Day 2469: What are they thinking?

When I look at the news these days, I’m often thinking, “What are they thinking?”

I don’t know what they are thinking and I don’t know what the audience was thinking, last night, about my latest performance of my original song, “What Are Other People Thinking About You?”  

What are they thinking?  Can you tell?

One person expressed his thinking to me immediately after my performance, “That was a very precocious song.”

I expressed my thinking with this reply: “How can somebody of my age be precocious?”

He didn’t answer that question, so I have no idea what he was thinking about that. Instead, he asked if I was a teacher and said, “That was very brave.”

As I say in my song, “What are other people thinking about you?  Face it, we can never know for sure. So why not think they’re thinking that you’re gorgeous, talented, smart, and secure?”

What are you thinking about that and about this photo from yesterday?

I’m thinking that my little yellow car is okay, because it started up fine all day. I don’t know what it was thinking when it refused to start up the night before.

I don’t know what my laptop and my iPhone are thinking, as they selectively share the photos I’m taking. I’m thinking it takes more work to get all my photos here these days, but it’s worth it.  Here are more photos from yesterday:

I don’t know what that dog is thinking but I’m thinking that I love that sticker.

What are you thinking about this blog post?

I’m thinking that it’s time to express my gratitude to everybody who helps me create this daily blog, including YOU.

 

Day 2224: Cute

Happy groundhog day!  Isn’t this a cute photo of a groundhog?

That’s my cute Facebook profile photo today, because Groundhog Day is my birthday!

Yesterday, I heard the word “cute” several times — when I listened to this recording of my latest open mic performance …

 

… and when I showed my boyfriend Michael Malone the birthday card with original art created by my newest good friend Alice Malone (no relation between those two cute Malones).

I think Alice Malone’s drawing of a tiger looking at ties is much more than cute.  Don’t you?

I don’t think it’s cute how there’s a delay between my taking photos on my iPhone and my ability to post them in my blog, especially when I deliberately take pictures of things  I think are cute.  However, I will share all my other new photos from yesterday and share those other cute photos when they turn up (probably tomorrow).

 

If you decide you want  a closer look at the cuteness in those photos, give a cute click on the photo of your choice.

While I am creating this blog post, a lot of cute people are distracting me (as I was distracted during my “cute” performance last night by a cute kid dancing in front of the audience)  by wishing me a happy birthday.

I’m going to make another cute try and see if I can access those other cute photos.

Here they are!

 

Here’s a cuter and closer look at Alice Malone’s website:

Don’t let the perfect get in the way of the good!  That’s a cute and helpful saying.

I look forward to many cute comments, below.

Thanks to those who helped me create this cute post and to all who helped me make it to age 66!

 

 

 

Day 2168: What the hell happened?

What the hell!  Did anybody else have a week where you asked yourself,

“What the hell happened?”

When you’re talking to somebody on the phone and they’re suddenly not there, do you ask yourself, “What the hell happened?  Did they hang up on me?  Was it something I said? Are they angry? Did their phone lose power? Is the signal week?  Should I call back? Are they calling me back?”

What the hell happened  in these photos?

What the hell happened in the first photo above and the last one?  First photo: We did a mindfulness exercise in a therapy group last week where we focused on a piece of paper we crumpled  and then unfolded. Last photo: a group calling themselves “Gym Class” performed Lou Reed’s “Take a Walk on the Wild Side” at an open mic last night.

What the hell happened last night when I debuted my latest original song, “I Left the House Before I Felt Ready” at that same open mic?   See for yourself:

What the hell do you think will happen if you leave a comment?

What the hell happens at the end of my blog posts?

 

Day 2133: A loud uprising

Yesterday, in a therapy group, we discussed this quote by Nikita Gill.

To love yourself should be no quiet affair, but a loud uprising. — Nikita Gill

About a month ago, when I watched a loud uprising of men’s and women’s anger about the USA’s latest Supreme Court Justice, I wrote a song — “I’m Mad About You” — which I debuted last night at an Open Mic.

In case those lyrics aren’t loud enough in that video, here they are, uprising:

I’m Mad About You

I’m mad about you.

