Monthly Archives: February 2023

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Celebrate

I took this last May. Let’s celebrate with watermelon balloons hanging from the ceiling! They are red like the Valentines though they are green too. I thought they were awfully cheerful and rather unexpected.

Happily, these are not suspected spy balloons and do not need to be shot down.

Meanwhile, a zoo has gotten creative about ex partners. For a small fee, they will name a cockroach or a carrot after your ex and feed it to a zoo animal. I hope they don’t get indigestion. That really is delightfully silly and creative.

There are still people found alive in earthquake rubble: more prayers and let’s celebrate that.

For the Ragtag Daily Prompt: celebrate! Welcome to our newest prompter, Perpetua.

And here is a celebratory song:

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Junction

Sometimes paths meet and we walk together for a while.

Still we are separate. Promises made, friends forever

and yet the path diverges, one person leaves. We

can’t see that in the future. I am wary of always and

never, I try not to use them. I will not promise friends

forever: addiction could drive me away or lies or betrayal.

I might still love. I might return to be present for death

but still, I will not say forever.

Because that is a lie.

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I took the photograph yesterday blind. We were on Marrowstone and could not see what was out in the water. It changed shape though. I took this zoomed all the way out and then still couldn’t see what was there until I downloaded the photographs. We thought it was a stick. Or a turtle. Then we wondered if there are turtles in the Salish Sea. I googled Salish Sea turtle and get this: https://www.epa.gov/salish-sea/marine-species-risk. That’s a bit sad. Read on down, though, because it lists seven things we can do to help.

No Salish Sea turtles though.

What about the Olympic Peninsula? Here: https://www.nps.gov/olym/learn/nature/amphibians-and-reptiles.htm. Not an ideal climate for reptiles, it says. Well, no, I agree. No turtles listed, but there are some other reptiles.

For the Ragtag Daily Prompt: junction.

And still, people are being found under the rubble alive, though far more dead. Prayers and praise for the searchers and the victims and families. A song for them:

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Sand and crabs

Let’s see: sand. We have lots of sand, but the beach here is mostly cold. The water temperature is 45 degrees F today. It ranges from 45-55 here over the year. Wetsuit, drysuit or well, my daughter and her friends would go in. Brrrrr.

I love walking the beaches here though. We can walk 6 miles from North Beach to Cape George if we time the tides right. Marrowstone Island has miles of mostly deserted beach as well. Sand and agates and rocks and eagles and great blue herons and coyotes and sea lions in the water.

Not everyone likes sand though. Here is an example:

And while we are at it, another sea ditty and a favorite: The Crabby Song. I used to sing it at work under my breath. Very professional, right?

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Keeping watch

“I’ll keep watch for you and then you keep watch for me.”

“Let’s all get cleaned up.”

“What a beautiful day!”

For the Ragtag Daily Prompt: trust.

Taken at Fort Worden yesterday, with a Canon Powershot SX40 HS.

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Don’t come back

I wish you weren’t coming back. Ever.
I don’t want to see you here again.
I drive down to the beach thinking never.
If your car was there, I would park you in.
That makes me laugh out loud at how absurd
my stupid heart is longing all the time.
Hurt and vengeful, all those words
for a heart in tears. You won’t change your mind.
My pessimistic side growls I don’t care.
And thinks up gruesome ends for you.
It’s sad that you’ll be torn up by a bear
or eaten by Sasquatch in a stew.
Just think, at last you’ve managed to be free
From one thing always. It happens to be me.

Sonnet 13

For the Ragtag Daily Prompt: pessimist.

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Rules

On each new site we read the rules anew.
Check that we are not a bot and real.
Check that we will not link to porn or views
traumatic, that we promise not to steal
others work or game or avatar. Why is it
that in each site of any and every ilk,
someone has to watch and delete the bit
where the rules are broken, spilling milk.
The truth is we’ve learned how to behave
or rebel in neglected or violent homes.
I wonder if humans should be saved
when again the trolls must be stoned.
We think that humans should dwell on Mars.
We’ll need rules and moderators in the stars.

Sonnet 12