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Entry tags:

a poem a day

forever building

#whistpr Dec 13 prompt: #green

forever building

there once was a time

I didn't want to be green,

to be seen as unfinished.

that time has now passed,

and I easily discern

the folly of my raw youth.

I shall never be complete.

12-17-2025

Entry tags:

a poem a day

thicket of shades

Haiku Horror Writing Prompt no. 1601: deep

#haikuhorrorprompt

#senryū

thicket of shades

lonely, dark, and deep

the forest shall never weep

for the souls they keep.

12-17-2025

Entry tags:

one day at a time

switch flipping and taking small steps

Good Morning, you Beautiful People!

Some switch has been flipped in my brain, and I'm feeling a lot more like me today. I hope to accomplish most of the things I've forgotten to do over the past few days (pick up my husband's meds, take care of a return, pick up a jacket from the dry cleaner, mop the kitchen floor, and other miscellany). I have a pre-procedure appointment for the vein stent (scheduled for Jan 9) this afternoon at 3:00, so I'm going to declare myself done with whatever I'm doing at 2:30. I think I'll take care of the errands when I'm done checking to get them out of the way. Then I'll clean for 30 minutes...starting with the kitchen floor. I'll probably choose to do more, because I think the floor will take at least half of that time. I just thought of something else I forgot to do, which then promptly fell out of my head as I finished that last sentence. Dang it.

Oh! The Christmas Cards and gift wrapping...I bet that's what it was. I also need to figure out what the heck I've done with all of my mechanical pencils. I've been "walking" them around the house and leaving them in places they do not belong.

On the food front, I think there are two things that I can do now to help curb the amount of dessert foods I have been eating:

Put the cookies that are already in the house in a tin, instead of on display under a glass cover, and
If there is a fruit-based dessert option (and there is...I have loads of frozen fruit that would be a delicious treat with a drizzle of chocolate hard-shell syrup), have that first.

A lot of people who define their food issues as addictions flag sugar as the primary problem. For me, that's not really the case. It's more about that sweet-fat-salt hyper-palatable situation. I think having the cookies out of sight, and making special fruit desserts as my primary will allow for plenty of holiday fun, and still have some boundaries in place that will help prevent any full-on binges.

It's a gray day outside right now, but the sunrise was beautiful -- I wish I had taken a picture! I hope you find something beautiful in your day, and as always, thank you for being here!

Entry tags:

a poem a day

peace within the abyss

#haikuhorrorprompt 1600 #Abysm

#senryū

peace within the abyss

immeasurable

pain of endless certainty

washed away once more.

12-16-2025

Entry tags:

one day at a time

trying to find that place where i can make rational decisions about food

Good Morning, you Beautiful People!

I have nothing official on the calendar, but somehow it seems like there is more laundry to do. I feel like I've been doing laundry every day. I haven't been, it just feels like it. I'm going to try to get back into my regular weekly rhythm -- I've been off pace for a bit, largely because I lost track of my sleep hygiene (which is really important this time of year for me, to avoid dropping into seasonal affective disorder episodes). I fully embrace the idea that people are meant to take a step back in the winter months and that our rhythms naturally change with the seasons, but in terms of sleep patterns, I've been very erratic. I've set my phone with gentle reminders of when I should be getting sunlight and when I should be winding down, so hopefully, I can get back to a more functional state.

Regarding the reckless eating, I've taken loads of notes and have decided that for now, I'm not going to try to define what I need to fully abstain from (except for Crumbl cookies -- we know my history with those things!) until after the holidays. I don't want to fall into the trap of thinking that I'm denying myself the "good stuff" and slip into restrict/binge cycling. I need to be in a place where I know I am making a rational decision about the foods that trigger excessive eating episodes.

A lot of the sources I've been reading use the phrase food addiction, and while I do think there is an addiction element, it's not like I'm addicted to all food. Just like I'm not addicted to all beverages. Rather, I have a history of alcohol use disorder (AUD). Food use disorder? That is *way* too broad. So I'm going to continue to take notes and see if I can define what sort of "use disorder" I've been engaging with.

So that's where my brain has been the past couple of days. I hope that you find something beautiful in your day, and as always, thank you for being here!

Entry tags:

a poem a day

bleak mid-winter

#SŌLSËËD

#winterblues

bleak midwinter

neither dark nor light

we stand at dusk

together alone

so far from home

12-15-2025

#APoemADay

Entry tags:

one day at a time

my lazy brain has been very busy

Hello, my Beautiful Friends!

Sorry for falling off the radar for a couple of days. Life has been lifey -- I got a new phone, which became a brick when it updated the first time (it's all fixed now -- thank you Genius bar!), I went to a Christmas Party (which was the event where I had my last drunk) that had me all jangly, but went well, and I've decided that I need to lean into treating my reckless eating patterns as an addiction. So I've been listening to books and podcasts by specialists in eating disorders, addiction counselors who accept that there are foods that act as addictive substances, and OA Big Book Studies.

