Month: November 2024

Posted in Writing

What Technology Would You Be Better Off Without, Why?

Posted on by jennrae

Smart appliances and smart devices. I feel like the more app focused things in a house or a car, or anything really, the more dependent we are on technology doing things and thinking for us. A good example would be something like Google Maps.

I have noticed a decline in navigation skills in a lot of younger people, and even myself. I have gotten used to the app, and no longer pay as much attention to the actual roads or try to investigate alternate routes. And then the app gets confused in an alley and I can’t figure out my own way out of it.

I guess I feel any technology that can cause dependence or less cognitive function can be bad in the long run. We need to foster critical thinking and problem solving and increasingly this app based tech encourages less thinking and less problem solving which if it were to continue to get integrated into our lives may eventually make us unable or unwilling to figure out solutions.

Eventually all technology and civilizations stumble and fall. If it has a beginning, it inevitably has an end. If it were to end with us unable to problem solve, we would be unable to rebuild and it would be an ugly end. Or perhaps the people who could rediscover these skills would be the only people that could survive.

Daily writing prompt
What technology would you be better off without, why?
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Posted in Fiction

The Crash

Posted on by jennrae

She listened to the waves crash along the beach, powerful water grabbing and releasing material into and out of the ocean in equal measure. The skies were dark, cloudy and the wind was brutal. She got up slowly, turning around to see the cliffs begin to crumble, boulders bounding down onto the beach from the imposing cliffside. The uneven rocks kept her feet on edge while the ground shook and broke apart underneath her. She hunkered down by a picnic table, looking for protection from the angry nature goddess throwing all the elements at her.

Her car had broken down on arrival, and she wasn’t mechanically inclined, and had no idea what was wrong with it. Her phone was nearly dead, and she had no bars in this remote place.

She knew she should have taken the car in; she should have brought a friend or maybe her brother, just anyone, so she wouldn’t have to be here all alone, which was the most frightening thing about all this. Being alone and unable to reach anyone or anything, trapped in loneliness, trapped in helplessness.

 Trapped by her own pride in not being able to ask for help. Why couldn’t she just reach out, once, at least. Look up the weather, look up how a car or even how a phone works. The rain started to come down freezing cold at an angle, chilling her to the bone. She could see a house on top of the cliff. A remote mansion, in that new modern style, suggesting solar panels, and smart features, the kind of house you might see in a movie.

Anything would be better than staying out here in this mess, she thought, trying to find how to get up there. Is there a pathway, or a road? She saw a path, a foot path, that may lead in that direction.

She walked steadily embracing her coat fiercely to keep warm toward the path.

Posted in Life

What’s the Hardest Decision You’ve Ever Had to Make? Why?

Posted on by jennrae

The hardest for me was to admit I needed help and to move back to my hometown when I was pregnant. I have always been very stubborn, and very independent. So, admitting I was out of my depth and needed help was very hard. And, dealing with it all by myself was too much. I needed to be closer to my family and I needed the support. I had left a very ugly domestic violence situation and so was very isolated.

So, I was very alone, and the stakes were very real. It was the best decision I made because sometimes you have to admit you need other people and I really don’t know what would have happened to me had I stayed over there. I’ve made a lot of dumb decisions or at least questionable ones in the past. I kind of learn by stumbling around figuring things out as I go. Someone was looking out for me to give me the wisdom I needed in that moment. I believe that.

Daily writing prompt
What’s the hardest decision you’ve ever had to make? Why?
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Posted in Uncategorized

Do You or Your Family Make Any Special Dishes for the Holidays?

Posted on by jennrae

My mom loves to cook and makes enough food to feed an army. I used to bring a salad on occasion, but there is always too much food. We have all the usual fixings for an American Thanksgiving. Turkey, ham, stuffing and cranberry sauce. We usually also have candied yams, and some kind of fruit salad and a pea salad.

Usually we also have deviled eggs and celery sticks with cheese filling. Olives, and biscuits. Of course a thick gravy with mashed potatoes. Sometimes roasted asparagus or brussels sprouts. Sparkling cider to drink as well and an apple pie, possibly a pumpkin pie.

Basically a pretty normal fare, nothing too different or unusual. But what I like most about Thanksgiving is spending the quality time with my family and joining together around the table. It is like Christmas without all the stuff and expectations. In a lot of ways, I prefer it. I hope everyone has a good day tomorrow, whether you celebrate or not, just good vibes all around.

Jenny Rae

Daily writing prompt
Do you or your family make any special dishes for the holidays?
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Posted in Fiction, Life

Time To Write — Where Is Here?

Posted on by jennrae

What is love? What is a feeling? Does it matter? Do we matter?

I wanted to say resoundingly, “Yes! Of course.” But then tomorrow there would be bills to pay, work to do, and the minutiae of everyday life. The things that can get in the way of the more exciting and wild life that I crave. It is like a slow death walking through the grocery store picking up this and that, deciding yes, I want to try that cocoa cereal, or I need the circular ice cube tray because it is there, and why not?

And then I am home with my circular ice cubes thinking, why did I buy this? Who cares about the shape of ice cubes? Then my mind wanders thinking about people who may not have easy access to water. They would probably love to have ice cubes, no matter the shape. Everything is just so commercial here. Commoditized for consumption. You don’t like that sweater, throw it away and get another. Don’t feel like cooking tonight? Order in.

I feel chained to a job I do not love to pay bills for things I may not need so I can live a life I find dull. I want adventure. To be swept off my feet and taken to an exotic location. Someone that holds me and listens to me complain about nothing. I feel like a train passenger in my own life, only the conductor never stops and I can’t get off.

