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 |  Daily scribbles on writing and living. How to get rid of cobwebs in my brain. CLOSED. |
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I am over the moon with joy this morning, as I got an anonymous gift from a co-writer on WdC. I can set up a blog for the coming three months since someone paid for an upgrade. If you ever read this Anonymous One, thank you so much! Many thanks to "Request An Upgrade From RAOK"     I have to think about this for a moment. Don't want to rush it, don't want to solely vent or underestimate the value of a daily blog for my writing. So I will carefully try to explore what it will bring me. “All my life, my heart has sought a thing I cannot name. Remembered line from a long-forgotten poem” ― Hunter S. Thompson, Hell's Angels: A Strange and Terrible Saga When I was a teenager, my little brother stole my journal out of my bedroom and read it. I was so disappointed and mad about his action, I destroyed my writing and have been struggling with the concept of conveying my inner thoughts ever since. So, I will send my daily scribbles to the world. On How to get rid of cobwebs in my brain. To let in some air and rejoice. For another clumsy attempt at writing, check out "All fingers and thumbs "  [18+]. I am a Rising Star from  Rising Star Program 2016-2017.  Comments, scribbles, and notes welcome!       Thanks, 🌕 HuntersMoon  for the teal awardicon.Note ▼ |
| It was love at first sight. The mountains, the two of us in the grass. Heaven was bliss. But who is lurking behind us? Who is taking this picture? Do I feel an ax; HELP! "Invalid Item" Prompt 2. |
| TWENTY FIRST day of backpacking across Europe with "30-Day Blogging Challenge ON HIATUS" [13+] Since I am not that much interested in miniature trains or bikes, I elope for the day to go visit art in the Hamburger Kunsthalle: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C0Mv21NsE2k Wow, the most exquisite paintings and sculptures I ever saw. Worth every minute of it. Its extraordinarily large historical breadth from the early 15th century to the end of the 18th century distinguishes the Collection of Old Masters. Also important groups of works and outstanding single objects characterize the Modern Art collection, which has among the most important holdings in Germany. And starting from the origins of the modern period in Classicism and Romanticism, the arc spans from Realism and Naturalism to Impressionism, touching on contemporaneous salon painting, and finally ending with Symbolism. The Kunsthalle covers it all, very impressive. I am not that interested in the Red District either, although the Reeperbahn of Hamburg is quite famous. So I end up talking to those sex workers and listening to their stories. "Things have been going downhill fast in the last five years," says Andrea, a local streetwalker. She works on Herbertstraße, which runs parallel to the Reeperbahn and is famous for its sign declaring "Men only". She charges tourists 5 euros to answer their questions. "How many customers have you had today?" I ask. "None!" she replies. "What about yesterday?" "Also none." Statistics suggest that sex workers as a whole consider their personal lives to be more difficult than their life at work. Both the income levels and experience within the sex industry skew towards buyers of sex rather than sellers of sex. As of 2014, the average income of a sex buyer is approximately $60,000 per year; the average for sex providers is about $39,500 per year while the managers take home a mean annual income of $42,000. According to the University of Victoria survey, 15 percent of the sex workers who took the survey reported having gone through a work-related injury while performing services for a client. Research states that about 97 percent of workers are tested for HIV/AIDS on a regular basis while sex purchasers get tested only 68 percent of the time, which implies that nearly a third more workers monitor their sexual health with diligence. Considering the percentage of sex buyers who are not tested for serious diseases such as HIV/AIDS, the fact that not all sex workers use condoms while on the job represents a frightening risk that some buyers and sellers take each time a transaction takes place. The majority of sex workers are female, with 77 percent in the sex industry identifying themselves as women. Men represent 17 percent of sex workers while six percent identified as other genders. Only 45 percent of workers in the sex industry consider themselves fully heterosexual, which is less than half of the typical percentage of straight people reported in surveys of the general public. (The internet) It’s been again a full day with lots to think about. In the evening, I join the others for food, fun and games. Day TWENTY NINE "Give It 100!" |
