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Day 7 [Writing 101]

 

”Stop wiggling, would you?”

”Only if you get OFF MY BACK!’

”We have been over this zillion times already my dear. I am the head therefore I am on the top.”

”Just because you are the head it doesn’t mean you get to choose!”

”Sure it does sweet cheeks. Of course butt like you could never understand this. Well it is not entirely surprising as you do not have a brain and therefore lack in th—”

”I’M NOT A BUTT – I AM A TAIL!’

”Tail, butt, ass – same difference”

”Did you just…you…how dare you…you, you…”

”Trouble expressing yourself?”

”Aaaargh. You are soooo….”

”Please honey,  calm down and go to sleep. Shall I sing something to you? And PLEASE stop the wiggling already.”

”That wasn’t me.”

”You’re the tail. You wiggle.”

”It wasn’t ME. It was him.”

”Oh.”

”I think we are going out.”

”You can’t think, you don’t hav—”

”Whatever. I’m right. We are going to fly. And maybe this time I will land on the top.”

”In your dreams.”

”He’s gonna flip it.”

”No he’s not and anyway brainless ass in charge? Not on my wa—”

”Here we goooo!”

‘—–aaaaaaatch!”

 

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Writing 101 – Day 7

_______

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Day 5 [Writing 101]

 

She smoothed the red envelope and

could just make out the cut out uneven squares

provided by the morning paper

I KILL YOU

She placed the unopened letter to the in-tray

and walked back to her desk.

She smiled.

She could still smell the glue on her fingers.

 

Writing 101 – Day 5

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Day 4 [Writing 101]

I have lost many things, some of them of monetary value but I can’t think of one that would mean anything significant to me now. I had my heart broken and felt abandoned but I don’t wish to have any of those people back in my life. Sometimes I get lost on my way from point A to point B but for me it is an opportunity to unexpectedly discover new corners of the world.  Often I get lost in my head, losing track of time and touch with reality. Don’t even get me started on how many times I have lost the plot. I am losing memories, the good and the bad, but that is normal brain behaviour and I need to accommodate the new ones somewhere. I lost a competition and I lost a race but this only made me more determined and made me work harder.

Somehow I have never lost my keys or my ID. But I am losing my patience quite often. Usually followed by loss of temper. I would rather lose the keys but keep the cool head.

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Day 3 [Writing 101]

If we could touch music, it would feel like water. Music is fluid. Circumstances. Influences. Emotions. Everything is flowing and changing. I can pick three songs that means something to me today. I can’t tell whether or not they will be figuring in the Top 3 of Eva’s music chart tomorrow.

 

Kosheen – Hungry

This is blast from the past. I had my music player on random and this song started playing. I immediately cancelled the shuffle and switched exclusively to the ‘Resist’ album. I haven’t listened to this for almost ten years. It feels good.

~

Passenger – Let her go

I love this song. It’s subtle and powerful at the same time. The whole album ‘All the Little Lights’ is a revelation. Second favourite from the album is ‘I Hate’.

~

Pearl Jam – Sirens

‘Lighting Bolt’ is not exactly ‘Ten’ or ‘Vs.” but Eddie Vedder and co are coming to the UK and I can’t wait!

…

The above list was composed while I was still at work, straight after I read today’s assignment. By the time I finished at the office, sweated in the gym, spent 30 minutes on the train, had dinner and started editing this post, the list looks like this:

 

Nickelback – Animals

This is one of my favourite running songs. I can have it on repeat for an hour and run and run and run. Another one is ‘Next Go Round’…I admit lyrically I have made some very interesting choices when it comes to running but they have a killer beat!

~

OneRepublic – All We Are

I’m revisiting OneRepublic after hearing their new-ish song ‘Counting Stars’. I usually have this band in the background with several likeminded artists on shuffle play. It played when I was on the train reading and got stuck in my head.

~

Kacey Musgraves – Follow Your Arrow

I don’t usually do country but this lady is spot on: ‘Say what you think, love who you love ’cause you just get so many trips ’round the sun.’

 

Writing 101 – Day 3

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Zero Tolerance to Fake Smiles

Thanks to our business partner, I found myself at a very posh London cosmetics store couple of months ago. I only went because I was riddled with curiosity  but wouldn’t visit the shop otherwise. I will probably visit it again because they have the most amazing scented candles on the planet. Green tomato vine. Trust me. It is unbelievable. It comes with a hefty price tag but lasts forever and makes for a very beautiful gift.

