Month: October 2024

The Internet, Blessing or Curse

Anthony8 Comments

I truly will never forget 

The advent of the Internet. 

Back in college in ninety-three

The would change for you and me.

In some ways it’s improved your life

But in others it’s caused us strife.

Bombarded with information 

With noticeable degradation.

Advertisements and facts hit us like rocks

Once opened, we can’t close Pandora’s box.

We do our best to deal 

And express how we feel.

The inundation has burst our bubble

And that’s just the start of our trouble.

Determining false from true

Is the hardest thing to do

I guess I’m among the few

That now see our world askew…

-AAA 10/20/2024 

Sunday Wordle Whirl #676

Anthony10 Comments

Brenda Warren is our host for the Sunday Whirl. Want to join in? Click HERE

Our words are: scratches screeches soothes fringe image sighs locks shiny rises swarm ghoulish night.

Banshees Take Flight 

On the fringe of here and there 

Rises the existence of everywhere.

–

A swarm of banshees take to flight

Their ghoulish screeches fill the night.

–

Their scary images shadow the blocks 

As they fly overhead with wily locks.

–

Rushing indoors feeling soothed by the shiny floors

As I sigh relief, then tiny scratches on the door.

–

Am I safe, now, no one knows

But I’ll feel better when the dawn’s rooster crows…

-AAA 10/20/2024

Knowledge Is A Double Edged Sword 

Anthony5 Comments

Fervent winds blow 

stronger and higher

They ebb and flow 

Fanning the fire.

–

The more we learn 

The less we’re tame

Many things burn 

As they are aflame.

–

Can anything be done

It may be too late 

Less time is for fun

Reaping our fates.

–

So much change 

Rampant confusion 

So very strange

Is it a delusion?

–

Wake me up 

Because I care 

Before times up 

From this nightmare…

-AAA 10/19/2024

Pecos Bill and His Stagecoach Rocket

AnthonyLeave a comment

Slue Foot Sue I’ll see you real soon 

We’re in a rocket and on our way

Your bustle bounce brought you to the moon

And we’ll be reunited in just over a day.

–

The countdown starts

The clock starts to run 

Our rocket departs

As the count reaches one.

–

Shimmy and shake 

Like a busting bronco would

Such a commotion for your sake

I’d do it again if I could.

–

We speed up faster 

Leaving the earth

Risk is our master 

No time for mirth.

–

All the coyotes howled

For one last time 

Our wedding was fouled

I’m undoing that crime.

–

Patience my dear 

It’s been a long while

Your Pecos Bill is getting near 

Bring out your smile.

–

The moon grows large

As we approach 

This NASA barge 

Is our stagecoach.

–

It’s been many years 

It’s taken so long 

Frustration and tears 

Now turned into song.

–

I can see your pretty face

And ocean blue eyes 

It’s now just a race

Through star filled skies.

–

Traveling fast is such great fun

Pushing the rocket to the limit

Faster than a bullet from my gun 

A stagecoach rocket with your Bill in it.

–

Hit the retros we’re slowing down

I hoot and holler as we get near 

I’ll soon be in your lunar town 

Hang on darlin I’m almost here…

-AAA 10/20/2024

Blind Date

Anthony16 Comments

Polarized and charged like an ion 

Proceeding, with the ferocity of a lion.

–

Into danger without a thought

Excepting what fate brought.

–

Moving without hesitation

Lacking any consternation.

–

Until the task at hand is through

Nothing else will possibly do.

–

Focus now we’re almost here 

Gather your wits, dispel fear.

–

Taking steps forward, more and more

You’ve nearly reached her front door.

–

Pressing the bell, immense anticipation

She appears with a smile to your elation.

–

She follows you to your car as you implore

Dinner and discussions, are next in store.

–

You grab her door as she gets in 

Gently closing it behind her, safely within.

–

Do your best to get your bearings

Immense beauty, and that perfume she’s wearing. 

–

You reel around to the driver’s side 

Silently content you cleaned your ride.

–

Fingers crossed, now without fright

You pull away, to the awaiting night…

-AAA 10/19/2024 

QOTD: #214

Anthony10 Comments

What have you been working on?

I have truly been working on a lot of different things in my life. I don’t know anybody who’s only working on one thing. If they truly are and it’s all they need to work on envy them. I have quite a list, including:

1) Finding ways to make peace with my past and being content in the present.

2) Not worrying about the future and just being in the now.

