Sunday, March 24, 2024

Blogophilia 39.15 – Decisions, Decisions!

Facebook group Right Here

Blog topic parameters HERE

Hard Bonus: Include a lyric from Newfound Glory

Easy Bonus: Use the word “bumfuzzle”

Where’s my fried chicken with the pizza?

Ah, yes, life is all about Decisions, Decisions! Often, I’m in a state of bumfuzzle because what seems like a good idea at the time either is totally not, or just doesn’t go anywhere, and the decisions that make sense don’t work for me… I guess I just go against the grain, idk… but here is New Found Glory, “The Way You Deserve” from the 2020 Forever & Ever x Infinity album

I don’t know your inner dynamic
But you’re living the proof something’s just not right
As you shout from the stand and defend your case
We’ve got hammers in hand, breaking you free from your cage

Sunday, March 17, 2024

Blogophilia 38.15: Sheer Luck

Blogophilia Facebook group HERE

Blog topic parameters Right Here

Hard Bonus: Incorporate a song title by Dean Martin

Easy Bonus: Reference faeries

Crash Landing

This weather is crazy… We had temps in the 60s in February, it was 70 a couple of days ago, and today, it’s in the 30s and there’s flurries… Being that I’m pretty wimpy in cold weather, no, I don’t want to Let It Snow! The winter holidays are over… I’d rather have “Gold dust at my feet on the sunny side of the street

Life is nuts too. Faeries may be mythical creatures, but I really do have a Faerie God Mother. When I graduated from college & landed my 1st real job afterward (I was offered a paid position at a place I was volunteering), and needed a car because it was going to be graveyard shift, she let me have her old car for a really good price. Several years later, when my son was a toddler (not even 2 yet), he’d climb out of his crib but couldn’t get back in, she magically appears with a toddler bed… A few years later, when we were down to 1 vehicle & his dad was using the van for work purposes, she gave me the one she was going to trade in… But, since she always went through the credit union’s certified used car sales for the great interest rates & they were only going to give her $500, which would only lower the payments by less than a dollar a month, she decided she’d rather give it to someone who needed one than to do it that way, so I lucked out. Several years after that, we had an atrocious summer where 95 degrees was the “cool” day, our little window A/C took a dump… we were going to try to tough it out, but the heat wasn’t going to let up… Just as we were going to talk about getting help getting another one, she magically calls up & offers us one, because she’d gotten her central air fixed & didn’t want the window one sitting around taking up space. The winter right after that, she had one of those tiny electric snow shovels that she wasn’t interested in using (we only had hand shovels), and while it’s a pain to mess with the cord, we got this massive snow storm where everyone was locked in for 3-5 days, and it was nice to at least have that. Mind, there’s a bunch of other stories I could tell, but just know that time spent with her is a treasure, and there was no such thing as a short visit. I hope that I’ll be able to see her again, she’s not in town anymore. It just feels like time is never on our side, and because we don’t choose our families, it’s Sheer Luck that she is my aunt, who truly is my fairy godmother.

Happy St. Patty’s Day! May the luck of the Irish smile upon you with bright green gems & no, we will NOT be eating corned beef at my house (too salty & not my favorite).

Friday, March 15, 2024

Community Forum: Why Your Vote Matters

Dear Community Leaders,

Unity Racine and several sponsors are organizing two community forums on Saturday March 23, 2024. The first forum is from 2:00 pm – 3:30 pm at the Burlington Public Library. The second forum is from 4:00 pm - 6:00 pm at the Cesar Chavez Community Center in Racine. The intent of these forums is to engage community members in discussions about topics relevant to them and get people excited about voting.

The forums will feature several speakers. Each speaker will talk on one of the pillars championed by Building Unity WI (Peace, Democracy, Sustainability and Justice). The attendees will have an opportunity to ask questions and engage with the panel of speakers. Many organizations will be invited to table with information related to their work in the community and opportunities that they provide to assist in various aspects of voting.  This event is free and open to the public.

Event Details for March 23:

2:00-3:30 PM Burlington Public Library                          4:00-6:00 PM Cesar Chavez Center
166 E. Jefferson Street, Burlington                                    2221 Douglas Avenue, Racine

The forums in Racine and Burlington are two of many gatherings that Building Unity WI is planning during its tour of the 33 Senate districts. The goal of the tour is to build relationships, provide educational opportunities, and impress upon people the importance of voting. The Vote Mobile, owned by Building Unity, is like a traveling billboard. It will be visiting southeast Wisconsin during the latter part of March.

Building Unity WI is a project of several groups that share a common goal of creating a peaceful, just and sustainable future. The 4 pillars that the project supports are Peace, Justice, Sustainability, and Democracy. Building Unity works with many partners such as the Wisconsin Grassroots Network, the State conference and local branches of the NAACP, MOSES, Esther and other Wisdom affiliates, EXPO, the Racine Coalition for Peace and Justice, Unity Racine. Building Unity WI is nonpartisan and does not endorse candidates.

We hope that you will join us. Please feel free to contact us for any further information. Thanks in advance for your consideration. Flyers for the two events are attached.

Partnering organization for the Racine and Burlington events are: 




Best Regards,

Racine Interfaith Coalition
RIC:  People of All Faiths Working Together
2302A DeKoven Avenue
Number:262-635-9532




Sunday, March 10, 2024

Blogophilia 37.15: Head Games

Blogophilia Facebook group HERE

Blog topic parameters Right Here

Hard Bonus: Quote Tupac Shakur

Easy Bonus: Include a scorpion

Demons of my past haunt me in the future

I’m so done with Head Games that I’m blunt, straightforward & honest about everything. The best I can do is try to know when to just keep my mouth shut, but I often just blurt because I was born with only half of my filters, and the ones I have are breaking down. People often think I’m being rude, but seriously… if you can’t handle my forwardness, just back off. My patience level for these stupid games are at 0. I’ll be putting more chapters into my DeviantArt chapters, but just have to find time to get there, since things seem to pop up out of nowhere.

It seems like every time you come up something happens to bring you back down. Tupac Shakur

scorpion is a predatory arachnid. Sometimes they try to pretend to be common house spiders. Don’t believe them. My story won’t be for everyone, I’ll mark certain chapters as Trigger Warnings. When I’m ready, I’ll share, and no, it won’t bother me if you’re not interested in reading that…

Sunday, March 3, 2024

Blogophilia Week 36.15 – The Promise of Stars

Blogophilia group on Facebook HERE

Blog topic parameters Right Here

Hard Bonus: Incorporate a lyric by the band Yes

Easy Bonus: Mention a constellation

Star Gazer

I don’t think I’ve ever had The Promise of Stars, though I’ve been told I need to go get it myself. I often feel like I’ve been stuck on Coma Berenices, an ancient asterism in the northern sky but considered a modern constellation. I honestly think that, YES, the arts is what helps Awaken society. This is one of my favorite rock groups, btw, you can hear the classically trained knowledge under the intricate rhythms, melodic harmonies, etc. Sometimes, I just Wish the sun to stand still, Reaching out to touch our own being

Important info:

  • What: A concert, with talented musicians led by the graceful conductor, Laura Rexroth
  • Who: UW-Parkside Wind Ensemble & Community band featuring Russ Johnson – Trumpet
  • Where: The Rita – Bedford Concert Hall
  • When: Thursday, March 7, 2024 at 7pm
  • Why: You ought to get out and do something different for a change
  • How: Buy your tickets online Over Here or show up & get them at the box office

Saturday, March 2, 2024

Spring Forward with lika’s Pampered Chef Party


Hi Friends!

I am hosting a Spring Forward with Pampered Chef Party!

I am so excited to support a small business!

I love their products and I know you will too!

And Bonus….the New Spring Products launch March 1st!

I can’t wait for you to hear all about them! Plus, new recipes!!

It’s taking place right here on Facebook starting this this weekend!

My hope is that the party will be a welcomed distraction from all of life’s hustle and bustle!

You can play games, win prizes, learn some new recipes and healthy mealtime ideas and solutions!

I will be sending invites this Friday and Saturday.

Comment below if you would like to be invited and I will make sure to include you.

If you would like to start browsing the catalog early, my catalog link is in the comments.

Sunday, February 25, 2024

Blogophilia 35.15: Taming the Fear

Blogophilia Facebook group HERE

Blog Topic Parameters Right Here

Hard Bonus: Incorporate a homophone

Easy Bonus: Include a stop sign

Gotta gofer the nuts

It seems like we all have a fear of some sort, and depending on what it is, we may or may not be able to do something about Taming the Fear. In Japan, they celebrate the arts, and started doing castanets in 3 year old preschool to learn beats, rhythm, subdividing, etc. The next year, we got different pitched finger cymbals to learn those, and we did a little concert kind of like those handbell choirs. We got recorders in 1st grade, and we kept them through 2nd grade. I was even a fish once in a school play, and I remember I was scared out of my gourd for the one line I had… I came to Wisconsin in 3rd grade…

I officially joined a school instrumental program in 5th grade, and mostly have been in at least one ever since. I’m glad I’ve never been banned in band. In the 45+ years of performing, I STILL get a little nerve wracked right before a show. Even with my health conditions, I’m able to continue playing and will keep doing so until a stop sign is put in front of me.

Here is what’s up:

  • RACINE CONCERT BAND: 7 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 27, Horlick High School, 2119 Rapids Drive, Racine. Also performing: Horlick Symphonic Band. Enter the building from the staff parking lot on the west side of Horlick High School, near the tennis courts. Standard RUSD admission fees apply: $6 for adults, $5 for students, and $4 for Seniors. Tickets will be available for purchase by credit card only at the concert box office.
  • Under the leadership of Jacob Myers, the Horlick Symphonic Band performs Mars by Gustav Holst, Folk Song Suite by Ralph Vaughan Williams and One Life Beautiful by Julie Giroux.
  • The Racine Concert Program features music by Pulitzer Prize winning composer Morton Gould. Jericho retells a biblical story in music: Joshua’s epic struggle to follow God’s commandment and claim the city for the Israelites. The Algerian Suite by Frenchman Camille Saint-SaĆ«ns is a fond memory of his Colonial-era vacation travels in Northern Africa. A light-hearted Divertimento by modern Czech composer Jindrich Feld, Mark Eichner’s arrangement of Handel’s Air and Variations from the 5th Keyboard Suite, and a Spanish march complete the Racine Concert Band program.
  • The bands will join forces for a grand finale performance of Sedona, by Cincinnati Orchestra Pops conductor Steven Reineke.
  • The Racine Concert Band Education Outreach Program is funded by the Racine Community Foundation, the Lang Family Foundation, the L. C. Christensen Charitable and Religious Foundation, the Wisconsin Arts Board, the National Endowment for the Arts, the City of Racine, and the Music Performance Trust Fund, in collaboration with the Racine Unified School District.
  • Buy your tickets ahead of time online at Ticket Spicket – there will be no cash sales for tickets on the concert night.

Coming up on March 7th at 7pm will be the UW-Parkside Wind Ensemble & Community Band concert. Stay tuned for more information next Sunday in my weekly blog.