Life, Adventure, Family, Writing what else is there? Random thoughts. |
WELCOME TO: GEMINI RISING ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() 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. CURRENT BLOG PROJECT:
RULES: 1. Blog has to be more than 2 paragraphs, some people have tried putting a one-liner response. That won't cut it. 2.You need to respond at least once every week to other participant's blog posts. This is a 7 week activity= 7 blog responses within each of the weeks. It's fun getting to see what others noted that you might have missed or hadn't thought about. 3. You don't need to blog everyday, catch-ups are allowed if you want to go for the bigger prize award. But each entry must be a separate entry. So, if you do all 51, you'll have 51 entries. 4. Please tag me Lyn's a Witchy Woman ![]() ![]() 5. Posting in a book is preferred to keep the forum from being clogged. You can use any book you want. ALONG FOR THE RIDE: HOST: Lyn's a Witchy Woman ![]() ![]() Princess Megan Rose ![]() ![]() Sung'manitu ![]() ![]() AmyJo-Downhill slide begins! ![]() ![]() SandraLynn ![]() ![]() AmyJo-Downhill slide begins! ![]() ![]() Richard ~ Looking for Luck! ![]() ![]() WakeUpAndLive ![]() ![]() Krista ![]() ![]() Jellyfish is in Tenerife! 🌴 ![]() ![]() RECOGNIZATION: 10-24 Entries, MB plus 10K Awardicon 25-50 Entries, MB plus 25K Awardicon 51 Entries MB plus 50K Awardicon Merit Badges Collected from Virtual Blogging &Virtual Blogging Friends: ![]() ![]() BLOG ACCOMPLISHMENTS: SEPTEMBER 2024: I participated in the
![]() Big thanks to WakeUpAndLive ![]() ![]() OCTOBER 2024: I participated in the
![]() Big Thanks to Lyn's a Witchy Woman ![]() ![]() 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 ![]() ![]() 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" ![]() ![]() |
All SandraLynn ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() Lyn's a Witchy Woman ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() SandraLynn ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() He took us to the Pit, where all the race cars were lined up. My Kyle drives a really souped up Chevrolet Camaro. I was surprised to find that out. Anyway it’s a nice car. The seatbelt is more like a harness. Mr. Busch got my Kyle to come over and visit with us and we took some pictures with him. Of course, Krista ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() The Kyles looked at each other, shrugged their shoulders, and said, “Why not?” Needless to say, we all went back to the Party Bus. The Kyles cleared the request and there we were just freewheeling the Party Bus around the Brickyard 400 racetrack with Kyle Busch and Kyle Larson. SandraLynn ![]() ![]() Come to find out, Kyle Busch was a driver, too. So the Kyles autographed everything we put in front of them – Lyn's a Witchy Woman ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() After all that excitement, SandraLynn ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
The Party Bus was chugging right along through Illinois on the way to Chicago when WakeUpAndLive ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() Boy, that Willis Tower is tall. It used to be the World’s tallest building back in late 1990’s but now it’s only the 26th tallest building in the world. What a dip – to go from #1 to #26! There’s a lot to do at the Willis building. One of the attractions is the “Ledge” where you go up 1,353 feet and stand on a ledge made of glass! Needless to say, I was apprehensive. While Princess Megan Rose ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() Krista ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() After that, we all caught up with Princess Megan Rose ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
When Lyn's a Witchy Woman ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() When I was in the 5th grade, I picked Idaho for my state to research. It’s true Idaho is known for it’s potatoes. Other than that, Idaho is a pretty low-key chill state. There’s lots to do outdoors like hiking, fishing, and skiing in the wintertime. SandraLynn ![]() ![]() Sung'manitu ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() After a great soak, I rode the Go-Karts with WakeUpAndLive ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Welp, there’s only 2 ways to get to Hawaii – Fly or take a Cruise Ship. So SandraLynn ![]() ![]() When we got off the Cruise ship, the weather was mild, the breeze was cool, and there they were roasting a pig on the beach! First stop was the Kilauea Volcano. Let me tell you, it was just as scary as the Colorado Bridge. It rumbled and spit up some lava. Princess Megan Rose ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() Krista ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() Lyn's a Witchy Woman ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() Lyn's a Witchy Woman ![]() ![]() On the way back to cruise ship, I told the party gang that Hawaii used to be part of the mythical continent of Lemuria. No one believed me. Go figure. They all thought I had too many Mai Tai’s. Back at the terminal we shopped for souvenirs. Krista ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
So the Party Bus broke down on the Jekyll Island Causeway right before we were supposed to get to Jekyll Island. SandraLynn ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() We made it to Driftwood Beach on Jekyll Island and Krista ![]() ![]() I did an Internet search and found out Jekyll island was named after a dude to paid 600,000 pounds to found the colony. I wonder if he knew Mr. Hyde? In 1886 a bunch of rich people named Rockerfeller, Morgan, and Vanderbuilt, founded the Jekyll Island Club for Hunting and Recreation. However, the club broke up during World War II. Then we canoed to the Sea Turtle Center. Princess Megan Rose ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() At the end of the day, we returned the canoe and found SandraLynn ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
When we got to Florida, Lyn's a Witchy Woman ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() Did you know Ernest Hemmingway lived the Keys? Who knew? And did you know? The Bermuda Triangle isn’t that far away. The Bermuda Triangle is freaky but Lyn's a Witchy Woman ![]() ![]() Honestly, there were a TON of great views from the roadtrip. The water was incredibly blue. I wanted to stop by Sarah Cosme’s house and book a QHHT reading (past life regression). Everyone else was a bit skeptical, but I believe. ![]() Jellyfish is in Tenerife! 🌴 ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() Krista ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() Every so often SandraLynn ![]() ![]() We dropped Raul back off in Miami and took off for Georgia. ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Subtitled: Don't feed SandraLynn ![]() ![]() Well, SandraLynn ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() I LOVE a good beach. When I was growing up, I would go to Hampton Beach State Park in NH and ride the waves. I’d spend hours on the rocks looking for lobsters and starfish. Nowadways, one of my favorite beaches is at Avalon on Catalina Island. I love walking down the boardwalk, soaking up the sun, eating and ice cream and listening to the sound of the waves. It’s peaceful. Dewey Beach is an unique combination of both. There’s plenty of sand and waves. After the parasailing, I channeled my inner little kid again and went riding the waves with Jellyfish is in Tenerife! 🌴 ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() Parasailing was awesome. Jellyfish is in Tenerife! 🌴 ![]() ![]() Krista ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() At the end of the day we went to a mom and pop shop for seafood. I LOVE fried clams and pigged out. Everyone tried the crab cakes and the fresh halibut. It’s hard work being on the beach and we were exhausted. Thankfully, SandraLynn ![]() ![]() |
SandraLynn ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() A turn here and a turn there and we pulled into Winvian Farms. A visit here is hyped up as a big spa day and it was needed. Everyone was exhausted from Colorado! As soon as we checked in, the sweetest teenagers took Peyton, Sprout, and Peachy for their own spa day in the Pets area. The treehouse was HUGE. There were comfy bedrooms, a tea room, and big bay windows that overlooked a wicked green forest. Jellyfish is in Tenerife! 🌴 ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() Princess Megan Rose ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() The treehouse was made of wood and built around several trees. It had a rustic camping look to it. Everyone just sat back and let the muscles relax after the butt puckering we all had in Colorado. Then we rotated, our group went for the steam sauna, Krista ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() At the end of the day, we all went to the party bus and the staff end gave it a carwash and made it smells like strawberries inside. The teenagers brought the pets out. Sprout had a cute little bandana on and Petyon was nicely brushed. Even Peachy had some color around the the ends. SandraLynn ![]() ![]() |
Okay, when I found out the Royal Gorge Bridge in Colorado was the next adventure I freaked out. I’m not in my 20’s anymore. Heights is not my thing. Well, certain heights are not my thing. I can do a roller coaster with only 1 loop-da-loop. I can fly in an airplane. I think I could go parasailing, but I don’t need to do a zip line. That’s not an experience I really want to have at 57. Sung'manitu ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() The Royal Gorge Bridge is over 1,200 feet high and spans a big canyon. SandraLynn ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() While the high adventurers went to walk the bridge, us Jr. Rangers signed up to do the program. I took care of Peachy. As we followed the program, we saw sheep, falcons, learned how gorges were made and picked up trash to earn our badge. When we met up with the high adventurers, they were all wide eyed and wonder struck. “I’ve never traveled so fast in my life,” said WakeUpAndLive ![]() ![]() “That was wild,” said Sung'manitu ![]() ![]() “Let’s do it again,” said “I’m game for some ice cream,” said Princess Megan Rose ![]() ![]() You can’t say no to Ice Cream. We all got in the party bus and we enroute to the nearest Ice Cream shop. |
Well, the party bus went west – Destination: Joshua Tree National Park. Somewhere in New Mexico Sung'manitu ![]() ![]() Personally, speaking, few deserts are mesmerizing for me. They’re just full of dark yellow dirt and sand. BUT the desert has it’s own ecosystem, it’s own plants, trees, shrubs, animals, rhythms of life. It’s nothing you’ve never known. Joshua Tree National Park was actually created in 1994 to preserve the desert environment, the habitat, the way of life. As a National park, there’s park rangers, campgrounds, and visitors’ centers with information on the various hiking trails. By the time Sung'manitu ![]() ![]() One of the Park Rangers said we should do the Sunrise Hike so Lyn's a Witchy Woman ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() At 4 am, the park ranger woke us all up and took us on the Sunrise hike. Honestly, 4 am is too early. It was wicked dark and you could see for miles. If you were a stargazer, you’d be in stargazer heaven. Anyhow, I didn’t even have time to brew coffee. We were up and out. Our guide zigged and zagged on the sandy dirt path and took us past the Ryan Mountain as we made our way to The Cholla Cactus Garden. Did you know there’s more than one type of cactus? Jellyfish is in Tenerife! 🌴 ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() Honestly, I don’t know how we dragged outrsleepy asses back to the bus, but when we got back, we slept for 5 hours straight before we had to get up and get ready for the next adventure. |