The 2021 Daily Writing Challenge – May 24

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2021 Daily Writing Challenge Q2

The first half of May delivered an astounding basketful of surprises, unexpected opportunities, and exciting developments. For the first sixteen days, my blank pages contain very few freshly minted words—translation—none, zip, zilch, nada. But when fortune’s favor smiled on me and offered a rare chance to unplug, unwind, and decompress for two entire weeks, I jumped. I don’t regret my decision. It’s a familiar tale. We don’t realize we need a break until we pack our bags and get the hell out of Dodge.

However, a vacation, sabbatical, leave of absence, or time off is not a get-out-of-jail-free card. Responsibilities do not disappear. Bills require payment, obligations hold their bond, and promises must be kept. Few commitments are more important than the ones we make with ourselves. The face in the mirror knows when we make excuses, attempt to rationalize our decisions or lie. The same image is also kind, caring, and recognizes the truth in our words. I try my hardest to ensure I don’t disappoint my biggest supporter.

Each month, I average about 12,000 written words, and I have a similar expectation for this month. Feeling rested, recharged, and full of ideas, I’m betting I can reach my goal by writing 800 words every day through the end of the month. I’m ready. Are you?

Did you write yesterday?

_________________________________________

Keep on writing.

Jo Hawk The Writer

Spring Garden Work

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Petunia Easy Wave Blue
Petunia Easy Wave Blue

In February, we discovered the mature Blue Spruce on the property was infested with a Cytospora Canker. The fungus Leucostona kunzei creates the canker, and in our tree, it manifested in branches near the tree’s apex, and lower branches showed evidence of infection. Purplish white and white patches of resin-coated a substantial portion of the spruce. In the arborist’s opinion, the cankers were girdling the trunk, and despite any treatment, we might attempt, the tree would eventually die. It was a heartbreaking decision, but we opted to remove the 30-year-old, 40-ft tall tree.

Colorado Blue Spruce
Colorado Blue Spruce

Unfortunately, the free-flowing resin infected and killed the grass. Between mangy chunks of dirt, scraggly weeds and yellow dandelions grew. After grinding out the large stump, the lawn was a complete disaster. Time for more work. We removed the top layer of soil, brought in clean fill, leveled the yard, and laid new sod. The sprinkler system required an overhaul, and we replaced broken heads and adjusted the areas covered. We selected a Black Tupelo to replace the spruce, created more garden beds, and mulched. As a last touch, we planted 60 Easy Wave Petunias in various beds.

Black Tupelo
Black Tupelo

I don’t know how it happens, but a single project is rarely straightforward, and they are always difficult to complete. One job has a way of breeding. It brings attention to other areas which look bedraggled, dirty, and less than appealing. I have plans to rework the existing borders with additional plants to better coordinate with the new plantings. The cracked sidewalk must be fixed, the front door begs for a coat of paint, the house and fence want power-washing, and the backyard is screaming for a little love. A gardener’s work is never done.

What spring projects have you tackled?

_________________________________________

Keep on writing.

Jo Hawk The Writer

Leverage Your Brain Extenders for A Great Night’s Sleep – Daily Quote

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Brain extenders are anything that get information out of our heads and into the physical world calendars, key hooks by the front door, note pads, 'to do' lists. Daniel Levitin

I felt frantic. My mind raced, and I had the overwhelming sensation of forgetting something of dire importance. I couldn’t sleep, and when I finally managed to doze, my dreams keep me tossing and turning all night. The white rabbit from Alice in Wonderland made frequent appearances in my nightly horror shows. Non-specific monsters chased me through swampy, misty lands until I reached the edge of the world and fell into the gaping maw of the abyss.

After a couple of nights of terror, I knew calming my anxiety demon was a must if I ever wanted to sleep again. My life was running at a fever pitch of meetings, appointments, deadlines, and commitments. I opened a fresh Excel spreadsheet and listed every task, project, chore, and promise floating around inside my head. It didn’t matter how minuscule or gargantuan the item, if it was on my mind, I wrote it down. One single line would house each worrisome detail. I kept thinking and writing until my brain felt empty, and my spreadsheet contained 208 line items. Yeah, it shocked me too. No wonder I worried about something slipping through the cracks.

Now that everything lived in Excel, I created columns with categories, due dates, priority groups, and other sortable criteria. Some lines contained tasks simple enough to be completed in a few minutes. Others were complicated and required me to create a breakdown of sub-projects and To-Do Lists. I sorted and filtered, highlighted and parsed, printed reminders, and shared portions of the list with appropriate individuals.

I wish I could say I made a giant dent in the number of outstanding jobs. My task list has gotten longer since I needed to expand details for some items. So far, I have completed twenty lines, and another thirty are in progress. It may not seem like much, but I’m not complaining. By using my massive brain extender, lately, I’ve been sleeping like a baby.

How do you manage your workload?

_________________________________________

Keep on writing.

Jo Hawk The Writer

The 2021 Daily Writing Challenge – May 23

/ JoHawkTheWriter / 3 Comments

2021 Daily Writing Challenge Q2

The first half of May delivered an astounding basketful of surprises, unexpected opportunities, and exciting developments. For the first sixteen days, my blank pages contain very few freshly minted words—translation—none, zip, zilch, nada. But when fortune’s favor smiled on me and offered a rare chance to unplug, unwind, and decompress for two entire weeks, I jumped. I don’t regret my decision. It’s a familiar tale. We don’t realize we need a break until we pack our bags and get the hell out of Dodge.

However, a vacation, sabbatical, leave of absence, or time off is not a get-out-of-jail-free card. Responsibilities do not disappear. Bills require payment, obligations hold their bond, and promises must be kept. Few commitments are more important than the ones we make with ourselves. The face in the mirror knows when we make excuses, attempt to rationalize our decisions or lie. The same image is also kind, caring, and recognizes the truth in our words. I try my hardest to ensure I don’t disappoint my biggest supporter.

Each month, I average about 12,000 written words, and I have a similar expectation for this month. Feeling rested, recharged, and full of ideas, I’m betting I can reach my goal by writing 800 words every day through the end of the month. I’m ready. Are you?

Did you write yesterday?

_________________________________________

Keep on writing.

Jo Hawk The Writer

Eerie Encounter – Weekend Writing Prompt — Eerie

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Outline of a woman's face on a wood board
Photo by Nick Fewings on Unsplash

Title:  Eerie Encounter

Source:  Weekend Writing Prompt # 210 — Eerie Encounter

Objective: Write a poem or piece of prose in exactly 24 words

__________________________________________

Danger stalked her to ancient forgotten places. She passed through the wall. I gasped. She turned, confronted me, then faded into a vague memory.

__________________________________________

Keep on writing.

Jo Hawk The Writer

The Thankless Reward for Completing Your Work Early – Daily Quote

/ JoHawkTheWriter / 5 Comments
Saturday. BEAST MODE OFF

My first goal for Saturday morning is to forget to set my alarm clock. It is an insignificant gesture, but it often helps me shut down the workweek monster so I can remember why I am working so hard. There is life beyond the 9 to 5 and forty hours per week hustle.

It doesn’t always work since Saturday is the day I reserve for running errands, completing my weekly chores, tackling seasonal household projects, and scheduling time with family and friends. It’s a lot to pack into one day. I enjoy being busy, but on Saturday, I am the boss, and I get to make the rules, create my plan, and treat myself to some fun activities. Things like sleeping late, reading in bed, and blocking out time for a serious writing session top the list.

This week was a fire drill of activity as I attempted to catch up with the demands of daily life and make up for my two-week absence. In the resulting craziness, I have somehow overcompensated and worked ahead of schedule. Tasks that often fall to my weekend schedule this week are already done. The possibilities of a rare weekend without responsibilities, obligations, and demands stretch out before me. Freedom is mine. My muse is laughing at me and waving an enormous ream of paper under my nose. Maybe I won’t be the boss this weekend after all.

What is your favorite Saturday activity?

_________________________________________

Keep on writing.

Jo Hawk The Writer

The 2021 Daily Writing Challenge – May 22

/ JoHawkTheWriter / 6 Comments

2021 Daily Writing Challenge Q2

The first half of May delivered an astounding basketful of surprises, unexpected opportunities, and exciting developments. For the first sixteen days, my blank pages contain very few freshly minted words—translation—none, zip, zilch, nada. But when fortune’s favor smiled on me and offered a rare chance to unplug, unwind, and decompress for two entire weeks, I jumped. I don’t regret my decision. It’s a familiar tale. We don’t realize we need a break until we pack our bags and get the hell out of Dodge.

However, a vacation, sabbatical, leave of absence, or time off is not a get-out-of-jail-free card. Responsibilities do not disappear. Bills require payment, obligations hold their bond, and promises must be kept. Few commitments are more important than the ones we make with ourselves. The face in the mirror knows when we make excuses, attempt to rationalize our decisions or lie. The same image is also kind, caring, and recognizes the truth in our words. I try my hardest to ensure I don’t disappoint my biggest supporter.

