Poetry Corner: Carousel Dreams

Quick poetry post for my Poetry Tuesday. I wrote a couple of poems yesterday, but the pantoum was not my best and the other was a haiku. I like to post several haiku at a time, because they are short poems. So tonight (early Wenesdayish) we are going back to May. This poem was inspired back the carousel at Eldridge Park in Elmira, NY. Where the rides are a dollar and the chance to win a brass ring. Like the good ol' days!

This is a pantoum. One of my faves and a reminder of summer's end. The repetition seems to evokes feeling of being a child, summer, fairs and such. Enjoy, Dear Readers!

Carousel Dreams

In a colourful blur of memories

spinning around your head--

in the sunshine you hear the music

and you feel like a kid again.

Spinning around your head

as the world whirls in colourful blurs

and you feel like a kid again--

picking out your trusty steed.

As the world whirls in colourful blurs

taking hold in the line the long minutes of

picking out your trusty steed,

for the adventure of a lifetime.

Taking hold in the line the long minutes of

waiting for your turn to arrive,

for the adventure of a lifetime

only costs one dollar.

Waiting for your turn to arrive,

when no cares are to be had--

only costs one dollar

to ride the giant giraffe.

When no cares are to be had--

in the sunshine and memories

to ride the giant giraffe

in a colourful blur of memories.

5-3-2015
12:04 pm

Progress as of...

Goals and progress? Yes? Yes! Not much, but here is what I have...

This Week: 
    *Writing/Blogging: Saturday. Came up with a schedule for my goals during the rehearsal and run of Music Man. This will continue into Round 4 likely, if I like the schedule.

             Schedule
             *Mondays: Music Man rehearsal 6-9 pm. Write for an hour after coming home.
             *Tuesdays: Poetry Corner posts. Will post a recent or archival poem from my collection. I have a lot of poems. Also, spend time writing (30 minutes) and editing. Tweet chat: #writestuff at 9 pm.
             *Wednesdays: ROW80, WIPpet Wednesday, and WWW Wednesday. Write (30 minutes) and Edit on current WIP and EIP projects.
             *Thursdays: Music Man rehearsal 6-9 pm. Random flash fiction or blog about something after rehearsal (means write for 30 minutes).
             *Fridays: Write for 30 minutes sometime before bed.
             *Saturdays: Unplugged day, unless I choose to write or blog, edit, read. This is generally my hang out day, where I can go and do stuff with friends. Now that it is fall and the weather will start to change, I will have more days to inside and write, edit, read, etc.
              *Sundays: ROW80 post. Music rehearsals in the afternoon. (not always needs as we rehearse just music on Sundays. Write and edit sometime during the day, as much as I can.

       *Theatre Stuff: typed up attendance sheets, started typed the props list.
       *House tending: laundry and dishes are caught up. Bills paid. Got my calendar for September organized.

Stoopid plague, keeping me down a bit. Resting some today and using me time wisely to get caught up on all the goals. Back on the wagon.

This (upcoming) Week: 
        *Reading: finish Dirk Gently's Holistic Detective Agency (Doulgas Adams) and The Murder of Roger Ackroyd (Agatha Christie).
        *Writing: write daily, at least 300 words. This will never change. This is the standard I currently want and am able to do Monday thru Friday.
        *Editing: editing Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Sundays.
        *Blogging: Tuesdays and Wednesdays (see above).
        *Theatre Stuffs: report updates
        *House tending/Exercise: report of progress.
        *Submissions: research more journals and contests. Report progress.

A Round of Words in 80 Days is a a blog challenge that knows you have a life. Come in and sit a spell at the Blog Hop.

How is everyone doing with their goals? Have autumn hit your area yet? What have you been up to?

Random Geeky Stuff and Finally a Schedule

Somewhere over the week I caught the "Plague" that that was going around at work. Funny that it should hit right when the weekend starts. Irony? Maybe. Yesterday was the sore throat and tired feeling, and today seems to be the stuffy/running nose and more tiredness. This and the weather has flummoxed my weekend plans, but not one to give up I am taking this afternoon caught up on a few things at home, writing and blogging stuffs.