Anyway, the point of this post is to bitch about stuff. The ladies working there were immaculate to the point I was wondering if they’re humanoids. They looked alike, they have been born from the same corporate womb after all. They were pleasant, helpful, attentive and smiled ALL THE TIME! Their smiles were imprinted on their faces. I was observing them when they were not dealing with customers and their facial muscles stayed stiff in the same smiley grimace.  I have found it  rather disturbing. How much training does it require to wipe out the ability to show emotions? Can they cry? Frown? Be angry? Upset? Indifferent? Thoughtful? Do they remember how to be real?

 ~

What however should be wiped out completely is FGM. This procedure is barbaric beyond imagination, and thousands of women are suffering because of it for the rest of their lives. What I find deeply disturbing is that the mutilation is not only performed by women but also approved them in certain communities.

http://www.global-alliance-fgm.org/

 

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Day 2 [Writing 101]

My room is, for now, empty like a blank page. Just dark grey carpet and double door leading to the balcony. 9th floor guaranteers to partially reveal the Houses of Parliament and the London Eye. It is a perfect place to drink my morning coffee and spy on the St. Thomas hospital. Also to watch the New Year’s Eve fireworks if that’s your thing.

There is a built-in wardrobe (yay!). I can picture where my brand new IKEA bed with extra storage will go and the matching IKEA chest of drawers. All in white. That way the room will still remain a blank page, the furniture will simply form the lines. Only then I can start to write and edit, embellish, enhance.

Huge pink cushion? Check.

Fairy lights? Check.

Table lamp with buttons? Check.

Multicoloured & multi-paterned bed linen? Check.

Lime green wicker basket? Check.

Straightjacket? Probably needed.

Criminal investigation on a basis of violation of good taste? Pending.

 

Writing 101 – Day 2

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Day 1 [Writing 101]

Prompt: Free-write for 20 minutes

I have realised I haven’t done this exercise in a while. Then I was reminded again when my fingers started cramping up after barely two pages. I filled five pages with immediate thoughts and random stuff. It was liberating but there isn’t much of a substance in it. That doesn’t mean it was pointless. The freedom that comes with ignoring the nudging self-contiousness, dismissing the urge to edit every single syllable and leaving the misspelled words at peace is what is unlocking the treasures inside us. No boundaries, no obstacles, just us.

Twist: Publish the result

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Writing 101 – Day 1

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Zero Tolerance to Ear Barotrauma

I am one day behind. I have been busy. I visited Edinburgh during the last bank holiday weekend and ran a half-marathon there. It was my wettest and windiest race so far. Somehow I have still managed a PB. I shaved off one whole minute and a little bit from my previous time. So I am very pleased indeed. Not that I am a record breaker but for someone who has started running mere five years ago, 2h 12m 43s for a half-marathon is a very satisfying result. I am also in a process of flat hunting, real estate agent handling, documents sorting, furniture buying and all the other -ings that comes with moving. But lets get to the point.

E in my personal grudges goes to ear barotrauma. It is a new expression that I have learned today. It is a fancy name for airplane ear – which I suffer from and when flying, I am subjecting myself to forced yawning, constant chewing and empty swallowing and a regular ear-popping exercise. In case you are not sure how to ear-pop exercise, place your thumb and index finger over your nostrils and press down. Once your nasal corridors are sealed, attempt to exhale (your mouth will stay closed). Voila – your ears pop and the pressure is released. At least for a while.

This is the medical explanation of the problem:

Airplane ear is the stress exerted on your eardrum and other middle ear tissues when the air pressure in your middle ear and the air pressure in the environment are out of balance. You may experience airplane ear at the beginning of a flight when the airplane is climbing or at the end of a flight when the airplane is descending. These fast changes in altitude cause air pressure changes and can trigger airplane ear.

Airplane ear is also called ear barotrauma, barotitis media or aerotitis media.

Usually self-care steps — such as yawning, swallowing or chewing gum — can prevent or correct the differences in air pressure and improve airplane ear symptoms. However, a severe case of airplane ear may need to be treated by a doctor.

Source

 Thankfully I have so far never had to seek medical attention but there were few cases of severe ear pain and headaches after spending time up in the air.

~

E for a serious issue goes to Education barriers and Think Global is doing something about it by promoting education for a just and sustainable world.