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 Theses are my thoughts and ramblings as I forge my way through this thing they call life. |
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These are my thoughts and ramblings as I forge my way through this thing they call Life. I blog with these groups:     "Blogging Circle of Friends "  [E] 
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It's WDC - 25th Birthday It's the final entry-- Part 1:Go back to Day 6 and pick a favorite from the other contestant's static item they shared and tell us why you like it the best. The best static entry chosen by you will receive an 10,000 awardicon. Part 2: if you were making a soundtrack for WDC's 25th Birthday what would be your number one (1) song. Embed the video in your entry. If you can't remember how it's on the forum, and if you're a non-upgraded member the instructions are on the forum, but this time pick someone in the contest and send them 150gps. I really enjoyed Soldier_Mike   's piece - "Father Fares Well" . I liked the father son connection. It was a sweet piece with autobiographical parts. As for the song to be a soundtrack for WDC 25th Birthday.... I would have to chose: I realize I am supposed to write more than I have but I am exhausted from my adventures to the Eden Mills Writer's Festival. |
Blog Week Birthday Bastion 2025 Prompt 7. Sept 7. The last day of this blogging week. Thank you all! “The surest sign that intelligent life exists elsewhere in the universe is that it has never tried to contact us.” – Bill Watterson Not sure what I am supposed to do with this.... comment, I suppose. Since intellegent life never tired to contact us... I figure I won't bother with the comments either. Thing is I am so tired. I got up early this morning so I could go to the Eden Mills Writer's Festival. I took my Morning Page notebook with me so that I could write them in the Cedars. It was really nice to write outside in the fresh air. Afterward I took a good walk through the Cedars. It was wonderful. When I returned to my stuff, I had enough time to use the port-a -potty before the Sarah Selecky began her workshop - Story Is A State of Mind. From her book she just published. It was a wonderful session and it kept me from listening to and buying too many books. In fact, I only bought one book today - Melinda Burns's book of poetry called Homecoming. I was not able to hear her read - I was at the workshop, but I wanted a copy of her book. I have taken some writing workshops with her in the past and wanted to support her. It was a lovely day. 17 degrees Celsius and sunny. Word count = 205 words. |
It's WDC - 25th Birthday Blogging time-- Today, write an entry about yourself, not something we can see in your bio and what attracted you to WDC. Tell us how long you've been here and then choose your favorite static item from your portfolio and post the item number "Maine Dyno-mites" ( I used Maine Dyno-mites just an example) inside your entry for others to see in addition to the three paragraphs you write about yourself.So I have to write about myself. Should be easy, but I have put this off all day. In fact, I usually do this blog first and then the other one, but today I did the other one first. I also read my Masquerade bits beforehand as well. I also keep worrying that tomorrow will be crazy busy and I have a Writer's Festival to go to out in the small village of Eden Mills. It is in their 35th year and they are starting early to let people write in the cedars by the Eramosa river.... with no Wi-Fi. By hand, baby. So no time or internet access to scout for scavenger hunt stuff until later.... if I still have energy. Sarah Selecky is doing a workshop based on her book Story Is A State Of Mind and I am so looking forward to it. I did a workshop with her years ago in Stratford when they had a writer's festival. It only happened a few years before Covid hit and then that festival died a quick death. So that's one thing - I love going to writer's festivals. September is a good month for them here in Southern Ontario... Canada. Word on the Street is in Toronto in a few weeks, but I probably won't make it this year as my mother is in the throes of dementia and going too far is not an option for me as much anymore. This is why the Kingston Writer's Festival is definitely a no go this year. I am also a teacher. I didn't apply to any long term teaching positions this fall. I don't know what to expect with my mother. Some days are good and others not so good. And I am her only caregiver. I know I need to get more help, but it seems a waste of money if she seems fine during the day.... but things have taken a turn in the last couple of weeks. I love special education