But they totes do.

My short prose response to a hotel/casino customer satisfaction survey...

There was a funky fragrance that loomed in the air throughout nearly every area in the hotel and casino. It was particularly pungent on the floor of the casino, as well as in the hotel elevators and hallways. The only place I didn't smell the scent was in my hotel room. I found it interesting that there were open non-smoking areas alongside smoking areas on the floor of the casino. I certainly don't mind the smell of tobacco product smoke, as that's to be expected at nearly every casino in the universe. The odor didn't smell like it came from anything natural or organic. It smelled sort of like gas-station, bargain-rack stick incense mixed with a dollop of Love's Baby Soft perfume. My guess was that the smell was caused by an air freshener meant to combat the smell of tobacco smoke (and if that was it, perhaps the casino's air quality could be made better with an investment in a more efficient air filtration system? Neutralizing a smell works better, usually, than attempting to mask one). My other guess was that the smell came from a cleaning substance used throughout the casino and hotel. The more I think about it now, the smell may have possibly been from electronic cigarettes, too. People say e-cigarette "vapes" don't possess an odor, but they totes do. 

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One word, writing spring from oneword.com

One word + 60 seconds

Today's prompt from oneword.com and oneminutewriter.blogspot.com. As for the one word prompt, it wasn't exactly my first choice subject, because I spend so much time writing about my family life, already. 

There is no set, standard philosophy or answer, or meaning to life. Life is what you make of it, it's all perception. Some days are great, some days are awful, some days are boring, some days you might find yourself wishing you had nothing to do except stare at a wall for four hours straight. My personal favorite part of life is finding the beauty in the mundane. If I had to say life should reach a particular goal, I imagine being content in all of the above is a good start to that path. 

One minute sprint

Working on my manuscript this evening, so today's exercise is a short, one minute sprint from oneword.com.

"The distance between two points increases over time." (20 min writing prompt)

Write for 20 minutes using the following prompt: "The distance between two points increases over time."

What does that mean, anyway? That, “The distance between two points increases over time." To comprehend this notion, I have to visualize two points in space and visualize the two points moving away from each other. Of course, for me, it’s difficult to assume that the two points would be bound to moving apart, in different directions, as to create more distance between them. Because - What if they moved closer toward one another? Then the distance between those two points would DEcrease. I guess that, to believe in this theory, you have to also subscribe to the belief that points are fixed in their position which, albeit, sounds concrete, at least scientifically, but it seems to me that every idea deemed absolute, has a substantial amount of room for variables and errors, thus making it an unfounded theory.

But for fuck’s sake, let’s just say that the notion that, “The distance between two points increases over time,” is a solid, universal truth. Then why is it, that two points must always move further away from one another? Is it gravity that holds the points to never move? But wait – I get it now! It’s the perception of time that makes the two points seem further and further away, over time. I suppose there’s some validity to the statement, now. Then again, I can see how people would agree with and accept the claim in its entirety. 

Even then, I'm still not fully convinced that the distance between two points increases over time. Because in my experience, I’ve traveled at light speed between two different points, sometimes departing the present and arriving at past or future destinations faster than the perceived real time distance between the two. It’s not a superpower, to be capable of time travel. Everyone does it, it’s just, not everyone realizes it or utilizes the power of their own vision and memories, of which, are capable of bending and shattering the laws of space/time. 

10 min sprint

No official prompt. Just felt like writing.

In front of the bathroom mirror, I stood there brushing my hair when suddenly it happened. It hasn't happened in at least a year and it surprised me so that I dropped the brush into the sink. Tears pushed themselves out of my eyes and the saline streams rushed fast down my cheeks. For a few moments I had to catch my breath though I wasn't moving physically, I was only moving through time. 

That is what happens when visions come to me. They arrive like electric jolts to my psyche.

