New series: 56 My Ambiance Life things

Hello, long time, no see, rather no write.  I have been thinking.  They say that if you think too hard, something ugly might come up.  OK, I am the only one who said it, BUUTTT….

I just celebrated my birthday.  Yeah, that one.  July 21 is the date.  I am not one to reveal my age because I do not feel it and I do not think it.  Let’s just say that I am a Gen X, the forgotten generation.  They talk about the Baby Boomers and they talk about the Millennials, and they talk about the older folks (my parent’s age group) but they never talk about mine.  I guess that we are the people that others warn each other about.  So, if you were born between 1964-1979, you know exactly what I am talking about, but this is not that conversation.  Not here, and not on this blog.  I can explain further as I go through “56 My Ambiance Life Things on that blog, or not.  You never know until you read all 4 blogs.  Did I say 4?

So, today and for the next couple of weeks or so, I will have 56 Home Prep things on that blog, 56 My Ambiance Life things on this blog, 56 P. Lynne Designs things on that blog and 56 Miss Froggy Loves Traveling things on that blog.  Each series has no rhyme or reason except that it has to do with what each blog has in store for the reader.  In My Ambiance Life’s case, it is about writing, blogging, and inspiration to name a few. So here’s a start.

 

Today’s topic:  Writing during Covid

Today, I want to talk about being a writer during this time.  You can call your profession anything you want to help you sleep at night.  I call myself a writer.  I am not comfortable at the moment of calling myself a blogger, and the reason is I am not basically at the moment putting down my feelings.  I have 3 other blogs; one that covers home life (Home Prep), one that covers my business and crafting (P. Lynne Designs), and a new one that covers travel (Miss Froggy Loves Traveling).  I have enough content that can cover this blog (My Ambiance Life) and the other two blogs, but, as soon as I announced that I was putting the travel section into another blog, Covid-19 hit with a vengeance.  The only place I have been since that time is to my brother’s house in Dayton, which is an hour and a half from Columbus. 

Currently, if I were to go to Walt Disney World, I would have to self-quarantine for 14 days before going into the parks, since I am from the state of Ohio, which is now one of the high risks states in the country.  Yeah, idiots who refuse to wear a mask around here.  I hope you are happy about your right to not wear a mask.  Thanks to you, I cannot move freely throughout the country with one on.  You have impeded on mine.

Back to the subject….

As you can see, I am kind of sore about that, and thanks okay.  As a writer (blogger or not), you can write about your experiences with Covid.  There is plenty to write about, and you can put as much or as little details as you want.  After all, it is your article/post/novel.  You can have it fictionalized into something like the “Virus that Ate Manhattan”, or something that Robin Cook could only visualize in his mind.  Humm, I wonder if his book, Pandemic (2018) was about Covid in the future.  The virus in the book describes a “flu-like” virus invading parts of the world.  This is hitting to close to home.

How about writing about your personal experience with the virus, being “Stuck in the house and in the house bored” as the famous Tik Tok video suggests? I was thinking about trying some of the cute recipes that are on Tik Tok.  I already failed that breakfast sandwich trick.  I do plan on writing about it in my Home Prep blog and have a video on my YouTube channel.  Let me give you some other examples.

Examples for Motivational and inspirational type blog posts

First off, if you write motivational and/or inspirational type blog posts or want to start one during this pandemic (or any type of blog post for that matter), do not start on the negative side of it.  February and March 2020 was a shocker in the first place.  I cannot remember in my lifetime where I am ordered by the local or federal government to stay inside.  I also cannot remember a time where there is uncertainty throughout the country.  In fact, by the time I was born, the civil rights movement was almost over and by the time I started school, I was able to be in a classroom with children of different races.  I never experienced a time when I was told that I could not do something during my childhood unless my parents did not want me to do it. They tried to give me every opportunity to make a living, and have a better life. So, start with your own life.  Recall life before the pandemic. 

• Who are you and what is your background?   
• Where do you live?  For this, do not give out your exact location.  Notice at the beginning of this blog post, where I mentioned where my brother lives.  I said only the city and state.  Giving out your exact location can be bad for privacy. 
• What have you been doing during this time?  While you are in your home or if you are working during this time, how has it been? Have you been displaced in your job?  An example of this would be “that as a gig worker and entrepreneur, it has not been easy for me, but I have been trying to stay positive by improving on my skills and creating work for myself to do.” This is how I came up with the 56 blog posts idea for all of my blogs.”  You may have something similar or mention that you have been working remotely.  I am only mentioning things that are allowed in the United States, it may be different in your country.

Examples for “Home living” type blog posts

This is easier than the motivational and inspirational blogs.  The reason is it brings together something that most people during this time, working in the home.  I am not talking about your job, but renovating and doing little remodeling jobs around the home. 

• Have you an increase in your shopping habits? Talk about what you have bought during this time.  Haul videos and haul blog posts have become very popular during this time.  I have made a couple myself.
• Have you discovered a new way of cooking?  Food delivery has increased since we are still limited from going into a restaurant and having a sit-down meal. 

In my first “56 Home Prep things” blog post over on my Home Prep blog, I mentioned that Uber Eats has sort of becoming my BFF, and now I need to rediscovery my cookware and other things because it is eating into my budget. Yes, you can get carried away with the idea of someone bringing your food to you, and they can sit it in front of your door with you making contact.  A word of advice, have the grocery store bring you some goodies.  I gained 20 pounds in delivery prepared food and my Ipad has become my new timer, LOL.

• How have you organized and decluttered?  Talk about the space that you are trying to organize and what you want out of the space.  Come up with a plan and make it a journey. 

My craftroom, kitchen, and home office are three spaces that needed attention.  I am almost done with the kitchen and home office.  My main attention is now on the craftroom. For the craftroom, I mapped out my plan, the furniture pieces, which began before the pandemic, and now I need to order, build (most of it is from Ikea), and plop stuff in place.

• For parent eyes ONLY… how have your kids faired during the pandemic?  Does your school system have at least a partial plan for August and September?  What have you done to keep them occupied?  Are you considering permanent homeschooling your kids?  Pet Parents… how has your furbaby felt about you staying at home?  I have a niece furbaby, and I know she is wondering why everywhere she turns, I am right there.  In fact, she has hidden from me on several occasions during this time and tried to escape, LOL.  Most times, she has enjoyed my company, and I have enjoyed hers.

Tips on making writing work for other types of writing besides writing in a blog…

You do not have to write to keep others happy in this form.  If you are a novelist, this is a great time to start that novel.  Of course, if you have already written your first novel, you already know this.  This advice is for those who have always wanted to write one. 

So, what do you write about besides the pandemic around us?  You do not have to write about the pandemic as I previously mentioned.  You can go to another space in your head that speaks to your desires.  For this, there are some wonderful articles on how to start a novel.  I am not a novelist.  Sometimes I wish I were that person, or I can advise you better.

Do you like poetry?  Prose? A good non-fiction how-to book?  All of these would make a good book if you put your mind to it.

Well, it’s the end…

But not for long.  I have lots to say and not enough time to say it.  Some posts will be short and some long-winded, but never boring.  If you like this, stay tuned, there more posts to come.  If you have any comments, questions, and suggestions during this “challenge” (yes, I officially calling it that), please put it in the comments section of this blog or any of my blogs.  You may also address it to my email address, plogan721@att.net.

Until then, see you next time.

 

Keep Good Going: Inspire someone today

You are probably wondering what the title means by keep a good thing going.   Part of it means you have a dream, like the example in the above video tells of a man who always wanted a son to play ball,  He probably saw little league, trophies, and maybe even a scholarship or two being offer from colleges across the country, and this son of his would end in the big leagues.   He got his wish...with his daughter.  He and his wife took her to practices of throwing a ball, not ballet, tap, or piano.   He even explains that he and his wife got her the pitching coaches and she in turn got them the championship.

This story is not about his dream but the daughter's dream.  It probably started out with the man talking to his daughter, explaining to her that she can be whatever she wanted to be, if she put her mind to it, and practice at it.

I felt the same way about my eldest nephew.  I do not have kids of my own, but I have 3 nephews and 1 niece.  I treat each one of them like my own, especially the oldest.    My dream for him was the same as the man in the video, my nephew Mike to do what ever he has the heart and soul to do what makes him happy.  He was an excellent pitcher (dropped out of baseball a couple years ago due to his age), he draws, and he is great at the computer and skateboarding.  I suspect that one day, he may become an engineer or a web designer, because he has helped me out of many a jam with this computer I am typing on.  In turn , I am giving my nephew something to practice on and perfect.   I try to inspire any young person who have dreams and to go after them ,  This is what is means to have a good thing going.

So I am asking all of you out there to do something for someone that helps them get motivated to go after their dream, rather it is to be the best doctor, lawyer, web designer or sports person.  everyone deserves a chance.

Phrase of the day: Defining who you are

This will come up somewhat controversial in a way, but here goes nothing….

Do not let things or people define who you are and what your self-worth is.    I am say this for a few reasons:

In light of the George Zimmerman trial a few days ago, there have been riots, people screaming “boycott Florida,” and a whole host of other things.  Yes, we have the right to be upset, but in the case of riots, do not become an issue on top of a bigger issue.   The issue is that George Zimmerman got off for killing a life that had so much potential, and Trayvon was not on trial, but the defense made him out to be.  Yes, it is time to do something about it.  Boycotting Florida, in my opinion, does not do the trick.  They will not suffer from it.  Florida is a huge tourist town, and people from all over the world come to Florida.  They will not miss your dollars.  Boycotting in this day and age is not like the 1950s and 60s, because it is in this case it is ONE verdict.   This is what I told my friend on Facebook when she disagree with my comment about still going to Disney in December.  Yes folks, I am still going.  I will have another post on why I was going in the first place.

Getting back to Facebook… I follow Steve Harvey, and he had posted applications for the Disney Dreamers group, and that it was time for except applications for kids who want in this program.  I read the comments, and I got upset over them.  Because Mr. Harvey had the program at Disney World, which is in Florida, instead of Disneyland, which is in California, many, many people said that they are not, repeat, NOT, sending their money nor their kids to be “profiled.”  One person even said their family will not be supporting it.  My question is since when do you speak for your family?  Don’t they have a voice? What ever happened with that?  Please support him, if you can.  I wish I had a kid to send, I seen past programs of his on You Tube, and it is a wonderful program from what I seen.  I know, some people will say, “Patricia, you just do not get it.”  I may not get it, and I did not grow up in a neighborhood where people had your back, and neighbors raised you.  This is a neighborhood where everyone is an “aunty_____” , “Uncle_____”, “Brother”, or “Sister”. I started out in base housing, and when I did get that, I was in a church family, and that is where I got my extra “aunties” and “uncles.” 

Getting back to defining who you are: 

Breaking News….I just found out that Jennifer Lopez had be performing for controversial people like Turkmenistan President, Moammar Khadafy, among others, as well as singers like Usher, Beyoncé, and 50 cent sung to people like these as well. I guess they like American music but hate Americans.  I am so confused…. (information from BET News)

This is what I am talking about.  These singers are prime examples of people who are letting money define who they are, and what they hope to be in the future.  I am not saying do not boycott them, because I am not, I am saying do not use them as examples of what to do in life.   Use the examples of what God presents in your life.  Learn about what makes you tick, quirk, and happy. To translate, “Just do you.” Make a way in this world for you to own your truth, your self-worth, and give back to others.

So what are you worth?  A zillion, a billion, a million, a thousand, or 1 little cent?   NO, you should be saying your life is priceless, and you should treat it that way.  After all, you are uniquely you, beautifully made by God, and that is the truth. 

Yes, Trayvon’s life was priceless, and we must move on from there, and show that he life was priceless, but how can you when you are sitting in a jail cell from rioting, and the killer is walking around with a smirk on his face.   That is not giving Trayvon any justice at all, and not owning up to Dr. Martian Luther King’s legacy of non-violence.   Just let God handle it.    

This is late but I have to say it...

Merry Christmas, everyone.   It is 7:39 pm here where I live, I am happy in most places, but sad.  Sunday, we  opened our presents, and seeing nephews Mike and Leon with their faces all lighted up brings joy, especially Leon who is only 2 year old.  My brother and his family was going home that evening, because he had to work yesterday.  He is a cook with the Salvation Army, the head chef if you want to call it that, which means he oversees things that needs to be cooked, the budget, and make things meet over there.  
Yesterday was a sad time for 27 families.   The 26 in Newtown, CT, and one here where I live.  I am talking about the ones who died in that senseless killing two weeks ago, but the one I am talking about is a family who belongs to the church I belong to.
Last week, they had to bury a young lady who was their daughter, granddaughter, great-granddaughter, niece, cousin,and friend, but most of all, mother to a very special little boy.  Today would have been her 23rd birthday.  I know that she is now an angel to many of us, because how she lived down here.  When her great-grandmother first got sick, she took care of her, and even was studying to be a nurse at the local university.  She was a role model for the young mothers at the church she belonged to with her mother.   I could go on about the things this young lady did, things that I wish that most people her age would strive to do.  I am going to stop right there, because I want you to think about it, and ponder it in your heart. I have not mentioned her name, because I am not sure if I can mention it, a couple of her cousins are my facebook friends, and all of my posts goes to my personal page as well as Twitter.  I always go by the privacy act, unless I get permission to do so by the family or anything I post that is not originally part of me, even though I knew the young lady personally.  To that I want to still wish her a happy birthday in heaven.
I also want to say this:  We should all strive to do good in our lives.  Not just for children, but for everyone.   I am also thinking about the mall shooting that happen the week before the one in Newtown.  This has become a hateful time, and a time that not only Christians, but everyone needs to start praying for this nation, this world.  Now is not the time to be all about me, and what I want , and what I need.  if there is a need, do it, and if there is a want, and it is vital to that person's well being, try to do it the very best you can.  God commands it from each one of us, but the key here is not just do it, but to except Jesus as your personal Savior and Lord.  I know I have just turned off some people, but I do not care if you are turned of but that remark.  This message is for everyone and anyone who has excepted Jesus, and who wants to except Jesus. I am not a minister, but I know someone who is, and if my pastor would allow me to give you her phone number over the internet, I would, but again, the privacy act.  If you do want to except, or renew your relationship with Jesus, contact your local church.  You do not have to become United Methodist, which is the denomination I belong to within the Christian faith, but join a church.   Make a new beginning to 2013, and tell Satan where he can stick his hatred in Jesus's Name.
Be Blessed your whole life through.

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