and I have a great deal of patience, but I find that patience is harder to come by when it's my mother. Especially when my mother likes to drink wine and 'knock herself out with the booze' - those are her words, not mine. She was drinking heavily in the winter - a 750ml bottle in an hour and fifteen minutes. That is a regular size bottle. I have managed to get her to slow down, but boredom has her sleeping a lot. That may seems good, but the problem is when she does had an awake day, she perseverates so badly that it is hard to reason with her or get her calmed down. The more she drinks the less I do. One of us has to be on the ball. I'm not much of a drinker to start with, but it sure takes the fun out of it. I am more into ginger ale with juice in it. So that's my three things - I love writer's festivals; I'm a teacher who loves special education and I am not much of a drinker. I also love WDC and find the first week of September is a great time to celebrate it's 25th birthday. Here is my funny offering: "Miserably Stuck" |
Blogging Week Bastion 2025 Prompt 6. Sept 6. Look at the entries of this week by two members of this blogging group and do TWO reviews (more than 150 WORDS each, not characters). Post the reviews here Invalid Review  .I visited Silvern  's blog to leave a 'hi and welcome' message. They are the only black case that was brave enough to take on this challenge and my hat is off to them. This week I have been trying to share the love, by reviewing all the colours of our cases. I have done a lot of blue and purple ones this time around. They often don't get the reviews.... but everything has been wonderful. I decided to review someone that Silvern had praised as helpful - dogpack saving 4premium+  . Someone I had not reviewed before.... I think. Review of "Service Dog Bella " My second review Review of "Whatchamacallit" found a fellow Canadian with a cool sense of humour. Love that. Celebratin'Slipslidin'Senior  . I believe I have reviewed her before because I remember that username. Each review was over 1000 characters so I am thinking I made the required 150 words easily. I may come back and review some more, but first I need to tackle other birthday celebrations I have ventured to join. |
Blog Week Birthday Bastion 2025 Prompt 5. Sept 5. Music Prompt with coffee. Well that was crazy silly, but fun. I think I need some coffee before I write anymore. And lunch would be good too. Beyond that I can't get into that prompt. I have promised my mother I will take her out to do some shopping. I need to get cat food at Ren's Pets and maybe some things at Walmart. She wants to go out to dinner. I am not a fan of going out for dinner with her. I know that sounds awful... but think of a woman with Dementia who only wants to go out to drink. Drinking makes the dementia worse and she is drunk within minutes of downing a glass of wine. I hate spending time with anyone that is drunk, if I can help it. I used to drop her off and let her take a cab home, but I am finding she can't do that anymore. She's also misplaced her housekeys.... so it's probably easier to go with her. For my sanity, I ask the waitress not to bring the wine until the food comes. I find she does not drink as fast or as much if there is food in front of her. If she doesn't order anything, I can order something for her and tell her she ordered it. She usually forgets that we ordered anyway. Taking her out tonight will also allow me to feel less guilty when I take the day on Sunday to go to the Eden Mills Literary Street Festival. I'm looking forward to listening to writers read from their works and taking part in Sarah Selecky's Story Is A State Of Mind workshop in The Cedars by the Eramosa River. I'm so looking forward to it, but I don't want to get my hopes up in case Mom is having a bad day and I have to not go... then my ticket becomes a mere donation. I never thought my life would come to this, but I still have my mother - even if she is not her usual self. At this point she usually knows who I am. I am also wondering how I am going to maneuver my supply teaching work. On good days all is well, but what about the more difficult days? It's time like these that I wish I wasn't an only child. I also wish my aunt lived closer... but she also has her hands full with my uncle's declining health and my cousin's cancer rehabilitation - he picks up every infection and the cancer magnifies the issue. She's currently in hospital suffering with caregiver burnout. It's a real thing, people. Word count = 438 words. |
