First Day of the New Year

It's that time again: time to clean up, set goals, make changes, etc.

I'm letting The Happy Amateur go dormant for a while.

I won't delete it--you should never delete your blogger blog--I won't make it private, either. It will remain online -- feel free to browse through it.

It's not a goodbye, I'll be back.


Live for the Love of it,

Sasha A. Palmer (aka Happy)

Protect your wordpress blog!

Hi,

once again I encourage wordpress users to take steps to protect their blogs from hackers.  You might be unwillingly sending out spam or offensive material without even knowing it.  The person on whose wordpress blog a youtube video was posted did not know anything about the video, did not know the video was there.  Apparently, it was not visible to the owner of the blog, but it was to the blog visitors.  The video, as I only now realize, was not just stupid.  It was an offensive, I believe, anti-American message.  I feel that it celebrated the bombings in Boston.

Change your password.  Make it strong.  Do not use "admin" as your username.

Here's more info:

http://www.freelancewritinggigs.com/2013/04/are-you-aware-of-the-ongoing-wordpress-global-attack/

Live for the Love of it,

The Happy Amateur

Wordpress Global Attack!

Hi!

Apparently wordpress blogs are under a massive attack.  Might be a good idea to change your password and make it as strong as possible. Do not use "admin" as your username!

I was perplexed by a stupid youtube video I bumped into on the highly respected literary blogs, and this morning I read about the attack, and now it all makes sense.  Here's the article:

http://www.freelancewritinggigs.com/2013/04/are-you-aware-of-the-ongoing-wordpress-global-attack/


Stay alert!


Live for the Love of it,
The Happy Amateur

THANK YOU, UK!

 Checked the forecast… Rain’s heading my way…

Checked the stats… Can it be?!  Yes!  Hooray!

What a sunny surprise!

Tears of joy in my eyes…

Thanks, UK, you have brightened my day!

I’ve had 155 pageviews from United Kingdom in a day!  This is a huge deal for me.  Definitely a personal record.

My dear Anon from UK, I thank you!  I hope my humble blogging has been worthy of your time.  Please, stop by again.  And bring your friends.   

P.S.  My daughter (a big Harry Potter fan, as you might guess) thinks it has to be J.K. Rowling reading me.  Hmm…  I wonder…

Live for the Love of it,

The Happy Amateur

Why Tweet?

I’m (very) far from being a Twitter guru, but I’ve started to develop a taste for Twitter.  The connection aspect (which is what Twitter is all about – connection) fascinates me.  At first Twitter may be overwhelming and confusing, but it gets better. You soon begin to figure out how to find people you want to follow.  You learn how you can “tweet your own horn” and get people to know – and, perhaps, follow – you.  You navigate Twitter finding info on virtually anything you’re interested in.

There’s a ton of useful info on Twitter.  I’m mostly interested in writing (although not solely.)  I haven’t been on Twitter that long, but I’ve already been very fortunate to find invaluable advice on writing itself as well as on things that accompany it: blogging, building a platform, getting published, promoting your book, etc.  

One of my favorite blog posts ever (found thanks to Twitter) is Anne R. Allen’s 

The Slow Blog Manifesto...and 8 Reasons Why Slow Blogging Will Help Your Career, Your Love Life, and Protect You From Angry Elephants 

How can you resist a title like that?  The title is great, but the post is even better.  If you haven’t seen it yet, you’re in for a treat.  Go over to Anne’s for a refreshing take on the “how to” of blogging.  Browse her blog – you’ll be amazed at how informative, helpful and fun her posts are.  Enjoy!

http://annerallen.blogspot.com

Follow Anne on Twitter @annerallen

Live for the Love of it,

The Happy Amateur

Word Verification

My dear readers,

I have disabled the extremely frustrating word verification feature.  

Leaving comments on my blog should be a more pleasurable experience from now on.  

I value our communication and appreciate your ideas very much.

Thank you!

