Category: Aspiring Writer
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“My hiking and backpacking evolution. (part 1)”
After the Continental Divide Trail Days in April, I set off for the City of Rocks Campground in New Mexico, which is by far one of my favorite campgrounds. Although my visit was during the states fifth-season called “the spring winds,” the campground’s unique geological features are a visual marvel, with boulders 20-30 feet in…
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Everglades “Waste management.”
These birds are the official and original waste management facilitators of the Florida Everglades
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“Teach Your Bloggers Well”
We all know how to do something well — write a post that teaches readers how to do something you know and/or love to do. In response to today’s WordPress post prompt, “Teach Your Bloggers Well.” I start with the basic foundation of planning. To be successful in anything in life, planning, and preparation are the…
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“By the Comma”
In response to The Daily Post’s writing prompt: “By the Dots.” We all have strange relationships with punctuation — do you overuse exclamation marks? Do you avoid semicolons like the plague? What type of punctuation could you never live without? Tell us all about your punctuation quirks! Comma, comma, comma, comma! Every time I write,…
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“The New School”
In response to The Daily Post’s writing prompt: “The New School.” You get to redesign school as we know it from the ground up. Will you do away with reading, writing, and arithmetic? What skills and knowledge will your school focus on imparting to young minds? If I was given the opportunity to redesign the…
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“A True Saint”
In response to The Daily Post’s writing prompt: “A True Saint.” In 300 years, if you were to be named the patron saint of X, what would you like X to be? Places, activities, objects — all are fair game. Three hundred years into the future scientist read my legendary historical blog “The Nomadic Adventure.”…
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Day 4: Imperfect, Limerick, Enjambment; “Paddling Adventure”
We find faults in ourselves, in others, and in the world around us all the time. We may accept these imperfections or complain about them, try to fix them or celebrate them — whatever our attitude may be, they add friction and texture to our lives. The limerick at a glance: • Limericks are traditionally composed of…
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Day 3: Skin, Prose Poem, Internal Rhyme
Our skin often announces (correctly or not) our age and ethnicity, tells stories of injuries, operations, and accidents, and conveys to our brain everything from the pain of a slap to the warmth of a hug. Prose poetry at a glance: A prose poem is any piece of verse written using the normal typography of…
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Writing 201 Poetry Day 2: Gift, Acrostic, Simile “Hate”
There’s a whole array of sensations and emotions attached to gifts, whether you’re the gifter or the giftee. The tension between packaging and contents, the joy of tearing through layers of wrapping, the surprise or disappointment of discovery once you know what’s inside.”Hate” Some interesting ways to use acrostics include writing a poem that asks…
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“Connect the Dots”
In response to The Daily Post’s writing prompt: “Connect the Dots.” Scour the news for an entirely uninteresting story. Consider how it connects to your life. Write about that. The scheduled J.N. Ding Darling Days will take place October 18-25 2015, which is located on Sanibel Island in Florida. Many people will not be interested…
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“Good and Evil”
In response to The Daily Post’s writing prompt: “Wicked Witch.” Write about evil: how you understand it (or don’t), what you think it means, or a way it’s manifested, either in the world at large or your life. The opposites of Good and Evil, Love and Hate, Night and Day, or Ying and Yang, are…
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“Papa Loves Jazz”
In response to The Daily Post’s writing prompt: “Papa Loves Mambo.” What sort of music was played in your house when you were growing up? What effect, (if any) did it have on your musical tastes? “Music Speaks what cannot be expressed, soothes the mind and gives it a rest, heals the heart and make…
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“Our House”
y In response to The Daily Post’s writing prompt: “Our House.” What are the earliest memories of the place you lived in as a child? Describe your house. What did it look like? How did it smell? What did it sound like? Was it quiet like a library, or full of the noise of life?…
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“Mirror ,Mirror, On the Wall!”
