Blogophilia 7.18 – WRITER’S CHOICE – Nature Hike!

Marvin Martian says: Greetings, Dear Earthlings and Fellow Blogophilians!! Welcome to Week 7.18 in Blogophilia! WOO HOO!

Hard Bonus: WRITER’S CHOICE – Incorporate a sun dial

Easy Bonus: WRITER’S CHOICE – mention a path

I see the light!

Ever wonder how going on a Nature Hike is mandatory when you’re camping (tent or camper), vacationing in a cabin, regardless of lakefront or mountains? I think we need to take more of those. I’d walk here, pick the left path to see where it goes, and pay attention to markers so I know where things are at, and the next time take the right one to see if they mash up. If you understand how the sun only rises exactly east & sets exactly west on the Equinoxes, yet you can be your own sundial by paying attention to how long or short your shadow is vs the position of the sun in the sky and know approximately what time it is. Same with the moon path at night. I swear I’m part cat, I’m curious to learning things or just being nosey… But I’ll find the pond, the edible berries, fishing hole, and more. Like a good Private, I’ll report back to HQ. Knowing how to read/feel it out, you can runaway and not get lost. City roads are just as good as country roads to go home on.

Blogophilia 6.18: Tears in the Ocean

Blogophilia on Facebook HERE & blog topic parameters on WordPress HERE

Hard Bonus: Incorporate a lyric or song title from Robert Plant

Easy Bonus: Integrate any shade of blue

That’s not whisky in the jarro…

It’s been such a crazy couple of weeks, I’m crying Tears In The Ocean but the deep sky blue reminds me that All of My Love goes to the sunlit beaches for swimming.

Blogophilia 5.18: Safety in Numbers

The House of Marvin Martian says: We want to thank you for joining in our weekly challenges! We greatly appreciate your participation, as we do want to continue – as long as we have enough writers contributing each week. So feel free to jump back in whenever you wish – don’t be shy. And keep up the wonderful writing, all!!! As always, we at Marvin house look forward to reading your amazing writes this week.

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

Hard Bonus: Incorporate a song title by Siouxee & the Banshees

Easy Bonus: Mention a homeopathic remedy

Flying Home

It’s Halloween and I’m playing with my Voodoo Dolly. They say there’s Safety in Numbers but I’m not sure if this will help you, but I’ll be able to collect hair & clothing items to make an army of them… Take your coffea cruda, made from unroasted green coffee beans, to soothe your sleepless, nervous excitement, & racing mind to rest. Tho, there are those of us who relax with One Cup Of Coffee.

Music Info: Kenosha Pops has 2 shows left. July 29, 2026 at 7 & the grand finale is August 5 at 7, both at Pennoyer Park Bandshell. You have 2 weeks to win a cool prize from cool local businesses by answering the quiz question. Choices include gift certificates from Paelli’s, Frank’s Diner, and more. You have to show up to win & find out.

Racine Concert Band has 3 more shows left, 08/02/26 at 7:30pm at the zoo, 08/16 & 08/23 at 6pm at the DeKoven Center. Don’t forget to try your hand at the Summer Sweepstakes to win an American Flag and more. Coming to hear free, quality music in a community this size is winning by itself.

I’ll be in the last 2 Pops shows; we’ll see if I get a last-minute call for Racine. In or not, I’m still looking for a buddy to attend with. These are family-friendly events. Bring the kids; they’re never too young to Sowing the Seeds of Love of music performance.

Blogophilia Week 4.18 – Make It So!

The House of Marvin Martian says: Hoping everyone in Canada is safe from the wildfires and that the surrounding areas stay clear from inhaling too much of that deadly smoke ~ I can see those hazy clouds from up here on my perch on Planet Mars!!

Blogophilia on Facebook HERE and Blog topic parameters & how it works on WordPress HERE

Hard Bonus: Incorporate your dream job

Easy Bonus: Include a cartoon character

It’s time to make the doughnuts

In an alternate universe, I’m a popular musician who can sing as well as play a bunch of instruments. But then again, maybe I got sent to Cartoon Land and have to live with Totoro for the rest of eternity, and catch a night ride on the Nekko (cat) bus. Ok, in the words of Captain Picard, Make It So! But I’m wondering if Captain Kirk would approve of this rendition of the opening music…

Speaking of cats, a friend of mine is struggling & could use help with vet bills.

Blogophilia 3.18: The River’s Edge

Greetings, imaginative Earthlings and adventurous Blogophilians! It is I, Marvin the Martian, transmitting this week’s creative mission from the far side of the Milky Way. Our challenge is “The River’s Edge,” where the currents of imagination meet the shores of possibility. Perhaps your story begins beside a quiet stream on Earth—or along the shimmering banks of a Martian canal known only to wandering space travelers. Along the way, weave in a lyric from one of Sir Elton John’s songs, and don’t forget to incorporate a bit of moss and a few twigs to ground your tale before it blasts off into the cosmos. I eagerly await your interstellar adventures, heartfelt reflections, and unexpected discoveries. So gather your words, fire up your imagination, and join us at Blogophilia, where blogging, friendship, and creativity continue to flow across the universe! 

