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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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| “I like to compare the holiday season with the way a child listens to a favorite story. The pleasure is in the familiar way the story begins, the anticipation of familiar turns it takes, the familiar moments of suspense, and the familiar climax and ending.”—Fred Rogers. "Blogging Circle of Friends "  prompt: Your thoughts? Does it really have to be the holidays for one to experience?No. Any repetitive event: Friday fish fry, Monday morning coffee, visiting grandparents... every August... wherever they are. Why do folks watch seasonal movies again and again. Growing up, I remember "Wizard of Oz" being an autumn movie even though it takes place in spring. When does "It's a Wonderful Life" show up. Or play 'seasonal' music. Here, I'm more likely to hear Seals & Crofts "Summer Breeze" (1972) in anticipation of summer. This applies to poetry as well. The repetitions of Edgar Allan Poe come to mind: The Bells 1849), Annabel Lee (1849), The Raven (1845). Meditation and rituals use repetitive devices to either excite people or calm them down (like reciting the rosary or a long prayer). We anticipate soothing sounds and comforting words. Like the sea, our childhood, and the nostagia of repetitive narration, rhythm, and rhyme. Today's trinket brought to you by WakeUpAndLive️~scary 2024:   5,389 |
| PART 1 “I was surrounded and immersed in a culture that I’ve never been immersed in, and one of the things in ministry, if you want to involve people different than yourself in your ministry, you have to go to where people different than you are,” he said. “The invitation to be part of the show allowed me that.” Craig Duke, a pastor at the Newburgh United Methodist Church in Newburgh, Indiana, a small town near the Kentucky border, performed alongside "drag mother" O'Hara in an episode that aired on Nov. 8. https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/pastor-who-performed-in-drag-on-hbo-s-we-re-he... NBC article by Jo Yurcaba My thoughts. Kudos to Rev. Duke on understanding how important it is to meet people where they are. I'm seldom that brave. For me to understand the world I need to get out of my comfort zone. As much as I travel I withdraw from certain interactions. I don't like bars or overly exuberant touchy people. I do like hugs but not people trying to drag me into their private party. I'm introverted in that way. I feel very uncomfortable among certain Christians for that exact reason. Ecstasy can be a dangerous drug imho, whether it's a drug like MDMA or an emotional or religious frenzy or trance-like state. So, yes, I've been to a couple drag shows but it's usually a bar scene and that's not my preferred cup of tea. PART 2 Me? I've never done 'drag' although I have performed my poem "I, Katrina" with a sceptre and crown.Why not? I don't feel comfortable. It takes a lot of audacity (chutzpah?) to get up in front of an audience. One must be vulnerable... and I've never been willing to pay that price. I've always valued authenticity and any role that 'isn't me' is problematic, especially if it's farcical comedy. A sad role? Maybe I could do that. For instance, there's a lot of pathos in "Priscilla, Queen of the Desert". In my writings my characters take on roles; but, few are satirical or mocking. It's what bothered me most about DJT... a sneering mocking leader does not amuse me even if it delights juvenile Americans raised on name-calling and bullying. It's also why I don't like certain types of comedy. PART 3 Drag can be freeing as any role-playing can be. It's helpful to explore one's own identity and embrace other ways of expression. In cultures of strict gender roles (the US and Middle East more than Europe and Asia) it can be problematic, but not a problem for me as long as I can be 'just me'. Charlie Darling as Flo (2008):  And then there are Tina's ninjas...   |
