Glove 58.

 

Hey, whaddya know. I really like how this one turned out. :) <3

Love to you,
C.A. MacConnell

Some of Us.

Good morning. Positive thought for today, for me, for you: we all have our unique personalities, stories, experiences, and none are the same. Some people are drawn to us. Some are not. The possibilities are endless, mysterious at times, and ever-changing.

Some of us come together briefly -- perhaps for just a moment in passing.

Randomly, we may bump into each other at the store or while walking down the street. Words might be shared. Maybe not.

Some of us are extremely close, and we spend our lives navigating this bond.
Some of us are close, and then we're not close. Maybe we're close again. Maybe not. Or maybe we're close in a new way.

Some of us are acquaintances, saying a mere "hello" or yelling out a joke from afar. And it stays that way. Or sometimes, it changes.

Some of us are friends, partners, relatives, and the like, a part of something. We use these words to describe our bonds, but the words mean something different for each person.

There are countless people we will never meet.

Some of us have an unspoken soul connection.

Or maybe, what we sometimes don't realize is this: all of us have an unspoken soul connection.

Love to you,
C.A. MacConnell

Girl, Sayler Park.

Film photo I've always liked. I was interviewing/watching my friend Ashley sing at a park on this day, when I snapped this photo. Ashley was an incredible musician, a gentle, kind soul; his energy was electric and deep. When he listened, he intensely focused on every word, as if each spoken word from every person was a music note. When I was near him, I always felt honored and heard.

Good morning. Positive thought for today, for me, for you: everything feels messy and scary. But that's a miracle. Why? Because I woke up and each moment, I can experience the scary mess and attempt to grow. Since I have a chance to muddle through this part of life, it's a miracle. I am alive.

Love to you,

C.A. MacConnell

Bee.

 

Good morning. Positive thought for today, for me, for you:

something I wrote on my desk a while back -- "Take assertive action in your best interest." Helps me out when I'm confused about things sometimes. Maybe it'll help someone else.

I did that last night. All of the physical work and stress has taken a lot out of me, but movement helps...I have to figure out how to have rest days. Not sure how this is all going to roll out yet, but I'm proud of the job I've been doing in the past year or so. Hope you're proud of yourself this morning as well.

Have a beautiful day. I am working on revisions on Book Five, but slowly. It is important, but it'll be different than expected. Nonfiction, but no names or personal relationships are central to this story, and they won't be included other than in a vague way, if needed to change locations and such, such as, "I dated someone, and then I didn't, so I went east." Nothing more than that. Just wanted to be clear about my intentions here, if anyone has known me. I'm big on that. So that's that.

Wonder what surprises may happen today? I send you light and love.

Love to you,
C.A. MacConnell

Here.

 

Man, I love this. :) <3 Took it just now.

C.A. MacConnell

Vision.

 

C.A. MacConnell

Hello! Photo: Came to Believe. And a Note!

Hi there. If you're enjoying my writings and photos, please donate to my site! Just click the button on the right side of this page. Every little bit helps! Thanks for joining me on my artistic journey!

Thanks so much! 

C.A. MacConnell

February Morning Thoughts.

Good morning. Positive thought for today, for me, for you:

I have no idea.

Do you?

Funny.

Weirdly, I feel better.

Kind of. Not really.

Do you?

You do? Then tell me how you did it.

And I'll tell you too.

Funny.

Let's see how they did it.

Hm, how should I do it?

We're all just fumbling around, trying to survive.

Love to you,
C.A. MacConnell

Dark Horse Shadow.

Good morning. Upon waking, what came to me was a thought that struck me as powerfully beautiful. Positive thought for me, for you:

Throughout the day, every day, as the moments roll by, as the events unfold, whether I'm alone, with someone close to me, or with a large crowd, whether the sky is tumultuous or peacefully cerulean, what if I thought these two things:

How can I help? I want to be with you.

Love to you,
C.A. MacConnell.

Hello, a Newsy Note.

In case you're new to my site, here's some of my background, just a taste...