| Day TWENTY of backpacking across Europe with "30-Day Blogging Challenge ON HIATUS" [13+] Sightseeing and sailing in Hamburg, I love it. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aedN7AtHs7I. After a busy day I am so tired I crash in the Mac Donald's. How do you feel about having a contest in Blog City? Any suggestions? We're always looking for ways to improve your writing experiences here so here's your chance to talk to the leaders.(BC) I’ve got forty-eight contests stored in my contest folder in favorites I can chose from. I think that’s fabulous! The only contest I miss is one specific for the thrillers/suspense genre. So maybe somebody has ideas to start one? I love those contests on WdC. They are well described, easy to enter and a great prompt for writing. For Blog City, I could come up with writing an entry per day for five days looking into the houses of co-bloggers in Blog City. Keeping up with the Joneses. Entering ports and checking out the different neighbors of your choice. “PEEK A PORT” PARTY. With or without a prompt for each day. First prize: an awardicon for your own portfolio plus a new ‘hospitality’ MB, and a Blog City MB for the house/port you entered. Prompt: It's Saturday. Create something a poem, a flash fiction, or a rant. Write whatever you want about any subject. (BCoFs) She didn’t want to panic, that sudden uncontrollable fear of losing it, of being out of control made her flinch in her seat while her hands behind her back struggled with the rope he had put around them. The marks on her wrists hurt, the grooves deep in her flesh burning already. Soon infection would set in. Day TWENTY EIGHT "Give It 100!" |
| NINETEENTH day of backpacking across Europe with "30-Day Blogging Challenge ON HIATUS" [13+] Dresden, a ten-hour tour and free time before dinner at 7.30. That’s again a full day of sightseeing. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1ZF3kCjul84 It’s such an elegant Baroque city, very impressive. You fall in love with a sorcerer who changes you into anything he wants, until you fall out of love again. This is not easy since there is this spell on me. I turned into a cow. I love cows, they are such sweet animals. Every spring when they go into the meadows for the first time, they make all kinds of jumps and movements like in a dance. They produce milk and meat and are an asset to the Dutch country site. You take a wrong turn when driving through a foreign country. What happens next?(BC) That’s the beauty of being in a car, you are safe! I never worry inside my car. If I take a wrong turn, I can always go back to a familiar spot and try again or look at the road map some more before going on. In any case, I am in a safe environment. I like that about driving a car, I really miss driving at the moment. Day TWENTY SEVEN "Give It 100!" |
| EIGHTEENTH day of backpacking across Europe with "30-Day Blogging Challenge ON HIATUS" [13+] Wow, the hotel is to die for. Great and beautiful reception area, large beautiful rooms AND a pool. We throw in our luggage and go sightseeing in Berlin on Segway: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=II2QdUq1LiY Berlin is famous for its role in the cold war, from 1945 to 1990. Alexander platz is the décor of many thrillers and movies for exchanging spies from East to West Berlin and vice versa. I used to engorge the works of Ludlum, big reads on espionage, a lot set in Berlin. We see (info on) parts of the famous Berlin wall. The fall of the Berlin Wall (German: Mauerfall) began the evening of 9 November 1989 and continued over the following days and weeks, with people nicknamed Mauerspechte (wall woodpeckers) using various tools to chip off souvenirs, demolishing lengthy parts in the process, and creating several unofficial border crossings. Thousands crossed the wall that evening and the days to come. It was heartbreaking! I still can remember that Thursday, I was housebound at the radio listening to the news. It was BIG in those days since from the day I was born the wall had existed. And on that very day, it broke down! Sensational news. When I did my groceries in between listening to the news, I distinctly remember walking on the street in euphoria and noticing nobody else seem to know or even care about this big turning point in history. All free men, wherever they may live, are citizens of Berlin. And therefore, as a free man, I take pride in the words 'Ich bin ein Berliner!' John F. Kennedy in 1963. We have dinner 679 feet (207 meters) above the city at Sphere. What great views! Everybody is enjoying himself or herself and the food is yummy. Prompt: Watch with glittering eyes the whole world around you because the greatest secrets are always hidden in the most unlikely places. Roald Dahl. Do you agree with this statement? (BC) No, I have found the greatest secrets are always in plain view. But we never tend to see them, since we are not taking notice; we are not paying enough attention. We have to however try to watch with glittering eyes the whole world around us in order to be amazed by the wonders that are there. I sometimes forget to be open minded and open my heart because of the cruelties happening in the world. I am a pessimist, always looking at a glass half empty. So I have to stay active in opening up to beautiful things in general. It’s a process and a project I am still working on. I am learning as I go. Prompt: What is your opinion on the old saying "It's better late than never."(BCoFs) It totally depends on the situation. For example, when I am on a tight schedule then it can be very inconvenient. Furthermore, I hate waiting on something or someone. Having said that I normally tend to be very laid back. So it will depend on situation, mood and circumstances. Day TWENTY SIX "Give It 100!" |
| SEVENTEENTH day of backpacking across Europe with "30-Day Blogging Challenge ON HIATUS" [13+] Lyn's a Witchy Woman WOW, no time to think twice. Touring Europe can’t be without a dive into the gruesome past of WWII. I have been to the concentrationcamp of The Westerbork transit camp, a World War II Nazi refugee, detention and transit camp in Hooghalen in the northeastern Netherlands. Its function during the Second World War was to assemble Romani and Dutch Jews for transport to other Nazi concentration camps. For example to TEREZIN, another transit camp: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hTJjtIsOY0c In the concentration camps, we discovered this whole universe where everyone had his place. The killer came to kill, and the victims came to die. Elie Wiesel I saw this 9 hours documentary once about the concentration camps. I had to watch a little piece at the time since it was that gruesome and it had a huge impact. We may never forget! Prompt: What is your guilty pleasure website to visit?(BC) I have no guilty pleasure website. Prompt: Write about a time you felt betrayed.(BcoFs) Years ago, when I was in a dark place, I hide from the outside world and from my friends. They never understood what was the matter with me and I didn’t explain much. Two of my friends left me because of this. They were not there in my time of need. I think they could have done more for me at that time, but they didn’t. I felt betrayed because of it. It was yet another blow on top of a difficult situation. Day TWENTY FIVE "Give It 100!" |
| I still am not sure what trinkets are exactly, or why you should want them in the first place. I think they will be expensive, so it will be a nice feature for the happy few. A collector’s item perhaps. 1. Trinkets will not be "items". 2. You can only collect one instance of a trinket. you cannot hold multiple copies of it. 3. When you "drop" a trinket, it keeps its serial number. If you or anyone else picks it up again, it will still have that number. For example, if you have #33 of an edition of 100 and 77 of the edition has been collected so far and you drop your #33, then the next person to collect the trinket will get that number, not #78. 4. How to view your trinkets...www.writing.com/main/profile/trinkets/username 5. The ML tag for trinkets is { trinket : ******** } 6. Do the quiz: "The Trinket Quiz" [E]For more on trinkets see: "TRINKETS" [E]"The Challenge" |
| SIXTEENTH day of backpacking across Europe with "30-Day Blogging Challenge ON HIATUS" [13+] Prague: one of the most beautiful cities in Europe, for sure. It brings back bittersweet memories of NOT going when I was seventeen. It was on the morning before we SHOULD travel to Prague with my high school class that I quarreled with my mom and run away from home. My classmates went; I never did but started my biggest adventure of my lifetime. So I am glad to have the chance to visit now. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MRI8ffYKA8c Prague is the city of Franz Kafka, a writer whom I love: Prague never lets you go… this dear little mother has sharp claws –Franz Kafka. So I visit the Franz Kafka museum, small and dark but a MUST SEE for me as a writer. The Wish to be a Red Indian by Franz Kafka Translated by Willa and Edwin Muir If one were only an Indian, instantly alert, and on a racing horse, leaning against the wind, kept on quivering jerkily over the quivering ground, until one shed one's spurs, for there needed no spurs, threw away the reins, for there needed no reins, and hardly saw that the land before one was smoothly shorn heath when horse's neck and head would be already gone. The rest of the day, you can find me in GLOBE, the largest English bookstore in Prague.  Founded in 1993, the Globe Bookstore and Café is Prague’s first and best English language bookstore with a lively and trendy café that offers delicious coffee, cocktails and some of Prague’s best home cooking with great burgers, salads, pastas and other favorites and a full American brunch menu on the weekends. The Globe Bookstore is expat Prague’s literary epicenter that provides a unique meeting place for artists, writers, students and travelers. The café also regularly hosts literary readings, movies, live music and other special and top sporting events; while the bookstore offers a wide selection of approximately 10,000 handpicked quality titles that will impress even the most learned reader. I’ll stay until HAPPY HOUR, and then I must hurry to catch the group for dinner at the boat. We have a wonderful buffet meal and I have to chat with some of the co-travelers I didn’t have a chance to talk to earlier. "Prague. Praha. The name actually meant "threshold". Pollina had said the city was a portal between the life of the good and … the other. A city of dark magic, Alessandro had called it." Author: Magnus Flyte. After a long, hard day of work, you return home—the only problem is, your front door is wide open, all your lights are on and there's a sword stuck in the ceiling. The rest of your house looks normal, but you also notice several holes dug in your backyard. What's going on? (BcoFs) Nothing is wrong really, they are my new