Trippy Dippy Do

My goodness! Rory has outdone himself with a kabillion and one questions about holiday plans as if he means to become a travel agent or summat. Here we go then.

The Topic Today Is – Staycation, Vacation or Excavation?

What was the last holiday you took away from where you live?

– What do you mean what? I went to my daughter’s wedding celebration up norf.

Where did you go?

– NORF! It’s that way ^^^.

For you when is the best time to take a vacation [Holiday] as in which season, and why?

– Mrf? That’s a lot of things in one. The best time to go is when someone spots me their flyer miles which is why I’m going norf again this fall (it’s still that way ^^^).

Provide five links or titles [your choice] of the best comedy holiday films you have seen to date?

– Eh? So much work.

1. My Life in Ruins. Nia Vardalos from My Big Fat Greek Wedding is a travel guide in… guess where?

2. We’re the Millers. Sort of a “holiday” for a group of weirdos.

3. What’s Up Doc? Hilarious movie with some characters on holiday colliding with others on biz.

4. Mike & Dave Need Wedding Dates. Dumb but funny.

5. Dirty Dancing. Okay, so it’s not a comedy, but I love it.

Did you overspend or underspend to your allocated budget for the vacation that you took?

– I spent the right amount.

Have you ever fallen unwell, experience jelly belly or worse on a holiday and what happened?

– Only briefly, probably from spoiled food. Nothing happened… just took it easy for a few hours.

Are you a mankini/bikini/teenykini or nokini holidayer/vacationer?

– I have modest swimsuits.

Last time you went potholing/skydiving/parachuting/dolphin or shark swimming and if none of those, when was the last time you swam in the deep blue?

– Stuck my toes in the Pacific a few years ago. I’m not a strong swimmer, so I don’t go in all the way.

How long do you normally vacation away?

– A couple days. I don’t like to leave Gatsby.

Please provide three musical tracks/song titles that make you feel in the vacation spirit?

Please display five images of the top archaelogical ruins you would love to visit or have visited and please define which they are [as in visited/love to visit].

– Would love to visit this old thing…

If you are a staycationer, what do you tend to do when at home on your holiday/vacation break that is different to the normal routine?

– Nothing.

Last time you were seriously sunburnt was?

– Over 20 years ago.

Do you speak any languages if so which and how fluent are you?

– None, zero, meow.

When on holiday or vacation are you the same as when at home behaviour wise or are you a complete party animal?

– Same.

Have you when away ever upset the locals to the point that the law had to be brought in?

– Who told you?! I mean no. Of course not. Don’t be absurd.

Provide three images to the worst souvenirs you have ever purchased thinking they were fanbloodytastic when you bought them?

– I haven’t bought dumb things. Oh, that’s not true. In Florida when I was 13 I bought a plastic alligator from a vending machine. All gone now.

What is your preference, solo/group/duo or family holiday/vacation time away?

– Family.

Please name five places you have never seen that you would love to visit?

– Boston, Maine, England, Scotland, Ireland.

Why do you want to go there?

1. Boston = lobster roll.

2. Maine = Stephen King story settings.

3. England = old crumbly things.

4. Scotland = shortbread.

5. Ireland = supposed to be pretty.

Come on fess up, l’ll not tell a soul, but have you ever seriously embarassed yourself or been embarassed by another when on holiday/vacation so badly that you wanted to excavate yourself right there and then?

– Er no.

I realize this post makes me sound like the most boring of boring borings and I’m okay with that. Everyone else can sound exciting in comparison. I’m setting the curve. You’re welcome!

~*~

© 2019 Paula Light and Light Motifs II. No unauthorized use permitted. Please check out Paula’s books for sale on Amazon.

Happy 4th! (with bonus rant)

My latest discovery, which I will share, is that everything is ridiculously complicated and costs too damn much.

In my youth, life was simple (although frequently unhappy). My mom did many things herself, but now these projects are out of reach. Take knitting and crocheting and sewing, forex. Loading up on the supplies costs a fortune and the patterns are complicated, wah. Don’t even get me started on scrapbooking (again) or making bead jewelry. Soooo costly! Plus, in my case, I’d have to take classes first, for jewelry, sewing, cooking, etc. I’m not one who can watch a video for twenty minutes and then go mmhmm now I see how to construct a tiny house, easy peasy!

I remember we usually had an aquarium going on. My mom dealt with it, but it could not have been outrageously expensive because we weren’t wealthy and we lived in small apartments for many years. The aquariums were really pretty, but the fish died often, and we were always traipsing off to the pet store for little baggies of new ones. I bet now though aquariums are just another one of those crazy costly and super complex hobbity bobbity things.

