Well, Here We Are

September 30, 2026

 Pecking away at the keyboard as if I knew what I was doing, these words take us forth into a future fraught with time and change, just like always. Glad you could make it.

I am re-introducing myself (how do YOU do?) to your eyes (there's a first time for everything) as my art website ( michaelstevenplatt.com ) is once again available for perusal and consideration. 

Read into this blog as you will (or won't) and enjoy (I hope) the creative offerings herein. I haven't written here much in the last few years, but there are selections that you may find pertinent to your considerations. Check out the earlier posts. 

I, however, am heading back to the art site to continue constructing and building it into facsimile of the site it used to be... gone but not forgotten. I hope to see you there looking at me in representational form. Stop on by and feed your eyes and mind. Cheers!

Opaque Transparency

 110725

My art website was deleted with no possible recovery by the hosting company, Network Solutions. I have no recourse but to spend dozens of hours (again) building another one. I am beyond incensed. I have not blogged in years and here I am bitching about the ineptitudes of Corporate domination in society. 

So here is a bit of creative writing to at least make this a bit of a positive post. I retrieved it from a writing spell I had a few months ago. How prolific I have become in reticent creativity. Cheers:

Bombastic feathering

Succulent dust

Rigid flexibility

Challenged to come up with an alternative, I change the subject and carry on board my baggage claim for all I’ve left behind. The stationary becomes local motivated and transitions smoothly into orbit. My, look at the view in this pantoscopic array of imagery, suggestions, considerations, descriptions and metaphor, isn’t it just as if you were reading about it in a simile situation? I love the nuances of straight-forward confusion, simple and self-contained, like an exit-less room of fun-house mirrors. We can’t really know what’s going on inside, so we’ll just step around it and continue on our way.

And which way was that? Don’t ask me, I’m too busy typing to look up more than every once in a while to check the spelling, so I’ll follow you. And if you think THAT’S confusing, then you’re on the right track and continuing to go with the flow you create, sending out a vibrant wake of substance and depth enough to surf like you’re in the domain of a digital arachnid ready to feast upon the imagination offered. Don’t worry, there’s plenty more where that came from.

Beware of the mnemoniac

It's all in my head, but I'm still ticked off...

... more...

 What is the limit to limits?

Where does Eternity edge?

How do beliefs guide a journey

To step off Reality's ledge?

How far can a state of being

Ascend past the highest of high

What cause, affect and believing

Holds Reality as what to deny?

The Singing Alarm Clock

A short story to start the day... 

                “Oh boy!” thought Fnordly, the wind-up alarm clock, “it’s almost time!”

                The night was coming to a close as the first faint wisps of daylight shyly drifted through the window and Fnordly’s hands slowly swung around to six-o’clock.

                “Gosh,” he thought, excitedly, “my first day and I’m ready to go!”

                He was wound up snug, ticking merrily away at the passing seconds, set for six a.m. and anxious to try out his voice in his new home. He knew that he had a loud, sharply clear tone and that he would sing out in ringing glory. He had been made quite well and was confident that his new owner, asleep in the bed next to the table upon which he sat, would wake and enjoy the serenade. Last night his owner had unpacked him from his box, read all the instructions, carefully wound, set and placed him on the bedside table. Now, several hours later, Fnordly was growing excited as the seconds ticked by toward six-o’clock.

                The mechanisms within him moved closer to release, so he drew several deep (tick-tocks) to compose himself, and then, “RRRRRRRRIIIIIINNNNNGGGGGGG...” he loudly sang, “R-R-R-R-RIINNGGG...” he melodiously wailed, “R-R-R-RIIIINNGG...” smoothly, “R-RIIINNNGGG...” steadily, “...RRIINNGGG…” easier, “Rrriinngg…” slower, “iiinnnggg…” quieter, “nnnggg…” and finally, with, “nnggg…” he ran out of his spring driven breath and stopped.