Almost Anything: On blogging schedule

~ Bear with Me ~

I’m still figuring out how to organize my blog, so please bear with me as I try something different, or change things.  I thought I had a pretty good idea of having a specific theme to my posts each day of the week, and it was fun for a while, but… I found myself – as much as I love lists, plans, etc. – rebelling against any sort of blogging schedule.  I was obligated to post, when I didn’t feel like it, and I had to wait until a designated day, when I really wanted to post.  It wasn’t fun anymore.  So, I’ll go “kind of random” and see what happens.  I’ll still post at least once a week.  I want, however, to devote more time to my book project – a middle grade novel I promised to my daughter I’d complete by her 12^th birthday (that is January 2013) – I’m really behind on it…  I’m most probably talking to myself here, but if you happen to read this, thank you very much for your interest, I do hope this humble blog eventually evolves into a place worth visiting :-) .  I’m also open to, and grateful for, any suggestions from you.  Thank you!  Have a great weekend, everyone!

Live for the Love of it,

The Happy Amateur    

http://www.russianartgallery.org/famous/shishkin.htm  

Praha

Poetic Perils Monday

Russian Roots Tuesday

Amateur Art Wednesday

Happy Hour Thursday

Almost Anything Friday

                                                            

    ~To Praha~

My blog’s outline

Is a sweet Valentine

To a city
That captured my heart,

True love won’t fade,

Neither borders man-made,

Nor oceans deep 
Will us part!

Live for the Love of it,

The Happy Amateur


Both images came from:  http://www.123rf.com/ 

Almost Anything Friday

Friday

As much as I need and love planning, I also need some ‘free time.’  In fact, I plan for it.  :-)  A special time for indulging in an unplanned activity.  If it’s Friday, it’s time for…

Almost Anything

That means anything I feel like posting.  Almost anything. …  Another thing I would just love is hearing from you.  Maybe, Friday can be the day we talk.  Maybe, you want to ask a question – go ahead, we can turn Friday posts into an Ask Amateur/Amateur Answers sort of thing.  Maybe, we can have a discussion.  Doesn’t have to be about poetry, or writing.  Can be almost anything.  I’m open to suggestions.  Have a great weekend, see you soon!

Live for the Love of it,

The Happy Amateur

Happy Hour Thursday

Thursday

A smile is a good thing.  A chuckle is great.  Laughing out loud is healthy.  Anything that gives me a happy grin is OK in my book.  This could be an image, a comic strip, a limerick…  I celebrate humor every day, but one day a week I’d like to honor it.  So, if it’s Thursday, it’s time for…

Happy Hour

Drop by, maybe you’ll find something that will brighten up your day!

Live for the Love of it,

The Happy Amateur

Amateur Art Wednesday

Wednesday

I love making things.  I do not knit.  I do not sew.  (I took sewing classes, but it was torture, and I was no good at all.)  I don’t quilt.  I don’t make pottery.  The list of crafty things I cannot do goes on and on.  And yet, I make things.  Every now and then it just comes over me: the need to create something with my hands.  I usually don’t know what it’s going to be.  It’s something new every time. 

 I use one of the kitchen cabinets for storing junk.  All sorts of it.  Bits of cloth, pieces of cardboard, wine corks, ribbons cut off Christmas packages, plastic lids of different sizes, paper towel (and toilet paper) rolls, etc.  Every once in a while I repeat the same mistake: I attempt to tidy up the cabinet a bit, and I throw something out.  I think, “OK, this has been sitting here too long really.  I’m never going to use this.”  I get rid of that something, and almost instantaneously it becomes just the thing I need for my new project.  I believe that’s the cabinet’s way of getting back at me.  It happens every single time.  I should make a point of remembering this, for when the creative buzz hits, that kitchen cabinet becomes my treasure trove.  I love to go through it, and watch my vague idea take shape.  I love finding just what I need to make my idea work...  So, if it’s Wednesday, it’s time for

Amateur Art

That means my occasional ‘out of the crazy kitchen cabinet’ creations, but mostly my photographs, and maybe a few drawings (cartoon-like, really amateurish.)