neighbors. They are the Good knights of Whatyamecallit. They dig holes because they think those are the portals to be transferred back in time to where they came from. Until then they are stuck at number two next-door. I’ll better go visit them now with some coffee and cookies, to calm them down. Prompt: If you haven't said or done anything intentionally to hurt someone, are you responsible when they feel hurt by what you said or did? And what do you think about the people who act hurt when there is nothing for them to feel hurt about? (BC) No, definitely not. I am not responsible for other people’s feelings. They are their owns. They have the right to their own personal emotional outlet. It has nothing to do with me. And I have no patience with those acting feeling sorry for themselves when there is nothing going on. Drama queens! Grow up! Day TWENTY FOUR "Give It 100!" |
| FIFTEENTH day of backpacking across Europe with "30-Day Blogging Challenge ON HIATUS" [13+] It’s Salzburg, so it’s Mozart time. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XWi3VVwz0vQ And Haydn time, we visit Esterházy Palace and meet with Princess Maria Theresia of Thurn and Taxis (1794–1874) https://laurengilbertheyerwood.wordpress.com/2013/03/18/princess-esterhazy-the-b... She was apparently dark, plump, pretty and lively. Countess Lieven (later Princess) described her as “small, round, black, animated and spiteful”. The Renaissance is a period in Europe, from the 14th to the 17th century, regarded as the cultural bridge between the Middle Ages and modern history. It started as a cultural movement in Italy in the Late Medieval period and later spread to the rest of Europe, marking the beginning of the Early Modern Age. I wish to become a Renaissance woman when I grow up. Described as a person with many talents or areas of knowledge.Haydn and Mozart were friends: “If only I could impress Mozart's inimitable works on the soul of every friend of music, and the souls of high personages in particular, as deeply, with the same musical understanding and with the same deep feeling, as I understand and feel them, the nations would vie with each other to possess such a jewel.” (Haydn on Mozart) High esteem for true merit, and regard for the individual, influenced his judgment of works of art. He was always very touched when he spoke of the two Haydns or other great masters. (Mozart on Haydn) We go to Moosham Castle located near Salzburg. It dates back to the 13th century. Built by the Prince-Bishops of Salzburg, Moosham has a strange and sinister past. 100s of witches were beheaded within the walls of this castle. It is said some still haunt this Austrian fortress, which is run as a museum today. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DbEA_LWl0yE I felt "Invalid Item" today.Then we eat, we talk and we sleep. It’s been a good day. Prompt: August 15 is Best Friends Day. Celebrate best friends day by writing a poem or tribute to your best friend. (BCoFs) On K. On August 15 I celebrate my friend. She is the Mother Theresa in my life. Always keen to provide, nurture and smile. When in trouble she is there; when in need of a meal she is everywhere. Here place is a refuge for friends, misfits and foe. We go to the movies every other week and peak into our own lives or that of close by. She is gifting me with a trip to New York City next year. I am in her debt. This Sunday she organized a picnic in the park. It was a huge success with chatter and food in the sun. A hon of a girl, a sweet lady, a priceless gem. Prompt: “Always be a poet, even in prose’” Charles Baudelaire. Are you getting Baudelaire’s drift? Does your prose turn poetic always, at times, or rarely? (BC) I would like to think my prose turns into poetic language at times. Not always, not rarely, but some times when I am focusing. I feel I am a poet first, a writer later. Being a poet has something to do with a way of life. It’s the way I approach things philosophically, the way I digest things, the way I breathe. I have started a new blog on poetry, next to this one. Check it out! "Invalid Item" .Day TWENTY THREE "Give It 100!" |
| FORTEENTH day of backpacking across Europe with "30-Day Blogging Challenge ON HIATUS" [13+] Vienna is music and Sigmund Freud to me, so I start off with an oldie https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3DuCIGvsbMA to get in the mood. The band UltraVox. |
| THIRTEENTH day of backpacking across Europe with "30-Day Blogging Challenge ON HIATUS" [13+] Verona, the painted city. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WVdZ6XTdKzs I am totally falling for the old city and its ruins, beautiful architecture and medieval painted walls. We visit the balcony of Romeo and Juliet. But, soft! what light through yonder window breaks? Romeo stands in the shadows beneath Juliet's bedroom window. Juliet appears on the balcony and thinking she's alone, reveals in a monologue her love for Romeo. She despairs over the feud between the two families and the problems the feud presents. Romeo listens and when Juliet calls on him to "remove" his name, he steps from the darkness saying, "call me but love." Ahhh!  73 degrees (23) so excellent weather for a nine hour tour through Verona. The city has been awarded World Heritage Site status by UNESCO because of its urban structure and architecture. I sneak out of the group to have a 101 at the statue of Dante Alighieri in Piazza dei Signori. I recall writing "Inferno for dummies." [E] as an ode to this great poet. I touch the stone; I sigh and have my private moment with this great man. From the Middle Ages onwards Verona, more than all the other small towns of North Italy, was always an important artistic center with a flourishing school of painters. But there are also the modern arts I like. So I visit Galleria d'Arte Moderna Palazzo Forti, where there is an exhibition of Maria Callas. I love that since I own a couple of CD’s with her music: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mN9Dipgqdtw Listening to Madame Butterfly always makes me want to cry! Since we had a busy night last night having chitchats and a pillow fight I hit the sack early. Tomorrow another traveling day to Vienna. Night all! What are your plans for the weekend? Do you do more writing on weekends or weekdays? (BC) I have been invited for a picnic in the park if the weather is improving this Saturday. Since summer is a bit poor so far, I am looking forward to this. I still am on a holiday break writing all summer, so my weekends and weekdays are the same this month, writing wise. A disappointing summer in Holland Summer, why don’t you Be as blistering as the Sun in the sky? Rainy days, clustering clouds The others clear as a bell. Well, Have you thought about this: Why don’t you take me to a spot Full of joy and jasmine, bare feet Skirts, short trousers and sandals? Bright days, cool nights. The sea Full of promise. The sun scorching. Why don’t you take me there? Ring around the posy - a pocket full of.. .. What are your pockets full of? (BCoFs) My pockets are full of small black and red plastic doggy disposable bags. Since I take my dog for a walk several times a day this is mandatory. If the police catch you without those bags, you can have a fine of ninety euro (hundred USD). I’ve had two tickets in the last ten years. Day TWENTY ONE "Give It 100!" |
| TWELFTH day of backpacking across Europe with "30-Day Blogging Challenge ON HIATUS" [13+] I am gone for the day. Hiding in Venice. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=thQXKqTB3L8 I will never forget experiencing Venice for the first time. It feels like you are transported to another time - the art, music, food and pure romance in the air is like no other place. Elizabeth Berkley It's so easy for me to get caught up in the feeling of a city like Venice, where everything is just beautiful color and gorgeous buildings that are so peaceful. You can roam around and get lost in the labyrinth. Nanette Lepore Title Prompt: The Cyber- Thoughts (BCoFs) Thoughts in Cyberspace! Well, I can encrypt this text so you guys will never know what I have been up to during my trip in Venice. It’s the most beautiful city in Italy, and guess what…the water in the canals doesn’t smell. The system didn't pick up on my encryption, too bad! Blog City No prompt today on International Youth day…somebody celebrating? Well, maybe later! Tell me about a road trip you've taken? Would you do it again?(BC) In 1978, I graduated from high school, my best friend and I were allowed to go hitchhiking in England. We stayed away for a month and had the time of our lives. From London, we hitchhiked to Plymouth to stay as long as possible in Cornwall. It was beautiful, it was adventurous, and it was awesome for a 17-year-old girl. We met some wonderful people and had some good rides. At one time, we were picked up by the same couple weeks later on our way back. Very funny. We have been to people’s homes for dinner and we’ve stayed at camping sites. I remember distinctly one night cost us 5 pounds on a camping for our small tent, plus 50 pence per person. Now that was cheap. That best friend died 15 years ago at age 40 of cervical cancer. I miss her dearly. I would do the trip again anytime. Don’t know about the hitchhiking. I think it is too dangerous to do so nowadays. Day TWENTY "Give It 100!" |
| ELEVENTH day of backpacking across Europe with "30-Day Blogging Challenge ON HIATUS" [13+] Full-day trip to the Cinque Terre from Florence with transport: Riomaggiore, dating back to 13th century. The tiny village of Manarola next, home to medieval relics and a plethora of grapevines. Monterosso. And a final stop in Vernazza, bordered by terraced olive groves. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MJ9JliTi_VE Prompt: What Olympic Event would you like to have a Gold Medal in?(BC) I would say Swimming; since that’s the only sport I master myself. We in the Netherlands have this great Dutch girl (from Indonesian descent as I am) Ranomi Kromowidjojo. She made it to the semifinals. Unfortunately, I didn’t watch so far, but I hope to watch her in Women's 50m freestyle on Friday. I think it’s on for 6 pm. I just made a mental note about that, otherwise I will forget. The door swung open but no one was visible.... and?????(BcoFs) I was twelve years old when that happened. It was my bedroom door at the first floor of our house. There was no draft in my room or in the rest of the house (I checked) and at the time I was convinced it was the Holy Spirit. I was a believer at the time. Although it had to be the wind or something. Still to this day, I associate winds with the Holy Spirit although I am an agnostic for decades. I love the wind in the trees outside, I love walking with my dog on the beach, hide deep into my coat facing the winds. I think the wind is a mysterious being, despite the fact it is merely moving air and is caused by differences in air pressure within our atmosphere. Air under high pressure moves toward areas of low pressure. The greater the difference in pressure, the faster the air flows. Yeah..I know all that, but still, I love a little mystery. Day NINETEEN "Give It 100!" |
| TENTH day of backpacking across Europe with "30-Day Blogging Challenge ON HIATUS" [13+] Bassetto Guesthouse: Wow, what atmosphere. Never seen or experienced anything quite like it. I loved the rooms, the lodge, the small library and the pool outside. I felt a bit like a monk (or is it a monkess, LOL). My brother has tried that lifestyle once for a few months but didn’t like it after all. But okay, when SB Musing  was done I took a short swim outside and was totally fresh for our pasta workshop. In the afternoon, we went to the Basilica of Santa Croce and saw the museum where Michelangelo's David resides. It is quite a beautiful statue and I’ve seen the copy in Florence. Since I am a bit of a sculptor myself (did some workshops in the US and in the south of France years ago) I was particularly interested in his…buttocks. Do you know how hard it is to sculpt beautiful buttocks? It’s very hard..but Michelangelo did ofcorse an excellent job. I made a lot of photographs to take home with me. (I hope customs will let me through since they might think of it as indecent pictures. . ) The Boboli Gardens were breathtaking. I liked The Dwarf Morgante by Valerio Cigoli the best. A statue of an ugly fat dwarf on a taurus. Then time to ride a horse. It was a bit of a challenge but I managed to get my own buttocks on the back of a horse. Since my childhood, I had never sat on one because at that time I sprained my ankle by another horse passing me by to closely. I have always been fascinated by horses, but am a bit cautious too. They are huge, aren’t they? Everybody enjoyed himself or herself. That sunset was another highlight of the day. Prompt: Ice truckers. I like this show. Semi trucks travel across frozen lakes in Alaska and Canada. Trucks jack knife and slide on the water and if they break through the ice, it won't end well. Would you like to drive a truck across the dangerous ice lakes or be a passenger on one? What are your thoughts on this?(BC) I have seen that program once or twice and it is fascinating to watch those men and women drive those huge trucks in dangerous circumstances. I would rather drive myself but I am not equipped to do so. My next best choice would be to sit next to a very experienced kind of guy, or girl. How do you feel about critiques? Do you feel they are beneficial ? Would you rather give them or receive them?(BCoFs) I love reviews to begin with. I think it is wonderful that other writers with busy schedules take the time and energy to read my work and rap their minds around it. So far, I have only come across a few that were not beneficial at all, the majority is great stuff. I only wished I had more time to incorporate their comments into the stories and adjust them properly. So far, I have postponed that to next month. I like giving them too. Day EIGHTEEN "Give It 100!" |
| There are 180 snow- and ice-related words in Eskimo (Inuit and Yupik) and as many as 300 different words for types of snow, tracks in snow, and conditions of the use of snow. The white polar bear loves ice. Polar bears are tied to the sea ice for nearly all of their life cycle functions. Most important of these is foraging, or access to food. Polar bears almost exclusively eat seals, and they are equally as dependent upon the sea for their nutrition as are seals, whales, and other aquatic mammals. Polar bears are not aquatic, however, and their only access to the seals is from the surface of the sea ice. Over the past 25 years, the summer sea ice melt period has lengthened, and summer sea ice cover has declined by over half a million square miles. In winter, although sea ice extent has not changed as greatly, there have been dramatic reductions in the amount of old ice, predominantly in the western Arctic. This loss of stable old ice has set up additional losses of sea ice cover each summer because the thinner younger ice is the more easily melted during the recent warmer summers. "The Challenge" |
| Let's discuss nightmares. Do you have them? What do you think is the reason you do? What's the scariest one you've ever had? (BCoFs) Nightmares are vividly realistic, disturbing dreams that rattle you awake from a deep sleep. They often set your heart pounding from fear. Nightmares tend to occur most often during rapid eye movement (REM) sleep. I had one recurrent nightmare in a period twelve years ago suffering from PTSD at the time. I can’t describe it but it’s a feeling I will recognize when I have it. It is very scary as in I can’t breath freely and I am suffocating. Luckily I don’t have that nightmare any more, so I tend to forget what it was all about. I did some research on dream interpretation in my years teaching psychology at the university. I learned to interact with my dreams and am able to actively do something in my dreams that will change the outcome. I like that idea for when I am having a nightmare; I can actually change what is happening to me, so I am more in control. Prompt: What is inspiration to you? Aside from writing from prompts, is inspiration something you run into while reading or living your day-to-day life, or do you have a mystical attitude about it as if it comes from dreams or during a trance-like state?(BC) Inspiration is something mystical to me. I cannot influence it and it is a flow I enter which I totally adore when it’s happening. It is not something I can stimulate from the outside. My Muse dictates when I am in the mood for writing. I have had a writer’s block for almost nine months, which was devastating. It totally disappeared when I hooked up with WdC. That’s why I am committed to this site. It changed my life for the better since June 1. It’s only been, what? 70 days? Day SEVENTEEN "Give It 100!" |
| NINTH day of backpacking across Europe with "30-Day Blogging Challenge ON HIATUS" [13+] Wow, we are going on a helicopter tour to Nice. I have always wanted to do that. I am a bit nervous, but I will be brave, since it is totally awesome. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GtGzJxwKXjE So totally cool that flight, I am hooked. But before we do, we see that off-the-chard cool collection of vintage cars of Prince Albert. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gWTbzxxxcd8 You HAVE to see this. I love cars, so I am going to enjoy this tour. And maybe I will take a ride in that over- the- top yellow Lamborghini I saw. If only! I love the bike ride as well. It is so cool to do something sporty for a change after all that museum hopping of the past week. This day I will remember, for sure. Three hours on a bike through great scenery, Wow, I am in. We enter Nice on a sunny day. Temperature 73 degrees (23) so perfect for riding a bike. I love the great bike paths and we can navigate traffic easily. Watch this 11 minutes ride, it’s very relaxing. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XDh89ReSUf0 I really get a feel for this place. I think enjoying a city with your own transport is great. You almost feel like one of the locals and you can just stop and watch whatever you want before hopping on the bike again. The beer stop back in Monaco was cool too, although I normally don’t drink much beer. But I take a RED FRUITS GLASS BOTTLE 25cl. It’s fruity, it’s yummy, I love it. I want another one. In the restaurant I am in for today’s fish dish. And Ohhh…I spotted Novak Djokovic with his wife, who lives in Monaco. Ofcorse I want his autograph…but I am going to restrain myself. They have to eat as well, don’t they? I leave the number one’s best tennis player in the world and go chat with my buddies from WdC instead. What a splendid day!C’etait bon, n’est-ce pas?!  Day SEVENTEEN "Give It 100!" |
| EIGHT day of backpacking across Europe with "30-Day Blogging Challenge ON HIATUS" [13+] Monaco, 73 degrees (23) today. Start at the luxurious Fairmont hotel, the Oceanographic Museum (SB Musing can touch the sharks), https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n5P_pSIl5_4 the little zoo https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Az2JgFnUG0g , the palace https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U4hoTZ8DhMI , walking Monaco https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aDgkKYMZrN4 , meet at La Blue Note piano bar. Fun Facts: No Taxes, No Gambling for citizens, No Airplanes, famous for Monaco Formula 1 Grand Prix, filming location of three James Bond Films namely Casino Royal, GoldenEye, and Never Say Never Again. Monaco is also Grace Kelly. The highly popular film actress in the 1950s, Grace Kelly starred in movies such as Dial M for Murder and To Catch a Thief. She married Prince Rainier III of Monaco. Princess Grace died on Sep 14, 1982 after a tragic car crash on the windy roads as she was driving from her country home to the Palace of Monaco. Even in an age before Twitter, social media and even the Internet, news of Princess Grace’s death spread around the word as people everywhere felt shock and disbelief. The death of Princess Diana in 1997 resembled that of Grace Kelly’s. Prompt: Each time the wind blew, she could hear the flowers talking to her. Tell me what the flowers said to her. (BcoFs) Both Grace Kelly and Princess Diana were citizens marrying royalty. In my country our Queen Maxima did the same thing. The flowers must have said to them: Fall in love with a man with great wealth and fame and fortune. Reach for the stars. Go beyond your own little world and expand your horizon. Live that fairytale life to the best of your abilities. Prompt: What do you think about this feeling of “I should have done better!” in any area? Can it be a positive or negative motivator in some way?(BC) I should have done better can apply to both negative as positive motivators. In my life I am not going there since my circumstances outreached my possibilities. There was not much I could do to prevent my predicament and pain in the past. All the rest is just adjustment to a new situation and accepting life as it is. “What I know about myself” in "Welcome to my reality - Five -" .Day SIXTEEN "Give It 100!" |
| Everybody has heard of the pear shaped, purple eggplant. It is officially a fruit, but it doesn’t taste like a fruit. The aubergine has a rather neutral flavor, whereby it is easily confused with a vegetable. Because of this neutral flavor the aubergine can be used in a lot of dishes. It is an important part of dishes like moussaka, ratatouille and escalivada. To give the fruit more flavor ad spices. The aubergine is very healthy and low in calories. Preparation Lamb and Eggplant Shepherd's Pie Filling: - Scatter eggplant on rimmed baking sheet. Sprinkle with coarse salt; let stand 1 hour, tossing occasionally. Rinse eggplant and pat very dry. - Heat 3 tablespoons oil in heavy large pot over medium-high heat. Add eggplant and sauté until tender, about 12 minutes. Transfer to medium bowl. - Sprinkle lamb generously with coarse salt and pepper, then dust with flour to coat. Heat 2 tablespoons oil in same pot over medium-high heat. Add half of lamb. Sauté until browned, about 8 minutes. Transfer lamb to large bowl. Repeat with 2 tablespoons oil and remaining lamb. - Add 1 additional tablespoon oil to same pot, if needed. Add onions. Cover and cook over medium-low heat until very tender, about 10 minutes (bottom of pot will be very dark). Add wine to pot. Increase heat and boil until wine evaporates, scraping up browned bits, about 5 minutes. Add tomatoes with juice, broth, garlic, and oregano and bring to boil. Add lamb with any accumulated juices. Cover; reduce heat to low and simmer 1 hour. Uncover and continue to simmer until lamb is very tender and gravy thickens slightly, about 45 minutes. Stir in eggplant. Season with salt and pepper. Transfer to 13x9x2-inch glass baking dish. DO AHEAD Can be made 3 days ahead. Cool slightly. Cover and chill. Topping: - Preheat oven to 375°F. Cook potatoes in large pot of boiling salted water until tender, about 14 minutes. - Meanwhile, melt butter with oil in medium saucepan over medium-high heat. Add garlic. Sauté until fragrant, about 1 minute. Add milk and bring to simmer. - Drain potatoes. Return to pot. Stir over medium heat until excess moisture evaporates. Add milk mixture and mash potatoes until just smooth. Stir in cheese. Season with coarse salt and pepper. Drop potatoes over filling by heaping tablespoonfuls, covering completely. - Bake pie until filling is heated through and topping is golden, about 45 minutes. Ingredients: Servings: 8 to 10 Filling: 1 1-1/2-pound eggplant, unpeeled, cut into 3/4- to 1-inch cubes Coarse kosher salt 7 tablespoons (or more) extra-virgin olive oil, divided 2 pounds well-trimmed boneless lamb shoulder, cut into 1-inch cubes All purpose flour 3 cups chopped onions 1 cup dry white wine 1 28-ounce can diced tomatoes in juice 3 cups beef broth (preferably organic) 8 garlic cloves, chopped 1 tablespoon dried oregano Topping: 2 1/2 pounds russet potatoes, peeled, cut into 1-inch cubes 2 tablespoons (1/4 stick) butter 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil 2 garlic cloves, minced 3/4 cup whole milk 1 1/4 cups (packed) coarsely grated kasseri cheese (5 to 6 ounces) "The Challenge" |
| SEVENTH day of backpacking across Europe with "30-Day Blogging Challenge ON HIATUS" [13+] I take the mount, any day. I love hiking off the beaten path. So I opt for Le Pic Saint-Loup! Without a means of transport, it is nearly impossible to start. The bus from Montpellier drops you in the middle of nowhere and you have to walk an hour to Gazevielle, the village at the foot of the mountain. The climb itself is a challenge but doable. It’s not a regular path either but rocky, with very rough gravel and rock. I saw people wear flip-flops but don’t try that at home: wear proper shoes. At the top are a steep drop, a chapel, a giant cross, and a little shop, which were in fact just two people playing cards with an icebox full of coke. Afterwards you have to walk back to Mas de Londres and catch the one-way bus to Saint Martin de Londres to get the last bus back to Montpellier around six. I have hiked before in Wales and Ireland. It’s a wonderful way to be totally surrounded by nature and being a part of it. I love it. We eat at Leclere Cuisine D'Arrivage at eight. A wonderful choice. I have the steak with French fries and vegetables. A very large ice cream as dessert. The atmosphere is great; I can’t believe it’s been only one week in Europe. Fun fact about Montpellier: Frédéric Bazille was a French painter who helped found the Impressionist movement of the late 19th century, before dying in combat in the Franco-Prussian War. Frédéric Bazille was born December 6, 1841, in Montpellier, France. He soon left school to pursue art. It was during these formative years that he met fellow painters Claude Monet, Pierre-Auguste Renoir and Alfred Sisley, who joined him in founding the Impressionist movement of the late 19th century. In 1870, he joined the infantry after the outbreak of the Franco-Prussian War and died in battle. (bio.com) I go to my room early to write in my new blog about poetry "Invalid Item" Day FIFTEEN "Give It 100!" |
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