                “Wow,” he thought, “That was wonderful!” He had had no idea that his song would be so tremendously rich and rewarding, or that it would provide such a deep sense of fulfillment throughout his inner workings. He sat ticking away, relaxed and sleepy in the after-glow comfort of satisfied contentment, and dozed off…

                Suddenly, he was grabbed from his slumber to hear a groggy voice irately complain, “Nine o’clock! Didn’t this stupid clock even go off?! Bah! That makes me late for work every day this week!” and with that Fnordly was unceremoniously tossed into the nearby wastebasket.

                “We thought your singing was beautiful,“ chorused the four other alarm clocks already in the basket.

The Only Avenue of Escape

The only avenue of escape was up the large stone staircase that led around and around the empty shell of the tower, towards the open-aired top of the castle.  I rushed up the first level and turned with my sword ready, well knowing its ineffectiveness against the 10-foot-tall metallic giant that was pursuing me.  It came lumbering up the stairs making a great crash with each footstep. I swung at it, hitting his sword and then ducked as it swung at me. I dealt him savage blow right to this chest, but my sword only rung in my hands.  I turned and proceeded following the staircase climbing level after level, not really knowing where it led, not that it mattered, for I was concentrating only on escape from this monster. I looked over the edge of the stairwell at the dizzying heights to which we had already climbed, then looked up to realize that there were only two levels left before I reached the top.  I turned back to the approaching giant and as he raised his sword I swung at it and knocked it from his grasp, sending it down the stairs to the previous level.  Then, to my great surprise, the giant stopped, turned and went down after it. While he did, I ran up the remaining two flights only to find a blank wall at the head of the stairs, and the long, long, drop down to the bottom of them. My mind was racing, trying to find an avenue of escape when once more the giant came up the stairs.  He didn’t even slow down when he saw me trapped, as if he had only one thing in his mind, indeed, if he had a mind at all, and that was to skewer me. Suddenly I conceived a plan, and knowing that it was my only chance, I grimly stood my ground, and waited for the coming onslaught. The giant was up the stairs now and raised his sword once more.  Before he swung I quickly lashed out with my sword, again striking his and to my relief, again knocking his from his grasp and sent it over the edge of the stairwell.  He rushed over to the edge swinging his arms widely, perhaps trying to stop the fallen sword, and as he looked down at it, I gave him a tremendous shove and sent him following.  I collapsed there, exhausted, and listened to the terrific crashing getting further and further away as the giant bounced off the sides of the stairwell and then … the hauntingly familiar laughter came from behind me as I blacked out.

When I awoke I couldn’t see clearly, but I know I was in the throne room once more.  How long ago it seemed since I had been there, when I was sentenced to die by a voice emanating from a black stone embedded in an otherwise empty throne.  But my thoughts were interrupted when I heard that same soft and yet coldly piercing laughter, only louder as I heard heavy footsteps approaching.  My eyesight was blurry and I rubbed my eyes but to no avail. Then, hearing the footsteps come to my right, I quickly rolled to my left and heard the sharp swish of my new adversary’s sword as it barely missed me.  I stood up and my eyesight returned just as a giant black-bearded man rushed at me with a hate in his eyes older than time.  I dodged his sword and saw mine lying where I had been.  I nimbly rushed over, picked it up and jumped up on a nearby table as the bearded giant missed his next swing at me. I jumped out to meet him, surprising him and with one swift hard blow I cut his head off, which fell to the floor, eyes, up still staring, still hating.  As his body sagged and fell I turned and ran right at the throne, it’s black carvings and evil designs once more writhing and moving as it had when I first looked upon it so long ago.  I saw my dark-haired Lynla whom the chair had seized, chained and standing near a wall off to one side.  I took my magic-touched sword and raised it high above my head and swung with all my might, shouting a plea to the Gods for help, and hit the dark jewel directly, shattering it and my sword in a burst of great light.  Deep claps of thunder echoed throughout the hall, as the throne burst into flames and crumbled.  I ran over and saw that Lynla’s chains had disintegrated so grabbed her hand, looking into her fiercely determined eyes, then we ran down the corridor as the castle shook and rumbled beneath out feet. I remembered where the massive iron door was and we scurried through the halls as they were crumbling and falling around us, staying just ahead of the effect. We got to the door, pushed one side open and ran out into sunlight. We reached the portcullis to find it a crumbled heap of rust.  As we passed through the archway the castle gave one last shudder, disintegrated to dust and was gone…

And so. As all that occurred many years ago, I'm not sure what I had eaten before I went to bed the night that I had those two separate-yet-connected dreams, but I'd be willing to have another helping. 

