It seems like no time at all since I was wishing you Happy Holidays, and now it’s all Welcome 2020. Last year I was feeling all optimistic, but this year I’m feeling tired and worn out. Half the country is on fire, has been for months, and it feels like we’re running on global charity.…
Happy Holidays 2019!!!
The fifth anniversary of this blog passed quietly during the year, so this is the sixth time I’ve wished you all Happy Holidays. Here are just some of the celebrations taking place in December: • Christmas • Hanukkah • Kwanzaa • Bodhi Day • St Lucia Day • Fiesta of Our Lady of Guadalupe •…
The Melodious Dawn Chorus Daily
One of the amazing things about birds and animals, is vocal group communications, whether that’s the Dawn Chorus, Twighlight Barking, or the alarm tones that signal mass evacuations. And time-based activities aren’t always vocal. Some years ago we sat on a beach watching the sun go down and found ourselves sitting near a mob of…
The Joy in Matching Beanies
The other day, I saw a young couple wearing matching beanies on the train. He had his arm around her, and she was nestled into his armpit, leaning her head on his shoulder. She titled her head up to him, and he leaned across and kissed her lightly on the forehead. It’s a cute thing,…
Stealing Kisses
Sometimes, I think the best viewing comes from watching ordinary people doing ordinary things, like stealing kisses. And you don’t have to go far to see it. You can see people stealing kisses almost everywhere; train station, hardware, IKEA, and pretty much any place that serves food or alcohol (or both). Though it can, on…
What I Need Right Now
The other day I was watching Men in Black: International, and among other things that made me laugh, were the red buttons. The “what I need right now” buttons that supercharge whatever thing they’re attached to. And as I thought about it more, I realised that a lot of movies, especially science fiction, feature some…
Busy Bees Buzz Buzz Buzzing
I don’t know about you, but it didn’t really occur to me that bees exist in Winter, even if they aren’t busy. Well, not until I saw a couple the other day. So I checked, and according to Amanda, they huddle together (like puppies) in winter to keep the Queen warm. And then as the…
Being Alone But Not Lonely With Others
I recently went to a writer’s conference. And that was kind of funny; writers are generally solitary creatures. Even in a crowded room we’re busy being alone. Like koalas, we prefer being in our well established territories, and are more likely to attack than cuddle other writers. Okay, maybe not attack, but definitely not cuddle.…
The Bizarre And Confusing Logic Of Creative Pursuits
I don’t believe in writer’s block, I believe in the logic of creative pursuits. Generally, when I sit down to write, I just write the next sentence. I ask what’s the next logical thing, and then I write it down. And then the next sentence, and the sentence after that, followed by another sentence. And…
The Joy of New Undergarments
I mentioned in my Winter Wardrobe Plan that I needed new undergarments. But it was a kind of off-hand addition that suggested there was no particular need or rush. But, I just bought some. And they’re amazing! I can’t believe I waited so long. Which makes me think how it’s funny what you get used…
Life is Passing Me By
I can’t believe the year is a quarter gone – it’s passing me by. I had grand plans, but I’ve achieved nothing. Panic has set in. It’s time to take a deep breath, stop dithering, and get stuff done. You can see more of my Haiku here. Image by Arieth via Canva.
The Benefit of a Good Night’s Sleep
We recently replaced our old worn out mattresses. Not before time, because you can’t beat a good night’s sleep. They’ve had a decade of good solid use. And they’ve probably seen the rise and fall of a civilisation or two of bacteria and other creatures. Who probably got a better night’s sleep than we did.…