Guess what...

You can follow me on Twitter @WrkspcWrtngs! Click the button to the left.

Go for it.

It'll be fun.

A circle, a bent heart

A circle

Is a bent heart

Pulled and torn

Ripped at center

Hole gaping

With jagged edges

-

Only it

Knows the pain

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Goals (aim with ambition) – A Haiku

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Set your goals up high
Aim for them and try to reach
Ambition is right

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Nefarious envelopes, and I'm published. Good day, sir or ma'am.

Not really though… but kinda yes. But also kinda no.

You may recall a while back when I mentioned my writing being selected for a poetry book. Well, yesterday a strange manila envelope arrived in the mail all taped up from a strange location in Michigan that was unknown to me with a return address “person or other entity” noted as ‘NAR’. Clearly, had I been a politician, I would have called the bomb squad immediately. But I am not a politician, so I only considered the option heavily prior to gently opening the package while making sure my dogs face kept away and my hands improperly shielded should something nefarious happen.

Sure enough, nothing happened other than the envelope opening per normal protocol. Lo and behold, it was one of the two copies I purchased of the book. You can find it here: New Art Review.

Pass the word.

Oh, and also? Check out the new WW’s Weekly Items of Note.

Should be a blast.

Welp!

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WW's Weekly Items of Note – V.1, I.1

Welcome to the first-ever

WW’s Weekly Items of Note!
Don’t forget to Share with a friend!

In this issue you’ll find:

From the interwebs

The week’s blogging

The week’s writing

Now let's get started!

From the interwebs:

There’s a grand piano hanging out on sand bar in the middle of the water. Fun!


The week’s blogging:

“At some point the girl decided to come to, which I’m sure was a little surprising for her to find herself being carried away by a strange man… probably much like a soon-to-be bad dream, a kidnapping, or other strange movie scene…”

“We need more ninjas in this world…” and “The dispenser just so happened to dispense toilet paper pre-cut in 3-sheet lengths…”

“Crazy site visits from the Ukraine and the Russia…” and inspiration

“I woke up to a guy standing next to the bed who was wearing welding goggles and a dark work suit…”

"Much to my dismay, it had shoulder nips."


The week’s writing:

Sin – A Haiku


---End weekly transmission---

Don’t forget to Share with a friend!

_

Yeah, no. Go back to sleep.

aka: "Dreams and Night Terrors: What we do when we sleep"


Xtina: i had a dream that you and i were living together at my mom's house
my mom wasn't there though, i guess she was in florida
but my dad stopped by periodically, which was weird
and we had dogs
lots of dogs
big ones
no foofie dogs
and we had about 8 or 9 of them

Me: weird
i woke up screaming and about to fight the creepy girl standing in the corner by the window.

Xtina: shut. up.

Me: yeah
that was a blast

**End copy/paste function**

So over the past, say, 8 months or so, maybe a year, every now and then I’ll see something in my sleep that startles the hell out of me, freaks me out, wakes me up, and forces me to scream a bit, only to find that nothing’s there.

One time I woke up to a guy standing next to the bed who was wearing welding goggles and a dark work suit. I actually jumped out of bed, ran across the bedroom to the bathroom and slammed the door shut, all while screaming “WHO THE F*@% ARE YOU!!! WHO THE F*@% ARE YOU!!! WHO THE F*@% ARE YOU!!!” I then turned the bathroom light on and quickly opened the door, only to find no one standing there.

Yup. That actually happened.

What did my dog do? She stayed in her bed, looking at me like ‘wtf, mate’.

What did she do the other night? I heard a thump-thump-thump-thump from her direction… her tail was wagging under the blanket all excited like, probably thinking something fun was going on. Yeah, no. Go back to sleep.

_

Site Feed Change - PLEASE UPDATE

I'm hoping all my woes with feed traffic come to an end now. I've change the feed address (noted below). Please update by traveling to my site and re-subscribing. THANK YOU!

The new feed link is:

http://www.workspacewritings.com/feeds/posts/default

Please update. Thanks!

Site Feed Change - PLEASE UPDATE

I'm hoping all my woes with feed traffic come to an end now. I've change the feed address (noted below). Please update by traveling to my site and re-subscribing. THANK YOU!

