tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-84412176142971129402024-03-28T20:27:51.211-07:00From the Garret of AnnNoEWriting is a lonely undertaking, best done in secret and in quiet stillness (a luxury we do not often have these days).
Now I have my garret - my private place where I can commune with my muses. But not so secret a place that I cannot share with you - my friends.AnnNoEhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05828350639184642799noreply@blogger.comBlogger110125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8441217614297112940.post-85319951813585831962024-03-01T15:14:00.000-08:002024-03-01T15:14:35.704-08:00“One Life – Unlived”<p> </p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 10.1pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><b><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial Rounded MT Bold","sans-serif"; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: text1;">March <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>2024 Blog</span></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial Rounded MT Bold","sans-serif"; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: text1;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 10.1pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><br /></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial Rounded MT Bold","sans-serif"; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: text1;">Stagnation:
A Haiku <o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: center;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial Rounded MT Bold","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: text1;">The months fly by and<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: center;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial Rounded MT Bold","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: text1;">Soon a year has nearly passed<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: center;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial Rounded MT Bold","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: text1;">And it is not done.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: center;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial Rounded MT Bold","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: text1;">by Ann Wilmer-Lasky<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12.0pt; text-align: center;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial Rounded MT Bold","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: text1;">(3/1/24)<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12.0pt; text-align: center;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial Rounded MT Bold","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: text1;"><o:p> </o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 10.1pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: 22.3pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial Rounded MT Bold","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: text1;">March
26<sup>th</sup> will be a year since my son died. The poetry chapbook I need to
write in memory of him lies heavy on my mind and a long way from completion. I
could say I have procrastinated, but the truth is – I have stagnated. I am yet
bereft and finding it difficult to put my thought and feelings to print.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 10.1pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: 22.3pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial Rounded MT Bold","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: text1;">I
believe I’m ready to get started on it now. The feelings are still fresh, but I
can now be reasonably objective enough to do it justice, I believe.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 10.1pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: 22.3pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial Rounded MT Bold","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: text1;">Also,
it’s a year later and a year less that I have left to get it all done.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 10.1pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: 22.3pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial Rounded MT Bold","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: text1;">Just
what is “All”? You may ask. “All” is the other half of my own life that I have
never lived. All the novels I have not written. All the poetry I have yet to
compose. All the joy I was promised in my senior years by those who had no idea
what life would be like now.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 10.1pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: 22.3pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial Rounded MT Bold","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: text1;">I hope
I have time for one more restart, one more chance to “get ‘er done”.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 10.1pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: 22.3pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial Rounded MT Bold","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: text1;">I saw
Carl Reiner on a 1981 Johnny Carson rerun the other night talking about getting
old. He quoted Samuel Beckett: “We are born astride the grave”.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 10.1pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: 22.3pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial Rounded MT Bold","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: text1;">That
stuck with me. It reminds me of the idea that we start to die the moment we are
born. Morbid maybe, definitely heavy thoughts and undeniably true. But before I
slip into that grave I was born astride, I have many things yet to do. It’s
long past time I got started – or restarted as the case may be. It is fortunate
that I am in reasonably good health, of reasonably sound mind and able to meet
my obligations. Thus, I can concentrate on writing if I can just shake the sadness
off. I really need to smile more. It’s going to be difficult writing what’s in my
heart and finding odd moments to smile. But that is what we do – we laugh and
we cry our whole lives through. Those of us who write are sometimes lucky
enough to share those laughs and those tears with our readers. I definitely
have more to share.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 10.1pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: 22.3pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial Rounded MT Bold","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: text1;">As
always, I welcome your reactions and responses to any of my blogs. I love to
hear from my readers. Also, here are links to my Twitter and Facebook accounts,
if you care to share your thoughts with me there or look for any publication
announcements.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 10.1pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: 22.3pt;"><a href="http://amazon.com/author/annwilmerlasky"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Arial Rounded MT Bold","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">amazon.com/author/annwilmerlasky</span></b></a><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial Rounded MT Bold","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: text1;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 10.1pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: 22.3pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial Rounded MT Bold","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: text1;"></span></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEiB2UVwaDwpj32IlZ3BPz9zJeB7Bj8UUjApbv3REZWUys3duImIXX-71e0tar_7d4AR4Oz8kQvdOJXLcFDNIfWlp_Z9eGwt91vIQ_iOczVH0zaJABqj1eYXNblGH5S8FhNHjKsXmo0Q0rDC8727c2Va57SkFaajh7ZBwcE1KutnqRCrhwaaCYY0iByng/s5120/collage%202.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="5120" data-original-width="5120" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEiB2UVwaDwpj32IlZ3BPz9zJeB7Bj8UUjApbv3REZWUys3duImIXX-71e0tar_7d4AR4Oz8kQvdOJXLcFDNIfWlp_Z9eGwt91vIQ_iOczVH0zaJABqj1eYXNblGH5S8FhNHjKsXmo0Q0rDC8727c2Va57SkFaajh7ZBwcE1KutnqRCrhwaaCYY0iByng/s320/collage%202.jpg" width="320" /></a></b></div><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><br /><o:p></o:p></b><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 10.1pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: 22.3pt;"><a href="https://twitter.com/awlasky"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial Rounded MT Bold","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: text1;">https://twitter.com/awlasky</span></b></a><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial Rounded MT Bold","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: text1;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 10.1pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: 22.3pt;"><a href="https://www.facebook.com/ann.wilmerlasky"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial Rounded MT Bold","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: text1;">https://www.facebook.com/ann.wilmerlasky</span></b></a><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><o:p></o:p></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 10.1pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: 22.3pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial Rounded MT Bold","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: text1;">It’s
now March and we are already starting to warm up. Not looking forward to the
blistering hot summer I fear is coming.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 10.1pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: 22.3pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial Rounded MT Bold","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: text1;">Beware
the Ides of March!<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 10.1pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: 22.3pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial Rounded MT Bold","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: text1;"><o:p> </o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 10.1pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: 22.3pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial Rounded MT Bold","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: text1;"><o:p> </o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 10.1pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: 22.3pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial Rounded MT Bold","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: text1;"><o:p> </o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 10.1pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: 22.3pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial Rounded MT Bold","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: text1;"><o:p> </o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 10.1pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: 22.3pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial Rounded MT Bold","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: text1;"><o:p> </o:p></span></b></p>AnnNoEhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05828350639184642799noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8441217614297112940.post-20739887648790384132024-02-10T19:54:00.000-08:002024-02-10T19:54:37.537-08:00“Happy Lunar New Year 2024”<p> </p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 10.1pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><b><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial Rounded MT Bold","sans-serif"; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: text1;">February
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>2024 Blog</span></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial Rounded MT Bold","sans-serif"; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: text1;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 10.1pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><br /></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial Rounded MT Bold","sans-serif"; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: text1;">Dragon
Breath A Haiku <o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: center;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial Rounded MT Bold","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: text1;">The Dragon wakes and<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: center;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial Rounded MT Bold","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: text1;">Breathes his fire to celebrate<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: center;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial Rounded MT Bold","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: text1;">The dawn of his year.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: center;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial Rounded MT Bold","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: text1;">by Ann Wilmer-Lasky<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12.0pt; text-align: center;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial Rounded MT Bold","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: text1;">(2/10/23)<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12.0pt; text-align: center;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial Rounded MT Bold","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: text1;"><o:p> </o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 10.1pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: 22.3pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial Rounded MT Bold","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: text1;">...and
I celebrate with him – breathing fire and all.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 10.1pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: 22.3pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial Rounded MT Bold","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: text1;">I’m
late! I’m late for a very important date. About ten days late, but I am in
posting my monthly blog. Sorry about that. I was under the weather for the
first few days, and then overwhelmed with catching up on life and everything.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 10.1pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: 22.3pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial Rounded MT Bold","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: text1;">Today
is the Chinese Lunar New Year, so I decided to start my year over and celebrate
The Year of the Dragon as a new beginning. <o:p></o:p></span></b><b><span style="font-family: "Arial Rounded MT Bold", "sans-serif"; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 32px;">“Happy Lunar New Year 2024”</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 10.1pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: 22.3pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial Rounded MT Bold","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: text1;"></span></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXSbS_7vmuyuYkaYrg2gWRMboybTCC0SsgHU3qD7K0uD62XXrygJAGM1p4h1kawXolcm_mkHwZqwWw5nn5pQQwQjD3Qi_S-ujYKRVjbgjvcQUYQi7_eqL3kiC1Zv650RhrjrrqpOOzK9S44VyO-eYFUE20VrpjUabeQSFG79UtBdh46YtVYCzKSbD1Mes/s1200/Dragon%20for%20New%20Year.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="1200" height="192" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXSbS_7vmuyuYkaYrg2gWRMboybTCC0SsgHU3qD7K0uD62XXrygJAGM1p4h1kawXolcm_mkHwZqwWw5nn5pQQwQjD3Qi_S-ujYKRVjbgjvcQUYQi7_eqL3kiC1Zv650RhrjrrqpOOzK9S44VyO-eYFUE20VrpjUabeQSFG79UtBdh46YtVYCzKSbD1Mes/s320/Dragon%20for%20New%20Year.jpg" width="320" /></a></b></div><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div></b>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 10.1pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: 22.3pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial Rounded MT Bold","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: text1;">This
year is going to be different (barring any more unforeseen illnesses or
emergencies). I’m breathing fire along with the dragon (or at least I’m trying
to).<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 10.1pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: 22.3pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial Rounded MT Bold","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: text1;">Maybe
I better settle for working up a storm. Maybe not. I understand there’s one
headed this way (wind, rain, and snow). Guess I better cut this real short and
post it before the power goes out.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 10.1pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: 22.3pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial Rounded MT Bold","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: text1;">I need
to double down on my efforts to publish more this year. Too bad I can’t spend
as much time writing, editing, and publishing as I do trying to catch up on
other things I haven’t done.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 10.1pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: 22.3pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial Rounded MT Bold","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: text1;">I
guess I can blame most of my problems on age.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 10.1pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: 22.3pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial Rounded MT Bold","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: text1;">Eighty
is no spring chicken, and I’m guessing it’s the main reason I feel the need to
take a nap during the day. But I will soldier on, and Sam Rock will be the
better for it. I’m feeling it in my blood now. There will be blood (and gore)!<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 10.1pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: 22.3pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial Rounded MT Bold","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: text1;">As
always, I welcome your reactions and responses to any of my blogs. I love to
hear from my readers. Also, here are links to my Twitter and Facebook accounts,
if you care to share your thoughts with me there or look for any publication
announcements.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 10.1pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: 22.3pt;"><a href="http://amazon.com/author/annwilmerlasky"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Arial Rounded MT Bold","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">amazon.com/author/annwilmerlasky</span></b></a><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial Rounded MT Bold","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: text1;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 10.1pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: 22.3pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial Rounded MT Bold","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: text1;"></span></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWbGO6sGLwTVaMP-liRWEU2OFLKXJ_bXvAWpecb_jFhTmLqI8BkerJKmjzVzsY2s6RIYb20vUDInSM_ejBv0q133bCOSnFY7u04SneP_jXzpmLiyIDtMoZ-oyB2QwiXR3RO-Ble28LNzWFonMqN_s5hwjiEuB14HuxRO51Ljtw65eqk7kzhvUR5E0udvE/s5120/collage%202.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="5120" data-original-width="5120" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWbGO6sGLwTVaMP-liRWEU2OFLKXJ_bXvAWpecb_jFhTmLqI8BkerJKmjzVzsY2s6RIYb20vUDInSM_ejBv0q133bCOSnFY7u04SneP_jXzpmLiyIDtMoZ-oyB2QwiXR3RO-Ble28LNzWFonMqN_s5hwjiEuB14HuxRO51Ljtw65eqk7kzhvUR5E0udvE/s320/collage%202.jpg" width="320" /></a></b></div><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><o:p><br /></o:p></b><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 10.1pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: 22.3pt;"><a href="https://twitter.com/awlasky"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial Rounded MT Bold","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: text1;">https://twitter.com/awlasky</span></b></a><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial Rounded MT Bold","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: text1;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 10.1pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: 22.3pt;"><a href="https://www.facebook.com/ann.wilmerlasky"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial Rounded MT Bold","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: text1;">https://www.facebook.com/ann.wilmerlasky</span></b></a><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><o:p></o:p></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 10.1pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: 22.3pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial Rounded MT Bold","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: text1;">It’s
now February and the start of the Chinese Lunar New Year, and I’m claiming a
do-over and another new beginning.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 10.1pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: 22.3pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial Rounded MT Bold","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: text1;"></span></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYg359_OfKoZTjGDaNmNUcg-RFppKUp5JowKFvGqCZM7cJW9gO7ybqUcvzkM48X55cVscBPJAF5U2jVPBK-itolcVG5VWwYW02foq6_RB9u2RjuTFt_ii-X-EdekZINi2O1TtkwDd3GcoNfhK24LkdRbo3IfUlTqojnU16BslgYYXZdPr-vLnchvxKI8s/s2048/Dragon%20from%20Laura.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYg359_OfKoZTjGDaNmNUcg-RFppKUp5JowKFvGqCZM7cJW9gO7ybqUcvzkM48X55cVscBPJAF5U2jVPBK-itolcVG5VWwYW02foq6_RB9u2RjuTFt_ii-X-EdekZINi2O1TtkwDd3GcoNfhK24LkdRbo3IfUlTqojnU16BslgYYXZdPr-vLnchvxKI8s/s320/Dragon%20from%20Laura.jpg" width="240" /></a></b></div><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><br /><o:p></o:p></b><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 10.1pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: 22.3pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial Rounded MT Bold","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: text1;">Happy,
Happy New Year!<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 10.1pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: 22.3pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial Rounded MT Bold","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: text1;"><o:p> </o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 10.1pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: 22.3pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial Rounded MT Bold","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: text1;"><o:p> </o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 10.1pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: 22.3pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial Rounded MT Bold","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: text1;"><o:p> </o:p></span></b></p>AnnNoEhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05828350639184642799noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8441217614297112940.post-5040515801962392612024-01-01T20:10:00.000-08:002024-01-01T20:10:02.352-08:00“Happy New Year 2024”<p> </p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 10.1pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial Rounded MT Bold","sans-serif"; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: text1;">January <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>2024
Blog</span><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial Rounded MT Bold","sans-serif"; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: text1;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 10.1pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><br /></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial Rounded MT Bold","sans-serif"; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: text1;">2024: </span></b><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial Rounded MT Bold","sans-serif"; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: text1;">A Haiku <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: center;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial Rounded MT Bold","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: text1;">Bring on the Year of<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: center;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial Rounded MT Bold","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: text1;">The Dragon; I will rejoice,<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: center;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial Rounded MT Bold","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: text1;">And I will be one</span></b><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial Rounded MT Bold","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: text1;">!<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: center;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial Rounded MT Bold","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: text1;">by Ann Wilmer-Lasky<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12.0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial Rounded MT Bold","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: text1;">(12/28/23)<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12.0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial Rounded MT Bold","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: text1;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 10.1pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: 22.3pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial Rounded MT Bold","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: text1;">Breathing
fire even! I am absolutely looking for a better new year starting right now,
although the Chinese Year of the Dragon 2024 won’t start until early February.
This is the year I resolve to resolve my resolutions. I’m declaring it a Resolution
Revolution:<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial Rounded MT Bold","sans-serif"; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: text1;">Resolution
Revolution: </span></b><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial Rounded MT Bold","sans-serif"; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: text1;">A Haiku <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: center;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial Rounded MT Bold","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: text1;">I highly resolve<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: center;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial Rounded MT Bold","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: text1;">I will actually resolve<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: center;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial Rounded MT Bold","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: text1;">My resolutions</span></b><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial Rounded MT Bold","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: text1;">!<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: center;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial Rounded MT Bold","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: text1;">by Ann Wilmer-Lasky<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12.0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial Rounded MT Bold","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: text1;">(1/1/24)<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 10.1pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: 22.3pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial Rounded MT Bold","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: text1;">This
year for sure! Every spare moment will be spent writing, editing, and
publishing along with promoting, of course. There will be sequels, prequels,
poetry chapbooks, Haiku, blogs and short stories even. I’m also taking the
January NaJoWriMo journaling challenge, since I missed NaNoWriMo last November
for the first time in over 10 years.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 10.1pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: 22.3pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial Rounded MT Bold","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: text1;">I’m
going to make this a really short blog post this month, but I promise more
fulfilling and revealing blogs in the future.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 10.1pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: 22.3pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial Rounded MT Bold","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: text1;">Right
now, I need to get this typed and posted to finish ringing in the new year
properly.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 10.1pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: 22.3pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial Rounded MT Bold","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: text1;">Wishing
you all a happy, prosperous and productive New Year!<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 10.1pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: 22.3pt;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial Rounded MT Bold","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: text1;"><b>As always, I welcome your
reactions and responses to any of my blogs. I love to hear from my readers.
Also, here are links to my Twitter and Facebook accounts, if you care to share
your thoughts with me there or look for any publication announcements.<o:p></o:p></b></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 10.1pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: 22.3pt;"><a href="http://amazon.com/author/annwilmerlasky"><span style="font-family: "Arial Rounded MT Bold","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><b>amazon.com/author/annwilmerlasky</b></span></a><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial Rounded MT Bold","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: text1;"><b> </b> <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 10.1pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: 22.3pt;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial Rounded MT Bold","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: text1;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhX7Sf_ka1s7JaWgcZykDfqfgQlfEJCVyLLe0wWRBmJMT0hzWngzd9M0fm9qXUis7rhrfoDTbdWhUZeHVYVd0Mk-m3TSX6NtP98rTX0CK-t1nqvSRHoxVqjAM4MZZLvIww6D7VrCDW9t6c_WnI0DGyB1ZeyE2UKS1azSKHF0b9ZQAJMsJufltd5HmZv2co/s5120/collage%202.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="5120" data-original-width="5120" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhX7Sf_ka1s7JaWgcZykDfqfgQlfEJCVyLLe0wWRBmJMT0hzWngzd9M0fm9qXUis7rhrfoDTbdWhUZeHVYVd0Mk-m3TSX6NtP98rTX0CK-t1nqvSRHoxVqjAM4MZZLvIww6D7VrCDW9t6c_WnI0DGyB1ZeyE2UKS1azSKHF0b9ZQAJMsJufltd5HmZv2co/s320/collage%202.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><o:p></o:p><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 10.1pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: 22.3pt;"><b><a href="https://twitter.com/awlasky"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial Rounded MT Bold","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: text1;">https://twitter.com/awlasky</span></a><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial Rounded MT Bold","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: text1;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 10.1pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: 22.3pt;"><a href="https://www.facebook.com/ann.wilmerlasky"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial Rounded MT Bold","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: text1;"><b>https://www.facebook.com/ann.wilmerlasky</b></span></a></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 10.1pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: 22.3pt;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial Rounded MT Bold","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: text1;"><b>It’s now January and the new
year has literally just started. I am so ready for it. I need a new beginning.</b><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 10.1pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: 22.3pt;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial Rounded MT Bold","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: text1;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 10.1pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: 22.3pt;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial Rounded MT Bold","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: text1;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 10.1pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: 22.3pt;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial Rounded MT Bold","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: text1;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 10.1pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: 22.3pt;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial Rounded MT Bold","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: text1;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 10.1pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: 22.3pt;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial Rounded MT Bold","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: text1;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>AnnNoEhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05828350639184642799noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8441217614297112940.post-29192558681713017712023-12-01T19:10:00.000-08:002023-12-01T19:10:08.285-08:00“The Big 80”<p> </p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 10.1pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial Rounded MT Bold","sans-serif"; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: text1;">December <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>2023
Blog</span><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial Rounded MT Bold","sans-serif"; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: text1;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 10.1pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><br /></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial Rounded MT Bold","sans-serif"; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: text1;">Fight
or Fold: </span></b><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial Rounded MT Bold","sans-serif"; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: text1;">A Haiku <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: center;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial Rounded MT Bold","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: text1;">Age notwithstanding,<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: center;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial Rounded MT Bold","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: text1;">I would fight to the end and<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: center;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial Rounded MT Bold","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: text1;">Not crumble and fold</span></b><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial Rounded MT Bold","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: text1;">.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: center;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial Rounded MT Bold","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: text1;">by Ann Wilmer-Lasky<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12.0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial Rounded MT Bold","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: text1;">(11/30/23)<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12.0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial Rounded MT Bold","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: text1;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 10.1pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: 22.3pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial Rounded MT Bold","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: text1;">As
tempting as it may be, folding is not an option I would consider. Even at my
age (I just hit the Big 80), I choose to fight the good fight.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 10.1pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: 22.3pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial Rounded MT Bold","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: text1;">Although
I’ve said this all before, I aim to win this battle with myself before the
final round. But I do have my reservations. I am tired in mind and spirit. I
have a great deal to do and a great deal to catch up on that is yet undone. But
first, I think I need some time to reflect, especially after the months that
have passed so far this year – with my son cutting his life short and hy
husband suffering from some as yet undiagnosed malady that has kept us both
from enjoying our leisure time.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 10.1pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: 22.3pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial Rounded MT Bold","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: text1;">So for
this last month of the year, I am going to slow down and think about what I
still might accomplish, but now in the coming year.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 10.1pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: 22.3pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial Rounded MT Bold","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: text1;">I need
to find my joy and my passion again. I cannot continue to avoid and
procrastinate, but I’m not feeling up to the challenge to dive right in and
swim the English Channel at the moment.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 10.1pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: 22.3pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial Rounded MT Bold","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: text1;">So I’m
going to take some time this month and pace myself, do what I can and
appreciate more what I’ve already done.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 10.1pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: 22.3pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial Rounded MT Bold","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: text1;">Hopefully,
I’ll be ready and rarin’ to go come the new year. In the meantime, my already
published authorings will still be available, and I am still working on sequels
and prequels and more poetry and Haiku.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 10.1pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: 22.3pt;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial Rounded MT Bold","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: text1;">As always, I welcome your
reactions and responses to any of my blogs. I love to hear from my readers.
