Category Archives: Writing

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Marcia’s Meanderings – As One Door Closes …

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Hello Dear Ones!

Last week I spent all of my time in a last minute rush to finish the final editing on my book – A Year in the Life of a Bus-Traveling Poet – in order to get it off to the printer by June 30th. Once the pages had been sent off, I chose to take a few days to rest and regroup. Only then would I feel that the door had closed on that leg of my journey.

Yet you know what happened? I couldn’t stop writing! Where before there had been rewrites and editing, now poems came rushing to the forefront of my thoughts. I’ve written over 4 dozen micropoems in the past many days! Not only that: the skeleton of my next book – the first of potentially many novels – has been forming so clearly, I put in at least six hours yesterday on its creation. What a satisfying feeling.

I was once asked what I enjoyed doing so much that I would do it even if I didn’t get paid for it . My answer was simple and instantaneous – write! “That,”  they said, “is your passion.” Well, if there had ever been any doubt within me, there is certainly no question about that any longer!

As one door closes … another opens – or maybe it’s the window beside it. For me, my first verse and prose book  merely awaits the viewing and approving of the proof copy before it can be opened for sale through Amazon.com. That is now the door closed. The door that is wide open for the next leg of my life journey is visible and I’ve peeked inside to find the most incredible decor – my future …

What might be within the open door awaiting you?

In Light and Laughter,

Marcia

He Says, She Says… the True Nature of a Gift?

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Hello, Dear Reader:

Well, we’re back from our self-imposed hiatus from ‘He Says, She Says…‘ posts; we’re awaiting the proof copy of Marcia’s new book from the printer.  Last night we were going through previous posts to determine what we’ve covered and realized that this is our 30th post in this category!

Every morning before we get out of bed we take a moment to ask each other about remembered dreams from the night before, and often one or the other of us will have a sequence to share or sometimes an idea or a thought that arose out of our nightly wanderings.  Here’s an example from a week ago: “Old fears make perfect soil in which to plant new dreams.“  This morning Mike awoke with the thought: “Understand the true nature of a gift.“  It reminded us of a blog post done by Seth Godin a couple of weeks ago titled, “Gifts, misunderstood.“  It’s well worth reading, in our opinion, as are all of Seth’s posts.  In his post Seth mentions O. Henry’s book ‘The Gift of the Magi‘, a Christmas story.  Although unmentioned, the movie ‘Pay it Forward‘ would also fit into this genre of gifting.

So, with that in mind we thought we’d make the topic of this week’s He Says, She Says… post, “The True Nature of a Gift?”

Hugs,
M&M

Follow these links to read what He Says/She Says: Marcia’s View / Mike’s View

Poetry Corner – Sneak Peek

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Hello Dear Ones!

Well, June 30th has come and gone. It is now Canada Day – July 1st – and my book is at the printer, having met its deadline!

Here’s a sneak peak, especially for you: a write-up of my bio and a précis of my book – plus the fabulous cover that my hubbie Mike did up for me! Check it out here: Marcia’s New Book. Continue Reading →

Marcia’s Meanderings – Making Room for Rumi

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Hello Dear Ones!

The clock is ticking down to June 30th – the deadline date to getting my first book to the publisher.  At this point I may even be successfully completed all the finite details today – that would be grand!

Rather than stressing about the potential time constraint, I thought to inspire myself with some of my favourite quotes. Rumi is one of my most inspirational and uplifting authors. Here then are, in my estimation, some of the best of the best of his quotes – the simplicity and wisdom that is Rumi: Continue Reading →

He Says, She Says… Sunday Cinema

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Hi Folks:

Sunday has wound its way around again, and that usually means our ‘He Says, She Says…‘ post, but Marcia’s still happily ensconced in editing her book of poetry and mostly all I get is an occasional nod or a “What’s that, dear?”   For that reason, this week’s post will be strictly a ‘He Says’.

However, since yesterday marked our 92nd Monthaversary of being married, we did take some time off this afternoon to go to the movies.  We wanted to see ‘Letters to Juliet‘, and while I don’t want to spoil the movie for you, I will say that it’s a wonderful movie and Vanessa Redgrave was stunning as always.  It’s a little slow in places, but it’s also hopelessly romantic and features some wonderful scenes of the Tuscan countryside.  I’ll admit it; I cry in movies, and this one warrants a few happy tears. Continue Reading →

Poetry Corner – Poetry ‘n’ Pics II

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//poetry and pics / the perfect combination / revealing one’s heart//       (senryu)

***//origami gift / crafted by my husband’s hands / and his loving heart//       (senryu)

*****//music from teen years / saddle shoes and bobby sox / worn out from dancing//     (senryu)

*******//moss and river beds / happy childhood memories / sense of scents recalled//       (haiku)

//listen carefully / revelation of  wood lore / songs of the faerie//       (haiku)

***//candy apple red / country fair transport to buy / candy floss pink//       (haiku)

*****//loving intention / energy expended then / tossed away like scrap//       (senryu)

*******//patio table / only patron a wee bird / any scraps for me?//       (haiku)

//sunlight reflections / car windshield captures brilliance / kisses passersby//       (haiku)

***//beautiful sun dogs / early evening summer gift / divine rainbow arc//       (haiku)

*****//summer night cruising / revving/ antique car engines / not for girls / for grills//       (gogyohka)

*******//deep breath draw to me / scents of summer fragrance lush / exhale winter thaw//       (haiku)

//simple village life / ensconced amidst gentleness / neighbour / greets neighbour / with smiles//       (gogyohka)

That’s all the poetry I have to share for now, Dear Ones! Create an incredible week for yourselves!