This is also a good time to let to know, Dear Readers that I am planning a blogging schedule. Finally! i have been thinking for years that I need a schedule to hold me accountable. After this summer, I have grown into my own dedication, but one can ALWAYS do better.

The Music Man has started. Seeing as I am stage managing this show, I have three days a week devoted to rehearsals, plus I am now down a vehicle as the spring in my front driver side strut is toast. The worst part is that even IF I fix it (at a cost of 722.00 cost ), there is a chance that with the rust on my van that one hit of a pot hole could junk my van for good. This van has brought me much luck and had MANY adventures...

The Scooby Gang during Sesame Street

Also, being under the weather I am loath to leave the house, so plans for this afternoon have been rearranged. Still planning on going to my weekly (most weeks) Who Night. As long as I am still feeling better that is.

Plus, I now have at least 4/5 hours to work on writing projects, and resting, should the nap attack occur.

Sheesh, that's a lot to soak in, Cindy. Sorry, Dear Readers. I meant for something more glorious for today's post and you get a longish thread about being sick, broken vehicles, etc.

~Drum roll~ 

I am hear to reveal my new blog schedule. I have missed writing here about things and stuff, so I am returning to regular postings and mixing it up a little too. As you probably know, I am involved in A Round of Words in 80 Days. A blog challenge that I post twice a week about my progress on my goals and writing plans for the future. I also write poetry and do the challenges OctPoWriMo and NaPoWriMo, these are monthly poetry challenges where yo write a poem a day (either free write or the provided daily prompt). I also do NaNoWriMo in November and #writestuff tweet chats on Tuesday nights. I am networking more, meeting new writers and colleagues. Lots of fun stuff, but sometimes I feel the hermit because of it. Does anyone else feel that way?

Also, I do theatre. LOTS and LOTS of theatre and I thus be busy until November 15th with the Music Man.

Instead of feeling weird about not sitting down to write, blog, or edit; I am going to make sure I schedule some time to devote to write on the days I can, this includes posting interesting blogs on Here, There Be a Writer. This is a little new for me so bear with me.
 
             *Mondays: Music Man rehearsal 6-9 pm. Write for an hour after coming home.
             *Tuesdays: Poetry Corner posts. Will post a recent or archival poem from my collection. I have a lot of poems. Also, spend time writing and editing. Tweet chat: #writestuff at 9 pm.
             *Wednesdays: ROW80, WIPpet Wednesday, and WWW Wednesday. Write and Edit on current WIP and EIP projects.
             *Thursdays: Music Man rehearsal 6-9 pm. Random flash fiction or blog about something after rehearsal.
             *Fridays: Write for 30 minutes sometime before bed.
             *Saturdays: Unplugged day, unless I choose to write or blog, edit, read. This is generally my hang out day, where I can go and do stuff with friends. Now that it is fall and th weather will start to change, I will have more days to inside and write, edit, read, etc.
              *Sundays: ROW80 post. Music rehearsals in the afternoon. (not always needs as we rehearse just music on Sundays. Write and edit sometime during the day, as much as I can.

Okay, so that part is free and clear. Onto random blog about random fun things. I love a good trip down memory lane. So, in the search of things of my youth I happen upon this...

...It's a Zag the Zebra, circa 1987 (ish?). My mom sold a lot of Avon, and often I got a lot of bubble bath, skin-so-soft, pins with hidden doors with perfume in them, and toys. I think I got Zag when I was sick and home from school, or maybe a birthday. I really can't remember that detail. I just remember the fuzzy, stumpy legged rainbow zebra that was my favourite toy for years. Then like it happens Zag disappeared or became lost. I never forgot. But is conversations with the hubs about Avon memorabilia, Zag came up. To the Google I say, and poof, there was proof he existed and on eBay. Yes, you know the rest of then story. I now own a Zag the Rainbow Zebra. I do feel like a dork, but a happy dork!

Next...

       ...just when you think you have it all!

Yes, Neil, thanks for hitting me in the wallet. I don't regret my choices, but sometimes my pocketbook begs to differ. Upside, I hadn't purchased much for my self in the last few week, so the Zag and the new edition of Neverwhere was totally worth it. I have already read Neverwhere, but now I can re-read it and enjoy it anew. I am a nerd!

Just like the nerdiness that allows me to go to Weird Al concerts, listen to Tardis sounds while I write. Go check out the 1 hour video of the interior Tardis Hum from the 9th and 10th Doctor's Tardis. It's really a good sound to write to and not creepy at all.

So, Dear Readers, what are some things that you geek out to? Things you like to reminisce about?
   

So many days all together...

Funny how fast Wednesday gets here when you miss Sunday completely. Yet here I am blogging into the late hours while eating spicy tuna rolls and edamame. It's what I do. Still trying to fully get back on the wagon with my goals. I'm pretty sure Labour Day is a cover for procrastination day.

Feeling a bit more cheered as a found my secondary story plot for Modern Muses, my current WIP. Speaking of which it is also WIPpet Wednesday. More of that in the next paragraph. I really need to change the title, its not what I want, but I am still finding out more about this story as I go. I am pretty excited that this story is probably going to be my NaNoWriMo this year and thus I have a sizable chunk started. Down side is that it is turning into a fantasy story and ultimately going to be longer. Better news is that I am focused on finding and keeping a plot.Time to finally break out of my fear of writing fantasy. The basic premise is muses in modern California battling an enemy. No spoilers here, Sweetie!

WIPpet Wednesday was created by by K.L. Schwengel the brain child and master wordsmith, whereby you take the date and use some form of math to add up to a snippet from your WIP. See, today's date is 9/9 and under this math I can share 9 paragraphs from when Mel meets the Mistress of the House. Melpomene is the muse of Tragedy and friend to Thalos thje muse of Comedy. Thalos is trying to find the library of the Master/Mistress of the House, while Mel is doing this...

Go and visit the other WIPpeteers and see what they are writing.

He could tell the voice had a distinct accent, not anything from his part of the world, nor the new lands that they had settled in. In had been hard for many of the old gods to come to a much different place. Many felt bitter and resentful, but Mel and his ancestors found a place where they could inspire a new generation of poets and playwrights. California was very different than Greece, but after a while, some two hundred years now Mel was almost use to it. It wasn’t just the muses of Greece that move here; he knew there were other clans that had staked a claim here too. The new force was definitely not local. She, at least Mel though it was a she, sounded welsh.

“Okay,” Mel put on his best charm, “Old Country or New?”

The figure laughed, “So you aren’t completely stupid, little muse. Fine, I like a good game. Old country then.”

Mel rubbed the dagger as he thought of his next move, “Male or female?”

The figure moved closer, raising a hand and swiping it across a nearby table. There appeared a tray of meats and cheeses, another of breads, a decanter of a golden liquid, and several cans of soda pop. “Female,” she said, raising her eyebrows seductively, “Want some refreshments?”

“Hmm…” Mel stood up and walked slowly to the table, fingering his dagger, “Sure, as long as you aren’t evil. So, Evil or Good?” He stood at the table and placed his right hand on the table, leaning closer to the figure and still holding the dagger in his left hand.

“Neutral.” The figure who was clothed in a tight fitting silken dress the colour if fire, leaned closer into the table placing both her on the table, “Now you.” Nodding to him.

Mel gazing into her eyes, the brightest green eyes he had ever seen, “Yes.” And pulling the dagger out of his pocket placed it on the table and let go. 

“Yes,” her voice got whispery as the woman leaned in lips brushing against his, “you would do,” kissing him firmly on the mouth.

