Shangri -La

AnthonyLeave a comment
Embrace that silence.
Let the calm wash over you.
Feel at ease with grace.
Empty all thoughts from your mind.
Let peace completely fill you.
–
Softly sit in place.
Don’t say a word just listen.
Focus on nothing.
Let all of your burdens go.
Relaxation with purpose…
-aaa

Originally Published 05/31/2024

The Odd Duck

Anthony3 Comments

Stop staring at me

You don’t know me at all

Keep your judgements to yourself

Or else you’ll be the one to take the fall.

–

Just because I’m not like you

Doesn’t mean I’m in the wrong

I’ll beat to my own drummer

And I sing a different song.

–

Nonconformity is not a sin

It’s just another way to live life

True uniqueness and weirdness too

Has sometimes been a personal strife.

–

In my youth I wanted to belong

So much so that it made me sad

But when I didn’t fit in with my peers

It often left me feeling bad.

–

What could I say to myself

If I could journey back in time

Words of encouragement and self love

Like “No, Anthony, you’re not a slime”

–

So I let these words flow out of me

My aims are honest and true

I love this oddball of a guy

And I think the world will too…

-aaa

Originally Published 06/01/2024

Good Only Knows by The Beach Boys

Anthony8 Comments

I’d like to say that Pet Sounds by The Beach Boys is my number three or number four album ever and one that I would have on an island with me for sure. Many including the Beatles considered to be one of the most beautiful influential albums of the 60s that actually changed music and I agree.

There are two type of people in the world ones that know that Brian Wilson is a genius and the rest. The song God Only Knows is proof of that. 

He decided to let his brother Carl sing the leads on it and he did a great job. And the backing of the wrecking crew is nothing less than genius.

Such beautiful sad chords that grow up and up and up and never let you down. Great lyrics by Tony Asher, makes you wonder what Brian was trying to touch on.  Also to create those interesting sounds on the piano. He actually put pennies on the piano strings meticulously until he got that interesting staccato sound playing the piano. His experimentation in the studio can be found throughout the pet sounds album and there are many great songs on that album.

And of course you have the beautiful voices of the fellow Beach boys always on point creating these complex chords. 

Is it a love song to someone or a love song to music you decide. There’s a good reason why it’s tattooed on my left shoulder. 

Check it out most of you should probably know a but if not check it out it’s really special and thank you for reading and listening…

-aaa

Write By Feel

Anthony3 Comments

Share your lessons

Tell your story

All of it’s pain 

and its glory.

–

Write a sonnet 

Compose some prose

With emotion 

I would suppose.

–

Unleash demons 

Buried inside

Vent and create

Rather than hide.

–

Feelings aren’t your

finality

Just a crux of 

Reality.

–

First heal yourself

Then heal the world

Share lessons that

Your life has hurled.

–

When you look back 

Words on paper

Marvel in those 

Recent capers…

-AAA 12/06/2024

QOTD: #252

AnthonyLeave a comment

Do you have a favorite place you have visited? Where is it?

I love the Sierra Nevada mountains. I’ve been up there fishing camping and exploring on and off since I was five years old.

I would say that I’ve taken more than a dozen trips up there throughout my life.

I hope to go back again sometime soon.

As always, thank you for reading…

-aaa

So Many… Christmas Songs 

Anthony2 Comments

Step into Christmas

And The little drummer boy 

We three kings.

–

The Christmas Song 

Oh little town of Bethlehem

And Silent Night.

–

Wonderful Christmas Time

And joy to the world 

Merry Christmas Baby.

–

Merry Christmas Darling 

Have yourself a merry Christmas 

Holly Jolly Christmas.

–

Good King Wenceslas 

Rudolph the red nosed reindeer 

Ring Christmas Bells.

–

The first noel 

The twelve days of Christmas 

And blue Christmas.

–

Jingle bell rock

Rocking around the Christmas tree

And white Christmas

–

Run Rudolph run

Oh come all ye faithful 

Frosty the snowman.

–

Old lang syne

Man with all the toys 

A Christmas Carol.

–

Oh holy night

And Santa’s got an airplane 

Deck the halls.

–

Little Saint Nick

And Christmas all over again

Someday at Christmas.

–

A Christmas song

Man with all the toys 

Christmastime is here…

-AAA 12/05/2024

Alone Again?

AnthonyLeave a comment

It’s the end if the world and you know it

It ain’t over till it’s over

–

Over my head

Over and out

–

Out of touch

Out of time

–

Time and tide

Time of the season

–

Season cycle

Season of the witch

–

Witchy ways

Witchy woman

–

Woman at the well

Woman in love

–

Love is a battlefield

Lover fool

–

Fools rush in

Fool (if you think it’s over)

–

Overjoyed

Over You

–

You are the sunshine of my life

You belong to me

–

Me and my arrow

Me, myself, and I

–

I don’t want to spoil the party

I alone

–

Alone again or

Alone again, naturally

–

Natural woman

Natural one

–

One (is the loneliest number)

One step closer

–

Closer to edge

Closer to the heart

–

Heart of the sunrise

Heart of glass

–

Glass onion

Glass houses

–

Houses of the Holy

House of the rising sun

–

Sun is shining

Sun king

–

King of pain

King for a day

–

Day in, day out

Day drinking

–

Drinking again

Drinking alone

–

Alone…

Again…

-aaa

Originally Published 05/30/2024

QOTD: #261

Anthony2 Comments

Share five things you’re good at.

Here are five things that I am good at:

  1. Writing, I write many forms of poetry, short stories, essays, music analysis, and technical writing (manuals).
  2. Music, I play most percussion instruments, site ready very well, play piano by ear, and can sing in tune /harmonize.
  3. Computers, I’ve been working with computers and in technology for about 28 years now.
  4. Empathy, I pick up a lot on people’s feelings, emotions, etc.
  5. Cooking, I’m pretty adaptive and create my own recipes.

As always, thank you for reading…

-aaa

Three Things Challenge #898

Anthony5 Comments

Three Things Challenge #M898

Your three words today are:

ELUDE

ELUSIVE

EXCLUSIVE

Elusive Tercets 

I am not obtrusive

You’re just elusive 

Eluding is you play.

–

Is it abusive

Or your exclusive

To do it each day.

–

It’s not so conclusive 

For me to conduce it

Without any delay.

–

You’re not submissive

And I’m not dismissive

So let’s call it “touché”…

-AAA 12/04/2024

Wish Me A Fish

Anthony3 Comments

Wish me a fish 

Make me a dish 

That is delish

Fulfill my wish.

–

Tell me a tale 

About a whale

Who, without fail

was never frail.

–

Sing me a song 

I’ll sing along

Would that be wrong

Would it belong?

–

Share a secret 

Never forget 

Alone regret

Is a tough bet.

–

Show me your dance

I’ll watch you prance

Per happenstance

At my first chance.

–

Let’s end this rhyme

It’s about time 

and not a crime

Likely sublime…

-AAA 12/04/2024

High Stars

AnthonyLeave a comment

Take on Me

Take my down to the Paradise City

–

Cities in dust

City of Gold

–

Golden years

Gold dust woman

–

Woman like me

Woman in chains.

–

Chains of love

Chain of fools

–

Fool on the hill

Fool in the rain

–

Rainbow connection

Rain drops keep falling on my head

–

Head like a hole

Head down

–

Down in a hole

Down under

–

Under the boardwalk

Under the cherry moon

–

Moonlight drive

Moon dance

–

Dance dance dance

Dance in my blood

–

Blood sweat and tears

Bloody well right

–

Right down the line

Right of way

–

Way to San Jose

Way you are

–

Are you gonna go my way

Are you gonna be my girl

–

Girl afraid

Girls just want to have fun

–

Fun fun fun

Fun to be had

–

Had to fall in love

Had to cry today

–

Today is greatest day I’ve ever known

Today’s gonna be a good day

–

Daydream in blue

Day light

–

Lights go down

Light my fire

–

Fire and Rain

Fire in the Sky

–

Sky full of stars

Sky high

–

High…

Stars…

-aaa

Originally Published 05/30/2024

QOTD: # 259

Anthony2 Comments

Are you more of a night or morning person?

I am definitely more a night person. I always struggle with the mornings and often require the magic of caffeine to prop me up on more difficult days.

As always thank you for reading…

-aaa

Placing A Call

AnthonyLeave a comment

Nimble soft fingers 

Press digits on a device

Waiting for a voice

To acknowledge all, across 

a distant wireless expanse.

–

In the days of old

This call would be placed inside

A compact phone booth

Without video or an

attachment of any kind…

-AAA 12/02/2024

Grow

Anthony5 Comments

Pause, step forward

Your so much stronger now

You’re more you.

–

With each hurdle

you clear, you will evolve

into better existence.

–

Don’t shy away

Just go for it all

Without any fear.

–

Embrace the changes

They were meant to happen 

For your happiness.

–

Old standbys go

While new ones will arrive

For your best.

–

Do not magnify

all of your life’s mistakes

Learn from them.

–

We are human

Missteps, make up our journeys

Enjoy the ride…

-AAA 12/01/2024