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Rated: 18+ · Book · Personal · #1051691

Life, Adventure, Family, Writing what else is there? Random thoughts.

WELCOME TO:

GEMINI RISING

Banner for my blog, "Gemini Rising"
*Flower1* *Flower1* *Flower1* *Flower1* *Flower1* *Flower1*

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:

FORUM
It's WDC- 25th Birthday Open in new Window. (E)
7 day Challenge to celebrate 25 years of this successful writer's haven.
#2343390 by A Warped Witch I Be Author IconMail Icon


SEPTEMBER 2025:

FORUM
Earn the Badge - CLOSED Open in new Window. (E)
You want it? Earn it. How? Complete these simple tasks and the badge is yours!
#2133333 by Purple writing writing writing Author IconMail Icon


Merit Badges collected and earned from "Earn the Badge 2025"
Merit Badge in WdC Supportive Friend [Click For More Info] Thank you for participating in [Link To Item #2133333] . Congratulations on completing the September 2nd Daily Task. Merit Badge in Earn the Badge [Click For More Info] Thank you for your donation to [Link To Item #2133333] - from Purple Princess. Merit Badge in Music [Click For More Info] Thank you for participating in [Link To Item #2133333] . Congratulations on completing the September 3rd Daily Task. Merit Badge in Contests [Click For More Info] Thank you for participating in [Link To Item #2133333] . Congratulations on completing the September 1st daily task. Merit Badge in Growth [Click For More Info] Good job earning the Growth Merit Badge in [Link To Item #2133333] Merit Badge in Word Searches [Click For More Info] Great job participating in [Link To Item #2133333] and completing the September 5th task. Merit Badge in Teamwork [Click For More Info] Great job for picking a teammate and completing the September 6th Task at [Link To Item #2133333]


SUMMER 2025:

FORUM
BCoF 's Virtual 50 State Bucket List Open in new Window. (18+)
We're going to explore one unique place in each of the 50 states in alphabetical order.
#2342653 by A Warped Witch I Be Author IconMail Icon


Merit Badges Collected from Virtual Blogging &Virtual Blogging Friends:
Merit Badge in Let Dreams Take Wing [Click For More Info] To my upcoming virtual traveling blog companion. Dream big and fly high! Merit Badge in Normal Is Boring [Click For More Info] here's to another week of creating adventures! Merit Badge in Blog Camping [Click For More Info] Thanks for completing [Link To User elusive4lyn] July 2025 blogging vacation!! Great job!! Merit Badge in Travel [Click For More Info] Woohoo! We’re halfway through! Merit Badge in BCoF 2 [Click For More Info] Thank you for your participation in BCoF's 50 States Virtual Blogging adventure. *^*Heart*^* Lyn Merit Badge in Endurance [Click For More Info] 51 days of blogging takes commitment, and you rocked it. *^*Heart*^* Lyn


SEPTEMBER 2024:

I participated in the
FORUM
Blog Week Birthday Bastion 2025 Open in new Window. (E)
Blogging event from September 1-7, 2025. CLOSED
#2277665 by WakeUpAndLive~NOV Word Monger Author IconMail Icon
which was a big challenge for me due to my schedule, but I hunkered down and got it done. There's some great entries for the contest and the blog earned the following:

Merit Badge in Nonfiction [Click For More Info] Congrats on your Honorable Mention in Blog Week Birthday Bastion 2024

Big thanks to WakeUpAndLive~NOV Word Monger Author IconMail Icon for hosting the contest!

OCTOBER 2024 & 2025 :

I participated in the
FORUM
13 Poetic Days of Halloween Contest 2025 Open in new Window. (E)
Let your spooky poetry shine. Oct. 13th 12:01 am WDC time. - closes 11:59 pm WDC Oct 25th
#2328177 by A Warped Witch I Be Author IconMail Icon
in 2024 which honestly was a big challenge for me considering my schedule, and again I hunkered down and did it! Update October 2025: I had so much participating in the challenge last year, I did it again for 2025 and successfully completed it. There's some great spooky poetry to be found in October and the blog earned the following merit badges:

Merit Badge in Halloween [Click For More Info] Congratulations on completing the 13 Poetic Days of Halloween. Merit Badge in Determination [Click For More Info] You rose to the poetry challenges in 12 Poetic Days of Halloween in grand style. Merit Badge in Ghost [Click For More Info] Thank you for your successful completion of 13 Poetic Days of Halloween *^*Heart*^* Lyn

Big Thanks to A Warped Witch I Be Author IconMail Icon for hosting the contest!



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

*Exclaim* WARNING *Exclaim*

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" *Wink* check out the "Gemini Rising..."


Another Signature
August 1, 2025 at 8:06pm
August 1, 2025 at 8:06pm
#1094535
Maid of the Mist Most Macabre Author IconMail Icon said there was NO WAY she was driving the Party Bus in New York City because she heard the traffic was so crazy, so she parked it in New Jersey and we took a bus taxi to downtown New York. The first place we went to was the 9/11 Memorial.

I think we all remember what we were doing that day. I was supposed to go to training at the “Museum of Tolerance” in Westwood (Los Angeles) but it was canceled so I stayed home and watched TV, 3 month preggers with Andy. I’ll never forget the sights and sounds and the heroism displayed that day and I’ll forever remember Rudy Giuliani running toward the destruction and not away from it – a hero.

To be honest, I am a Republican, which is not an easy political class to be in the state of California, and I don’t necessarily want to make this blog about politics, but I have always leaned conservative. I joined the Army in 1986 because Regan really instilled a sense of patriotism in the country at the time and when I registered to vote in the US, I registered Republican. Through the years, I have voted for both democrat and republican candidates. That said, I am fine with Donald Trump being the president of the United States. I am a moderate republican and I totally respect anyone’s desire to support whoever they want when it comes to politics and I would hope others would respect where I come from. – And for that, I thank you.

That said, I don’t think it matters what political party you affiliate with when it comes to the 9-11 memorial. It still hits you in the gut, as Giant Phantom Jelly Author IconMail Icon reflected. I was very somber walking around the reflecting the pools where the buildings stood. We were all quiet as we toured the museum and visited the wall where the victims’ name was placed.



After that somber visit, we all decided to go Italian and have lunch. Šuŋgmánitu Tȟáŋka Author IconMail Icon took us to this nice, authentic Italian restaurant in Little Italy and the food was outstanding. I enjoyed the spaghetti and meatballs, being the foodie I am. Krista Author IconMail Icon ate her New York style pizza folded and A Warped Witch I Be Author IconMail Icon enjoyed the chicken marsala.

That afternoon the daredevils went to lean outside of a skyscraper. I’m not one to do something so exciting as that so I watched Princess Megan Snow Rose Author IconMail Icon as she leaned out and yelled, “I’m the Queen of the World.” Šuŋgmánitu Tȟáŋka Author IconMail Icon, A Warped Witch I Be Author IconMail Icon and AmyJo-Zombie hours Author IconMail Icon also leaned out. You could see the adrenaline rush all over their faces.

After all that excitement, then it was time to shop until you drop in Times Square. Princess Megan Snow Rose Author IconMail Icon and I went hog wild in the Kate Spade store and even got Maid of the Mist Most Macabre Author IconMail Icon to buy one. Giant Phantom Jelly Author IconMail Icon wanted to see the Statue of Liberty so we eeked out an extra hour and took the ferry over. Krista Author IconMail Icon took a TON of pictures for her Instagram. A Warped Witch I Be Author IconMail Icon suggested we take a night tour with a horse and buggy and we had a blast. We sang “New York, New York,” while enjoying tea and cookies becoming one with the City that Never sleeps.

*Thought*  Comment   •   View 1 comment
August 1, 2025 at 7:18pm
August 1, 2025 at 7:18pm
#1094534
The Party Bus was chugging right along through Alamogordo, New Mexico. Maid of the Mist Most Macabre Author IconMail Icon stopped at 7-11 to gas up and recharge her 64 oz Big Gulp. My son, Andy, came along for the day and got a Big Gulp himself. A Warped Witch I Be Author IconMail Icon encouraged a 5.00 buy in and got us all sunscreen, sunglasses, hats, water bottles, and balaclavas for when we went riding the sand dunes.

When we got to White Sands National Park we were ready. Everyone put on their dri-fit clothing, sunscreen, sunglasses, balaclavas and rented sand tubes. Andy and Krista Author IconMail Icon shared a Sand Tube and had a blast. Me and Princess Megan Snow Rose Author IconMail Icon shared a sand tube. We had to wax them down so they slide faster down the dunes. Šuŋgmánitu Tȟáŋka Author IconMail Icon and Giant Phantom Jelly Author IconMail Icon shared a tube that went flying when it hit a rock. They didn’t go far and they landed right side up so that was good. A Warped Witch I Be Author IconMail Icon flew down the sands with Maid of the Mist Most Macabre Author IconMail Icon who is a secret adrenaline junkie. Even Sprout and Peyton went sand tubing. Everyone enjoyed the need for speed! They sold the sledding/tugging blocks in an hour and 30 minutes increments so the tubing went quick. When we were done, everyone still had some sand in places they shouldn’t so A Warped Witch I Be Author IconMail Icon took us to where the showers were and we all enjoyed a good shower.

While we were tubing, WakeUpAndLive~NOV Word Monger Author IconMail Icon, and AmyJo-Zombie hours Author IconMail Icon took a couple of the hikes around the sand dunes. They finished about the same we did. The sun is very bright on the sand and it hurts the eyes after awhile, even with good sunglasses.

After lunch at a local Mexican cantina, we were off to the New Mexico Museum of Space History. I could not wait as I LOVE everything having to do with space and rockets. At the Museum, we caught up with Fivesixer Author IconMail Icon who said he’d hang with us for a bit on our travels.

Outside the museum there were plenty of rocket exhibits liken there was in Alabama. Inside, you start at the 5th floor and work your way down. The 2nd floor is totally dedicated to Gene Rodenberry and Star Trek. I loved Star Trek. Princess Megan Snow Rose Author IconMail Icon did too. She was a big Spock fan. When we finished, WakeUpAndLive~NOV Word Monger Author IconMail Icon said there was a show at the planetarium so we rushed over to catch it. We saw the “Astronauts, Oceans to Orbit” about how astronauts use the ocean to train for orbit.



Krista Author IconMail Icon took plenty of picks of the White sand dunes from the museum as you could see them from there.

After the day was done, we went to the AirBnB to rest, relax, and take an extra shower!
*Thought*  Comment   •   View 6 comments


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