And now...

This Week:
     *Writing: wrote Monday (ROW80 check-in), Tuesday (1000+ words/Modern Muses), and Today (791 words/Modern Muses).
     *Reading: continuing with Dirk Gently's Holistic Detective Agency (Douglas Adams) and The Murder of Roger Ackroyd (Agatha Christie).
      *Social Media: 4 blogs daily and my sponsor duties. Cleaning up my email and promoted my friends kickstarter and fundraising efforts.
      *Blogging: posted one new post on Tuesday.



Today is also WWW Wednesday! To play along, just answer the following three (3) questions…

• What are you currently reading?
    Dirk Gently's Holistic Detective Agency. It's a Douglas Adams novels, meaning that it is a weird story, with a lot of computer and physics stuff and a plot that often meanders. But after having read ALL of the Hitchhiker's Guide, I had to try it. The characters are interesting and the plot leaves me wanting more. And because I tend to have at least three (sometimes four) books in process, I'm able to decide what I am in the mood for. Currently it is Douglas Adams.

• What did you recently finish reading?
    Invisible Moon by James A. Owen. His second Mythworld series. Now waiting for book three to be released.

• What do you think you’ll read next?
    Finish The Murder of Roger Ackroyd and Murder Comes Ashore (Julie Anne Lindsey). I seem to be on a mystery kick. :-)

This (upcoming) Week:
      *Reading: see above.
      *Writing: write daily, at least 300 words on Thursday and Friday on Modern Muses.
      *Editing: spend some time working on my The Real Road Trip edits and Scrivener transfer, note taking, outlining, etc.
      *Blogging: set a blogging schedule. Post a blog entry on Thursday.
      *Submissions: work on a schedule and/or plan for this. Report on progress.
      *Theatre Stuff: Props List.

A Round of Words in 80 Days is a blog challenge that knows you have a life. You see, you set some goal, blog twice a week about them and share your progress with the Blog Hop here.

How are things in your next of the woods, Dear Readers?

Another Random Blog

I remember when The Mini Page, do you, Dear Readers? See my retrospective blog here about what the Mini Page looks like a few years ago. Today it is much different. I know not everything can stay the same, but when I was visiting my Dad a couple of week ago, I saw this in the paper.

What use to be a 4 page spread with puzzles and cool factoids is now a long vertical page. There are none of the original characters: Mini Spy, Bassett Brown the News Hound, Mighty Funny, Etc. Back then there was a maze connect the dots, word search, try and find. No it seems they have simplified.  There is a word search and a word scramble, and only 1 joke. All the 'characters' are all general kid faces, it seems plain and a little sad.

I guess that's what happens to things over time. The silver lining is that you can order books of The Mini Page. Still doesn't feel the same. I felt the same way when I saw how Sesame Street changed from what I remember it to be. The more things change the more they stay the same? Or better yet, if you stagnant then you will never move foreward.

Who remembers The Mini Page from the 1980s and 1990s? What was your favourte part, Dear Readers? I love the Mini Spy and the mazes.

Next, here's a new shot of the August Tree. It's a late evening shot, but you can still see some of the colour. She's a little more red. Its almost like a slow blush as if she realizes that people are watching her. The leaves are falling and it's been very dry. Could use some rain though. It's ironic since we started the summer with a lot of rain.

How is your end of summer going, Dear Readers? Any plans to cap of the summer and welcome the fall? What is exciting about the coming of Autumn?

This weekend, weather permitting will be a trip to Seabreeze for some frolicking and the following weekend 24 Hour Theatre with KLP (Monopoly Edition).

Labour Daybour 2015

The days are getting shorter and the leaves are beginning to turn.

As the shadows stretch away

and the silence breeze trickles by,

I am aware that the daylight is dying.

I will admit it, I have done nothing but goof off this weekend. And it felt really good too! For a Labour Day I laboured on housework and catching up on things. It's sunshiny and warm. A last chance at summer. And while the leaves are beginning to change. My August Tree is turning. Also called the Lady in Red, this is usually the first time in my area that I notice changing. This is the sign that Autumn has arrived.

August Tree

We are still getting a bit of the summertime weather though. It has been in the upper 80 and low 90s all weekend. That prompted a trip up to Rochester to go jump in Lake Ontario. Alas, I forgot to capture the moment, but it was glorious and refreshing (even in jeans). I regret nothing. It was also a  trip to Avon, NY where there is a ginormous flea market at the drive-in theatre. Found a few neat trinket and doodads, including a REAAAAALLY old card game called the "Game of Shakspeare". The cards have quotes and pictures from a number of Shakespeare's plays. What I could find about the Cincinnati Game Co. was that this game was produced around the turn of the century, but not sure how long the game was produce. This deck looks hella old though. If anyone has any information, please share.

And a Paddington Bear!!

I am a day late with my check-in, but I REGRET NOTHING! I got to see Shaun the Sheep the Movie and hang with some good friends (part of the Who Group) and caught a neat movie on Netflix, Chef. Quite the movie, with the all feels and a story that was equally entertaining and well thought out, without being cliche.

This Week:
    *Reading: finished Invisible Moon (James A. Owen).
    *Writing: wrote Wednesday, Thursday, maybe Friday (I can't rightly remember at the moment).
    *Editing: started the big edit of The Real Road Trip, inputted the edits into scrivener. Only about a page and a half. Thinking I am going to revise this goal to be completed by October 31st (or sooner).
    *Social Media: kept up with my sponsor goals and decided to be a sponsor for Round 4. Visited blogs, Weds and Thurs, nothing else over the weekend. But have been catching up on visits and house cleaning the email, Twitter, Facebook, etc.
    *Theatre Stuff: working on a props list and preparing for rehearsal to start. Read thru is Thursday. Rehearsal days are Mondays and Thursdays, and Sunday afternoons for music. This'll make scheduling more important.
     *Housework/Exercise: Did a lot of walking yesterday around the flea markets and on the beaches of Lake Ontario. As for housework, laundry is done, folded, and put away; dishes are mostly done (except what I used for dinner; trash is out; and cat litter scooped.

This (upcoming) Week:
     *Reading: The Murder of Roger Ackroyd (Agatha Christie), Dirk Genlty's Holistic Detective Agency (Douglas Adams), Murder Comes Ashore (Julie Anne Lindsey), and Fragile Things (Neil Gaiman).
     *Writing: write daily, at least 300 words Monday thru Friday on Modern Muses or something else if the mood suits me.
     *Editing: find an editing schedule that works with Music Man schedule, work on it for an hour each day, Monday thru Friday.
     *Social Media: 4 blogs daily, and sponsor duties.
     *Blogging: 1 new non-ROW80 post this week. Probably Tuesday or Thursday.

A Round of Words in 80 Days is a blog challenge that knows you have a life. Come and see what the other ROW80-ers are up to at the Blog Hop!

It doesn't feel like summer is over, Labour Day has always marked the end of the summer. But here it is. Much excitement having this month and it is going to be an awesome show, awesome fall, and awesome Round. How are you celebrating Labour Day, Dear Readers? The beginning of Autumn? Plans for September? Leave me some love and hope Round 3 or life is going for you.

Peace!

Little Bit of This and That...Labour Day and End of Summer

So much to report....