3) My writing, every day, I work hard harder and harder on it, trying to make it the best I can trying to write in as many different forms I can challenge myself and grow.

4) To see the best and everybody even the worst people in the world, and not get tangled up in it. In the past, I would see the best in people and get tangled up in their drama.

5) My health, I intend to get it more under control as self-care is critical for all of us and the thing we do the least well in our lives, I think.

6) Not being a doormat (as I used to be) to my friends, colleagues, and family. 

7) Most importantly, how ideal with things that confront me and happen to me. To not react immediately. To take pause create space don’t let the emotions overwhelm me, and calmly coolly proceed.

As always, thank you all for reading and for your support…

-aaa

FOWC With Fandango – Deprive

AnthonyLeave a comment

http://mymindmappings.com/2024/10/19/fowc-with-fandango-deprive/

Welcome to Fandango’s One-Word Challenge (aka, FOWC). I will be posting each day’s word just after midnight Pacific Time (U.S.).

Today’s word is “deprive.”

Write a post using that word. It can be prose, poetry, fiction, non-fiction. It can be any length. It can be just a picture or a drawing if you want. No holds barred, so to speak.

Once you are done, tag your post with #FOWC and create a pingback to this post if you are on WordPress. Please check to confirm that your pingback is there. If not, please manually add your link in the comments.

And be sure to read the posts of other bloggers who respond to this prompt. Show them some love.

Gone Without a Goodbye

Let me deprive you of your joy 

Letting me writhe like a wind up toy.

You never loved me I was just a joke

Had I gotten sicker you’d’ve let me croak.

So I walked away, rather ran away

Tired of the sick games you’d play.

Two years plus divorced, seems longer

I’m no longer a worm, I’ve gotten stronger.

My thoughts drift less and less to you

As I have a much happier life in view.

Just like the tides flow and ebb

I’m sure you’ll catch another in your web…

-AAA 10/19/2024

Saturday Random Contemplations

Anthony14 Comments

In this consciousness we call life,

we have all been baptized in fire of adversity.

How we come out the other side is all that matters.

No need to dwell on the terrible things that happened, those just tested our mettle.

Try to remember that, when you’re overthinking like I do.

Find a peaceful way to integrate your past as a part of your life and series of lessons.

Some light and simple others quite cathartic.

Be present, be now, enjoy what’s in front of you.

Not what’s behind you or ahead of you…

-AAA 10/19/2024

Rock My Life

Anthony11 Comments

I need hard music 

Guitars blaring killer riffs 

Magical bass plays 

Hypnotic chords while the drums 

Beat S.O.S through my heart.

–

High shrieking vocals

and sweet precise harmonies

Really get me there.

To a place where all my pain 

and past mistakes are erased…

-AAA 10/18/2024

Los Angeles by Frank Blank

Anthony8 Comments

Let’s get into a magic time castle it’s 1993, I was in my third year of college and grunge music has really taken off. I love the music in the 90s very much reminding of how fun my 20s could be. 

Frank Black a.k.a. Black Frank of the famed band the Pixies who are amazing and fantastic in their own right, came up with this neat little ditty in his homage to the city of angels. 

Song starts out, kinda obscure with some low vocals almost bass on acoustic guitar and then this hella hard guitar and drums come with bombastic intensity. 

Remember, it was quite shocking. The first time I heard it. I loved it so many surprises and a lot of really interesting time signature changes and what not. Videos cool too I miss Alternative Nation and 120 Minutes that used to be on MTV back when it was a music channel.  See in Black Frank scooting around in a hovercraft is pretty surreal in itself. 

Check it out and enjoy it and as always, thank you for reading and listening,  my friends…

-aaa

If imbed doesn’t work, view on the web outside of the Jetpack client.

QOTD: #213

Anthony7 Comments

What’s something most people don’t know about you?

The origins of my last name is something that most people, even friends don’t know about.

My last name is Aquino (AH-KWEENO).

It’s because I am a descendent of the philosopher Saint Thomas Aquinas who was the founder of the philosophical theory of Teleology.

To put it in the most simple of terms, “that which mankind does not understand we attribute to God”.

As always, thank you for reading…

-aaa

FOWC With Fandango -Refine 

AnthonyLeave a comment

http://mymindmappings.com/2024/10/18/fowc-with-fandango-refine/

Welcome to Fandango’s One-Word Challenge (aka, FOWC). I will be posting each day’s word just after midnight Pacific Time (U.S.).