Also, here are links to my Twitter and Facebook accounts, if you care to share
your thoughts with me there or look for any publication announcements.<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><o:p></o:p></b></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 10.1pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: 22.3pt;"><a href="http://amazon.com/author/annwilmerlasky"><span style="font-family: "Arial Rounded MT Bold","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">amazon.com/author/annwilmerlasky</span></a><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial Rounded MT Bold","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: text1;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 10.1pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: 22.3pt;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial Rounded MT Bold","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: text1;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpdz5jUX2xIdOr37cdvyFQcuq2VneLtfgBMcmh3P_RFkWxppaAUTGbAFK9QBBIbE2ExYvhzoVl6TTXnDQSgaISMdt2rV5gnBwFdR1alamLRzrz_-rKpI7E1eLn6zswwHx2-mawIGXNGfUxbKFIDdheIbznJQG80cyqo2wq4AZr2O23OwSuFURpQ1l_xuQ/s5120/collage%202.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="5120" data-original-width="5120" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpdz5jUX2xIdOr37cdvyFQcuq2VneLtfgBMcmh3P_RFkWxppaAUTGbAFK9QBBIbE2ExYvhzoVl6TTXnDQSgaISMdt2rV5gnBwFdR1alamLRzrz_-rKpI7E1eLn6zswwHx2-mawIGXNGfUxbKFIDdheIbznJQG80cyqo2wq4AZr2O23OwSuFURpQ1l_xuQ/s320/collage%202.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><o:p></o:p><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 10.1pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: 22.3pt;"><a href="https://twitter.com/awlasky"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial Rounded MT Bold","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: text1;">https://twitter.com/awlasky</span></a><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial Rounded MT Bold","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: text1;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 10.1pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: 22.3pt;"><a href="https://www.facebook.com/ann.wilmerlasky"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial Rounded MT Bold","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: text1;">https://www.facebook.com/ann.wilmerlasky</span></a></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 10.1pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: 22.3pt;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial Rounded MT Bold","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: text1;">It’s now December and the
year is mostly over. I am so ready for it to end. I need a new beginning.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial Rounded MT Bold","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: text1;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial Rounded MT Bold","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-themecolor: text1;"><br clear="all" style="mso-special-character: line-break; page-break-before: always;" />
</span>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial Rounded MT Bold","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: text1;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>AnnNoEhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05828350639184642799noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8441217614297112940.post-34494097069221372012023-11-01T18:57:00.000-07:002023-11-01T18:57:38.069-07:00"But First..."<p> <span style="font-family: "Arial Rounded MT Bold", "sans-serif"; font-size: 16pt;">November </span><span style="font-family: "Arial Rounded MT Bold", "sans-serif"; font-size: 16pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Arial Rounded MT Bold", "sans-serif"; font-size: 16pt;">2023
Blog</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 10.1pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial Rounded MT Bold","sans-serif"; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: text1;"><br /><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial Rounded MT Bold","sans-serif"; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: text1;">But
First</span></b><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial Rounded MT Bold","sans-serif"; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: text1;">... A Haiku <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: center;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial Rounded MT Bold","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: text1;">I would do what I<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: center;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial Rounded MT Bold","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: text1;">Need do, but first must do what<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: center;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial Rounded MT Bold","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: text1;">I needed done first</span></b><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial Rounded MT Bold","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: text1;">.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: center;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial Rounded MT Bold","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: text1;">by Ann Wilmer-Lasky<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12.0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial Rounded MT Bold","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: text1;">(11/1/23)<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12.0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial Rounded MT Bold","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: text1;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 10.1pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: 22.3pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial Rounded MT Bold","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: text1;">So
much confusion this last month, and once again the world is at war. Seems like
the conflicts will never end.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 10.1pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: 22.3pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial Rounded MT Bold","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: text1;">That
includes the conflicts within myself. My mind is reeling with all the things I
need to do and all the things I want to do. And figuring out which to do first.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 10.1pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: 22.3pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial Rounded MT Bold","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: text1;">But
first, I made a list of both sets of things. Then I found an old list from a
couple of years ago. Guess what I found – yep! There’s still some of the same
stuff on the new list. Shame on me. On second thought – no, I’m doing the best
I can, or so I tell myself. And I’m the author of it all. Confused yet? I am.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 10.1pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: 22.3pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial Rounded MT Bold","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: text1;">Of
course, I should be the author of a lot more. And I will be as soon as I finish
getting my act together. Which is no small task for a woman turning the big 8 –
0 this month.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 10.1pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: 22.3pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial Rounded MT Bold","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: text1;">But I
will persist. I know we only have the right to the pursuit of happiness, but a
little attainment once in a while would be appreciated.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 10.1pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: 22.3pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial Rounded MT Bold","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: text1;">Okay,
that’s what I’ll shoot for<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>-<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>attainment! I will attain my goals while
maintaining my sanity. Again no small task. But the thought is putting a smile
on my face.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 10.1pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: 22.3pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial Rounded MT Bold","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: text1;">But
first I need to do the things that need to be done before I I can do the things
I want to do.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 10.1pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: 22.3pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial Rounded MT Bold","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: text1;">Life
seems to keep intruding on my writing time.Gotta figure out how to come to
terms with life and writing. Gotta find time for both.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 10.1pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: 22.3pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial Rounded MT Bold","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: text1;">Until
I figure it out, I can make no promises except that I will keep working on both
as best I can.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 10.1pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: 22.3pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial Rounded MT Bold","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: text1;">Now
I’m more confused than when I started this. But I’m still smiling, and that
makes all the difference in the world. There is energy in a smile.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 10.1pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: 22.3pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial Rounded MT Bold","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: text1;">So, I
will pray for peace in the world and take care of what needs taking care of.
And I will make certain that includes my writing.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 10.1pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: 22.3pt;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial Rounded MT Bold","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: text1;">As always, I welcome your
reactions and responses to any of my blogs. I love to hear from my readers.
Also, here are links to my Twitter and Facebook accounts, if you care to share
your thoughts with me there or look for any publication announcements.<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><o:p></o:p></b></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 10.1pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: 22.3pt;"><a href="http://amazon.com/author/annwilmerlasky"><span style="font-family: "Arial Rounded MT Bold","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">amazon.com/author/annwilmerlasky</span></a><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial Rounded MT Bold","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: text1;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 10.1pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: 22.3pt;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial Rounded MT Bold","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: text1;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><br /></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 10.1pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: 22.3pt;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial Rounded MT Bold","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: text1;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgr4frY7lbj9jec2PywzcR64zGTDb8BBuADjq2nlUslXzqwyRZMey2Te1BxCTdl7Oghx76N_M4OXxmqBrxjXR0IlbT4Z_kpBvJlZt0Mu6kYesEi821SA6Rw4oDZ0E91HS8KoyU45KSddIsWmQ4UWedd0TPCBb5sDdJ6i2i4ytm7QCK49plj1DeGLbtR18k/s5120/collage%202.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="5120" data-original-width="5120" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgr4frY7lbj9jec2PywzcR64zGTDb8BBuADjq2nlUslXzqwyRZMey2Te1BxCTdl7Oghx76N_M4OXxmqBrxjXR0IlbT4Z_kpBvJlZt0Mu6kYesEi821SA6Rw4oDZ0E91HS8KoyU45KSddIsWmQ4UWedd0TPCBb5sDdJ6i2i4ytm7QCK49plj1DeGLbtR18k/s320/collage%202.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />(insert collage)<o:p></o:p><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 10.1pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: 22.3pt;"><a href="https://twitter.com/awlasky"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial Rounded MT Bold","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: text1;">https://twitter.com/awlasky</span></a><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial Rounded MT Bold","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: text1;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 10.1pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: 22.3pt;"><a href="https://www.facebook.com/ann.wilmerlasky"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial Rounded MT Bold","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: text1;">https://www.facebook.com/ann.wilmerlasky</span></a></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 10.1pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: 22.3pt;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial Rounded MT Bold","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: text1;">It’s now November and the
year is coming to an end. I would have some attainment before it ends. Wish me
luck!<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial Rounded MT Bold","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: text1;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial Rounded MT Bold","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-themecolor: text1;"><br clear="all" style="mso-special-character: line-break; page-break-before: always;" />
</span>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial Rounded MT Bold","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: text1;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>AnnNoEhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05828350639184642799noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8441217614297112940.post-7282385085572881782023-10-01T18:49:00.000-07:002023-10-01T18:49:01.697-07:00In Search of Satisfaction!<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 10.1pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="font-family: "Arial Rounded MT Bold", "sans-serif"; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 10.1pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="font-family: "Arial Rounded MT Bold", "sans-serif"; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 150%;">October 2023
Blog</span><span style="font-family: "Arial Rounded MT Bold", "sans-serif"; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 150%;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: "Arial Rounded MT Bold", "sans-serif"; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></b></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: "Arial Rounded MT Bold", "sans-serif"; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%;">In
Search Of</span></b><span style="font-family: "Arial Rounded MT Bold", "sans-serif"; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%;">: A Haiku <o:p></o:p></span></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: "Arial Rounded MT Bold", "sans-serif"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">That “I Don’t Get No<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: "Arial Rounded MT Bold", "sans-serif"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">Satisfaction” must end with<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: "Arial Rounded MT Bold", "sans-serif"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">Much satisfaction</span></b><span style="font-family: "Arial Rounded MT Bold", "sans-serif"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">!<o:p></o:p></span></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Arial Rounded MT Bold", "sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">by Ann Wilmer-Lasky<o:p></o:p></span></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12.0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Arial Rounded MT Bold", "sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">(9/30/23)<o:p></o:p></span></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12.0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Arial Rounded MT Bold", "sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 10.1pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: 22.3pt;"><b><span style="font-family: "Arial Rounded MT Bold", "sans-serif"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 150%;">I may
never know happiness or peace again, but I will know satisfaction. I will
pursue it with dogged determination.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 10.1pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: 22.3pt;"><b><span style="font-family: "Arial Rounded MT Bold", "sans-serif"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 150%;">It
seems I have been chasing rainbows and unicorns, looking for that pot of gold
in vain for all these years. What I really needed was to feel safisfied with my
accomplishments. Which was all well and good until I stopped accomplishing
anything.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 10.1pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: 22.3pt;"><b><span style="font-family: "Arial Rounded MT Bold", "sans-serif"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 150%;">I
guess it started with the pandemic, when everyone and everything seemed to stop
in its tracks. I forgot to get back on the path when it subsided. My son’s
unfortunate ending of his life just seemed to culminate everything. I stopped (I
guess you could say, “dead stopped”)
accomplishing anything. I guess I thought without peace or happiness I could
not enjoy life. Now I have realized that these are not esstial to existence,
but “satisfaction” is.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 10.1pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: 22.3pt;"><b><span style="font-family: "Arial Rounded MT Bold", "sans-serif"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 150%;">Without
being satisfied with something, there is no reason to do anything. As this
realization came to me, I started to look around me and at my life as it
stands. I walked around each room and rested my eyes on an object or an area,
and I asked myself if I was satisfied with it. More often that not, the answer
was “no”.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 10.1pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: 22.3pt;"><b><span style="font-family: "Arial Rounded MT Bold", "sans-serif"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 150%;">I
thought about my writing career and what I’ve accomplished so far. I am not
satisfied with that either. I want to start a new project and have so much left
undone, I would be hard pressed to fit it in and finsh the others to any good
standard.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 10.1pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: 22.3pt;"><b><span style="font-family: "Arial Rounded MT Bold", "sans-serif"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 150%;">But
that is what I must do. It is too important a project to leave undone. This
particular urge to write must be “satisfied”.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 10.1pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: 22.3pt;"><b><span style="font-family: "Arial Rounded MT Bold", "sans-serif"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 150%;">I
intend a book of poetry and prose as a tribute to my son and the dystopian
views we both seemed to share without me realizing it.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 10.1pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: 22.3pt;"><b><span style="font-family: "Arial Rounded MT Bold", "sans-serif"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 150%;">Upon
completion and publication, I will be donating a portion of the proceeds to a
suicide prevention organization in tribute to my son’s memory. The book will be
titled, <i>“One Life: Unlived”</i> and I’ve
already found an entry in a long-forgotten folder of writings to include. I
wrote it about 20 years ago. It is in the form of a sonnet. I believe it is the
only sonnet I have ever written and it was done as an exercise in a critique
group to prove I could write one. That it is about writing and death is
astounding to me at this point.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 10.1pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: 22.3pt;"><b><span style="font-family: "Arial Rounded MT Bold", "sans-serif"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 150%;">Now
with my new-found pursuit of satisfaction, I feel my coffin (when I occupy it)
will be a quiet one. I will be able to look at my surroundings and my
accomplishments and say to myself, “I am satisfied!”<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 10.1pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: 22.3pt;"><b><span style="font-family: "Arial Rounded MT Bold", "sans-serif"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 150%;">I owe
that to my son’s memory and to myself.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 10.1pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: 22.3pt;"><b><span style="font-family: "Arial Rounded MT Bold", "sans-serif"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 150%;">The
original sonnet, titled <i>“Unquiet Coffin”</i>
is included here. More will follow.I would complete this new book by the 1<sup>st</sup>
anniversary of his death (March 26, 2023).<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 22.3pt;"><b><span style="font-family: "Arial Rounded MT Bold","sans-serif"; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Unquiet
Coffin<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;"><b><span style="font-family: "Arial Rounded MT Bold","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">A
Sonnet<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;"><b><span style="font-family: "Arial Rounded MT Bold","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">by Ann
Wilmer-Lasky<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: "Arial Rounded MT Bold","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> </span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;"><b><span style="font-family: "Arial Rounded MT Bold","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Uneasy would
I lie, were I to die,<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;"><b><span style="font-family: "Arial Rounded MT Bold","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">My song
unsung, my stories all untold.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;"><b><span style="font-family: "Arial Rounded MT Bold","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Among my
woeful mourners, would I cry,<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;"><b><span style="font-family: "Arial Rounded MT Bold","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">My soul
awash in tears, my spirit cold.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;"><b><span style="font-family: "Arial Rounded MT Bold","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Nor could I
rest, were I to fall to sleep<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;"><b><span style="font-family: "Arial Rounded MT Bold","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">To never
wake again, my soul suppressed.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;"><b><span style="font-family: "Arial Rounded MT Bold","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Within my
heart, my characters would weep,<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;"><b><span style="font-family: "Arial Rounded MT Bold","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Their lives
cut short, their mythos unexpressed.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;"><b><span style="font-family: "Arial Rounded MT Bold","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">To never
rise again would come too soon,<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;"><b><span style="font-family: "Arial Rounded MT Bold","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">If all my
words lie stifled in the grave,<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;"><b><span style="font-family: "Arial Rounded MT Bold","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">That hearts
would never know their balm or boon,<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;"><b><span style="font-family: "Arial Rounded MT Bold","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">And I would
never know what joy they gave.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; text-indent: .5in;"><b><span style="font-family: "Arial Rounded MT Bold","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">I
owe my soul a coffin lain in peace;<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; text-indent: .5in;"><b><span style="font-family: "Arial Rounded MT Bold","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">I
owe my words their birth, their sweet release.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in;"><b><span style="font-size: 20.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> </span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 10.1pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: 22.3pt;"><span style="font-family: "Arial Rounded MT Bold", "sans-serif"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 150%;">As always, I welcome your
reactions and responses to any of my blogs. I love to hear from my readers.
Also, here are links to my Twitter and Facebook accounts, if you care to share
your thoughts with me there or look for any publication announcements.<b><o:p></o:p></b></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 10.1pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: 22.3pt;"><a href="http://amazon.com/author/annwilmerlasky"><span style="font-family: "Arial Rounded MT Bold","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">amazon.com/author/annwilmerlasky</span></a><span style="font-family: "Arial Rounded MT Bold", "sans-serif"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 150%;"> <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 10.1pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: 22.3pt;"><span style="font-family: "Arial Rounded MT Bold", "sans-serif"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 150%;">(insert collage)<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 10.1pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: 22.3pt;"><a href="https://twitter.com/awlasky"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial Rounded MT Bold","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: text1;">https://twitter.com/awlasky</span></a><span style="font-family: "Arial Rounded MT Bold", "sans-serif"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 150%;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 10.1pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: 22.3pt;"><a href="https://www.facebook.com/ann.wilmerlasky"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial Rounded MT Bold","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: text1;">https://www.facebook.com/ann.wilmerlasky</span></a></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 10.1pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: 22.3pt;"><span style="font-family: "Arial Rounded MT Bold", "sans-serif"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 150%;">It’s now October and the
year is winding down. I would have some satisfaction before I wind down with it.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Arial Rounded MT Bold", "sans-serif"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"> </span></p><p>
<span style="font-family: "Arial Rounded MT Bold", "sans-serif"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><br clear="all" style="mso-special-character: line-break; page-break-before: always;" />
</span>
</p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Arial Rounded MT Bold", "sans-serif"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"> </span></p><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial Rounded MT Bold","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-themecolor: text1;">
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><br clear="all" style="mso-special-character: line-break; page-break-before: always;" />
</span>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
</span>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial Rounded MT Bold","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: text1;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>AnnNoEhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05828350639184642799noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8441217614297112940.post-30882026734825300462023-09-01T20:28:00.000-07:002023-09-01T20:28:01.565-07:00I Must! I Must!<p> </p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 10.1pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span face=""Arial Rounded MT Bold","sans-serif"" style="color: black; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: text1;">September <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>2023
Blog</span><span face=""Arial Rounded MT Bold","sans-serif"" style="color: black; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: text1;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 10.1pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><br /></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: center;"><b><span face=""Arial Rounded MT Bold","sans-serif"" style="color: black; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: text1;">Three-Ring</span></b><span face=""Arial Rounded MT Bold","sans-serif"" style="color: black; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: text1;">: A Haiku <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: center;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span face=""Arial Rounded MT Bold","sans-serif"" style="color: black; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: text1;">Life is a circus,<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: center;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span face=""Arial Rounded MT Bold","sans-serif"" style="color: black; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: text1;">And I am its saddest clown,<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: center;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span face=""Arial Rounded MT Bold","sans-serif"" style="color: black; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: text1;">Alone in a crowd</span></b><span face=""Arial Rounded MT Bold","sans-serif"" style="color: black; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: text1;">.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: center;"><span face=""Arial Rounded MT Bold","sans-serif"" style="color: black; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: text1;">by Ann Wilmer-Lasky<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12pt; text-align: center;"><span face=""Arial Rounded MT Bold","sans-serif"" style="color: black; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: text1;">(9/1/23)<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12pt; text-align: center;"><span face=""Arial Rounded MT Bold","sans-serif"" style="color: black; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: text1;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 10.1pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: 22.3pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span face=""Arial Rounded MT Bold","sans-serif"" style="color: black; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: text1;">My
friend, Laura, told me so! “You must keep writing”, she said. And she’s right.
