Category Archives: Pondering

L — Learning (…and Staying Teachable)

Posted on April 14, 2026 | 9 comments



Learning isn’t just something we did back when notebooks were fresh and knees were skinned—it’s something meant to stay with us. Not necessarily the facts, but the posture. The willingness. The humility to say, I don’t know… yet.

I’ve always believed in learning something new every day. Not because I’m chasing brilliance, but because I’ve seen what happens when people stop being teachable. They get stiff. Certain. Closed off. And if I’m being honest—I used to be one of them.

Think about it. There was a time when we had to learn everything—how to tie our shoes, ride a bike, balance without falling flat on our pride. Now, kids can ask a device to dim the lights, call Grandma, or solve 27 × 38 without blinking. That’s progress, no doubt. But somewhere in all that convenience, we risk losing the grit that comes from figuring things out the hard way.

I still remember clapping out chalkboard erasers and drawing hopscotch grids on sidewalks like it was high art. It sounds almost antique now, but those moments taught us more than we realized—patience, resilience, even a little creativity. And maybe that’s the point: the lesson was never just the task, but who we became while learning it.

The truth is, learning doesn’t retire just because we grow up—it just changes shape. Sometimes it looks like listening instead of talking. Sometimes it’s trial and error. (And yes, sometimes it’s discovering that SURPRISE: anchovies on pizza—even with Tall Cool ☺ne—is still a hard NO!)

So let’s not be the ones who think we’ve arrived.

Stay curious. Stay open. Stay teachable.

Because the day you stop learning… is the day you stop growing.

Cheers,

9 Comments

Posted in #A2ZChallenge, A-Z Blogging, Blogging, Inspiration, Journalling, Pondering, Random, Writing, Writing Challenge

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F -Faith

Posted on April 7, 2026 | 5 comments



Faith isn’t always the grand gesture, the bold declaration, or the dramatic leap into the dark. Sometimes it’s much quieter than that. Sometimes it’s simply a soft yes whispered during a morning prayer.

Yes, Lord. I trust You.

So often we place our hope in people. We trust that they will do the right thing. We believe they will follow through with what they say. We expect their actions to match our standards. And when they don’t, disappointment follows.

The truth is simple: people are messy.

Each of us lives by a different set of standards, shaped by our experiences, beliefs, and circumstances. It’s easy to assume that what seems obvious to us should be obvious to everyone else. But that assumption often leads to frustration. What feels right or natural to one person may not even cross another person’s mind.

Lately, I’ve been asking God to help me find peace in that reality. To be content with the standards I try to live by, while remembering that He created each of us uniquely in His image. No two people are the same. Like snowflakes, every life carries its own design.

It should come as no surprise. People will fail us. That is part of being human.

True faith isn’t about expecting perfection from others. It’s about trusting that God will give us the strength to accept what we cannot change. It’s about offering grace while others are still growing, still learning, still becoming who they are meant to be.

Because sometimes faith isn’t the moment we leap.

Sometimes it’s the quiet decision we make again and again — to trust God more than we trust people, to offer grace when disappointment would be easier, and to keep whispering yes even when the world feels uncertain.

And in the end, it’s those quiet yeses that shape who we become.

How about you? Where do you need to let it go and lay in God’s hands and have faith that He’s in control not you?

Cheers,

5 Comments

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E – Evolving

Posted on April 6, 2026 | 9 comments

Evolving
Growth is the point, not perfection.
Pen to paper.
Thoughts turning into words, ink pressing quietly into a page that will eventually outlive the moment that created it.
Every line carries a little hesitation, a little truth, and the occasional smudge where certainty once tried to live.
Headlines move faster than understanding.
News travels quickly, and judgment travels even faster.
The questions arrive on schedule: What have you done?
What could you have done?
As if the world were simple enough for clean answers.
History has never been that tidy.
Propaganda calls it saving a country.
Some are crowned heroes, others disappear into the quiet margins where the unsung always seem to live. Nations fight nations, while smaller wars unfold behind ordinary walls where no flags are raised but the stakes still feel just as high.
In war there are no true winners.
In the end, everyone falls in one way or another—some loudly, some quietly, but no one untouched.
The past, stubborn as ever, has a habit of repeating itself.
New slogans.
New voices.
Yet the same familiar pursuits continue circling the room:
power, recognition, control, wealth.
And somewhere between the noise of headlines and the echoes of history, a quieter realization waits patiently.
Perfection was never the destination.
But growth—
growth surprisingly leaves fingerprints on every page.


What do you think?  Are you evolving?  How are your challenges that you face going?  Let me know.

Cheers,

 

9 Comments

Posted in #A2ZChallenge, A-Z Blogging, Authors, Blogging, Inspiration, Journalling, Opinion, Poetry, Pondering, Quotes and Thoughts, Random, Writing

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Smoke and Mirrors

Posted on March 28, 2026 | 2 comments

I’ve been working on my A-Z posts because I really hope to have them all done before April 1st! Wouldn’t that be a SURPRISE?… I’m close…I really am close.

Yesterday or day before Tall Cool ☺ne was reading/listening to me jabber about one of my polished posts. He commented, “That’s a lot like a post you did awhile back.” He has such a good memory.

I searched and searched for that stupid post and could not find it. Come to find out it was posted on MYSPACE (which I don’t even know where that platform went anymore). I tried to find me but I had no luck. The good thing… (and I guess bad thing) I keep hard copies via paper zone as well as a folder on my desktop of everything I’ve ever written and posted. So here it is, a little more refined. This is a foreshadowing for an upcoming post for one of the letters I’ll be using in the A-Z Blogging challenge.

Smoke and Mirrors (circa 2015)

“Smoke and mirrors” — a way to distract from what’s really going on. A trick to make something look better, cleaner, or more impressive than it actually is.

Magicians use it to create illusions.
Companies use it to sell products.
And people? We use it too.

In today’s world of cyber reality and virtual friendships, we convince ourselves we truly know people. But the truth is, we only know what’s shown to us. As Brad Paisley put it, things are “so much cooler online.” And he wasn’t wrong.

Filters, edits, and carefully crafted posts turn reality into something else entirely—a polished version of the truth. A red herring. A distraction.

So here it is, plain and simple: writing means risking being known.

(This lets on how old this post is…my book was back in 2014) Pre work at home so I had lots of time to “HOBBY”.)

Last week, I got dropped by a publisher I had signed with to sell my first book. Just like that—gone. Since then, I’ve been trying to regroup, to get myself back together. My social media activity has slowed, and that’s been harder to adjust to than I expected.

Part of my “job”(AKA real life now hobby) was to promote my book daily online. But here’s the honest truth—I don’t care what the experts say: virtual friends can feel like smoke and mirrors. I can’t verify a single book sale that came from any social media promotion.

We all want to be seen. We all want attention. So we chase it—liking, following, sharing—across Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, LinkedIn, Blogger, and a hundred other platforms. (Half of these weren’t even heard of when I wrote this)

But let’s be honest.

Most of those people don’t really know you. And most of them don’t really care. The “like” button often isn’t about connection—it’s about visibility. A quiet trade: I’ll like yours if you like mine.

There are friends.
And there are followers.
They are not the same.

Now, to be fair—this isn’t true for everyone. But if you want to measure real friendship, ask yourself:

How many people reach out to you personally—not just clicking “like,” but actually checking in?
How many would get out of bed in the middle of the night and drive hours to help you?
How many would give something of themselves—a pint of blood, a kidney—if you needed it?
How many would stand in harm’s way for you?

That’s the difference.

Don’t confuse online connection with real-life relationship. Yes, everything can look better online—but sometimes it’s just a polished illusion. Smoke and mirrors.

Meanwhile, out here in the real world, there are people—real people—who aren’t hiding behind the smoke and mirrors.

Find them. Hold onto them! Be real, have fun!

Cheers,

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Cloud-Cuckoo-Land

Posted on March 24, 2026 | 3 comments

Cloud-Cuckoo-Land

Ah, yes, spring has sprung: pollen
Robin red breast birds have sung: wheezing
Buzzing bees make their nests: coughing
Here they come, ants and pests: sneezing
Ah, yes, spring has sprung!

Eyes puff up appears to be sand: itchy
Guarded with a tissue in hand: snotty
Yellow and green dust everywhere: sniveling
Ah, yes, spring has sprung!

Flowers and blossoms in full bloom: appeasing
Wisteria’s drooping like a flume: still sneezing
Till up the dirt, dig the ground: sweating
Spread the seeds all around: whining
Get out the sports car, va-va-vroom: laughing
Ah yes, spring has sprung.

Cheers,

I can’t stop coughing and sneezing!

 

3 Comments

Posted in Poetry, Pondering, Random, Writing

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Wisdom Welcomes Problems

Posted on April 26, 2025 | 2 comments

 

Have you ever put a puzzle together?  Solved Rubiks’ cube? Have you completed a crossword puzzle?  Gained access to the next level of a video game?  Of course you have, we’ve all succeeded at some kind of challenge, right?

Every year I’ve been planting dill in my spice garden only to have a few sprigs come up randomly all over the place, never in the row that I plant the seeds.  Super frustrating.  I blamed the birds, the rain, and the wind. Before planting, I said to the packet of dill seeds, “You are gonna grow in two neat little rows this year!” I lined the garden with two rows of toilet paper, sprinkled the seeds over the top and covered with another row of paper and top soil. Watered and waited. There are two neat rows of dill sprouting from the garden.  Problem solved.

Fear of the Lord is the foundation of wisdom.  That’s the message Tall Cool ☺ne’s mother wrote in the bible she gave me back in 2008.  I didn’t know the depth of its meaning back then. In fact I even wondered why anyone would fear the Lord.  God is good, why should we be afraid of Him? A wise man will hear and increase learning. Wisdom involves a change of behavior.  Change of behavior involves experience.  No one ever finishes wisdom, there’s always more to learn. The more we change, the more experience we receive and the better equipped we are to handle situations. Problems can be a ladder enabling us to climb up and see things from a different perspective.  Today’s A-Z of Empathy welcomes problems to gain wisdom and change perspective. The challenge encourages growth.

