Pride is a tricky thing…for me, at least. You grow up receiving praise for things you do, but also getting a heaping helping of “reality checks” where authority figures or peers tell you not to brag too much or get “too big for your britches.” Still, should you be proud of yourself or not? That’s where today’s rumination took me. Continue reading “Is Pride a Sin, a Necessity, or Something in Between?”
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Fiction Experiment: The Way of the Spider
I don’t seem to write fiction so much as anecdotes or dramatized lessons. Be that as it may, this piece came to me this morning. Enjoy or not as you see fit. Continue reading “Fiction Experiment: The Way of the Spider”
Curating Your Own Past
Who controls the past controls the future. Who controls the present controls the past.
—George Orwell, 1984
Any quotation from 1984 usually implies that the author is about to write something sinister or dystopian. Today, I’m going to turn that notion on its side a bit, consider the wisdom of Orwell’s “Big Brother,” and discuss how it relates to how people think about their past, present, and future. Continue reading “Curating Your Own Past”
How One Geek Sorts Out His Mind II
Okay, great. I’ve shared the fact that I’ve been in a funk. And yesterday I took the time to share how I’ve attempted to cope with it after waiting for it to go away didn’t work. But have I learned anything? Made any progress? That’s today’s entry. Continue reading “How One Geek Sorts Out His Mind II”
How One Geek Sorts Out His Mind
I haven’t written about it much here, but I’ve been in a funk for much of the last year. Not a full-blown depression, but not something that would let go easily, either. The reasons for said funk are not of interest here. Today I’m merely sharing the approach I’ve taken to address my state of mind. If you’re the bookish type who internalizes your problems, you might find this of interest. For those of you who prefer to talk out your problems, this approach will seem odd and a little labor intensive or excessive, but then you’re not me. Continue reading “How One Geek Sorts Out His Mind”
Movie Review: Apollo 11
Since I missed First Man when it was in the theaters (probably on purpose), I thought I’d at least make certain I saw the new documentary about Apollo 11, which featured new or unused film footage from that first landing on the Moon 50 years ago. Space geek that I am, how could I refuse? I was wondering why my theater ticket was north of $20, then remembered it was in an IMAX theater. As it turned out, that massive screen with its accompanying super-duper sound system made it worth the price. So what did I see? Read on. This shouldn’t take too long. Continue reading “Movie Review: Apollo 11”
Fiction Experiment: Creating a Deity
It’s been a while since I wrote a response to one of my Creative Writing Prompts, but this one amused me. The task here was: Create a deity. Describe its origin, its powers, how it looks – anything you want. Enjoy as you see fit. Continue reading “Fiction Experiment: Creating a Deity”
Writing Experiment: Fictional Holiday
Continuing with my daily Creative Writing Prompts. I seem to have fallen into a pattern that works for me. I use the five-minute/one-word prompt as a journal entry for my own pleasure to get warmed up. The second (“Midday”) prompt I write full out as intended. The third (“Dinner”) prompt becomes a poem, at the moment a limerick. I’ll share some of the limericks at some point. Meanwhile, here’s today’s midday prompt:
Create a holiday! Describe its history, how to celebrate it, etc. Word it as an essay about the holiday, as if completing a boring school assignment.
The silliness continues. Continue reading “Writing Experiment: Fictional Holiday”
Fiction Experiment: Wanted Poster
Tonight’s fiction prompt for sharing:
Write a WANTED ad for a serial cat burglar who is, in fact, a cat. Continue reading “Fiction Experiment: Wanted Poster”
Fiction Experiment: Quarterling
Today’s fiction experiment is below. The midday prompt was as follows:
A magical mishap shrinks your character for 24 hours. How does the day go?
The Real Bart Leahy 