A Month of Observations, Feb 2016: Part 7

I am focused on my fiction like never before. This is the primary reason I haven't had much of a chance to blog here between our fantastic interviews. I realized that these lists are like a lazy person's diary, however, which I consider therapeutic. So here's my weekly therapy. A few observations from the last week:

• Chocolate placed in a common area that isn't heavily monitored will disappear at the speed of sound (this is an approximate calculation).
• Political debates are about as enlightening as old episodes of Flavor of Love.
• I think the reason many people like to be told what to do and think is because they are exhausted.
• Novels are lethal.
• Writer and reader can connect through story, but it doesn't happen just because the book is entertaining.
• Coming to the end of a good book, or series, is like losing a friend. Or having that friend move away to, say, Texas - if you don't live in Texas - where you will probably never visit her.
• All medications have side effects, even if they're not immediately evident.
• Unexpected and unsolicited praise is likely the only genuine praise.
• You can add $30 to each plate of food if your restaurant spins and you have a decent happy hour.

My book recommendation: My Brilliant Friend (and then the rest of the Neapolitan trilogy) by Elena Ferrante.

Prompt: I stole this one from one of our WIC notebook assignments, but it's great. Write about a cactus that wants to live inside of a balloon. Interpret this literally or figuratively (probably figuratively would work better - but I'd love to read what you come up with if you actually write about the cactus).

A Week of Observations, Dec 2015: Part 6

The holiday parties have begun, the baked goods are everywhere, the politics blather on, and the lights/blow-up snowmen that freak out my dog are adding color and cheer to our neighborhood. I love this time of year. Here are a few observations from the last week:

• A weak stomach may mean longevity in a culture of over-eating the inedible
• Physical talents, such as acrobatics, should not be shared at holiday parties
• Cactus lights will always make me smile
• We need an underground movement of those democratic voters in stoplight-red states to move to the swings for a time
• When you get your twentieth recall notice, it might be time to look for a new car
• The tiny living movement has taught me smart utilization of space - wow do I have a lot of space! 
• The non-poet can foster her appreciation for poetry to great reward
• If you're crafty, you can save a shit ton of money during the holidays (I am not)
• Good intentions lead to good results, but the timing is always a bit different than expected
• If you can't sleep, don't try to sleep; get up and do something (this is my latest insomnia strategy, and it's working out better than anything else I've tried)
• People who don't like dogs probably won't like me

In lieu of a prompt: Enjoy family. Read, reflect, live life!