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 |   A terminal for all blogs coming in or going out. A view into my life. |
Started July 1st 2019 for contests, etc. as other blogs are filling up and have other purposes.  I'm starting a new blog because
I'll be linking to
I've started an appendix (I no longer have one personally) to keep track of my Space Cadet journals for Space Blog. It's a work constantly under construction. Mind the mess.
I needed to start a folder for contests as there are so many deadlines and details to remember.
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| Trump’s Estimate of Dead Georgia Voters Was Just a Bit Off Benjamin Hart, Intelligencer, December 28, 2021. Trump claimed 5,000 dead people voted in Georgia's 2020 election. The actual result? 4. As in four. "A bit off" as in off by 4,996. If you just read the headline and didn't read the article you'd miss the sarcasm and you could easily miss the entire point of the article. Which is my point. Sarcasm doesn't do well in headlines, memes or even social media when people don't consider the context. I suspect most of us have said something on social media that was twisted and used against us. It also shows how embarrassing jumping to conclusions can be (for those who can be embarrassed). Let's look at me.  When I say I've written over 5,000 pieces of crap I'm actually underestimating the number. I've averaged over 1/day now for 20 years. I'm ahead of my goal of 1/day by the end of the year 178 (20 March, 2022).Someone will point out 'pieces of crap'. But I stand by that. Not everything is found here at WDC and some are in unedited forms scribbled in notebooks. Yes, I have written good stuff; most is crap. When I say I'm on page 5200 in my journal that's not an estimate. I number every page. I literally penned 5200 in brown ink in the upper right hand corner this afternoon. I write in cursive. It would withstand any handwriting analysis. But... is it exactly 5,200? No. I've unwittingly skipped a number or duplicated at least once, maybe more. You may conclude that I'm boasting. However, these are facts. I shy away from hyperbole. If it makes you feel better, let's just say that I've written a lot since I started to write in 1999. So, back to my point. Numbers are inflated, deflated, used as a deflection, lied about, guessed at, and there are even typos to consider. 1. Context is important. 2. Stay away from sarcasm if you do not wish to be misinterpreted. Many of my poetic efforts are short, like these written 2 days ago. Note that each is numbered [year.###]. A the bear snoozes — oblivious in its cave I sit by the cold window — watching snowflakes [296a] B I sit on the toilet thinking of today's meal what comes out — is yesterday's news [296b] C cold descends on mountains — settles in the valley Thoughts — like snowflakes — rise and fall and wander [296c] © Copyright 2021 Kåre Enga [178.296] (26.desember.2021) On a much lighter note, today's trinket brought to you by KingsSideCastle   5475 views |
| Why do some perfectionists like to play with matches and then scream when they get burnt? In response to yesterday's entry "Be wary of the blunt instrument"  I told Elisa: Middle Aged Stik [edited]: I did not vote for Nero. Nor am I willing to let the Anarchists torch the place. 1. Senator Manchin. He does not represent Montana so I do not get to vote for him. 2. Why do some folks blame Manchin? Why not Rubio or Cruz or Daines? In Montana, I do get to vote on Daines. There are 49 senators who tend to vote as a block to block Biden. There's plenty of suspects to applaud/blame. 3. Why do Americans think that only Americans are smart enough to come up with answers regarding elections? Most of Europe does quite well with multi-party coalitions. Costa Rica has runoffs (so does Louisiana, Georgia and California). Extremists may enter government regardless of the system; but they don't become the leader unless that's what the people want. 4. A large minority, perhaps plurality, want a CMTA not a USA, In-White-Jesus-We-Trust not E-Pluribus-Unum, a theocracy run by Christians-only, a military to protect that oligarchy until Armageddon (or one capable of instigating it), Guns (nuclear if possible) and Bibles (Old Testament preferably) and an autocrat as emperor. Those who didn't loved Trump in 2016: keep bickering and be prepared for His Second Coming in 2024. 5. Focusing on one politician (like Manchin) who is not plotting to overthrow the government and democracy while ignoring those who do ... seems kinda petty and inflexible. Perfectionism may be essential in fields/jobs like IT (as Stik, the expert who does, has noted); but, in politics near-sighted squabbling is killing the country. And yes, republics fail and democracies can die. Because the year is almost over, brought to you by Annette:   And... in response to Solace.Bring about staying healthy and safe [edited]: Even if those ways seem unhealthy to others. I have an ongoing disagreement with healthy food advocates. What does 'eating healthy' cost per calorie? Have they ever been poor or hungry or homeless? Calories Matter. I survived homelessness by keeping warm, eating whatever I could, keeping my eyes open all 7 directions 24/7. It was stressful; I survived. That said, after I survived, I needed to find better ways. And I did! But now in my ##th year of life I need to reassess and make choices that reflect my present reality. Ain't always easy and nothing's guaranteed.[Added: cooked my own lasagna with clams and smoked ham and ate it all!] Brought to you by LeJenD':   |