Pleasant dreams to you...

Remains That Come Before

Listening to the spontaneous lark

With well heeled sandals

And wine,

Maybe I will

Take the plunge and die

Then go swimming later on as

History will twist its swivel wrist

Forth and back,

Forth and back,

Parading the mysteries it denies,

Remains that come before

Endless Shifting Sand 1: In the Wind

(c) Michael Steven Platt 2012 : Camel Sand Imprint:  Undine Press

Dear Readers,

When last we met, life was a turmoil of things I have forgotten and things I remember but don't know what they were related to, and other such important issues, I'm sure. Stuff happened and I haven't been writing much. But now, I finally did find my way back in to this blog after some years of frustrating inability to do so.

That's the Grand Explanation as to How I've Done and Where I've Been. I wanted to keep it from getting too confusing.  I'm glad to be back... I missed you, too. (The applause is thunderous)

New effort coming through, looking for readership. It follows here:

Endless Shifting Sand 1: In the Wind

I am going to post excerpts from my book, 'Endless Shifting Sand' ... thinking that, perhaps, someone else might enjoy the offbeat humor in the surrealistic flow of smoothly chaotic imagery. Different. Wildly different. I do hope you might give it a whirl... you might enjoy it. Thank you.

Therefore, I put forth the entire Table of Contents as introduction and beginning of what ESS is. Cheers!

(Pardon the quirky alignment. The draft does not match up with the actual posting and this creates some interesting configurations of order)

(All copyrighted, of course)

This Page

Endless Shifting Sand

(or Keeping Score in the Big One)

~ Disclaim Maintain Refrain: Page Numb Baring Approximations ~

Table of Contents …………………………………………………. This Page

Chair of Intents …………………………………………………. Under the Table

Visual Selection ................................... (Under the Chair and Under Construction)

Introduction …………………………………………………….. How do you do?

Opening : If it’s time to get up this must be Monday ………...…….. 1

Part One – Part Another: Take the Wrong Way Home

Chapter One - Greetings......................................................... ..........  3

First Hourglass Spill ………………………..……………… 3

Deal With It ........................................................................... 9

Tracking Treats and Nervous Noise: Answering the Call ... 14

… tock ……………………………………………………. 18

Chapter Two (, Too)……………………………………….....…… 22

Chapter III: Growing Older in the City …………………………... 23

Pardon Yourself and The Great Peanut Butter Caper ….…. 23

Harken to Thy Will ……………………………………….. 24

A Chair is Born …………………………………………… 26

A Neu Firing Line ............................................................... 30

Which Way Do We Go? …………………………...……... 34

Nothing but the Best ……………………………………… 36

Watch Your Hat and Head ………………………………... 39

I Never and A Message from the Stars …………………… 42

This Page, Too

I Retire Undefeated ......…………………………………… 45

Feeling Game in Florida ...…………………………………47

Have a Pleasant Flight ……………………………………. 51

Scientific Announcement ...………………………………. 53

Score and First Kiss (Yes, in that order) ………....…… 57, 58

Intermission ……………………………………………………….. 65

Continuum ………………………………………………………… 65

Break Time and Cryptaxidgience …………..…………. 69, 70

Chapter IV (Intra-Vacuous) ……………………………………..… 73

The Ins and Outs of Communication .................................... 73

Apologies Not Necessary  .................................................... 77

AI: AS: The Phantom Cub Scout …...…………….……….. 79

The Story I Don’t Tell .......................................................... 81

