2021 is a mess, 2022 still a dream. Flower about to bloom, but nothing rhyme with amaryllis, nothing I know. The New Year is looming, but all scattered, not cleaned up, from a week ago. Headache, claiming long friend of mine, refuses to go away. I sigh, "new year, new beginning, and old headache."
Month: December 2021
Happy New Year 2022
Image by Gordon Johnson from Pixabay I don't have a new year resolution since I know that I will never be able to keep it. Weather it's an exercise routine, a diet regime, a time management plan, or an avowed improvement on my imperfect manner, I will abandon it within a week and go back … Continue reading Happy New Year 2022
Poem Of The Day #37
Photo by Juliano Ferreira from Pexels Life--a wayward mystery; human--an inexplicable mess. You think you know him, until one day you realize-- you only see what you want to see, or he only lets you see what you want to see. You think you know her, until one meeting when it suddenly dawns on you-- … Continue reading Poem Of The Day #37
No Exception?
Image by Gerd Altmann from Pixabay I just learned today that a hairdresser--he is really good with Asian hairstyle--in Edison, New Jersey just got notice that one of his clients was diagnosed with Omicron yesterday. So today the whole hair salon is shut down. All the clients in the past week were contacted, all the … Continue reading No Exception?
The King And The Thief (Continued)
Image by Yuri_B from Pixabay This is the second portion of the story. The first portion is here. Jang sees the posts everywhere in the city and wonders if he should take the challenge. There's the risk, but there's also "the #1 thief" reputation he wants to defend. He concocts several plans: He can change … Continue reading The King And The Thief (Continued)
Poem Of The Day #36
Image by Mystic Art Design from Pixabay Talks continue until voices grow hoarse and weary; questions keep coming, people hesitating, zoom call extending. By force or by choice, through practice or theory? Decisions made and unmade. Polite listening and pretending. Temper comes from too much caring-- just let it go. We can't stop the ceaseless … Continue reading Poem Of The Day #36
Unlearned In 2021
Image by Pexels from Pixabay Discount I couldn't resist a discount. It didn't matter what it was, books, clothes, phone, furniture, or even food. Whenever I heard of the word "sale", I just have to buy it. And in 2021, I finally did try very hard to get rid of this habit. So far, it's … Continue reading Unlearned In 2021
Poem Of The Day #35
Image by S. Hermann & F. Richter from Pixabay This happens so often-- an agreement is not really an agreement, a consensus is not really a consensus. It's just a negotiation and a resignation, a yearning for a conclusion, for politeness sake, for expediency, under the circumstance. Growing up watching idealistic parents doing the horrible … Continue reading Poem Of The Day #35
New Word #87: Sweet & Bitter
Image by Pexels from Pixabay Sweet Words chocoholic: (informal) a person who is addicted to or excessively fond of chocolate. saccharophobia: Fear of. sugar, and sugary foods and drinks. sweetie, sweetheart, honey: (informal) used as a term of endearment (especially as a form of address). saccharine: excessively sweet or sentimental. dulce: a sweet food or … Continue reading New Word #87: Sweet & Bitter
Pre-Christmas Adventure
Image by Gerhard G. from Pixabay At The Grocery Store One just knows the economy is no good when one sees a beautiful blondie stepping out of a BMW and entering a grocery store like Aldi, which is a haven of discount food. I've been frequenting this store for years and have never seen anything … Continue reading Pre-Christmas Adventure
The Kidnap And The Witch (Continued)
tree_sunset Image by Tien Vu from Pixabay Continued from the previous post here. Lana doesn't know what to do. And here on the island of Asiana, people pray to the forest god when they can't find a way to save themselves. When they become tired of their praying, they go to see Wich, who lives … Continue reading The Kidnap And The Witch (Continued)
The Kidnap And The Witch (Flash Fiction #92)
tree_sunset Image by Tien Vu from Pixabay The story happens on the fictitious island of Asiana, located between East Malaysia and the Philippine. It's a beautiful island with little economic development, which is largely due to the political situation. During the waning days of the British Empire after WWII, a political manipulation was executed so … Continue reading The Kidnap And The Witch (Flash Fiction #92)
A Poem Video
I came across Terveen's poem video and felt so inspired. The next thing I knew I spent a day trying to make a poem video myself, but only with limited progress. This is her post here. I guess we don't need to click on a reblogging button anymore--just copy and paste the URL and it … Continue reading A Poem Video
New Word #86: Christmas
Image by Uschi Leonhartsberger-Schrott from Pixabay Christmas is a great occasion to learn new words. I know a lady who really wanted her kid to learn better English. She actually decorated her place and put labels on each item with English words on it. What a sweet mother she is. Holiday Decoration poinsettia: a small … Continue reading New Word #86: Christmas
December Reading
Image by FETHI BOUHAOUCHINE from Pixabay I've been reading these books for at least two months, but the progress is rather slow. Life has too many distractions and reading is usually the first thing to be sacrificed. And inevitably the regret will come later, "why didn't I read books instead of watching that silly video … Continue reading December Reading
Insufficient Praise (Flash Fiction #91)
