Category: Post/Affirmation

QOTD: #170 Divided We Fall

Anthony21 Comments

If you had to give up one word that you use regularly, what would it be?

This is one of the easiest questions you’ve ever asked.

Words that I rarely use or say these days are “politics” or “political”.

Over these past 12 years plus there’s been so so much divide among people of differing political views more than I’ve ever seen in my lifetime or even read about.

It’s disgusting and Divisive in our society no matter if it’s America, Europe, Africa, South America, Canada, or any other part of the world.

It is true that the difference is between us all are what make things better and make us better. That’s why different political views are great or at least they used to be.

Now it appears that many believe they are working for their respective candidate, which is simply not true. An attack on Trump is not an attack on you or Biden or Harris or anyone.

We need to get over ourselves more sooner than later.

Again, none of us are working for the candidates, they work for us. We vote for them we elect them. We select them not the other way around.

Different perspectives and points of view, lead to solutions to problems it will never be met any other way. That’s the beauty of multiple political parties, reaching across the aisle and coming up with solutions, reaching across the multitudes town, city states nations, and finding the answers.

We don’t get back to that place we’re doing as a society and as a race known as humanity.

As I stated at the beginning, I don’t use the word, “political” or “politician” as much anymore as those words are now divisive rather than unifying.

Thank you for letting me put in my $.25 and as always, thank you for reading…

-aaa

Affirm Your View of You

Anthony9 Comments

Does anyone else see

The beauty you have inside

So gentle, calm, and free 

Solely to kindness, you abide.

–

You need to see it too 

No matter what at all

In everything you do

Or you’ll fail yourself and fall.

–

Gifted and great you must be 

Never minimize all you do and touch

Look in the mirror and you’ll see 

That to many you mean quite much.

–

You work a lot and help others 

Keep it up you’re doing great

Many unrelated sisters and brothers

To this there is no debate. 

–

So give yourself a break 

Realize you’re better than good

With each new work you make

Living your life as you should…

-AAA 09/05/2024

Musical Innovation 

Anthony3 Comments

I Feel Fine by was recorded by The Beatles in the Abby Road studios of EMI in London in 1964 as an A-side single. A great single by my favorite band, and not without the fab four’s innovations.

Always pushing the envelope in the studio, they incorporated “feedback” into the beginning of the song. Creating an unexpected raw surge at the song’s start.

This is how it happened. Paul McCartney strummed an A string on his bass, and John Lennon’s rhythm guitar which was leaning against the amplifier picked up the feedback in a brilliant “Nnnnnnwahhhhh….” sound. 

This is one of the earliest intentional uses of feedback on a rock and roll record. Bands like The Who and The Kinks experimented with feedback in their music as well. 

Who would’ve thought a happy accident would lead to what many bands would use thereafter even today.  As I can’t fathom grunge, hard rock, or heavy metal without feedback. As those raw sounds round out and punctuate solid guitar riffs. 

-aaa

Beauty

Anthony4 Comments

   The heart of beauty

Pearces all the ugliness

   Bright beacon of light 

Drives away all the darkness 

In a very cold cruel world…

-AAA 09/04/2024

Opening Night, Every Night…

Anthony8 Comments

You are the lead actor in your own play

With the trials and tribulations of a day.

–

The acts unfold in the form of hours 

Time ebbs and falls like petals on flowers.

–

The costars are many in life’s roles 

Some helpful, while others take tolls.

–

The sets of life are striking and large 

Universe, the director that’s in charge.

–

The audience, quite small numbering, one

Experience joy, happiness, misery, or fun.

–

You draft the script as you live each day 

Mastering many obstacles within your play.

–

Music, your orchestra, from front to back 

Relieving tense moments with a soundtrack.

–

No trepidation or fear on opening night 

With your lifetime of chances to get it right…

-AAA 08/31/2024

QOTD: 165

Anthony12 Comments

Why do you blog?

I blog for three reasons.

First, to share my writing with a real audience. Second, so that I might receive feedback on my writing. Finally, through blogging I will (hopefully) create enough works to publish several books and reach an even larger audience.

Thank you for reading…

-aaa

QOTD: #164

Anthony3 Comments

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

I am sorry, but I’m not gonna put anybody through that. Besides, I’m on vacation this weekend. 😊😊

-aaa

Imperfect Perfection 

Anthony5 Comments

Such an imperfect me 

Far from perfect as can be.

