Muddy Puddle Doggy Smile

Last week when I was up north I got to hang out with my sweet little grand-kitty and my energetic grand-puppy. Thursday we took Rory to the dog beach, but the tide was all the way in, so we opted for the trail instead of the shore. The trail was full of puddles however, some small ones and some lake-size. The humans and normal doggos naturally avoided the puddles because who wants to get all wet and cold when it’s barely 60 degrees? 🥶

A retriever, that’s who! There could be sumpin in a puddle to retrieve, and Rory was determined not to leave a single puddle unexplored. 😀

Happy wet and dirty doggo! I don’t have actual splashy pics because Rory liked to jump on us after each puddle foray, so I didn’t have my phone out the whole time.

I miss my family. ❤️

~*~

Written for Trent’s Weekly Smile

Images are my own

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

Scenes from the Rock

I learned a lot yesterday while visiting Alcatraz, the first fact being that it is a National Park, and thus we must follow a gazillion rules while there. No stealing things! If you want a piece of the Rock, you buy one in the gift shop for $14.95.

No leaving litter behind either. You aren’t allowed to eat there, except at the landing area, which I understand. People are slobs. If you let them snarfle up snacks while looking in the prison cells and clomping around, soon the whole place would be filled with potato chip bags and juice boxes. It is kind of a strange place to bring little kids, I thought, but what do I know? The ferry was packed with ’em.

I learned that Alcatraz was first a fort, used to defend San Francisco in wartime. Next, it was strictly a military prison from 1915 to the Depression years. Finally, it was used as a maximum security prison from 1934 to 1963. The worst prisoners were sent to the Rock ~ violent unrepentant men who refused to cooperate in regular prisons.

My daughter and I opted for the audio tour, and I learned that this is a great way to go at your own pace through a museum while still getting info. From now on, this is what I’m going to choose when it’s available. (Usually, I wander cluelessly alone because I don’t like guides rushing me.)

Despite its isolation and security, there were still several escape attempts from the Rock. Escapees who were not found were presumed to have drowned. As shown above, in 1946 a prisoner planned a prison takeover and a battle raged inside the walls for 2 days. There was also an occupation in 1969 for over a year by American Indians who wanted attention for various issues. After that was over, the government began to bulldoze the buildings until Congress made Alcatraz into a National Park.

We didn’t get to see all the flowers and birds that thrive on the island, but that’s okay. The buildings were certainly interesting enough. Mini-factoid: the dining hall was considered to be the most dangerous place in the prison.

My daughter and I had a gorgeous but cold 🥶 day in San Francisco! Look at those rain clouds… we returned home just in time. For pizza, that is.

Don’t look, Stan!

If I can’t be in Chicago or New York, my next favorite pizza is Star in Alameda… this is their deep dish spinach mushroom with cornbread crust. So so so good! 😍

~*~

Images all mine!

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

One-Liner Wednesday

Let me tell you about my flight to Oakland last night. I was flying out of Long Beach, boarding time 7:15PM. I left my place at 4:15 for a 20 mile drive because we are talking about SoCal traffic on the 405. It was all a crawl, natch, but still I arrived in plenty of time, checked in, all that. Found out my flight was delayed 20 minutes. No biggie. I began to read a book on Kindle. At least I wasn’t on the Sacto flight, which had been delayed hours.

After a while, they began to give the Sacto peeps vouchers. I bought some coffee. When the vouchers were sorted out, my fight was now delayed an hour. Okay fine. I was 30% done with my book by now. Then we began to board. Found a seat, etc. We were all settled in and the captain came on the intercom to tell us that the power was out in Oakland.

Yep. Planes were trapped on the ground and new ones could not fly in. They were fixing it. When would it be fixed? Dunno. So, I kept reading. Most of the plane was filled with young folks. They all thought this was a great time to talk to each other and chat on their phones. So annoying! Why can’t people just text? The girl next to me called her mom to complain that it was the worst day ever and she was starving to death. To be fair to her, they didn’t serve any snacks on this flight, not even that tiny crappy bag of pretzels.

Finally, at 9:20 we took off. Really, this was only an hour and a half late. I was around 60% done with my book. I’m really glad it was an engrossing story because the flight was bumpy especially at the end. They made the people with beverages give them up about 5 minutes after serving. Oh well. (I didn’t get one anyway.) At least I got here! It was so windy cold and rainy in Oakland though. I was prepared for it, but even so… brrrr.

The arrival line was super busy and my daughter had a hard time finding me even at almost 11PM. But we finally connected and it was awesome to see her and jump into her warm car. And guess what? She brought me a cookie!

For the record, this is a different cookie. They have a whole package in the house. Er half a package… 😍

~*~

Linda’s One-Liner Wednesday

Cookie Monster image found on Google

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

321 Quote Me ~ Life’s Too Short To Waste

This is Season 5 of Rory’s themed, no-tag participation game. Anyone who feels like joining in… just do it! 😻

First, we post 3 quotes on the topic (life’s too short to waste).

Next, we share 2 song vids on the theme.

And, lastly, here is 1 of my own photos to illustrate the concept of life’s too short to waste…

This was taken November 26, 2014, but it doesn’t seem like 5 years have passed since I spent Thanksgiving in Berkeley with my daughters when they were roomies and all 3 of us were single. Now they’re married and one is a mommy. I’m so glad we had all those fun times together before they began their own families. ❤️

~*~

Images found on Google.

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

PFF25: I❤️Google

Welcome to my Friday Flashback! This is a post from almost 7 years ago, when I was doing NaNoWriMo. I encourage you to visit the link and read the clever comments.

Hearting the Google

How did people write without Google? I vaguely remember trips to the library to research things, so tedious. Oh! Triple A! The maps, my gawd. I’d go over there and request maps so I wouldn’t screw up distances and towns and stuff. Can you imagine? I had piles of papers I glanced through once, or ended up not needing at all. Gah.

Anyway, last night I wanted to have my characters go on a Christmas cruise. I’ve never been on a cruise, so I was all ack what to do? But no prob, because I go to the Goog, type in Christmas cruise and get times, dates, prices, the whole deal. And I even learned it costs too much to text/call from a ship, so no one is gonna be doing that.

In a serendipitous twist of fate, ABC News has a timely article up saying that the average person gains 13 pounds on a two-week cruise. First, who the hell takes a two-week cruise? As I noted above, I just checked the prices on cruises. These things are expensive, even if you stay in a crappy room, porthole, or whatever it’s called. (I am not hep to boat lingo. Will improve when writing cruise scenes.) If you’re wealthy enough to do that, you can bring a bag of cocaine with you to muzzle your appetite. Second, I’d be afraid to eat much anyway. Don’t people end up with some icky intestinal virus half the time? Third, aren’t you supposed to lie around the deck in your swimsuit, changing into a different one three times per day? Who would pig out before putting on a swimsuit or god forbid while wearing one? Maybe that’s just me and my ’70s mentality. Well whatever,  according to the article writer, a cruise is just one giant feast all day long, day after day. And your mission, should you accept it (for thousands of dollars that YOU PAY), is to avoid eating said feast. K. Sounds like a deal!

I’m at 43.5K for those keeping NaNo score (I think there’s one of you) and hope to be finished early next week.

Enjoy your weekend!

~*~

Image credit to Pexels.

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

Off-Season Honeymoon

Randy and Roxie slipped into their swimsuits and headed for the sparkling aqua water.

“Eek, Randy, there’s a giant pig floating in the sea!” Roxie screamed.

“Yes, sweetie, that’s why we got the reduced rates–it’s their hog bathing week,” Randy explained.

~*~

Three Line Tales

Image credit to Jakob Owens via Unsplash

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

Laura’s Music Challenge 35

It’s time for some tunes! Join Laura’s song challenge for a more fun Monday. This means you! And you! 👻🎃🎶

1. Post a song that has either in title or lyrics the name of a state in the US.

2. Post a song that either in the title or lyrics the name of a town.

3. Post a song that either in title or lyrics has the name of a country or continent.

~*~

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

Questions from Carol Anne

My lovely friend Carol Anne has given me some questions. They’re associated with her Liebster Award. Congrats on your award, Carol Anne, and thanks for thinking of me! 💖

My 11 questions to you my nominees are:

1. Can you swim?

I know the basics, but I’m not a strong swimmer, and frankly I prefer to stay on land and gaze out at the beautiful waves.

2. Pepsi or coke?

Coke, please.

3. Snail mail or email?

Email is less wasteful.

4. Do you enjoy traveling?

No. Shocking, I realize. Everyone loves to travel, right? Well, I do enjoy experiencing new sights, attractions, nature, etc., but the expense and inconvenience make it a net negative for me. Travel is very costly unless you go by car, split the cost of gas, have people to put you up at your destination, yada. Or go camping, lol. Then there are all the migraine triggers for me that happen from noise, light, discomfort, etc. Also, there is my ongoing back/neck pain. Not to mention I don’t like leaving my kitty for more than a couple nights because I miss him too much! 🐱❤️

5. Snow or rain?

I’m from the East and honestly I miss the idea of snow but not the reality of it. Snow is beautiful and fun, if you don’t have to be anywhere and can bundle up and take a lovely walk. Rain can be romantic if you’re snuggled indoors with your sweetie, or a kitty and a good book, but again not if you have to drive in it. Since I’m in California, land of perpetual drought, I welcome any and all precipitation! Of course, we always get the “wrong” kind, in the “wrong” place, so they tell us the drought goes on…

6. What is one of your favourite quotes?

Life is short; eat dessert first. 🧁

7. Are you a glass half full or glass half empty sorta person?

Depends on the day.

8. What is your favourite flower?

Sunflower. Or tulips!🌷

9. If you could give your younger self some advice what would you say?

Go to Northwestern (in high school)! Stop dating insane men (in the 1980s). Buy tech stocks (in the 1990s)! Sell the tech stocks (before the crash). STOP DATING INSANE MEN. 🙄

10. If you had one superpower what would it be?

Repelling insane men.

11. Favourite book?

The Unbearable Lightness of Being by Milan Kundera. Tied for second place: Where I’m Calling From (short stories by Raymond Carver) and Blind Willow, Sleeping Woman (short stories by Haruki Murakami).

~*~

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

One Word Sunday ~ Triangle

Triangle

~*~

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

PFF13: Portlandia!

Welcome to my Friday Flashback! This post originally appeared here on August 30, 2015, exactly four years ago.

Portlandia!

Diane and I went to Portland, Oregon for a few days ~ it was so much fun! I love this city. The vibe was so mellow and friendly. Everything was clean. Great place,  fab food, beautiful gardens… wanna go back someday. 

https://goo.gl/photos/yUc8V8k3vWwxCoor6

~*~

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