No Excuses 2016

No Excuses: A Haiku

All being equal,

I am my own limit; I

Would be limitless.

That there are no excuses, no reasons for my past limitations, doesn't help a rat's a** in the present. I should have overcome them long ago. Then I wouldn't find myself in my current limited situation.

I have nearly always taken the path of least resistance – gone the easier way – avoided conflict – you know – followed the yellow brick road with few consequences, except that I have never achieved my potential.

If I can leave any word of wisdom the younger genereations might find useful, it is this: Talent and potential will yield you nothing. Working hard toward concrete goals will allow even the tiniest of talents and ambitions to blossom.

I did not learn this from my mother. She had none. I did not pass it on to my children; I didn't know how. Now, I have limited time to use it for myself.

I would love to know that someone might benefit from my advice. It all sounds so hollow and trite, but it is what it is – a desperate attempt to reach out and kick someone in the a** and redeem myself.

I would at least know that I inspired someone to reach his or her potential.

Now, before it's never –

Follow your bliss!

Spring Fever

There are leaves and buds of leaves upon my trees and bushes. The roses will bloom early again this spring, if a hard freeze doesn’t come through and kill everything.

Me? I’m still alive. Should have died almost two years ago now, but I’m still here. Most of my faculties and functions are still intact. The ones that are somewhat degraded are still easily concealed.

I’m sitting in my yard in full sun and gentle breeze, listening to the birds chirp sounds I’ve never truly heard before, although I do recognize the cooing that comes before the nesting.

Bruce and Chuck lie at my feet, enjoying the fair weather, chasing an occasional squirrel or barking at a stray cat. They love being outside, but will run to beat me to the door if I rise from my chair. Maybe they just enjoy being with me. That’s why I love dogs. Their loyalty is amazing, and they ask for so little in return.

I actually sat down and wrote out my publishing plans for this year. I have not done that in two years. Guess I didn’t think I’d last as long as I have, but I have. (And hope does seem to spring eternal even for a half-empty- glass gal like myself.)

I’m even planning on putting out a book of my Haiku-A-Day at the end of the year. So far I’ve written fifty-three. I may hedge my bets a little and write ahead and publish earlier, maybe to catch the holiday crowd for gift giving. Or just to stay ahead of the grim reaper. (Half-empty-glass gal here, remember.)

If I survive and keep to my schedule, I’ll have four more novels and two more books of poetry out by the end of the year.

Maybe I should try to be done by November 1^st so I can do NaNoWriMo again.

Gee it looks like I’m actually looking forward to something again. Better drink down some of that glass. It’s getting a little full.

Yep, think I’ll go get a drink and grab my UFO novel. It’s a middle grade sci-fi adventure about the sighting in Aurora, Texas in 1897. I was going to call it “The Aurora Incident”, but that was before the shooting incident in Aurora, Colorado.

Besides finding a new title, I’ve got to edit the manuscript again and format it for publication. I want to get it out before the UFO Festival here in Roswell around the 4^th of July.

Until next time, read and write well, my friends. Let your minds wander in a book or manuscript and get away from this world for a while.