Truer words were never spoken – or typed.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 10.1pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: 22.3pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span face=""Arial Rounded MT Bold","sans-serif"" style="color: black; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: text1;">I am a
writer, and that’s what writers do – they keep writing – whenever the muse
strikes, with whatever the muse has in mind – like the above Haiku.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 10.1pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: 22.3pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span face=""Arial Rounded MT Bold","sans-serif"" style="color: black; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: text1;">I’m not
really in a sad mood. I could be, I suppose, but the morning was beautiful. The
words just came to me almost verbatim. I simply had to write them down.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 10.1pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: 22.3pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span face=""Arial Rounded MT Bold","sans-serif"" style="color: black; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: text1;">I have
truly been neglecting my muse and my craft lately. Okay, I have plenty of
excuses: I’m not getting any younger; my husband has been ill; my son decided,
“Life is shitty”; the world is burning up, drying up and on fire. All of that
would make the happiest clown sad.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 10.1pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: 22.3pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span face=""Arial Rounded MT Bold","sans-serif"" style="color: black; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: text1;">But I
think what makes me the saddest, is that I am not wiritng. And I find my joy
and release in writing. So – I must! I must! – saqtart writing again, pay attention
to my craft, and resume publishing and promoting my novels, my ebooks and my
audio books.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 10.1pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: 22.3pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span face=""Arial Rounded MT Bold","sans-serif"" style="color: black; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: text1;">I have
no reason not to. I have only excuses and they no longer serve my purpose.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 10.1pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: 22.3pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span face=""Arial Rounded MT Bold","sans-serif"" style="color: black; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: text1;">And so
this sad clown will put on a happy face, take a deep breath and slip into tbe magical
cannon and see if I can reach the stars – or at least the top of the “BigTop”.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 10.1pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: 22.3pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span face=""Arial Rounded MT Bold","sans-serif"" style="color: black; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: text1;">Absolutely
going to keep track of my progress this month and maybe post it on my FB author
page.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 10.1pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: 22.3pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span face=""Arial Rounded MT Bold","sans-serif"" style="color: black; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: text1;"><a href="https://www.facebook.com/AnnWilmerLaskyAuthorlink">https://www.facebook.com/AnnWilmerLaskyAuthorlink</a><o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 10.1pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: 22.3pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span face=""Arial Rounded MT Bold","sans-serif"" style="color: black; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: text1;">Feeling
better about this than I have in a long time. And it’s long past due. Time to
catch up and forge ahead.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 10.1pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: 22.3pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span face=""Arial Rounded MT Bold","sans-serif"" style="color: black; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: text1;">So we
will see. </span></b><span face=""Arial Rounded MT Bold","sans-serif"" style="color: black; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: text1;">As always, I welcome your reactions and
responses to any of my blogs. I love to hear from my readers. Also, here are
links to my Twitter and Facebook accounts, if you care to share your thoughts
with me there or look for any publication announcements.<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><o:p></o:p></b></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 10.1pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: 22.3pt;"><a href="http://amazon.com/author/annwilmerlasky"><span face=""Arial Rounded MT Bold","sans-serif"" style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">amazon.com/author/annwilmerlasky</span></a><span face=""Arial Rounded MT Bold","sans-serif"" style="color: black; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: text1;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 10.1pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: 22.3pt;"><span face=""Arial Rounded MT Bold","sans-serif"" style="color: black; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: text1;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqMFuePsJg6_gPMj4uKXZeRyy-ZVgLMA0nm1IDlpXO1qsGlEEiJBuSYkGq22TlhHwvDoul9wTABomCDELvXxGkQbVbU6lNtwj0KnzqoqVAhEC2hBqAqCQIrvsgW61b0FxSTqTO9sm-VmxccHjGIZa90z4geKaHiPnA45sX9-NHnvfp_NYezPg3C7LXM28/s5120/collage%202.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="5120" data-original-width="5120" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqMFuePsJg6_gPMj4uKXZeRyy-ZVgLMA0nm1IDlpXO1qsGlEEiJBuSYkGq22TlhHwvDoul9wTABomCDELvXxGkQbVbU6lNtwj0KnzqoqVAhEC2hBqAqCQIrvsgW61b0FxSTqTO9sm-VmxccHjGIZa90z4geKaHiPnA45sX9-NHnvfp_NYezPg3C7LXM28/s320/collage%202.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><o:p></o:p><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 10.1pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: 22.3pt;"><a href="https://twitter.com/awlasky"><span face=""Arial Rounded MT Bold","sans-serif"" style="color: black; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: text1;">https://twitter.com/awlasky</span></a><span face=""Arial Rounded MT Bold","sans-serif"" style="color: black; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: text1;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 10.1pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: 22.3pt;"><a href="https://www.facebook.com/ann.wilmerlasky"><span face=""Arial Rounded MT Bold","sans-serif"" style="color: black; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: text1;">https://www.facebook.com/ann.wilmerlasky</span></a></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 10.1pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: 22.3pt;"><span face=""Arial Rounded MT Bold","sans-serif"" style="color: black; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: text1;">Also, Eldreth, the
Castleweaver, asked me again to post the links to his books. He claims no one
understands him. I claim I do. He just rolls his eyes and keeps weaving his
tragedies. By the way, my son, Vernon Ray Wilmer, Jr. did all the artwork in
both Castleweaver Chapbooks. I will be donating a dollar for each of these
books sold from now on to a suicide prevention program.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 10.1pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: 22.3pt;"><span face=""Arial Rounded MT Bold","sans-serif"" style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 150%;">Amazon <a href="https://tinyurl.com/y9d8czj4">https://tinyurl.com/y9d8czj4</a></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 10.1pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: 22.3pt;"><span face=""Arial Rounded MT Bold","sans-serif"" style="color: black; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: text1;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span face=""Arial Rounded MT Bold","sans-serif"" style="color: black; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: text1;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_Cfyq3Tlr4MH0LzO73k1q5J4rSngOTjjBYFFAEgWmOpkASbDXCLHGpLfeLTKWJYbanwGAQAEl0GMGR8mfCmsHluHAV_g0skruQcSxb6ai63eXB5TCLzSc2HuD0v7VyKo1VO4CuA_fVMsZ30Eg-9J-UEW_Bs7qJZlU9tvbizrXhj_fmaDTLtOvEwgqBzU/s499/51ePzKwLhSL._SX322_BO1,204,203,200_.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="499" data-original-width="324" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_Cfyq3Tlr4MH0LzO73k1q5J4rSngOTjjBYFFAEgWmOpkASbDXCLHGpLfeLTKWJYbanwGAQAEl0GMGR8mfCmsHluHAV_g0skruQcSxb6ai63eXB5TCLzSc2HuD0v7VyKo1VO4CuA_fVMsZ30Eg-9J-UEW_Bs7qJZlU9tvbizrXhj_fmaDTLtOvEwgqBzU/s320/51ePzKwLhSL._SX322_BO1,204,203,200_.jpg" width="208" /></a></span></div><span face=""Arial Rounded MT Bold","sans-serif"" style="color: black; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: text1;"><br /><br /><o:p></o:p></span><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 6.0pt; margin: 6pt 0in 0in;"><span face=""Arial Rounded MT Bold","sans-serif"" style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><a href="https://tinyurl.com/y6x9pqno">https://tinyurl.com/y6x9pqno</a><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 10.1pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: 22.3pt;"><span face=""Arial Rounded MT Bold","sans-serif"" style="color: black; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: text1;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span face=""Arial Rounded MT Bold","sans-serif"" style="color: black; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: text1;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglgIZmI24YOfDCxxrjtT1xHt9HZxkXZDG-kbbx5SOB5ElonqVDl_6XLT6oxz8KqBMwTUbxYzo3fH6JW6e_cQqBSrl1c7uUXB3f7dmIKolWCdUZoGrkMHwW0trZE1yqkOAyqtOyu3hjS5CXBOpr7WoHSoqGYYq6kXG6MuchI8qUQKUXVodEJsLaLKh29hQ/s499/cw2%20clear.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="499" data-original-width="324" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglgIZmI24YOfDCxxrjtT1xHt9HZxkXZDG-kbbx5SOB5ElonqVDl_6XLT6oxz8KqBMwTUbxYzo3fH6JW6e_cQqBSrl1c7uUXB3f7dmIKolWCdUZoGrkMHwW0trZE1yqkOAyqtOyu3hjS5CXBOpr7WoHSoqGYYq6kXG6MuchI8qUQKUXVodEJsLaLKh29hQ/s320/cw2%20clear.jpg" width="208" /></a></span></div><span face=""Arial Rounded MT Bold","sans-serif"" style="color: black; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: text1;"><br /><br /><o:p></o:p></span><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 10.1pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: 22.3pt;"><span face=""Arial Rounded MT Bold","sans-serif"" style="color: black; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: text1;">It’s now September and the
year is two-thirds over. My sunflowers never got big enough to bloom.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 10.1pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: 22.3pt;"><span face=""Arial Rounded MT Bold","sans-serif"" style="color: black; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: text1;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 10.1pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: 22.3pt;"><span face=""Arial Rounded MT Bold","sans-serif"" style="color: black; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: text1;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 10.1pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: 22.3pt;"><span face=""Arial Rounded MT Bold","sans-serif"" style="color: black; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: text1;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Arial Rounded MT Bold","sans-serif"" style="color: black; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: text1;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<span face=""Arial Rounded MT Bold","sans-serif"" style="color: black; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-themecolor: text1;"><br clear="all" style="break-before: page; mso-special-character: line-break; page-break-before: always;" />
</span>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Arial Rounded MT Bold","sans-serif"" style="color: black; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: text1;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>AnnNoEhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05828350639184642799noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8441217614297112940.post-51418760479331084002023-08-01T19:53:00.000-07:002023-08-01T19:53:14.955-07:00I Call Do-Over!<p> </p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 10.1pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial Rounded MT Bold","sans-serif"; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: text1;">August <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>2023
Blog</span><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial Rounded MT Bold","sans-serif"; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: text1;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 10.1pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><br /></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial Rounded MT Bold","sans-serif"; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: text1;">The
Undone</span></b><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial Rounded MT Bold","sans-serif"; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: text1;">: A Haiku <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: center;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial Rounded MT Bold","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: text1;">That list gets longer<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: center;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial Rounded MT Bold","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: text1;">Ev’ry day I say, “I will<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: center;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial Rounded MT Bold","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: text1;">Do that tomorrow</span></b><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial Rounded MT Bold","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: text1;">.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: center;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial Rounded MT Bold","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: text1;">by Ann Wilmer-Lasky<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12.0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial Rounded MT Bold","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: text1;">(7/6/23)<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12.0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial Rounded MT Bold","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: text1;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 10.1pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: 22.3pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial Rounded MT Bold","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: text1;">Of
course “...and don’t.” is the logical conclusion. But enough of that. I want a
do-over for July. It was just so rotten, I haven’t recovered from it yet. But I
will!<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 10.1pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: 22.3pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial Rounded MT Bold","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: text1;">This
month I will...<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 10.1pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: 22.3pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial Rounded MT Bold","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: text1;">Okay, I
know I can’t have July over, so I’ll just insist on a better August. We all deserve
a better August. One that won’t set anymore heatwave records. One that won’t see
unbridled mayhem the world over. One where my car won’t be stolen and recovered
and then wrecked the next day by a little woman wielding a big truck.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 10.1pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: 22.3pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial Rounded MT Bold","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: text1;">This month,
after I catch by breath, will be a whirlwind of activity. All those things I’ve
promised myself and others will finally get done – the Sam Rock sequel, the Black
Oak audio, my house in order, and health, healing and well-being for all concerned.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 10.1pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: 22.3pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial Rounded MT Bold","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: text1;">Okay, it’s
a tall order, but without big dreams, there’s little chance of attaining even small
ones. So, I’ll dream big and plan large, and accept the good things coming my way
that I’ve waited for for so long.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 10.1pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: 22.3pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial Rounded MT Bold","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: text1;">Guess it’s
time to stop waiting and start making things happen – good things. We deserve good
things in our lives. Most of us have been long-suffering way too long. At this point,
even touching concrete without get third degree burns would be nice.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 10.1pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: 22.3pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial Rounded MT Bold","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: text1;">And I don’t
even want to hear about the resurgence of the Covid Virus along with at least three
other viruses cropping up.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 10.1pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: 22.3pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial Rounded MT Bold","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: text1;">Think I’ll
just hunker down, lie low, and write and edit and listen and publish. If I want
conversation, I have my friends on line – mostly on Twitter – where I hope Elon
Musk will tire of his childishness before my friends all leave. Wait him out – that’s
what I’m planning on doing.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 10.1pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: 22.3pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial Rounded MT Bold","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: text1;">So we will
see. If I lie low and keep my nose to the grindstone, who knows what I can accomplish.
Think I’ll go off now and give it a try.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 10.1pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: 22.3pt;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial Rounded MT Bold","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: text1;">As always, I welcome your
reactions and responses to any of my blogs. I love to hear from my readers.
Also, here are links to my Twitter and Facebook accounts, if you care to share
your thoughts with me there or look for any publication announcements.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 10.1pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: 22.3pt;"><a href="http://amazon.com/author/annwilmerlasky"><span style="font-family: "Arial Rounded MT Bold","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">amazon.com/author/annwilmerlasky</span></a><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial Rounded MT Bold","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: text1;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 10.1pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: 22.3pt;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial Rounded MT Bold","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: text1;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><br /></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 10.1pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: 22.3pt;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial Rounded MT Bold","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: text1;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAIHqlMPp2QfjZ0puyvgwR459CyEgExVmIw8QAxV7hD3yLrH1XV3n-MWZhFKNuTlB08n-Rox8r81cW8QtJNZrlfJb2OQ70wU3sk_XGxuKezjq7VaVGyjwMSzIDbhiKAAE8UpwUJfdUWJVvH2pZfWrZ52M9kmIgtmZo3f-Q-heC1miAfvGkqPS2VkCt5HA/s5120/collage%202.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="5120" data-original-width="5120" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAIHqlMPp2QfjZ0puyvgwR459CyEgExVmIw8QAxV7hD3yLrH1XV3n-MWZhFKNuTlB08n-Rox8r81cW8QtJNZrlfJb2OQ70wU3sk_XGxuKezjq7VaVGyjwMSzIDbhiKAAE8UpwUJfdUWJVvH2pZfWrZ52M9kmIgtmZo3f-Q-heC1miAfvGkqPS2VkCt5HA/s320/collage%202.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><br /><o:p></o:p><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 10.1pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: 22.3pt;"><a href="https://twitter.com/awlasky"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial Rounded MT Bold","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: text1;">https://twitter.com/awlasky</span></a><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial Rounded MT Bold","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: text1;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 10.1pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: 22.3pt;"><a href="https://www.facebook.com/ann.wilmerlasky"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial Rounded MT Bold","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: text1;">https://www.facebook.com/ann.wilmerlasky</span></a></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 10.1pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: 22.3pt;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial Rounded MT Bold","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: text1;">Also, Eldreth, the Castleweaver,
wanted me to post the links to his books. He claims no one understands him. I claim
I do. He just rolls his eyes and keeps weaving his tragedies.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 10.1pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: 22.3pt;"><b><span style="font-family: "Arial Rounded MT Bold","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">“The Castleweaver's Tales:
A Dozen Glimpses of Medieval Madness: 25th Anniversary Edition” in print:
Amazon https://tinyurl.com/y9d8czj4</span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 10.1pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: 22.3pt;"><b><span style="font-family: "Arial Rounded MT Bold","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"></span></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjl-BVITIFdHfwY_5zVASwSDgPhbO_qq8zC1_k-gbSgLMs0s011pprNKuXBGATWZbgVE9krrExjCIEjQ8YNftOZ4FsHcD1Nz5VqTTLCDRo-Q9u-5OOPOM_gr61kKYtddh2t1c-znJazyhlIbMMUAS8k2Fik2Ij9Uk2pH6nBm1IjbPG2dneO6EGT7CJIUM/s499/castleweaver%204%201%2018.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="499" data-original-width="324" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjl-BVITIFdHfwY_5zVASwSDgPhbO_qq8zC1_k-gbSgLMs0s011pprNKuXBGATWZbgVE9krrExjCIEjQ8YNftOZ4FsHcD1Nz5VqTTLCDRo-Q9u-5OOPOM_gr61kKYtddh2t1c-znJazyhlIbMMUAS8k2Fik2Ij9Uk2pH6nBm1IjbPG2dneO6EGT7CJIUM/s320/castleweaver%204%201%2018.jpg" width="208" /></a></b></div><b><br /> </b><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 10.1pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: 22.3pt;"><b><span style="font-family: "Arial Rounded MT Bold","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">“The Castleweaver’s Tales:
The Madness Continues” 25th Anniversary Edition on Amazon. </span></b><b><span style="font-family: "Arial Rounded MT Bold","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><a href="https://tinyurl.com/y6x9pqno">https://tinyurl.com/y6x9pqno</a></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 6.0pt;"><b><span style="font-family: "Arial Rounded MT Bold","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 10.1pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: 22.3pt;"><b style="text-indent: 22.3pt;"><span style="font-family: "Arial Rounded MT Bold","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"> </span></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b style="text-indent: 22.3pt;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAvqwTvD5gP6OywiCoRqWunRt0JKPKC2UR6kJWiymHDVPo2VvBng58sjS3ibZA4tBIpWoryUBwNISJF524uPuKc4j_nsP1NLRISVypxWJI98nnXECNjcbKC7emgE8WbUVpUZ-Z_hgSomt0-KRptz-O9N-Eb5GKUHEl0Q6sVbScJUbVLWfHPyCFDI2dM04/s499/cw2%20clear.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="499" data-original-width="324" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAvqwTvD5gP6OywiCoRqWunRt0JKPKC2UR6kJWiymHDVPo2VvBng58sjS3ibZA4tBIpWoryUBwNISJF524uPuKc4j_nsP1NLRISVypxWJI98nnXECNjcbKC7emgE8WbUVpUZ-Z_hgSomt0-KRptz-O9N-Eb5GKUHEl0Q6sVbScJUbVLWfHPyCFDI2dM04/s320/cw2%20clear.jpg" width="208" /></a></b></div><b style="text-indent: 22.3pt;"><br /></b><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 10.1pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: 22.3pt;"><br /></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 10.1pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: 22.3pt;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial Rounded MT Bold","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: text1;">It’s now August and summer
it seems, will last forever. Some of my plants have survived, but my sunflowers
may never get big enough to bloom.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 10.1pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: 22.3pt;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial Rounded MT Bold","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: text1;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 10.1pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: 22.3pt;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial Rounded MT Bold","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: text1;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 10.1pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: 22.3pt;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial Rounded MT Bold","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: text1;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial Rounded MT Bold","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: text1;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial Rounded MT Bold","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-themecolor: text1;"><br clear="all" style="mso-special-character: line-break; page-break-before: always;" />
</span>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial Rounded MT Bold","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: text1;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>AnnNoEhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05828350639184642799noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8441217614297112940.post-6807297895671578612023-07-01T20:59:00.000-07:002023-07-01T20:59:34.246-07:00Déjà vu – All Over Again!<p> </p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 10.1pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial Rounded MT Bold","sans-serif"; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: text1;">July <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>2023
Blog</span><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial Rounded MT Bold","sans-serif"; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: text1;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 10.1pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><br /></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: center;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial Rounded MT Bold","sans-serif"; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: text1;">I Am Not Job: A Haiku <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: center;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial Rounded MT Bold","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: text1;">Would
that the gods ceased<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: center;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial Rounded MT Bold","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: text1;">Having
sport with me for I<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: center;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial Rounded MT Bold","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: text1;">Am
most sorely pressed.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: center;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial Rounded MT Bold","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: text1;">by Ann Wilmer-Lasky<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12.0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial Rounded MT Bold","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: text1;">(6/29/23)<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12.0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial Rounded MT Bold","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: text1;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 10.1pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: 22.3pt;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial Rounded MT Bold","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: text1;">I do not expect life to be
fair, but I’m not happy it has been this unfair. Several months ago our car was
hit in the parking lot of a mall where my husband has a small movie and TV memorabilia
collectibles shop. A truck came around a blind corner and turned right in front
of him as he was pulling out, basically ripping the front end off. It was a hit
and run and the insurance company wanted to total the car. We wanted it fixed.
They said they would no longer cover it if they paid us for it. So we paid
almost eight hundred dollars out of pocket to get it fixed.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 10.1pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: 22.3pt;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial Rounded MT Bold","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: text1;">A couple of days ago, the
car was stolen from our driveway late at night. We thought the police had
little chance of finding it and getting a replacement was way beyond our means.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 10.1pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: 22.3pt;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial Rounded MT Bold","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: text1;">Enter the friend of a dear
friend who set up a Go Fund Me account to help us replace the stolen car. We
had high hopes.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 10.1pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: 22.3pt;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial Rounded MT Bold","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: text1;">The police found the car
(damaged, but drivable) two days later. We got it back and planned on using the
Go Fund Me funds to fix it.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 10.1pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: 22.3pt;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial Rounded MT Bold","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: text1;">We actually got it back
yesterday around 4PM. My husband drove it two blocks to the mall this morning
and parked it. Less than an hour later, another dealer cut a sharp right turn
in from along side the car and took the front end off again.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 10.1pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: 22.3pt;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial Rounded MT Bold","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: text1;">The car is now really
totaled. We don’t know what if anything the driver’s insurance will pay. So we are
back to relying on the Go Fund Me to help us obtain a serviceable car.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 10.1pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: 22.3pt;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial Rounded MT Bold","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: text1;">Neither one of us is in
good health, and we surely don’t need this stress and aggravation, but we keep
plugging along. Well, I for one am done with life being this unfair.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 10.1pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: 22.3pt;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial Rounded MT Bold","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: text1;">But it seems life is not
through being unfair. As I am writing this, we found out our over-priced cable company
no longer carries the one channel we watch almost from the time we turn the TV
on until we fall asleep. As of today, we now have to get an antenna. (Gee, just
like the olden days, right?)<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 10.1pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: 22.3pt;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial Rounded MT Bold","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: text1;">Basically the point of all
of this ranting and raving is this:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I am
tired of things happening to me and mine. I am declaring to the gods that be
that I will no longer play the victim. I wlll become proactive instead of
reactive. The replacement car will have an alarm. There will be a motion sensor
light in the driveway. We will get an antenna and dump our over-priced cable
company. I will pull my “big girl panties” up and live my life “balls out”! My
new motto is “Get ‘er done!” and I do mean now.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 10.1pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: 22.3pt;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial Rounded MT Bold","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: text1;">Taking a deep breath now.
I’m going to type this. (I still write with pen on paper.) Once posted, I will
get some sleep and hit the floor in the morning with every intention of having
a good day. Enough has been enough. Listen for my roar!<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 10.1pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: 22.3pt;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial Rounded MT Bold","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: text1;">As always, I welcome your
reactions and responses to any of my blogs. I love to hear from my readers.
Also, here are links to my Twitter and Facebook accounts, if you care to share
your thoughts with me there or look for any publication announcements.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 10.1pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: 22.3pt;"><a href="http://amazon.com/author/annwilmerlasky"><span style="font-family: "Arial Rounded MT Bold","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">amazon.com/author/annwilmerlasky</span></a><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial Rounded MT Bold","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: text1;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 10.1pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: 22.3pt;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial Rounded MT Bold","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: text1;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><br /></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 10.1pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: 22.3pt;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial Rounded MT Bold","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: text1;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEib3iNquLOzfab4Sv_cEB1mgFmCg3LtEt3smXLmV_raPHwb3FKs3KtbTgmsxkpREJpMEBEHj1B_gYN_riaEzGicz38ySmglDMqQFft5wY2rf0CVo5_q0X69ITE7DXnOP_LB6lsiggWdED3UxNTBhCFH9xgyoyGntynizN8i-c2RcWuGuLxe8C7eVeWm_qQ/s5120/collage%202.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="5120" data-original-width="5120" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEib3iNquLOzfab4Sv_cEB1mgFmCg3LtEt3smXLmV_raPHwb3FKs3KtbTgmsxkpREJpMEBEHj1B_gYN_riaEzGicz38ySmglDMqQFft5wY2rf0CVo5_q0X69ITE7DXnOP_LB6lsiggWdED3UxNTBhCFH9xgyoyGntynizN8i-c2RcWuGuLxe8C7eVeWm_qQ/s320/collage%202.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><br /><o:p></o:p><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 10.1pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: 22.3pt;"><a href="https://twitter.com/awlasky"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial Rounded MT Bold","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: text1;">https://twitter.com/awlasky</span></a><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial Rounded MT Bold","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: text1;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 10.1pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: 22.3pt;"><a href="https://www.facebook.com/ann.wilmerlasky"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial Rounded MT Bold","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: text1;">https://www.facebook.com/ann.wilmerlasky</span></a></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 10.1pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: 22.3pt;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial Rounded MT Bold","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: text1;">Also, here’s a link to that
“Go Fund Me” page so you can see what I have written is for real. (I know, it
sounds like a wild tale.) Trust me, I couldn’t make this stuff up!<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 10.1pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: 22.3pt;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial Rounded MT Bold","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: text1;"><a href="https://gofund.me/287c298e">https://gofund.me/287c298e</a><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 10.1pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: 22.3pt;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial Rounded MT Bold","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: text1;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 10.1pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: 22.3pt;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial Rounded MT Bold","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: text1;">It’s now July and the year
is half over. Summer is upon us, and we still need rain. I’ve planted some
sunflowers and herbs this year, and I am watering them faithfully. They are
still alive. So, there’s hope.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 10.1pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: 22.3pt;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial Rounded MT Bold","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: text1;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 10.1pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: 22.3pt;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial Rounded MT Bold","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: text1;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 10.1pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: 22.3pt;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial Rounded MT Bold","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: text1;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 10.1pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: 22.3pt;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial Rounded MT Bold","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: text1;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>AnnNoEhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05828350639184642799noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8441217614297112940.post-62637533709322273412023-06-01T20:07:00.000-07:002023-06-01T20:07:46.123-07:00Under Pressure!<p> </p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 10.1pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial Rounded MT Bold","sans-serif"; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: text1;">June <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>2023
Blog</span><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial Rounded MT Bold","sans-serif"; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: text1;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 10.1pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><br /></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: center;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial Rounded MT Bold","sans-serif"; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: text1;">Under Pressure: A Haiku <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: center;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial Rounded MT Bold","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: text1;">Think
now “leisure years”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: center;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial Rounded MT Bold","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: text1;">Misnamed,
with less energy<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: center;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial Rounded MT Bold","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: text1;">Left
for the “must do’s”.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: center;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial Rounded MT Bold","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: text1;">by Ann Wilmer-Lasky<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12.0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial Rounded MT Bold","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: text1;">(6/1/23)<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12.0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial Rounded MT Bold","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: text1;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 10.1pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: 22.3pt;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial Rounded MT Bold","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: text1;">So much for thinking I
could do as I pleased in my old age. Seems like that is not exactly the case. I’m
finding I have more and more responsibilities now than ever before.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 10.1pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: 22.3pt;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial Rounded MT Bold","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: text1;">Sure, I don’t “work” any
more. But with medical issues of my own and my husband’s continuing litany of
symptoms with seemingly little reason or relief, I find it’s almost a full time
job keeping track of medical appointments and the subsequent bills and reports.
Then I have to do all the regular stuff like cook, shop and clean house in
between times.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 10.1pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: 22.3pt;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial Rounded MT Bold","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: text1;">Shouldn’t complain, I
guess, because at least I am still able to do these things. Don’t know what
would happen if I couldn’t.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 10.1pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: 22.3pt;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial Rounded MT Bold","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: text1;">But I am starting to get
back on track after the last couple of months of loss and grieving. I do
believe I have come through the other side almost intact.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 10.1pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: 22.3pt;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial Rounded MT Bold","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: text1;">Now I am ready once again
to take a deep breath and dive back into the productive writing pool. Actually,
I’m looking forward to losing myself in my own little worlds of fiction. Even
though I write horror, I feel it’s not as horrific as my life has been lately.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 10.1pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: 22.3pt;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial Rounded MT Bold","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: text1;">And I know for sure, I’m
not the only one out there with problems. I really feel compassion for those
struggling through their senior years.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 10.1pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: 22.3pt;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial Rounded MT Bold","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: text1;">I guess I thought my
“golden years” of the “leisure life” would be just that – all happy and rosy –
travelling and enjoying new adventures.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 10.1pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: 22.3pt;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial Rounded MT Bold","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: text1;">Well, it didn’t happen that
way, but I really have little to complain about. Besides what I have to do, I
can pretty much do whatever I want to, if I can find the time and money.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 10.1pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: 22.3pt;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial Rounded MT Bold","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: text1;">So it’s back to the drawing
board or rather the paper and pen. I may go at a slower pace these days, but at
least I am going. I will also try to be more appreciative of the good moments
and little triumphs we should all enjoy more.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 10.1pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: 22.3pt;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial Rounded MT Bold","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: text1;">As always, I welcome your
reactions and responses to any of my blogs. I love to hear from my readers.
