Monthly Archives: June 2018

Topically Distracted

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I’m reblogging this blog because in it I list ten new prompt sites. Since some have altered their process and URL to pingback to, I’m reprinting it . I believe it is all current information, plus I’ve added a few new sites to the list. Let me know if any of the information doesn’t work for you. Please check them all out and support some of the ones that haven’t gained a lot of followers yet. Ironically, some of the easiest to post on have the fewest people contributing to them. These folks have gone to a lot of work to furnish us with what WordPress has taken away, so support them if you have the time. I’ve included the poem that I wrote two weeks ago because I imagine a number of you are having the same experiences in trying to adapt to the new prompt sites. Glad to see you all here!!! Judy

lifelessons's avatarlifelessons - a blog by Judy Dykstra-Brown

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Topically Distracted

When WordPress put us out to dry,
turning a deaf ear to our cry
not to suspend the Daily Post,
I think it disillusioned most.
Yet, so many rose to hear our plight
that now I labor day and night
to fulfill the prompts they host.
I fear offending if I don’t post.
So though outside the air’s a balm,
the flowers lush, the scene all calm,
I feel my obligation’s rush.
I feel each lined-up prompting’s crush.

Each jostles to be first in line
like a regular at opening time.
So though outside it’s tropical,
and therefore very topical,
I cannot feel the scene before me.
Sun, trees, water only bore me.
Even the palm trees do not sway.
No wind  rustles them today.
And though the prompt is “tropical,”
my mind is stuck on “topical.”
I must admit that I’m distracted.
With prompts, I fear…

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“Share Your World” Challenge

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This is a hilarious parody of the ‘Share Your World” prompts that I’m sure we all love. They are great ways to get to know each other and to reflect on happenings in our own lives. Things get sinister, however–a great reminder to us all that we need to be circumspect regarding what we share online. It starts out great and I’d love to hear people actually answer #s 1,2,3,5,6 and 8 and then to heed the warning the rest of the questions project.

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I’ve seen many “Share Your World” challenges over the last couple years, so I figured maybe I could do one, in my own unique style of course. So, here goes.

What is your favorite flavor of ice cream? (Yeah, I’m easing into it.)

What is your most wonderful memory as a child before age 7?

If you could relive any moment of your life, what would it be?

What are the last 4 digits of your SSN?

We all remember our first kiss. Without describing the kiss, what led up to it?

What is your earliest memory?

What is your mother’s maiden name?

If you won the lottery, what would you do with the money you don’t keep for yourself?

What are the first 5 digits of your SSN?

What was the name of your first pet?

What was the name of the first street you lived on?

What was…

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Plummeting

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Three years ago, I wrote a blog entitled “Plummeting.” Although it describes an event that occurred almost seventeen years ago, the subject is still a timely one, so I’m going to reblog it. It is linked to a blog entitled “Soaring” that completes the message.
Please join the Daily Addiction prompt site. It is easy and they post consistently. Today’s  prompt word, as you might have guessed, is plummet.

lifelessons's avatarlifelessons - a blog by Judy Dykstra-Brown

Plummeting

The weekend before, we had had our last moving sale and had nearly cleared out our very overladen house in California.  We’d sold as much of our accumulated lives as possible–a 125 years (sum of our two ages) combined total of collecting art as well as material and tools for making art.  We were shedding the detritus of our old lives to begin a new life in the house we had just purchased in Mexico.  Our van was fully packed with not one inch of spare space other than a place for our cat and two more suitcases we would add when we finally took off for our retirement in Mexico.  We had only one more appointment–to talk to our doctor about the results of Bob’s last physical examination, which had included an ultrasound.

We’d been on a high for months as we prepared to head out for our…

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Tightrope: Talking to Myself in the Mirror

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Another prompt from the past floating back up to the surface! For FOWC with Fandango.

lifelessons's avatarlifelessons - a blog by Judy Dykstra-Brown

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Tightrope: Talking to Myself in the Mirror

Life is a delicate balance–just toe in front of toe.
Make too grand a gesture and down you’ll surely go.
Tormented thoughts may enter but they’re sure to also pass,
so do not let them spill you onto your impetuous ass.

Try to think before you speak angry words and cruel.
Too often, though they’re warranted, they’ll make you out a fool.
Try to strike a balance between what’s kind and true.
Your mouth is way too tiny to accommodate your shoe.

Diplomacy’s not lying, it’s just choosing the right word.
To spill out everything you think will brand you as absurd.
Of course we’re only human and of course there will be slips
from time to time from angry, hurt or tactless lips.

