Life in progress


55 Comments

The Friday Reminder and Prompt for SoCS July 26/14

Can you believe it?  It’s the last Friday in July already! Whatever Friday it is though, Friday means tomorrow is Stream of Consciousness Saturday. It’s been a while since I completely left the subject or the theme of SoCS up to you, so I figure it’s about time. Without further ado, I give you the prompt:

Your Friday prompt for Saturday’s Stream of Consciousness post is, end your post with a question. Extra points if you fit an exclamation mark somewhere in the body of your post.

After you’ve written your Saturday post tomorrow, please link it here at the prompt page in the comments so others can find it and see your awesome Stream of Consciousness post. Don’t hesitate to join in!

Here are the rules:

1. Your post must be stream of consciousness writing, meaning no editing, (typos can be fixed) and minimal planning on what you’re going to write.

2. Your post can be as long or as short as you want it to be. One sentence – one thousand words. Fact, fiction, poetry – it doesn’t matter. Just let the words carry you along until you’re ready to stop.

3. There will be a prompt every week. I will post the prompt here on my blog on Friday, along with a reminder for you to join in. The prompt will be one random thing, but it will not be a subject. For instance, I will not say “Write about dogs”; the prompt will be more like, “Make your first sentence a question,” or “Begin with the word ‘The’.”

4. Ping back! It’s important, so that I and other people will come and read your post! The way to ping back, is to just copy and paste the URL of my post somewhere on your post. Then your URL will show up in my comments, for everyone to see. For example, in your post you can copy and paste the following: This post is part of SoCS: https://lindaghill.wordpress.com/2014/07/25/the-friday-reminder-and-prompt-for-socs-july-2514/  The most recent pingbacks will be found at the top.

5. Read at least one other person’s blog who has linked back their post. Even better, read everyone’s! If you’re the first person to link back, you can check back later, or go to the previous week, by following my category, “Stream of Consciousness Saturday,” which you’ll find right below the “Like” button on my post.

6. Copy and paste the rules (if you’d like to) in your post. The more people who join in, the more new bloggers you’ll meet and the bigger your community will get!

7. Have fun!


39 Comments

The Friday Reminder and Prompt for SoCS July 19/14

Friday’s here again–this week has gone by so fast, as time off is wont to do–and that means it’s Stream of Consciousness Saturday tomorrow. I’ve been so absorbed in my novels for the past few days that I haven’t really put much thought into this week’s prompt. So I’m just going with a random, just ‘coz word for everyone to play with in their post.

Your Friday prompt for Saturday’s Stream of Consciousness post is “side.” Add a prefix or a suffix or use it as is.

After you’ve written your Saturday post tomorrow, please link it here at the prompt page in the comments so others can find it and see your awesome Stream of Consciousness post. Don’t hesitate to join in!

Here are the rules:

1. Your post must be stream of consciousness writing, meaning no editing, (typos can be fixed) and minimal planning on what you’re going to write.

2. Your post can be as long or as short as you want it to be. One sentence – one thousand words. Fact, fiction, poetry – it doesn’t matter. Just let the words carry you along until you’re ready to stop.

3. There will be a prompt every week. I will post the prompt here on my blog on Friday, along with a reminder for you to join in. The prompt will be one random thing, but it will not be a subject. For instance, I will not say “Write about dogs”; the prompt will be more like, “Make your first sentence a question,” or “Begin with the word ‘The’.”

4. Ping back! It’s important, so that I and other people will come and read your post! The way to ping back, is to just copy and paste the URL of my post somewhere on your post. Then your URL will show up in my comments, for everyone to see. For example, in your post you can copy and paste the following: This post is part of SoCS: https://lindaghill.wordpress.com/2014/07/18/the-friday-reminder-and-prompt-for-socs-july-1914/  The most recent pingbacks will be found at the top.

5. Read at least one other person’s blog who has linked back their post. Even better, read everyone’s! If you’re the first person to link back, you can check back later, or go to the previous week, by following my category, “Stream of Consciousness Saturday,” which you’ll find right below the “Like” button on my post.

6. Copy and paste the rules (if you’d like to) in your post. The more people who join in, the more new bloggers you’ll meet and the bigger your community will get!

7. Have fun!


38 Comments

Stream of Consciousness … Errr … Monday – The Best Laid Plans

…and SoCM pretty much sums up my weekend.

It was a lovely Friday evening when I arrived in Kingston. I walked a bit, I managed to get some editing done, and then I went out for a late dinner. I took some pictures of the moon which will follow. It was, so far, the perfect getaway.

Then Saturday morning happened. By the afternoon I was being pumped intravenously with a cocktail of drugs to treat what the hospital thought was likely a migraine. Luckily my dear friend and saviour once again, John, was able to rescue me and bring me home, and then go back for my car on Sunday to tow it back to town.