| Tom's extended family of roaches gathered around one meagre crumb. for week 5 "The Prompt Me Contest" Today is Saint Stephen's Day. Would May you get stoned today? be appropriate? Perhaps not. Perhaps "Merry/Happy _____" is only a greeting, like nodding the head and carries no further significance; although, on the actual day it makes since to mention the day. However... turning it into an entire season and then insisting that others use a particular greeting is aggressive. And... the religious warfare overtones is quite palpable to those who aren't of the majority religion. I remember drunks at the bar insisting that I drink. They weren't happy if I wasn't happy and joined them. It's like that. I don't like being coerced, especially by toxic-positivity... even if you're sober. I don't go around greeting people with "Happy Naw-Ruz" on the vernal equinox. I could. It just means Happy New Year and it's not like I'm cramming it down your throat. It's just one day, not a season, and is celebrated by more than one religion and more than one culture. However, intentions aside, it may be taken the wrong way. From Wiki: St. Stephen's Day (Lá Fhéile Stiofáin), or the Day of the Wren (Lá an Dreoilín), is an occasion to commemorate the life of St Stephen, a Christian martyr. Many people spend the day quietly with close friends or family. Saint Stephen's Day is the second day of Christmastide and is celebrated in honour of one of the first Christian martyrs, Saint Stephen, who was stoned to death in 36 AD. Wren Day, also known as Wren's Day, Day of the Wren, or Hunt the Wren Day (Irish: Lá an Dreoilín), is an Irish celebration held on 26 December, St. Stephen's Day in a number of countries across Europe. The tradition consists of "hunting" a wren (now a fake wren but previously a real one) and putting it on top of a decorated pole. Then the crowds of mummers, or strawboys, celebrate the wren (also pronounced wran) by dressing up in masks, straw suits, and colourful motley clothing. They form music bands and parade through towns and villages. These crowds are sometimes called the wrenboys. Just the song: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7ExaWsbuM34 And then there was King Wenceslas Today's trinket gathered from Wickedfugitive   5462 |
| To Wendy Ann Williams There are stories in photographs. I've traveled around the world and have a collection of personal photos and hundreds of postcards. I did take notes! But... just sitting with those photos encourages me to write. I keep a blog here, a poem-log, a prose-log, but I also journal with pen on paper. I'm on page 5198 today. That said... all journals start on page 1. I made lasagna today. I know the concept: layers! I had lasagna pasta so I cooked that while I sauteed onions. I opened up cans of clams and smoked ham and mixed it. I opened up a can of diced tomatoes and mixed in the onions. I layered everything with ricotta and parmesan. I baked at 350 degrees. It turned out fine. Don't ask me for the recipe. There isn't one. It snowed early in the morning and will snow again tonight. In between sun and clouds. Soon the days will add a second or two of weak daylight and the temperature will tease the number 0. I will take out the trash or stay inside or go to the post office or... My life is still small. I'm watching 'Baker Boys' episode 10. I can watch 'Not Me' or 'Boys over Flowers' as Episode 7 of '55:15' will not come out till Monday. It's something to do. I also love this tune. I dream of writing new words for it in Isaan, changing the love theme to love of the land. Chinese and Isaan have the same basic structure. I cut up an apple and sprinkled it with brown sugar, cinnamon and nutmeg. It beckons. |
| I find it sad that Christians don't follow Christ's teachings more than what they do. Of course, that could be said of most religious people. I do want to write an essay to that affect but posting it here poses some issues until I can find the right words and correct approach. Some folks are quite dogmatic; blessedly, few have a god complex. What do Christian's mean by "Merry Christmas"? Is it merely a giddiness borne of drunken joy? Is it based on the fullfilment of OT prophecy with the birth of a baby boy? What about Christ's mission... eucharist? Pentacost? In the afterglow of Christ's presence and announcements communities (later organised as churches) were founded through an agreement on His life depicted in the gospels and expanded on in the letters sent to the early communitites by Paul, James, Priscilla and others. Paul exhorted belief as a basis rather than adherance to laws; James stated that beliefs needed to be put into action to bear fruit; and Priscilla's letter to the Hebrews assured the early community that they would accomplish this through faith and hope. Yet, the Light of Christ seems to have been dimmed by the actions of the believers who through centuries have ossified into a dogmatic community willing to follow leaders with a god complex. Any message of love and healing became muddied with actions of war and hatred. Sadly, a community of true believers can turn its dogma into a weapon against others; and, although Christians may not appreciate me mentioning this on Christmas, a mere greeting with "Merry Christmas" devoid of love feels like a sledge hammer. So what do YOU mean, as an individual, when you greet others this way? 5453 |