You make me feel blue.

You make me so angry

And that isn’t new.

The things you do to enrage me,

Cage me and disengage me

Make me scream and dream of murdering you,

And I’m mad about you.

I’m mad about you.

You’re worse than the flu.

I’m pissed that you’re out there

And that’s always true.

You make me want to annoy you,

Toy with you and destroy you,

Yell and tell the horrible things that you do.

And I’m mad about you.

You may be curious

Why I’m so furious.

I’ll try to make things plain,

As I continue to womansplain.

The things you say to inflame me,

Shame me, blame me, and maim me

Should return, concern, and burn you-know who.

Because I’m mad about you.

I’m mad about you.

No, I’m not quite through.

You make me so bullshit,

I spit this at you.

I wish I could disappear you,

Never hear or be near you,

Oy, oh boy, the joy to be rid of you,

Because I’m mad, not sad, not glad, just mad about you.

© Ann Koplow, 2018

Two people yesterday told me they believe that song could go viral, which would be a loud uprising for me. Every loud uprising starts with a small sound (especially if you have only 11 subscribers on YouTube), so I’ve quietly posted that performance here.

Do you notice any loud uprisings in my other photos from yesterday?

 

The gentleman on the right in that last photo is Ben, who creates a loud and supportive uprising at the start of my performance of “I’m Mad About You”.

I’m looking forward to a loud uprising at the USA mid-term elections on Tuesday, November 6. I’m also looking forward to uprisings of any volume in the comments section, below.

Thanks to all who helped me create the loud uprisings in today’s post and — of course! — to YOU.

 

Day 2077: Applause

Several times in therapy groups this week, there was spontaneous applause, as people supported each other’s perspectives and progress.

I remember attending an “Opening the Heart” weekend workshop many years ago, where each one of us received thunderous, sustained applause after introducing ourselves. I still vividly recall how that applause felt, after I had revealed myself and my vulnerabilities to many strangers.

How do you respond to applause?

Last night, I was surprised by the timing of the applause to my latest original song, “Shameless Appeals for Applause.”

 

I now shamelessly appeal for applause for my photos from yesterday:

 

No matter what kind of comment you leave below, you’re sure to get applause from me.

Gratitude is a kind of applause, so I’m now clapping for all those who helped me create today’s post and — of course! — YOU.

Day 2042: Hidden Thoughts

Everybody has hidden thoughts. I hope I make it safe enough for people to express their hidden thoughts, here and in therapy.

I  sometimes express my hidden thoughts  in pictures.

It seems hidden from Harley that I’m not trying to harm him with my iPhone. There he is, trying to hide himself upstairs after I tried to take a photo of him when he was hidden behind the downstairs curtains.

My hidden thoughts about having to return the wrong-sized ukulele case I ordered from Amazon included this: “Why wasn’t I smart enough to measure the friggin’ ukulele before I ordered the friggin’ ukulele case?!?!”

My hidden thoughts when I realized that the Amazon return location was smack in the middle of the Commonwealth Bridge reconstruction that is creating horrible traffic jams all over Boston included this: “!!!&%^$!&%$$!!@#!!!”

It was very hot and humid yesterday, and legal spaces for me to park my car were hidden from me. I expressed my hidden thoughts to a policeman directing traffic as follows: “I need to get to the Amazon return center. I can’t find any legal place to park around here!”  After taking a pause for some hidden thoughts, the policeman said, “I don’t think there will be a problem, but park on a side street and if you get a ticket bring it back to me.” I did find a legal space, a ten-minute walk away. I encountered the policeman on my walk to the Amazon return center and expressed these hidden thoughts, “Are you the best policeman ever?  Could I take your photo for my daily blog?”

Donald didn’t agree that he was the best policeman ever, but he did let me take his picture. I wonder what his hidden thoughts were there.

Can you find any hidden thoughts in my other photos from yesterday?

I wonder what the audience’s hidden thoughts were last night about my third original song, “Hidden Thoughts.”

Please express any hidden thoughts in a comment, below.

As always, there is no hidden gratitude towards all who help me express my hidden thoughts in this blog, including YOU!

