The exercise:
Write two haiku about: birthdays.
And a very happy birthday to my lovely wife! Who has been putting up with a whole lot more of me recently. And somehow isn't sick of my company, despite our nearly 15 years together.
Love you, Kat. Hopefully your COVID-19 birthday will be a memorable one, in a good way. Dinner out will definitely have to wait though...
Saturday March 28th, 2020
The exercise:
This time around, the inspiration first, then the prompt:
Yesterday I was playing in the backyard with the boys. Miles was 'hiding' inside the soccer net, then came out while I wasn't looking. Which lead to the following conversation:
Miles: Do you know how I did it?
Me: How?
Miles: A little engine duty!
Me: *slight pause* Engine duty?
Miles: No, like Jay on Ninjago!
Me: *okay... so he heard it...* Oh, a little ingenuity?
Miles: Yeah! A little engine duty!
So go ahead and write a four line poem about: ingenuity.
Or, engine duty, if you're up to that particular challenge.
This time around, the inspiration first, then the prompt:
Yesterday I was playing in the backyard with the boys. Miles was 'hiding' inside the soccer net, then came out while I wasn't looking. Which lead to the following conversation:
Miles: Do you know how I did it?
Me: How?
Miles: A little engine duty!
Me: *slight pause* Engine duty?
Miles: No, like Jay on Ninjago!
Me: *okay... so he heard it...* Oh, a little ingenuity?
Miles: Yeah! A little engine duty!
So go ahead and write a four line poem about: ingenuity.
Or, engine duty, if you're up to that particular challenge.
Sunday March 22nd, 2020
The exercise:
Write about (or a piece by): the ogre poet.
Yeah, it's not getting any better out there - unless it has? We took a break from the news today. But, yeah, probably not. So more silliness it is.
Last Monday the town decided to close the rec centre (that I worked at before my current position), along with the arena, and closed the fire hall and public works (also where I formerly worked) to public access. That left town hall and planning open to the public, with a request to only come in if absolutely necessary.
As a diabetic with a compromised immune system, I was feeling extremely uncomfortable with this, because I know people don't listen and I didn't want to be the welcoming point for who knows how many people coming in to town hall. Plus, with things seeming to get more serious every day, just being out and about in general.
After speaking with my doctor, I've stayed home since then on her recommendation. Thankfully the weather has been nice and the backyard has been welcoming. We went for a hike in the mountains yesterday afternoon and that was fantastic.
It would be nice to know how long this is going to last, but taking it day by day is the only option at this point. So on we go, into the great unknown, every waking moment it seems.
Write about (or a piece by): the ogre poet.
Yeah, it's not getting any better out there - unless it has? We took a break from the news today. But, yeah, probably not. So more silliness it is.
Last Monday the town decided to close the rec centre (that I worked at before my current position), along with the arena, and closed the fire hall and public works (also where I formerly worked) to public access. That left town hall and planning open to the public, with a request to only come in if absolutely necessary.
As a diabetic with a compromised immune system, I was feeling extremely uncomfortable with this, because I know people don't listen and I didn't want to be the welcoming point for who knows how many people coming in to town hall. Plus, with things seeming to get more serious every day, just being out and about in general.
After speaking with my doctor, I've stayed home since then on her recommendation. Thankfully the weather has been nice and the backyard has been welcoming. We went for a hike in the mountains yesterday afternoon and that was fantastic.
It would be nice to know how long this is going to last, but taking it day by day is the only option at this point. So on we go, into the great unknown, every waking moment it seems.
Monday March 16th, 2020
The exercise:
Let's get this week started by writing about: Mumbles, the professional life coach.
Let's get this week started by writing about: Mumbles, the professional life coach.
Sunday March 15th, 2020
The exercise:
Write about something that is: on lockdown.
I made a decision earlier today that this will be my last prompt that has anything to do with current events for at least a week. I'm certainly not trying to ignore it - I'm sure it will be in my face all day, every day at work - but I think we could all use a break from hearing and thinking about it.
Do what you will with the prompts heading your way, of course, but my hope will be lighter prompts leading to lighter writing. Either way, if you're as overwhelmed with all the updates and information coming out on an hourly basis as I am, you'll find a little bit of peace and quiet around these parts for the next little while.
Write about something that is: on lockdown.
I made a decision earlier today that this will be my last prompt that has anything to do with current events for at least a week. I'm certainly not trying to ignore it - I'm sure it will be in my face all day, every day at work - but I think we could all use a break from hearing and thinking about it.
Do what you will with the prompts heading your way, of course, but my hope will be lighter prompts leading to lighter writing. Either way, if you're as overwhelmed with all the updates and information coming out on an hourly basis as I am, you'll find a little bit of peace and quiet around these parts for the next little while.
Friday March 13th, 2020
The exercise:
Write four lines of prose about: Ewoks.
Max and Miles' most recent Star Wars fascination.
Write four lines of prose about: Ewoks.
Max and Miles' most recent Star Wars fascination.
Monday March 9th, 2020
The exercise:
Let us dabble in a little more Hindsight.
Mine:
Bobo - not his real name, that's just what I called him... unless it was, but then he never told me otherwise, so who knows? - was not the worst roommate I'd ever had. The fact that he never talked was a big plus in my books. I enjoyed the quiet, which mostly rained supreme whether he was around or not.
Rained? No, that can't be right. Snowed? Snowed supreme. That's got a nice ring to it.
Anyway. I say 'mostly' because he wasn't completely silent, on account of those giant red and blue and brown (that might just have been dirt though) clown shoes of his. That he never seemed to take off. I guess they were his only footwear? Maybe I should be grateful he kept them on, actually - could you imagine the smell of his feet when he finally squelched out of them?
I'm getting distracted again. Mr. Hunter in 4th grade always said that I couldn't focus worth a damn. And I always said that a 4th grade teacher shouldn't be using them sorts of words in front of 4th graders. I'd like to say we agreed to disagree but...
Right. Bobo. In his defence, I don't think I could have walked around our place wearing oversized shoes without kicking things over neither. At least he usually picked things back up, or returned them to the piles he'd scattered. And when he didn't it wasn't entirely out of the realm of possibility that he hadn't even realized he'd made contact with this lamp or that can of open paint.
By now you've probably got to wondering about that whole 'homeless' thing I mentioned earlier, and how I didn't know or whatever. Well, I did figure it out, thank you very much.
It just took me a bit.
I mean, how was I to know the bank was rejecting his rent payments because he didn't have a, you know, bank account? I just thought they couldn't read his signature, what with it being such a messy scrawl thanks to his big ol' clown gloves. And the fat red felt marker he used for everything. That's reasonable, right?
Okay, so maybe it should have dawned on me what the actual problem was a little sooner than five months down the road, but in my defence, I had other things to worry about at the time.
Like Serena.
Let us dabble in a little more Hindsight.
Mine:
Bobo - not his real name, that's just what I called him... unless it was, but then he never told me otherwise, so who knows? - was not the worst roommate I'd ever had. The fact that he never talked was a big plus in my books. I enjoyed the quiet, which mostly rained supreme whether he was around or not.
Rained? No, that can't be right. Snowed? Snowed supreme. That's got a nice ring to it.
Anyway. I say 'mostly' because he wasn't completely silent, on account of those giant red and blue and brown (that might just have been dirt though) clown shoes of his. That he never seemed to take off. I guess they were his only footwear? Maybe I should be grateful he kept them on, actually - could you imagine the smell of his feet when he finally squelched out of them?
I'm getting distracted again. Mr. Hunter in 4th grade always said that I couldn't focus worth a damn. And I always said that a 4th grade teacher shouldn't be using them sorts of words in front of 4th graders. I'd like to say we agreed to disagree but...
Right. Bobo. In his defence, I don't think I could have walked around our place wearing oversized shoes without kicking things over neither. At least he usually picked things back up, or returned them to the piles he'd scattered. And when he didn't it wasn't entirely out of the realm of possibility that he hadn't even realized he'd made contact with this lamp or that can of open paint.
By now you've probably got to wondering about that whole 'homeless' thing I mentioned earlier, and how I didn't know or whatever. Well, I did figure it out, thank you very much.
It just took me a bit.
I mean, how was I to know the bank was rejecting his rent payments because he didn't have a, you know, bank account? I just thought they couldn't read his signature, what with it being such a messy scrawl thanks to his big ol' clown gloves. And the fat red felt marker he used for everything. That's reasonable, right?
Okay, so maybe it should have dawned on me what the actual problem was a little sooner than five months down the road, but in my defence, I had other things to worry about at the time.
Like Serena.
Sunday March 8th, 2020
The exercise:
Write about: the outbreak.
I can only avoid being topical for so long...
Write about: the outbreak.
I can only avoid being topical for so long...
Thursday March 5th, 2020
The exercise:
Write about a: confluence.
Yeah, next week for the yearlong prompt.
Write about a: confluence.
Yeah, next week for the yearlong prompt.
Monday March 2nd, 2020
The exercise:
Write about something that is: antiquated.
I realize we've reached a new month once again, but the yearlong prompt might have to wait until next week since my writing schedule has been (and continues to be) a little off kilter.
Kat left last Thursday afternoon to attend a friend's wedding in Calgary, returning yesterday afternoon. I just worked the morning on Thursday, then the boys spent the day with Kat's parents on Friday. Max slept over but I brought Miles home, then me and the boys were back together again for bedtime Saturday night.
Tomorrow I'm taking the day off to volunteer at Max's learning centre, which I haven't been able to do in quite a while due to work. Thanks to getting paid vacation, that's something I can manage to do now and again.
Anyway, no promises, but I will try for Thursday this week. Failing that, expect some more Hindsight next week.
Write about something that is: antiquated.
I realize we've reached a new month once again, but the yearlong prompt might have to wait until next week since my writing schedule has been (and continues to be) a little off kilter.
Kat left last Thursday afternoon to attend a friend's wedding in Calgary, returning yesterday afternoon. I just worked the morning on Thursday, then the boys spent the day with Kat's parents on Friday. Max slept over but I brought Miles home, then me and the boys were back together again for bedtime Saturday night.
Tomorrow I'm taking the day off to volunteer at Max's learning centre, which I haven't been able to do in quite a while due to work. Thanks to getting paid vacation, that's something I can manage to do now and again.
Anyway, no promises, but I will try for Thursday this week. Failing that, expect some more Hindsight next week.
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