In Light and Laughter,

Marcia

(Note: new to this post? Please go here to learn more about my apophysis fractal art work and the various poetry  styles shared today.)

Marcia’s Meanderings – Yes, the book!

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Hello Dear Ones!

The crunch is on – a mere 9 days left to get my book to the publisher. Hence Marcia’s thoughts and attention are meandering to the final edit procedures – the finishing touches and tweaks that will add that je ne sais quoi to the overall effect.

As long as I figure out what that je ne sais quoi truly is so that my readers can sense its presence within the covers, then I will have succeeded well for us all to benefit.

More to follow in the days ahead. Like a good book – leave the reader hanging …

In Light and Laughter,

Marcia

He Says, She Says… Book?

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He Says: “So, how’s the book coming along?”

She Says: “Pretty well.  Coming down to the crunch though.”

He Says: “So, what’s our topic for this week?”

She Says: “Hmmm?  Sorry, honey, but this is taking all of my time right now.”

He Says: “Until next week then?”

She Says: “That would probably be best.”

Have a great week, folks!

Hugs,
M&M

Poetry Corner – Poetry ‘n’ Pics!

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Hello Dear Ones!

Today’s Poetry Corner is being dedicated to a new category within M&M’s Musings: Poetry ‘n’ Pics.

Seems that two creative passions vie for my time and attention each day – poetry and fractal artwork. Many of you who know me through Twitter will be familiar with my micropoetry.  Individual tweets of my poems get sent out in that fashion on occasion. Yet there are days – like today – when I write six, nine, a dozen or more! I don’t like overloading inboxes with tweet after tweet of my verse.

The majority of you would be unaware that I also do art work through the computer. Many of my pieces have found their way to our Flickr site (click on Fractals: my work shows up under Marcia’s Apophysis Galaxies). Here are two of my favourite pieces – the Beribboned Buddha plus Mother and Child: Continue Reading →

Marcia’s Meanderings – Overcoming the Fear Funk

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Hello Dear Ones!

Ever find yourself in a rut where fear has talons hooked deeply into your psyche and won’t release it’s hold? Ya, me too!

Fortunately it happens less often and for shorter and shorter periods of time. Blessings be! Yet when it does surface – showing me a perspective I don’t want to see or address or acknowledge in any way shape or form – I feel frozen into immobility. Everything in my world takes on a gray pallor and I see the fear, missing out on the beauty and sparkle of all else around me. So sad.

My most recent Fear Funk stopped me from writing anything positive. No poetry. No journaling in the front of my binder. I record all negative energy entries in the back of my journal book to at least keep up my writing habit, as well to separate the negative from the more upbeat positive energies. Also, it means I can tear up those negative pages when I’ve moved beyond and through the challenge they revealed to me.

Believe it or not, fear is a gift to us – one that reveals a challenge we need to address within ourselves. Next time you’re in a Fear Funk, when you can get to the point of appreciating the gift it is giving you, you’ll know you are on your way to a solution and the joyous release of its hold on you.

One of the keys to removing those nasty talons that have dug deep into your soul, is to name the fear. Once the Fear Funk is named – give it a label or make a statement about what hold it has over you – then you can more easily address the challenge and more freely side-step your way out of its strangle-hold.

Most often the plain and simple truth of the matter, the bottom line of it all, is that there is no trust in the value of self. No value in self means no value in Self and certainly no trust in the Divine.

When the Fear Funk has a hold of you and the feeling of optimism or any potential thoughts of hope are so far removed they don’t even show up in your vocabulary let alone in your dreams, it’s time to do three things:

1. define and name the Fear Funk.
2. force your mouth into a smile. Curl the edges of your mouth into a grin. Even if the smile doesn’t reach your eyes and your heart in the moment but merely adds to the wrinkles on your face – smile.
3. think of the happiest, silliest, most joyously and memorable time you ever had as a child … and then *g*i*g*g*l*e* about it! *G*i*g*g*l*e* until you feel a wee spark of joy within you. That little feeling of joy is one or more talons gone from your solar plexus. *G*i*g*g*l*e* more, letting it take on a life of its own and filling you to overflowing! The Fear Funk hates laughter with a passion – it can’t keep its hold on you when you’re laughing!

When you are ready you can add one more phrase to the statement or the name you’ve given this ‘gift’: one that reflects the trust you are more likely to be feeling – that all will, in fact, work out perfectly – if you can only have enough faith that the Divine Universe will conspire on your behalf to bring the necessary solution into your reality. It may arrive just in the nick of time (depending upon how open you are to receiving it) yet it is there for you! Can you feel it?

With the Divine conspiring on my behalf,  I can …. !

Be gone, Fear Funk!

In Light and Laughter,

Marcia