a beautiful writing day in Las Vegas, so maybe I will write a rant about closet space. Compare the size of the single closet I have now with the four closets I had in the house. I could also write a fantasy story about  closets or maybe a poem. I will have to consider both while I am waiting to see the doctor.