Mad Macedonian

Playing With My Ding A Ling: Wuhan Flu Edition

Happy Saturday, Houston! The Mad Houstonian, here.

Are we glad April is behind us, or what? Hee, hee!

As a Walmart Cashier there are a couple of times a year when we do fundraising drives, one for MD Anderson Cancer Center, and another for the Children's Miracle Network & TX Children's Hospital.

Learn more about the Children's Miracle Network Hospitals efforts here.

Learn more about Texas Children's Hospital here.

In 2016, I was inspired to write a poem about ringing the bell for the Children's Hospital Campaign.

Last year, as the campaign began, I reposted, and updated, the original post, with new pics and info.

I truly enjoyed taking my bell ringing to a new level, last year, and the support I got for doing so.

While the 2020 campaign won't get under way until the Summer the Network has an online campaign going on, to raise funds, that they call the COVID-19 Impact Fund.

So, I got to thinking about an updated version of my old poem, set in our current circumstances, especially since I will hopefully have returned to work in time for the next store campaign.

The Power, Challenge, and Talent to Write: And Developing it in my 60's

Good morning, Houston! With April behind me, what to do next?

I am the Mad Houstonian...

I like to write.

Always have, I guess, ever since I was in Elementary School (early 70's), then Junior High and High School (mid/late 70's), writing book reports, then letters to the editor of the local paper.

Writing Star Trek fan fiction for my eyes only, and letters to the editor of the local paper was followed, in college, by a fictional piece written for a criminal justice class and, as my interest in comics grew, letters to them as well, plus letters to political magazines.

Unexpectedly, an essay written in a failed attempt to get a subscription to a Trek Fanzine, led to my 1st published work (unpaid) in a popular Trek book Anthology.

For various reasons none of that ever translated into a career path.

Joining the online discussion through message boards in 1998, then becoming a blogger (2002), rekindled the urge to write.

You have the power to write...So take up your pen, open your heart, your mind, and your soul, and just let the words start flowing -- Caroline Joy Adams

I have discovered that not only was I a storyteller, and a humorist, but a poet, essayist, reviewer, journalist, photographer, and more....not only in my own voice (2 closed blogs came before this one), but those of my feline muses (The Opinionated Pussycats).

For over a decade several friends have encouraged me to continue my adventure in writing and maybe explore the possibility of publication somewhere down the road, earning some money with my ability.

I turned 60, in March...I am officially an "Old Coot".

Maybe the time is now, at last? I ain't gettin' any younger.

I read somewhere that we are always afraid to start something that we want to make very good, true and serious.

Rita Mae Brown once wrote: "Creativity comes from trust. Trust your instincts."

I once trusted myself to write something very special, over many chapters and many months.

Those stories were glorious, but I didn't know enough to save them for the future and regret it to this day (This was back when I had only had a computer for 3 years, before blogging was even a thought).

I have been afraid to try to re-write the series from scratch. It's been over 20 years, now.

I mean, how does one top the best writing he's ever done?

Write something that is even better, and finally get the courage to submit it somewhere, for one thing....more on that, below.

Poetry A Day Challenge 30: In Praise of the Bicycle

Happy Thursday Houston! Happy last day of April!

The Mad Houstonian, here.

Welcome to Day 30 of the Poetry A Day Challenge by Robert Lee Brewer, of the wonderful Poetic Asides Blog, at Writer's Digest.

As he explains in his post...

For today’s prompt:

Write a praise poem. Praise your health or the taste of chocolate cake. Pen an ode to normalcy (whatever that is) or expound on the wonders of your favorite pen (for me, it’s either the Pilot G-2 or Pilot Precise V5). Have a favorite song? A favorite saying? Today is a perfect day to sing its praises.

Remember: These prompts are just springboards; you have the freedom to jump in any direction you want. In other words, it’s more important to write a new poem than to stick to the prompt."

(My Day 1 poem is here)

So...what did I do?

Poetry A Day Challenge 29: A New Poem...Totally

Happy Wednesday Houston, Elvira Mistress of Felinity, here.

Ignore the wording in the photo...I asked Daddy Kiril to make me one that said "A Writer and Her Muse", years ago, but he forgot...Humans, I swear....sometimes...

Anyway...

Welcome to Day 29 of the Poetry A Day Challenge by Robert Lee Brewer, of the wonderful Poetic Asides Blog, at Writer's Digest.

As he explains in his post...

For today’s prompt:

Take the phrase “Total (blank),” replace the blank with a word or phrase, make the new phrase the title of your poem, and then, write your poem. Possible titles could include: “Total Madness,” “Total Victory,” “Totally Awesome,” and/or “Total Cereal.”

Remember: These prompts are just springboards; you have the freedom to jump in any direction you want. In other words, it’s more important to write a new poem than to stick to the prompt."

(Daddy's Day 1 poem is here)

So...what did I do?

Total Love by Elvira Mistress of Felinity

Her human is the one thing she totally values.
That she treats with total respect.
Because what he does for her totally matters.
He fills the food bowl, totally.
He fills the water bowl, totally.
He makes sure the litter box is clean...totally.
So she can fill it...totally
When he comes home
from work,
Thus showing her
Total
Love

 

Next Up -- Poetry A Day Challenge 30: In Praise of the Bicycle

Poetry A Day Challenge 28: Looking Back

Happy Tuesday Houston, The Mad Houstonian, here.

Welcome to Day 28 of the Poetry A Day Challenge by Robert Lee Brewer, of the wonderful Poetic Asides Blog, at Writer's Digest.

As he explains in his post...

For today’s prompt:

The final “Two-for-Tuesday” day today.

1. Write a look back poem and/or…
2. Write a don’t look back poem. Because some folks just want to keep their eyes on the road ahead.

Remember: These prompts are just springboards; you have the freedom to jump in any direction you want. In other words, it’s more important to write a new poem than to stick to the prompt."

(My Day 1 poem is here)

So...what did I do?

Poetry A Day Challenge 27: A Massive Undertaking

Happy Monday Houston, The Mad Houstonian, here.

Welcome to Day 27 of the Poetry A Day Challenge by Robert Lee Brewer, of the wonderful Poetic Asides Blog, at Writer's Digest.

As he explains in his post...

For today’s prompt:

Write a massive poem. The poem itself could be massive in size and length. Or it could take on a massive problem, describe a supermassive black hole, or praise a massive bowl of ice cream covered in chocolate syrup and whipped cream.

Remember: These prompts are just springboards; you have the freedom to jump in any direction you want. In other words, it’s more important to write a new poem than to stick to the prompt."

(My Day 1 poem is here)

So...what did I do?

Poetry A Day Challenge 26: A Poem About Change

Happy Sunday Houston, The Mad Houstonian, here.

Welcome to Day 26 of the Poetry A Day Challenge by Robert Lee Brewer, of the wonderful Poetic Asides Blog, at Writer's Digest.

As he explains in his post...

For today’s prompt:

Write a change poem. This could be a poem about something that has changed or something that will change. Changing tires, clothes, or perspectives. Change left over when paying for something with cash. Feel encouraged to change it up today.

Remember: These prompts are just springboards; you have the freedom to jump in any direction you want. In other words, it’s more important to write a new poem than to stick to the prompt."

(My Day 1 poem is here)

So...what did I do?

Praising God: A Poem

 

Good morning Houston and beyond, The Mad Houstonian, here.
Something my cousin Beth shared on Facebook, this morning, inspired me to do a re-mix .

Here is the original...

 

 

Praising God by Kiril Kundurazieff

 

I believe churches are meant for praising God,

But so are 5am bus rides,

and 5 mile walks.

I believe churches are meant for praising God,

But so are 30 mile bike rides,

and sitting alone with nature.

I believe churches are meant for praising God,

But so is dining out at a small local diner,

and a Food Truck Park.

Don't let your faith be confined by 4 walls because

You will never change the world

by just attending Sunday service.

You need to be the church.

 

 

 

 

Poetry A Day Challenge 25: Nature -- The Remix

Happy Saturday Houston, The Mad Houstonian, here.

Welcome to Day 25 of the Poetry A Day Challenge by Robert Lee Brewer, of the wonderful Poetic Asides Blog, at Writer's Digest.

As he explains in his post...

For today’s prompt:

Write a remix poem. That is, take one (or more) of your poems from earlier this month and remix it. Make a free verse poem into a villanelle. Or condense a sestina into a haiku or senryu. Or forget form. Just completely jumble up the words…or respond to the original poem(s).

Remember: These prompts are just springboards; you have the freedom to jump in any direction you want. In other words, it’s more important to write a new poem than to stick to the prompt."

(My Day 1 poem is here)

So...what did I do?

Poetry A Day Challenge 24: Nature

Happy Friday Houston, The Mad Houstonian, here.

Welcome to Day 24 of the Poetry A Day Challenge by Robert Lee Brewer, of the wonderful Poetic Asides Blog, at Writer's Digest.

As he explains in his post...

For today’s prompt:

Write a nature poem. Could be nature like trees, leaves, grass, birds, etc. Or your poem could tackle human nature. Another possibility is to look at the nature of technology or the interaction of planets around each other and the sun. Or well, the nature of poetry! When in doubt, just see what happens naturally.

Remember: These prompts are just springboards; you have the freedom to jump in any direction you want. In other words, it’s more important to write a new poem than to stick to the prompt."

(My Day 1 poem is here)

So...what did I do?