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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.

Me visiting Space Camp 1993
me in my 20's

I've got 2 boys who are young adults.

The family waits in line to get on next to the Ship.

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:

DECEMBER 2025:

I participated in:
FORUM
12 Poetic Days of Yuletide Open in new Window. (E)
12 different Poetry styles beginning December 21st- January 1st.
#2329171 by Witchy Yule Woman Author IconMail Icon

this was a great challenge and I would highly recommend it if comes up again for next year. The blog earned the following merit badge:
Merit Badge in Seasons Winter [Click For More Info] Congratulations on successfully completing 12 Poetic Days of Yule. Enclosed is the bonus gps for trying the Terza Rima Sonnet successfully!

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 Witchy Yule Woman Author IconMail Icon


Merit Badges collected and earned:
Merit Badge in Writing.Com Birthday [Click For More Info] Thanks for rockin' WDC's birthday with me. *^*Heart*^* Lyn
Awardicon earned: The blog earned the Green 50K Awardicon for 1st Place.

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 Snowflakes 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 Witchy Yule Woman 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~lifestyle change 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~lifestyle change 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 Witchy Yule Woman 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 Witchy Yule Woman Author IconMail Icon for hosting the contest!

NOVEMBER 2025 :
Merit Badge in WdC Positive Influence [Click For More Info] Thank you for all you do on WdC. I appreciate your encouragement and support *^*Hearto*^*
from Tiggy ❄️ Author IconMail Icon



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
December 22, 2025 at 10:37pm
December 22, 2025 at 10:37pm
#1104215
Well, I worked all night so I pretty much slept the day away and woke up at 2 pm. I did the dishes but mind you, it takes 3 hours and 35 minutes to clean my dishes. I think it's a give and take situation.

Kinda mini nice rant because it's the holidays....

California mandates certain "clean energy" standards on your appliances and they're probably one of the toughest states in the US. That said, if I wash my dishes in my dishwater on normal which takes 2 hours and 25 minutes I'm taking my chances. I've opened up the dishwasher to find that my dishes still have a food stain or two and I really try to rinse off my dishes but I've got my husband and Andy loading dishes so you never know. BUT if I put the dishes on heavy duty then the dishes get Clean. So I have to ask - how much energy am I really saving having you to use the Heavy duty all the time?

Then there is the washer and dryer. I have to use the washer on heavy duty and only load the washer 1/2 to 3/4 full because if I use normal and load it all the way up, some stains might not get out and they still kinda smell. The dryer maxes out at 80 minutes and I have to set it on Hvy and and do 1 round of 80 mins and a 2nd round at 30 mins. Sigh... so I am really saving energy? I don't get it.

Thank goodness tomorrow is payday. I need some last minute stuff. I gotta get Hubby something for his stocking other than coal. It never fails. Oh, there are still Christmas boxes in the living room. The boys have yet to put them away. As for outdoor lights - that never happened. I think next year I'm going to have to hire a holiday light crew.

Hubby just told me he needs a cochlear implant. Thankfully the surgery doesn't sound as invasive as it sounds. He'll call after the holidays to get that ball rolling.

Did I ever tell you the story behind in the coal in the Christmas stocking? Back between 91-93 and I'll lean toward 91, when the Berlin Wall fell and a lot of Eastern countries opened up, we were stationed in Bad Hersfeld, just 10 kilometers from the East/West border. We would venture into "east" Germany and explore. One day we found ourselves in Buchenwald. We took of the concentration camp. It was a very sobering experience. Buchanwald was near the city of Erfurt in Germany. I remember we left Buchanwald and drove though a small town on the way back to the west and our observations were stunning.

Mind you, I can't remember the name of this city. I'm pretty sure we were driving down the main street. We saw Soviet soliders dressed in uniform walking down the street. There were two types of buildings - building older than the 1950's - classic maybe a mix of gothic or romanesque. They were covered in soot and you could still bullet holes in these buildings. My husband and I were surprised and our guesses were they were left there from world war II. Then there were the apartment buildings - newer, with drab colors and reflective windows that looked the same. I dunno, it's hard to explain. As we drove by, a truck was making coal deposits in front of apartment buildings.

Real coal. We'd never seen anything like it. I think I have a picture. I'll see if I can dig it up. We stopped the car and grabbed a piece of coal as a souvenir. Kinda sounds stupid now, but back then we were 20 somethings and that was something we'd never experienced before.

Nowadays the coal has found it's way into the Christmas stockings. Usually I'm pretty slick and Brent ends up with the coal in his stocking but there's been a year or two when he's snuck into mine. Right now I put it in my son's Joey stocking. I haven't decided if it will take up permanent residence there or not. *Laugh*
*Thought*  Comment   •   View 2 comments
December 22, 2025 at 6:14am
December 22, 2025 at 6:14am
#1104169
This poem is written for:
FORUM
12 Poetic Days of Yuletide Open in new Window. (E)
12 different Poetry styles beginning December 21st- January 1st.
#2329171 by Witchy Yule Woman Author IconMail Icon


Pantoum Poem Prompt ▶︎

Festival in the heart of Night

Dancing, Dancing bonfire bright
Boughs of Holly ringing red
Laughing, Laughing, heart of night
Hand in Hand the table spread.

Boughs of Holly ringing red
White to life, wreaths and wine
Hand in Hand the table spread
Ivy and Holly ripe on the vine.

White to life, wreaths and wine
Yule log flames with scent and spice
Ivy and Holly ripe on the vine.
Drink and Darkness - a kiss precise.

Yule log flames with scent and spice
Love and Peace on wistful sprigs of mistletoe
Drink and Darkness - a kiss precise
Pounding, Pounding, in our beau chateau.

Love and Peace on wistful sprigs of mistletoe
Laughing, Laughing - heart of night
Pounding, Pounding in our beau chateau
Dancing, Dancing, bonfire bright.

Lines: 20
*Thought*  Comment


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Printed from https://shop.writing.com/main/profile/blog/sgcardin/day/12-22-2025