What challenges have you gained wisdom from?

Cheers,

   

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Underdog: Spirit Feeding † Flesh Starving

Posted on April 24, 2024 | 5 comments

The pink moon from our walk this morning

I’ve always had a warm spot in my heart for the underdog, the team voted most likely to lose, the kid that struggles to keep up with his classmates, the runt of the litter. Why do you think that is? I think because I have always been an underdog or some people would call me an outlier. Either way is fine by me. I’m a step behind or as Tall Cool ☺ne most recently put it, “your elevator doesn’t go to the top floor”. It’s all good.

I remember when I first was saved heard about mission trips to different parts of the world. In our church the missionaries went to Costa Rica and others to Belize (I thought these were vacation spots). I told Tall Cool ☺ne I thought we should go to Africa. He said I was crazy and we were not going to Africa. That was several years ago. I’m probably too old to be a missionary in Africa now. But I still think about it and even though I see how awful some of the things that happen there can be, I often wonder what kind of difference I could make.

Last night, well the last few nights (it takes us a few sittings to see a whole movie – we fall asleep) we’ve been watching Machine Gun Preacher and maybe it’s just for this post but Sam Childers is still helping children in Uganda. Wasn’t he an underdog at one time?

Everyone can make a difference in the underdog’s life. Maybe it’s just a smile when you see someone at the grocery store, a nod when you are driving past someone on the street, a wave as the car passes by during your morning walk, a thumbs up on a Facebook post. What kind of difference can you make today?

Cheers,

This is part of the A-Z blogging challenge.  Don’t forget to visit some of the other bloggers in the challenge and also check out Crackerberries Kitchen!

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Posted in #A2ZChallenge, A-Z Blogging, Blogging, Christianity, Inspiration, Opinion, Pondering, Spirit Feeding • Flesh Starving, Writing

Theme Tempting: Spirit Feeding † Flesh Starving

Posted on April 23, 2024 | 4 comments

Temptation interferes with my good writing habit
Satan lurks to devour, I understand this tacit
Some people are paid for their thesis or theory
For me it’s therapeutic when I’m feeling weary
The task at hand is one post a day
Like gathering manna, I must do it God’s way
Though I try to write more and get further ahead
The words won’t come, so I Toon Blast instead
I know it sounds silly wasting time on a game
If my post doesn’t come there’s no one to blame
But I trust in the Lord with mind, soul and heart
He’ll guide my time and I’ll finish what I start.

Be encouraged, be blessed and if temptation gets you, take the challenge, turn and finish what you start.

Cheers,

 

This is part of the A-Z blogging challenge.  Don’t forget to visit some of the other bloggers in the challenge and also check out Crackerberries Kitchen!

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Noise: Spirit Feeding † Flesh Starving

Posted on April 16, 2024 | 3 comments

Before I got my hearing aids, I didn’t realize how much noise there was in a day. Having 50% hearing loss in one ear and more than that in the other caused me to miss a lot. Some of the noise is pleasant, some not so much.

I never noticed in the morning when I fed the cats the one who thinks he’s a puppy always would rub my hand when I dumped the food in his dish. He also offers a meow of thanks which I had never heard before. (I know this sounds gross, but I didn’t know how loud toilet paper could be). It makes me smile when I hear Robyn tell Ella “It’s Granny,” and Ella says, “Leo, Leo, Leo”. The morning walks with Tall Cool ☺ne past the ponds fill my ears with croaking frogs and chirping crickets. The morning song of birds singing. I am amazed to hear the noise that I missed for so many years.

There are also noises I’d rather continue to miss, but with good there is also bad. Angry customers who swear under their breath because their bill went up and they think I can’t hear them cussing me out. More angry customers because apparently they couldn’t prioritize so their insurance lapsed and now they have to pay more of a fee to get it reinstated. A screaming child (in the grocery store, in church, anywhere). The noise of a siren just means something awful has happened or is about to. The gunshot of our neighbor shooting snakes will give me goosebumps every time I hear it.

I think we have a lot of noise in our lives. Some of it is good and some of it not so good.

Zephaniah 1:14 ~ The great day of the Lord is near, It is near and hastens quickly, The noise of the day of the Lord is bitter, There the mighty men shall cry out.

Just something to think about.  

Cheers,

             

This is part of the A-Z blogging challenge.  Don’t forget to visit some of the other bloggers in the challenge and also check out Crackerberries Kitchen!

