I normally have an image with my Haiku. Today I couldn’t come up with one that matched the words that I was able to truly capture what was in my mind. Perhaps later it will come to me but for now here are the words. I believe words some of us can too often identify with. This is my one Challenge Haiku of the week. I do hope you enjoy, or rather not enjoy.
Sunday inspired the words this week, again. I was attempting to write my Sunday Thought late Saturday evening into early Sunday morning and nothing was coming. Rather than force it, I shut everything down and waited. When I woke up the next morning, well actually the same morning, the thought was there. Patience. I had waited rather than force it.
One quick thing. I have noticed in my social network travels that we aren’t following each other on Twitter. I follow everyone I have a Twitter Handle for. Every one, follow our Haiku friends. You have a Twitter but I don’t have it? Just type it in the comments when you paste your link. One way I find Twitter Handles is when I click on your Haiku, I click the Twitter share button and get the handle from there. Your handle doesn’t show there? Click here to find out how to have it show up there. You know. I have a how-to article for just about everything. If not? Ask and I’ll write one.
Have you never ventured into our haiventure? “Hiaku, adventure? Haiventure? Yeah, I make up words. Just not for the purpose of the Haiku. Hmm, although that gives me an idea for next weeks Haiku Challenge. One thing I want to explain is about pingbacks.
A ping back is when you place the URL from the address bar of this page into the post you write your Haiku on. You also have to make certain the link is actually in there by clicking on the add link button which is next to the right alignment button. To me the add link button kind of looks like a paper clip. It’s the fifth from the right in the WordPress post editor. Read below for a couple or few more things that will help.
Then simply put a link to your Haiku in the comments of this Post and I’ll go look, as will others. The link is the URL. You can also do a PingBack. That’s when you put the URL of this post in your post. Don’t know how to do a Pingback. Clickhereto find out how.
The Deadline is Sunday by Noon, EST, or New York Time to people like me that just have no clue about time zones.
Haiku is simple and simply addictive. So be warned now. Once you start it’s difficult to stop. Here are two things to know:
Haiku can be broken into two sentences with the middle line of the three lines being the commonly used part, meaning 1&2 and 2&3 making sentences. That’s Haiku.
Opposite meanings in the first and last sentences. That’s Haiku.
For a full refresher or Howto write Haiku in English clickhere. But you can use whatever Haiku style you want to. As long as you, do a Haiku.
If you have a Twitter and your handle has not appeared in a ReCap of a previous challenge, please let me know what it is so when I Tweet the ReCap on Sundays I may include it.
DEADLINE: Noon on Sunday New York Time.
(I hate doing deadlines, but it takes quite a while to complete the ReCap.)
There are TWO“A RONOVAN’S CHOICE!”recipients each week. One for Humor and one for something more Serious. The Haiku are quite good each week and I am having to turn to the structure guidelines of a Haiku at times to help determine my selection.
Really each Haiku is a choice of mine, and I’m not just saying that, so I feel a bit odd even having something called A RONOVAN’S CHOICE, but hey, it’s a thing, right? And it does make it kind of fun.
People often think they know a person. With celebrities we think we know every nuance of their lives from the fodder we’re fed through tabloid TV and media. No, this is not a hating on the media moment here.
I have gone through moments of vaguely liking or disliking Katy Perry and Taylor Swift. It seems you can only be in the camp of one and not the other. Two artists so linked by talent and artistry could be a force to reckoned with if they were to ever join together in a project. Perhaps.
But there is too much there at the moment to divide them. Today my focus is on Katy Perry. She went through this odd marriage to a man named Russell Brand. It seemed quite good for a time and then divorce. A great many people put the blame on Perry. Even those in this house are of that opinion. Or were until I stumbled upon this song a couple of weeks ago.
Some don’t know that Perry comes from a Minister’s home. That’s right, she’s a PK. A Preachers Kid. When you listen to this song she wrote you will hear the purity, the truth of her feelings. These aren’t just words. This is coming from a person truly understanding what she is singing about.
For one thing the song is about her marriage falling apart. She received a text message from Brand that they were divorcing. She thought of suicide. This is the one song about that relationship. She says any other lyrics you hear anywhere on other songs are coincidence. This is the one song that she wrote to get it out of her.
It’s a powerful song and has quickly become a favorite of mine. I am not a mainstream pop music listener normally. I dabble. After listening to this I listened to some of her other songs and she is truly a talent.
Was 27, surviving my return of Saturn
A long vacation didn’t sound so bad
Was full of secrets, locked up tight like Iron Mountain
Running on empty, so out of gas
Thought I wasn’t enough
Found I wasn’t so tough
Laying on the bathroom floor
We were living on a fault line
And I felt the fault was all mine
Couldn’t take it anymore
(Chorus)
By the grace of God
There was no other way
I picked myself back up
I knew I had to stay
I put one foot in front of the other
And I looked in the mirror
And decided to stay
Wasn’t gonna let love take me out that way
I thank my sister for keeping my head above the water
When the truth was like swallowing sand
Now every morning, there is no more mourning
Oh I can finally see myself again
I know I am enough
Possible to be loved
It was not about me
Now I have to rise above
Let the Universe call the bluff
Yeah, the truth will set you free
(Chorus)
That way, no
That way, no
Not in the name of love
That way, no
That way, no
I am not giving up
By the grace of God
I picked myself back up
I put one foot in front of the other
And I looked in the mirror
Alice de Sturler of Defrosting Cold Cases: Okay don’t you just love her name? I mean really? Her blog is perhaps the most unique I have come across. “DCC is a resource blog for those interested in old unsolved homicides and wrongful convictions. Many cases have no web presence or a very limited one.” I call her Haiku this week ‘Sprint’. I was so thrilled to see Alice throw her glasses in the ring I had to share here there and well that’s kind of it, you know. You know, she looks athletic from her photo. I think I might would become a cold case of fear if she got mad at me, thus the big write up here today. @Vidocq_CC
SW ysobel of Spunky Wayfarer. Isn’t that a great name for a blog?“Spunky Wayfarer is my nom de plume. Also known as SW_Ysobel. I love words and do not hesitate to use the Thesaurus to investigate its definition and synonyms. Or to see if I have written them correctly. Haiku, short novel, micro fiction, children’s rhymes or flash trilogies have been written, but not all of them became blog post. I love challenges and will use Prompts from many other blogs to get my creativity going.” So I know I named this in a Tweet, but you know me, I Tweet a lot. So here goes another try. ‘What the?’ Okay, you have to read it to get where I am coming from. I do hope we have regular to our family here because the mind that came up with this is just going to be entertaining beyond belief. @SpunkyWayfarer
Alka Girdhar of Magnanimous Word:Okay, first thing. I had to keep looking back to spell magammonimonsous. I so have to find out how she named her blog. I know what. I’ll read her About page and see if it says why.“The name of my blog ‘Magnanimous Word’ just came by, like some revelation. Probably because words fascinate me.”See, I knew it would be there. And there is a lot more there as well. You have to check it out. From her Gravatar page~“Have been called ‘closet party girl’ as well as a simple girl-woman at the same time. But hang on, that was years ago… Years down the track, I am still discovering myself though I too realise I am a mixed soul – refined and literate vagabond, tactlessly blunt yet guileless, extrovert yet never bored when alone. With an ultimate goal of renunciation, I often find myself preaching as I have so much spiritual to say. Well…see the real me in my writings…”She called her series of Haiku for usLOVE: Facts and Facets. Yeah, sometimes I am like, “These guys make me look sooo bad as a poet in my own challenge.”