Let’s Go to the Cemetery! ………………………………… 81

Household Hints …………………………………………... 85

A Solstice Celebration Entwined ………………………….. 88

Giving at the Office (or Where am I now?) ……………….. 91

Family Branchings, a Grandfather’s Tale …………………. 93

After the Party Party (or Just Where Have I Been?) ………. 96

Summer Job Farm Adventures ............................................. 98

Go Fish …………………………………………………… 103

AP: SD ……………………………………………………………. 107

Time to Relax …………………………………………….. 108

The Very Next Chapter …………………………………………... 111

This Page Three

Prognosticating Reminiscent Sand Piles ...…………….….… 112

Inspiration Calls …………………………………….…..…… 115

(I Forgot … um… ) ………………………………….…..…... 117

Drink This Book and Like It ...………………………...…….. 119

Sip on This, Two………………………………………..……. 120

Prognostication (Part Duh), “It’s Obvious.” ……..…..……… 121

In Control and Lost for the Plucking …..……………..……… 123

Community Services Announcement ………………..……… 128

A Stoic Pause Orchestrates the Usual ..................................... 130

Amazing Facts …………………………………….………… 133

Lunch Time, (try and) Take a Seat ………………….………. 134

In Cattus Requiem ………………………………….……….. 135

(Further) Into the Fog ………………………………………….……. 137

What I Haven’t Written Yet …………………………….…... 137

(While Waiting) Time to Think About the Passing Time:

Encrypted Dream  ......................................................... 137

Interred Mission to Post Mission …………………..….. 141 - 142

Change the Subject (Please!) ……………………….……….. 145

A Study in Situational Ethics and Karma ………….…….….. 146

Are You Done? …………………………………….………... 150

The Reluctant Snowflake …………………………………… 154

The Pause that Refreshes …………………………………… 156

Waasa Matter? Choke on This Paragraph .................………. 158

A.E.: I.O.U. (and sometimes ‘Why?’)…………..................... 164

This Page Four

Willow and Grayswandir ........................................................ 169

If You Do It, Mean It! ............................................................  171

How God Saved the Little Boy ……………………………... 172

Scorez-vous? ........................................................................... 177

Nope ........................................................................................ 180

This Ain’t Ravinia .................................................................. 181

Do it (to) Yourself Chapter: Fill Your Own Space …………………. 185

Back to My Chapters (Yours is Boring) .......................….................. 186

Dosewallips Coming Down..................................................... 186

Invitation to Imagination and Actual Party Mode................... 187

Happy Returns the Day ……………………………………... 189

(The Preceding Day) Fathered Attentions for Lunch ............. 192

The Lonely Puddle ………………………………………….. 194

The Next Part (Lost In Toxic Subsidy)………………....…………… 197

The Other Next Part and Courting Dreams ……..…………... 198

Birthday (Maid) Service …………………………………….. 200

(Sponsored Inter-Mission) and (continued) ............................. 201

The Offer of a Strife Time ...................................................... 204

Trains Passing in the Night ..................................................... 206

The Philosophical Limits of Imagination ............................... 209

Knock Yourself Out (Please)................................................... 213

Close the Window, Mon Ami ................................................. 214

Politics in Chicago: Snow jobs ............................................... 216

This Page Five

Part Two – Experience Expands

The Following Chapter: Let’s Spend a Day Together ........................... 218

Think Green and Pick a Day ...................................................... 218

Smoke This ................................................................................. 222

Happy New Year Connections ................................................... 225

Where Was He When We Needed Him? ................................... 228

(Pointed Pivot On To) Dark is Where the White Out Finds It ... 228

On Call: The Situation is, well, In Hand ................................... 229

Taco Time Juggling ................................................................... 230

From Small Chunks Break Bits and Pieces ............................... 232

The 4 R’s and Sunday Morning Pounding Down ...................... 235

A Call Up Wake (or Finding The Big Thrill) ............................ 238

Moral Sport Dedication ............................................................. 239