3 Comments

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Zombie Apocalypse Bread – Feeding the Flock 23

Posted on April 30, 2023 | 6 comments


The full title of today’s post is Zombie Apocalypse Bread, Zelda and other silly things that have vied for my attention. Does anyone remember the Legend of Zelda? I was obsessed with making it to the next level. Before Zelda it was Mario Brothers and then after Zelda it was Yoshi’s Island and SimCity. More recently there was Farm Town and Candy Crush.  Ugh silly games and other things that take up too much time.

The zombie apocalypse bread happened Friday. If you have been following since the beginning over in Crackerberries Kitchen you know that I’ve been experimenting with ssourdough starter. I fully intended to make homemade garlic bread to go with the big pasta sauce for dinner on Friday night. It was a complete disaster and it took up way too much of my time. More time cleaning than it did to fix the mess. I was able to salvage some of the dough and it actually came out pretty good in the end. It should have “yielded” two loaves instead of one, but that’s okay. Live and learn.


Sometimes we get involved in things that are not productive.  Maybe it’s too much screen time. Maybe it’s too many days on the golf course. Maybe it’s binge watching Netflix and living he life of a couch potato. Maybe it’s getting involved in other people’s business. Maybe it’s gossiping about other people. Anything that takes away from our time that is unproductive.

Whatever it is, today is a brand new day. Let’s get our affairs in order.  Let’s get ready! The Zombie Apocalypse is coming, (even though it’s not really called that). He’s coming on a white horse. A glorious horse!


…and behold, a white horse. And He who sat on him was called Faithful and Ture, and in righteousness He judges and makes war. ~Revelation 19:11

Marana tha ~1 Corinthians 16:22

Be blessed,

There are some fermented biscuits over in Crackerberries Kitchen

 

Thank you everyone who played along, followed, commented, and enjoyed the posts.  One more to go for reflections.  I always say I’m going to write more.  It’s probably safer to say “See ya next year,” God willing.

6 Comments

Posted in #A2ZChallenge, A-Z Blogging, Blogging, Christianity, Feeding the Flock, Humor, Pondering, Quotes and Thoughts, Writing

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Quiet Life – Feeding the Flock 23

Posted on April 20, 2023 | 3 comments

“…that you also aspire to lead a quiet life, to mind your own business and to work with your own hands …  “

~1 Thessalonians 4:11

 

Wouldn’t it be wonderful if people minded their own business and didn’t try to run other people’s affairs?

Be blessed,

There’s a quick Pork recipe in Crackerberries Kitchen today.

 

3 Comments

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Paper Cuts = Perilous Days – Feeding the Flock 23

Posted on April 19, 2023 | 3 comments


For those of you who have been here before, go ahead and skip this introduction. New to the world of A-Z? Let me explain, a group of fellow bloggers come together each year to share in the experience of writing a post Monday through Saturday every day for the month of April (see schedule here). When I first started there were 1,509 bloggers signed up! You can read more about the A-Z history here. It’s great to have you along. Even if you didn’t sign up, you can still join in the fun. Just think of something you’d like to share that coincides with the letter of the day. Most of all, get involved, have fun, and make a new friend.

Papercuts are nasty little wounds that don’t bleed much but sometimes the pain lasts for a long time. Crazy how those little wounds on the end of a finger can hurt so much. Words can do the same thing as a papercut. They can be said in a way that is small and meaningless, even jokingly. Sometimes when people say things jokingly, they say it in a manner of which they really mean it but they say it teasingly. Even people they say it to say “I know they said it in good-humor, but …” But, still.

It makes me think of times when people were going on vacation off to the mountains for a ski trip. People would say, “Have a great time, break a leg.” I bet the first person who came up with that saying really meant it. They were jealous that they weren’t going on a trip and so they really wanted that person to break a leg. People say things as a wisecrack, but deep down inside there is that covet, that sinful nature, they really mean it.

Tall Cool ☺ne recently was promoted to a new position from being out in the field to working in the office. Big change for him because he is not a desk-pencil-pushing kind of person. Give him a shovel or the keys to a big rig and send him on his way and he is happy, but being in front of a computer is totally out of his comfort zone. But he is willing to take on the challenge and I applaud him for making the change. A co-worker told him to watch out for papercuts. Funny? Maybe.

In a world of people who don’t know what they want to be, people saying anything they want without regard to others, people meaning something different than what they say, we have to be mindful. Are we building people up? Are we using our words to edify one another? Are we living peacefully among others?

~…in the last days, perilous times will come. ~2 Timothy 3:15

Be blessed

Today we have Potato & Sausage Casserole and Penguins.

3 Comments

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Interpretation – Feeding the Flock 23

Posted on April 11, 2023 | 3 comments


In a virtual world of work at home and social media, interpretation has become so important. How people respond to the written word is much different than how people respond to the same verbal word. Being able to see an expression plays a huge part in understanding what the person is saying. Without that, the written word becomes our own interpretation.

Sometimes if we are not sure about how a person references something we need to ask. Don’t be upset with the interpretation of your own mind. Get clarification from that person. In a world of virtual wanna be noticed, it is easy for the typed word to be misconstrued by the eyes of the reader. Tall Cool ☺ne says all the time, “Say what you mean, and mean what you say.”

