Author: asmith

Sundays are for book reviews! Monster Hunter Intern : Pages Promotions

☆☆☆☆☆ of ☆☆☆☆☆ 

I have to say it, but I have to give this book 5 stars because I like my stories in it. That being said, there are a number of fantastic stories that tickle the mind, and make people consider their moments one by one.

The book is an anthology of short stories and flash fiction that spans many genres. There are fun stories and scary tomes. Along with that are a series of exciting little thoughts that will bring out the best in near anyone. I am always impressed with the authors but this had many of my favorites spun through the book, and they did not disappoint. I am impressed, as always, with the work that was done to make this happen. It also donates money to the world literacy foundation which is a fine organization.

5 of 5 stars just because the book is enjoyable!

The sun sets on another day…

As I write this it is night, but sunset was hidden, where now the moon shines bright. It is funny how weather changes so often, and in doing so shifts the perspectives of the day.

I like the idea of pondering. To ponder is to “think about (something) carefully, especially before making a decision or reaching a conclusion” or at least that is what the internet says. For me to ponder is to consider all options before deciding on an option, even if you have to act during the pondering.

I became a fan after reading Poe, which I could say “of course” to as he pondered weak and weary and his story, “The Murders in the Rue Morgue” which became a foundation for many detective stories. (If not all).

What do I ponder? Everything. 13 years of clinical research have made me cynical in many ways, but open minded in others. 10 years with an oil company game me insight into the workings of giant business. over 40 years of IT experience from designing small systems to creating massive solutions allows me to consider the world from a smaller perspective. Traveling the world, well, was eye opening.

I find I end up pondering people more than anything. After all, people are at the core of all we are, and I am always amazed by the diversity and thought processes of people, and the pasts that gave them their particular perceptions of the world. I look for diverse ideas and they are easy to find. I look for passion, and that is a little harder to find.

The point is, we should all ponder over long forgotten lore, and new lore, and just lore in general, and along the way, lets see if we can widen our idea of the world. For me, I will continue pondering with you, and lets see what we can think up next.

So as the sun sets on another amazing day, ponder a little. Use that massive mind to change the world a moment at a time. As you do, find a bigger view of the world and use it all you can, no matter what.

Sleep sweet, love life, and nevermore…

The sun sets on another day…

Sunset was again a surprise. The clouds and rain broke at the last minute and again lit the western sky. I smiled as I watched a blue sky shimmer then slowly move to reds and golds until it was night once again. It was an interesting day.

This morning I was meeting with two amazing new people who have been doing very well in their position. We talked about a number of items and about how well they were doing. As we talked one of the two was very positive about how they were being prepared and made note that no one should ever relent. I thought about that for a few minutes, smiled, and of course agreed.

I thought back to a book I had read a long time ago “All I Really Need to Know I Learned from Watching Star Trek” and how the mission statement of the enterprise was a solid mission statement. It included what you were doing, how long, and even how. In the case of the mission statement how did you proceed? Boldly.

We talked for several more minutes and discussed their training, their approach, and the leaders in their teams. Along the way I realized why these two new employees were so successful. They were not more experienced than anyone, in fact they are junior developers. They were not more skilled, but they had something special inside of them. They were relentless. They completed their training, relentlessly. They communicated with their teams relentlessly. They sought our new tasks relentlessly. Their passion is relentless.

It is that attitude that makes the difference. Both of them are positive, and not overbearing or rude, they just keep going, relentlessly.

How do you approach your day? Do you find the time to learn and grow? Do you find the time to power on when others step away? Do you boldly go where no one has gone before? Are you relentless?

I would like to think I am. I am on a quest to learn each day and have been since I was very young. I did not approach life in a passive manner, but instead took every moment and made it something, even if it was just playing a game. Each move was calculated to help me learn, and even losing was a part of winning. I would not give up.

I suppose it is why Andy Williams became a favorite as I listened to “The Impossible Dream“. How did Don Quixote approach the world, relentlessly.

So as the sun sets on another day, it was a nice end to an interesting week. The week was full of people with problems and I created solutions over and over. In the end it was two new talents that reminded me to approach the world not with apathy, but instead relentlessly. Keep pushing, keep learning, and find a way to see more than just your viewpoints every day, be relentless, no matter what.

Sleep sweet, love life, and keep on living…

The sun sets on another day…

Sunset sparkled in the western sky as I enjoyed a meal on the water. The company and the discussions were fun.

It is funny to me how people see and perceive the world sometimes. It is even funnier how I see the world. I have said and noted many times that we are the sum of our experience, and in that our perceptions are born out of the millions of moments in our lives. I often wonder how I do not see the world as the ultimate mess, and myself as a survivor of a nightmare.

That being said, I personally found a way to overcome my past, the pasts I made for myself, and the pasts that were made for me. I do so by looking at the positives in each day. It is easy as they are there if you look, there for each one of us if we are willing to believe in ourselves.

It is a spiral either way. We can focus on the negatives and spiral to despair, or focus on the positives and spiral up to elation. Hovering in the center is not an option, we need to see more, do more, and keep moving forward.

Where are your thoughts taking you? Are you spiraling down? Are you spiraling up? Do you find the positive each day and grab it and wrench every ounce of positivity from it? Do you see the negatives swirling around you and let them take you on a ride to the land of “oh no” and “be afraid”?

There are so many things to be thankful for daily that you have to let it go, and find that positive upswing. There is something, even if it is just hope, to bring you up. Grab it, and then find more. It is worth it.

So as the sun sets on another day, my day was horrible, but somewhere in my day I found the good. I faced numerous setbacks, but somewhere in it all I found the ability to see more. Every moment of every day it is possible to find a way, and every moment of every day I will. Come along with me and find the higher path and lets have some fun, no matter what.

Sleep sweet, love life, and enjoy every piece of time you can…

The sun sets on another day…

Wow. Well, I thought there would be clouds and no sunset, but there it was, hanging out as the clouds cleared, and suddenly there was color everywhere.

I like theories. I like postulates, proofs, and other strange juxtapositions of the mind that allow us to see a bigger world, a wider world. They are all different, but people see them as the same sometimes, and to me that is OK.

There are minds that get stuck in their own little world, but it is ok, because they know everyone there. There are also minds that are stuck in a thousand worlds, and feel just as at home as with one.

This may seem like casual rambling but it does have a point. The point is, the world is big enough for everyone to exercise their mind, and see their perspectives without regard to social negations. Instead, we can all choose to open our minds to enough, and more. We have the choice to be ourselves and be thoughtful of others each day not in spite of our views, but because of them.

I know this won’t make sense to everyone, but if it makes sense to you, open your mind enough to see that we can all see together, or separate, and just enjoy the time we have.

So as the sun sets on another day you will not believe me, but I pulled out my mathematics dictionary and just started reading. What a rush. This is an awesome night and I love every day I have, no matter what.

Sleep sweet, love life, and be square and cubed…

The sun sets on another day…

Sunset was once again lost in the rain but I was sure it shimmered high above, and that made me smile.

Fall brings with it the the change in seasons that can make you smile, cry, or just ride and enjoy the moments. I am always fascinated and amazed by the wonderful season, and the wind and wile of the weather.

Take today: it is windy and rainy and can impact everything with the power of it all, but is also cool and crisp at night and a new silence grabs the forest that surrounds my home. So as the days become more tumultuous, the nights bring a silence that can only be considered all encompassing.

It is a good time.

Do you like the fall? Do you like the silence of the night? Do you enjoy the moments of peace you can find in them?

IT is an amazing time.

So as the sun sets on another day, enjoy the fall and all that it brings, and have some fun each day with the silence. (shhhh)

Sleep sweet, love life, and carry forward…

The sun sets on another day…

Sunset was extremely, wet. Well, it was! I enjoyed it but laughed for a while as the rain just kept falling.

I am pleased to announce the release of “Monster Hunter Intern (and other tales)” that is now available on Amazon for purchase as both an eBook or printed copy. The books is a series of short stories and flash fiction that contains numerous prompts, twists, monsters, villains, and assorted pieces of fun. I suggest you read it for a couple of reasons.

• The book is tons of fun with a variety of authors and perspectives
• The prompts were well devises and included “Write a Story with the Game’s Theme as a Plotline” and “A Poem about the birth of a thing, being, or concept”. These alone are tons of fun.
• It may open your mind. For example, in my short “The Den” the idea of perspective is challenged as a child sees the world and teaches a ancient dragon. It is an idea I would like to expand on someday.
• It may entertain or give you confidence. In my story for “As Night became Day” a different form of revenge takes place. Michael Simpson excelled at this prompt as well.
• All in all there are dozens of stories to tickle your mind in so many ways.

Where can you get this magnificent tome?

Click here to go to Amazon! A portion of the proceeds goes to the world literacy fun, and that in itself is awesome!

So as the sun sets on another day, are you still here? Go get a book! Along the way enjoy your day and all the excitement it can bring you, no matter what.

Sleep sweet, love books, and read all you can…

The sun sets on another day…

Sunset was full of light across the road, and as day passed into night the miles rolled behind me and before me lay possibilities.

It is hard to see that sometimes. So many people ride their dark roads and think only of the tediousness of the moment, but not of the wonder of it all. Yesterday, while passing through 4 states, the moments were filled with laughter, wonder, and a spectacular skies. What more can you ask for?

We all just have to remember that when on dark roads we can either wait for the light or shine it in front of us and build our possibilities. It is there that I think we can make a difference. It is there that I find that maybe the world can be a better place.

You shine a light. You may not see it, but your light can be dim or bright. Let’s find a way to light up the world and set aside the darkness.

So as the sun sets on another day, scratch your head. Words can mean many things, and I know as we move forward we will decide what darkness we need to dispel, and together we will do it, no matter what.

Sleep sweet, love life, and what a light…

The sun sets on another day…

Sunset was amazing, and I enjoyed each second as the sun passed into the western sky. It was spectacular and made me smile.

Smiles.

A smile is a lot of fun. Not because it is a smile but because of what it represents. There are a lot of things that are positive, but the smile seems to be one that is pretty universal. (Except if you are an animal and this human thing is showing you its teeth)

I talk about sunset and enjoying every one but this week a new little guy was thrown in my life and it reminded me of all the smiles I have had: The smile of friends, the smile of family, the first smile from my daughter, my son, my daughter, the smile from me.

Really, for what a smile represents it can be incredibly powerful. As I sit here writing a I am happy to know the smiles I have received, and the ones I have caused, even if my jokes were stupid.

So as the sun sets on another day, we can all count sunsets, but if we have the possibility of 29000 sunsets I hope your get a hundred times that many smiles in your life, and enjoy every one as much as I do. Thank you for being here, thank you for smiling.

Sleep sweet, love life, and enjoy the eve…