My brain has been very busy with my reckless eating habits, because they just keep ramping up as the holidays get closer. I need to define what foods are triggering these behaviors, as well as consider other triggers for the overindulgence (although I haven't fallen into a full-scale binge, it seems like one is right around the corner). On the SMART Recovery side of things, I need to revisit my Cost-Benefit Analysis on reckless eating to see if I missed something. I suppose I need to review all of the exercises I've done in this regard to reckless eating.

On the sobriety front, all is well, AND today is one year sober! While 2025 has been a hot mess of a year in many ways to many people, it's been a wonderful year for me in regard to sober living. I've faced a lot of challenges this past year--my husband's surgery and extended recovery, and losing my sister to cancer top that list. I've also had a lot of good moments (my daughter's wedding was THE best party I've ever been to!) and a lot of growth. I'm looking forward to 2026.

I hope you found something beautiful in your day, and as always, thank you for being here!

Oh, and I'll be posting some poetry tomorrow, but I am not planning on catching up all prompts. I'll just use whatever prompts are singing to me.

Entry tags:

one day at a time

i'm lazy and i'm not afraid to admit it

Good Morning, you Beautiful People!

I've completed my lab work for my upcoming vein stent, so the only other thing that I need to take care of today is an errand run (dog food and some groceries -- I might do it as a pickup from the grocery store). After that? I can be as lazy or as productive as I want! I love a surprise lazy day.

I feel like I've been talking about laziness a lot lately. I am a genuinely lazy person--it kinda annoys me when people tell me that it's not true, that I accomplish a lot. Yeah, I do accomplish a lot...some days. And I even enjoy those days, but I prefer to be lazy, and I'm not afraid to admit it!

I hope you find something beautiful in your day, and as always, thank you for being here!

Entry tags:

one day at a time

My sobriety is doing well, but the reckless eating continues to be the weakest thread

Hello, my Beautiful Friends!

Today I will be reviewing the budget and bills for December, taking care of the laundry I didn't do yesterday, and continuing to putter around the house, adding holiday touches here and there.

I found a TV movie from 1977 that I was obsessed with when I was 12, about a woman who donned a blonde wig and started to become another person. I've been thinking about that movie on and off for about 6 months, but I could not come up with the name of it. I went looking for it a bit this morning, and after giving up on finding it, I decided it was time to watch Trilogy of Horror, starring Karen Black. I had almost convinced myself that I had made up the other movie, and that I was just misremembering the Therese/Millicent installment of Trilogy. Then it hit me -- it was probably Karen Black as the lead, so why not search Karen Black's 70s TV movies? So I did. AND I FOUND IT: The Strange Possession of Mrs. Oliver...available on YouTube. Guess what I'm watching this afternoon when I'm done doing the adult things? ;~)

My sobriety is doing well, but the reckless eating continues to be the weakest thread. No full-on binging, just eating too many sweets, and eating past being full. It's like I'm stuck in a loop. Probably time to read through the Handbook again, and spend some quality time with Chapter 4 (Coping with Urges) and Chapter 5 (Managing Thoughts, Feelings, and Behaviors). For Chapter 5, I'd be focusing mostly on behaviors, I think, but I won't know until I dive back in.

That's what's happening in my neck of the woods. I hope that you find something beautiful in your neck of the woods, and as always, thank you for being here!

Entry tags:

a poem a day

the list we never wrote

#Whistpr Daily Word‬

A daily word prompt meant to inspire any type of creativity.

Word for December 9, 2025: #END

the list we never wrote

these over used words

should be retired

we both know what they are

12-09-2025

Entry tags:

a poem a day

glimmers

#SŌLSËËD prompts courtesy of

@arwashington.bsky.social

#lights #nothaiku

glimmers

when you close your eyes,

do the colors blind you?

will the light still bind you?

12-09-2025

Entry tags:

one day at a time

end every paragraph with an exclamation mark day

Good Morning, you Beautiful People!

I suggested a gradual rollout of the holiday decorations, and my husband was completely on board! AND we skipped our annual silly argument about putting up the tree. Yay! We put up the tree (pre-lit) and topped it with a star. I also brought up the stockings and the tree skirt. I'll put up the stockings later today. I need to make a name tag for Ted. When the kids were little, I made cross-stitch name tags for their stockings. Then I made them for my husband and myself. And I made my one for my son-in-law a couple of years ago, before he was our son-in-law. It was the second time he joined us for Christmas, and he already felt like part of the family, so the personalized stocking was a must! I've never done a stocking for any of our canine family members. Mostly because my husband never bought them "stocking stuffers" for Christmas. He claims that I have spoiled Ted rotten, but seriously, my husband has done his fair share of spoiling!

