04.03.16 – End of Day Notes

What I did today: Not nearly as much as I set out to do today. It has been a cold day here in VA and all I’ve wanted to do is curl up in bed. And for the most part, I have. It felt weird not writing a scifi story today, but Sunday’s are a day off. I did accomplish the following:

• I wrote a Haibun
• A poem for the April PAD Challenge
• A poem for NaPoWriMo
• A drabble
• My daily small stones
• Answered a Creative Questions
• And gave a poor reply to the NaJoWriMo prompt today

I’ve also read more blogs today for the A2Z Challenge than I care to admit. My eyes are paying the price too. Here are a few I found interesting (I forgot to save some because I am just so sleepy *frowns*):

• Need affirmations as a writer? Check these out! @ Writer’s Zen Blog
• Are you a fan of family reunions? or dread them? Check out Sue’s A2Z tips for family reunions that are fun for the whole family @ Family Reunion Keepsake Book
• This story about a “gap” moment filled with loneliness from Tom @ Tom Serafini’s StumbleStandFly
• Need a good face scrub? Try this recipe with surprising ingredients @ Beach Baby’s A2Z

What I learned today: So many things that my head is buzzing. There are so many great blogs out there doing the A2Z, really you should check them out, even if you aren’t participating.

What I am most proud of today:  I got 8 hrs of sleep… straight through!

What did you do today, dear readers? Learn any lessons? Have a reason to be proud? Share your thoughts with me in the comments!

Knowledge Gained #NaJoWriMo

For today’s prompt, write about something you’ve recently learned that you didn’t know before, or didn’t fully understand? How was the new information helpful to you? How are you using that information?

I’ve put off all day doing this prompt. As an overly curious seeker of knowledge, you’d think this would be an easy prompt for me. And really, it should be, but somehow today, it’s not. You see, in the last few months, I have learned tons and tons of new information on a variety of topics:  the basics of horror writing, how to write film noir style whodunits, information on those I’ve chosen here for my People Who Inspire Me on A2Z, stuff on herbs and vitamins, low carb dieting, meditation techniques, and the list goes on and on and on. A lot of it was new information, some of it was just refreshers. All of it has been helpful. Some of it I’ve used and some of it is stored away for a later date. To zero in on one thing and discuss it at length just seems, well… exhausting. Mainly because I would have to go back through my research to dig up whatever information I’d want to share here. And frankly, I just don’t have the stamina today to do it. So, suffice to say, I am an active researcher, I am always seeking new knowledge, absorbing it, saving it, and moving on to another topic of interest.

How about you, dear readers? Have you learned something new recently that you didn’t know about before? Share your thoughts with me in comments.

(Note: if you would like to participate in this month-long journal writing activity, sign up for emailed prompts here)

 

Creative Questions 7 – $10 Million WIN

CQ7: Congratulations – you have just won $10 million dollars in the lottery! Please tell us how this windfall will impact on your life and how you plan to spend it? Get creative, make it fun or be sincere …

My first thought would be: who entered me in the lottery? I don’t play lottery or spend money on scratch-offs. The chances are so low to win, that I just find it a waste of money. But I will play along. I won! Hurray! I’ve actually played this what-if game before and my response is usually the same.

1. Pay off my student loans.
2. Pay off dad’s house and buy him a new truck.
3. Contribute $1 million to the Thich Nhat Hanh Foundation. He is my spiritual teacher and his foundation does so much to help other Buddhist monks and nuns around the world.
4. Contribute $1 million to Futures Without Violence because they help women and children who have been subjected to Domestic Violence.
5. I would probably donate smaller amounts to other charities that deal with cancer and hospice care, education for third world countries, and a few environmental and animal rights groups. I would be careful to whom I contributed to make sure they are small groups with low administrative costs because I would want the money to go directly toward helping and not lining someone’s pockets.
6. I would donate some money to  the local art organizations in my small home town and to our small library.
7. And then, I would buy myself a car and move to coastal Maine, purchase a modest-sized house, set up a writing room, an art studio and a library. I would live out my remaining days on Earth doing what I love: reading, writing and painting.

How about you, dear readers? What would you do with $10 million dollars? Share your thoughts with me in comments.

10 Daily Currents – 04.03.16

It is Sunday at 11:32 am and I am currently…

1. listening: traffic outside, alternative rock

2. eating: turkey & veggie soup

3. drinking: coffee with cream & stevia, ice water

4. wearing: black sweat pants, bulky burgundy sweater, purple fuzzy slippers

5. feeling: awake and alert

6. weather: cold, about 50 degrees… sunny & lightly windy

7. wanting: a piece of chocolate

8. needing: to get better organized today

9. thinking: I actually slept last night.. holy cow! and it didn’t snow? amaaaaaziiing!

10. enjoying: a smoke

I had a thought, dear readers… if you’d like to grab these 10 Daily Currents and write your own, link back to my post so I can share along with you!