–

In conformity, left out in the cold

Feeling as weird as being told.

–

Based on harsh words being said 

Gaze in mirrors for a second head.

–

Wanting only to belong 

Rather than being wrong.

–

Trying to be a social butterfly 

Was truly just a sad little lie.

–

Feeling too much is the worst 

Being both a gift and curse.

–

Many lie only when their lips move 

Words of deception never soothe.

–

Use your gut ditch your pride 

Then you’ll know who’s on your side.

–

Be odd, out of step with the world

They’re strait-laced, while you’re curled.

–

At days end, you only have you

And self love, is the best thing to do.

-AAA 08/27/2024

QOTD: # 164 Feelings

Anthony10 Comments

How are you feeling right now?

I have mixed feelings right now. My girlfriend is here from Texas for a week. We are headed to Vegas today for fun and games. I am very very happy about that. 😊

I am also feeling frustrated with blogging. Despite my usual output of 6-8 writings a day and over 940 subscribers my numbers for views and such have been down and I don’t know why. I think my material is still good so it’s a mystery.

As always thank you for reading…

-aaa

We Are ALL Enough 

Anthony5 Comments

Who cares if they stare

Just be you, and dare

As long as you’re aware

Look inside, the answer’s there 

Empathy’s, cross to bear 

Knowing life is far from fair

Alive, because you care

There’s plenty of love to spare

And generosity to share…

-AAA 08/27/2024

QOTD: #162

AnthonyLeave a comment

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

I was double checking colors that start with the letter “i” as I’m creating a limerick that is for that letter.

I settled on “indigo” but then and decided to go a different direction with the limerick.

I often look up words, letters, annunciations, and other things just to be sure I’m getting things correct in my writing just double checking, really. Coming up with some interesting adjectives and words and animals that go with some of the letters, the alphabet that we don’t use as often as a common practice for me.

As always thank you for reading…

-aaa

QOTD: #161 Childhood TV Shows

Anthony9 Comments

What TV shows did you watch as a kid?

There are a great many shows I liked as a kid and I’m very nostalgic in my older years now, as I still love many of these shows. Some were in syndication mornings and afternoons. Others were part of prime time TV. And still others were part of daily or Saturday morning cartoons.

Growing up in the 1970s and 1980s afforded me a lot of great television.

My favorite childhood TV Shows include:

Emergency! (AKA Rescue 51)

Adam 12

F-Troop

Gillian’s Island

The Brady Bunch

That’s Incredible

The Incredible Hulk

Wonder Woman

Welcome Back Kotter

Kojack

Columbo

ABC Wide World of Sports

Star Trek (The Original Series)

Tales From The Darkside

Tales From The Crypt

The Twilight Zone

Saturday Night / Saturday Night Live

Late Night with David Letterman

Star Trek the Cartoon series

The Jetsons

Stop That Pidgin

Wait Till Your Father Gets Home

Eight is Enough

The Waltons

Jabber Jaw

Starsky And Hutch

The Rockford Files

Magnum P.I.

Happy Days

Lavern And Shirley

Mork and Mindy

The White Shadow

WKRP in Cincinnati

Sesame Street

Tic-Tac-Dough

Joker’s Wild

Let’s Make a Deal

The Electric Company

Mr Roger’s Neighborhood

Cosmos (Carl Sagan)

The Tonight Show with Johnny Carson

New Zoo Review

The Super Friends

Smurfs

Alvin and the Chipmonks

Warner Brothers Cartoons

Woody Woodpecker

Popeye

Heckle and Jeckle

Nightrider

V

The Phoenix

All in The Family

Diffrn’t Strokes

Bosom Buddies

Family Ties

Soap

Benson

Sanford and Son

The Bugaloos

Land Of The Lost

Sigmund and the Sea Monsters

The Secrets of Isis

The Facts of Life

In Search Of

Unsolved Mysteries

Shazam!

