I never knew I was a fan of frogs’ singing
until I moved into a home by a
lake.
Rough voices color the night while
mingling
with lights dancing off of the water’s
face.
In unison the choir stops to admire the
stars,
to imagine the sound of joined voices in
space
A whisper bounces back from galaxy’s
edge
ribbit! ribbit! echoing through the Milky Way.
Written in response to the Daily Post’s Daily Prompt:
A Bird, a Plane, You!You get to choose one superpower. Pick one of these, and explain your choice:
A) the ability to speak and understand any language
B) the ability to travel through time
C) the ability to make any two people agree with each other
“Give me the words, the language, and the ability to listen and I shall rule the world.”–me, 02/01/2016
http://youtu.be/DH5sGa5WJWs
Adios!
Bumper sticker found on a car in Tallahassee.
Peace, people!
My friend Mitch at http://mitchteemley.com, authors a powerful, inspiring, often magical blog, The Power of Story. I’m a big Mitch fan, so imagine my delight to learn he’d nominated me for the One Lovely Blog Award! Thank you, Mitch.
I confess I don’t often accept awards on WordPress, not because I’m not honored, but because I am just horrible at linking others’ blogs to mine. It’s an age thing.
When I was a kid a link was one part of a chain and not some futuristic doohickey meant to convey one through space and time to another website. And a website had more to do with a spider….but I digress.
Part of accepting an award is following instructions. Let’s see how well I do, shall we?
1. Thank the person who nominated me and include a link to their blog. (check)
2. List the rules and display the award. (So far, so good)
3. Add 7 facts about me. (Seven seems reasonable, but honestly I could go on and on.)
4. Nominate 15 other bloggers. (Wish me luck on the linkage part!)
5. Leave a comment on one of their posts to let them know they have been nominated (Alrighty then! Again, wish me luck.)
7 Facts About Me:
1. I’m a lousy cook. My entire repertoire consists of dishes that can be made in the crockpot using five ingredients or fewer. Sometimes I still mess up.
2. As a child I was a compulsive liar. The facts were never quite exciting enough, so I was forever making stuff up. Kind of like I do now.
3. I ride a motorcycle, and took a solo journey from central Illinois to Dallas, Texas, to celebrate turning 50. I’ll be 60 in October and need a way to top that trip. Suggestions?
4. I’m a native Texan, having been born in Buddy Holly’s hometown of Lubbock. I grew up in Floydada, Texas, home of the Floydada Whirlwinds. I just enjoy saying Floydada. You should, too.
5. My husband, who I affectionately call Studly Doright, was my high school sweetheart. In July we’ll celebrate 40 years of marriage.
6. I’ve seen Star Wars, Episode IV: A New Hope over one hundred times. I still fantasize that one day Han Solo will come to propose and we’ll fly away together in the Milennium Falcon. Studly’s given his ok.
7. I’m affectionately known as Nana to five brilliant, beautiful, and spunky grandkids. Best fact ever!
I nominate these fine bloggers to receive The One Lovely Blog Award. Please check them out, send them some love, maybe bake them a muffin.
Sanseilife writes haiku, reflection, and shares her art through her wonderful blog: https://sanseilife.wordpress.com/author/sanseilife.
The mischievous Anna is a poet and an artist. http://themischiefmemoirs.com/author/themischievousanna.
Bunkaryudo writes one of the funniest blogs out there. If he doesn’t make you laugh, there’s something seriously wrong with your laugher. http://bunkaryudo.com/author/bunkaryudo/
Miss Crumpett focuses on the humorous and often touching antics of the students in her classroom. https://thecrumpettfiles.wordpress.com.
Mike Bizeau is a nature photographer who gets me as close to the great outdoors as I’ve ever been without leaving the comfort of my own living room. http://naturehasnoboss.com.
Mike Steeden pens the most incredible poetry. He makes me laugh and think simultaneously. The thinking part is the hardest, for me anyway. https://mikesteeden.wordpress.com.
My friend and fellow Words With Friends aficionado, Andy Garrabrant, is a poet whose beautiful soul shines through in every piece he writes. https://aroilinpain.wordpress.com.
The author of the blog, Windmills of My Mind, writes reflection pieces that’ll make you smile and maybe shed a tear or two. https://contemporaneousquixotic.wordpress.com
The blog, A Not So Jaded Life, is a great pick-me-up with timely quotes and stories of every day life. https://anotsojadedlife.wordpress.com/author/anotsojadedlife
The Joys of Joel is a poetry blog, and oh so smooth. https://joysofjoel.wordpress.com.
One of the loveliest and edgiest blogs I’ve recently discovered is https://scottishmomus.wordpress.com. I’m seriously crazy about her poetry.
Laine Ann Jensen writes real from-the-heart romantic poetry on her blog, http://frommidnighttodawnlight.com.
If you’re into edgy fashion and photography, I highly recommend that you check out http://grungeandart.com.
Jan Wilberg is one of my all time favorites. She’s honest and witty and insightful. Her blog, https://redswrap.wordpress.com is a must read.
Rounding off my fifteen is the blog https://eurobrat.wordpress.com. Certainly worth your time, eurobrat is both thoughtful and thought-provoking.
The worst part about these nominations, other than the linking thing, is the number of folks I’ve left off! If I follow you, I do so because you’ve got something important or funny to say or display, like https://juliepowell2014.wordpress.com/
And https://bhharned.wordpress.com/
Oh, and http://inesemjphotography.com
Ok, I’m not all that good at following directions. So sue me.
Peace, people!
Written in response to the Daily Post’s Daily Prompt:
Roaring Laughter
What was the last thing that gave you a real, authentic, tearful, hearty belly laugh? Why was it so funny?
Not this past Christmas, but the one before, Studly Doright and I met our kids and grandkids in Nashville, Tennessee, for the holiday. Our son and his family live in Texas. Our daughter and her family reside in Illinois. Studly and I are in Florida, so it’s a treat when we can all be together.
Rather than stay in a hotel we rented a home for the week, and made it into a temporary Doright Manor. We had a first rate time cooking and eating and playing games with the grown kids and grandkids.
One night, though, we sat the kids down in front of a movie in one room while in another the grownups played the game Cards Against Humanity. There might have been a bit of drinking involved. And by a bit, I mean copious amounts of liquor were consumed.
Our son-in-law, Stephen, having moonlighted as a bartender, knows how to mix a drink and soon had us all giggling like school children even before we started playing the game. Then the competition began.
Now if you’ve never played Cards Against Humanity you have no idea what you’re missing out on. I laughed so hard that tears rolled down my face–deep, strong belly laughs that caused my jaws and cheeks to ache well into the next week.
If laughter truly was the best medicine the Doright family could have cured every disease known to man that week. Instead, we just had a wicked good time.
Peace, people!
Caution–the game is not for the easily offended. There are references to body parts and bodily functions that aren’t often mentioned in polite company. Of course Studly and I never were much for polite company.
Written in response to the Daily Post’s Daily Prompt:
Remember the seven cardinal sins? You’re given the serious task of adding a new one to the list — another trait or behavior you find particularly unacceptable, for whatever reason. What’s sin #8 for you? Why?
First students, let’s review those pesky seven deadly sins:
My personal favorite–lust,
followed in order of the sins
to which I’ve succumbed
in order of frequency
from greatest to least:
sloth, (yes, i’m wicked lazy)
pride, (and darned proud of it,)
gluttony (i’ll toast again to that!)
with just a soupçon of
greed, wrath, and envy,
to make me truly interesting.
I nominate intolerance
to take its rightful
place among these
numbered transgressions.
Divisive and shaming,
a barrier to peace;
bigotry makes no
loving concessions.
Peace, people.
none of the cards on the stationery
aisle said exactly what needed saying.
they offered only sweet platitudes:
wishing you well,
sending our prayers,
hoping for a speedy recovery.
i wanted a card that named names and
kicked ass:
that sonofabitch needed hanging!
who the hell do you think you are?
you deserved that broken tibia!
with a picture of daisies on the front.
Peace, people.
Written in response to the Daily Post’s Daily Prompt:
Tell us about the most exciting big night out you’ve had lately.
Life at Doright Manor is tame. Generally, a big night around here involves watching an extra episode of Ray Donovan while splurging calories on a second Shiner Bock.
Yet once a month we head to Studly Doright’s golf club for a rousing night of trivia competition. I know, a lot of readers will be jealous, as they should be. You see, in addition to the trivia, there is music, great food, and just enough wine to make me feel like a wittier, prettier person. And, I’m not bragging, sometimes we even stay up past midnight!
January’s event was especially fun because our friends from Indiana were in town and we dragged, er, invited them to go with us. I don’t know about them, but I had a blast. We didn’t win the competition, but we didn’t come in dead last either.
I’m certain today’s prompt was written specifically to demonstrate what a lackluster life I live. Gee, thanks WordPress.
Peace, people!
A little Cat Stevens for your entertainment (following the dadgum ad)
http://youtu.be/aLeWB3C2cLo
https://dailypost.wordpress.com/prompts/saturday-night/”>Saturday Night</a>
Written in response to the Daily Post’s Daily Prompt:
Just Another Day
Our days are organized around numerous small actions we repeat over and over. What’s your favorite daily ritual?
Once upon a time a handsome prince asked his lovely princess about her favorite routine.
“Routines,” she said, “are for the bored and boring.”
“And yet you drink coffee every morning. Two cups, with a splash of Irish creme,” he chided.
“That’s not routine, darling,” she purred. “That’s for survival. Your survival.”
And they lived happily ever after.
Peace, people
https://dailypost.wordpress.com/prompts/just-another-day/”>Just Another Day</a>
“You made your bed, now lie in it!”
Our mattress has seen better days. We bought it back when George W. Bush was President and his brother Jeb!, was governor of Florida, just to give you an idea of its advanced age. The darned thing is dished out and lumped up, and fails to provide comfortable support for more than ten minutes at a time.
When Studly and I returned to Florida after eight years in Illinois, we planned on buying a new bed, but decided to first buy a home and get settled. After the home was purchased Studly built his dream workshop/garage. Then we added a roof to our back porch and screened it in. The bed just kept being shoved into the background.
Last night I stayed up late watching back to back Naked and Afraid episodes and thinking about beds. Specifically I thought, “Every one of those naked people would kill to have my awful bed for a night.”
But I am not one of those naked people, dammit!
The saddest thing is that we have two guest bedrooms. Both have really great, relatively new, pillow top mattresses. But one is a full sized bed and the other a queen. Studly Doright and I share a king sized bed. Ah, the American way!
Occasionally I’ll declare that I’m sleeping in one of the guest rooms, but then Studly makes these pathetically sweet puppy dog faces, and I realize I’d rather sleep uncomfortably with my king than comfortably without him.
I am making a big push for that new mattress, and am engaged in thorough research. I’ve studied Consumer Reports, solicited advice and suggestions from friends, and taken field trips into every mattress store in the greater Tallahassee area. I didn’t put this much effort into choosing my wedding gown.
With any luck, and by luck I mean a nice annual bonus, we will get a new mattress this year. If not, I might have to sign up as a contestant on Naked and Afraid. Anything for a good night’s sleep.
Praying for Eyebrowz 