Each month, I average about 12,000 written words, and I have a similar expectation for this month. Feeling rested, recharged, and full of ideas, I’m betting I can reach my goal by writing 800 words every day through the end of the month. I’m ready. Are you?

Did you write yesterday?

_________________________________________

Keep on writing.

Jo Hawk The Writer

Using Deceptions, Diversions, and Distractions While Waiting for Your Friday Freedom – Daily Quote

/ JoHawkTheWriter / 4 Comments
Fridays are the hardest in some ways-you’re so close to freedom. Lauren Oliver

Would you rather have a Friday or a Wednesday? Thursday? Saturday? Sunday? Monday?? Scratch that. Nobody likes Mondays. I hold a deep appreciation for Fridays, and it’s not the classic reason everybody always gives. For me, the best thing about Friday is the opportunity to rectify my minor transgressions from the week. My co-workers have made an art of avoiding work. They chat about their awe-inspiring weekend plans while surreptitiously clock watching and trying to gauge the earliest possible moment they can make a mad dash for the exit. There’s a controlled dance of not trampling their friends or giving away how much they really hate their jobs.

I am human, and the door key beacons and taunts me too. Impending freedom is so close. I only need to reach out, turn the key, and open the door. But an invisible chain shackles me to the clock and my appointed quitting time. The easiest method for reaching my destination is to fill those hours, not clock-watching, but catching up on minor annoying tasks, returning emails, revising spreadsheets, or planning the coming week.

Filling the day with tiny productive steps helps make the time seem to move faster. It’s an entertaining game to see if I can squeeze in everything before I become part of the stampeding herd.

What is your favorite thing about Fridays?

_________________________________________

Keep on writing.

Jo Hawk The Writer

The 2021 Daily Writing Challenge – May 21

/ JoHawkTheWriter / 3 Comments

2021 Daily Writing Challenge Q2

The first half of May delivered an astounding basketful of surprises, unexpected opportunities, and exciting developments. For the first sixteen days, my blank pages contain very few freshly minted words—translation—none, zip, zilch, nada. But when fortune’s favor smiled on me and offered a rare chance to unplug, unwind, and decompress for two entire weeks, I jumped. I don’t regret my decision. It’s a familiar tale. We don’t realize we need a break until we pack our bags and get the hell out of Dodge.

However, a vacation, sabbatical, leave of absence, or time off is not a get-out-of-jail-free card. Responsibilities do not disappear. Bills require payment, obligations hold their bond, and promises must be kept. Few commitments are more important than the ones we make with ourselves. The face in the mirror knows when we make excuses, attempt to rationalize our decisions or lie. The same image is also kind, caring, and recognizes the truth in our words. I try my hardest to ensure I don’t disappoint my biggest supporter.

Each month, I average about 12,000 written words, and I have a similar expectation for this month. Feeling rested, recharged, and full of ideas, I’m betting I can reach my goal by writing 800 words every day through the end of the month. I’m ready. Are you?

Did you write yesterday?

_________________________________________

Keep on writing.

Jo Hawk The Writer

Tiny Changes Help Transform Today’s Failures into the Beginning of Success – Daily Quote 

/ JoHawkTheWriter / 5 Comments
Nothing can be done except little by little. Charles Baudelaire

Life is a series of never-ending challenges, and I have the To-Do list to prove it. Tying to return to pre-vacation scheduling is causing more than the usual number of headaches. Everything feels out of whack, off track, and running on the edge of disaster. They say Rome wasn’t built in a day, but that isn’t my fault. Restoring order and domestic tranquility sounds like a deceptively simple process. Yet, it requires mountains of effort, too much time, and the glacial pace is quickly eroding the positive benefits of my break.

That wouldn’t do. I realized I was declaring myself a failure by using the wrong measuring standards. This wasn’t a normal week, the default settings changed, but my expectations hadn’t. So, I took a deep breath and switched tactics. Sometimes the answer to bolstering our determination, improving our morale, and producing an overwhelming sense of triumph is to concentrate on a single, modest element. There is immense power in one tiny accomplishment that we can move to the completed column.

With a point in the win column, we have a valid reason to pat ourselves on the back and do a little victory dance. With one detail resolved, we are free to finish the next item. The wins accumulate like pearls in a necklace. It can make all the difference.

What small win can you make happen today?

_________________________________________

Keep on writing.

Jo Hawk The Writer