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 Life, Adventure, Family, Writing what else is there? Random thoughts. |
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WELCOME TO: GEMINI RISING   UPDATED INTRO 30 JUNE 2025: Just a little about me. I've been married for 33 years this past NOV and currently live in Southern California, but I grew up in New Hampshire. I've got 2 boys who are young adults. I work as a 911 dispatcher for LAPD. I enjoy my job a lot. Still. If you can believe that. I love to write. Thankfully both of my boys achieved Eagle Scout. My Scouting days are over and I'm back to focusing on my writing. I like to get out in nature, drink coffee and watch football. Here's a little bio about my zodiac. GEMINI: Gemini, the sign of the Twins, is dual-natured, elusive, complex and contradictory. On the one hand it produces the virtue of versatility, and on the other the vices of two-facedness and flightiness. The sign is linked with Mercury, the planet of childhood and youth, and its subjects tend to have the graces and faults of the young. When they are good, they are very attractive; when they are bad they are more the worse for being the charmers they are. Like children they are lively, and happy, if circumstances are right for them, or egocentric, imaginative and restless. Their good qualities are attractive and come easily to them. They are affectionate, courteous, kind, generous, and thoughtful towards the poor and suffering - provided none of the activities resulting from expressing these traits interferes too greatly with their own lives and comforts. Geminians can be successful in many walks of life though their general characteristics tend to make them unreliable. They are often skilled manipulators of language, in speech and writing, and may be: debaters, diplomats (though in politics they are more interested in theory than practice), orators, preachers (brilliant rather than profound), teachers, authors, poets, journalists, or lawyers. BLOG ACCOMPLISHMENTS: SEPTEMBER 2025:
SEPTEMBER 2025:
Merit Badges collected and earned from "Earn the Badge 2025" ![Merit Badge in WdC Supportive Friend
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Thank you for participating in [Link To Item #2133333] . Congratulations on completing the September
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Thank you for your donation to [Link To Item #2133333] - from Purple Princess.](https://images.Writing.Com/imgs/writing.com/writers/badges/group-Earn_the_Badge-2093257_1.gif){kind=icon} ![Merit Badge in Music
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Thank you for participating in [Link To Item #2133333] . Congratulations on completing the September
3rd Daily Task.](https://images.Writing.Com/imgs/writing.com/writers/badges/genre-Music-1050.gif) ![Merit Badge in Contests
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Thank you for participating in [Link To Item #2133333] . Congratulations on completing the September 1st daily task.](https://images.Writing.Com/imgs/writing.com/writers/badges/genre-Contests-235.gif) ![Merit Badge in Growth
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Great job for picking a teammate and completing the September 6th Task at [Link To Item #2133333]](https://images.Writing.Com/imgs/writing.com/writers/badges/general-Teamwork-210.gif) SUMMER 2025:
Merit Badges Collected from Virtual Blogging &Virtual Blogging Friends: ![Merit Badge in Let Dreams Take Wing
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To my upcoming virtual traveling blog companion. Dream big and fly high!](https://images.Writing.Com/imgs/writing.com/writers/badges/group-Let_Dreams_Take_Wing-2335469_1.gif) ![Merit Badge in Normal Is Boring
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here's to another week of creating adventures!](https://images.Writing.Com/imgs/writing.com/writers/badges/Kudos-Normal_Is_Boring.gif) ![Merit Badge in Blog Camping
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Thanks for completing [Link To User elusive4lyn] July 2025 blogging vacation!! Great job!!](https://images.Writing.Com/imgs/writing.com/writers/badges/group-Blog_Camping-1788309_13.gif) ![Merit Badge in Travel
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Thank you for your participation in BCoF's 50 States Virtual Blogging adventure.
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51 days of blogging takes commitment, and you rocked it.
*^*Heart*^* Lyn](https://images.Writing.Com/imgs/writing.com/writers/badges/general-Endurance.gif) SEPTEMBER 2024: I participated in the
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Congrats on your Honorable Mention in Blog Week Birthday Bastion 2024](https://images.Writing.Com/imgs/writing.com/writers/badges/type-Nonfiction.gif) Big thanks to WakeUpAndLive~snowflake wonder   for hosting the contest! OCTOBER 2024 & 2025 : I participated in the
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You rose to the poetry challenges in 12 Poetic Days of Halloween in grand style.](https://images.Writing.Com/imgs/writing.com/writers/badges/general-Determination-2500.gif) ![Merit Badge in Ghost
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Thank you for your successful completion of 13 Poetic Days of Halloween *^*Heart*^* Lyn](https://images.Writing.Com/imgs/writing.com/writers/badges/genre-Ghost-700.gif) Big Thanks to Witchy Woman  for hosting the contest!NOVEMBER 2025 : ![Merit Badge in WdC Positive Influence
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Thank you for all you do on WdC. I appreciate your encouragement and support *^*Hearto*^*](https://images.Writing.Com/imgs/writing.com/writers/badges/community-WdC_Positive_Influence.gif) from FrosTIGGY ☃️  Find me at: WEBSITE: http://www.stephanieburkhart.com FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/StephanieBurkhartAuthor GOOD READS: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4031660.Stephanie_Burkhart YOU TUBE CHANNEL: http://www.youtube.com/user/botrina?feature=mhee  WARNING I intend to be open, honest, and forthright. No topic is off limits from religion to you name it, I'm going there. If you think you might be offended...back up now - this blog isn't for you. For those who "dare"  check out the "Gemini Rising..." 
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| Well, I'm enough recovered from the Heinz 57 food poisoning to go back to work. Mind you, I'm not a 100% - more like 85-90% percent. My stomach can handle a wider menu but it's not game for anything too fancy. I'm still feeling a little weak and achy, but nothing I can't manage. Today I had tickets to go to the Little House on the Prairie Reunion in Simi Valley. It was held at the Streathern Historical Society which was kind of neat. There were a lot of old fashioned buildings giving it that "Prairie" feel. I just had general admission tickets which was $60.00. I went with a retired co-worker who lives in Simi Valley. We got there fairly early, around 10 am. I thought there would be a bunch of people there but it was not as packed as the 50th Reunion was (I went in March 2024). A lot of cast members were there including the "heavys" "Nellie" and "Almanzo" (Alison Arngrim and Dean Butler). Karen Grassle was also there. Melissa Gilbert was not. We walked through town and took some scenic pics. The line for "Nellie" was long and while the temperature was mild (we weren't roasting) the line was a good 1 1/2 wait. Kim and I had to take turns sitting down in the hall. In the hall, they were playing a Homecoming documentary and Christmas episodes of the show. There was also a display of the blue dress that Ma knitted Half pint in the show. A lady had found the dress and restored it. It is just amazing to me how much this show means to people. Me? I watched a couple episodes at the time it came out (in the 1970's) - but at that time it didn't resonate with me. I was more interested in Star Wars, Star Trek, and Buck Rogers and Battlestar Galacticia.  Nowadays, I really appreciate the resonance this show has. It has a ton of fans who just loved the stories, loved the characters, and loved the wholesome message of the show. What's the message? Family. Community. Be kind to each other. Hard work pays off. Yes, it's folksy, but even today, those messages mean a lot to people. My friend, Kim, was like me. Never watched the show hard when she was young, but was impressed that it had the resonance it does today.Anyhoo we had a 1 1/2 hour wait to meet "Nellie" and then she took a 30 minute break! Couldn't blame her I suppose. Her line was the longest. So I hung out and meet Patrick Labyorteauax (Andy) and Charlotte Stewart (Miss Beadle). Patrick was very nice. He had several shots from his time with JAG. He was on that show for about 10 years, and he said Little House for 4, but most people remember him from Little House.  Charlotte was a hoot. Honestly, before meeting her, I didn't realize she was "Miss Beadle" on the show. A lot of people in line talked about how they LOVED Miss Beadle and thought she was the best teacher ever. Come to find out, Charlotte lived quite the Hollywood life. There was drugs, sex, rock & roll & Jim Morrison. She told a story of how she took a road trip with Jim Morrison 5 months before he died. She said nothing happened. I tend to believe her. I don't know if I'd want to boff Jim Morrison at that time in his life either. She said when she turned 65 she retired from acting because she couldn't remember her lines. Can't say I blame her. I just really enjoyed meeting her and listening to her stories. I was so impressed, I even picked up her book which she autographed for me. Finally! I got to see "Nellie." The visit didn't last as long as with Charlotte, but it was fun. I got an autographed copy of her book and she did the Nellie face for a couple of my photos. I wouldn't have minded sitting in the hall and watching the documentary, but both Kim and I were worn out from all the standing. We went to have lunch after then and home. Overall, it was a nice day. Charlotte Stewart is quite the character and I'm looking forward to reading her book. I had a great visit with a friend and I can't wait to retire myself!!  |
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) because I'm in the middle of something else, but I'm planning to read them over Christmas.
Yeah, I'd avoid the shady buffets after that! As for Potlucks we have a lot at my work so I'm picky about what I eat. Heck, here's hoping I lost 5 pounds just time for Christmas! 