This Week:
       *Reading: I have been bouncing between my menagerie of books. Haven't finished reading anything new yet, but enjoying the progress. Currently, I am working on Invisible Moon (James A. Owen), The Murder of Roger Ackroyd (Agatha Christie), and Dirk Gently's Holistic Detective Agency (Douglas Adams). I have recently discovered that I enjoy jumping from book to book, as it suit my mood. This sprang up from a conversation with an old friend from High School two weekends ago now about how we read books. I always marveled at her ability to read books quickly.
       *Writing: wrote Monday (650 words) and Tuesday (953 words), and will be blitzing later today on Modern Muses.
       *Editing: finished the reading through/edit of The Real Road Trip back on Friday. I am reallt please dto have made it the whole way through and even more pleased that the story is still workable. Just need some massive re-writes in the process. Enjoyed a bit of a break during the weekend. Now I start the next phase of the edits.
       *Social Media: keeping up with my sponsor duties and returning to my daily 4 blog visits. Spent a little more time on Twitter with my #writestuff tweet chat yesterday.

In the middle of all this I have to find a schedule to accommodate my upcoming rehearsal schedule. Daunted? Maybe a little. Determined? Heck yeah! I built some good habit over the summer and don't want to lose that. I am also trying to do more challenges, like the WWW Wednesdays:

What are you currently reading?
   -about 5 different novels. The one I am leaning more towards is Invisible Moon (James A. Owen). It the second in his Mythworld series about what happens when Rangarok happens in a little Upstate New York town. I don't think that was too spoilery.

What did you recently finish reading?
     -The Festival of Bones, Mythworld Book 1 (James A. Owen). What happens when ancient literature meets opera?

What do you think you’ll read next?
     -finish one of the other books I have started. Also want to revisit and finish the Inkheart series (Cornelia Finke) . I have a pending review of the movie that is just waiting to happen. I do book to movie review/analysis.

This (upcoming) Week:
     *Reading: finish reading Invisible Moon and maybe Murder Comes Ashore (Julie Anne Lindsey).
     *Writing: write daily, at  least 300 words.
     *Editing: begin my re-write of The Real Road Trip, trying the edits re-writing all the crap, and finally organizing the chapter, maybe an outline too. To be completed by the end of September.
      *Blogging: missed my Tuesday blog day, so this week will be Thursday. 1 non-ROW80 post. Also blog about goal progress in August and September goals.
      *Submissions: 2 new submissions and report on the progress.
      *Social Media:  visit 4 blogs daily and sponsor goals. Thinking of being a sponsor for Round 4.

Music Man read through is next week. Got to work on a props list. Revise my schedule to account for rehearsals and writing/editing time. Prep for NaNoWriMo in November. Post more spoke word to my YouTube channel (as it hasn't gotten a lot of love in the last year). Prepare for OctPoWriMo in October. Also, enjoy the End of Summer.

How are your goals, Dear Readers? What have you been up to as the summer is winding down?

A Round of Words in 80 Days, a blog challenge that knows you have a life. Stop in the Blog Hop to visit my fellow bloggers/writers.

It's also, WIPpet Wednesday. The day we post a snippet of our WIP. Created by K.L. Schwengel. YOu take today's date and used the NEW MATH to get a snippet of your WIP and share with the interwebs. Visit my fellow WIPpeteers here. Today's date is 9/2/2015. Going to make it simple 9+2=11 lines from
Modern Muses.

We find Thalos calling on Teri and she arrives via a dream form...

“Guess I am hearing things now.”

“No, you’re not,” the voice came again, sounding closer.

“Teri?” Thalos called, but when he looked up he didn’t see anyone or anything.

“You called?” Teri’s voice filled his ears.

“Did I?”

“I heard to whisper my name. Then you said something. I then found myself here” 

“What was that,” he said to the emptiness that was the study and to the direction that Teri voice had come from. He closed his eyes and thought about Teri, her shape, hair colour, her smell.

“Talo, it’s me.” The voice was stronger now and he saw through his closed eyes Teri’ small frame standing near the fire. “Come here, but don’t open your eyes too fast.”

“I how can I do that and not trip over chairs and mediaeval armour?”

“It seems to work better when you close your eyes. Relax . Then slowly open your eyes.” Easier said that done, Thalos thought to himself. “I am glad you called. There seems no way out of this room.”

“Where are you?” Thalos asked, finding that he was suddenly standing.

Thalos and Teri's Song: