Writing Prompts

SOCS-Alone Time

When you live with your partner in such a small space, getting alone time isn’t always easy.

So I relish the few times that Dave runs an errand by himself. Today we’ll attempt the prompt by Linda G Hill who gave us this: Your Friday prompt for Stream of Consciousness Saturday is “left alone.” Use it any way you’d like. Have fun!

Yesterday, Dave set out to go fishing and so I was left alone to my own devices. I had plans, of course. My back was sore and I didn’t really feel like going, so I used the time alone to clean up, organize messy cabinets in the sala-living room-and paint my nails while watching the documentary “Save Me” about the life and career of the musician Jellyroll.

What an eye-opener that was! If you care to watch it, I’ll leave a link. If nothing else, it will make you understand the man more and that he came from a very bad past. What he has done with his life is nothing short of miraculous! It was a very good documentary.

I don’t like to do my nails when Dave is around to spare him the odors, but he got back earlier than expected, so we watched the rest of the show together. Even he was amazed at the man and his story. Oh, they call him Jellyroll because of his stature, and I think he said his love for donuts. ☺️

Sometimes, even when Dave is here, I find alone time by going in the bedroom to watch something like a movie on my iPad, so I did that too. I watched Ticket to Paradise, a very funny movie with George Clooney and Julia Roberts. Other times, as you probably know, I take off on a long walk. If he’s watching golf, like today and every week Thursday-Sunday, I find other things to do. Not that I don’t like golf, but all day for four days in a row is too much for me. I’ll wait for the last day, when it’s more exciting.

So, today, I plan to work on crafts, and maybe take a walk to check out the pottery shop and just browse. Who knows? I might find something I can use in my crafts or a gift for one of my many friends coming to visit this month. I can’t wait!! I won’t be left alone when they get here!

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Writing Prompts

Fishing and Riding the Waves

Taken from the fishing pier, the Lydia Ann Lighthouse

It’s been an interesting couple of days, busy with activities such as fishing and riding the waves, so today I’m resting my sore back.

Wednesday we went fishing at the park pier and I scored two small fish, and Dave got one. They were of no value, so we tossed them back. One was a hard-head catfish and we don’t know what the other one was, but they ate all of our shrimp!

A pretty shot of a house near the main fishing pier.


Dave looking like a true fisherman.

Me with the unknown fish and pictured is the hard-head catfish.

Yesterday, we went to the big concrete pier that most people go to, it might be the Pat Magee pier, anyway, we fought the wind and waves caused by large ships passing through and did no good at all, so we went home, ate lunch, and ventured out to the beach.

One of the big ships that passed through.

A beautiful day with kicked up waves, little to no seaweed, and puffy clouds along the horizon.

Even though it was extremely windy, we managed to put up the little shelter because Dave remembered the stronger tent stakes. Once or twice, we worried the tide was coming in and we might have to move, but we actually stayed in the same spot for the three hours we were there.

I caught a couple of good waves on my boogie board, and figured out that fighting the waves is really great exercise for me, because all of my rings were closed last night on my Apple Watch. The waves were different than usual, they came in sets, and when standing on the third sandbar, I could literally see the wave draw back the water to the point I could almost see the sandbar before it curled down and I thrust myself in front of it, hopped on the board, and it propelled me rapidly toward the shore. It’s such a rush, y’all, I wish it lasted longer. If only I knew how to surf on a surfboard, but at 62 with bad knees, it’s not in the cards I’m afraid. Anyway, normally, when the waves are bigger and harder to fight, I can’t make it to the third sandbar. That’s what made yesterday’s waves so perfect. I wasn’t too far out for Dave to get worried, or he’d have been whistling from the beach. (Like I’m one of his kids, lol). Floating on my boogie board was not as easy though because of the waves. I tire more easily now, so after a twenty minute session of fighting and riding, I have to rest before going out again. Another thing about my age is I pay for it the next day. Sore muscles, sore back. Some of that is from sitting too.

I took a cute video of a lady playing ball with her dog in the surf, but WordPress won’t let me post it. Anyway, he really loved the waves and would have done it all day. He did get sick a couple of times, which she had to clean up, from drinking salt water.

Fishing is not boring to me, I love it. Except when bobber fishing on a bad day. Watching the bobber for long periods of time with no chair is boring and also gets to my back. I like fishing with bait. Or lures. Dave tried his luck in the surf yesterday with a lure, but the waves were too rough for his small rod and reel. We don’t have surf gear for fishing because he said those rods were ruined from sitting in the shed too long.

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Writing Prompts

One Liner Wednesday

“It is a beautiful truth that all men contain something of the artist in them.”
Walt Whitman
One-Liner Wednesday

If you’ll indulge me, I thought I’d share a few of my creative projects. I don’t know about artist, per say, but I am creative. ☺️

This is an air plant holder for a friend.
My own air plant and holder
Simple macramé anklet
A bird I made from the devil’s claw I was gifted in Arizona
I need to work on his beak, but other than that, he’s done except for mounting for gift purposes.