It's WDC - 25th Birthday: Blog / Scavenger Hunt September 5th There are different style blogging groups on WDC. Some are active all year, some host a specific month or just for WDC's birthday and some are on hiatus. Yup, more scavenger hunting, can you find at least five (5). There's more than that, I checked. Write about two of the different groups in your 3-paragraph entry. How do you feel about blogging in general? So having enjoyed blogging throughout my years here on WDC I have become a member and regular blogger (though not recently) of "Blog City ~ Every Blogger's Paradise" and it's forum "Blog City Prompt Forum" . I am also part of the group "Blogging Circle of Friends " . I believe Witchy Woman  has been managing both of those for a good long while - an excelling at it, I might add. I have thoroughly enjoyed the prompts and my favourite activity has been virtual blogging around the world. So fun! Blog City has several sister blogs: "Blog Harbor" organized by Jeff is Gru in #2343485  - who also does a blog - in February - "The Soundtrack of Your Life" - that is music based. I love that one, as music is very important to me and there a lot of connections I have made over the years. I have also gotten some great recommendations for other songs and artists by reading other people's blogs during that month. I have also done "30-Day Blogging Challenge ON HIATUS" with Fivesixer  . It is currently on Hiatus. I have blogged with "Welcome To My Reality Forum" in the past when Rhonda was organizing it back in 2013 or 2014. It has a newer fomat, but it doesn't look like it's been active since February of this year. Sunny  is doing an excellent job of organizing that one. During this birthday celebration I am doing this crazy challenge and "Blog Week Birthday Bastion 2025" , Each is so different and fun. I love blogging because I like writing to find out what I really think about a topic. I also really like reading other people's blogs to get their views on certain topics. One of the things I try not to do is read someone's blog before writing my own. I don't want them to influence my take on the prompt. But sometimes, I just need to see how other people have interpreted the prompt. Take yesterday's flash fiction scavenger hunt prompt. So far I have read StephBee  's piece as she always seems to post before me each day of this challenge. Well, since I have actually listed more blogs than required I am going to post this one and get onto the other one that has a piece of music as inspiration... we'll see how that goes. |
Blog Week Birthday Bastion 2025 Prompt 4. Sept 4. Quote: “Poets have been mysteriously silent on the subject of cheese.” ― G.K. Chesterton. Make this quote the start of your blog today. "Poets have been mysteriously silent on the subject of cheese." The day dawns dark and blustery, Heavy clouds release their deluge And the ground slurps it up with fervor. Even the birds and squirrels have found shelter Only the pounding of rain Thunders through the area. Eventually it stutters to a stop Dripping off the trees The street a damp mess with scattered debris The storm has passed All is well. Slowly a fluttering of wings Birds gather in search of worms Their songs tentative As squirrels emerge from their nests They explore what has become Of their world A chill breeze flutters the leaves And dries the pavement It separates the clouds And soon the sun peaks out It's shimmers bring the children Ready and eager to play In the puddles and mud School is out Freedom is had Within mother nature's bounty. And still no mention of cheese. |
It's WDC - 24th Birthday Blog / Scavenger Hunt September 4th Witchy Woman would like us to: Write a flash fiction story about a scavenger hunt gone wrong in 300 words or less. "Scavenger hunt, huh? Could be fun." I looked over the list of items thinking it wouldn't be that hard. "I can work that in." That had been what I had said four days ago when it was a holiday Monday and life was sweet and easy. Since then I'd gotten myself out to some rustic lodge in Illinois, discovered several dead bodies and managed to write two blogs a day and remember to post them to their designated forums. My head was spinning as I paddled to keep my head above water. I'd been diving deep into the far corners of WDC headquarters to find the necessary intel, but I could feel my sanity slipping. On the outskirts of my computer screen, life swirled. My dementia-ed mother was spinning in her confusion and I was caught in her tidal wave trying vainly to not capsize or get blown out to sea. At present I'm in a small eddy of calm, waiting out the next possible storm. Not sure if it will pass by or twist into something monstrous. I grab a bite to eat... something healthy as I work out a story detail and consider my next steps. How many more days of this?? I'm past the halfway point. I can make it. I just have to pray for smooth sailing and hope everything falls into place before Sunday's Eden Mills Writer's Festival. Yeah, I can do it. Gotta love September. Maybe it's a good thing I didn't apply for any long term occasional teaching positions. Word Count = 255 words. |
