Blogophilia 29.16: Wine or Whine

From Marvin Martian: Hello dear Blogophilians!! Welcome to Week 29 of Year 16 in Blogophilia! For those of you in California, we send our prayers for containment of the wildfires and hope that everyone is safe!

We also are very saddened to hear the news of our beloved Craig Fallon’s death last week. Craig aka “The Falcon” was with Blogophilia from the very beginning, over 16 years ago. His kindness, his talented writing, his sense of humor and his friendship will be forever treasured and missed by The Martian House, Blogophilia, and the entire writing community from Myspace to Facebook and beyond. We send our love and condolences to his beautiful wife and fellow Blogophilian Melissa Fallon. And now our dear Craig has become an Honored Blogophilian…. rest in peace, dear friend!

Facebook Blogophilia group Over Here

Blog topic parameters & how it works HERE

Hard Bonus: Recant or decant something

Easy Bonus: Mention a pet peeve

I hate when that happens…

I would like to whine about the loss of another Blogophilian. Craig was quite a good writer, and I’d like to send my condolences to Melissa, another talented writer. But whining won’t do us any good, so instead, I’d like to raise a glass of wine in memory of Craig & in honor of Melissa. Of course, we can’t decant from this bottle, so I’d like to use a better corkscrew to open it. So, when the choice is Wine or Whine, let’s pick the wine. I don’t like when the corkscrew is too short for the cork. How are we supposed to raise a nice, bold, 4 grape blend Merlot, if we can’t pour?

Sending love to the Fallon family as well as to our bloggers (past & present) in California and hope that all are as safe & sound as possible. I recant complaining about the cold weather… I can stay inside, and the worst we get is snow.

Ecrits Blogophilia Week 28.16: The Big Announcement

Marvin Martian aka Martien Ecrits says Hello dear Blogophilians!! Welcome to Week 28 of Year 16 in Blogophilia! Winter is kicking in with some Arctic cold and blizzards for many of you Earthlings – please stay warm and safe!

Blogophilia group on Facebook HERE, how blogophilia works Over Here, and blog topic parameters Right Here – to participate, you can create your own blogsite on WordPress, Blogger, or anywhere that is accessible to all readers without a subscription, make your own post on social media & post the link in the comment of the post or in the group, or just do your post in the group or comment below the post you’re doing the post for. There is no right or wrong way – let it be the way it is.

Hard Bonus: Use a Ringo Starr lyric or quote

Easy Bonus: Include some type of ceremony

On top of the mountain!

We just had a bunch of holidays in a row… Thanksgiving kicks off the season, and with so many different things to celebrate in between that and the New Year, I’ll tell you what… The Big Announcement is we have personal holidays coming up… later this month is Mike‘s birthday, next month is mine, and in March my Chad turns 25, so I’m gearing up to make that one a celebration! So we will be going light on our birthdays to accommodate property tax payments and to celebrate him.

One of the reasons to celebrate my son’s music, is I’ve corrupted him to what I like, and I’m also retro… so this sums it up. “I think the most exciting thing is that you expect people our age to know the music, but actually a lot of kids know the music, and if anything is left, we have left really good music, and that’s the important part, not the mop-tops or whatever.” Ringo Starr It’ll be a civil ceremony type birthday with jokes, food, and as many people as I can get to show up.

Blogophilia 27.16: The First Day

Marvin Martian says HAPPY NEW YEAR to all Blogophilians!! We are also starting off Season 3 of Year 16! Let’s kick off the New Year with good intentions and a clean slate on this “FIRST DAY”! Join us at Blogophilia!

Blogophilia group on Facebook & blog topic parameters & how it works on WordPress New bloggers are always welcome. You don’t need to be on Facebook, you’re welcome to post here on WordPress & link in the comments on the blog topic parameters blog.

Hard Bonus: Incorporate a quote from Star Wars

Easy Bonus: Include the phrase “slipping on ice”

Snow Sliders!

I find this interesting that The First Day is tied in with Star Wars, since that was the 1st movie I remember watching on the big screen, and it was the same year I came to Wisconsin. The following year was when I started to tag along with midterm elections with my aunt. Eventually, the quote in Rogue One by Jyn Orso, “Rebellions are built on hope” would be what summarizes grassroots efforts. Of course, there are often times when we are trying to make a better place yet we often feel like we’re slipping on ice to make it the end. The important part is that we made it, and then to get back up to keep moving on again.

Blogophilia 26.16: Vintage Holidays

Marvin Martian HAPPY HOLIDAYS TO BLOGOPHILIANS, ONE AND ALL!!! This is Week 26 in Year 16 of Blogophilia! Wishing you all a very Merry Christmas and Happy Hannukkah this week!! It’s also the last week of Season 2 in Year 16 – we begin a new season next week! 🙂

Blogophilia group on Facebook and blog topic parameters & how it works here on WordPress

Hard Bonus: Incorporate a line from your favorite Christmas carol or holiday song

Easy Bonus: Include an elf

Town Square Skating Rink

When I think of Vintage Holidays, I remember my grandparents having everything from 4th of July in Eagle Lake to Memorial Day in the backyard, to other holidays inside their cozy home in the living room. There was always something magical, even if it wasn’t Christmas. Blogophilia often feels like a holiday that happens weekly. To all of you, “Holidays are joyful, there’s always something new. But ev’ryday’s a holiday, when I’m near to you.” – Merry Christmas, Darling May the Elf bring you smiles throughout the year, not just during Kwanzaa.

Blogophilia 25.16: When Hell Freezes Over

Marvin Martian‘s Blogophilia group on Facebook

Blog topic parameters & how it works HERE

Hard Bonus: Use the word “pierce”

Easy Bonus: Mention a place you would like to escape winter or cold weather

Ice cold & plastered

I’m a person who speaks my mind when I see fit. I won’t stop When Hell Freezes Over, either. The freezing cold may pierce us to the bone, and go thaw out in Puerto Rico.

Blogophilia 24.16: In Good Spirits

It’s that wonderful time of year
to spread good joy and cheer.

So let the good spirits flow,
as outside it begins to snow.

Make good memories to treasure,
full of laughter and pleasure.

May your heart be content and full
in this wonderful season of Yule!

A Ditty by Marvin Martian

Martien Ecrits blogophilia group on Facebook HERE

Blog topic parameters & how it works HERE

Hard Bonus: Incorporate a song title by The Pretenders

Easy Bonus: Include your favorite beverage

Snow Jumping!

While I hope everyone is In Good Spirits, this time of year can be difficult for those who don’t have anyone or are mourning a loss. It’s good to be kind, but sometimes our own nerves are shot… Don’t Get Me Wrong (Get Close album 1986), but yes, sometimes I’m the one who has an issue… It’s the reason why I don’t shop at usual retail stores unless I’m grocery shopping & will do locally owned ones 1st. Life is too crazy sometimes… I like the shorter lines at Mom & Pop stores, where I can get more personalized items and I’m not paying for a brand name, I’m investing in a product when I shop this way. Then, when I’m home, I like to relax & depending on if I want hot or cold, to chill with either a mocha or a cold Mexican coke in a glass bottle.

Coming up soon! I have to leave you off with these details:

Me, in front of the saxophone section, in front of the brass section

• Who: The Racine Concert Band
• What: Concert in conjunction with Washington Park High School
• Where: Park – 1901 12th Street
• When: Tuesday, December 10, 2024 @ 7pm
• How: Just show up, get a program, it’s free!
• Why: Music tames the savage beast

my fellow clarinet players & the percussion section, taking a short break

Blogophilia 23.16: The Healing of Forgiveness

Marvin Martian says Welcome November! This is Week 23 in Year 16 of Blogophilia! WELCOME DECEMBER! The holiday season is officially in full swing! Hope you all had a wonderful Thanksgiving celebration last week! Christmas, Hannukah and Kwanza are on the way…..

Blogophilia Facebook group Right Here

Blog topic parameters & how it works HERE

Hard Bonus: Showcase a difficult decision

Easy Bonus: Mention a country in the Southern Hemisphere

Angel On Earth

None of us are perfect, and we all need to sincerely apologize at some point… Other times, we are owed one, and during the holiday season, we might feel obligated to accept the apology for the family functions. Yet, I don’t think forgiving means you have to take the people back. The Healing of Forgiveness is different for a lot of us. It feels good to forgive people. But what do we do if their apology is insincere so they keep doing their misdeeds or kick it up a notch? We don’t owe people our forgiveness for continuing to deal with it. Sometimes, the hard thing to do is to decide to forgive yourself for putting up with it for so long. Yes, let’s normalize that.

So, what do we do about the other person/people? Let them go. Grieve the relationship(s) with those who are still living… Accepting the losses to move forward can be very liberating. It’s ok to act as if they’re in Angola, never to be heard from again…

Here is the hard part… as an advocate, I speak up for others. It’s not that I am angry with other people, but it’s not as easy as leaving it in the past, because people are in need now. Whether it’s a hospital visit, going to the capitol, or anything in between, there are those without a voice who need someone to speak up about whatever injustice might be happening without looking for vengeance. Often it’s because we’ve experienced that ourselves, and didn’t have a voice nor advocate, to be the voice and advocate we needed for those who need us now.

A good way to heal from this kind of stress is to have a good music session.

• Who: The UW-Parkside Wind Ensemble & Community Band
• What: A professional concert – get your tickets HERE
• Where: UW-Parkside Rita Tallent Concert Hall
• When: Thursday, December 5, 2024 at 7pm
• How: Tickets are also available at the door
• Why: It’s good for you & your mental health