Category Archives: Daily Writing

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Daily Writing, Errant Literary

Chit Chat

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Bloganuary writing prompt
In what ways do you communicate online?
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Forums and Email are my preferred means of communication. I’ve done some Zoom calls and I think once I tried Skype.

I think I prefer having the time to think about what I want to convey to the other person and then going through the process of writing out a letter. I can go back and make changes to the tone or place extra emphasis on certain points.

On a video call all of this happens on the fly and any mistakes cannot be undone.

I also get quite uncomfortable with long pauses on a video call. Someone asks me a question that I need to think about.

I pause.

I can hear the Jeopardy theme playing in my brain.

Oh, it’s so awkward.

I end up just saying anything to cut short the pause. I get misunderstood by others and sometimes my self as well.

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One avenue of communication I no longer use is Discord. Many years ago I became the target of racism and harassment by other users on the platform.

They (Discord) offered little to no accountability or remedy at the time and I didn’t feel safe being there anymore. I haven’t returned to the platform since.

I often get asked for my Discord ID or to hop on chat with others and I have to be honest with people and let them know that I don’t use it.

I also take the time to inform them of my experience so they will be aware. The worst thing you can do when you face injustice is to remain silent.

Daily Writing, Errant Literary

a moment to be real

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Daily writing prompt
What is your mission?
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I get a large amount of traffic to my other blogs, but they are so niche that I can’t really post anything real or personal on them.

I spent so long building up my audience on the other blogs that it would be very odd to say something off topic. The same goes for my YouTube channel. In the past I have tried to debut content from other niches and it has driven people away.

I made this blog to be a place for me to be myself and talk about real life, both my past and the future I want to have.

I do find myself getting distracted frequently, but that is just a part of living with autism. I have many projects that are halfway complete and others that I have simply given up on. I keep these unfinished works around just in case I get reinspired. I would hate to start all over again.

My newest project has been developing mobile apps. I don’t know how long I might be on this track, so I am just trying to enjoy each step of the journey.

Daily Writing

Coast to Coast

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Daily writing prompt
What colleges have you attended?
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Clatsop Community College (OR) and Vance-Granville Community College (NC).

After completing two vocational certificates in Landscaping and Facility Maintenance at the Tongue Point Job Corps Center, I applied to the local Clatsop community college.

I took general courses for a year and a half. My electives included a Local Government course that had me attend some local legislative meetings for the county and write a report on each.

I also took 3 semesters of World Religions. The first semester centered on early cultures and the relevance of spiritual belief and tribal/shamanistic practices.

The second semester covered the Eastern religious systems including Hinduism, Buddhism, Shintoism, Daoism, and several minority systems for smaller cultural groups.

The third semester focused on Christianity, Islam, and Judaism. Our professor suffered a medical condition and was unable to teach during the third semester and another teacher took over. The book curriculum stayed the same, however, the new instructor suggested a field trip to Portland to visit some temples and so I and a few classmates went on a trip.

We visited a Mosque where the men and women went into separate sections of the building and received differing instruction on the principles of faith and the teachings of Muhammed. I received a copy of the Koran which I still keep.

Afterwards we visited a synagogue attended by Reform Jews and got to speak with some members of the community. Reform Judaism differs from the Orthodox faith you find in Israel.

Reform Judaism is the largest Jewish denomination in America. It emphasizes adapting Jewish tradition to contemporary needs, with a focus on social justice, gender equality, and making Judaism accessible to a wider audience. They are cool with interfaith couples, ordaining women and openly gay people as rabbis. They view the Torah as a living document that evolves with time.

More recently, I am attending Vance-Granville community college through an online degree program for Business Administration. I enjoy the classwork and the modules in the learning platform they use.

I hope to graduate sometime in 2024 and get a job in banking or finances.

Daily Writing, Errant Literary

My billboard

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Daily writing prompt
If you had a freeway billboard, what would it say?
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There is this quote from Dr Martin Luther King Jr that I recently read. I hadn’t seen it before but it really struck a cord with me. I think my billboard would have this plastered on it.

“Intelligence plus character – that is the goal of true education.”

I am starting my Spring semester of college now and this will likely be my last year of study before graduating. At times it feels like just yesterday that I first enrolled in college. Other times I have this surreal sense that school is an experience without end.

I am still as uncertain as when I started this degree program as to where it will take me. Now I ask myself, what further challenges await?

Daily Writing, Errant Literary

My first day at work

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Daily writing prompt
Tell us about your first day at something — school, work, as a parent, etc.
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After graduating from the Job Corps center in 2007, I moved to North Carolina. After a long job hunt, I got a position at a local pharmacy chain.