That’s Cat

The Flintstones

Scooby Doo

Perils of Penelope Pitstop

The Amazing Spider-Man

The Fantastic Four

Gunsmoke

Bonanza

Lassie

Chips

There’s Company

The Adventures of Superman

Tom and Jerry

St Elsewhere

Hill Street Blues

Mama’s Family

Carol Burnett Show

Sha-Na-Na

Real People

Benny Hill

Dr. Who

Faulty Towers

To name a few 😜. As always thank you for reading…

-aaa

QOTD: #160

Anthony4 Comments

What’s your favorite time of day?

I love all times of the day.

Morning with the promise of a day and all that will happen.

Afternoon with a break and the second wind of the workday.

Evening with the warm nights and relaxation and unwinding.

-aaa

QOTD: #158

AnthonyLeave a comment

Tell us about the last thing you got excited about.

There are many things that qualify as exciting to me.

Discovering music I haven’t heard before that may not even be new, but it’s new to me. That’s always exciting.

My girlfriend will be in town next Wednesday to join me in Vegas. I’m very excited about that.

I never know what I’m gonna write until I write it and that is also very exciting.

I’m very excited about my blog as well, it continues to grow bigger and bigger and I love that.

I couldn’t do it without all of my readers, as always thank you for reading. 😊

-aaa

Get to Know You #31

Anthony4 Comments

Hello and happy timezones, kind friends! I have greatly enjoyed your responses to my Get to Know You posts! So, it’s time. Come sit on my porch for a…

Get to Know You #31

Here is round #31:

  1. What’s the best prank you’ve ever pulled on someone?
  2. What terrible gift have you gotten that you’ve had to keep?
  3. How do you like to spend your time after work?

  1. The best prank I ever pulled on somebody is a doozy.  I work in information technology or somewhere thereabouts for the last 28+ years now. And when we play pranks on ourselves, we play the worst. so, I went to one of my colleagues desk that had walked away for a moment and this is about 26 years ago, I took a screenshot of his icons on his screen, then I dragged all the icons screen and set that as wallpaper. Poor guy sat there for 10 minutes, clicking on the icons that would never open… 
  2. Not really anything everything I get I love and I keep even things that are weird, but really nothing stands out right now.
  3. I do a lot of writing poetry, short stories, pros essays. I also talk to a lot of my friends do a little bit of posting on social media and a lot of blogging. I also love streaming my favorite shows on various streaming sites. 

As always, thank you for reading…

-aaa

QOTD: #157

Anthony1 Comment

How would you design the city of the future?

I humbly apologize to all of my readers and subscribers, but this really is not in my wheelhouse. I’m not a city planner designer, so I must abstain from this particular question of the day.

-aaa

QOTD: # 156

Anthony14 Comments

Where did your name come from?

This is an identical question to what was asked in June 07, 2024, so I’m pasting my answer from then and here…

This is an intriguing question. I have a very straightforward answer. My name comes from my father, grandfather, and great grandfather.

Anthony Andrew Aquino Jr.

I will share a quick tidbit about the origins of my shortened first name as my Great Grandfather told me years ago.

When many of the Italian immigrants came to Ellis Island long ago, since they didn’t speak English they sported a tag that read “TONY” short for “To New York”.

Thank you as always for reading.

-aaa

QOTD: #155

Anthony2 Comments

What motivates you?

There are many things that move me in this life.

Love

Love moves me to do anything and everything for all I care for and even strangers. I’m an altruistic, empathetic soul, to the core.

Music

Music is truly everything to me. I love listing to it, playing it, and seeing it live. I love many forms and always have something playing in the background.

Literature

I love reading as much as I do writing. It provides: knowledge, and escape, answers, and adventure. I love many forms of literature in fiction.

Art

I love art in many forms: painting, architecture, theatre, music (see above), sculpture, and of course writing. I love most forms of art from classical to art nouveau.

Nature

The beauty in nature always amazes and touches my heart. All living things and just being outside really helps recharge my batteries.

As always thank you for reading…

-aaa

Adversity (Thoughts Before the Final Divorce 5/18/22)

AnthonyLeave a comment

Originally Published 04/29/2024

What do you do when the well runs dry? When emotions are only anger and love dies

You reach out and communicate as much as possible but nothing changes her she just doesn’t want you anymore

You better youself and try to get stronger and more attractive but it has no effect and she is not impressed at all

what can I do or say to change how she feels and lives as nothing seems to impact her demeanor or how she feels

I’d seel my soul to get her to love me like I loved her that doesn’t work either she’s moved on

We do things but they feel like bones she has to throw rather than something she wants to do

I’d rather not be an obligation to anyone

I’d rather be a choice than an option

How will I go on, with all this hurt and pain

I always will, force of nature or habit, pick one

I love the kids and grandkids

How will I live without them, that’s very possible starts anew for the third time, is beyond sad

I can never get things right in my life always taking the course of highest resistance moving straight up hill forever seemingly

I just want to be a happy fellow and feel fully actualized in my life

To do so I have to build up myself created an infrastructure that has never existed

I have to create foundations pore concrete and lay down the plans for a new life and a new me that is able to be happy even if alone forever

I don’t know how I will do it all alone but I likely will have to and flourish despite the lonliness

I guess I am destined to be alone maybe it is as it should be…..

I will love myself somehow because it’s necessary.

If I don’t, then no one will…..

-aaa 9/20/21

Some Songs Say it All

Anthony1 Comment

Originally Published 04/26/2024

Anyone who knows me well, understands that music is a part of my vocabulary in a way. It allows me to apply my pallet of preference to encapsulate volumes of information without the need for explanation as the music provides that.

The powerful imagery that can fill us when we hear a certain song, the flood of memories from sight, to, touch, to sound. Or a song may capture an idea very personal to us, better than we could ever say in our own words.

As is the trend after I experience live music I start to listen to the discography of that artist for a while. Needless to say, I’ve spent a lot of time listening to Billy Joel. A lesser known track of his is one of my favorites.

Where’s The Orchestra, (The closing track on side 2) expresses to me a perfect analogy for being, out of place. Unique, different, somewhat misaligned with status quo. This is truly a beautiful soft anthem to the misunderstood. The reprise of the song “Allentown” on the clarinet at the very end, offers a gentle reminder to the opening track. Enjoy 😉 ❤️❤️🎵🎶🎼

-aaa

Patience With Intention

Anthony12 Comments

Originally Published 04/26/2024

Standby and steadfast.

Do not get caught up in the past.

–

Be vigilant be brave.

It’s a soul you gave.

–

Step slowly but consistent.

Change is hard, challenging resistant.

–

With each movement raise the bar.

Lesser versions of you afar.

–

Lessen your focus at progress slow.

Or easily frustrated at the pace of the flow.

–

Be present be here be now.

Enjoy your journey anyhow.

–

No one can ever take it away.

From today to your dying day.

–

Stand tall look how far you’ve come.

It’s all of the journey not the sum.

–

For one day, you’ll arrive at journey’s end.

And be actualized, whole, complete, my friend….

-aaa

QOTD: #154 Favorite Movies

Anthony14 Comments

What are your top ten favorite movies?

Here are my top 10 movies in order:

  1. Apocalypse Now
  2. Taxi Driver
  3. Donnie Darko
  4. A Clockwork Orange
  5. 2001 A Space Odyssey
  6. About Time
  7. Close Encounters Of The Third Kind
  8. The Shining
  9. Monty Python and the Holy Grail
  10. Star Wars Episodes 4-7

As always, thank you for reading…

-aaa

Rebuilding

Anthony5 Comments

Originally Published 04/26/2024

From the deepest depths of my soul there is a single small light.

This is the beginning, a long road to make it grow from an ember to a fierce blaze.

Tread lightly and cry as much as you can.

Your heart is rebooting, bare with the pain the burning and the radiating tingles.

I swear it’s going to be better than alright faster than you think.

You face your pain you invite it you bask as swim in it.

This processes and heals you and fast it’s just very hard and very intense.

You’re doing it, I don’t know but this is a rebirth. Hang on and keep going!

-aaa

Sentimental Old Fool

Anthony3 Comments

Originally Published 04/22/2024

I think I am becoming a sentimental old fool at 52. I Happened to catch Willy Wonka And The Chocolate Factory streaming on TV and was suddenly 6 years old again watching the movie for the first time.

🍫

Relating to Charlie Bucket and the isolation he felt from his peers. His character was such a pure soul and he loved freely and fiercely even in the face of a rejection of the test from his most beloved idol.

🍫

He is then rewarded for his suffering and his family’s as well. That line at the end of the movie always gets me and light tears come down “What happened to the man that got what he always wanted? He lived happily ever after” He then tightly hugs Charlie and I just tear up every time.

