Category: WRITING 101

0

BLOGGING / WRITING 101

Writing 101:Day Six: A Character-Building Experience

Tough exterior, long and wild dirty blonde hair, surrounded by an aroma of a mix of incense and her favourite brand of cigarette.  Biker boots, jeans and t-shirts that usually have a pirate skull or similar.  With a vague resemblance to a biker gal and a sort of a swagger to her step, her pet pit-bull mix is always close.  This is the subject of my character study for she is a character like none I have ever met. I made her acquaintance through a mutual friend. I had the needed extra bed as which aided in her visit to help her friend.  And so the friendship began. Always willing and eager to help and with an insatiable desire to stay busy and be productive she can drive you nuts with her drive to be helpful.  Among her many talents is her skill as a seamstress and I by chance have a sewing machine! She has a heart of gold and is someone who seems only know how to say ‘yes’ and ‘how can I help’.  She never says it like that and there will always be a million words to surround those phrases because she does like to talk and can talk a mile a minute. I’m not finding fault her.  If anything, I find fault with myself for having held any preconceived notions about her.  Did I mention she has a heart of gold?  I can’t say that enough.  She is the dog whisperer of whisperers as well.  I think dogs know instantly that she is nothing but good and as characters and character studies go, well, she’s the best!   Today, write a post focusing on one — or more — of the people that have recently entered your life, and tell us how your narratives intersected. It can be your new partner, your...

0

BLOGGING / WRITING 101

Writing 101:Day Five: Random Letter (be brief)

You’ve just left on your trip thinking the worst and praying for the best. I wish I could let you know about the letter that just came for you.   I opened it hoping for the best.  Our prayers are answered.  Your son is fine and will make a full recovery. This will be confirmed for you shortly when you arrive.  I wish you could read this letter now but I know you will be informed of the good news as soon as you see your son’s family. ************ You stumble upon a random letter on the path. You read it. It affects you deeply, and you wish it could be returned to the person to which it’s addressed. Write a story about this encounter. Today’s twist: Approach this post in as few words as possible.

2

ABOUT / BLOGGING / WRITING 101

Writing 101 Day 4: (part 3)… other things gained

Continued from Part 2 As far as some things this experience has taught me.  Slow down!  Don’t rush!  I’ve had to move slower over the last few years.  I’ve witnessed the way those who don’t walk fast enough are rushed around and almost pushed aside by everyone in such a hurry. Did I used to be like that? I’ve been on the way to the checkout stand in a grocery store hobbling on crutches and using the shopping cart as my second crutch only to have someone in such a hurry rush to be in front of me -not realising or caring how much pain it was for me to even get to the line let alone stand in it. My speed has finally picked up.  I can walk (without any crutches) into a grocery store now and don’t have to park in the handicapped spot to do it.  I have learned to be patient and gracious.  I want to think I always was but now, every time I pass someone who is moving slower, I make sure I am passing them with respect and care and certainly don’t place myself in a position to make their situation harder. I know I am a better person for having had to slow down.  A loss of true mobility that I am seeing regained has given me appreciation and gratitude for so many of those simple things we take for granted.  The walks on the beach with my dogs is a highlight of one of the things my mobility and I enjoy but the grander picture of walking at all is something I no longer take for granted! (Assignment from Writing101) – Part 3 Write about a loss: something (or someone) that was part of your life, and isn’t any more. This doesn’t need to...

2

ABOUT / BLOGGING / WRITING 101

Writing 101 Day 4: (part 2)… other things gained

Click here to read part 1 I’ve been practicing walking lately as part of my recovery plan.  A local beach, Crissy Field, has proved very therapeutic for both myself and the pups.  I can’t tolerate walking with shoes on the beach.  Much more painful.  Walking barefoot though is just about the right amount balance training (yes you do use balance muscles when you walk barefoot on the sand) for my foot retraining.  A day at Pt. Isabel last week (another large outdoor dogpark) reminded me of the absolute need to watch where you walk! Gopher holes everywhere as it turns out tweaked my ankle a bit in the walk but again making me stronger though cautious.  It did not put me back on crutches just made me realise I can’t rush the walking by overdoing it especially when it comes to uneven ground.  One day at a time seems the best foot forward!   Every experience we are faced with does help us grow and become better people.  I do believe that this is at least the opportunity given us when faced with those challenges that want to drag us down and incapacitate.  My next post will be about some of the lessons learned … (Assignment from Writing101) –Part 2 Write about a loss: something (or someone) that was part of your life, and isn’t any more. This doesn’t need to be a depressing exercise; you can write about that time you lost the three-legged race at a picnic. What’s important is reflecting on this experience and what it meant for you — how it felt, why it happened, and what changed because of it. Today’s twist: Make today’s post the first in a three-post series.