M.A. English & Creative Writing, Hollins University. Four published novels on Amazon NOW:

Over 25 yrs. of professional experience in poetry, fiction, creative nonfiction, music writing, journalism, screenwriting, book writing, editing, proofreading, copy (nonprofit and commercial), direct mail, artist bios, and more. When it comes to writing and editing...you name it, I've done it. Ranging from comedy to horror, I'm familiar with any genre in the mix. My specialties:

1. Punchy, real, raw, slick dialogue (so real, it's frightening)
2. Targeting audiences
3. Capturing voices
4. Music/art promotion
5. Book writing and editing

Look to the labels on the right side of this page, and you'll find every kind of sample you can imagine.

Also, my comedy site. (not for kiddos, ha. But it showcases numerous voices, strange and hilarious, all over the map)

Send me a message TODAY! Contact info here.

Thanks so much,
C.A. MacConnell

P.S. If you are enjoying my writing and photos, consider donating! Click the button on the right side of this page! Every little bit helps me. Thank you! C.A.

Piece of Metal.

 
 
Took this a week or so ago, actually. It is how I feel. Every photo is a piece of me. Hope you have a beautiful day. <3.
C.A. MacConnell

Celebrate Weird.

Good morning. Positive thought for today, for me, for you. Just off the top of my head, actually. Something light:

well, in college, I minored in film; yes, I've seen numerous great masterpieces, and I've written a gazillion ridiculous essays about the creative giants. For instance, I'll argue with you 'til the end that the original Texas Chainsaw Massacre is brilliant, and unlike the popular crowd, who are chained to The Life Aquatic, I am sure that Moonrise Kingdom is Wes Anderson's greatest work. I'd tell you my favorite crime movie, but I'm sure it'd start an internet war.

But secretly, what I really love are shark movies and boxing movies. So, when life gets rough, I turn to Rocky and Jaws. I've seen all the original Rocky films, but I'm ashamed to say I'm behind on the Creed line. I'm emotionally involved, and I'm partial to watching Rocky fight. It bothers me to see him on the sidelines, haha.

Hey, just now, I found a Jaws baseball jacket that someone wants to get rid of really cheap. That's because no one wants it. Perfect! Not sure if it's gonna fit yet, but we'll make it fit. Now all I have to do is find a Rocky T-shirt or some trunks, and I can relax about life, and my wardrobe will be complete.

Moral of the story: behind every Rear Window, there's a Megalodon. That is...we all have our secret quirks, and they're hilarious. Celebrate weird!

Love to you,
C.A. MacConnell

Stay.

Good morning. Positive thought for me, for you:

Here's an interesting thought pattern: "Internally and externally, I'm working on becoming perfect so that someone will love me."

Yeah, I know...at first glance, this statement seems ridiculous. But often, similar thought traps spew out of me and many others; this "striving for perfection/lack of love" is extremely common in homes affected by substance abuse. And take a look around, take a look at social media; it's all over the place. It's a trap, because perfection is obviously unattainable and so, this kind of thinking keeps me "separate" on purpose, rather I realize it or not. Why? Because feeling unlovable is familiar to me. Sad, sure, oh yeah, but familiar.

And as humans, we often reach for the familiar.

Until it's too painful, and it damn near kills us.

So how does someone turn this around? Well, through extensive past writing and therapy, I'm aware of the source, and I have been aware for a very long time. So, right now, I can tell you what I'm doing. Nothing. Ha, that's right -- nothing. See, with this ever-present awareness, change has been automatically rolling in each day.

Simply, I don't have to do much...it's just happening.

I'll always be an introvert, and I cherish that, but I am taking small steps to seek out people who will celebrate my story and voice, and vice versa. Just living, really. I'm becoming less hard on myself and others. I'm creating more plans here and there. Again, I don't need to morph into a different creature, but I keep the awareness close to my heart.

All of this has been teaching me how to do this: wait, dive in, love, stay.

Love to you,
C.A. MacConnell

Lost Glove 57.

 

Genius shot of Lost Glove 57. Hahaha. Genius! Can't hurt to laugh at yourself.

C.A. MacConnell

Day Off.

 

C.A. MacConnell

Photo.

 

Original film shot by me.

Good morning. Positive thought for today, for me, for you: surrender.

Hm, a loaded word -- "surrender." How do I understand this word today? No, I don't imagine some Santa in the sky will tell me what to do. I suppose, to me, "surrendering" means that I get quiet, meditate, see myself as a smaller part of a greater whole, listen to my heart and inner voice and then, I take assertive action -- large or small -- in my best interest.