I recall being told by the store manager not to discuss my wages with the other staff. I knew from my training at Job Corps that this rule wasn’t valid; it violated the National Labor Relations Act.

Discussing wages and hours is are protected activity.

That first day, I was indeed asked about my wages by the woman training. I gave an honest answer without much thought. She ended up getting angry at the manager, and I was taken aside and reprimanded later that day.

The drug store chain is no longer in business. I can remember many things that were not right about the way they were operating, the treatment of staff, differences in pay for men and women, and a lack of diversity overall.

After about 6 months in that job, I left to do work more in line with my training in building maintenance and landscaping. Although I eventually ended up going back to pharmacy work later on.

I spent 13 years of my life working in retail pharmacies. I am ready to move into a different industry. Hopefully, once I finish my business degree, I will be able to secure some appropriate employment.

Daily Writing, Errant Literary

What’s your favorite cartoon?

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Daily writing prompt
What’s your favorite cartoon?
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I don’t think that I can pick just one show that is my favorite. I have liked so many shows since childhood. What I can do, though, is create a Top 10 list.

The Simpsons

#10

Johnny Bravo

#9

The Boondocks

#8

Afro Samurai

#7

Dragon Ball Z

#6

Dragon Ball

#5

Fruits Basket

#4

Samurai Champloo

#3

Gundam Wing Zero

#2

The Vision of Escaflowne

#1

Daily Writing, Errant Literary

Just a Shy Guy

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Daily writing prompt
What is something others do that sparks your admiration?
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I’m always impressed by public speakers and streamers. I get quite camera shy and forget what I wanted to say.

Even when I use the phone, I tend to write out what I want to say and any talking points to cover. I much prefer communicating through email where I have the time to “get it right.”

Of course once I run out of things to say then there are long awkward silences. Those make me want to hit the pause button and go write out a new script.

If only life had a pause button like my old Sega Genesis.

Daily Writing, Errant Literary

Year in retrospect

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Daily writing prompt
What positive events have taken place in your life over the past year?
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There is no such thing as an uneventful year. However, some events are simply unremarkable when viewed with the passage of time.

This year I,

  • Got my drivers permit (test in 2024)
  • dropped some college classes while acing others
  • planted out some fruit trees
  • our house was repainted
  • replaced old boards in the back deck and stairs
  • put up 10′ fencing around the garden
  • turned 38 this year.

Nothing really feels super impactful. Maybe next year will be a stunner, who knows.

Daily Writing, Errant Literary

om nom nom!

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Daily writing prompt
What are your feelings about eating meat?
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I love to watch mukbang videos on YouTube. In particular, I enjoy watching tzuyang devour samgyupsal (pork belly).

I don’t really give much deep thought to eating meat now that I am older. If I find I am hungry, well then, whatever happens to be in front of me may well become a meal.

Mediterranean Foods

I can recall a phase in my youth when I took exception to meat and limited my diet to fruits, grains, and vegetables. I don’t recall when that ended, but think I was like that for a couple of years.

Another time for about 4 months I stuck to a Rajasic Yoga diet, eating only foods that are given, such as milk, nuts, and fruit. That didn’t turn out well. I gained a lot of weight and my blood sugar was really high.

My doctor told me to stop it. I can’t even recall how I got into it in the first place.

Images: Hot Dogs, Ground-Beef Nachos, Pork-Fried Rice, Japchae, Korean-Style Deep Fried Corn Dogs.

With the passage of time I have become something of a simple creature.

If I see food, I will generally eat it.

When I get hungry I will wander into my mothers kitchen in search of grub. If I can’t find anything left out, then I will usually have a bowl of cereal or a pot noodle.

Daily Writing, Errant Literary

What are your fondest memories of the library?

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I can recall near the back of the kids room there was a section for graphic novels. They were somewhere between comics and books. I think they were the perfect bridge between children’s books and adult literature.

I enjoyed reading Tin Tin and Elf Quest.

As I grew older, I began reading the fiction books on the spinning book rack on the second floor. These books were later relocated to the kids section after remodeling.

We would often borrow VHS tapes from the library. I remember the library had full sets of Red Dwarf and Black Adder. I watched these often. I think this is where I got my peculiar sense of humor.

I actually got to attend a Red Dwarf convention in Seattle. I remember meeting Craig Charles and the cast, getting autographs, and showing off my own dread locks to Craig. It is a cherished memory from my childhood.