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Writing Prompts

The Most Important Thing

Without knowing what I was even about to see, I think I just did the most important thing I could have done today.

Image from the movie.

I was looking for something to watch while Dave was watching other things on Tv. I had no idea what the significance was, or the emotional trip I was about to take. If you have served in the military, no matter the branch, or have had family members give their lives for our country, you owe it to yourself to see this important movie. It is a Golden Globe Award winning movie. They could not have cast it better. If you don’t, or didn’t respect the Marines before you see it, you will. I promise. If you have not served, I’m not sure you will feel the same impact, but it is important for you to learn about nonetheless. I really can’t say much more without crying again, and don’t let that stop you. It is not a new movie, I had never heard of it. But now, I will never forget. It was the ultimate Memorial Day activity in my situation that I could have done.

On a lighter note, you all know (that follow me or read my posts) that my brother, Kevin, visited this weekend. We got to enjoy time together, even an hour or two at the beach before the hordes arrived on Saturday and there was absolutely no room on the beach for two solid days. We dined out a few times, and also had a home cooked meal. We didn’t not do any of the typical Memorial Day things like BBQ or parades, and it was like pulling teeth to get him to tell me anything he wanted to do. He kept saying, “I came to visit y’all, not for you to keep me entertained.o Here is a great pic I took of him at the beach.

My bro, Kevin.

After he left, I mean, he just missed it, some nice folks here in the park that we talk to every time we walk our dogs, came over and gave us some delicious, homemade cookies her husband Denny made. Was that not the sweetest thing? I will have to repay her kindness at some point.

Near Virginia’s by the marina.

This afternoon, Dave and I took quite the walk, to view the boats in the marina behind the fancy restaurants and then across the street to the famous Tarpon Inn. In the lobby of that establishment, there are hundreds of tarpon scales, signed by everyone who’s ever caught a tarpon, complete with the size of the fish, the date, and their name and where they came from. It was funny, but the first one I happened to look at was by a man named Claude Allen. That could have been a relative of David’s, Allen is his family name. One of the most famous of the tarpon shells though, was Franklin Roosevelt. The Inn sustained damage in Hurricane Harvey, but the scales and the records of everyone that has a scale up there are still there. Also recovered was the last tarpon ever mounted, it not allowed anymore, is on the wall. It’s very expensive to stay there, especially if you stay in the Roosevelt suite, but what a cool place to visit. We had been there before, many years ago. It was warm, and I was quite sweaty when we returned from the rest of the walk, but I’m glad we went.

Now, Dave and I are watching the Stars play the first game of the playoff series against Vegas.
Also, the NASCAR race from Charlotte, NC. The Coca Cola 600. I don’t have a favorite anymore since Jeff Gordon retired, so I’m rooting for Byron, the guy who drives his number 24. ☺️


I hope you’ve all had a happy, safe, Memorial Day and please, don’t ever forget the ones who gave their lives for our great nation.

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Writing Prompts

Surprisingly Quiet

The Memorial Day Weekend brought out the crowds as predicted, yet it’s been more quiet than the first weekend we were here.

Kevin enjoying time at the beach.
Yesterday we spotted a water spout over the beach. It was gone by the time we got there.


Yes, my brother is here staying with us and we managed one short afternoon at the beach…more like an hour or so, because we forgot our towels. We easily found a spot, which cannot be said any more. They are parked three deep in some places and the beach is full from here to Corpus Christi. We drove all the way to Mustang Island Beach about 13 miles away, and much closer to the water. You could not squeeze in anywhere, and two cars could hardly pass.

We took Kevin to Waves coffee shop yesterday for lunch and we had the typical fare. The guys had paninis and carrot cake for dessert, and I had half a panini and Coconut Orange Cream Pie flavored gelato. I have not tasted a bad one yet!

Later, Dave grilled some shrimp and I made a salad for dinner. We sat outside for a bit, but the most exciting thing happening was hearing the music playing from a local patio bar and watching kiddos ride bikes around the resort. Kevin said it was quiet all night. He sleeps on the pull-out bed in the living room. The first weekend we were here, it was noisy until two in the morning! We expected the same thing during such a busy holiday, but maybe all the hell raisers were at the beach. I bet the cops were busy all night!

It’s cloudy and cool this morning, Dave is sleeping in, after having one of my bad nights last night. He said Whiskey tried to lay on his head about 3am and after that he couldn’t get back to sleep. I totally get it. I had that kind of night the night before! I’m hoping we can get out and fish or something today. I hate being stuck in the bus watching tv all day. But y’all are well aware.

PS: Our Dallas Stars hockey team won over Vegas last night and move into the Stanley Cup playoffs starting Monday night! What a great way to end the night!

Stay safe and have a good weekend!

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