| Where were you when... JFK was assasinated? A question like that cannot be answered by Gen X. 'They' weren't born yet! Sure, they can read about it, but it was Sue Pierce's 11th birthday; we were in 6th grade. Bet she can even tell you what the day tasted like. But for someone living in another country it was merely November 22nd, 1963 or already the 23rd in Japan. My sister was 2... so she can't remember either. Me? Vaguely. But Americans of my parent's generation remember quite well (the few still left). My grandmother was 71. I'm sure she knew. It was, as you say, a defining event (for more than one generation). But an American my age also had the Beatles and Viet Nam and the Civil (Rights) War. Gen X did not. Neither did the Costa Ricans... but some may remember that JFK visited in March 1963 and that Volcán Irazú erupted while he was visiting. Otherwise... why would they care? Do you know who was the president of CR that year? Francisco Orlich Bolmarcich... but don't feel bad, I don't remember ever hearing his name while living in Costa Rica. But I was in the national stadium for the inauguration of Daniel Oduber Quirós on May 8th, 1974. I took a picture (since lost). Were any of you there? Doubt it. What defined my cohort is not universal, no matter how it may be marketed. In response to "Meh. Whatever." about labeling 'generations' by The Waltz himself...Today's trinket was created by Annette   5342 |
| 🇹🇼 It's funny that you mention beaches and mountains because I constantly hear that here at WDC along with Scotland and Ireland. Or going out for steak and lobster... I'm not wired that way. Eating deep fried mudshrimp at the temple in Lugang in Taiwan 🇹🇼 while incense wafts through cold winter air... that's me.  Basically I love exploring new places and immersing myself in what I sense. If I don't like it I just get up and move. I love sitting by the window in a bus or train or walking down an alley. I should be walking through the beautiful snowfall at the moment but I'm sitting on my bed, which I do too often. I'd say sitting by the window in the sunshine or watching the weather but those are 'moments' and not places. Fortunately, small pleasures are found everywhere in the world. Ah... the Question of the Day... "Invalid Post" "Where is your happy place?"I did get out of bed, went out for a sourdough baguette and got plastered by the snow. It was actually white out there! (Sometimes we just get an icy frosting; this was real snow.) And that made me happy. Back in bed now hours later. At this hour hot cocoa makes me happy. Well... to tell the truth... that would be 'at any hour'. Snow... a memory.   5341 |
| 1. Stolen from s who answered a question about selfishness for the QotD. "Invalid Post" It's a relatively old game, dating back to before the 1950s. It's where the "I" statement is gentle and looks good, the "You" statement is the one most people use, and the "They" statement is almost abusive... but they all mean the same thing. I am a gourmet. You enjoy your food. They eat like a pig. My height is not a match for my girth. You are big-boned. They are grossly overweight. That sort of thing. It is a game of perspective, showing how our words change when we talk about different people, though not our meaning. I'll try even though these aren't quite right. Globalism. I travel to learn about people and places. You travel to have fun in the sun. They travel to exploit resources. Traditional Laws. I'm following the dictates of natural law. You're doing what you were taught. They're close minded. Guns. I need protection. You're insecure and afraid. They're a gang of terrorists. 2. My addition to the same prompt. Self-centered, self-absorbed. "Invalid Post" I'll go off on a tangent. Although never diagnosed as such, I suspect I'm on the autism spectrum. And I know many who are autistic to a great extent. I had a housemate once who was totally clueless of anything outside himself. I don't always connect socially. I look inward for answers rather than merely trying to fit into a social landscape. Even though I travel and have to constantly pay attention, I am clueless at times. I probably seem self-centered or at least self-absorbed. I've needed to work on healthy boundaries all my life. Still not good at it. I need to take care of myself, but not to the extent of being oblivious to how I impact others. I have been generous with time and money in the past but needed to say no when I wasn't taking care of my own needs. Some people are very very needy (in reality or in their heads) and I was accused of being selfish more than once when I was homeless years ago. Saying 'no' was contrary to the street culture of sharing. What is and isn't to be shared (or tolerated) is also culturally based internationally. As I've said a gzillion times... I can be clueless. Today's trinket comes from LeJenD'. I can be quite like a cat at times.   |