But, no matter how chaotic the thoughts are in your head,
it’s best that you don’t follow them everywhere…

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Thunbergia: Flower of the Day, June 13, 2018

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For Cee’s Flower of the Day prompt.

Dumb, Dumb, Dumb! Home from the Sea

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Want to support this new Weekly Prompt site, so I went to their site, got the prompt word and reblogged this poem.  Only after I’d posted it did I realize that it was the HOME page and not the prompt! I trashed it, then decided why not restore it.  Surely someone in the world posted a “Home” prompt today!  Please note that I’m not at the beach now.  This is a poem written three years ago. Here is the Weekly Prompts link with the real prompt word of “hybrid”.  Perhaps I’ll tackle it tomorrow.
https://weeklyprompts.com/

lifelessons's avatarlifelessons - a blog by Judy Dykstra-Brown

The Prompt: Re-springing Your Step–Tell us about the last experience you had that left you feeling fresh, energized, and rejuvenated. What was it that had such a positive effect on you?

The Answer: Two months living on the beach in La Manzanilla really did leave me feeling energized, relaxed and a bit nostalgic. I posted some words and photos earlier here and here and here. Below is the rest of the story:

Home from the Sea

That good old salty sea air combined with grainy sand
defined my beach vacation and went great with being tanned.
Felt great under my bare feet and squished between each toe.
And left footprints behind me, wherever I chose to go.
It crusted up my toenails and powdered all my floors.
Seeped into my keyboard and creaked up all my doors.
It told the upstairs neighbors when I’d gone and got back home.

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The Ups and Downs (Columns and Vertical Lines)

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Click on any photo to enlarge all and view as a slide series.

For: https://ceenphotography.com/2018/06/12/cees-fun-foto-challenge-columns-and-vertical-lines/

Squelched Evolution

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Squelched Evolution

I fear there’s a frustrating schism
between progress and atavism.
For though I’d like to best my folks,
adding my genius to the yolks
of  eggs of the next generation,
instead I feel great perturbation.
I could improve the family genes,
but fear that I have not the means.
For though I’m sure I’m an improvement,
our gene pool won’t see any movement.
There is a sure futility
regarding  mutability.
My evolution’s hit the skids.
I forgot to have some kids!!!!

 

This was written to fulfill two prompts. The RDP daily prompt is atavism and Daily Addiction’s prompt is futile.

Rainy Season Whine

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Rainy Season Whine

They can’t control the weather. The rain is its own boss.
So in the rainy season, we get our share of moss.
It wouldn’t be so bad if it would just grow where we choose,
but in the rainy season, it grows inside my shoes.

From June to September, we fall asleep to rain
and then in the morning, we wake up to it again.
Our clothing’s always soggy. Our clean cars do not last.
We can’t sit on the patio for a light repast.

We cannot play touch football with the wife and kids,
for when we do, our touchdowns wind up as muddy skids.
The dog does not get walked enough, so he’s a restless doggy,
and when we order pizza, the box is always soggy.

Pent up with our families, tempers sometimes flare.
Dad wigs out when the roof leaks, sis bemoans her frizzy hair.
Mom says that the fudge won’t set and brother is complaining
that the wifi doesn’t seem to work so well when it is raining.

We know the flowers need it, as does the reservoir.
Restrictions in water usage in the summer are a bore.
It’s true water’s a blessing. We are much in its debt,
but is there no way to get it without getting wet?

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The FOWC challenge word today is control.

Hurricane Bud

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I’m sitting here watching the effects of Hurricane Bud roll in to La Manzanilla via the web cam of Daniel, whose next door neighbor I am every January and February.  If you want to see what I am seeing, go HERE: https://myearthcam.com/lamanzanilla

Daniel is sitting on the deck of the house I have rented for these two months for the past seven years.  If I should happen to go into the kitchen for something and you see a big wave get him while I’m gone, please call 911!!!

Usually, Daniel is surrounded by friends on the occasion of the sunset, but I can see that they are fair weather friends.

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Oh oh.  Got back from flipping the hamburger in the kitchen and I see Daniel is gone, too, but the webcam hasn’t given up.  Thanks, Daniel, for the view. Sure hope you just went in for another beer or to check your webcam or the internet in general.

Looks like Daniel has closed down the cam for the night, but it will be on again tomorrow and by the tide charts, it looks like the tides will be slightly higher tomorrow, so go have a look.  It’s mesmerizing.