First to Enter the Fray this Week:
Sue Vincent from Daily Echo:Dancers. Talk about reader reaction. Wow. Then she was also the second to enter withCaterpillar.I love this one! Sue is one of our authors with her works on Amazon here. I would mention all of her works but there are just so many of them. @SCVincent
Mira of They, You And Me: I call her Haiku Smoldering Passion. ooooooooooo. I think Hugh needs his bucket of ice water. So I make my way down the list and Mira says, “Hi Ron, this week, I’m back with a love haiku… 🙂” I do suppose that first one didn’t HAVE to involve love. o,O (That’s my um, wondering/confuzzled/I can’t believe you said that look.) But it’s called Love. @BediMona
T.A. Wyatt of Finale to an Entrance: Empathy Lost. I enjoyed this Haiku a great deal. I felt a bit of a challenge with the depth of reveal given by it and wrote one in response, although not quite dealing with the same feelings but it is what came to mind. I enjoy finding a Haiku that I can ‘fight’ back with, so to speak. Remember to go purchase a book on Amazon by clickinghere. Linger is only .99 and The Mill of Maisonneuve is 1.99.@FinaletoEntranc
Elizabeth of Tea & Paper: red dress. I think she put in an order. I hope the hubby was reading this.. @TeandPaper
Meredith and Martha of Meredith’s Musings came in early this week. Four this week as usual; Never-Magic-Spring-Love. Love was most definitely a cold shower moment!@Meredithlbl
Gidget of Battered Wife Seeking Better Life: Sitting Still. Hmm, I think of the opposite. The one never leaves but yes, there is that anticipation of the next to happen. @BWseekingBL
Nato of Chasing Life and Finding Dreams – Waiting For Your Move. Gotta love the title. Now let’s look at the Haiku. A great one about relationships. Actually all facets of a relationship depending on where you let your mind wander. @MichelleLunato
Geoff Le Pard of TanGental:two of them. Dilemma and Pieces. Um, er, a personal problem apparently being revealed in that first one and a more globally aware one with the second. I may never be able to think of Geoff again without thinking of the first one. Now THAT’S a dilemma.And we have another author to add to our family. Go to Amazon to get Dead Flies and Sherry Trifle. I don’t know who Sherry is but I mean what’s she doing with the dead flies? But yeah, click here for AmazonUKand here for theUS. @geofflepard
Grace of {bloom} Pictures+Words: Whispered Prayer.oooooo Pretty. The words and image. Awesome. Yeah, I know, expecting something a little more intelligent from me. I try, I fail. I try again, it hurts. I stop. You can also find this Haiku on the WordPress blog {bloom}. @grace_note58
Carolyn from Reviews & Recommendations: Wow! Four this week and all for me!!!!Move Over-Don’t think she’s talking about someone hogging the bed. Baby Steps-Been there done that one. Move again-I say stay. Shaken World-I thought this was as James Bond Haiku at first. Google+ Carolyn Injoy
Kate by Dazzling Whimsy: Two thoughts today for Ronovan’s Challenge. Hmm, romance in her mind? Maybe even more than that. Mhmm. Hugh, take a fire extinguisher. Ice water may not help. Actually Hugh already liked it and was struck speechless.@17katelee
Canaf of Faithful Devotionals – Move. Actually, I say good message on a lot of Haiku, but this one is really a good one. Some sit and wait. Some wait and pray. But really, you gots ta move.
Marigold of Versus Blurb – A Contented Hermit. I think this would describe me most days. Hermit? Yes. Contented? Well,ou know sometimes you need to be content or be driven insane. Those first three lines are excellent for the challenge. Honestly, I thought of a crab when I saw the name at first. Go and purchaseMarigold Deidre Dicer’sbookThe Black Swan Inheritancefrom Smashwords, Kobo, Barnes and Nobleor theiBooksstore or purchase it from Amazon on Kindleby clickinghere.@MarigoldDicer
Serins of Serins Sphere: 1000 Voices. So here it is. And I think it’s time for all of us to get involved. I am officially in it although I think I have sort of been in it from the very beginning, just never clicked anything. . @SerinsSphere
Steven Walsky of Simplicity Lane – Party trays await haiku. Um, seriously? Whoever thought party trays would show up in a poem? But then that’s Steven for you. One thing to expect from him is the unexpected. But then does that make it the expected? Whoa, way to deep here. HA! Okay, I just read it. My kind of message! Simplicity Lane is free, go here for where you can get it. Through a Stranger’s Eyeshere and Résumé for Love for free here.
Florence of Rambling On Blog: She blinded me!. Technically that’s what the image did to me. I think she’s saying don’t stand still. and with that in my eyes I wouldn’t. I would fall down. @FTThum
Colleen of Silver Threading –Heart Stone.A good introductory to something Colleen has been working on for quite some time. Go check it out. @ColleenChesebro
Vashti Quiroz-Vega:Longing. Um, whoa. I am like so not going to Vashti’s for a Valentine’s party. If this is remotely about life there is some seriously dumb person out there. You can purchase Vashti’s debut novelThe Basement on Amazon by clickinghere.@VashtiQV
Claudette of to search and to find happiness in every day: Complete is what I call this one. Okay, she got me. I read the comments and was so in the wrong direction on this one, but at least Hugh was as well.
Melissa of This, Right Now: Waiting.Two of them this week! One as I read I immediately thought not in the literal sense but in more of an emotional patriotic sense of the way things are today. The second, okay she got all lovey dovey mushy smushy. Yeah, she went for the awwww factor. NAILED IT!
Cindy of dreamsinalaska:Wistfully She Waits. Hmm. Like the Haiku. But there is an image within the image that is just freaking me out. Right below the heart I see an image and seriously, freakage is happening.@dreamsinalaska
Faith Unlocked:Pausing with Purpose. You know, just when you get a little frustrated in the world something comes along to remind you of something. This one reminds me of my favorite verse, Psalm 46:10. @FaithUnlocked
The Serious Haiku goes to Serins of Serins Sphere: 1000 Voices. The reason being the purpose of the message and it has been a burden on her for the past few weeks. @SerinsSphere
I had Three Haiku this week. I know, but it happens. Dweebzus, a poke at the self importance of a rap performer. 35 Do not wait, a Haiku related to the need of Kate of Dazzling Whimsy’s parents who lost their entire home and everything in a fire. Toward Heartbreak, a truer haiku about the inevitability of love. This coming week, although I do not know the words as of the writing of this, I plan to focus and bring to you ONE Haiku.
Being too sensitive? Have those words ever been thrown in your direction? I’m not even absolutely certain what that even means.
Too sensitive according to what definition?
Would people rather I be too insensitive?
