Daily writing prompt

What is your career plan?

View all responses

Adults are always asking kids what they want to be when they grow up because they are looking for ideas.

Paula Poundstone

My career plans are pretty much set. Work in lower management until I die. Simple. I mean, I could possibly move up to middle management or something like that, but really there aren’t many different options at this point. I’m too old to be making plans to hop around. On July 12th I am going to hit the 20 year mark at my company. Right now, that’s the only career plan I’m thinking about.

I get the feeling that this question of the day was geared toward the younger folks. I’m looking forward to reading through other posts because, as Miss Poundstone* suggested, I’m always looking for new ideas.

*Wasn’t Paula Poundstone black balled or something? Didn’t she do something awful, or was accused or suspected of doing something awful? Oh yes, the google clued me in. Three counts of lewd acts upon a girl younger than 14. I used the quote because there was a point when the Comedy Central network used it in a commercial that ran about 20 times per hour and it seemed to fit my point for today. Apologies for quoting a potential child molester. I suck.

Daily writing prompt

What was the last live performance you saw?

View all responses

In my younger days I went to clubs to hear live music all the time. Almost once or twice a week. It was basically my social life. As I got older the frequency was vastly reduced. After the pandemic hit the frequency dropped to a hair above zero.

I went to the Letters to Cleo annual Thanksgiving homecoming show back in November and it was pretty much perfect. That was the last live performance… until four days ago. Scroll back a little, you’ll see it. My daughter, Bellana, performed with the Vermont Symphony Orchestra four days ago and you bet your sweet music loving ass I was in the crowd having my mind blown by the Mozart and being so overcome with pride for her that I was close to spontaneously combusting. Literally. Boom. It was amazing.

My step daughter… that little kid I first met when she was six years old and in first grade… one of the two people who have allowed me to be a part of their life as they grew from little person to adult… the woman who used to be the girl who I’ve been blessed to be able to hear sing for most of her life… sang in the choir with a freaking symphony orchestra performing a Mozart masterpiece.

That was my most recent live performance, all of four days ago, and damn it if that is going to be tough to top.

Daily writing prompt

What do you do to be involved in the community?

View all responses

I sometimes respond to these questions of the day by saying I am not playing along. Usually the reason is because I have an answer but don’t want to share it with the public universe. Today I am not playing along for a different reason… the reason is because I just don’t have an answer.

I thought about it and I guess I am just not involved with my community. We were to a small extent when the kids were little. We went to school functions, we participated in youth sports, we showed our faces outside of our house. Those sorts of things. Now that the kids are grown ups? I vote. That’s a way to be involved in the community, I guess. When that schmuck set off an M80 in the middle of our street that one night I went outside to investigate and talk to the cops along with the rest of the neighbors. That’s being involved I guess.

Other than little things like those? No, nothing I can think of. I put out the garbage barrels and take them in after the pick up. I pay my taxes. I was available for jury duty yesterday but the state sent me that magical letter saying I didn’t have to show up. That’s about it.

I mean, I am here if anyone needs anything. Like, if anyone wants a bluesy lead guitarist for some local event I am your guy. Beyond that? I’m probably just going to stay at home like a normal middle aged red head. That’s just the way it is, right?