The new feed link is:

http://www.workspacewritings.com/feeds/posts/default

Please update. Thanks!

More Random, with a side of inspiration

I like that whenever I post about 30 Seconds To Mars there’s always a few hits from Google. They’re not quality hits, but hits nonetheless and count as visitors. Of course, these hits aren’t spending any time on my site whatsoever, and whenever I look I don’t see my site on the first few pages of search results and wonder how they came about. But I still like it. I remember the first time I posted about 30STM, I had a couple weeks of crazy site visits from the Ukraine and the Russia area. When I sought out the originating site, I couldn’t read it. Oh well

Also, this post happens to be on the first page of Google results for ‘writings about hobbies’. Good.

More also, I’m throwing around the idea of having a weekly publication on the site, perhaps called “The Weekly Items of Note” or something like that. It will comprise random things from around the interwebs, my life, friend’s lives, post comments, and perhaps highlights from the week’s posts as well. Or none of that. What are your thoughts on this? Do you want to see a weekly ‘something’ like that? Other blogs do it – have you had enough?

And the final also, I’m in good spirits today. Yesterday I made an important decision which I hope heralds in a new age of my life, marked with prosperity, entertainment, and true value. My hopes are up and my spirits are high; what else can I ask for?

I hope all is well in your world. If it’s not, get after it and put things in line. You know what you need to do.

Now repeat after me: “I make my own destiny.”

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‘Ninjas’ and more ‘washing of hands’ talk

First, ‘ninjas’:

We need more ninjas in this world. Or ninja-like things. Or just more references to things being ninja-like. Perhaps one of the car makers can design a ninja-themed vehicle and bring it to market. I vaguely remember seeing something about a Nissan Xterra being ninja-like. After a quick search, here it is: “Nissan Ninja Hauler Kicks Ass and Takes Names Silently.” Maybe Jeep can make a Ninja model – they made a Black Ops model, so why not expand into other themes?

Lastly, more ‘washing of hands talk’:

Before the show on Friday, I happened to wash my hands in a public restroom. This restroom happened to have a paper towel dispenser on the wall to dry customer’s hands. The dispenser just so happened to dispense toilet paper pre-cut in 3-sheet lengths. I thought that was pretty odd. Odd enough to warrant me taking a picture even while others were in the restroom waiting for me to remove myself from the dispenser.

*Historical: please see here for previous washing of hands talk and my realization that there are three types of people in this world.

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Sin – A Haiku

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Sin, its appeal and
Its temptation unrivaled
No wonder we fall
_


*Written in response to the prompt “Sin” at Haiku Heights

**Want more Haiku? Check out a few of my others:

Bliss /
Sacred /
Those Eyes /
absolute emptiness /
Haikus From Space /
Haikus To Save The World /

***Want more Poetry & Prose? Click the 'Poetry+Prose' label at the bottom or to the right!

Saving a life with 30 Seconds To Mars

Friday evening I attended the 30 Seconds To Mars show. You may recall the last time I saw them. This time around was also a good show (even though the show concluded before 10pm), however, a little more eventful in some ways. Please keep reading for the story. It’s sure to be a nail-biter… or not.

You see, we were standing at center stage in the middle of the crowd, at a point where Jared (the lead singer) had everyone take 3 steps forward 3 times during the course of the first few songs (I’m sure you can imagine how we were all packed in, literally, like sardines) When all of a sudden, the crowd in front of me parted and a guy and his girlfriend appeared in a clear attempt to walk to the back of the crowd.

After focusing, I realized he was carrying this girl and was clearly having trouble as she was obviously passed out. I imagine at the start of their journey she faced him with arms wrapped around his neck as he began to walk her backward, and that all was going to be OK for them. By this point, however, she was slumping to the floor – her face in his chest, and his hands desperately holding on below her shoulders.

Xtina quickly prompted me to give him a hand getting the girl out of the crowd (I assume it was my inebriation that didn’t allow me to notice his need for help sooner). I asked if he wanted help, he signaled yes, I slung her into my arms, and off we went pushing through the crowd as I yelled for people to move aside, pardoning and thanking the entire way. The guy was behind me holding her feet, although there was no need since I had her fully in my arms, braced with my left arm under her knees and my right arm under back.