What some call too sensitive is what I would call caring sincerely. I care about my friends. Let’s take having author friends as one example. I read for other authors at times, we call this Beta-Reading, test reading. If you see it spelled another way then it is wrong. B.E.T.A.-R.E.A.D.I.N.G.
For me that reading carries over to the published book. If I read a friends book that is already out there for the world to buy and I see typos, I make note and let the author know about it so they can correct them if they wish before a review comes out commenting on them. What if I sat down to write an honest review, which are the only ones I do?
Perhaps I am too sensitive when I am told I am wrong and basically that the information is unwanted.
Now let’s look at asking people to help with a cause. This past week I heavily publicized a need. The results have not been what they should be. Am I too sensitive when I look a the number of people out there who are aware of it then look at the number involved in it and wonder why there is even a need still there?
Why does this lack of cause participation cause me to be sensitive in any way at all? Well I care. I care about people. I care that my friends are people that care as well. And by that I mean care if only a little. I know not everyone can help but I was hoping for more.
There are plenty of other things I could say, but I don’t want this to be too long today.
Friends, be too sensitive. Those that tell you that you are usually are those that have very little heart to begin with. Some may think they do and are simply think they are helping by saying it but they don’t have the heart. If they did they would understand.
I never noticed before how exquisite it was, at least that is until I tried it with you. The way my tongue became more and more coated with every sliding over and around. Something so unique and one of a kind, truly like no other, so worth the waiting. Even as I closed my eyes the enjoyment spread through me. There was warmth only you could give me. I had little idea what had been in store for me as I stripped away your barriers. As I moved in, your scent brought those first reactions I could not control.
I thought my mouth would give out and lose strength but no, it would not betray me that way. With each moment the enjoyment built upon the last. Pleasure intensified. Again. Another. More. My lips covered, my tongue aching, but I cannot, do not want to stop. As long as you last, so will I.
I suppose you might want to know what a Mick Flick is. Well every man fears, actually dreads two words; Chick Flick. That’s right, we know what it means. Romance, tears and we are deemed as failures either because we are men or because we aren’t the men in that, dare I say it, RomCom.
Instead of Chick Flicks, men need an alternative. And this is something we men need to embrace and women, you should as well and you may find date nights become a whole new experience.
The alternative? Rooster Flicks? No. I don’t even like saying Chick Flicks so giving it some form of relevance by actually calling the alternative as Rooster doesn’t work for me. And with the various possible definitions one could give to Rooster based ones mindset and locale, I am just not going there. No, Male Chick Flick. That’s right, the Mick Flick.
What constitutes a Mick Flick?
It needs a touch of humor if it doesn’t have action.
It needs to tug the heartstrings in some way, with a message or something.
And yeah, an attractive female lead might work out, but it’s not completely necessary. Oh, you don’t believe me on this one? I shall prove you wrong, although attractiveness is in the eye of the beholder. For me it is the eye of the personality. Pretty lady, ugly personality equals scary run the other way. Yeah, NOT attractive.
Obi Wan isn’t feeling the Force in this movie. No, nor does Norma Jean got any Happy Feet. We gots us a shocker here folks. Who knew a Jedi could sing and a Top Gun Ex could either?
McGregor as Christian shows up in Paris around the year 1900. He’s a writer wanting to write and has come to the artsy place of the world to do it in. Being Paris it of course doesn’t take him long to find a woman to fall for.
Enter Kidman as Satine, cabaret star and all around gorgeous woman. A case of mistaken identity throws the two together and it’s love and fireworks. But problems arise with a rich nobleman wants Satine for himself or he wants fund a musical that could make Satine a star or worse yet he’ll have Christian killed.
Of course there is a final twist on the whole thing that I won’t mention.
What did it for me? Guys, these two can full on sing. There is some serious performances here that should have won Oscars. McGregor wasn’t even nominated for an Oscar, and Denzel Washington won it for Training Day while Kidman was nominated but lost to Halle Berry for Monster’s Ball.
The acting, the set designs, the atmosphere, everything was perfect with this film. How will it hold up to the Taco Rating? I’m not sure but it is one dang good movie, guys.
Now time for the BroJo to get going.
Men, why you need to watch this movie.
Nicole Kidman. Girls in cabaret costumes. Some seriously awesome looking sets make this whole film look cool. It’s almost like another world.
Now to the ranking of the movie:
Good acting – No doubt here guys. Seriously some of the best.Yes.
Attractive Female Lead – Nicole Kidman. Duh. Yes.
Insane Characters – Toulouse. Kinda weird. Just saying. Plus the Baron is a little nuts. Yes.
Humor – There is humor built in but I’m not really seeing it as much of a thing here. I’m going with a No.
Bodily Harm – There is some murder attempts. Threats. Yes.
Food Humor – Not that I remember. No.
Action – The whole attempted murder thing. Yes.
Good Message – Love is for real and it conquers all. You believe in it and put it before materialistic things and even your own life. Yes.
Tear Moment – A serious Yes.
Male Lead is Not Made Out to Be Stupid: – Correct. Christian is a smart guy. Yes.
So on the Taco Scale of 10 Tacos being awesome and 1 being like tacos without the meat, cheese or sauce,today’s Mick Flick receives:
9 out of 10 Tacos.
Feast is on. Eat up, Dudes. You gonna need your strength with that CTB this week.
9 out of 10? How did that happen? I seriously was not expecting that at all. You might would even take 1 Taco away for it being a Musical and it still would be an 8. Wow.
That’s my Dramancical Recommendation for this weekend. What movie can you think of that meets the Mick Flick requirements?
Much Respect and Much Cuddling for you This Weekend.
I write this in response to another Haiku this week as I said there was a challenge of sorts there. Even though that person displayed a desire to search for feelings to move a dark soul, I know of that feeling and even though it may lead to disaster at times, it is still worth the search and the destruction.
As a happy ONE YEAR ANNIVERSARY for Hugh’s Views & News, here is my interview with Hugh where Hugh and I began our friendship and partnership in writing and mayhem. ENJOY! Make sure to visit Hugh today and wish him Happy Anniversary. He has a post up about it. (There has been a small video addition at the end of his favorite word. I found a short like 30 second clip of it.)
I blog. Amazing discovering isn’t it? Being a blogger you also follow other bloggers. Sometimes you don’t know how you ended up making the acquaintance of someone, yes I can make that joke about myself but no one else can (amnesiac rights), but you are glad you did stumble upon someone. One such person grabbed my attention not only because he liked my attempts at writing, but one day a photograph he posted jumped out at me. No it did not literally leap from the page, at least I don’t think it did. Perhaps he has sort of 3D Mac power. Yes, I am afraid to say that he is one of . . . those people.
Thinking now perhaps it was 3D and knocked the memory out of me. I do have a habit of following it hitting my head. But I do have the memory that this man took a photograph that I loved enough to remember that of him and that means the world to me. Memories to me now are made more of impressions than of actual images.
So let me introduce to you, The one and only. . . wait wrong song now . . . on a mountain top, burning like a silver flame . . .
RW: Hugh, I googled your name in fun because I love your name and it has such a strength of character about it that I just knew it had to be famous. Are you the same Hugh Roberts who was in charge of Windsor Castle after the fire in 1992 and was also director of Christie’s, the auction house?