Okay. Where was I? Got it -- I'll hang the stockings, and check and see if I have what I need for Ted's stocking. If not, I'll drop by the craft store to get what I need. I have my telepsych appointment this morning at 10:30, and I'll work on the holiday cards. After that, I'll probably watch a movie. I haven't decided between spooky or holiday yet -- maybe a combination? Oh! I wonder if I can find Rare Exports streaming somewhere -- if you want to watch a foreign film that isn't exactly a horror or a comedy, and might be both, with a character that is and isn't Santa or Krampus, I strongly recommend. It's a weird little journey, but I love that movie!

A quick scan of this update shows that today is "end your paragraph with an exclamation mark day" -- I feel obligated to complete the trend!

I hope you find something beautiful in your day, and as always, thank you for being here!

Entry tags:

a poem a day

again

Horror Writing Prompt no. 2029: pendulum

#horrorprompt

again

the waves pound the shore

as the skies above fall and

the pendulum swings

2025-12-08

Entry tags:

a poem a day

three wee things

#SŌLSËËD prompts courtesy of

@arwashington.bsky.social

#gift #haiku4u

three wee things

a delicate scent,

a gentle touch, a whisper

a gift most cherished

12-08-2025

Entry tags:

a poem a day

aurora

#Whistpr Daily Word‬

A daily word prompt meant to inspire any type of creativity.

Word for December 8, 2025: #AURORA

aurora

softly, she draws close

gently folding back the night

a new day dawning

12-08-2025

Entry tags:

one day at a time

holiday prep and hungryroot

Good Morning, you Beautiful People!

I really enjoyed my lazy Sunday. I walked with Ted as planned, went to the bank, picked up the groceries, and finished my Christmas Shopping. I also realized that I hadn't started my Holiday Cards. I remember buying a bunch after the holidays last year, so I'll dig them out today.

I've moved the couch to make room for the Christmas Tree, and spread the holiday runner on the kitchen table. I'm going to try to convince my husband that we should only bring one box of holiday decorations up from the garage at a time. I don't know if he'll go for that or not. Once I get dressed, I'm going to bring up the Christmas Tree. I don't really want to set up the creche, as I'm no longer comfortable with the Christian mythos -- the allegory just doesn't fit my experience with how the Universe works. If my husband asks for it, I'll bring it up, but I'd really prefer to let it stay in storage for the season.

I slept through my morning AA meeting again -- I really need to pay more attention to my sleep hygiene. The only other things on my to-do list for today are to curb the garbage (including the HVAC filter) and maybe do some meal planning. It's a Hungryroot week, so that's basically done already.

I forgot who asked for the review, but whoever you are, I quite like the Hungryroot meal service. There is a lot of flexibility in the ordering process, and you can choose how easy you want the meals to be. I don't mind cooking, but I'm lazy and don't like cleaning up, so I stick to meals that use fewer ingredients or that include already-cooked proteins. And I can even afford to do an occasional steak dinner! You can also put your plan on hold (which I've done several times due to the wedding and Thanksgiving). Overall, I give the subscription a solid A. Your mileage, of course, may vary.

I hope you find something beautiful in your day, and as always, thank you for being here!

Entry tags:

a poem a day

truism

A daily word prompt meant to inspire any type of creativity.

Tag your post: #whistpr

Word for December 7, 2025: #CROWD

truism

of all the lonely places

a crowd is much too common.

12-07-2025

I was going to write some more, but I decided that I like the two simple lines, not quite alone.

Entry tags:

one day at a time

lazy = beautiful way to spend a Sunday

Hello, my Beautiful Friends!

My brain is still a little wonky from the sleep disturbances my ADHD brain triggered, but *I* and not *feeling* triggered or twitchy. Just a bit fuzzy around the edges.

I was going to run a few errands today, but I decided to do the shopping online. So my last Christmas present is now purchased and on its way, and my miscellaneous groceries will be ready for pick-up at three.

When I'm done with my check-in, I'll be taking Ted on a walk and then have lunch. And once the pick-up is done, my day will be free! I have an alarm set on my phone for the grocery pickup in case I fall asleep after the walk and lunch, so I'm covered.

My husband and son are in Baltimore for the football game, so Ted and I are left to our devices. It's going to be a pretty lazy day, and that's a beautiful way to spend a Sunday.

How do I feel? Pretty good, just sleepy. I know it's only been a day, but I really thought I'd miss YouTube more than I do...but I don't! I still need to find another source for the Big Book studies that I like, but I'm sure they are out there. I'll find them when I get around to it.

I hope you are having a beautiful Sunday, and as always, thank you for being here!

Entry tags:

a poem a day

season's slumber

#Haiku4U

“Few words. Infinite light.”

#hibernate

season's slumber

we shall hibernate

when the sky is nothing more

than a weighted quilt

12-06-2025

#senryū

#APoemADay

Entry tags:

a poem a day

second-hand blame

A daily word prompt meant to inspire any type of creativity.

Tag your post: #whistpr

Word for December 5, 2025: #RED

second-hand blame

they tore out their carpet,

the color of cheap wine

the muddy red of clay

they tracked inside their home

then cast away with shame.

12-06-2025