God gives all believers spiritual gifts. But we also have spiritual responsibilities. Within those responsibilities, we are to teach other the truths of God (Matthew 28:20) we are to serve one another in l♥ve (Galatians 5:13), we are to walk by faith (2 Corinthians 5:7), and we are to live wisely (Romans 16:19).

Have you ever read something and interpreted it differently than the writer intended? How did you react? Did you bring it to that person and ask for clarification? How was that taken?

Be blessed,



Don’t forget to check out todays Irish Bread recipe.

3 Comments

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Dazbar’s Run – Feeding the Flock 23

Posted on April 5, 2023 | 2 comments

March 3

Dazbar’s Run

Five bodies buried deep, beneath the snow fast asleep.
What kind of secrets will they find, when Old Man Winter’s left behind?

Love
Respect
Trust
Loyalty
Honesty

Love conquers all who give a care, put them together, they become a pair.
Add Respect and give it a whirl, nothing better between boy and girl.
Along comes Trust with a necessary twist, the perfect addition to this Ménage à trois tryst.
Loyalty brings added pleasure; will Respect and Love will equal the measure?
Honesty is the crucial ingredient essential to a fruitful commitment.

Five bodies buried deep, beneath the snow fast asleep.
Wake them up before they die, true Love needs them it’s no lie.
Respect got lost in all the haste, of seasons changing and new challenges faced.
Trust fell behind in Dazbar’s Run, went instead to have some fun.
Loyalty is lagging but not lost yet, still wants to be part of this duet.
Honesty found another host, and that lack of support is needed most.

Five bodies buried deep, beneath the snow fast asleep.
There is a time for everything, flowers will bloom and birds will sing.
Respect and Love are quite a pair, never apart in this affair.
Trust is every relationship desire, without it the mind will conspire.
Dig it up for it’s not lost, just hiding below the surface of frost.
Loyalty is there just hiding out, needing nourishment in times of drought.

Five bodies buried deep, beneath the snow fast asleep.
Dazbar’s Run has had a go, with these five characters we all know.
Love conquers all to those who care
Respect follows Love to make a pair
Loyalty and Honesty make things work
But without Trust it’s all berserk.

Five bodies buried deep, beneath the snow fast asleep.

 

Galatians 5:16,22 “Walk then in the Spirit, and you will not fulfill the desires of your flesh.  The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, long suffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, and self control.

I think everyone has experienced this in some way, shape, or form. It’s a reminder that we all need.  I know I do on a daily basis.

Be blessed,

 

Enjoy the recipe.

2 Comments

Posted in Blogging, Creative writing, Inspiration, Journalling, Nature, Poetry, Pondering, Quotes and Thoughts, Random, Writing

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Feeding the Flock – Introduction

Posted on March 26, 2023 | 2 comments




Hello friends. It’s great to be writing again. I didn’t realize how much I’ve missed it. I always tell myself this challenge will get me motivated to keep writing throughout the year but somehow my motivation gets caught up in life. Any hoot I won’t keep you with my thoughts and contemplations.

For those of you who have been here before, go ahead and skip this introduction. Are you new to the world of A-Z? Here’s a brief overview:  a group of fellow bloggers come together each year to share in the experience of writing a post Monday through Saturday every day for the month of April (see schedule here). When I first started there were 1,509 bloggers signed up! Not sure how many will sign up this year but I’m on the list at #25 and #26.   You can read more about the A-Z history here. It’s great to have you along.

Even if you didn’t sign up for the theme reveal,  you can still join in the fun. Just think of something you’d like to share that coincides with the letter of the day. But you have to sign up to participate in posting. Most of all, get involved, have fun, share something you know, share something you don’t know, ask a question, share an answer, and make a new friend. Be part of something great, the blogging world of A-Z.

Be blessed,

 

 

 

 

2 Comments

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Help Wanted, Apply Within

Posted on May 20, 2022 | 2 comments

Freaky Freaking Friday’s Fun Flash Fiction Fairytales and Folklore

The challenge: take the daily Wordle and the Merriam-Webster word of the day and create a short story, thoughts, poem, whatever you like, of no more no less than 100 words. Title not included. Feel Free to play along. Leave a link to your post in the comments below.

Wordle: Gamer
Merriam-Webster: Ad Hoc


BREAKING NEWS—Elite Gamer Desired

TOP SECRET: Authorized personal only. Enter password. Enter six digit security code. Enter phrase-password. Enter four digit passcode.

Please destroy after reading.

Earth’s axis tilted.
Destruction eminent.
Concerned authorities form ad hoc committee.

Requesting notorious gamer individuals.

Specifications: unknown
Time frame: unknown
Salary: N/A
Requirements:
• Must be able to pass security authentication requirements.
• Must prefer to work alone.
• Must be self-motivated.
• Must be self-sufficient.
• Must have the ability to solve complex coding issues.
• Must have strong technical and artistic skills.
• Must be flexible.
• Must have the ability to work with immediate deadlines.


Submit interest below

 

Cheers,

 

 

 

PS:  I would not want the position.

 

2 Comments

Posted in Blogging, Creative writing, Fabulous Fiction Fridays, Humor, Inspiration, Pondering, Random, Writing, Writing Challenge

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Sunday Sermon

Posted on May 15, 2022 | 1 comment

Restless nights,  

disturbing dreams

Sets perspective for lies it seems

Satan delights when I feel filthy
Accuser of believers makes me feel guilty

Back off  Satan!

I have my shield
My faith in Christ will not yield.

His Presence is near
He is always here

I ask for His help, He assures me
He will answer, and I will see

Resist the devil and he will flee
Faith in Christ, my only necessity.

Cheers,

 

 

 

 

 

1 Comment

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Random Ramblings

Posted on April 21, 2022 | 8 comments

I think I mentioned I was wing-dinging it for the annual A2Z challenge. So far so good. I’ve not been stumped for too many minutes. Muse is kind most days. Plus Tamara gave me a list from R-Z so I can revert to that should I need it. R included rules and regrets. When I was younger I used to believe that rules were made to be broken. I don’t necessarily live by that young thought anymore. Regrets just make me sad. I can’t change the past and regretting what I did is futile so I aim to move forward and not make the same mistakes as made in the past.

Right now I’m relaxing with a cup of coffee, reading over the list I’ve made myself to do today. I took the day off. We all need a day away from work responsibilities. This is actually a planned day, I have my annual doctor’s appointment scheduled later. (Okay so I’m 4 years over-due, don’t judge!) I tell people all the time to take care of their health. I should practice what I preach.

We as people get nervous about finding out the unknown. I mean one [relative] is struggling with congestive heart failure, another [relative] has a thyroid tumor that the doctors are treating as cancer until they can remove it. One [relative] is at the beginning stages of dementia. My [relative] suffers from high blood pressure and high cholesterol.

Lately I’ve been monitoring my BP and it’s been a little on the high pre-hypertension side. Work related or age? I don’t know. I eat well, try to get on that damn Nordic track at least three times a week. But the unknown is what is nerve-racking.

The mind is restless and unruly – a rebellious bastion. What started as a relaxing morning has turned into playing roulette with “WHAT IF?”

Let me leave you with this: Rain or shine, it’s a race against time, read my lips, we can’t reinvent the wheel and if this rings a bell, the rising tide will come from a reliable source. The resounding silence will be as right as the rain.

Have a blessed day and see ya tomorrow for S.
Cheers,

 

 

 

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Quid Pro Quo

Posted on April 20, 2022 | 10 comments

Growing up in Maine we kind of did things to survive. We didn’t expect anything in return. The snowplow filled the drive-way over and over again, so we shoveled it, over and over again. Part of life. We needed to get the car out of the yard to drive to work. The neighbor who was probably 15 miles down the road was not coming to help. And if by chance they did drive by and stop to help it was considered a favor and nothing was expected in return.

After moving to the south I experienced a little culture shock. We rented a house and our land lady would say things like “If you do this, I’ll do that.”  Whenever we did something that we thought needed to be done (upkeep on the house or yard) she would give us a gift for doing it. It was so odd to me, until I realized this was a way of life. Things are done in return of something nice, and it is expected. A tit for tat, I scratch your back, you scratch mine.

Me personally I don’t expect anything in return. I do things because I want to and I enjoy what I do. If I have the opportunity to help someone by doing something nice, I will. I like to pay-it-forward better than expecting something in return.

Today’s post kind of mirrors off todays A2Z post. Questions to be answered by you.

Do you reciprocate all the comments you receive? (I know you do Janet.) Would you prefer them to respond to what you commented or to just comment on one of your posts?  

Do you expect others to respond back when you comment on their post? Do you think you get more comments when you do?

Will you complete the challenge? (If you said no, how can us fellow bloggers help you?)

What is your favorite color? What is your favorite food?

Have you planned what you are doing for the letters R-Z? Do you need some ideas? (I could use some.)

Did you answer all of my silly questions?

 

I would just like to say that my 2016 post  Quadruped Quimby was way more fun!

Cheers,

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Reflections 2021 #atozchallenge ~Letters from the Heart

Posted on May 4, 2021 | 20 comments

 

Reflecting on the end of a challenge. One door closes another one opens. What was good? What was bad? What was ugly?  What can be done different? How can things be better?  

 

THE GOOD

Through my Letters from the Heart series I’ve learned a lot about myself.  Other years I’ve participated, but not really participated. It was nice to reconnect with some past bloggy buddies as well as making some new friends. This year I put a little more effort into getting to know my fellow bloggers and what they stand for.  Networking, because isn’t that what blogging is? Bonding with the homogeneous.

As the years pass, as we write and interact with others, we change. Our writing changes, our moods change, our habits change.  Hopefully for the better.

Statistically speaking, I had visitors from 25 different countries, which I think is really cool. I received more comments than I could keep up with and trust me that count is not high.  I found that if you reciprocate, you tend to get more comments.

THE BAD

I really had it in my head to visit every single blog from the Master List. I didn’t do very well at this.  I found myself drawn to certain blogs which I loved.  It happens. Blogging is a clicky little world and you can’t avoid clicks. We all have the same number of hours in a day. What do you want to use those hours on?  I choose to spend mine on things that I enjoy. Unfortunately it didn’t leave a lot of time for exploring and finding new blogs. A few times I did visit blogs that I wouldn’t normally visit, but really didn’t find them enjoyable.  I left comments but for the most part if I didn’t get a response or at least and acknowledgement that I visited, I did not return to the site.

THE UGLY

Which brings me to the things I disliked.  Some of the website links were not user friendly.  A few of the websites I visited I found it to be a chore to actually find the A-Z challenge. Once I maneuvered my way to the actual post it was fine. But still it was an inconvenience that took valuable minutes out of my day. Others neglected to even post at all. If I visit a blog and can’t easily find my way around, if there is no indication that it’s part of the challenge, or  if I can’t find where to leave a comment, chances are I’m not going to visit again. Also if I visit more than once and have to enter my name, email, etc. every time to leave a comment, I probably won’t comment a second time.

DON’T BITE OFF MORE THAN YOU CAN CHEW

What to do different? I had intentions of participating in the Road Trip. Unfortunately what I need to do is focus on areas where I need to improve before taking on another commitment. I think I jibber-jabbered about how we all have the same number of hours in a day, and we get to choose what we do with those hours. One of the things I noticed through the challenge this year is it’s much more enjoyable when you form a relationship or bond, per say, with some of your fellow bloggers. It’s important to reciprocate when they take the time to make a comment. I plan to take my own road trip.  I want to go back through all of my comments, not only this year, but all of the previous challenges, and respond to every comment that I neglected. Wish me luck.

COLLABORATION

How to make things better? Free advertising. I’ve included a few of my favorite bloggy buddies’ buttons to the right of the site. If you would to share yours send me your info. I’m at yahoo (everyone really is). We are the world of information. Knowledge at our fingertips.  What do you want to share? (Crackerberries discretion of course). I think that’s what this world needs: more sharing and just being kind. And if you think of it throughout the year, pop in on some of the bloggers you hooked up with and just say “HI”.  A random comment or nod might just be what someone needs to make their day.

That’s my take.  What’s yours?  Have you thought about what your theme for next year will be?  Be sure to leave your reflection link or blog link in the comments. I promise to do my best to come visit you and leave a comment back.

Have a great day!

Cheers,

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Drink Up

Posted on April 30, 2021 | 11 comments

Okay so a little zebra left from the last post…I can’t help it I love zebras and wine!


A’lil Hoohaa’s monthly photo blog challenge

Did I really need to push myself into another challenge? Probably not but this looks like it only happens once a month and if you’re not pushing yourself well you just aren’t living on the edge enough. Plus My Blogging Buddy was talking about how much fun it was and so I had to check it out. On top of that the theme is right up my ally. (Or is it down my ally?)  Who cares?  Let’s  DRINK up!

The Beer Den where you can sip and shop.

We try to visit this store once a month.  Of course whenever we go we always tend to spend more money than we should.

 

Beers for the aisles

As you can imagine, everything looks so good you’re having a crafted bubbly. Usually one of everything ends up in the cart.  Sometimes we get home and find two of something and didn’t notice the other one already had slipped it in.  Great minds think alike I guess.

 

Chocolate and Wine

I can’t remember where it was that Tall Cool ☺ne found this but OMiGOSH I wish I could freeze it into a Cho-CO-Wine-sicle!

 

Men with beards are cool  ~   Men with mullets drool!

This was at the entrance of the Beer Den and I just thought it was funny.

 

Sunday morning brunch

 

Every Sunday brunch is good for a cocktail. This is one of our favorites.

 

An acquired taste

I made these Moscow Mules once and they were quite tasty. Only problem is finding the ginger beer. When we are able to find it, it’s kinda pricy. So I found these and they are okay, but a Moscow Mule is definitely an acquired taste.

 

 

Tasty

These are what I like when I’m working in the yard.  So this was actually taken after all the work for the day was done.  I was chilling before getting the firepit stoked up. I love a bon fire.

 

 

Tall Cool ☺ne

There he is, my sweet, wonderful husband! God I love him.  We were fishing and everybody knows you can’t go fishing without a beer.  Right?

 

This is my first attempt at this photo challenge.  Hopefully I did okay.  I’m not a photographer… but I do enjoy taking pictures and adding them to my blog. My real passion is writing.  If you want to see who the real photographer in the family is just follow this link. 

 

 

I sure hope you enjoyed my pics and descriptions.  If you like sharing photos I encourage you to leave your links here or go to the this linkydink and share them there.  It’s my first shot at it so I’m still learning. 

 

Cheers, 

Crackerberries

 

 

 

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Posted in Blogging, Creative writing, Inspiration, Photo Challenge, Pondering, Writing

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Y = You and You are NOT the Christ ~ Letters from the Heart #atozchallenge

Posted on April 29, 2021 | 3 comments


Dear Impersonator:

Y is for you, and you are not the Christ. Oh, but to have just one day to be the Christ! Can you imagine all the wrongs you’d right? Of course you wouldn’t do it the way Christ did. Dying on a cross for sinners? Heck no! You’d just snuff ‘em out with an enchanted twitch of your nose or a few hocus pocus words with a swirly twirl of your magic-wand-pen.  No second chances, sinners, you’re gone! Ha ha …now wouldn’t that be fun?

Sometimes you try to play God, point your finger to the ones who are doing wrong.  You try to put things in motion  to turn out a certain way. Sometimes you do things to make other things happen to get you the desired result. How do those times turn out for you? Never very good right?

Remember cutting the Cedar tree limbs because the road was blocked? The neighbors told you they took care of the road. (Course they lied, but you still had to exert your rights). Cops came told you NOT to touch the trees, even though they were on the right of way. “The Jones (not their real name) have a lot of entitlement in these parts.” Shit you not, the officer said so himself.

God took care of it all in the end, but if you had just left it alone instead of exerting YOUR rights, you wouldn’t have so many run-ins with the neighbors.  You also would not have the sheriff’s department giving you a “friendly reminder” every time you decide to start a new project! That name has clout in the these parts…don’t you forget it. You’re a Yankee and the South is gonna do it again (that’s a whole other topic, don’t get started!)

Do you wonder if other people think about having that kind of power? Wonder what it would be like to be the Christ for one day? Isn’t that why writers write? To live in a little bit of fabricated world to set aside the real world humdrums even for a short period of time. That’s why you write when you are writing to entertain yourself.

Even in a good short story with that kind of power you couldn’t handle it. You probably wouldn’t be able to handle three wishes. You’d screw up the first two, then have to use the last one to wish that you never had them in the first place. It’s better to live by these instructions.

1. It is all in God’s hands, you are not the Christ.
2. Any questions, refer to #1.

Thanks for playing along. This was just a silly-willy kind of letter. You were convicted a lot in that last Bible study. It’s good to be humble.  He’s got it all planned and mapped out for you if you just follow His prompting. Don’t try to do it on your own. You’ll mess it up and then you know what happens? 


Your constant and faithful,


I don’t know about you guys but I am ready for a break. Omigosh so many things that I’ve not done around the house. Tomato plants are dying to be transplanted (literally). I sure hope we can all stay in touch if not daily, weekly maybe or monthly. It’s really been nice to have you loyal bloggies come around for a visit.

3 Comments

Posted in #A2ZChallenge, A-Z Blogging, Blogging, Christianity, Creative writing, Humor, Journalling, Letters from the Heart, Letters to Self, Opinion, Pondering, Writing, Writing Challenge

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Xtra Xtra Read All About It! ~ Letters from the Heart #atozchallenge

Posted on April 28, 2021 | 14 comments

 

 

Dear Barbiella:

Isn’t it funny how sometimes the things you have planned or not planned work out like you had no idea they were going to work out? Be honest here. When you put down Xtra Xtra read all about it on the Theme Reveal List, you had no clue what you were going to write about. You just figured something would come to mind and you would get it done.

Perhaps you were going to use this post to list some of the favorite blogs that you have been trying to keep up with throughout the challenge.  

o Music
o Vacation
o Projects
o Cartoons
o Life musings

 

Perhaps you were going to have the news about the new opportunities that both you and hubby have at your places of employment. You are both waiting for that yeah or neigh to go through and maybe you thought  you could brag about those opportunities.

Perhaps you wanted to sing praises about your son and all of the awesome opportunities he has at Disney and Universal. Can’t wait to go on the new ride.  

 

You weren’t really sure until about 8:30 PM last Friday evening when you got the news. (You need to write these things down so you remember them in chronological order!) It’s still kind of a secret because all of the important people have not been told. But in your defense none of the important people read your blog anyways so you need not be concerned that they will find out here.

So you are gonna be a Granny! Isn’t that exciting?   Today is about CELEBRATION! YOU are finally going to be a Granny-mamma! How AWESOME! More to come at a later date.

Your constant and faithful,

 

The end is near … on the last three letters XYZ.  Don’t give up now. You can do this.  Try to get yourself a copy of the Master List so you can continue to visit other blogs throughout the year.  Buy a TSHIRT if you haven’t already.  Make some comments or share your linky-dinks on the social media platforms.  Have some fun.  Enjoy the ride…ooh Road Trip coming up.

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Posted in #A2ZChallenge, A-Z Blogging, Blogging, Family, Inspiration, Journalling, Letters from the Heart, Letters to Self, Letters to Self, Opinion, Pondering, Quotes and Thoughts, Writing, Writing Challenge

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