Showing posts with label Kathy Hadley. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Kathy Hadley. Show all posts

Sunday, September 7, 2014

Soulful Sunday: Favourite Weekly Posts

"Inspired Elly" photo taken by Roberto Kaplan

Again, as Kathy Hadley suggested in an email about the Ultra Blog Challenge, I am recapping with my favourite post and the posting that was most commented on this past week.

My post on "Frolicking Fun Friday: Painting with Fire" would have been my favourite if I was able to download (or upload?) the videos. Since that was unsuccessful, I would say my favourite post this past week is a tie:

"Word-less" Wednesday was not only easy to post as it was such a short posting, but it also can require some creative thinking on the part of the reader.

My tied favourite was "Talented Thursday: Blogging AND...?!" as it featured a fun and potential interactive video, and an animated photo that depicts me perfectly: LOL. ;)

However, my blog post that came with the most comments this past week (that was meant for Monday) was not surprising a commentary about mental health, featuring in part Robin Williams who committed suicide about a month ago. A touchy, sensitive yet important topic.

Thank you again to all of you who read my posts and especially those who commented on my posts this past week. :)

Saturday, September 6, 2014

Smorgasbord Saturday: 1st Week of Ultra Blog Challenge


As per Kathy Hadley's email suggestion about Ultra Blog Challenge postings, I have come up with some of my own versions of themes for the day. They may change slightly per week and/or per per month; however, my intent is to post shorter blogs as much as possible:

(1) I understand how much time and effort it can take to read and/or comment on blogs (2) how much time and effort for me to read and/or research, write, download information/images/videos, and post blog postings (3) I prefer to be outside on especially nice days such as the bright sunny one today, and (4) have a life other than blogging, though don't get me wrong, I do enjoy it!

So here is a recap of my weeks posts (if I am interpreting this correctly):

Amusingly, I started the Ultra Blog Challenge on the wrong foot (though apparently not the only one), when I wrote about "Another Ultimate Blog Challenge" only to realize, though similar in name, it is slightly different. ;) I wrote about why I reconsidered another month of daily blogging and why perhaps you may choose to too!: http://www.xpressyouressence.blogspot.ca/2014/09/an-ultra-blog-challenge.html

I met five new people that day - thank you for your comments - two whom I had met prior via the Ultimate Blog Challenge! ;)

And Tuesday, thinking it was Monday after a long weekend, was originally going to be "Mental Health Monday" as a theme in lieu of somewhere where I read 'health' was the theme for this month. I entitled it, "Part 2: Aftermath of a Brilliant Comic’s Death: Funnyman Robin Williams": http://xpressyouressence.blogspot.ca/2014/09/part-2-aftermath-of-brilliant-comics.html. It is a slightly longer post (though not too long) with some facts about mental health and a fun-filled video featuring Bobby McFerrin and Robin Williams, the late beloved actor and comedian.

"Word-less" - a word I created (as I love inventing words) - Wednesday displays a photo I took last year with a very brief post, my shortest in fact: http://xpressyouressence.blogspot.ca/2014/09/word-less-wednesday.htmlNo comments that day, thus far! ;)

On Thursday, the theme was "Talented Thursday" and I changed the title to end with, "Blogging AND...?!" which you will understand when you read it: http://xpressyouressence.blogspot.ca/2014/09/talented-thursday-blogging-and.html. This was from my perspective as a blogger who is a singleton.

Last but not least, for "Frolicking Fun Friday: Painting with Fire," I wrote about something entertaining that I thought you might enjoy, albeit I couldn't seem to download the videos my friend took: http://xpressyouressence.blogspot.ca/2014/09/frolicking-fun-friday-painting-with-fire.html

"Smorgasbord Saturday" is named as I am recapping my posts that span a variety of subjects.

Thank you to my robust readers, faithful followers, and courageous commenters! Love you all! :) <3 (There may be better words to describe my readers and commenters, but that's what came to my mind immediately and I can't seem to think of any others. If you have better descriptors, let me know and I may consider changing it!) ;)

Monday, September 1, 2014

An Ultra Blog Challenge?


At the end of July, the Ultimate Blog Challenge - daily blog posting - I wrote that I would probably not reconsider - why not? - participating in a daily blog post challenge (except that I do love the pretty blue badge my blog got to embellish, don't you? Didn't know about that till just recently!).

Read that post now to find out and some reasons for reconsidering joining a similar venture, the Ultra Blog Challenge (UBC): http://www.xpressyouressence.blogspot.ca/2014/07/last-day-whew-july-31st.html, reasons you may wish to join.

Due to signing up for Kathy Hadley's UBC program and that I enjoy - no, love to write - creative writing that is, and that I was featured as a guest blogger on one of my newfound friend's blog - truly exciting! - were reasons for compelling me to do so.

Take a few moments to read my fictional story at http://vinodinii.blogspot.in/2014/08/my-newfound-friend.html and tell me what you think.

Writing a bio - I had expected a shortened version - for Vinodini Iyer's blog (whose fictional story writing is catchy and compelling) actually motivated me to change my profile, to the right of this posting. ;)

What motivates you to write? I'd love to know!

Thursday, July 31, 2014

Last Day: Whew! (July 31st)


Photo credit: Roberto Kaplan, Roberts Creek (Sunshine Coast), BC

WOWWWWWWWWWWWWW! Finally! It's the last day of the Ultimate Blog/ging Challenge (UBC) and I am home free - thank goodness! - at last, in more ways than one! ;) (Imagine me wiping the sweat from my brow due to not only hot weather, but also finishing the UBC of blogging every day this month, for 31 days: WOW! I can't believe I did it!)

You see, even though I enjoy, actually love creative writing and reading and researching affiliated with it, I think it highly impractical, at least for me, to blog on a daily basis.

For one, it's challenging on my body. My body is meant to move, not sit or stand while typing, reading/researching online for hours on end at times. It's also not a great idea for the eyes: my eyes seem to dry out even though I attempt to blink consciously, never seemingly enough. And my body. I have been avoiding eating decent meals or eating late sometimes due to this...am I crazy or what? Don't answer that: that's a rhetorical question!

And secondly, it's summer! What am I doing spending time indoors (except keeping cool on hot days)?

Am I or was I rather crazy then to participate in this? Yes for the reasons above and no.

No 'cause I challenged my mind, my writing, and in the process, met and gained some wonderful international bloggers and friendships, not to mention read a lot of great blog posts. There are a lot of good bloggers out there! :)

Now, question is: what will I (or you if you are a UBC blogger) do with all that free time? You know, the time you used to spend reading/researching/typing/looking for and downloading pictures? I know what I will be doing based in part on my blogging and that of my fellow UBC bloggers:

*enjoy summer what's left of it(!) including in no particular order:
*attend my favourite Harmony Arts Festival by the ocean
*finish reading a fascinating (spiritually-based) book, Michael Jackson: Man Behind the Mirror by a man I know named Raamayan Ananda
*"catch up" (st least some) on reading blogs including UBC bloggers with honourable mentions to some of my newfound friends in India: Vinodini Iyer who deserves an award for her compelling and brilliant story writing/telling - love it! - and sweet Asma Ferdoes (aka Asiya)with her sensitivity shining through brilliantly in her delicate stories and poems (that I can so relate to it seems)
*listen to free live bands outside in the sun
*dance outdoors including salsa lessons

*go for walks and hug trees in the process
*attend free community events and festivals
*watch beautiful sunsets
*hoola hoop with my sturdy portable (and foldable) hoop
*sing and sun doing a vision therapy exercise
*look at the supermoon (maybe practicing trataka (something I learned while blogging)
*learn Zentangle (thanks to bloggers Minette Riordan and Laura Regan)
*clean my pile of dishes and cooking/preparing meals which I neglected most of this month (oops!)
*tidy/clean what has become my messy home (also neglected after so many days)
*hang out with my friends over iced tea or iced espresso drinks
*visit farmers markets and listen to the free outdoor entertainment
*AND hang out more on my patio whether eating, reading, zero gravity chairing! (now, that's poetic license!) ;)
*read and write my blog posts at my leisure (usually about every two weeks with my busy schedule, thank you very much)

Thank you to the organizers including Michelle Shaeffer and Kathy Hadley as well as all of you UBC members and readers. Know that I appreciate you whether I have (had the time to) read your blog or not. I hope to read more of your posts next month in between everything else! ;)

I look forward to keeping in touch with some of you through your blogs and/or social media. I already have some ideas brewing for future posts such as performance poetry, and a tribute to a woman who healed herself of cancer. ;)

How will you dear reader spend/enjoy your summer or free time (depending when you read this!)>