Live for the Love of it,

The Happy Amateur

Russian Roots Tuesday

Tuesday

When I began blogging, I had this idea that I’d become an unsolved mystery.  I imagined people wondering, “Who is The Happy Amateur?  A man?  A woman?  Young?  Old?  What is T.H.A.?  Where does T.H.A. live?”  And so on…  I thought it would be great if my blog had a universal appeal, if I managed to reach out to each and every one on a very personal level, and still remain somewhat impersonal.  I soon realized, though, that it was pretty much an impossible task.  First of all, once you’re out there, no matter how hard you try to disguise yourself, it doesn’t take much to trace you, and find out your real name, your gender, whereabouts…  Secondly, after a while I just felt like using my real name sometimes, and I did.  Finally, having a universal appeal is, I now believe, wishful thinking.  Just like I have my preferences, favorites, as well as things I dislike; so does everybody else.  Cannot make everyone happy, althouth I’ll keep reaching out.  So, a few things about me are no secret anymore.  My nationality is one of them.  If it’s Tuesday, it’s time for

Russian Roots

Yes, I am Russian.  I am from, and of Russia.  Russia is my heart, body, and soul.  I live far – too far – away from Russia, and I deeply miss it.  I love my homeland, and I want to pay tribute to it, and share my love.  Do stop by on Tuesdays.  Maybe you’ll learn something new, maybe you’ll be inspired to explore something.  Maybe you’ll remember, recognize something, or see something differently…  The possibilities are vast, like Russia itself.

Live for the Love of it,

The Happy Amateur

Poetic Perils Monday

Monday

I started blogging, because I wanted to write.  In fact I was writing already, and blogging appeared to be a new - convenient and fun - way of organizing and storing my writing, playing with formatting, and so on.  Of course I wanted to reach out, and find people who’d relate to my words, find my Reader. 

I tend to lean toward prose, poetic prose in particular.  I enjoy writing personal essays and short stories.  I envision a book for children, a middle grade novel (the book is not much more than an idea at this point, however,  I’ve already written a number of chapters, and even made an online ‘pledge’ to finish the first draft by January 2013.)  My current obsession with poetry came as a complete surprise to me.  I was reading an issue of Writer’s Digest once, and saw a reference in small print to a poetic blog called Poetic Asides.  I decided to check it out, and was instantaneously hooked.  The talent I found there was overwhelming.  The people were very welcoming and supportive.  It was a whole poetic world, a Planet of Poetry in the cyberspace.  Then Poetic Asides led me to Poetic Bloomings, and I fell in love.  Then at Poetic Bloomings I ‘met’ Margo Roby, and was so happy to discover her Wordgathering…and the chain reaction goes on and on. 

I’ve been writing like there’s no tomorrow.  And I intend to continue.  I will try to write better, though, edit more.  I won’t rush.  I’ll pause, think, write, leave, wait, come back, edit…and then I’ll post.  Something like that.  So, if it’s Monday, it’s time for 

Poetic Perils

That means both, my poetry, and prose – also a poetic endeavor.  I’ve tasted the sweet perils of writing: my sanity’s endangered, but I love every minute of it.  Beware of the poetic attempts of the Amateur: you never know what might happen…you might even enjoy them!     

Live for the Love of it,

The Happy Amateur

My Room

My Room

I’m one of those people who write to-do lists.  That’s how I function.  I’d put together a list, and as I get things done – not nearly as many as I expect to do, but still – I’d cross them out.  This gives me a tremendous sense of achievement.  I’m guilty of writing plans, too.  A plan for a day, a week…a master plan, a plan ‘A’, and a plan ‘B’ in case ‘A’ falls through, and so on…

When I started my blog, I didn’t have any particular plan in mind.  All I knew was that I had a powerful urge to write.  So, I just began writing in hope that with time I’d figure out what it was that I wanted to pursue.  Two months later I’m still a bit overwhelmed by the blogging world, but it is getting better.  My head is not spinning anymore (not that much anyway.)  I’m not trying to respond to each and every prompt that’s out there.  I’m beginning to discern the outlines of my own little space in the cyber universe.  Not sure if it’s a ‘niche.’  Maybe, a ‘room’ would work better.  I want to fill that room with things that are special to me.  Things that I love.  I’ll invite friends over.  I hope they’ll visit, enjoy themselves, and come back again.  I feel it’s time to plan out this room of mine.

It’s quite possible that I’ll be making changes, redecorating, as I move along, but for now I have a certain concept that I want to stick to.  I will (really try to) post Monday through Friday.  (I’ll reserve Saturdays and Sundays for my family that has been somewhat neglected due to my ‘blogodisease.’)  Each weekday will have a specific theme…  Enjoy your weekend, everyone, and I hope to see you on Monday!

Live for the Love of it,

The Happy Amateur