And then I ask for guidance and support from Santa and Mrs. Claus and Rudolph and leprechauns and unicorns in the sky, hahaha.

Love to you,
C.A. MacConnell

Hustle, Hustle

Here's a recent short story I just polished up. I entered it in a contest, but I guess it was too dark, haha, I dunno...I didn't even make the list of a gazillion finalists. I've had shit luck with contests, haha. Who cares. I think it's rad. See what you think, if you're not afraid of the gritty, and the dark...Love, C.A.

Hustle, Hustle

Last year, I held a kitchen knife to Dad's throat, just because. Sure, I went to juvey, and everybody there was throwing up and coming down, but I met Cameron, a thick, wicked cheerleader, and she took a few hits for me. Cameron reminded me that I was lucky. When she was four, her dad left her in the basement for a week. Her mom was at a conference, and the housekeeper never showed. We left kid prison quick, because Dad knew the judges. Anyway, my knife was dull.

Welcome to me, Grey V. I’m sixteen, and I have straight A’s. Welcome to my money house.

Dad’s a dentist. So, we live on the richest five acres in Shawnee Ridge. Out here, slow traffic, pretty curbs, smooth sidewalks, fresh blacktop, the whole deal. The damn bushes look like bunnies. The pool’s a giant lima bean shape with a twisty slide, even though Dad always says, “I need to bulldoze that insurance nightmare.” Once, when Cameron was on Xanax, she slid off the side and cracked her head open. But she got stitched up, and the slide’s still there. Cam’s hair never grew back, and she has a bald “S” there now, a snake. If anyone asks her about it, she shoots out a story about a bully and a switchblade.

Being thin is good. I can slip right out the front door. Here I am now, downtown. On these streets, I hear the whispers -- secrets, like poetry, like small, forgotten screams. I see familiar faces -- women kicking at gravel, ghostly skin shining in the streetlights. Funny. Look at that wasted girl with the buggy eyes. She used to be a track star. If I were horny, I could hit it. Hang on, somebody wants some crackers.

Selling, it’s a black night. No moon to speak of. The cash is quick, and all the bruisers know my baby face. I’ve felt a piece in my cheek, but that brother was jonesing, and it’s rare. I’m with the shadows, see. I’m on their side. Sometimes, street kids use me for a ride, some food, some conversation. Fourteen-year-old Scott didn't make it through last winter. It happens.

If my parents opened my top dresser drawer, they’d see everything they could imagine, but they aren’t the imagining type. Mostly, I deal pills, because nobody here wants needles. All the girls own sterling chokers, and everyone wears jeans from the fashion gods. One time, when Cam and I were bored, we dressed in prom clothes, cruised over to Dad’s office, and stole a nitrous tank. Mom thought we were playing video games, but Cam’s half-blind, and she can’t stand computers. Nobody was home; we hit the tank all night and read Shakespeare. I think Cam died for a minute. After that, she got clean and found God and so, she chewed on me for a while, but then she tossed me out like a stale piece of gum.

Carefully, slowly, I creep down the alleys, squinting and inching like a possum. A yellow-haired delivery boy, I’m one smooth envelope. But then I see Cameron glowing. Wearing school spirit clothes, she’s sitting by the sewer. I’ll leave her alone. See, she might run home to Mommy one day and spew out her memoir.

But she’s still staring, and her eyes are popping. I think she likes me, but I know she wants to drag me uptown. So, I slink down and slither away. But then I go back. Forgettabout the cash flow. I think she still likes me.

C.A. MacConnell

Photo.

 

Good morning. <3 Positive thought for today, for me, for you.

How are you doing in this moment?
This morning, how can I bring goodness to you?
How can I bring goodness to me?
How can I bring goodness to us?
Maybe I can't right now.
I suppose it's early.
I bet the sunrise is going to be spectacular.

Love to you,
C.A. MacConnell

Photo.

 

Took this just now. :) <3
C.A. MacConnell

Brooke.

 

Here's my friend Brooke; she rocks! Always, all photos of people are posted with permission. I enjoy capturing people's energy in the moment. If you'd like me to take your picture, please send me an email here or message me on social media. I truly enjoy taking shots that are unique and unposed, like this one.

Hope you're having a good day!

C.A. MacConnell