The Extraordinary in the Everyday

We all make mistakes, and in the end, if you pay attention, you can even enjoy the process of learning what NOT to do. 

To wit: I was rushing.  I sent the Black Friday email out with typos. 
  
I knew I wanted to send something to my Sunday Haiku Milievians, but I didn’t know what.  And like so many things these days, I had no idea what to do.  I knew the ideas would come if I got started. But wanting to get started?  Not so much. 
  
So first I had coffee with my family.  My daughter Jessica was home…

Greta Lind. We went to college together.  Her last name is my mom's maiden name.  We always thought we might be related.  She's an inspiring friend, amazing at everything she turns her hand to: author. actress. artist. mom. body worker.  And a deep, dear friend of the soul. 

You might have seen her as Katie Kenicott on TV's All My Children, in the movie Rudy, or heard her on Indiana Public Radio in the Audie Awards finalist audio drama, The Ernie Pyle Experiment. 

But before all that, my kids…

The Haiku Milieu-vians have spoken. 

This summer.  Ah, remember summer?  The sun rose around 5 am and it stayed light until almost 8 pm?  Yes.  Think back to THEN. 

And perhaps, there among the other wonderful memories of summer, you might remember filling out the annual Haiku Milieu survey?  The one where you tell me what you'd like to see happen next?  

You spoke, I listened.    

As Richard Dawson used to say on Family Feud, SURVEY SAYS! 

Haiku Milieu-vians, your resounding, #1 choice for what…

Al Rose.  Singer/songwriter extraordinaire, inveterate traveler, proprietor of Kopi Cafe alongside his beautiful spouse Rhonda, and genuine disciple of his artistic muse. Friend to artists everywhere, with a keen eye for those who could use a hand, and dear, longstanding friend to Robin and me. 

Take a listen to any of his songs, and you'll see the ingenious ways his hospitality shows up in his songwriting, which is luxuriously rich and dense with image and meaning.   

If you like, you can get…

This has been a big week.  I have a day job that affords me the ability to take creative risks.  I concluded my service with an organization that was important to me this past Friday. 
  
I have been making music for a long time.  Four years ago, I started taking a photo and writing a haiku. I thought it was just to keep myself creating when things in work and life got busy. 
  
It became something more. 
  
The more I did it, the more I realized how much I loved having a way to think about what I was…

This week, the collaboration blog transforms into the Creativity & Collaboration blog.  And who better as a contributor?  None other than Steve Dawson, with whom I am privileged to sing this Friday, October 15, as part of the band for the release of his album LAST FLIGHT OUT.  

Tickets are here:  https://www.oldtownschool.org/concerts/2021/05-08-2020-funeral-bonsai-wedding/

As a gentle reader of my work, you are no doubt aware of Steve's influence on me as a writer, producer, teacher and all-around…

From September 18, 2017, the second week of Haiku Milieu: 

"Here, let me show you," 
she said.  "There's always a way," 
Then she just did it.

This photo and haiku is from four years ago.  The start of the second week of what would become Haiku Milieu. 

How the time flies.  

I seem to not be able to let go unless something is pried out of my hands.  

Maybe it just takes me longer than most people to understand how different what is actually happening is, from what I wish was actually happening.   

…

Happy 4th Anniversary of Haiku Milieu.

Wait - you're saying, didn't we have an anniversary last week? 

Yes!  Last week was the 2nd Anniversary of the Haiku Milieu Sunday Email. 

THIS week, we celebrate the 4th Anniversary of the first photo and haiku, posted on September 10, 2017, the actual start of what would become Haiku Milieu. 

And today, as I write this, we are commemorating an anniversary of a very different kind: the 20th anniversary of 9/11. 

I have been devouring the reminiscences of…

Happy 2nd Anniversary!  

I started posting a haiku and image on September 10, 2017, and the Sunday Haiku Milieu email launched on September 1, 2019. Special thanks to Cathie Van Wert Menard, who's helped with the design of this email from its inception.

If you are not already, you can experience email magic every Sunday by signing up at haikumilieu.com.

Each year at this time, I like to take a moment, remember where I was, who I was, what I was doing, and what I thought was going to happen next.  

…

Happy Anniversary! 

Next Sunday, September 5 marks the second anniversary of the Sunday Haiku Milieu email.  Two years!! 

We will kick off the celebration in style over at the Sunday Haiku Milieu email.  If you are not already a member, you can join us anytime over at jennybienemann.com and haikumilieu.com.  We'd love to have you join us.

Meanwhile, in anticipation of the year to come, Haiku Milieu-vians like YOU get to help decide what gets created next in the Haiku Milieu Universe.  

Would you do…