In response to The Daily Post’s writing prompt: “Mirror, Mirror, On the Wall.” Think of your blog as a mirror: what does it reveal? Consider your blog name, theme choice, design, and bio post. What does every element tell you about yourself? Nomadic Traveler, speaking to his magic mirror, Mirror, mirror, on the wall, do I have…
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“Silence”
Writing 201 Poetry/ Day 1: Screen, Haiku, Alliteration There’s a 100% chance you’re currently looking at the comforting, addictive, inescapable glow of a screen. Screens are everywhere in our lives, not in the least when we read, write and blog. Today, write a poem about or against, in homage to the screens in your life.…
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“Flangipropt and Whatchamacallit”
In response to The Daily Post’s writing prompt: “Flangiprop!.” Invent a definition for the word “Flangipropt,” then use the word in a post. The invention of words is something my mother did not allow in her home. My sister and I challenged this rule from time to time using the word, “Whatchamacallit.” As a child, I…
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“Ode To A Playground”
In response to The Daily Post’s writing prompt: “Ode to a Playground.” A place from your past or childhood, one that you’re fond of, is destroyed. Write it a memorial. You have served me very well for two years. I climbed, swung and slid on my playground set, and now my parents have decided to move…
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“Immortalized in a Hologram”
In response to The Daily Post’s writing prompt: “Immortalized in Stone.” Your personal sculptor is carving a person, thing or event from the last year of your life. What’s the statue of and what makes it so significant? At 82 years of age, I was in Patagonia South America, blogging about my travels and photographing…
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“Out Of Reach”
In response to The Daily Post’s writing prompt: “Out of Reach.” Write about the one X that got away — a person, an experience, a place you wanted to visit. How much would you change about your life to have it within reach again? For several years, I dreamed of seeing her. When the opportunity…
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“Night and Day”
In response to The Daily Post’s writing prompt: “Night and Day.” Have you ever had an experience that was incredible the first time, but terrible the second time around? Or vice versa? What made it different the second time? Night and Day experiences are measured by time. When Six Flags over Mid-America opened April 10,…
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A Storybook Day
In response to The Daily Post’s writing prompt: “A Storybook Day.” You have to spend one day as or with your favorite fictional character. Which one would it be and what would you do? My storybook day began before sunrise when I decided to ride my bicycle to the park to take some morning photos of…
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“Home Turf”
In response to The Daily Post’s writing prompt: “Home Turf.” Name five things in your house that make it a home. The foundation for a house is love while also enjoying where you live, and who you share your space with to make it a home. Within the category of love includes family, hopes, and…
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“I’ve Become My Parents”
In response to The Daily Post’s writing prompt: “I’ve become My Parents.” Do you ever find yourself doing something your parents used to do when you were a kid, despite the fact you hated it back then? Early on as a child, I understood my parents were hard disciplinarians, like most of the parents in my…
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“Take Me To the Moon”
In response to The Daily Post’s writing prompt: “Take Me to the Moon.” How far would you go for someone you love? How far would you want someone else to go for you? When I read the prompt, “Take Me to the Moon,” I immediately thought of the song, sung by Frank Sinatra. The question, asked,…
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“Mountaintops and Valley”
In response to The Daily Post’s writing prompt: “Mountaintops and Valleys.” Describe a time when you quickly switched from feeling at the top of the world to sinking all the way down (or vice versa). Did you learn anything about yourself in the process? The yearly July, fourth, five-kilometer fun run and walk is held…
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“From The Top”
In response to The Daily Post’s writing prompt: “From the Top.” If you had the chance to be reborn, would you choose to return as your present self, or would opt for a fresh start? Tell us about what motivates your choice. I would never change my life to be reborn because, the culmination and…
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“Phobia, Shmobia”
In response to The Daily Post’s writing prompt: “Phobia, Shmobia.” Fears evolve over time. What is one fear you’ve conquered? During the holiday season, at the age of five. I watched the “Wizard of Oz” movie and after viewing the wicked witch and those flying monkeys. I was terrified of going into the basement of…
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“The Fun Platform”
In response to The Daily Post’s writing prompt: “The Fun Platform.” If you were the new leader of your country and had the chance to transform something that’s currently an annoyance (or worse) into a very fun activity, what would it be? How would you go about the change, and why would you choose that…
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“Daily Ritual”
In response to The Daily Post’s writing prompt: “Daily Ritual.” Think about your day. Select one of your daily rituals and explain it to us: why do you do what you do? How did you come to adopt this ritual? What happens on days when you can’t perform it? I have a daily ritual routine…
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“Handwritten”
In response to The Daily Post’s writing prompt: “Handwritten.” When was the last time you wrote something by hand? What was it? Over the past year, I became a letter writer and I recently wrote my niece a letter acknowledging and celebrating her recent graduation and her college start. However, I wrote the letter using…
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Worlds Colliding
In response to The Daily Post’s writing prompt: “Worlds Colliding.” Take two main characters from two different books (either fiction or nonfiction) and introduce them to, or have them meet, each other. What would happen next? I believe the Saturday morning television worlds of “H & R Puff N Stuff” colliding with the family comedy…
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Indie Success –10 things that really matter
Originally posted on Sue Vincent's Daily Echo: Hans Christian Andersen by Anne Grahame Johnstone There are a lot of articles and reports out there giving various and often conflicting figures about the Indie book market. All seem to agree, however, that the percentage of Indie writers and publishers is huge and growing. You only…
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“Retrospective Funny”
In response to The Daily Post’s writing prompt: “Retrospectively Funny.” Tell us about a situation that was not funny at all while it was happening, but that you now laugh about whenever you remember it. My neighbor and I were taking a morning walk with our dogs when we witnessed an auto accident between two…
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“ The Mature and the Rested”
In response to The Daily Post’s writing prompt: “The Young and the Rested.” When was the last time you felt truly rejuvenated and energized? What made you feel that way? My rejuvenation begins upon my return home from an exhilarating heart beating cardio bike ride or walk. Once the front door seal is broken, the fresh…
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“Forward Drive”
In response to The Daily Post’s writing prompt: “Forward Drive.” What is the one thing that drives you to wake up in the morning and do whatever it is you do? Is it writing, family, friends, or something else entirely? Forward March, is the way I feel every morning when my eyes open, I’m breathing,…
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“Inside the Bubble”
In response to The Daily Post’s writing prompt: “Inside the Bubble.” A contagious disease requires you to be put into quarantine for a whole month (don’t worry, you get well by the time you’re free to go!). How would you spend your time in isolation? To live a month in quarantine for some people could…
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“My #1 Song at Birth”
In response to The Daily Post’s writing prompt: “Your Number One.” What was the #1 song when you were born? (not sure? you can find out here.) Write about how the song relates (or not!) to your personality. This prompt excites me as a lover of music of all genre’s excluding most older country music.…
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“Golden Age”
In response to The Daily Post’s writing prompt: “Golden Age.” If you had to live forever as either a child, an adolescent, or an adult, which would you choose — and why? If I had to choose between being a child, adolescent or adult for the rest of my life, my choice hands down is…
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“Decisions or Gut Instinct” (A couples Weekend Short Story)
In response to The Daily Post’s writing prompt: “Decisions, Decisions.” How are you more likely to make an important decision — by reasoning through it, or by going with your gut? All critical decisions require reasonable contemplation, however, “gut instincts” requiring little thought or reasoning, and is some times exciting and adventurous. Most gut instinct…
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“Forever Young”
In response to The Daily Post’s writing prompt: “Forever Young.” If there were a real Fountain of Youth, would you drink the water? The last time I drank from the fountain of youth, I was scolded severely, by my parents and the priest who made me go to confession. I know there is no fountain…
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“Missing Sequels”
In response to The Daily Post’s writing prompt: “Missing Sequels.” If you could create a sequel to one favorite (standalone) movie, which would it be? How would it build on the original? I would love to have the motion picture movie Grand Torino sequel to be a romance. Retired auto worker and Korean War veteran…
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“Middle Seat”
In response to The Daily Post’s writing prompt: “Middle Seat.” It turns out that your neighbor on the plane/bus/train (or the person sitting at the next table at the coffee shop) is a very, very chatty tourist. Do you try to switch seats, go for a non-committal brief small talk, or make this person your…
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“Take a Chance on Me”
In response to The Daily Post’s writing prompt: “Take a Chance on Me.” What’s the biggest chance you ever took? Did it work out? Do tell! My journey has reflected a by the book disciplinarian lifestyle. I have received technical and detailed training during my previous careers, along with the accompanying practicals to test what I’ve…
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“Only Sixteen”
In response to The Daily Post’s writing prompt: “Only Sixteen.” Tell us all about the person you were when you were sixteen. If you haven’t yet hit sixteen, tell us about the person you want to be at sixteen. Oh yes, to recall the dreaded year of being sixteen. Well, this was the year before…
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“No, Thank You”
In response to The Daily Post’s writing prompt: “No, Thank You.” If you could permanently ban a word from general usage, which one would it be? Why? In honor of my mother, my English teachers during my elementary, middle, and high school years, I would permanently banned the word “ain’t.” The word “ain’t” was the…
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“Que Sera Sera”
In response to The Daily Post’s writing prompt: “Que Sera Sera.” Do you believe in fate or do you believe you can control your destiny? Living fifty years upon this planet and experiencing several life or death circumstances, I understand, appreciate and believe in fate. Here today gone tomorrow, live each day as it was…
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“That Stings”
In response to The Daily Post’s writing prompt: “That Stings!.” Franz Kafka said, “we ought to read only books that bite and sting us.” What’s the last thing you read that bit and stung you? Earlier this year I read a book titled Ruby, and I just could not stop until I finished. The author Cynthia…
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“The Start of a Great Day”
It is currently the off-season in Southwest Florida. With few snow-birders in the park during the early morning hours in August, the start of a great day begins with the silence of mother nature’s, birds chirping, insects buzzing and capturing the calm still waters reflecting a morning sunrise. The third and last photo has been spotlighted…
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“Red Pill, Blue Pill”
In response to The Daily Post’s writing prompt: “Red Pill, Blue Pill.” If you could get all the nutrition you needed in a day with a pill — no worrying about what to eat, no food preparation — would you do it? Three years ago I would have taken either red or blue pill, however, when…
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“Diversity”
In response to The Daily Post’s writing prompt: “West End Girls.” Every city and town contain people of different classes: rich, poor, and somewhere in between. What’s it like where you live? If it’s difficult for you to discern and describe the different types of classes in your locale, describe what it was like where…
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“Nothing But A Good Time”
In response to The Daily Post’s writing prompt: “Nothin’ But A Good Time.” Imagine that tomorrow, all of your duties and obligations evaporate for the day. You get the day all to yourself, to do anything you please. What types of fun activities would make your day? Everyday for me is devoid of obligations and duties…
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“I pledge Allegiance”
In response to The Daily Post’s writing prompt: “I Pledge Allegiance.” Are you patriotic? What does patriotic mean to you? The word “patriotic” sends my thoughts to a time during my childhood where the foundation to understand and appreciate the words’ pledge, oath, honor, and being patriotic were developed. My education and understanding of these…
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“Blogging, Writing and Authors”
Yesterday, I began my attendance of The Key West Florida Mystery Writers Conference. I have enjoyed the various speakers who have provided incredible information on writing, illustrating, publishing traditionally, independently and the use of Social Media. Presenter, Laurence O’Bryan provided detailed information on the use of Social Medial as an author. I will provide more information…
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“Sweeping Motions”
In response to The Daily Post’s writing prompt: “Sweeping Motions.” What’s messier right now — your bedroom or you computer’s desktop (or your favorite device’s home screen)? Tell us how and why it got to that state. My obsessive compulsion overwhelmed me to begin sweeping, mopping, and cleaning my entire home before leaving on vacation.…
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Oak Creek Canyon: The Equivalent of Churchgoing
Spiritual, visual and written poetry of Oak Creek Canyon Arizona
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Weekly Photo Challenge: Beneath Your Feet
In response to The Daily Post’s weekly photo challenge: “Beneath Your Feet.” Experiment with your angle: stand as you snap your picture or get close to the floor. You don’t need to include your feet, as I’ve done in the photo above. Consider all kinds of settings and surfaces, from interesting textures and patterns to sidewalk…
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“Proud, CampNaNoWriMo Winner”
In response to The Daily Post’s writing prompt: “Proud.” When was the last time someone told you they were proud of you? On July 31, 2015, I completed my participation in the month-long Camp National Novel Writing Month “aka CampNaNoWriMo” I finished my first short novel, and the experience was enjoyable. When I validated my…
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“Lucky Star”
In response to The Daily Post’s writing prompt: “Lucky Star.” My three wishes are similar to my prayers. 1) I wish for great health for me as well for my family and friends. 2) I wish for a successful career as a writer, photographer, and painter. 3) I wish for the world to be more…
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“Game of Groans”
In response to The Daily Post’s writing prompt: “Game of Groans.” Think about an object, an activity, or a cultural phenomenon you really don’t like. Now write a post (tongue in cheek or not — your call!) about why it’s the best thing ever. It is the middle of summer, and two weeks after the…
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“________ is the new _______”
In response to The Daily Post’s writing prompt: “______ is the new ______.” Click over to your favorite blog, and pick out the 4th and 14th words (that aren’t “the” or “an”). Drop them into this phrase: Before I completely read the daily prompt, my thoughts immediately were of the Netflix original show called, “Orange is the…
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“Simply the Best and Worst of Humanity”
In response to The Daily Post’s writing prompt: “Simply the Best.” NASA is building a new Voyager spacecraft that will carry the best of modern human culture. What belongs onboard? The following link provides information about the current Voyager 1 & 2 interstellar mission carrying a data time capsule. It has been over twenty-five years since…
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Positive Quote For The Day: On Thriving By Maya Angelou
Originally posted on The Ultimate Fundraiser Blog: My mission in life is not merely to survive, but to thrive; and to do so with some passion, some compassion, some humor, and some style. ~ Maya Angelou ?
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Rambling About Changes
Originally posted on The Tony Burgess Blog: Everything changes, it’s a fact of life and technology. We all have things that come along that are different and new. Some of us can handle transitions better than others. Getting used to things that are unfamiliar is a real challenge for many. Being open minded can help…
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“Fourth Wall”
In response to The Daily Post’s writing prompt: “Fourth Wall.” You get to spend a day inside your favorite movie. Tell us which one it is — and what happens to you while you’re there. A couple of days ago, I wrote a response to the daily prompt, “you’re a winner,” where I promised to…
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“Sweet Dreams (Are Made of This),”
In response to The Daily Post’s writing prompt: “Sweet Dreams (Are Made of This).” What is the best dream you’ve ever had? Recount it for us in all its ethereal glory. If no dream stands out in your memory, recount your worst nightmare. Leave no frightening detail out. Dreams, dreams, dreams, whether good, bad or nightmarish.…
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“You’er a Winner”
In response to The Daily Post’s writing prompt: “You’re a Winner!.” You’ve just won $1 billion dollars in the local lottery. You do not have to pay tax on your winnings. How will you spend the money? Everyone dreams of winning the lottery of any amount, yet, winning this enormous sum of money, most lotteries…
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“Well, I Never”
In response to The Daily Post’s writing prompt: “Well, I Never….” Tell us about something you’ve done that you would advise a friend never to do. The Well, I will never do again moments in life usually involve the combination of the following list. Alcohol consumption, the lack of thought, the failure to properly prepare…
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“The Perfect Game, A Short Story”
In response to The Daily Post’s writing prompt: “The Perfect Game.” You’re set to play poker (or Scrabble or something else . . .) with a group of four. Write a story set during this game. Or, describe the ideal match: the players, the relationships — and the hidden rivalries. I played golf for five years without…
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“Sunset Bicycle Ride, Dead Insects & Some Photos”
“Sunset Bicycle Ride, Dead Insects & Some Photos” I was enjoying a beautiful warm summer evening viewing the sun settling in behind the trees when I found the urge to take an evening bicycle ride. Normally I do not ride in the evenings due to a lot of insects occupying the bike trail. This tidbit…
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“Passions”
I recently visited and tour Key West Florida and attended events at The Studios of Key West a local art gallery with studios for the artists who live in town. I was truly impressed with every artist as they exhibited and expressed their passions while describing their particular craft or finished work. My interactions inspired my…
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But, I’m too OLD!!!!
Originally posted on Mind your wings: I often hear people tell each other ” But I am too old for this” “You are getting older n older, beware” My question is Too Old for WHAT? We are never too old to learn We are never too old to acquire new skills We are never to…
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“Brilliant Disguise”
In response to The Daily Post’s writing prompt: “Brilliant Disguise.” Tell us about a time when someone had you completely fooled, where the wool was pulled right over your eyes, and you got hoodwinked, but good. Was it a humorous experience or one you’d rather forget? What was the outcome? Many times in my community…
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“Finite Creatures”
In response to The Daily Post’s writing prompt: “Finite Creatures.” At what age did you realize you were not immortal? How did you react to that discovery? I was forty years old and with many years of military and law enforcement training, and I believed there was anything I could not accomplish. However, after putting…
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Re”tire”ment
Originally posted on lifelessons – a blog by Judy Dykstra-Brown: Re”tire”ment When I was younger, my mind turned on a dime. I did what I had to do in very little time. But now that I am older, I find things don’t go so fast. I’m not “spur-of-the-momentish” as I was in the past. I…
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“Half & Half”
In response to The Daily Post’s weekly photo challenge: “Half and Half.” This week, share an image that has two clear halves, literally or figuratively. The close ups of the rain, the blades of grass, sidewalk and a spider sitting on top of the water. The impacting drops of rain, splashing up from the sidewalk…