Please let me off here, I want to enjoy this moment a little longer please. No response. He keeps going and ten years pass, and then another five, and I am wondering, what happened? Where did the time go? Why am I here? Where is here? And, then when I figure it out, it will be too late.

Posted in Life

If You Didn’t Need Sleep, What would you do with all the Extra Time?

Posted on by jennrae

I actually haven’t been sleeping much. Just too excited with all these plans for all these things, and with the way twitter and my website are doing. I’m just really pleased so far how things are going.

That being said, I would probably write and post round the clock. Everyone might get sick of it, I don’t know. I would probably be ready to publish something. Maybe more than one something.

My house would probably be spotless too. I had a brief stint when I was unemployed, and that seems to have gotten a lot of the extra time when I wasn’t looking for work, I was cleaning. Maybe reorganize things. I all ready went through my movie collection recently. I have a lot of movies. Most are good, some are random ones people gave me. Most are good though. Maybe I’d reorganize my CD changer it is a mess. I bought it in 1997 I think. Still works. I also still have my PlayStation 2, also still works. Maybe fix some computers. Got an old laptop that I was hoping had some story files on it, but it only had one. I have a walk in closet that has hard copies of everything I’ve ever written, but damn if I can find anything in there. Maybe go through that. That would take a lot of time. Maybe do more drawing or take up painting. That would be fun. So little time, so much to do!

Daily writing prompt
If you didn’t need sleep, what would you do with all the extra time?
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Posted in Uncategorized

Top 3 Pet Peeves

Posted on by jennrae

I don’t like it when someone makes me repeat myself. It shows they aren’t really listening and it is very annoying. I also don’t like it when people don’t say thank you, or appear grateful. I guess I find it rude, and rudeness is annoying.

I also don’t like when someone says they will be there at a certain time, and they show up really late. It has to be more than ten minutes though. I personally hate being late, but I am realistic as far as traffic and unaccounted for things.

These pet peeves aren’t like serious deal breakers. I will still stay friends or continue talking to someone.

I’m the type who seethes on the inside and I may grumble about it a bit, but I don’t hold grudges and I don’t have ill will or anger toward anyone. If I do get upset, it doesn’t last. I am usually over it within hours. Life is too short to waste it on negative energy.

Daily writing prompt
Name your top three pet peeves.
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Posted in Fiction, Life

Some of My Favorite Books

Posted on by jennrae

What books and or authors influenced you?

Posted in Uncategorized

Who are your current most favorite people?

Posted on by jennrae

Most favorite. In my life currently it would be my son. Aspiring rock star, mathematically inclined with a heart of gold. I’m really lucky to have a teenager who is so sweet. And, I am super proud of the person he is becoming.

Further from my actual life, I have been influenced by a lot of people, supportive teachers, my parents, my brothers, and even ex romantic partners. Old friends most of which I have lost touch with unfortunately. There is just so many people who shaped who I am today, and who knows who may shape what I become tomorrow. The only constant in life is change afterall.

Writer-wise my influences are many from Ursula K LeGuin to George RR Martin, and lots in between. I like some classic sci fi Ray Bradbury, Robert A Heinlein, and some classics like Les Miserables by Victor Hugo. Albert Camus and existentialism has been an influence since The Plague. Twice Told Tales by Nathaniel Hawthorne. I like gothic creepy. Classic fantasy like Lord of the Rings and Gormenghast and Chronicles of Narnia. I used to read everything by Anne McCaffery too. Dragonriders of Pern. I can’t wait to see what other gems I find in the future.

Culturally, I am influenced by interesting people, artists, writers, songwriters, poets. Creativity fuels creativity.

Daily writing prompt
Who are your current most favorite people?
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Posted in Uncategorized

What are Your Favorite Animals?

Posted on by jennrae

It would be easier to say which animals I don’t like if I am being honest. I love animals in general. I have always had an affinity for birds, I even had a childhood nickname based around it, and used to love raising pheasants, quail, bantam chickens and the like. I also like chickens even if they are dirty dinosaurs.

I had a pet chicken named Spot once, she was mostly white, very petite with one black spot on her back. She used to fly up onto my shoulder. I had to stop her eventually because she was getting my shoulder muddy from chicken poop.

I also had a pet butterfly for a weekend. I found a hurt western yellow swallowtail. I took it with me everywhere and fed it hummingbird nectar from an eye dropper. It had a hurt wing, but it could fly short distances. I would set it down to go in the house because my mom didn’t want me to bring it inside, and go back outside and get it. It was cool because I could lift my finger and it would fly to me. But, Monday I had to go back to school, so I left it on a bush by the backdoor. When I came back it was gone.

I also had a pet rabbit, a goose, several cats, and different dogs growing up. We even had some horses at one time. But they didn’t like me much, or the one didn’t. He would scare me on purpose, like run at me toward the fence. He also would buck me off any chance he got. So, yeah, I didn’t ride him much. The other one was a traumatized racehorse. She spooked easily and she was a thoroughbred so her back was kind of boney and uncomfortable.

I love the idea of horses, but I never had great experiences with them. But I was always reading horse books, and drawing horses and deer. I also drew unicorns and dragons though. I can honestly say I have never successfully ridden on those either. So, there is that.

I love cats as well, but each one is different, so they are almost like little demanding people. One of mine kept me up last night because my son stayed at a friend’s house. It is like she didn’t understand why I wasn’t worried.

I like dogs too, but they require more maintenance. Although I love their loyalty. Unlike most people, you know where you stand with them. They are honest. I like their goofiness as well. They can be downright silly.

Daily writing prompt
What are your favorite animals?
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