Chapter On or A Pocketful of Mondays ................................................ 241

Adventure, Mystery and Romance (Maybe Not) ...................... 245

May Day and The Tube ......................................................246, 247

Juggling with Words...... (Every Page, but Specifically)........... 250

Page Two-Hundred-Fifty-Two ................................................. 252

A Grade School Lesson in Neanderthal Humor ....................... 255

Morphalexic Daydreams ........................................................... 257

Wet, Wild and Swinging (This is Ravinia) ...............................259

My Other Foot Steps Out (or) Two For One Camel Magic ..... 261

Letters to My Daughters .......................................................... 268

Chapter Next ........................................................................................ 270

This Page Six

Talk about a Character and Vocabulary Check .......................... 270

Festive Land Gluttony Day ........................................................ 272

Did You Hear Them Say It? ....................................................... 273

Random Page Number Winner! ................................................. 274

Written Memory Test ................................................................. 279

Perspection ............................................................................................. 284

Everybody’s Got to be Somewhere ............................................ 286

My Grandmother’s View of Life ............................................... 289

(I remain sleeping for the duration...) No Return ................290, 291

My Daughter Supplies Another Karmic Lesson ........................ 291

(Retroverbalizations) Intersmitten Blast from the Passed by Past.......... 293

Job Responsibility and My All Over Twist Request ................. 295

Memories in the Dark or Serving a Long Sentence ................... 296

Getting Organized ...................................................................... 298

Reminiscing the Toxic Heir ....................................................... 300

The Great Missing Page Caper ................................................. (???)

The Latest Word ......................................................................... 304

The Low Down .......................................................................... 306

There Really Should Be ............................................................. 309

Welcoming Prologue ................................................................. 311

A Child is Born ............................................................…. 10-18-79

Marriage and Diapers Leading to (More) Snow Jobs ............... 313

Part Three – I’m Looking Up So I Must Be Down

Part To (Otherness) and Ivory Tower Dreams ....................................... 315

This Page Seven

Quixic Tandal ................................................................................ 315

Decide What I Mean .....(every page, but confined here to:) ........ 321

Self-Indulged Food for Thought et Progress in the Job World ..... 322

Winding Down Watch ............................................................................... 324

Special Poetry Section ................................................................... 324

Pertinent Questions and Check Your Scorecard............................ 326

Cheesy Target Practice................................................................... 328

Clear Cut Scoring the Whole Caboodle .......................................  329

Minimalistic Excess and Silent Landing ....................................... 332

Vision Doomed ............................................................................. 335

“     Dimmed ............................................................................. 338

(Invisible Chapter) ....................................... (Your guess is as good as mine)

Final Chapter (SODI?) .............................................................................. 341

Psidereal Matrix and Garden Delight ........................................... 341

Captain Naptime Wins a Gain ...................................................... 344

Scoring through Noblesse Oblique ............................................... 347

Communication Shakedown ......................................................... 351

Am I Supposed to be Here? .......................................................... 353

A(nother) Hollow Weaning .......................................................... 354

I Digress and Hit the Bottle on the Head  ..................................... 356

Is it Ever Not Monday? ................................................................. 360

Torquellipsis .................................................................................. 361

My Aim Keeps Wandering and Missed Her Tame, Boring Man .. 363

Prologue and A Stray in the Life ............................................................... 366

This Page Eight

Epilogue ......................................................................................... 377

What Remains is Gone ................................................................... 378

Narrowing the Way .................................................................................... 379

My Magus Opium .......................................................................... 380

(Further) Winding Down and The Curtain Falls ............................ 382

The Final Score and I Would Say................................................... 384

Final Chapter (Encore) and Final Word...................................................... 385

Closing ....................................................................................................... 386

Son of a Beach …………………………………………………………… 388

And so, again, I am washing over your eyes, sifting the written word across the perceptions of your awareness. I offer you my other way of seeing life in a big city:

(next posting)

I hope to see you there (I'll be the one looking over my shoulder at you)

Thanks.and Cheers