The vision I saw of him, putting his jacket around my shoulders, at night, ocean waves crashing behind us - It was something I missed out on because of the choices I'd made in the past, and now, it was something I couldn't allow myself to be part of, because of my new life. I let myself cry because despite the vision being a sad reminder of my loss, the vision was special to me. I haven't felt wide open to emotional intimacy with anyone in a VERY long time, so long in fact, that I questioned myself as to whether or not I might ever feel like being close to anyone, ever again. Though it was a vision, I felt wide open in his arms, like I didn't have to hide, because he was capable of seeing all the parts of me, the real me. It felt healthy to let myself be emotional, to let myself feel .And despite the melancholy mood of the movie trailer that played in mind- I was happy that I was still capable of seeing it and I hadn't all together lost my foresight or vision.

The Extraordinary Ordinary - (10 minute writing prompt)

This prompt came from: "501 Writing Prompts"
https://education.depaul.edu/student-resources/academic-success-center/Documents/501writingprompts.pdf

305. Sometimes the extraordinary can happen during the most ordinary of tasks. Describe your experience. 

At this very moment, I am sitting outside in my backyard and the sun is shining down on me. I looked up to the sky and saw a tiny bird in the distance. As the little bird flew over my head I noticed it was flapping it's little wings frantic and fast. I smiled as I watched it fly further away from me. 

Shortly afterward, I saw two more birds flying in the sky. I watched them and smiled, because I enjoy watching birds and I am thankful for more than my own existence on this earth. I am thankful for the birds. I am grateful for the rays of sunlight. I am happy just sitting in my backyard, alone, bird watching. 

I never dreamed I would come to this point in my life where I could find grace in life outside of my own.

I will never forget this moment. 

One word exercise, one minute

Repeated yesterday's exercise. The website is: www.oneword.com.

One minute writing sprints

Stumbled upon a website for one word, one minute writing sprints. The website gives you a random word to write about. The site provides a timer as well, so all you have to do is write.

Pretty easy and convenient.

30 second sprints, round 2

Decided to repeat these 30 second writing sprints tonight, because the biggest thing I am struggling with right now in terms of writing are overwritten-overwrites.

1. One Sense
Hearing – I can hear the music from my laptop flooding out, a short interlude to remind me that I don’t have much time to finish this exercise. The sound of the music is like a spacey, movie soundtrack. That’s the basic gist of M83.

2. Song
“Alright” by Kendrick Lamar is pretty catchy. The hook gets stuck in my head a lot. It’s sort of an inspirational anthem. It makes me feel fluttery and stirred up inside. The mixed up emotions are less revolutionary than they used to be.

3. One word (open a dictionary, pick a random word, and write about it)
“Sumptuous”
Sumptuous is an adjective which means that it describes a noun. When I think of something sumptuous I think of a round, large butt.

4. Special memory (Pick a favorite memory, a day that was special to you.)
Today was pretty wonderful, despite the weird vibes that crept up later in the night. I am getting better at being thankful for the present.

5. Sum it up (Think about the previous day of your life and sum it up in one phrase. Then do the same for the day before yesterday, and the day before that, and the day before that… )
Graciousness came upon me that day.
And that was how I came to inherit the Holy Grail of Native Literature
I don’t need a phone

6. Alteration (Write a sentence of five words. Now quickly change the sentence one word at a time.)
I like 80s rock music
I like 80s hair music
I like 90s hair music

7. A conversation (Pick up two nearby objects, put them side by side, and write a short conversation between the two of them. )
EYE GLASS CASE: This is boring
BLANKET: I know, right?
EYE GLASS CASE: Do you have the time?
BLANKET: What do I look like, a watch or something?


8. Forward in time (What do you plan to do as soon as you’re done writing? Then what after that? And after that…)
Shower, go to bed, wake up, go running, head to Barbara’s, record podcast with Nick G, RTG meeting, eat chips, drink beer, work on flyers, smoke cigarettes, sleep

9. One letter (Pick the letter of the alphabet that your name begins with then write down ten different words that begin with that letter. )
“J” because I used ‘E’ yesterday
Jealousy
Jam
Jelly
Jokes
Jade
Jester
Jive
Jar
Jet
Jell-o

10. Three Facts (Write three facts about yourself. Then change ONE word in each fact. Once you’ve got your new facts, write down a name you like that’s not yours. This is the name of a character you’ve just created.)
I deal with impostor syndrome even though I know it’s not real.
I would like to adopt a foster child in the next 3 years.
I LOVE Morrissey.