At some point the girl decided to come to, which I’m sure was a little surprising for her to find herself being carried away by a strange man with a hat and a beard, probably much like a soon-to-be bad dream, a kidnapping, or other strange movie scene (unnecessary clarification: I sometimes like to go incognito when in public – full beard, hat, and unsuspecting attire; I don’t like when the paparazzi snap pictures of me. It can be tolling at times. …But I digress).

Fortunately though, she saw her boyfriend in front of her. Unfortunately for me though, concerned for her wellbeing, she tried to sit up in my arms, leaning in the opposite direction from which we were traveling in an attempt to grab hold of her man and claw her way into his arms. Needless to say, this resulted in a very uncomfortable carrying experience for me, which if it weren’t for her coming to, would have been a textbook extraction of a person from the middle of a densely-packed crowd.

Finally, we arrived at a clearing, set her down, the two thanked me, I told them to get water and relax, I turned to go back into the crowd, and realized I was unable to get back to my date. Which was unfortunate because Xtina and I spent the rest of the show trying to find each other after she insisted she was at the first bar on the right when walking back from the stage (which was exactly where I was the entire time, and where I had dropped off the guy & gal combo), when in reality she was at the last bar all the way at the back of the venue… But it was worth it.

_

Shoulder Nips

What to do… What to do… Last week I pulled a shirt off the shelf (read: hanger) that I hadn’t worn in quite a while, say, a year or so. Probably since last winter. Much to my dismay, it had shoulder nips. Crunched for time though, I opted to wear the shirt, regardless of its unusual and unwelcomed addition. Fortunately for me, I think I forgot about the shoulder nips and moved on with my day.

I wonder if anyone else noticed them; I usually notice them on other people and think to myself, “Man, that’s something. I wouldn’t have hung that shirt on a hanger – I certainly would have folded it to prevent the shoulder nips because clearly the fabric is going to stretch on the hanger.”

Which brings me to a question of great importance: which is better to have – shoulder nips or creases/wrinkles that may or may not be challenging to get rid of when you’re short on time?

That is all.

_

The Walking Dead: A Review

It seems I haven’t chatted about zombies in a while. I’m not interested in researching to see the last time I did, but I assume it’s been at least a month or two.

Three nights ago I was watching TV. And on that TV came a commercial, a commercial for The Walking Dead, the new series on AMC. The spot caught my attention so I quickly went online to see what it was all about. Turns out I missed the entire first season. It also turns out that they just so happened to be airing an encore showing of season 1 the following two nights. Thus, I promptly set my DVR to record the following night’s showing of the full season.

Last night I sat down and started watching, say about 7:00pm. Ish. Come 12:30am, I went to bed after watching all 6 episodes of season 1. I just couldn’t stop watching.

Surprisingly, The Walking Dead has a pretty deep plot and storyline. It’s not just about zombies (which they aptly call ‘walkers’); it’s about the struggle to survive in a post-collapse of all society after an outbreak which causes people to contract a disease which kills them and then after some time brings them back to life. Of course, there’s the ‘get-bitten-and-turn-into-one-of-them’ thing going on as well.

Also surprisingly, after the first couple episodes, there is a lower reliance on zombie scenes and a greater reliance on struggle and survival. It’s actually quite good and I can’t wait for season 2.

If you can, check it out. It will certainly help to follow along from episode 1 to the next, and so forth. The story line keeps moving at a brisk pace and easily pulls you in. There aren’t many cliffhangers, but there is a good dose of suspense throughout.

_

I need a hobby

I need a hobby. Those of you who are FB friends, you’re already familiar with this. Those of you who are not, well, I need a hobby. Or three. I say three because sometimes I can get bored and fall into disinterest, thus the need to have something else to move on to and return to the first at a later time.

I’ve received a few suggestions, however none of them fit the bill. I need something that can take place in the evenings after work, preferably in one- to two-hour blocks. Brewing beer sounds like a frontrunner, although that’s not something you can do every day, unless you plan on brewing a ridiculous amount of beer, which I do not.

Perhaps brewing beer can be one of my hobbies … but what else? Any thoughts or suggestions? What hobbies do you enjoy?

Joe – if you’re listening, send me a shopping list of my initial equipment needs. Thanks.