Also, here are links to my Twitter and Facebook accounts, if you care to share
your thoughts with me there or look for any publication announcements.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 10.1pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: 22.3pt;"><span style="font-family: "Arial Rounded MT Bold", "sans-serif"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 150%;"><a href="http://amazon.com/author/annwilmerlasky">amazon.com/author/annwilmerlasky</a> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 10.1pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: 22.3pt;"><span style="font-family: "Arial Rounded MT Bold", "sans-serif"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 10.1pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: 22.3pt;"><span style="font-family: "Arial Rounded MT Bold", "sans-serif"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 150%;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcwU3S81VB3Vy07JCmVFwia0HLCYdyWafRlntnLyyf--fBeTY2ErVZK2PTcTODQJlPofSYRvR_HUbAvKR5KQ9EY2xzSo8SXx-Ad275qXTTB9Zab2JtuX0qiqxsZWmRdftQnXNt0Jgnh1ODmY2qL9SIhwd7YT2OiHjQpfrRBgvs--d9nUNLzP4AtyGo/s5120/collage%202.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="5120" data-original-width="5120" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcwU3S81VB3Vy07JCmVFwia0HLCYdyWafRlntnLyyf--fBeTY2ErVZK2PTcTODQJlPofSYRvR_HUbAvKR5KQ9EY2xzSo8SXx-Ad275qXTTB9Zab2JtuX0qiqxsZWmRdftQnXNt0Jgnh1ODmY2qL9SIhwd7YT2OiHjQpfrRBgvs--d9nUNLzP4AtyGo/s320/collage%202.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /> <o:p></o:p><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 10.1pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: 22.3pt;"><a href="https://twitter.com/awlasky"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial Rounded MT Bold","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: text1;">https://twitter.com/awlasky</span></a><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial Rounded MT Bold","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: text1;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 10.1pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: 22.3pt;"><a href="https://www.facebook.com/ann.wilmerlasky"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial Rounded MT Bold","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: text1;">https://www.facebook.com/ann.wilmerlasky</span></a></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 10.1pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: 22.3pt;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial Rounded MT Bold","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: text1;">It’s now June and the year
is nearly half over. Summer is almost upon us, and I’m still praying for rain.
I’ve planted some sunflowers and herbs this year, and I am watering them
faithfully.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 10.1pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: 22.3pt;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial Rounded MT Bold","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: text1;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 10.1pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: 22.3pt;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial Rounded MT Bold","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: text1;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 10.1pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: 22.3pt;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial Rounded MT Bold","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: text1;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>AnnNoEhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05828350639184642799noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8441217614297112940.post-42061738211244021002023-05-01T19:56:00.000-07:002023-05-01T19:56:07.712-07:00May Day! May Day!<p> </p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 10.1pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial Rounded MT Bold","sans-serif"; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: text1;">May <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>2023 Blog</span><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial Rounded MT Bold","sans-serif"; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: text1;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 10.1pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><br /></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: center;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial Rounded MT Bold","sans-serif"; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: text1;">Ode To May: A Haiku <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: center;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial Rounded MT Bold","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: text1;">May
the joys of May<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: center;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial Rounded MT Bold","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: text1;">Blossom
and bring forth laughter<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: center;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial Rounded MT Bold","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: text1;">To
last all summer.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: center;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial Rounded MT Bold","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: text1;">by Ann Wilmer-Lasky<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12.0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial Rounded MT Bold","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: text1;">(5/1/23)<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12.0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial Rounded MT Bold","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: text1;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 10.1pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: 22.3pt;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial Rounded MT Bold","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: text1;">Happy new day, happy new
week, and happy new month. I am looking to returning some joy to my life this month.
I could use lots of spring flowers and loads of laughter. A little rain would help
too. I’d love not the go through another summer of drought conditions.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 10.1pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: 22.3pt;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial Rounded MT Bold","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: text1;">I am truly waxing poetic this
month (but not overly wordy). Writing Haiku for as long as I have, I tend to few
words. But I would love to share this:<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: center;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial Rounded MT Bold","sans-serif"; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: text1;">Now Not Never: A Haiku <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: center;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial Rounded MT Bold","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: text1;">Now,
if ever, is<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: center;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial Rounded MT Bold","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: text1;">“The
time is now”, else it be<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: center;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial Rounded MT Bold","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: text1;">Forever
never.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: center;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial Rounded MT Bold","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: text1;">by Ann Wilmer-Lasky<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12.0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial Rounded MT Bold","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: text1;">(4/29/23)<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12.0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial Rounded MT Bold","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: text1;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 10.1pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: 22.3pt;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial Rounded MT Bold","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: text1;">I would not have it be forever
never. So now I take a deep breath and get back to my first love – writing! I can’t
put it off any longer. I have no idea what the future holds, but it will hold more
joy if I am writing.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 10.1pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: 22.3pt;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial Rounded MT Bold","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: text1;">I would also like to share what
I wrote for my son Vernon’s memorial that was held by his friends and fans from
the Las Vegas Hilton’s “Star Trek – The Experience” show along with his friends
from other shows in Vegas on April 23, 2023.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 10.1pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: 22.3pt;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial Rounded MT Bold","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: text1;"><br /></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 10.1pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: 22.3pt;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial Rounded MT Bold","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: text1;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjz2jUZbzofOcH0GOEGAeqO_aX8mRTTcMHj0nXoJEWgwtw6H7zbkaRqKmjHZQ6qjIgyFtphWdiag81cpxj5Tb-FDQMt9bEoV7gI1JdB8eFeArkdPFc_zQSA3vuZNhdu4Zv02ewUc0LaLiMY7HLUoBed5d8KSWvmhYLE2cqcXcwKFMH_UtXQUWNLBG17/s1600/339649739_758904632287276_5543745919097820346_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjz2jUZbzofOcH0GOEGAeqO_aX8mRTTcMHj0nXoJEWgwtw6H7zbkaRqKmjHZQ6qjIgyFtphWdiag81cpxj5Tb-FDQMt9bEoV7gI1JdB8eFeArkdPFc_zQSA3vuZNhdu4Zv02ewUc0LaLiMY7HLUoBed5d8KSWvmhYLE2cqcXcwKFMH_UtXQUWNLBG17/s320/339649739_758904632287276_5543745919097820346_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><o:p><br /></o:p><p></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: center;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial Rounded MT Bold","sans-serif"; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: text1;">Starlight! Star Bright! A Haiku <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: center;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial Rounded MT Bold","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: text1;">7 of
16<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: center;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial Rounded MT Bold","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: text1;">Has
rejoined the Collective<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: center;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial Rounded MT Bold","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: text1;">And is
now at peace.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: center;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial Rounded MT Bold","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: text1;">by Ann Wilmer-Lasky<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12.0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial Rounded MT Bold","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: text1;">(4/23/23)<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12.0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial Rounded MT Bold","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: text1;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 10.1pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: center; text-indent: 22.3pt;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial Rounded MT Bold","sans-serif"; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: text1;">Eulogy
for a Borg<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 10.1pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: 22.3pt;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial Rounded MT Bold","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: text1;">“The stars in the Star Trek
Universe shine a little more brightly now that my beloved son, Vernon, has
joined them.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 10.1pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: 22.3pt;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial Rounded MT Bold","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: text1;">I am sorry I am ill and
unable tto attend the memorial. I appreciate everyone’s love for Vernon.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 10.1pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: 22.3pt;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial Rounded MT Bold","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: text1;">Also, I wanted to share
these photos with you all. They are among my favorites:<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 10.1pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: 22.3pt;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial Rounded MT Bold","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: text1;">The first one of Vernon is from
1977 when he was seven and at his happiest. The second is of Vernon and his
sister, Lawanna, in 1972 when he was an adorable two-year-old.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 10.1pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: 22.3pt;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial Rounded MT Bold","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: text1;"><br /></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 10.1pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: 22.3pt;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial Rounded MT Bold","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: text1;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6nyhY2Oz73L9NSibOy1nOaEwjUy7gzcflfclqmx9byRd4nJR7tdJRaDAAgXUw0ZuL-xBFt8EnVFhPg_wPN1HdDgBT4C4lk-Mpjz2i1TF0BUhHe00yn0rhwMBGM2ytlFX7TZd1TYovR1tcftmfx7Vlku9oo-535OKA1Yrn7YtPY6B7BlTX9rQ_Gg4n/s1650/1877%202mf%20htshr.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1500" data-original-width="1650" height="291" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6nyhY2Oz73L9NSibOy1nOaEwjUy7gzcflfclqmx9byRd4nJR7tdJRaDAAgXUw0ZuL-xBFt8EnVFhPg_wPN1HdDgBT4C4lk-Mpjz2i1TF0BUhHe00yn0rhwMBGM2ytlFX7TZd1TYovR1tcftmfx7Vlku9oo-535OKA1Yrn7YtPY6B7BlTX9rQ_Gg4n/s320/1877%202mf%20htshr.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7XY4gNc439KGtl2lZrs099PbbnjY85tEM1BLy65tk-QPJN7ALOaW8gC6d_c0uFtP2Mg52RKg0m7IhS4xbd88BicZqE8QU6ru45cJ-gPRlEHOJJ04IrKdQOIC8QainKt6OfYvwyzDRP7VGJLxe3x_8P6I9PVPmvsjq54wrUEDN0GprVCEb9mTPAw80/s1650/1972.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1500" data-original-width="1650" height="291" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7XY4gNc439KGtl2lZrs099PbbnjY85tEM1BLy65tk-QPJN7ALOaW8gC6d_c0uFtP2Mg52RKg0m7IhS4xbd88BicZqE8QU6ru45cJ-gPRlEHOJJ04IrKdQOIC8QainKt6OfYvwyzDRP7VGJLxe3x_8P6I9PVPmvsjq54wrUEDN0GprVCEb9mTPAw80/s320/1972.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><br /><o:p></o:p><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 10.1pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: 22.3pt;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial Rounded MT Bold","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: text1;">He was happiest again when
he joined “Star Trek - The Experience”. The third photo was taken when I was
able to visit with 7 of 16 at The Hilton.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 10.1pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: 22.3pt;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial Rounded MT Bold","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: text1;"><br /></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 10.1pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: 22.3pt;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial Rounded MT Bold","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: text1;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpNKlF8RsNDyzhnxI3ejqQB6fI3_X4IMg1EH0tGzkpBEuAPoGj-TmMQYNKQrpLoQ5rRvPh1bz6EdDxVqkqbxstFCh4toOtJywHnoJ6V35nSoKyeVA7-ZEMo_WY15dpWlclSyxSGGl4jKGLYQ8oOgwbfqn1_bF6ZnnhianWY1TJI5lWJGXoZwUl3lHK/s375/Vernon%20&%20me.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="315" data-original-width="375" height="269" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpNKlF8RsNDyzhnxI3ejqQB6fI3_X4IMg1EH0tGzkpBEuAPoGj-TmMQYNKQrpLoQ5rRvPh1bz6EdDxVqkqbxstFCh4toOtJywHnoJ6V35nSoKyeVA7-ZEMo_WY15dpWlclSyxSGGl4jKGLYQ8oOgwbfqn1_bF6ZnnhianWY1TJI5lWJGXoZwUl3lHK/s320/Vernon%20&%20me.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><br /><o:p></o:p><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 10.1pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: 22.3pt;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial Rounded MT Bold","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: text1;">I thank you all for your
love and support as you celebrate his life.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 10.1pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: 22.3pt;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial Rounded MT Bold","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: text1;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 10.1pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: 22.3pt;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial Rounded MT Bold","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: text1;">As always, I welcome your
reactions and responses to any of my blogs. I love to hear from my readers.
Also, here are links to my Twitter and Facebook accounts, if you care to share
your thoughts with me there or look for any publication announcements.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 10.1pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: 22.3pt;"><a href="https://twitter.com/awlasky"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial Rounded MT Bold","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: text1;">https://twitter.com/awlasky</span></a><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial Rounded MT Bold","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: text1;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 10.1pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: 22.3pt;"><a href="https://www.facebook.com/ann.wilmerlasky"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial Rounded MT Bold","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: text1;">https://www.facebook.com/ann.wilmerlasky</span></a></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 10.1pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: 22.3pt;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial Rounded MT Bold","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: text1;">It’s now May, deep into Spring,
and I’m praying for rain. I want flowers this year. I need flowers.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 10.1pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: 22.3pt;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial Rounded MT Bold","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: text1;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 10.1pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: 22.3pt;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial Rounded MT Bold","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: text1;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 10.1pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: 22.3pt;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial Rounded MT Bold","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: text1;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>AnnNoEhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05828350639184642799noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8441217614297112940.post-60802128176290357872023-04-01T18:41:00.000-07:002023-04-01T18:41:22.808-07:00In Memoriam!<p> </p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 10.1pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial Rounded MT Bold","sans-serif"; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: text1;">April 2023 Blog</span><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial Rounded MT Bold","sans-serif"; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: text1;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 10.1pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><br /></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: center;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial Rounded MT Bold","sans-serif"; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: text1;">One Step Beyond: A Haiku <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: center;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial Rounded MT Bold","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: text1;">One
never knows how<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: center;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial Rounded MT Bold","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: text1;">Many
steps it takes until<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: center;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial Rounded MT Bold","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: text1;">One
can take no more.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: center;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial Rounded MT Bold","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: text1;">by Ann Wilmer-Lasky<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12.0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial Rounded MT Bold","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: text1;">(3/31/23)<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12.0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial Rounded MT Bold","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: text1;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 10.1pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: 22.3pt;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial Rounded MT Bold","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: text1;">On the night of Sunday,
March 26, 2023, my son Vernon Ray Wilmer, Jr. took that final step and left this
life for no good reason.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 10.1pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: 22.3pt;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial Rounded MT Bold","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: text1;"><br /></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 10.1pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: 22.3pt;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial Rounded MT Bold","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: text1;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdriWEsjFnTrcQbJUOPtCAeFkkr9rU7aRcn5GWICcvg1csH9RzsbgomOvFiMEc_6g8CZeRIUavJEUkcfx5FrhDXEzvE8tiBmAL4g-l8siw60gdEkVUyUi57gCRxFywnkHnqtfqRqS1URldiODJwMCMs5L6eQCfw2-tcclhZu2INjOtWDJxfePjrczV/s2048/337869962_1396312244469234_9146156948338958508_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1654" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdriWEsjFnTrcQbJUOPtCAeFkkr9rU7aRcn5GWICcvg1csH9RzsbgomOvFiMEc_6g8CZeRIUavJEUkcfx5FrhDXEzvE8tiBmAL4g-l8siw60gdEkVUyUi57gCRxFywnkHnqtfqRqS1URldiODJwMCMs5L6eQCfw2-tcclhZu2INjOtWDJxfePjrczV/s320/337869962_1396312244469234_9146156948338958508_n.jpg" width="258" /></a></div><br /><br /><o:p></o:p><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 10.1pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: 22.3pt;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial Rounded MT Bold","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: text1;">He was an avid Star Trek
fan and will be long remembered for the Borg he portrayed in the Las Vegas
Hilton’s “Star Trek – The Experience” during its tenure there. He has many
friends from that experience, and they are as much in the dark about what
happened as I am. He was indeed a Borg Extraordinaire!<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 10.1pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: 22.3pt;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial Rounded MT Bold","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: text1;">This blog is dedicated to
him and his memory. He was a brilliantly talented man. He shone as an artist, a
photographer, a videographer, and a film editing genius, among other things.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 10.1pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: 22.3pt;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial Rounded MT Bold","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: text1;">As a teenager, he
illustrated both of my Castleweaver poetry chapbooks, bringing Eldreth and his
madness to life.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 10.1pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: 22.3pt;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial Rounded MT Bold","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: text1;">In the future, I will
donate $1.00 from the sale of each Castleweaver book to a suicide prevention
organization (please let me know if you’re familiar with such a group) in hopes
that another mother will not lose her son for no good reason.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 10.1pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: 22.3pt;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial Rounded MT Bold","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: text1;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 10.1pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial Rounded MT Bold","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: text1;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-GgNn6WzvhZw8Ja0KIAhVOKX6WO-C7OZ6PYWYpDxSQYdMXt_uzJS6CGf3F7DdW_AwEyEETIvomxsTTlL84W2MiAhgaXI3XoW6j2PdFjUsfGT3RI4jKck-gVxNXqnSNWUn3AQQiHSkpbJOFzh0Z0geIhhLa8XqIcWPiV8s_OS6ljMlpJdixd583Ga1/s499/51ePzKwLhSL._SX322_BO1,204,203,200_.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="499" data-original-width="324" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-GgNn6WzvhZw8Ja0KIAhVOKX6WO-C7OZ6PYWYpDxSQYdMXt_uzJS6CGf3F7DdW_AwEyEETIvomxsTTlL84W2MiAhgaXI3XoW6j2PdFjUsfGT3RI4jKck-gVxNXqnSNWUn3AQQiHSkpbJOFzh0Z0geIhhLa8XqIcWPiV8s_OS6ljMlpJdixd583Ga1/s320/51ePzKwLhSL._SX322_BO1,204,203,200_.jpg" width="208" /></a></div><br /><a href="https://tinyurl.com/y9d8czj4" style="font-size: 14pt; text-indent: 22.3pt;">https://tinyurl.com/y9d8czj4</a><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 10.1pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: 22.3pt;"><br /></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 10.1pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: 22.3pt;"><span style="font-family: "Arial Rounded MT Bold","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtzaGiUv7BSp_aEctv2L0HjC_7XVq7XKgaKfa82mJBYeo-hi2Sub24qjARIJ_bJzzrnOkixjKGL13qQXE0qQGhVl-cLcStFOFUHAHnJwckKp7C-t50Z9gQUmN7TYZH5Q0aOY8V9ptc1YPLWZNwaDQjI1FdKo9ngt2xsJCvEnncLTIepqUPY22d8FwG/s499/CW2%20front.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="499" data-original-width="324" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtzaGiUv7BSp_aEctv2L0HjC_7XVq7XKgaKfa82mJBYeo-hi2Sub24qjARIJ_bJzzrnOkixjKGL13qQXE0qQGhVl-cLcStFOFUHAHnJwckKp7C-t50Z9gQUmN7TYZH5Q0aOY8V9ptc1YPLWZNwaDQjI1FdKo9ngt2xsJCvEnncLTIepqUPY22d8FwG/s320/CW2%20front.jpg" width="208" /></a></div><br /><a href="https://tinyurl.com/y6x9pqno" style="font-size: 14pt;">https://tinyurl.com/y6x9pqno</a><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 10.1pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: 22.3pt;"><br /></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 10.1pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: 22.3pt;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial Rounded MT Bold","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: text1;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj06YkY75Rhar0wa-TQu79oPESz_f-_StkWo0vetCYE3drtUk7UPgelRkQqH-hI3qxbZ0eT3-Vt5mBCIF7uJeWdpQQsnbf2drYoBKYiBzkORJTthrOc8bQEMDBsBNgARbrYrxqClKVm9eNrONj-pAqkIQsTkTmCRHWwOY0FGb-sixsuwMkGCLP5Lo-F/s3856/CASTLEWEAVER%202.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3016" data-original-width="3856" height="250" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj06YkY75Rhar0wa-TQu79oPESz_f-_StkWo0vetCYE3drtUk7UPgelRkQqH-hI3qxbZ0eT3-Vt5mBCIF7uJeWdpQQsnbf2drYoBKYiBzkORJTthrOc8bQEMDBsBNgARbrYrxqClKVm9eNrONj-pAqkIQsTkTmCRHWwOY0FGb-sixsuwMkGCLP5Lo-F/s320/CASTLEWEAVER%202.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: 14pt; text-indent: 22.3pt;">Eldreth, himself, is in
agony fpr the tragic loss of the artist who gave him eternal life.</span><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 27.0pt;"><b><span style="font-family: Algerian; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Contemplations of a Madman<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 27.0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 27.0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 20pt;">The accumulated junk</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 27.0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 20.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> of
myriad years<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 27.0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 20.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">lies foul upon my soul ;<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 27.0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 20.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The fetid pool <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 27.0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 20.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> of
a million uncried tears<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 10.1pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: 22.3pt;">
</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 27.0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 20.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">attempts to take its toll...<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 27.0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 20.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 10.1pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: 22.3pt;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial Rounded MT Bold","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: text1;">As always, I welcome your
reactions and responses to any of my blogs. I love to hear from my readers.
Also, here are links to my Twitter and Facebook accounts, if you care to share
your thoughts with me there or look for any publication announcements.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 10.1pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: 22.3pt;"><a href="https://twitter.com/awlasky"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial Rounded MT Bold","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: text1;">https://twitter.com/awlasky</span></a><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial Rounded MT Bold","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: text1;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 10.1pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: 22.3pt;"><a href="https://www.facebook.com/ann.wilmerlasky"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial Rounded MT Bold","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: text1;">https://www.facebook.com/ann.wilmerlasky</span></a></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 10.1pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: 22.3pt;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial Rounded MT Bold","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: text1;">It’s now April. It is now Spring,
and I hope it will be kinder to us all.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 10.1pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: 22.3pt;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial Rounded MT Bold","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: text1;">(By the way – anyone
thinking this is a prank, it isn’t and I wouldn’t!)<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 10.1pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: 22.3pt;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial Rounded MT Bold","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: text1;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 10.1pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: 22.3pt;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial Rounded MT Bold","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: text1;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 10.1pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: 22.3pt;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial Rounded MT Bold","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: text1;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>AnnNoEhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05828350639184642799noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8441217614297112940.post-84154033818028022592023-03-01T19:00:00.000-08:002023-03-01T19:00:34.348-08:00Foreboding!<p> </p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 10.1pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial Rounded MT Bold","sans-serif"; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: text1;">March 2023 Blog</span><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial Rounded MT Bold","sans-serif"; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: text1;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 10.1pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><br /></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: center;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial Rounded MT Bold","sans-serif"; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: text1;">Unfathomable: A Haiku <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: center;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial Rounded MT Bold","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: text1;">Sad,
when that time comes,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: center;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial Rounded MT Bold","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: text1;">I
cannot reach out to friends,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: center;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial Rounded MT Bold","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: text1;">Share
with them my thoughts.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: center;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial Rounded MT Bold","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: text1;">by Ann Wilmer-Lasky<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12.0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial Rounded MT Bold","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: text1;">(3/1/23)<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12.0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial Rounded MT Bold","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: text1;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 10.1pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: 22.3pt;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial Rounded MT Bold","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: text1;">That day will come, but not
today. Today, although late, I am still able to communicate. February was a
short month indeed. And I truly fell short of words, of thoughts, and of deeds.
I’m finding the older one gets, the longer everything takes, even though the
time remaining to do things is way shorter.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 10.1pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: 22.3pt;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial Rounded MT Bold","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: text1;">I’m also writing this late
in the day on which I would post it. A lot has transpired these last few days,
including recovering from a zero-visibility, 78mph wind storm. No major damage,
but just about everyone in Roswell, New Mexico is suffering from stuffy noses,
sore throats and dry eyes.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 10.1pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: 22.3pt;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial Rounded MT Bold","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: text1;">All I can report this month
is that the Sam Rock sequel is closer to being completed and Black Oak will
very soon be out on Audible. Everything else is in some form of being closer to
being done.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 10.1pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: 22.3pt;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial Rounded MT Bold","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: text1;">My current vision condition
(which includes Macular Degeneration and cataracts) precludes my sailing along
at any rapid pace. I have problems reading posts on my favorites sites like
Facebook and Twitter. I also have trouble filling out forms with those little
gray boxes – they seem to disappear from sight. Sometimes I find I can copy and
paste things to word and darken and enlarge them. But I haven’t found a way to
adjust the sites so I can easily read things. So I go slowly and cut things
short – like this month’s blog. Hopefully, next month I will be able to see and
do more.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 10.1pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: 22.3pt;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial Rounded MT Bold","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: text1;">In the meantime, please
feel free to check out my eclectic selection of books on Amazon. The list will still
grow, but slowly this year.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 10.1pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: 22.3pt;"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/author/annwilmerlasky"><span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: "Arial Rounded MT Bold","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: text1;">https://www.amazon.com/author/annwilmerlasky</span></a><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial Rounded MT Bold","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: text1;"> <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 10.1pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: 22.3pt;"><br /></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 10.1pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: 22.3pt;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial Rounded MT Bold","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: text1;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJn9K5NpOL8ULjKTrDH7pYYKAWvTSp_DvTQfBvGKi-IcXvBvJbGm4dBi8rd-neuns9em535U5ex6n44N-u4ydxdmQM-VizSPGTUGaJJqrV34GFKn6MMj7612NMj57AOgakHFgEr-q7O8cmive2kHbsN8pMqWV4L7umpQFndwWR5C3R0zEcnnsiE5Kl/s5120/collage%202.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="5120" data-original-width="5120" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJn9K5NpOL8ULjKTrDH7pYYKAWvTSp_DvTQfBvGKi-IcXvBvJbGm4dBi8rd-neuns9em535U5ex6n44N-u4ydxdmQM-VizSPGTUGaJJqrV34GFKn6MMj7612NMj57AOgakHFgEr-q7O8cmive2kHbsN8pMqWV4L7umpQFndwWR5C3R0zEcnnsiE5Kl/s320/collage%202.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><br /><o:p></o:p><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 10.1pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: 22.3pt;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial Rounded MT Bold","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: text1;">Until next month, read and
write to your heart’s content, and remember to enjoy the happy moments in life
while they can be enjoyed.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 10.1pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: 22.3pt;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial Rounded MT Bold","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: text1;">As always, I welcome your
reactions and responses to any of my blogs. I love to hear from my readers.
Also, here are links to my Twitter and Facebook accounts, if you care to share
your thoughts with me there or look for my publication announcements. There will
still be some this year.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 10.1pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: 22.3pt;"><a href="https://twitter.com/awlasky"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial Rounded MT Bold","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: text1;">https://twitter.com/awlasky</span></a><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial Rounded MT Bold","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: text1;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 10.1pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: 22.3pt;"><a href="https://www.facebook.com/ann.wilmerlasky"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial Rounded MT Bold","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: text1;">https://www.facebook.com/ann.wilmerlasky</span></a></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 10.1pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: 22.3pt;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial Rounded MT Bold","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: text1;">It’s now March, almost
Spring, and I hope it will be kind to us all.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial Rounded MT Bold","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: text1;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial Rounded MT Bold","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: text1;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial Rounded MT Bold","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: text1;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial Rounded MT Bold","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: text1;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial Rounded MT Bold","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: text1;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial Rounded MT Bold","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-themecolor: text1;"><br clear="all" style="mso-special-character: line-break; page-break-before: always;" />
</span>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial Rounded MT Bold","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: text1;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>AnnNoEhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05828350639184642799noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8441217614297112940.post-65901622255683312122023-02-01T18:57:00.000-08:002023-02-01T18:57:36.790-08:00Brain Freeze!<p> </p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 10.1pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial Rounded MT Bold","sans-serif"; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: text1;">February 2023 Blog</span><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial Rounded MT Bold","sans-serif"; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: text1;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 10.1pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><br /></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: center;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial Rounded MT Bold","sans-serif"; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: text1;">Cold Thought: A Haiku <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: center;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial Rounded MT Bold","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: text1;">There
are those days that<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: center;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial Rounded MT Bold","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: text1;">Chill
the mind as well as the<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: center;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial Rounded MT Bold","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: text1;">Body –
this is one.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: center;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial Rounded MT Bold","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: text1;">by Ann Wilmer-Lasky<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12.0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial Rounded MT Bold","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: text1;">(1/31/23)<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12.0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial Rounded MT Bold","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: text1;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 10.1pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: 22.3pt;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial Rounded MT Bold","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: text1;">There is ice over
everything today and almost all over the whole of the United States. In
Roswell, New Mecico, we have had a rather mild winter. February 1<sup>st</sup>
may be the worst of it.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 10.1pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: 22.3pt;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial Rounded MT Bold","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: text1;">My brain is frozen, too,
and I can use only my inside voice. Which is not as free-wheeling as my outside
voice writing in the sun and fresh air.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 10.1pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: 22.3pt;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial Rounded MT Bold","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: text1;">And, I have a deadline
(self-imposed for sure), but I have promised to have <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">“Raven’s Roost – A Sam Rock
Novel”</i></b> to my manuscript checker in early March and to my audio narrator
this s\Spring.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 10.1pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: 22.3pt;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial Rounded MT Bold","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: text1;">So it’s coming (come hell-or-high-water)
this Spring – my Sam Rock sequel. Yay! Just a few more chapters to finish off
and preliminary editing and then off to the printer.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 10.1pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: 22.3pt;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial Rounded MT Bold","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: text1;">It has not been as prolific
a winter as I had hoped, but I did discover some early poetry that is both free
verse and rhymed (way before any thought of Haiku). I am seriously thinking of
publishing a collection this summer – after a little editing, of course.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 10.1pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: 22.3pt;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial Rounded MT Bold","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: text1;">Me and mine have survived
the winter well so far. No serious illnesses or injuries. I hope that you and yours
have all fared as well. Although I know that a lot of the country had had far
more brutal weather than we have had here.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 10.1pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: 22.3pt;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial Rounded MT Bold","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: text1;">I’m looking forward to
Spring. I’m really hoping to revive my green thumb this Spring. I used to grow
a lot of flowers, vegetables and even trees in California. But for some reason,
not in Roswell. Seems I either over-water or under-water them here. Gotta get
that straight this year. I want to have lots of flowers for the few bees and
butterflies left in the area. Plus they are beautiful to gaze on as I’m
writing.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 10.1pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: 22.3pt;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial Rounded MT Bold","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: text1;">As February is a short
month, this will be another short blog post. I could beg off that I must go and
write and finish up, but that’s what I said last month. I guess I could say
that all my Haiku writing lately has shortened my attention span. Maybe getting
back to some regular poetry will help me was more poetic again. I can hope
anyway.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 10.1pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: 22.3pt;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial Rounded MT Bold","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: text1;">I am again looking forward
to an entire month of writing. Again, it’s onward and upward.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 10.1pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: 22.3pt;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial Rounded MT Bold","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: text1;">Please, feel free to check
out my eclectic selection of books on Amazon. The list will surely grow this
year.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 10.1pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: 22.3pt;"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/author/annwilmerlasky"><span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: "Arial Rounded MT Bold","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: text1;">https://www.amazon.com/author/annwilmerlasky</span></a><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial Rounded MT Bold","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: text1;"> <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 10.1pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: 22.3pt;"><br /></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 10.1pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: 22.3pt;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial Rounded MT Bold","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: text1;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSZx3PpLoiAgHbodQZMyrjeazEjXn9rlG_0_breaS-r_tXOSGNlWxqgxUUKxFlJSn4IkX7xqSUicjvvEzH9zi-BHPP52GY7etOU_Rc-rI_DJ-8ZcmEnnlFPVxfFmuMYcaJFK23Ia8uUH-I5TlGqaydCSWk3m17UswohF4Z_aJcdLjTIrwnBXz6esNx/s5120/collage%202.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="5120" data-original-width="5120" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSZx3PpLoiAgHbodQZMyrjeazEjXn9rlG_0_breaS-r_tXOSGNlWxqgxUUKxFlJSn4IkX7xqSUicjvvEzH9zi-BHPP52GY7etOU_Rc-rI_DJ-8ZcmEnnlFPVxfFmuMYcaJFK23Ia8uUH-I5TlGqaydCSWk3m17UswohF4Z_aJcdLjTIrwnBXz6esNx/s320/collage%202.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><br /><o:p></o:p><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 10.1pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: 22.3pt;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial Rounded MT Bold","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: text1;">Until next month, read and
write to your heart’s content, and remember we deserve to be much happier this
year, and I’m still hoping we will be.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 10.1pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: 22.3pt;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial Rounded MT Bold","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: text1;">As always, I welcome your
reactions and responses to any of my blogs. I love to hear from my readers.
Also, here are links to my Twitter and Facebook accounts, if you care to share
your thoughts with me there or look for my publication announcements. They will
surely be forthcoming this year.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 10.1pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: 22.3pt;"><a href="https://twitter.com/awlasky"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial Rounded MT Bold","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: text1;">https://twitter.com/awlasky</span></a><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial Rounded MT Bold","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: text1;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 10.1pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: 22.3pt;"><a href="https://www.facebook.com/ann.wilmerlasky"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial Rounded MT Bold","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: text1;">https://www.facebook.com/ann.wilmerlasky</span></a></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 10.1pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: 22.3pt;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial Rounded MT Bold","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: text1;">It’s now February, the second
month of 2023. Ten more months to look forward to. Let’s make it a great year.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial Rounded MT Bold","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: text1;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial Rounded MT Bold","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: text1;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial Rounded MT Bold","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: text1;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial Rounded MT Bold","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: text1;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial Rounded MT Bold","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: text1;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>AnnNoEhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05828350639184642799noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8441217614297112940.post-63148680163315162502023-01-01T19:58:00.001-08:002023-01-01T19:58:59.072-08:00Happy New Year!<p> </p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 10.1pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial Rounded MT Bold","sans-serif"; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: text1;">January 2023 Blog</span><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial Rounded MT Bold","sans-serif"; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: text1;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 10.1pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><br /></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: center;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial Rounded MT Bold","sans-serif"; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: text1;">2023: A Haiku <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: center;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial Rounded MT Bold","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: text1;">This I
know: as this<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: center;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial Rounded MT Bold","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: text1;">Year
passes, it will not leave<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: center;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial Rounded MT Bold","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: text1;">Me
where it found me.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: center;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial Rounded MT Bold","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: text1;">by Ann Wilmer-Lasky<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12.0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial Rounded MT Bold","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: text1;">(1/1/23)<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12.0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial Rounded MT Bold","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: text1;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 10.1pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: 22.3pt;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial Rounded MT Bold","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: text1;">Whatever the year brings,
it will involve change. I feel it in my bones. Of course, I’m not sure of
better or worse, richer or poorer, or sickness or health – but it will end
differently than where last year left me.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 10.1pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: 22.3pt;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial Rounded MT Bold","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: text1;">It’s become my New Year’s
resolution. I will not have another year like the last two. I’ve started by
writing this today and vowing to write every day this year.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 10.1pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: 22.3pt;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial Rounded MT Bold","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: text1;">I also highly resolve to
get organized so that I’m on top of things and can avoid the surprises of an
overdue bill I never opened in the first place or a reminder of an appointment
I have today that I forgot to write down months ago.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 10.1pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: 22.3pt;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial Rounded MT Bold","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: text1;">Knowing that life will
surely throw me curve balls during the year, I don’t need to add my own brush-back
pitches to the mix.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 10.1pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: 22.3pt;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial Rounded MT Bold","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: text1;">I would wish and hope for
world peace and health in 2023, but that may be reaching too far. I might even
wish for sanity in politics and in people getting along with one another, but
that’s way out there.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 10.1pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: 22.3pt;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial Rounded MT Bold","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: text1;">What I do wish for each one
of us is peace and love in our own lives, including our loved ones. I wish for
happiness and success in our endeavors, whatever they may be.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 10.1pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: 22.3pt;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial Rounded MT Bold","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: text1;">We surely deserve better
than we’ve gotten and seen in the last two years. I won’t even list the
problems and the disasters (natural and manmade) mostly because I don’t want to
add to the longevity of their memory.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 10.1pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: 22.3pt;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial Rounded MT Bold","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: text1;">I know I can’t expect
sunshine and clear skies every day to sit outside and blithely write to my
heart’s content. I would just love to not spend my days putting out fires (if
only just figuratively).<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 10.1pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: 22.3pt;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial Rounded MT Bold","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: text1;">I’m sure we could all use a
breather, and I wish us contentment as well – not complacency, but true
contentment in our lives.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 10.1pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: 22.3pt;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial Rounded MT Bold","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: text1;">I would much rather
relegate the daily horrors to my writing. I would much rather my friends be
frightened by the pages of my books than the pages of the newspapers.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 10.1pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: 22.3pt;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial Rounded MT Bold","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: text1;">And, speaking of writing, I
think I’ll wrap this up and edit it and post it. So I can get ready to go
outside and write tomorrow and the next day and the next – and send Sam Rock on
his way to the publishers.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 10.1pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: 22.3pt;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial Rounded MT Bold","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: text1;">I am so looking forward to
this entire month of writing. The New Year has started. Again, it’s onward and
upward.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 10.1pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: 22.3pt;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial Rounded MT Bold","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: text1;">Please, feel free to check
out my eclectic selection of books on Amazon. The list will surely grow this
year.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 10.1pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: 22.3pt;"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/author/annwilmerlasky"><span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: "Arial Rounded MT Bold","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: text1;">https://www.amazon.com/author/annwilmerlasky</span></a><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial Rounded MT Bold","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: text1;"> <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 10.1pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: 22.3pt;"><br /></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 10.1pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: 22.3pt;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial Rounded MT Bold","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: text1;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDCM4QMFQA1zzVbTIvQcF_tEpb4VFxoh9cbdWhkf6YvYIw0Hka19VPJAGnoNJv6agT1OUlvU_7bb6s0eAybpftzhqJHYF1BRJwOHoyM0C3ozxHuKmA2EUWs7pvC3QejFpOdHQ0gG_e5xLZ35dBn5OIom1NicNF9KGKiQ_En44MzTNraGxNqCLnhVSY/s5120/collage%202.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="5120" data-original-width="5120" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDCM4QMFQA1zzVbTIvQcF_tEpb4VFxoh9cbdWhkf6YvYIw0Hka19VPJAGnoNJv6agT1OUlvU_7bb6s0eAybpftzhqJHYF1BRJwOHoyM0C3ozxHuKmA2EUWs7pvC3QejFpOdHQ0gG_e5xLZ35dBn5OIom1NicNF9KGKiQ_En44MzTNraGxNqCLnhVSY/s320/collage%202.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><br /><o:p></o:p><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 10.1pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: 22.3pt;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial Rounded MT Bold","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: text1;">Until next month, read and
write to your heart’s content, and remember we deserve to be much happier this
year.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 10.1pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: 22.3pt;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial Rounded MT Bold","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: text1;">As always, I welcome your
reactions and responses to any of my blogs. I love to hear from my readers.
Also, here are links to my Twitter and Facebook accounts, if you care to share
your thoughts with me there or look for my publication announcements. They will
surely be forthcoming this year.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 10.1pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: 22.3pt;"><a href="https://twitter.com/awlasky"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial Rounded MT Bold","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: text1;">https://twitter.com/awlasky</span></a><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial Rounded MT Bold","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: text1;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 10.1pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: 22.3pt;"><a href="https://www.facebook.com/ann.wilmerlasky"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial Rounded MT Bold","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: text1;">https://www.facebook.com/ann.wilmerlasky</span></a></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 10.1pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: 22.3pt;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial Rounded MT Bold","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: text1;">It’s now January, the first
month of 2023. Eleven more months to look forward to. Let’s make it a good
twelve months.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial Rounded MT Bold","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: text1;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial Rounded MT Bold","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: text1;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial Rounded MT Bold","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: text1;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>AnnNoEhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05828350639184642799noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8441217614297112940.post-3571284267456133602022-12-01T19:47:00.000-08:002022-12-01T19:47:18.269-08:00Forward Hope!<p> </p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 10.1pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial Rounded MT Bold","sans-serif"; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: text1;">December 2022 Blog</span><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial Rounded MT Bold","sans-serif"; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: text1;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 10.1pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><br /></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: center;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial Rounded MT Bold","sans-serif"; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: text1;">Preparations: A Haiku <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: center;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial Rounded MT Bold","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: text1;">Getting
ready for<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: center;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial Rounded MT Bold","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: text1;">Another
year, hopefully<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: center;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial Rounded MT Bold","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: text1;">Better
than the last.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: center;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial Rounded MT Bold","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: text1;">by Ann Wilmer-Lasky<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12.0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial Rounded MT Bold","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: text1;">(11/30/22)<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12.0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial Rounded MT Bold","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: text1;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 10.1pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: 22.3pt;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial Rounded MT Bold","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: text1;">Actually looking forward to
a year better than the last three years. Well, one can only hope.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 10.1pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: 22.3pt;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial Rounded MT Bold","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: text1;">Had a great NaNoWriMo month,
so that helps in the hope department for next year. Writing always makes me feel
better.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 10.1pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: 22.3pt;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial Rounded MT Bold","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: text1;">Okay, I haven’t done real well
in the publishing department this year. I did much better writing and editing. That
means publishing should be a breeze this next year. That’s one of my big hopes.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 10.1pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: 22.3pt;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial Rounded MT Bold","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: text1;">Also hoping for an end to pandemics
and wars. But that may be too much to actually look forward to. Then there’s the
outside hope for an end to gun violence and mass shootings. I realize that may be
just beyond the reach of hope.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 10.1pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: 22.3pt;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial Rounded MT Bold","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: text1;">I plan on spending a lot of
time this coming year all by myself in my own little worlds of my own design. I
should be most happy there.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 10.1pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: 22.3pt;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial Rounded MT Bold","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: text1;">I may have to take some time
off to have cataract surgery. I’ll find that out in January. I understand that is
a relatively routine procedure now – not at all like I remember people having in
the 80’s. It was not an easy thing then. But I’m still not looking forward to it.
I’m not fond of anything that takes me away from my first love – writing.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 10.1pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: 22.3pt;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial Rounded MT Bold","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: text1;">And I’d better get to that writing.
My characters are even starting to invade my dreams. And their worlds right now
are more preferable to mine. Except maybe the Castleweaver, Eldreth, who appears
more in nightmares than in pleasant dreams, but then that is his wont. Maybe he
will win out. I could use the chance to get some horror off my mind. Eldreth is
a great way to vent.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 10.1pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: 22.3pt;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial Rounded MT Bold","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: text1;">Detective Sam Rock is standing
here with his arms folded. Okay, I’ve got to get his sequel out so I can write the
third one in the series and explain how he got kicked off the force in the first
place. He swears it was not his fault. I believe him.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 10.1pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: 22.3pt;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial Rounded MT Bold","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: text1;">So, I have a lot to look forward
to. It’s onward and upward. Next month will bring the New Year. Hope we can all
ring it in with cheers and happy bell ringing.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 10.1pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: 22.3pt;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial Rounded MT Bold","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: text1;">In the meantime, feel free
to check out my eclectic selection of books on Amazon. There may be something there
you have yet to enjoy.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 10.1pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: 22.3pt;"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/author/annwilmerlasky"><span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: "Arial Rounded MT Bold","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: text1;">https://www.amazon.com/author/annwilmerlasky</span></a><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial Rounded MT Bold","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: text1;"> <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 10.1pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: 22.3pt;"><br /></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 10.1pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: 22.3pt;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial Rounded MT Bold","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: text1;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0ZuVKN-3YnPNOE8xLWq7tD2i3u7HSX1rkVK7HhhMlB4KIbhdm3oCLjoHfHKGC7KeMOLExPA2xz_tLlZESIxVVcYhO0Vh4KHvUrfAxY8fuMCHZia1N86eAMJ88s5ceN9Qa4zQFYplzZvYE7eWzvaGvWc442LIhdCCkdp_AX7jRM0L9T3gQ24yTI8w5/s5120/collage%202.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="5120" data-original-width="5120" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0ZuVKN-3YnPNOE8xLWq7tD2i3u7HSX1rkVK7HhhMlB4KIbhdm3oCLjoHfHKGC7KeMOLExPA2xz_tLlZESIxVVcYhO0Vh4KHvUrfAxY8fuMCHZia1N86eAMJ88s5ceN9Qa4zQFYplzZvYE7eWzvaGvWc442LIhdCCkdp_AX7jRM0L9T3gQ24yTI8w5/s320/collage%202.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><br /><o:p></o:p><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 10.1pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: 22.3pt;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial Rounded MT Bold","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: text1;">Until next month, read and
write to your heart’s content. It certainly makes my heart feel better.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 10.1pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: 22.3pt;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial Rounded MT Bold","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: text1;">As always, I welcome your
reactions and responses to any of my blogs. I love to hear from my readers.
Also, here are links to my Twitter (yes, I still Tweet) and Facebook accounts,
if you care to share your thoughts with me there or look for my publication
announcements. They will be forthcoming:<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 10.1pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: 22.3pt;"><a href="https://twitter.com/awlasky"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial Rounded MT Bold","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: text1;">https://twitter.com/awlasky</span></a><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial Rounded MT Bold","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: text1;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 10.1pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: 22.3pt;"><a href="https://www.facebook.com/ann.wilmerlasky"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial Rounded MT Bold","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: text1;">https://www.facebook.com/ann.wilmerlasky</span></a></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 10.1pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: 22.3pt;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial Rounded MT Bold","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: text1;">It’s now December, the last
month of the year. Thirty more days and 2022 is gone. See you next year.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial Rounded MT Bold","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: text1;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial Rounded MT Bold","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: text1;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial Rounded MT Bold","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: text1;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial Rounded MT Bold","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: text1;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial Rounded MT Bold","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-themecolor: text1;"><br clear="all" style="mso-special-character: line-break; page-break-before: always;" />
</span>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial Rounded MT Bold","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: text1;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>AnnNoEhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05828350639184642799noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8441217614297112940.post-50818533115861341382022-11-01T19:26:00.001-07:002022-11-01T19:26:57.371-07:00NaNoWriMo Ho! Again<p> </p><p><span face=""Arial Rounded MT Bold", "sans-serif"" style="font-size: 16pt;">November 2022 Blog</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 10.1pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><br /></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: center;"><span face=""Arial Rounded MT Bold","sans-serif"" style="color: black; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: text1;">NaNoWriMo Ho! A Haiku <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: center;"><span face=""Arial Rounded MT Bold","sans-serif"" style="color: black; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: text1;">“Don’t
start nuthin’, won’t<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: center;"><span face=""Arial Rounded MT Bold","sans-serif"" style="color: black; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: text1;">Be
nuthin’” has new meaning.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: center;"><span face=""Arial Rounded MT Bold","sans-serif"" style="color: black; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: text1;">I
better start now.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: center;"><span face=""Arial Rounded MT Bold","sans-serif"" style="color: black; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: text1;">by Ann Wilmer-Lasky<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12pt; text-align: center;"><span face=""Arial Rounded MT Bold","sans-serif"" style="color: black; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: text1;">(11/1/21)<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12pt; text-align: center;"><span face=""Arial Rounded MT Bold","sans-serif"" style="color: black; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: text1;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 10.1pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: 22.3pt;"><span face=""Arial Rounded MT Bold","sans-serif"" style="color: black; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: text1;">Now would be good. A lot
has happened in the last year. Not a lot of it has been literary. But, I have
this year’s NaNoWriMo to look forward to. And it’s gonna be swingin’.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 10.1pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: 22.3pt;"><span face=""Arial Rounded MT Bold","sans-serif"" style="color: black; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: text1;">When all else fails, I can
count on “National Novel Writing Month” to get my fingers and my pens moving.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 10.1pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: 22.3pt;"><span face=""Arial Rounded MT Bold","sans-serif"" style="color: black; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: text1;">This year I won’t even
think about my up-coming birthday except as the goal for finishing this year’s
50,000 words on the 28<sup>th</sup> no matter what they may be.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 10.1pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: 22.3pt;"><span face=""Arial Rounded MT Bold","sans-serif"" style="color: black; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: text1;">Okay, I will think about my
birthday and perhaps wonder how many more NaNoWriMo’s I’m going to be able to
do. And I swear, I will do them until I can’t anymore.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 10.1pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: 22.3pt;"><span face=""Arial Rounded MT Bold","sans-serif"" style="color: black; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: text1;">Actually, it’s very
comforting knowing I can look forward to this every year. I also look forward
to being able to encourage younger writers just starting out on their literary
ventures. And that’s a lot of writers, since most all of them are younger than
I am. (lol)<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 10.1pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: 22.3pt;"><span face=""Arial Rounded MT Bold","sans-serif"" style="color: black; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: text1;">I’m so not going to wax
eloquently on the state of the world this month. I need to shut that out as
much as I can. That’s a relief, too. For I would be angry at the world as
bitter as it has become, if I let myself dwell on it. I would rather dwell on
telling a story wrapped up in a world that does not exist – one that I have
total control over.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 10.1pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: 22.3pt;"><span face=""Arial Rounded MT Bold","sans-serif"" style="color: black; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: text1;">Okay, smiling now!<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 10.1pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: 22.3pt;"><span face=""Arial Rounded MT Bold","sans-serif"" style="color: black; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: text1;">I’m actually going to cut
this blog short this month so I can jump into NaNoWriMo with both feet. I’ll
fill the space with pictures of some of my covers for your enjoyment. I’m proud
of every one of them.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 10.1pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: 22.3pt;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-_GysT3n4hf2fUXTKh0op73XVnEU9enPMmVsGcH01h4CHDlIMW_MBuV6sTTCtM7IAovHN_xPhz-Az-YbAq6Xlvw7GW7duhqX_LBOzOvIvVO_CFOqI_QUO5xsU_w4BnGrzsmfS5LLJYSknztjZBJUrHWTKZh0_IZIsJd070qe12wjlFNJhPjgXOofj/s499/castleweaver%204%201%2018.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="499" data-original-width="324" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-_GysT3n4hf2fUXTKh0op73XVnEU9enPMmVsGcH01h4CHDlIMW_MBuV6sTTCtM7IAovHN_xPhz-Az-YbAq6Xlvw7GW7duhqX_LBOzOvIvVO_CFOqI_QUO5xsU_w4BnGrzsmfS5LLJYSknztjZBJUrHWTKZh0_IZIsJd070qe12wjlFNJhPjgXOofj/s320/castleweaver%204%201%2018.jpg" width="208" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 10.1pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: 22.3pt;"><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhel_p-LuEfQEfzxObJXTuFiSGWyWRzUFVZplBivN6yLUg-wGtwYh-q3jhdD1zWDkHnEdFEiO7znjpwfERLITrZWLHX1X9410OjxBqKcDrj1YklgTljU3NI0rCjuza808AUinizOE9A-Ddhn3wGGSUYQAHz5OQIE59UW0VnSvBPOocOz-VGs028Trvr/s499/CW2%20front.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="499" data-original-width="324" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhel_p-LuEfQEfzxObJXTuFiSGWyWRzUFVZplBivN6yLUg-wGtwYh-q3jhdD1zWDkHnEdFEiO7znjpwfERLITrZWLHX1X9410OjxBqKcDrj1YklgTljU3NI0rCjuza808AUinizOE9A-Ddhn3wGGSUYQAHz5OQIE59UW0VnSvBPOocOz-VGs028Trvr/s320/CW2%20front.jpg" width="208" /></a></div><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 10.1pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: 22.3pt;"><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJLdQvtux7sceBh06Lhhhb6Qe_sXWH_H4BErIXo8TBVc_FAOztLjr1VPzYfmN8TW8RMbk_N-xduhW1z32w-kqBW5ak5Vr0x3x3Xt1Z6LzHP8XCPGChAmK5OpnP6li2JP8-LJaDAexGF4U8jqk3t1JOBIGgj4G5IRULCFdw4UxrYePkaNzBWWiPYnhL/s499/51CXlOV-EfL._SX311_BO1,204,203,200_.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="499" data-original-width="313" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJLdQvtux7sceBh06Lhhhb6Qe_sXWH_H4BErIXo8TBVc_FAOztLjr1VPzYfmN8TW8RMbk_N-xduhW1z32w-kqBW5ak5Vr0x3x3Xt1Z6LzHP8XCPGChAmK5OpnP6li2JP8-LJaDAexGF4U8jqk3t1JOBIGgj4G5IRULCFdw4UxrYePkaNzBWWiPYnhL/s320/51CXlOV-EfL._SX311_BO1,204,203,200_.jpg" width="201" /></a></div><br /><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 10.1pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: 22.3pt;"><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFSEJlfi2pUmbJ7lhH9JWO99DJoNX1oTpy6LyKApt-FA5ekbNKrXtYlLIv-pvPDjQgDZGQNtQazpuaFsQdaO6PgJVHMIBUuojnWMYSrmT7tGHC2qgXDeU-x9zmebPl4YQMdVNTwz5Hu5angHo0RUK2PW0m-hvBiFbV8LuEg3GNlC3FBMPPre9txRTB/s499/BO%20Vengeance%20Amazon.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="499" data-original-width="313" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFSEJlfi2pUmbJ7lhH9JWO99DJoNX1oTpy6LyKApt-FA5ekbNKrXtYlLIv-pvPDjQgDZGQNtQazpuaFsQdaO6PgJVHMIBUuojnWMYSrmT7tGHC2qgXDeU-x9zmebPl4YQMdVNTwz5Hu5angHo0RUK2PW0m-hvBiFbV8LuEg3GNlC3FBMPPre9txRTB/s320/BO%20Vengeance%20Amazon.jpg" width="201" /></a></div><br /><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 10.1pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: 22.3pt;"><br /></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 10.1pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: 22.3pt;"><span face=""Arial Rounded MT Bold","sans-serif"" style="color: black; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: text1;">Please wish me luck with
this month’s endeavor. I’ll let you know next month how everything came out.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 10.1pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: 22.3pt;"><span face=""Arial Rounded MT Bold","sans-serif"" style="color: black; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: text1;">If you write, you’re
welcome to come join me on a whirlwind of flowing thoughts and words.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 10.1pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: 22.3pt;"><span face=""Arial Rounded MT Bold","sans-serif"" style="color: black; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: text1;">If you care to check out
some horrific stuff, feel free to check out my eclectic selection of books on
Amazon. There may be something there to terrorize you.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 10.1pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: 22.3pt;"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/author/annwilmerlasky"><span face=""Arial Rounded MT Bold","sans-serif"" style="background: white; color: black; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: text1;">https://www.amazon.com/author/annwilmerlasky</span></a><span face=""Arial Rounded MT Bold","sans-serif"" style="color: black; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: text1;"> <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 10.1pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: 22.3pt;"><span face=""Arial Rounded MT Bold","sans-serif"" style="color: black; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: text1;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span face=""Arial Rounded MT Bold","sans-serif"" style="color: black; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: text1;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBq7v12NeYm_rHO-39vbxf047dAlDlPXpyjkjTd03kuf9NHPtQEAzeov2si1j0M7-Tciv5tcJfrelIuvkecGIWRiaorWPG5nMPiX5t7BVH8qDlE144ucSZnr5xivCxXlLM1bRY-hJj_YvuehaVVgzH48pFlekZngUZRFX_QK0Cqr6yXkSt8zWmTuCb/s5120/collage%202.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="5120" data-original-width="5120" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBq7v12NeYm_rHO-39vbxf047dAlDlPXpyjkjTd03kuf9NHPtQEAzeov2si1j0M7-Tciv5tcJfrelIuvkecGIWRiaorWPG5nMPiX5t7BVH8qDlE144ucSZnr5xivCxXlLM1bRY-hJj_YvuehaVVgzH48pFlekZngUZRFX_QK0Cqr6yXkSt8zWmTuCb/s320/collage%202.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></div><span face=""Arial Rounded MT Bold","sans-serif"" style="color: black; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: text1;"><br /><br /><o:p></o:p></span><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 10.1pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: 22.3pt;"><span face=""Arial Rounded MT Bold","sans-serif"" style="color: black; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: text1;">Until next month, read and
write to your heart’s content. For us NaNoWriMo’s that’s 50,000 words and
counting.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 10.1pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: 22.3pt;"><span face=""Arial Rounded MT Bold","sans-serif"" style="color: black; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: text1;">As always, I welcome your
reactions and responses to any of my blogs. I love to hear from my readers.
Also, here are links to my Twitter and Facebook accounts, if you care to share
your thoughts with me there or look for my publication announcements. They will
be forthcoming:<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 10.1pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: 22.3pt;"><a href="https://twitter.com/awlasky"><span face=""Arial Rounded MT Bold","sans-serif"" style="color: black; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: text1;">https://twitter.com/awlasky</span></a><span face=""Arial Rounded MT Bold","sans-serif"" style="color: black; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: text1;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 10.1pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: 22.3pt;"><a href="https://www.facebook.com/ann.wilmerlasky"><span face=""Arial Rounded MT Bold","sans-serif"" style="color: black; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: text1;">https://www.facebook.com/ann.wilmerlasky</span></a></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 10.1pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: 22.3pt;"><span face=""Arial Rounded MT Bold","sans-serif"" style="color: black; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: text1;">It’s now November. Only two
months left in the year. Where did it go? I have no idea.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 10.1pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: 22.3pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 150%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: text1;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span></span></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 150%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: text1;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTaF_axT224qkouJ9vBiCbchXVSJdJ4MAbK4NcyhVVWVgQHbyk6zojliJ8EDRWHePSWDSAYzDSw9d0ycD_zya3p3Y8YS72tKsXUlLdLuWZAEW2GLeokvCtroLj_qjY87l4qpkcWTPhevKgFSQXxrRy8d7lwgU7lPKnCYidKzCoPKjnfpWlxESw1PSw/s1823/RHIMO%20COVER%20SHEET.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1823" data-original-width="1700" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTaF_axT224qkouJ9vBiCbchXVSJdJ4MAbK4NcyhVVWVgQHbyk6zojliJ8EDRWHePSWDSAYzDSw9d0ycD_zya3p3Y8YS72tKsXUlLdLuWZAEW2GLeokvCtroLj_qjY87l4qpkcWTPhevKgFSQXxrRy8d7lwgU7lPKnCYidKzCoPKjnfpWlxESw1PSw/s320/RHIMO%20COVER%20SHEET.jpg" width="298" /></a></span></span></b></div><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 150%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: text1;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><br />My NaNo RhiMo!</span></span></b><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Arial Rounded MT Bold","sans-serif"" style="color: black; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: text1;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Arial Rounded MT Bold","sans-serif"" style="color: black; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: text1;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Arial Rounded MT Bold","sans-serif"" style="color: black; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: text1;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Arial Rounded MT Bold","sans-serif"" style="color: black; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: text1;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<span face=""Arial Rounded MT Bold","sans-serif"" style="color: black; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-themecolor: text1;"><br clear="all" style="break-before: page; mso-special-character: line-break; page-break-before: always;" />
</span>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Arial Rounded MT Bold","sans-serif"" style="color: black; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: text1;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br />AnnNoEhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05828350639184642799noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8441217614297112940.post-23806465634243688512022-10-01T19:50:00.000-07:002022-10-01T19:50:11.285-07:00Transition!<p> </p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 10.1pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span face=""Arial Rounded MT Bold","sans-serif"" style="color: black; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: text1;">October 2022 Blog</span><span face=""Arial Rounded MT Bold","sans-serif"" style="color: black; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: text1;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 10.1pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><br /></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: center;"><span face=""Arial Rounded MT Bold","sans-serif"" style="color: black; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: text1;">Transition: A Haiku <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: center;"><span face=""Arial Rounded MT Bold","sans-serif"" style="color: black; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: text1;">“That
I am” need not<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: center;"><span face=""Arial Rounded MT Bold","sans-serif"" style="color: black; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: text1;">Be. if
I change the story<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: center;"><span face=""Arial Rounded MT Bold","sans-serif"" style="color: black; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: text1;">That I
tell myself.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: center;"><span face=""Arial Rounded MT Bold","sans-serif"" style="color: black; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: text1;">by Ann Wilmer-Lasky<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12pt; text-align: center;"><span face=""Arial Rounded MT Bold","sans-serif"" style="color: black; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: text1;">(9/30/22)<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12pt; text-align: center;"><span face=""Arial Rounded MT Bold","sans-serif"" style="color: black; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: text1;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 10.1pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: 22.3pt;"><span face=""Arial Rounded MT Bold","sans-serif"" style="color: black; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: text1;">To paraphrase Anderson Cooper
on Stephen Colbert’s late night show: “You can change the story that you tell
yourself”. Thank you, Mr. Cooper. Rearranging my story now.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 10.1pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: 22.3pt;"><span face=""Arial Rounded MT Bold","sans-serif"" style="color: black; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: text1;">“That I am” has not served
me well lately. Need to rethink where I’m headed and head in a different
direction. The last two years have just been devastating to so many of us in so
many ways. I no longer feel the need to even list all that’s driven us to
virtual distraction. Let’s just say our lives have been rearranged for us
whether we wanted it or not. Time has come to take back what we can – to take
control of those things dangling within our reach and set out again on our own
path, believing that we can make our story go the way we want it to go.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 10.1pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: 22.3pt;"><span face=""Arial Rounded MT Bold","sans-serif"" style="color: black; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: text1;">Reminds me of what we
authors do. We control our novels and their characters. We forge the story to
go the way we want it to. Sure, sometimes they grab the reins and force their
stories elsewhere...<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 10.1pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: 22.3pt;"><span face=""Arial Rounded MT Bold","sans-serif"" style="color: black; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: text1;">But wait! Isn’t that what
we must do with our own lives now?<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 10.1pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: 22.3pt;"><span face=""Arial Rounded MT Bold","sans-serif"" style="color: black; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: text1;">Mine, anyway, needs an
overhaul. I need better organization and better follow-through – starting with
“a place for everything and everything in its place”. That way, when I get
around to tackling a project, I’ll have everything I need right where I need it
and won’t have to spend valuable time searching for stuff – a definite waste of
time.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 10.1pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: 22.3pt;"><span face=""Arial Rounded MT Bold","sans-serif"" style="color: black; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: text1;">Starting and stopping
projects hasn’t served me well either. Taking too long to restart the project
means I often have to “reinvent the wheel” and backtrack before I can move
forward – another time waster.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 10.1pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: 22.3pt;"><span face=""Arial Rounded MT Bold","sans-serif"" style="color: black; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: text1;">I probably should limit my
computer time also. I have a tendency to get caught up in Twitter and solitaire
and jigsaw puzzles. It’s amazing how time flies when you’re hyper-focused on
those things.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 10.1pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: 22.3pt;"><span face=""Arial Rounded MT Bold","sans-serif"" style="color: black; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: text1;">I consider Twitter my window
on the world right now, so I probably won’t cut back much on that. However, the
solitaire and jigsaws may demand some kind of time limit. I should start
setting my timer for fifteen minutes or so, so I don’t find myself glued to the
chair an hour later, having spent time that could have been better spent
sparring with my characters and recording their stories for posterity.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 10.1pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: 22.3pt;"><span face=""Arial Rounded MT Bold","sans-serif"" style="color: black; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: text1;">What a great idea! I can
rearrange my story in order to tell their stories! That’s the spirit! Pumping
myself up now. I’ve spent way too much time being down in the dumps. I’m
smiling a little bit now. Thank you again, Anderson Cooper for your
enlightening take on chaning our own stories and living our lives as we want them
to be.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 10.1pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: 22.3pt;"><span face=""Arial Rounded MT Bold","sans-serif"" style="color: black; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: text1;">What an amazing concept!
Building enthusiasm now – and energy. Hope it lasts longer than most of my
bright ideas. But then it wasn’t my idea, was it? It was Anderson Cooper’s. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 10.1pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: 22.3pt;"><span face=""Arial Rounded MT Bold","sans-serif"" style="color: black; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: text1;">If I can make it work, I’ll
be releasing my Sam Rock sequel in time for Christmas, along with Steve Hamm’s
brilliant audio version of my paranormal western, “Black Oak: Town of Joy”.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 10.1pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: 22.3pt;"><span face=""Arial Rounded MT Bold","sans-serif"" style="color: black; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: text1;">In the meantime, I’m
jumping back on the “Fly Lady” band wagon this month to get rid of my paper
clutter. Really need to cut down on the boxes and boxes of paper stuff I’ve
always thought I needed to keep. Less stuff means other stuff is less likely to
get lost and force more downtime searching for stuff. Love that word “stuff”!
It’s so much better than the word it replaces: “sh*t”, you know.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 10.1pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: 22.3pt;"><span face=""Arial Rounded MT Bold","sans-serif"" style="color: black; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: text1;">Well all of this will start
tomorrow. Tonight starts the “Svegoolie” month of horror. Gonna love every
minute of it! Oh, and then there’s the season premeire of SNL – Gonna love
that, too.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 10.1pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: 22.3pt;"><span face=""Arial Rounded MT Bold","sans-serif"" style="color: black; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: text1;">If you care to check out
some more horrific stuff, feel free to check out my eclectic selection of books
on Amazon. There may be something there to terrorize you.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 10.1pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: 22.3pt;"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/author/annwilmerlasky"><span face=""Arial Rounded MT Bold","sans-serif"" style="background: white; color: black; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: text1;">https://www.amazon.com/author/annwilmerlasky</span></a><span face=""Arial Rounded MT Bold","sans-serif"" style="color: black; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: text1;"> <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 10.1pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: 22.3pt;"><br /></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 10.1pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: 22.3pt;"><span face=""Arial Rounded MT Bold","sans-serif"" style="color: black; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: text1;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span face=""Arial Rounded MT Bold","sans-serif"" style="color: black; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: text1;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEje87GjkSZPFlq9spPpJW6qG2Yvv6ZN6vk4NQKmUBuh7kBO43TsRdrvGVANH8UsTXcr3VgVZB7-A2ne3sSbV_X2-pe1Lq_P3HngR7u8Mt-o-HewFD6lI4amsBJ0zAlm9EcPuiYR8rrP9qTuV4arFr3r0nCNewcT0fqdGnOJkh5wBgh90ZS-i-AhSoEs/s5120/collage%202.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="5120" data-original-width="5120" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEje87GjkSZPFlq9spPpJW6qG2Yvv6ZN6vk4NQKmUBuh7kBO43TsRdrvGVANH8UsTXcr3VgVZB7-A2ne3sSbV_X2-pe1Lq_P3HngR7u8Mt-o-HewFD6lI4amsBJ0zAlm9EcPuiYR8rrP9qTuV4arFr3r0nCNewcT0fqdGnOJkh5wBgh90ZS-i-AhSoEs/s320/collage%202.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></div><span face=""Arial Rounded MT Bold","sans-serif"" style="color: black; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: text1;"><br /><br /><o:p></o:p></span><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 10.1pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: 22.3pt;"><span face=""Arial Rounded MT Bold","sans-serif"" style="color: black; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: text1;">Until next month, read and
write to your heart’s content and see if you need to alter your own story.
There will never be a better time.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 10.1pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: 22.3pt;"><span face=""Arial Rounded MT Bold","sans-serif"" style="color: black; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: text1;">As always, I welcome your
reactions and responses to any of my blogs. I love to hear from my readers.
Also, here are links to my Twitter and Facebook accounts, if you care to share
your thoughts with me there or look for my publication announcements. They will
be forthcoming:<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 10.1pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: 22.3pt;"><a href="https://twitter.com/awlasky"><span face=""Arial Rounded MT Bold","sans-serif"" style="color: black; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: text1;">https://twitter.com/awlasky</span></a><span face=""Arial Rounded MT Bold","sans-serif"" style="color: black; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: text1;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 10.1pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: 22.3pt;"><a href="https://www.facebook.com/ann.wilmerlasky"><span face=""Arial Rounded MT Bold","sans-serif"" style="color: black; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: text1;">https://www.facebook.com/ann.wilmerlasky</span></a></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 10.1pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: 22.3pt;"><span face=""Arial Rounded MT Bold","sans-serif"" style="color: black; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: text1;">It’s now October and the
world is cooling off. Unfortunately, its weather is most unruly. Praying for
all those affected by the storms. May be a good time to check out: “Global
Warning: Climate in Crisis” available from Amazon:<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 10.1pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: 22.3pt;"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08KWQ6SHK/"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 150%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08KWQ6SHK/</span></b></a><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #e0245e; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 150%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 10.1pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: 22.3pt;"><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiczj9qP9AmkO1uiu5UBUMBLg1nQfm-AFnKZpRSVmW1-Zl2jfY45IB1ATqO2JiXabY0m6hFOiElzP9xDXHihapl64k4bTo2OMaGjirU-X4YHFTfEOUFOFuF9cVjw5XaF7wApa9ZQrCnfjPiGaunEGk7fWkx9oiGoXJSJmSk24rQ8ccyfP4Vye7i-B2/s293/use%20for%20ebook.webp" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="293" data-original-width="191" height="293" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiczj9qP9AmkO1uiu5UBUMBLg1nQfm-AFnKZpRSVmW1-Zl2jfY45IB1ATqO2JiXabY0m6hFOiElzP9xDXHihapl64k4bTo2OMaGjirU-X4YHFTfEOUFOFuF9cVjw5XaF7wApa9ZQrCnfjPiGaunEGk7fWkx9oiGoXJSJmSk24rQ8ccyfP4Vye7i-B2/s1600/use%20for%20ebook.webp" width="191" /></a></div><br /><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 10.1pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: 22.3pt;"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 10.1pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: 22.3pt;"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 10.1pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: 22.3pt;"><br /></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 10.1pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: 22.3pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 150%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: text1;"></span></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 150%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: text1;"><br /></span></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 150%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: text1;"><br /></span></b></div><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 150%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: text1;"><br /><br /></span></b><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Arial Rounded MT Bold","sans-serif"" style="color: black; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: text1;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Arial Rounded MT Bold","sans-serif"" style="color: black; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: text1;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Arial Rounded MT Bold","sans-serif"" style="color: black; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: text1;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>AnnNoEhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05828350639184642799noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8441217614297112940.post-5487604237591696262022-09-01T17:21:00.001-07:002022-09-01T17:21:18.175-07:00The Write Life!<p> </p><p><span style="font-family: "Arial Rounded MT Bold", "sans-serif"; font-size: 16pt;">September 2022 Blog</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 10.1pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><br /></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: center;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial Rounded MT Bold","sans-serif"; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: text1;">Be Prepared: A Haiku <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: center;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial Rounded MT Bold","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: text1;">Words
not written can<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: center;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial Rounded MT Bold","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: text1;">Oft’
not be remembered, thus<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: center;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial Rounded MT Bold","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: text1;">I keep
pen at hand.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: center;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial Rounded MT Bold","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: text1;">by Ann Wilmer-Lasky<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12.0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial Rounded MT Bold","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: text1;">(8/31/22)<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12.0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial Rounded MT Bold","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: text1;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 10.1pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: 22.3pt;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial Rounded MT Bold","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: text1;">I always try to keep pen
and paper handy. Sometimes I fail and the words are lost. In my mind, those
lost words were really brilliant, and their loss a loss for all of posterity.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 10.1pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: 22.3pt;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial Rounded MT Bold","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: text1;">Okay, maybe that last part
is pretty far-fetched, but you get the idea. As most writers usually do, I get
ideas at the oddest moments – not just when I’m sitting down to write. I try to
be prepared at all times.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 10.1pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: 22.3pt;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial Rounded MT Bold","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: text1;">I have a steno pad turned
to a clean page with a pen insered in the spiral witin arm’[s reach of the bed.