| "Blogging Circle of Friends " reaches a milestone of 3333 days of prodding writers across the mini-multi-verse we inhabit. Lyn's a Witchy Woman asks us to "Write about something that brings you joy!" So, today, the birth day of Prosperous Snow celebrating, I celebrate by 3 short musings with the theme of "The Founding". Tis, after-all, why we gather here. If not to write about this reality... then... perhaps to dream of other worlds. Contemplating New Isaan red dust under a purple eggplant sky no water above ground as far as we can see home is where we take our hearts and plant them [293a] When in a foreign land reading the ripples across the brow i understand the crinkles around the eyes the breath caught and not released the furtive look that bores into my brain i do not understand the language of your lips unless they say you wish to kiss my heart — and never leave [293b] She Beast Beyond the forest painted white, beyond the city lights aglow, She lay in a pile of hay contemplating the life within her that did not wish to wait. She wasn't ready to repopulate this world of cold and wonder. She'd waited centuries. The long journey to the homeland fraught with wars among the stars weighed heavy tonight. And now She was no longer sure it was worth it as spasms reminded her that not everything was under Her control. At least the snow had made her visions of arrival seem real. The gathering of trees had parted as She wended her way among them, their branches singing the carols Her ancestors had taught them. Welcome home they wept in an accent strange yet soothing. By daylight the litter snuggled close, burrowed into layers of sagging flesh and fur. Free of her womb that had kept them safe and secure. Now they would sleep but by morning they would begin to devour her. It had always been their way. She nuzzled each one impressing upon them their mission. They already knew their names. In a week they would leave, each a mini version of herself: the Warrior, the Fire Eater, the Water Diviner, the Mage, the Sage, the Mother-of-Thousands. Each would become a legend, bring forth a hoard of conquerors, as her bones birthed the myth called Mother. Yes, the city lights would beckon. A pulsating market of flesh to feast on awaited them. The trees would guide the way. The snow would hide their passage. Yes, She had chosen well. [293c] Prompts: snow, tree, lights. For "Daily Flash Fiction Challenge" 5450 |
| "To forgive is to set a prisoner free, and to find out that the prisoner was you." ---Lewis Smedes I don't think I'm there. I still struggle with nightmares. With the traumas it might help me to focus on healing and not on blame or shame; but, traumas are tricky. I jump first (a defensive response) and then must remind myself that I'm okay and that bad things from the past do not repeat themselves (and if they do not in the same way). How do I forgive myself for my ignorance and innocence or how I dealt with abandoning both without support nor guidance. How to just accept that that was then and I can make different choices now. "When we know better we do better" (Maya Angelou). One thing I could do... reconnect with 'friends' and 'foes' from my past. From "Blogging Circle of Friends " : What was/ is your favorite memory of doing something with your family? How many generations participated? How important do you feel these hands on activities are in a child's life?Oh, I think any time spent as a family is important. Manual tasks are very grounding. As a daydreamer, gardening helped a lot. As does writing by hand (I'm back to journaling). Nowadays, cooking for myself. Growing up? We didn't do much together. I gardened... mostly by myself. My sister and I played together. But working together to get something done? Not so much. I wanted to be left alone. I was 'happy' to be invisible. My grandparents lived far away. My one maternal aunt lived fairly close and we did visit my father's cousins... but very hard to remember anything we did together. As a child I was small, scrawny, weak and basically couldn't see. Not a cheerful memory. I also withdrew and went silent around family as I wasn't allowed to say much to them. Very shy. I think family activities are important. I just don't have many memories of them. Stolen from 💙 Carly: Today's trinket was made by Sunny   5443 |
