Life, Adventure, Family, Writing what else is there? Random thoughts. |
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. CURRENT BLOG PROJECT:
RULES: 1. Blog has to be more than 2 paragraphs, some people have tried putting a one-liner response. That won't cut it. 2.You need to respond at least once every week to other participant's blog posts. This is a 7 week activity= 7 blog responses within each of the weeks. It's fun getting to see what others noted that you might have missed or hadn't thought about. 3. You don't need to blog everyday, catch-ups are allowed if you want to go for the bigger prize award. But each entry must be a separate entry. So, if you do all 51, you'll have 51 entries. 4. Please tag me Lyn's a Witchy Woman ![]() ![]() 5. Posting in a book is preferred to keep the forum from being clogged. You can use any book you want. ALONG FOR THE RIDE: HOST: Lyn's a Witchy Woman ![]() ![]() Princess Megan Rose ![]() ![]() Sung'manitu ![]() ![]() AmyJo-July 2/3s done ![]() ![]() SandraLynn ![]() ![]() AmyJo-July 2/3s done ![]() ![]() WakeUpAndLive ![]() ![]() Krista ![]() ![]() Jellyfish ![]() ![]() RECOGNIZATION: 10-24 Entries, MB plus 10K Awardicon 25-50 Entries, MB plus 25K Awardicon 51 Entries MB plus 50K Awardicon Merit Badges Collected from Virtual Blogging &Virtual Blogging Friends: ![]() ![]() BLOG ACCOMPLISHMENTS: SEPTEMBER 2024: I participated in the
![]() Big thanks to WakeUpAndLive ![]() ![]() OCTOBER 2024: I participated in the
![]() Big Thanks to Lyn's a Witchy Woman ![]() ![]() 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 ![]() ![]() 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" ![]() ![]() |
The Party Bus cruised into Bar Harbor, Maine a little late into the day, so Lyn's a Witchy Woman ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() Our Captain was a really nice guy and gave us a nice historical overview of Maine, the coast and Acadia national park. What he missed Lyn's a Witchy Woman ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() A nice breeze kept the sails full. Princess Megan Rose ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() As the sunset began to set, long shadows crept over the trees and the wind picked up a little. The Captain brough us back close to shore and Krista ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() This day in Maine was wonderful for me. There’s nothing quite like the Atlantic, clam chowder, fried clams, lobster rolls and fresh air that say ‘welcome home.’ |
SandraLynn ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() I gave ⱲєbⱲitϚћ is 18 ![]() ![]() Sung'manitu ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() Since it was sunset, gray clouds slowly drifted in and the temperature got cooler. That voodoo chill was in the air. Princess Megan Rose ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() After the tour, we went to the Spotted Cat to enjoy the jazz music and the drinks. No Sung'manitu ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() WakeUpAndLive ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ⱲєbⱲitϚћ is 18 ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
SandraLynn ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() Lyn's a Witchy Woman ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() I drove so fast the PoPo pulled me over, but I showed them my 911 dispatcher ID from LAPD and they all laughed and escorted me back to the museum. After that, Princess Megan Rose ![]() ![]() The tour was pretty neat and we learned a lot about corvettes. The first one was made in 1953. Since then, the styles have changed, but not the need for speed. As we left the museum, WakeUpAndLive ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() After, we took a boat ride in the Lost river caves which reminded me of the Salt Mines I visited in Berchesgarden, Germany. Richard ~ Looking for Luck! ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() Well, after all that adventure, we were all in the mood for another hot springs. I tried to find a Diner, Drive-in or Dive in bowling green, but alas, Guy Fieri has yet to visit. So after a nap on the party bus, we went to a couple of places and AmyJo-July 2/3s done ![]() ![]() |
Kansas is another heartland state. Our first stop today was the Monroe Elementary School, which was involved in the Brown v. Board of Education Supreme Court case in 1954. Prior to then, the law of the land was “Plessy v. Ferguson,” which called for separate but equal sites and facilities. The Supreme Court, in a 9-0 vote, did away with Plessy v. Ferguson. All children, regardless of their color, could attend their local schools. Honestly, it was a very sober visit. Brown v. Board of Education was a BIG win for Civil Rights. Nowadays, the school is part of the National Park System. In my experiences in life, I have not seen segregation like this, and in the type of environment I grew up, I would definitely call it out. I believe the country has made a lot of progress in regards to equality, (I’ve seen that in my own work environment) but there are some places where progress needs a push, and that’s sad. Lyn's a Witchy Woman ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() WakeUpAndLive ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() The museum is very similar to how the Ronald Regan museum was set up in Simi Valley. School de-segregation was important to Ike. He was a firm believer in Civil Rights and helped to de-segregate schools during his presidency. |
The Party Bus was chugging right along on the way to Iowa when SandraLynn ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() Between WakeUpAndLive ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() Let me tell you, that house is kinda small. We pig piled in for a selfie that Krista ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() Wood really got around. He was born in Iowa, studied in Minneapolis, and then went to France to finish his studies. He returned to Iowa and was a jack of all trades to include a portrait painter were he took inspiration from real life. If you ask me, the dude in the American Gothic picture looks like Chuck Grassley, but that’s just me. Afterwards, we visited Chief Wapello’s memorial park. It was a profound visit. Maybe Kevin Costner will direct a movie about the Chief? I’d go watch. After a dinner, the Party Bus was back on the road and since SandraLynn ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
All SandraLynn ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() Lyn's a Witchy Woman ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() SandraLynn ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() He took us to the Pit, where all the race cars were lined up. My Kyle drives a really souped up Chevrolet Camaro. I was surprised to find that out. Anyway it’s a nice car. The seatbelt is more like a harness. Mr. Busch got my Kyle to come over and visit with us and we took some pictures with him. Of course, Krista ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() The Kyles looked at each other, shrugged their shoulders, and said, “Why not?” Needless to say, we all went back to the Party Bus. The Kyles cleared the request and there we were just freewheeling the Party Bus around the Brickyard 400 racetrack with Kyle Busch and Kyle Larson. SandraLynn ![]() ![]() Come to find out, Kyle Busch was a driver, too. So the Kyles autographed everything we put in front of them – Lyn's a Witchy Woman ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() After all that excitement, SandraLynn ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
The Party Bus was chugging right along through Illinois on the way to Chicago when WakeUpAndLive ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() Boy, that Willis Tower is tall. It used to be the World’s tallest building back in late 1990’s but now it’s only the 26th tallest building in the world. What a dip – to go from #1 to #26! There’s a lot to do at the Willis building. One of the attractions is the “Ledge” where you go up 1,353 feet and stand on a ledge made of glass! Needless to say, I was apprehensive. While Princess Megan Rose ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() Krista ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() After that, we all caught up with Princess Megan Rose ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
When Lyn's a Witchy Woman ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() When I was in the 5th grade, I picked Idaho for my state to research. It’s true Idaho is known for it’s potatoes. Other than that, Idaho is a pretty low-key chill state. There’s lots to do outdoors like hiking, fishing, and skiing in the wintertime. SandraLynn ![]() ![]() Sung'manitu ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() After a great soak, I rode the Go-Karts with WakeUpAndLive ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Welp, there’s only 2 ways to get to Hawaii – Fly or take a Cruise Ship. So SandraLynn ![]() ![]() When we got off the Cruise ship, the weather was mild, the breeze was cool, and there they were roasting a pig on the beach! First stop was the Kilauea Volcano. Let me tell you, it was just as scary as the Colorado Bridge. It rumbled and spit up some lava. Princess Megan Rose ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() Krista ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() Lyn's a Witchy Woman ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() Lyn's a Witchy Woman ![]() ![]() On the way back to cruise ship, I told the party gang that Hawaii used to be part of the mythical continent of Lemuria. No one believed me. Go figure. They all thought I had too many Mai Tai’s. Back at the terminal we shopped for souvenirs. Krista ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
So the Party Bus broke down on the Jekyll Island Causeway right before we were supposed to get to Jekyll Island. SandraLynn ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() We made it to Driftwood Beach on Jekyll Island and Krista ![]() ![]() I did an Internet search and found out Jekyll island was named after a dude to paid 600,000 pounds to found the colony. I wonder if he knew Mr. Hyde? In 1886 a bunch of rich people named Rockerfeller, Morgan, and Vanderbuilt, founded the Jekyll Island Club for Hunting and Recreation. However, the club broke up during World War II. Then we canoed to the Sea Turtle Center. Princess Megan Rose ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() At the end of the day, we returned the canoe and found SandraLynn ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |