“Calendar Check”

 

May  2024 Blog

Month’s End: A Haiku

I would end the month

With that month’s tasks surely done;

Start the next anew.

by Ann Wilmer-Lasky

(4/30/24)

 

Just closed out April. Just closed out one-third of the year 2024. But – that means I still have two-thirds left.

So, that was supposed to spark my blog for May, but May has turned into one unending roller coaster ride with more downs than ups. Thus, we will start again.

Still Time: A Haiku

Thirty-one days in

May leaves thirteen days to get

Done the May “ToDo’s”.

by Ann Wilmer-Lasky

(5/18/24)

 

And we will still post a May Blog. However, it will be  a hodge-podge of unrelated anecdotes of life so far this month.

First off, I am getting things done, albeit at a snail’s pace. I really need to concentrate on doing more than the bare minimum to exist. What’s the fun in doing only what you have to do? Enjoyment comes from doing things you want to do afterward.

And I really could use some enjoyment. Lord knows I’ve had more than my share of difficult tasks to tend to, including my son’s death. I finally got a copy of his final note. He didn’t blame enybody. He just said. “Sorry, this whole life has been shit. Done. (signed) Vernon.” So we will never know what triggered the actual suicide – only that he planned it too well.

Then there’s my husband’s mysterious ongoing maladies to contend with. He may have bariatric surgery soon to help close the bottom of his esophagus that’s letting acid back up and causing a lot of damage along the way. But the reasons for the generalized nerve pain and dizziness have yet to be determined and dealt with. And his anxiety disorder may never go away, thanks to the stroke.

To top all that off, my eyesight is getting steadily worse. I’ve gone to dark mode on the computer and phone for the most part, and that helps. But not all sites and applications offer that. I am grateful for the years this AMD has been kept in check, but it will win out in the end.

So that’s another reason I need to get things going at a faster pace. I have a lot I want to do before worse befalls me.

Lately, it seems I am but one catastrophe away from a meltdown. Maybe it’s Post-Pandemic Syndrome. Or maybe it’s those calendar pages I’m ripping off faster and faster. Maybe I can’t slow the passing of time down, but I can sure try to make better use of itl

The Black Oak audio is coming along nicely again. So is the Sam Rock sequel. Just a little more touching up on both. Then on to my tribute poetry chapbook “One Life: Unlived” and then who knows? I have lots of ideas swimming around in my head. Just need to get out the hook, line and sinker and reel them all in.

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 Amazon, Twitter and Facebook accounts, if you care to share your thoughts with me there or look for any publication announcements.

amazon.com/author/annwilmerlasky      

https://twitter.com/awlasky

https://www.facebook.com/ann.wilmerlasky

It’s now May and the weather is much too hot. Already had a couple of days of 100+ temps. Spring is gone. Summer has landed with a thud.

 

“Focal Shift”

 

April  2024 Blog

Focal Shift: A Haiku

Much better, I find,

To concentrate on the “do’s”

Than on the “don’t do’s”.

by Ann Wilmer-Lasky

(3/29/24)

 

I’d rather be “doing” than “don’ting” or focusing on the “didn’t do’s”. I can’t help thinking of the old lyrics: “Accentuate the positive! Eliminate the negative! And don’t mess with...” Still great advice.

So I’m shifting my focus. I will concentrate on “getting ‘er done” rather than doing only what I absolutely have to and absolutely only when I have to do it.

What a concept – get ahead of the game rather than try to catch up all the time. (That trick hardly ever works.)

Yet here I am trying to meet my 1^st of the month blog-posting commitment to myself. It’s been a rough few days: the 1^st anniversary of my son’s demise, Easter weekend and April Fool’s Day. Also Mercury is now retrograde until the 25^th.Guess I better squeak this in befor communications go whacko.

And then there’s the solar eclipse on the 8^th. Please, if you’re going to view it, do so carefully and make sure your glasses aren’t fake. Should be awesome for sure, but I’m going to pass on it. My vision is already compromised with AMD.

I’ve gotten some work done on the Sam Rock sequel this last month, as well as some work on the tribute chapbook for my son. Next I need to get Steve Hamm’s audio version of my “Black Oak: Town of Joy” up and running.

Also working on eliminating 80 years of accumulations. I don’t need all this stuff I’ve been hauling around all these years. I think I still have my old Atari computer from the 1980’s somewhere in storage.

It will be harder with my husband’s VHS & DVD collection. He has literally several hundred. I don’t think there’s enough time to watch them all left in our lives.

On the other hand, I need to catalog and preserve all my hand written manuscripts and poetry, as well as make sure I get everything transferred to the computer for future reference. Might be worth something to somebody some day.

Still have high hopes for this year even though it’s now one-quarter gone. There’s still three-quarters left.(I’m trying to be more optimistic.

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.

amazon.com/author/annwilmerlasky      

https://twitter.com/awlasky

https://www.facebook.com/ann.wilmerlasky

It’s now April and the weather is cooler than it was in March. Go figure. We’ll see what the rest of Spring brings.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

“One Life – Unlived”

 

March  2024 Blog

Stagnation: A Haiku

The months fly by and

Soon a year has nearly passed

And it is not done.

by Ann Wilmer-Lasky

(3/1/24)

 

March 26^th 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.

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.

Also, it’s a year later and a year less that I have left to get it all done.

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.

I hope I have time for one more restart, one more chance to “get ‘er done”.

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”.

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.

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.

amazon.com/author/annwilmerlasky      

https://twitter.com/awlasky

https://www.facebook.com/ann.wilmerlasky

It’s now March and we are already starting to warm up. Not looking forward to the blistering hot summer I fear is coming.

Beware the Ides of March!

 

 

 

 

 

“Happy Lunar New Year 2024”

 

February  2024 Blog

Dragon Breath A Haiku

The Dragon wakes and

Breathes his fire to celebrate

The dawn of his year.

by Ann Wilmer-Lasky

(2/10/23)

 

...and I celebrate with him – breathing fire and all.

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.

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. “Happy Lunar New Year 2024”

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).

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.

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.

I guess I can blame most of my problems on age.

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)!

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.

amazon.com/author/annwilmerlasky      

https://twitter.com/awlasky

https://www.facebook.com/ann.wilmerlasky

It’s now February and the start of the Chinese Lunar New Year, and I’m claiming a do-over and another new beginning.

Happy, Happy New Year!

 

 

 

“Happy New Year 2024”

 

January  2024 Blog

2024: A Haiku

Bring on the Year of

The Dragon; I will rejoice,

And I will be one!

by Ann Wilmer-Lasky

(12/28/23)

 

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:

Resolution Revolution: A Haiku

I highly resolve

I will actually resolve

My resolutions!

by Ann Wilmer-Lasky

(1/1/24)

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.

I’m going to make this a really short blog post this month, but I promise more fulfilling and revealing blogs in the future.

Right now, I need to get this typed and posted to finish ringing in the new year properly.

Wishing you all a happy, prosperous and productive New Year!

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.

amazon.com/author/annwilmerlasky      

https://twitter.com/awlasky

https://www.facebook.com/ann.wilmerlasky

It’s now January and the new year has literally just started. I am so ready for it. I need a new beginning.

 

 

 

 

 

“The Big 80”

 

December  2023 Blog

Fight or Fold: A Haiku

Age notwithstanding,

I would fight to the end and

Not crumble and fold.

by Ann Wilmer-Lasky

(11/30/23)

 

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

amazon.com/author/annwilmerlasky      

https://twitter.com/awlasky

https://www.facebook.com/ann.wilmerlasky

It’s now December and the year is mostly over. I am so ready for it to end. I need a new beginning.

 

 

"But First..."

 November  2023 Blog

But First... A Haiku

I would do what I

Need do, but first must do what

I needed done first.

by Ann Wilmer-Lasky

(11/1/23)

 

So much confusion this last month, and once again the world is at war. Seems like the conflicts will never end.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Okay, that’s what I’ll shoot for  -  attainment! I will attain my goals while maintaining my sanity. Again no small task. But the thought is putting a smile on my face.

But first I need to do the things that need to be done before I I can do the things I want to do.

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.

Until I figure it out, I can make no promises except that I will keep working on both as best I can.

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.

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.

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.

amazon.com/author/annwilmerlasky      

(insert collage)

https://twitter.com/awlasky

https://www.facebook.com/ann.wilmerlasky

It’s now November and the year is coming to an end. I would have some attainment before it ends. Wish me luck!