HUGH: Gee, that’s really kind of you, but no, I am not him. I have many times though, been introduced as Hugh Grant or Huw Edwards (for those of your followers outside of the UK, the latter is a famous BBC news reader over here). I suppose the mix up occurs because there aren’t many of us ‘Hughs’ around. I’ve never been asked for an autograph after being introduced as Hugh Grant, but I have on the odd occasional been stared at for a long period of time and imagined the word ‘really?’ going through that person’s mind as they stand there open mouthed and gobsmacked at Hugh Grant standing in front of them.
RW: There go all of those artsy questions. Hmm . . . So you’re English . . . I don’t know why it is the English Bloggers seem to fascinate me. Beatles or the Stones?
HUGH: There’s your first ‘strike’, Ronovan. I like to refer to myself as Welsh or better still, British. I’m very proud to be British. I have nothing against being called English, after all I currently live in England and speak English, but calling a Welsh or Scottish person English, is like being at one of those self check-out machines at the supermarket and the machine says to you “there is an unexpected item in the baggage area, please remove the item” and you’ve not put anything there! You get just a little irate. Only a little, so no need to get out those boxing gloves yet . I guess you thought I was English because of the way my name is spelt, yeah? Well, OK, I’ll take that strike away then, after all it is the English spelling of Hugh I use and not the Welsh spelling as Huw Edwards uses. My parents have a lot to answer for on that one.
As for Beatles or the Stones, neither for me. I’d have to go for Bananarma,
the British all girl group with the Guinness world record for the all female group with the most chart entries in the world. Their songs bring back so many happy memories for me.
RW: Sigh . . .’your my Venus your my’ . . . oh, yes, interview. Okay now onto more serious things, well that was serious but anyway, I am a big fan of your photography which is odd because you write a lot and I enjoy that as well, but tell me about your flowers and your gardening. You don’t even have to leave your home for great photos.
HUGH: We have a beautiful garden, but to be perfectly honest with you, I absolutely hate gardening. I have no interest in it at all. Don’t get me wrong, I love to sit and relax in the garden, but when it comes to gardening, I’m about as interested as a mannequin would be viewing my holiday pictures.
RW: Then where does the garden come from, Bananarama and their Venus power? (Mind drifting to the one with the short blonde hair ‘yeah baby she’s got it’. . . sigh.) Hugh, you carry on with the interview without me.
HUGH: All the credit for the beautiful plants in our garden, has to go to my partner, John. He’s the one that grew the plants which I took the photographs of. I’ve only just started to show an interest in photography, so it’s very early days for me, but a few I have posted on my blog seem to have attracted a little bit of attention. That in turn has spurred me on to taking more and I’m beginning now to really enjoy the challenges of taking photos as much as I do with the WordPress writing challenges I sometimes take part in.
RW: Tell my Friends about where you live that produces those great flowers in your photos.
HUGH: We currently live in Hove, known by some as “Hove Actually” because of the Alfred Hitchcock 1938 movie ‘The Lady Vanishes’ when Miss Froy, one of the characters, refers to herself as coming from Brighton and then goes on to say “well, Hove actually, just down the coast”. It’s situated in the county of East Sussex and is on the south coast of the UK, just over fifty miles south of London. Many people know our bigger neighbour, Brighton, far better, but the two now form a conurbation along with some other smaller towns and villages along the coast. Hove was first established right back in the 12th century, so has been around for a very long time. We have a wonderful climate, plenty of sunshine and rain, which helps the garden blossom.
RW: And I’ll go ahead and ask for my Photo Geek Friends, what type of camera do you use? Go ahead and be all techno numbers and all of that for those that speak Cameranese.
HUGH: Would you believe it if I said I take all my photos on an iPhone 4? Well, that’s where they have all come from. I love all things ‘Apple’ and am probably a marketing dream for them. iMac, iPad, iPhone, iCloud, Apple TV, I have it all, thanks to all the Apple Vouchers I get for Christmas and Birthdays (I’m so easy to buy for, so please take note). Between us, we once had five, I kid you not, five iPads! OK, some were from the very early days and I’ve sold a few since then, but I can not walk past the Apple store without having to go inside. That’s why I had to write my latest short story, ‘The Truth App’, in honour of the staff at our local Apple store.
RW: (I told you he was one of . . . those people.) And tell us about your love of the Cardigan Welsh Corgi.
HUGH: Well, it’s over to my partner, John, here, because he was the one that wanted to get a dog and it had to be a Cardigan Welsh Corgi. I suppose with us both being Welsh, we had to have a Welsh dog, but it was when John first saw one at Crufts, that he had to get one. What we did not know is that these dogs are on the vulnerable breeds lists here in the UK, with less than 100 being born every year. Originally they were bred for herding cattle and I understand they are still used for that purpose over in the States. Ours is called Toby and he’s become a bit of a star over on my blog recently, having now posted two posts about some of the walks he goes on. When I wrote those posts, I wrote them as if I were him, so from his perspective, and I’ve had some really positive comments left on those posts. When my sister was over on a visit from Australia recently, she referred to him as a “little human”. I guess that’s because we do spoil him a lot, but many people have also told us what a wonderful character he has. He knows the words, walk, chicken, cheese, custard, sausage, rice pudding, and mince pies (at Christmas time) and seems to even know what day of the week it is. He’s one clever chap.
RW: Once everyone stops looking at Toby tell us where you get your inspiration from for your stories?
HUGH: Lots of places really, some strange, some not so strange. Take for example my short story, Last Train to Aldwych. Grace Simmons, the main character in that story, introduced herself and told me her story while I was doing a pile of ironing. As soon as I had finished ironing that last sock (no, I don’t really iron socks, honestly!), I sat down and wrote the story. Other stories have come from prompts and WordPress writing challenges, while the inspiration for others have come from other bloggers. I’m currently working on a two-part short story which came as an inspiration from a photo I saw on one of the blogs I follow. The author doesn’t know it yet, but I’ll be asking if I can use their photo so I can include it in the post. My passion is for writing short stories and although they do not get as many views as my photo posts do, I’m very proud of myself for not letting the fact that I have dyslexia get in my way anymore. I used to see dyslexia as a monster, but happy to say that I managed to tame it, with the help of a few fellow bloggers who really encouraged me to continue with my blog. I am so thankful to those bloggers, who I now class as friends, for all the support and encouragement they gave me. And, yes, I’ve even written a post about defeating the monster I called dyslexia.
A few other bloggers have since also confided in me they have dyslexia, and I’m now giving them the support and encouragement I received, to carry on doing what we all love to do, write.
I also get a lot of inspiration from listening to music while I write, especially when writing short stories. ‘Dreamland” by Robert Miles is currently my favourite album to write to. If I ever bumped into Mr Miles, I would certainly have to buy him dinner and a few drinks, as a thank you.
RW: Do you have a writing spot in your home? That place that you go to where nothing distracts you from the flow of creation?
HUGH: I used to have two spots, one being the kitchen, but I don’t tend to write in there much anymore now. The main spot for me is in our study. The desk looks out over towards Hove Recreation Ground, which maybe does not sound so nice, but believe me, whilst it’s not as pretty as some of the other parks we have in Brighton & Hove, it’s lovely to look out at while I am writing. It’s used by lots of people and also used a lot for sports like rugby and cricket and I have often included bits of conversations in my posts which I have overheard whilst walking Toby in there. Of course I change what I have heard, so that it more reflects how I would have said it, but it’s a source of some great conversations. If I also see an interesting person walking in the grounds while writing, I’ll give them a name and use them in one of my stories. That might put people who live in the area and reading this, off from going in there now, but just think of it this way. One day, the inspiration you gave me, may become a Hollywood blockbuster movie or best selling novel. Who am I kidding!!?
RW: That is a great view from the window, I was thinking it would be more distracting than that. You mention a book you are working on in your bio, how is that coming along and do I get a free copy?
HUGH: Of course you can have a free copy. I’d even sign it ‘Hugh Grant” if you wanted?
I started writing the book in late 2012. As a child, I had two main ambitions. I wanted to write a book and have it published, and I also wanted to have a number one hit single! The trouble with the last one, is that although I am Welsh (Welsh men can really sing you know, just look at all the Welsh Male Voice Choirs there are) I can’t sing. I’m absolutely tone deaf and, unlike dyslexia, I’ve not been able to tame it. I was thrown out of many a school choir for not being able to sing and if my parents protested with the school headmaster, then I’d get back in, but only to be given the part of playing the xylophone or, even worse, the tambourine!
I’m afraid the book has had to take a bit of a back seat since I started my blog, because that is where most of my free time now goes. I’d like to think of it as my first book, but because I’ve really enjoyed writing short stories since starting my blog, I am thinking of perhaps putting all of them into a book and self publishing them first. I will certainly go back to the book and don’t think I’ve done any harm in leaving it alone for a while. I read somewhere recently that some authors can leave finishing writing books for years, then go back to them to finishing them off and the book then becomes an international best seller.
The book I am writing is about life in London in the 1980’s and 90’s. I lived in London for 27 years before coming to Hove and the book is based on my life in the city during those times. Some of it is based on fact, a lot is fiction, but I had such an interesting and wonderful time whilst living in London, that I wanted it to be recorded somewhere, so the ambition I had as a child, may just come true, one day.
RW: Does Blogging ever interfere with your social responsibilities?
HUGH: Oh, John is going to like you for asking me this question, I can guarantee it. Did he ask you to ask this question? I bet he did didn’t he? I have to be very honest here, because after all, I’m a very honest person, so my answer is yes. Both John and myself are tidy people. We hate clutter and like everything to be in place, that’s why we get on so well and have been together for nearly 21 years, but, blogging has taken over my life. Sure, I’ll do the chores, walk Toby, empty the bin, make the beds, and all that, but I’m probably not as thorough as I was before I started my blog. I’m not saying that the house is now looking like a store does at the end of the first day of the sale, but I do rather tend to rush the social responsibilities these days, so that I can log on to the blog and start reading and writing. That reminds me, I need to descale the coffee machine before it seizes up for good. Thanks for the prompt!
RW: When did you start your blog?
HUGH: 12th February 2014, so it has a birthday which we will be celebrating next year, much to John’s amusement I might add. February is a big month for us, because not only is it the birthday month of my blog, but John also has a birthday that month, our civil partnership anniversary is the same month and, of course, who could forget valentine’s day as well?
A family member introduced me to WordPress in early February after I inquired with the family if they knew anybody who blogged? I don’t think most of them thought I was being serious when I told them I was thinking of starting my own blog and one friend even told me to be careful because of internet trolls and all that, but I saw it as a way to tell my story and write about all the various elements of everyday life I love so much. Although I have dyslexia, I seem to be able to explain things by writing them down far better than by talking about them. Starting a blog has given me so much confidence and its the perfect way to get over my views and news. Hence the blog name, Hugh’s Views and News.
RW: I notice you around the Blog Block so to speak in my reading of other bloggers and your likes and comments; do you notice a difference in style between bloggers from different parts of the world?
HUGH: Yes, hugely. Not only in the way the author writes, but also in that of the comments that are left. Reading blogs is such a great way of finding out about different cultures and how people live their lives on a daily basis. You can really get to know somebody so well just from engaging with them by asking questions and leaving comments on posts.
Perhaps the saddest thing about it though is that you can read some comments, which can be read as being offensive to some, but to others may be perfectly normal. I’ve come across that quite recently and was going to react as I thought a particular comment somebody had left on a blog I follow was rather offensive. But then I thought ‘its not my blog’ and I looked at it from the ‘other side of the coin’ and thought about the position the person who had left the comment was in. The person who owned the blog obviously hadn’t seen it as an offensive comment as otherwise they would have removed it, so I moved on, without saying anything.
RW: What type of Blogs do you tend to gravitate toward?
HUGH: I follow a lot of blogs which concentrate on one subject but I tend to gravitate more to those which contain lots of variety. My own blog contains short stories, photos, reviews, my views on life, television and commercials, as well as a few other categories. I have seen some bloggers create brand new blogs because they think having too much variety on their blog looks messy. I’m not so sure about that. Yes, if I am looking for a blog that only contains recipes, then it’s great to find a blog that contains only recipes, but I like a good mixture in a blog (no pun intended there)! I like to get to know the blogger, and by having lots of variety on their blog, I know I can achieve that because it will tell me more about them other than that they may be a great cook. So I tend to graduate towards blogs that have lots of variety. After all, they do say that variety is the spice of life, don’t they?
RW: You seem to really enjoy what you do, what advice can you give others to help keep them motivated to blog and enjoy? Do you have something like a limit of time, a number of posts per week, anything like that?
HUGH: My first piece of advise would to be to treat your blog as if it were alive. I’d better explain that a little more, hadn’t I? To me, I see my blog as being alive. To stay alive, it needs plenty of nourishment. I look at a post I have written myself, as a meal for my blog.
Because I have written the post, I look at it as if it were a meal I had prepared myself from fresh wholesome ingredients. When I press that publish button, I’m feeding my blog a good meal to keep it nourished. I look at re-blogs as ready made meals because I am not the original author.
None the less, when I re-blog something, then I am still feeding my blog and giving it nourishment, thus keeping it alive. There’s absolutely no problem in taking a break from your blog to try and get the creative juices flowing, but try not to leave it too long, otherwise it may pass away. Always consider re-blogging something you have found interesting from another blog if you have nothing to publish yourself. After all we are all told to visit, read and comment on other blogs so as to connect with other bloggers and create new openings and attract new followers.
So my first piece of advise is to feed your blog, even if it means just re-blogging something occasionally.
My second piece of advise is to connect and engage with your followers and anyone, other than trolls, who leave a comment on your posts. I always thank anyone for taking the time to read and comment on a post I have published because, by doing so, I am then engaging with them. I always answer any questions they ask me and in turn I may go back and ask them questions or for further comments on the answers I have given. I know some bloggers are going to get huge amounts of comments and won’t be able to respond to them all. but I think it sad when I come across a blog and see absolutely no response to comments from the author.
When I first started blogging, I thought I’d stick to one post a month, but that soon became two posts a month, to three and so on, because I was really enjoying what I was doing. I try and post something on my own blog at least twice a week. Of course if you are not enjoying what you doing then stop and move on to something else. That’s exactly what I did after my two year relationship with the gym fell apart.
RW: Finally for my Big Three Questions. What is your favorite scent/aroma/fragrance and why?
HUGH: Mint. I love the stuff, not only on my roast lamb, but also as an aroma around the house. It makes the whole place smell fresh and clean, which of course my house is, after you asking me that earlier question about social responsibilities.
RW: What is your favorite beverage?
HUGH: Tea. I suppose that is the Britishness in me. I love the stuff especially when I have a pack of Oreos or chocolate digestives to dunk into the tea. Pure bliss!
RW: And finally, what is your favorite word and why?
HUGH: Llanfairpwllgwyngyllgogerychwyrndrobwyll-llantysiliogogogoch – go on, I dare you to check it out. It’s a real Welsh word. If I can’t chose that word because it’s not an English word, then I’d say “Twist” Not in the dance or pain sense, but in the story sense. I love a story or movie with a great twist or two in it.
I want to thank Hugh for the interview and what I have to say was an enjoyable time. Make sure to visit and follow him at Hugh’s Views & News and also on Twitter at @RobertHughes05. Also click Hugh’s favorite Bananarama song below and watch him dance along. I like to have a little fun with those guests that have that touch of humor about them. All that’s missing are the long socks and sandals he loves to wear.
A timely one this week going along not only with my Haiku Challenge prompt words but also the focus of my blog this week, a need that cannot be kept waiting.
There is something amazing about having a blog, you can reach more people than you ever could in person. Some of you are thinking, “No way, Dude, I ain’t got that many followers.” You have more reading you than you have followers. Some just don’t follow or can’t follow.
But what do you do with that reach?
Some people spread their ideas of how things should be.
Some use it for business purposes.
Some use it for diatribes and hate.
Some use it for helping and loving.
I generally use my blog to share what I think or my tips or perhaps someone I stumble across that seems cool to me. But then something happens and I want to help. The thought that does not run through my mind is, “Should I do this, should I risk alienating my followers and watch my number plummet?”
The answer lies within you what to do and the purpose of your blog. If you are a business venture of some sort you might not go for the risk. I get that.
For me? I’m still surprised I have followers at all. I never even thought I would have any let alone the number I have, which is nowhere near what some of the older and bigger blogs have. But I feel that when a need arises I have to step up.
Using me as an example.
So I am the example I will use here. People see your first attempt at helping in something and things go okay, but then they quickly tire of it. It happens. Numbers begin to drop. Do I worry?
I only worry because I want my new updates on the situation to reach people. But I keep moving along. When do you stop discussing the need for help? When the need for help is no longer there. If you are a numbers freak, don’t look at the numbers. Write with your heart.
Do not wait to help,
As the winds of fate spread word,
Move to those in need.
There are several ways you can get a message across. That Haiku is one way. It actually uses the prompt words from my Haiku Challenge this week. Write a post and include the need for help at the end. Or you can write straight forward the need for help. It’s up to you.
How do you get the need across?
Write different types of posts with different headings.
Write a normal post and mention the need at the end.
Mention the need within a post if it is natural and not forced.
Ask people to share your post of need with others.
Will this help your blog or hurt it? In the long run it helps. People know who and what you are. They know you have heart. They know you are real. They know you aren’t here for the purpose of trying to write for number of views or likes (read traffic to your blog). New people find you because of it.
Do NOT do help posts to get new readers. Do it because you NEED to and you CARE. Fake help posts are quickly spotted and it backfires on you.
How do you use these same ideas if you are an Author?
Now although this has been a post about using your blog for helping you can take these same tips for boosting say a book promotion if you are an author.
Write a post and at the end mention the book you want to get noticed.
Use yourself as an example in the post you are writing if it is makes sense and mention the book if it makes sense.
Use the tips mentioned above as well.
Blogging to help others or to sell your book that you desperately need to in order to pay bills, just remember that title is important. Mix it up because you want people to come inside and read and SEE the need. A heading can turn people off.
This has been a Blog Tip of an unusual nature but one that is timely for me. It’s good to use your blog for a BETTER GOOD sometimes. When the Numbers Game becomes more important that the Caring Game then you might as well stop blogging because something has messed you up inside.
Here he is. Pap Pap. The man that needs everyone’s help. I know I keep posting about him and his need and Kate’s need for help. You may be tiring of it, but the goal hasn’t been met and I just can’t stop trying to get the word out. You know when you get one of those inside of you that you just know you MUST do? Well this is mine right now. I just have to. Kate gives you a story through pictures and why he is Pap Pap and so loved by his granddaughters.
So Ronovan,from Ronovanwrites while I was at work made a great badge and posted it to help spread the word. How special that was to see it go through! But as I sat and ate lunch I thought, he is right -shhh don’t tell him I like to think I am always right 🙂 But here I am asking for you to help a complete stranger who means a lot to me but nothing to you and these two thoughts come to mind.
1. I am suddenly overwhelmed with the thought of all of you caring so much to help someone you do not know.
How amazing and kind!
2. Shame on me for not letting you see who he is and what he means to the girls and I – after-all aren’t I a blogger???
So here are a few of my favorite shots from over the years of…
You know, sometimes you begin writing and things happen. I opened up the post this morning to write an article, ended up beginning a poem, a lyric poem, then as I went to the Chorus it occurred to me, what else is there to say? I think my message is clear. I think it is received. And love can be love as in friendship as well.
Sometimes we write and write because we lock ourselves into the constraints we see in place in a type of writing. Truly what you write is what you write and how you feel. What you end up with is the type of writing you end up with. Criteria? Never do that to yourself. Write. Write from the heart and people will know. Write from a form or checklist and people will know.
Kate finally had a moment to breathe and share a post and update. One thing she failed to mention is how her daughters are handling this. One is so traumatized that she is sleeping with her mother now. A house fire of a loved one sends panic through the young members of a family. And believe me when she says she is overwhelmed by how helpful people are being she is being honest. They have a ways to go to get to their goal, and even that isn’t going to be enough really to replace a lifetime. I suggested he talk them into a little RV to live in and then they could go where they wanted to, including her driveway. Um, she was like, she wants them in something without wheels. I’;; put that down to the whole age thing. 😉
Keep spreading the word. Remember anonymous and even $5 will work.
For those of you who may not know, My parents lost everything in a house fire on 2/7/15. They are from Ocala, Florida and on Saturday evening I received a call from a man who asked me my name and if I was related to Ed Jenkins. That is very scary let me tell you. He said your Dad is ok, here he is and handed him the phone. Then all I heard was sobbing. I honestly thought my Mom had died. The other man took the phone back and said their house had burned down and they were ok but emotional. The last 48 hours have been a whirlwind of love and support from friends, family, WC Family , my work, and my blogging community.
I cannot begin to even express the thankfulness I feel for each and every one of you. Ronovan, from https://ronovanwrites.wordpress.com/ has been incredible…
I like to wait before I move to make a rather in depth statement about an issue. My mind needs time to process AND to calm a bit. I like to find peace before I write. That way when I do write I can stand by what I write and not need to defend a rash tantrum.
The Grammy Awards show.
I am certain there has been quite a bit of griping around Blog Life regarding the behavior of one Kanye West who will be referred to as KW moving forward. No, that is not short for Kid Wino, or Kook Whiner, or Kid Weenie.
I did write a Haiku yesterday about his behavior, Dweebzus. Some of you may recall KW had an album called Yeezus. “Nuff said ’bout dat.
I will just say it plain. I have no respect for KW in any aspect whatsoever. KW decided he would take the stage when Beck won album of the year instead of Beyonce. Well he didn’t take the mic and complain this time. He did complain later to E! and even complained about E! having E! on their mics during the interview.
KW seems to think there is only one type of music that is worthy. Whoever he is friends with. No other artist is good. He looks at sales to determine if one album is better than another. I suppose if One Direction beats KW on the charts that means they are better than he is? What if Prince had won the award or Pharrell? Would he have reacted the same?
He complained about he’s never beat a white artist in all the Grammy awards he has won. So does that mean in the categories he won in there were no white people nominated? Perhaps there is something that should be said about that? Do I dare say that? Would I be deemed something I am not by even thinking that?
Just so you know, I’m good with myself. I know I’m not racist or a bigot or anything else negative like that. Just ask around. I may even think you’re an idiot but I am not going to hold that against you as far as if I like you or not. Although I do have a problem with stupidity. I really do. People that are just plain stupid get on my nerves.
You know, I don’t care what your skin tone is. If you are good you are good. And there is a difference between an album that is something that brings something to the table and something that simply hits the charts.
KW is a self important tick on the music world and gives those around him a bad name. Jay-Z actually was shaking his head no at KW as he went to the stage. Maybe that’s what stopped the guy. You may be Yeezus in your mind but Jay-Z is the head of the Hip Hop Illuminati, or so the honesty world of the internet would have you believe. Oh, I forgot, that’s the same internet that shows numbers of sales that said Beyonce should have beat Beck.
You ever notice how Jay-Z doesn’t seem to care about awards? His bank account rocks. He knows what really matters. By even reacting to the award outcomes you give them validation.
Sam Smith won because he ripped off Tom Petty. Ed Sheeran should have one. He has more talent than Smith ever will. No joke with this next part either, but does Sam Smith look like he could be Boy George’s son?
Sometimes you get inspiration from the strangest places. This one is the strangest of all. I didn’t even have to watch the Grammy Awards and heard about this one.
Sunday inspired the words this week, again. I was attempting to write my Sunday Thought late Saturday evening into early Sunday morning and nothing was coming. Rather than force it, I shut everything down and waited. When I woke up the next morning, well actually the same morning, the thought was there. Patience. I had waited rather than force it.
One quick thing. I have noticed in my social network travels that we aren’t following each other on Twitter. I follow everyone I have a Twitter Handle for. Every one, follow our Haiku friends. You have a Twitter but I don’t have it? Just type it in the comments when you paste your link. One way I find Twitter Handles is when I click on your Haiku, I click the Twitter share button and get the handle from there. Your handle doesn’t show there? Click here to find out how to have it show up there. You know. I have a how-to article for just about everything. If not? Ask and I’ll write one.
Wait & Move
My Example
I wait for that time,
As the moment comes closer,
Move with me faster.
Have you never ventured into our haiventure? “Hiaku, adventure? Haiventure? Yeah, I make up words. Just not for the purpose of the Haiku. Hmm, although that gives me an idea for next weeks Haiku Challenge. One thing I want to explain is about pingbacks.
A ping back is when you place the URL from the address bar of this page into the post you write your Haiku on. You also have to make certain the link is actually in there by clicking on the add link button which is next to the right alignment button. To me the add link button kind of looks like a paper clip. It’s the fifth from the right in the WordPress post editor. Read below for a couple or few more things that will help.
Then simply put a link to your Haiku in the comments of this Post and I’ll go look, as will others. The link is the URL. You can also do a PingBack. That’s when you put the URL of this post in your post. Don’t know how to do a Pingback. Clickhereto find out how.
The Deadline is Sunday by Noon, EST, or New York Time to people like me that just have no clue about time zones.
Haiku is simple and simply addictive. So be warned now. Once you start it’s difficult to stop. Here are two things to know:
Haiku can be broken into two sentences with the middle line of the three lines being the commonly used part, meaning 1&2 and 2&3 making sentences. That’s Haiku.
Opposite meanings in the first and last sentences. That’s Haiku.
For a full refresher or Howto write Haiku in English clickhere. But you can use whatever Haiku style you want to. As long as you, do a Haiku.
If you have a Twitter and your handle has not appeared in a ReCap of a previous challenge, please let me know what it is so when I Tweet the ReCap on Sundays I may include it.
DEADLINE: Noon on Sunday New York Time.
(I hate doing deadlines, but it takes quite a while to complete the ReCap.)
There are TWO“A RONOVAN’S CHOICE!”recipients each week. One for Humor and one for something more Serious. The Haiku are quite good each week and I am having to turn to the structure guidelines of a Haiku at times to help determine my selection.
Really each Haiku is a choice of mine, and I’m not just saying that, so I feel a bit odd even having something called A RONOVAN’S CHOICE, but hey, it’s a thing, right? And it does make it kind of fun.
Geoff Le Pard of TanGental: From the About page.I live in SouthLondon, in leafy Dulwich surrounded by all the varieties of life that London can throw at you. I will nail my colours to the mast here: I LOVE LONDON. There, said it. So part of this will be to proselytise about my city, and especially the bits where taxi drivers are fabled to hate to go after 10 pm (‘Sarf of the river, mate? Yer kidding me? I’d need inoculations and all sorts’).
The Haiku this week is, well there are two of them actually. Bordeamos Por la Paz and Jam with Everything. That last one is a funny. I can see it.
And we have another author to add to our family. Go to Amazon to getDead Flies and Sherry Trifle. I don’t know who Sherry is but I mean what’s she doing with the dead flies? But yeah, click here for the UK and here for the US. @geofflepard
First to Enter the Fray this Week:
Miraof They, You And Me: I call her HaikuFeeling. It didn’t take her long to put this one together. I hope she was simply channeling my own thoughts and not her own. @BediMona
T.A. Wyatt of Finale to an Entrance: Corset: The Beauty Bound Haiku. You know, being an amnesiac will send you off on searches across the internet. Wyatt sends me there often. Okay, so I didn’t go there with the clown last week. Sorry to all of you clownophobes for reminding you it. His subject matter this week sent me researching and what an interesting person. One more disturbing piece of the mind that is T.A. Wyatt. Okay maybe this has nothing to do with the mind. I’ll leave it at that. Remember to go purchase a book on Amazon by clicking here. Linger is only .99 and The Mill of Maisonneuve is 1.99. @FinaletoEntranc
Serins of Serins Sphere: Three Haiku for You this week. a lot of comments this week over there. @SerinsSphere
Sue Vincent from Daily Echo:Freedom. Bubble burster!!!! I refuse to admit to any of what you wrote. I remain forever in that which I am. And yes, as I said Sue is one of our authors with her works on Amazonhere. I would mention all of her works but there are just so many of them.@SCVincent
Carolyn from Reviews & Recommendations: Goodbye My Friend. You always hate to say it but I know about this one. The third of her Haiku dedications is for our challenge. I too had the same situation with an American Bulldog/Boxer mix. Google+ Carolyn Injoy
Elizabeth of Tea & Paper: Shovelling. Her poor husband. Slave driver you. @TeandPaper
Faith Unlocked: Free to be is on the actual Faith Unlocked this week. No changing things up on us. Good idea in the Haiku for us all. And now the real Faith Unlocked shines through with, yes, another Haiku. Free to Choose. @FaithUnlocked
Cyril of Cyril Bussiere comes in with Voices Bound. An interesting one. I see a message delivered. Interesting. Remember to get Cyril’s books from Amazon by clicking here. @CyrilBussiere
Meredith and Martha of Meredith’s Musings came in early this week. Four this week as usual; Dance,Chaos, Parenting and Faith. Um, Dance. Urr, Umm, I think Meredith’s site got hacked. Whoa!@Meredithlbl
Gertrude of Battered Wife Seeking Better Life: Winning Hand. OOoOooOOOoo a dedicated page for the Haiku. She named the poem otherwise I was gonna call it Trump This you Piece of… Okay I’m better now. Gertrude is not her real name but I thought I would come up with cool names each week. She’s tired of being simple letters and a blog site name. So this week, call her Gertrude. Next week I am thinking maybe Oprah. @BWseekingBL
Steven Walsky of Simplicity Lane – The f’orce be with you’ Lil-Doggies. First of all, I didn’t name this one. Had to get that out there. Just did. Umm, I would say epic, but I am still recovering. Just when you think the mind is sound, Steve shows up with his geek on and I have to stake a step back. I am forced to step back as I attempt to free my mind of this one. Simplicity Lane is free, go here for where you can get it. Through a Stranger’s Eyeshere and Résumé for Love for free here.
Step back everyone. It has happened. The Return of, dare I say it? I dare it, I dare it.
HUGH of Hugh’s Views & News: The crowd goes wild. Meredith and Martha have the mosh pit going folks. And Colleen has the mechanical bull set up for later. New Day is the Haiku to bring Hugh back. Big reaction he has had with this. @RobertHughes05
Marigold of Versus Blurb – Cheap Love. Kinky sex? No. A book? No. A movie? No. Do you think I have lost my mind? Probably. Go read the Haiku and you’ll get it. Go and purchaseMarigold Deidre Dicer’s book The Black Swan Inheritance from Smashwords, Kobo, Barnes and Noble or the iBooks store or purchase it from Amazon on Kindleby clicking here.@MarigoldDicer
Vashti Quiroz-Vega:Life Finds A Way. Very good in structure and keeping with the Haiku idea. You can purchase Vashti’s debut novel The Basement on Amazon by clickinghere.@VashtiQV
Elke of writingindevizes: Peace. Very cool images. And that last line goes so well with them. Very cool. Or should I say cold? @Wetterwachslady And look! She has a Twitter now!!!!
Canaf of Faithful Devotionals – Free to be. There you go. A message I think goes in so many directions but seems to only be vocalized in one direction. No not the boy band thing from the UK. OOOO did I call them a thing?
Melissa of This, Right Now: Forced Spring.Okay, this is so funny. Not the Haiku, but the subject. I heard these mentioned in the house yesterday.
CLB of dreamsinalaska:The Force To Be Reckoned With. Hmm, do I want to go read? Is she sending me a message? Should I be frightened? Why am I typing all these questions? Notice she said THE and not A. Yeah. Okay, manning up. Gonna go look. Awww, I like it. She likes me, she really likes me. I accept this Oscar because—oops, channeling someone there. Yeah I went all weird stream of thought here for a moment. Scary, huh?@dreamsinalaska
Florence of Rambling On Blog: Free to Dis. You’ll need to go to Twitter to find this one from our resident therapist and attorney who was speaking at a convention this week. Excuses, excuses. But click the title of the Haiku, which I named, and it will take you directly to the TweetKu. @FTThum
Vashti Quiroz-Vega:Life Finds A Way.Great structure of the Haiku along with the contrast of the first and last messages. For urban dwellers think of the flower in the sidewalk. @VashtiQV
The Humor Haiku goes to Meredith’s Musings with Dance. Just the surprise of it and picturing the ladies doing this still has me chuckling. Yes, I chuckle. @Meredithlbl
My Haiku offering this week was Free Me To Death. Not a well received one this week, but I’m okay with that. The great thing about Haiku is meanings are sometimes hidden in so few words that the obvious is often times mistaken for the true.
There are a lot of things you cannot be taught in life. Okay, so that is an opinion of mine. I don’t think you can be taught talent. The talent that you have can be brought out of you, but if you don’t have that ability in you to begin with then you cannot eventually do it simply by someone showing you how.
You may be taught Algebra, but when you leave the classroom it is gone. You must constantly study it in order to pass the test.
There is one thing you can be taught.
Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near.Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.~Philippians4:4-7
Patience can be taught. I recently had a conversation with a lady about how when writing a book you needed to be patient. You want to rush that book to an agent, a publisher or self-publish, but the truth is you need to be patient. You need to allow for that work to grow and mature. take your time to find everything that needs your attention. I compared it to raising a child.
You would not want your child to be set before the world weak because you did not have the patience to feed it properly because it didn’t want to eat what it needed. You would not put your child out there without the best you could give it. Even if that best is not as good as what someone else has it still is as good as they have. Keep that in mind. Your best is all you can do, therefore it is just as good as what anyone else does as their best.
We need patience in all parts of our lives. Especially with children. Our children are like little adults to us at times. We know how smart they are. We know what they know and are capable of. Then they do something that is, well frankly is very much a 6 year old thing to do.
One thing to remember, above all else about your child, is they are the age they are for a reason. They are growing and maturing and no matter what WE think they can do, they are still children.
Friendships are the same way, relationships as well. Both are children that we know what they are capable of but with our being slowly developing them, we need to remember that in a relationship or friendship that is only two weeks old, there are going to be things that are going to be trying to us.
You know what your moods are. Your relationship person does not. You have to learn and you need to be patient.
Books, children, relationships, even your own new found hobbies all require patience. Maturity may never happen in some situations, but sometimes they won’t and weren’t meant to. Be patient and accept that relationship for what it is. And if your book doesn’t mature, be mature enough to recognize it and move on to another one until YOU are mature enough to come back to it and nurture it along to becoming that mature published novel.
. I guess you thought I was English because of the way my name is spelt, yeah? Well, OK, I’ll take that strike away 
then, after all it is the English spelling of Hugh I use and not the Welsh spelling as Huw Edwards uses. My parents have a lot to answer for on that one.
d to be a Cardigan Welsh Corgi. I suppose with us both being Welsh, we had to have a Welsh dog, but it was when John first saw one at Crufts, that he had to get one. What we did not know is that these dogs are on the vulnerable breeds lists here in the UK, with less than 100 being born every year. Originally they were bred for herding cattle and I 
ronovanwrites 