What I've Learned About Letting Go as a Parent and at Work
My Mind Tools colleague Yolande Conradie and I shared lessons learned about parenting from work and about work from parenting in this blog post. Join us for this Friday's #MTtalk Twitter chat and share your ideas and experiences on this topic.
Your Nightly Moon Report
Mike Barzacchini photos.
Tonight’s moon report: 73.4% waxing gibbous.
Check out my moon songs playlist on Spotify. What moon songs am I missing? What are your favorite moon songs?
Tonight's Moon over East Dundee, Illinois
Mike Barzacchini photo
Tonight’s moon is 55 percent illuminated or a little more than half full. The next full moon, the Hunter’s Moon, will occur on Sunday, October 9.
Double-Dog-Dare
The couch brothers, Dino and Roy (Mike Barzacchini photo).
The latest Vocal challenge I completed involved writing a poem about my place of comfort. Not surprisingly, my entry revolved around dogs, in particular Roy and Dino. There is nothing quite as relaxing as sitting on the couch after a long day of work between each of these snoring boys. Their sleep generates positive, relaxing vibes. You can read the poem and my story behind it on Vocal.
What places or experiences bring you comfort, happiness, and joy?
The Ballad of Chris, the Dog
Chris the dog, aka Romeo (Mike Barzacchini photo)
I wrote about the adventures of Chris, the dog who adopted us, and published the story on Vocal as part its 24/7 Companion contest. You can read the story of his amorous excursions on Vocal.
The Eternal Summer Struggle, Me vs. the Mulch
It’s about this time of the summer when I wonder, “will I will ever tame this pile of mulch?” It seemed like such a good idea when I had it delivered this past spring.
My Mantra On A Sticker: Listen, Learn, Share, Grow, Adapt
Listen, learn, share, grow, adapt — It’s a mantra or slogan that helps guide me when I’m aware enough to keep it in my mind, intentions, and actions. So, I put it on a three-inch weatherproof sticker and am offering it on my Etsy shop. And this little bit of mindful intention comes with free shipping.
Just Another Music Blog
Wait a minute? A music blog? Don’t I already post music content on this blog? Yes, but Mike’s Mixtapes is an attempt to be a little more organized and intentional about my music writing. As the Zen master said, “we’ll see.” In the meantime, what’s in heavy rotation in your ears?
New Video: Unboxing an Old Cigar Box Filled with Vintage Tackle on Father's Day
Recently I picked up an old cigar box at a local flea market. On Father’s Day 2022, I filmed this short video unboxing the vintage fishing tackle inside the box.
(Soft) Launch of Mike's T-Shirt Shop
Today’s the soft launch of my t-shirt store on this site. I’ve made designs for shirts for fun for a few years and now I’d like to see if I can make a little profit. A portion of the proceeds (when there are any) will support animal rescue and other community charities. To start, I’ve posted a half-dozen or so shirts. All designed by me unless noted.
This first batch includes the very cool “Tiny Fish. Big Adventure” shirt with an original design by Wild Viking Studios. This first set of shirts is also mostly fishing and outdoors-related. More designs on different topics to come in the next few weeks. Let me know what you think.
Duke's 2022 Blues n BBQ Fest Preview
A preview of the 2022 Duke’s Blues n BBQ fest.
Duke Seward of Duke’s Blues n BBQ previews the 2022 blues fest, June 10-11, East Dundee, Illinois.
Preserve and Persevere
Photo by Ray Shrewsberry on Unsplash
“With an open heart, we pour love into the world.” ― Donna Maltz, Conscious Cures: Soulutions to 21st Century Pandemics
My goal is to wake each day with an open heart, open arms, an open mind, filled with loving-kindness to share.
But sometimes I forget. I become distracted. I wake up tired. I stub my toe.
On those days, I remember my mom. I think about how she spent summer days peeling peaches and pears, boiling jars, and putting up preserves so that we could taste summer sweetness during cold, dark January mornings.
I’m trying to make it my goal to be aware and mindful of my every day. So, when I’m having one of those good days, those abundant days, when I’m filled with loving-kindness, perhaps I can preserve some of these feelings and intentions. Then, when I stub my toe, when I’m tired, or when I forget, I can reach into that pantry in my heart and open a jar of kindness I’ve preserved for just such a day.
I’ve learned that when I’m able to find those stores of kindness on my most challenging days, it’s delightful and nourishing, just like a jar of Mom’s pear honey opened on a cold, dark winter morning.
A version of this post appeared in the Mind Tools forum as the Thought of the Day.
Generosity
Thinking about the unintended beautiful consequences of entering the day with a generous heart. Like when you wake early to brew tea for your workday and end up giving the spring flowers a much-needed drink.
Hole in my canteen
Watering the flowers
With my morning tea
BASSA: Anglers in Space
BASSA: Fish the final frontier.
Turns out there’s water on planets and moons throughout the universe. Sure, much of it may be in the form of vapor or ice, but if there’s water in space, there just might be bass in space. That’s the fun idea behind BASSA. I designed these shirts for anyone who wants to join the Space Anglers. Watch for stickers, magnets, and other fun stuff this summer, and get ready to fish the final frontier. Your future favorite fishing hole may just be on Ganymede.
BASSA t-shirts now available in limited quantities on eBay.
Also, check out the BASSA shirts on my Microangler page.
Poem-A-Day, April 2022, Day 30
Challenge complete. As I wrote at the beginning of the month, I had no intention of completing or event starting this year’s poem-a-day challenge. But I’m sure glad that I did. I came into April with my poem tank empty. I hadn’t written one in months. I enter may with more than 30 new poems and many more drafts. Sometimes you get the challenge you need when you need it. The important thing is to keep trying, keep striving and keep moving. And that brings me to the last poem of the month: Write a moving poem. Here’s to April. Hello, May. Let’s keep moving.
Don't look back. Something might be gaining on you. —Satchel Paige
MOVE
Yesterday is an anchor
Weighs me down.
Tomorrow’s a wind beneath
My broken wings.
But which way will it blow?
I have today.
I have to get up,
Get off this couch.
I have to get up
And move.
Yesterday is no return
Even if I have the receipt
Tomorrow may be out of stock
There’s no way to know
I have today.
I have to get up.
We have today.
We need to get up
Off this couch
And move.
Poem-A-Day, April 2022, Day 29
Write a poem about “the last (blank).” Anyone have change for a dollar?
DISCONNECTED (THE LAST PAYPHONE)
All alone,
My last quarter,
This last payphone.
Dropped it in.
No dial tone.
All alone.
Poem-A-Day, April 2022, Day 28
Day 28, write a sight poem (and try not to blink).
BLINK
blink
It passed by.
blink
It's gone.
blink
It’s midnight.
blink
It’s dawn.
blink
The movie
blink
I’d like to see
blink
Is what I missed
blink
When my eyes
Failed me.
Poem-A-Day, April 2022, Day 27
Day 27, Write a Remix Poem. This prompt asks us to remix a poem from earlier in the month. I chose to remix my day 20 challenge poem. Remember that one? We were asked to write a poem using at least three of the following six words: 1. Content, 2. Double, 3. Guide, 4. Meet, 5. Pump, 6. Suit. I had so much fun. I couldn’t stop at one.
REMIX #1: ADVICE TO A NERVOUS SPEAKER
Know your *content*.
*Double* down on your talent.
Let your instinct *guide* you.
Wear your best *suit*.
Get *pumped*.
I’ll *meet* you backstage.
REMIX #2: ROADTRIP
*Double* down
Wear your lucky *suit*.
Let your instinct *guide* you.
We’ll *meet* out back
By the old *pump*.
REMIX #3: HOLIDAY DREAM
Our host *doubled* as our *guide*.
We *met* by the abandoned *pumps*.
His shiny*suit* reflected the sun.
When he spoke, his words confused me.
But I understood the *content*.
Poem-A-Day, April 2022, Day 26
Write a love or anti-love poem. May we all be loved the way LuLu, our little Shih Tzu, loves suppertime.
SUPPERTIME
To love life,
Like the little dog
Loves suppertime,
She dances with
Wild abandon.