I used to joy down my notes in the dark of night, but I’ve recently added a
tiny flashlight so I can read wheat I’ve written the next morning. Otherwise,
it’s jibberish.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 10.1pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: 22.3pt;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial Rounded MT Bold","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: text1;">I also keep a small spiral
notebook the my pocket along with a pen. They really come in handy at those odd
moments I’m out and about and an idea strikes. I’ve even gone so far as to jot
down an inspiration while sitting on the commode.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 10.1pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: 22.3pt;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial Rounded MT Bold","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: text1;">When I drove a lot, I used
to have a cassette recorder handy to record those fleeting moments of
brilliance. Now I don’t drive much or far and cassette recorders are fairly
passé.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 10.1pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: 22.3pt;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial Rounded MT Bold","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: text1;">But the idea stands: Think
it, Write it, or lose it. It is also important for those of us who write
poetry. One may think of the perfect phraseology for a piece of brilliant
poetry, but it can slip away before the ink can strike the page.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 10.1pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: 22.3pt;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial Rounded MT Bold","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: text1;">Although the main idea may
persist, the perfect way to put it may be lost.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 10.1pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: 22.3pt;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial Rounded MT Bold","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: text1;">It also helps to jot down
story ideas, plot points and even a tidbit one of your characters may share
with you in those odd moments you are mulling over your story in your head.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 10.1pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: 22.3pt;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial Rounded MT Bold","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: text1;">I once had one of my main
female protagonists tell me she had a younger sister and her name was Petra.
The novel tool a whole new turn and richness. Thank goodness I captured that
thought (though having a sister is kind of hard to forget).<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 10.1pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: 22.3pt;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial Rounded MT Bold","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: text1;">It’s taken a while, but I
guess I’m falling in love with the art of writing all over again (after a long
dry spell). I’, beginning to picture scenes and people to populate the worlds
my mind dreams up once more. My mind is filling with scenarios involving those
people and places – beautiful. Stunning scenarios and (because I’m a horror
writer) glorious blood and gore and...<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 10.1pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: 22.3pt;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial Rounded MT Bold","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: text1;">Okay, I’m on a roo. Time to
gather my notes and start writing again.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 10.1pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: 22.3pt;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial Rounded MT Bold","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: text1;">First come the ideas, then
the words, then the sentences, the paragraphs, the chapters, the novels, and
the series.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 10.1pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: 22.3pt;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial Rounded MT Bold","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: text1;">Smiling now!<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 10.1pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: 22.3pt;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial Rounded MT Bold","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: text1;">So the take away from this
month’s ramblings should be this: keep something to write with and something to
write on handy. You will thank yourself (and maybe me) when that gem comes to
you, and you capture it. Then you can polish it and share it for posterity.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 10.1pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: 22.3pt;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial Rounded MT Bold","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: text1;">If you care to see what I
am sharing with posterity, feel free to check out my eclectic selection of
books on Amazon. There may be something to inspire you.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 10.1pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: 22.3pt;"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/author/annwilmerlasky"><span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: "Arial Rounded MT Bold","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: text1;">https://www.amazon.com/author/annwilmerlasky</span></a><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial Rounded MT Bold","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: text1;"> <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 10.1pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: 22.3pt;"><br /></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 10.1pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: 22.3pt;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial Rounded MT Bold","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: text1;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh68oELZCMpRc0cE_lDf3M-MOvX-37036isummXw87LJKaRqIuUogkIj9pBZFWfahREhhJmm-enGrPf4O4E20i4oo7an3YY1jlQqxctFIlgc-caVMTZkKm8QbTHis2QzXpLG3m5VHQ0wx8Zx9JNjS3EeEG-JVtedvjcuagoww9gS0f7eTR0yZqcbocL/s5120/collage%202.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="5120" data-original-width="5120" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh68oELZCMpRc0cE_lDf3M-MOvX-37036isummXw87LJKaRqIuUogkIj9pBZFWfahREhhJmm-enGrPf4O4E20i4oo7an3YY1jlQqxctFIlgc-caVMTZkKm8QbTHis2QzXpLG3m5VHQ0wx8Zx9JNjS3EeEG-JVtedvjcuagoww9gS0f7eTR0yZqcbocL/s320/collage%202.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><br /><o:p></o:p><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 10.1pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: 22.3pt;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial Rounded MT Bold","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: text1;">Until next month, read and
write to your heart’s content and jot down those random thought. You never
where they may land you.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 10.1pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: 22.3pt;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial Rounded MT Bold","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: text1;">As always, I welcome your
reactions and responses to any of my blogs. I love to hear from my readers.
Also, here are links to my Twitter and Facebook accounts, if you care to share
your thoughts with me there or look for my publication announcements:<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 10.1pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: 22.3pt;"><a href="https://twitter.com/awlasky"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial Rounded MT Bold","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: text1;">https://twitter.com/awlasky</span></a><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial Rounded MT Bold","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: text1;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 10.1pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: 22.3pt;"><a href="https://www.facebook.com/ann.wilmerlasky"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial Rounded MT Bold","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: text1;">https://www.facebook.com/ann.wilmerlasky</span></a></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 10.1pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: 22.3pt;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial Rounded MT Bold","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: text1;">You may also find some
inspiration in my Haiku Collection Celebrating the #WritingCommunity: <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">“Life’s
Lemons and Lemonade: A Collection of Haiku, Volume Two: The Write Life”</i></b>,
available, of course, from Amazon at:<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 10.1pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: 22.3pt;"><a href="https://tinyurl.com/ycqtq3mt"><b><span style="font-family: "Arial Rounded MT Bold","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">https://tinyurl.com/ycqtq3mt</span></b></a><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial Rounded MT Bold","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: text1;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 10.1pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: 22.3pt;"><br /></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 10.1pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: 22.3pt;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial Rounded MT Bold","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: text1;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbUgH6eMb2KKX9EiK3p0gWK8xC0OYWXh4gzJziGTj_oqDNWyj0KjrKsszNTWr4KkRqPjOHJ-WsAk2E_IBbqu7SVY_lISPO-i6hxdKxop2L1BNL7MS5LRg09myuA4DJmyad0DjxrI9k_KxcTVWAHw6VICivUsduloOXQHNhk2-SAfYGZxL7RtYGco2F/s500/Book2CoverImage.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="324" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbUgH6eMb2KKX9EiK3p0gWK8xC0OYWXh4gzJziGTj_oqDNWyj0KjrKsszNTWr4KkRqPjOHJ-WsAk2E_IBbqu7SVY_lISPO-i6hxdKxop2L1BNL7MS5LRg09myuA4DJmyad0DjxrI9k_KxcTVWAHw6VICivUsduloOXQHNhk2-SAfYGZxL7RtYGco2F/s320/Book2CoverImage.jpg" width="207" /></a></div><br /><br /><o:p></o:p><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 10.1pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: 22.3pt;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial Rounded MT Bold","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: text1;">It’s now September and the
world is thoroughly heated up. The A/C is still working way too hard. A little
more rain recently brought us some relief from the drought. Still a good time
to check out: “Global Warning: Climate in Crisis” available from Amazon:<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 10.1pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: 22.3pt;"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08KWQ6SHK/"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08KWQ6SHK/</span></b></a><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #e0245e; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 10.1pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: 22.3pt;"><br /></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 10.1pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: 22.3pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: text1;"></span></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfdVouZ-dm5nNdhQiYoqPkQjs5-kNx7GdUS-9xOgbD93xnYT10PDUhnv_cz6KCk-OmtFfLVDJgliPQCT5j4U_yHsxmDBdDwp5vziKyIAueQqm46bahAmkipCDYob2QYXTi1WcfJYrTgNRAb3GxQgMampoF_sb8V_xiFNwE_tVs2Ua1-7HbVFtJ_O96/s499/51CYdfkClkL._SX322_BO1,204,203,200_.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="499" data-original-width="324" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfdVouZ-dm5nNdhQiYoqPkQjs5-kNx7GdUS-9xOgbD93xnYT10PDUhnv_cz6KCk-OmtFfLVDJgliPQCT5j4U_yHsxmDBdDwp5vziKyIAueQqm46bahAmkipCDYob2QYXTi1WcfJYrTgNRAb3GxQgMampoF_sb8V_xiFNwE_tVs2Ua1-7HbVFtJ_O96/s320/51CYdfkClkL._SX322_BO1,204,203,200_.jpg" width="208" /></a></b></div><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><br /><br /></b><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial Rounded MT Bold","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: text1;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial Rounded MT Bold","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: text1;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial Rounded MT Bold","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-themecolor: text1;"><br clear="all" style="mso-special-character: line-break; page-break-before: always;" />
</span>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial Rounded MT Bold","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: text1;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>AnnNoEhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05828350639184642799noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8441217614297112940.post-85851277799022184712022-08-01T17:45:00.005-07:002022-08-01T17:45:33.834-07:00Contemplation!<p> </p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 10.1pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial Rounded MT Bold","sans-serif"; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: text1;">August 2022 Blog</span><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial Rounded MT Bold","sans-serif"; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: text1;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 10.1pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><br /></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: center;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial Rounded MT Bold","sans-serif"; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: text1;">Contemplation: A Haiku <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: center;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial Rounded MT Bold","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: text1;">To
write or write not – <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: center;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial Rounded MT Bold","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: text1;">Seems
more than my navel needs<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: center;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial Rounded MT Bold","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: text1;">Attention
these days.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: center;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial Rounded MT Bold","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: text1;">by Ann Wilmer-Lasky<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12.0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial Rounded MT Bold","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: text1;">(8/1/22)<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12.0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial Rounded MT Bold","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: text1;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 10.1pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: 22.3pt;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial Rounded MT Bold","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: text1;">That is the question.
Searching for an answer this month.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 10.1pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: 22.3pt;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial Rounded MT Bold","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: text1;">I find I cannot continue as
I am – always promising myself to sit down and write the stories, the novels, this
blog. I am only consistent with the Haiku I write daily, and that is probably
because it’s become such an ingrained habit.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 10.1pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: 22.3pt;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial Rounded MT Bold","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: text1;">All else is up for
contemplation.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 10.1pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: 22.3pt;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial Rounded MT Bold","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: text1;">I find very little inspiration
in life these days for continuing my writing. Even though the act of writing does
offer me those few moments of joy in life I so desperately need, I sometimes wonder
if I can continue.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 10.1pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: 22.3pt;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial Rounded MT Bold","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: text1;">I do have a decent backlist
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>of books to my credit, and I would certainly
like more, but I will never match the well over 100 historical romance novels
my good friend, neighbor and landlady has produced.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 10.1pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: 22.3pt;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial Rounded MT Bold","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: text1;">She cranks out a new one
every month or so. I would find that exhausting. But even more exhausting is
mentally beating myself up because I have not written, because I can’t seem to carve
out the time for writing.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 10.1pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: 22.3pt;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial Rounded MT Bold","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: text1;">Sometimes I wonder how I
ever did. I wrote most of my novels while still working a full time job –
mostly writing in the evening propped up in bed for an hour or two.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 10.1pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: 22.3pt;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial Rounded MT Bold","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: text1;">Now, I don’t work , I have
all the time in the world and I just can’t seem to find that time.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 10.1pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: 22.3pt;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial Rounded MT Bold","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: text1;">Or am I just the world’s
best (or worst) procrastinator? I guess I’m the best, because I’m so good at
it.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 10.1pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: 22.3pt;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial Rounded MT Bold","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: text1;">So, do I overcome, or do I
succumb to this latest version of writer’s block?<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 10.1pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: 22.3pt;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial Rounded MT Bold","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: text1;">If I succumb, I don’t have
to ever worry about missing a deadline again. But, by the same token, I will
never know the joy of hearing someone say they enjoyed my work again, or it made
them feel better for a little while, or even that they agree with me and I made
a slight difference somewhere.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 10.1pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: 22.3pt;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial Rounded MT Bold","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: text1;">I I can overcome, I will
have satisfaction in knowing that I’ve still got it – the drive and the talent.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 10.1pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: 22.3pt;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial Rounded MT Bold","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: text1;">Hopefully, I can sort it
out this month. I guess it boils down to this: If I post a blog next month, I
overcame. If I don’t – I succumbed. I’m actually leaning toward overcoming, but
we’ll see.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 10.1pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: 22.3pt;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial Rounded MT Bold","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: text1;">In the meantime, I’ll get
my manuscripts todgether and look at what I have already written. Maybe that
will inspire me to continue. Or one of my characters may whisper in my ear and
get me going again. That has happened before, too.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 10.1pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: 22.3pt;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial Rounded MT Bold","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: text1;">Hopefully, I can gather my
wits about me and continue. Life would be boring without the murder and mayhem
my characters can get me caught up in.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 10.1pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: 22.3pt;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial Rounded MT Bold","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: text1;">While we’re all waiting to
see which way the cookie crumbles, feel free to check out my eclectic selection
of books on Amazon. There may be something there you have yet to read.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 10.1pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: 22.3pt;"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/author/annwilmerlasky"><span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: "Arial Rounded MT Bold","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: text1;">https://www.amazon.com/author/annwilmerlasky</span></a><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial Rounded MT Bold","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: text1;"> <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 10.1pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: 22.3pt;"><br /></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 10.1pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: 22.3pt;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial Rounded MT Bold","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: text1;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmJ8UWDAVUJ3EFSnnMjqgQb79-M-iGLjxrF2XKGwy8PO3QXXr5rqPTaU4bdnnIh7dtlwSv9QMFKUO-oon4RIkumVAxU-sgPfPvQiKYGxHKyJe50wSw_dOX_cOx6Z0602YmOO9a-bUnEClVAGpHLbNtVTblZQbk4bm2RcU_c0FVxcVgZrtYG1Z7dN93/s5120/collage%202.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="5120" data-original-width="5120" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmJ8UWDAVUJ3EFSnnMjqgQb79-M-iGLjxrF2XKGwy8PO3QXXr5rqPTaU4bdnnIh7dtlwSv9QMFKUO-oon4RIkumVAxU-sgPfPvQiKYGxHKyJe50wSw_dOX_cOx6Z0602YmOO9a-bUnEClVAGpHLbNtVTblZQbk4bm2RcU_c0FVxcVgZrtYG1Z7dN93/s320/collage%202.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><br /><o:p></o:p><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 10.1pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: 22.3pt;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial Rounded MT Bold","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: text1;">Until next month, read and
write to your heart’s content. Enjoy what respite you can find in your lives.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 10.1pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: 22.3pt;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial Rounded MT Bold","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: text1;">As always, I welcome your
reactions and responses to any of my blogs. I love to hear from my readers.
Also, here are links to my Twitter and Facebook accounts, if you care to share
your thoughts with me there or look for my publication announcements:<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 10.1pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: 22.3pt;"><a href="https://twitter.com/awlasky"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial Rounded MT Bold","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: text1;">https://twitter.com/awlasky</span></a><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial Rounded MT Bold","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: text1;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 10.1pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: 22.3pt;"><a href="https://www.facebook.com/ann.wilmerlasky"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial Rounded MT Bold","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: text1;">https://www.facebook.com/ann.wilmerlasky</span></a><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial Rounded MT Bold","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: text1;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 10.1pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: 22.3pt;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial Rounded MT Bold","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: text1;">It’s now August and the
world is heating up. The A/C is working way too hard. Not much rain recently to
bring us any relief from the drought. May be a good time to check out: “Global
Warning: Climate in Crisis” available from Amazon:<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 10.1pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: 22.3pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #e0245e; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08KWQ6SHK/">https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08KWQ6SHK/</a><o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 10.1pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: 22.3pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><br /></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 10.1pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: 22.3pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: text1;"></span></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipPO1pUe0Eku13MMGCCozMJcPEXFkogD6tVh50ubHAHi8SL2QEOmmDVKbZpSCPIbz4yLp3q-DJu6mhcMAnlE-C-2uuC1G_6Uwp1gBdJfDqLS2K-VLiq7NdstEJMxYUYG6BB2j_L4T_F6CqxVoFj81ZUmTH7fXjfEAWcVLnL90TScAAQYkT8o36-oFR/s293/use%20for%20ebook.webp" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="293" data-original-width="191" height="293" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipPO1pUe0Eku13MMGCCozMJcPEXFkogD6tVh50ubHAHi8SL2QEOmmDVKbZpSCPIbz4yLp3q-DJu6mhcMAnlE-C-2uuC1G_6Uwp1gBdJfDqLS2K-VLiq7NdstEJMxYUYG6BB2j_L4T_F6CqxVoFj81ZUmTH7fXjfEAWcVLnL90TScAAQYkT8o36-oFR/s1600/use%20for%20ebook.webp" width="191" /></a></b></div><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><br /><br /></b><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 10.1pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: 22.3pt;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial Rounded MT Bold","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: text1;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial Rounded MT Bold","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: text1;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial Rounded MT Bold","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: text1;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>AnnNoEhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05828350639184642799noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8441217614297112940.post-60189710898970909752022-07-01T19:10:00.000-07:002022-07-01T19:10:21.209-07:00Slip-Sliding Away!<p> </p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 10.1pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><b><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: text1;">July 2022 Blog</span></b><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: text1;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 10.1pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><br /></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: text1;">Slip-Sliding Away: A Haiku <o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: center;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: text1;">Half a year is gone – <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: center;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: text1;">That time not much better than<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: center;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: text1;">The two years just past.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: center;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: text1;">by Ann Wilmer-Lasky<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12.0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: text1;">(7/1/22)<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12.0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: text1;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 10.1pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: 22.3pt;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-themecolor: text1;">Must
these precious, waning golden years lie but tarnished? To be covered by dust? I
would hope not.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 10.1pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: 22.3pt;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-themecolor: text1;">So
much left to be done and so little time left to do it. Like Sisyphus, it seems,
we roll that burden up that steep hill – only to have to duck it as it rolls
backwards to crush us.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 10.1pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: 22.3pt;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-themecolor: text1;">It
also seems like only the right to kill with a gun will survive our current
version of the Supreme Court.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 10.1pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: 22.3pt;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-themecolor: text1;">A
most certainly biased majority panel of supposed unbiased Supreme Court
Justices is plunging us back into the dark ages, where women and people<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>with different perspectives on life were
persecuted and punished even unto death for merely being women or having
different perspectives on life.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 10.1pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: 22.3pt;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-themecolor: text1;">I
grew up in the 50’s with high hopes and eagerness. The path ahead (after World
War II – the war to end all wars) was strewn with progress and the promise of a
better, longer life for all – and peace upon this planet. That shining vision
lasted into the 60’s and the “Dawning of the Age of Aquarius”, flower children
and nothing but love, baby.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 10.1pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: 22.3pt;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-themecolor: text1;">Somewhere
along the way, a darkness crept into more and more souls, until it has become
so pervasive as to cover the Earth with a pall of disease, inequity,
unnecessary warfare and environmental abuses so grave they threaten the very
existence of human life on this planet.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 10.1pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: 22.3pt;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-themecolor: text1;">Forget
that the birds are angry (as well they shold be at us for destroying their
habitats), we have become an angry, vengeful species with few qualms about
unleashing our anger to the point that it may consume us.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 10.1pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: 22.3pt;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-themecolor: text1;">Forget
what Nature may do to man, man is quite capable of destroying himself.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 10.1pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: 22.3pt;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-themecolor: text1;">Forget
about the separation of church and state, we have succumbed to an oligarchy of
men who believe their “church” should rule – and the people should remain undereducated
and unenlightened and thus under their thumb for as long as mankind shall live.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 10.1pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: 22.3pt;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-themecolor: text1;">I
am long past the age of taking up arms (which I wouldn’t do anyway) and
battling these seemingly overwhelming odds at adds with clear-thinking,
moderate, intelligent people may be best left to the young. I hope to pass the
torch to a new generation of free-thinking, accepting, inclusive and mindful
individuals who will once again give us high hopes and an eagerness with which
to look forward to a full life and a future once again.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 10.1pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: 22.3pt;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-themecolor: text1;">In
the meantime, I’ll finish that Sam Rock sequel as soon as I find my notes and
manuscript changes. They seem to have gotten misplaced in the shuffle of moving
things from palce to place. Everything else is going according to plan so far.