_

Free, thanks to a coupon.

Free. You would you think that this would be a good thing if you heard it, and you’re quite likely to check it out and anticipate a good deal.

Coupon. Something you probably have interest in, especially if it’s for a restaurant. Why? Because it usually means a good deal, typically by way of a free appetizer, entrée, or half-off something.

A coupon for a “free non-alcoholic drink of your choice w/lunch or dinner” does not equate to either of the above, and is quite likely to be a waste of your time.

A free soda? Wow. Thanks, restaurant, that’s awesome! I can’t wait to print out the coupon, waste paper, ink, and time so I can have a free soda! Thank you! SO. MUCH!

Seriously. What are they thinking?

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Soup, Money, and Medieval Times

The strange things about me, is that I love saving money as much as I love spending it. This probably isn’t the only strange thing about me, and I request that if you know of other strange things: keep them to yourself. Thanks.

Anyway. As I walked back to my desk after heating my Chunky Soup, I realized that I enjoy saving money and love the feeling of doing so. I also thought that I should do the soup thing more often; it’s much cheaper than going out to eat, and is generally healthier than some of the things I would eat if I went out.

At the same time, I know that I love food. All foods. And love going out to eat. You see, this poses a significant problem for the fiscally responsible among us: while I love to save, I also love to spend. Both can be good feelings (dependant on what you’re spending money on), and both are desirable feelings.

I suppose the trick is to balance them out. Spend a little here and save a little there, but spend more only for those things that will continue the good feelings longer than something that isn’t worth the money, and save enough to be satisfied without locking oneself into a room 24/7 and limiting purchases to air and water.

Back to the soup. I really enjoy a good, hearty soup with a big crusty roll. For some reason, I love the rustic feeling. It brings me back to the 14th, 16, 17th and most other centuries when soups and bread were the mainstay of societies. Sometimes I wish I was alive during those times, merely for the coolness of the eras with the knights and dirt and whatnot.

In closing: I like soup, money, and Medieval times. Thank you.

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Wait... I'm confused!

So I made some changes to the back-end of the site. And now I'm wondering if anyone receives this feed. So, if you wouldn't mind - do you see this post in your RSS reader or however it is you view RSS feeds?

My continued attempt to provide myself the opportunity to have a full-night’s sleep continues to be foiled by me.

Generally speaking, I get tired from time to time, especially during the lull of the day and when things aren’t too busy. Even more so when sitting in one place for a long period of time.

Last night I lied awake for almost two hours, patiently waiting to fall asleep. My mind, however, continued to play movies, show scenes, and hold discussions with little to no regard for my wellbeing. Had it had any concern for me at all, it would have shut up and let me sleep, for it knew I had to work the next morning.

Instead, it went on and on, on and on, on and on, on and on.

Nights other than last night, it’s usually the TV, and when it’s not the TV it’s my low-level OCD and an interest to research a topic or fifteen on the internet until I resolve my need for information. Though, many nights it’s the lying-in-bed-can’t-get-to-sleep situation.

When it’s the TV, Seinfeld and Curb Your Enthusiasm, as well as Law & Order, are usually to blame. Each one of those has a way of sucking me in and depriving me of sleep. Again, it’s likely to be the low-level OCD that won’t allow me to call it quits halfway into an episode; I must finish what I started. The same goes for the internet research – no stopping until I’m satisfied with info I’ve found.

So, Vitamin D and melatonin have become friends of mine. Though, they don’t always have the desired effect. Several times, I’ve pushed through the urge to sleep in the name of not calling it quits halfway through whatever it is that is holding my attention. Once that barrier is crossed, though I can fall asleep at any time, it’s an almost zombie state of attentiveness that keeps me glued where I am.

I keep saying it’s time to give in and go to bed at a respectable time. And although I give it a try some nights, it’s hard to find me sleeping at 930 or 10pm. I continue to remind myself that I can sleep when I’m dead. I also continue to remind myself of my love for sleep and my desire for more.

For some reason, however, these two thoughts never work it out for the sake of my wellbeing. Thus continuing the up late-crash-rest-up late-crash-rest rhythm of my life.

I wonder if one day this will change.

