Tallahassee

Red contrasted against the green and gray

Leaves of trees which endured a long Florida Winter

(With cold fronts even in March)

Broke the monotony of the drive

As it has looked the same since I reached Ft Pierce

Leaving behind the palm lined highways of South Florida.

The stark contrast of trees between the north and south

Always seems to amaze me

More amazing are the treasures revealed 

When Beth gives her tour of Tallahassee 

I'm also amazed that more tourists don't visit Florida's capital

With its free entrance to museums with unique exhibits.

Museums like the Knotts House where Luella personified her Victorian

Furniture with sweet little verses that her guests then and now can read

Tour the mysteries of the House That Rhymes 

as inhabitants lived in a time gone by.

Driving through the two major schools

And listening to Beth narrate the history

Then I visited the next day, the Capitol building and all its historical displays

And the faces of the men and women that made this State great

Staring down from the walls of the old Capitol's halls

There was so much more to see:

Museum of Fine Arts, Natural History and Riley House 

For another visit to Tallahassee.

Homework devoured my schedule

In case you were wondering why I hadn't written in a while. I went back to school in January to learn programming. I had made up a schedule where I would find a monthly theme and write weekly on that theme (Plus go to classes, do homework and work). I kept up with all that in January. Then comes February and introductions are over: the homework got more intense. I do want to do well so I am spending a lot of time at the computer lab (did I mention I was also having signal issues at home?). Well I really want to keep writing so I am modifying my goal and doing away with themes. Just write!

Until next week, here's a poem:

February

February is here. Groundhog Day, Super Bowl, Grammys and the Oscars. What's your superstition for more/less winter, team, performing artists/song and actor/director/film?

I guess the greater question is why are we superstitious? It's not just sport fans who may wear lucky underwear but even job seekers may want to bring the luck before an interview by only taking right turns on route to the interview.

Psychology Today states: "We may not even be fully aware of the many little rules that we follow in order to ensure that life goes the way we want it to." (https://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/fulfillment-any-age/201410/why-were-so-superstitious)

What little things do you do to ensure life goes your way?

In the meantime, here's a poem about being down on luck and hoping for better days:

January: The Month of the Count

The month of the count is coming to a close. What do you mean? I don’t make sense? This is the month that we make resolutions for the rest of the New Year and the month that we look back at the top/worst lists of the previous years so this is the month of the count. Writing about lists (things we count up or down) has not been the easiest tasks although I tend to run lists of things in my head.  One of my favorite is playlists. I like to create playlists on my devices. On YouTube, I have a playlist called “Red”:

Let’s Dance – Davie Bowie

Lady in Red – Chris DeBurgh

Red Red Wine  - UB40

Holding Back The Years – Simply Red

Roxanne – The Police

Red Light Special – TLC

Redneck Woman – Gretchen Wilson

and I wish to add more songs:

Little Red Corvette – Prince (blocked on YouTube)

What songs do you suggest?

In the meantime, here’s a poem about being in the heat (on a cold day in South Florida) and being in the red:

It's Cold Outside..

People winter in Florida because it is real nice compared to the northern snow, sleet, hail and blizzards. On the other hand, Floridians - when the weather dips in Florida, we freak out (to be quite honest, any weather other than sunny freaks us out).

It’s cold outside…

…and I have to go to work:
So let’s crank the heat inside until it feels like Summer! What to do? Wear a polo short-sleeve shirt under a jacket that can be easily removed once inside. What not to do? Wear a long-sleeve, turtleneck sweater as you’ll be sweating through the work day. And if you were smart enough to layer and not care about your hair, then you could remove the outer sweater. But if you were only sweater and maybe underwear, then you’re sweating the day away.

..and I have to run an errand:
Sweats, socks and slippers. Look around you. Yup! That’s the dress code for the customers in the store.

Morning people vs. mid-day people:
What a difference! Casual dress for morning people includes pants as the morning air is nippy. By noon, there is some sun, so shorts. Yup, sweater and shorts with slippers and socks.

And those are the three things that Floridians do when it’s cold. What’s your observation?
In the meantime, here’s a poem:

New Year Blues?

It's the new year and already feeling the blues. Maybe your house sprung a leak and you've started the year with a plumber's bill and there's more... Well, what to do after paying the bill on a credit card (New Year's goal to depend less on credit cards shot down already and New Year resolution of positivity getting a heavy downer)? I look to lists and my favorite lists are playlists because music lights my darkened tunnel. 

At life hack.org's article, "listen to upbeat music" is number two on a list of fifteen but music is my go to for overcoming sadness (http://www.lifehack.org/articles/lifestyle/fifteen-simple-ways-overcome-depression-and-sadness.html). What's yours?

Let's leave this tunnel with:

Resolutions

2016 Resolutions

1. I resolve not to make resolutions especially the ones that only last through January and end some time in February 
2. I will set goals to be done in a specified timeframe. I like the feeling of accomplishment! 
3. I will do my best at whatever I am doing.
4. If I need to vent, I will be careful who I vent to!
5. Better yet, I will remember (and repeat to myself) I can only change my reaction to other people and I cannot change other people.

So what are these goals:

Some are 5 months long because I have enrolled in college for two courses at night so my goal is to attend all my classes and earn As.

Another goal is to continue writing my weekly blog. This year I want to have a monthly theme so for January, I am considering lists as I have started with a list for resolution above. Also, I would like to finish my book to enter RPLA (for the critiques). 

My exercise goal needs to be realistic so I am again considering getting up and working out for 15-30 minutes daily. My goal is 1 month then evaluate after the month.

Gardening, I've been working on my garden bed in the front for the last 3 days and still have some more weeds to pull before putting out my new decorations. This goal is weather dependent: if weather is good tomorrow then I can finish.

Like that goal, sometimes things come up and tasks have to be put aside to fulfill some obligation so I build in some flexibility.

What are your resolutions or goals or plan for 2016?