Blogophilia 21.16: WRITER’S CHOICE! Fall Flowers

Welcome November! This is Week 21 in Year 16 of Blogophilia! And it’s Writer’s Choice Week – YOU choose your own topics and bonus prompts, and Marvin provides the photo! Let your imagination run free, unleash your muse and WRITE ON!

Blogophilia group on Facebook Right Here

Blog topic parameters & How it works HERE

Hard Bonus: WRITER’S CHOICE – use homonyms

Easy Bonus: WRITER’S CHOICE – use homophones

Sunflower Field

Fall Flowers in Wisconsin like sunflowers, aster, Asiatic lilies, cone flowers, roses, daisies, clematis, and shooting stars are a nice way to keep colors in the yard. I don’t have any in mine, though. It’s still difficult for me to garden, plus I don’t have the space I need to pull this off.

Of course, I’d have to buy seeds, and figure out where to put them by, especially out front since we don’t have a flat yard and the areas I have already are filled with irises. I have more space in the back, even though I have eight edible plants that I ate.

AI trying to correct what I write is so annoying since the whole gist of what I’m posting is lost on it… I’d rather pay an editor, but not for a fun blog… if I had that kind of money, I’d hire a landscaper.

Giving Tuesday is always the Tuesday after Thanksgiving

This year, in 2024, it is on December 3, 2024 - to give to your favorite nonprofit and be able to get a tax deduction when you do your taxes the next year.

First, I'd like for you to consider to give the gift of music by donating to local music:
Racine Concert Band: http://www.racineconcertband.com/
The RCB is one of the oldest local bands in the country, bringing to you 103 years of free music to the community in 2025. Also there's a collaboration with the high schools to mentor young musicians to be at their best. Thank you for your consideration.

And just beware of certain places that seem good... I'm sharing this again, with the understanding that the 2nd in command of the Hospitality Center moved on, which is great for him, but now I feel like I really can't go to this certain place without being on the buddy system, not just for the situation, but the fact that the social worker either can't read & goes by hearsay or if she did read, has extremely low comprehension & wants to start an argument over something I never said... It's sad, because there are so many people who rely on that place, but I just think that women need to be aware, you'll get asked to leave if you're touched inappropriately, and the breakfasts might not be as kosher as they seem.

I refer back to this blog from October 2023:

WordPress: https://likamarie.wordpress.com/2023/10/19/confessions-of-an-advocate-holiday-giving-a-must-read/

Blogger: https://likaslaments.blogspot.com/2023/10/confessions-of-advocate-holiday-giving.html

Blogophilia 20.16 – Need to Write

From Martien Ecrits: This week’s topic exemplifies what keeps our writers going – the NEED TO WRITE! What does writing do for you? How does it feel for you? Why do you do it – is it because of the creativity, personal fulfillment, gaining followers, or is it a release of emotions? Or perhaps it is something else? Or maybe all of the above? Get creative as you express your need to write – by writing! Come share your thoughts, as we at the Marvin House look forward to reading your writes this week. Join us at Blogophilia, the place for blogging, fun and friendship for over 16 years!

Blogophilia group on Facebook Over Here

Blog topic parameters & how it works Right Here

Hard Bonus: Incorporate the term fresnel or the Fresnel concept

Easy Bonus: Include the words “patience” and “patients”

Eye Sea Ewe

It seems strange, that in school, I couldn’t just get a writing assignment & do it on the spot. Yet when it came to do a term paper, and it came down to Need to Write, I could get my head together and get it done. I didn’t get into creative writing until after college, but always wrote well when it came to big assignments, letters to elected officials, etc. I felt like I was one of the patients that had no patience when it came to stuff like this in school.

I guess it comes to the Fresno Effect: Steep Angle = Weak Reflection; Shallow Angle = Strong Reflection. Maybe my angle was too steep or too wide or too something to lack focus, now I have it in my mind to get the bird’s eye view, at least for myself. I enjoy blogging, doing the multimedia challenge, and I have my own spot to write my stories when I’m up to taking time to type (I’m getting better at 2 handed typing again, so I’ll resume, I’ll post links as I’m ready).

Blogophilia 19.16: Screen Shots

Welcome November! This is Week 19 in Year 16 of Blogophilia! Did you remember to set your clocks back last night?

A HUGE ALIEN THANK YOU to all of the participants of the Marvin October Multimedia Challenge (MOMC)!!! It was a huge success, and we at the Marvin House are so appreciative to everyone who participated.

Blogophilia group on Facebook Right Here

Blog topic parameters & how it works HERE

Hard Bonus: Incorporate a line or quote from Arthur Rimbaud

Easy Bonus: Include the term “digerati”

Matrix blinding

Modern technology… gotta love it yet we want to hate it at the same time. Screen Shots can be taken, so be careful what you write. As an advocate, I stand on what I write, so, if one is offended, I have to wonder why… then there are those who don’t read, then argue with me about something I didn’t say…

“I am not a prisoner of my reason. – Bad Blood” ― Arthur Rimbaud, A Season in Hell and The Drunken Boat

I was accused of saying that I was going to shut this place down, and the whole kitchen staff was filthy… As a concerned citizen, after I inform the higher ups & then get told to never talk about this to staff, volunteers, board members, etc. I feel as if it’s my duty to inform the public. I’d like someone to show me where I said those things… No, I have not edited anything, please look at the date… Updates would reflect a new time stamp. Original to the time I wrote these. When I mentioned some of the other things, the person who started getting ouchy all of a sudden doesn’t want to talk about it because it’s making her “very uncomfortable” which tells me she did not read it… Yet she wants to argue about I said what I didn’t say, and “threatens” to bring it up, and I said go ahead… so here it is… It’s obvious she’s no digerati, either, because she’d have brought it up to read it again, if she wanted to prove herself. I just wonder how she got to be a social worker & hired for 5 years at the same place, if her comprehension skills are so low… Oh, well…

WordPress: https://likamarie.wordpress.com/2023/10/19/confessions-of-an-advocate-holiday-giving-a-must-read/

Blogger: https://likaslaments.blogspot.com/2023/10/confessions-of-advocate-holiday-giving.html

I said what I said and I stand on it. Carry on, people!

Blogophilia 18.16: The Haunting

Blogophilia group on Facebook RIGHT HERE

Blog topic parameters & how it works Here on WP

Marvin Martian’s Facebook page with MOMC Over Here

Hard Bonus: Use the phrase “pot calling the kettle black”

Easy Bonus: Incorporate a demon, ghost or ghoul

Communicating Beyond

The pot calls the kettle black

Have you read or just overheard

Ever think to find out before arguing

However you feel or think

Articulation matters a lot

Understand, comprehend, think

No matter if offended by concerned citizens

The bigger cosmos always overshadow

Interesting how some twist & shout

No matter, I said what I said

Ghosts of our past demonize us like ghouls

Blogophilia 17.16 – Leaves of Gold

Blogophilia group on Facebook right HERE

Marvin Martian’s Facebook page Over Here

Blog topic parameters and how it works BLOG

Hard Bonus: Use the word “Rudeneja” — Meaning: The way nature or the weather begins to feel like Autumn

Easy Bonus: Include a song title by Jim Croce

grapes of vinyard

Leaves of Gold marks the start of Halloween season with rudeneja in the air. I was hiking in the picture and Jim Croce asked “Which way are you goin’?”

County Executive Candidate Forum 10/06/2024 recap

I was able to attend one of the candidate forums, this one was sponsored by the NAACP and the Racine Interfaith Coalition hosted registration and refreshments. This is MY recap, any clarification will have to come from the candidates. We have 6 candidates running for this position:

• Cory Sebastian – she wants to hear all sides, and consider our socio-economic as well as cultural diversity of all ages before making a decision. Please click her name for more details, and “she” to get to know her as a person. As a small business owner and serving on various nonprofits boards and as a volunteer, and is eager to help Racine county as a whole, flourish. She is also currently serving as an alderperson on Racine City Council.
• Adam Jaskie is a newcomer to the public eye. As a family man from Waterford, he could use some extra help filling up nomination papers. He has a “loud voice” for the people, and is willing to go up the chain to get more to help Racine county. He offers a fresh voice.
• Lorenzo Santos has been involved with government offices such as Emergency Management for Ready Racine County, and a former Navy Reserves officer. He believes in grassroots organizing and believes that we empower everyone by getting people involved from the bottom up. He understands the inner workings of government.
• Wendy Christensen is the current Clerk of Courts and believes in the community. As a proud Racinian, she wants to run. She wasn’t present at this forum, so I don’t have her answers.
• Melvin Hargrove is a strong community leader and an ordained minister and founded Zoe Ministries. He has served in the Army, Racine police and fire, school board and more. He is for the development of our young people.
• Ralph Malicki has rooted in Racine, and has been a successful business owner in Racine, and has helped many people, groups, local/regional small businesses and produce farms/orchards, and so many more. He has also served on many nonprofits of all types and brings knowledge of where the gaps could be closed between government services and nonprofits.

Moderator Question 1: Out of all of the items that the late County Executive Jonathan Delagrave was working on, what do you agree with most and what would you cancel?

• Jaskie supports the 0.5% sales tax – not to disregard anyone, but would be a small solution to fund necessities like 911 services and infrastructure
• Hargrove supports the sales tax to keep city and county jobs going as well as health services across the board
• Malicki supports the sales tax and would prioritize where it would go
• Santos agrees with the sales tax to continue the many vital programs that Racine County residents have come to rely on.
• Sebastian supports for mental health, youth programs, and to share services to benefit the city and county

Moderator question 2: What are the thoughts about public safety

• Jaskie mentioned state tax surplus in Madison and would be a loud voice to bring some of those funds here, to help fund school safety, include greater scope to speak loud for us on a larger level
• Hargrove would steer conversation toward work, environment, partnerships, and make Racine a place to go, to live, and to work
• Malicki has proven himself in bringing together people and connecting people with churches and community groups to bridge the gaps in services
• Santos wants to equip the people responsible for safety and bridging the gaps in staffing underserved areas
• Sebastian believes we all deserve to be safe, adapt to the budget and continue serving in the best way possible

Moderator question 3: How would you approach the fentanyl and drug issues?

• Malicki would be proactive about getting addiction support by supporting programs like AA/NA, public health services, and reach out to places that can add to the services such as the nonprofit sector, to help save public funds
• Santos would work on prevention through education, utilize law enforcement and treatment programs including social programs to help teach the public to say no
• Sebastian loves nonprofits which often bridge the gaps that the public sector can’t do, and to look at duplicate services to see if some could redirect to areas not covered
• Jaskie wants to step up services to also look at trauma therapy as many who face addiction issues have underlying trauma that led to that in the 1st place. (as an advocate, I appreciate this)
• Hargrove would bring together the family, community, and maybe form a cabinet of teamwork to tackle this issue

Moderator question 4: how to balance the budget if the budget passes or fails:

• Santos wants to support public safety, economic support, health services lik LS, HHS, and prioritize on what should be on the budget
• Sebastian would work on the best way with what we have and together, work through things by not overlapping services. nonprofits can help bridge gaps
• Jaskie would cover he holes and would like to legalize medical cannabis, prioritize education and student safety
• Hargrove would cover mandates first, youth jobs and trade programs, education, and housing
• Malicki is willing to make the tough decisions and support partnerships with businesses, nonprofits and more, and would set priorities by talking to people

Public question 1: Homelessness is an issue, HALO is underutilized. What can you do to help people?

• Sebastian believes all deserve a roof over their heads and to be safe. Nonprofits can totally help fill this gap with other resources as well
• Jaskie would attract developers, get granting to our area and collaborate with other leadership to make things happen, reiterates being a big voice for Racine
• Hargrove would push for leadership from the entire county to collaborate to attract people to come to visit, spend money here, and make it attractive for businesses to come here
• Malicki would focus on HALO and collaborate and build bridges between various agencies to support jobs, transportation, rehab and education beyond high school
• Santos supports nonprofits to help as inflation is up, and there are gaps where people need help, and would reach out to state and federal legislators to press them to act as well

Public question 2: The economy is down, and has been for decades. What kind of permanent economic development to make the heart of the city and the county flourish again?

• Hargrove would work with agencies like RDCD, RAMAC, etc to ensure Microsoft is stable here, and that would attract more businesses here, help farms reach out to get more help, and reach out to new partnerships
• Malicki believes Microsoft is the biggest thing going on, and pushing the trades to foster long-term/futuristic skills as well as to attract more jobs to the city and reinvigorate the economy
• Santos would prioritize making US attractive to net new builders that will follow Microsoft. average age of Racine is 40, so for the long-term, would like to attract younger people to the area, and supports a commuter rail to bring people to the area.
• Sebastian is excited to build a balance of who works, lives and plays here as well as push trades for young people, and looks forward to what Microsoft can bring
• Jankie admits that Microsoft isn’t the end-all, but it’s a great start, and how this can lead to revitalization because more business would follow. He also supports light rail.

The National Alliance on Mental Illness had a candidate forum earlier in the month, which I could not attend, so I will not answer anything from that one, as I was not there.

here is the video, 1 hour, 42 minutes and 45 seconds, to get your own interpretation: https://www.facebook.com/BigHomieRay/videos/580246304575822

I’d like to ask my own question: Many 50+ people are struggling financially. Nonprofits aren’t the end-all. Those who are underemployed because they can’t work in factory, warehouse, or fast food due to health issues. How do you intend to bridge the gaps for this group, especially into retirement, because some of us can’t wait 20 years for economic programs? This is a serious concern for me and several people I know.

Blogophilia 16.16 – Whispered Dreams

Blogophilia group on Facebook right here

Marvin Martian’s multimedia challenge HERE

Blog topic parameters & how it works over here

Hard Bonus: Include a lyric by the Arctic Monkeys

Easy Bonus: Incorporate a Pokemon figure

heaven exists?

Countless Whispered Dreams go unanswered into oblivion, and none of us can keep track… sometimes we joke about needing a sugar daddy or a sugar momma just to laugh because otherwise, we’d cry, but like in the words of Arctic Monkeys, from their “Tranquility Base Hotel + Casino” album 2018:

Life became a spectator sport
I launch my fragrance called ‘Integrity’
I sell the fact that I can’t be bought
Have I told you all about the time that I got sucked into a hole
Through a handheld device?
I will flashback now and again, but I’m usually alright
Thankfully, the process has been simplified

Sometimes it would be nice if I could turn into Pikachu to dole out a thunderbolt or shock, or even have an iron tail – I got nicknamed Likachu Pikachu once by my ex’s nephew’s wife and the name stuck.

Then again, sometimes small victories have the biggest impact. A lot of work goes into things, and it’s frustrating when you can’t get anywhere at all, but sometimes there’s paydirt… it would be nice if it was better than that, but at least it’s something. Here are a couple of mine that I’m grateful for:

• The state senator who drafted April’s Law Wisconsin (to protect sexually abused children) was voted out but the Assembly rep submitted it. It went to the committee where I testified when they were going to hear it, along with other items… it died there, and the new senator didn’t want anything to do with the other party at all… so while it, as a whole didn’t go anywhere in 2011, over the next few years, at least 5 chunks of it went through as individual items to add to other statutes. I never got credit for anything but hey, at least most of it got in somehow by 2015 or so.
• My mother wasn’t for me going after music, and after having to step out as a new wife, working mom, etc. I was able to make the connections to get back into the Parkside Community Band as a regular and Racine Concert Band as a sub. now I’m on the sub list for the Kenosha Pops Concert Band, too. R & K pay a little bit, huge score for me.
• I got a portable sewing machine and learned how to use it. I’ve made blankets, diaper bags, tablecloths, curtains, table runners, drum bag, piano runner, wall hanging, etc. what didn’t get put up went as gifts but people love them. maybe i can get paid some day after I heal up

Sorry for the extra rant… just hoping to inspire someone who might be feeling down because they don’t make the impact they wanted or hoped to, that they’re worth more than their situation.

Blogophilia 15.16 – Hidden in Plain Sight

Marvin Martian‘s ecrits blogophilia on Facebook here

blog topic parameters and how it works on WordPress

Hard Bonus: Include the title of a work by the writer T.S. Elliot

Easy Bonus: Incorporate the name of a famous explorer’s ship

peek-a-boo, puppy love

Nelly Bly sits in The Machine Odyssey to read The Four Quartets by T.S. Eliot wondering what it would sound like if there really were 16 people in 4 groups singing together while trying to find her glasses Hidden in Plain Sight on top of her head.

Ecrits Blogophilia Week 14.16 – Far Away Planet

** ATTENTION: The Marvin Martian house will be hosting the October daily creative challenge created by Dahlia Ramone and Brian Fortier, which has been a fun and popular challenge over on Facebook! The challenge has a Halloween/fall theme with multimedia daily posts. Please join in when you can, no pressure! The challenge will be posted on the Martien profile and the Ecrits Blogophilia group page sometime next weekend! This is open to all – you don’t have to be a Blogophilian to participate.

Ecrits blogophilia group on Facebook over here

blog topic parameters and how it works here

Marvin Ecrits Facebook and Marvin Martian WordPress for monthly challenge

Hard Bonus: Incorporate the Big Dipper or your favorite constellation

Easy Bonus: Mention a curfew

dancing in the air

Sometimes I’d like to be on a Far Away Planet – maybe Risa, off of Star Trek. I can’t ever find any of these constellations like the Big Dipper, but do you know how people see things in the clouds? I’m like that with stars, so I probably combine some parts. I always turn into a pumpkin at midnight, but I’m not Cinderella just because we share the same curfew.

Blogophilia 13.16: Under the Light of a Lunar Eclipse

Martian Ecrits, our blogophilia coordinator says: It’s the final week of Season 1 in Year 16 – next week we begin Season 2! Welcome, Autumn is officially here today, even though some of you Earthlings are experiencing warmer than normal temperatures. 😛

** ATTENTION: The Marvin Martian house will be hosting the October daily creative challenge created by Dahlia Ramone and Brian Fortier, which has been a fun and popular challenge over on Facebook! Brainstorming now, possibly Halloween/fall theme with multimedia daily posts. Please join in when you can, no pressure! The challenge will be posted on the Martien profile and the Ecrits Blogophilia group page sometime next weekend! This is open to all – you don’t have to be a Blogophilian to participate.

Blogophilia group on Facebook

blog topic parameters and how it works

Hard Bonus: Incorporate changing temperatures

Easy Bonus: Mention lentil or your favorite kind of fall soup

moon halos

Lurking in the shadows Under the Light of a Lunar Eclipse of the harvest moon, dried cornstalks and jack-o-lanterns on scarecrows make for mystic stories. Normally, changing temperatures is a downward trend, but it seems we went from cooling to heating season overnight. I enjoy Halloween, it’s my favorite holiday, though 4th of July is equal because I’m a summer girl. Cool nights with a backyard fire pit enjoying dal shorba (India lentil soup) and hot chocolate…

Blogophilia 12.16 – Fade to a Dream

Martian Ecrits says: Happy Sunday! Our weekly challenge is up. See link to WP challenge. Join us at Blogophilia, the place for blogging, fun and friendship! 

Facebook group RIGHT HERE

Parameters & how it works HERE

Hard Bonus: Include a Sabaton song title – try using this site:

https://www.oldies.com/artist-songs/Sabaton.html

Easy Bonus: Incorporate windchimes and snapdragons

Fantasy Eden

Some of my meds have me dreaming weirdly. Maybe they’re just memorable because they’re vivid. I didn’t used to remember much. The surgery went well but was painful for several days due to all that needed to be done. Sooner or later, this will Fade to a Dream… with Night Witches stealth through the night to save the day… I’d like glow-in-the-dark dragonfly windchimes throughout my yard with the mild scent of golden snapdragons permeating…

I’m still mostly in an immobilizing sling. 1 armed bandit until I start therapy. Hoping to be in minimal playing condition by mid-October. we’ll see