I deal with hypochondriac syndrome even though I know it’s not real.
I would like to adopt an exotic animal in the next three years.
I loathe Morrissey.

“Bryan”

30 second sprints

Pick an exercise, set the timer, and let’s get started!

1. One Sense

Sit down and pick ONE of your senses–sight, smell, hearing, taste, or touch. Then describe everything you feel with that sense, right now. Do you see the sky out of the window and your dogs on the sofa? Do you hear the clock ticking and traffic outside? Whichever sense you choose, write down as much detail as possible in thirty seconds. Go!

TOUCH – my feet feel cold because I left the fan on, also because I don’t’ have socks on

2. Song

Put on a song you love and write as the first thirty seconds play. How does it make you feel? Happy, sad, moved, inspired, impassioned? Why do you like it? Do you have strong memories linked with that song? Jot it down.

if only I knew i'd tell you by neon indian – this song is nostalgic to the summer of 2011, just before my life’s great emancipation act went into effect idk I feel like I lost my freedom with emancipation and that was actually the last summer of true freedom I had.  

3. One word

Open a dictionary, close your eyes, pick a random word, and write about it. Go on, see how much you can write about one word in thirty seconds. It doesn’t matter if you think it’s great or silly or you think it’s a beautiful word that everyone should use in every conversation. Write it!

shadow is a dark side of something that takes up space, matter, a shadow is a mirror image of something on earth a shadow is made up of stars and other stuff in the universe

4. Special memory

Pick a favorite memory, a day that was special to you. Why was it special? What did you do? Who was there with you? What was the best moment? List those out.

today was a special day to me because I feel like I got quite a bit done without my phone and I spent time with Adam and he actually smiled at me before he went to bed.

5. Sum it up

Think about the previous day of your life and sum it up in one phrase. Something like “Best day ever,” “A total drag,” or “Dull but productive.” Then do the same for the day before yesterday, and the day before that, and the day before that, until you run out of time.

“And that was how I came to inherit the Holy Grail of Native Literature.”

“That was the last day I believed I knew much of anything.”

6. Alteration

Write a sentence of five words. Now quickly change the sentence one word at a time. For example:

"I love my fluffy cat.”

“I love my fluffy slippers.”

“I lost my fluffy slippers.”

“I miss my fluffy slippers.”

There will be time to write.
There will be time to sing.
There will be space for trees.
There will be moments in mud.

See where it takes you in half a minute!

7. A conversation

Pick up two nearby objects, put them side by side, and write a short conversation between the two of them. What would your pencil case say to your hairbrush if they were in love? What would an argument between your pen and your eraser be like?

TAROT CARDS: Come here often?
BIBLE: (rolls eyes)
TAROT CARDS: I feel like I’ve seen you before.
BIBLE: Um….Don’t think so. (Sips vodka and cran and looks away)
TAROT CARDS: You know, you have a really beautiful cover, I must say. All black with gold lettering. Classy.
BIBLE: (Looks disgusted) As if. (rolls eyes)

8. Forward in time

What do you plan to do as soon as you’re done writing? Then what after that? And after that? Keep going till the timer stops.

I plan to go to bed. Then I plan to wake up, have coffee and spend some time with Adam. Then I plan to take my phone to the repair shop. Then I plan to call Nick G using my mom’s phone. Then I plan to go running. Then come home. then work on flyers…

9. One letter

Pick the letter of the alphabet that your name begins with then write down ten different words that begin with that letter. Give your vocabulary a 30-second workout!

"EJ"

Ecstatic

Escape

Enormous

Enigmatic

Elusive

Elegiac

Elf

Elderly

Eden

Excited

Exit

10. Three facts

Write three facts about yourself–the more interesting, the better. Then change ONE word in each fact. For example, “I love wearing hats” could become “I hate wearing hats,” or “I love wearing dangling earrings.” Once you’ve got your new facts, write down a name you like that’s not yours. This is the name of a character you’ve just created.

I love writing.
I like fashion.
For me, running is fun.

I love sleeping.
I like math.
For me, reading is fun.

“Dwayne”.