Blogophilia group on Facebook HERE; blog topic parameters & how it works on WordPress HERE.

Hard Bonus: Include a lyric from Elton John

Easy Bonus: Incorporate moss and twigs

Bridge of Branch

The River’s Edge conjures people wearing boots to their thighs standing in Kipikawi (Potawatomi for Root River), and also the name of Washington Park High School’s yearbook. The French explorers named our city Racine, their word for “root”. So just in name, Racine, WI is automatically multicultural with ties to Native American & French names.

Anyway, when moss & twigs are on a dirt path, the moss is soft under your feet, and the twigs are hard & poke your feet. In the river, the moss is slippery, so you fall, and the twigs are pliable and can help you out, whether it’s to push away from a slippery rock or to hold in front to help you swim. Crocodile Rocking is something shocking, because how do they do the Crocodile Rock when they have 4 feet to move? Do they swim & kick their feet at the same time? At least they’re not chasing us on land, because they’re rocking too hard, but if they do, don’t drive into the river, Bob.

Blogophilia 2.18: Kids These Days

Marvin Martian says: Attention Blogophilians! Welcome to Week 2 of Year 18! We hope all of you American Blogophilians had a wonderful 250th birthday celebration yesterday! We want to thank you for joining in our weekly challenges! We greatly appreciate your participation, as we do want to continue – as long as we have enough writers contributing each week. So feel free to jump back in whenever you wish – don’t be shy. And keep up the wonderful writing, all!!! As always, we at Marvin house look forward to reading your amazing writes this week.

Blogophilia Facebook group HERE & blog topic parameters and how it works at WordPress HERE

Hard Bonus: Include something from the past that would blow the minds of today’s kids

Easy Bonus: Mention a favorite song title from your own days of youth

Running for snacks

Kids These Days… I really don’t think they have it easier today. Sure, when we went to a park, we had metal monkey bars, slides, merry-go-rounds that also had spikes, and if the sun didn’t dry us out like a prune, the slide felt like a cast iron skillet that just came off the fire, and we drank out of hoses, ate peanut butter sandwiches & Kool Aid, if we were lucky enough to have some. But, today, with so many gadgets… phones, tablets, game consoles, and what else young people have… I honestly think we’re doing a disservice to them by not being out playing in the dirt, riding bikes, and family trips to the zoo & beach…

Gen X, the age of latchkey kids, feral children who stopped in for lunch & went back out until it was time for supper over the summer, and it was the age of anti-establishment. We were rebels with a cause, whether it was togetherness or celebrating individualism; MTV brought us together with music, and we discovered each other’s music. Sweet Dreams Were Made of This and we learned to Walk This Way from Aerosmith & Run-DMC. Racism dismantled a great bit and we were idealistic with Tainted Love.

With the current economy being what it is, the younger generation might be onto something with doing Freelance, because the 9-5 grind isn’t worth what it used to be, so they’re Working for a Living via gigs. Even full-time workers are in need of money, and it’s good to have a solid side Hustle.

Hoping everyone had a good weekend over the 4th, and all enjoy the summer weather.

Blogophilia 1.18 – Old Glory

From the House of Marvin Martian: Greetings, Dear Earthlings and Fellow Blogophilians!! Welcome to YEAR 18 – a brand new start, please join us so we can continue our blogging adventures together!! Happy 18th Anniversary and Cheers to all Earthlings!

Happy 250th Birthday, America! This week the USA celebrates a very special July 4, with patriotic gatherings, fireworks, picnics and flying Old Glory with pride. We at the Marvin House wish all Americans a safe, fun and memorable holiday. Post your July 4 celebration pictures!

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

Hard Bonus: Include something you might find at a BBQ or cookout

Easy Bonus: Incorporate fireworks

Here’s the kaboom!

Racine, WI was declared the Drum & Bugle Corps Capital of the World by US Congress in 1967, in recognition of the city’s booming music culture in the 60’s & 70s.

The Boys of ’76 by American Legion Post 76 was the 1st, formed in 1921 and won the American Legion National Championships several times.

From the Boy Scout Troop 15, the Racine Scouts formed in 1927 & nicknamed the Chrome Domes because of the helmets.

Founded in 1935, the YMCA sponsored The Racine Kilties, a Scottish themed group with kilts & bagpipes & everything, and won a few VFW National Championships.

For a short time, starting in 1972, we had New Day & New Dawn drum & bugle corps, the senior & junior co-ed drum & bugle corps.

Credits: Racine Heritage Museum, Racine Visitors’ Bureau, and Drum Corps International.

Racine Concert Band is in the 104th music season, and we currently have Lighthouse Brigade Marching Band (1980) & the Junior Band, still playing today, providing quality music to our community.

Oh, sorry, I digress…The 4th of July is when we honor Old Glory, of course, with music from the groups I’ve mentioned above, and celebrate the freedoms we have. I’ve always wondered why some people want to say the holiday isn’t about BBQ ribs & roasted corn, because yeah, we do this in honor of being able to do this. Now, if we all could be free on the same playing field, that would be better, and I’ll continue to celebrate for as long as I can. Let’s see the fireworks show!