4 X 4

~ Book Dragon ~ 8 Comments

The 4 x 4 writing structure tasks you with writing about 4 things each within 4 feet of you. Thank you to Tammy for the mentor text. As I sat in the reception area for an early morning weekend physiotherapy appointment, I thought it’d be the perfect time to give this writing prompt a whirl.

Fan humming overhead, an undulating drone

Social distancing stickers adhered to floor, reminding us of the apex of the pandemic

Windows bringing in diffused light to a dreary wet west coast day

Empty reception – a contrast to the hubbub of weekday activity

$1.49 Day

~ Book Dragon ~ 6 Comments

What can you get for a dollar and forty-nine cents nowadays? Not much, but if you are a major grocer retailer you could run a loss leader to draw people into your stores.

https://www.vancouverisawesome.com/courier-archive/community/woodwards-famous-149-day-jingle-celebrates-60-years-video-3068459

This is what a locally owned grocer has done. $1.49 days! The buzz is afoot through the city. For those of us old enough, it taps into our collective nostalgia of $1.49 days of Woodward’s food floor, a defunct department store. Their catchy jingle lives on in our subconscious.

Here is what was on sale today:

Just after 8 am I went into my local Save on Foods and it was busy! English muffins and garlic bread were already sold out.

Here is my haul:

All of this came to a grand total of $12.00

Now what to make out of the pork tenderloin? I have never made one. If you have any recipe suggestions please let me know.

How Do you Slice?

~ Book Dragon ~ 17 Comments

“Blogging is a conversation, not an editorial.” Glenda Funk

This statement gave me pause and had me reflect on how I Slice. In fact, Slicers sharing their experiences and perspectives during our Zoom Slicer meet up gave me food for thought.

A consensus is that SOLSC is about community, learning, reciprocation, and communication.

This is why I am back this year, despite my writing chops being glitchy due to my concussion. (See my previous Slice, Malfunctioning Software)

The topic may be our individual slices, but the issue is much bigger than our individual slices. This gives me comfort.

Glenda gave me the advice of revisiting past words for inspiration. Upon doing so I discovered a draft I started 4 years ago – a collection of mentor texts and ideas collated from SOLSC. I spent the afternoon sifting through them and formatting a new page, Writing Structures & Ideas, on my blog to share with others. Unfortunately, the page isn’t populating on my site, despite showing published in the editor. Any WordPress tech savvy people out there with suggestions? This page is one small way for me to give back to the community.

This brings me back to the title of this post. What is your process? Where do you garner your writing ideas? Where do you get your inspiration? How do you see yourself as part of this community? How do you Slice?

Malfunctioning Software

~ Book Dragon ~ 10 Comments

Do you have a filing cabinet in your home office or work? What would you do if the drawers started jamming, files were misplaced, or God forbid that the lock was rusted shut?

You walk by a filing cabinet and on first glance it looks fine. It is only when you start rattling and rummaging through the drawers that things appear out of sorts.

I have come up with an analogy that my brain is currently like a filing cabinet. The information is there, somewhere in the depths, but sometimes I just can’t find the exact file I need.

Welcome to my brain – a brain that was formerly solid and reliable. A brain that could quickly retrieve facts, information, or that just right word. Now it’s like it is all trapped behind a firewall, which occasionally grants access, fickle in nature. Unnerving, exasperating and irritating.

A physiatrist I recently saw for my concussion explained that a concussion effects the software of your brain. With medical support, I hope that this software updates.

In the interim, don’t mind me standing beside my filing cabinet, rattling the drawers.

Antidote

~ Book Dragon ~ 5 Comments

Masala chai: antidote to dreary day.

Snow capped North Shore mountains

Freezing rain lashing umbrella to and fro.

Gray leaden clouds

Chilled limbs

Damp clothes

Errands to and fro

Time to head home.

Travel mug in trunk

Detour to café with best chai in town.

Masala chai: antidote to dreary day.

What do you do or have when it’s a dreary day?

Six Word Memoir

~ Book Dragon ~ 7 Comments

Hello Weekend. My brain is fried.

Yes, another Six Word Memoir. Prior to signing on and committing to SOLSC, I decided to give myself the grace for breathing space. It’s okay not to have a perfectly crafted slice (even though that is what I desire.) Crumbs are okay, too. They are tasty! The process and participation supersede the product.

Recovering from a concussion, my brain functionality goes in waves and spurts. For the past year and a half, I haven’t been able to write the way I want to. I needed to be gentle and kind to myself to be able to participate and fully commit to SOLSC.

Thanks for reading and being part of this special community.

Six Word Memoir

~ Book Dragon ~ 7 Comments

Breakfast – a hearty start to day

Yukon Gold potatoes with Kerrygold pure Irish butter, two eggs over easy sprinkled with Maldon sea salt and pork breakfast sausages.

What did you eat to start your day?