That’s the news. (I’m okay now.)

It occurred to me however, when I was laying on my apparent death-bed in the hotel, that there are various ways to get away. There are vacations, there are trips we can take using mind-altering substances, there is meditation, there is sleep. Then there are the times we just WANT to get away – like when I’m so sick I say to myself, why can’t I just hurry up and die and get it over with? But fortunately I’m still here.

As I sat on the steps of the hotel, pasty-faced and braless, in a pair of yoga pants and a t-shirt that was three sizes too big, waiting for John to pick me up in the car with nothing but a bundle of tissues in my hand (I was too weak to carry my purse) and adults avoided looking at me with the same intensity as the children stared, I thought to myself, this must be what it’s like to look homeless – only I just spent almost $200 for one night in the same hotel I was sitting on the steps of. I had to rush back in to throw up and the desk clerk didn’t recognize me. (John checked me out.) I thought she wasn’t going to let me use the washroom for a millisecond, but then I saw the look in her eye that said it’s probably better than cleaning up after me.

It goes to show how quickly things can change. Getting away isn’t all it’s cracked up to be when all you want is your own bed, your own toilet, and your own space.

I might try to go back on Wednesday to do the research I wasn’t able to do on the weekend. On the other hand, I may just stay home.

P.S. I’ll catch up with everyone’s SoCS posts ASAP! Thanks to everyone who participated! It looks like it was another great weekend. 😀

This is (kind of) a post for Stream of Consciousness Saturday. https://lindaghill.wordpress.com/2014/07/11/the-friday-reminder-and-prompt-for-socs-july-1214/

 


32 Comments

The Friday Reminder and Prompt for SoCS July 12/14

As you might already know, I’m going on vacation for a few days. I’ll be leaving soon after I write this post in fact! Though I’ll be kidless for a week, I’m only actually going somewhere for the weekend. While I’m there I’ll to do my best to stay away from the web. Therefore, I want to remind you kiddies out there to play nice and please do your best to visit each other’s SoCS posts, since I’m going to be slacking off. 😀

In celebration of my holiday, your Friday prompt for Saturday’s Stream of Consciousness post will be kinda based on that.

This week’s theme is “getting away, or getting out.” Do anything you’d like with it!

P.S. I’m looking forward to reading all your posts when I get back!

After you’ve written your Saturday post tomorrow, please link it here at the prompt page in the comments so others can find it and see your awesome Stream of Consciousness post. Don’t hesitate to join in!

Here are the rules:

1. Your post must be stream of consciousness writing, meaning no editing, (typos can be fixed) and minimal planning on what you’re going to write.

2. Your post can be as long or as short as you want it to be. One sentence – one thousand words. Fact, fiction, poetry – it doesn’t matter. Just let the words carry you along until you’re ready to stop.

3. There will be a prompt every week. I will post the prompt here on my blog on Friday, along with a reminder for you to join in. The prompt will be one random thing, but it will not be a subject. For instance, I will not say “Write about dogs”; the prompt will be more like, “Make your first sentence a question,” or “Begin with the word ‘The’.”

4. Ping back! It’s important, so that I and other people will come and read your post! The way to ping back, is to just copy and paste the URL of my post somewhere on your post. Then your URL will show up in my comments, for everyone to see. For example, in your post you can copy and paste the following: This post is part of SoCS: https://lindaghill.wordpress.com/2014/07/11/the-friday-reminder-and-prompt-for-socs-july-1214/  The most recent pingbacks will be found at the top.

5. Read at least one other person’s blog who has linked back their post. Even better, read everyone’s! If you’re the first person to link back, you can check back later, or go to the previous week, by following my category, “Stream of Consciousness Saturday,” which you’ll find right below the “Like” button on my post.

6. Copy and paste the rules (if you’d like to) in your post. The more people who join in, the more new bloggers you’ll meet and the bigger your community will get!

7. Have fun!


20 Comments

A New Record!

Not including my own post, we had a record number of participants yesterday for Stream of Consciousness Saturday! I’d like to say thank you once again to all who took part, as well as everyone who enjoyed reading the posts. As always, my main goal for hosting prompts is to help everyone build their community of bloggers.

So if you discovered a new, awesome blog, good for you! I know I’ve found many through the course of this weekly event. And if you’ve also gained followers then that’s wonderful too. Congratulations!