1

ABOUT / BLOGGING / WRITING 101

Writing 101 Day 4: (part1) Something lost …but …

About 3 years ago I started having troubles with one of my feet.  Heel pain mis-diagnosed as plantar fasciitis eventually became stabbing pain in ankle joint and concluded (almost anyhow) with tendon transfer surgery.  Tendon transferred from one of my toes to inner ankle.  Three years of lost/limited mobility and limited duty at work at times seemed like a never ending journey.  The light at the end of the tunnel approaches as I have finally been able to relinquish the 9+ months of crutches and two casts.  Walking has seemed much more normal though not completely pain free. The ability to stand for decent periods of time, and walk far enough to no longer need the handicapped placard on a regular basis is a true freedom that at times seemed out of reach. What good could possibly come from losing true mobility for practically 3 years? To be continued… (Assignment from Writing101) –Part 1 Write about a loss: something (or someone) that was part of your life, and isn’t any more. This doesn’t need to be a depressing exercise; you can write about that time you lost the three-legged race at a picnic. What’s important is reflecting on this experience and what it meant for you — how it felt, why it happened, and what changed because of it. Today’s twist: Make today’s post the first in a three-post series.

0

ABOUT / BLOGGING / GRENADA / WRITING 101

Writing 101:day three. Three songs for

Write about the three most important songs in your life — what do they mean to you? Overall my favourite music is electronic in the mode of Bargrooves & Tiesto’s In Search of Sunrise.  I relax to that type of music.  Next to that I love Reggae & Steel Drum or Pan music and then the island party music of Soca & Calypso.  I love all types of music and especially music that is new to me.  I’ve recently acquired a taste for electro-swing music which is the old time swing music with a a new electronic beat to it  Will Magid is a local artist that really gets it and performs it very well.  You can find him on Soundcloud.  I love the Cajun/Dixie band music.  The Louisiana music with a beat.  When it comes to trying to define three favourite pieces of music I find myself drawn to music that has a certain feeling and to be honest I can only listen to it when I am in the right mindset.  So here goes on that info.  I added the Youtube stuff afterwards so you could get a taste. The first song that comes to mind for this assignment is ‘Gabriel’s Oboe’ from the soundtrack for The Mission.  I don’t typically remember in depth details about a movie not am I particularly drawn to soundtracks.  When a movie or a soundtrack captures my attention though, I take away the spirit of that movie or soundtrack.  In the case of the both the movie and this particular song from the movie the feeling that sticks with me what I perceived to be the message of the movie.  The basic premise of the movie was a conversion mission of a South American people by the Jesuits.  Gabriel the Father in...

6

BLOGGING / WRITING 101

The Secret Garden Hostel in Quito, Ecuador

Today’s Prompt: If you could zoom through space in the speed of light, what place would you go to right now? Writing 101’s prompt of ‘where would I be?’  takes me back to my trip to Quito in 2006 and is definitely a trip I would love to repeat with the added benefit of a little more knowledge of the environment and what to expect along with the added flavour of knowing it’s been almost 10 years since my initial visit. I’d never stayed in a hostel before March of 2006.  I happened on the Secret Garden hostel as I was researching places to stay for my upcoming trip to Equador.  It was a very well-reveiwed place and an extremely affordable place to stay. The word hostel had always left me with the vision of rows of bunks and youth mentally equating to parties and ultimately no sleep.  As I started researching the Secret Garden I came to realise that it did not fit into my preconceived notions.   It had to be too good to be true!  The Secret Garden as it turns out has the option to reserve your own room with a shared bathroom (shared with one other room) for at that time $14 a day. I arrived in Quito knowing no-one but ready to venture out.  A modest taxi ride from the airport brought me to the colourful front door of the Hostel.  It was after dark and I could only hope I was in the right place.  It’s not like there were illuminated neon signs floating around (thank God!). I rang the doorbell and was able to check in and receive a key to my room.  Uneven colourful stairs took me to my room where I settled in with a fullsize bed a nightstand and a beautiful wall hangings....

%d bloggers like this: