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The Interview

I decided to interview Chachi, the cat. He’s quite a character and probably has LOTS to say about his life as an indoor cat and mommy’s sweetheart and buddy.

ME: “Are you ready for the interview?”

HIM: “I sure am. Shoot!”

ME: “Tell me about your life. What could be better?”

HIM: “That’s a big question and you probably don’t want to know. Here goes….I love my life and I love my mommy but I need a companion. One of my kind.”

ME: “You mean a friend to play with?”

HIM: “Nope. Someone I can BOSS around.”

ME: “You boss me around, isn’t that enough?”

HIM: “Yeah, but you’re not that easy to boss around. I need someone who will sit quietly and agree to everything I say.”

ME: “You mean you want to be a dictator?”

HIM: “If that’s what they call them, then yes. I have no power in this house and I need POWER!“

He stands up, runs his paw over his face and turns his big expressive eyes on me. It’s a gaze that’s unwavering and it tells me he knows what he is doing.

ME: “Power like in what you do to those stuffed birds?”

His stuffed birds are a mess. Some have their stuffing halfway out and some have parts missing! Like I’ve said before, the little guy has this passive-aggressive thing going.

HIM: “Sort of. My mommy is nice but she’s weird at times. She lets me have my way but sometimes it comes to a screeching halt and I better behave or else! This is not being BOSS but a slave. Cats were not made to be slaves. The Pharaohs viewed us with deep respect and they believed that we were divine beings. Their admiration for us was so great that they dressed us in jewelry and mummified us upon death. Furthermore, anyone who harmed us were severely punished. They considered us to be magical creatures.”

ME: “Hmm….you sure are one smart kitty. I guess that’s why your other name is Einstein?”

HIM: “You got that right!

He gives me this side-eyed look and sprawls on his back all the time looking at me.

ME: “How can I make your life better?”

HIM: “Easy, agree to everything I want and you’ve got it made!”

Time to end the interview. Little Macho was back on his horse and it was time to show him who is really the BOSS.

ME: “Go play Chachi. I’ve got things to do.”

HIM: “I knew it! You never listen, that is your problem amongst other things! “

That was the end of an uneventful interview. The little brat is sitting in his window seat and contemplating, Mutiny on the Bounty! Oh well, some days are better than others and I have no intention of making him the BOSS!

Daily writing prompt

Interview someone — a friend, another blogger, your mother, the mailman — and write a post based on their responses.

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Calm and Ready?

It is hard to describe what I am feeling right now. A mix between calm, unrest and ready to tackle anything. If that makes sense.

There is an inner peace within which comes from having done my daily walk in nature. The cool breeze and grey cloudy skies helped to get me there. It wasn’t a calm day because rain is in the forecast and the weather is doing its dance between wind and the expectation of rain. It definitely suits the mood I am in now.

I am at peace and I am calm but something within, just beneath the surface is doing something else. There is a certain uneasiness and I guess it stamps from the unknown. The unknown is a scary place especially if it could go the wrong way and that is my situation right now.

Trust and believe that all will be well is what I tell myself but that inner place where calm exists has to come to the forefront and stay there for a while. Whatever I am doing right now helps but just for a short time and the voice within, the one that speaks to me in a loud voice wants to get rid of the calmness because that is what it does best. I tell it to take its place where it belongs but it isn’t listening very well for some reason.

There are three things I am grappling with right now and that is the unknown, distress and unrest. It is a mixture of feelings that are topsy turvy at times and at times where it needs to be. However, I know it will right itself out because it always does, one way or another.

Daily writing prompt

How are you feeling right now?

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Book is Published!

Update: It seems that writing the story is not the hardest part, it is getting it out there. What’s happening? Not much I think but there is work being done in the background that I am not aware of. The eBook will take a couple of months before it shows up because there is a backlog and it takes time according to the publisher. For now, the book is just another title in Amazon’s massive children’s book category. I do see that booksellers have “one in stock” signs but not sure if that is a strategy to move the book or it is being bought. I’m telling myself be patient and it will work itself out if it was meant to be. You know how you want things to MOVE, that’s where I’m at right now!

I see it online but I can’t believe it yet! Anyway, it is on Amazon and other online booksellers but I don’t think you can order it yet. According to publisher, it is going to take a week or two to right itself out.

“The Excellent Adventures of Honey & Hubie.”

In the meantime, they are working on stocking the book. All I can tell you is that the cover looks good, it is very colorful, and stands out enough to catch a child’s eye. The characters look inviting enough for a child to want to read it and I don’t think they will be disappointed once they do. However, I am my own worst critic so I think, it could have been better! That’s coming out of a perfectionist’s mouth!

I hope it does well, fingers and toes crossed!

I AM LEARNING (Archives)

Photo by Tima Miroshnichenko on Pexels.com

I am learning that each new day is a reminder to do better.

I am learning that I am fully capable of dealing with everything life throws my way.

