Day Four of NaPoWriMo

Today I took the optional suggestion and wrote a "loveless" love poem (doesn't use the word "love"). It's been fun to take the challenge of writing something every day. Plus reading a few of the NaPoWriMo participants each day is very rewarding and interesting!

Loveless

Because I like

his angry face.

Because I regret

not touching him more.

Because we celebrate

each other’s half birthdays.

Because we never try to

repeat a good vacation.

Because he does his own laundry,

but we wash the sheets together.

Because he dances nothing like me

and to a completely different beat.

Third day of NaPoWriMo and still going. I learned today that haiku should not have titles. If they did, the title for this one would be "North of Market".

Man waters a tree
Hose? Bucket? Watering can?
Nope. His private stream














I spent most of yesterday in San Francisco. Finally visited the Asian Art Museum, shopped a little, and had some really good Thai food with Paul. 

NaPoWriMo

Recently, I learned about a form of poetry called Sijo: "A Korean verse form related to haiku and tanka and comprised of three lines of 14-16 syllables each, for a total of 44-46 syllables. Each line contains a pause near the middle, similar to a caesura, though the break need not be metrical..."

This is one of my Sijo poems.

Watching

A bench outside my window
faces west over the water.
At all times of day I look to see
what type of person sits there.
An old woman watching birds today
could be me tomorrow.

NaPoWriMo is NoJo!

Back from Near Obscurity for NaPoWriMo

I could not have predicted it in a thousand years! This is what got me to revive my long-neglected blog? National Poetry Writing Month, which just happens to be April. My wonderful creative writing teacher, Elizabeth Treadwell, mentioned this to us in class. If you're thinking you did not know that I wrote poetry, join the club, because I didn't know either. And no, it's not homework for the class (Elizabeth is awesome that way :). I just decided to take the challenge, because why not?

Disclaimer (because all new, self-conscious writers seem to babble through a standard disclaimer before sharing, present company not excepted): I am poorly read in poetry, never studied it, and prefer to write prose. Furthermore, this first one couldn't be less in a style that I like, but it's done and I'm already thinking about tomorrow's poem.

April 1

Just one a day!
It’s time to play,
but not a vitamin or curse.

Could be a lie,
Told with a sigh,
As long as it’s by you.

It’s not a game
Or stuff for work,
Why, that would be much worse.

If you will try
Then so will I,
And others, they can, too.

So let’s just start,
Take fun and heart,
For poems on April first.

Wow, if you made it this far you must really be tolerant of bad poetry. Just kidding, even I have a limit for self-deprecation. No more disclaimers. Leave a poem you wrote or a link to your own NaPoWriMo site as a comment if you dare!

New Android Galaxy Nexus with Monthly 4G Service

The steps I went through to get a new smart phone and 4G plan were ridiculously easy.

Once I realized the Galaxy Nexus and T-Mobile’s Monthly 4G plan were for me, it was only a matter of ordering (online), inserting (SIM card, battery), then activating and configuring (online, via phone). Never: went to a store, waited on hold, talked to a human, paid a fee.

1. Choose Device Google's Galaxy Nexus HSPA+

• $349 for this Unlocked Phone
• Means my choice of service provider!
• Swap SIM card when traveling abroad
• Newest Android with Latest Hardware
• Updates to Jelly Bean (4.1.1) on 1st run
• Macho enough to play games, etc
• Order phone from Google Play Device Store
• Includes hands-free set, battery, charger

2. Choose Service   T-Mobile Pre-Paid Monthly 4G Plans

• Check coverage in your area on T-Mobile Coverage Map
• I chose: $30/Month Pre-Paid Monthly 4G
• Unlimited Web + Text (1st 5 GB/month at 4G Speed)
• 100 Minutes Talk
• No Contract means free to change plans or provider any time
• Order T-Mobile SIM Card Activation Kit
• SIM Card for New Activation: 99¢ at time of writing

3. Wait for Delivery of Phone and SIM Card (possibly the only downside here?)

4. Insert SIM Card

5. Insert Battery

6. Charge it!

7. Sign Up and Activate T-Mobile Service

• Fill out T-Mobile Activation Form:
• Activation Code provided on form
• SIM Card Serial # provided
• Phone IMEI # and Security PIN
• Activate online: T-Mobile Activation Page

Voilà!

• Activation was easy and instantaneous
• First text within seconds on configuring voicemail, etc.
• Ready to roll..

Glitches in the process were minimal:

• T-Mobile Activation Card Step #3 tells you to pick the plan you want, but doesn't show the awesome plan: $30/Month 4G. Fix: This plan is offered online, so follow the online activation instructions which are more up-to-date
• Serial Number on Google Invoice does not match the IMEI number on the box or on the phone. Fix: Confirm the phone IMEI # matches the number on the box, then use IMEI # for activation

The End..
So far I am waaaaaay happy with my phone and service :)  Welcoming questions and your shared experiences..