Today’s word is “refine.”

Write a post using that word. It can be prose, poetry, fiction, non-fiction. It can be any length. It can be just a picture or a drawing if you want. No holds barred, so to speak.

Once you are done, tag your post with #FOWC and create a pingback to this post if you are on WordPress. Please check to confirm that your pingback is there. If not, please manually add your link in the comments.

And be sure to read the posts of other bloggers who respond to this prompt. Show them some love.

Queen of the Refined 

Shelly was so refined 

She was one of a kind

Gloves and dress 

At McDonald’s no less

When she’s formal she’d unwind…

-AAA 10/17/2024

Stream Of Consciousness

Anthony6 Comments

Fast, what’s on your mind?

People, places, or events?

Maybe all of them

Endless information floods 

your mind with bright imagery…

–

Can’t turn it off 

Even if you try real hard

With your vivid mind

Many things to see and feel

You’re not even finished yet…

-AAA 10/17/2024

QOTD: #213

Anthony8 Comments

Do lazy days make you feel rested or unproductive?

I really wouldn’t know. Living on my own. I’m pretty much busy every day of the week.

I have my 8 to 5 job technical writing by day. I’m also constantly cleaning and picking up my apartment so it’s spotless.

I cook and prepare my meals and clean up as I cook.

And I’m constantly blogging and reading and reflecting on other people’s blogs so I don’t really stop much except for the occasional vacation and even then I think I’m still writing/blogging.

As always, thank you for reading….

-aaa

FOWC With Fandango -Conference 

AnthonyLeave a comment

http://mymindmappings.com/2024/10/17/fowc-with-fandango-conference/

Welcome to Fandango’s One-Word Challenge (aka, FOWC). I will be posting each day’s word just after midnight Pacific Time (U.S.).

Today’s word is “conference.”

Write a post using that word. It can be prose, poetry, fiction, non-fiction. It can be any length. It can be just a picture or a drawing if you want. No holds barred, so to speak.

Once you are done, tag your post with #FOWC and create a pingback to this post if you are on WordPress. Please check to confirm that your pingback is there. If not, please manually add your link in the comments.

And be sure to read the posts of other bloggers who respond to this prompt. Show them some love.

Harriet Hamster And The Tone Deaf

Harriet Hamster’s conference ran long 

Then many attendees all joined in song 

It ended then quite soon 

As they sang out of tune 

As each note came out wrong…

-AAA 10/17/2024

QOTD: #212

Anthony11 Comments

When you think of the word “successful,” who’s the first person that comes to mind and why?

I don’t want to be in any way be egocentric, but I think of myself as a success. I’m not saying we need to be stuck up, but we should toot our own horns to be proud of what we do and where we are. As well as, what its taken to get here. As I am in my case.

Rebooted my life, my career, my love life, my mental state of mind all at the same time. In addition, I changed my living situation and location as well.

I started a blog just a little over seven months ago and it seems to be doing pretty well, my job is going well too, and I get to work from home. I live in a nice apartment and a nice part of town with pretty much every amenity you could want an apartment.

I feel very proud of myself and I look forward to the new adventures that await me as I continue on this exciting journey, it’s not the material things.

It’s just being a control of my life and making decisions and seeing them through. I think that is what success truly is.

Remember, no matter how hard it gets no matter how weird it seems just keep going…

-aaa

A Narcissist is Born 

Anthony2 Comments

She was an innocent naive flower of a woman.

–

Until the cruel, cold, harsh world, got a hold of her.  Then cynicism took over, and her heart turned to ice.

–

Instead of love, all she could see was hate. Her trust, betrayed, she was heartbroken. Then set her sights n hurting others, as misery loves company…

-AAA 10/16/2024

Missy’s MAD Challenge # 011

Anthony3 Comments

http://madmissywork.blog/2024/10/14/missys-mad-challenge-011/

Every week, a creative prompt will be offered for you to unleash your imagination and artistic skills.

You can share your response in the form of art or any creative expression that the prompt inspires.

There are no restrictions and no deadlines, so feel free to take your time and enjoy the creative process.

Remember to label your response with #missysmadchallenge.

Your challenge for the week

  • She never knew

She Never Knew 

She never knew I was this strong

She never knew.

She never knew I’d write my own song 

She never knew.

–

She never knew I’d say goodbye

She never knew.

She never knew I’d get along fine

She never knew.

–

She never knew I’d start a new life

She never knew.

