There are authors I return to with zeal. I read enough I have a variety of favorites. One I discovered in high school is James A. Michener. I read Centennial then and it cemented his finesse in the very highest echelon of my regard.
Recently, I read two of his excellent novels. One, coming in at 1425 pages, is The Source. This is set on that parcel of land sacred to three major religions. It begins in prehistory and tells very engaging stories coming into modernity. I am still thinking of it fondly. I gave it 5 stars, and doubt I find much more engrossing this year.
The second is a bit shorter, at 753 pages. Space is a novel of the American Space Program. It has everything one could want in an epic of an epic era. Mr. Michener is a consummate storyteller weaving yarns that keep one up well past decent bedtimes. This was also a 5 star rendering.
You would do well to read these. If you look for instruction in the craft as you read, these will deal you Aces.
Neil has been in the news recently, some controversy with a podcast celebrity. The details of that mean very little to me. Music, however, is a balm to me.
I do not recall the exact year, sometime between 1979 and 1981; I remember being introduced to Neil Young’s music in a tiny two-room basement apartment where I was continually trying to invite the light in because dusk was its only setting.
A group of us were playing Dungeons & Dragons, and Joe brought some albums to introduce to me because even then, I avoided radio. He had Live Rust, and when he lowered my Capehart Stereo’s needle to the vinyl on the album, I knew I would be listening from then on. When Neil sang, “I Am Child,” I knew he understood. “Sugar Mountain” could have been the anthem of my emancipation; getting married at sixteen took fortitude and a will to escape.
I went to Turtle’s the next day and bought Live Rust and Decade. Every iteration of recordings I purchased, those two above, Harvest, and After The Gold Rush, were members of my collection.
Neil will never keep silent; the music is strong in him.
It is refreshing to see the color begin to return. The weather is still cool, but it is a little brighter.
CC Express replaced Adobe Spark. The backgound above and the font come from there.
Prompt: You might enjoy sampling what is available at CC Express. There are many options. Create something.
The poem above is a string of three haiku.
I hope you will like, follow, and share what you find on Haphazard Creative. May you enjoy the remainder of the weekend. May Jesus Christ bless you richly.
Today, I return to my original format used with my first creativity project online, found on Chronicles. I have included my handwritten journal entry for this date.
Prompt If you have not tried journaling, do that. You may wish to do freeform as above, or you may want to give yourself a topic each day. If you are doing specific creative work, a journal may also be used to work out glitches and problems in what you are doing. Include what you wish; a journal is like a friend whose feedback is in your reading again.
Recommendation I have listened to the Audible version of Sandman and am listening to Sandman 2. I am usually not a fan of audiobooks, but I find these extremely enjoyable. Both employ a cast of voice actors and required sounds, and it may help that I am already a fan of Neil Gaiman.
READING SUGGESTION The first book I have completed in 2022 is Ready Player One by Ernest Cline. I read this book in 2011 when it originally came out, and I am afraid much reading since fogged my memory of some portions. Since my son, Alex, often references it, I reread it. It is a good book about computers, simulations, the 1980s, the present, friendship, romance, lost love, and even has some murder thrown in. It is a book with a broad appeal, as relevant now as at its initial publication, maybe more.
1 Maybe, those dreams past We can make real if we take This time to attend To things we began before Warnings dire started to flash.
2 Who could you become If you trusted yourself more Than you have before?
3 We can never buy What we want most, try we may But days, past decays.
Gratitude List I am thankful: 1. For holidays, and For average days when routine Takes hold, and things are A bit less bold, and one can Be a comfortable self, like: A quiet volume, Not opened to reveal all The story it hides, But sitting dreamy waiting ‘Til some hungry soul arrives. 2. For clever devices Technologies some devise Adding joy to lives. 3. My ability To read and maybe write, With some expertise. 4. These dogs, who call me Theirs, who willingly share space And the air freely. 5. Friends and family I have had, happily known, Those lives still present And those now gone, just away, Or to their heavenly home.
A gratitude list, made poetry? Not entirely sure what happened there, but I also seem to speak in rhyme from time to time, so I guess I will not worry over something so sublime.
I am afraid all this went a little long, but I hope you enjoyed your time here. If you like, use one of the available methods to follow the site, or come again when you will. I would be most pleased to have you like this post and the others you read. If you have friends who might find this worthwhile, your recommendation is always appreciated.
I have used a wireless keyboard and mouse for many years, probably since they first arrived in the technoverse. Last week my son, Alex, got a new keyboard having neon colors, tactile keys, and a cord.
I was suitably impressed with the keyboard, and the price seemed doable. I went to Amazon to find my own magical tech. I found both a keyboard and mouse for less than he had paid.
Today the equipment arrived. There was some concern over USB ports on my computer, but I made it work with minimal rearranging. I had so forgotten the speed of a wired mouse. Speedy, speedy. The keyboard will take some adjustment because I have used an ergonomic one for so long.
I am so glad I did this. The speed of the keyboard is an upgrade, as is the mouse. The fun thing is the sound of the keys. I did not realize how much I had missed it. The neon glow is a plus.
Sometimes we lose when we go with the new technology. Retro can be the way to go.
Haphazard Creative 
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