🍫

Like I said, a sentimental old fool but I am who I am. The book was good but was more a lesson in behavior than the first film on which it was based. I even believe that I read somewhere that Dahl was initially unhappy with the film but later grew fond of it. It will always be one of my favorite movies somewhere inside I am that same child with older eyes…❤️

-aaa

Divine Timing Love Happens (Just not Right Away for Some)

Anthony5 Comments

Originally Published 04/21/2024

One day we’ll grow old together

Put our pieces each in place

Share many years through all weather

And each the wrinkles on our face

–

Finding adventure each unfurled

Dancing to our very own beat

Many travels all over the world

Excitement lies before our feet

–

No matter the time your eyes are the same

Your smile hasn’t changed at all

I’m smitten that is to blame

And every day in love I fall

–

I manifest your existence

Each night in my dreams

My true love persistence

Is more than it seems

–

One day our story will come to be

And we’ll be the envy of others

A new standard for all to see

When our dream life uncovers

–

Holding hands on porch swing

Watching the evening pass

Fly high on passion’s wing

With many great times to amass

–

We’re never too old to find a love of our lives

I’m 52 and I’m well on my way

Despite my two and a half ex wives

All my lessons learned and used here today

–

Synchronies daily often appear

11:11, 1:11, 3:33, and 2:22

All conformation a great future is near

And these numbers portend, well, you

–

When this happens, brightly clear

A divinely timed union we’ll be

As it happens I’ll blog it right here

Giving hope for all the world to see…

-aaa

My Ritual Christmas Dance

Anthony2 Comments

Originally Published 04/26/2024

Christmas time, gifts family get togethers, warm feelings, all kinds of things going on that time of year. This past year I’ve lived with my family as I perform a life reboot for myself. During Christmas, the neighborhood I live in does ‘Christmas Lights’. It’s quite a spectacle, nearly all of the houses are dressed to the nines in holiday cheer. Lights, more lights, Christmas Trees, Reindeer, and still more lights. Reds, greens, whites, and any other color you can think of dancing about (too music in our display). It’s a lot of fun and a little difficult getting in and out of your house as this goes on with all the cars and whatnot traveling up and down our cul de sac. It’s quite beautiful and generally all who visit love it all. One December night, some who visited our front yard got more than they bargained for: a 50-year-old dancing in his underwear for all to see…

Ok let’s get to that cold December night where I looked the fool in front of a pretty extensive audience. Ritual time, it’s nearly 8:00 PM so: edibles in, music blaring and I’m preparing a bath. In my efforts to prepare to close out my night, I stupidly left the shades open in my room (which has two windows facing the street) I grab clothes and head to my bathroom and crank the water as hot as it’ll go. I disrobe and enjoy an epic hot bath with the music is jamming and singing along rocking to Jeff Beck. Life is great. As I finish my bath and get out dry off, I throw on a pair of my Scooby Doo boxer briefs on. All the while I forget that I essentially have a stage set in my bedroom for the neighborhood to see. I’m really buzzed now feeling relaxed, too relaxed as my guard is totally down now. In my skivvies I grab my Bluetooth speaker and head back to bedroom singing and swinging my torso like an idiot and I realize as there’s sudden shouting and applause and laughter (from outside). Cheeks red and burning, I realized I was apparently performing for a stunned audience of cars and a onlookers. My bedroom light is on and the shades are down it’s like I have a spotlight on me. I didn’t know what to do, my heart sinks to my feet and I had to think fast which was a bit of a challenge in the state I was in.

I didn’t know what to do so I threw myself on the ground (sniper avoidance style) and crawled on my belly to the other end of my bedroom nearest my drawer to grab a pair of pajamas and put them on as fast anyone could that was laying facedown on the floor. I’m so stoned at this point that I’m considering an encore performance (not!). I quickly closed my shades and turned down the lights chuckling to myself as I temper my odd cocktail of embarrassment, adrenaline, and the detached airiness that comes with indica related products when consumed.

Needless to say if it’s Christmas, Kwanza, Ramadan, Presidents’ Day or Groundhog Day for that matter, when my evening rituals take place, the shades are shut and the lamp off. My skivvy gyration was a one-off performance… I’d settle for laughing at myself when I set down phone and attempt to answer my glasses…. 🤣

-aaa

QOTD: #153 Why Do I Write?