| Truthfulness is the foundation of all human virtues. Without truthfulness progress and success, in all the worlds of God, are impossible for any soul. When this holy attribute is established in man, all the divine qualities will also be acquired. — Bahá’u’lláh, Advent of Divine Justice, p. 22 The reason why I hated the conspiracy prompt at 30dbc (November 21) is this: Some of my friends got stuck in neutral: "what about..." "why?" "why not?" They went nowhere because to go somewhere you basically have to have friction. Reality would provide friction... but that's too inconvenient. Let's live in the Land of All Fiction no Friction in the Cosmos of Eternal Speculation. Hmm. I was a daydreamer as a child, still am; but, I ate and pooped. If I didn't I'd be dead long ago. So... that was a response to Robert's entry "It's A Conspiracy!" . I needn't repeat what he said. Go read it. Conspiracies, like gossip and false accusations, do real harm. People get killed all the time because someone fingered them, someone spread lies about them. Recently certain conspiracists 'won' in Arizona. The 2020 election fraud conspiracy was proven wrong... but they won anyways as people no longer trust elections. The perpetrators will spend no time in jail, will pay no fines, will run for election based on their perpetual lies. In other words... democracy is being undermined as it is built on trust and inclusion. Of course, America never believed in inclusion and trust from the very beginning. The official motto, "E Pluribus Unum" (from many one), was never embraced. And there are Forces of Fear (fear the immigrant, fear men of color, fear women with education, fear people who don't look like you, pray like you, dress like you, think like you, speak your language). Ah, Truthfulness: In this day the mysteries of this earth are unfolded and visible before the eyes, and the pages of swiftly appearing newspapers are indeed the mirror of the world; they display the doings and actions of the different nations; they both illustrate them and cause them to be heard. Newspapers are as a mirror which is endowed with hearing, sight and speech; they are a wonderful phenomenon and a great matter. But it behoveth the writers thereof to be sanctified from the prejudice of egotism and desire and to be adorned with the ornament of equity and justice; they must inquire into matters as much as possible, in order that they may be informed of the real facts, and commit the same to writing. — Bahá’u’lláh, Bahá’í World Faith, p. 171 So much for social media... and the non-journalistic news sources of today.  A Montana trinket made by Sum1 Is Home!   Yesterday's entry about 30dbc: "Assessment of my role in the blog challenge." I'm working on a list of merit badges I gave out that will be made public after the final judging. 5318 |
| An entry inspired by Mighty "a nice leadership moment. and, burning down the house." "you have no deadlines. You see a pile of work with no priorities and you are panicking." Now you know my home situation! I need to unclutter... 1. by when. 2. where do I start and what's most important. 3. PANIC! My high anxiety is real; the depth of my depression is real. I have no 'boss' to help straighten me out although a friend has helped. I just freeze. With the just completed 30 day blog challenge: I communicated with prospective participants, encouraged those signed up, messaged the judges, owners, this month's boss, read over 400 blog entries, sent out a bunch of merit badges. I'm exhausted but I did it all in a timely manner. So glad the month is over. I couldn't have done my 'job' if it were an obligation (I did it on my own). I say this because I can't run the contest, refuse to judge it, find prompts trigger my traumas. In other words, I am not 'employable' in a strict sense. I couldn't do either B or J's job. I'm not good at asking permission (I can't be micro-managed) but I've gotten better at communication. Maybe this will be my blog tomorrow! An assessment of what I did and didn't do.   30dbc stats: I wrote about 24k words in 415 comments. I gave 56 merit badges to 19 participants. Prompts: they weren't equal. Donuts#5 and Regresa a mi#20 (video) were especially difficult. Hay#10 impossible except for Apondia in "Make Hay When the Sun Shines" . Food#16 seemed to be easiest.Prompt responses: non-fiction, fiction, personal experience, poetry, opinion, humor? Yep. NaNoWriMo? A few. Participation waned after the first two weeks, but this often happens. Over 10 made it through which is more than normal. A couple first-timers made it through! The quality... Annette made a good point about how one can respond no matter how silly the prompt. But I still believe in stronger prompts. "Yes" or "no" is the answer to a question, not a blog entry. That said, it didn't feel like a mere recycling of old tired prompts. That lead to some excellent writing, and not just from the usual 'suspects'. Interaction: I did notice folks commenting. And I did get feedback from my comments as well. However, as oft happens, someone posts in the wrong place, or late, and they receive no comments... except from me. I did add one comment today to Shadow Prowler-Spreading Love's blog "Invalid Entry" . It allowed me to give a badge for the 20th... the prompt that no one seemed to like or respond to.About that... I still contend that a video/music prompt is a good idea. Just not one sung in any language other than English or outside of the Anglophile musical world. An 80s song by a famous singer ... like Michael Jackson... would have invoked less ire. People just didn't connect to singers who are now in their 80s and 90s singing in a style from another era. And Mexico? It might as well have been Mars. Personally, I think it's easier to fictionalize reality than the other way around. In a previous round participants couldn't handle "what if you child brought home a same sex partner to dinner". It lead to disbelief or preaching. Mike however, wrote about how his daughter did just that. It was 'personal' not fictional. Taboo topics continue to be avoided. No sex/drugs/guns allowed. Current news topics were 'missing people' and 'anti-maskers'. Both elicited strong responses, but the best were related to personal experiences. But... certain prompts may not have been taboo but the responses were: Rape? "30DBC Day 4: For Maggie" by Charity Marie - <3 Suicide? "Ruined by praise - #30DBC" by THANKFUL SONALI Now What?And then there were 'dark' entries: Frighteningly Dystopian "A Productive Day" by Robert Waltz because we're headed there. Parent from Hell "Alpha's Letter " by Cappucine because it was chilling horror. Nordic Noir "Another Brick in the Wall" by Ray Scrivener because it triggered strong responses.I am thankful for humor: Personal gallows humor "Testing...testing... [30 DBC entry]" by Writer_Mike.Greed! "Caffeine and Sugar - 30DBC 11/5 " by LeJenD'.Choosing a theme can help. SandraLynn Team Florent!'s ongoing Dust Bunny Excapade was amusing. Sox and Sandals's characters Raen and Beaoul also worked well. We seldom see someone who joins late, but Jenn wrote great entries re fasting and organization as well as commenting on other bloggers. She really got into the swing of things. Will newbies THANKFUL SONALI Now What?, Redtowrite, Sox and Sandals, who slugged through the month, come back again? Will a different month fit better into people's schedules? WakeUpAndLive️~scary 2024, dogpack:saving 4 premium: DWG, Marvelous Friend made it though in spite of personal issues. What about those who dropped out? Or faded in and out? The regulars will be back again regardless; but, their input is needed as to what worked well this time... or not. My opinions are just that. They aren't fact and don't reflect the reality of each and every writer.  Earlier last month I wrote to Blimprider: "I am NOT a judge for the 30dbc... but I decided to comment on all entries. There may be close to 500 by Monday. I recruited (not my job); I cheerleaded (not my job); I cajoled, reminded and even communicated to owners, judges, participants (not my job); I gave out badges (not my job) and need to give out over 40+ merit badges this weekend based on the quality of a particular entry (still NOT my job). I decided to make a difference; whether I have succeeded can be assessed come December. I will make suggestions before January. But on December 1st I can walk away (and keep walking and not look back) if that is my choice. All that said, I will have made someone happy this November and whether that matters to anyone else or not... it matters to me. Wisdom from Jimminycritic:   5309 |
| My hair is gone. It was last cut 2 years ago. It was time. I am keeping the ponytail that Travis cut off first. I showered but I haven't looked in a mirror. There's time enough tomorrow. Around 2002 my hair was down to my butt. I cut it off just before a party. My coworkers were a tad shocked. Now I need to trim my beard. It will be mild here this week but we all know Winter is Coming. Thank you Mr. Snow. I look best with shortish hair and a shortish trim beard; but, it doesn't matter until I go some place. Then, it only needs to resemble my passport photo. I'm almost ready to travel again. Anyhoo... it will snarl less. A fun scene: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DhfU89LeDuI Folks have figured out where my trinkets are held hostage. each has been collected 15-17 times. I linked them to items to generate 'traffic'... not that it matters much. The trinkets themselves are photos I took with my camera: Norway (2), Taiwan, Costa Rica (2), Sweden. Previous ones include Portugal, Hungary, Slovakia and Japan. Wouldn't it be nice to have one from each country? And include memories from each... yesterday's trinkets were done in a hurry. The was the second one I made a year ago. It has been collected 118 times.   5302 |