Blog Week Birthday Bastion 2025 Prompt 3. Sept 3. Pick and choose one Photo Prompt and blog away. I pick photo number....  I like the creativity of this picture. The child in the flux of creative joy where anything else has no substance or place. They are completely immersed within space and time of what is in their heart. It is the flow state. The state, all of us as creatives, long for and dream of. It takes us out of the real world and we become mind, emotion and creation unbound to any fixed point. Creativity is a messy business. It is 'all in' and it is everything. When you are able to sink into the heavenly essence of creative spirit you become one with it, Everything else falls away and becomes hazy at the edge of creativity's pop of colour, vibrancy and vivaciousness. There is no other high for a creative than this - when the spark ignites the imagination and it hums with emotion. It is at that point we can see the face of God smiling down at us... if we were so inclined to look. But maybe God's presence is enough to be felt. It is an acceptance. An all is right with the world kind of essence. It tingles through your body like butterflies lifting into the summer breeze. There in that flash of moment, but gone just as quickly. Savour those moments. Sip them like sweet nectar and dive into the depths of their resevour of emotional compassion and elation. Don't take these moments for granted. They come like sprinkles of spring rain on a sunny day. Watch the rainbow hover in the sky and smile. You have been blessed. There will be times when your path becomes dark. You may trip on overgrown roots that crisscross the path making moving forward seem bleak and forbidding. It is in those moments you remember the small child hunkered down with their crayons, their mind buzzing with the joy of creativity and you let yourself be that child. See your way through the debris of broken dreams and stale endings. Let the image lighten your load and bring you back to how it all started - carefree and unbridled. Let your mind go there and maybe, just maybe, your heart will follow and you will find your way again. I could see this as a poem.... with a little bit of work. Word Count is 387. |
| It's WDC - 25th Birthday Blog / Scavenger Hunt: Witchy Woman wants us to:We have ten or more members who joined WDC during the years of 2002 and 2004. Pick any five and review something from their portfolio. Yup, more scavenger hunting. (hint: not all are blue cases) Post your review numbers of the five in your blog entry and tell us what drew you to that work. (Remember a paragraph not one sentence) Just think this week reviews earn more gps. *** Reviews must be more 750 characters w/o WritingML*** Okay. I can do this... Elycia Lee ☮  is a yellow case member who joined the site on February 28, 2002. She is still a very active member and I recognize her name.  She does a lot of the same challenges as I do. So I had lots to chose from when it came to reviews.... I decided to review her Dear Me 2025 letter - Review of "Dear Me 2025" . I was well over the required 750 characters.Next is another yellow case, a Sunflower in Texas  who joined March 1, 2002. I reviewed a piece of her fiction - Review of "Candy Apple Red Corvette" .I found a moderator Davy Kraken  who joined March 8, 2002. His portfolio was very interestingly set up. But I have done 6 reviews.... and spent all day doing this and I still have two other activities to do! I found a purple case for Sophy  who has been here since March 25, 2002. I reviewed one of her SLAM poetry pieces - Review of "Betrayal" .Another blue case moderator Maryann  joined April 16, 2002. I took in her adventures in Australia - Review of "My Trip to Australia" . I wonder what other places she's been to? I hope it is okay to not have all blue or purple cases. You didn't specify case colour in your prompt, except to say they aren't all blue and I wanted to spread the love. If we have to do all blue and above cases, I can add these ones. James A. Osteen Jr. is a blue case - April 18, 2002. I did a review of one of his many poems - Review of "Slipping into forgetfulness" . It was lovely. I do hope he is still active on the site.Princess Megan Rose  is a blue case - May 21, 2002 Princess Megan Rose reviews a lot of my work so it's only fair I include her in my blog and review something of hers. This is the review I did - Review of " Downton Abbey, Starring Me As Mary " . |
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