Image by Kevin Phillips from Pixabay "Can you believe that Arju complains about her daughter Niki all the time? What kind of mother does that? Every time when she talks about her daughter, she would complain: Niki didn't come home on time last weekend; Niki spent too much time on her theater activities; Niki wears … Continue reading Insufficient Praise (Flash Fiction #91)
Christmas Story Options
Image by pasja1000 from Pixabay Last year, I wrote two Christmas stories here and here, which were my first two attempts at the topic. Now reading them again, I feel that I tried too hard last year to make it cheerful and fun. I'm thinking that probably I need to find a way to conceal … Continue reading Christmas Story Options
Healthy Food For Christmas
Image by Couleur from Pixabay Christmas is a time to try new food. Stores display new items on their shelves while people don't care much when they go beyond their budget at this time of the year. One of the reasons that I'm always seeking new food is because I want to eat healthily. And … Continue reading Healthy Food For Christmas
A Night To Forget (Continued)
Image by NickyPe from Pixabay This is the second half of the story. The first half is here. "What are you going to do? You don't know anything. Typical women. You know nothing." The waiters taunt her. "Idiots like you never listen to women. Of course you think women know nothing. But I guess the … Continue reading A Night To Forget (Continued)
A Night To Forget (Flash Fiction #90)
Image by NickyPe from Pixabay It takes Nali the whole Saturday to troubleshoot the database, pinpoint the reason why it is slowing down, rewrite queries, and reconfigure essential tables. When it's all over, it's seven o'clock at night. She drove from Edison, New Jersey that morning, up the Garden State Parkway and the I-87 Highway. … Continue reading A Night To Forget (Flash Fiction #90)
The December Festivities
Image by svetlanabar from Pixabay I am going to write about the December festivities in the Asian immigrant community here in the areas surrounding New York City. There's definitely a feeling of cultural fusion here concerning the customs, the food, the activities, and the way people interact with each other. Christmas Gift Exchange It seems … Continue reading The December Festivities
Expectation And Reality
I expected that the boxed Narcissus bulbs would grow and thrive and smile back at me in hundreds of blossoms. The word "hundreds" is obviously an exaggeration, but twenty is a realistic number, which is exactly what the little dainty tag that comes with the box is claiming with its picture. However, after a little … Continue reading Expectation And Reality
New Word #85: Cave
Image by Pete Linforth from Pixabay Cave, Cavern, Caveat cavern: Cavern is said to be a cave or a chamber in a cave. caveat: a warning or proviso of specific stipulations, conditions, or limitations. "there are a number of caveats which concern the validity of the assessment results". I really like this word and has … Continue reading New Word #85: Cave
Pursuit Of Happiness Part 3
Image by inno kurnia from Pixabay This is the last part of the story. The first two parts are here and here. Taimu starts his long soliloquy about this party, this award, the culmination of twenty years of tireless research. Lulan listens to him and wonders why he wants to talk about his work on … Continue reading Pursuit Of Happiness Part 3
Pursuit Of Happiness Part 2
Image by inno kurnia from Pixabay This is the second part of the story. The first part of the story is here. Taimu unexpectedly shows up at the Ivy Training Center. "Why did you come? I told you I would come to pick up the kid. You know you never listen to me. That's your … Continue reading Pursuit Of Happiness Part 2
Pursuit Of Happiness Part 1 (Flash Fiction #89)
Image by inno kurnia from Pixabay "He says I'm not in pursuit of happiness. I'm just a killjoy." Dana says and then she looks around, waiting for the sympathetic outpouring from her friends Lulan, Pammy, and Ivy. She's not disappointed. They instantly lend their support--they agree with Dana while denouncing Dana's husband Taimu in a … Continue reading Pursuit Of Happiness Part 1 (Flash Fiction #89)
Easy Tofu Dishes
Image by hanul choi from Pixabay Since I started a healthy diet regime about ten years ago, I've always been on the look out for new recipes. One of my friends told me that healthy and tasty can not be used to describe the same food. I don't agree with this, but I have to … Continue reading Easy Tofu Dishes
Poem Of The Day #35
Image by Idearriba from Pixabay A five o'clock sunset in a cold day with moonless sky, icy path, and blurred street lights as if to say, "Get used to it--winter is here to stay." The night will be dark and chill, despite your dream of spring and daffodil. No fear, no despair-- just numb yourself … Continue reading Poem Of The Day #35
New Word #84: Sound Of Holiday
Image by Gerhard G. from Pixabay I went to Trader Joe's today and grabbed its "Holiday Guide". The first sentence is like this: "What the heck is Jingle Jangle? It could be a reference to '70's-era Rankin-Bass cartoon characters or lyrics to a cowboy ditty referencing spurs." I have no idea what it is talking … Continue reading New Word #84: Sound Of Holiday
An Audition Goes Awry (Flash Fiction #88)
Image by cocoparisienne from Pixabay Jan Choi did her best. She sings, dances, recites in varying languages, multiple tones, and diverse styles, but to no avail. Even before the audition is over, she can sense the judges' unconvinced facial expressions and unexpressed disapproval. "Jan, you are very talented indeed." The casting director says after he … Continue reading An Audition Goes Awry (Flash Fiction #88)
Haoyan Do 