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Rated: 18+ · Book · Personal · #1051691

Life, Adventure, Family, Writing what else is there? Random thoughts.

WELCOME TO:

GEMINI RISING

Banner for my blog, "Gemini Rising"
*Flower1* *Flower1* *Flower1* *Flower1* *Flower1* *Flower1*

UPDATED INTRO 30 JUNE 2025:

Just a little about me. I've been married for 33 years this past NOV and currently live in Southern California, but I grew up in New Hampshire.

I've got 2 boys who are young adults.

I work as a 911 dispatcher for LAPD. I enjoy my job a lot. Still. If you can believe that.

I love to write. Thankfully both of my boys achieved Eagle Scout. My Scouting days are over and I'm back to focusing on my writing.

I like to get out in nature, drink coffee and watch football.

Here's a little bio about my zodiac.

GEMINI: Gemini, the sign of the Twins, is dual-natured, elusive, complex and contradictory. On the one hand it produces the virtue of versatility, and on the other the vices of two-facedness and flightiness. The sign is linked with Mercury, the planet of childhood and youth, and its subjects tend to have the graces and faults of the young. When they are good, they are very attractive; when they are bad they are more the worse for being the charmers they are. Like children they are lively, and happy, if circumstances are right for them, or egocentric, imaginative and restless.

Their good qualities are attractive and come easily to them. They are affectionate, courteous, kind, generous, and thoughtful towards the poor and suffering - provided none of the activities resulting from expressing these traits interferes too greatly with their own lives and comforts.

Geminians can be successful in many walks of life though their general characteristics tend to make them unreliable. They are often skilled manipulators of language, in speech and writing, and may be: debaters, diplomats (though in politics they are more interested in theory than practice), orators, preachers (brilliant rather than profound), teachers, authors, poets, journalists, or lawyers.


BLOG ACCOMPLISHMENTS:

SEPTEMBER 2025:

FORUM
It's WDC- 25th Birthday Open in new Window. (E)
7 day Challenge to celebrate 25 years of this successful writer's haven.
#2343390 by Witchy Woman Author IconMail Icon


SEPTEMBER 2025:

FORUM
Earn the Badge - CLOSED Open in new Window. (E)
You want it? Earn it. How? Complete these simple tasks and the badge is yours!
#2133333 by Purple 50k and Counting Author IconMail Icon


Merit Badges collected and earned from "Earn the Badge 2025"
Merit Badge in WdC Supportive Friend [Click For More Info] Thank you for participating in [Link To Item #2133333] . Congratulations on completing the September 2nd Daily Task. Merit Badge in Earn the Badge [Click For More Info] Thank you for your donation to [Link To Item #2133333] - from Purple Princess. Merit Badge in Music [Click For More Info] Thank you for participating in [Link To Item #2133333] . Congratulations on completing the September 3rd Daily Task. Merit Badge in Contests [Click For More Info] Thank you for participating in [Link To Item #2133333] . Congratulations on completing the September 1st daily task. Merit Badge in Growth [Click For More Info] Good job earning the Growth Merit Badge in [Link To Item #2133333] Merit Badge in Word Searches [Click For More Info] Great job participating in [Link To Item #2133333] and completing the September 5th task. Merit Badge in Teamwork [Click For More Info] Great job for picking a teammate and completing the September 6th Task at [Link To Item #2133333]


SUMMER 2025:

FORUM
BCoF 's Virtual 50 State Bucket List Open in new Window. (18+)
We're going to explore one unique place in each of the 50 states in alphabetical order.
#2342653 by Witchy Woman Author IconMail Icon


Merit Badges Collected from Virtual Blogging &Virtual Blogging Friends:
Merit Badge in Let Dreams Take Wing [Click For More Info] To my upcoming virtual traveling blog companion. Dream big and fly high! Merit Badge in Normal Is Boring [Click For More Info] here's to another week of creating adventures! Merit Badge in Blog Camping [Click For More Info] Thanks for completing [Link To User elusive4lyn] July 2025 blogging vacation!! Great job!! Merit Badge in Travel [Click For More Info] Woohoo! We’re halfway through! Merit Badge in BCoF 2 [Click For More Info] Thank you for your participation in BCoF's 50 States Virtual Blogging adventure. *^*Heart*^* Lyn Merit Badge in Endurance [Click For More Info] 51 days of blogging takes commitment, and you rocked it. *^*Heart*^* Lyn


SEPTEMBER 2024:

I participated in the
FORUM
Blog Week Birthday Bastion 2025 Open in new Window. (E)
Blogging event from September 1-7, 2025. CLOSED
#2277665 by WakeUpAndLive~NOV Word Monger Author IconMail Icon
which was a big challenge for me due to my schedule, but I hunkered down and got it done. There's some great entries for the contest and the blog earned the following:

Merit Badge in Nonfiction [Click For More Info] Congrats on your Honorable Mention in Blog Week Birthday Bastion 2024

Big thanks to WakeUpAndLive~NOV Word Monger Author IconMail Icon for hosting the contest!

OCTOBER 2024 & 2025 :

I participated in the
FORUM
13 Poetic Days of Halloween Contest 2025 Open in new Window. (E)
Let your spooky poetry shine. Oct. 13th 12:01 am WDC time. - closes 11:59 pm WDC Oct 25th
#2328177 by Witchy Woman Author IconMail Icon
in 2024 which honestly was a big challenge for me considering my schedule, and again I hunkered down and did it! Update October 2025: I had so much participating in the challenge last year, I did it again for 2025 and successfully completed it. There's some great spooky poetry to be found in October and the blog earned the following merit badges:

Merit Badge in Halloween [Click For More Info] Congratulations on completing the 13 Poetic Days of Halloween. Merit Badge in Determination [Click For More Info] You rose to the poetry challenges in 12 Poetic Days of Halloween in grand style. Merit Badge in Ghost [Click For More Info] Thank you for your successful completion of 13 Poetic Days of Halloween *^*Heart*^* Lyn

Big Thanks to Witchy Woman Author IconMail Icon for hosting the contest!

NOVEMBER 2025 :
Merit Badge in WdC Positive Influence [Click For More Info] Thank you for all you do on WdC. I appreciate your encouragement and support *^*Hearto*^*
from Tiggy Author IconMail Icon



Find me at:

WEBSITE:
http://www.stephanieburkhart.com

FACEBOOK:
https://www.facebook.com/StephanieBurkhartAuthor

GOOD READS:
http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4031660.Stephanie_Burkhart

YOU TUBE CHANNEL:
http://www.youtube.com/user/botrina?feature=mhee

*Exclaim* WARNING *Exclaim*

I intend to be open, honest, and forthright. No topic is off limits from religion to you name it, I'm going there. If you think you might be offended...back up now - this blog isn't for you. For those who "dare" *Wink* check out the "Gemini Rising..."


Another Signature
November 29, 2025 at 2:03pm
November 29, 2025 at 2:03pm
#1102628
All the Prep and planning paid off! I got home from work at 630 am and went right to bed so I could sleep and get up at noon. Hubby got up and started cooking. Andy got up around 10 and put the touch up on the downstairs cleaning.

I was up at noon, showered and went downstairs. More finishing touches were added and I started putting together the Charcuterie board. Brent told everyone to show up at 2. Surprisingly, MIL didn't show up until 130! (Usually she's an hour early to all events). I finished putting together the board. There were salamis, prosciutto ham, and other salamis I couldn't pronounce! *Laugh* I did get some Manchango Cheese for the board and asked Andy to cut it. Hubby, Andy and MIL were making fun of the cheese which annoyed me a little. They had never heard of it! *EyesRight* Well, when they did try it, they started raving around it. Ooooohhh this is sooooo good. Good grief!! I know what I'm doing with a charcuterie board!

Anyhoo the masses showed up at 2, and Richard Jr. was late because a car caught on fire on the Freeway. (Everyday occurrence over here)

On the Menu:
Turkey - the skin was okay, it had crunchy parts but was a little moist
Mashed potatoes
Stuffing with cranberries and sausage
salad
rolls
Cheesy potatoes

Let's not forget at the booze at the house. I kept it simple - malibu rum, pineapple juice and spite. I had 2 glasses and called it quits. Need my wits about me after all. But offered 2 different tequilas, rums, Jack Daniels, and wine - Riesling, Gerwursteminer, and Lambrusco.

and we had Andy's pies for dessert.

Thank goodness for Football! The Kansas City Chiefs and the Dallas Cowboys were playing. Chiefs are looking tired this year. Me and cousin Tony talked football and caught up. Richard Sr kept asking "Is Patrick Mahomes playing?" Usually he's pretty sharp so I wondered what was up. After dinner, Richard Jr. said he noticed some memory issues. I have to agree. Hope MIL is doing something about it. I said my gratuitous hellos to MIL, the Evils, (you have to do some pretty dastardly things to be label "evils" in my house, but Brent's Aunt and Uncle are all about me, me, and me, and I've been just nasty to their DIL, Sandy so until there is some redemption, which I doubt, evils it is) My SIL stayed away as the evils make her feel uncomfortable. Can't say I blame her. Wish I had that option.

Clean up duty was spread between me, Brent, and Andy which was helpful. After pie and coffee, people were out the door around 530 pm.

Now it was recovery time!

Yesterday was low key but busy. Joey suggested we go to Japanese for dinner last night so we did. Sushi was never so tasty.

I did 3 loads of laundry while working on my Lodestar entry which I slaved over. I had to cut down some of the description to get it in under 5K words which I did. I'm proud of the entry but it could have been more. *Smile*

Today at 1 pm, Andy and I are off to go see the last college USC football game. They're playing UCLA at the Colisum. I love going to see USC play football so I'm looking forward it.

Now that my Lodestar story is done, I can get back to my edits for Gifts.


*Thought*  Comment


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