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!

Blogophilia 52.17: Seaside Rendezvous

Marvin Martian asks: It is the FINAL week in the FINAL Season of Year 17!!!
Now the question is – do you want to continue the challenge to Year 18?
Are you ready and willing to participate? Drop a comment below and let us know your thoughts!

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

Hard Bonus: Describe a peaceful beach scene

Easy Bonus: Mention a color or hue you would see in a sunset

Service to Surfing Dog

Sunshine warms the waters along the shores

Even in the shade, feel the warm sand

Always reflecting, especially in moonlight

So many sights & sounds of the tides

Islands in the sun glimmer

Deep into the waters still frigid

Ever still, life abounds out of sight

Rains rise from our waters into the sky

Evaporating into the clouds

Needing gentle rains for the crops

Devouring picnic lunches, watching seagulls

Eagles flying overhead, soaring in the sky

Soaking up the sun, the water & air

Violet western skies as moon rises in the east

Over & under life continues within & beyond

Ubiquitous liquid that is the base of all life

Serpentining through life, we are all one

Blogophilia Week 51.17 – Kick the Can

Marvin Martian & Commander K say: We just want to take this opportunity to thank ALL of our Blogophilian friends for joining in the challenges each week! WE APPRECIATE ALL OF YOU SO MUCH! And to former Blogo writers, we sincerely invite ALL of you to return to Blogophilia and write with us again – we miss reading your amazing writes. Remember that it’s never too late to start writing again!!

Blogophilia group on Facebook HERE Blog topic parameters & how it works on WordPress HERE New writers are welcome. You don’t need your own blogging site. You can simply write one in the comments under the topic post in the Facebook group or under the parameters on WordPress – make sure it’s Martien Ecrits in the FB group, not mine, so what you share can be read by other bloggers. It’ll be fun!

Hard Bonus: Incorporate your favorite childhood summertime game

Easy Bonus: Use the title of a Barbara Kingsolver novel

Run Like An Animal

I guess when it came to summertime games, I was kind of lame… When my sister & I visited Japan as teenagers, we got to spend time with our cousins (our dads were brothers) and their cousins (from the mom’s side), and there were 10 of us total, from 20 down to 11, I think… It was a crazy game of Kick the Can because they don’t wear shoes inside, but they’re all slip ons, so we’d fly out of our shoes, carry them through the house & toss them out the window to jump back into them to keep the game going.

I think dodgeball was what I liked, because everyone is a bit Unsheltered. My Flight Behavior was too slow, so, I learned how to catch the ball, to eliminate the opponent who threw the ball, or I’d have been a direct hit. Maybe that’s why I ended up the catcher on my softball team.

So, Come Dancing and be Forever Young!

Blogophilia 50.17: Whose Line is it Anyway?

Blogophilia group on Facebook HERE

Blog topic parameters & how it works on WordPress HERE

Hard Bonus: Incorporate your favorite game show

Easy Bonus: Include a song title or lyric from the New York Dolls

Whoopi Catberg

I couldn’t believe it on a Subway Train Vanna White is hosting the Wheel of Fortune in the smoking car… She said it’s not my turn, but I want to know, Whose Line Is It Anyway?

I’m always terrible with these games, and I think it’s cool that these people can pull of those skits.

Blogophilia 49.17: Pie in the Sky

Blogophilia group on Facebook HERE Blog topic parameters on WordPress HERE

Hard Bonus: Incorporate a song title or lyric from Stevie Wonder

Easy Bonus: Describe a cloud

Leap of Faith

The bright sun is a ball of fire, and the moon is made of blue cheesecake. I’d prefer a Pie in the Sky to eat while riding the fluffy air surfboard. I’m too short to reach for the stars.

Now we’ve been searching for a long, long time
(In order to find) To find a way to leave our trouble behind
We’ve been down under and we’ve sure been blue
Come on and play it like we know you can do Hey Harmonica Man, Stevie at the Beach album 1964

Blogophilia 48.17: Take the Long Way Home

Marvin Martian gives or bygone military personnel a Happy Memorial Day – this weekend we honor the dedicated individuals who served the USA and paid the ultimate sacrifice with their lives. Thank you is never enough!

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

Hard Bonus: Integrate a song lyric by Linkin Park

Easy Bonus: Mention a famous road or street

Long & Winding Road

ROAD TRIP! Enjoy the ride, and Take the Long Way Home From the top to the bottom (bottom to top I stop) – 1987 Xero album “Rhinestone“. No time to be stuck, even in this time of uncertainty, keep the roads clear from Sesame Street to State Street, and 34th Street won’t show you any miracles, and don’t be on the wrong side of 21 Jump Street.

Dedicated to the military personnel who have served & are on the other side, and for ALL of them, including the doctors, nurses, mess hall staff, etc.

Blogophilia 47.17: Dream Weaver

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 Facebook group HERE & blog topic parameters & how it works over on WordPress HERE come have a read & maybe try your hand at it. Put it in the comments on the parameters.

Hard Bonus: Include a Pablo Neruda poetry line or quote

Easy Bonus: Incorporate something psychedelic or use the word “psychedelic”

Captivating the Cosmos

Music, like peyote, is a psychedelic except without any negative side effects, so release those natural endorphins in your own body system and be a Dream Weaver! I remember the one time I was at a sweat lodge with an Elder and a pipe carrier. On one hand, it would have been nice if it were all women, because it has a special strength, but was also glad the Elder was with us. I was hoping to find my totems, but, a couple of the ladies got lightheaded…

I thought a jackalope came to me, but, because we didn’t go far enough, the Elder explained that because things come in 4s, usually it’s the 4th animal or the 4th time the same animal comes to you is your Animal Spirit Totem… Maybe I should be glad mine might not be a fictitious critter, tho a dragon or Kirin would have been cool. Though deer is a messenger of God in Japan, there are also fox, snake & monkey, although maybe because I was born in the year of the rooster, maybe that’s one. Eagles/hawks, bison, bears, wolves, etc., are revered here in the USA. But being from Wisconsin, maybe I’m a rabid badger, idk… lol, the main purpose of these is to sweat out the toxins, and usually happens in the evening/nighttime. “As if you were on fire from within. The moon lives in the lining of your skin.”
― Pablo Neruda sums it up.

There was a story the Spiritual Leader told me about being adopted into the tribe and how to get sponsored. But there’s a character called Echo. Echo mimics everything you do, and if you dream about him, he’ll find you. When he finds you in person, you have to go with him, and then you’re adopted into his tribe. To try to Run, Run Away, like resistance is futile.

Blogophilia 46.17: Heart Shaped Box

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 group on Facebook HERE and blog topic parameters on WordPress (with tabs to find out how it works & more) HERE

Hard Bonus: Incorporate a funny saying from your mother, or a famous mother’s quote

Easy Bonus: Include a favorite photograph in your blog

Geometric

Why is it that mothers only say, “I hope when you have kids, you have one just like you,” when they’re mad? I don’t get that… I remember telling her with even more vehemence & conviction that “I hope I do”! And guess what, here we are! He’s the boy version of ME! I wouldn’t have him any other way. I call this day Happy Chad y Mama day.

My miracle baby

Happy Mother’s Day to you all! This includes pet moms, the moms with angel babies, dads who have to do both jobs, and those who step up when mom can’t… When it comes to loving our children, nothing fits into a box, not even a Heart Shaped Box. Life would not be the same without him.