She never knew how to be a wife

She never knew.

–

She never knew I’d move away

She never knew.

She never knew I refuse to stay

She never knew.

–

She never knew what hit her

She never knew.

She never knew I’d quit her

She never knew.

–

She never knew that I knew she was untrue

She never knew.

She never knew I saw it all, brew 

She never knew…

-AAA 10/15/2024

Grab A Bound Adventure 

Anthony6 Comments

Story’s, sagas, and series a plenty 

Some great time to kill if you have any. 

–

Lord of The Rings and Harry Potter 

Sure beats reruns of Welcome Back Kotter.

–

Scary stories monsters and clowns 

Kings and wizards and fallen crowns.

–

Chronicles Of Narnia even Dune 

Gathering spice on an Arrakus moon.

–

Spies had saboteurs hiding in the dark 

Romantic stories just for a lark.

–

Enders Game and Shadow series 

Never leave you feeling weary.

–

Rereading these books so they never end 

Is almost like revisiting old friends.

–

Super heroes, villains that fall 

Turn the pages and see it all.

–

So when you’re bored and by yourself 

Grab instant adventure off your shelf…

-AAA 10/14/2024 

Censuring Books

Anthony3 Comments

C acophony of hypocrisy

E nsurung future generations learn nothing

N eedling in everyone’s affairs

S tupidity

U nbelievable 

R udiculous expectations

I mbeciles fearing anything different 

N o vision

G radndiose piety 

–

B erating free thought 

O utrageous

O btuse

K now nothings

S adness over lost art…

-AAA 10/14/2024

QOTD: 211 Love Thy Neighbor?

Anthony37 Comments

What makes a good neighbor?

I was inspired (not in a good way to write a tanka series on the lack of community and neighbors our society seems dominated by these days. Yesterday is a perfect example of selfish people and their cluelessness.

At the grocery store this woman essentially raced me to the register so she could go first with her grocery cart nearly full, and me with my eight items. She didn’t even look at me or conceive at offering me to go first with my few items. Something I often do for others when I have a lot of groceries.

Then on my way home I decided to grab a hamburger to go. Just before the driveway, a man two lanes over makes a left turn (rather than lane change) in front of me 500 feet before the light forcing me to brake. I miss the driveway and had to make two lefts at two lights to go where I needed to. I even recall him motioning with his hand as if to swat me out of his way like I was a common housefly.

The coup de gras were my very unneighborly neighbors that live in the apartment above me. The same ones who: blast their subwoofer’s at all hours with either bass forward music or explosions from movies, enjoy the occasional 2:00 am argument they have, stomp about as if to step as hard and loud as possible, make noise sliding chairs dropping objects (with huge thuds), and are often hammering nails into the wall it seems. For an encore, until at least 1:30 am last night, a drunken stoned chorus of girls singing at the top of their lungs, and dancing and clamoring about. I did what I could to cover it up, closing my window, cranking up my fan, and my television.

Loving Thy Self Not Thy Neighbor 

The age of selfish 

Everyone wants their own thing 

Such a disregard 

For anyone else around

Swelling with narcissism.

–

Where are our neighbors?

Busy fulfilling themselves 

With tunnel vision

Not a single care to give 

Save their own best interests.

–

They will cut you off

On the highways and byways

Or in the store lines 

Without a trickle of care 

Lest their sole dreams and desires.

–

When did it all change?

Covid did play a big role 

We became hermits 

Then people forgot to care

About their community.

–

If things do not change

We’re doomed in a new dark age

Of such carelessness 

And egregious selfishness 

That it hurts and hinders hope…

-AAA 10/15/2024

QOTD: #210

Anthony3 Comments

What could you try for the first time?

There’s so many things. I’ve tried that I’ve never done before recently, a good friend go once a month to do one of those painting deals where an artist has a painting and here she teaches you how to paint it and you do it step-by-step. I’m not an illustrator or an artist by any means and painting is not my forte so it’s way out of my comfort zone, but it’s been very very liberating. Trying new things like that.

New poetry forms, I have tried about 20 new poetry formats and I intend on trying all 168 that I can see eventually. It’s stimulating and terrifying at the same time.

We all need to venture out of our comfort zones to be better people and grow and I’ve done so much of that in these last few years and I’m gonna continue doing that the rest of my life. I’ll start coming up with a list and start knocking those out!!! I suggest you all do the same if you can!

As always, thank you for reading…

-aaa