I am learning that I need to practice gratefulness and to be thankful for all that I have.

I am learning to accept me as I am and to make changes if some of those things don’t work to my greater good.

I am learning to let go of things that don’t serve me and I am making room for those that do.

I am learning that I can’t change people, I can only change myself.

I am learning that life is a journey full of ups and downs and nothing stays the same forever.

I am learning that there is no such thing as forever, just the here and now.

I am learning that love is fleeting at its best and at its worst, it has the potential to turn your world upside down and inside out. Tread carefully.

I am learning that cheaters never change. They are repeat offenders. Integrity is just another word to them. A relationship with such an individual is like throwing pearls at pigs.

I am learning that today is a blessing, a gift and I have it in my power to make it an amazing day.

I am learning that life is ever-changing. It is a learning curve and mistakes are made to show us a new way of handling things and to learn and to grow from them. Perhaps that is what life is all about.

“But most of all, I am slowly learning how to just be in this moment. How to exist. How to understand that I cannot control life, that I can only experience it in both its light and its dark stages. I am slowly learning how to laugh and cry and feel through it all, how to welcome the confusion and the joy that come with loving and living and breaking. I am slowly learning how to accept where I am”

“I am slowly learning how to simply believe in the person I am becoming.” Unknown

HAVE AN AMAZING DAY!

Meditation

The habit of doing my meditation practice two or three times a day has helped to calm my mind and to give me a new perspective on life. When chaos reigns, I go within.

A walking meditation helps. I may be doing the physical act of moving but my mind is doing something else. I zone out and let nature do its thing. When at home, I find a quiet place, it is usually in my bedroom where I sit comfortably on the bed and close my eyes only to find that there is another realm I can escape to. I start out by calming my mind and body. A couple of deep breaths does the job well. Then I go within, at first it is dark and that’s ok. Other times, I have a lot of junk that needs to be cleared out. This takes a few minutes to reel the mind back. Then peace walks in and we sit together for a while, sometimes 15 minutes and sometimes half an hour.

Meditation helps me to focus better, to throw out what is not necessary and more importantly what doesn’t serve me but most of all, it brings a certain serenity to my being and I find that if done on a daily basis, it can make you a stronger and more balanced individual. It definitely helps to improve my quality of life.

Daily writing prompt

What daily habit do you do that improves your quality of life?

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The Man to Watch!

Gavin C. Newsom is doing a marvelous job of getting under Trump’s skin and living rent-free in his head! Furthermore, he has found a way to hit where it hits hard. Taking down a bully is not always easy and one who has sole authority to initiate a nuclear attack is even more so.

His latest tweet speaks to the heart of the matter:

WOW!! PRESIDENT TRUMP SAYS ABOUT ME, GAVIN C. NEWSOM: “HE’S A NICE GUY, LOOKS GOOD.”

THANK YOU FOR THE KIND WORDS, LITTLE HANDS. EVERYONE SEEMS TO BE TALKING ABOUT ME (AMERICA’S FAVORITE GOVERNOR!). – GCN

All caps, exclamations and incomplete sentences, trademarks of you know who. Aside from that, the message is clear, you get as good as you give!

Keep it up America’s favorite governor. Sometimes it takes know-how and thinking to take down a bully and he is doing an expert job of doing just that. On the other hand, the “bad boy” wants to play it nice it seems. That tweet says a lot but as the saying goes, “too little, too late,” perhaps? Gavin C. Newsom is not letting up and that is a good thing.

MONSTERS!

I’ve talked about the monsters that walk amongst us, the kind who show up when you least expect it or when you are in the wrong place at the wrong time and the ones who don’t think twice about taking a life without so much as giving a thought to what they are doing. I’ve written about them in my posts and these “monsters” exist and there are plenty more out there than you think.

“Monsters are real, and ghosts are real too. They live inside us, and sometimes, they win.” Stephen King

The kind of “monsters” I want to talk about is more of the subtle kind but just as destructive. They don’t take a toll on you physically but they do more than enough to destroy you mentally and emotionally. They live within us and only show up when life takes us in a certain direction and we find ourselves unable to control or understand what is happening.

“Everyone carries around his own monsters.” Richard Pryor

Monsters are often seen as powerful creatures with the ability to wreck havoc and sometimes those powerful and overwhelming emotions can feel that way too. Fear and anger can make us feel unsafe or out of control. The unknown can feel like a “monster” at times and when you harbor “emotional monsters” the kind that take you on roller coaster rides, you are facing monsters of another kind but just as scary and powerful nonetheless.

How do you overcome emotional monsters?

One source says that in order to overcome these so called monsters, you have to identify and label your emotions to better manage them.

Allow yourself to feel those emotions rather than block them out. Emotions are a part of life and provide signals that something needs attention. Take them seriously.

Journaling helps you to gain clarity and to process your emotions.

Deep breathing helps to calm the nervous system.

This next one is definitely worth a try. Notice five things you can see, four things you can touch, three things you can hear, two things you can smell, and one thing you can taste. I guess after going through that roll call, the “monsters” will either take a hike or disappear altogether!

The last tip is to practice mindfulness. It helps to bring awareness and it also helps to control your mind and emotions. I find that staying in the here and now helps me to do exactly that.

“The scariest monsters are the ones that lurk within our souls.” Edgar Allan Poe

True, but “monsters” can be tamed if we take control of our minds and show them the door each time they show up. If you keep doing it often enough, they might just stay away. One can only hope.

Have an amazing day.

My Last Online Search

Ever since I was told that I needed another test to know for sure if there is anything wrong healthwise, I have been constantly Googling! It’s nothing new, I love researching on anything and everything.

Now, I had a reason to find out as much as I possibly could about this upcoming test and I’m pretty sure that when I show up there, I will have a Ph.D on the subject at large or at least I will have my eyes and ears peeled for what they will put me through and ask questions that will show them (the doctors) that I do have some knowledge about the procedure and I will not be led blindly like a lamb to the slaughter, although I do feel like one.

Anyway, I have done my research, I am armed with knowledge and I know what is coming up as far as the test goes. The radiation that will be injected into my veins will be minimal and according to my sources (Google) it says that it will be in your system for a day and with lots of hydration afterwards, it should be flushed out just as quickly. However, the outcome is something else altogether. I WANT TO KNOW and I don’t want to know. Does that make sense?

In the meantime, I am doing my part to stay healthy, doing my walks religiously, staying stress-free and meditating for all I’m worth. My research shows that stress could make the situation worse so anything that ups the stress factor is out the door! Yes folks, I’m a hypochondriac but it’s better than walking in with the blindfold on.

The last thing I searched online had all the major hospitals lined up one after another. They all have something to say on the matter and some go in one ear and out the other and others I am taking to heart. The internet is full of disinformation and misinformation as you well know but if you know what to look for, you have some valuable information at your fingertips.

Daily writing prompt

What was the last thing you searched for online? Why were you looking for it?

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Men in Black

I’m not talking about secret agents who monitor and police extraterrestrials but the kind who have another job altogether. In Europe, they are known as chimney sweeps and they are dressed all in black as they show up every year without fail to make sure that your chimney is in the best shape possible and all set for the colder months ahead.

My chimney had its checkup yesterday and it passed with flying colors! It’s because I didn’t use it last year. Why? I don’t know, probably because I was too lazy to start up a fire in the fireplace and or because I didn’t spend a lot of time in the downstairs area. I had got the wooden logs set up but never lit them. I told the chimney sweep that and he said, “I can see that. I still have to check and make sure that everything is in working condition.” He looked up the chute with a flashlight and headed on outside where the opening for the chute was. He opened it and there were some ashes in there. How it got there, I don’t know. He cleaned out the chute with a long-handled brush and everything was ready to go.

He’s a regular and usually shows up here with another guy but this time he was alone.

HIM: “You’re all set for this year. I wish you a nice day, see you next year and stay healthy.”

WHAT?!!

I gulped and stared at him wondering if he saw something I didn’t! Did I look ill? Why that remark about health? As you know, I’ve posted about my upcoming test and how it is affecting my daily existence so his remark went a little deeper than it should have. They don’t call me a hypochondriac for nothing! I was dying to ask him why he made that last remark but bit my tongue. I wished him a good day and with a smile he took off to his next appointment.

It has been said in these parts that chimney sweeps bring good luck. “People believe that seeing a chimney sweep, shaking their hand, or even having one attend a wedding brings good fortune and prosperity.” Hmm…..I could use some good luck right about now so maybe some has rubbed off on me! I can only hope and come to think of it, I should have shaken his hand or given him a big hug just to get a little closer and have that magic dust rub off on me!

Have an amazing day.

TV Shows

I wasn’t allowed to watch a lot of TV as a child. Much of our time was spent gathered in the living room listening to mom and dad droning on about life as a Christian child. Along with it came Bible study and prayers.

Most kids our age were gathered around their TV sets lost in a wonderful world of make-believe but for us, it came much later and only if we had been good kids. Who decided if we had been naughty or nice? You guessed it!

I recall a few that my parents thought were good shows to watch. They liked Magnum P.I. for some reason, probably for the same reason I did. No one could fake that cute smile! The A-Team was liked by dad so we sat right there as he watched his favorite show. The Miami Vice guys were something to watch. I loved Sonny Crockett! Cartoons were my favorites. I don’t think I had any favorites. I loved them all. Scooby-Doo, Where Are You! and Fat Albert and the Cosby Kids comes to mind. I can’t recall the rest!

It wasn’t all bad, the childhood I mean. I created my own fun and you don’t want to know what that was! Let’s just say, I was a little terror and I could give those TV shows a run for the money!

Daily writing prompt

What TV shows did you watch as a kid?

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