Here are the twenty-two participants this week in reverse order, in case you didn’t get to some of the later entrants:

Pav: http://pavorisms.wordpress.com/2014/07/05/off-on-the-wrong-tooth/

Shanjeniah: http://shanjeniah.com/2014/07/05/socs-body-language/

Michael: http://summerstommy.com/2014/07/06/prompt-for-socs-july-514-arria/

SomeKernelsOfTruth: http://somekernelsoftruth.com/2014/07/05/what-id-really-like-to-say-in-the-body-of-a-cover-letter-for-a-job/

Helen: http://helenespinosa.wordpress.com/2014/07/05/thoughts-and-bodies/

Willow: http://willowdot21.wordpress.com/2014/07/05/precious-body-stream-of-consciousness-saturday/

Jeanne: http://jeanneowensauthor.wordpress.com/2014/07/05/exercising-the-body-mind-and-spirit/

Rose: http://rosebfischer.com/2014/07/05/socs-i-am-not-your-inspiration/

Rivers, streams, and painted turtle shells: http://paintedturtleshells.wordpress.com/2014/07/05/stream-of-consciousness-saturday-july-5/

Soulful Poet’s Heart: http://soulfulpoetsheart.wordpress.com/2014/07/05/the-floor-of-despair/

Bee: http://beehalton.com/2014/07/the-body-of-socs.html

Doobster: http://mindfuldigressions.com/2014/07/05/no-body-no-homicide/

Irene: http://irenedesign2011.com/2014/07/05/body-mind-this-post-is-a-part-of-socs/

Forty c’est Fantastique!: http://fortyandfantastique.wordpress.com/2014/07/05/anybody-socs/

Traces of the Soul: http://tracesofthesoul.wordpress.com/2014/07/05/stream-of-consciousness-socs-july-5-2014/

People, Places, and Perspectives: http://minahmisteri.wordpress.com/2014/07/05/body-not-in-the-usual-sense/

John: http://johnwhowell.com/2014/07/05/4695/

Fabricating Fiction: http://fabricatingfiction.wordpress.com/2014/07/05/socs-my-body-is-awesome/

Joanne: http://topofjcsmind.wordpress.com/2014/07/05/socs-body/

Wandering Story Teller: http://awanderingstoryteller.wordpress.com/2014/07/05/a-womans-body/

KG: http://booksmusicandmovies.wordpress.com/2014/07/05/socs-too-many-bodies/

My Leaky Boat: http://myleakyboat.com/blog/?p=779

We had plenty of return SoCS’ers as well as a few newcomers this week. Make sure you check them all out. Some really awesome posts listed above!

Thanks again, and I look forward to seeing you all back next week. And don’t forget, bring your friends!

 

 


8 Comments

Just a quick note of thanks and an apology

First, I’d like to say thank you so much to everyone who participated in SoCS today. We’ve almost hit the record number of posts – two more and we’ll have beat the previous record of 21. I so appreciate everyone making this weekly event a success! You’re all awesome!!

My apology is to all of you who have posted today whose posts I haven’t read and to all of you who have left comments that I haven’t answered. My sight is incredibly blurry tonight, so I think I’ll close the computer and hope tomorrow is better.

Goodnight world, and pleasant dreams to all.


40 Comments

Precious Body – Stream of Consciousness Saturday (Body)

“Is he always this happy?”

It’s the question I am most asked about my thirteen year old son. At 60 pounds and 4’3″, with the amount of enthusiasm he has for everything, he can easily pass for an eight year old.

Born Deaf, his lungs are compressed by his large, deformed heart. He’s barrel-chested and is covered in scars, least of which is the tube in his stomach from whence he receives 99% of his nutrition. He is hooked up to a feeding machine about five hours a day. I’m sure he experiences pain – more than likely he’s been through more than most of us in his short life.

But I marvel at his little body. That he keeps going without complaint – he’s never known any different. I’m sure he’s realized by now that he’s not the same as most kids. One of his major goals in life is to eat in the cafeteria with the other kids at school, instead of being sent to the infirmary for lunch every day.

It amazes me what the human body can endure and still keep going. We think of ourselves as fragile. We grieve when something stops working. Our eyesight fades, our hearing goes, our muscles tire more easily – but imagine if you had always been this way.

My son is a constant inspiration to me. Everywhere he goes he makes people smile with his joy in life.

The answer to the question: “Yes.”

 

This post is part of SoCS: https://lindaghill.wordpress.com/2014/07/04/the-friday-reminder-and-prompt-for-socs-july-514/  Click the link to read the rules and join in!

 

 


37 Comments

The Friday Reminder and Prompt for SoCS July 5/14

First, to my American friends, Happy 4th of July! I hope your day is filled with family, friends and fireworks. Second, today’s prompt will have nothing to do with Independence Day, but extra points to you if you can figure out how to connect the two. For this Saturday’s Stream of Consciousness post, I’d like to give you a word that might not seem at first as though there are many places you can take it. But give it a little thought. There’s more to it than meets the eye.

This week’s prompt word is “body.” Do with it whatever comes to mind, and don’t forget – it doesn’t have to be non-fiction. Have fun!

After you’ve written your Saturday post tomorrow, please link it here at the prompt page in the comments so others can find it and see your awesome Stream of Consciousness post. Don’t hesitate to join in!