I liked watching the bright little neons dart through the water after their specks of food. We had graceful black and white stripey fish and some goldfish varieties too. A few catfish at the bottom keeping things clean. Mom always indulged me and got a teeny pirate treasure chest for decoration in the sand. Haven’t thought about our aquariums for years…

Ah yes, the sands of time, rushing so fast through the hourglass now, piling up at the bottom, waiting to meet that last big wave that will wash them out to the eternal ocean and then… and then what?

Nothing.

*

You know, I feel I’m pretty chill with anyone who comments here unless they’re an obvious spammer or troll. If you’re of a different political persuasion, cool, just keep it civil and don’t insult other peeps or me. I have accepted loads of criticism and disagreements over the years. Don’t mind it at all, and I particularly welcome any comments on my poetry and fiction. I am not thrilled with advice I haven’t solicited, especially about health, but whatever.

But that’s not the case elsewhere. Some bloggers don’t want any disagreement or difference of opinion. I’ve noticed I will be condescended to or explained at if I dare to express a thought contrary to the OP’s. That is unpleasant, FYI, and I will not be visiting these blogs much or at all in the future.

YHBW. 🙂

Have a great weekend! ☄️💥🔥

In Other Words, fireworks…

Fireworks are fun when professionally done,

But setting them off in the street is just idiotic.

They scare all our pets and make such a mess!

So, unless you’re doing a Boston Tea (and invite me),

Remember that lawbreaking is not patriotic!

The Right Door [flash 217]

It was supposed to be my vacation. A long overdue break from demands, deadlines, and stress. But I couldn’t relax. During the mornings, I sat on the sand, watching the waves, my stomach a knot of anxiety. In the afternoons, I wandered through the quaint shops, where tourists tried to scramble over each other for bargains, but I walked away, uninterested. Why couldn’t I enjoy myself?

And at night came the dreams, each one more disturbing than the last. The dark corridor, the semi-open doors with a faint glow of light emanating from inside. But I couldn’t see what was happening. A vague sickly sweet odor. Fabric rustling. Moans… of pleasure or pain? I could not tell. I knew I had to choose a room, and once I made my choice, all others would disappear. But each night I awoke drenched in fear just as I stepped over the threshold of the one I’d chosen.

Except this night, the last one of my stay. I walked resolutely down the shadowed hall, the decaying fragrance stronger than ever. I heard fabric tearing, as if someone were ripping a bedsheet with their bare hands. And then in the deepest, most recessed alcove I found the right door. All my worry melted away as I glided into the light.

~*~

The Daily Echo

Laura’s Music Challenge 18

Evening everyone. Still feeling the Dad’s Day vibe, so it’s nice to find Laura’s song challenge themed for the day. Play along with us! 💕🎶🙂

1. Post a video of a song that makes you think about unconditional love.

Okay, now this may strike you as weird, but I’m choosing “Jackson” in honor of my parents. My mother loved Johnny Cash, and this song reminds me of how they bickered all the time, but yet loved each other and stayed together 50 years.

2. Post a video of a song that reminds you of your dad.

My dad loved the Doors, and he especially enjoyed “Light My Fire.”

3. Post a video of a song about being a good man.

Welp. There are many aspects to being a good person, which apply to everyone. Not gonna list all that now. But for a man, in the context of being with me (what else?), this song gets close to how I’ve imagined it might be, ideally. Two people who’ve been hurt and confused, learn how to love from each other and take cautious steps to create something new and lasting. This man is not an arrogant bully like so many, demanding this and that, dictating how Things Should Be, but is willing to roll with the newness of something that hasn’t existed before. To me, that’s a good man, someone I could trust to be kind and loving and supportive, and vice versa.

Happy Father’s Day! ❤️

Support(ive) is the best way to describe my relationship with my dad, before he faded from dementia. He was an encouraging, upbeat guy, with a salesman’s type of personality. He’d get angry, but it was gone in a flash, and he generally stayed within the range of mellow to happy. Though he had definite opinions about politics (card-carrying liberal from NYC), among other things, he’d bounce back after a discussion or debate, no hard feelings.

Daddy wasn’t a griller or a BBQ dude or any sort of handyman guy. Mom actually did all that stuff (RIP). Dad believed in going out to dinner. Mostly though he just read books and of course his beloved NYT. That’s what he’d be doing today, if he were still around and able. I’d likely bake some fudgy-wudgy brownies for him. Those were his favorite.

He was always up for a conversation with me. Always supportive of my endeavors. Always encouraging of my dreams and goals, though he would express his ideas if he thought I might be making a mistake. He was a good father and I was lucky to have him.

Dad and me, at his 80th birthday, 2010 (RIP).

Song Lyric Sunday: Daddy

Jim gives us some nice choices for Father’s Day today. I picked an old favorite: “Daddy Don’t You Walk So Fast,” written by Peter Callander and Geoff Stevens, and originally recorded by Wayne Newton in 1972.

The love between the two of us was dying
And it got so bad I knew I had to leave
But halfway down that highway when I turned around I saw
My little daughter running after me
Crying

Daddy, don’t you walk so fast
Daddy, don’t you walk so fast
Daddy, slow down some ’cause you’re makin’ me run
Daddy, don’t you walk so fast

Now, it broke my heart to tell my little daughter
That her daddy had to run to catch a train
She had no way of knowin’ I was leavin’ home for good
I turned around and there she was again
As she said to me

Daddy, don’t you walk so fast
Daddy, don’t you walk so fast
Daddy, slow down some ’cause you’re makin’ me run
Daddy, don’t you walk so fast

If only for the sake of my sweet daughter
I just had to turn back home right there and then
And try to start a new life with the mother of my child
I couldn’t bear to hear those words again
She cried and said

Daddy, don’t you walk so fast
(My daughter cried)
Daddy, don’t you walk so fast
Daddy, slow down some ’cause you’re makin’ me run
Daddy, don’t you walk so fast

Daddy, slow down some ’cause you’re makin’ me run
Oh, daddy, don’t you walk so fast

A Kitty Tail [300 words]

Once upon a time there was a silly divorcée.

She was in love with a selfish man who failed to return her affections.

People told her the BMW/porcupine joke, but she didn’t listen until it was too late.

She was sad.

But she decided she’d venture into the land of dating sites and find someone new.

She tried various sites and profiles, as you do…

But things just went from bad to worse. Liars and con artists and creeps, oh my.

Finally, the silly divorcée’s daughters decided to get involved.

They decided that their mom needed a kitty to absorb her time and attention. Older sister sent younger sister to help Mom pick a kitty so Mom wouldn’t get confused.

The silly divorcée wanted all the kitties! Each kitty was so adorable she couldn’t decide which one to choose.

But younger sister, being perceptive (just like her older sister), figured out which adorable kitty was the perfect match for her silly mommy. She urged her mom to adopt a sweet grey and white 6-month old little baby boy kitty.

And Silly Mommy did!

That was 7.5 years ago today! And if you haven’t figured it out yet, I’m the silly mom in the story, and Gatsby is the kitty! While the tale/tail is somewhat fictionalized, some things are true, such as the BMW and the fact that my daughter and I adopted Gatsby from the Orange County Animal Shelter on December 8, 2011. Partly it was to make me feel better after losing my beloved Cocoa earlier that year and also I had just broken up with BMW guy.

Since we don’t know G’s exact birthday, we decided to celebrate it on June 8! Today he is 8 years old! ❤️🎉🐱

He’s absolutely thrilled, as anyone can see.

Sunny Side Up

The lovely Mrs. Wayfarer nominated me for the Sunshine Award. Thank you! 🙂💖

I’ll answer her great questions, but I don’t do nominations myself. Everyone who likes and comments here brings me a bit of sunshine and I’m grateful for your support. Thanks for reading my posts! 🌻🌻🌻

• Where do you find the inspiration to write your blogs? 

Lately my inspiration comes mainly from the prompts around Blogville.

• When was the last thing you’ve done something for the first time? 

I downloaded the coloring app last week. It’s been very relaxing.

• If you were a superhero, who would you be? 

Catwoman.

• What is one simple thing (or person, place, event) that never fails to brighten up your day? 

Seeing a cat.

• What tradition in your family or country do you always look forward to? 

Halloween costumes.

• What blog (and whose blog is it) inspired you to take action? 

The Haunted Wordsmith inspired me to begin hosting prompts too.

• What is your favorite TV show?

Of all time? Probably The Sopranos.

• What movie can you watch over and over again and make you feel the same way every single time? 

When Harry Met Sally.

• What is your favorite holiday destination? 

Northern California.

• When was the last time you laughed so hard you had tears in your eyes? 

Probably when talking to my daughter.

• If you had the power to change anything in the world right now, what would it be? 

Terrible instant virus takes down McConnell, POTUS, and VPOTUS, and then mysteriously disappears. Nancy Pelosi becomes POTUS.

The Weekly Smile

I’ve skipped a few of these, my bad. Last weekend was pretty smiley though. Three days off work is always welcome (though I did some side work). Received the good news that a story I submitted in March will be published in an anthology soon. Had a fun Saturday night playing games with friends. Spent a sweet Sunday afternoon with my daughter and granddaughter. And had a nice relaxing Monday doing nothing, my favorite thing. Mmm nothing!

J/k. I actually worked on that old novel I’ve been jabbering about, only to discover that it’s a colossal mess and I can’t deal with it. I fixed chapters 1-5, which were reasonably chaotic, but then the thing jumps off a cliff. I’m not jumping after it.

Back to short stories, poems, and stuff I can tackle in short bursts, until I retire or die, whichever comes first!

~*~

The Weekly Smile