Day 2014: How do you stop catastrophizing?

When there are so many catastrophes around, how do you stop catastrophizing?

Do you share what you observe?

When the cupboard is bare, do you stock it?

Do you imagine a world without cancer?

Do you keep calm and carry on?

Do you get in touch with your strengths?

Do you change your life?

Do you try to see your way through all the clutter?

Do you let go of judgment and cognitive distortions, focusing on what helps?

Do you try meditation?

Do you turn to music?

Do you share your catastrophizing with other people?

Do you forgive yourself and others for mistakes? Do you gird yourself for the next catastrophe? Or, do you focus on gratitude?

Day 1678: What makes you anxious?

What makes me anxious?  In the past, I’ve answered that question as follows:

• heights,
• flying,
• the fear of failure,
• mistakes that might have dire consequences,
• stupid people in positions of power,
• heart surgery,
• pain,
• people leaving,
• getting a sore throat, and
• singing in front of people.

Last night, I sang in front of people at an Open Mic in Arlington, Massachusetts, with almost no anxiety.

Will it make you anxious to watch that performance?

Sharing pictures on WordPress sometimes makes me anxious, but not today.

What makes you anxious?

Calm thanks to all who helped me create this non-anxious post and to you — of course! — no matter what makes you anxious.

 

Day 1587: All kinds of time

When I was spending all kinds of time yesterday getting new batteries for all kinds of watches, I saw this:

Because I’m all kinds of polite, I didn’t open a book that didn’t belong to me, so I don’t know what kinds of time Harry Behn had in mind.

In the present time, my mind is having all kinds of thoughts about different kinds of time, including

• teatime
• facetime
• playtime
• noontime
• daytime
• nighttime
• naptime
• springtime
• wintertime
• summertime
• dinnertime
• lunchtime
• flextime
• showtime
• downtime
• sometime
• anytime
• halftime
• wartime
• peacetime
• lifetime.

If I had all kinds of time to write today’s post, I’d probably think of other kinds of time. Can you?

There’s no kind of time like nowtime, so here are all kinds of other photos from yesterday:

That’s Ari, who spent all kinds of time last night singing a great original song  at the Jam’n Java Open Mic in Arlington, Massachusetts. Ari previously appeared in this kind of blog post from all kinds of time ago.

I spent all kinds of time singing last night, too. I considered singing “Summertime,” but I sang this instead, with all kinds of accompaniment:

I’m looking forward to all kinds of comments.

All kinds of gratitude to all those who help me create all kinds of blog posts (including this one) and to you — of course! — for being kind enough to visit this time.

Day 1381: Sweet

Many things are sweet this morning, my sweet readers, including the following:

1. I am recovering  sweetly from my open heart surgery of September 21,
2. I  don’t have to worry about how many sweets I eat right now (although I am watching my salt and my vitamin K intake),
3. sweet people including my friend Jeanette in Philadelphia are sending me chocolates and other sweets,
4. there are still sweet cookies left over from the bunch we bought yesterday at the sweet Lakota Bakery in Arlington,
5. my boyfriend, Michael, talked to my sweet 18-year-old son, Aaron, on the phone yesterday, helping Aaron to cook more sweet food in his dorm kitchen in Edinburgh, Scotland,
6. I am not fasting for Yom Kippur this year but rather eating all the sweet and non-sweet food I want today,
7. I am sweetly unworried about the U.S. presidential election next month,
8. my sweet college roommate Maria and I bought some sweet jewelry and socks at two sweet boutiques in Arlington, Massachusetts yesterday,
9. I also showed Maria some other sweet sites in Arlington, and
10. the first sweet photo I took yesterday — at the Arlington coffee house where I have twice sung sweetly at  Open Mic nights — features many products that are sweet:

Would you like to see all my other sweet photos from yesterday?

Which of those many sweet photos seem particularly sweet to you, my sweet reader?

As I am creating this sweet post,  I am listening to this sweet fairy tale ballet:

 

Finally, here’s a sweet way to thank all those who helped me create this sweet post and those who have been sweet enough to read it here and now: