Gratitude #20

Sometimes it's the smallest things that mean the most: the meetings that end on time, the rain that holds off until you get home, your youngest's idea to use flour tortillas for the hamburgers instead of the rolls not picked up. For these small events and non, I am grateful.

And thanks for this cool article about the utility of ketamine and other psychedelics to treat depression and other psychiatric ailments. Grateful because it's good info for my day job, and better, gives me an idea for joiperidone, aka JM-25, the mythical medication starring in PURE.

Compliments of Scientific American.

Peace, Linda

BluePrintReview - Gratitude #19

I am grateful today for editors who take passionate chances on new and emerging writers, who embrace their vision of art without compromise.

Dorothee Lang embodies this spirit bar none; she's aone-woman, non-stop writer, artist, editor, promoter and all around human being. Lots of reasons for my gratitude, starting with her championing of small and independent press at Daily s-Press, where she also serves up a health helping of the hippest literary happenings on the web.

Dorothee also edits the fine literary journal BluePrint Review. In keeping with the theme 'two-squared', Issue 25 reveals two poems or stories every two days, allowing readers to savor each artist. Today I am grateful and honored to have my story Second-Hand Video-Cam featured alongside contributions by respected writers and artists, including Michelle Elvy, Kirsty Logan, Rose Hunter, Sheldon Lee Compton, bl pawalek, Susan Gibb, and many others. Take a gander -- you will not be disappointed.

Peace, Linda

Peace, Linda

Gratitudes #17 and #18

Gratitude #17: I am so thankful to have a few days without the internet -- without the constant barrage of information, life feels deliciously slower.


Gratitude #18: I am grateful for the technology of the internet, of computers, of fiber-optics and wi-fi and cyberspace -- how else could I have possibly enjoyed all of YOU?

**

We traveled to North Carolina to visit family, and I left my laptop behind. On purpose. Just lovely. Hope everyone had a wonderful weekend; I'll be catching up tonight with the last 48 hours.

Peace, Linda

Gratitude #16

Today I am thankful my husband and children are gathered in North Carolina with my mother and my sister and her family.

Nothing, I repeat nothing, is more important than family.

No matter how you define it or form it.

Peace, Linda

Can't Wait

I can’t wait till I’ve saved enough money from this goddamn gig slinging tacos at the Tastee-Kone and can pay off my old man for the Chrysler cuz then I am so out of this numbfuck place, this tired valley full of dumbshit farmers and their almond trees, and me and Mariah will drive up the coast, past pussy Big Sur and Russian River and disappear into the woods, maybe Oregon, hell, who knows, just like all the hippies did thirty years ago, and she’ll grow organic shiitakes and reishi on moldy logs and I’ll farm sensi from the killer weed seeds hidden in the origami crane, the one the Japanese woman on the corner gave to me two years ago in the Haight when I was high as a fucking kite, my right eye bashed in because The Dude said I owed him money, but I needed to score, and this tiny Jap, lady really, though all her stuff was in plastic bags, was selling these folded-paper creatures on the corner, a buck each, and I looked at the money stashed in the cup between her knees, my hand fisted and spit gushed in my mouth just thinking of the baggie, but she looked up at me, her white-streaked hair tied into a tight little -- what do you call it, a chignon? – and anyway, she looked up at me and handed me this crane and said, “I will pray for you.”

***

Inspired by this week's 52/250 Flash a Year theme --> Waiting.

Peace, Linda

Gratitude #15

The sun is shining.





Half-way through
30 Days of Gratitude and we've raised over 75 buckolas for hospice and a crisis shelter. THANK YOU kind readers for your generosity and your amazing gratitudes.

Peace, Linda

Gratitude #14

Some days it is enough to be grateful the day is over. Today is one of those days.

**

Freebie read ==> WONDERFUL essay by the fabulous Tim O'Brien (The Things They Carried) on the characteristics of an unsuccessful story. The missing ingredient to what makes a story sing might surprise you. TELLING TALES, courtesy of The Atlantic.


Peace, Linda

The BOFF is HERE! -- Gratitude #13

Today I am grateful for the #fridayflash community and its founder and fearless leader Jon Strother at Mad Utopia(@jmstro). Intrigued by the potential of social media, Jon singlehandedly created a virtual community of short story writers who tweet their wares around the globe every Friday. You can view the collected stories gathered in the Best of Friday Flash - Volume 1.

I am honored and humbled to be included in this anthology with folks I admire -- as writers and as exceptional people -- writers I admire, and for having a small part in the anthology's creation. BOFF is a labor of love, one which honors the spirit of #fridayflash. Most of all, I feel blessed to be part of a caring, compassionate, and generous community and lucky to call many of you friends.

Peace, Linda

Gratitude #12

Thanks for the rain, gentle drizzle and thunderous clouds; the raspberries and hardy kiwis fat for the picking.


My last day of staycation. The past week I did a lot of writing, jam making, and not much more. I had great plans -- go clothes shopping, coffee with friends, clean out my closet -- but in the end I enjoyed spending my days reading, writing, taking naps and walks, doing some yoga, and hanging out in my garden.

Next week, the students return, and my own children return to school at the end of this month. I smell autumn in the air, hear it in the long chirrup of the crickets finding their way into my basement, in the withering of the daylilies. Peace, Linda

Gratitude #11

A heart is not judged by how much you love; but by how much you are loved by others. (Wizard of Oz).


Today I give thanks for Frank Baum and his fantastical creation The Wizard of Oz. His story has so many layers, so many universals. Last night we watched the film in its wonderful Technicolor glory, and this afternoon we watched our talented friends play characters in the The Glyndon Area Players stage production. Bravo!

I find it fascinating that the two witches -- one good, the other evil -- are played by two Unitarian Universalists.

The weekend's winding down == what's your joy?

Peace, Linda

Gratitude #10

Nothing makes my family happier on the weekend than finding a great yard sale. Everyone wins -- the buyer snags a bargain, the seller cleans house and makes a few Uncle Sam-free bucks, and the neighbors all hang out together.

Today's finds include:
--Lea: Collectible barbies still in their boxes -- $2 for 3
--Will: lacrosse stick, ball, and extra shaft -- $5
--Henry: a huge art history book in pristine condition -- $1
--Me: William and Sonoma cookbooks -- $1 each -- and a sweet porcelain vase less than 2 inches tall handpainted with blueberries -- $2

Yard-saling means getting up early. We traveled from our home to historic Ellicott City and Sykesville, then into the Roland Park neighborhood of Baltimore. We splurged on brunch at Miss Shirley's, home of the most eclectic breakfast menu (Smores French toast, smoked salmon club sandwich, and polenta cake topped with wilted spinach, grilled portobella, and egg).

So what are YOU grateful for today? Joing 30 Days of Gratitude fray -- your gratitude, posted below in the comments, means I send another buck to hospice and the local crisis shelter. And you might win a prize yourself.

Peace, Linda

Gratitude #9

I give thanks for endings, my stubborness -- it keeps me moving forward -- and Zeke's coffee.

Got a lot done today, including a decent backside to PURE. Now, a full first draft. A REAL full first draft.


Peace, Linda