More Thoughts from My Journal

Saturday has arrived. It’s Mid-Autumn Festival or “moon-cake” holiday here. I slept through the moon’s rise and fall last night, but I’ve seen some beautiful pictures on my WeChat feed. Tonight I’ll be sure to take a look.

We might be locked down but that hasn’t kept us from having access to the outside world…which means lot’s and lot’s of deliveries of moon cakes from family and friends. Both sweet and savory of all variations. I’m personally a fan of the “meat pie” versions, which are savory pork mix inside a flakey pastry. I limited myself to only one though as I’m trying to look less and less like a full moon myself these days.

I’m sitting in the garden. I’ve shown this view before, but it doesn’t get tiring to me. I’m blessed to have such a beautiful spot to write in. My wife and I just received our Chinese “Green Cards” meaning that we can stay and retire here. It’s a big financial and emotional relief to have that option although still aways on the horizon.

I don’t know why I’m showing my face today. I’ve shared a photo of me and my dog Jack once before, but my face was mostly obscured behind a ball of fur. Maybe I’m coming to terms with myself in some way? Maybe I’m just coming clean with all of you about not being a cartoon pig. Haha.

In response to my less than ideal medical news, I’ve been losing weight. I’ve lost 10 pounds in the past three weeks — about 5% of my starting weight. I’ve still got aways to go, and I’m sure the progress will slow down, but I’m proud of myself for getting this far.

I feel like I’ve lost most of my weight from my neck and face though so I’m turning into a reverse bobble head. Haha. My daughter said I’m looking more and more like our dog Jack since he has a small head compared to his body. Isn’t it common for loved ones to start taking on each other’s looks?

Well, I’m about to join a fellowship session. Part of my recent spiritual exploration. I missed last week due to an overnight hospital stay. I’m not sure what you will make of my random thoughts but thanks for coming along with me.

Be well,

Monty

• It’s Complicated (2025 NaPoWriMo #5)
  I’m celebrating National Poetry Month! It’s complicated – click link and see prompt for April 5th. I followed the prompt loosely. napowrimo.net It’s Complicated BreakingContinue reading “It’s Complicated (2025 NaPoWriMo #5)”
• Drawn (2025 NaPoWriMo #4)
  I’m celebrating National Poetry Month! Write a poem about living with a piece of art. napowrimo.net Drawn He drew me with everlasting lovingkindness,The only loveContinue reading “Drawn (2025 NaPoWriMo #4)”
• Licensed to Poet (2025 NaPoWriMo #3)
  I’m celebrating National Poetry Month! Write a poem that obliquely explains why you are a poet and not some other kind of artist napowrimo.net LicensedContinue reading “Licensed to Poet (2025 NaPoWriMo #3)”
• Dear Me (2025 NaPoWriMo #2)
  I’m celebrating National Poetry Month! Write a poem that directly addresses someone, and that includes a made-up word, an odd/unusual simile, a statement of “fact,”Continue reading “Dear Me (2025 NaPoWriMo #2)”
• Moto (2025 NaPoWriMo #1)
  I’m celebrating National Poetry Month! Today, we challenge you to take inspiration from this glossary of musical terms, or this glossary of art terminology, and write aContinue reading “Moto (2025 NaPoWriMo #1)”
• The Portrait (2025 NaPoWriMo #0)
  I’m a bit late, but that is not going to stop me from celebrating National Poetry Month! Pen a portrait poem of your own. ItContinue reading “The Portrait (2025 NaPoWriMo #0)”
• Adding My Light to the Sum of the Light
  Be well, Monty
• As Time Dances Along
  East bleeds west,As time dances along,Urging the day forward. Be well, Monty
• Sitting in the Dark
  The lights burnt out,Darkness cast across a nation broken,Lit only by fiery wrath and ire,Graffiti hate betraying fear,He watches from his Oval Office,Admiring the powerContinue reading “Sitting in the Dark”
• I’ll Be Ok
  I fell down, hard. First tripped up by my own feet, I’d lost my balance. Then they saw their chance and pushed me. Slammed meContinue reading “I’ll Be Ok”
• Burning Slow
  I’m slow to anger, how biblical of me! But the truth is I burn low and slow and resentfully. You won’t catch me shouting loud.Continue reading “Burning Slow”
• Re-reading Monty
  They claim to be my words, but I’ve no memory;They seem too deep, too wise, beyond me,Yet there they are, on the page,With a typoContinue reading “Re-reading Monty”
• An Act of Love
  She ripped a page out of my book, literally.Tore the page right out of it,Transforming words undercover into an act of love,A passionate invitation toContinue reading “An Act of Love”
• Textures
  Be well, Monty
• Psych 101
  A mystery, a silent roar,Boiled down to an atmospheric essence,Unlimited in a formless dress;The girl from Baylor Hall. Be well, Monty
• Boing!
  Be well, Monty
• Another Absurdity
  Up the bean-stalk he climbed,Exposed arse whistling in the wind(the score to some old sitcom frombefore all the screens turned blue),He was compensating for theContinue reading “Another Absurdity”
• Explicit Absurdity
  Hydrogen uppers gaslight me into obsolescence,Escaping gravity, wound-up, and ready to bounceAn engineer’s failed experiment in abstinence,A human bot,Go ahead and tariff me – what’sContinue reading “Explicit Absurdity”
• Poof!
  Be well, Monty
• The Dancer
  Be well, Monty
• A “Selfie” Portrait
  Be well, Monty
• And There it Was
  A simple request. An ask to take the decision out of my hands. To be open to receive. That’s all it took. It wasn’t longContinue reading “And There it Was”
• A Return to Patterns
  Be well, Monty
• Poetry in Motion
  Be well, Monty
• A Simple Joy
  The citrus spritz bloomed,Awakening my senses,A simple, wondrous joy,The sweet scent from a bitter rind,Perhaps a lesson there. Be well, Monty
• A Life Being Lived
  I’ve been retracing my steps all morning. Not deep into the past, but shallow moves forward followed by equal measures backward. Stuck in a reciprocatingContinue reading “A Life Being Lived”
• The Visitor
  He chatters away downstairs, the sound carrying upward as he tells a story in a rush, interrupted only by the laughter of a captive audienceContinue reading “The Visitor”
• Seasons of the Sun
  Be well, Monty
• A Gray Day
  Finally a gray day,All those expansive bluesWere wearing me down,As if compelling me to good humor,Trying to get me to forget it’s still mid-winter. WellContinue reading “A Gray Day”
• An Evening’s Inventory
  The dog lays flat out as if to emphasize the basis of the saying “dog-tired”. The TV chatters in Chinese in the background, almost quietContinue reading “An Evening’s Inventory”
• Firework Extractions
  Be well, Monty