| The 1st of December was covered with snow... elsewhere... in other years. A balmy 66 degrees in Missoula today; probably broke the record. The clouds were threatening but nary a drop on my way to and fro the liquor store to buy food. It's Wednesday. I took out $100 from the ATM, spent $17, pocketed the rest. Maybe I'll check my mail, treat myself to a milkshake. It's been a month since my last foray across the river. I hadn't been out since last Wednsday. Forgot to take the garbage out. I'm sitting here with hot cocoa. I may eat up the rest of yesterday's poor-man 'paella' later. Time to open the window. It will barely dip below 50 tonight which is quite a bit above the normal high. But today... was covered in snow for me for over 20 years (1979-2003). It's Kevin's birthday and until he ghosted me he was the closest friend I ever had. Each December I'd listen to this song and know that all was right in the end because Kevin would be there for me. Every 1st of December was covered with snow... I made this trinket one year ago today, 5294 |
| December... the 1st is a sad day for me... QP "Christmas Traditions" : In Costa Rica 'servants' expect an 'aguinaldo', what you call 'Christmas money'. It does boost the economy. But... crazy time to shop. I remember cherry chocolates and pies (mince meat, pumpkin, apple) and... old music like 'Silver Bells'. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jHefeA-hyMA Sox "November 30, 2021" : Yep. Holidays can be rough. For me these days it's mostly absence. Congratulations for getting through the month. Hope you come back sometime in the future. Perhaps Raen and Beaoul will spur you on. Cappucine "about Christmas" : Do your feasts include macademia nuts? I've been puzzled about Australians and their imported foods. For those who eat meat, what's wrong with rabbit or kangaroo Anyhoo... enjoy being with family. As for here... you got through another month... and that's always an accomplishment. Petra: "Plans for the holidays" : Thank you for making it through a very rough month; but, dare I say... you sound a bit better today. I hope the three of you have a great time together. *HeartO*Sumojo "Same old" : Back in my day, my friends were puzzled when I said I didn't enjoy parties. I gave quite a few... but I usually had a goal of bringing people together. "Having fun" was never a personal aspiration. Just like 30dbc... I am glad it's over, and will now take the time to assess what went right and what could've been better. I have no obligations whatsoever but after commenting on 99% of the entries I'll share my observations... after a coffee, tea or three (of each). Robert "Try to November Me" : I believe you last missed a blog day in December 2019... but I could be wrong. It's one thing to have a blue month... another to have a blue year. It becomes a bad habit. I do really like this entry. Facts and personal humor. Good mix.Sonali "Merry Christmas! - #30DBC" : Different country and culture. *Smile* Here, many go south and the students go home so it's a quiet time of year. Many people do decorate their homes. We have a local bar that tends to provide meals on holidays. Most places are closed. Congratulations on getting through 30 days of prompts. *Bigsmile* It's a bit of a marathon.Jenn "Invalid Entry" : I know a place that needs cleaning... just saying... Any idea yet what the theme of this year's ornament will be? I hope you enjoyed blogging this month. The 30dbc will be back January 1st. *Smile*NormaJean "30 DBC - September 30 = Oops - Make that November 30th" : I could do without the uber-commercialization. I'm surprised they don't offer a complete "Xmas" package on Amazon Prime. I'm sure local services exist in wealthier areas, an Xmas planner akin to wedding planner.Viv "Tradition Has Changed" : When I moved I made new friends in Oklahoma, but I was living with a family, and that made it easier. Actually did quite well in Oklahoma. Montana? Did okay at first but I've barely been outside the last two years; the 42 steps are daunting and there are fewer places to hang out than before. I have no plans so far for December.?Sandy "Christmas" : Hmm... y'know... some people accept delivery! Of course, these days sending anything anywhere is iffy and a pain. Thanks for a peek into generations of seasonal glow. As for the snow... enjoy.  Mike "Goodbye, 2021 [30 DBC entry]" : Doing the can can?  Enjoy your dinner if we don't chat before then. Congratulations on making it through the month... it's a marathon. |
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