We’ll see.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 10.1pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: 22.3pt;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-themecolor: text1;">Hopefully,
my new books will be published soon and bring some respite from the facts of
life these days.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 10.1pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: 22.3pt;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-themecolor: text1;">Be
sure to watch for upcoming announcements about the upcoming book launches. I’ll
post the news between writing sessions.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 10.1pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: 22.3pt;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-themecolor: text1;">In
the meantime, if you need some relief from the news out there, feel free to check
out my eclectic selection of books on Amazon. There may be something there you
have yet to read.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 10.1pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: 22.3pt;"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/author/annwilmerlasky"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-themecolor: text1;">https://www.amazon.com/author/annwilmerlasky</span></b></a><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-themecolor: text1;"> <o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 10.1pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: 22.3pt;"><br /></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 10.1pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: 22.3pt;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-themecolor: text1;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiExAP-2KzeuHqrFi2sCtjiluDlDsX23_kJRqEulu9beDSXWo1ocNv3YbxJwN8-T42O31YVe_uY5dOX_bl13ZxawA_dHBhpPKjGI8hJrdzyjpqCwlCYpy2lPCKlysYxPlz7zugI_d8GkhpHoGB6PTJBAmD42KGuRzqMEdgRBbJP_2HYbX3c8YVTU44e/s5120/collage%202.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="5120" data-original-width="5120" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiExAP-2KzeuHqrFi2sCtjiluDlDsX23_kJRqEulu9beDSXWo1ocNv3YbxJwN8-T42O31YVe_uY5dOX_bl13ZxawA_dHBhpPKjGI8hJrdzyjpqCwlCYpy2lPCKlysYxPlz7zugI_d8GkhpHoGB6PTJBAmD42KGuRzqMEdgRBbJP_2HYbX3c8YVTU44e/s320/collage%202.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><br /><o:p></o:p><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 10.1pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: 22.3pt;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-themecolor: text1;">Until
next time, read and write to your heart’s content. Enjoy what respite you can
find in your lives.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 10.1pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: 22.3pt;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-themecolor: text1;">As
always, I welcome your reactions and responses to any of my blogs. I love to
hear from my readers. Also, here are links to my Twitter and Facebook accounts,
if you care to share your thoughts with me there or look for my publication
announcements:<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 10.1pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: 22.3pt;"><a href="https://twitter.com/awlasky"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: text1;">https://twitter.com/awlasky</span></b></a><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: text1;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 10.1pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: 22.3pt;"><a href="https://www.facebook.com/ann.wilmerlasky"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: text1;">https://www.facebook.com/ann.wilmerlasky</span></b></a><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-themecolor: text1;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 10.1pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: 22.3pt;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-themecolor: text1;">It’s
now July and Summer is heating up. The A/C is working hard. We have had a
little rain to bring us some relief from the drought – of course, flooding came
with it.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 10.1pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: 22.3pt;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-themecolor: text1;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 10.1pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: 22.3pt;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-themecolor: text1;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>AnnNoEhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05828350639184642799noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8441217614297112940.post-54083225037273386212022-06-01T18:13:00.000-07:002022-06-01T18:13:04.988-07:00Indelible Impression!<p> <b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 150%;">June 2022 Blog</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 10.1pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><br /></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">Imprint: A Haiku <o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">I would the shadow<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Of my life be long and sharp – <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Not lost in darkness.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%;">by Ann Wilmer-Lasky<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12.0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%;">(5/1/22)<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12.0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 10.1pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: 22.3pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">Thanks
to the internet and Amazon, I will never perish from the earth – at least my
published works will not.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 10.1pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: 22.3pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">Okay,
maybe I’m not famous and unforgettable, but my words are put there on the ether
– available for a click or two. Now, that brings a smile to my face. (let me
enjoy that for a moment. Smiles are few and far between these days.)<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 10.1pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: 22.3pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">Not
much has changed in the world, just doom and gloom do not wear well over the
long haul .Time to take a break and smile about something.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 10.1pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: 22.3pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">Being
basically a horror writer, I smile at
some strange things. Notrhing makes me feel better than murder and mayhem, as long as it is
fictional. The reality these days s overwhelming.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 10.1pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: 22.3pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">Things
are going along nicely in the Garret of AnnNoE. The manuscript for the Sam Rock
sequel will be done this month and should be edited and published in July.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 10.1pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: 22.3pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">Then
comes the Acqueria prequel in August and September.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 10.1pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: 22.3pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">So
I will be pretty busy the next four months, but I will not neglect my daily
Haiku postings. It does me good to greet the day with a comeback on what’s been
going on in the world over night.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 10.1pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: 22.3pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">I
won’t be writing outside much this Summer if the world continues to heat up
like it is. I’ll be writing in front of the air-conditioner, enjoying every
minute of it. – until the electric bill comes.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 10.1pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: 22.3pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">Speaking
of shockers, how about those gas prices? Don’t see them going down anytime soon,
either. And those grocery receipts are getting shorter and way more expensive.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 10.1pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: 22.3pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">My
puppies get baked boneless, skinless chicken breasts bits with their dog food.
That’s doubled in price in just the last couple of months.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 10.1pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: 22.3pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">Also,
there are still shortages on the shelves. Seems you have to have a running
grocery list these days and grab stuff off the shelves as it appears. And it’s
a long time between deliveries and restocking.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 10.1pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: 22.3pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">Hopefully,
my new books will bring some respite from the facts of life these days. It sure
takes my mind off things when I write. Unfortunately, life lies in wait,
knowing I must surely get back to it.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 10.1pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: 22.3pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">Speaking
of which, I’m about to run off and cook some rice to have with dinner tonight.
Got a giant box of Minute Rice from Wal-Mart – ordered it on line and didn’t know
it was so large. Guess I’ll be having a lot of things with rice in it for the
near future.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 10.1pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: 22.3pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">Be
sure to watch for upcoming announcements about the upcoming book launches. I’ll
post the news between writing sessions.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 10.1pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: 22.3pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">In
the meantime, if you need some relief from the news out there, feel free to check
out my eclectic selection of books on Amazon. There may be something there you
have yet to read.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 10.1pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: 22.3pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">Until
next time, read and write to your heart’s content. Enjoy what respite you can
find in your lives.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 10.1pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: 22.3pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 10.1pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvElj04GI2Gq9AG6JL-S_vhmbxK_9FBgOkTCJReH8aQ2NEPI0BwC43M6Wk0RPU3zYMd6K-ZwwV1TQxoNi5hvFu9gj02gz_AokbWYjQVwDFac10hxXkhoXC3sGxxWtedihoXyBGvb2Iw6Be7mA57-GbVzSpkw_MYCAJszviW39DAhGQO-t9leVyh0dG/s5120/collage%202.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="5120" data-original-width="5120" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvElj04GI2Gq9AG6JL-S_vhmbxK_9FBgOkTCJReH8aQ2NEPI0BwC43M6Wk0RPU3zYMd6K-ZwwV1TQxoNi5hvFu9gj02gz_AokbWYjQVwDFac10hxXkhoXC3sGxxWtedihoXyBGvb2Iw6Be7mA57-GbVzSpkw_MYCAJszviW39DAhGQO-t9leVyh0dG/s320/collage%202.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><br /><o:p></o:p><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 10.1pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: 22.3pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">As
always, I welcome your reactions and responses to any of my blogs. I love to
hear from my readers. Also, here are links to my Twitter and Facebook accounts,
if you care to share your thoughts with me there or look for my publication
announcements:<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 10.1pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: 22.3pt;"><a href="https://twitter.com/awlasky"><b><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: text1;">https://twitter.com/awlasky</span></b></a><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 10.1pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: 22.3pt;"><a href="https://www.facebook.com/ann.wilmerlasky"><b><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: text1;">https://www.facebook.com/ann.wilmerlasky</span></b></a><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 10.1pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: 22.3pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">It’s
now June and Summer is coming fast and hard. I’ve already turned on the air-conditioners,
and we are already suffering the effects of drought. Stay cool, if you can.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 10.1pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: 22.3pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 10.1pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: 22.3pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 10.1pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: 22.3pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"> </span></p>
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><br clear="all" style="mso-special-character: line-break; page-break-before: always;" /></span>AnnNoEhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05828350639184642799noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8441217614297112940.post-40053382349947328632022-05-01T14:33:00.000-07:002022-05-01T14:33:14.187-07:00Life in Limbo!<p> </p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 10.1pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><b><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: text1;">May 2022 Blog</span></b><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: text1;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 10.1pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><br /></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: text1;">Stasis: A Haiku <o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: center;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: text1;">Time was “Limbo” was<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: center;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: text1;">Just a dance; of late, it’s been<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: center;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: text1;">The state of our lives.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: center;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: text1;">by Ann Wilmer-Lasky<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12.0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: text1;">(4/30/22)</span><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: text1;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 10.1pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: 22.3pt;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-themecolor: text1;">It’s
like waiting for that other shoe to drop. You know it’s gonna... <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Whether its war or<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>pestilence, something is going to happen. I’m
so tired of holding my breath, waiting for those things. I think it’s time to
raise the bar and get back to something<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>like normal – like going to restaurants and movie theaters. Maybe just
going out and having fun, maybe writing and editing and publishing like I used
to.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 10.1pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: 22.3pt;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-themecolor: text1;">Okay,
maybe it’s<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>not just the plague and
horrifying<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>news. Maybe it’s also that I’m
getting older and more tired. Naps lately are sounding really good.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 10.1pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: 22.3pt;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-themecolor: text1;">I
guess I thought I’d just sail along through my golden years with the same
energy and enthusiasm I’ve always had.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 10.1pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: 22.3pt;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-themecolor: text1;">It’s
not happening, and I feel the need to conserve what energy I do have. I’ve
tried making lists and schedules, but it’s really hard for me to stick to them.
Perhaps if I scheduled nap time in there, it would be easier to stick to.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But then I would probably just nap more.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 10.1pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: 22.3pt;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-themecolor: text1;">So
I guess I’ll keep muddling along until something clicks and I feel better and
have more energy. Then I look forward to writing up a storm or two.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 10.1pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: 22.3pt;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-themecolor: text1;">Maybe
I’ll even get my ducks in a row. Heaven knows they’ve been paddling in circles
for too long.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 10.1pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: 22.3pt;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-themecolor: text1;">If
you feel you need some relief from the doldrums or the news, feel free to check
out my eclectic selections on Amazon. There may be something there you have not
read yet.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 10.1pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: 22.3pt;"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/author/annwilmerlasky"><span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-themecolor: text1;">https://www.amazon.com/author/annwilmerlasky</span></a><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-themecolor: text1;"> <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 10.1pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: 22.3pt;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-themecolor: text1;">Until
next time, read and write to your heart’s content. Enjoy what respite you can
find in your lives.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 10.1pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-themecolor: text1;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfWEJsQL7pNVpVdbl_a2nVYRnacQrMBCJM2a4g-nRnAf22rxhz968XdsKceq1_ZaWAVKB6udVEGw1AIeZSR1X4pQJ_9BsYeW-WiFFGKAVcDxddUQ7WplLfgdoDB-C8_sL0TMfGFSrXUZh1Q8-ytmY9Fg36Z-lrf1ltNp079g15sShH9GoRvXyqAokU/s5120/collage%202.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="5120" data-original-width="5120" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfWEJsQL7pNVpVdbl_a2nVYRnacQrMBCJM2a4g-nRnAf22rxhz968XdsKceq1_ZaWAVKB6udVEGw1AIeZSR1X4pQJ_9BsYeW-WiFFGKAVcDxddUQ7WplLfgdoDB-C8_sL0TMfGFSrXUZh1Q8-ytmY9Fg36Z-lrf1ltNp079g15sShH9GoRvXyqAokU/s320/collage%202.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><o:p></o:p><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 10.1pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: 22.3pt;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-themecolor: text1;">As
always, I welcome your reactions and responses to any of my blogs. I love to
hear from my readers. Also, here are links to my Twitter and Facebook accounts,
if you care to share your thoughts with me there or look for my publication
announcements:<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 10.1pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: 22.3pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: text1;"><o:p> </o:p></span></b><a href="https://twitter.com/awlasky" style="text-indent: 22.3pt;"><b><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: text1;">https://twitter.com/awlasky</span></b></a></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 10.1pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: 22.3pt;"><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 10.1pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: 22.3pt;"><a href="https://www.facebook.com/ann.wilmerlasky"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: text1;">https://www.facebook.com/ann.wilmerlasky</span></b></a><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-themecolor: text1;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 10.1pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: 22.3pt;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-themecolor: text1;">Spring
has sprung here and Summer is following close behind. It’s going to be a hot
time. I’ve already fired up the air conditioners.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 10.1pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: 22.3pt;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-themecolor: text1;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 10.1pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: 22.3pt;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-themecolor: text1;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 10.1pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: 22.3pt;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-themecolor: text1;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>AnnNoEhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05828350639184642799noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8441217614297112940.post-85594576955718312032022-04-01T18:19:00.000-07:002022-04-01T18:19:18.914-07:00Still Hanging!<p> <b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 150%;">April 2022 Blog</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 10.1pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><br /></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">Delayed Reaction: A Haiku <o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">I’d put off musing<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">About the day until it<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Improves somewhat, but...<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%;">by Ann Wilmer-Lasky<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12.0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%;">(3/30/22)</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 10.1pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: 22.3pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">...it
may not. And the war and the virus continue. And I’ve come to a conclusion: I
am that which is... and the only one who
can “make it so”, as Captain Jean Luc Picard used to say. All is my
responsibility (at least in my immediate family), and I do not have the right
to consider it onerous. Nor do I have to be happy about it. It is what it is.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 10.1pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: 22.3pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">“Somewhat
Improved” is not something, it seems, I’m going to hear about anything, anytime
soon. The virus tapers off, but it continues. The war continues. The Earth’s
tipping point looms. And doctors’ diagnoses (at least in my husband’s case) are
still “best guess”, and not one of them has found a solution in the last three
or four years.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 10.1pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: 22.3pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">Yet
we continue to plod on. And plodding it is. There has been little forward
progress in quite a while, and the year is one-fourth gone already. Spring has
barely come upon us, and I am little refreshed.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 10.1pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: 22.3pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">So,
we push things back. We wait... for
what, I’m not sure. The end of the pandemic? There is no end in sight. The end
of the war? Not on the horizon anytime soon. A breath of fresh air? That would
be lovely, but so far only ill-winds are blowing everywhere.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 10.1pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: 22.3pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">So,
I have decided to just do what I can – remembering Yoda’s famous words: “Do!
There is no try.” And the old Nike slogan: “Just Do It!” (when that was not
mired in controversy)<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 10.1pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: 22.3pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">So,
I will go about my daily chores, pay my bills, and write my chapters. But there
is little joy in any of it, except maybe in writing my chapters. I will nap as
I am able and expend what energy I can garner to improve my little corner of
the world.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 10.1pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: 22.3pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">I
am so happy to have you, my loyal friends, in my little corner of the world
that I will do my best to make is a brighter corner. Even if that means more
murder and mayhem from Marie Delacroix’s ravens (my Sam Rock sequel) and
exposing Dhavin’s true origins in my Acqueria prequel. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 10.1pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: 22.3pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">Those
will be still brighter than what’s happening out there in reality.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 10.1pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: 22.3pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">By
the way, it’s a sad thing when the news of war is overshadowed (but for the
briefest moment) by the slap seen ‘round the world. And I stand with Will
Smith. Okay, he shouldn’t have done that, but I understand why he did it.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 10.1pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: 22.3pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">And
so, I leave you now with this shortest of blogs to delve into another world
where I can actually make things happen just by scratching my pen across the
page (until the ink runs out and there are no more legible scratchings).<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 10.1pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: 22.3pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">If
you need some sweet relief from the the realities that confront us daily, check
out my selection on Amazon. There may be something there you have not read yet.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 10.1pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: 22.3pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">Until
next time, read and write to your heart’s content. My eclectic collection of
reading matter may take your mind off things. Enjoy.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 10.1pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/author/annwilmerlasky"><span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-themecolor: text1;">https://www.amazon.com/author/annwilmerlasky</span></a><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"> <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 10.1pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><br /></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 10.1pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjoCb5fyDk2o52ca5_hT2BENMFfVHiy_IN70IKlACdiMTJ7853IIX7P4cgVyZHmtRThJNrHOIm04x9z88A3TWzC1ldpdvtM_D6X4DdpJyFW0F2boxY74vdhgOyGtuuRgJPsWxI2923VI2aVWkMRFd_QC8E_oiutTfqJWiStIFeUtL4TdPO-CXyRNOu/s5120/collage%202.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="5120" data-original-width="5120" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjoCb5fyDk2o52ca5_hT2BENMFfVHiy_IN70IKlACdiMTJ7853IIX7P4cgVyZHmtRThJNrHOIm04x9z88A3TWzC1ldpdvtM_D6X4DdpJyFW0F2boxY74vdhgOyGtuuRgJPsWxI2923VI2aVWkMRFd_QC8E_oiutTfqJWiStIFeUtL4TdPO-CXyRNOu/s320/collage%202.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><o:p></o:p><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 10.1pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: 22.3pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">As
always, I welcome your reactions and responses to any of my blogs. I love to
hear from my readers. Also, here are links to my Twitter and Facebook accounts,
if you care to share your thoughts with me there or look for my publication
announcements:<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 10.1pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: 22.3pt;"><a href="https://twitter.com/awlasky"><b><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: text1;">https://twitter.com/awlasky</span></b></a><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 10.1pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: 22.3pt;"><a href="https://www.facebook.com/ann.wilmerlasky"><b><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: text1;">https://www.facebook.com/ann.wilmerlasky</span></b></a><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 10.1pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: 22.3pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">Hopefully,
this month we can really recover from the woes that plague us, and the
following month will find us enjoying a more beautiful, peaceful Spring in
anticipation of a stunningly brilliant Summer.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 10.1pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: 22.3pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 10.1pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: 22.3pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"> </span></p>
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><br clear="all" style="mso-special-character: line-break; page-break-before: always;" /></span>AnnNoEhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05828350639184642799noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8441217614297112940.post-27056946894021994152022-03-01T16:07:00.000-08:002022-03-01T16:07:07.230-08:00Hanging by a Thread!<p> <b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 150%;">March 2022 Blog</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 10.1pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><br /></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">Standstill: A Haiku <o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Just when we thought we<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Survived pandemic, we yield<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Normalcy to war.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%;">by Ann Wilmer-Lasky<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12.0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%;">(2/28/22)</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 10.1pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: 22.3pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">My mind grows even more tired. My
heart grows even more weary. I still see no end in sight. Normalcy is again the
victim.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 10.1pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: 22.3pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Never, at the beginning of last
month, did I ever imagine I would end up writing this. But for the last six
days, I’ve had little else on my mind but the insanity that is one man’s
megalomaniacal invasion of a sovereign nation in an attempt to rebuild an
empire. Every Haiku for the last six days has be on this absurdity, starting
with <b><i>“Rude
Awakening”</i></b> on February 24<sup>th</sup>.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">Rude Awakening: A Haiku <o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">The world woke to war<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">This day – another scourge with<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Dire consequences.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%;">by Ann Wilmer-Lasky<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12.0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%;">(2/24/22)</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 10.1pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: 22.3pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Continuing with <b><i>“Short
Supply”</i></b> on the 25<sup>th</sup>, <b><i>“Untitled” </i></b>on the 26<sup>th</sup>,
and <b><i>“Inconceivable”</i></b>
on the 27<sup>th</sup>. The above mentioned <b><i>“Standstill”</i></b> was written on
the 28<sup>th</sup>.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">Short Supply: A Haiku <o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Peace and love to all<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Wounded souls this day; would that<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Wars were but rumors.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%;">by Ann Wilmer-Lasky<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12.0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%;">(2/25/22)</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">Untitled: A Haiku <o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">I am but cold, and<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">The world holds no warmth but the<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Fire, fury of war.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%;">by Ann Wilmer-Lasky<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12.0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%;">(2/26/22)</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">Inconceivable: A Haiku <o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">One man’s hubris could<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Render unlivable the<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">World he would conquer.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%;">by Ann Wilmer-Lasky<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12.0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%;">(2/27/22)</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 10.1pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: 22.3pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 10.1pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: 22.3pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">And now continuing with <b><i>“Odorous
Harbinger”</i></b> today.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">Odorous Harbinger: A Haiku <o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">I would Spring be in<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">The air without the stench of<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Missiles and gunfire.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%;">by Ann Wilmer-Lasky<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12.0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%;">(3/1/22)</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 10.1pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: 22.3pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">I normally don’t get involved in
political matters or what happens on foreign shores, but I cannot ignore what
is happening now, even if it is halfway around the world. Lives are being disrupted
and people are dying because one man has it in his tiny mind to rebuild an
empire that was dissolved half-a-lifetime ago.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 10.1pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: 22.3pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">And like the pandemic, we have no
idea where any of this is heading or when it will end. I’m not even sure if
there will be a world left for me to endow with an April Blog (scariest thought
ever).<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 10.1pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: 22.3pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">For it seems, this man (whom we’re
not even sure is in possession of all his faculties) has his fingers literally
on the button that can do more to destroy this world than Mother Nature,
mankind as a whole, and the virus-infected bat population combined.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 10.1pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: 22.3pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">If that finger slips, we can be
globally involved in a nuclear winter that will make all else moot.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 10.1pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: 22.3pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">And for what? To rebuild an empire
ala Adolph Hitler (which was tried and failed almost a hundred years ago)?<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 10.1pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: 22.3pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">I know there is nothing I can do or
say that will “amount to a hill of beans” or affect what is happening, but I
have to say something. I can only hope that the powers-that-be can dissuade
this absurdity (or at least lift that finger off the button).<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 10.1pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: 22.3pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">In the meantime, I’ll keep my head
down and continue to write, and edit, and publish as if nothing was dangling
over all our heads waiting to annihilate us and/or make the world uninhabitable
(which amounts to the same thing).<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 10.1pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: 22.3pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Assuming there is an April, I hope
I can write about Spring and the renewal of the earth with only our normal
problems of pandemic and global warming. (At this point these are the lesser of
the evils that hang over us.)<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 10.1pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: 22.3pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">If you’d like some relief from the
current conflict, check out my Haiku offering on the not much happier subject
of Climate Crisis:<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 10.1pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: 22.3pt;"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08KWQ6SHK/"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08KWQ6SHK/</span></a><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 10.1pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: 22.3pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEg31TJ3fU7qG09TxeaWpZiR5PK-5KKsKKtUhFG6rPS4B0yjXlO92mAuXWPjg9J-Gzd4WmQdNve8C4LW1DK-atL7D_Nw6r4gjLhALfHHYLF02J0hndrrVwrplfbxPClSPmUSe-NyFK0dJbR3i5PR-y-kk0VPDZcImw6xWby2Asu8NsJJhE7gFc7DBT5D=s680" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="453" data-original-width="680" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEg31TJ3fU7qG09TxeaWpZiR5PK-5KKsKKtUhFG6rPS4B0yjXlO92mAuXWPjg9J-Gzd4WmQdNve8C4LW1DK-atL7D_Nw6r4gjLhALfHHYLF02J0hndrrVwrplfbxPClSPmUSe-NyFK0dJbR3i5PR-y-kk0VPDZcImw6xWby2Asu8NsJJhE7gFc7DBT5D=s320" width="320" /></a></div><br /><o:p></o:p><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 10.1pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: 22.3pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">Until
next time, read and write to your heart’s content. My eclectic collection of
reading matter may take your mind off things. Enjoy.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 10.1pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/author/annwilmerlasky"><span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-themecolor: text1;">https://www.amazon.com/author/annwilmerlasky</span></a><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"> <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 10.1pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">(</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgIDuqGPwSQ2sk_I4u3Ed7OfuYxRaHRp-pGx05yG8q0CmMtqTLFYVpzPMZmomfAm05V7Zn2dO2_vDgPHS5Xc0dAPGvEZUeaRywIZUObZLnSkVHqQVswQuG4DJ4gGAhneP86g4QKkQSw92Kw1vR71KexeyzB6uxkc3JSR3bwv-boFQWWkyJ4CIW9yij1=s5120" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="5120" data-original-width="5120" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgIDuqGPwSQ2sk_I4u3Ed7OfuYxRaHRp-pGx05yG8q0CmMtqTLFYVpzPMZmomfAm05V7Zn2dO2_vDgPHS5Xc0dAPGvEZUeaRywIZUObZLnSkVHqQVswQuG4DJ4gGAhneP86g4QKkQSw92Kw1vR71KexeyzB6uxkc3JSR3bwv-boFQWWkyJ4CIW9yij1=s320" width="320" /></a></div><br /><o:p></o:p><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 10.1pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: 22.3pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">As
always, I welcome your reactions and responses to any of my blogs. I love to
hear from my readers. Also, here are links to my Twitter and Facebook accounts,
if you care to share your thoughts with me there or look for my publication
announcements:<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 10.1pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: 22.3pt;"><a href="https://twitter.com/awlasky"><b><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: text1;">https://twitter.com/awlasky</span></b></a><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 10.1pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: 22.3pt;"><a href="https://www.facebook.com/ann.wilmerlasky"><b><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: text1;">https://www.facebook.com/ann.wilmerlasky</span></b></a><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 10.1pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: 22.3pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">Hopefully,
this coming month we can recover from the woes that plague us, and the
following month will find us enjoying a beautiful, peaceful Spring.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 10.1pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: 22.3pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 10.1pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: 22.3pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"> </span></p>
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><br clear="all" style="mso-special-character: line-break; page-break-before: always;" /></span>AnnNoEhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05828350639184642799noreply@blogger.com1