Anthony4 Comments

What do you enjoy most about writing?

Everything, well that’s far too vague for this group.

I enjoy writing prose and seeing my emotionally charged words affect readers. They either can relate it to their own life, or they empathize for the other.

The bottom line, writing is to reach your audience and, in a way make them feel, something.

Anytime I achieve that, I consider the written work I created a success.

That’s why we write in the first place, to convey our point of view and reach people.

One other aspect I enjoy, is experimenting with different words, poetic forms, and pentameters.

As always, thank you for reading…

-aaa

Fulcrum

Anthony6 Comments

Originally Published 04/28/2024

Strength rises from within

Providing ease in adversity

Malleable to change and experience

Strong enough to withstand the fires of life

Redefining importance and priority

Easing the pain of the past letting old wounds heal

Becoming a center stone in your life age in the lives of others

Sharing your failures to help others find the path

Swelling with pride inside overcoming obstacles

Realizing you can have what you want

Manifesting a life you always wanted in every way

Continuing the work to become a better you

Rediscovering who you are and were meant to be

Be your own success story

Transform your life until there’s no recognition

Unburden yourself except your limits and mistakes

No one or nothing will stop you except you…

-aaa 🔥🔥

QOTD: # 151

Anthony5 Comments

What positive emotion do you feel most often?

LOVE

I have a great deal of love for myself and for everyone in the world around me.

I’m an empathetic human being so it’s in my nature to love and I do more than most and I don’t regret that.

As always, thank you for reading… 😊

-AAA

United in Humble Compassion

AnthonyLeave a comment

Happy are the humble 

The entire earth is theirs

The vain always fumble.

–

For their lack of cares

As life’s a roughened tumble 

When you’re caught unawares.

–

The walls we build up will crumble 

When we share and trust 

If not then it’s all our bumble.

–

Isolated and alone, we wither and rust

Be a community of colleagues and friends

Or our entire society will be a bust.

–

Mutual happiness that never ends 

A world of love we all are part

As long as we make amends.

–

So at the end we talk of start 

Mending bridges reaching out 

Weaker we are when we’re apart.

–

That’s what life is all about 

So we must be happy together 

And make this lifetime count…

-AAA 08/16/2024

QOTD: #150

Anthony2 Comments

How do you plan your goals?

I find this question very confusing. I don’t really plan my goals. I am more or less identify my goals.

After doing so, then I come up with a routine and a set of events that assures that I achieve those goals.

You have to stick to your guns and be consistent and realize you are human. There will be steps backwards before you go forwards.

My $.25. As always, thank you for reading…

-aaa

You Got This

Anthony13 Comments

Originally Published 04/25/2024

Hug yourself super tight

Everything will be alright

–

Feel the warmth inside

Love yourself with pride

–

It’s not so bad to be alone

Deep inside your always home

–

Do all things that feel right

That you love day and night

–

Always embrace your inner weird

Its where your efforts should be geared

–

Who cares what other people say?

You’re still you at the end of the day

–

Take my advice and follow it well

Or else your life will be a hell

–

Even if you’re alone, be what you feel

Eventually, all will know that you’re real

And then you can finally heal…

-aaa

ANXI

Anthony2 Comments

Originally Published 04/20/2024


Art by Missy Daugherty
http://madmissywork.blog

Clutching you when you least expect

Coldness like a Zombie’s hand

Little to do or even protect

Fear waves its toxic wand.

–

Heart is racing beating faster

You take deep breaths to try and cope

Your body turns to rigid, skin alabaster

As you grasp at slipping notions of hope.

–

It’s taken you now you’re frozen in place

Triggered and frayed like a live wire

A icy gaunt look on your face

You suffer deep in anxiety’s ire.

–

Its Crippling debilitating

And takes a big toll on

Endlessly contemplating

Until happiness is gone.

–

Many a victim doth it take

Chaining them to over thought

Trying to avoid a break

From a disaster that may be wrought.

–

Stand in strength and hold on fast

Strength inside far more than you know

This internal nagging will not last

Take this opportunity to grow.

–

Take control you got this now.

Your mind drifts back to normalcy

Taking command of your fears, wow

It’s the strongest you can be…

–aaa