_

Brushing the cow’s tail

Have you heard this expression before? You know, used as: ‘don’t go brushing the cow’s tail’ or ‘he was brushing the cow’s tail’?

How about, ‘it was so crazy it was as if she was brushing the cow’s tail’?

I didn’t think so, neither have I. Nor do I want to. Although, small part of me wishes for this expression to start up. I wouldn’t mind being the proprietor of ‘brushing the cow’s tail’. Better to be the proprietor of ‘brushing the cow’s tail’ than ‘walking the way with dinosaurs’. I don’t even know what that means. Actually, I don’t know what either of them means.

Disregard I said anything.

_

There are three types of people in this world...

I have come to the conclusion that there are three types of people in this world. There are those who, after spending any amount of time in the restroom, turn the water on before reaching for the soap. Then there are those who reach for the soap before turning on the water. And, of course, there are those who do not wash at all prior to exiting the restroom. These people should be cornered and educated on the societal norms of bathroom etiquette.

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Longing Fear

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I woke to the beginning
It started in my sleep
My eyes opened to the sound
Of screaming on the streets

I lie there for one moment
Push clouds from my head
Wish that I was dreaming
And I would wake inside my bed

The sounds went on in horror
The clash was very clear
I sat up and peered out the window
The war was finally here

No time to take cover
Or time to get dressed
Make haste was the only answer
While I planned the moments ahead

I wanted to much to scream
For them all to give in and stop
But running out the doorway
Was the only way to go on

Down the stairs I encountered
Something my eyes could only stare
Looking back at me was my twin, my self
Looking with a glare

Could this be a dream?
Could this be for real?
Can I stand there and stare back at me
And survive this longing fear?

_

Tipping the newspaper guy (or gal). And Yogurt.

This is something that I just don’t understand. Why would you tip the newspaper delivery person? I mean, don’t they get an hourly wage that is equal-to or greater-than minimum wage? It’s not like they’re paid less than minimum wage like a waiter or waitress is. I can understand tipping a waiter or waitress, but not the newspaper delivery person. I mean, you don’t tip the USP guy of FedEx Man, nor do you tip your local USPS delivery person. Why are the paper people so special?

Speaking of tipping, the group I was eating with asked a waitress what percentage she typically receives from people. She informed us that most people are tipping 20% these days. 20%. No longer is 15% the norm. No long is 15-20% the norm. No longer is 18% the norm. Somehow, according to that waitress, 20% has become the norm, even in this economy. I guess good for the waiters and waitresses.

And also, why do I buy strawberry yogurt when I clearly have an affinity for blueberry? I’ll usually buy three blue berry and two strawberry just to change things up. Why bother? I don’t like the strawberry nearly as much as the blueberry…

_

Happy 2011: A Few (Random) Points

Looks like we all survived; the computers didn’t rise up for yet another year. Yay for us. Maybe next year they’ll attack as previously planned for Y2K. I guess we’ll have to see. Fortunately, we have another full year to prepare. However, something tells me that no one is taking this threat seriously.

So… have you purchased Fast Lane Tea yet from Celestial Seasonings? You should. See my previous post about it. I’ve had several people email to inform me of their purchase. Are you one joining us?

The new wall calendar I’ve received at work seems to be 130% larger than the previous one, and subsequently does not fit on my cube’s wall. Not a fan.

I’ve been searching for a Franklin Covey or other organizer system to meet my needs to no avail. Hopefully avail will happen this week. If not, I’ll have to fashion some sticks and yarn together with some pulp to create the solution best-fit for me.

Already, there are a few concerts lines up this year, namely: Disco Biscuits, 30 Seconds To Mars, and Umphrey’s McGee, all by mid February. Be on the lookout for reviews as per usual.

Did I mention my MBA education is complete? Finally. Not that it took forever, but I’m glad to be done with the homework. However, I have another year’s-worth of free education coming to me so I have to start deciding what direction I want my educational path to go.

Also, I bought a new Jeep. Did I mention that? Don’t think I did.

It seems that things are a little refreshed. While I agree that the New Year holiday is more mental than anything, there’s something to be said about the renewed spirit it can generate if you allow it. Get caught up in the moment and refresh yourself. Keep your head high and your eye on the goal. You’ll get there in one piece.

Signing off until next time.

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