| "Blogging Circle of Friends " Day 3331: December 22, 2021 Prompt: Use these words/phrases in you entry: Snowplow, full moon, cold, time, lost, and happy. 4 nights past the glabrous moon wanes in the northeast sky. 2 days after snowfall — the plows no longer needed. Cold descends as time's lost to sleep and lost dreams of sleep. One can choose to be happy, sobs the Man in the Moon. A quatrain of 13 syllable lines. My 'old' trinket that 158 of you already have.   My back aches again. But I accomplished something. If I continue on this pace I should be done by 2023... God Willing. I do like the progress I'm making but it's very slow. I found my shoes and my credit card so I can buy food tomorrow if I choose. I haven't been out in days. The night of the 21st is fairly clear and the moon rises over Hell Gate Canyon to the east. I put on my ancient glasses for a couple minutes to see it clearly. The roads don't look bad but I'll be looking out for ice when I go out Wednesday. I really don't want to fall. 31 degrees = not too cold. It may get up to 40 if the weak sun shines. It will be a nice day as long as it stays calm. Hot bath maybe? |
| I asked for opinions regarding 9 recently written hiaku... Two responses is better than none. It takes one minute to read them, another minute to respond. "Wintry haiku [291] PPC#29" I also wrote "Pears [292]" I can only write and lower my expectations for feedback. I'm not famous and don't fart raspberry unicorn rainbows. I wrote a page (5194) in my journal to my friend Gary. Not much to say. I did note that 292 pieces of prose/poems is ahead of where I need to be (274) by today; I should make my goal 365 by Naw-Ruz (March 20th) without any problem. I'm sitting in a chair and writing on a desk. Sounds silly to mention this? Both were unusable a couple days ago. My saga of rearranging and fighting clutter rages on. I cannot say I'm winning but small victories count. Natterings on language. โกเร เลียม เอนก้า may be one way to translate my name to Thai, but it's not quite there imho. คอรี may work for (cory) and 'eng' translates to 'ทุ่งหญ้า' thùng h̄ỵ̂ā (field of grass) or 'ທົ່ງຫຍ້າ' thongja in Lao. In Lao my name's a bit easier 'ກາເຣ ລີມ ອັງກາ' or 'ຄໍເຣ' for (cory) ... so need to work on this. I'll have to find out if the words exist in Thai/Lao to avoid misunderstandings or self-mocking. *lots of work* When I do get there some day I can ask which name works better. 'ຄໍຣີ ລີມ ທົ່ງຫຍ້າ' khori lim thongja translates as 'Cory Mahjong Meadow' '. I wonder whether Mahjong 'ລີມ' has any pejorative meanings? So important to realise that ເອັງ tanslates as 'Eng' but ເອັງາ means 'take it?' and 'ພາສາອັງກິດ (English) and ປະເທດອັງກິດ (England) are also close. 'Eng' in Norwegian means 'meadow' and England is obvious 'land of meadows' Meanwhile ຂອຣີ (pronounced close to my name) means 'Mister'. *ack* So... ຂອຣີ ລີມ translates as 'Mr. Mahjong'. ຂອເຣະ (also close to my name means 'please'). Translating between 4 languages (Norwegian/English/Thai/Lao)? Well, I've rested long enough. Time to move boxes and/or cook supper. Joy made today's trinket.   |
| I should do an assessment every season. My journal was set up in books by season but I've skipped so many days that the notebook I'm using will last till sprng. It's snowing, will snow all day. 24 degrees earlier this morning. I have work to do cleaning and uncluttering. If I tackle the NW corner I might be able to move my old queen bed out. It's still functional but it takes up too much space. I also need to arrange the area around my new twin bed before the frame is put into place and makes it more difficult to move things around. Almost done. I rest between working. It's the only option. I'm looking forward to a blah blah day. So... where am I at otherwise? What direction should I take; what balance needs to be sought. Thoughts: 1. Balance. I'm on the internet too much. Needs to be cut back. I need to limit time on WDC and watching Thai TV series... or just do other things more. My blog feels lonely, a long lonely month. Some days not one comment. Some days no views. 2. Like cleaning and decluttering. I've cooked more these past couple weeks and actually doing something (anything) is helping me. Potatoes and onions au gratin. 3. Still not interacting with many people and the Ghost of Omicron present is looming as this town is anti-mask and anti-vaxx and the rest of the region is worse, much worse. More: people IRL, taking care of business. Less: lost in thoughts, online. I could read... have hundreds of books. I haven't been in the mood for many months. I read online, constantly, every day; but reading a book would be a good idea. Travel... still on hold. I could study Thai more diligently. Direction? I dunno. I've thought of moving. I've thought of spending 8 months/year on the road. My old body complains about that concept. Financially, I can travel. Devil is in the details. Getting out is possible but getting back is iffy. Do I take the risk? At my age I have one foot in the grave so I'm not sure that it matters much if I just jump into the waiting hole. My trinket... perhaps not rejoining the world quite yet.   |
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