Here are the rules:

1. Your post must be stream of consciousness writing, meaning no editing, (typos can be fixed) and minimal planning on what you’re going to write.

2. Your post can be as long or as short as you want it to be. One sentence – one thousand words. Fact, fiction, poetry – it doesn’t matter. Just let the words carry you along until you’re ready to stop.

3. There will be a prompt every week. I will post the prompt here on my blog on Friday, along with a reminder for you to join in. The prompt will be one random thing, but it will not be a subject. For instance, I will not say “Write about dogs”; the prompt will be more like, “Make your first sentence a question,” or “Begin with the word ‘The’.”

4. Ping back! It’s important, so that I and other people will come and read your post! The way to ping back, is to just copy and paste the URL of my post somewhere on your post. Then your URL will show up in my comments, for everyone to see. For example, in your post you can copy and paste the following: This post is part of SoCS: https://lindaghill.wordpress.com/2014/07/04/the-friday-reminder-and-prompt-for-socs-july-514/  The most recent pingbacks will be found at the top.

5. Read at least one other person’s blog who has linked back their post. Even better, read everyone’s! If you’re the first person to link back, you can check back later, or go to the previous week, by following my category, “Stream of Consciousness Saturday,” which you’ll find right below the “Like” button on my post.

6. Copy and paste the rules (if you’d like to) in your post. The more people who join in, the more new bloggers you’ll meet and the bigger your community will get!

7. Have fun!


16 Comments

Universal Feeling – Stream of Consciousness Saturday (Emote)

I want people who read my fiction to fall in love with my characters. Not the bad guys necessarily, but at least the good guys. It took me a while to figure out how to do this, but in the end it always comes down to emotions. When my characters emote in a way that people can relate to, they feel a connection.

When I write, “Hank felt sad,” I know that my readers will look at the words on the page and think Hank is sad. Too bad for Hank. But if I write, “Hank cried,” people will read this and feel it, because it’s something that they do, or try not to do, when they are sad.

Emotions have a way of getting the best of us. They’re something we share, no matter our race, language, or beliefs. They are universal. And so when we see someone whose beliefs we don’t understand on the news, for instance, and they are crying, we feel their pain. At least those of us with compassion.

My best friend John told me a while ago that when we yawn when we see someone else yawn, it’s a sign that we’re not a psychopath. I know this has nothing to do with emotions, as such, but it does show our capacity for understanding what someone else is feeling. Empathy, compassion, sympathy… they’re all necessary for us to understand. And what makes good fiction worth reading as well.

This scattered post was brought to you in conjunction with SoCS: https://lindaghill.wordpress.com/2014/06/27/the-friday-reminder-and-prompt-for-socs-june-2814/

Click on the link and join in the fun!

 


27 Comments

The Friday Reminder and Prompt for SoCS June 28/14

It’s Friday (where did the week go?) and time for this week’s SoCS prompt! My inspiration this week – I can’t even begin to tell you where it came from. I don’t want to give you any ideas. Stream of Consciousness writing is all about just that – what comes from your ideas. So for this Saturday’s post, I’ll give you one word and let you run with it.

This week’s prompt word is “emote.” Feel free to add a suffix to it, or not, and just let it flow.

After you’ve written your Saturday post tomorrow, please link it here at the prompt page in the comments so others can find it and see your awesome Stream of Consciousness post. Don’t hesitate to join in!

Here are the rules:

1. Your post must be stream of consciousness writing, meaning no editing, (typos can be fixed) and minimal planning on what you’re going to write.

2. Your post can be as long or as short as you want it to be. One sentence – one thousand words. Fact, fiction, poetry – it doesn’t matter. Just let the words carry you along until you’re ready to stop.

3. There will be a prompt every week. I will post the prompt here on my blog on Friday, along with a reminder for you to join in. The prompt will be one random thing, but it will not be a subject. For instance, I will not say “Write about dogs”; the prompt will be more like, “Make your first sentence a question,” or “Begin with the word ‘The’.”

4. Ping back! It’s important, so that I and other people will come and read your post! The way to ping back, is to just copy and paste the URL of my post somewhere on your post. Then your URL will show up in my comments, for everyone to see. For example, in your post you can copy and paste the following: This post is part of SoCS: https://lindaghill.wordpress.com/2014/06/27/the-friday-reminder-and-prompt-for-socs-june-2814/  The most recent pingbacks will be found at the top.

5. Read at least one other person’s blog who has linked back their post. Even better, read everyone’s! If you’re the first person to link back, you can check back later, or go to the previous week, by following my category, “Stream of Consciousness Saturday,” which you’ll find right below the “Like” button on my post.

6. Copy and paste the rules (if you’d like to) in your post. The more people who join in, the more new bloggers you’ll meet and the bigger your community will get!

7. Have fun!